Tag Archives: Glastonbury

Dog Is Dead – ‘Hands Down

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So here we have another dose of infectious, truly British indie-pop by the eclectic five-piece, Dog is Dead, who have well and truly made their entrance onto the British indie stage. But they are not the most typical indie group. Probably because they are not characterised by wearing clothes likely to be worn by your grandparents. Hailing from Nottingham, this group is well on its way to becoming a classic part of the oh-so-fashionable indie scene of the now. Having played at Glastonbury in 2010 and supported the Bombay Bicycle Club on their tour earlier this year, its unsurprising they are quickly becoming an integral part of fashionable youth culture. And their latest single, ‘Hands Down’ is certainly a representation of this.

For a start, I expected this indie band to be like any other, with music that often makes me want to fall asleep. The track begins with a very relaxing heartbeat of repetitive strumming and a light drum beat. But as it continues, the drum beat, guitar riffs and even the vocals become considerably stronger and more interesting. The vocals certainly remind me of folk singer Benjamin Frances Leftwich, who I have reviewed previously, but I do think that lead vocalist, Robert Milton, has a much greater range than poor Benjamin. Strangely, there’s even a slice of Matt Bellamy in there, which is just far too confusing! The chorus is sure to be a popular sing-along, with the whole band seeming to be chipping in with the vocals. The much stronger beat of the whole song does make you want to dance around much more than most indie songs do, which is just like I think they should be. And towards the end there is quite a lot of distortion of the guitar, which adds another dimension to the song and keeps you pretty interested. This track is certainly truer to their indie roots, with some evident rock elements and strong vocals (although I don’t really know what he’s saying half the time – but hey, just enjoy the moment). Its good to hear some newcomers that really understand the indie genre, and are certainly not over-produced.

With the band currently working on their much anticipated debut album, which is to released in 2012, I expect that even more frenzy will arise around Dog is Dead. And with their biggest headline show being played in their hometown on the 17th of this month, it seems as though the best is yet to come…

Faith Thomson

Wretch 32 ft. Josh Kumra – Don’t Go

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Check out his website and his facebook page!

The Guardian expressed that “2009 and 2010 were all about Tinchy, Tinie and Chipmunk, [and] 2011 is going to be Wretch’s year”. I totally agree. We have seen Jermaine Scott, aka Wretch 32, rise from selling mix-tapes around his hometown of Tottenham, to making a smash on the grime-pop scene with debut single ‘Traktor’ and reaching #2 in the charts with ‘Unorthodox’ with Example.  Now, ‘Don’t Go’, gives us a taste of Wretch’s much anticipated debut album Black & White, due for release on August 14th.

‘Don’t Go’ is slightly different to the infectious, bouncing beat of ‘Unorthodox’ which we all know and love; but in no way is this a bad thing. This new single captivates its audience with a deep and emotive bass line; together with the counter-melodic strings, it intoxicates and takes over your body. If the different mood surrounding this new single represents the diversity that Wretch is capable of, and will be showcasing in his debut album, then I cannot wait.

The smooth, mellow, flowing structure which is ever-present throughout this song gives a melting feeling of emotion and music. So, is he really going on about a lady-fancy in this song? Many may be lead to believe this, but there is no doubt that Wretch has earned a reputation as one of the most highly-regarded lyricist on the scene right now, being referred to as ‘The Metaphor Man’ by the grime glitterati. Personally, I like to believe that this song is about Wretch’s dedication to music and how it has given him the success and fame he enjoys today.

I guarantee that this new single is one that you will instantly get into, and feel the effort put into it. So go on. Listen to it, love it. I know you will, so stop wasting time.

Ministry of Sound’s sister label, Levels Recording, will release ‘Don’t Go’ featuring Josh Kumra on 7th August, followed by Wretch’s album Black & White on August 14th. Wretch 32 will be performing at numerous festivals this summer including Wireless, Glastonbury, T in The Park, V Festival, and Bestival before embarking on his nationwide headline tour this Autumn. I don’t think this will be one to miss live. Make sure you experience it.

Josh Lee