Review: Catfish & The Bottlemen // The Ride

Catfish & The Bottlemen’s 2014 debut ‘The Balcony’ made an absolute storm, it’s an album that has propelled them to within touching distance of festival headline status. Their latest outing, ‘The Ride’, could be what puts them their.

‘7’ opens the album and it epitomises the step they’ve made between albums – a very small one. Other than polishing up the sound from the first album it’s difficult to see how the band has changed. Lyrically not a huge amount has changed with songs about girls, partying and regrets. Musically not a huge amount has changed either other than a slightly less frantic and fuller sound.

The most glaring thing missing from this album and Catfish & The Bottlemsn’s discography is a ‘Wonderwall’, a ‘Mr Brightside’, a song that will launch them from a good band to a great one. ‘Soundcheck’, their first single from the album, is the one that comes closest. With a sing-along chorus and a theme reflecting the difficulties of love and touring it’s an absolute hit with fans of the band, but not one that’s going to convert people that aren’t.

With all this said ‘The Ride’ is an excellent album, it improves and develops the band from their raw debut, however second albums are always difficult, especially if your first one is as successful as ‘The Balcony’ was. However it’s hard not to look at this album as a disappointment because it could have been so much more.

(8/10)

-Luke

Review: The Fused // Undertone // 19.07.16

The music industry was not born in big stadiums and festivals. It doesn't run on huge £60+ shows. It runs on shows in tiny basements with a lineup of young raw talent and some very sweaty punters. It runs on small venues and promoters who do it for the love of music and in the hope that one of the bands on the bill might one day make it. Tonight was one of these nights.

Parish @ Undertone

The night opened with Parish, a young band with a lot of potenetial, who's insatiable energy was reflected by the crowd. Their brand of energetic indie rock went down a storm - not something you often see for a first band at a gig - with mosh pits and dancing all through the set.

They then made way for Amber who brought the same level of intensity to their set. With a slightly more polished yet still raw modern indie sound they fed off the energy of the crowd. The band from Cwmbran showcased how to be an excellent support band, whipping the crowd into a frenzy before passing on the baton. 

Next up were Wetpainttt, a slightly older band to the rest of the line up which showed as they brought a more complete sounding performance to the tiny stage. With a sound somewhere between blues and frantic indie rock they were, as the gig panned out, a breather from the fast - paced frantics of the other 3 bands. However they still maintained the energy of the gig keeping the punters sweaty, the room hot and the atmosphere buzzing.

The Fused @ Undertone

Headline band The Fused took to the stage faced with an already sweltering, worn out and sweaty venue. This is almost as much of a challenge as facing a venue with no atmosphere whatsoever and yet the band from Cardiff pushed the crowd to expel that last ounce of energy before the night was up. With clever, honest annd early Arctic Monkey-esc lyrics about life in Cardiff coupled with a sound and persona comparable to Catfish & The Bottlemen, The Fused showed the crowd that they mean business and could really go places in the future.

On the hottest day of the year so far anybody that witnessed this gig was lucky enough to see some of the hottest talent from south Wales.

The Fused announced during the show they would be playing HOYFEST in November along with Amber.

They also will play Hub Festival along with Wetpainttt.

-Luke

You can find our preview of the other acts playing HOYfest HERE and a review of the last gig we saw The Fused at HERE

Stereo Brain: Top 10 Albums of 2016 So Far

10. Rusty Shackle // Dusk

Brilliant alternative folk. FULL REVIEW

9. Andy Hull & Rober McDowell // Swiss Army Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

An unusual inclusion however this a beautiful and musically brilliant original soundtrack the kind of which has been missing from modern film.

8. Black Peaks // Statues

The kick in the teeth the british rock scene needed. What an album, what a band!

7. Catfish & The Bottlemen // The Ride

Second albums are difficult, Catfish & The Bottlemen have found that out the hard way and despite it being a great album, they still havent got that 'Wonderwall'

6. Lonely The Brave // Things Will Matter

An example of a brilliant second album; dark, mysterious and everything you could have wanted from this band on the rise. FULL REVIEW

5. Heart Of Oak // EP | One

Delicate, thoughtful and brilliant, this unknown Southampton artist has unwittingly produced one of our favourite albums of the year so far. FULL REVIEW

4. Radiohead // A Moon Shaped Pool

Pure genius, a polished yet experimental Radiohead came out to play and they produced one of the albums of the year.

