Shakenstir » The Sound Of The ‘North Rising’

The Sound Of The ‘North Rising’

HOLY COVES - THE DRONER EP: From the coast of North Wales Holy Coves unleashed The Droner EP on February 14th, 2011; a gut busting, snarling blues influenced rock outing. Belying their Holyhead heritage, it’s a debut fit to fill city stadiums. Is it early Smashing Pumpkins, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s oil-slick grooves? Perhaps, but then it’s also wholly new.

Atmospherics akin to Black Angels are as audible on the record as when the Coves take to the stage. Which is no surprise really, considering the EP was recorded at Bryn Derwen Studios, with the foothills of Snowdonia looming large over the epic landscape. This is country as big as the band’s sound, so there’s no more fitting a setting for these mountainous tracks to have been made in. It was here the band developed a strong bond with producer David Wrench (Bat For Lashes, British Sea Power, Race Horses), himself a member of Julian Cope’s The Black Sheep. After being involved with the band since their early demos, it made sense that the musician-cum-studio wizard had his deft hand in the creation of Holy Coves’ first official release; the next chapter of a story gaining rapid momentum.

Can, The Flower Travelling Band, The Velvet Underground, The Verve and The Brian Jonestown Massacre are etched on the Coves’ sleeves. More names in the army of alt-guitar acts partly responsible for this outfit sexy, sleazy and psychedelic style. So that they emerge from the remnants of Marsden’s shoegazing project, The Lizzies, simply adds further diversity to the many influences at work here. With bassist Jimi Eggleton, drummer Ash Garden and guitarist Ben Lee, a spectrum of styles come together and a fresh, whole sound is created. It’s an impossible beast to tame, a little like a runaway train carried with equal parts momentum and melody. http://www.myspace.com/holycoves http://www.facebook.com/holycoves

Gallops fresh from headlining the ‘Introducing’ stage at Reading & Leeds Festival are that rare beast that straddle rock music and dance music with the utmost taste without being a bag of shit for old people. They seamlessly blend organic and synthetic in an intelligent manner, but this is as much for headphone listening in a dark room as it is for festival dance-offs. Gallops rock like a Friday night in the car with Wayne and Garth. http://www.myspace.com/thegallopsband

Catfish & The Bottlemen give away new single Bodies for FREE!

Fresh from rousing performances at this year’s In The City and a string of sold out tour dates, North Wales quartet Catfish & The Bottlemen have declared that their new single ‘Bodies’ was to be made available as a free download. Lead singer Ryan explains the decision: “We decided to give the single away for free because we believe in what we are creating. We believe it is loads stronger than most music out there right now and so we want as many people far and wide to hear it. We feel the time is right to unleash this for FREE as we know once people hear it they’ll be loving it and they’ll want to get to a show where they will witness us tear apart a stage as well. Guitar music has been off the radar and we want to be the band that puts it back on the map.” For more details on Catfish & The Bottlemen please visit www.myspace.com/catfishandthebottlemen

WE//ARE//ANIMAL: In Snowdonia, North Wales Owain Ginsberg used to trek up to quarries and forests with nothing but an 8 track recording machine and his guitar for company. Next came actual, physical band members in the form of the Hamer brothers (CASTLES), Sion Edwards on drums and Liam Simpson on keys. Their recently recorded debut album IDOLISE has been given an official release in Japan in September 2010 and was pencilled in for a UK release early this year. http://www.myspace.com/weareanimal

Formed all the long way back in March 2009, Masters In France found themselves in a little shabby unit round the backstreets of Bangor working on their style and songs / up 2 this point we’re still trying to work out who nicked that packet of pork scratchings and 3 cans of gold label / hope you enjoy! They are the flipside to the double sided coin of WeAreAnimal. Their first single “Greyhounds” was a BBC Radio One record of the week http://www.myspace.com/mastersinfrance

THE LOVING CUP are a rockin’ country and blues Americana band based on the borderline….of North Wales. Very much a live act, The Loving Cup have developed a reputation as a “good-time” rock’n’roll band with acclaimed performances across the UK. The Loving Cup are currently recording their third album, tracks from which will be available to buy on itunes as part of the E.P. “One Last Hard Goodbye” from early 2011. http://www.myspace.com/thelovingcup

The Lupin Thieves are a four piece indie rock outfit from the North West. The past two years have seen the boys honing they’re craft and gigging heavily countrywide, whilst steadily building up a solid fan-base and taking their unique blend of catchy tunes, rocking riffs and distinctive vocals, to new audiences. http://www.myspace.com/lupinthievesmusic

I Am Austin: in a nutshell (ish): What started out as just a jam between friends, quickly evolved into what is widely know as Dance/Rock/Future Blues/Disco/Filth/Garage/POWER. Crowned KING OF THE MOUNTAIN at Snowboming Austria 2009, Performed a live session for Bethan Elfyn BBC RADIO 1 WALES. Played Live on Channel 4’s Evo Music Rooms 2010, Played Radio 1’s Big Weekend “Introducing Stage” 2010. http://www.myspace.com/iamaustinmusic

“They’re absolutely brilliant! It’s just the most brilliant thing I’ve seen in a long time” *Edith Bowman BBC Radio 1

“I haven’t loved anything this much since I heard the Manics’ Generation Terrorists. Bloomin’ ace! xx” **Bethan Elfyn BBC Radio 1 Wales

The No Name Janes: http://www.reverbnation.com/thenonamejanes

HERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF LINKS TOO MORE BOSS BANDS:

The Fag Machine http://www.myspace.com/thefagmachine

We Shiver http://www.myspace.com/weshiver

The Mayors http://www.myspace.com/themayorsofarc

Trader http://www.myspace.com/traderband

No Room For Heroes http://www.myspace.com/nrfhmusic

Jaguar Jones http://www.myspace.com/jaguarjonesmusic

Mother Of Six http://www.myspace.com/motherofsix

The Roseville Band http://www.myspace.com/therosevilleband