[email protected] @NightshiftMag NightshiftMag nightshiftmag.co.uk Free every month NIGHTSHIFT Issue 293 December ’s Music Magazine 2019

AA HELLHELL OFOF AA YEARYEAR

Inside this issue: Oxford’s tunes of the year! return! So do Undersmile! Introducing Ideal Marriage! plus All your Oxford music news, reviews, previews and gigs for December

NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: 01865 372255 NEWS Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU Phone: 01865 372255 email: [email protected] Online: nightshiftmag.co.uk

Parnell, went into hibernation shortly after the EP was released in 2009, releasing a brace of EPs and being one of Nightshift’s Introducing acts the same year. Announcing the digital release, Rebecca told Nightshift: “I guess we’re re-releasing the Greenhorn EP GLASS ANIMALS drummer Joe Seaward has been talking about the photo: Helen Messenger to remind people, possibly band’s return to action last month and his recovery from the horrific UNDERSMILE have reformed. ourselves, that we’re still alive accident that left him with brain injuries and threatened to derail the The local doom-metal favourites and perhaps even to celebrate this. Oxford quartet’s burgeoning career. went on indefinite hiatus in 2016 Hopefully we’ll put together several Glass Animals performed their first gig in almost 18 months on the st1 when singer/guitarist Hel Sterne ’ worth of accumulated November – a sold-out show at The Bullingdon. began a university course, with material to form a distilled in “All things considered I’m feeling very well,” Joe told Nightshift as the co-frontwoman Taz Corona-Brown another decade or so. Also, I again band prepared to fly to Australia for a gig. “I can speak and walk now, concentrating on her other band have managed to create a parallel which I couldn’t last summer. We’ve now played our first show since Drore alongside fellow Undersmile backlog of solo material, under the the accident, which was something I was very worried wouldn’t happen bandmates Ollie Corona-Brown guise of Cogwheel, that I’ll start again. It feels nice to have that under my belt. It’s been a pretty crazy and Tom McKibbin. Undersmile’s releasing in Spring or Summer time; the support I’ve had from the band, my family and friends has been second album, ‘Anhedonia’, 2020 in a hopeful bid to eventually amazing but it’s something I’m still working on and getting to grips with; released in 2015, was hailed as catch up with real time and make I don’t know if I’ll ever fully recover from something like that... I’m a a doom masterpiece across the up for lost time. My ultimate aim work in progress.” board. The band reunited briefly is to live in the present, or invent a Joe’s accident happened in July 2018 when he was knocked off his bike in 2018 for a concert to remember time machine. Ideally both. That’s by a lorry in Dublin; all of Glass Animals plans and shows were put on Pier Corona – the renowned gig the album’s title: ‘Time Machine’. hold while he recovered. photographer and Taz’s dad – but Sorted. Whatever it is, it is not “It’s difficult for me to say exactly how it affected the other guys,” now they’re back for good (or evil, intended to be an inadvertent continues Joe; “I know it was a huge shock for them but actually not maybe). No Oxford show has yet metaphor for Brexit.” just them, for everyone we work with. The consequences of my being been announced but the quartet are The EP is available at injured that badly made a big difference to everyone’s lives: our manager due to play at The Dome in cogwheel..com Amy; the live crew who suddenly didn’t have a functioning band; the on February 29th next year as part record labels: everything changed for those people. We had to cancel of promoters Chaos Theory’s 10th OXFORD HAS A NEW a whole bunch of shows and festivals – but the fans were absolutely anniversary celebrations. RECORD SHOP. Riverman amazing about it. I’m very grateful to all those people. The band went Talking about the reunion Hel told Records opened on Walton Street at into overdrive after the accident; they were amazing. (Bayley – Nightshift: “It’s felt alien not to the beginning of November, selling Glass Animals’ singer and guitarist) dropped everything and flew over to write or play music for so long in mainly second hand vinyl. Andy Dublin and sat next to me in hospital for a week. Ed and Drew then came Undersmile. We’re excited to get Tucker, who has run record stores over and Ed ended up driving us all home in his splitter van – that was together again and see what we can in Henley for the past 10 years, a hilarious journey. That was pretty amazing to to see from the inside: create.” has taken over the site of the old you learn more about people when the chips are down. The accident Taz added: “it felt great playing Threshers off-licence. Talking about definitely brought us all closer together and I feel even more proud top together last year for the the new store he said: “There has be part of this group of people – and I was already immensely proud!” Pieranormal show; we’ve all been been a vinyl revival and it may have Glass Animals returned to action with an intimate hometown show thinking about it for ages and reached a plateau but business has at The Bully, one which sold out in a matter of minutes when it was now feels like the right time to do been quite steady over the past two announced, and the show was a triumph in every respect. Undersmile again.” or three years and it is not going “It was a lot of fun!” says Joe; “the crowd were amazing; someone flew to disappear,” adding “Truck does over from Chicago apparently. Another person I met afterwards came a great job but I’m sure a city the from the Isle of Man – it was her first show ever. They all brought so size of Oxford can support another much energy. There are always nerves before a show – I think that’s record store. I’m hoping record healthy – but maybe more than usual that night. And three new songs collectors and all music fans make too! this place a destination; if they want “Really it just feels great; being back on the road and sharing music with to find it they will.” fans is what it’s all about. And it’s great to be going back to Australia; I mean, apart from anything else, a few days of midsummer in midwinter MUZOAKADEMY has opened is absolutely fine with me. It’s just nice after such a long time to be back a new shop in Cowley in order to doing what we love. 2020 is already looking like an exciting year if all COGWHEEL DOGS re-release raise funds for its ongoing music goes to plan; we’ve been in the kitchen cooking up something... time will their ‘Greenhorn’ EP this month, to education programme. The Witney- reveal all.” celebrate the tenth anniversary of its based charity, run by the 7Cs Glass Animals released their first new material in three years on the original release. Foundation, offers music teaching 13th November, a single, ‘Tokyo Drifting’, with Florida rap star Denzel The “experimental folk-punk” courses with particular emphasis on Curry. The band have also been confirmed for next year’s All Points East band, formed by singer-guitarist young people, people with Festival in Victoria Park on Saturday 23rd May alongside Tame Impala Rebecca Mosley and cellist Tom continued over... and Caribou. space for young women aged 14- local producer and musician Umair 21 to make music together, learn Chaudhry, release ‘Vigilance’ new skills and express themselves. on Blindsight Records on the 9th Among the regular sessions run by December. The album – Abandon’s YWMP are Team Drum, a drum second – features nine tracks, NEWS including recent single ‘Fear of the disabilities and those who couldn’t contributed a signed drum skin troupe that has played at Common otherwise afford music lessons. and signed photos taken by Sam People and Cowley Road Carnival, Future’, inspired by Red House Last year the charity reinvested Neill and Kit Monteith. Everything and the annual Wo-man-ity Painters, Slowdive, Jesu and Swans. £35,000 to fund projects for young, Everything have also donated a festival, which takes place each Get yours at blindsightrecords. underprivileged, vulnerable, , signed pic taken by Monteith, while year to coincide with International bandcamp.com. disabled and elderly people and there are also photos of David Women’s Day. YWMP will be families. It is currently raising Bowie from the Duffy Archive; hosting a calendar launch event at THE AUGUST LIST are the funds to take over and redevelop artist proofs of photos of Björk Truck Store on Cowley Road on first Oxford act to be announced a new home in Witney. The shop, by Jill Furmanovky and a photo Thursday 28th November, which for Are You Listening? festival named MusoAkademy, opens in of Kurt Cobain taken by Charles will allow anyone interested in in Reading next year. The annual Templars Square in Cowley on the Peterson. Other items up for grabs joining or helping the project to one-day event, hosted by Heavy 30th November, selling musical include full-size posts from classic learn more about it. The calendars, Pop, who also run live music at The instruments and equipment. An Vacuous Pop shows, including designed by women involved in the , takes place across opening day party runs from Black Dice, Fuck Buttons and charity, will help raise money to multiple venues around Reading th 11am-4pm. Charity trustee Jon Damo Suzuki. keep the project running. More info town centre on Saturday 25 April Berry, said, “We are so excited The Michael Barry Fund raises on how to get involved or donate at 2020. Headline acts announced are to be able to launch this unique money in memory of local musician www.ywmp.org.uk. BC Camplight, Dream Wife and provision in Oxfordshire. We and promoter Michael who died in Melt Yourself Down, with Sir Was, aim to remove the barriers which 2016. Annual gigs in his memory John, Dream Nails, Heavy Lungs prevent people from experiencing have so far raised over £9,000. and Ghum among the other acts so the benefits of music and, for Check out @wayfoxford on far confirmed. The festival regularly some, the cost of instruments and and Instagram or visit features a significant Oxford equipment is prohibitive. We hope www.thebraintumourcharity.org. contingent. Tickets and more details this shop will make music more at www.areyoulistening.org.uk. accessible for all.. Find out more at YOUNG WOMEN’S MUSIC KNOBBLEHEAD have changed www.7csfoundation.com. PROJECT celebrate their 20th their name. The local psychedelic anniversary in 2020, with a series ensemble, who released two singles FOALS are among the artists who of live music, talks, markets, films, DESPICABLE ZEE head off on in 2019 as well as performing at have donated exclusive stuff to quizzes and more planned to help their first national tour this month, Ritual union and the inaugural an auction to raise money for the raise awareness of and funds for including dates with Stealing Oddball Festival, are henceforth Brain Tumour Charity – Michael the local educational charity, which Sheep. The musical project of known as Mandrake Handshake. Barry Fund. The local stars have provides an inclusive and supportive Young Women’s Music Project leader Zahra Tehrani, Despicable A new EP, produced by Zee tours her recent ‘Atigheh’ EP drummer Andy Ramsey, is due in as part of a tour put together by the New Year. Divine Schism, who have recently expanded their local gig promotions CORRECTION: the reviews of to include a and Grace Petrie and David Ford in national promotions. Despicable October’s Nightshift should have Zee’s tour kicks off on Wednesday been credited to Lisa Ward, not Lisa 4th December at Hatch Ford. It’s not as if Lisa hasn’t been and finishes on Thursday 12th in contributing to the mag for well , supporting Stealing over a decade or something. Sorry Sheep. The tour also takes in Lisa – we’ll get you a giant slab of Norwich, Nottingham, Leicester, vegan cake next chance we get. London, and Hull. Hear ‘Atigheh at despicablezee. AS EVER, don’t forget to tune into bandcamp.com. BBC Oxford Introducing every Saturday night between 8-9pm on CATGOD’s album ‘Feel It Go 95.2fm. The dedicated local music Round Again’ is available on show plays the best Oxford releases Bandcamp now. The album was and demos as well as featuring originally available as a limited interviews and sessions with local edition physical release in May. Get acts. The show is available to your copy at catgod.bandcamp. stream or download as a podcast at com. .co.uk/oxford.

