2013: ONES TO WATCH

The music world stops for no man, and as we look back on the last 12 months, we must also look forward to the promise of 2013. Here are just a few acts that have tantalised our ears, promising much for the future.

#1 – WILD SWIM

Wild Swim are an Oxford-based five-piece who have already shown signs of an irresistible sound through the release of debut EP ‘Echo’ in late 2012. The band tip-toe in and out of established genre, carrying sparks of electronica, noughties guitar and prog rock on their heels as they go. Frontman Richard Sansom croons and purrs his way through the tracks in a manner that has earned many comparisons to Wild Beasts’ Hayden Thorpe. A debut LP surely beckons and if it is anywhere near the quality of ‘Echo’, we have reason to be very excited indeed.

http://wildswimmusic.com/

#2 – THE PHYSICS HOUSE BAND

Are you sitting comfortably? Good, because once you’ve sat through all 3 minutes and 4 seconds of ‘Titan’ by The Physics House Band you will be pressed back into your seat, hair dishevelled, eyes wide, ears obliterated. The trio describe themselves as “ambient future-prog” and that’s as close as anyone will get to naming this weird and wonderful creature. The band have been keeping busy throughout 2012, DJ-ing as well as playing shows, and as they make their way onto the radar more music, and with it more exposure, must be on the cards for the coming year.

http://thephysicshouseband.tumblr.com/

#3 – THEME PARK

Theme Park have been making some serious waves already this year, releasing a string of singles and supporting Bloc Party on their UK comeback tour. Tracks such as ‘A Mountain We Love’ and ‘Jamaica’ made for the perfect summer soundtrack, with lilting rhythms and laid-back melodies. Record number one is in the can and details for its release will be revealed in early 2013, and the band look set to earn more and more friends once this record is unleashed.

http://www.themeparkband.com/

And that's it for 2012: hopefully 2013 will see these prophesies come to life along with many other musical discoveries and evolutions. For the mean time, make sure you stick some good records on to see the year out. 

2012: TOP TRACKS

Here are my picks for the top ten tracks of 2012, although it's more of a collection than a chart because I am rather loath to order what are all pretty spectacular offerings. Also provided are the accompanying videos in all their (probably) HD glory, ranging from anarchic newsreaders to bedroom fanatics. 

Inhaler – Foals 

You’re Early – 2:54

Echo – Wild Swim

Higher Ground – TNGHT

Gallop – Tall Ships

Hips and Lips – Maximo Park

Ghosts of Holloway – Lone Wolf

Cough Cough – Everything Everything

Arguing With Thermometers – Enter Shikari

The Mother We Share – CHVRCHES

2012: TOP TEN ALBUMS

By now you’ve probably read a fair few end of year pieces reflecting what has been a particularly fast-moving year musically speaking. I cannot possibly claim to round up everything that went down this year, so instead I here present 2012 through my own narrow lens, starting with a rundown of the year’s top ten albums. 

#10: 2:54 – 2:54

Earthy, murky, relentless.

#9: School Of Seven Bells – Ghostory

Soaring, mellow, intricate.

#8: Enter Shikari – A Flash Flood of Colour

Powerful, thought-provoking, DROPS.

#7: Lucy Rose – Like I Used To

Raw, introspective, BEATS.

#6: Two Door Cinema Club – Beacon

Mature, amorous, triumphant.

#5: Jessie Ware – Devotion

Sultry, old-school, irresistible.

#4: Alt-J – An Awesome Wave

Addictive, ingenious, daring. 

#3: The Killers – Battle Born

Expansive, revitalised, nostalgic.

#2: Lone Wolf – The Lovers

Hazy, DIY, personal.

#1: Muse – The 2^nd Law

Indefatigable, intimate, pompous.

LIVE: THE KILLERS @ THE LG ARENA 31/10/12

On a freezing Halloween night the Killers bring their own brand of spooky holiday cheer to Birmingham, opening their set with a ‘Zombie Hands’ music video showing the band suitably attired in Halloween garb. When the band eventually surface, only drummer Ronnie Vanucci is dressed for the occasion, choosing the skeleton onesie as his weapon of choice, but the band nevertheless is in very good form and spirits. They kick off proceedings with ‘Bones’ rather appropriately, and it is clear from the off that the crowd are in for a treat rather than a trick (no more puns, I promise).

What is also clear is the polished performance of Brandon Flowers as frontman and master of ceremonies. He embarks on a monologue during the refrain of ‘The Way It Was’, bemoaning the fact that we are distracted from engaging with our loved ones by things like ‘Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja’. Flowers is an utterly compelling performer, whether he is sermonising or serenading, and those who are at the show tonight feel lucky to just be in his presence.

Of course though, this is not a one-man band, and there are stellar performances all round tonight. Dave Keuning knocks out classic riff after classic riff without even breaking a sweat, and the instinctive musical connection spoken of so much between Vanucci and gentle giant Mark Stoermer is evident in their playing. Highlights include ‘When You Were Young’ and ‘Mr Brightside’, songs that will probably never leave the Killers setlist, as well as the spine-tingling ‘Flesh and Bone’. The band finish with ‘Battle Born’, a track made to be a closer; such is its magnitude and magnificence. As Flowers introduces each member of the band, he tells the audience that there are no ghosts that we see, but as the final notes of ‘Battle Born’ drift away there is a sense that something not of this world has just taken place. 

LIVE: MUSE @ THE LG ARENA 30/10/12

Here is a list of things that you will find at a Muse gig that are Not A Big Deal:

• Massive lasers
• An inverted pyramid that moves into different formations during the show and projects businessmen and cartoon men with Pringles-moustaches
• Drummer Dom Howard dressed as a ninja to fight off said businessmen

The band have honed their live show to a fine art, actually toning it down this time after the vertigo-inducing towers that Bellamy, Howard and Wolstenholme played on while touring The Resistance. Running around the back of the stage is a slanted wall of lights that, when it isn’t projecting thought-provoking and sometimes hilarious visuals, transforms into a roulette wheel designed to pick the last song of the main set. This playful suspense has been taken in the right spirit by the fans, who are no longer surprised by anything that happens during a Muse show.

And what of the music, I hear you ask? As the lights go down, the first strains of controversial track ‘The 2nd Law: Unsustainable’ blare out, and as the song reaches its ‘dubstep’ (I use that term very loosely) climax the band appear and thrash out noises never before heard from guitars. The track was written with opening live shows in mind, and it works perfectly, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. The afore-mentioned roulette wheel chooses Stockholm Syndrome tonight, and it is one of the highlights of the night, along with the resurrection of fan favourite ‘Sunburn’.

What is most surprising about the show is witnessing Matt Bellamy, who seems to be a changed man on stage. Gone is the near silence between songs; Bellamy is extremely chatty and interacting with fans, commenting on one fan’s flashing hair “I’ll have to get that done next tour”. For several songs such as ‘Undisclosed Desires’ and ‘Follow Me’ the frontman is unencumbered by guitars or guitar-shaped instruments and takes this opportunity to strut around the stage and venture into the crowd.

This is far from a one-man show, however, as bassist Chris Wolstenholme moves centre-stage to perform ‘Liquid State’, one of two songs written by Wolstenholme on The 2nd Law. His shy thanks to the crowd belies the assured performance of a satisfyingly heavy song, bound to become a live favourite during the course of the tour.  Muse have of late monopolised the ‘Best Live Band’ title at numerous awards shows, but this is not without reason, as even now the band are evolving their live show and adding more strings to their bows.