Tracks Of The Week, 12.08.15 - GigslutzGigslutz

With the first single from their forthcoming debut album, Brighton’s Demob Happy take a trip into the world of psych-tinged garage-rock. Complete with a lysergic video by Katia Ganfield, the band’s riff-heavy ‘Wash It Down’ is no doubt set to send the band – already capable of selling out the likes of The Haunt and The Lexington – to dizzying new heights.

Mixed by Anthony Theaker (Pulled Apart By Horses, The Horrors, Toy), their sound is as expected – but by no means unwelcome. Trippy and cut-throat, ‘Wash It Down’ has all the riffs and warbling, low vocals one needs to make a fantastically mind-altering track. If the track itself isn’t what you imagine (or perhaps, know) an acid trip to be like, Matt Marcantonio sums it up pretty well, describing the track as “about some cosmic lizard wizards brewing up Dream Soda syrup as the televisual sex machine sedates our frontal lobes.”

The band are set to announce a headline tour for December 2015, but if you can’t wait, catch them on 5 September at The Clapham Grand, London w/ UNKLE (Eddie Temple Morris’ Psychedelia Smithsonian).

Wash It Down is out 14 August via SO Recordings.

Musician, Yogi, Feminist, role-model… And with her new track ‘Immigrant’, taken from her current album Womyn, Alysha Brilla is proving just how important music is in making us realise the rather obvious. Basing ‘Immigrant’ on the experience of her father moving from Tanzania to Canada (and the various movements of her ancestors), Alysha – with her upbeat pop and pixie-like voice – highlights the normality of immigrants: we all have a lot in common.

Despite the themes of her songs, and the passion she clearly has for them (as well as Womyn, her branded philosophy), ‘Immigrant’ remains tastefully light-hearted. Whilst singing “You say my food is funny / My name is funny / I look funny” Alysha retains a pride in her ‘funniness’. With ‘Immigrant’, she truly teaches people – through both the lyrics and general happy-go-lucky nature of the song – to embrace their differences.

Alysha is a strong advocate for all equal rights and is set to be a spokesperson for International Go Topless Day, keep up with her on social media: twitter.com/alyshabrilla / facebook.com/myalyshabrilla / www.alyshabrilla.com / http://www.womyn.net/

City and Colour (aka Dallas Green) has returned with ‘Wasted Love’, the first single from his brand new album If I Should Go Before You. With a definite blues-rock inspiration, resulting in a sound not unlike The Black Keys, Green delivers soulful vocals and piano alongside edgy guitars. Whilst we have to wait until October for the album, the single has emerged in perfect time to carry us through the rest of summer.

Recorded in Nashville, Green takes further inspiration from American Country music, with the album featuring use of the pedal steel guitar. He undoubtedly knows how to take established sounds and twist and develop them to create an upbeat summer anthem.

Catch City and Colour live:

February 18 – Brighton, The Dome
February 19 – Cardiff, Great Hall
February 20 – Manchester, Albert Hall (SOLD OUT)
February 22 – Dublin, Olympia
February 23 – Belfast, Mandela Hall
February 24 – Glasgow, O2 Academy
February 26 – London, Troxy
February 27 – London, Troxy

Everyone knows how tricky it is to draw inspiration from a decade like the 60s without sounding like a tribute act. It is, however, definitely possible, as proved by cousins Ali and Billy Strange (AKA Acting Strange). ‘Rumble’, the first single from their latest EP, takes inspiration from Merseybeat acts – their lo-fi guitar pop acting as a sort of growth on traditional 60s sounds, rather than an imitation.

The pair’s relationship blossomed during summers spent working together in their uncle Gabby’s taxidermy workshop where he would teach them to play a variety of instruments. Clearly Gabby’s work payed off; the band aren’t subtle in paying tribute to him. Flooded with pop-hooks and catchy melodies, ‘Rumble’ is no doubt completely reminiscent of those summers spent together.

There’s a charming sense of simplicity to Acting Strange. It’s no frills guitar music, recorded in Gabby’s workshop after his passing, by a band who cite The Simpsons as their central cultural reference. What more could you want?

The new EP from Acting Strange, Night On The Tiles is out on September 8.