Harmonic Distortion: Onomatopoeia Records

Showing posts with label Onomatopoeia Records. Show all posts

Thursday, 9 April 2020

Stephen EvEns - Dustbin Man

Timely tribute to society's key workers. A taster from Stephen Evens' forthcoming full-length LP.

We're hearing a lot about key workers at the moment. That concept along with “fabric of society” and “all in it together” has come to define the age. Celebrating so-called ordinary workers will no doubt be claimed by the Tories as their idea. Anyone slightly attuned to the politics of the past decade will know how bogus and ridiculous that claim is. 'Dustbin Man' is a track by Stephen Evens, released today but recorded well before the coronavirus crisis. What remarkable empathy, sympathy and prescience it shows. Not only that but it damn well rocks too! A post-punk bovver-boy groove, heavy bass, and shrewdly astute lyrics. Stephen very kindly told us about how the song came to be -

"I’ve worked as a dustman, really. When I was a student. I lasted 2 days. I was rubbish.

When I wrote this song, quite while back, there’s no way in hell I could have predicted what was going to occur. But it looks like I have. I always knew I was special.

It’s a celebration of all those people who do the jobs you can’t and/or don’t want to do. They deserve you love and respect and a bloody great big pay rise."

The song is taken from Stephen EvEns' forthcoming album Employee Of The Month (to be released on Onomatopoeia Records on June 5^th). More about that fine album to follow nearer the release date.

Stephen also plays Online Balcony Festival this weekend, on Saturday April 11th, kick-off 1pm, to raise money for NHS Charities Together – he will be performing at 3:30pm on the GigSlutz stage for more info see here - https://www.facebook.com/events/512048626149587/

Play the track loud and raise a glass to your fellow workers. Underpaid maybe, but dignified and valued now as never before. Respect.

Click here for Stephen EvEns on Twitter.

Click here for Stephen EvEns on Facebook.

Click here for Onomatopoeia Records.

Wednesday, 16 October 2019

Hurtling - Future From Here

London's alt-rock trio hit the ground running with an epic debut album!

About a year ago it occurred to me in a quiet moment of reflection that there had been a decline in the quality and quantity of left-field guitar bands over recent times. (Yeah I know I'm a saddo but all kinds of stuff goes through your mind when you can't get to sleep at 2am after a day of too much caffeine). When I traced that thread from The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream through to Television/Tom Verlaine, and on to Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, My Bloody Valentine, The Pixies, The Breeders, Nirvana and so on, it was difficult to think of any current bands who were pushing guitars into new sonic territory. This was before I'd heard of Hurtling, a three-piece band from London led by singer/guitarist Jen Macro. Interestingly Jen has a connection to the previously mentioned thread by being a longtime touring member of My Bloody Valentine.

If you're familiar with Hurtling's single 'Summer' from earlier in the year you'll get the gist of what they're about – they make driving indie-rock that's melodic and has an innate understanding of textures and dynamics. They make alt-rock music that draws from grunge, shoegaze and the deep wells of their own emotions. Like all great guitar bands they're not afraid of cranking up the volume, shifting some air and letting guitars do what they do best - filling the room with attitude and spirit, and being a means of expressing sentiments and rage in a manner that the human voice often can't.

None of that would work of course without a killer rhythm section and killer songs. Check on both counts – bass and drums push and pull in all the right places, helping secure that sweetspot between pleasing pop and the thrill of experimentation. Then there's the songs. 'Summer' perfectly captures the optimistic rush of the season's sunny rays, but peppered throughout the album are moments of shade, darker tracks and sentiments which Jen describes as an “exploration of loss and hope”. Check out 'Let Go', a heartfelt plea set against a backdrop of beautifully rendered guitar atmospherics, or the ominous heaviosity found on 'Don't Know Us'.

Future From Here will take you on a journey through emotional peaks and troughs, its songs are personal but sure to resonate with anyone who's prone to examining their own headspace and feelings. Wedded to that are hooky guitar lines, riffs and textures that indicate left-field guitar music does indeed have a future from here.

Hurtling are -

Jen Macro – vocals, guitar

Simon Kobayashi – bass

Jon Clayton - drums

Click here for Hurtling's website.

Click here for Hurtling on Facebook.

Click here for Hurtling on Twitter.

Click here for Onomatopoiea Records.

Friday, 23 August 2019

Hurtling - Summer - NEW SINGLE OUT NOW!

Alt-rock trio's new single! A taster from their stunning debut album!

It's fitting that on the day I post this that the country is baking under some late August sunshine. Yes indeed, summer is far from over, and helping to point this out is London-based alt-rock trio Hurtling with their new single 'Summer'. The track was written by singer/guitarist Jen Macro and is taken from the band's fabulous debut album Future From Here, which is set for release on October 18^th. A longtime member of My Bloody Valentine's live band, Jen has stockpiled a great batch of songs which make up the album. 'Summer' is just the enticing tip of this particular iceberg!

Sumptuously melodic, full of playful quiet /loud dynamics, taut drums, thrumming basslines, and with an ace guitar wig-out bit in the middle – fans of left-of-centre indie, alt-rock and shoegaze will be right in the zone with this one. Anyway, don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself via the video below. A full review of the band's debut album will follow ahead of its release date.Enjoy the weekend!

Hurtling are -