Climate

10 Tracks to Echo in the Dark

27th Jul 2022 — Leave a comment

Instead of running from the tides of time Luke Pritchard has mastered the seven seas with new Kooks release, 10 Tracks to Echo in the Dark.

Lead singer Luke has said this release hosts a “major rebirth for the band. It is full of new music for the next generation”, it’s an album that lives for the future whilst acknowledging the past. This set of bangers and ballads have been done differently, especially “Sailing On A Dream”which is the first song to be written as a collaborative effort between all band members. Luke, guitarist Hugh Harris and drummer Alexis Nunez have created a psychedelic rhythm which transports a listener to an active state of sedation in which we explore our inner psyche whilst remaining aware of who we are and what we are dealing with. The light-hearted lyrics help lift us from these states, making us more aware of our realities making our realities more , the absurdity of the everyday becomes more apparent as we are faced with scenarios in which our loved ones weep into bright fruits and obsess over pointed shoes.

With the birth of Pritchard’s son, Julian, he has become more aware of his own reality and the situation the next generation may be left with.The singer has previously mentioned he would trust AI with governing humanity over any politician.His song ‘Cold Heart’ features a children’s choir from the Pauline Quirke Academy as well as including the next generation this song exposes our inner child, the naivety and hope we once had toward one another now suffocated, left struggling for air deep within , this song pays homage to the pilgrimage of compassion. The song and the inclusion of the choir demonstrates that music is for all of us but ultimately that the Kooks may be moving on; Pritchard has said “Hopefully, by the time Julian is 18 we’ll have got out of his way”, leaving space for the next mile of musicians.

The song further reflects the impact of the previous three years on a person.From the optimism of the end of 2019 going into a hopeful new year to the utter shock of diving into warm bath at the end of a hard working week only to be scalded, you leave it to cool for a while to come back dip an arm in to find your skin littered with goosebumps, the doom and exhaustion that defined 2020, only to move into the slow lull of 2021 and eventually the current crisis in 2022, the war, the fuel, the cost of being alive.

Of course we always had hope, we had each other in a time defined by division, restrictive laws and unjustified exiles to inhumane places, we overcame by uniting, finding the shrill shrieks of the many and challenging them with whispers, people will always rise for their rights. We can shift statues, we change stubborn laws just as the Kooks can embrace change after two decades of a distinctive sound.

The song Oasis pays homage to the escapism that love offered some of us through these times. Whether its our first one, married love, new love, this song speaks to us who still feel disbelief when we glimpse at our partner. Still dazzled by simple things like the length of their eyelashes, the way their tongue trips over certain letters and how they sound in the shower. It is the way this person makes us feel that makes us love them so, this stranger’s soul saved us from ourselves, allowed us to remedy our insecurities and achieve our desired realities. This individual becomes a superhero just by being who they are.

Think success will make you any less insecure, an accolade is not always a guaranteed reassure, this is discussed in Without A Doubt in which Luke exposes his imposter syndrome. This drive to be someone else, looking for the way of strangers to escape ourselves.Perhaps it is success we strive for, this unachievable ever moving margin of improvement, a gold sticker to a gold necklace, all trinkets and trophies, a trifle we’ll take a slither from before seeing it as too small, too sour, just not enough. There will always be something more we can do to gain success to guarantee you’ll impress, but it is love that assures us we have done enough, that we are worthy of warmth from another. That is what this song is about, you may feel uncomfortable with yourself but you will find someone who is comfortable with you and that will be enough to get you through.

You can catch them on tour and experience this new generation sound for yourselves here.

Meet Mengelmoes; A neo funk band formed in Norwich.

25th Aug 2021 — Leave a comment
Mengelmoes permorming their latest single ‘Say Something’ photo creds to Tabi Kate

Groovy, an adjective that embodies both the colours and sounds of the 70s and 80s. A time of discos, political reform and bold style choices.

