Tracks Of The Week, 16.09.14

Having just announced the release of their debut album, London-based three piece Red Racer are a group of highly established musicians with many handy connections in the world of rock. Recording their album at the infamous Rancho De La Luna, Joshua Tree, alongside Jesse Hughes of Eagles Of Death Metal, the first taster to come from the record clearly contains many recognisable desert rock influences.

‘Put It Out’ is a blast of raw, classic rock filled with crunching riffs and a catchy chorus. With intense momentum, this raucous track builds to a pounding, head-banging cacophony of sound with a punk-infused edge, that will have you reaching for repeat over and over. A perfect slice of unadulterated rock ‘n’ roll.

Red Racer’s debut album, Define, is out 13th October via Dissention Records, and I can’t wait.

 

Although I have only recently been introduced to Lia Ices by the ever-reliable Lauren Laverne, the Connecticut singer-songwriter is about to release her third album. Having recorded this album whilst on a ‘spiritual retreat’ with her “psychic twin brother”, the music created clearly reflects her relaxed, euphoric state of mind of the time.

Lead track ‘Higher’ certainly echoes a contented, chilled-out philosophy with its uplifting electro-pop. As blissful, twinkly melodies ooze seamlessly alongside hazy beats and Ices’ smooth, beguiling vocals, it becomes easy to float higher up into the clouds on its bright, summery vibes.

New album, Ices,  is out today on Jagjaguwar records.

 

Having recently toured the UK, Finnish youngsters, The Scenes, are soon to release their second album. Delivering a unique blend of haunting rock, hardcore and art-pop, this band are clearly wise beyond their years and capable of creating heart-stoppingly powerful offerings.

An example of one such offering is latest single ‘City Of White Blankets’: as haunting layered riffs sweep over Konsta Koivisto’s eerily captivating falsetto, a powerful crescendo builds until the track breaks out into anguished screams and a soaring blast of a climax. Reminiscent of the likes of the almighty The Mars Volta, ‘City Of White Blankets’ is a spellbinding creation, filled with grace and power.

The Scenes’ second album, Beige (they are anything but…!), comes out 27th October just before the band head on tour with The Specials:

Oct 30th – Norwich, UEA w/ The Specials

Nov 3rd – Belfast, Olympia w/ The Specials

Nov 4th – Belfast, Ulster Hall w/ The Specials

Nov 5th – Newcastle, Think Tank

Nov 13th – London, Roundhouse w/ The Specials

Nov 14th – London, Roundhouse w/ The Specials

Nov 15th – London, Roundhouse w/ The Specials

Nov 17th – Brighton, The Dome w/ The Specials

Nov 18th – Bournemouth, Academy w/ The Specials

Nov 22nd – Nottingham, Rock City w/ The Specials

 

As the nominees for this year’s Mercury Music Prize have recently been announced, we were greeted with the usual mix of ‘veterans’ and up and coming acts; along with the array of familiar names, there are always a couple of lesser known gems. This year, one of the acts fitting into that latter category are GoGo Penguin. The Manchester collective have been put forward for their unique fusion creation, v2.O.

Having received acclaim from the likes of Gilles Peterson, GoGo Penguin amalgamate jazz, dubstep and chilled out dance beats, thus creating their own genre of breathtaking ‘acoustic electronica’. Take ‘Hopopono’, released earlier this year; this track intertwines loops of incredible, classically inspired, anthemic piano melodies with a dubstep-reminiscent, jazz-infused rhythm. Along with shades of leftfield electronica and plenty of goosebump-inducing improvisation, ‘Hopopono’ is filled with heaps of incredible musical skill and a truly addictive soul that will be sure to leave a ‘jazz trance’ in its wake.

v2.O is out now.

 

 

Mari Lane

@marimindles

Mari Lane

Mari Lane

Editor, London. Likes: Kathleen Hanna, 6Music, live music in the sunshine. Dislikes: Sexism, pineapples, the misuse of apostrophes.