K-LACURA release their full OXFORD GIGBOT provides a debut album at the end of this regular local gig listing update on month. ‘Husk’ comes out on the 23rd Twitter (@oxgigbot), bringing December and is preceded y a video you new gigs as soon as they go single, ‘If Memories Were Roads’. live. They also provide a free The long-running local metalcore weekly listings email. Just contact band will be Nightshift’s January [email protected] to join. cover stars, but if you can’t wait for the interview, check out their new Front cover collage – Death of the song at facebook.com/KLacura. Maiden, Easter Island Statues and Foals by Helen Messenger; Julia ABANDON release a new album Meijer by Hazel Rattigan; Kanadia this month. The band, the work of by Ian Wallman. his oddball gang on this moody here teaming up with Cancer Bats’ seven-minute motorik drive into Liam Cormier on the lead track who-knows-where, the band’s best from their ‘Loss’ EP, riding full pelt TRACKS OF OUR YEAR song so far – they just keep getting to death or glory, or possibly both The end of another year and, it has to be said, a vintage one this comparatively reflective song feel on this single, Television’s better with each release – sounding at the same time, while proving that for Oxford music: Foals staked their claim to be one of the from the end of Part 2 was Foals dextrous fretplay and Foals’ nimble like The Fall having a pop at The sounding like the end of the world very best live bands on the planet; Ride made their best music at their most elegant and delicate, post-punk the backdrop to Meijer’s The’s ‘Soul Mining’ in the style of doesn’t mean you can’t also show with echoes of Ryuichi Sakamoto limpid, conversational vocals, all in over a quarter of a century; Young Knives returned even Gary Numan’s weird, jazz-infused your feelings. in the icy midnight ambience and fretful daydreaming and nervy, ‘Dance’ album. more strange and challenging, and across the local scene one of Yannis’ finest ever vocal wide-eyed optimism. music makers provided us with songs of joy and sorry. As is performances. 18. CATGOD ‘Blood’ traditional, Nightshift’s writers and photographers have voted 14. KNOBBLEHEAD Twinkling, late-night jazz/folk 10. EASTER harmony pop from brother’n’sister for their favourite tracks of the year and, for the first time since ‘Aeroplane 6. DESPICABLE ISLAND STATUES duo Robin Christensen-Marriott 1997, we have a dead heat for top song – so congratulations Membrane’ and Cat Marriott and their band, to Death of the Maiden and Candy Says for being the best ZEE ‘Counting Cars’ here swooning and cooing in Zahra Tehrani’s ‘Atigheh’ explored ‘Skeleton Quay’ They’ve changed their name of the best. Music of quality and distinction across the board – The masters of the big-hearted tandem with vampiric sweetness ideas of heritage, longing and to Mandrake Handshake since anthem did it again, over a softly carouselling piano- so much so we’ve even added an extra ten picks that bubbled belonging through the prism of this debut single was released following last year’s wonderful but whatever the moniker, the led shuffle that sounds like a siren under the Top 25. experimental , 1= CANDY SAYS ‘Beautiful Feeling’ ‘Laika’ with another song that expansive collective – featuring song from a haunted late-night Tasked with penning a song to accompany the end credits of Noomi inspired by Persian singer Hayedeh, simply carried you away like a giant at least two dedicated tambourine cocktail bar where the drinks are as Rapace movie Close, Candy Says conjured this romantic monolith and who left Iran to be able to continue wave – appropriate given its puppet players – were both a breath of chilled as the grave and bring on a promptly found themselves looking at Youtube views in the hundreds of her singing; this highlight of the EP pirate video, complete with octopus fresh air into Oxford’s semi- woozy sense of unease. For all that, thousands (half a million at last count). Huge, chiming synths and Julia is a tarnished cyborg rumination, wresting and a giant sea snail which dormant psych scene and one of the effect is is both soothing and Walker’s stunning vocal performance, full of defiant, almost devotional chants, hums and vocal samples provided a daft but ultimately grisly the most fun live bands in town, warming and really rather delicious. love and longing, make for a towering triumph of a song – an aching mixing and merging over skittering backdrop to a song that surfed the the star turn at psych-celebration heart with the power of a thermonuclear explosion. loops and beats: as thoughtful as it biggest roller on the ocean and Oddball with this lysergic is inventive. crested it with style to spare. 60s-flavoured mantra, all shoegazy 19. LINA SIMON and Eastern motifs deficit electro-squiggle ear-worm Creek’ ‘Tortoise’ that resolutely fails to stand still for 7. YOUNG KNIVES backing up Trinity De Simone’s A sense of playful adventure and The powerful gospel-blues finale to 11. CAMERON AG more a moment and yet never loses imperiously otherworldly vocals. mischievous freedom pervaded Lina their ‘Bring Out Your Deadbeats’ sight of the pop horizon. ‘Red Cherries’ Simon’s ‘Live a Little’ EP, even EP, Oxford’s finest country-soul Six years since their last release – ‘One By One’ If Cameron’s promising career on this more cynical cut with its party-starters saw singers Mike the superb ‘Sick Octave’ – and we 15. GHOSTS IN THE looked like it had derailed in the sleazy, queasy vibe, chitter-chatter Ginger and Michelle Mayes pushing find Young Knives doing whatever 22. MAX wake of his early EPs, his overdue beats, gleaming synths and Lydia their voices to greater heights, the the opposite is of mellowing with PHOTOGRAPHS debut album cast such doubts Lunch-goes-pop feel, Lina sounding BLANSJAAR pair’s interaction bringing this rich, age, their new material more aside: his quavering, plaintive, ‘Taylor Mountain like the ghost in the machine in warm rough-hewn heartwarmer to challenging than ever, this early ‘The Shame I Wear’ high-register voice is still a thing The Knife’s musical bunker. It’s all life. Few bands have one vocalist 1= DEATH OF THE MAIDEN taster single for next year’s full Memorial’ Max’s Beck-like mix’n’match of beauty, able to convey heartache For an instrumental three-piece slightly odd, but odd is good and with such strength and versatility, album capturing a tangible sense approach to music making along ‘A Pair of Blue Eyes’ and longing with the assuredness GITP say a lot with their music such musical wayfaring is that the Deadbeats have two seems of barbarity and grotesquery: with his almost Daniel Johnson- Even amid the drama, grief, passion, longing, militant determination of a confessional lullaby, here and say it loudly. They like to take very much to be encouraged. a little unfair on everyone else. almost Whitehouse-like noise and esque sense of childlike wonder and poetic wonder of Death of the Maiden’s album ‘The Girl With the accompanied just by piano and their time to get to those sonic to everything made for songs that dissonance alongside pounding Secret Fire’, ‘A Pair of Blue Eyes’ stood above and apart: the band’s cello – basically the holy trinity of summits mind, as this eight-minute simply oozed charm: off-kilter, lo-fi, industrial rhythms and cellar- 25. TIGER sparse musical delicacy stripped right back to just acoustic , violin musical sorrow. And what sweet epic proved – from its primal 20. THEO slightly haphazard charm but that’s dweller creep vocals. The musical and Tamara Parsons-Baker’s voice, packed with a heart full of soul, and sorrow. hum beginnings to the thunderous the best kind and this skittering MENDOZA ft. a sad, sad story to tell. So sad in fact the band couldn’t play it live. An incarnation of a dank, diseased ‘Morning Glory’ denouement, calling at all stations Could Oxford have an r’n’b Casiotone machine pop, sounding absolutely devastating, and devastatingly beautiful, song. Something so dungeon. Malevolently brilliant. KATY HERRIDGE post rock and DC hardcore along sensation to call its own? On the like Eels fronting a Toytown simple shouldn’t be so powerful. Musically, it’s a piece of magic. 12. CASSELS the way. Final destination: the sky. evidence of what we’ve seen Suicide summed up his spiky-yet- ‘Find You’ 8. LOW ISLAND ‘The Queue at the and heard from Theo so far, it’s cuddly approach to pop perfectly. Oxford’s collaboration king highly likely; ‘Morning Glory’’s continued to mine gold with his review of the band’s debut EP and it ‘Long Answer’ Chemists’ 16. KANADIA choice of sound buddies on his 3. RIDE ‘Jump Jet’ “How can I be expected to care smooth, tripped-out blend of soul, Band reunions can go badly wrong was entirely fitting: four songs filled A song about mental health and 23. MEANS OF ‘New Ideas’ album, here teaming up about an abstract and nebulous ‘Meet the End’ drum&bass and fidgety but Ride proved they really did with positivity and pop joy. ‘Glitter society’s expectations of how with Katy Herridge from Newbury concept like a dying planet, when An elegantly slow-building stealth is both hypnotic and enchanting but PRODUCTION have unfinished business with & Gems’ is part 80s synth-pop, people – particularly men – should rockers Ocean Ruins, her shaky I’m forced to queue for over twenty beast of a track, from Kanadia’s lyrically it’s a desolate examination ‘’, their part scrappy 90s indie , cope might not sound like the most ‘Recogniser’ “Am I not enough?” refrain looping minutes to replenish my cod liver eponymous debut album at the start of alcoholism and self destruction. second album since reconvening in part and part new wave of obvious subject for a rinky dink, With the world reliving its early 80s over heavy beats, reverbed synths oil stocks at the chemist?” sang/ of the year, soft of tread but heavy There’s a real feeling Theo is a star 2014 and their best since ‘Going Brit-jazz, or possibly Cath Carroll Burundi beat-infused electro-pop glory years Means of Production and crunchy guitars, to create a spoke Cassels frontman Jim Beck, of hook, becoming something in the making. Blank Again in 1992, and album leading a carnival jam band made tune, but Low Island rarely conform have timed their arrival perfectly, mesmerising whole, building to perfectly capturing humanity’s huge as it progresses. Kanadia high point ‘Jump Jet’ was the up of The Go! Team, Sons of Kemet to expectations and the song harking back to the pioneers a finale that’s dark, insecure and inability or unwillingness to might wear their influences on their band at the peak of their powers: and Carter USM. Absolutely bloody becomes a celebration of opening 21. JACK of synth music, they make that atmospheric and yet wonderfully confront climate breakdown when sleeve – Muse, , U2 – but swooning, soaring and simple and great indeed. up, suitably enough to a tune you austerity their own, this single euphoric: a gothic electro party life’s mundanities keep getting in they make a good fist of making GOLDSTEIN enveloped in a blizzard of sonic can properly get your groove on to. a thrum of bleeps, bloops and banger. the way; all this over a tumbledown, them their own, mixing their snowflakes and cherry blossom. rhythmic clicks and hisses over 5. FOALS spiked-up art-rock tattoo that saw stadium ambitions with intricate ‘Dungeness’ Form is temporary, goes the old As this list proves, Oxford produces which Tim Day intones minimalist Bubbling under – the next ten: 9. JULIA MEIJER the Chippy duo at their most chippy, arrangements and subtlety, sounding cliché, but class is permanent. ‘Into the Surf’ all manner of quirky, maverick non- with robotic monotony, Master of None: ‘This Animal’; and pensive, and brilliant. like a band that should already be The year they got their first Number ‘Train Ticket’ music makers and former Fixers the whole thing sounding like the Basic Dicks: ‘I Am Man, Hear filling stadiums across the globe. 