Straight Lines – Freaks Like Us Posted on May 16, 2012 by The Music Team The only freaky thing about Straight Lines sophomore effort Freaks Like Us is how instantly appealing the glossy rock gems are that the Pontypridd boys produce, that the songs stay wedged in your brain for days, if not weeks. What does this mean you ask? It’s bloody good! And here is why! Straight Lines write catchy songs. Straight Lines write really catchy songs. Yet the Welsh quartet don’t sacrifice clever songwriting to achieve this goal. Because of this, it emphasizes their talented songwriting ability and how this album will undoubtedly signify a very bright future ahead of them. What is striking is just how all the songs are that more complex, an indication of each member’s increasing ability on their instrument, but also how the facets of their sound have expanded as a result. Bigger and heavier riffs, which add extra grit, are showcased in the title track and new single ‘Commitments’; blend perfectly with Tom Jenkins distinctive voice displaying the fact that Straight Lines are very capable of rocking out. That isn’t to say that Straight Lines have shied away from melody, as ‘Ring The Bells’ and ‘Empty Chest’ are great examples of how pop punk ditties are conceived with absolute conviction. The only obvious low point (and there are very few) is embodied by the track ‘Bury My Thoughts’ which, sadly seems to fall flat as it sounds confused, and while it does come across sincere, appears a tad contrived as the big budget ballad which just doesn’t seem to fit the tone of the album and sticks out for the wrong reason. This is however a minor hiccup compared to the stand out point on Freaks Like Us that is the subliminal ‘The Dealer’s Hands’ which combines melodic perfection, unhinged aggression and whole lot of attitude. The jumping guitars sound reminiscent of Billy Talent on top form and if you’re not careful the middle section will certainly melt your face off. It is safe to say that Straight Lines are flying the flag for intelligent punk pop that should and will be reaping the rewards very shortly. Freaks Like Us is the sound of growth and unrelenting eagerness to be huge. All clichés aside, watch this space! 9/10 Written by Nick Gray
Zulu Winter – Language Posted on May 16, 2012 by The Music Team Ever wondered what it would be like to witness a Zulu warrior wondering around a frosty hilltop during a winter spell? So do we, but it would probably be parallel to Zulu Winter’s debut album Language; spellbinding, dazed and absolutely glorious. To say that Language is an album of subtlety is an understatement, on the surface it seems that the debut doesn’t really compromise of much else than the obvious presence of keyboards and singer’s Will Daunt’s voice. Yet with repeated listens Language’s delicate and intricate song structures present themselves and before you know it you are being subjected to countless layers of audio bliss. The London five piece start things off nicely with opener ‘A Key To My Heart’ introducing pulsating and dreamy Synths, which wash over the listener and submerges you in a icy world of possibility. ‘Bitter Moon’ and ‘Small Pieces’ utilizes the other aspects of the band as quirky riffs and groovy bass lines provided by the guitars help drive these spectral beauties that the songs seamlessly merge into one. The entire album seems to mesh into one continuous piece of work making the ethereal journey all the more enjoyable. Other highlights include tracks such as ‘Let’s Move Back To Front’ where Zulu Winter display how massive they can make their sound that will inevitably garner widespread attention. ‘Movements Drift’ really demonstrates Daunt’s abilities as a songwriter and vocalist as his impressive falsetto slots in perfectly with the booming drums and the contemplative electronics that accompany his voice. The only weak part of the album that can be identified is the bands single ‘We Should Be Swimming’ which lacks a definitive catchy riff or vocal hook making the song, while of a good quality, not the same caliber that the rest of Language delivers. Zulu Winter should be proud of the album they have produced as Language manages to grab your attention with its simplicity and understated depth and by doing so transport listeners to an otherworldly state for the duration of the 47 minutes. An astounding debut in any artist’s eyes. 9/10 Written by Nick Gray
Rooms of the Blotched Silhouettes Posted on May 13, 2012 by Oliver Ing Title: Rooms of the Blotched Silhouettes Venue: The Wiltshire Building (PO1 2EG) Date: 15th May Start Time: 6 pm- 8pm (roughly) Synopsis: ‘I really didn’t know quite how to tell you…. but your shoelaces are undone….’ Rooms of the Blotched Silhouettes wades through the tangled world of human behaviour. Drunken salsa dancing, bitter lovers, sleazy psychos, amnesia-struck housewives, birth, dust and Cuban cigars. It’s fragmented, frenzied and repetitive in nature. A kaleidoscopic journey through the dislocation of our mind’s experience with relation to the people we accidentally bump into, the hidden places we don’t see, the dreams we cannot remember, the seams we come undone at. Rooms of the Blotched Silhouettes is a performative site-specific installation created and performed by the Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance students in the passages of the Portsmouth Wiltshire building. Price: No entry charge but we will ask for donations (around £5) Our event page can be found on Facebook under “Rooms of the Blotched Silhouettes”
