Music

Afterdrive Release Indie banger “Bad Vibes”

20th Sep 2023 — Leave a comment

Ipswich based indie band Afterdrive have spoiled us with their latest single, ‘Bad Vibes’, contrary to the title, it is sure to have you heading straight to that dance floor on your next night out.

Littered with lyrical alarm bells this song is an auditory warning against siren strangers, those that we may look to when we find no other eyes whilst always knowing they could easily leave us behind, we all want the dancing girl until the lights come on and she isn’t smiling anymore.

Afterdrive
Bad Vibes by Afterdrive

These individuals have a bewitching power, they captivate us with their false promises, wrapped up our wildest dreams they are the people we want to be with despite our intuition telling us to run. Adrenaline and fun, a promise of all that we want, so despite the bad vibes we choose to party all night, driving with them by our side 

Made up of Ben Watts on vocals, Luke Ellis on guitar, Ed Ruff on bass and Joe Watts on drums Afterdrive are a Pop/indie band  defined by their distinctive sound that is begingin to turn heads in the indie scene especially as they have already released three singles; a nostalgic indie track called 99 (which we previously reviewed)and their poignant debut release stick Around, it is no surprise they have a worldwide audience, including fans in Mexico City ,Santiago and London setting them up for international success.

Afterdrive

Lights low, eyes wide, drunken nights and a stranger with a nice smile. The music is loud and the drinks are strong, between the dancing, you get to talking only to realise this person is a walking bad vibe, only making you fall further into their eyes. Through the haze of synth like harmonies, gazey guitar riffs and a proleptic drum beats this song explores the sticky stories smeared on the dancefloor, brought to light by the harsh 6am sun.

“And girl you give me Bad Vibes, Bad Vibes

This ain’t the right time

Long nails, jeans black, sippin’ white wine

She said, she said she want it all night

And I bet you want it all night”

Lyrics to ‘bad vibes’ by Afterdrive

Afterdrive

Bad Vibes offer an eye into the emotional inventory of the narrator, a hand emerges from the wreckage of another failed relationship to guide you through the mist once more. The instrumentals offer a useful framework for interpreting the rollicking pop-rock fervour to come especially with the layered vocals, evocative of words running wild, a tennis match argument that leaves both rackets broken, but both players ready and wanting more, the allure of chaos.

Make some dancefloor stories of your own at their next gig on the 30th of September in iconic, Ipswich venue the Baths, tickets on sale here.

dust ANNOUNCE UK TOUR FOR OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER

6th Sep 2023 — Leave a comment

A dive into personal depth

dust by Charlie Hardy April 2023

Welcome to your psyche, as we explore the dimensions of your soul and the layers to your being, enjoy the jazz infused symphony of syncopated beats and kick drum lulls that defines the sound that is ‘Dust’.

Australian Alt-Punk band dust are making a comeback to the UK after a slew of successful shows earlier this year. The quintet will be hitting  Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds and Birmingham, culminating in a slot at Pitchfork Music Festival London. Tickets to shows can be bought here.

The Gutter by dust

Known to promote positivity, reduce anxiety and improve concentration, slow flow house music ,such as that featured on dust’s debut EP ‘Et Cetera etc’, invites a deeper connection between your consciousness and subconsciousness, encouraging self reflection. Trippy techno and experimental electronics fuse together over a unique punk rock drive to create the transportive narrative that is this new release.What is music but a testament to human resilience, perseverance and passion?

The band have described how this EP was fused with, imagination, creativity and friendship; “it’s cemented our friendship and given us the foundation to build upon our relationships with each other, Et cetera, etc is a step in the direction of the sound we’d like to carve out in the future”

dust taken by Charlie Hardy April 2023

Dual vocalists, Gabriel Stove and Justin Teale, share the lead microphone, each a collective voice, defining the charisma of a band connected through the sonic maelstrom. The ‘Et cetera, etc’ EP was recorded in its entirety on guitarist-saxophonist Adam Ridgway’s family farm in Edwardsville. Bassist Liam Smith and drummer Kye Cherry complete the 5-piece.

Through warbling saxophone solos and electronic ambience a spiritual yin and yang manifest to demonstrate the power of interconnected forces coming together, this philosophy drives the atmospheric energy of the band’s live shows.

Ward 52 by dust

The singles are improvised and innovative, an exposure of the skeletal routes of the conscious plane. Gentle synths swell, and  ambient interludes, morph the self into everything else, a harmonic hand into a higher realm. dust eloquently energise, an audible sip into personal potential.

The band have described each track on the e.p:

“The singles taken from the EP -‘Joy ( Guilt )’, ‘Ward 52’ and ‘The Gutter’ illustrate et cetera, etc’ scollage-like nature, including Justin and Gabe’s trade of vocals. Alternator’s wailing saxophone gives an eerie and unexpected edge to the release, tension breaking, frustration easing, growing and firing back up again in time with the story of a broken down car, waiting for roadside assist ten hours from home. ‘False Narrative’ comparatively showcases our warmest melody yet, as a whole transposing the familiar yet introspective energy of King Krule, Aphex Twin.”

Indie Powerhouse The Redroom, release latest single “Coffee”

31st Aug 2023 — Leave a comment

Like a shot of espresso…

The Redroom by Chloe Dunscombe

What does falling in love sound like? The turbulence of a tentative trumpet player, tumultuous like the trombone? Colourful like the sax? It feels like sipping coffee on a sleep Sunday morning, like a hand waiting to catch you. there is a sense of hope, like the rising crescendo of an orchestra reaching its peak.

Coffee by The Redroom

New release from indie powerhouse The Redroom, ‘Coffee’ explores the effervescent nature of falling in love, through jazz infused instrumentals, new feelings flourish ,the fizz of that first kiss, the grip of the optimistic abyss of not knowing if it’ll happen again, it is the existing of the chrysalis you’re ready to unveil your wings again, this time hopefully they’ll be noticed.

The song itself is metamorphic, showcasing the beginnings of the band and alluding to their future. Vocalist and lyricist Jess Lewis Ward explained that she wrote ‘Coffee‘ when she was 16, during the first lockdown:

“I left it in a back pocket for a few years then circled back to it when the band started to explore a different style of writing. It went through quite a few phases before the final finished product, but I feel like it encapsulates our new sound, alongside my younger self. I guess you could say it’s about young love and feeling love romantically properly for the first time.”

Known for their intricate narratives and roadmaps through humanity, The Redroom release music that boasts a poignant tale, such as their previous release “The Woman From Nowhere”, ‘Coffee’ continues on this legacy with it’s complex portrayal of a first love, whilst also exploring a new avenue for the band, one that sets them out to be the on ones to watch list for 2024, especially with their Headline show on September the 1st at iconic Newcastle venue The Grove, celebrating the release of their new single.

Continuing to mesh the old with the new, The Red Room have mastered the art of creating their own multi-genre sound backed by Lewis-Ward’s talent for colourful, witty and insightful storytelling. ‘Coffee’ is the band’s first step into a form of new age indie-pop song writing, combining the likes of layered brass with the band’s signature acoustic sound.

That signature sound comes through with an explosion of energy, there is joy in each lyric, groove in each instrumental and power with leach layered harmonies all punctuated by the keyboard and the saxophone.  An eruption of emotion, evocative of the rush you feel when your hand brushes theirs, your eyes hold their stare. Exhilarating and optimistic this song is an audible coffee.

Upcoming shows 

Deaf Institute (Headline show), Manchester, Friday 29th September

Gathering Sounds Festival, Stockton, Saturday 30th September

Follow the band on social media to keep up to date with new releases and gigs.