REVIEW// Fizzy Blood/ I'm No Good

Scuzzy new single from scrappy Northern upstarts 

"Be careful what you wish for" comes the whiskey-drenched snarl of Fizzy Blood frontman Benji Inkley. Backed by scuzzy guitars and pulsing bass it's almost threatening in it's delivery, recalling Queens Of The Stone Age if they were born out of a garage in Leeds. 

Taken from their debut EP Feast, it's a ramshackle introduction to the Northern noisemongers charged with leading the current crop of bands wanting to move your feet and burst your eardrums in equal measure. (Also see Tiger Cub, Bloody Knees and Baby Strange) 

The band might sound like fucked-up genies, but if they continue making this kind of racket they might have to listen to their own advice. 

REVIEW// JJ Rosa/ Where Is The Mercy

JJ Rosa turns tragedy into inspiration on heartfelt new single 

Out of tragedy comes inspiration, and none more so than for JJ Rosa who, in the wake of the Paris attacks, wrote Where Is The Mercy as a tribute to it's victims.

Heartfelt and emotive, yet a sure-fire dance floor filler, Where Is The Mercy is an infectious nugget of shimmering synth pop, no wonder then that she calls super-producer Labrinth a pal. 

"Where is the mercy in the world right now?" Rosa questions over pulsing synths, before the bombast of the chorus that showcases the sheer power of her pipes.

It's confirmation too, that Rosa wasn't simply reciting her dad's record collection when she likened herself to Prince and Jimi Hendrix, as the track boasts a killer guitar solo with the kind of shredding that wouldn't sound out of place on a classic rock record.

Where Is The Mercy may be a primed piece of pop perfection, but it's emotion-soaked lyrics ensure it will stand the test of time, long after the chart success it deserves. 

Proof then, that out of tragedy can also come a great pop song. 

REVIEW// Clay To Ride/ This Town

On their new single the Italian trio make a bid for the arena-baiting big time 

It seems that the hatred for a particular place can bring out the very best in a band, and none more so than Italian trio Clay To Ride.

Taken from recent second album Glass Vessels, This Town "represents the union between rage against the barriers that can stop freedom of thought and hope for a changing", and it's this rage which fuels the tracks anthemic arena rock.

Combining colossal riff and thundering drums,  the band channel the arena-baiting likes of Mallory Knox and Deaf Havana.

Frontman Stefano Satori's lung-busting vocals are almost poetic as he asks "Is this the country for old men?", suggesting the town in question isn't short of inspiration.

It results in a stadium straddling sound that begs to be screamed back at them by thousands of frenzied fans, it won't be longs before Clay To Ride are out of this town for good. 

Girls Against

Meet the five teenagers taking on sexual harassment

Gigs give us plenty of things to worry about, from whether we'll get to the barrier and who the support act will be, to if our favourite song will be played, and now, sexual harassment.

No longer safe spaces were music fans can come together, gigs are increasingly becoming sources of anxiety for many, so much so it has prevented some fans from seeing certain bands or going to certain venues again. 

Luckily there is a solution in the form of five teenagers from Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. 

Entitled Girls Against their aim is to raise awareness and ultimately eradicate sexual harassment from venues up and down the country. 

Their campaign has already garnered attention from the likes of Peace and Wolf Alice, aswell as the NME and BBC, their support showing how widespread the issue is. 

We spoke to one of the group's members, Hannah, about the campaign, feminism and how you can do your bit...

There's no better time than now.

What is Girls Against and what is your aim?

Girls Against is a campaign set up by myself (Hannah) and my five best friends - Anna, Anni, Ava and Bea to raise awareness and combat sexual harassment at gigs. Our primary aims at the moment are to continue raising awareness by getting the support of bands and their fans. At the moment we're in contact with venues and their respective security companies to make sure they have proper training in place to deal with the issue.

How can we get involved?You can follow us on social media! Having a decent following on the internet is so important in getting anything done in this day and age - something we think is really great! Keep an eye out on our twitter for our online shop which will be coming soon so you can rep us with our awesome merch. Also keep an eye out on twitter because we'll tweet if we're ever going to a concert and you can maybe join us! If you're an aspiring writer or journalist or generally just have an interest in writing we are taking submission for articles to go up on our blog. These can be on anything to do with inter-sectional feminism - we have a great platform so we want to use it!

Is Girls Against exclusively for girls?No! Absolutely not, we're inter-sectional feminists so we recognise that this happens to everyone no matter the gender - i.e. we support binary, trans and non- binary people. 

Since starting the campaign how many people have come to you with similar stories of sexual harassment? Have you noticed any trends? 

So many! It's kind of ridiculous the amount of stories we receive. To be honest there hasn't been  huge amount of pattern - it just shows how much it happens and that it doesn't just happen at a particular type of show.

Do you think the amount of sexual harassment at gigs has increased or are people just being more vocal about it?

It might have increased, there are no definite statistics so we can't really make a definite statement. People definitely have become more vocal about it and I think that's in part due to the increased feminist discussion. Although it has been going on for years, Peace invited Bea our London member, and Sam (Koisser, bassist) from the band was telling her how it had happened to his mum so it's not suddenly manifested itself recently.

If vocal, why? Do you think it's a result of the recent increase in feminism?

Yeah absolutely, with the rise of pop feminism and other things like that which we think is a really great thing!

What can gig goers do to prevent sexual harassment at gigs?

Being aware that it goes on is a huge part of it. Obviously, letting security know is a great help if you can see it happening.

