Isolation Society – ‘Dead Cat Bounce’ (Burger Records)

 

ISOLATION SOCIETY is a three piece band from New York, made up of Julie Hair (3 Teens Kill 4): bass, samples and voice, Richard Hutchins (Live Skull, Art Gray Noizz Quintet, Shilpa Ray): drums, and Ian Wilson (Star Spangles): guitar and voice.
‘Dead Cat Bounce’ is their second offering and whilst mainlining NYC into the veins of Isolation Society it sounds from the streets of an age long gone, painting songs with broad brush strokes using samples that jar the listener and peeking around darkened corners for sure there are moments where the influences are laid bare ‘Saturation’ is an off kilt early Blondie vibe if they were jamming obscure Bauhaus songs rather than trying to be pop.

The band use samples that are everyday street sounds of obscenities and everyday urban sounds which adds to the darkness and in a strange way the beauty of the songs. the tribal drums of ‘Amusement’ along with the gothic chants and cold guitar work are fascinating and rather enjoyable it has to be said.

utilizing samples drawn from popular culture and up to the minute moronic spoken samples from potus amidst howling feedback and sampled noise ‘Foot Fetish’ is as cold as el president’s heart and head I’d wager. Fuck me ‘Family’ is dark but once you’re in, you’re in and twisted bleak lyrics are appealing what does that say about me? Other than I know a good record when it lands on my turntable or email. ‘Drug Store’ has an early ’80s feel about it I guess dark times call for dark music and Isolation Society are dark. Saying that I’m about to contradict myself as the former Star Spangles man Ian Wilson pulls out a sparkling Johnny Marr like guitar lead on ‘Out Doors’ and its good no it’s very good.

As the record grinds to a halt ‘Moisture’ reminds me of The Cult around the time of ‘Resurrection Joe’ or even earlier incarnations of Asbury’s dream of a Death Cult. with a thick bass line courtesy of Julie Hair holding down that tempo like all those great Sisters Of Mercy songs had its a great way to see off any record. Man what a trip I thoroughly enjoyed. If you’ve ever had a hankering for a band that absorbed all the great bands from the ones I’ve referenced through my review to the Banshees and beyond then this is a record you will love a little more after every play and bringing the early ’80s right into the lockdown times of the roaring 2020s then Isolation Society is for you.  Hit em up and check this out you won’t be disappointed at all.

 

Buy Dead Cat Bounce Here

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Author: Dom Daley

 

 

Grave Pleasures – ‘Plagueboys’ (Secret Trees/Century Media)

Studio album number three from Finnish gothic post punkers Grave Pleasures is one I must admit to almost passing up on due to the recent trend for bands to warm up their fans with selected video singles from their soon to be released album. It’s not just ‘Plagueboys’ though, I almost passed up on the new Damned album too (coincidently both were released on the same day) due to this practise, but thankfully I saw sense and bought both and by God am I glad I did as both have turned out to be great albums.

That right there is the core issue though I think, because like The Damned, Grave Pleasure release albums, complete works of art that need to be listened to in their totality , not via cherrypicked tracks, albeit I will admit to now loving the trio of tracks I was previously pointing at my PC screen and ranting at  (for not being as immediate as tracks from the band’s previous LPs 2015’s ‘Dreamcrash and 2017’s ‘Motherblood’) when I listened to them in isolation.

Consisting of 10 tracks and with a runtime of just 42 minutes ‘Plagueboys’ is certainly “a straight to the point” kind of record, it’s the type of album that was commonplace in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and opening track ‘Disintegration Girl’ sounds just like it was birthed in that golden age of music too. A squeal of feedback segueing into tubthumping Budgie-esque (the drummer not band) drums over which a chiming slink-y (geddit?) riff unfurls in all its glorious gothic beauty and then it’s all topped off by the ever-fabulous vocals of frontman Mathew McNerney. This is a stunning opening cut, and I’m immediately thinking “what the hell was I doing ever doubting one of my favourite bands of the past decade?”