3. Spring King // Tell Me If You Like To

A debut to remember for this indie-punk band. With tunes like 'Rectifier' and 'Demons' as well as an allround brilliant album, this could propel them up the musical ladder at an alarming rate.

2. Modern Baseball // Holy Ghost

The Philadelphia band return for a 3rd time with an honest and open album. Personal and musically brilliant - a lethal combination for any band. FULL REVIEW

1. Frightened Rabbit // Paintng Of A Panic Attack

The Scottish bands 5th LP takes them to new heights. A reinvigorated and slightly different band comes out in this LP and yet the brings the greatest hits of previous albums. FULL REVIEW

Review: LUK // Clwb Ifor Bach // 16.06.16

'And Now For Something Completely Different...' is a film by british comedy giants Monty Python, in it the film jumps from unrelated skit to unrelated skit and yet still seems to, in some way or another, be related. Occasionally you get a gig like this where all the acts are completely different and yet seem to fit together, this is what the Cardiff crowd were treated to at LUK's gig.

The night opened with Chew, a grime MC from Blackwood. Spitting aggressive and unapologetic bars his sound slots somewhere inbetween Sleaford Mods and Skepta. Unlike many budding grime and hip-hop artists however, Chew had something to say with his music. In between the brief moments of "yeahs" and "my bars are sick" there was a genuine message of distaste for the establishment. Not only did a young anarchist come out but also an interesting commentary on life - this comes across most prominently in 'I Am Proud', a song produced by Equlibrium, which is also some of Chew's best work and is available on his free EP 'The MattheMattical Problem'.

The The 1975-esc Atterbury & Gibbz came up next. The bands melancholy sound is one that's very current but don't for one second think they're a carbon copy, they have a much sparser and less pop-like sound with music that slots somewhere between modern indie and the odd bit of deep house. It's a deadly combination and one that gives Atterbury & Gibbz more of a musical appeal than the pop driven The 1975.

Having gone from hip-hop beats to an electronic indie sound the gig ends halfway between with LUK. Their experimental, beat heavy electronic tracks and deep vocals show the darker side of electro-indie which fluctuates between smooth and jarring. Early on in the set LUK's experimental edge came through before they closed on two more polished tracks which they worked on with producer Lee House. These seemed a lot smoother, cohesive and direct in their approach and sound like the future of LUK.

All three very different artists gave a lesson in Cardiff on the diversity and quality of young, up & coming music and really delivered good solid performances.

-Luke

Review: Frightened Rabbit // Painting Of A Panic Attack

Not all music has to be loud, political and rebellious. Likewise not all music has to be brainless, thoughtless pop manufactured for the masses. Sometimes music can be delicate, thoughtful and personal and this is the kind of music Frightened Rabbit have been dealing in since their creation. From humble beginnings as two brothers playing in a band together, Frightened Rabbit has gained a few members, gotten a little older and have now released their 5th studio album - 'Painting Of A Panic Attack'.


Since their last album, released over 3 years a go, a lot has changed; lead singer Scott Hutchison has moved to LA leaving the band separated by the Atlantic ocean, the band has lost a member and the whole of Frightened Rabbit has been given a rethink. After the success of album number 4 - 'Pedestrian Verse' - to Scott, atleast, Frightened Rabbit had reached a triumphant finale, becoming the band he envisioned from a start. However he decided it was the end of a chapter not a story and the next chapter, 'Painting Of A Panic Attack', began to form.

The album opens with 'Death Dream', the first song released for the album, which very much sets the tone. Organ driven and ghostly the song paints a sombre and painful picture, one that appears even more personal than that of previous albums, before dropping into 'Get Out'. The two songs together really show what the album is about - love, loss but also hope. More than anything these songs lay out a new Frightened Rabbit with a slightly different sound but who's core element - the lyrical content - remains familiar and if anything more focussed.

