Over the Tennis Courts And Far Away...

I resisted Tennis for so long. As you may have picked up over the inception of Sonic Masala, or even yesterday's Brilliant Colors post, the glut of bands that share this similar sound have jaded me somewhat - well, certain bands amongst the ranks (it's becoming a low blow to mention Dum Dum Girls, isnt it?). And the deliberate 80s yacht rock stylings of the duo and the cover art of Cape Dory (out earlier this year on Fat Possum) had me on my guard from the get go. Yet I needn't have worried - these guys have somehow condensed the woozy doo-wop summer warmth guitar pop formula into a winsome elixir of youth. The best part? There is little if any filler, which most bands of their ilk have found hard to avoid. New single off the album 'Take Me Somewhere' is a perfect case in point. (NB - yes, this has been around since November, but this is the OFFICIAL RELEASE, so there).

In support of Cape Dory, Tennis will also be embarking on a UK and European tour encompassing London’s Cargo. You lucky gits...

Tennis - Take Me Somewhere
Tennis - Is It True

Climb Aboard This Gallopagator...And Trap Them Trio O Tigers

Thought Id kill two birds with one stone here - because I love to kill birds with minimum effort.

The London DIY label Blood and Bisciuts have two ace releases coming up over the horizon. Three Trapped Tigers are releasing Route One Or Die at the end of May, and the album promises much in the way of intricate math rock machinations with a healthy dose of synth effects drizzled generously over the top - kinda like a harder-edged PVT. Meanwhile Welsh instrumentalists Gallops bring out their Joust/Eukodol 7" a week earlier, and its just as ace! Two very cool releases well worth getting excited for - designed to rock and groove in equal measures, you can imagine the frenetic live shows these guys will must over the summer.

You can gear up to see them both London, as Gallops take on the Old Blue Last April 7 alongside Arcane Roots, whilst Three Trapped Tigers are hitting Cargo on the night of their album launch, May 31st (Tall Ships will be in support).

Three Trapped Tigers - Cramm

Gallops - Joust/Eukodol by bloodandbiscuits

tUnE-yArDs Is The Bizness

Merrill Garbus AKA tUnE-yArDs is preparing to release her follow-up to 2009's great release BiRd BrAiNs. Its titled w h o k i l l, and the new single, 'Bizness' is off it. Its not a new track per se - it has been a live staple for almost two years now, and one of the live favourites - but its great to revisit it, and have it in physical form. Garbus is still on song here, so her new album will come with a fair bit of expectation around here on Planet Masala (see our live review from Cargo last year here).

w h o k i l l comes out April 19th on 4AD.

(NB - I only found out today that Garbus was the lead vocalist and instrumentalist of Sister Suvi, who are sadly with us no more. A bit slow on the uptake there...)

Step Into The Sisterworld, Or Out Into Wild Nothing?

Tough night for London gig-goers tonight. Sonic Masala perennial favourites Liars play Heaven (where SM saw a blistering Deerhunter gig in May - I think its primed to be usurped here...), bringing the brilliance of their dangerous live performances and their unique, sinister back catalogue with them. Riding high after their amazing Sisterworld LP, Liars have taken no prisoners, and this promises to be no different.

But then there is Upset The Rhythm, who continue to rumble forward with their gargantuan gig list. Tonight they host Jack Tatum AKA Wild Nothing, whose Gemini release was a highlight amongst the glut of bedroom lo fi pop meanderings that have permeated the airspace this year, and he followed it up with great little EPs Evertide and Golden Haze. Ably supported by great Mancunian band Mazes (who also support Titus Andronicus in a couploe weeks' time!) and Exeter's New Years Evil (we talked about their split 7" release on Art Is Hard Records here), this promises to be a stellar all round show at Cargo. There's lots of tix left for this one on the door too, so if you cant get your hands on a Sisterworld golden ticket, you can trundle in there.

Wild Nothing - Drifter

Liars - Strangers

Fancy some Tambourine with some Evil?

South West England's best new independent label Art Is Hard are riding high after their excellent first release Brink Of The Clouds, which came with individual Tshirt designs - remember that? Well the second release is on its way, and it is awesome. Whilst the gimmick quotient has been dialled down, the attention to detail has not, and it is a perfect showcase of two of SW England's great acts to highlight their new sonics. Exeter's New Years Evil (the press release says No Age covering The Wedding Present - cant really fault that!) combine with Falmouth's The Black Tambourines for a 7" split that is trussed up to the nines in special garb. Art Is Hard have worked with some of their fave photographers to ensure that each 7" comes with an original print, and just to spoil you, there's a digital copy and a zine for your hard earned dosh when its released on November 29. Bargain, right? Right. If you doubt me, head to soundcloud and taste the two tracks on offer - you wont be disappointed...

And well done to to New Year's Evil who have picked up a support slot for Wild Nothing on their Cargo show on November 11! Rad.

