Happy Tuesday mouseclaws!

How you doin?

Continuing our regularly irregular series, here’s today’s Tips For ’12:

DIAGRAMS (Full Time Hobby)

Technicolour post-everything prog acoustronica pop from former Tunng man Sam Genders. Following a killer 5-track EP last year, Diagrams release their debut proper full length longplayer – ‘Black Light’ on Full Time Hobby – this very day (160112).

Sam and pals hit the road, like this:

Enter Shikari – A Flash Flood Of Colour (Ambush Reality)

Radio 1: Zane Lowe’s Album Of The Week

“Tighter, brighter and more focused than ever. Enter Shikari remain fearless and uncompromising leaders in a field of one” - Rocksound 9/10

“This rage against the machine could well be the four-piece’s defining statement” - NME 8/10

“A multi-layered and multi-faceted success… This album is a riot” - Kerrang! KKKK

“Streets ahead of the competition. Angry, innovative, and often ahead of the curve” - Q ****

“One of Britains best live bands finally delivers an indispensible album” - Front Magazine ****

 “A writhing mass of modern protest songs” – Bizarre

“Disenchantment should always be this spellbinding” – The Fly 4/5

Out now, on special edition CD + DVD, standard CD, vinyl LP and digital download.

Teaser video and soundclip to your right —>

The band tour the UK in March:

March
17th Edinburgh Corn Exchange
18th Hull University
19th Manchester O2 Apollo
20th Wolverhampton Civic Hall
22nd Plymouth Pavilions
23rd London HMV Hammersmith Apollo

Check out the Big Cheese website for exclusive footage from ES’ US tour.

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Hola happy cybernauts of the spaceplace,

How you doin?

Continuing our look at the HOTTEST! NEW! ACTS! RIGHT! NOW! – aka Tips For ’12 – today we have [drumroll please Animal]…..

BAND OF SKULLS (Electric Blues Recordings)

This hard riffin’ UK three-piece have already had their music featured on the tellybox’s ‘True Blood’, ‘Gossip Girl’, ‘Skins’ and many more. Massive in the USA, Oz and across Europe, the band return like all-conquering rock heroes to these shores to play a headline show at London’s Roundhouse on March 6th and a UK-wide tour with The Black Keys in February that takes in the Manchester Apollo and three sold-out (!) dates at Alexandra Palace.

Like all proper rock bands should, Band Of Skulls are touring a bunch, check out their website for a full list of dates and much, much more, here: CLICK!

Their new album ‘Sweet Sour’ (Electric Blues Recordings) is out in the UK on 20th February

Without further ado, check out this slinky, sexy riffer, replete with gratuitous kung fu showdown. TASTY!  

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FIRST AID KIT (Wichita)

From riffsters to sisters, our next Tip for ’12 are hotly-tipped folk duo First Aid Kit. My man-in-the-know here in the office says – “Teenage Swedish sisters with a serious line in sororal harmonies” – and who am i to argue? Fleet Foxes love em, Jack White loves em, Wild Bill in the horrorfice loves em, my pals D+T down in Brighton love em – you too will fall – nee *swoon* – for the Söderbergs.

Their website is here: CLICK!

Their brand new album ‘The Lion’s Roar’ is out on 23rd January (via Wichita Records).

Here’s a taste of the title track (which has had over 350,000 yootoob views already!). Enjoy.

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PORCELAIN RAFT (Secretly Canadian)

Despite having a moniker that sounds like Thor Heyerdahl’s nickname for the WC, Porcelain Raft is actually an ace blissed-out synaesthetic dreampop one man band from London-based, Italian-born Mauro Remiddi.

Getting major press smoochies from everyone from the Guardian (band of the day feature: here) to The Fader (great interview w/videos and soundclips: here).

