Introducing Siren’s freckle-inducing, sun kissed single…

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Cat

I’m guessing this man gets a lot of action.

At just 21, Stefan Evan Niedermeyer aka SIREN is not only a pro-skateboarder, (cause that’s easy) but now a multi-instrumentalist/shit-hot songwriter too. Throw in a tang of German accent, that fractured-ankle vulnerability and childhood tales of an exotic upbringing, he makes Harry Styles look like Jabba The Hut.

Following his debut Buckets of Blood he has teamed up with the silky songbird Lucy Rose for the Californian summer single The Surrender.  Pairing the plinky-plonky melody with his raspy love-lost vocals, the track is a Baskin Robbins deluxe beauty.


The Surrender’, featuring Lucy Rose, along with AA-side ‘Buckets of Blood’ is available to download now from iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/bs9sqq6

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The pulsating, seductive, evocative tones of THEESatisfaction

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Cat

All great duo’s compliment one another; Salt & Pepper, Ant & Dec, Phil & Holly, Johnny and June, and now Cat and Stas aka THEESatisfaction. 

Having met in university in Seattle, the self proclaimed “Queens of the stoned-age” have written, produced and performed their debut album awE naturalE in its entirety.

A nod to the hip hop of the 90s (that we will never be able to leave alone), the album is rich with jazz, soul, funk and rap. Sleepy beats merge with sensuous vocals in Deeper whilst they freely experiment with puncturing, almost sci-fi synths in Enchantruss.

Praised as the act that outshone a very strong line up at SXSW, the duo have created one of the most inspiring debut albums of 2012, a record that feels more organic then a rescued-sheep-wool, granny-knitted cardigan.

Promising a glorious night of  funk-drenched swagger with  Sweat, Juice, and Earthseed, get down to London’s Madame Jojos tomorrow night.

 

 

 

 

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Canines on Covers…

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Cat

Whilst writing my review on The Milk last week, I was suddenly slapped across the face by a horrifically unjust situation affecting the album cover world.

Cats. For some reason our feral friends are at the height of fashion. Klaxons hired an astronaut cat, Two Door Cinema Club went for the evil-cat-in-glasses look and of course who can forget Ed Sheeran‘s Simba impression.

But what about Lassie? What about our loyal blind-aiding, criminals-searching, mountain rescuing dogs? Remember those dopey lovable Saint Bernards? You don’t hear of many cat species named after a saint. So without further ado, lets all celebrate the best dogs on album covers…

Chumbawamba-Shes Got All The Friends That Money Can Buy.

Ah, the classic poodle. Apparently they can all speak french too.

 

 

Ludacris. Word Of Mouf

 

 

 

 

Cat Stevens I Love My Dog.

Simples.

 

 

 

Nelson Because They Can

It was wildly reported these gorgeous cover stars were actually a bit of a nightmare on the day of the shoot. Turning up 3 hours late with questionable hygiene and barking demands at staff, their behaviour was apparently, just because they can.

 

 

Weezer Ratitude

 

 

 

 

Ronkkuri Koria Haudattuna

That classic Helsinki based metal punk band we all know and love. This nearly happened to me once.

 

 

 

Bad Religion  Recipe For Hate

 

 

 

 

 

The Beautiful South Miaow.

Look, they think they’re people!

 

 

 

 

Snoop Dogg, Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not Told

Imagine a Snoop world.

 

 

 

 

Moloko Sing It Back

 

 

 

Green Day Slappy EP

I bet his name was patch.

 

 

 

 

Paul McCartney Paul Is Live

If you’re a proper uber Beatles fan, then I imagine you recognise the pup, Arrow, who is clearly the child of Martha, of whom “Martha My Dear” written about.

 


Blur Parklife

Walthamstow Stadium, the sexy venue for greyhound racing that inspired this artwork closed in 2008. Lets hope the hounds were released into a forest full of catch-able rabbits.

 

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Not the milk YOU’RE used to…

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Cat

Cats?!!! As artwork?! Crazy, I know, but merging our love for pets and music isn’t the only thing these Essex lads are good at fusing.

Dipping into ska, reggae, old school hip hop and melodic indie, The Milk bring a hearty feast to the table. With shows of supersonic energy and tracks that vary from soulful to island pop, its no wonder they are ascending fast and furious.

