Money Te Shadow of Heaven
I'm a woman who enjoys an album with her bath of an evening. Tere's something double relaxing about it. I listened to this album, from a group of Mancunian, philosophical (oooooh look how ironic our band name is!) and on- the-rise boys, whilst in the bath. AND IT RUINED MY BATH. It's been a long time since I listened to a whole album of awfulness, but I did it. For you, I did it. Te band has been getting major props all over the place for their music, but somehow I couldn't see it myself. Tere are 10 songs on this album, with a front cover of a leaping boy, rather reminiscent of Te Smiths (perhaps lead singer Jamie Lee?). Very northern, anyway. Te album starts off with second single So Long (God is Dead), sounding initially rather Sigur Ros but with English lyrics. Te lyrics are awful. Wishy washy. Tere's no tone to the singing, so one song he may sing 'Who's going to love you now?' in the same way that in the next one he croons 'Fell in love with the night time, she took me by surprise'. I can't tell how he feels about anything. Musically it's not bad at all, at times whispery quiet, others strings epic, quite Elbowy really. It's just the bloody awful endless and droning singing I'm afraid. Limp, too earnest and frankly, not ballsy enough for a northern group in my experience. Bung Alex Turner over the top of this music and they could have something special, but there's nothing here for me now. Now where's my towel? Lizz
Shirock Everything Burns
From the title Everything Burns, you would expect the album to be of a somewhat depressive nature. Te title however, seems to construct faux expectations, with the music actually being more uplifting than depressive. Tis pop / rock duo, Chuck and Pap Shirock, complement each other vocally whilst maintaining chemistry when singing together, something that is often lacking when two singers are involved romantically as well as working together, as they are. Both their musical talent is showcased expertly in this album, with the lyrics and vocals fitting perfectly with the instrumental aspects, creating 12 songs each with a blaring individuality and a different range of emotional requirements. Shirock’s ingenuity does not end there, with their own clothing range ‘iRock Clothing’, which they launched themselves back before they’d established themselves within the music industry, is just another one of their creative outlets that they’ve pulled off seemingly effortlessly. Te album artwork is a brilliant encasement of the album’s content, because when you strip this album to its basics you get Chuck and Pap Shirock, singing in sync, working off raw talent and resourcefulness. So, with a clothing line and this new album on its way the question is, what’s next for Shirock, and will they be able to complete their next challenge with the fluency that has accompanied their previous accomplishments? Hanna Huzel-Steele
Drenge Drenge
You have to wonder what happened to Tom Watson, former Shadow MP when he first encountered new Sheffield blues rockers Drenge. From the opening chords of his first Drenge experience, to the strange resignation turned band manifesto he recently filed with incendiary gusto [he instructed party leader Ed Miliband to “be that great Labour leader that you can be, but try to have a real life too. And if you want to see an awesome band, I recommend Drenge."], Drenge might be solely responsible for planting that anarchic seed. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were the only reason. Tere’s something about listening to their visceral punky blues rock that makes you think they were weaned on a petrol can, rather than the stock fodder of teenage living, idly passing by the inbetween years in uninspiring rec grounds. Sheffield has its musical lineage of course, but I’d put my neck out to say this is the best sound to come out of the city since never. Every instrument sounds like it’s been on a high protein diet, such is the power of its punch. Blues guitars are thrashed to their limit in 12 unrelenting songs with titles like ‘People in Love Make Me Feel Yuck’, and ‘I Want to Break You in Half’. Te jewel in the crown is single, ‘Bloodsports’ though, which is a dizzying, urgent spiral into madness. I love it. And now I like to imagine Tom Watson throwing an absolute shit fit in his local constituency office to the song. Losing the tie and kicking three boxes of responsible recycling pamphlets clear down the corridor. Drenge have that effect. Emma R. Garwood
48 /August 2013/
outlineonline.co.uk
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