Tuesday 26 June 2012

EP Review : Kill Kasper : Stuck Between The Devil & The Blues In Drop C




In this small town of fakers and hopeful makers, we boast a mighty lot of hope upon certain genres of music. Certain crowds will attend certain gigs, friends will support and the local rag will slate and embrace in any way they feel fit. One band to stick to their proverbial guns with more regenerations than Doctor Who under their belts are Southsea rockers Kill Kasper, who have officially released EP ’Stuck Between The Devil & The Blues In Drop C’.

The 3-track smash slams in with ‘Start The Revolution’ the ever dulcet tones of The Kolonel wade in and the drums frenzy around anthemia rock and roll guitars. What’s clear from the word go is the two clear fingers if you disagree with what you are hearing, attitude backed with experience leaving you in a ludicrous position to argue any kind of point.

Speak to Kill Kasper personally and they will tell you the EP is a long time coming, but once heard you can excuse them with good reason. Kill Kasper do what they do in such a manner, with such technique and in such gentlemanly fashion that it all adds up and turns everything to 11.

Nobody within the city of Portsmouth do what Kill Kasper do as well as they do it, ‘Rock This City’ begs lyrically nationwide, in a ‘go and clean your ears out’ fashion or a ‘switch off the tele and turn on the wireless’ kinda way. Duelling guitars are once again prominent backed up by heavy bass line and drums, no faults here. It just goes on.

Closing track ‘Who Lied’ is a 7 minute ode to everything that has ever fucked you off, or fucked off the Kolonel…Here at SouthSolarCity, we aren’t 100% sure. Pounding drums around  the ever present Kill Kasper vocal mirrored by the swirling guitars build before a outright shattering chorus and immense solo licking bridge. One very emotional ride.

The first official EP outing for Kill Kasper is a roaring success ‘Stuck Between The Devil & The Blues In Drop C’ boasts future with the right amount of the past, everything they can be with not just a foot in the door but being able to swing it both ways. They’ve got the key to a big blue box, they’ve got a timeless sound and the attitude to boot, Kill Kasper are coming. I for one hope the world is ready.

Monday 25 June 2012

ClubNME : Two Wounded Birds preview


After the roaring success for Rolling Stone cover artists The Sheepdogs back in May, ClubNME Portsmouth returns once again to The Wedgewood rooms.

Headliners on Saturday 28th July are lo-fi, enthralling Margate 4 piece Two Wounded Birds. A band who have been bustling around the musical radar sporting compilation appearances, EP releases and most recently a self titled hit album.

Formed of Johnny Danger, Ally Blackgrove, James Shand and Joe Stevens they bring a Last Shadow Puppets viciously corrupted by The Beach Boys sound, receiving BBC Introducing acclaim and a very close relationship with 2011 surf pop band The Drums.






Supporting Two Wounded Birds on the night our are very own indie city dwellers Guilded Youth, formed of brothers Harry and Ben alongside friend Dan they’ve recently played Guildfest and Glastonbury. The Guilded Youth sound spans from Kasabian to Kings Of Leon around the block to The Hollies crossing The Beatles, The Kinks and Stone Roses.

As always the night will be sound tracked by ClubNME DJ’s who’s experience span over 20 years and knowledge is infinite. Tickets for the night are available from The Wedgewood Rooms box office situated just inside the venue doors or online here (link) for a bargain price of 4 English sterling with doors opening at 10pm sharp.


Sunday 17 June 2012

Fathoms : Souvenirs


Late last year I was browsing through the news online, where on the side menu an article title read ‘When Bands Fall Off Cliffs…’ intrigued I clicked said title with picture of Kaiser Chiefs below and read on.

A on going swirling thought of mine is about bands that have fallen off of the radar of the vast musical industry mostly indie bands from my teenage years, who sold thousands of records and hit the scrapheap quicker than you can say ‘I predict a riot’, but there are bands who have seen off the tough times, bands who have worked through the second album sludge and still shine through…But why?



In the week that The Queen marked her diamond year a band mentioned in the article and already previously mentioned released greatest hits ‘Souvenir’, A band that saw off the second album sludge but fell flat soon after…Kaiser Chiefs. With 8 years in the spotlight behind them, albums that have sold multiple times platinum and a bathroom shelf so full of awards that it’s bowing to burst and break. The never ending hits of the band can rile the smallest amount of bodies into a frenzy while having thousands upon thousands screaming choruses at festivals worldwide but flip the coin and the story changes.

From the roaring success of ‘Employment’ with hits such as ‘Oh My God’ ‘I Predict A Riot’ and ‘Everyday I Love You Less And Less’ they released another hit machine in ‘Yours truly, Angry Mob’ which included ‘Ruby’ and fitting ‘The Angry Mob’. Then occurred a ‘downward spiral’ of sales, ‘Off With Their Heads’ shifting just over 200,000 copies not even half eclipsing the numerous double in sales of previous albums and the outright failure of ‘The Future Is Medieval’.

With a fan base bigger than Leeds United football club the only question worth asking is…Where did the fans go? A band that so quickly prospered with hit after hit ran out of hits consequently taking the biggest hit with lead singer Ricky Wilson confirming the band a ‘Singles Band’ and the greatest hits release almost possibly hammering the last nail into the Kaiser coffin until festival reincarnation years on.



A band who reign within the same indie timeline are Kasabian, lad rockers who have written indie anthems for fun whilst reinventing themselves behind a ‘like what we do or fuck you’ attitude. From the release of self titled album ‘Kasabian’ in the same year as Kaisers ‘Employment’ they’ve gone on with a succession of albums in ‘Empire’ ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’ and most recently game changer ‘Velociraptor!’. They go on minus a greatest hits with attitude intact.

The indie roll call of bands from the ’04 rise to the present day is endless…The Fratellis, who unfortunately fell at the second album hurdle are to re-unite, Arctic Monkeys who continually succeed as a band and Alex Turner as a solo artist, Bloc Party are set to release new album ‘Four’ already receiving critics acclaim after empty rumours of a split and The Enemy possibly kicking a reigniting ember to form a flame once again for British guitar music.



From the negative we lead to positive while still asking questions, who should the finger of blame be pointed at?…Is it the record label who simultaneously place bands on pedestals that they shouldn’t have to hold, lead into a musical direction too quickly without time to gather themselves in a clouded haze.

Two Door Cinema Club over 2011 became a band of indie folklore, 2010 saw the release of ’Tourist History’ supported by French label Kitsune who have nurtured Cut Copy, Delphic, Tom Vek, Hot Chip, La Roux, Phoenix and Klaxons (to name but a few). A label who (in my opinion) let the artist breath and write their own story, Two Door Cinema Club are currently in Miami (not by choice) recording a second album minus the drum machine with added samba. It will be anticipated to be as if not better than the first album, in a ’fly or die’ situation what are bands to do?.



Other labels aren’t so forgiving, Kitsune are a large label but are shadowed by big players like Columbia Records, Domino or EMI who (in my opinion) look for the quick fix, take the band who make the hit and build them into a money making machine but when the cord is cut, who picks up the pieces?

In conclusion, the cut throat attitude of the current music industry in personal opinion is that a outwardly reckless 2 and out album by decreasing sales by numerous bands is devastating .When the dust finally settles and guitar music is ripe and strong once more we will take a clearer outlook on our musical surroundings, but for now we have to stress for the new and worry for the old.