from the oscillating synths of Rattlesnake
to brass-heavy single Digital Witness. The
serene Prince Johnny could have come from
first album Marry Me while Clark mutates her
searing riffs into Sabbath slabs for Huey Newton
and channels Lene Lovich on the frantic Birth
In Reverse. CS
THE TWANG ****
Neontwang (Jump The Cut)
It’s hard to listen to or indeed write about
Brummies The Twang
without giving it some
baggy Manc lingo, such
is their blatant allegiance
to the period and sound.
It’s all great fun though,
with their fourth album
being as well constructed as ever and still
holding our interest. First single The Wobble
was understated synth elegance, and somewhat
restrained by their standards, but elsewhere we
have upbeat gems (Larry Lizard) and a nod to
these parts on closer Bywyd Da. RH
singles
BASTILLE *
Flaws (Virgin)
This band’s popularity is
a mystery to me, but this
‘fan favourite’ is being
conveniently reissued
just before their expected
sweep of the Brit Awards,
and in the middle of their
sold out UK tour. Flaws is bland, dawdling indie
which – much like the band – needs a rocket up
its arse. RH
THE BOHICAS ***
XXX / Swarm (Domino)
Last night, as I write, Arctic Monkeys singer
Alex Turner made an incendiary speech at the
Brits, almost swearing at one point. Spring
green’n’mustard keen Essex lads The Bohicas
crossbreed Arctic Monkeys (their labelmates)
and QOTSA with gimlet eyes on this debut
single; Domino would be fools not to fold this all
in to one unruly brand. Rock on! NG
BROTHER AND BONES ****
Long Way To Go (Last Step)
Roadtrippin’ anthemic-cum-acoustic rock born
out of London. Long Way To Go signals a second
single release off last year’s To Be Alive EP by
Brother & Bones, and the tasty mix of mellow
unplugged whispers and a hefty lamenting
chorus ensures the band continue to impress
with their grunge-folk lovechild style. BB
PAUL BLANDFORD *****
Darkforme EP (Death Proof)
As well as bringing
quality club night Perc to
Newport, and excellent
tuneage worldwide
via Death Proof, Paul
Blandford now finds time
to release an extremely
promising debut EP. Haunch and All In Your
Head are pummelling techno of the dark and
foreboding variety, while Manoeuvre brings the
melodic tech-house. RH
QUANTIC ***
Duvidó (Tru Thoughts)
After immersing himself in South American
culture for seven years, Will ‘Quantic’ Holland
blends Colombian sounds with Angolan music
for the first time, employing Buraka Som
Sistema’s Pongolove to sing and toast over the
shuffling rhythm, washing synths and bubbling
highlife guitars, to hypnotic effect. One for the
headphones rather than the dancefloor. CS
RADKEY ****
THIS MONTH’S
DVD PICK
Feed My Brain (Little Man)
With their distinctive mix of Ramones-shaped
garage rock and baritone vocals interspersed
with tuneful bellows, this trio from Missouri may
be the most interesting development in punk
rock in the last decade. Feed My Brain channels
early Misfits with such ease it could be mistaken
for a lost B-side. Ones to watch! AP
STAGGA ***
Who Ya Gonna Kill (Fat Fridge)
Having been skulking somewhat since 2011
debut album The Warm Air Room, which itself
built on thumping singles like Sick As Sin,
Stagga re-emerges into a very different (post-)
dubstep scene. These three tracks are fashioned
from lairy, loping basslines and rap samples, less
tearout and more Tectonic than his old 12”s but
still dark and direct. NG
TRANS ***
Trans Green EP (Rough Trade)
Apparently Bernard Butler, 25% of Trans, refuses
to answer questions about his best-known
vocation as a member of Suede: preciousness
which makes me feel comfortable with
mentioning it here. His new band are