1 album and played that triumphant The wanderlust that has brought frontman Jack Goldstein is perhaps music of a future factory where all Me Bore’; EB: ‘Talking’; Brite 4. PANDAPOPALYPSE headline set at Truck, Foals felt Swedish-born singer to Oxford, 13. MOOGIEMAN & the godfather of them all. Set human input has been expunged and Spires: ‘Mercury Arc’; The Other unstoppable. ‘Everything Not and the longing that comes with 17. MSRY ‘Still the cyborgs have got their on. ‘Glitter & Gems’ THE MASOCHISTS adrift from his band his wowsy Dramas: ‘Fools Like Us’; Mother: “Never mind the apocalypse, Saved Will Be Lost’ – parts 1 and 2 exile informed Julia Meijer’s debut Breaks My Heart’ psychedelic pop tripping really ‘School Days’; Ciphers: ‘Howl’; here’s the Pandapopalypse and together felt like a complete piece album ‘Always Awake’. Here her ‘Ghost Driver’ Up close, personal and dangerous to went four sheets to the wind, and 24. THE DEADBEAT Junk Whale: ‘August’; Emma everything’s going to be absolutely of work from which it was hard to folky musical leanings made way More oblique strategies in pop from know metalcore from Oxford rock’s ‘Dungeness’ finds him getting Hunter: ‘Sun Blood’; Mowves: bloody great,” ran Nightshift’s pick out a single stand-out track, but for a more indie, almost funky, Moogieman Shan Shriharan and brightest and most destructive sons, his dad on board for an attention APOSTLES ‘Muddy ‘Bad Graph’. Sponsored by BEAR THE DOLLYMOPS ‘Wanna Think About It’ ‘The Lunacy Racket’ (Cheeks) (FourTwenny) RELEASED Funky, synthed-up disco from Bear – the work Dollymops are at their best when they’ve got of Paul Williams, previously of dub reggae their snark on – ‘Plastic Proletariat’ and ‘Gap THE SHAPES SEBASTIAN crew Zaia and part of the crew behind Musical Year Tourist’ were pin-sharp stabs at faux middle Medicine at The Bullingdon – here with his new class rebellion, reminiscent of cult 80s instigators ‘Live in the Moment’ REYNOLDS single for Jive Talk imprint Cheeks, whose logo McCarthy and Big Flame. This new single, ahead (Self released) ‘Manimekhala’ appears to be a pair of buttocks, for reasons that of another full EP, deals poetically with mental Given The Shapes’ enduring place on the local hopefully don’t need explaining. health, retaining the almost stagey drama of scene, rightly renowned as one of the best live (Pindrop) This is great period-sounding stuff: straight outta those earlier singles, with singer Sean Stevens bands in Oxford, it’s a surprise to realise this Having been part of a plethora of local bands the 70s with a slick, slightly cheesy jazz-infused enunciating each word like it’s personally is their first full album. Its release comes in the over the years, Sebastian Reynolds focus groove and a Heatwave vibe, horns and squelchy affronted him, but perhaps needing an extra wake of the band expanding to include a full brass on solo work for the last few years has been synths to the fore. Brighton producer Tech helping of caustic bile. section with the older Shapes songs included here an interesting shift. His Solo Collective has Support brings a spaced-out Moroder flavour to Instead it seems happy enough to sit in the re-recorded to include them and bring that blue- produced two excellent albums of neo-classical, their remix, synthier and with starker beats, while shade of The Smiths and stick two fingers up to eyed soul sound to the fore. piano-led meditations but this latest release label honchos Jive Talk take it a step further, decade of sequin-embossed Top of the Pops fun. the world over a neat jangling melody – some The Shapes’ sound draws on myriad strands of stands truly apart from all that’s come before. stripping things back to basics for a more linear, Disco was always the genre that best got under great Marr-like jangle from Tom Hadfield on music: from 60 r’n’b and rock’n’roll, through ‘Manimekhala’ features two themes from the housier feel – something of Deee-lite’s ‘Groove the skin of dreary rock purists, so it’s good to see that score. As such it’s considerably better than new wave and into folk and pop balladry, but soundtrack to a contemporary dance production is in the Heart’ about it – but maybe losing the it back in vogue in recent years and Bear bringing most indie rock bands you’ll encounter this essentially their songs can be divided into two which is heavily influenced by Thai mythology original’s rich, funky feel which is a direct trip those carefree, hedonistic days back to life in style. month or next, and The Dollymops are one of the and traditional dance forms, along with two camps: the party-hearty pieces and the more meanwhile, brings the record to a tender close, an back to mid-70s Studio 54 and onwards to a Sue Foreman few overtly socio-political bands around at the remixes of said themes. Without their associated wistful, romantic numbers, often steeped in acoustic ballad with a weary Kelly accompanied moment locally, but they’re really at their best visuals, soundtracks can often be difficult to nostalgia for a lost working class Oxford youth. just by guitar, accordion and a sprinkling of Alix when mildly cynical opprobrium makes way for parse but because these compositions originally Of the more upbeat numbers, perennial live staple Champ’s backing vocals. Oxford artists ‘Great Bear’ style in a satisfying full-on teeth-bared vitriol. accompanied a more interpretive art form the ‘Sunshine Song’ gives bandleader Ant Kelly’s The band – now nine strong – give the songs palate of how a town can come together to create Dale Kattack music feels more open to create its own space inner Van Morrison full rain, while the Pogues-y here a fulsome Dexys feel, with Champ – Kelly’s good things. and context. ‘Til They Put Me In The Ground’ is a suitably longtime vocal foil – bringing pop sweetness and One of the chief purveyors of this tendency in Three of the four tracks on the EP are rambunctious bittersweet celebration of living rich soulfulness to bear on his sometimes earthier musical terms is Tiger Mendoza and following on predominantly electronic. ‘Theme for MEANS OF with regret, here given a brassier breath of new or more hangdog delivery. The re-recordings and from the magnificent ‘Found You’, featuring Kate Manimekhala’ is a gorgeous cinematic ambient life. Recent single ‘Oh You’, meanwhile, adopts a remixes have maybe smoothed some of the rough Herridge, a vital burst of Warm Digits style energy piece punctuated with field recordings of PRODUCTION loping reggae vibe as it aims a weary look at the edges off the original versions but make for a from the early part of 2019, Ian De Quadros is traditional Thai instruments and guest cello from current political idiocy engulfing the UK. warmer, more cohesive listen across 14 songs. back, this time with log-time collaborator and Anne Muller; its corresponding remix is a deep ‘Dance Like Someone’s On the other side of the coin we get long-time The Shapes will always be a band best instantly recognisable Oxford voice, Asher Dust. trap take on the textures in the original. favourite ‘The Passing of the Years’, a love song experienced live – an inclusive, infectious and With two local legends in the studio, there could Watching’ The challenge for someone not familiar with spanning the decades; the simple, spangled ‘Hey effortlessly timeless band – but for everyone who’s hardly be a more enticing combination. (Self released) Asian folk music is ‘Cherd’; to the uninitiated it And so it proves, the track commencing with Little Girl’, and title track ‘Live in the Moment’ – danced a night away in their company, ‘Live in the Austerity and paranoia – if the title sounds say it does sound like a narrative soundtrack, bouncing a discordant fuzz of keyboards, Dust’s spoken a more reflective take on ‘Till They Put Me In the Moment’ is a decent memento to take back home. loud enough, the music fair screams it. Or, if not playfully on wooden percussion with with Pii- word mutterings, tales of “shits and giggles” Ground’’s sentiment. ‘When a Teardrop Shatters’, Dale Kattack a scream, a sullen, surly mutter, a dispassionate nai – a thai flute-like instrument – taking the giving way to a piano inspired chorus and ever cyborg bark in the concrete underpass. lead. You can imagine children playing, or a more thumping beats. The pace builds slowly; Yes, things haven’t got any cheerier in Means trinketry combined with Julia’s hushed, soulfully mischievous trickster of many a folk tradition, it’s as belting an anthem as one might hope to of Production’s silicon-clad universe. The duo’s dispassionate but harshly self-contemplating but we can’t say if that is the intention. Capitol TIGER MENDOZA encounter in a city strangely bereft of a really minimalist used-future synth-pop is all monotone, vocals bringing an alien strangeness to a K’s remix of ‘Cherd’ takes it away from the developed club scene – De Quadros’s wizardry monochrome electro-throb, harsh, metallic guitar comforting lullaby. It reminds us a bit of one-time theatrical and straight do the dancefloor, with ‘The Myth of Failing Fast’ and ear for a tune again culminating to great and apocalyptic shortwave radio broadcast-style Oxford synth-pop star-in-waiting Esther Joy Lane throbbing bass surrounded by heavily effect. ‘B side’ ‘Tec Dub’ is also a treat, simply (Self released) vocals, ‘Dance Like Someone’s Watching’ is a with a DNA lineage back to Laurie Anderson processed samples of the source. Just as you’ll see Missing Bean coffee at the predestined to be listened to on the top deck of retro-primitive rave banger from a via FKA Twigs, Natasha Khan and Grimes. A The EP leaves you not having gone on a Rusty Bicycle pub, XT ales at The Star and bread the number 5 bus through Blackbird Leys as the place where Quatermass is a factual documentary lovely opening gambit and, on the evidence of complete sonic journey: it is not one cohesive from the East Oxford Farmers’ and Community rain laps against the street lights. It’s reminiscent and Ballard’s Crash is considered aspirational the collection of demos she sent in alongside this collection of music set to fit together. It is a Market dotted across the shelves of the city’s of Tiger Mendoza’s work with Dave Griffiths lifestyle fodder. Rather fantastically, flipside single, with her best still to come. sample to entice the listener into exploring more cafes, collaboration and cross-pollination is very although Dust’s almost childlike vocals add ‘Neon Heart’ is even bleaker, but with a dark A.I. Dale Kattack of this music/dance project. Released on its own much the default setting of the Oxford music something of Robert Wyatt into the mix. sense of humour about it. “Ho ho ho” says The we’re not sure it would be as successful but scene and oh for one of those tube maps that links Rob Langham having heard it we want to see the whole show, to Terminator. Come on everyone, it’s the end of the IDEAL MARRIAGE understand the story and how it is shown through universe heat death party – might as well dance into the dark. dance, and the rest of the soundtrack. which was released in its original form in Dale Kattack ‘Dundee’ Matt Chapman Jones KID KIN 2017. The earlier version was a glitchy post- (Self released) ‘Masterclash (Masiro rock sweep, punctuated by good-natured piano Following on from their recent Top Track for melodies, and this remix is something of a JULIA SOPHIE debut single ‘Errors’, Ideal Marriage follow up Remix)’ deconstruction. Slightly confusing stabs of with an elegant slice of ambient spangle-pop. (Self released) silence and repetitive sample snippets make for ‘xOx’ Where ‘Errors’ had anthem ambitions with an a disorienting rhythm; it’s certainly in some kind This remix of ‘Masterclash’ is part of the almost Foals-y vibe about it, ‘Dundee’ – released of time signature, although it may not be just one, (Self released) extended version of Kid Kin’s eponymous EP, If you want something doing, ask a busy person in aid of MIND – is almost serene. Both songs and it may be changing from time to time. which collates nine tracks into one neat package. goes the old adage and in the case of Julia Sophie have what feels like an almost effortless airiness This remix is more of a companion piece to its It’s being considered on its own here, as money Walker it seems to be spot on. When she’s not about them, but here the band make more use original source, rather than a unique creation in raised through the track’s digital sales will go to helming Candy Says or writing songs and scores of space: beats and guitar are used sparingly, its own right, but that’s not a bad thing. While the