Invocation Kits me out

KIT's track 'Merticane' was described by the excellent blog 20 Jazz Funk Greats as 'skate video where every broken ankle sprays phosphorescent goo...' and you know its bang on. Whereas most garage shaped, girl fronted bands this year seem to be taking things seriously, the L.A./Oakland four piece give the impression of approaching every track with a grin on their faces. Practicability isn't something KIT do, there's surprises around every corner, changes in rhythm, switches in tempo, descents into skull rattling noise and hardcore mayhem, from straight pop to chaotic punk, KIT embrace it all with sweet abandon.

They just dropped their second L.P, Invocation, on Upset The Rhythm, the follow up to 2007's Broken Voyage and 2008's Dreams Are Burend E.P. KIT have lost none of their raw energy. Invocation is a more focused affair compared to KIT's previous recorded outings. It may be a more considered trip but it still gets you to KIT's twisted world of fun, just this time around Invocation gets you there quicker, more direct but with a slight feeling of nausea and dizziness from an altogether more intense dark rush. Ever found Pre great but a touch too manic or just wished Death Sentence: Panda! would lighten up for just a second? Then Invocation will be right up your ally. Taste below and purchase here.

Kit - Merticane
Kit - Cure Light Wounds

Not Cool are better than cool

And bam, where the fuck have they been! This morning I woke up blurry eyed to the fact that Sonic Masala have a new favourite live band. Last night SM trotted down to London's best gig venue The Luminaire to see Screaming Females (yet another Upset The Rhythm gig, they can really do no wrong). Screaming Females were awesome as would be expected (a review is forthcoming) but, more out of sheer surprise than anything, it was support band Not Cool that stuck out in the mind, just about.

I've heard bits about south east London trio Not Cool, their track 'Limbs are for Liars' featured on the Italian Beach Babes / Paradise Vendors 12" Comp that dropped back in August that I had completely failed to buy, I've missed out big time clearly. But nothing could have prepared us for how good a live act Not Cool were last night. A raucous explosion of energy so tight you would have thought the band had been touring for decades. A full review and photos will follow soon so I wont go into too much detail but you can imagine my joy this morning when I discover that Not Cool have just dropped their debut mini album 12" Rugged Raw on Sleep All Day Records, get it here, if its half as good as they were live then winner is written all over it. Taste below of their debut 7" Wonderful Beasts and Perfect Hair Forever from Rugged Raw.

Not Cool - Wonderful Beasts
Not Cool - Perfect Hair Forever

Cold Pumas Sound Better With Huw?

Huw Stephens of BBC Radio One notoriety has been pushing his claim as new music head honcho. To this end he's been compiling compilations of 'new music' in conjunction with Wichita Recordings. Before I took off on my hols Mr Stephens put out his second such compilation, with artwork by Casey Raymond, which features a previously unreleased track Slow Padding from SM favourites Cold Pumas, as well as tracks from other SM faves such as Fair Ohs, Islet, Spectrals, Cloud Nothings and many more. Its worth a look here.

You can purchase the comp here, its only five quid, and have little taste below. Cold Pumas also have a gig tomorrow, courtesy of Upset The Rhythm (who else?) at The Nest in Dalston with the awesome Nisennenmondai and Waiters

Cold Pumas - Slow Padding

Grass Widow pass the time easly

Yet another west coast lo-fi girl band? Maybe, but one of the finest in my opinion. For me the Grass Widow have always pushed there lo-fi guitar pop in a more modest manner than the other lo-fi all girl group we've seen recently and after last years two self-titled E.P.s the lack of new material from the San Franciscan trio was starting to make me worry, too many other band doing the same thing maybe? but Grass Widow's debut L.P, Past Time, feels more like a lesson in the missed opportunities of that other girls bands missed.

Wonky vocal harmonies rule this three piece, not the fuzz that others rely on, and that's braver in my book. There's a light heartedness to Grass Widow that has more to do with sixties influences like The Move or The Kinks than the obvious Delta 5, Raincoats and Black Tambourine comparisons. Easiest way to move on from the lo-fi garage DIY sound? Harmonic pop polish apparently and they've got a Upset The Rhythm gig coming up at The Old Blue Last at the end of the month. That news cheered me up.

