Dogs – Dirty Little Shop
Lead singer Johnny Cooke sings Paul Weller’s cloned voice convincingly on this urgent track about a betting shop, over a really rather beautiful guitar riff. The instrumental break near the end of the song is a fitting climax to this anthem, which is taken from the album “Tall Stories From Under The Table”. Watch out for this band-they are EXCELLENT and have a well-focussed frontman in Cooke. He has a budding charisma and a good attitude. Nice-looking boy, too.
By Juliet Robertson
Selfish Cunt – Avocado
I must admit I wasn’t expecting to like this band at all, but having heard this track it was impossible not to feel a reaction. Hearing it for the first time was a bit like scratching a wound which is trying to heal. Driving guitars and an abrasive dangerous beat dominates here. Some might say this song is just noise mongering, but I liked it.
Heavily punk-influenced, tight and dark, this London four piece band is undoubtedly in-your-face with their delivery. This ditty is about the effect of pollution on the environment-quite witty lyrics here
“That ain’t what it seems…this is NOT an avocado”. There’s a message in this song and its not as shallow as it appears on first listen.
Don’t be put off by the offensive name. This band have definitely passed the
acid test.
By Juliet Robertson
Blood Red Shoes – It’s Getting Boring By The Sea
The slick new single from this Brighton-based indie duo made me like it straight away.As someone who has been brought up by the sea myself I can identify with this song.It conveys the emptiness and tedium of living in a seaside town very well,with bouncy drums from Steven Ansell and echoing guitarwork from very attractive brunette vocalist Laura-Mary Carter.
I heard this duo soundchecking in February this year at the Astoria,where they supported Maximo Park on the NME Shockwaves Tour, and will be seeing them at Brixton Academy in October when they again support that band.They’ve kept it very simple on this single,with muted shades of Siouxsie and the Banshees somewhere in their musical and lyrical style.They’re also a confident and ambitious pair.
An impressive song.T hank you, Blood Red Shoes!
By Juliet Robertson
The Bees – Octopus
One of the first nights I ever had in London, I went down to the Cargo, to see The Bees. The band will always have a place in my history. The gig was pretty damn good as well. I saw the band during the “Free The Bees” tour. The album still holds up quite well three years on “One Glass Of Water” “These Are The Ghosts” and “Chicken Payback” still get heavy rotation over in HQ. The Bees went back to Isle of Wight to record the new record. It was recorded in The Steamroom their new basement studio. The record does have a bit of a more laid back, trippy and hippy vibe than did the “Free The Bees” LP.
First single and album opener “Who Cares What The Question Is” would fit in quite well in the late Beatles catalogue. It is a catchy and blues number that sticks around for days. “Left Foot Stepdown” easily the song of the album and would imagine it will be a future single. The tune is ska-reggae fused and the chorus that makes you want to make up the “left foot stepdown” they never really say what it is. Then you get a track like “Hot One” which, sound like The Bees doing punk.
The Bees will always remind me of the summer months. So, outside right now its freezing and I can see my breath but The Bees always warm me up and make me wish I had my beard back again. For some laid back hippy reggae rock, do yourself a favor.
By John Siwicki