They Don't Make Nosferatu D2s Like They Used To

Another day, another weird pun-named band. But the ubiquitously-monikered Nosferatu D2 came about some eleven years ago, and disbanded two years later, so your chance to herald or heckle the duo for their choice of title has truly come and gone. But you can prick your ears on what they sounded like thanks to the reissuing madness of Audio Antihero (who put out physical copies of Frog’s last two releases - and I am about to head out to Jazz Servant Quarters tonight to see 'em). Basically AA was started in 2009 to release the band’s “lost” LP, We're Gonna Walk Around This City With Our Headphones On To Block Out The Noise, on cassette. It is surprising just how well the album still holds up today. The sibling duo have everything that should have made them massive in their 2006 heyday - you can hear Los Campesinos!, Frightened Rabbit, The Twilight Sad and Danananackroyd here. There are the spiked and verbose lyrics, spiked and virile instrumentation that is tightly coiled and leaping in tangential sonic corridors at the drop of a hat, spiked and hilarious song titles (such as 'We'll Play "The Power of Love" By Frankie Goes to Hollywood A Thousand Times Tonight' and 'The Kids From Fame' on the subsequent Older, Sadder, Wiser EP) - acerbic, tangled, nervous energy abounds. Darkly emotional, acridly bitter, snarkily serrated - Nosferatu D2 should have been so, so much more. At least we have this legacy to latch on to...

Shell Shocked On Battle Ave

I mentioned on the weekend that a few albums had slipped through the cracks as far as me covering them - the first two I wanted to bring to the attention being from Mittenfields and Avalanche Ammo (check em both out here). Now I'd say Ive been even more slack when its come to New York band Battle Avenue - I think they sent me their debut full length War Paint some three months ago, with change. Its a great album too, put together by Kevin McMahon (who has also worked with Titus Andronicus, The Walkmen, Swans, and Frightened Rabbit) There is a heady sense of deja vu here - like putting elements from The Hold Steady, Modest Mouse and Titus Andronicus into a decrepit crucible - the result of which sees molecules from each mutating and conjoining into a dirty, dishevelled whole. The vocals are stripped bare, as if stripped from vocalist Jesse Alexander forcibly, and its this honest delivery that underpins the band's sound. Its all quite verbose and grandiose (and a whole lot of other -oses Im sure), therefore McMahon's involvement at Ground Zero of War Paint makes perfect sense.

War Paint is currently available as a free download here - indulge in a great little indie release that will hopefully boost these guys into the stratosphere.

Battle Avenue - " "
Battle Avenue - Oh Other, You Brother

Gig - Twilight Sad - Relentless Garage, 24.03.2010

Much can be said about Scottish indie music at the moment - that Frightened Rabbit are finally garnering plaudits ad nauseum for their latest LP and live performances, thus having new found fans scurrying for the back catalogue; that bands with names like We Were Promised Jetpacks can offer moody atmospheric works that belie their monikers; that Glasvegas is shit. And whilst there has always been a section of Scottish music devoted to darker, edgier rock, until recently most surface dwelling music listeners would adhere Franz Ferdinand or Belle and Sebastian as being the mainstays of the country's musical scene. It is refreshing to see that bands that have been revered on their home soil are spreading their influences abroad, and tonight one such band, the Twilight Sad, get to show London its wares at the Relentless Garage.

First though, we are treated to Wild Palms, a London band getting a lot of press in certain circles for their exciting presence and prescient music. Im not sure if I got the right band, because neither were present here. Sure, there were some strong numbers, but most of it was filled out with padding, generic disco pop rock ditties that every man and his Korg are plinking out these days. I couldnt even say that the bands theatrics managed to apply the foundation necessary to cover such imperfections. The lighting show seemed to be run by someone with ADHD, and the smoke machine worked overtime, but all was underwhelming.

Back To The Future

Scotland indie music is full of fare that are varying degrees of doom and gloom - or so the critics would have you believe. And they are differing degrees of quality - for every Twilight Sad, you get a Glasvegas. So I was rather surprised when Glasgow-via-Edinburgh's We Were Promised Jetpacks' new EP The Last Place You'll Ever Look crossed my desk. The name struck fear into my heart - shit, do we have another musically talented but socially and personally vapid bunch like...I dont know, Glasvegas? All worries were promptly dispelled however - the EP is an accomplished affair, and somewhat rare - at this point in time the lads only plan to physically put it out as a tour only offer, although it will become available digitally in due course. They have now piqued my interest - the quality on show here highlights why they are supporting the likes of Frightened Rabbit - and worth your while to check em out.

We Were Promised Jetpacks - A Far Cry