Seems like forever since Mansfield's finest Violent Soho produced something new - probably because it has been. But now Brisbane's exponents of visceral grunge are back with a double A-side 7" (out through I Oh You), the first taste of which is 'Tinder Box'. It promises a quantum leap in sonic depth for the quartet, whilst maintaining the aggression (can aggression be fun? This is definitely fun...). Love the art work too dudes. (Oh and the band leant their gear to Iowa in their Sonic Masala show last weekend, even though they weren't at the show, which is the best. I've said thanks, but again - thanks!). The next chance to see em destroy is in a fortnight at BigSound, I suggest you get there pronto.
Religious Knives are essentially Michael Bernstein (guitar, synth, vox) and Maya Miller (organ, vox). They have built their lives around exploring the extremities of noise, dabbling in industrial overtones and Kraut extrapolations before settling on their current band's blend of drawn out drones, haltingly played organ welts, repetitious structures and swirling melodies, all kept in some semblance of check by Todd Cavallo on bass and Ryan Nadieau on drums. Their last album on Ecstatic Peace was highly acclaimed and co-produced by label owner Thurston Moore. Smokescreen, the new LP out on Sacred Bones (sigh...) follows the blueprint that they have set in the past, and follow fellow sonic troubadours Moon Duo into the psychedelic wilderness, trheatening to envelop themselves entirely in their aural trips of double-helixing grooves. Nothing is in a hurry to get anywhere - just coast on the vibes and you'll get where you need to go...whether you want to or not...
Just a quick post - Club Fandango have joined with Rock Sound and are bringing Australian exponents of all things grunge Violent Soho to the UK next week. Good times for all! Recently picked up by Sonic Youth frontman Thurston Moore's ever-growing label Ecstatic Peace, and about to launch their 2nd album in the upcoming months (its been out in North America since March - fuckers! But its basically a rehashed version of their 1st album We Dont Belong Here - hunt that down), Violent Soho will do their best to destroy all in their path when they play alongside Japanese Voyeurs and Little Death at Chalk Farm's The Monarch this Monday. They've just finished a month long Statewide tour with The Bronx, so they are primed! 5 squid, can't go wrong! They play at 9.15pm. They will also be playing the Great Escape next weekend. Great way to continue the Aussie musical onslaught...
The 3rd piece in my Sonic Youth triptych is an introduction for you (most likely anyway), and a reunion of sorts for me. Hailing from Queensland, Australia (and as they proudly attest, from Mansfield, postcode 4122), young grunge worshippers Violent Soho have been ripping apart all and sundry for the best part of 5 years now. I had the pleasure of seeing them just before I left Australia back in 2008, and once again they made my head explode with their energetic fury. I always thought they had the opportunity to go far. Not long after I had arrived in London, they did a whirligig tour of Europe, dropping in at the 100 Club to fuck things up before they disappeared surreptitiously from my radar. But the boys from Mansfield have been anything BUT quiet, and 2009 was a watershed year for them, seeing them touring the US extensively with the likes of Band of Skulls, Built to Spill and the Dead Weather, all under the watchful gaze of Thurston Moore, who has signed them onto his Ecstatic Peace label. It feels great to have a 'I told you so' moment of seeing a small group rise up and get the recognition you knew they always deserved. Their 2nd LP (and the 1st under Ecstatic Peace) Violent Soho is out in a week - get it!!!
Oh, and they are playing with Society's Ills AND Thurston Moore (solo) @ the Ecstatic Peace showcase gig at SXSW on March 19...
Now enjoy a couple clips of the band, including a chat with Moore...
