the mmp march 2013

1themmp.tv

MMPThe definitive guide to music in Wales

#38MAR13

Exclusive InterviewWe chat about; Being recentlysigned to uber-indie label Moshi Moshi with the annoucement of the release of a new album in April

SWEET BABOO

We Get To Know The Duo

BEARD OF WOLVES

ORCHARD

2 The MMP March 2013

Box Office: 02920 230 130 | For our full gig listings and tickets please visit:

www.orchardentertainment.co.uk

GREAT HALL 2CARDIFF UNIVERSITY

SATURDAY 9TH MARCH 2013

THECOMPLETE

STONE ROSESSATURDAY 9 MARCH 2013CLWB IFOR BACH

CARDIFF / CAERDYDD

PLUS

. SUNDAY 10TH MARCH 2013 .

CARDIFFUNIVERSITYSOLUS

TUESDAY 12 MARCH 2013CLWB IFOR BACH

+ SPECIAL GUESTS

CLWB IFOR BACHTHURSDAY 14 MARCH 2013

presents/yn cyflwyno Join us on Twitter for up to date gig annoucements @orchardent

THURS 7TH MAR 2013

C A R D I F FCLWB IFOR BACH

SUNDAY 17 MARCH 2013CLWB IFOR BACH

SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013

CLWB IFOR BACHTUESDAY 9TH APRIL 2013

C A R D I F FCLWB IFOR BACH

.ebbw vale.LEISURE CENTRE

S A T U R D A Y 1 3 T H A P R I L 2 0 1 3

the glee clubCARDIFF bay

sunDAY 14TH april 2013

TUESday16thAPRIL 20

13

Solus Cardiffuni

mmp_FP_20_02_13_v02.indd 1 2/21/2013 10:00:59 AM

Ready The Horses!

38March 2013

04MUSIC NEWSNews and round up of all the musical hap-penings in and around Cardiff

06ExlUSIvE INTERvIEW Meet this month’s featured artists!

14ExPoSURE Meet bloody brilliant band ‘Draw Me Stories’

11 + 16CaTaPUlT ColUMN + CHaRTSSimon Thomas discusses the latest news and events.

26MUSIC REvIEWS + lIvE REvIEWSThe month’s new albums, singles , demos and gigs.

31MMP ExTRa + DoWNloaDSGet yourselves to themmp.tv for even more reviews, competitions and news!

Light The Beacons! Re-String Those Tennis Rackets! Ladies And Gentlemen, We’re Coming To Mag You!

It’s March, the month wherein we collectively celebrate that time St David beat all those dragons at jetpack rugby, rejoice at the day Shaq Fu inventing basketballer Shaquille O’Neal was found inside a meteorite and feast on the blood of our enemies in honour of Pi Day.

Or at least that’s what we’ll be doing at the offices...

So what have we got lined up for you in this months digitized mago-paper-zine? How’s about an interview with 6 music favourite and recently Moshi Moshied singer-songwriter “Sweet Baboo” about his upcoming album? BANG! What if we were to say we shine the spotlight on North Walian garage noise rock duo/force of nature “Beard of Wolves”? BOOM! How about a witty and irreverent look into some deplorable mistakes made by touring acts in our new semi-regular column “How not to make it in the music industry”? AW YEAH!

What if we told you we’re going to give you a batch of free tracks from this months featured artists to download onto your chosen music playing device and listen to at full volume on a bus packed with increasingly irate pensioners? I bet you’d feel really psyched about that

Plus all the latest news, reviews and non sequiturs you’ve come to expect from this little hunk of music turbo-journalism. It’s dangerous to go alone….. take this!

The MMP x

EditorsJonathan Day, Aimee-Jade Hayes

advertising & accountsKate James

In-House DesignerHayley Price

listingsSamantha Bull, Jonathan Day

PhotographerKait Mordey

Writers Nick Merriman, Hash Piperdy, Joel Dear, Jim Swidenbank, James Tucker, Jo Southerd, Josh z Duncan, Gareth Kitchen, Samuel Legge, Daniel Muller, Sion Lidster, Aubrey Parsons, Jonathan Day.

CoNTaCTDemos / Releases to be sent to [email protected]*

Cover artistdanielmorrisdesigns.co.uk

* Please note we no longer accept physical demos or CDs, only links to stream or download.

3themmp.tv


Music News application For Womex Showcases Now openFrom 23-27 of October, Womex (the world music showcase) will be setting up camp in Cardiff.If you’re interested in taking part in the showcase, Womex have recently launched their “Showcase and Conference Selection” procedure. Each year a new group of seven handpicked Jury members dubbed “The famous seven Samurai” select proposals from a wide variety of artists, speakers and filmmakers to take part in the event.The proposals are for a limited number of slots, so if you’ve got something you think might grab the jurors attention. Get submitting! The closing date for applicants is Friday 12th April.For More information visit the website.womex.com/realwomex/

CMW Tutor Course Returns Following on from the stone cold success story of their course in 2011

Wales leading music charity “Community Music Wales” (CMW) will be engaging another of their 15 week long music tutor training courses later this year

The course encompasses a wide spectrum of theory and practice in community music, including practical workshops from professional community music trainers. So what does that entail? WELL HOWS ABOUT SOME OF THESE! Group work skills, assertiveness, devising and adapting workshop material, facilitating client learning and growth, working with soft outcomes and transferable skills, an awareness of child protection, insurance, assessing basic skills, health and safety, equal opportunities and diversity, and best practice. BOOM!

This exciting opportunity will be running from Thursday 11th April through until 11th July and involves one full day a week of training. Though it’s taking place in Cardiff, the course is open to all residents of South Wales at the low, low price of £120 (£80 concession)

The course is (activate megaphone) AGORED CYMRU accredited and utilizes a unique training structure that effectively acts as a trail run through for the actual job of a music community teacher whilst you train for said job. Like knitting a parachute after jumping out a plane.communitymusicwales.co.uk

Clwb Ifor BachUnder Threat!

Worrisome news for arguably Cardiff’s most iconic venue has recently popped up. Since its opening in 1983 Clwb Ifor Bach has been the go to venue for travelling bands, artists and DJ’s in Cardiff, so much so that it has attained an almost mythical status within not only the city, but within the music industry on the whole.

Now, however amidst the ever changing current musical landscape, the behind the scenes team have announced that if “younger” trustees can’t be located before the club’s 30th anniversary in July, it will be sold on to the highest bidder.

The venue has seen much change over the years, opened initially as a Welsh language only venue its primary income now comes from English speaking bands and the venues club nights; a fact which is not lost on the current owners. So, fingers crossed that younger trustees with the ability to uphold the venues values whilst outlining a financially viable plan step forward. It would be a disaster to see such a landmark of Cardiff’s musical identity disappear into the fog of history.Clwb.net

5themmp.tv

UTTERlY aBERRaNT FUNDING CUT NEWS NoW

In a proposed move that is not only tragic and deeply upsetting in its immediacy but riddled with toxic long term implications, Cardiff city council has motioned to cut funding by 100% to the “Cardiff & The Vale of Glamorgan Music Service’, effectively ending, with extreme prejudice, the public subsidy for instrumental lessons.

There’s fears of music tuition simply becoming something only the wealthy will be able to indulge in, crippling the country’s future as a musically rich place and depriving those who can’t afford private tuition of an integral part of the arts.

Local conductor David Hutchings has posted the following protest on a petition site in an attempt to draw attention to, and hopefully avert, what many view as a prospective calamity. If a country that draws a great deal of national pride from its music decides to abolish music teaching in schools, you begin to seriously doubt if its politicians have anything approaching a grasp on their national identity

“At a time when the arts are being harder-hit than most sectors, a 100% cut to the music service is nothing short of a disaster. Cuts are a sad, often devastating necessity of these hard economic times, but through music and artistic expression, people are empowered to find hope out of adversity. To make a 100% cut in funding for Cardiff & Vale’s invaluable Music Service not only puts in jeopardy such important work, it sends a message to all people that the arts (and therefore work which seeks challenge young people to find hope out of adversity) is simply not worth doing.

If we have lumbered our young people with this burden of economic debt, do we not, at least, owe them an outlet through which the hope and motivation may be expressed in art?”www.change.org/petitions

Sam Toro Y Moi - Say That

Like the soundtrack to a Shoreditch based expansion pack for “The Sims”, Images of awkwardly ironic virtual avatars staring into the middle distance and incomprehensibly muttering before you drown them in a pool of PBR because you are a cruel god. All arguments are invalid.

Hayley Deluxe - Mr Chicken

Soul music for the feral kids living just out of frame in every slow motion, open top car tracking shot of sun soaked fun lovers careening through California. Joyous, Rayban clad and sort-of-a-little-bit-freaky

Johnny Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - We No Who U R

In the history of music, no one has ever been taller, scarer and had quite as black hair. as Nick Cave. Hearing him softly croon that he knows where who we are, where we live and he doesn’t intend on forgiving us over a gentle, and at times ghostly instrumentation; is a fitting reaffirmation of his pants-filling fear capacity.

