Tracks Of The Week 06.12.13 - GigslutzGigslutz

One of my favourite new bands of 2013, Radkey, have now released a follow up to their second EP, with a fantastic new video which features phenomenal footage of their recent UK tour (which I was pretty gutted to miss). With all the fierce energy, punk-infused buzz, driving beat and raucous rhythm we have come to expect, ‘Start Freaking Out’ is just as exhilarating as past material and proves that these brothers are here for the long haul.

With the distinctive seething vocals of Dee Radke, climatic riffs and pummelling beats, Radkey’s latest offering is a skilfully crafted, thrashing frenzy of teenage energy and rebellion with a video showcasing just how refreshingly titillating and intoxicating their live performances are. I will most certainly be ‘freaking out’ if I don’t get to see them live soon!

I thought I’d attempt to get in the festive mood by including an appropriately seasonal track this week. No, it’s not Michael Buble…

It comes courtesy of the unusually named The Voluntary Butler Scheme (aka one-man-band, Rob Jones). The first single to be taken from his upcoming album, ‘Quinzhee’ is an uptempo, accidently festive-sounding (it was apparently written on a hot, autumn night) track.

Charged with blasts of brass, some upbeat harmonies and a Guillemots-esque romanticised tone, ‘Quinzhee’ is appropriately cheery but lacks the annoying cheesiness so common in most seasonal offerings. With pretty lyrical storytelling along with charming, skilfully composed melodies reminiscent of American crooners The Beach Boys, The Voluntary Butler Scheme has created a sparkly, snowy story full of optimism and jest that will leave you hungry for more (and hopefully some mince pies).

‘Quinzhee’ is released on 23rd December and the album ‘A Million Ways To Make Gold’ follows on 24th February 2014 through Split Records.

‘I wrote a song about Mandela because of what he stood for’ says Jerry Dammers on writing one of the most famous and heartfelt protest songs in history. Although The Specials’ ‘(Free) Nelson Mandela’ is an ultimately upbeat, Latin-African Ska ditty, its anti-apartheid message was serious and sincere. This contrast between subject matter and melody appears to be a result of Dammers writing the tune before the lyrics (‘If I’d known anything about Nelson Mandela beforehand, I’d probably have come up with some earnest thing on a strummed acoustic guitar’) and was key to the success of the song; its celebratory vibe and jazzy African beat making it the unofficial anthem and slogan for the international anti-apartheid movement.

Funnily enough, despite being an avid follower of the anti-apartheid movement as a teenager, Dammers hadn’t actually heard of Mandela until going to a concert at Alexandra Palace to celebrate his 65th birthday in 1983. It was here that he saw African musicians such as Julian Mahula singing about Mandela, and was thus inspired to write the lyrics of the song. And – despite the fluctuating line up of The Specials AKA at the time – with a little help from Elvis Costello, he managed to create something truly inspirational and memorable. Along with the mournful brass drones and uptempo celebratory melody, the song’s message is clear and undoubtedly helped to build the momentum against apartheid and Margaret Thatcher’s terrorist accusations of Mandela.

Dammers’ protest song inspired and motivated millions to join the anti-apartheid movement in the years leading up to Mandela’s freedom, and now stands as a fitting and celebratory tribute to the man who has become the world’s legendary figurehead for freedom and human rights. (The video also contains some pretty legendary moustaches and some of the funkiest dance moves I’ve ever seen…)

Not actually group of siblings, as the names suggest, Limerick-born trio – Sisters – have just released their debut single ‘Hush Hush’. With shades of shoegaze and ‘90s brit-pop, these Irish musicians deliver catchy, twinkly melodies juxtaposed with rocking, driving rhythms. Bassist Aoife’s penetratingly sweet, dulcet tones sit alongside crunching riffs and guitarist Niall’s nasal, grungey vocals, creating a truly infectious slice of indie-pop with moments of hypnotic beauty.
‘Hush Hush’ was released on 2nd December, and you should definitely take a look at the accompanying hippy-inspired photomontage video.