Student Wiki: Maths Cafe Posted on May 13, 2012 by Jason Slack We sent Tola Akindipe along to talk to Andrew from Maths Cafe to find out about the service and what it has to offer students at the University. Maths Cafe
Feeder – Generation Freakshow Posted on May 11, 2012 by The Music Team What can we expect from Britain’s veterans of stadium-rock, as their eighth offering, Generation Freakshow, is unleashed upon our undeserving ears? Well while Feeder’s sound is living up to its arena filling reputation, it’s hard not to feel that this album, while full of life and catchy anthems, seems to be treading all to familiar ground and in doing so is making the Welsh three piece sound slightly uninspired. Let’s start from the beginning. Following on from the critically acclaimed Renegades which hailed the Welsh trio’s return to their heavier roots, expectation for big riffs and memorable hooks is expected, and riffs a plenty, there most certainly is. Album Opener ‘Oh My’ kicks things off in a raucous fashion as Grant Nicholas’ soaring guitars and instantly recognizable vocals showcase the Feeder that we love and know and while it fails to hit stratospheric heights it definitely lets the listener know that the boys from Newport are back in business. While the first few songs on Generation Freakshow are examples of finely crafted rock songs, ‘Hey Johnny’ really ups the ante as the memorable chorus with the perfect blend of vocal hooks and instrumental crunch, combine to a devastating and head-bopping effect. ‘Quiet’ literally lives up to it’s title as the band softer side makes itself known and when doing so Nicholas’ vulnerability is exposed as he sings “never thought I’d be alone.” The song illustrates Feeder’s diversity and showcases their impeccable song writing skills as the song slowly builds as layers of ambient guitars dance hand in hand with delicate synths making this one of the highlights of Generation Freakshow. Singles ‘Borders’ and ‘Children of the Sun’ hold their own within the album yet do come across as being slightly predictable which is the main problem with Generation Freakshow. Feeder’s latest contribution is a fine effort and proudly sets the standard for successful rock bands within Britain, but this album shows moments of genius and genuine ability, Generation Freakshow, for the most part, seems to lacks any excitement and true conviction and at times sounds laborious and insipid. If this was the product of a smaller and less accomplished band, this CD would be praised for it’s huge and appealing songs, but as Feeder have already set such high standards with previous work, this album was always going to have it hard. Nonetheless Generation Freakshow is an accomplished slab of British rock which will provide alcohol fuelled sing-a-longs to accompany the ever impending summer. 6/10 By Nick Gray
Marina & The Diamonds – Electra Heart Posted on May 9, 2012 by The Music Team Electra Heart is the second studio album by Welsh singer Marina & the Diamonds, moving away from the indie pop of her first album and taking a plunge into electro pop. The record is centred around the idea of different female roles in life, opening with ‘Bubblegum Bitch’ an upbeat track with catchy lyrics, with her singing “Oh dear diary we fell apart/ Welcome to the life of Electra Heart” making way for the rest of the album. Although this is the opening track, I feel that it is the weakest; the lyrics are simple and manufactured with no meaning. The song doesn’t allow for Diamandis’ strong vocals to come through. However, my mind was changed instantly with her song ‘Buy the Stars’, one of the slower tracks which opens with simple piano. Her vocals truly come to front; her soulful voice evokes emotion instantly. The songs on the album are best when Diamandis opens up tenderly, for example her song ‘Lies’ is another track where her powerful vocals take over, the lyrics are honest and open and really allow the listener to not only just appreciate the music, but also to relate to what Diamandis is singing, something ‘Bubblegum Bitch’ lacked. The lead single ‘Primadonna’ has been extremely successful in the charts, and it is in keeping with the quality of the album with catchy electro beats with Diamandis’ strong vocals once more – an excellent pop tune with a quirky edge that so many artists have been unable to achieve without sounding flat. Diamandis surges forth with the electro vibe with ‘Sex Yeah’ which is one of my favourite tracks in this new release, with heavy drum beats creating a dichotomy between her soulful vocals and the weighty music. The album focuses on women and the different roles they play, with song names such as ‘Homewrecker’ and ‘Teen Idle’, and it seems that Diamandis has focussed on subjects that are close to home, as she sings with such sincerity, especially in the slower and more touching songs. It