Joe o’C Dutch Uncles - Fester

After wowing a packed Moon Club in February, Dutch Uncles’ third LP Out Of Touch In The Wild has spent little time off my turntable. A set of minimalist mathy indie, it calls to mind Hot Chip and the increasingly popular Everything Everything with its complex guitar lines, danceable beats and infectious xylophone.

What we’ve been listening to

Image: Community Music Wales


But having recently signed to uber-indie label Moshi Moshi, announced the release of a new album in april, and had latest single “let’s Go Swimming Wild” played to within an inch of its life on 6 music….you may be about to get a whole lot more Baboo in your ears.Which is a pretty good thing. So we chatted to him about all that stuff didn’t we…

MMP: How in the name of (insert hilarious cultural reference) are you? SB: I’m very well thank you, enjoying my admin Monday morning so far.

MMP: You’re new album is a concept record inspired by the sea, though previous material of yours is occasionally peppered with references and mentions to the ocean, what’s the context that cemented the topic as the inspiration for this new batch of songs? SB: I’m a big fan of unity in records and I’m also a big fan of the sea. I was brought up on the North Wales coast and have

continuously been influenced by it ever since. Somewhere along the way, the concept for the album got slightly misplaced, inevitably, so now I like to call it a brass heavy part concept pop album about the sea.

MMP: Where does this album exist within the spectrum of your previous releases? What different directions have you pushed your sound in? SB: It’s poppier….with a sh*t load of brass on it….

MMP: Singer-songwriters live and die by how willing the audience is to accept the authenticity of their material. There’s a self-deprecating (and often very lyrical) honesty to your songs that marks you out above the current crop, even when the material is a little more abstract or dark it still feels intensely personal. SB: I suppose subconsciously it must be cathartic, but like most artists I’m pretty self-obsessed and so, whether I like it or not, all my songs, true or made up, are written from the first person. I’m too old and lazy to change how to do it now.

MMP: The music you make is very distinctly a product of Wales, it sits up alongside the particular and very obvious brand of idiosyncratic songwriters and music this country tends to produce (many of whom you’ve played or toured with) – where do you think this particular sound stems from? It often seems like a mixture of mythology, nostalgia and an endearing left-field weirdness….. SB: I totally agree, I definitely hear a certain similarity in a lot of music that comes out of Wales. I’m not sure why, I think as a nation we just make the best pop music. There’s always a sense of excitement, playfulness and adventure in the music that comes out which seems to be far removed from what’s cool and on the radio at the time. I suppose, we’re never far from nature and I can hear that through the music that’s made here. I also think, for my generation, SFA and especially the Gorky’s are massively, massively important. Their music and attitude to making music has shaped how I approach everything, and I think that’s true for a lot of other musicians in Wales.

Sweet Baboo

Sweet Baboo (better known to friends, family and moustache twirling enemies as Stephen Black) has been a stalwart of Cardiff’s music scene for the better part of a decade. Despite cult acclaim for his solo output, tours and collaborations with the likes of Cate le Bon, Euros Child and Daniel Johnson, a wider success has somewhat evaded the singer songwriters brand of colourful left-field heart on sleeve sonic splurges..

7themmp.tv

MMP: You’ve been involved with lots of artists and bands in the past, but now that you’ve signed to Moshi Moshi does this mark the beginning of a time more single mindedly focused on your own solo output rather than indulging in collaborations? SB: I hope not. I think I take a lot of inspiration for my own music through

playing for other people so, as much as I can, I’d like to continue to do so. It’s my favourite thing to do.Having said that, it’s pretty exciting doing more Sweet Baboo stuff.

MMP: What are your views on Cardiff’s current musical landscape? Is there anyone performing at the moment that gets

you really excited? SB: It seems to be a very exciting time for Cardiff at the moment. I love what Peski Records are releasing, especially R.Seiliog and Y Pencadlys. Shape Functions (the live arm of Shape Records) are putting on some brilliant stuff. Mount Eerie, I am especially excited about.I really like a band called Mowbird but they are from Wrexham so I don’t know

if that counts.

MMP: What are the plans following the album’s release at the end of april? Tour? Festivals? More albums? Domination of the eastern seaboard? a far reaching range of merchandise including lunch boxes and improvised weaponry? SB: Well, we (me and the band) have

a three week tour around the album’s release. Then hopefully as many festivals as we can, I think there’s about eight booked now maybe. I’m also hoping to do quite a big tour on my own too but nothing has been booked yet so we’ll see.No plans of another album yet, I have a few songs written but it’s coming together very slowly.

My only merchandising idea was to get a man named Chris Fowler, who has a chili sauce company called Red Dragon Chili to make a limited edition sauce. The stuff is incredible and very addictive.I’ve never asked him though so this is me tentatively asking now.

“ ... I think as a nation we just make the best pop music, There’s always a sense of excitement, playfulness and

adventure..”

Words and Interview: Jonathan Day

Photograph: sweetbaboo.co.uk

sweetbaboo.co.uk


The last days of Rome were by all accounts one heck of a party. After consulting the abacus I am almost entirely certainly that Beard Of Wolves weren’t present during this momentous time in our world’s great history, and so regretfully the band were probably not the soundtrack to the decadent decline of a once grand civilisation.Why this disappoints me is that if ever there was a time and place that was so perfectly appropriate for the sordid noise-pop that these particular North Walian music makers spew forth, then the frantically frenzied over-indulgence of those that invented central heating is surely it.If your processing of this information to this point has led to you believe that I am advocating the wearing of a chilton to a Beard of Wolves gig then I would like to make it clear that is not my intention, it simply isn’t practical and you will be quickly and justifiably scorned by your fellow gig-goers with only yourself to blame. If you will insist on dressing like a Roman then you would be much better off trying the toga; an item

of clothing synonymous with Bluto, Delta House and, quite appropriately in this case, hard-drinking. Those Animal House scamps dug the seminal and timeless ‘Louie Louie’ way back when, so you just know that they would also approve of the sonic assault wrought by the duo, not to mention the underlying danceable edge that pulsates through the songs.This is music for an insatiable party; it’s infectious and fun, and is laced with not just a smattering of smut but a healthy dose of hedonism too, a patently potent combination by anyone’s estimations.Theirs is a hybrid sound that tenderly coaxes together influences from across the spectrums in both dance and rock before violently regurgitating them as a new multi-headed beast. So it is that allied to the relentless urgency and unrelenting pace that would be expected of garage or drum’n’bass is an indisputable hard-rock sensibility, and it is the seemingly seamless fusion of these sensibilities that suggests the band will go on to become a real success.

Beard of Wolves

Photograph: facebook/BOWOfficialWords: Nick Merriman

9themmp.tv

DFA1979 is an obvious reference point, not only because they too were a duo comprised of a bassist and a drummer but they also followed a similar line in creating a warped and distorted form of contemporary dance music before they split, reformed and…did they split again? The influence of QOTSA, and to a lesser extent their offshoot Eagles of Death Metal, is also noticeable, particularly in regards to the vocal delivery, with the occasional brutal passages that the band speed into recklessly bringing to mind the abrasive grind of McLusky and Future Of The Left.Amazingly Beard Of Wolves have taken little to no time to create what is for all intents and purposes a fully formed sound. Having sprung to life about 5 months ago from the still glowing embers of the supremely rocking I Am Austin, David and Adam decided to go it alone and yet together, as drummer and bassist respectively with vocal duties shared. In their short lifespan to this point the band has been a mass of activity, and has been rewarded for their enthusiasm with a great deal of

interest in their music.Since first posting a track on-line (the wonderfully titled My Father Drives The Death Star) they have received air-time on Radio 1, a glowing review from the holier-than-thous over at The Guardian, and a notable feature in the all things alternative magazine Front. With a growing reputation as an awesome live act, as attendees of their Swn show can attest to, and a self-titled EP released via the good folks at Too Pure Records they are gathering fans and momentum at a prodigious rate, and will be recording their début album with Tom Bellamy of The Cooper Temple Clause fame with a release date set for April.For fans of the band the release of the long player cannot come soon enough, for if it is in keeping with the bands progress so far it will confirm their position as one of the most original and exciting new bands to be coming out of Wales.Beardofwolves.bandcamp.com

“.. a hybrid sound that tenderly coaxes together influences from across the spectrums in both dance and rock. ”


after being uploaded to Soundcloud “Celwydd”

received a staggering 30,000 plays in five days

Words: Jonathan Day

Photograph: facebook.com/IfanDafydd

11themmp.tv

Imitation, it’s often said, is the sincerest form of flattery. I think there’s a fair argument to be made that having the key to a city constructed from ice-cream and videos of David Cameron getting punched in the head repeatedly gifted to you and you alone may in fact be flattery at its most super-conductively sincere. But that’s just me. If the age old adage is to be believed however, back in 2011 James Blake must have felt flatter than Wile E. Coyote after a particularly brutal ACME injury. Indeed, seemingly every facet of the cooler-than-thou inter web digi space was gushing with imitations of Blake’s (now-trademark) combination of quirky, melancholic R & B skewed dubstep. But one voice successfully managed to get heard over all those other reverb tinged snare drums and jazzy piano chords echoing out into empty space.