Mauro tours extensively as Porcelain Raft, rivalling Henry Rollins or James Brown as the hardest working man in showbizniz, check his confirmed live dates thus far this year (oof!):

Jan 17 – Trinity, Bristol UK *
Jan 18 – Ritz, Manchester UK *
Jan 19 – Arches, Glasgow UK *
Jan 20 – Cockpit, Leeds UK *
Jan 21 – HMV Institute, Birmingham UK *
Jan 22 – Concorde, Brighton UK *
Jan 24 – Academy, Oxford UK *
Jan 27 – Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto ONT ~
Jan 28 – Il Motore, Montreal QC ~
Jan 29 – Paradise Rock Club, Boston MA ~
Jan 31 – Webster Hall, New York NY ~
Feb 01 – Black Cat, Washington DC ~
Feb 03 – Metro, Chicago IL ~
Feb 04 – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee WI ~
Feb 16 – Shepherds Bush Empire, London *
Feb 22 – U&G. Hamburg DE *
Feb 23 – Vega, Copenhagen DK *
Feb 24 – Rockefeller, Oslo NO *
Feb 25 – Berns, Stockholm SE *
Feb 27 – Tavastia, Helsinki FI *
Feb 29 – KB, Malmo SE *
Mar 02 – Introducing Festival, Berlin DE *
Mar 03 – Introducing Festival, Cologne DE *
Mar 04 – Lucerna, Prague CZ *
Mar 05 – Hansa 39, Munich DE *
Mar 06 – Magazini Generali, Milan IT *
Mar 08 – Rockstore, Montpelier FR *
Mar 09 – Bikini, Barcelona ES *
Mar 10 – Shoko, Madrid ES *
Mar 11 – Hard Club, Porto PT *
Mar 12 – Lux, Lisbon PT *
Mar 14 – I.Boat, Bordeaux FR *
Mar 15 – La Cigale, Paris FR *
Mar 16 – Le Grand Mix, Tourcoing FR *
Mar 17 – La Laiterie, Strasbourg FR *
Mar 18 – Les Docks, Lausanne CH *

* supporting M83
~ supporting Smith Westerns

His new album ‘Strange Weekend’ is out in the UK on 23rd January (via Secretly Canadian).

Make sure you check out his intimate and gorgeous website/blog here: CLICK!

Here’s a taste, mind your head as your swoon once more won’t you?

Enjoy.

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More Tips For ’12 tomorrow. Take care out there, ya hear?

Adieu for now!

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Happy Monday ‘webbers!

Blimey – where did the weekend go?

I was just sat here two minutes ago and it was Friday and i was writing about First Serve and Speech and Spoek…. and then it was Monday. Damn! It must be the medication.

Without further ado – let’s waffle on!

Today’s Tips For ’12 are…..

ZULU WINTER (Play It Again Sam)

Formed last year, the Zulu Winter line up of Will Daunt (vocals & guitar), Iain Lock (bass), Dom Millard (keyboards), Henry Walton (guitar) and Guy Henderson (drums) have already picked up support from Pitchfork and Altered Zones together with radio play from XFM, Zane Lowe, Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens.

Zulu Winter kick off the new year with the announcement of a new single and a handful of special live shows in the first few months of 2012. The London five – piece are set to release their second single, and the first for their new label Play It Again Sam, on the 27^th February 2012.
 
‘We Should Be Swimming’, the follow up to their recent debut ‘Never Leave’/  ‘Let’s Move Back To Front’ release on Double Denim, was co-produced by Tom Morris and Zulu Winter and hints at what to expect from the band’s debut longplayer which is due in May 2012.

Prior to the release, Zulu Winter will play the Eurosonic Festival in Holland on the 13^th January followed by a ‘New to Q’ show at London’s XOYO on the 26^th January. The band head off to Japan for the Hostess Weekender in February before returning to London for a NME Awards Show headline spot at Cargo on Monday the 27th of February.

More dates will follow at SXSW in Texas as well as supporting The Horrors on dates in SE Asia & Japan, and making their first trip to Australia late March.

LIVE DATES:

JAN 13^TH           EUROSONIC FESTIVAL, GRONINGEN, HOLLAND
JAN 26^TH           NEW TO Q, XOYO, LONDON
FEB 18^TH            HOSTESS WEEKENDER, TOKYO, JAPAN
FEB 27^TH           NME AWARDS SHOW, CARGO, LONDON
MAR 9 – 18^TH   SXSW, TEXAS, US
JUN 2^ND             FIELD DAY, VICTORIA PARK, LONDON
JUN 24^TH          ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL

Check out Zulu Winter’s blog: HERE.