In recent years we’ve seen a return to these eras, watched new releases of cinema inspired by classics, danced to familiar yet new sounds and Mengelmoes have embodied this passion, creativity and popularity. Combining the cultures and backgrounds of all band members, their influlences and inspirations, they have managed to make an entirely new genre of music, one that works so well it’s difficult to describe.

Stealing a phrase from songwriter and guitarist Taegan Venner, the music Mengelmoes produce is a ‘concoction’ of various sounds, from funk, neo soul to jazz and even metal their music is something you have to experience to understand.

The video for their latest single ‘Say Something’ ,according to their frontman Tiago, was inspired by the propaganda of present day polticians, which has fuelled disparities and mystification surrounding our current climate, leaving us in a dangerous and desperate situation. Pay close attention to the finer details, both in life and whilst watching the video.

It is ironic, and perhaps even deliberate, then that the lyrics, written by Taegan Venner to this song evoke that of a conversation between lovers, the idosyncrasies that we share and the understandings that unite us and the disparites that challenge us. A complete contrast to the inspiration for the video, yet it works. We are so distracted by the colours, and the promises of life that we forget what surrounds us.

Mengelomoes performing at Werhaus Brick Lane Photo cred to Underground sound

James, who plays the keyboard, shared with me the inspirations behind other songs such as Purple lady, the back story you’ll have to head to my podcast to hear about.

Near death experiences, mysterious women in purple and flexible limbs. Listen to my podcast episode for more

With their new single out, and the release party this Friday at Voodoo Daddy’s pizza in Norwich supported by Sukko tickets for which you can get here it is clear that Mengelomoes is a band that guarantees to get you into a good groove.

Meet Current Climate, a three piece indie band based in Lincoln

9th Aug 2021 — 2 Comments
Current Climate by Anna Belletty

Proving that prescient times call for songwriting Current Climate manages to translate pressing matters into conversational tones that inspire dance and discussion.

Formed in 2019 by vocalist and bassist Jacob Ainsworth, guitarist Reece Bulleyment and drummer Lewis Morely Current Climate have released a range of demos on SoundCloud, been featured on radio shows such as BBC Introducing and have recently released a new single titled “What About You?” which Jacob spoke to me about,

The song loosely resembles the likes of Inhaler and Joy division but with the classic Current Climate conversation. For me the song speaks of being caught in the middle of someone that can’t make their mind up, someone turning love into a brutal competition. Interestingly the band aren’t just inspired by other indie artists as Jacob explained to me that there are a few lines inspired by football legend “George Best” give the song a listen to hear for yourself.

“What About You” is currently the track that Jacob is most proud of as it allowed him to finally achieve “a balance between simplicity and detail’ one which has long been ‘sought after’. When lyrics are seemingly light yet contrasted with a hard hitting guitar riff and drum hit, the songs impact is just a bit more lasting.

Current Climate’s latest single

A demo of theirs I most resonate with was “Black Coffee”, a song Jacob has described as being about “Coping with change”. Music, like coffee, can stimulate the mind, it lifts you from your bed, gives you that energy to fathom resilience in the face of another daily struggle. We sip sounds, swallow our struggles and conquer each day, I for one could not do it without a cup, or three. It is this sort of songwriting, the kind that leaves a taste in your mouth after, that we need to keep listening to, the kind that change thrives upon in order to see a difference in our Current Climate.

Black Coffee

Challenges and hurdles have constantly been thrown in the way of the band. Like the rest of us 2020 had been a tiring and terse time, 2021 and it’s ease of restrictions acted as a palette cleanser especially with gigs returning and venues reopening Current Climate were eager for the new year. Yet with their lead singer Jacob contracting COVID 19 just days before their first gig back, supported by Mary’s dream and Serena joy, this relief was not quite achievable. Yet hope prevails and their gig later this month, at the Akedo Gaming Bar in Lincoln on 20th of August ,has sold out.