'I Wish I Was Sober' and 'Woke Up Hurting' along with 'Get Out' compound the slightly rethought style of the band, introducing a greater element of electronic and a lesser use of the acoustic guitar - only really appearing on the closing number.

Despite the number of sombre songs on the album, there is the occasional moment where the guitar driven Frightened Rabbit from 'Pedestrian Verse' punches through. Particularly in 'Break' the guitar driven chorus is infectious and is certainly the most upbeat and positive sounding track on the album.

Catch Frightened Rabbit on tour this autumn

'Painting Of A Panic Attack' draws to a close with three very different songs. The piano driven '400 Bones' is the closest to a love song that Frightened Rabbit have ever reached, reflecting on the small intimate moments between two people. The song builds and builds to dramatic effect before dropping back to a singular piano in an almost eerie stillness. 'Lump Street' however delivers a dark, thumping and harsh reality to the listener before the album draws to a delicate conclusion with 'Die Like A Rich Boy'. The song completes the album combining elements of the Frightened Rabbit of old with the new style while providing a ghostly and refreshing view of life.

'Painting Of A Panic Attack' is the bands most complete work to date; reinventing and reworking themselves while maintaining the soul and quality of the band - a feat rarely pulled off by any artist. Frightened Rabbit have gone from strength to strength over the last decade, expect them to keep growing for another 10 years to come.
(9.5/10)

-Luke

Review: Lonely The Brave // Thing Will Matter

Lonely The Brave burst onto the scene in 2014 with 'The Day's War' and now they're back with a second album 'Things Will Matter'. David Jake's soft deep vocals still seep through the whole album and with the songs still heavily guitar, at a glance it doesn't look as if much as changed

It's difficult to put your finger on initially, however the more you listen the more you realise something has changed. In Black Mire, the second song on the album, its the most clear with the vocals becoming faint and at times overshadowed by the roaring guitar riffs creating a darker feel to the album.

Most importantly, however, this album shows the development of a band set to go to the top of alternative musics hierarchy. It's not the finished article just yet but its yet another step forward in this bands career. (8/10)

-Luke

Preview: Top Gigs in Cardiff // July-December

Earlier this year we looked at 10 live music events to check in Cardiff and they've now all occured so here's some more which we will definitely be catching and hence you should too!


Throwfest 2016 // Clwb Ifor Bach & Fuel // 21.08.16

Cardiff's prime metal festival Throwfest takes place in August this year. Taking place across Fuel Rock Club and Clwb Ifor Bach and boasting an excellent line-up featuring established acts I Killed The Prom Queen and Hacktivist as well as a rich vein of local and national talent, this is one festival you don't want to miss.






Black Peaks & Heck // Clwb Ifor Bach // 15.09.16


Black Peaks and Heck (Formerly Baby Godzilla) have got to be two of the best up & coming bands in the UK scene. Having both released brilliant debut albums in 2016 a joint headline tour has our, and many people around the country's, mouth watering.







Pretty Vicious // The Globe // 17.09.16


Another young band making waves are Pretty Vicious; the teenagers from Merthyr recently released the accomplished 'Cave Song EP' and this tour is set to be their biggest & most raucous yet.






Moose Blood // Y Plas // 06.10.16

With their second album 'Blush' on the way, Moose Blood head on a UK wide tour boasting a growing fan base. The band will be looking to impress with their new material as well as songs from their acclaimed debut.








Swn Festival // Cardiff // 21 - 23.10.16

Going into it's 10th year, Swn is bigger and better than ever. With the brilliant Spring King & Lonely The Brave already announced amongst an array of excellent local and national artists this weekend is a highlight for any music fan in Cardiff.




Jack Garratt // Great Hall // 19.11.16

Jack Garratt's rise as been an impressive one, having won the acclaimed BBC's Sound Of 2016 award and released a stunning debut already this year, the one man band sets of to tour the UK this autumn. With an impressive performance at Glastonbury to back up the hype, this gig will be one not to miss for fans of something a little different.

