Chris Catalyst – ‘Kaleidoscopes’ (Self Release)

Chris Catalyst – ‘Kaleidoscopes’ (Self Release)

From noisy, mohawked one man band Robochrist to Leeds power pop heroes Eureka Machines, Chris Catalyst has had a varied and colourful musical career. While The Eurekas may not be a full-time job these days, let’s not forget he has also been a hired hand for the likes of The Sisters Of Mercy, Ugly Kid Joe and Ginger Wildheart along the way to help pay the rent.

‘Kaleidoscopes’ is the sophomore solo album from the Leeds based singer/songwriter, the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2017 album ‘Life Is Often Brilliant’.

 

 

Album opener ‘Make Good Art’ is a surprise departure for Chris and sees him explore new territories. Using samples of an inspirational Neil Gaiman speech set to indie dance beats, it’s got an instant Primal Scream meets NIN vibe. The message of the value of art and the importance of creation on your own terms seems quite fitting at a time when artists have been creating in new and exciting ways. It has a gospel choir, trumpets and distorted guitars blended together by everyone’s go-to producer extraordinaire Dave Draper.

The influences on ‘Kaleidoscopes’ are as varied and interesting as the lyrical themes. 90’s Brit Pop is a major influence, but you will also hear inspiration from the likes of Duran Duran and Tears For Fears, as well as the more obvious Beatles and Bowie influence. Always an artist who looks for the cloud with a silver lining, lyrically, Chris tackles Politics, Brexit, keyboard warriors, mental health, and basically just striving to be dead happy with life.

And his upbeat sentiment on life comes through in the music. ‘Happy’ is a simple, indie-fied, acoustic strummer, with a sweet verse that leads into a stadium-sized, sing-a-long chorus designed to put joy in your heart and a spring in your stride. A musical antidote to suppress the demons. A simple message full of sentiment can be more powerful than a handful of pills and a damn site better for you. This is the one you will be singing along to long after the black vinyl/silver disc/virtual thingy (delete as applicable) has stopped spinning. Similarly, one of the most instant and memorable songs on offer is ‘I’m Not Ok’, where a dampened riff gives backing for Chris’ message of getting back on your feet when things are crashing all around you. Weezer eat yer heart out! There’s even a Slash inspired solo thrown in for good measure.

 

While you could say these songs are typical Chris Catalyst power pop fodder, there are plenty of curve balls, departures and just dead nice musical moments to discover. Be surprised at how ‘King Of Everything’ sounds like Madness in the verses before blasting into a trademark, upbeat Eureka chanting chorus. Savour the fact that the grungy ‘Divide and Rule’ comes on like King’s X with lush Beatle-esque vocal harmonies and a signature Catalyst power pop hook. Then laugh at the fact there is an instrumental named after an episode of Aussie soap Neighbours where the dog had a dream sequence. Yes, ‘Bouncer’s Dream’ is for real!

The overly familiar sounding ‘Never Going To Change’ pilfers from Supergrass and Oasis which is never a bad thing, and ‘The Ride’ is one of those slow burners that creeps up on you after repeated listens. A chuggy riff here, a stadium-sized chorus there and a nifty detuned section that will make the metal heads cream their denim jeans.

 

Taking his collective influences from Brit Pop, 80’s pop music and turn of the century Pop Punk, Chris Catalyst has shaped an album that wins on every level. ‘Kaleidoscopes’ is a layered album that brings something new with every listen. One of those albums where your favourite track changes with each listen. A lot of work and a lot of love has gone into this album, from the songwriting to the production and onto the presentation and artwork. Hell, it even comes with a fanzine packed with information on the songwriting process that smells like the plastic ice cream container I kept my toy soldiers in as a kid! You can’t get more nostalgic than that!

Buy Kaleidoscopes Here

Author: Ben Hughes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE RETURN OF THE FUTURAMA FESTIVAL – EASTER 2021

THE RETURN OF THE FUTURAMA FESTIVAL – EASTER 2021

  A UTOPIAN FESTIVAL FOR DYSTOPIAN TIMES

THE LEGENDARY 2-DAY POST-PUNK FESTIVAL RETURNS TO LIVERPOOL APRIL 3-4, 2021

PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT CONFIRMED TO PERFORM JOY DIVISION’S SET FROM FUTURAMA 1979!