mental health charity Oxfordshire Mind. That for films it seems she has creativity to spare with Christian Johnstone’s voice limpid, almost it is, basically, a jumbling of the original’s fact alone renders any negative criticism about a solo side project under her own name and here’s yearning, only at the end snapping out of its constituent parts – and who’s to say that a remix the track null and void, as only a sociopathic the first fruits of that solo expedition: a cloistered dreamy isolation to sink its teeth into the song as is ever anything but that – it’s a nice outcome, monster would want to disrupt funds going to four minutes of bubbling electro-pop, a tumbling everything reaches a plateau of almost Mogwai- a vapourwave-gone-bitcrush fool around in a such a good cause. hurry and scurry of beats, tweets, ticks, wows like noise. It gets the job done but like a glacier, it pleasant sonic space. And it’s for a good cause, so and flutters that plays out like a diary entry of a does so in its own good time. Luckily, math-rock complexyfolk Masiro have give ‘em a quid. teenage android, the busy but unimposing musical Sue Foreman done a good job messing with ‘Masterclash’, Simon Minter delicate, jazz-inflected electro-folksters Catgod Pandapopalypse, who released one of the best local along, with support from Reading’s Pixies- EPs of the year, taking inspiration from The Go! influenced alt.rockers Adam & Elvis. Team, Fatboy Slim and Hot among others. RAVING TRIPPY: The Bullingdon – Psychedelic Alphabet Backwards frontman James Hitchman house and techno club night. joins the celebrations with his ebullient , THE EPSTEIN + AGS CONNOLLY + plus loops’n’violin chap Arthur Sawbridge, creating THE GREAT WESTERN TEARS + DORA atmospheric soundscapes in the vein of Sigur Ros GIG GUIDE KAPLAN: The Port Mahon – Local country/ and Bon Iver. Happy birthday, Daisy! folk-rock heroes The Epstein play their last Make ABSOLUTE BOWIE: O2 Academy – Career- SUNDAY 1st Sounds and Tandem Collective host Bristol’s This Our Home residency, celebrating the local spanning tribute to the Thin White Duke. DONNINGTON CHRISTMAS COCNERT: electro-jazz improv trio Snazzback as they tour their Americana scene in the company of local chums, MUSICAL MEDICINE with LUCID Donnington Community Centre (5-9pm) – Free DECEMBER new EP ‘Binary Diet’. Local r’n’b star-on-the-rise tonight with rootsy country troubadour Ags STANNARD: The Bullingdon – The funk, disco afternoon and evening of live, unplugged music, slam poetry and a rhyming genius with few peers Theo supports. Connolly and alt.country crew The Great Western and disco-house club monthly hosts London’s with a festive community carol session led by on classic cuts like `Beasley Street’, `I Wanna Be Tears, plus a debut show for Dora Kaplan. soulful sorcerer Lucid Stannard, resident and Yours’, `Evidently Chickentown’ and `Twat’. HOO + ROBIN BENNETT: Common Ground founder of Lucy’s Disco and WXMB2 as well as a Riverside Voices, plus sets from Beard of Destiny, th th CHOP SUEY + KILLSWITCH UK+ THE THURSDAY 5 – Synth’n’guitar drones, and psychedelic globetrotting DJ in demand and putting on star turns Monday 9 Franklin’s Tower, The Jesters and The Yulekeleles. THE HIGH CONTRAST BAND: O2 Academy – IRON ROAD: The Bullingdon – Heavyweight explorations from former Slowdive and Black at Secret Garden Party and Festival No.6. THE CHATS: O2 Academy – Queensland’s Full band show for drum&bass star High Contrast, tributes tonight with Chop Suey paying tribute to Hearted Brother chap Hoo at tonight’s Big Potato DAMAGED REICH + BLOODSHOT + BEABADOOBEE / garage-rock and surf punk slackers hit the UK, following up club anthem hits like ‘Kiss Kiss, Bang System of a Down and Killswitch UK doing the Records show, with support from veteran local BANGOVER: The Wheatsheaf – Triple bill of touring their debut album following viral hit Bang’ and ‘If We Ever’ with fifth album ‘Night same for, well, Killswitch. Americana star and former Dreaming Spires fella heavy-duty thrash with local crew Damaged Reich NO ROME / OSCAR ‘Smoko’. Gallery’ and new single ‘Going Up’ and playing a OPEN MIC NIGHT: The Harcourt Arms – Robin Bennett. and London’s Bangover alongside deathcore beasts DR JOHN COOPER CLARKE: The New rare live club date after shows at Glastonbury and Weekly open night. MO’MOJO: The Jericho Tavern Bloodshot. LANG: The Bullingdon Theatre – ’s titan of scabrous wit and Reading & Leeds, Having brought the likes of Wolf Alice, The FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon – Weekly open FBI: Harcourt Arms legendary punk poet JCC returns to Oxford after CAROLS AT THE O2: O2 Academy – Must be 1975 and Marika Hackman to the world’s folk night. th STEAMPUNK XIII – VAMPIRE’S BALL: his sold-out shows at The O2 Academy last year, nearly Christmas. SATURDAY 7 attention, London label Dirty Hit seem to THE SAXOPHONE CHRISTMAS BUSKING D’overbroeckes – A vampire-themed steampunk continuing to explore the gutter and the sky in NOEL TAMARA’S PARTIES’ XMAS PANDAPOPALYPSE + JAMES HITCHMAN know a good thing when they hear it, so BASH: Henley Town Hall (6-7pm) – Local gathering in the company of a capella groups his undiminished sardonic style, the godfather of + ARTHUR SAWBRIDGE: The Port Mahon this package tour of three of their newer saxophone community band The Sax Bandits DIVERSION: The Jericho Tavern – And for Captain Kuppa T & the Zeppelin Crew and Three – Third and final part of Daisy Rodgers Music’s acts should be worth paying attention to. join forces with fellow sax ensembles to present a anyone less than thrilled by Christmas carols and Idle Women, plus theremin player Charlie Draper. rd tenth anniversary gig triptych finds the long-running Particularly Beabadoobee (pictured), the Tuesday 3 50-strong sax band playing Christmas tunes at the supermarket aisles full of tat and chocolate oranges, KIM LOWRINGS & THE GREENWOODS All Tamara’s Parties provides some suitably indie gig night moving to The Port Mahon in the fresh-faced but already prolific musical alias start of the festive season. company of exuberant big beat indie-dance crew + JESS DISTILL: Quaker Meeting House – RIDE: Oxford unseasonal musical fun, with sets from host Tamara Original songs and traditional folk tunes from of Bea Kristi, whose early, lo-fi Soundcloud Parsons-Baker, who sits atop the end of year’s outings earned her several thousand fans and nd Stourbridge’s Kim Lowrings and chums MONDAY 2 th Town Hall Nightshift Top 25 this month with her band Death Wednesday 4 BRICKWORK LIZARDS: St Giles Church has since released a string of great singles and JAMES ARTHUR ACOUSTIC: O2 Academy – What a few years it’s been for Ride since they of the Maiden, and Catgod’s Robin Christensen- The local Arabic and Turkish-infused jazz, hip EPs harking back to 90s indie acts like Lush The 2012 X Factor winner plays an acoustic show – reformed at the end of 2014, re-establishing Marriott, plus full band sets from Nightshift SOEUR: hop, folk and rock ensemble bring their mix of and Belly – dreamy, shimmering, almost folky in the wake of the release of his third album, ‘You’, themselves as one of UK indie’s best bands Introducing stars Ideal Marriage, and Crandle. atmospheric Mediterranean instrumentals and songs indie-pop – but with an occasional which was beaten to the Number 1 spot by Foals. with an influence and popularity that spreads MAX BLOOM + TOOTHPASTE + POST The Wheatsheaf to Jazz at st Giles. edge, as on the excellently-titled ‘I Wish I Was THE TRIALS OF CATO: Nettlebed Folk Club – around the globe. This year’s ‘This Is Not LOUIS: The Library – Yuck singer and guitarist It’s almost a foundation rule of rock and Stephen Malkmus’. Bea is joined on the road Nettlebed’s legendary folk club plays host to one of DAMN GOOD REASON: Fat Lil’s, Witney – a Safe Place’ – their second album since Max Bloom brings his new band to town, touring roll that any band inspired by Pixies will Heavy rock covers. by No Rome – aka Rome Gomez’; mixing up reforming – went Top 10 and is their best the rising stars of the UK folk scene – Anglo-Welsh new single ‘Bottle’ ahead of a full album next year, by and large be ten times better than any electro-pop, indie and airy r’n’b, he’s probably trio Trials of Cato, formed in Beirut and bringing body of work since ‘’, describing his new sound as ‘dadgaze’, a more band not inspired by Pixies. Bristol trio th best known for his collaboration with The mixing up featherlite shoegaze and dream-pop a bit of Middle Eastern flair to their political folk melancholic take on Yuck’s swooning My Bloody Soeur undoubtedly love a bit of Pixies and SUNDAY 8 1975, ‘Narcissist’, while the EP which it was on ‘Clouds of Saint Marie’ with the harsher, stories, taking inspiration from Oysterband, Seth Valentine/Dinosaur Jr/Smashing Pumpkins-inspired are, undeniably, great. The band are a taut, PUPPET MECHANIC + FIREGAZER + taken from, ‘RIP Indo Hisashi’, was produced darker, more electronic likes of ‘Repetition’. Lakeman and The Incredible String Band. indie noise. Fellow local shoegaze crew Toothpaste, abrasive grunged-up noise-pop machine, THE WHITE TIPS + PETE LOCK & MARK by Matt Healy and and George Daniel, and Live, though, is where Ride have always OPEN MIC: The Castle – Weekly open session. recent support to Slowdive, support. variously pissed-off, brooding and explosive, BOSLEY: The Wheatsheaf (3.30-7pm) – Klub is currently enjoying Youtube plays in the Kakofanney host a free afternoon of live music in worked best: ethereal, sugar-coated melodies SPIN with CHRIS ALLARD: The Wheatsheaf – but also rather poppy, thanks to singer and millions for singles like ‘Seventeen’ and the Sheaf’s downstairs bar with melancholic indie shrouded in dense, FX-heavy guitar noise, rd Jazz guitarist Allard returns to the Spin Club having guitarist Anya Pulver’s way with a great hook ‘Pink’. Completing the line-up is slacker-pop TUESDAY 3 crew Puppet Mechanic plus atmospheric folk from smoke and strobe lighting. Already this year RIDE: Oxford Town Hall – Homecoming show previously played in Russell Watson’s band on tour. and sweet’n’snarly voice. The influences man Oscar Lang, whose hazy, psych-inflected Firegazer. the band have toured Australia and New for the pioneering indie heroes – see main preview CATWEAZLE: East Oxford Community Centre of Nirvana, Hole, PJ Harvey and Smashing pop owes a debt to Mac Demarco. DWEEZIL ZAPPA: The New Theatre – Frank’s Zealand as well as The States, places where ANDY VAIC: The Bullingdon – Lithuanian – Oxford’s longest running open night continues Pumpkins are also plain to see, and hear, but lad continues to keep his dad’s music and legacy their pioneering sound is perhaps even more singer- Andy launches his new single, to showcase singers, musicians, poets, storytellers, there’s also something of Shellac’s militant, alive, tonight celebrating the 50th anniversary of th revered than here, but this homecoming show ‘Why Why Why’. performance artists and more every Thursday. sheet metal noise in Pulver’s guitar play. MONDAY 9 the seminal ‘Hot Rats’, performing the album – at a venue where they played one of their FLUORESCENT YOUTH: The Bullingdon – Soeur’s gig in Oxford back in January this BEABADOOBEE + NO ROME + OSCAR THE SANDY DENNY PROJECT: The Unicorn, released the year Dweezil was born and dedicated Indie rock club night. year saw some full-on axe hero, hair metal LANG: The Bullingdon – Dirty Hit present a earliest Oxford headline gigs will doubtless Abingdon – Tribute to legendary singer Denny. to him – in its entirety alongside other cuts from histrionics at times with songs fired out sugar showcase tour of their new generation of stars-in- see Andy, Mark, Steve and Loz afforded the EILEN JEWELL BAND: The Jericho Tavern Frank’s enduringly eclectic catalogue. – Heady, atmospheric blend of Americana, th sweet but with serious grunge bite, teetering on waiting – see main preview heroes’ welcome they deserve. Radiohead and FRIDAY 6 IN DEPTHS + DEPRAVITY + LEST WE country, folk, blues, gospel and rockabilly from the edge of hysteria in the way Pixies managed EMELI SANDÉ: The New Theatre – The Foals might have sold more records in their LOW ISLAND: The Bullingdon – November’s FORGET + THE FINAL CLAUSE OF Idaho songstress Jewell at tonight’s Empty Room