Sic Alps are back with their new album Napa Asylum on 24 January on Drag City. Hailing from San Francisco, they have a modern approach to a psychedelic sound, laden with reverb and pretty lo-fi, they create gorgeously moody, spooky pop songs with themes of reincarnation, magic and schizophrenia. They'll also be back for a tour next year after their successful European jaunt in May/June, which included an appearance at the Pavement curated ATP as well as supporting at one of Pavement's sold-out Brixton Academy shows.
The new single by The Loves, December Boy, is the first to be taken from their fourth and final album …Love You, and the first on which Jenna Love (The Loves' J-Lo) takes lead vocals. Recorded live at Soup Studios in London's glittering East End, it turns the chorus for September Gurls by Big Star into a Spector-esque girl group pop number, with help from Liz Hunt from The School and Emma Hall from Pocketbooks on backing vocals, as well as Rob Jones (AKA The Voluntary Butler Scheme) on organ. Real life violins also make an appearance. Flip-side Bubblegum is equally upbeat, but with more of a 60s garage Nuggets feel. The single will be released on bubblegum coloured 7" vinyl.
The album …Love You will be released in January before The Loves call time on the whole tawdry ten years by imploding in a mess of badly drawn paper hearts, cheap alcohol and bodily fluids on Valentine’s Day 2011.
The very talented Simon Love from The Loves has created not one but TWO videos for the forthcoming double A-side single December Boy/Bubblegum. First up, here's the trailer for the "December Boy" video, just to tease you before the real unveiling in a few weeks (by then it'll be nearly time for the December Boy to take centre stage!) and you can see how the story of a boy in search of his missing heart unfurls.
The Loves Live
November
27th- The Cardigan Arms, Leeds with Ringo Deathstarr
December
4th- The Luminaire, London with The School 5th- The Buffalo Bar, Cardiff with The School
February
5th- Prince Albert, Brighton with The Lovely Eggs 12th- The Loves Retirement Show with very special guests
As Allo Darlin' are set to release their new single "My Heart is a Drummer" (15 Nov, Fortuna POP!) from their critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, here's a fabulous video made by Joseph Brett and Simon Taffe from End of the Road. Bursting with charm and indiepop loveliness, "My Heart Is A Drummer" is the perfect antitode to the encroaching winter.
The band play a single release gig on 17 November at Cargo.
Yes! Thee Spivs are featured in the new issue of Uncut (coverdate December 2010) in one of the Mojo Rising features. Ignore them at your peril, these boys are ready to have a crack at the big time!
Ok, so this was LAST month's issue but here's a lovely review from the nice people at Artrocker who made Shrag's new album "Life! Death! Prizes!" their album of the month!!
Here's also a link to a feature on the Artrocker website with Shrag talking about making the album.
I'm delighted to announce that I'll be working with another band on the Damaged Goods label called Thee Spivs. Their new album Taped Up is out in November and mixes 70s punk with 60s garage and a little bit of rock'n'roll. They're playing an album release show on 12 November at London's Hope and Anchor... hope to see you there!
Here's the video for their last single "It's True". Their next single "I Don't Want It" is out on 1 November.
Tying in with telly's new crop of costume dramas for the autumn, bearsuit bring you their own version in the brand new video for their new single "Please Don't Take Him Back".