That man would be Ifan Dafydd….and he is a Welshman.With the appearance of his Amy Winehouse sampling

“No Good” in 2011, such was the intense similarity to Blake’s musical output, many suspected Ifan may have been a pseudonym for the man. Sonic similarities were always destined to emerge however, Ifan and James were roommates for a year whilst studying at Goldsmiths and such proximity always bleeds the influences of artists into each others work, but the track showed an individuality in Ifan’s production and composition that dragged it far enough away from Blake’s minimalistic dubstep vision to make it appealing in its own right, whilst still retaining many of the characteristics that made the sound so popular. Sure the traces on the snares still rung

out with subtle reverb and there was that inherent lushness to the chords, but there’s an infinitely more upbeat sensibility to Ifan’s music; arguably it’s more melodically rich, more textural and…at times…more cinematically expressive.

It would appear that like two men sat drinking in a pub for long enough, Ifan and Blake’s urination cycles have synchronized – Ifan’s next releases since “No Good” comes in the form of “Celwydd” and “Llonydd” for the “Y Record Las” compilation album and Blake recently released “Retrograde” off of his second album.

But here’s where things get interesting – because it would appear that during the in between people have in no way forgotten about the potential Ifan laid out on his first release. After being uploaded to Soundcloud “Celwydd” received a staggering 30,000 plays in five days – a figure so large for such a small time period that upon reading it, my head spun with force enough to burrow through the nearest wall. The track is a step forward as well whilst still farming the same creative fields as Blake. It’s less playful than “No Good” – but even more textured, assured, and propelled by a haunting mangled vocal line provided by Alys Williams; it’s woozy like a blow to the head whilst in the bowels of a K-hole.

Watching a young producer grow is always exciting, especially when the producer in question is as clearly talented as Ifan. Indeed, his first long player is something to await with eager ears.facebook.com/IfanDafydd

Ifan Dafydd


“ Having the space to explore really helps the creative process, the city can stifle but here there’s is room to wander find a space to yourself and sing with no eyes or ears on you.”

ww.themmp.tv

Interview & Words: Jonathan Day

Photograph: Will Hartley

13themmp.tv

little arrow

Maybe you’re aware that principle songwriter and vocalist William Hughes retreated back to his native West Wales following said band collapse and re-emerged with a new set of songs to once again bare that indie-folk torch. Maybe you’re aware that they have their second album (Wild Wishes) out on 4th March? Maybe you’re aware that this act is called “Little Arrow”…and they’re bloody great. We chatted to William about music and cheese structures ahead of the album’s release date.

MMP: How in the name of questionable horse burgers are you? la: Collectively Nay bad!!! Excited about the upcoming album launch and tour.

MMP: You’re getting ready to release your second record “Wild Wishes”. Where do feel this material fits alongside your debut? Has there been an enormous progressive leap since then or is this more of a refinement of your pre-existing sound? LA: Both really; the first record began as a solo mission, midway through I brought in more musicians and directed their parts. ‘Wild Wishes’ differs because it’s much more collaborative; the process was more spontaneous and organic. We recorded the album ourselves so we were able to spend more time trying different things, experimenting and really enjoying the process.

MMP: The band seems to draw a great deal of inspiration from

nature. How integral were your formative years in Pembrokeshire to this sound and aesthetic? LA: Living in Pembrokeshire it is impossible to escape nature and so this has a great influence on not just the music but our lives. Living here you really feel the seasons… not always necessarily a good thing, we can go through long periods of gales and rains and just as you’re about to pack your bags and bugger off the wind drops, skies clear and everything is lovely for a while! Having the space to explore really helps the creative process, the city can stifle but here there’s is room to wander find a space to yourself and sing with no eyes or ears on you.

MMP: Since the “indie-folk” explosion of late, there has in some places been a mild backlash against the genre. a problem that seems to stem primarily from the perceived inauthenticity of many acts performing the music. listening to you however, there’s definitely an aura of the authentic about the content. LA: The problem could be because once a genre becomes saturated then it’s no longer ‘cool’ to like it. We try not to worry about genres but instead treat each song as its own story, in its own setting. Everyone in the band brings something different, has different influences, and so the songs reflect that. It just so happens that I grew up with my mother continuously singing. She sang a lot of old folk tunes, but lots of other types of music too. In these modern times there’s no real need to feel any loyalty to any specific area of music.

MMP: How does the writing process work within the band? It seems to be your baby, but has it become more collaborative since the debut? LA: I’ll write an idea and bring it to everyone else. When we get booked for a gig we will get together for a jam weekend and together create a version which feels right and we all enjoy. For recording purposes it is slightly different as you are not constrained by the live aspect, you can have lots of goes and try lots of different ways of fulfilling the same brief.

MMP: So what do the immediate plans following the album’s release and the rest of the year look like? and then, peeking ever forward into the future, what are you hoping to ultimately accomplish with the outfit? LA: Following the album release we will be going on a little tour to show Britain what we’ve got going, we will be releasing singles and videos as well. We’d like to be involved in some festivals, produce a live EP over the summer and continue to create music and fun. In the future we’d like to get involved with other artists and spread our collective approach.

MMP: and finally, for construction purposes, what’s the most architecturally sound cheese commercially available? and what structure is it best employed for? LA: Parmesan for the walls, although pricey it’s definitely brick like. Emmental is water proof! Good for the roof.

littlearrow.co.uk

Maybe you’ve heard of Fredrick Stanley Star? Maybe you’re aware that once upon a time they were Cardiff’s indie-folk golden kids? Maybe you’re aware that Fredrick Stanley Star sadly no longer exists as a musical entity.


live ReviewsWords:

Nick Merriman

Photograph: Jon Pountney

Gallops have embarked on a twelve-date UK tour following the triumphant release of Yours Sincerely, Dr. Hardcore and on the night of the Cardiff show, there is a real buzz upstairs in Buffalo Bar.

Joining Gallops on tour are fellow Blood & Biscuits pals, Portasound. They are a complex set-up and certainly fill the Buffalo stage, with five bodies, two guitars, bass, drums, two keyboards, synth and a laptop (you do the maths). Though in appearance their combination of jumpers, beards, flat peaks, fringes and a vintage Mickey Mouse vest seems a somewhat unlikely mix, in sound they work together brilliantly: their experimental electronic rock has an irresistible sci-fi vibe, a bit like War of the Worlds might sound were it channelled through a heavy distortion pedal. Surrealist soundscapes collide with endearing splashes of pop-punk and krautrock, while space-age synth hooks really drive the songs forward. For their sixth gig in the same number of nights, Portasound deliver a highly charged instrumental performance and leave a favourable lasting impression.

Such a high-quality support set has the crowd thoroughly hyped for Gallops. The North-Walian four-piece build steadily into their set with album-opener astoroth, before plunging into the brutal crashes of Jeff leopard. Complex time signatures are no match for this band, who were exceedingly tight and maintained just the right balance of crazy and controlled. With crunching guitars, buzzing synths and basslines that seriously groove, their particular brand of rocktronica almost feels like dance music for a metal crowd. Each song is a sprawling masterpiece in itself, and by the end of their hour-long set it doesn’t feel as though we’ve actually heard that many tracks. Gallops don’t mess around leaving the stage for an encore, but do agree to the crowd’s cheers for ‘one more song’, ending on fan favourite Miami Spider, swathed in layer upon layer of fuzz (not for the first time, the guitarist sinks to his knees in order to control fx pedals with his hands - brilliant). It’s a satisfying end to a brilliant show. What Gallops do is careful and intelligent; they are infectious, angular and wonderfully hardcore. a truly great live band.

facebook.com/gallopsgallops

GallopsSupport fom Portasound, Buffalo Bar

Words: Jo SoutherdPhoto: Gallops

15themmp.tv

WMF ADAn intensive two days offering a crash course in music management.

Modules covered include:

• An Overview of Today’s Music Business

• Career & Business Development

• Collecting Societies• Audience & Fan Base

Development• Independent Artist

Releases and Live

An advanced-level, ten module course for those musicians and managers further down their

respective career paths. Modules covered include:

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• Funding• Music Media, Marketing &

Promotion• Publishing• Contracts & Brand

Development

Welsh Music Foundation, in association with leading training consultant Stuart Worthington are now accepting applications for their Artist and Music Management Business Development courses.


In a terse statement released last month to an unsuspecting public, Race Horses confirmed that due to the old adage that is creative differences, the band had decided to cease operations and go their separate ways. For fans new and old this decision was both extremely disappointing and quite baffling.

If Race Horses were under any allusions as to how much their music really meant to their fans, then this evening will have been a timely reminder that they really did have a good thing going.

Opening with the vamp of ‘Furniture’ felt like a poignant move, describing as it does the breakdown of a relationship. The pleading chorus of ‘What Am I To Do’ also seemed to carry an extra emotional weight, and was positively roared back at the band.

Race Horses will be remembered as a live spectacle capable of tender moments and touching

harmonies, like those in ‘Nobody’s Son’, but also equally adept at prompting the sort of furious pogoing which greets the demented surf-rock of ‘Grangetown 02920’.