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM SEE TICKETS HERE:

Website

Futurama, the legendary post-punk festival is back after 40 years and takes place at the Invisible Wind factory / Make Arts Centre and Ten Streets Social in Liverpool over two days, 3rd and 4th of April 2021.

The Futuramas were a series of ground-breaking and innovative post punk and electronic music festivals in the late 70’s and early 80’s. They were the brainchild of one-man, John Keenan, a legendary Leeds promoter who has put thousands of bands on over 40 years at his famous F Club. In 1979, he decided to do a 2-day festival at the Queens Hall in Leeds and put on all of his favourite up and coming bands and curated the first alternative indoor festival in Britain. Nearly all of Britain’s most important and influential independent bands played these festivals and many of them went onto considerable success in Britain, Europe, and the US. The roll call reads like the greatest who’s who of alternative music and they include Joy Division and New Order, Echo and the Bunnymen, PiL, Killing Joke, Teardrop Explodes, Bauhaus, The Fall, The Smiths, Gang of Four, Sisters of Mercy, Theatre Of Hate, The Psychedelic Furs & even a fledgling U2. The Futurama festivals caught the zeitgeist perfectly and not only put on many female fronted bands, including Siouxsie and the Banshees, Young Marble Giants, Bow Wow Wow & Altered Images, but also many of the new wave of electronic & synthesizer acts including Soft Cell, Cabaret Voltaire, OMD, Simple Minds, Clock DVA & Vice Versa who later became ABC.

The post-punk era still casts an enormous influential shadow over contemporary music, making the timing perfect for the festival to return, combining both legendary acts from the festival’s history with the absolute best in up-and-coming talent.

pic by William Ellis – www.william-ellis.com

Bringing Futurama full circle, Peter Hook & The Light are confirmed to perform Joy Division’s set from Futurama 1979 in full, promising to be an absolute thrill for fans of the iconic band.

“Futurama was one the first festival experiences I ever had,” remembers bassist Peter Hook. “John Keenan the promoter became a lifelong friend. He was one of the first legends. The gig was the first time I’d ever seen caravans used as dressing rooms indoors, but it had a great atmosphere. It really put Joy Division on the map and the groups on the bill were very well matched to the audience. There weren’t many indoor festivals prior to Futurama so it was quite ground-breaking for the genre in the north. Funnily enough it gets talked about a lot even now. John became a legend and, in many ways, so has the festival. Let’s hope we can capture that wonderful atmosphere again.”

Also linking the festival’s history are Kirk Brandon’s Theatre Of Hate who will be celebrating their 40th anniversary of playing Futurama 3 in 1981, returning in 2021.

With a headliner still to be announced, these iconic acts join a host of bands from the many different strains and spectrums of alternative music, with respected website Louder Than War hosting the main stage on one day, and the world’s biggest rock ‘n’ roll and punk magazine Vive Le Rock the other day, whilst The AF Gang (the IDLES legendary fan club) host the up and coming stage.

There are 4 stages at the Futurama.

Invisible Wind Factory Main Stage: Headline acts and supports

Substation Downstairs in IWF: Electronic, synth and experimental noise

Make Arts Centre: Some of the best new and vintage post punk bands on the circuit

Ten Street Social: The AF Gang hosts the up and coming stage plus DJ sets

Other acts confirmed to appear include Warmduscher, The Chameleons, The Blinders, The Lovely Eggs, Spizz Energi, Imperial Wax, Just Mustard, Membranes, Evil Blizzard, Sink Ya Teeth, John, Heavy Lungs, We Are Not Devo, DSM IV, Bob Vylan, Billy NoMates, Witch Fever, Tokky Horror, Pozi, Crows, St Agnes, LibraLibra, Courting, Crawlers and Joe & Shitboys, with many more to be announced.

Tickets are Early Bird £80 for the weekend from See Tickets HERE:

£20 deposit scheme and four payments scheme in place

For more info head to: futuramafestival.com

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

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