Scottish-via- soul soprano tours her time but Ride remain the godfathers of Oxford so adeptly. Sharp, succinct harmonies between TACITUS: The Bullingdon – Dancing Man Nightshift cover stars return for a hometown third album, ‘Real Life’, the follow-up to 2016’s music’s international success and over two Promotions show, the singer having been regularly Tina Maynard and Anya Pulver give the band hosts his own Christmas rock party, in the suitably headline show, coming to the end of a full UK tour post-break-up confessional ‘’, decades after it all seemed to have been lost compared to Loretta Lynn, who she has extensively an almost folky edge at times, though Nirvana’s heavy-duty company of Chester’s In Depths, back to promote new EP ‘Shut Out the Sun’, examining which itself was the follow-up to her all-conquering forever, it’s great to see them not just back in covered and performed with, as well as sharing rock and roll wrecking ball is where the trio’s in action after signing up a new lead singer, having humanity’s increasingly toxic relationship with debut ‘’, the multi-platinum- action, but back on the very top of their game. stages with Lucinda Williams, Mavis Staples, heart lies. Tonight’s gig is the last date on a tour previously supported Sikth, Bury Tomorrow and technology and social media, but to the soundtrack seller that was the biggest-selling album of the Wanda Jackson and Emmylou Harris over a ten- to promote new EP ‘No Show’. “I don’t want to Hacktivist and set to release a new single ‘Devil of club-friendly electro-pop and house. year in 2012. From her early breakthrough hits year career. She’s back in the UK to promote new fight anymore” hollers Pulver on Soeur’s early in the Deep’. They’re joined by Essex’s heavy THE HAUS PARTY: The Bullingdon – Techno, with Chipmunk and , Sandé’s gone on to win album ‘Gypsy’, adding elements of gypsy jazz to single ‘Fight’, but here’s a band who could take hardcore crew Depravity, local tech-metallers Lest house and disco club night. numerous BRITs, perform at the Olympics opening her old time country style. on all comers. We Forget and Reading’s funk and rap-metal people GENTLEMAN’S DUB CLUB: O2 Academy ceremony and collaborate with a host of fellow Final Clause of Tacitus. – Leeds’ livewire roots reggae, ska, rock and A-listers, earning an MBE and chancellorship of th PETER KNIGHT & JOHN SPIERS: Holywell WEDNESDAY 4 dub collective bring the party back to town after Sunderland University along the way. SOEUR + WATERFOOLS + CIVIL VILLAINS: their show here last year, the band having spent Music Room – A rare coming together of two of OXFORD CLASSIC JAZZ: Harcourt Arms – Grunged-up noise-pop from the English folk music’s most revered and talented The Wheatsheaf – the summer doing the festival circuit and having Classic jazz and ragtime from the local ensemble. rising Bristol trio – see main preview previously played alongside Madness, Roots players – first seen at 2016’s Folkeast Festival: OPEN MIC: Rose Hill Community Centre TEMPLE FUNK COLLECTIVE: The Manuva, The Streets and The Wailers. former Steeleye Span violinist Knight and ex- OPEN MIC: The Castle Bullingdon – Return to action for the New Orleans- PEARL JAM UK: O2 Academy – Tribute to Bellowhead melodeon player Spiers play a seasonal style eight-piece brass band, taking their cue from Eddie Vedder’s grunge rock heroes. show of carols, tunes and wassails from the English th the Louisiana legends and adding gypsy dance, KLUB KAKOFANNEY with CATGOD + folk tradition and beyond. TUESDAY 10 jungle and hip hop into the fun gumbo. ADAM & ELVIS + THIRD LUNG: The OPEN MIC NIGHT: The Harcourt Arms PICTISH TRAIL: The Wheatsheaf – Johnny SNAZZBACK + THEO: Tap Social – Upcycled Wheatsheaf – KK’s monthly party night welcomes FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon Lynch brings the siren sound of Scottish indie back from Indiana Dave & The Raiders, Tom Ivey and Dress Party and math-rock inflected lo-fi crew more, plus there is an open Afrobeat workshop at and recent Nightshift cover stars Little Brother Richard Brotherton. Spank Hair. Proceeds go to homeless charity Crisis. the venue at 4pm. Eli host their own Christmas ho-down, mixing up THE OXFORD BEATLES: Harcourt Arms – PYT: The Bullingdon – Disco, funk and soul night. funky electro-pop with disco vibes and some of that FRIDAY 13th Beatles classics. ALF LAILA: Harcourt Arms – Folk and good old rocking blues. Americana covers. RAZORLIGHT: O2 Academy – Back in Oxford ROMANCE AND PASSION IN JAZZ: St Giles GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with GHOSTS so soon after playing at The New Theatre with Church – This year’s Jazz at St Giles season comes DIRTY EARTH BAND: Fat Lil’s, Witney – IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS + GRUDGEWOOD hits ‘Local Boy in the Photograph’ and ‘Mr Wri... to a close with a concert by Italian alto saxophonist Rock, pop and indie covers. + CIPHERS + MY CROOKED TEETH: The what’s that? Wrong band? Well, which one is this Tommaso Starace and pianist Michele di Toro, Wheatsheaf – GTI celebrate Christmas by bringing then? ‘America’? Oh yeah, that lot. Thought that alongside Russian bass player Yuri Goubelev. SATURDAY 21st back four of their favourite alumni, with elegant, cinematic instrumental post-rock in the vein of was The Fratellis. Or are we thinking of Scouting THE PETE FRYER BAND: Cricketers Arms LUCY LEAVE + ROBINPLAYSCHORDS Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky and Ride from For Girls? It’s the excitement you see – gets us all + DREAM PHONE: Oxford Deaf & Hard of th th Ghosts in the Photographs; rifftastic, prog-tinged th Tuesday 10 confused. So, yeah, Razorlight. They have a new SUNDAY 15 Hearing Centre (4-7pm) – Lunchtime For the Saturday 14 heaviosity from Grudgewood; gothic shoegaze- album out. It’s great. Not heard it but just bet it is. JOHN OTWAY: The Bullingdon – The Clown Wild Youth host their third all-ages matinee show, meets-stadium-sized soul-rocking from Ciphers and PICTISH TRAIL: BARNEY ARTIST: The Bullingdon – Prince of Pop returns once more, keeping it lunatic this time round with local jazz/grunge, post-punk JOHN BARROWMAN: Philosophical, downbeat, jazz-influenced hip and lively over 40 years since his one and only and wonk-pop stars Lucy Leave, taking inspiration romantic folk-pop in the vein of The Epstein and The Wheatsheaf hop from East London rapper Barney, out on major hit ‘Really Free’ – with Willy Barrett – for from Minutemen, Deerhoof, Robert Wyatt and Can, Stornoway from My Crooked Teeth. The New Theatre While Bon Iver is wont to write and record a headline tour to promote new EP ‘Bikes Are a typically madcap barrel through old faves like all set to release their second album, ‘Everyone is : The Bullingdon – Indie rock It’s nearly Christmas so indulge us for a songs in isolated cabins in the woods, Johnny Bikes’ following the acclaim afforded his ‘Home is ‘Beware of the Flowers Cause I’m Sure They’re Doing So Well’, on Divine Schism’s new label early from the Birmingham band. couple of hundred words if we deviate from Lynch prefers to hold up in a caravan on a Where the Art Is’ album, European tour with Tom Going to Get You Yeah’, ‘Bunsen Burner’ etc. next year. Leamington’s Robinplayschords, who has DAY OF THE DEADBEATS XII: Isis championing new bands and enjoy some The twelfth Deadbeats gathering Hebridean island to fully capture the romantic Misch and Glastonbury appearance. His thoughtful A GOSPEL CHRISTMAS: O2 Academy supported Alabaster dePlume, Thomas Truax and Farmhouse – unabashed showbiz fun. Festive-flavoured welcomes poptastic garage rockers The Other isolation of the human condition, something lyrical style and jazz-influenced backing has drawn ARCH GARRISON + EMILY JONES + Madonnatron along the way, supports, as do local fun at that as John Barrowman tours his new Dramas to the free party, bringing their spangled he does to routinely wonderful effect. King, comparisons to A Tribe Called Quest and The Roots HORSE: The Library – North Sea rock duo Dream Phone. ‘A Fabulous Christmas’ album, his first for summer punk-pop with them. Knights of Mentis who is Pictish Trail, has been part of the bricks as well as Kano and even Ghostpoet. Radio Orchestra’s Craig Fortnam sings songs about LITTLE BROTHER ELI + BETSY GOLD: O2 Decca, which finds him going the whole open the show. Hosts The Deadbeat Apostles and mortar of ’s ever fertile indie SOUL SISTA XMAS GROOVE: The Bullingdon Roman roads, ditches and mounds in his Arch Academy – Local funk and disco-infused rockers, Yuletide hog on ‘Sleigh Ride’; ‘Santa Calus headline proceedings with their earthy, party- music scene over the past decade and a half, – Classic Motown, funk, soul and disco at tonight’s Garrison incarnation. is Coming to Town’; ‘It’s the Most Wonderful hearty blend of soul, r’n’b, country and good old founding Fence Records alongside spiritual club night. OPEN MIC NIGHT: The Harcourt Arms Time of the Year’; ‘When a Child is Born’ rock’n’roll. kin King Creosote, before starting up Lost SHAVEN PRIMATES + OTTO + THE GREAT FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon Saturday 14th and ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ Map Records in 2013. Along the way he’s APE BAND: The Wheatsheaf – Riff-heavy prog THE MIGHTY REDOX: The Tree, Iffley BOTT & BURNS BY NIGHT with DR among others. Why do we care? Well, apart played as part of James Yorkston and Malcom rocking from Shaven Primates, channelling Tool, (4-6.30pm) – fun fusion of folk, blues, rock, LITTLE SIMZ: BANANA: The Bullingdon – Club night with the from enjoying a thirty-year career on stage and Middleton’s bands as well as being part of and Porcupine Tree in their dark psychedelia, ska and more from the local stalwarts. garage and 2-step DJ b2b Desert Sound Colony. screen, from Miss Saigon and The Phantom of

The Fence Collective and Silver Column and concept odysseys. CATGOD + ANDY ROBBINS + O2 Academy LACUNA COMMON: The Jericho Tavern – the Opera, to presenting myriad entertainment Spiky, snarly post-punk from the local rockers. regularly toured with KT Tunstall. Musically THE DOLLYMOPS + THE BARRATTS + BARLEYCORN: Abingdon Guildhall (2-5pm) – Perhaps it was inevitable that a person as shows and being a judge on Dancing on Ice, Motown and he’s eclectic – ranging from hushed electro- LUNA ROSA: The Port Mahon – Caustic, As part of Make Music Abingdon, artists perform famously introverted as Little Simz would PEPPERMINTS: Harcourt Arms – Barrowman is Captain Jack Harkness. Captain pop to Velvet Underground-inspired rock, but angular indie punk from The Dollymops, inspired and discuss their songs and the art of songwriting. struggle to get her name known in hip hop, but soul classics. Jack! The immortal Captain Jack and Face of is at his very best when playing it spectral by The Libertines and The Clash as well as 80s JAZZ AT THE ABINGDON: Abingdon Arms, with a Mercury nomination for third album OSPREY & CO’s CHRISTMAS PARTY: The Bo! The role which brought an entire Santa’s and romantic, singing of death and ghosts and pioneers like McCarthy and Big Flame, puncturing Beckley – Free live jazz. ‘Grey Area’ – musically as self assured as its Half Moon sack of charm and flamboyance to Doctor longing and evoking the stark natural beauty middle class revolutionary posturing on the likes of creator is unassuming – the singer/rapper/ Who when it first rebooted under long-time nd of Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. In a ‘Plastic Proletariat as well as dealing with mental MONDAY 16th poet born Simbi Ajikawo is finally getting SUNDAY 22 chum Russell T Davies, as well as earning health issues on new single ‘Lunacy Racket’. world that rewards safety in music, Lynch ST AGNES FOUNTAIN: Nettlebed Folk Club – her dues. ‘Grey Area’ is the culmination of MONKEY FISTS + MARK ATHERTON & himself his own spin-off, Torchwood. So, is probably too wayward to ever achieve the Support at tonight’s “Fairytale of Oxford” comes Folk songs with a festive leaning from Chris While, everything she’s promised on previous albums FRIENDS + TONY BATEY & SAL MOORE + yeah, John Barrowman: total star. Couple of mass audience he deserves, but it means those from Northampton’s indie rockers The Barratts and Julie Mathews, Chris Leslie and . and EPs: musically playful and adventurous, ENJOYABLE LISTENS: The Wheatsheaf (3.30- glasses of mulled wine and a set of classic in the know can continue to enjoy his magic Corby rockers Luna Rosa. lyrically fiery, militant, vulnerable and 7pm) – Klub Kakofanney host a free afternoon of festive faves sung by Captain Jack? That shouts THE PETE FRYER BAND: Rose Hill live music in the Sheaf’s downstairs bar. touch in intimate surroundings like this. th humorous. Hailed by , touring “Christmas!” as loudly as Noddy Holder or Community Centre – Rock and blues classics TUESDAY 17 with and Nas, collaborating with OPEN MIC NIGHT: The Harcourt Arms any Victorian-themed Doctor Who special. to town – see main preview from the veteran local singer and guitarist and band. OXFORD IMPROVISERS: The Old Fire Gorillaz and Liane la Havas, Little Simz SUNDAY SOCIAL: The Half Moon (3pm) - PLANET DURAN: Fat Lil’s, Witney – Tribute to Station – A seasonal/unseasonal session from the Laidback Sunday live music session. INTRUSION: Cirkus – Monthly goth, industrial, maybe suffered from being just a bit too ahead th ebm and darkwave club night. the new romantic stars. local improv crew. of her time and therefore harder to pigeonhole FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon SATURDAY 28 but while she preceded much of what Cardi RAWDIO: The Bullingdon – Drum&bass and th jungle club night. th th WEDNESDAY 18 B, J Hus and Kojey Radical have gone on to rd WEDNESDAY 11 SATURDAY 14 MONDAY 23 SUNDAY SOCIAL: The Wheatsheaf (3.30pm) - JUNIPER NIGHTS + 31HOURS + JOELY enjoy success with, her time has definitely THE QUIREBOYS: O2 Academy – 90s glam LITTLE SIMZ: O2 Academy – The London NANG TUNES XMAS PARTY: The Bullingdon Free live music in the downstairs bar. rockers The Quireboys, still led by singer , singer, rapper and poet brings her new ‘Grey Area’ + MEGASLOTH: The Wheatsheaf – Dark- come. The likes of ‘Boss’ find her proclaiming – Hip hop, house and disco club night. album to town – see main preview hearted grunge and post-punk from Juniper Nights, “I’m a boss in a fucking dress!”, while PETE FRYER BAND: The Tree, Iffley (4- and once hailed as “The British Poison”, return to th town as they tour new album ‘Amazing Disgrace’. RHYMESKEEMZ: O2 Academy – Leading light alongside spangly, atmospheric electro-indie crew ‘Venom’ goes further: “They will never want 6.30pm) SUNDAY 29 JERICHO SINGERS: Harcourt Arms – of Oxford’s rap scene Rhymeskeemz brings his 31Hours, acoustic jazz-pop singer Joely and drama- to admit I’m the best here / For the mere fact OPEN MIC: The Castle OPEN MIC NIGHT: The Harcourt Arms Christmas carols. new band to the O2 stage for a Christmas party, his laden 80s-style synth-pop newcomers Megasloth. I’ve got ovaries”, while ‘101FM’ is simply FOLK SESSION: The Half Moon soulful take on East Coast hip hop having seen him one of the best tunes of the year. Conversely th th TUESDAY 24 share this stage with Lowkey previously. THURSDAY 19 she explores her insecurities, mental health th THURSDAY 12th REGGAE CHRISTMAS: The Bullingdon MONDAY 30 JOHN BARROWMAN: The New Theatre CATWEAZLE: East Oxford Community Centre issues and her own ambition in an unjust world, OPEN MIC: The Castle SPIN with GILAD ATZMON: The Wheatsheaf – Have yourselves a fabulous Christmas in the mixing up , poetry, , jazz and th – Return to the jazz club for renowned saxophonist th electro-pop. Now is Little Simz time but now company of Captain Jack – see main preview FRIDAY 20 WEDNESDAY 25 st and sometime Blockhead Atzmon, with a fluid and Whatever. TUESDAY 31 MOTHER + FLAT LAGER: The Wheatsheaf THE SHAPES + WONDERLAND + THE the word is fully out, tonight’s gig might soon versatile style. – Stadium-sized melodic grunge rocking from seem like an intimate show ahead of far bigger KLUB KAKOFANNEY NEW YEAR’S EVE CITIZENS CHRISTMAS CONCERT: OTHER DRAMAS: The Bullingdon – The PARTY with THE PETE FRYER BAND + THE Mother, currently recording their debut album, Shapes play their traditional Festive show, things, so get in while you have the chance. THURSDAY 26th Christchurch Cathedral – Benefit concert for mixing up Radiohead and Strokes-style alt.rocking MIGHTY REDOX + OSPREY & FRIENDS + Citizens Advice Oxford, featuring local a capella celebrating the end of a year that saw them release DEEP COVER: The Bullingdon – Boxing Day MARK ATHERTON: The Wheatsheaf – Never with a dash of almost Elvis-like theatricality. their debut full album, so expect a crowd-pleasing party for the hip hop and UK bass club night. group and BGT finalists Out of the Blue, as well as Rowdy noise in support from Flat Lager. ones to turn down the chance of a party, Klub comedy legend Rowan Atkinson. mix of nostalgia and politics to a soundtrack of THE PETE FRYER BAND: Seacourt Bridge Kakofanney dance into 2020 with veteran guitarist OLD SKOOL OXFORD: The Bullingdon 60s r’n’b, folk, new wave and punky soul, plus a Inn – Pete Fryer and chums play their traditional BASSFACE X SHOOK with DJ Q: The KERMES + JUNK WHALE + SUGAR RUSH and singer Pete Fryer, playing classic rock and Bullingdon – Garage and star, and part of rousing cover of ‘Fairytale of New York’. Reformed Botley Boxing Day show, with classic rock and blues, plus folk-ska-funk-blues-pop-psych faves The + FANCY DRESS PARTY + SPANK HAIR: gothic pop stars Wonderland support alongside blues covers. the TQD supergroup, DJ Q is the special guest at Fusion Arts – Joint Christmas party for DIY Mighty Redox and funky blues stalwart Osprey. tonight’s Bassface, alongside residents Burt Cope, shiny local garage-rock faves The Other Dramas. REGGAETRON NYE PARTY: The Bullingdon promoters Freak Scene and Snuggle Dice, with a BOSSAPHONIK with THE DELE SOSIMI th Jay Faded, JOCA and Ayzon. return to town for Leicester’s chaotic angst-core FRIDAY 27 – Puerto Rican hip hop and Latin American and CATWEAZLE: East Oxford Community Centre AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA: Cowley Workers PITCH BLACK: The Bullingdon – Techno club. Caribbean dance party tunes into 2020. crew Kermes, who released their ‘We Chose Pretty’ Social Club – The world jazz night hosts the REVEREND BLACK’S ACOUSTIC album earlier in the year. Local fuzzed-up emo CABARET: The Half Moon – Acoustic blues, Nigerian Afrobeat ensemble led by Fela Kuti band faves Junk Whale support alongside indie pop th country, folk and classic rock night with live sets member Dele Sosimi. Club host Dan Ofer spins Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion is the 20 of each month, no exceptions. people Sugar Rush, downbeat sulkwavers Fancy Latin dance, Afrobeat, Balkan beats, and Listings are copyright of Nightshift and may not be used without permission. SNARKY PUPPY LIVE O2 Academy Harcourt Arms As the stage lights melt from red to Design’ come around, everyone is blue to green, the faces they shine upon dancing in their element. It is clear that DECEMBER never change; every spectator witnessing their new album focuses on more of jazz-fusion collective Snarky Puppy a slow exploration of sludgy grooves grins from ear to ear for the duration of rather than the crazy licks they became 7th FBI their set. The band do a beautiful job of renowned for but this maturation is well- transcending the clichés when it comes received. 9th Classic Jazz to jazz fans: there is no one demographic The penultimate song, ‘Xavi’, comes with that stands out in the crowd, a testament one condition: when instructed, the left 11th JERICHO SINGERS to the versatility their music provides. side of the room are to clap three beats photo: Jason Warner @ Fyrefly Studios @ Fyrefly photo: Jason Warner The audience lie ardently in wait for per bar, while the right side are to clap Xmas Carols Snarky Puppy’s very first Oxford date in four beats per bar. To the room’s delight, their 15-year existence. Across those 15 bandleader Michael League tells us we 14th OXFORD BEATLES years approximately 50 different players have picked up the rhythm quicker than have performed in the band, with six of most other audiences, though his attempt 20th Alf Laila the members on their first studio album at making the play-along more intricate remaining in their current incarnation: has debatable success. When ‘Xavi’ is 21st Peppermints such rotation being necessary given their performed, the ten-minute behemoth of tendency to do extensive tours. Oxford a song allows for each member to get a lies at the back-end of a seven-month solo: their admiration for one another’s stint for new album ‘Immigrance’ but musical talent is palpable, with every Open Mic Every their energy does not falter. member getting visibly giddy when one of Sunday Having ascended to cult status, it’s the others nails their part and it’s hard not live music at the heart of jericho interesting to see how the band chooses to dance along with their delight. to split their set list, and they do well Coming back on to a rapturous plea for Cranham Terrace Jericho Oxford ox2 6dg to balance both old songs and new, an encore, ‘What About Me?’ finishes 01865 556669 displaying the efficacy of their rhythmic the night on a high. Everyone on the intelligence. ‘Kite’ begins the set, a song spectrum of “jazz fan” has played plucked from their 2014 album ‘We Like witness to a band that contains a crucible It Here’ that slowly oozes through brass of genres and influences so extensive it before tickling the crowd with the keys. can be hard to define, but that promises for ‘Gooey’, Bayley singing from with a euphoric ‘Agnes’ before ‘Chrysalis’, a more recent release, picks you one thing: if you’re here, you’re here GLASS ANIMALS atop The Bullingdon’s bar, holding returning for a stop-start but rousing up the pace significantly, and by the to groove. The Bullingdon aloft an inflatable palm tree that’s cover of Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’. time the scattered sounds of ‘Intelligent Amy Barker Tonight’s gig was never going to every onstage utterance, with equal been floating around the audience Before ‘Pork Soda’’s closing be anything less than a celebration. gusto for the duration of the gig. for most of the set. Even when machine funk blast, Bayley It’s always good to see local heroes Kicking off with brassy, hip hoppy they’re at their most introspective – introduces the band one by SNOW PATROL back in action but in Glass Animals’ new single ‘Tokyo Drifting’, Glass downbeat isn’t really an appropriate one. Joe’s name is last and he, case it’s doubly pleasing given Animals show no signs of rustiness description for a band who seem to appropriately, gets the biggest The New Theatre sense of humour, while his dedication to drummer Joe Seaward’s horrific across an hour-and-a-bit set that’s exist in a permanent fug of woozy cheer of the night, on a night when Familiarity, they say, breeds contempt. his late grandmother is genuinely moving. accident in July 2018 that left him infused with a hazy, upbeat energy stoner good vibes – Glass Animals we remember what we’ve been Which might explain the opprobrium often The folky ‘Take Back the City’ ends the hospitalized with brain injuries and and a sense of triumph. ‘Life feel like perfect party hosts, who missing in Glass Animals’ absence, afforded Snow Patrol. ‘Chasing Cars’ is section on a high and sets the scene for the the real fear he might never play Itself’ unsurprisingly gets the room only want you to have the best time. and what we could so easily have officially the most played song on the st second half. again. moving early on – an irresistible Another new song, ‘Palm Mute’, lost for good. An intimate, sold-out radio of the 21 Century, so maybe some ‘Time Won’t Go Slowly’ might be a So the huge cheer that erupts bubble of afrobeats and electro- cranks up that party vibe, sounding gig in front of a seriously fanatical folks feel they can’t get away from the slightly mawkish ballad to restart with when the quartet emerge onstage is pop; ‘Black Mambo’ is rinky dink like a J-funk take on Britney’s hometown crowd: it’s the best band. but ‘Run’ is, predictably, an audience- genuinely moving (“it’s good to be slinky and alongside ‘Hazey’ there’s ‘Toxic’, before the familiar vintage comeback any band could hope That familiarity might also explain why rousing anthem, a packed crowd singing back!” exclaims Dave Bayley to