Preview: 2000Trees Festival, Cheltenham // 7th-9th July

In 4 weeks time I'm going to be heading to 2000Trees festival for the first time. It's a much talked about festival and one highly respected as a place to find some of the top up & coming talent. Based in Cheltenham the festival is in it's 10th year and previously had the likes of Frank Turner, Guillemots, Frightened Rabbit & Deaf Havana headline. This year Scottish indie band Twin Atlantic and punk legends Refused headline and it's a year not to be missed.

We're going to do this preview a little differently (as I'm going to the festival) and I'm going to share with you the bands I'll be seeing each day.

Thursday:

• Max Raptor // The Cave
• Oxygen Theif // Axiom
• Milk Teeth // The Cave
• Black Peaks // The Cave
• We Were Promised Jetpacks // The Cave
• Beans On Toast // Axiom
• *Special Guest* // Axiom

Max Raptor are the first band on over the weekend and they are definitely one of my favourites. Having released their 3rd album this year (Stereo Brain rating: 7.5/10) and with a slowly growing fan base they'll bring some of Britains best punk to the festival. Milk Teeth, aswell, will be bringing some of the UK's best early on in the festival. Compared to the likes of Nirvana and early Weezer their debut album Vile Child brought a modern take on 90's grunge to the excellent list of music released this year.

Black Peaks are another band ruffling feathers this year, their debut album Statues received amazing reviews from critics far and wide (Stereo Brain rating: 8.5/10) and was featured heavily on iTunes. Tipped for big things they will be one to watch at this years festival.

Possibly my favourite Scottish band from the line-up We Were Promised Jetpacks also grace The Cave stage this year. Their brilliant blend of indie rock will certainly something to look forward to with the added bonus of possibly hearing some new material with a 4th album supposedly on the way.

Most interestingly, however, for the Thursday is the 'Special Guest' headlining the Axiom stage which will be taken over by Xtra Mile Recordings for the day - a label most famously known through their success with Frank Turner.....

Friday:

• Vant // Main Stage
• Press To Meco // Axiom
• The Smith Street Band // Main Stage
• Moose Blood (Acoustic) // Forest Stage
• Kagoule // Axiom
• Will Varley // The Croft
• Neck Deep // Main Stage
• Basement // The Cave
• Twin Atlantic // Main Stage

Opening the main stage on Friday are the brilliant Vant who will bring their brilliant brand of fast paced indie-punk and possibly be one of the best smaller bands of the weekend. Also taking to the main stage on Friday are Australian pop punky band The Smith Street Band who having released 3 albums have a slowly growing fan base in the UK.

Press To Meco and Kagoule will be punking-up the Axiom stage, both bands have a cult following and Kagoule's debut album 'Urth' even breached the UK vinyl top ten last year!

Will Varley is another addition to the lineup from Xtra Mile Recordings, his funny and often initmate live shows should translate brilliantly to a festival of this size and will be one you don't want to miss.

Closing off the day on the main stage are generic pop punkers Neck Deep and scottish indie-rockers Twin Atlantic. Don't be fooled by Neck Deep's teenage following their show will be raucous and full of mayhem. Twin Atlantic, headlining the festival for the first time, will put on one hell of a show and have the whole festival up & off their feet. With a new album on the way too there may be a chance for fans to get a glimpse of the new material.

Saturday:

• Itch (of King Blues) // Forest Stage
• Creeper // Main Stage
• Black Foxxes // The Axiom
• Arcane Roots // Main Stage
• The King Blues // Main Stage
• Tigercub // The Croft
• Black Honey // The Croft
• Refused // Main Stage

Refused, the fathers of modern punk, will close off the festival on the Saturday with a raucous and messy show. However there are many acts to catch before them on that day.

The King Blues recently returned from what was thought to be a final split to release a new EP 'Off With Their Heads', we saw them support Enter Shikari in Cardiff and will definitely be high up our list to see on a packed Saturday.

Despite being headlined by one of the oldest bands at the Festival, Saturday is about the youth. Excellent young bands like Tigercub, Black Honey, Creeper and Black Foxxes all take the stage. Black Foxxes long awaited debut is out soon and both Black Honey and Creeper are hotly tipped to make waves wherever they go. DO NOT MISS THEM!

Sunday:

There isn't any music on the Sunday. This is pack up, leave and nurse your hangover day.

