I Kinda Moved Blogs, Sorry About That Guys.

Hey guys, I've made a new blog using Wordpress that I will be updating instead of this one. I did it for numerous reasons, sorry about the confusion. On the new site you'll find all the old reviews + lots more new stuff, plus new features! I just find that Wordpress is a lot more intuitive than Blogger.  


Exciting times ahead and all that. I just find that I can organise everything better over there and the aesthetics are a lot nicer. Plus, in hindsight, naming this site after a not-so-well-known Johnny Foreigner song which was five words long wasn't the wisest decisions ever. Let me know what you think of the new site and follow it to gain regular updates directly! THANKS. Click below to visit the new site, which is http://callumbayliss.wordpress.com/

REVIEW: Bleeding Knees Club - Nothing To Do

Bleeding Knees Club are a rowdy teenage duo from Australia who've gained major hype overseas through a steady string of singles and EPs. With their debut LP, the band have created an album of quick-and-dirty two minute garage punk anthems that fly by as fast and intensely as machine-gun fire.

The inspirations are obvious but varied throughout the album, from the slacker attitude found in bands like Wavves, and the classic guitar work and tempo of 50's rock n' roll.  Things get slightly poignant on 'Beach Slut', with a slow-moving spoken word intro by vocalist/drummer Alex Wall, accompanied by a quiet synth in the background. That lasts all of... 36 seconds, before the band launch into their frenzied, hook-laden normal self again. Hooks are used constantly by the band to engrave each song into your memory, and they'll get stuck there for hours.  

The themes tackled on the record are by no means ground-breaking and the lyrics are devoid of any kind of depth, but there's an endearing teen spirit throughout which makes the whole thing a lot of fun to listen to. They're just straight forward tunes about angst, lust and boredom which anybody who's ever been a teenager can relate to.

Dev Hynes of Lightspeed Champion/Blood Orange fame helped master Nothing To Do, but there's not really any of his trademarks here. The album lacks the familiar bells and whistles of Hynes' work, instead taking advantage of lo-fi production and bare-bones musical dynamics. It has a raw quality that really lets BKC's attitude glimmer.

With Nothing To Do, Bleeding Knees Club did what everyone expected them to do, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's a collection of breezy, addictive skater punk that, while lacking in any longevity, make up for it with a hell of a lot of passion.

7/10

REVIEW: School of Seven Bells - Ghostory

  

When bands lose members, it's inherently a bad thing, but School of Seven Bells (often stylised as SVIIB) have managed to stay on top despite the departure of keyboardist Claudia Deheza. Now onto their third full-length, Ghostory carries the band's familiar brand of ambient female-fronted dream-pop in full force, even without the third member's presence.

Ghostory is a concept album in the loosest of senses. It tells the tale of fictional character Lafaye, who is haunted by ghosts throughout her life, but it doesn't let itself get engulfed by the narrative. The album is built up around complex synth arrangements and dance beats, with vocalist Alejandra Deheza layering poignant, haunting vocals and abstract lyrics that are appropriate given the context of the album. Sure, there may be an abundance of albums like this recently, with efforts from Chairlift, Austra and Memoryhouse churning out similar sounds, but SVIIB just seem to have the edge.

At times up-beat, and at other times shrouded in brooding mystery, Ghostory is as enigmatic as it is enjoyable. It all flows like a ethereal river, with a retro 80's sheen glossing over the whole experience. When the album slows down, it's reminiscent of M83's 2011 LP, 'Hurry Up, We're Dreaming', with which the band share vast similarities with. Electronic drum samples punctuate the most effervescent tracks (such as lead-single 'Lafaye'), while the synths slow down for the drowsier moments of the album.

With Ghostory, SVIIB have managed to shine among a deep sea of 80's shoegaze revivalists. The tracks are more focused and ambitious than ever before, despite missing a key element. The record closes with eight-and-a-half minute epic 'When You Sing', which flies by, much like a dream. Before you know it, you'll be pressing the play button on the first track again.

8/10