Tag: Dot to Dot Festival

Single Review by William Ruben Helms
With the release of their attention-grabbing single “Denim,” which was played on BBC Introducing, the Manchester, UK-based alt pop sextet Mealtime quickly emerged into the British music scene with a sound that meshes pop sensibilities and experimental production values. Since then, the band has built upon a growing profile with two consecutive sold-out shows at their hometown’s prestigious Band On The Wall, live sets at Bluedot Festival and Dot To Dot Festival, as well as a live session for BBC Introducing, Manchester.
Interestingly, Mealtime’s latest single, the atmospheric “Teef” finds the band channeling New Order and Portishead simultaneously, as the song is centered stuttering beats, shimmering synths and guitars, trading male and female verses and a sinuous hook — and while nodding at murkiness, the song is a coquettish and sugary pop confection.

 

Video by William Ruben Helms

New Video: Acclaimed French Electro Punk Act Kat Bambino Releases VHS-Styled Video For Rousingly Anthemic Single

Comprised of Caroline Martial (vocals) and Orion Bouvier (electronics, production), the Bordeaux, France-based electro punk act Kat Bambino formed back in 2001, and since their formation they’ve released four full-length albums that includes, 2002’s Love, 2006’s Zero Life Night Vision, 2009’s Blacklist and 2012’s Devotion, a handful of singles and an exciting and uncompromising live show. And as a result, they’ve been featured in NME, Another Magazine, Dummy Mag and Dazed & Confused Magazine — and they’ve played at a number of festivals, including ZXZW/Incubate, Dot to Dot and SXSW. 

Slated for an April 12, 2019 release through Because Music, the French electro punk duo’s fifth, full-length album Dust, Fierce, Forever features 12 tracks that reportedly nod at Eurodance and hardcore. The album’s latest single is the brash and anthemic “Erase.” Centered around propulsive and thunderous beats, layers of arpeggiated and undulating synths, industrial squealing and squawking and Martial’s shouted vocals. Sonically speaking, the song reminds me quite a bit of Atari Teenage Riot and Nine Inch Nails, complete with rousing and enormous hooks. 

The recently released video is a decidedly lo-fi affair, as it prominently features the duo performing the song and captures their energy, while being shot on grainy VHS-like tape and through some old school effects and fade outs. Essentially, it’s an appropriately abrasive, in-your-face vibe. 

Single Review by William Ruben Helms

With the release of their first three singles, “Souvenirs,” “Set The Fire” and “Cameos,” the London, UK-based indie rock quintet — Robbie Reid (guitar, vocals), Louis Price (guitar, vocals), Jason Hawthorne (guitar), Paddy Conn (bass) and Andrew Evans (drums) — Swimming Tapes quickly received attention across the blogosphere and a growing national profile, as “Set The Fire” and “Cameos” both reached the top of the Hype Machine charts, which was promptly followed by airplay on BBC Radio 1. Building upon the buzz the band received from their first three singles, they released the Souvenirs EP late last year through up-and-coming London-based indie label Hand In Hive, and the EP featured the band’s previously released singles and some newer material.

2017 will see the release of a new EP from the London-based indie rock quintet, as well as UK tour that includes sets at The Great Escape Festival, the Dot to Dot Festival and a headlining set at The Lexington but before that, the EP’s first single “Queens Parade,” consists of layers of shimmering guitars, propulsive and steady drumming, a forceful bass line, and ethereal harmonies paired with a soaring and anthemic hook. And while clearly nodding at 120 Minutes era Brit Pop, shogaze, and alt rock, the song also find the band subtly nodding at 70s AM rock and early New Wave but complete with a wistful nostalgia at its core.