Mansun Six gets anniversary reissue

Mansun Six gets anniversary reissue

We have very exciting news today as Mansun’s new label Kscope have announced a 21stAnniversary deluxe re-issue of the band’s 1998 cult classic album SIX. This very special edition will be released on 22nd March 2019 and following on from last year’s AOTGL re-issue, includes a limited deluxe 4 disc book, coloured/green 180 gm 2x vinyl (exclusive to the band’s store) and a CD media book.

The Deluxe 4-Disc Book will include three CD discs featuring the remastered album in full, a disc of demos, rarities & outtakes, and the b-side album The Dead Flowers Reject available for the first time! The fourth disc is a DVD, which is the album’s first ever 5.1 surround sound mix by long-time collaborator P-Dub, a hi-resolution stereo audio and the original promotional videos.

The 48-page hardback book features sleeve notes by journalist and long-time fan Paul Lester, and insights from Paul Draper including a foreword, an analysis of the cover art, track-by-track descriptions for both CDs 2 and 3 and an album overview of The Dead Flowers Reject, amongst plenty of newly unearthed treasures.

You can pre-order here for delivery on 22nd March 2019.

In other news, Mansun’s former frontman Paul Draper has announced that he’ll be touring in France with Steven Wilson later this month. In the style of his recent hugely successful UK acoustic tour, Paul will be playing an acoustic set, featuring both Mansun and solo tracks, accompanied by his guitarist Ben Sink.

The tour starts on 21st January in Nantes and tickets and more info available here.

And finally, Paul has also announced his first live shows in Japan since 2000.  Accompanied by guitarist Ben Sink, he will be performing in Tokyo on the 6th and 7th March 2019. The 7th is sold out but for more info and remaining tickets, see here.

 

 

 

JD Hangover – Self Titled (Hound Gawd Records)

JD Hangover – Self Titled (Hound Gawd Records)

This is the debut mini-album of No wave blues if there’s such a thing. Born out of barroom frequented by midnight dwellers from Stiv Cantarelli and the Silent Strangers its dark smokey and in league with some black magic that’s for sure.  With one hand on the Gun Club back catalogue and the other on the steel strung guitar and overdriven amp that has been used previously by the likes of Gallon Drunk and Birthday Party for sure and you could throw in a healthy (or should that be unhealthy does of The Cramps) for good measure.

‘Barrellhouse Queen’ is like a morning after come down when your head is banging like a big bass drum and everything sounds so distant.  The tension created is mesmeric and whilst at times feels claustrophobic it also feels like its the audio equivalent of the great wide open and all panoramic all within one song. that just doesn’t so much grow but envelops the listener and the louder you can get away with playing it the better.

Reverb-heavy feedback-laden its got warmth and atmosphere for sure and that Alan Vega drum echo is chilling on ‘Headspinner Blues’ and as the slide hits the guitar and the strings vibrate it sends a chill right up my spine. I’m taken back to when I first heard Jesus and Mary Chain and their debut single hit my stereo its the same gut-wrenching primal scream (no pun intended) its got a heartbeat that says 50’s rock n roll but its also raging against contemporary music and all its studio trickery as this sounds like its one take one mic one idea – done ‘Mr. Williamson’ fades like smoke rising from a burning pyre.

‘Broken Bones Blues’ is like suicide meets the delta blues and my head is banging along to that distorted beat. to cap it all off if you need any encouragement the final offering is a mesmeric beat beating away entitled ‘Down At The Public House’.  Get this on the road along with Paul-Ronney and his Urban Voodoo Machine who would be the ideal drinking partner for this slice of dark underworld Rock and Roll.  Waste no time in sourcing this out if you’ve ever had a hankering for any of the bands referenced in this review because your going to love this no doubt about it.

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Author: Dom Daley

The Hip Priests unveil new album artwork and tracklist as well as tour dates for early 2019

The Hip Priests unveil new album artwork and tracklist as well as tour dates for early 2019

There is no time folks – The Hip Priests are ready – Are You?

With the vinyl away at the pressing plant and the CD’s in hand it’s looking like mid/late Feb for this much anticipated new release from Shit Islands leading noise makers brand new album ‘Stand For Nothing’  to hit the shops.

RPM can exclusively bring you the artwork for the record as well as some details of a special limited edition available only to Spasm Gang members. The SG version is on red/yellow splatter and will come in handmade red velvet sleeve with extras, my advice would be – jump on board with the Spasm Gang and get in on the limited editions and other exclusive offers. Join Here  As well as the front cover artwork the reverse is here along with the full tracklist that includes exclusive vinyl only song that isn’t included on the CD version.

 

 

 

What looks like being the bands busiest year so far is quickly filling up with tour dates – those already announced to coincide with the album’s launch around Europe are included on this poster. What will undoubtedly be one of the years finest records from one of the best bands anywhere we suggest you don’t snooze on these dates either they won’t be around forever you know, the time to ‘Stand For Nothing’ is upon us are you with us or against us? What are you standing for?  Facebook 

Wonk Unit – Live At The Brook (Bandcamp)

Wonk Unit – Live At The Brook (Bandcamp)

At the tail end of last year Wonk Unit sneaked out an all acoustic live performance recorded at the Brook in Wallington which to those who don’t know is also the place where the band recorded their last couple of albums with Andy Brook which funnily enough is what the venue attached to the studio is called no not Andy Brook but The Brook. Even though it’s now relocated this was thought lost until now that is.  Wonk Unit electric are an eclectic collective so acoustic I wasn’t quite sure what would come out of Alex’s mind for this one but by the time you are halfway through you forget it’s unplugged anyway such is the quality of the songs and the performance and after Alex introduces the tunes there’s nothing like sitting back and giggling to yourself as to where ‘Lewisham’ came from and what inspired the majestic ‘Kings Road Sporting Heroes’ (one of the finest tunes penned by anyone in the last decade) The band have been busy as fuck since this was recorded and I can’t fathom why they’ve not done this more often because quite simply its a blinder. The songs lend themselves to this format and style as each one takes on a new spin and from ‘Tortured Genius’ through ‘Horses’ it’s worth it for the spoken intros from Alex alone.  ‘Je Mappelle Alex’ is blindingly good but then you knew that didn’t you.

The song selection is most excellent tracks like the somber ‘Bin Him’ are dark as fuck but work superbly well acoustically and one of my favourite Wonk songs ‘Go Easy’ is another dark tune but again sounds great and I have to chuckle as Alex gees the band on to ‘lock-in as they absolutely kill it. The ‘Guts’ intro is brilliant if this punk rock lark didn’t work anymore for Alex I guess there’s a career on the stand-up circuit his stories are compelling and relatable but his music is top notch and who would have thought ‘Guts’ would have worked in this format? not me for one but boy it works like a dream.

There is a slight drop in the mix on the intro of ‘Kings Road’ but that’s a small distraction and it takes nothing away from this performance from Wonk unit. Electric or acoustic they are a force of nature and your life is a darker place without them in it that my friends is a fact. Go check it out pronto!

 

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Author: Dom Daley

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead new album info and tour dates

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead new album info and tour dates

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead celebrate 20 years of ‘Madonna’; Update on the forthcoming new album 

…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead will celebrate 20 years of the album ‘Madonna’ with a European tour starting later this month, which comes just prior to the band putting the wheels in motion for the release of their recently completed tenth studio album. 

The band comments of the new record: “Fever visions of other worlds beyond our own and loosely tied to the human condition. This is our new document. This is our new testament. Our Bukowskian faded cities of dust…  The Haunter reaping lost souls.  The American void into the godless void gazing to the firmament.  In other words….It’s a gawd damn Trail of Dead record recorded deep in the heart of Texas.”

The band’s European tour will see them perform the whole of 1999’s Madonna album, a cult-favourite amongst fans and an album that Pitchfork said delivered “volume, passion, talent, and original hooks.”

The band comments of the tour: “Madonna was our first stab at the bigger picture. We wanted to reach Europe and the UK with this album. We knew that it could communicate our ideas there and people would get it more than America. This album helped create so many friendships all over the world. The music resonated and we are still grateful that folks love this record.”

The full list of dates is as follows:

30th January – Le Petit Bain, Paris, France

1st February – The Garage, London, UK

2nd February – Castle & Falcon, Birmingham, UK

4th February – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, UK

5th February – Komedia, Bath, UK

6th February – Manchester Academy, Manchester, UK

7th February – The Art School, Glasgow, UK

8th February – O2 Academy, Oxford, UK

9th February – Esquires, Bedford, UK

10th February – Storey’s Field Center, Cambridge, UK

11th February – The Haunt, Brighton, UK

12th February – Trix, Antwerp, Belgium

13th February – Vera, Groningen, Netherlands

14th February – Tivolivriedenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands

16th February – Mascotte, Zurich, Switzerland

19th February – Zakk, Dusseldorf, Germany

21st February – Manufaktur, Schorndorf, Germany

22nd February – E-Werk, Erlangen, Germany

23rd February – Covo Club, Bologna, Italy

25th February – Beatpol, Dresden, Germany

26th February – Kuz, Mainz, Germany

27th February – Bastard Club, Osnabruck, Germany

 

The bands previous album ‘IX’ was released in 2014, which NME called ‘the Texans at their most focused and thrilling’, while Pop Matters commented ‘…And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead haven’t stopped challenging themselves and their audience.’