For the closing epic that is ‘Marged Wedi Blino’ they are joined on-stage by original guitarist Alun Gaffney, a nice touch yes, but also yet another reminder that is the end of the band, and so as their otherworldly anthem draws to a close it is with a heavy heart that Race Horses are applauded off for the last time.

Welsh music is definitely worse off without Race Horses, but you would hope that such a group of talented songwriters and musicians will be back making music before too long, even if it will not be together.

More Reviews [themmp.tv]Words: Nick Merriman

Photograph: facebook/racehorsesmusic

facebook.com/Racehorsesmusic

Race HorsesFinal Show: Houdini Dax & R. Seiliog, Clwb Ifor Bach

17themmp.tv

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• Artist Rhyngwladol a Gwasanaethau Rheoli Cynhyrchu

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Marchnata a Hyrwyddo• Cyhoeddi• Cytundebau a Datblygu

Brand

Mae Sefydliad Cerddoriaeth Gymreig, mewn cydweithrediad â’r ymgynghorydd hyfforddi blaenllaw Stuart Worthington, nawr yn derbyn ceisiadau am eu Rhaglen Datblygu Busnes Rheoli Artistiaid a Cherddoriaeth.


Gigs of the Month /////

Willy Mason @ Glee ClubTuesday 5Th MarCh

The charming American singer-songwriter and once upon a time

“new Bob Dylan” swings by Cardiff in support of “Carry On”, his first

album in five years.

Constellation Night: Kraftwerk @ Chapter

Friday 1sT MarChWhat’s not to love about an evening of music dedicated to everyone’s fa-vourite autobahn enthusiasts played by local bands? Rife with both the potential for brilliance and hilarity.

Little arrow Launch @ Gwdihw

Thursday 7Th MarChThe fantastic folkies celebrate the

launch of their second LP. Support: Pot bashing anti-folk weirdos Quiet

Marauder + Dan Messores.

draw Me stories Launch @ The Moon

Friday 15Th MarChThe impossible to pin down four-

piece will be officially unloading their genre defying behemoth of a debut album in (no doubt) moody style.

swn Presents: Concrete Knives @ Four Bars

saTurday 2Nd MarCh Youthful exuberance bashes heads

with an artful weirdness: resonanting guitars, charging drums and euphoric collective vocals.

howl eP Launch @ The MoonThursday 14Th MarCh

Rollicking blues rock duo unveil their debut E.P. Not to mention support

from amazing B-movie garage rock-ers Heavy Petting Zoo and Stain’s Street Party. Will. Be. Awesome

inc.a @ Four BarsFriday 8Th MarCh

Loads of brass. Loads of strings. Loads of weird costumes. Loads of good times. Instrumental vaguely eastern European party music.

hail! The Planes @ Four BarsMoNday 18Th MarCh

Much! Loved! Locals! Bring! Their! Euphoric! Post-Folk! And! Love! Of! Exclamation! Marks! To! Dempseys!

Lovely Wars @ Tommy’s BarFriday 22Nd MarCh

80’s new wave meets spikey 60’s polkadotted melodious via arched

eyebrows and waggled fingers.

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Clubs of the Month /////

Festivals this Month /////

Audio: Traffic @ UndertonesaTurday 2Nd MarCh

Launch of a new club night aiming to bring together the newest and most interesting producers and DJ’s from across South Wales.

ultimate Power @ The MoonsaTurday 30Th MarCh

An evening of non-stop power ballads. Drop all pretenses, drink loads of lager, and let Meatloaf, Collins and Jovi take you on a

journey you never even knew you wanted to go on.

Wales Goes Pop @ The Gate/10 Feet Tall29Th - 31sT MarChThe School and friends bring a host of acts to Cardiff for a weekend long music extravaganza including “Let’s Wrestle”, “Golden Fables”, “Josie Long” and the goddamn “Primitives”.

Juxtaposed Micro Fest @ Gwdihw31sT MarCh

All day micro-fest at the owl room with a stage curated by US RIGHT HERE! May God have mercy on us all! Fantastic line up including “The Keys” “We//Are//Animal”, “Fist Of The First Man” and “Howl”.

signature @ Buffalo Barevery Thursday

Night of nothing but forward thinking electronica, house, dubstep, future house etc, etc. If it’s glitchy, twitchy,

bassy and danceable....it’ll be played.

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MONDAYTrojan Boss Sound @ Rockin Chair, 7:00pm, FREE * Jamaican, ska, reggae and funk. Funk yes.Buff alo Live @ Buff alo Bar, 8:00pm * Live music from bands and DJs.Late Night Live @ 10 Feet Tall, 8:00pm, £varies * Two fl oors of entertainment, chart hits and the latest bar favouritesMindie @ Peppermint, 8:00pm * Fancy a bit of indie/Britpop? Then get on down...Hangover Cure @ Mocka Lounge, 8:00pm, FREE * What it says on the tin really. Go and massage that sore head!Ctrl ALT Del @ Solus, 10:00pm, £2 * Eclectic array of genres in this one size fi ts all club night in the UnionThe Capital’s Favourite Monday Night @ GLAM, 10:00pm, FREE * Full of outrageous drink deals and killer dancing tunes.Live DJ @ The Live Lounge, 11:00pm, FREE * Taking you through until 4am with an eclectic mix of sing-along tunes and dancefl oor anthems.Jagerfest @ GLAM, 10:00pm* Every Monday night at Glam. Jagerfest is the Monday night bomb!Bump & Grind @ Undertone, 10:00pm, £3 * Come let the DJs brush that dirt off your shoulder at Cardiff ’s ONLY 90s/00s Hip Hop & RnB BASEMENT Party! Coming at you the 1st Monday of EVERY month.The Full Moon Monday Club @ The Full Moon, 9:00pm, FREE * Every Monday at The Full Moon, the best jukebox in Cardiff , Juke Nukem provides the tunes all night, while new prospects aim to earn the colours and join Cardiff ’s least exclusive MC – Monday Club!You’re the DJ… @ Bar Icon, 8:00pm, FREE * Every Monday you get to choose what music we play, our Jukebox has over 85,000 tracks so you should be spoiled for choice!Plus 1 @ Tiger Tiger, 9:00pm, £5 * Hosted at the slickest venue, playing the freshest tunes, and serving the cheapest drinks, Plus 1 Mondays at Tiger Tiger Cardiff is THE place to be on a Monday night for the young and the young at heart.

TUESDAY10 Feet Live @ 10 Feet Tall, 8:00pm, £varies * New music and party tunes in the bar until 4am!Buff alo In Session @Buff alo Bar, 8:00pm, £varies * Showcasing the best

promoters, DJs & bands. 1st Tuesday of the month is Bof! 2nd Tuesday of the month is Lindy Hop Cardiff .Open Mic Night and Karaoke @ WOW Bar, 8:00pm * Your chance to get on stage and show the world your talent.Salsa Classes @ Live Lounge, 8:00pm * Come and learn some sensual Salsa at a top venue.Relax and Unwind @ Mocka Lounge, 9:00pm * Loosen up after a stressful opening to the week.Revive @ Solus, 10:00pm * The best party classics from your early musical years in the UnionTwo Damn Glam @ GLAM, 10:00pm * Expect chart anthems and dancefl oor fi llers.DroneBoy Industries Hella Party @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 10:00pm, FREE * Party bass noises showcased from early hip-hop to dubstep to trap to d ‘n’ b.Live DJ @ The Live Lounge, 11:00pm, FREE * Taking you through until 4am with an eclectic mix of singalong tunes and dancefl oor anthems.ALT. Tuesdays @ The Ladybird, 10:00pm, £4 on the door or £3.50 with an Alt Wristband.* Cardiff has been waiting ages for a night like Alt. and it just so happens, Alt is a night like Alt. Drink, Dance, Repeat…Kitsch N Sync Collective: Electro Swing Dance Classes @ The Full Moon, 6:30pm, £4 * The lovely ladies at Kitsch N Sync Collective join us at The Full Moon every Tuesday, to teach our customers how to dance to Electro Swing! Learn to jump and jive and show everyone your moves at our monthly Rave Revue, upstairs at The Moon Club! It kicks off every week at 6.30pm. Participation is £4, spectating is free!Therapy @ Bar Icon, 9:00pm, FREE * Jukebox music all night but you have control of what you wanna hear!