The hand-clapping and surging beats of Broke Up The Family is yours to own now, taken from their forthcoming album Tales From The Thames.

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The dapper Eugene McGuinness returns

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Cat

Slick, sixties-fied and armed with razor sharp tracks aplenty, Eugene McGuinness is back. Picking up valuable but somewhat bank-less critical acclaim for his debut and second albums, the Northern Irish, Liverpool-raised gent is ready for a raucous round 3.

He released the excellently infectious Lion late last year, a track bursting with wild yelps, hand-claps and hearty examples of Eugene’s lyrical dexterity.

Oozing style and the epitome of British cool, new single Shotgun sees our hero shaken not stirred. In scenes reminiscent of a 60s gangster black and white, the video compliments the track with the menacing beat lurching within the shadows.

His album The Invitation To The Voyage will be released 25th June, and make sure you catch him supporting buddy Miles Kane around the UK next month.

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Introducing White Powder Gold

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Cat

 

Bursting into 2012 with a unique and potent cocktail christened ‘Council Estate Indie’, meet London group, White Powder Gold.

Not to be confused with a suspicious online space-medicine that promises to ‘boost your body to operate as close to perfection as possible’, Jermaine, Jamie, Corey and Chris are more likely to tear your nuts off with their subsonic energy.

A mix of electro, indie, hip-hop and melodic pop, the band have embraced a healthy pick’n'mix attiude to genres. Influenced by a wide range of artists including Rage Against The Machine, Naughty By Nature and Stone Roses, it’s no wonder they have attracted the honorable attention of RADIO 1, 1XTRA and MTV respectively.

A record you could potentially nestle nicely alongside the likes of N.E.R.D, Groove Armada and Beastie Boys, their second single Rock N Rolla is set to quicken your pulse, moisten your brow and then bang the life out of your head in 2mins and 46 seconds.

Wanna poke them and stuff? go here

 

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Introducing Bwani Junction

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Cat

Moments ahead of our scheduled interview for December Sessions at the O2, the 4 lads of Bwani Junction handed me a poster. An interesting and pretty downright vulgar illustration of a motley crew of willies, it not only rendered this professional to a snickering schoolgirl, but showed the bands unusual yet colourful approach to gearing up excitement for Fully Cocked, their debut album.

Dipping into reggae, Afro beat and pop, the album tastes like a whippy of Indie with a sprinkling of African music. Jaunty, jangly guitar melody and lush dense choruses, tracks such as My Body, My Mind and Feel No More were born to wallop festival crowds into dancing like fruitloops.

Puncturing the airwaves of BBC6 and Radio One the Scottish lads have already been booked for several festivals including T in the Park, Latitude Festival, The Great Escape and Wilderness, which suggests willies or not, Bwani Junction are fully set to explode, everywhere.

Check the lads out live, all details here..

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Brit Awards…most memorable moments

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Cat

Check out the most memorable, hilarious and horrific moments in the history of the BRIT Awards for XFM right here… Click Here

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Tribes cover Rolling Stones ‘Love In Vain’

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Cat

Breathing fresh love into an old classic, Camden band Tribes perform a stunning cover of the Stone’s Love in Vain for Mulberry’s Mix Tape Tour. Seductive raspy vocals and the smooth caressing of a harmonica, if anything will get you romance, this will.

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Review: Howler – America Give Up

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Cat

Martini’s, Mad Men, protests and surf rock…The 50s are back.

First it was Alex Turner’s hair, then The Vaccine’s baseball jackets but now its Howler‘s debut Give Up America claiming the throne. A quintet from Minneapolis, the barely-out-of-puberty band have created THE sun-drenched rough and ready record for the summer.

Taking influence from rebels of the rockabilly years, the record ripples with hand-claps, sweet melodies and plenty of feedback. Youthful exhilarating energy and cock-swinging bravado puts miles between them and The Drums, who in comparison, now seem as edgy as frosted tips.

With 11 songs in 32 minutes its a fast, brash ride, yet one without loss of song quality throughout. As American as stone-wash denim, the album not only reminds us of all that’s great with our stars and stripes friends, but that like Elvis, hyper snarly guitar lives on..

Catch Howler on tour now..

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