In terms of retro sounds, things rarely come any more assured and gorgeous than those of London based Honey Moon. On their debut EP, it’s as if the quartet have been sucked through a time tunnel back to 1967, to a time when fashion boutiques like Granny Takes a Trip were all the rage for the wealthy and hip in-crowd, a time when experimental music was still in its infancy, but more importantly, a time when music was becoming rather sophisticated. From there, they’ve learnt a great musical craft, transported it back to the present and layered it with a modern sheen and a few filters. The EP’s four tunes jangle with a lazy, blissed-out sense of cool; each of the players bringing something special to this short musical throwback.
Tag Archives: alternative
THE FIERCE AND THE DEAD – Magnet EP
Post-rock quartet The Fierce And The Dead first captured the attention of listeners the artier end of the rock spectrum with their 2011 full length ‘If It Carries On Like This We Are Moving To Morecambe’. While the intricacy of the album’s music inevitably found the band gaining the “prog” tag, the instrumental wig-outs pulled far more from various alternative rock sources, with elements of noise rock, often making their love of Hüsker Dü/Minutemen et al fairly obvious. The following album, 2013’s ‘Spooky Action’ was potentially even more bonkers, showcasing four very talented musicians working their frenzied guts across a variety of angular rock sounds, with most of the material sharpened by brevity. With no filler, ‘Spooky Action’ is potentially TFATD’s masterwork; in addition to the world of looped guitars and mind bending, gleeful complexities, Kevin Feazey’s bass sound – particularly on ‘I Like It, I’m Into It’ – comes across with a genuine force. It is a record that anyone interested in quirky and thoughtful musicianship should lend an ear.
MOCK DEER – How We Used To Live EP
Mock Deer is a London based duo specialising in stripped down, DIY alt-folk sounds. Their second release, 2015’s ‘How We Used To Live’, recorded with members of Dead Flowers, is a sometimes low-key and often thoughtful affair. Its four songs almost place the listener in the middle of Mock Deer’s studio space, the recordings bring a natural live sound; it almost feels as if it’s allowing us access on private time as the musician spins timeless yarns with a smart, no frills musical backdrop.
DOT DASH – Earthquakes & Tidal Waves
Although the name might not necessarily be familiar, Washington DC’s Dot Dash is a band with an impressive musical pedigree. Vocalist Terry Banks was previously a member of St. Christopher and worked with Julie Ocean; with the latter, he also worked alongside future Dot Dash bassist Hunter Bennett. Drummer Danny Ingram was previously a member of hardcore punks Youth Brigade and Sweredriver, while guitarist Steve Hansgren served key roles within Minor Threat and Government Issue.
LOS AND THE DEADLINES – Perfect Holiday EP
At the outset of their third EP ‘Perfect Holiday’, US art-rockers Los and The Deadlines ask one simple but important question. From within the echoing walls of their studio space, a voice asks if [we’re] “ready to rock?!”, to which a louder voice retorts “YEAH, fuckin’ rock!” This might seem like a horribly clichéd way to begin, but from that second on, this band are everything but clichéd, their huge array of riffs and noises setting out to twist their sound at almost every turn.