all fits neatly together with a continuity of synth and speedy drum beats, and makes an excellent pop album to be enjoyed by all. Diamandis ends the album with ‘Fear and Loathing’, a slow and meaningful track; rounding off quite a bitter collection of songs with a much more positive outlook. Diamandis sings “there is no crime in being kind/Not everyone is out to screw you over./ Maybe, oh just maybe they just want to get to know you” followed by the chorus “Don’t wanna live in fear and loathing/ I wanna feel like I am floating/Instead of constantly exploding/In fear and loathing” the song feels almost like a cliff-hanger for more that she has to say, and maybe her next album will clear it up for us all. I felt that this was a brilliant way to end such a catchy album designed for pop consumption as it leaves the listener with a feeling of wanting to know more, like an unfinished story. Marina & The Diamonds has created a well put together pop album in Electra Heart, but I feel that with the quality of her voice and her talent she could have produced something more quirky and appealing for the indie market as well as focussing on the pop market. 7/10 By Amelia Gibson
Polar – Iron Lungs Posted on May 1, 2012 by The Music Team Polar’s frosty debut offers up thrilling and ferocious hardcore infused punk that delivers a punch to the gut, leaving you reeling for the next 38 minutes and wondering what the hell just happened. The Guildford quintet’s latest offering is one that has been met with excitement as EP’s released prior to their full length debut have shown the band’s sound building and maturing into the formidable wall of noise that greets your ears from the second you press play. ‘K.C.M’ and ‘Sick Old Buzzard’ kick things off in a feral fashion, reminding us that punk doesn’t have to just be 2 minutes of staccato drums and relentless riffing, as the opening tracks display a concoction of clever ideas concerning the structure of the songs ultimately helping to propel the songs forward. Vocalist Adam’s shouts and screams cements Polar’s conviction in the audio format and capture the frenetic nature of the live shows that they have built their reputation on. It is almost impossible to not listen to this record and imagine it within the live setting and just how inherently mad things will get. The Baltic boys (last pun, we promise) sound absolutely massive throughout the entirety of Iron Lungs and this is showcased brilliantly by one of the highlights of the album, being the title track as it displays the diversity deployed as the instrumental track, delves with fantastic dynamics. For a brief moment, the atmospheric and ambient tones lull you in to a false sense of security. But before you know it, a cacophony of crashing drums and epic guitars envelope the listener’s eardrums, as if an Arctic behemoth (ok we lied) is announcing its arrival with an almighty roar. Other highlights include the furious ‘Lifeboats’ and incendiary ‘In Country’, which provides some of the best head banging moments on the whole album. Accompanying lyrics such as ‘make us who we are’ depict that Polar are the embodiment of their music and their craft, which is made abundantly clear throughout Iron Lungs and adds to the appeal. All in all, while Iron Lungs isn’t a reinvention of heavy music such as punk or hardcore, they have certainly delivered a corker of an album, which has been fuelled by the bile and rage of five lads from Guildford. Iron Lungs will undoubtedly provide an example on how ‘balls to the wall’ heavy music is created and executed with confidence. 8/10 By Nick Gray
Evolution Fest 2012 Posted on May 1, 2012 by The Music Team Taking place on the Diamond Jubilee weekend (Sun – Mon 4th), this years Evolution Festival is guaranteed to kick start your summer with a bang. The 2012 line-up is looking near enough un-missable, with massive headliners DeadMau5, Dizzee Rascal, Rizzle Kicks and Maximo Park all announced. The festival has continued to grow in size and now boasts an impressive three stages sat in-between the picturesque view of the Tyne River and Millennium Bridge. The variety of musical genres to choose from is somewhat impressive…Dance lovers are spoilt for choice, with DJ sets from Shy FX, Fricton and Toddla T on the cards. If rock n’ indie is more your thing, Miles Kane, Band of Skulls and indie/folk legends Noah & The Whale will more than fit the bill. Not to mention a set from critically acclaimed singer-songwriter James Francis Leftwich confirmed. This festival is a little unique; camping is not an option considering the entire affair takes place in the space of only 2 days. This gives the public time to freshen up and prepare for the next day and evening of non-stop fun. Plenty of budget accommodation is available for the non-local goers. See this website for details: http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/accommodation#productlist=/accommodation Described by Clash Music as ‘the UK’s model city festival’, weekend tickets costing a mere £35 (daytime – £25) and no work/school Tuesday (thanks to the Queen) this festival is the perfect time to party! See here for tickets: http://www.evolutionfestival.co.uk/tickets.html