Look out for more information on the forthcoming new album soon.

 

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The Flesh Of The City – Self Titled (NFT Records)

The Flesh Of The City – Self Titled (NFT Records)

When No Front Teeth Records issue a new record there’s something like a bat signal goes up over the city so all the sleazy cats know to raid their nan’s purse to gather the funds to pay for a copy.  The Flesh Of The City is the latest release and when they said it was a bit of Gaggers and a bit of Miscalculations and a bit of Shanghai Wires it was a given we’d have a copy.

Sounding like a bit of one and a riff of the other it’s no surprise that Marco has his stamp all over this.  Sounding like a heavily spiked Buzzcocks melody on opener ‘The Visceral Jolt’ which is pretty much the theme throughout to be fair. as soon as one finishes the next rough diamond kicks in.  ‘The Patron Saint Of Murder’ has a dash of early Manics about it more so in the melody and perhaps the subject matter. With the album, an old school split of four on side A and four on side B it’s not going to be prog lengthed tunes either so it’s sharp and to the point.  There is a lo-fi style to the production which is something of a trademark and it does remind me of Tubeway Army as well in the delivery of the songs, with a pretty simple set up.  I’m also getting pre Ant Music Adam and the Ants especially on songs like ‘Cadaver In Waiting’ which is almost new wave rather than angular punk and the use of the spoken words sort of draws in the bands I’ve mentioned so far.

The title track kicks off side two and with its Pete Shelley minimal guitar break but the tom thumping on the chorus is what makes this the stand out track as the bass rumbles on it’s a great song plain and simple. ‘Taking Credit For Other Peoples Ideas’ sounds like the way The Cure should have gone had they headed through the punk door and not the Goth door.  There is a familiarity about the chorus here and it’s not until later that I find myself repeating the melody.

Its a really solid way to jump into 2019 that with an album I know I was going to like before I dropped the needle and when I had I was so pleased that it met my expectations there is even a hint of Blondie about ‘Hide Your Face’ and to close the album the band smash it by taking it up a notch or two with ‘Inside You’ again with that Joy Division like guitar lick on the end of the verse its a pleasure to hear it all works like a well-oiled machine.  I really enjoyed The Flesh Of The Citys debut and would highly recommend it to anyone with good taste in punk rock and new wave its a winner.

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Christmas announce first raft of tour dates for 2019

Christmas announce first raft of tour dates for 2019

2019 will be a year of heavy touring, just like they promised! Here is the first bunch of announced shows for Christmas.

 

Max has been in touch and with an interview on the way Christmas isn’t just for Christmas it’s for life and this year they’ll most likely be hitting a town near you so you know what to do.  These shows will be wild, that’s a guarantee! 

Diamond Dogs – Reload, Rewind & Recall Rock N Roll

Diamond Dogs – Reload, Rewind & Recall Rock N Roll

RELOAD, REWIND & RECALL ROCK N ROLL – Swedish glam boogie blue-eyed soul rockers DIAMOND DOGS are back to set things straight!

After the loss of saxophone player and longtime band member Magic Gunnarsson (who died in a drowning accident 2014) Sulo and the rest of DIAMOND DOGS called it a day. They released the album “Quitters & Complainers” in 2015 and went on a farewell tour ending in Oviedo in October together with Iggy Pop.

Since then Sulo’s been releasing 3 solo albums, working with Chris Spedding, Paul Young, The Crunch and the rest of the members been busy with other projects. During this time a lot of DIAMOND DOGS gig requests been dropping in from all over the world and when they found out that 4 of the 10 previous studio albums been out of stock for a long time and wasn’t available as download they started to make a plan.

Sulo & Honk (Henrik Widen), the remaining original members thought it was time to set things straight and release “that” compilation they’ve been talking about for many years. One thing led to another and soon they had a plan and even some new tracks to blend up the compilation with.

“RECALL ROCK & ROLL” (Cargo Records) will be a double album including 30 tracks. 25 old and 5 brand new songs. At the same time, Cargo Records will re-release 4 previous albums on Vinyl/CD & download.

