Tame Impala - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards

If you're into MGMT or 'Pond' and for some obscure reason you haven't come across Tame Impala yet, well here you are. I don't think I need to write a review to magnify the psychedelic melodic genius these guys possess, the song and the video does that intently by itself.  No need to thank me. Enjoy.

Tribes - 'How the Other Half Live' A taste of the good things to come.

What a  reckoning year 2012 was for Tribes, with the release of their album 'Baby' followed by a huge UK tour, followed by a massive tour in the States, and then returning to their home loving crowds in the UK festivals. It would seem that their journey through the US managed to evoke the immense creativity behind Johnny and the rest of the band, leading them to take the decision to record in the legendary Sound City Studios which managed to produce albums such as 'Never Mind' and 'Suck it and See' thus creating the perfect environment for the four piece's rock band from Camden's second album to be recorded.  The studio is also where David Grohl filmed his upcoming 'Sound City' documentary, and so with Tribes recording under the same roof that has created so much groundbreaking musical history, it seems only rational that the product would be nothing less than brilliant and iconic.
What makes a band like Tribes so talented, almost in an effortless sense at what they do is the amount of touring, and grafting these guys do to craft there skill performing both live, as well as managing to capture the essence of their live performances into recording. They started off in Camden, the most ideal breeding ground for indie/punk bands like Tribes, and took their album 'Baby' around the world, to Japan, all across Europe, and of course made the obstinate task to break America. It hardly broke America, like Adele or (yes I am going to unfortunately mention these pop puppets) One Direction, but what it did manage to achieve was the sound that Tribes have been trying to create, and a sound that Tribes will be proud of.
Their new single 'How The Other Half Live' seems to incorporate their influences of The Rolling Stones, Primal Scream tinged with heavy sort of British Pixies vibe. The opening riff to their new single, immediately saying 'Yes, we've grown up' sets the bar high for Tribes' upcoming 2nd album 'Wait to Scream' . More importantly, it exploits how the band have progressed and found a more mature sound, moving away from the raw and scratchy sound of singles like 'We Were Children' The video to their new single en captures, all the elements of popular culture today, both the good and the bad. With a heavy feature of gospel undertones, heavy guitars, and Johnny Lloyd's exceptional rasping vocals, the new album looks set to be full of other immediate anthems which will inevitably induce mass sing-a-longs at the summer festivals this year. After hardly even being away, it's clear that this single raises the stakes and expectations for the 'Wish to Scream' album being one of the iconic sounds of 2013. Check it out here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7CAMTmyf9w

Palma Violets - The cure for the post break up Libertines hangover?

It would seem it's impossible to talk about new upcoming bands without drawing comparisons from bands of the past like the The Libertines who still manage to generate such nostalgia and excitement over music today. However, no comparison to the likes of Pete Doherty and Carl Barat seems more relevant and fitting to Sam Fryer and Chille Jesson, the two front men of Palma Violets. Before attending one of the highly anticipated NME Awards Tour gigs in Bristol of which Palma Violets appeared on the bill, I was like many others, undecided on where I stood with Palma Violets. As a huge fan of The Libertines I found the comparison ridiculous, as comparing a band who have been on the music scene for five minutes with just an EP to rely on, against a band who revitalized guitar music and inspired the likes of Arctic Monkeys, seemed some what ludicrous. Whilst waiting outside the Bristol o2 academy, everyone appeared to be most anticipating the performances of the upcoming band from Birmingham Peace and Miles Kane, but such anticipation for Palma Violets appeared to have been sidelined. Peace opened the night with a new single from their upcoming album 'In Love' which despite being a bold move for a band with such a limited back catalogue, managed to fulfill the expectations of every person in the room and set the bar high for the night. When Peace ended their set with 'Bloodshake' the love and devotion from the fans was firmly cemented, with the audience singing along to every word, and even members of the audience sacrificing their view of the stage, to crowd surf to the front in the hope to come in to closer proximity with the band. Peace delivered an impressive performance and set the standards high for the rest of the night, but still there was no one talking of Palma Violets, who were next on the bill.  However, everyone's mixed expectations were completely up ended once the four members of Palma Violets entered the stage, embracing the screams and applauds of a crowd which were unified by the energy Sam and Chille managed to exert within the room. Palma violets began their set with 'Rattlesnake Highway' from their new upcoming album '180' which managed to en capture  that raw and scratchy punk sound that many polished and clean bands like 'Swim Deep' seem to be missing.  Through out their set Sam and Chille would come close to colliding with each other, which seemed so reminiscent of the 'Carl n Pete' days. When the audience was presented with a familiar song they knew, 'Last of The Summer Wine' they responded with shouting the lyrics back at the four members with a sense of complete devotion and appraisal, thus suggesting, that they are definitely worth the hype and anticipation they have been receiving in the media. The pinnacle of their set was when they performed NME's number one track of the year 'Best of Friends' and with the performance they gave, they certainly lived up to that accolade. The whole crowd was jumping, and recklessly pushing each other around, embracing the post punk vibe that Palma Violets en capture. At the end of 'Best of Friends' Chille jumped into the audience of whom welcomed him in open sweaty arms, completely breaking down the barrier between the fans and the band. It was possibly the most sweaty and energetic gigs I have ever been too, and I think every member of that audience who witnessed that performance felt that Palma Violets had proved their point. It's hard to translate that live and energetic sound into recording, which is why I think most people have been undecided on the band, however Palma Violets appeared to stand out the most out of all of the acts playing that night. As soon as their set ended, the whole room was filled with echoes of their name and people were genuinely shocked at how good of a gig they managed to put on. When it comes to comparing Palma Violets to The Libertines, from the performance I saw, I don't think it is such an unfair comparison to make. It isn't just the chemistry between Sam and Chille which resembles the structure of The Libertines, it's the complete devotion and focus they have for what they're doing, a focus of which The Libertines lost. Only time will tell whether they can truly fulfill such a comparison.