Album Reviews

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THE WYTCHES - ANNABEL DREAM READER (2014)

• Release Date: August 25, 2014
• Producer: Kristian Bell, Bill Ryder-Jones
• Label: Heavenly Recordings

The debut from ‘surf rock’ Brighton trio ‘The Wytches’ can only be described as brilliant. Opening with ‘Digsaw’, an anger infused Bell can be heard wailing almost incomprehensible words accompanied by screeching guitar riffs, arpeggios paired with the heavy use of the whammy bar and reverb pedal perfectly matched with the low tone bass sounds of Dan Rumsey help to create a doom-filled piece of audible teenager angst. Thoroughly enjoyable to those who wish to wreak havoc upon themselves and perhaps anyone else who has ‘pissed them off’. Annabel Dream Reader echoes Nirvana’s ‘Bleach’ throughout, in Bell’s screeching of ‘she’, in the ferocious licks of the guitar, clearly The Wytches are trying to bring something new, mixed with something old.
‘Fragile Male For Sale’ attempts to help the listener understand the deeper meaning of the album, the track is drowned in darkness and gloom, a degree of heartbreak can be heard hiding behind the vicious, downbeat ramblings of ‘Annabel, you’ve got the loveliest thighs that I’ve ever seen in my mysterious life.’ Seeking the assistance of Ex-Coral member, Bill Ryder-Jones, has proven to be a success, what could have potentially been a myopic mess of overbearing, complicated, choppy guitar noise has left The Wytches with what could be one of the best debuts since ‘Silent Alarm’ by Bloc Party. Instead it is a dark, rounded, emotional collective of heartfelt songs which can even get gloom-cloaked teens to shed a tear, destroying their messily applied eyeliner. Tracks like ‘Summer Again’ and ‘Track 13’ help to balance out the morbid, angry tones, with acoustic, soft underbelly clearly emulating the sensitive side to the trio rather than their 20-something year olds burning with animosity for Brighton and its inwards approach to the grunge scene.
This is one of the best debuts of the decade, scarily similar to the debut of (now supposedly electronic, were once described as shoegaze, but originally dark, gloomy rock) The Horrors, who presented ‘Strange House’ in 2007. It is veiled in a metaphorical mask of audible anger, this has previously been criticised by the likes of ‘Pitchfork’, who in a confusing series of events, gave the album a 5.8 and described it as ‘lacking in variety’, but to understand and to fully appreciate the album you must delve deeper. Ignoring the sometimes muddy tones and somewhat confusing lyrics posed by Bell, there is something special there, something I believe hasn’t been presented by a band before. With a massive influx of fans over this past year, The Wytches could get away with anything, this album promises success for the band, and hopefully an album even, if it is even possible, better than this one.

George and James xx x x x 

Rating: 4.5/5
Favourite Track: Part Time Model

Track listing:                1. Digsaw
2. Wide at Midnight
3. Gravedweller
4. Fragile Male
5. Burn Out the Bruise
6. Wire Frame Mattress
7. Beehive Queen
8. Weights and Ties
9. Part Time Model
10. Summer Again
11. Robe For Juda
12. Crying Clown
13. Track 13
14. Tricks and Dance



CHILDHOOD – LACUNA

• Release Date: August 11, 2014
• Producer: Dan Carey
• Label: Marathon Artists

Released just yesterday, Childhood have delivered 'Lacuna'. An album filled with 'good vibes' and groovy melody lines, a lot was expected from Childhood's debut album and they have definitely provided.

Just looking at the album cover (seen right) you can tell the sound Childhood were trying to achieve, a psychedelic, funky sound heavily enforced by guitar pedals and some 'wahwahs'. Bursting in with their debut single 'Blue Velvet', bossed with a clear riff dominating the tune and vocals that could be described as 'smooth as velvet'. It speaks to the indie crowd with their 'shoegaze' vibes and as NME described 'baggy swagger', there is nothing amateur about Childhood. They may be new on the scene but they have a fully developed sound bursting with colourful hooks, a band clearly powered by guitar music.

In 'Sweeter Preacher' we hear a slight change of tone, a more aggressive vocal sound with harder guitar riffs punched into the distortion-filled melody.

Overall Childhood have produced a very credible album worthy of a band older than just a mere 4 years. You should definitely check out these funky South-Londoners.

4/5


PEACE - LOST ON ME 

As current indie kings PEACE get ready to release their sophomore album they're releasing new single Lost On Me, accompanied by a brilliant, humour-packed video, sporting a new 'boy band' look with matching outfits and synchronized dance moves. Filled with groovy guitar riffs and an energetic, bouncy feel Peace are clearly re-adjusting their sound. With this being the third release we are starting to understand the type their new album, from 'Money' to 'World Pleasure' there is a clear influence, 60s/70s psychedelic, distortion.

You can watch the new video for Lost On Me below: