Bringing together the disparate words of reggae and indie on their 2015 release ‘Indie Reggae Revolution’, Leeds ten piece collective The Ship-Tones bring the world some of the best mash-ups and re-imaginings since Mark Ronson dropped ‘Version’ to almost unanimous critical praise in 2007. Taking some classic sounding reggae sounds (mostly rooted in the 70s and 80s), the band rebuild a few familiar tunes from the ground up, with largely enjoyable results.
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FOLLOW THE LION – The Candy & Gravity Motel EP
Follow The Lion are a five piece indie-rock band from Leeds whose debut EP is comprised of three finely crafted indie-rock tunes; each of these three numbers bring out the best in most of the band members – particularly vocalist Daniel Francis and lead guitarist Richard Swann. Prior to ‘The Candy & Gravity Motel’s release, the band found an early champion in the legendary Tom Robinson, who gave exposure to the title cut on his BBC Radio 6 show…and it’s very easy to see why, since these three songs are absolutely tailor-made for rock-based radio. That’s “tailor-made”, as opposed to manufactured, since FTL have a very natural style – there’s nothing here to ever make you think they’d been moulded by the media in any way.
SUPER LUXURY – Ten Solid Years Of Applause
In 2012 Leeds based noisemakers Super Luxury released a cassette EP that acted as a short and sharp assault on the senses, the musical equivalent of a kick in the nuts. Not too long after, a couple of their members moonlighted as part of Cattle, an awesome noise-rock trio whose debut EP featured one of the best bass sounds ever committed to record. Two and a half years on from their original EP, Super Luxury dropped this full-length release, ‘Ten Solid Years of Applause’. A couple of line-up changes – most notably the drafting in of bassist Tom Goodall from Cattle – has had a huge effect on the tunes as well as effectively blurring the lines between the two bands a little farther. Perhaps due to the increased relation with Cattle, this second time around, SL sound far more assured.
THOSE DELTA WOLVES – Auricle EP
Those Delta Wolves are an alternative rock band from Leeds. A city with no shortage of musical talent, The Wolves would already have to work incredibly hard to stand out, but the three tunes on their debut EP ‘Auricle’ suggest that, in the live setting, these guys are already a force of nature, ready to crack to skulls of their awaiting audience.
TAKE TURNS – Animal Fat EP
Musical fashions are cyclical. Like the 70s became very fashionable in the 1990s, the 1990s, in turn, have had a huge influence on some of the alternative rock sounds of the ’10s. Bands like Yuck can be found recycling the best elements of Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr with sheer abandon, the Bandcamp site is full of similar revivalist acts, while The Pains of Being Pure at Heart found critical acclaim channelling a very definite nineties indie jangle within their sound. Take Turns, a Leeds based quartet are as guilty for shameless recycling, but like Yuck and Pains, their end sound is so full of love for those who’ve inspired them, it would take a hard heart not to enjoy their nostalgia trip. On this six song EP, they’re none to shy about flaunting an absolute obsession with Pavement…