P(i)v(o)tal Churchfaring Music

PVT's 3rd longplayer Church With No Magic has been stirring a lot of pots ever since the release of first single 'Window', and I cant remember the last time an album divided audiences and critics alike in such quantities. What I find most amusing about it all is that no one seems to know what they like, or dislike, about the album or indeed the band. They have really confused the populace - and whilst that isnt necessarily the point, I think that they have made a definitive album here that threatens to press for top 10 of 2010 lists, and in fact to come back on listeners like a bad burrito - but in a blissful way. There is a hidden dark nuance to the triptych that PVT have given birth too here that makes them difficult to pin down - no longer ambient post-rockers or electronic live mainstays, they have evolved into an as yet unimagined beast. It really goes without saying that you need to make up your own mind - and PVT are kindly streaming the album in its entirety on their website! So go and give it a good listen - a cursory perusal will yield you nothing - and tell us here at SM what you think!

PVT play an invite-only show on September 6 at the Old Blue Last as part of a Warp record release - see how to get invites here - but also have a sanctioned gig at Cargo at October 6.

Free stream of PVT's Church With No Magic

PVT Come To Chuch

PVT are about to release 3rd LP Church With No Magic via Warp Records in August. Its another sonic progression for the band, who are carving their live sound into a more pop-oriented mould. Actually the songs released thus far from this album are much more electronic and less live instrument-y, which normally for me would be a bit of a concern - but these guys are fucking brilliant, so Im eager to see what they produce. And they are ace guys too! Check them out when they play Cargo on October 6.

PVT - Timeless

PVT - The Quick Mile

PVT - Window (formerly Pivot) from Warp Records on Vimeo.

Lake of Fire

The Besnard Lakes grace our presence here next Wednesday, 31st March, at Cargo, supported by the wonderful Wolf People (featured earlier here on Sonic Masala). The Canadian band, based around husband and wife Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas, Besnard lakes are an apocolyptic indie group who create dense layered textures that provides a near perfect darkness. A darker Arcade Fire with a predilection for dirge, Besnard Lakes' 3rd LP, Besnard Lakes...Are The Roaring Night enamours its listeners with epic sounds, quiet/loud dynamics, and an band that delves in the fine balance between the haunting and the bludgeoning. Its gonna be a great gig - make sure you're there.

Besnard Lakes - And This Is What We Call Progress

A full moon gives me the blues

Just got my mitts on the new record by Wolf People. Of course the wolf band names are a dime a dozen, and frankly boring nowadays (even though its a cool word) and often come lumped with connotations of hipster wank (sorry Wolf Eyes and Wolf Parade...the rest of you, Im pointing fingers). Dont dismiss Tidings purely on the band's moniker. They are out and out 70s blues rock - and not your Wolfmother poseuring kind either. The LP drips of soulful and drug-fucked blues that we associate with Hendrix (although never reaching those heights), even placing the pops and crackles on the CD version, so you know they were born for vinyl. They are also very popular at the moment, being picked up by great label Jagjagwar (the first UK band to do so) and scoring support gigs with the likes of Besnard Lakes, Lightning Dust and Dead Meadow. I aim to be at all gigs, so could find myself howling at the moon in the very near future...

LONDON GIGS

31 March - Cargo (supporting Besnard Lakes)
6 May - Lexington (supporting Lightning Dust - side project of Black Mountain)
26 May - Bush Hall (supporting psychedelic giants Dead Meadow)

Wolf People - Empty Heart

Gig - Tuneyards/Trash Kit/Think About Life @ Cargo, 15.02.10

As stated earlier, here is last weeks review for the sublime TuNe-YaRdS gig...

Upset the Rhythm kickstart their onslaught of great gigs last month with the likes of Gary War and Vivian Girls, showcasing some of the best from their stable in the process. Tonight at Cargo the juggernaut continues as the feted cracked genius of Tune-Yards gets to show her minimalist wares to a largely unsuspecting public, who failed to shy away from the admittedly commonplace that is the fucking shitty London weather. Sorry, but after a few months of this, I cannot remember the last gig I went to that didn't require me getting either a wet head or wet shoes...

Christmas comes early

Here's something I havent been able to get out of my head this week. The Sleigh Bells are essentially a boy/girl two piece outfit from Brooklyn who have recently brought out their self titled debut album. It opens with 2HELLWU, a simply orchestrated piece of mostly snare, soft jangling guitar and angelic vocals. Oh, and handclaps. And finger clicks. The human percussion continues throughout the album, but the simplicity does not, as the 3rd and 5th tracks Crown On The Ground and Infinity Guitars attest - the former holding a Yeah Yeah Yeah's style riff before cascading in a cymballic bombtrack highlighted with a synth assault; the latter holding a gritty Kinks All Day and All Of the Night riff, thick bass drums, some ah ah ah's, actual sleigh bells and catcalling with attitude. A/B Machines feels like a bizarre mix of Joan Jett, Peaches and MIA, whilst Ring Ring has a distinctively Beta Band circa 3 E.P.s feel to it, with Alexis' sweet voice melding with the looping acoustic guitar and clicking fingers. Yep - did I hear 2010's Tilly and the Wall? It sounds like a catastrophic clusterfuck of a faux cool disaster. I think its mega rad of death - but will they stand the test of time? Hmmm...who cares, Alexis is fucking hot...

The Sleigh Bells are playing a series of dates in London in March, so make sure you don't miss them...

23 March - White Heat @ Madame JoJos
24 March - Cargo (supporting Islands)
25 March - Notting Hill Arts Club (supported by Widower)
26 March - Koko (supporting fun.)

Sleigh Bells - Crown on the Ground
Sleigh Bells - Guitars Infinity