WEDNESDAYBlender @ Buff alo Bar, 8:00pm, £varies * Fashionable midweek hangout with great tunes and great people.Bolt @ 10 Feet Tall, 8:00pm, FREE * Indie, pop, electronic & new music over 2 fl oors!Cocktail Heaven @ Mocka Lounge, 9:00pm * Two words that go hand in hand. Make mine a White Russian.The Lash @ Solus, 9:00pm * Playing the best chart, electro, R&B and a dirty little bit of dubstep all mixed by resident DJ, Scott KirbyWOMP @ The Moon Club,

10:00pm * One Mission and Traffi c combine to provide a broad church of dance tunes – expect electro, drum ‘n’ bass, jungle, house and much moreListen Up! @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 10:00pm * Cardiff ’s longest running indie night. Always full to the rafters, enjoy current hits, motown classic and indie anthems.Live DJ @ The Live Lounge, 11:00pm, FREE * Taking you through until 4am with an eclectic mix of singalong tunes and dancefl oor anthem.One’s & Two’s @ The Ladybird, 8:00pm, FREE * Free entry all night (we close at midnight), drinks between £1 and £2! The perfect place for your social!Gossip @ GLAM, 9:00pm * Want to party with Cardiff elite? GOSSIP is the brand new night for 2012 & TRUST ME it really is “The talk of the town”.Soda Live @ Soda Bar, 8:00pm, FREE * Every Wednesday At Soda Lounge join us as we showcase the very best in live music!

THURSDAYArmageddon @ The Old Library, 8:00pm * Cardiff ’s latest, greatest live rock and metal night.On The Rocks @ 10 Feet Tall, 8:00pm, FREE * Rock ‘n Roll, alternative mash-ups, guitar anthems and party riff s until the sun comes up!Mixtape @ Peppermint, 8:00pm * Eclectic mix of old-skool, hip-hop, breaks, garage, dubstep and DNBMocka Lounge Thursday @ Mocka Lounge, 9:00pm * Chilled out R&B and House music gallore.Signature @ Buff alo Bar, 9:00pm, £varies * Experimental, electronic, new music, leftfi eld, dubstep, hip-hop, DJs, live acts and a fi ne array of delicious cocktails.Twisted by Design @ Dempseys, 9:00pm * The usual, broad mix of tunes gracing every genre under the sun.Propaganda @ GLAM, 10:00pm, £4 * Two rooms of the most popular, dancefl oor anthems with cheap drinks along the way.C-Y-N-T @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 10:30pm, £4 * The original midweek rave keeps pumping out the electro, dubstep, d ‘n’ b and technoLive DJ @ The Live Lounge, 11:00pm, FREE * Taking you through until 4am with an eclectic mix of singalong tunes and dancefl oor anthem.Tiki Island @ The Ladybird, 10:00pm* Accept no limitations, there is only one Thursday night in Cardiff for the student elite. With huge

live PA’s, DJ’s and weekly themes, Tiki Island is set to take the Cardiff nightlife by storm.Snap, Crackle, Punk! @ Fuel Bar & Music Room, 9:00pm, £3* Cardiff ’s newest and craziest pop punk party.No Sweat: An Acoustic Wonderland @ The Full Moon, 8:00pm, FREE * Every Thursday, our pals at No Sweat bring some of the best performers South Wales has to off er, to The Full Moon. Touring acts often come and join the fun as well – It’s a nice relaxed evening to come and listen to some quality acoustic tunes, and not sweat!Boom! @ The Full Moon, 11:00pm, FREE * Electro Swing, Ghetto Funk, Dub, Reggae and Party Mashups, Great Music Mixed Badly!The Jazz Gallery @ Fire Island, 9:00pm, FREE * The Jazz Gallery and Fire Island host a weekly series of collaborations from local jazz groups and guest musicians from across the UK.

FRIDAYGigantic DJs @ The Full Moon, 7:00pm, FREE * Everything you can imagine, from bebop to trip hop to motown to jazz to ska and electro!The Resurrection @ The Old Library, 8:00pm, FREE * Playing non-stop supersonic mixes of indie, Brit-pop and alternative tunes.Axe the DJ @ NosDa, 8:00pm, £TBC * A weekly event where the bartenders choose the tunes. Anything from funk to fusion to German techno metal.Smash Disco @ Buff alo Bar, 9:00pm, £4 / £3 * Dance your drunken night away to beats that are all killer no fi llerFancy Footwork @ 10 Feet Tall, 8:00pm, FREE b4 11pm, £5 / £4 after * Classic funk, soul, old school disco, party mash-upsMilgi @ Milgi’s, 8:00pm * Celebrate a collection of world music played by in-house DJs.Therapy @ Glam, 9:00pm * Your weekly dosage of spine shaking beats, bright lights and sticky dancefl oorsDelete @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 10:00pm * Pushing the barriers of house music forever onwards The Furnace @ Bogiez, 10:00pm, FREE * Bringing the very best mix of old to new rock, metal, punk and alternative! Anything goes as long as it’s rawwwkk.Xerox @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 10:30pm, £4 * Downstairs in a much loved venue, the party jukebox keeps things a kickingLive DJ @ The Live Lounge, 11:00pm, FREE * Taking you through until 4am with an eclectic mix of singalong tunes and dancefl oor anthem.Pop, Bubble, Rock! @ The Bunker, 10:00pm, £4 * The Most Super Fun Alternative & Pop Clubnight....pretty much ever.Scratch @ The Ladybird, 9:30pm, £4* To mark the end of the week Ladybird lay down some of the best old skool beats with the sounds of ‘KISSTORY’ in the main club room & with UrbanFusion taking to the

decks to give you live video DJ, the club room goes off in style!Ska and Trojan with DJ Potter and Ben Potter @ The Bunkhouse, 10:00pm, FREE * Every Friday (New for January).Smack @ Soda Bar, 9:00pm, £4 * Once you try smack. you will be back!! Ruining your saturdays since 2010.Flashback @ Bar Icon, 9:00pm, FREE * A diff erent theme every Friday, everything from 90’s house to total classics!Entourage @ Crystal Boutique Lounge & Club, 10:00pm * A red carpet aff air with indulgent Music, Extrava-gant Drinks in Sensational Surroundings with Exclusive Guests; it’s a place to meet, network and party with friends. Friday nights will never be the same as we aim to entertain and make it a memorable, enjoyable experience each and every Friday. Entourage... Be Part of it...Womp & Reggae Hop @ The Full Moon, 10:00pm, FREE * Two Rooms – One Big Party.

SATURDAYVanity - It’s All About You @ GLAM, 8:00pm * Two fl oors of the hottest R&B, hip hop, dance and all in betweenFive Dollar Shake @ The Full Moon, 8:00pm, FREE * All sorts, from bebop, funk and soul to hip hop, dancehall and electro swing!Me And You Club @ 10 Feet Tall, 8:00pm, FREE * An unruly rock ‘n’ roll party til the early hours with the coolest cats in townMilgi @ Milgi’s, 8:00pm, FREE * Every Saturday, hear world and dance tracks. Try their cocktails, too.Twisted by Design @ Dempsey’s, 8:00pm * One of Cardiff ’s longest running alternative nights, every fortnight.Liven Up Your Weekends At Cafe Jazz @ Cafe Jazz, 8:00pm * Resident DJ and great music from the 1950’s up to the presentPlug Me In @ Bacchus, 8:00pm, FREE * Weekly night of banging house tunes with special guests popping in to provide their own takeBeatbox Ballroom @ Buff alo Bar, 8:00pm * Weekly dose of soul and hip-hop.Buzz / Berlin Returns! @ So-Lo, 9:00pm * All the great old school R&B, hip-hop tunes from the ‘80s and ‘90s.Comeplay @ Solus, 9:00pm, £5 / £4 * Party pointing Saturday night comprised of chart, dance, pop, rock and funk musicSwing and Rock ‘n’ Roll @ The Bunkhouse, 10:00pm * DJ Ben Potter brings the lush-ness of the swing and rock era back to modernity3 Floor Party @ Clwb Ifor Bach, 10:00pm * Three fl oors of mouth-watering Motown, soul and more with Vinyl Vendettas on the top fl oor.Bogiez Saturday Mayhem @ Bogiez, 10:00pm, FREE * Intensely chaotic rock night down in Bogiez – bring the mosh!Live DJ @ The Live Lounge, 11:00pm, FREE * Taking you

through until 4am with an eclectic mix of singalong tunes and dancefl oor anthem.Roots Rock Reggae @ The Full Moon, 10:00pm, FREE * DJs playing... Roots Rock Reggae! Until 2.30amVoodoo @ The Ladybird, 10:00pm* Let us charm you through our magical potions and spells of music and cocktails to entertain you through and entire evening at Kapu Exotic Cocktail Bar, Ladybird Night Club and our VIP suite.Fuel Rock Club @ Fuel Bar & Music Room, 9:00pm, £4* Established in 2006, the fi nest rock and metal played LOUD!Swing and rock ‘n’ roll with DJ Ben Potter @ The Bunkhouse, 10:00pm, FREE * Every Saturday (New for January).Soiree @ Soda Bar, 9:00pm, £5 * Soiree has been introduced to manage the demand of high end clubbing in Cardiff , we will see you every Saturday night, where we roll out the red carpet & make sure we give you a night to remember.Iconic @ Bar Icon, 10:00pm, FREE * All the best chart, pop, dance and club music ‘til 3am!