Grass Widow - Shadow
Grass Widow - 11 of Diamonds

Drum Eyes Wide Open

I think I've now seen Drum Eyes live, I think, but Gira Gira is the first time that I've had the pleasure of really listening properly to the insane creative maelstrom that is DJ Scotch Egg's Drum Eyes, and frankly that's a crime I should pay a heavy toll for. When I've seen Drum Eyes they've been playing a supporting role and they've been supporting some big hitters, Lightning Bolt for example, and at the time I must admit I was a touch distracted by the great masks drum god himself, but enough of my short comings, Gira Gira...

Out on Upset the Rhythm, (who else?) Gira Gira is frankly a twisted and ridiculous record, throwing nearly everything from krautrock, to punk, to ambience, to thrash, and back again, into melting pot of doom laden insanity. You could tell me that every one of the six slices of craziness on this L.P was by a different band and I would completely believe you. But at the same time it works solely as a whole, creating one twisted all consuming musical beast, that will leave your brain a frazzled mess demanding more. It rockets straight to my top ten of the year. I'm not sure I'll survive repeated listens for others to challenge it. A must.

Drum Eyes - 13 Magician

Trash your kit even more

I've been meaning to post about Trash Kit's self titled debut album since it dropped a couple of weeks ago. Rutting forth that stable of all things wholesome, and SM's favorite London label/promoter Upset the Rhythm Trash Kit arrived on the scene with a collection of live shows at the start of year. We first came across them supporting The Vivian Girls at Dalston's Trinity Centre and again supporting Turn Yards at Cargo, both gigs left me impressed and hopefully for the band's future but I certainly wasn't expecting how Trash Kit seem to of rocketed to notoriety in the last few months, now their bloody everywhere!

This weekend they just put a set at ATP curated Matt Groening (a billing that many bands have to wait years for) and they've even landed a support slot with The Raincoats on the 20th. Either this band have a kick arse booking agent or people are giving them some serious attention. Not that it matters 'cos with album like Trash Kit's debut they can certainly back up the billing.

Trash Kit's self titled long player might consist of no less that 17 tracks but its is no slouch, rattling through in under 30mins, the longest track Natascha lasting only a shad over three minutes and most tracks not clocking over half that. Trash Kit always seem to sit between playful care free charm and dark intricate screaming mischief. Stripped back playfulness and a lightness of touch is woven into their colourful compositions as much as the pauses and flips in tempo but I can't help being left with a feeling of something more sinister, like the grin of a hyperactive clown.

Maybe its the face paint, somewhere between 'the mental kids at the crèche' and 'African witch doctors from outer space' or maybe its the African fingerstyle pattern informed guitar crossed with the striped back driving bass rhythms. Its probably more to with the honesty of the band, a band having good honest fun but not afraid to dwell on darker themes, even it its for the briefest of seconds. Out on Upset the Rhythm records now you can purchase here. Tasting below.


Trash Kit - Natascha
Trash Kit - Fame

Talking Normal

We're off to see Crystal Antlers tonight, yet another ace gig provided by Upset the Rhythm. I've seen Crystal Antlers a couple of time before, and very good they are too but my excitement is mainly directed at Brooklyn Minimalist  duo, Talk Normal, who are supporting along with Teeth. So I thought a cheeky slice of Talk Normal's cutting, doom laden deconstruction, in vid form, was in order and maybe a track for those that don't own last year's Sugerland. They also have more UK dates in May.

Talk Normal - Hot Song


Talk Normal "In a Strangeland" from Rare Book Room Records on Vimeo.

Male birth

My favourite Dalton band, hopefully soon to be yours too, Male Bonding have their debut album, Nothing Hurts, coming out next month on Sub Pop. Male Bonding have been flirting with the Dalston D.I.Y scene for a couple of years now and describe their formula as “Tinnitus. And a hook.” Now that's got to be a winner in my book! There's also a rather awesome release party, with a cracking line up, courtesy of the ever impressive Upset the Rhythm, details and taster below...

Male Bonding - Pumpkin

Record release party - MALE BONDING, PENS, VERONICA FALLS - Thursday 27 May, Camp Basement, Old Street - visit Upset the Rhythm here