Recently Rated:
Stats
Category: Music
viA fAntAsticA share snaking tech pop of 'Stomp Stomp' from Welsh Music Prize longlisted album '2 any 1'
By Ceri Shaw, 2021-06-21
viA fAntAsticA shares new single 'Stomp Stomp' a playful pulsing electro pop track, with snaking synth motifs and proto techno rhythms, its lifted from the album '2 any 1' released earlier this year. viA fAntAsticA is J.T. and Gaia de Voxx on a DIY synth pop journey. J.T. is Justin Toland, erstwhile purveyor of loops and found sound on Recordiau Peski and self-released cassettes under the name Location Baked. Gaia de Voxx is his droid vocalist.
2 any 1 is the debut album by viA fAntAsticA. It’s about songs, tunes, accessibility, reaching out. Influences range from mass market and under-the-radar 80s synth pop ( Yazoo, Human League, Fad Gadget ) to contemporary Puerto Rican electronic indie ( Los Wálters, Buscabulla ).
2 any 1 began as an imaginary soundtrack to a 21st century kitchen sink drama set in the faded seaside resort of Porthcawl. That was the inspiration for the Italo disco stylings of ‘Meet me at Sidoli’s', the electronic surf rock of ‘Never surf again’ , lover’s lament ‘Not waving but crying’ , and the incidental noir of ‘Fog and mirrors’ . When Covid scuppered those plans, the album began to take a different shape: less conceptual, more personal, more free-ranging.
So there are songs and tunes about Cardiff communities and community action, including ‘Row Town’ (Roath), ‘Rebuild the Poets’, and ‘Agents of Change’ , which nods to Toland’s found sound roots, with its field recording from a Save Guildford Crescent demo.
"chuntering machine-driven backing somewhere between early 80s minimal synth and mid-80s electro...expansive array of semi-ambient keyboards and proto-techno rhythms." Buzz Magazine
Socials
Bandcamp - https://viafantastica.bandcamp.com/
Twitter: @via_fantastica
Youtube soundcloud.com/viafantastica
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc49ETvVD-xfEtutqljabxg/featured
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viafantastica
Welsh Alt-Rock band 'BOI' are all set to release their brand new debut album entitled 'Coron O Chwinc' via new Welsh independent label 'Recordiau Crwn' on Friday 25th June 2021.
BOI have been playlisted several times on BBC Radio Cymru since releasing their first single back in April, and have had heavy radio support from Adam Walton , Rhys Mwyn , Lisa Gwilym , Huw Stephens , Sian Eleri on BBC Radio , Artrocker Radio , WFMU , KX FM , Bombshell Radio and CISM FM Montreal.
‘BOI’ create a big, melodic, unapologetically drum and guitar driven sound, with lyrics and melodies that explore the big issues of our times and the human state. The 10 songs off “Coron O Chwinc” were recorded in various spaces around Wales, and were then mixed in the capable hands of Dafydd Ieuan ( Super Furry Animals ).
'BOI' albym gynta newydd 'Coron O Chwinc' allan drwy Recordiau Crwn ar dydd Gwener 25ain o Fehefin 2021.Mae 'BOI' yn creu sain mawr, melodaidd, wedi ei yrru’n ddi-drugaredd gan ddryms a gitars, gyda geiriau ac alawon sy’n archwilio themau mawr ein hoes a’n cyflwr dynol.
Recordiwyd y 10 trac oddi ar “Coron O Chwinc” mewn amryw o leoliadau gwahanol o amgylch Cymru, ac yna ei cymysgu yn dwylo galluog Dafydd Ieuan (Super Furry Animals)
Bu Osian Gwynedd a Rhodri Siôn yn aelodau o Beganifs/Big Leaves am 15 mlynedd a mwy, gan recordio sawl albwm ac ‘EP’ o dan labeli amrywiol, gyda chaneuon poblogaidd yn cynnwys Seithenyn, Meillionen, Cwcwll a llawer mwy. Bu’r grwp yn llwydiannus ar lefel lleol, drwy Gymru gyfan a phrofi peth llwyddiant yn teithio o gwmpas y DU a thu hwnt gyda bandiau megis Catatonia a Super Furry Animals.
Music Blog Wales recently described latest single ‘Tragwyddoldeb’ as "a blissful ballad that is filled with emotion and shows the diversity in the musicianship of the band, and really emphasises the close writing partnership between Sion & Gwynedd. Piano is effectively used as the main instrument and creates a beautiful 60′s pop melody and the song that would not be out of place on a Mccartney/Lennon writing session." - Music Blog Wales
"So good....that sleazy, glitter band groove is somthin' else and is very moreish"
Adam Walton - BBC Radio Wales
".....uncompromising and bold guitar and drums with no frills or excess padding."
- God Is In The TV
"....heavy octane guitar-driven wall of sound, that is served with a uber-confident delivery."
- Music Blog Wales
No mess, no fuss, 'BOI' start as it mean to go on, like a hand grenade with no timer: pull the pin, instant explosion!"
- Joyzine
Band Members/Aelodau'r Band
Keyboards/Allweddellau - Osian Gwynedd
Lead Vocals/Canwr - Rhodri Siôn
Guitar/Gitâr - Ifan Emlyn
Bass/Gitâr Fas - Heledd Mair Watkins
Drums/Drymiau - Dafydd Owen
Osian Gwynedd and Rhodri Siôn were members of Beganifs/Big Leaves for 15 years and more, and recorded several albums and EPs under various labels, with their hits including Seithenyn, Meillionen, Cwcwll and many more. The group gained huge success in Wales during the 1990 and 2000s and performed throughout the UK and further afield with bands such as Catatonia and Super Furry Animals. Their English-language single Racing Birds was Single of the Week on Mark and Lard’s Radio 1 show.
BOI Online:
https://twitter.com/BOIblahblah
https://www.facebook.com/BOImuzik
https://boitiwns.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/blahdblahboi/
John MOuse releases new single “When Wales Play Away” . This is John’s unofficial release for the Wales Football team at the delayed Euro2020 tournament.
By Ceri Shaw, 2021-06-07
John MOuse will release new single “When Wales Play Away” on Friday 4th June. This is John’s unofficial release for the Wales Football team at the delayed Euro2020 tournament.
Returning to the theme of Football, When Wales Play Away is inspired by the Wales travelling fans, known as The Red Wall/Y Wal Goch, which he experienced for the first time while playing to a sold out show in Budapest during the qualifying campaign for this tournament.
The tracks nostalgic guitar driven sound is a return to previous John MOuse albums and football themed songs, such as “I Was a Goalkeeper” and the connection with Wales “Whole in my Heart (An Area the Size of Wales)” and a departure from the last longplayer, “The Goat”, an Electronic Krautrock affair, which John has promised to return to for next years follow up album.
“I hope that this song really connects with the Welsh fans, and we get to sing it together soon at a live show, or in the terraces.” - John MOuse
The track is available on streaming platforms and available to buy on the John MOuse Bandcamp page.
https://johnmouse.bandcamp.com/
Artist: SYBS
Single Title: 'Llygaid'
Release Date: 04.06.21
Format: Digital Single
Label: Libertino
Location: Cardiff, Swansea, London, Europe
Social Tags: @SYBSband @Libertinorecs @Beastpruk
‘Llygaid’ is an exhilarating change of pace for a band whose adrenaline fulled anthems have made them one of Wales’ most exciting acts. Here Osian (Singer / Guitarist) and the band take us down a more reflective, jangly and at times bucolic and beautifully melancholic road.....plus it has Tubular Bells on it, an EXTRA reason to love it unconditionally!!
Osian explains the background to ‘Llygaid’:
“I wrote this song during my first year of Uni, and was definitely a change of pace for me writing wise. A lot of the songs I was writing at the time where very dancey and energetic so it felt good to do a song that was more inward looking, and the lyrics definitely reflect this and generally encapsulate those last few weeks of my first year in uni.
It’s really weird listening back to this one because we recorded the final bits and bobs literally a day before I went home for lockdown, a little over a year ago, which makes it even more nostalgic to me. Hopefully I’ll get to make some more memories playing this song live very soon!”
'Llygaid' will be released via Libertino Records on Friday 04.06.21
SYBS Online:
https://twitter.com/SYBSband
https://www.facebook.com/SYBSband/
https://www.instagram.com/sybsband/?hl=en
https://www.libertinorecords.com
Craig Charles is bringing his legendary Funk & Soul Club party to Feeder: The Homecoming at Newport’s Tredegar Park on Friday 9th July 2021. The last remaining tickets are on general sale right now from www.newport-events.com . Support for the homecoming will come from special guests The Magic Gang and Welsh bands Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard and Tom Auton and the Bottle Breakers.
Yes, the legendary actor, comedian, musician, poet and presenter; Craig Charles is a man of many talents. Having played with many bands, Charles has a good ear for the best tunes and in 2012 formed The Craig Charles Funk And Soul Club. Broadcasting for 10 years on BBC 6 Music with their prime time Saturday night slot, Craig Charles has gone from strength to strength, becoming a commanding figure and DJ in the UK funk and soul scene.
Currently live every Saturday Night for 3 hours between 6pm and 9pm on one of the nation’s most loved music radio stations, has garnered Craig global support as one of the UK’s foremost Funk and Soul DJ, commentator and promoter of new music.
Event organiser Mark Hopkins says, “We’re delighted that this will be one of the first major outdoor events in Wales and we wanted to make the party even bigger! Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club does exactly that, big tunes to get everyone moving. The show was originally going to be extra special with Feeder playing a hometown show and it’s going to be even more special with this now being one of the first live outdoor events in Wales.”
Headlining will be Feeder, led by Grant Nicholas leads from the front, alongside bass player and comrade Taka Hirose. The British rock mainstays are responsible for some of the biggest British indie rock hits in the past twenty years. With 8 top #10 studio albums and 20 top #40 UK, the band are responsible for such anthems, ‘Just the Way I'm Feeling’, ‘Tumble and Fall’, ‘Just a Day’, ‘Feeling a Moment’ and the widely loved ‘Buck Rodgers’.
Since forming in 1994, Feeder have released ten studio albums, spanning early albums like Echo Park to Comfort of Sound and Renegades. The Welsh rock band's ninth album All Bright Electric came out in 2016 and the band released their most recent album Tallulah in 2019, which was met with critical acclaim. The album peaked at No. 4 on the UK Album Charts on release and was supported with singles 'Fear of Flying', 'Youth', 'Daily Habit' and 'Blue Sky Blue'
Feeder have come full circle. More than two decades after their first show the band are reinvigorated, tapping into the essential, primal energy that first inspired them.
Support for this huge event come from very special guests Brighton indie band The Magic Gang, whose second album ‘Death of a Party’ received critical and fan adoration worldwide; NME hailed it as ‘A timeless and genre-blurring record’. The line-up also sees two Welsh artists performing, first up is retro rock outfit Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, who have received prestigious air play from BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac, Jack Saunders and Huw Stephens and disco-infused blues rock from Tom Auton & the Bottle Breakers who has just released his latest single 9 til 9.
Feeder,
The Magic Gang,
The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard
Tom Auton & the Bottle Breakers
will perform at Tredegar Park, Newport on Friday 9th July 2021. Tickets are on sale now from
It is always a pleasure to welcome a new single from Tom Auton and the Bottle Breakers and their latest offering '9 til 9' is no exception. Following the success of their previous single 'Victim of the Groove' the band have released yet another high energy masterpiece laced with grinding bass and heavy blues riffs. To hear a sample (or purchase) click the Spotify link above. AmeriCymru spoke to Tom about the band, the single and his future plans.
AmeriCymru: Hi Tom and many thanks for agreeing to this interview. Care to tell us a little about your new single '9 til 9’ ?
Hello! No problem at all, thanks for having me. Sure thing. So 9 Til 9 is about a 12 hour day that I spent overanalysing a song I had written. I spent that entire day trying to change it to fit someone else’s idea of ’the perfect song’.
The next day I realised how stupid I was. I came to the realisation that I shouldn’t change who I am to please someone else.
AmeriCymru: Care to tell us a little about your previous single - 'Victim of the Groove’?
Sure. Victim of the Groove was the start of a new sound for me. Production wise it was really heavy, heavier than anything I’d made before.. Then I had to contrast the production with my vocal melody, to keep it commercially appealing. I tracked the bass guitar 9 times to make up that huge sound that you’re hit with, in the first few seconds. I’d say it was one of my best productions to date.
AmeriCymru: What can you tell us about your band The Bottle Breakers? What is the current line up and what is its history?
Josh Stock - Bass
I started writing and performing music from he age of 12 and I was making very different music to the music I am making now. It used to be very ’singer songwriter/ Ed Sheeran rip off’ stuff. Which has its place, but it’s just not what I’m into anymore.
As I progressed, musically, I started falling back in love with rock music and when I was 16 I got a band behind me to start playing the songs with me at gigs. At that time, there was no name for the band, it was just ’Tom Auton’.
Eventually, around 2 years ago, I felt it was a good idea to give the guys a band name.
AmeriCymru: Who are you currently listening to? Any recommendations?
Currently loving the new Royal Blood record! You can hear their influence a lot in my music.
AmeriCymru: What's next for Tom Auton? Any new tours or recordings in the works?
There’s a shed load of new songs that will be coming out in 2022, I’m currently applying for funding so we can do all the tracks up properly at a great studio in Cardiff, Longwave Studios.
We have a few tour dates in the works for 2022 but nothing confirmed yet. Venues seem to have a massive backlog of bookings coming their way at the moment so I’ll let you know as soon as we have something set in stone!
‘PAYDAY’ is the relentless first single from Minas’s debut album “All My Love Has Failed Me”
By Ceri Shaw, 2021-05-27
‘Payday’ incorporates a clash of punk and electronica that James Minas as a producer has crafted over the course of three years alongside his band (bassist Bob Williams and drummer Greg Davies). It’s a skewed sideways track with a simplistic yet aggressive bass and drum combination sitting unrelentingly under a strung out, spitting vocal performance.
Taking influence from the DIY punk of Shellac and experimental electronica from Burial, Minas has combined a wide lineage of influence, as well as considering new sounds and messages from the likes of Slowthai and Sleaford Mods. This combination, plus further strong inspiration from The Prodigy and Deftones, makes up a musical, lyrical and thematic basis on which Minas has threaded through stories both grounded in his own reality and conjured up to reflect the state of society.
‘Payday’ digs into frustration and angst with a crooked grin attached. Self deprecating humour describes an almost idle boredom marked by depravity and desperation. Its chorus speaks to the title “I get paid Friday, trust me I am good for it” Minas howls over the increasing noise of his band. (...continues)
The last year has been Minas’s most prolific, releasing two singles ‘ Drinker ’ and “ Burner ” (both with forward thinking music videos and playlisted by Dummy magazine) as well as the EP ‘ Nudge ’, written, recorded and released in a span of a couple of months in lockdown. Minas was also granted BBC Horizons Launchpad funding in cooperation with the Arts Council Of Wales. This has afforded him the opportunity to create a unique recorded live show during a time where his charged, manic, crowd-fueled sets aren’t possible. Set within the walls of a circus rehearsal space in what was once a Cardiff chapel, the three piece band played through the album to no one. The show is set to be released with the album later this year.
Social Media - @minassound - Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
LYRICS
I was dragging my ass across the floor like a dog, mate.
You got like 4 and I’ll pay you later? Mate?
He was like “you’ve had 6 off me this week bruv!” Mate!
Ha this tolerance mate it’s gone up init.