SUNDAYRock’N’Rolla Disco @ 10 Feet Tall, 8:00pm * Bar industry & retail staff night (all welcome) – Alternative Party Mash-up, Indie & New Music DJs in the downstairs bar, live bands upstairs.Mocka Lounge Sundays @ Mocka Lounge, 8:00pm * Wind down a chaotic week with a visit to MockaThe Hop @ Buff alo Bar, 8:00pm * A killer blend of rock’n’roll, swing, jive, psych & alt classic anthemsSunday Nite Chillax @ Bar Icon, 11:00pm, FREE * Chill out, max out, act out all cool. Or simply chillax at this fi ne establishment.Live DJ @ The Live Lounge, 11:00pm, FREE * Taking you through until 4am with an eclectic mix of singalong tunes and dancefl oor anthems.Sunday Project @ The Ladybird, 10:00pm, FREE* Cardiff ’s favourite Industry night, every Sunday at Ladybird. This is Sunday project.Soda Sundays @Soda Bar, 9:30pm, £5 * Join us every Sunday night at Soda for the most talked about event of the week, Soda Sundays.Sunday Mass: The Full Moon Open Stage @ The Full Moon, 7:00pm, FREE * The Full Moon’s brand new Open Stage night! Bands, artists, singers, emcees, whatever! Come down and make use of our stage! It’s all yours!

Regular Nights

For Full Gig & Club listings Click Here

www.themmp.tv

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Regular Nights

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Regular Nights

22 The MMP March 201320 The MMP March 2013

WELSH

The Joy Formidable Wolf’s Law

Al Lewis Battles

Christopher Rees Stand Fast

Threatmantics Kid McCoy

Funeral For A Friend Conduit

Sen Segur Sudd Sudd Sudd

Bullet For My Valentine Temper Temper

The Blackout Start The Party

Datblygu Darluniau Ogof O’r Unfed Ganrif (7”)

Samoans Elevated Refl ections

GENERAL

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Push The Sky Away

Richard Thompson Electric

Eels Wonderful, Glorious

Foals Holy Fire

Matthew E White Big Inner

Veronica Falls Waiting For Something To Happen

The Joy Formidable Wolf’s Law

Yo La Tengo Fade

Bronx IV

Ron Sexsmith Forever Endeavor

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RD S

HOP

CHAR

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PILL

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Record Charts

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RECO

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GENERAL

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Push The Sky Away

The Bronx The Bronx IV

Eels Wonderful, Glorious

Richard Thompson Electric

Unknown Mortal orchestra II

The History of apple Pie Out Of View

Matthew E. White Big Inner

Pissed Jeans Honeys

Ice age You’re Nothing

Trapper Schoepp & The Shades Run, Engine, Run

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The vestals Perfect Pain/Seventeen (7”)

Give Me Mephis Fore (CD Album)

Paper aeroplanes Time To Be (CD Mini Album)

Future of The left Plot Against Common Sense

Kutosis Fanastical Love (CD Album)

The Milk Race Rope Trick (CD EP)

Islet Illuminated People (CD Album)

The ash & The oak Search For The Soft Rays (CD Album)

Bedfall Falls Elegant Balloons (CD Album)

Peach Fuzz We Are Solid State (CD Album)

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Not Since the accident Paved With Gold 4*

Do you remember Capdown? Notsincetheaccident certainly do… that’s not a veiled accusation of plagiarism. Nope, they’re keeping the punk-rock

flame alive for their long-defunct forefathers. The EP starts by fly-kicking you in the face. Furious drumming, guitars that get straight to the point and the subject matter that’s all vigilantism and rebellion. There’s clearly more than a nod to the Clash here, not least in the vocal mannerisms of lead singer Rhys. Like Capdown, they toy with your expectations, not only melodically but with song structure. Case in point, ‘Nothing Left to Hate’, hits a jolting mid –verse rest, halves speed into a malevolent metal riff and slows to a halt before abruptly crashing into a Cobain style non-chord.By the final track, ‘Run For Your Life’, a concentrated two minutes of panic that collapses frantically on top you, there is no doubt that notsincetheaccident know exactly what they were made for. Just over 18 minutes, every tune gets exactly what it needs and nothing more. Sure, the singing could be a little more tuneful and the production a little warmer but then this is punk and either would detract from the intended rawness of the finished product. Gareth

reverbnation.notsincetheaccident

Spirit level Sounds Of The Insect World 2*

Swansea’s Spirit Level are an anomaly, unless I missed the Great British Prog revival they are as far removed from current trends as could be. Unlikely to

bring about a change in attitude towards the P word; if Crimson is your King then there are worse things you could do than give it this record a listen.Musically it’s teeming with ideas. ‘The Roman Games’ starts slowly before building to an interlude that sounds like it was beamed in from the court of a long dead medieval monarch. The guitar riff to ‘Alone on a Mountain Top’ is a scorcher, and sounds all the more powerful as it appears after a delicately picked intro. If it’s extremely drawn out instrumental passages that you’re looking for then ‘The Water Boatman’ and ‘Lands’ End’ should satisfy; wig-outs weaving complex patterns for what feels like forever. Lyrically, there are quite a few clunkers on this album and sadly neither vocalist really has a strong enough voice to properly command the music. You have to admire Spirit Level for their approach and commitment. There’s good music on the album, but unfortunately it’s often lost beneath the records unrefined approach. NM.

spiritlevel.bandcamp.com

The lay-lows Happy Family EP 3*

The Lay-Lows are back with their second EP Happy Family, and as with last year’s well received

Your Old Best Thing, fist-pumping anthemic rock is the order of the day, with the bands musicianship and song-writing abilities really being brought to

the fore. Big, and I mean BIG, choruses are clearly where at it’s at for The Lay-Lows, Chino Amigo and Ride are the best example of this, with both sounding like they were written with a festival field full of devotees in mind. The band clearly has an aptitude for dynamics, with the atmospheric verses of Chino Amigo and Ride paving the way to the aforementioned gargantuan choruses. Drums boom, guitars wail; it’s an eminently enjoyable listen. It’s not all plain sailing though. Aside from a frantic finish Curse doesn’t quite manage to hit the heights of the opening salvo, and Keeper sounds far too much like poodle-haired 80’s rockers Def Leppard fronted by Bryan Adams…shudder An undeniably talented bunch; they make a polished and accessible sound which for the most part is just about rough enough around the edges to keep things interesting; eagerly anticipating a full album release sometime in the not too distant future. NM..

soundcloud.com/the-lay-lows

The Joy FormidableWolf’s Law 4*

The Joy Formidable have their eyes trained on rock superstardom, and with their second album they’ve outlined exactly why they deserve it.

Named after a 19th century theory that bones adapt to the stress they’re under this is an album marked by the confusion and compromise of relationships; offering a gritty insight into the bands personal experiences. The tracks are primarily stompy and energetically charged, with pounding drums and guitar topped with Ritzy’s soaring angst-ridden voice. Opening track, “this ladder is ours”, sets the tone with a grandiose string section that segues into huge riffs and a catchy as hell chorus. It’s easy to hear why Muse chose them as recent tour support. After the boisterous first five tracks some more forgettable songs whiz by in something of a noisy blur. Luckily “Silent Treatment” comes along as an oasis for the ears. It marks an interesting expansion of the band’s sound into more folksy territory Highlight Maw Maw Song just shouldn’t work. On paper a chorus that consists of the word Maw repeated 14 times sounds like a pretty dull listen. But thanks to an Oriental style riff and a dynamic song structure it’s possibly the albums most impressive and ambitious track.. LT

thejoyformidable.com

various artistsDragon Era 3 3*

‘Dragon Era’ is a compilation of some of the key names in the Cardiff underground drum and bass scene, unfortunately (as is often the case with compilations)

Reviews

our pick of the month

albumsSinglesDemos

Draw Me StoriesCocoon Machina 4*

What we have here is a highly percussive (at times industrial sounding) collection of songs that deftly evade genre pigeonholes by being a bit bonkers’. There’s a dreamy vibe to quite a lot of the music, often feeling very much like a journey through someone’s fe-vered unconscious. ‘Animals’ introduces the aforementioned industrial element which work well alongside the dark lyrical content. Splashes of acoustic guitar and Hammond organ along with the slightly distorted vo-cals reinforce a sound heavily indebted to the ‘Doors’. “IIII’ is an instrumental that could easily slot into the soundtrack for 28 days later before ‘Black water cave’ (Part 1 & Part 2) takes things on a more experimental jaunt. Final track ‘Blood follows grain, Grain follows blood.’ begins with a thematic link back to the albums opening number. There’s a strong sense that this is a band who ap-preciate structure, which is refreshing. Ulti-mately the album succeeds on its relentless originality, even if at times it appears almost antagonistic in its wrigglesome defiance to stay put in one genre or mood, the sheer depth of imagination and intrigue it conjures up are constantly enthralling, with subse-quent spins revealing more and more nooks and crannies to get lost in/freaked out by. AP.