Yup it’s the tenth anniversary of Beastmilk’s epic ‘Climax’ record this year, and it’s that record from the band that would eventually become Grave Pleasures that ‘Plagueboys’ perhaps most reminds me of, especially ‘Heart Like a Slaughterhouse’. It’s a track the band themselves admit to sounding right and wrong all at once, and its one that will take a few listens for you to get your head around, but once it’s got its hooks in you, trust me, it’s like “boomshanka” and the gothic payload will fry your brain.   

‘When The Shooting’s Done’ is for me the track the band should have previewed ‘Plagueboys’ with, its simply classic Grave Pleasures at their deathrock best. Propelled by a once again slightly angular rhythmic pattern that on first listen appears at odds to the rest of the band, the key change chorus to this anthem in the making is pure gold. Now I just can’t wait to hear this one live.

The third and final video teaser ‘High On Annihilation’ was my pick of the pack in the run up to the release of ‘Plagueboys’ and it’s the track that finally got me pressing the ‘pre-order’ button for my limited coloured vinyl edition. I think its the Russell Mael like quality to McNerney’s vocals on this one that got me all excited and its certainly more gothic synth wave than apocalyptic death rock, although rest assured a gloomy undertone is never far away.

‘Lead Balloons’ and ‘Imminent Collapse’ follow, the former a sombre and majestic lament to (amongst other things) the death of ’84 and the latter continuing the hi-hat driven anthemic theme which is strong throughout ‘Plagueboys’ has me bizarrely thinking of early (that’s pre-Eno) U2.

The first of the album’s video teasers ‘Society of Spectres’ is up next, and this is a tune that has really grown on me of late, it’s another riotous gothic romp, that if I’m honest I probably had more issue with over the (what sounds to my OCD brain like) slightly out of tune vocals on the verses than anything else and just like the band said previously, its another track that sounds wrong and right all at the same time.

As ‘Plagueboys’ arrives at its final trio of tracks ‘Conspiracy of Love’ is the type of gloomy epic that The Cure has been filling stadiums with for decades now and at almost six minutes in length it is not only the most expansive track on offer here, but also the most Beastmilk-like in fact it also reminds me of their ex-touring buddies In Solitude here too.  The album’s title track delivers a more succinct message touching on 80s pop in the melody department, it’s a pulsating headrush that sets the scene perfectly for album closer ‘Tears on The Camera Lens’ a tune which hints at what Joy Division might have sounded like if they were formed in Helsinki instead of Salford.

‘Plagueboys’ is a terrific celebration of everything great in gothic music in 2023, albeit it’s probably going to take a few listens for you to truly discover just how amazing a record it is.

Me, I’m never watching or listening to a preview video ever again. Ha!

https://linktr.ee/gravepleasures

https://www.facebook.com/gravepleasvres/

https://www.instagram.com/gravepleasures_/

Buy Here

Author: Johnny Hayward

The Lovely Eggs tour put back to February 2021 & New single news

PSYCH-PUNK DUO THE LOVELY EGGS ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE ‘LONG STEM CARNATIONS’ TO BE RELEASED

  

The Lovely Eggs will release brand new single ‘Long Stem Carnations’ on Friday July 10 on Egg Records. The track, taken from their number one selling album ‘I am Moron’ will be released on limited-edition coloured 7” vinyl. Backed by brand new B side ‘The Voyage’, ‘Long Stem Carnations’ was inspired by the Mars One programme, a global project which aims to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars.  Applicants are offered a one-way ticket- never to see earth again. This fascinated Lovely Eggs Holly and David who drew parallels between this mission and their own isolation as a band. ‘Long Stem Carnations’ is a funeral march for society’s outcasts and freaks. It’s an existential voyage in cosmic form. “Is there an internal self-destruct button that cannot be destroyed?” said Holly. “We are all the pilots of our own ship. You’ve just got to remember it’s important to try and hang on and see the mission through.”