Here they are – a while ago – at Auntie’s House:

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ALT-J (∆) (Infectious)

alt-J (∆) to release new single – ‘Matilda’ / ‘Fitzpleasure’ – via Infectious Music – on February 27^th 2012

+ Ghostpoet support tour – Feb 2012

The quartet first entered our consciousness with their debut release of ‘Bloodflood’ / ‘Tessellate’ in October 2011. Released on 7” via Loud & Quiet, it sparked a wave of interest in their brilliantly unique and compelling sound.

Radio support came through almost instantly from Radio 1’s Zane Lowe, Huw Stephens and Nick Grimshaw while the BBC Introducing team didn’t hesitate to get them booked in for a live session, which was broadcast on both Huw Stephens’ and Steve Lamacq’s shows.

More recently they were selected to perform as part of Radio 1’s Festive Festival to showcase new, exciting acts for 2012 alongside Emeli Sande, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Jakwob, Dot Rotten and others. Previous artists to be given the same accolade have included Katy B, The Vaccines, Wretch 32, Plan B, Mumford & Sons, The xx, Florence & The Machine and Chase & Status.

Now signed to Infectious Music for their debut album (due May), next up for alt-J is the release of two tracks that are sure to cement the early love shown to boys whilst also drawing in a wealth of new fans and supporters for 2012.

‘Matilda’ is a beautifully penned ode that gets under your skin and refuses to leave while ‘Fitzpleasure’ brings out the raw, inspiringly inventive side of the bands music. Two impactful pieces that illustrate the spectrum of their influences and forward thinking approach to music for the year ahead, both polished off with Joe’s brilliantly distinctive vocals.

 alt-J (∆) will perform live in support of Ghostpoet on the following dates:

13/02       The Junction, Cambridge
14/02       The Waterfront, Norwich
15/02       KOKO, London
17/02       Sumo, Leicester
18/02       Sound Control, Manchester
19/02       Mojo, Liverpool
20/02       University of Surrey, Guildford
21/02       Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
22/02       Whelan’s, Dublin
23/02       DQ, Sheffield
24/02       SWG3, Glasgow
25/02       Lancaster Library, Lancaster
27/02       The Cluny, Newcastle
28/02       Central Station, Wrexham

Here’s a taste (from the Big British Castle):

Your humble web monkey’s favourite youtube comment?

“His voice gives me a boner, and I’m a girl”.

HA! Young ladies today eh? Where’dyaevenstart?!?

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THE MINUTES (Model Citizen)

Having played over 100 gigs in 2011, The Minutes show no sign of slowing down in 2012, as they announce their first full UK tour in support of their debut album ‘Marcata’ and the new single ‘Heartbreaker’.

‘Heartbreaker’ is 127 seconds of righteous fury that has already established itself as a firm favourite in their live set.

Having thrilled audiences across Ireland, the UK and Europe – the Dublin band, possibly the hardest rockin’ power trio currently extant in rock ‘n’ roll; will bring their adrenalin fuelled, ramped up, amped up show to the following cities: 

February 22 Barfly, London
February 23 The Prince Albert, Brighton
February 24 The Thekla Top Deck, Bristol
February 25 Rock City, Nottingham
February 26 Sound Control, Manchester
March 21 Stereo, York
March 22 King Tuts, Glasgow
March 23 Electric Circus, Edinburgh
March 24 Cafe Drummonds, Aberdeen
March 28 Academy 3, Birmingham
March 30 The Corner House, Cambridge

The band will be playing the Eurosonic Festival in Holland in January, and will be over in the States for a run of shows at SXSW in March.

Their debut album ‘Marcata’ has been going down a storm in Eire, and is released in the UK and elsewhere on Model Citizen Records through PIAS on January 30^th.