drawmestories.bandcamp.com

25themmp.tv

a lot of filler sits amongst this dub-dozen; the music isn’t bad by any definition, but at times there’s just too much repetition; I found myself clicking back to work out which track I was listening to. ‘Mon Man Cymru’ deserves some special praise, Lembo takes a Middle-Eastern sample and creates that quintessential drum-and-bass track – simple riffs over frantic beats without too much deviation over the track. Contrast that to something earlier like ‘Whooo Can Draw’ by Stereoripe which is the obligatory “Bad Man” track which didn’t really add anything to the album except a sense that maybe I’ve heard this all before. It’s an album of extremes, the bemusing and the brilliant lying next to each other. For all the moaning about the lack of variety, I would happily recommend ‘Eagle has Landed’ for it’s lo-fi industrialism, ‘Memento Mori’ for the ambition and Kinetic Monkey’s ‘Death March’ for making me feel like I worked in a forensic lab as a professional sunglasses wearer. The rest are only recommended to those with a serious love of the genre. HP.

soundcloud.com/dragon-era

The Boo-Hooray TheoryFollow The Gleam 2*

Just how rubbish must it be to be known for ONE overarching thing? Not like, Felix Baumgartner, but like Adam Scott’s character in Party Down, a one-liner or theme

that follows you like a stray dog for the rest of your life. The Boo-Hooray Theory is one of those groups that are going to have that designation. You see, the fathers of two of the members wrote the Fireman Sam theme, which is both epic and really sad at the same time that I have to tell you that, less than a hundred words in. And that knowledge affects the album a bit. Despite opener ‘Empty Chair’ sounding a bit like the Small Faces, it lapses into kids TV theme central – all primary colours and a token sax solo while they run through the credits. ‘Chill Wind’ has some excellently produced backing vocals over the lead, with a female voice complementing everything nicely. Another unnecessary guitar solo doesn’t add much, although there are shades of Gerry Rafferty. The problem is, that for everything this record is trying to accomplish (some kind of lavish jazz, pop-rock orchestra), it just relentlessly sounds like Radio 2 filler music – there’s just nothing to get inspired or excited about on display.HP.

theboohooraytheory.bandcamp

Chris PattemoreThree Sides Blind 4*

Nine months ago Chris Cornell and Norah Jones shared a particularly weird and steamy absinthe fuelled evening in each other’s company and this

collection of songs is the by-product. Despite how potentially…strange…. that may sound on paper, in practice it’s apparently a rather good thing… From opener “Great Height”, draped in expressionistic lyrics and a sense of reverence

for his Americana influences, it’s clear Chris has made something special. He then proceeds to power through 11 tracks of perfect song writing, clever chord changes and vocal mastery without putting one foot wrong. Standout tracks include the album’s namesake which evokes the kind of sound peddled by Turin Brakes, and “Life to Burn” which positively teems with southern American style and wily, impossible to second guess, chord changes. Certain tracks fall by the wayside as nothing more than unnecessary filler “Tailspin” and “Can’t Wait” sound like something Robbie Williams would embarrassingly hide away at the end of an album. The one two sucker punch of “23” with its convulsive major / minor chord switching deftly followed by “Soul on Fire” with its Lionel Richie crooned chorus and soulful keyboard are two of my favourite tracks from this near perfect example of talented artists debut..JZ

soundcloud.com/chris-pattemore

Y Record lasRecordiau Lliwgar 3*

It’s fair to say that contemporary Welsh folk/pop/indie music has quite a distinctive and recognisable style, heavily influenced by the free and

permissive psychedelic ideals born into British folk music some fifty years ago. On offer here is a compilation album consisting of a selection of tracks from four different artists claiming that it “represents the best in contemporary Welsh design and music”. Unfortunately the music contained within simply doesn’t seem to be able to carry the weight of such a bold claim. The opening acts – Ymarfer Corff and Llywbr Llaethog – are decidedly upbeat and the latter offers up some interesting funk inspired bass on Ofergoelion which actually offers something a little different to the usual take on the genre. H Hawkline presents some pleasant traditional folk tunes with Ifan Dafydd taking a more trance-inspired path. It’s not bad, it’s just that all of the tracks share a common flaw in the deliberately cheap-sounding psychedelic production values applied to allow them to conform to the constraints of the genre sounding a little forced, ill-fitting and unoriginal at times.Possibly a release principally for fans of contemporary Welsh music, although it does serve as a good introduction to the artists involved and is worth investigating by those curious about our current national music scene.JS

recordiaulliwgar.com

Stalin’s Street PartyWho Said Mary Was A Saint EP 3*

First impressions with the opening track ‘Ain’t Done No Harm’ lead to a feeling of a promising and instrumental electronic project with

shimmering synth sounds. It sounds slick and smooth with creeping drums. It becomes apparent that there is something rather different to follow as the spacey sounding guitar melody comes in

(something akin to Wes Borland’s huge intro to ‘Take A Look Around’ Mi2 theme by Limpbizkit - a guilty pleasure!). Sauntering along come the rhythmic vocals reminiscent of Jake Bugg performing some kind of sleazy monotone 60’s garage rap. Which is nice. The next track ‘Grumble Foul’ is slightly more upbeat whilst keeping the bands calm, apathetically cool vibe. Combining infectious dance drums with shimmering 60’s effervescent guitars it could be compared to a B-side by 00’s dance/psych band The Music.. And finally finishing with the hypnotic and off-kilter mood of ‘Who Said Mary Was A Saint’ with the repetitive first half descending into a trippy spiral of reverb encrusted drums and unsteady tempo shifts: It’s a box of tricks indeed! Pretty, uneasy and shamelessly hip. An intriguing act! H’pl’P

facebook.com/StalinsStreetParty

HowlLonesome Road 4*

Being a Blues based band in the modern age could be considered a daunting prospect to some. A traditional genre, where the music of the greats of old is readily

available, plus you have recent über-success stories like the now ginormous Black Keys and before them The White Stripes. What’s clear is that to stand out and succeed in this genre you must have something about you, Howl most certainly do. The energetic exuberance of their gigs hasn’t been lost in translation; this is evident throughout as the band tear through the material with unwavering commitment and unbridled enthusiasm. The anguished ‘Hold. Pain. Sustain. Release.’ stands out immediately as the EPs highlight, with its excellent dual vocal and some truly thrilling riffing it is a banger, and a bugger to get out of your head once it is in. For ‘Solid Ground’ and ‘A Place To Be Born’ the band slow things down without losing any of the impetus created by ’Hold. Pain. Sustain. Release.’ and ‘Marla’ the EPs other jaunty rocker. Both of the slower paced songs show that the band are capable of a deft touch whilst retaining their power, and the honky-tonk piano that features in ‘A Place To Be Born’ is an inspired and authentic touch. NM.

soundcloud.com/howlsound

Clear The auditorium Outbreak 3*

What we have here is effectively a tune cast in the same mould as the Enter Shikari and Blackouts of the world; intense, aggressive and anthemic electro-emo-

punk backed by the inevitable plethora of synth and guitar driven noise along with multi-tracked vocals and tight harmonies. It’s really not bad stuff, the issue is it sounds so damned outdated. There’s a lot to be said for merely doing what you do well and Clear The Auditorium certainly are more than competent in their execution and delivery; unfortunately from a stylistic perspective


there’s just not enough originality on display to differentiate themselves from their already established counterparts. If they can tap into an edge or find an angle not yet plundered by the genre’s current crop these guys threaten to be quite formidable; on the evidence of this track, however, they’re just not quite there. JS.

cleartheauditoriummusic.band-camp.com

Capitol Confusion Hide Or Hello 3*

Remember grunge? The musical movement that made it ok to close your bank account, stop doing your laundry and stick it to the man, maaaaan. Most

involved now wrap themselves in a suit and work in insurance Such is life…Competing in a presumably ironic way for the presumably vacant title are Cardiff’s Kings of Grunge, who from their sound, were too young to be around the first time. ‘Hide or Hello’ is from their first album ‘Response Ability’ and isn’t the best track from the LP. That said, there are some positives – the guitar loop evokes Soundgarden at their most aggressive and it’s clear that they’re confident in what they want Capitol Confusion to stand for. However, they ground my gears a bit with the faux-American accented vocals. I’ve never really understood that trend and could we end this? Now, please? In some ways, this isn’t grunge at all; on repeated listens it drifts into Southern-rock territory. A sped up Orange Goblin with traces of Metallica in there. Imagine if Doves suddenly went in a new direction and randomly chose to turn into Nirvana Mk II? That’s what this sounds like. A bit too PG. For a genre known for defining counter culture, this isn’t bad as such, it’s just a wee bit…safe.HP.

reverbnation/capitolconfusion

Ghost Carriage PhantomsVideotape/Mixed Emotions 4*

The A-side to this single from electro two-piece Ghost Carriage Phantoms opens with an enticing sub-woofer drawl that comes across sounding like a

subdued Squarepusher. This low end is met with honest and original lyrical matter that explores the nature of loneliness and self-confidence with a Bowie-esque tone. Despite definitely growing on me over the course of a few spins, there was a nagging… something… lacking as the song ends. It sounds like a grey sky on the horizon, all clouds that look like they’ve been in a fist fight with each other …but the thunder you’d expect as crescendo to such a sound arrives as more a murmur. The B-side is a pretty ballsy re-working of The Rolling Stones’ ‘Mixed Emotions’, and these may be bold words, but I think I prefer it to the original! It’s an instantly alluring and euphoric take on the classic tune. It’s the dream-pop underscoring to sequence that would be well

placed on any indie-film for the lovelorn. It’s single that doesn’t so much as reach out and pull you in, but rather, simmers with a subtlety that bubbles just below the surface. Oh and the B-Side is great. SL.