‘I am Moron’, bears the fruit of The Lovely Eggs second collaboration with Grammy award winning producer Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Mogwai, MGMT, Tame Impala) at his studio in upstate New York. It captures the zeitgeist of post Brexit Britain and mysteriously seems to point towards the unimaginable future we’re now living in. Many songs on the album are about isolation and living a new way in a different world. When The Lovely Eggs made ‘I am Moron’ it was like they had a crystal ball.

 

Sonically, the album brings with it a mix of heavy psych, pop and strangeness. Some songs flicker between an earthly realism and the otherworldly loneliness of a one-way space mission.

 

Upon its release ‘I am Moron’ went straight to Number One in the UK Independent Album Charts. It also took the Number One spot in the UK vinyl charts as well as the UK Independent Album Breakers Chart.

 

“This is an absolute gutter for us but with little direction from the government, we don’t want to put people’s safety and lives at risk. We imagine that even by autumn even if gigs CAN happen, they’ll be very different to the usual Lovely Eggs experience and we don’t want that! We want the normal Egg-shaped chaos that you’ve come to expect from a Lovely Eggs gig.  So, we’ve taken the decision to postpone our touring until next year. All tickets for the old shows originally scheduled for April and rescheduled for July are now valid for the new shows in February. In the cases where we have seen a venue change/upgrade the tickets for the original show in that city remain valid. Our shows at O2 Ritz in Manchester and Heaven in London have been rescheduled to May. We really hope people hang onto their tickets, not get refunds and join us next year. We live to tour and tour to live. This is our life and our livelihood. Once this shitstorm is over. We want a party like no other!! Looking forward to seeing you all next year!”

 

The Lovely Eggs are willfully independent. With NINE BBC 6 music sessions under their belt, as well as sessions for Radio One and Radio X, they have enjoyed huge support from UK radio. And they continue to sell out gigs across the UK without the help of management, booking agent or record label support.

They have produced six albums. Fifth album “This is Eggland” saw their first encounter with Dave Fridmann as producer/mixer after Holly left a drunken message on his studio answerphone asking him to work with them. Dave got back in touch with them a year later and Eggland was born. It was released in February 2018 to critical acclaim, was added to the 6 music Playlist and announced by HMV as one of their Top 50 Albums of the year.

 

With observational and often surreal lyrics about life The Lovely Eggs have a powerful raw sound that creates the sonic illusion of a band twice their size and have become known for their ferocious yet joyous live performances. They’re undoubtedly the most real band in Britain, operating in a world when true authenticity is hard to find.

 

The Lovely Eggs are one of the most exciting, innovative and genuine bands of the Great British Underground. Welcome to their world. Welcome To Eggland!

 

Catch the band live at the following dates in February 2021:

 

Tickets available HERE:

 

Pre-order the new single “Long Stem Carnations” HERE:

 

Order the new album ‘I Am Moron’ HERE:

 

Find The Lovely Eggs online at: WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM

The Lovely Egg – New video, tour , album

For the last two years, The Lovely Eggs have sat back and watched England and the rest of the planet slowly eat itself. Their new album ‘I am Moron’ is the result of their observations, a relentless analysis of a modern culture that is bringing the world to its knees.

 

‘This Decision’ is the first taste of that new album – an outright attack on greed and mindless consumerism and a fierce defence of a no-frills lifestyle they have chosen to pursue. ‘This Decision’ goes further than capturing the zeitgeist of Brexit Britain. It’s about choice and the lack of choice in society. This decision is all mine. Is it?

 

Today we get to see the video for ‘This Decision’, a song that has already been supported on the airwaves by broadcasters of fine taste such as Iggy Pop, Marc Riley, Steve Lamacq, Chris Hawkins, Tom Robinson and John Kennedy at Radio X and the swirling, cacophony of images and psychedelic psychosis resonating from the video perfectly represent the song’s seething two-minute-and-fifty-seconds of rage.

 

“For the video we wanted something with the pedal to the frigging floor,” explains frontwoman Holly Ross. “The track is pretty intense so we wanted something to match that and to take a pop at the moronic relentless capitalist culture that we’re surrounded by these days.”