an a hint or two of Depeche Mode in Super Mario bleeps and bloops of for. Welcome back boys; seriously, the band have decided to mark their th pretty much the entire song to the even bigger cheer), and the packed the mix we’d not noticed before. ‘Season 2 Episode 3’ brings the welcome back. 25 anniversary with a Snow Patrol obvious delight of Lightbody, but set throng proceed to salute every song, They go the full stadium rock disco fidget and they close the main set Dale Kattack Reworked album and tour (though no- one’s expecting a set of industrial hardcore high point is ‘Set the Fire to the Third remixes). With the band backed by a Bar’, originally recorded with Martha spirit to proceedings. The Norwich duo’s ability to make you feel like string quartet and horn section, tonight’s Wainwright but losing nothing in tonight’s SINK YA TEETH / TIGER MENDOZA you’re having a good time while nervous self doubt permeates so much show is split into two parts: the first more elegant rendition. ‘Shut Your Eyes’ too / MEANS OF PRODUCTION of their material is a rare gift, not least on ‘The Law’, the closing track on downbeat and orchestral, the second the is a reminder that Snow Patrol are huge their debut album. ‘Glass’ is a glorious slice of Moroder-inspired electro- full-on hits package. Opener ‘Dark Roman because, quite simply, they’re capable of Fusion Arts disco that morphs seamlessly into Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ and Wine’ perhaps displays the overly earnest writing some seriously brilliant songs. Metronomic monochrome monotony as an art form from Means of you’re too busy dancing to notice the darkness at its heart. That balance side of the band and ‘New York’ similarly ‘Chasing Cars’ is indisputably one of those. Production, the duo opening a show where all three acts draw strongly hits its peak with the simply sublime ‘If You See Me’ – simultaneously seems to be an exercise in lyrical pathos Maybe you’ve heard it too many times, but on influences from the past, yet still sound like music from the future. In a comfortingly dubbed-out groove-led gem with easy feline grace that with little substance, but in between these no-one here tonight seems disappointed to MOP’s case those influences take in the post-punk, early synth-pop sounds masks the uncertainty and isolation of mental illness, Maria Uzor’s voice two we get ‘You’re All I Have’ – an early get another chance as it brings the house of 1970s industrial decay, with ‘The Depths’ and ‘Recogniser’ the android sleek and soulful yet brilliantly detached. demonstration of Snow Patrol’s way with down, and ‘Just Say Yes’ closes the show in offspring of The Human League, Cabaret Voltaire and Depeche Mode. Uzor and musical partner Gemma Cullingford are easy company: clearly euphoric melancholy. suitably celebratory style. Eerie atmospheric guiar and deep, dark synth dirges from Tiger enjoying touring their music, joking about going a bit Status Quo at one The rest of the early set is similarly Snow Patrol didn’t reinvent the musical Mendoza, tonight playing a solo set, but utilising samples of regular point and properly getting their funk on on a number that shares some mixed, with a feeling the expansive wheel, and never claimed to, but having vocal contributor Asher Dust, notably on new single ‘The Myth of DNA with ESG and Liquid Liquid. ‘Substitutes’ though is a suitably line-up isn’t reflected in the sound we’re recognised the wheel was a pretty decent Failing Fast’. Fidgety hip hop mingles with Deftones riffage and drones harsh set closer – darker, almost industrial, those post-punk roots even hearing, but Gary Lightbody reveals design classic, they’ve made their own and even moments of haunting for a set that rests on the more in evidence but, like musical cousins Ladytron, sounding like the himself as a great frontman, possessed of ride as easy and often exhilarating as unnerving side of ambient. band are beaming in from a distant galaxy a hundred years from now. a voice that marks him out as the Irish Jeff possible. Sink Ya Teeth bring the pop and the funk, the disco and the sparky punk Dale Kattack Buckley, and a fantastic, self-deprecating Sue Foreman JOHN BODEN & THE REMNANT KINGS LIVE The Bullingdon Jon Boden has been one of folk music’s tragic shipwreck with a sub-text about most innovative and boldest sons over the the redemptive power of singing together. last two decades. He was a founder and Boden does this brilliantly: his gestures as frontman of the genre defying Bellowhead well as his distinctive voice conveying the and his solo work includes the madness of drama. releasing a folk song a day for a year as The dark ‘Going Down to the Wasteland’ well as two albums, ‘From the Flood Plain’ is an early second set highlight with the and ‘Afterglow’, part of a trilogy, yet to be band’s harmonies at their best and Sartin’s completed, set in a post apocalyptic world oboe highly mysterious. The traditional brought about by environmental disaster. ‘Seven Bonnie Gypsies’ is often a romp photo: Jason Warner @ Fyrefly Studios @ Fyrefly photo: Jason Warner Boden tells us that his career now consists but the version here is sad, lending a new two very separate paths: performing perspective on the song rather as Lankum versions of traditional songs and writing did here a few nights earlier with their post-apocalyptic concept albums and version of ‘The Wild Rover’. Nearly all tonight he takes us along both, helped by the band are multi instrumentalists so the five-strong Remnant Kings who are sometimes there are three concertinas some of folk’s finest players, plus a couple playing together or three fiddles or four more band members: two wax cylinder guitars, but for the cover of Kate Bush’s phonographs who open the gig with a wax ‘Hounds of Love’ we get six concertinas cylinder version of ‘Heard It Through plus wax cylinder effects; it’s a wonderful The Grapevine’ and feed in sound effects instance of Boden’s musical imagination throughout, including, during the interval, a that’s so perfectly complements the lyrics version of Bowie’s ‘Starman’. that you wonder how it could ever been It’s a surprise to discover the Bully laid out done differently. With ‘Beating the Bounds’ with rows of chairs, maybe because tonight Boden takes a satirical swipe at folk is an intimate warm-up gig for a main tour. conventions. A lilting waltz is followed by After a low-key beginning with a Ewan the menacingly heavy march of ‘When the McColl love song that is really a love song Walls Come Tumbling Down’, reminiscent to London, Boden and band hit their stride of the march of the German armies with the Americana-influenced opening Shostakovich’s 7th symphony. Ox3 Audio number from ‘From the Flood Plain’. Ten The encore, tumultuous folk rocker ‘All WONDERLAND What follows is probably the sprinkled like bright diamonds years on from this album, for which Boden Hang Down’, brings both strands of Audio & Sound Engineer Hire most satisfying hour of local across the set, while fresh songs played all the parts, the band make every Boden’s world together with apocalyptic music we’ve had the pleasure of ‘Ghosts’ and ‘Somewhere Higher number from it sound much richer. verses and a traditional chorus that the Events, Festivals, Bands, Weddings The Port Mahon call or email Spike for a quote Billed ominously as a “new Evanescence’s commercial nu-goth spilling out into the cool night Than The Bright Sun’, due to The band are highly flexible; the interplay audience sings so well that Boden might material launch” rather than a hadn’t yet coated everything with air from. The unsettling pre- appear on a 2020 EP, equal them of Ben Nicholls’ pounding bass and Paul want them along on the main tour. Even 07752 887737 cosy twenty year reunion, we its Buffy gloop. More bewildering gig rumours of a “less fluffy” in brilliance. ‘Crushed’ is given the Sartin’s oboe create an Elizabethan heavy if he can’t fit them into his pocket, on the approached tonight’s gig with than their demise was what approach are indeed true and heavy Gibson Les Paul treatment; metal vibe for ‘Moths in the Gaslight’ evidence of tonight’s show Jon Boden [email protected] trepidation, not knowing if we happened to their rainbow crock surface most notably in ‘We ‘Die Tomorrow’ continues their and they end the first set with a long and The Remnant Kings look set fair for a might, as big Wonderland fans of golden songs that vanished Never Fall’, a powerful Middle love affair with all things Cure, and ballad which tells a story: fast becoming highly successful stint on the road. first time round, be tamping with them around the Millennium, Eastern riffola that feels like overall there is a warm feeling that a Boden trademark. This one is about a Colin May down the earth on their grave with just demo cassettes prized Kasabian’s ‘Switchblade Smiles’ while it is a delicate and treacherous with a shovel or glorying in their like religious relics in some lucky rewritten for Natasha Atlas. But tight-rope they cross, creative resurrection. adherent’s loft. Well, breathe easy: happily these weighty workouts wisdom has won out over play-safe ALASKALASKA Back in the mid-late 90s they live! In the sold-out shoebox deftly complement the classic nostalgia. Wonderland were the cream; of the Port the seemingly ageless Wonderland shimmering sound that So if you’ve ever wondered what The Jericho Tavern on any given day they could band immediately hatch out new they’ve brought with them through happened to Wonderland, then When I first heard of ALASKALASKA, it emphasising the band’s desire that you out-Sunday the Sundays, bring single ‘Big Universe’ in their star- the time-tunnel. wonder no more, or at least just go was because the Spotify deities had decided do just the opposite. From the sharpness lyrical coherence to a Cocteau spangled manner and all is right in Oldies like ‘Aspirin Doctor’, ‘Fall and wonder at them. to grace my usually mediocre ‘Discover of vocals from Duarte-Holman, to the Twins devotee and the oil slick of the world again. Down’, and ‘Hypnotic’ are Paul Carrera Weekly’ playlist with the first single of textural layering of heavy saxophone and their debut album. ‘Moon’ was everything hazey riffs, ALASKALASKA remain I wanted the algorithm to think I was: cool, unpredictable in the most delightful MELT BANANA / SCRAP BRAIN / UNMAN experimental, dark and deliberate. way, their sonic journey unfolding before Armed with a kaleidoscope of sounds, the us. The Wheatsheaf London-based six piece flaunt the brilliance While Duarte-Holman speaks little and Noise, once sang, annoys. But, as the message of that punk duo open with a rabid squall and don’t let up for an hour: Yasuko Onuki’s of their collaboration: half of the band admits to being bad at the whole “stage classic had it, noise can be exhilarating and those who flee from it are breakneck yap coupled with Ichirou Agata’s techno-grind guitar scree is met on a course at Goldsmiths talk weirdness,” she uses what few words doomed to live sad, sheltered lives. uncompromising in the extreme but backed with digital beats it takes on University, while the other came from the are spoken to ask people to vote; when Tonight’s Divine Schism gig has noise to spare. Openers Unman are the an inhuman relentlessness. At their most melodic (it’s highly relative) jazz scene. What emerges are ethereal and someone in the crowd yells “Boris!” she place where jazz improv meets all-out noise rock: electronic squeals, Melt Banana might be Bow Wow Wow’s ‘C30, C60, C90, Go!’ getting vibrant bops underscored by contrasting insists she doesn’t want to instruct people human screams, foghorn sax skronks, metallic guitar noise and frenetic but wrecked by The Locust and Atari Teenage Riot, but a sequence of short, influences that ebb and flow through their who to vote for, merely to vote. She ends meticulous drumming all add up to thirty minutes of immersive, dissonant sharp new numbers midway through the set is closer to having a pack of set list. Over the course of this year we by saying the music speaks for itself, and splendour, all plateaux and crescendos, reminiscent of Faust at their most rabid Chihuahuas performing cranial surgery on you with power drills have seen more and more artists rejecting the underlying