2000Trees is one of the best festivals out there for new and upcoming acts and we can not wait to hit it up!

If it tickles your fancy, tickets are available HERE

Review: The Broadcasts // The Broadcasts

If you've spent enough time going to gigs in Cardiff you'll have inevitably stumbled across The Broadcasts. In only the last few months they've supported the likes of October Drift, The People The Poet and more, and if you were lucky enough to catch them, you'll know their first album could be a force to be reckoned with.

Their self-titled debut opens with the energetic and catchy blues rock of Down The Line and The Future. Both songs get the blood pumping before the album takes a breather on Western Lands; the first 3 songs on the album demonstrating The Broadcasts ability to write songs at any pace not only with a common sound but with an infectious one too. The simple but interesting style to their music will have you singing along by the second or third listen.

The fourth song on the LP - 'This Is Life' - is the lead single of the album and it carries a more country feel and demonstrates further the bands ability to write an infectious and yet a musically sound song. With the kind of chorus' that you would happily shout along to throughout the album, almost any song could have taken the lead single slot.

However The Broadcasts are not a one dimensional band and are not just about those sing a long catchy tunes. In 'The Road Goes On', 'What It Meant To Me' and the closing song 'What We've Become', the band shows a more delicate and polished touch to their music. 'What We've Become', in particular, shows a more sombre sound to the band - a sound you here in glimpses throughout the rest of the album - and is really developed in the closing song. It's by no means a stretch to call the closing to the album an epic, with delicate piano parts building into an anthemic chorus it brings the bands sounds together and ties up the album brilliantly.

An exciting and well-rounded debut from the Cardiff band; catchy, thoughtful and epic all at once. (8.5/10)

- Luke

You can catch The Broadcasts at their album release show at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff on 17th June

Preview: HOYfest // The Gate Arts Centre, Cardiff // 18 - 19.11.16

Cardiff festival HOYfest is taking place in November this year and even with only 11 bands announced at this early stage HOYfest 2016 is looking like must for any Cardiff-based music fans this November.

Cwmbran based A/M/B/E/R and Cardiff based Himalayas bring the local youth to the lower end of the line up with Himalayas recently gracing top local venue Clwb Ifor Bach as part of the line up for Xpresstival. Bringing cracking bass-lines and stunning indie rock to the ground floor of the venue, there's no doubt they'll tear apart the stage at HOYfest too.

Cardiff band Tibet headlined Xpresstival on the same day and are also appearing at HOYfest and with a EP ready to launch and upcoming dates which include supporting Kaiser Chiefs, they're a band ready to just take off.

More welsh talent comes in the forms of Bandicoot and Rainbow Maniac, both bringing their own very different sounds to the stage. Bandicoot's distinctive vocals add substance to a well travelled indie sound and could be compared to Swindon based Nudybronque. Swansea band Rainbow Maniac bring some thumping blues rock to the festival, with funky riffs and dancy tunes, they'll have the whole festival off their feet.

The Cradles bring a melancholy indie rock that echoes of bands such as The Big Moon; certainly a style which is popular in the current musical climate. The band have a highly anticipated single out later this year and it'll definitely be one to catch on the stage of HOYfest.

Judas from London bring chilled-out indie to the stage and are definitely for fans of bands like Coasts and Catfish & The Bottlemen. Along the same lines we have Cupid who released catchy single 'Kickin' In' in March and will be another act not to miss in November.

The Bulletproof Bomb are a Sutton based band that reek of indie bands old and new combining a mish mash of sounds. Imagine somewhere between The Clash and The Courteeners and you'll arrive at The Bulletproof Bomb. With such a big sound, they deserve a place high up the line up and will grace the main stage at HOYfest just below the headliners.

Friday Headliners - The Milk

The Milk are the Friday headliners for HOYfest and it's a seriously good capture. Their second album 'Favourite Worry' was released in 2015 to high critical acclaim including being runner up in Stereo Brain's Album of 2015 award as well as being chosen as one of BBC Radio 6 Music's albums of the year.

Their funky, soulful style incorporates catchy hooks and pop beats as well as excellent song writing and indie elements. While being excellent on record, The Milk also have a formidable live reputation which means they are a must see in November.