 

‘I am Moron’ is the follow up to their critically acclaimed 2017 album ‘This is Eggland’. It is their second album co-produced and mixed by Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, MGMT, Tame Impala) and continues their journey through Eggland into the unknown.

 

Throughout their 13-year career, The Lovely Eggs have embraced isolation. Both metaphorically and geographically the married couple have chosen to shun the social conventions of normal life and dedicated their band and their life to the pursuit of what feels right.

 

Operating out of their hometown of Lancaster, The Lovely Eggs are lonely pioneers and self-confessed kings of idiocy. Working in an industry whose currency is money, success and nepotism, The Lovely Eggs want none of it. They call out everything fake and plastic about the music industry and demand you to re-evaluate on their terms.

 

They’re undoubtedly the most real band in Britain, operating in a world when true authenticity is hard to find. They have also spent more time on hold to the Working Tax credit hotline than any other band on the planet.

 

‘I Am Moron’ was self recorded by the band in Lancaster (“The Twin Peaks of Northern England”) between Lancaster Musicians Co-op and their home. During the recording, Lancaster Musicians Co-op was threatened with closure, so the band put their album on hold to fight the eviction.

 

While the band were writing the album, they became fascinated by the Mars One program- a global project which aims to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars. Applicants are offered a one-way ticket- never to see earth again. This fascinated Holly and David who drew parallels between this mission and their own isolation as a band.

 

Continuing the heaviness of ‘This is Eggland’. ‘I am Moron’ brings more depth to their sound bringing with it a mix of heavy psych, pop and strangeness. Some songs flicker between an earthly realism and the otherworldly loneliness of a one-way space mission. While in contrast, ‘Insect Repellent’ launches a gonzo-style attack against the middle classes and Bearpit questions the essence of working-class freedom.

 

With no booking agent, manager, record label or publisher The Lovely Eggs are truly independent. And this isn’t due to economics. This is by design. From day one. And support for them is snowballing. They are selling out bigger and bigger venues and more eggheads are joining them in their crusade against bullshit.

 

Their songs have been produced by Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals), remixed by Tjinder Singh (Cornershop) and sampled by Zane Lowe for Scroobius Pip. With releases in the UK, Europe, USA and Japan, The Lovely Eggs have played hundreds of gigs around the UK, USA and Europe.

 

Released on limited edition 7” vinyl and accompanied by mind melting artwork designed by Casey Raymond, This Decision is a powerful harsh hit at reality. The Lovely Eggs say it how it is. They’ve never been afraid to swim against the current and now they’ve got an army of fans behind them.

 

Welcome to their world. This Is Eggland!

Catch The Lovely Eggs live in April 2020 for the ‘I am Moron’ UK album tour:

 

April 2020

Thur 9               The Cluny, Newcastle

Fri 10                 The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds *SOLD OUT*

Sat 11               The Castle and Falcon, Birmingham

Sun 12               The Bullingdon, Oxford

Mon 13             The Fleece, Bristol

Tues 14            The Loft, Southampton

Wed 15             The Portland Arms, Cambridge *SOLD OUT*

Thur 16            Komedia, Brighton

Fri 17                 The Garage, London

Sat 18                Gorilla, Manchester *SOLD OUT*

 

May 2020

Fri 1                   The Mash House, Edinburgh

Sat 2                   CCA, Glasgow

 

Tickets available HERE:

 

Order the This Decision single HERE:

Physical pre-order link HERE:

 

Find The Lovely Eggs online at: WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM

The Lovely Eggs – new single This Decision and album/tour announced

For the last two years, The Lovely Eggs have sat back and watched England and the rest of the planet slowly eat itself. Their new album ‘I am Moron’ is the result of their observations, a relentless analysis of a modern culture that is bringing the world to its knees.

‘This Decision’ is the first taste of that new album – an outright attack on greed and mindless consumerism and a fierce defence of a no-frills lifestyle they have chosen to pursue. ‘This Decision’ goes further than capturing the zeitgeist of Brexit Britain. It’s about choice and the lack of choice in society. This decision is all mine. Is it?