“‘Marcata’ is a faultless, sturdy hunk of rock ‘n’ roll, a raucous, racy and reliable record fuelled by an outfit who’ll no doubt be churning up dust at next summer’s festivals” – Artrocker, 5/5 review

The Boys from Dub can be found HERE on the t’interweb.

More Tips For ’12 to come, but for now – Adieu!

Take it away boys…

* Yes, these are press releases – it’s called Churnalism, OK? And these PR people get PAID to write words – not like your humble web monkey – oh no, it’s like Project bloody Nim round here. tsk. ‘Nanas and sedatives, slopping out and sleep, hell i don’t even get to try out exciting new lipsticks and eyeliners anymore…. and people wanna give Andy Serkis an award for *pretending* to be a monkey?! Sheesh. Whatever Franco, whatevs!

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Yoyoyo, yo

How you doin?

DJ Humble Web Monkey on the 1′s and 2′s for the BIG ’12 here, yo.

Our ongoing series ‘Tips For 12′ has a distinctly Hip Hop flava today, please – if you will follow me – and walk this way….

First up:

‘FIRST SERVE’ (PIAS Recordings)

A hip-hop concept album from this mysterious project featuring two of the all-time greats – all is currently (to paraphrase Winston Churchill, on Russia) shrouded in mystery, wrapped in enigma and riddled with (erm) riddles – more details to follow shortly – but what can I say for now? Hmm… well, as is Hip Hop’s wont in the c21st there’s this:

Tumblr account: HERE

Which – with it’s imagery of turntables, mixtapes, beautiful ladies, street culture and sweet sweet Mary Jane paraphenalia – quite frankly ticks all the boxes in your humble web monkeys ‘crib’.

There’s also this FREE mixtape to download, just to whet your appetite until i can disclose further details: HERE.

Damn, it’s so exciting this one – i wanna say more, but i can’t, i really can’t.

This, from the official press release, sheds little light (but makes a great read):

“Due to hit the streets in 2012, the First Serve album is the soundtrack for a movie that has yet to be made. It tells the story of two dreamers in a basement struggling to start their musical career, the battles they face, through to the point that they eventually release their debut single, ‘make it big’ and their hard work and persistence finally pays off. As we know that is rarely where the story ends and the story of First Serve is no different. Taking place in an animated world that could have been imagined by Hawley Pratt on Magic Mushrooms, the high spirited and often hilarious journey is pure old school hip-hop; skits, disco, beats, funk, quips, burns and hustlin’ all included”

Let me just finish this bit by saying: I am rather concerned about the scruffy state of my front garden.

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SPEECH DEBELLE (Big Dada)

Mercury-winning UK wordsmith Speech Debelle returns with her long-awaited second album (produced by that man Kwes).

This, from the label:

“Two years since winning the 2009 Mercury Music Prize for her debut album, ‘Speech Therapy’, and having ridden a rollercoaster through life since then, Speech Debelle is ready to drop her second collection of music. Entitled ‘Freedom of Speech’, the album is released February 2012 on Big Dada Recordings.

The first single and a free download is ‘Studio Backpack Rap’. From political to musical revolution, Speech describes the track as being “all about virtual instrumentation and an ode to Kwes the producer.” Over a catchy, bumping, jostling piece of music, Speech lays out clever, witty lyrics about the high-tech, low-gloss DIY attitude which has relevance far beyond just creating music. Optimistic, sly, funny and an undeniable head-nodder, it’s a long way from ‘Speech Therapy’, while showcasing just one aspect of her remarkable new album”.

CHECK:

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SPOEK MATHAMBO (Sub Pop)

Following their great success with Shabazz Palaces in 2011, Sub Pop have signed the king of Township-tech – Spoek Mathambo – who releases his brand new album ‘Father Creeper’ in March.

Here’s a taste of Spoek magic, with a fierce remix angle from the aforementioned Shabazz Palaces.

For a further clue as to the kind of mercurial genius we are talking about here, check out this old Spoek number, a Voodoo / Joy Division / SA House demon-hybrid.

Audacious and jaw-dropping are two words that spring to mind. 

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More Tips For ’12 to come. Enjoy your weekends!

Adieu for now….

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