Follow Girls Against's campaign on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr

REVIEW// Nots/ We Are Nots

Abrasive post-punk from unrelenting Memphis quartet 

A year after it's US release Nots' debut album finally arrives in UK shores on a wave of Riot Grrrl momentum. A coincidence considering that this distinctly Riot Grrrl band don't care for trends, band-wagons or whatever anyone else is doing. 

It's an attitude that's reflected in their album, and We Are Nots certainly isn't short of attitude, especially of the angsty-teenager kind. 

Following the fool-proof post-punk formula of a repeated one-word refrain over abrasive power chords (Insect Eyes, Reactor) Nots cling on to convention like a dog on the arm of a postman and don't let up, resulting in an unrelenting sonic noise that veers on the edge on violent.

Natalie Hoffmann's venomous bark is reminiscent of Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna, backed by a barrage of squalling guitars, plummeting drums and glitchy synths the likes of Black Mold and White Noise sound as though they were written in a fit of GCSE-fuelled rage.

It's a blueprint that could easily become tiresome, yet the Memphis quartet don't seem to tire of things that piss them off, the last track frothing with just as much frenzied frustration as the first. 

Nots might not care for what you're doing but you should certainly care about them. 

REVIEW// Buried Muse

Self-described as purveyors of 'tasteful music' Buried Muse are champions of all things chill. Scouring the underground for it's cream of the slacker crop their You Tube channel is a goldmine which makes Captured Track's rooster look like slight procrastinators in comparison.

Here's our pick of the bunch...

Acid Ghost// OverthinkingWhatever Acid Ghost are overthinking it certainly isn't this song, it's bouncy riffs and buoyant drum beat sounding positively effortless against vocalist Ace Barcelon's lazy laments of "I need her/ But she's already leaving me". 

Mini Dresses// Bracelets
Mini Dresses' sound is just as glamorous as their name suggests. From the swirling guitars to the ethereal vocals, they shimmer like the diamonds that adorn them. 

Lost Film// Ok, LostHailing from Northampton, MA Lost Film have perfected the woozy guitar-pop formula. Part indie jangle, part grunge-flecked scuzz, Lost, Ok is an infectious underground anthem in waiting.

Max Gardener// I Need An AnchorSlacker king Mac DeMarco has competition in the form of 18 year old Max Gardener. The California prodigy's brand of blissed-out bedroom pop is fast becoming hot topic outside of his four walls, ensuring it won't be long before he takes the crown.

ALBUMS OF 2015

12 months, countless albums and endless deliberating, but only 10 of this year's releases can earn the title of Album Of The Year.
After much consideration and a few last minute entries it's finally here- our Albums Of 2015

Pinkshinyultrablast// Everything Else Matters

Despite being born out of a post-Ride/ post-MBV universe the Russian quintet seem surprisingly free from the shackles imposed by their shoegazing forefathers.

Building on layers of feedback-drenched guitars with shimmering synths and dreamy vocals they create a sound that's less gazing down at your shoes and more staring up at the stratosphere. 

Jessica Pratt// On Your Own Love Again

Recorded over 2 years at home in LA and San Francisco, there's a certain nostalgic charm to the 27 year old's ethereal folk that's reminiscent of Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell, tape hiss included.  

Steve Reich// Music For 18 Musicians: Ensemble Signal

Ensemble Signal is a minimalist masterpiece compromising of 14 similar-sounding tracks that seep seamlessly into one another.

Built around crescendos and decrescendos, often of single notes, the instruments rise and set like the sun, the sound of a city waking up.

Diat// Positive Energy

Despite their debut album being entitled Positive Energy Diat are not a happy bunch, yet the Berlin-based band manage to turn their depression into a raucous post-punk racket that's impossible to not compare to Joy Division. 

Ought// Sun Coming Down

On their 2014 debut Montreal punks Ought marked themselves out as ones to watch, and it's the anxiety to live up to this billing which fuels the angsty alt-rock of it's follow up, whilst still maintaining comparisons to their post-punk counterparts The Fall. 

V/A// Cease & Desist: DIY! (Classics From The Post Punk Era 1978-1982)

Compiling cult classics from 1978-82 Cease & Desist is a masterclass in doing it yourself.

From Break The Ice At Parties jazz-funk mash up, to the electro-pop of Private Plane, it's this year's most ingenious and entertaining release that will make assembling an IKEA flatpack look like fun.

Protmartyr// The Agent Intellect

2014's second album Under The Colour Of Official Right cropped up on many of last year's end of year polls, and the Detroit punks look set to do the same with this year's third effort.

Boasting angular post-punk, underpinning frontman Joe Casey's Mark E Smith-esque drawl it's as bleak and abrasive as we've come to expect.

Four Tet// Morning/ Evening

Kieran Hebden's eighth album is an album of journeys. From the literal journey of making chappatis with his grandma to making music in an East London club, to the metaphorical journey that transports the listener from the earth to it's celestial peak, told through the producer's brand of expansive and atmospheric synths.

Institute// Catharsis

 

If albums were named after how they made you feel then Austin punks Institute wouldn't be far wrong with Catharsis. It's frenzied guitars and tub-thumping drums providing the listener with pure punk release.

Jim O' Rourke// Simple Songs

Simple Songs is Jim O' Rourke's first pop album since 2001, yet it's clear he's not lost his knack for a melody whilst he's been away. A melting pot of classic pop elements and more hooks than a butchers kitchen, all backed by the Chicago producers trademark dark humour and wit. 

Many of the albums on this list are available from The Music Exchange, show your support for your local record store and buy independently