 

Today we get to see the video for ‘This Decision’, a song that has already been supported on the airwaves by broadcasters of fine taste such as Iggy Pop, Marc Riley, Steve Lamacq, Chris Hawkins, Tom Robinson and John Kennedy at Radio X and the swirling, cacophony of images and psychedelic psychosis resonating from the video perfectly represent the song’s seething two-minute-and-fifty-seconds of rage.

 

“For the video we wanted something with the pedal to the frigging floor,” explains frontwoman Holly Ross. “The track is pretty intense so we wanted something to match that and to take a pop at the moronic relentless capitalist culture that we’re surrounded by these days.”

 

‘I am Moron’ is the follow up to their critically acclaimed 2017 album ‘This is Eggland’. It is their second album co-produced and mixed by Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, MGMT, Tame Impala) and continues their journey through Eggland into the unknown.

 

Throughout their 13-year career, The Lovely Eggs have embraced isolation. Both metaphorically and geographically the married couple have chosen to shun the social conventions of normal life and dedicated their band and their life to the pursuit of what feels right.

 

Operating out of their hometown of Lancaster, The Lovely Eggs are lonely pioneers and self-confessed kings of idiocy. Working in an industry whose currency is money, success and nepotism, The Lovely Eggs want none of it. They call out everything fake and plastic about the music industry and demand you to re-evaluate on their terms.

 

They’re undoubtedly the most real band in Britain, operating in a world when true authenticity is hard to find. They have also spent more time on hold to the Working Tax credit hotline than any other band on the planet.

 

‘I Am Moron’ was self recorded by the band in Lancaster (“The Twin Peaks of Northern England”) between Lancaster Musicians Co-op and their home. During the recording, Lancaster Musicians Co-op was threatened with closure, so the band put their album on hold to fight the eviction.

 

While the band were writing the album, they became fascinated by the Mars One program- a global project which aims to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars. Applicants are offered a one-way ticket- never to see earth again. This fascinated Holly and David who drew parallels between this mission and their own isolation as a band.

 

Continuing the heaviness of ‘This is Eggland’. ‘I am Moron’ brings more depth to their sound bringing with it a mix of heavy psych, pop and strangeness. Some songs flicker between an earthly realism and the otherworldly loneliness of a one-way space mission. While in contrast, ‘Insect Repellent’ launches a gonzo-style attack against the middle classes and Bearpit questions the essence of working-class freedom.

 

With no booking agent, manager, record label or publisher The Lovely Eggs are truly independent. And this isn’t due to economics. This is by design. From day one. And support for them is snowballing. They are selling out bigger and bigger venues and more eggheads are joining them in their crusade against bullshit.

 

Their songs have been produced by Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals), remixed by Tjinder Singh (Cornershop) and sampled by Zane Lowe for Scroobius Pip. With releases in the UK, Europe, USA and Japan, The Lovely Eggs have played hundreds of gigs around the UK, USA and Europe.

 

Released on limited edition 7” vinyl and accompanied by mind melting artwork designed by Casey Raymond, This Decision is a powerful harsh hit at reality. The Lovely Eggs say it how it is. They’ve never been afraid to swim against the current and now they’ve got an army of fans behind them.

 

Welcome to their world. This Is Eggland!

Catch The Lovely Eggs live in April 2020 for the ‘I am Moron’ UK album tour:

 

April 2020

Thur 9                        The Cluny, Newcastle

Fri 10              The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds *SOLD OUT*

Sat 11                         The Castle and Falcon, Birmingham

Sun 12                        The Bullingdon, Oxford

Mon 13           The Fleece, Bristol

Tues 14          The Loft, Southampton

Wed 15           The Portland Arms, Cambridge *SOLD OUT*

Thur 16          Komedia, Brighton

Fri 17              The Garage, London

Sat 18             Gorilla, Manchester *SOLD OUT*

 

May 2020

Fri 1                The Mash House, Edinburgh

Sat 2                CCA, Glasgow

 

Tickets available HERE:

 

Order the This Decision single HERE:

Physical pre-order link HERE:

 

Find The Lovely Eggs online at:

 

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM