Gigslutz Tracks of The Week - 06.09.13

Yorkshire four piece, Laurel Canyons, deliver quintessentially American sounding songs which is appropriate, really, given that the band are named after an area of Los Angeles. With youthful energy and vigour, Jake Cope and co power through rocky Americana, but with a refreshing splash of contemporary British Indie. Following debut single ‘Youth Blood’, ‘Broken Jaw’ is filled with country-inspired melodies and Cope’s powerful husky vocals. Recorded above a betting shop in the band’s hometown of Doncaster, the new single showcases the rich heritage of influences that have inspired Laurel Canyons, and their unique fusion of an eclectic range of genres.

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The pretty, twinkling melodies that Dublin band, Shadows And Dust, seem intent on creating are capable of softening even the hardest of hearts and bringing a tear to the driest of eyes. Their latest single ‘Homely Ground’ comes from their emotive, folk-filled debut EP ‘Each Year Forever’, and contains beautiful harmonies with trinkets of pretty piano and poetically wistful lyrics. Reminiscent of fellow Irish crooner, Van Morrison, singer Dermot Kennedy’s smooth vocals flow perfectly alongside those of Lia Wright, and together they have conceived a folk song that is, frankly, quite charming. So, if you fancy a bit of folk-pop but – like me – have had just about enough of Mumford and Sons’ back catalogue of identical songs, then you should have a listen to Shadows and Dust’s debut EP, and check out the artwork too: it comes courtesy of Bon Iver’s drummer.
You may not yet have heard of Swiss Band, The Lonesome Southern Comfort Company, but once you do, they will be hard to forget (despite the rather drawn out name). And, thankfully the wait for them to grace our shores will soon be over, as they are set to release their first album over here on 28th October – ‘The Big Hunt’. The first single to be taken from the album is opening track ‘When He’s Down’ – an intriguing, blues-infused ballad, spitting spiteful lyrics, that bursts into life with a rather Flaming Lips-esque electro-pop finale.

‘When He’s Down’ is a beguiling slice of blues; a unique amalgamation of melancholy and uplifting. An acoustic ballad with attitude. A beautifully executed folk song that is endearingly rough around the edges. It succeeds in delivering surprisingly compelling snippets of electro-pop, whilst retaining the traditional folky musicality of banjos and violins. So, if you’re after something a little bit different, you should definitely let your ears feast on a bit of the extraordinarily rousing The Lonesome Southern Comfort Company.

Still in their teens, the Radke brothers have been causing quite a stir, and deservedly so. Radkey’s current single ‘Romance Dawn’ is an exhilarating, buzz-filled rush of punk-rock that seems to have been missing from the music scene for quite some time. And what a breath of fresh air it is to hear something like this on the radio once more. With Ramones-esque pulsating drum beats, and seething vocals reminiscent of old timers Bad Religion or AFI, ‘Romance Dawn’ is a climatic anthem, a thrashing frenzy of enthused teenage vigour and rebellion.

Unlike some other ‘punk’ songs, however, Radkey are able to generate the fierce energy and fist-clenching power, whilst retaining strong melodies and thoughtful musicality. Don’t be fooled by the song-title, however, there is nothing ‘romantic’ about ‘Romance Dawn’ – as it gets faster and faster throughout, the blistering guitar riffs and Dee Radke’s distinctive voice, it makes for a truly inspired, hyperactive thrill. And I really am quite excited about what these crazy kids will come up with next.

Mari Lane

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