ghostcarriagephantoms.band-camp

Julia HarrisHome 4*

Ten-year veteran Julia Harris is something of a local celebrity, despite jetting off to exotic locations like South Africa or the Seychelles, the Harlech Globetrotter (actually from

Cardiff, but I liked the joke, dammit) has been back in the Welsh capital since 2007. From her first studio album ‘Colour Bomb’, ‘Home’ sees Harris sweetly sings about love and loneliness in a comparable way to Damien Rice (who she’s supported in the past) or Imogen Heap, understated strings and backing vocals adding to a strong delivery. It sounds one step away from swooning and saying ‘I Love You’ to an anonymous suitor. Although she’s settled back into Wales, this belongs near a campfire on the West Coast of America with Zach Braff narrating all of the key points of the past half an hour into a fuzzy ball. For someone well-versed in leaps of faith into the unknown, this is really quite assured and, unlike a lot of lead tracks, actually had the desired effect of a lead single and made me want to investigate her wider body of work.HP.

juliaharris.net

Behind The line Hold Us Down Like Anchors 3*

It’s always a pleasure to hear from a group of young guns who are carrying the musical torch. It’s this fire inside of them that separates those who do

and those who do not, and it’s something that should be encouraged passionately, despite any musical differences. This is the case with Behind the Line, a Cardiff four-piece all aged in the general region of “really god damn young” (15 or 16). This, their latest single is a four minute pop journey led by vocalist Luci Vernon, who carries the track with an inherent and immediately likeable innocence...Stemming no doubt from the fact that she’s not legally allowed to watch “Alien”. The chorus hits in with an expected power chord crescendo before dropping down again to offbeat drums and walking riffs. The song takes an interesting turn as the second half morphs into a prog-pop breakdown. Complete with conversational vocals and streaming solos, this section definitely separates this track from many of its pop-rock counterparts. It’s great to hear a young band who are willing to stray from the pack and create something with more creative merit.SL.

soundcloud.com/behind-the-line

Seconds From Ruin Mayday 3*

Seconds From Ruin are trying to make something new and interesting and this must be applauded. Though Mayday does not fully succeed in this

pursuit, it is a valiant attempt. Lead track, ‘Big Yellow Monsters’ rushes at you with the type of unrelenting, neatly contained guitar rock that was once referred to as Nu-Punk and shows marked proficiency if not stacks of innovation with vocalist Chris Clark having touches of The Offsping’s Dexter Holland about him. Praise must be given to Craig James’ deeply satisfying lead guitar work here, echoing the fine axe mastery of Mr James Dean Bradfield. At their very best, as on Midnight Drive, the band evoke Mike Patton era Faith No More; making optimum use of a few sustained synth keys over chugging metal rhythm guitar and offering up a short instrumental, riff-driven portion. There are missteps though; final track “442” is an unimaginative Lost Prophets-esque pop-rock track featuring a massively incongruous keyboard solo. This EP is a grower, showing real depth at times and, though not always hitting the mark, is polished and reeking with potential. A mixed bag is always better than a sack of mediocrity and proves the band’s commitment to experimenting with what they can do. Keep it up. GK.

facebook.com/Secondsfromruin

BrothersDemo 3*

What do you get when you put two sets of brothers together in a darkened bedroom, with a laptop, a myriad of guitars, a distortion pedal and the Beatles back

catalogue on repeat. Not the music from the ballroom scene in the shining that’s for sure, but rather a band banging out classic psychedelic rock with solid lyrics and sixties style bass hooks. “Pretty Devil” Is a riotous drum party with lacklustre lyrical delivery which adds to the likeability of the song; shame that It ends just as it’s getting rolling though. “I Am Your Man” and “What You Gonna Do” follow suit with driving bass lines and drum happy hooks. The rhythm guitar takes something of a side-line often, which is a pity because as the Kasabian inspired “Gun Runner” shows, the band can really pull it off when everything operates as a cohesive whole. With a little development, they’ll likely begin to practice what they preach (“To reinvent the 60s and 90s style rock with more complex structures and experimental aspects.”) as it stands, this is a fine selection of demos from a young band with great promise.JZ.

soundcloud.com/brothers-band-cardiff

all reviews have been edited down for publication for full length reviews and details visit: themmp.tv

27themmp.tv


There have been moments warning me away from this walk of life, unsympathetically screaming ‘get a real job’ at me as I’ve worn an inane smile on my face and marched blindly down a path signposted ‘Mostly Idiots’…This job often involves feeling nervous… in bars… My memories tend to get, shall we say…jumbled.

When I was a mere open mic host, eager as I’ve ever been to break into gig promotion as a full time job, I was having a cup of tea in a promoter’s living room who did just that. As he lay slumped on a sofa, staring lifelessly at Noel Edmunds hosting Deal or no Deal on TV… I noticed a huge box of CD’s over the other side of the room; so naturally I went to investigate...‘Whoooaa!…’ I proclaimed, ‘…where did all these come from?’, perusing the collection of amateurish looking CD wallets, ‘oh them?...’ he replied, briefly taking one eye off the box opening gnome, ‘…they’ve been sent to me from all over the place, bands looking for gigs’…‘WOW!’ I yelped, pulling out handfuls with excitement, ‘…are any of them

good???’…‘I dunno…’ he said, ‘…haven’t listened to any of them’…It felt like the audience on screen were groaning in time with the sinking of my heart; as he went on to explain that ‘when you put on gigs for a living you don’t really feel like listening to music at home’. Confused as to how something so exciting could seem like such a chore, I asked ‘so how do you pick what bands play your nights?’, and as £250,000 was lost to the sound of boos, he said ‘I just check to see if they have a Myspace’.That was it, not ‘I take a listen on Myspace and see if they’re any good’, no, just IF they had a profile on a website that was FREE to use, they were gig-ready for some leading live music venues… To my knowledge, this promoter is no longer putting on gigs; I guess there’s just too many websites to check nowadays…The second memory goes back to a sell-out gig I was working in an incredibly rundown and understaffed venue… We had The Blockheads playing, and as I ran around lighting joss-sticks to hide the fact that we couldn’t afford cleaners, I couldn’t help

but notice some rather block-headed behaviour…Having presumably grown accustomed to an assistant who ran around picking up after him, the person in question wandered the venue that I’d been cleaning for 6 hours, discarding food wrappers and fruit peels all over the tables and floor. Not wanting the place to look any worse than it did, I went round cleaning up after him. Even when he noticed me doing this, all I got was thermonuclear disdain from the guy.He took to the stage 2 hours late for soundcheck (a huge queue had formed outside in the cold), adorning his instrument and taking a half second swipe at a chord, he threw his hands up in the air and theatrically shouted ‘Well that’s quite simply the worst guitar sound I’ve ever heard in my life!!’, before berating the sound engineer in a manner I imagine a king would treat the courtroom jester…All I could think at that moment, watching this cartoon character of a man, so distant from any sight of the real world around him, was ‘I hope Ian Dury really was as nice as they say he was…’Words: Spun Tongue

How Not To Make ItIn The Industry

It’s difficult maintaining positivity for your line of work when that bedraggled line is an industry that caters for oversized egos and money hungry robots. I’m talking about the big bad world of live music promotion, the glitz, the glam, the shim, the sham...

[ // Reports From Our Man On The Inside ]MoSTY IDIoTS

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31themmp.tv

at the risk of sounding like one of those god awful Spotify adds where the robotic voice berates you for your song choices and you end up hurling your computer through a window....you really should mix up your song playlists a little from time to time... and what better way to do it than via this buttery little selection of FREE musical intravenous

injections? Download and soundtrack the hurtling of technology through glass thanks to some of our favourite artists generosity!

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HoWl • JUlIa HaRRIS • lITTlE aRRoW • STalIN’S STREET PaRTY •

• THE laY-loWS • BRoTHERS • JEMMa RoPER • BEaRD oF WolvES

• THE GENTlE GooD •


01 Clwb Ifor Bach

02 Gate Theatre

04 10 Feet Tall | Undertone

05 Buffalo

06 The Coal Exchange

07 O’Neills (Little)

08 Kama Lounge

09 The Globe

10 O’ Neills (Big)

11 Shot in the Dark

13 Students Union

14 Tommy’s Bar

15 The Promised Land

16 Koko Gorilaz

17 Gwdihŵ

18 Dempsey’s

19 Owain Glyndwr

20 The Bunk House

21 Bacchus

22 The Vulcan Lounge

23 St David’s Hall

24 Nos Da

25 The North Star

26 Cafe Jazz

27 The Pot

28 Rococo

31 Bar 147

32 The Live Lounge

33 Mocka | Peppermint

34 Pen and Wig

35 The Claude

36 Cardiff Central Library

37 Motorpoint Arena

38 The Old Library

39 The Yard

40 GH2

41 The Full Moon / Moon Club

42 Bogiez

Cardiff Music Map

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the mmp march 2013

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