Though…
...
I get paid Friday, I get paid Friday, I get paid Friday.
Trust me I am good for it.
Trust me I am good for it.
I get paid Friday, I get paid Friday, I get paid Friday.
Trust me I am good for it.
Trust me I am good for it.
...
My housemates staying in his room,
We’re blasting tunes, I mix up codeine in the kitchen while he munches his noodles.
My parents were punks and I’m being youthful,
What is this revelation, we’re all stuck on phones, you’ll get run over,
I used to break shit to fix things.
...
I get paid Friday, I get paid Friday, I get paid Friday.
Trust me I am good for it.
Trust me I am good for it.
I get paid Friday, I get paid Friday, I get paid Friday.
Trust me I am good for it.
Trust me I am good for it.
viA fAntAsticA shares video for insistent robot pop earworm 'Row Town(Roath)' inspired by Cardiff communities
By Ceri Shaw, 2021-05-26
‘Tom Auton has arrived and isn’t going anywhere but up.’ - New Sound Wales
‘Everything Tom touches turns to Gold!’ - David Owens, South Wales Echo
‘Tom’s a one-man wonder’ - Rock Coven
Tom Auton follows up to the much-adored Victim of the Groove, with a brand new single 9 til 9 which is OUT on Friday 28 May 2021 on all major streaming/download platforms.
Sonically, Tom delivers with another slab of thicc filthy bass to gurn your face, high energy and heavy blues riffs; all woven with Tom’s signature disco groove woven throughout to make your feet want to dance and take you to giddying heights. 9 til 9 was recorded at Longwave Studios, Cardiff, produced and mixed by ‘one-man wonder’ Tom himself, and mastered by Eddie Al-Shakarchi aka Ed Boogie (Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, Boy Azooga) . Following on from the success of previous single Victim of the Groove, 2021 is shaping up to be a big year for Tom, with his first show back being with legendary Welsh indie-rockers band Feeder. Tom will open the huge outdoor show at Tredegar Park, Newport on Friday 9 July with his band The Bottlebreakers. Tickets are available HERE . The Cardiff based musician and his band also paid homage to one of their inspirations Royal Blood with their cover of Typhoons, which gained a seal of approval from Royal Blood themselves!
9 til 9 delves even deeper into Tom’s experience and struggles of being a self-releasing indie artist, the creative process and the theme of mental reliance.
“The Lyric ‘9 Til 9’ refers to a full 12 hour day that I spent analysing a song I had written. Trying to make it fit someone else’s idea of “the perfect song.”
“This song is about rejection and how I deal with it. For me, getting turned down from an opportunity or a job, and not getting feedback as to what you did wrong, sends me falling into an over analytical pit of ‘what did I do wrong’. So I wrote 9 Til 9 to rid my mind all of these questions that I conjure after getting turned down.” explains Tom.
Tom tells the story of ripping himself apart to gain approval from an unforgiving music industry with lyrics ‘now I’ve changed my clothes can I breathe your air?’ but rather than dwell for too long he channels this negative energy into his music and works around the clock to create his fresh sounding and incredibly catchy disco infused blues-rock anthems.
As Tom puts it “It can consume me to the point of wanting to change who I am, It’s a bit dark and gloomy, but I find writing about it makes for some really aggressive riffs. Every song of mine is born from anger and frustration, at things that have gone wrong in my life. The songs highlight the internal conflict I face with myself daily.
” In spite of lock downs hitting the music industry hard, Tom is living the true rock and roll dream; producing his own rock and blues records at the age of 21 from his own studio ‘The Syncopation Station’ (his parent’s living room). Tom’s produces and co-writes with a number of artists including Dan Owen, John Adams, Amber Leigh Irish and The Voice’s Chanel Yates & Jake O’Neil.
“Producing gave me the chance to make the most out of a bad situation and throw myself into my production work. I’ve been working 6 days a week since the start of lock down, mostly over zoom, on a plethora of new music from the artists that I work with. This has definitely helped to keep me sane.” says Tom.