The albums are: “As your greens turn brown”, “Too much is always better than not enough”, “That’s the juice I’m on” and the split album “Atlantic Crossover” with legendary US Punk rock singer Jeff Dahl.

“RECALL ROCK & ROLL” will be released in September/October and DIAMOND DOGS planning to tour Europe.

DIAMOND DOGS 2019 are:

Sulo – Lead vocals
Lars Karlsson – Guitars
Martin Thomander (ex Electric Boys) – Guitar, Backing vocals
Henrik “Honk” Widen – Keys, Backing vocals
Stefan Bellnäs – Bass
Thomas Broman (ex Glenn Hughes) – Drums

DIAMOND DOGS have over the years delivered countless hard rockin’ shows worldwide, they have also been on tour sharing stage with: Nazareth, Ian Hunter, The Damned, Hanoi Rocks, The Cult, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, The Quireboys, Dan Baird, among others.

Members of Diamond Dogs also have associations with such fine artists as The Hellacopters, Johnny Thunders, The Solution, The Dogs D’amour, The Nomads, Lisa & the Lips, Ian Hunter and The Crunch.

Rainy Days And Mondays

Rainy Days And Mondays

With a brand new year just begun and these cats all being in the news it seems only fair to ease you back to work with some good time rock n roll courtesy of Diamond Dogs who have announced some pretty exciting news for 2019 so here you go enjoy…

Heading out on tour this month Gene Loves Jezebel will see us reach for the silk shirt and guyliner and maybe some hair dye to complete the look for when we go see them play this classic amongst others…

Finally, RPM will be taking in a show or two from Radkey over the next week or two so Shit island isn’t quite so shit this month enjoy.

Spencer and the Elegant Blackouts ‘Hangovers and Hangers On’ (Gutter Class Hero Records)

Spencer and the Elegant Blackouts ‘Hangovers and Hangers On’ (Gutter Class Hero Records)

Many great albums drift away to never be heard or forgotten by the vast majority of people, while a handful of us cherish those albums and hold them close, lamenting the fact that those bands are gone and will not be gracing us with more magic. Back in the 90’s, the Dogtown Balladeers released an album and a couple of incredible CD singles (remember those?) that have constantly remained in my rotation throughout the years. I have made it a point to continue to tell people about the band and how great their music was. Now, everyone gets a second chance to latch onto some pure rock n roll that brings to mind the sounds of the Rolling Stones, the Dogs D’amour, the New York Dolls, and others through this new EP by Spencer and the Elegant Blackouts. Spencer Willhouse was one of the original guitar players in the Dogtown Balladeers, and this EP finds him exploring the same vintage sounds that the Balladeers did all those years ago. Simply put, this is essential for those of us who love classic rock n roll.

These songs were made for the live setting where the music fuses with the soul and works its magic on each person. Time stops moving as these songs take us to another place where we sing at the top of our lungs, the dream of being in a band, and remember when rock n roll was king. A ‘1, 2, 3, 4’ gets ‘Childs Eyes’ started with some rollicking piano and a Stones riff leads us into a verse where Willhouse’s voice greets us like an old friend in a rough and ready fashion. Up next is a cover of ‘The Worst’ by the Rolling Stones which was originally on their ‘Voodoo Lounge’ record so not one of the standard covers that many bands do. Here, the Elegant Blackouts give it much more of a rock spin where I remember the original was more of a ballad. Ironically, this is the song I like the least here, but I do love the piano work by Eric Mauro and think the song works very well within the context of the EP. I should emphasize that I still really enjoy the song, but the others I enjoy that much more.

‘The Next Time’ begins with some acoustic picking before becoming an up-tempo rocker with a great hook. This is currently my favourite on the record with the lead into the chorus being done perfectly. Mark Melchiorre (Silvertide) provides some excellent guitar work here and on the following song ‘Plastic Roses,’ which closes the EP in fine style. This is a classic rock n roll song that gets the body moving and finds Kevin Frank (Silvertide) laying down the perfect beat on the drums. The spoken word vocal before the final run of the chorus is perfectly placed and simply divine.

I hope it goes without saying that if you like any of the bands I have referenced that you owe it to your soul to check this EP out and spin it about 10 straight times. This is timeless vintage rock n roll distilled from the finest spirits; let’s not let it disappear into obscurity. Hopefully, this is just a sample of more to come from the band.

‘Hangovers and Hangers On’ is available now on digital outlets and available on hard copy from the band via email spencerandtheelegantblackouts@gmail.com

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Author: Gerald Stansbury