Pre-Global pandemic, Tom was receiving critical success on his previous records with Mother Mary being added to one of the most prestigious playlists on Spotify All New Rock, BBC Introducing’s Adam Walton calling him “An Incredible Talent” and David Owens, South Wales Echo claiming “Everything Tom touches turns to Gold”
9 til 9 will be released on Friday 28 May on all major streaming/download platforms.
‘THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SMILE’ WALES’ BIGGEST FESTIVAL PROMOTERS ANNOUNCE EVOLUTION: ESCAPE RECORDS
The team behind Wales’ biggest events and festivals, including Inside Out and Colour Clash , have announced a major evolution for the company. Having previously operated as Climax Live, the launch of Escape Records is a huge development that sees the brand new record label, as well as all their existing festivals and club nights, fall under one exciting new brand. On top of this, there are bold plans firmly in motion for a brand new sure-to-be historic and much larger addition to their festival portfolio next year. Escape Records, then, is very much set to change the game in Wales and beyond.
This newest project from the team has already begun to pop up in various forms. You may have noticed a Batman-style light projecting a giant smiley face onto historic landmarks in major cities across Wales over the past few days? If you have, now you know why. This is the first of a number of inventive activations from the Escape Records team which you’ll see in the hills, streets and even clubs in the coming weeks and months, so keep your eyes and ears close to the ground.
Escape Records will officially launch on 17th May with the official launch party taking place one month later on 20/21 June, subject to all restrictions being lifted.
The Escape team has undoubtedly established themselves as the leading event promoters in Wales over recent years, launching and firmly establishing four festivals across the country; Inside Out, Colour Clash, Party At The Park and Escape, each with capacities ranging from 5000 to 20,000 people, with a huge new game-changing festival all set to be unveiled soon.
The collective have always strived to surround themselves and work with an array of amazing and creative people that are the heartbeat of what the brand stands for. Escape Records was very much a vision for the future, but after the enforced 2020 fallow year because of the pandemic, it now takes centre stage, as bold new challenges await whilst the team work on some very special new projects to be announced very soon.
Says Mark Hopkins, Director of Escape Records, “Our mantra is trust and love the process. This means we’ve had an incredible ride, with many knocks along the way, but we have learned from them all and improved each time and are now ready to take things to the next level. When this journey began, it was based in music and partying and the wider cultural impact in truth was not at the forefront of our minds. Fast forward 15 years and sadly the carefree attitude of youth is starting to escape us, but this space is now filled with a more meaningful purpose. The creation of our academy to support and bring through the next generation of music talent in South Wales, our range of charitable and project work most recently supporting the building of a home in Cambodia. Giving back in all its forms to our community, the industry further afield and making sure we embody that in all that we do.”
The launch of Escape Records is the first chapter in an exciting new story. Sign up here to keep up to date with all announcements and developments as the story unfolds.
...
SOCIALS
ABOUT ESCAPE RECORDS
The Escape Records team has roots that are deeply woven into the nightclub scene of Cardiff and the surrounding cities. Starting as students working for various other event companies, the team's passions were ignited and skills honed. As soon as they graduated from university, it was clear that working for corporate companies in the city was never going to work so together they formed their own small business. These young and creative minds paired with a determined work ethic led to huge early steps and major successes.
From the very smallest of spaces to the 3000 capacity venues of Greyfriars Road, the journey has been unique and enriching. Always determined to take a passion for music outside of four walls and into the open air, this manifested first in Newport through the creation of the Party At The Park and Colour Clash events. Immediately offering something new and different, the music community welcomed these parties with open arms and so Inside Out in Cardiff quickly followed, making an instant impact and achieving consistent growth and success since its inception in 2015. Escape in Swansea has since followed, with the team taking over the reins of the legacy brand in 2020 after a nine-year hiatus, breathing new life into one of the country’s most loved events, heavily credited for driving the emergence of dance music and the culture which went with it across the late 90s and beyond.