political tone of many challenging. and a pavement saw. There is no respite: sonic punishment is heaped on the basic concept of genre, but few live up ALASKALASKA songs would indicate Scrap Brain’s cacophonous punk is a very different but equally powerful sonic punishment, the pair taking the idea of music to some far-out logical to such a promise. such: the song ‘Bees’ features lines such beast: four-to-the-floor punk full of invective, like the militant output of conclusion and you start to imagine what it must be like to be trapped in Fortunately, ALASKALASKA succeed as “It’s a shark’s den, workin’ for the Great Crass and Corpus Christi Records updated for the 21st Century with extra a boil wash spin cycle inside a working jet engine. By the end of the set in defying such labels, a notion that is White, man” and “I’ve got questions for noise and venom: Fatal Microbes with added grind. We do a quick finger there’s smoke coming out of the PA; Melt Banana have pushed it to its crystallised in their song ‘Meateater’, the politicians”; it’s not hard to see to see count and conclude that the number of punches Scrap Brain pull across limits. Thankfully there’s no lasting damage done, but for the rest of us where singer and multi-instrumentalist political and social frustration amid their their short set is precisely zero. here, things will never be quite the same again. Lucinda Duarte-Holman croons “Put dynamic danceability. Melt Banana, though, are on another level of noise altogether. The Tokyo Dale Kattack me in this box like you always do,” Amy Barker GHOSTS IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS LIVE / MASTER OF NONE / CIPHERS / BRUNO MUERTE The Library Everyone should love The Library. recordings they emerge more as a It’s so small you can’t help garage band with a lighter, more interacting with strangers and it often accessible feel. feels more like a party than a venue. Ciphers have an unashamedly goth All Will Be Well Records are a not- feel about them, a musical genre that for-profit label (aren’t they all these has hibernated since its 80s heyday

photo: Jason Warner @ Fyrefly Studios @ Fyrefly photo: Jason Warner days?) tonight hosting an evening of but never really gone away. Singer wonderfully diverse bands. Mila Todd throws everything As expected with an Oxford four- she’s got into her performance, band bill the first act trounce all emoting every line with a passion contenders. Bruno Muerte are duo that matches the music quite of Oxford-based Italians playing an nicely. There are also elements of eccentric mix of lo-fi electronics and prog but if you’re going to flout Ry Cooder-esque guitar picking that current musical trends you might as unexpectedly turns into metal-style well go all the way and you have to walls of noise. The fact that one of admire them for that as well as for a the guitars is homemade out of a seemingly total commitment to their cigar box comes as no surprise and craft. the crude 80s-like raw drum beats Headliners Ghosts in the only adds to their charm. Photographs seem to be everywhere Master of None on record are the these days. First impressions solo project of Ian Mitchell but live clearly lead to Mogwai, a band who they feature Shan Sriharan from promised a lot but somehow got Moogieman on bass plus a guitarist lost in hopeless self-indulgence, but playing a very hip vintage Burns perseverance leads us to find them and a great drummer. Mitchell playing with structure and melody sticks to vocal duties, his deep in a more understated and ultimately strong voice matching the dense, satisfying manner. Instrumental uncompromising music. Pleasingly bands who play with repeated motifs drunk Daft Punk jamming with difficult to categorise, there’s and go from quiet to very loud are PADDY STEER/ MANDRAKE HANDSHAKE Old Gregg, but it is never less elements of Suicide, The Velvet never going to please everyone than spell-binding. If some pieces Underground and even a touch of but there’s enough variety here to Tap Social Movement resemble a confused man in a Pulp. Stripped of the electronics and warrant further examination. While good bands can survive slowburns and they still have a man only let out after closing to catch Gallifreyan collar trying to invoke heavily layered production of their Art Lagun with awful names – Fuck Buttons? who looks like James Acaster in a scampering pamphlets, sitting the early 80s with barely recalled Prefab Sprout? The bloody Beatles? Grant Wood painting on tambourine amongst vast electronic devices that themes to Sorry, Roobarb and Kick – it’s always nice when saying the and unsettling falsetto. Some of their couldn’t look more home-made if Start played on broken machinery, FRIENDLY FIRES name out loud doesn’t make you early furry freak bothering has been he’d glued macaroni to the edges. well, perhaps that’s exactly what want to immediately apologise, or judiciously pruned, and they now Musically it’s also a slapdash they are, but whether the drastic O2 Academy change your entire social circle out ride gloriously sleek, machine-oiled bricolage, fat Egyptian Lover envelopes applied to sequenced After the touring cycle for 2011’s the original’s era by retaining its of shame. For this reason, we are psych grooves into the sunset, like basslines snaking through Jean riffs and sudden spasms of spring ‘Pala’, Friendly Fires took some repetitive squelchy bass and club glad that one of the most interesting Stereolab with the Marxism and Jacques Perrey bloop-showers whilst reverb are uncontrolled or artfully time off – which became a long vibe but the stand-out new track is Specialist practical and emotional Oxford bands to arise in the last Cluster replaced by mescaline and floppy, funky drums try vainly to assembled it’s a trip. Join us in hiatus. In the late 2000s and early ‘Run the Wild Flowers’ – played for support for women and girls who year are no longer called (shudder) granola. hold things together. Sometimes it the crowd when he next comes 2010s they ostensibly occupied the first time live tonight – whose Knobblehead. Fortunately, the newly By contrast, Paddy Steer couldn’t sounds like three ‘Rockit’-era Herbie to town – we’ll be the ones in the the indie realm but made what was restrained and wistful introduction have experienced sexual violence christened Mandrake Handshake be messier, looking like a half-mad Hancocks obliviously occupying home-sculpted papier mache Metal realistically ; the scene builds into a gorgeously busy are still an expansive, ramshackle shaman mage who is kept in the the same point in space time, and Mickey head-dress. transformed in their absence, so their and layered chorus (“hyperreal, at any time in their lives. collective with a fine line in hypnotic basement of Flourish & Blotts and sometimes it sounds like a half David Murphy reappearance in 2018 with the single hypercolour”). ‘Love Like Waves’ was reassuring – The atmosphere here tonight is the same tropical, rambling, slightly party-like, with the crowd’s urge Telephone helpline LANKUM greater heights – or darker depths – while further confirming those Velvet psychedelic electronic formula but to dance at times overpowering Underground and Nico comparisons. no less fitting or out of place than their desire to watch, and with Ed 01865 726295 or Freephone 0800 783 6294 The Bullingdon It comes into its best on a simply astonishing take on ‘Katie Cruel’, Peat their first two albums were. disappearing off stage and heading • Monday 6.30pm – 9pm Steeped in the songs and stories of their native Ireland, Dublin’s Lankum again bringing out the bitter gothic desolation of the song. The song is the Tonight’s gig is a late addition into the audience on occasion. • Thursday 6.30pm – 9pm have as much in common with The Velvet Underground as they do the centrepiece of Lankum’s most recent album, ‘The Livelong Day’, which to the start of their sold-out UK Seeing Friendly Fires live is the best country’s more traditional folk music. has rightly been picking up five-star reviews across the board, was voted mini-tour in support of this year’s way to appreciate just how much • Sunday 6pm – 8.30pm That much is apparent from tonight’s opening number – a take on ‘The MOJO’s folk album of the year and must surely be up for a Mercury ‘Inflorescent’ album and as such is going on and how many parts We have a 24-hour answerphone, and if you leave us Wild Rover’ that recognises the darkness beneath its cosy homecoming, Prize nomination next time round. It’s a slightly older song that provides the setlist draws largely from it. make up every song: the myriad of a message we can call you back the next time we are open. the song turned into a nine-minute melancholic dirge with the spirit of tonight’s high point though: ‘The Granite Gaze’ from 2017’s ‘Between the The blissed-out funk and disco of percussion serves everything from ‘Venus in Furs’ or Nico’s ‘The Marble Index’ running through its veins. Earth & Sky’ shows off Peat’s strange, haunting voice at its best: a lovely, ‘Offline’ has the same sort of upbeat the samba influences on ‘Jump in Email support The quartet can do an easier, more recognisable folk style of course: ‘Cold lilting folk song with an air of midnight devilry about it. optimism as ‘Pala’’s ‘Hawaiian the Pool’ to the jazzy scatting on the Old Fire’ is all rich vocal harmonies and a fiddle masterclass, but for much It’s worth pointing out that a Lankum gig isn’t just a showcase of musical Air’ and in the Disclosure- sunshine-drenched ‘Silhouettes’. [email protected] of tonight’s superb set you can understand why they recall their last visit to bleakness: they’re a rousing bunch once they fire up the old fiddle tunes, assisted ‘Heaven Let Me In’, Ed For me, however, the best thing town, at the North Wall, with its more staid audience, with little fondness. properly funny as they trade easy banter and as warm and welcoming as Macfarlane’s voice floats delicately about seeing Friendly Fires live is www.osarcc.org.uk Tonight’s packed crowd are far more on message, even if the seated quartet any pub hearth, but their darker deviations mark them out as the finest folk over tight house beats and Daft their palpable energy – especially Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre is a company limited by guarantee, are barely visible to anyone more than a few rows back. In fact Radie Peat act around right now, and tonight’s Divine Schism audience provide the Punk-esque orchestral cuts. Their Ed’s seemingly uninhibited dancing registered in & Wales No: 6835605.Registered Charity No: 1131054. spends much of the show on the floor, conjuring bleak, beautiful drones open-minded reception they perhaps missed out on last time in town. cover of the 1988 acid house track – and passion. from her harmonium – and instrument that elevates Lankum’s music to Dale Kattack ‘Lack of Love’ pays homage to Kirsten Etheridge TIM TURAN’S SESSION NOTES Part Eleven have to be able to identify INTRODUCING.... any faults. I mentioned Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local music bubbling under “Mastering” (part 1: an introduction) this in an earlier article but this is really important. This month I want to introduce you to the “Dark Art” of Mastering. This of Clicks, pops, drop-outs, IDEAL MARRIAGE course is my absolute area of expertise, knowledge and experience. I often tell phase issues, glitches: my students that they should produce and engineer records for a decade or so you name it I’ve had Who are they? just to get to grips with all the different instruments, genres, equipment and it. If you can identify Indie rockers Ideal Marriage are Christian Johnstone (vocals); Danny general way that music is recorded and mixed. This will help enormously with these things you have a Crane-Brewer and Dave Freeman (guitars); Mike Bannard (bass and keys) your ability to identify all of the different sonic behaviours you are likely to chance to fix them. You and Simon Talbot (drums). Danny, Dave and Simon had previously played encounter whilst mastering tracks. Today’s mastering engineers have myriad can’t do anything about in bands together, including Lowws, and met Mike (who runs Safehouse tasks to perform in producing masters that not only sound fantastic but also them once the record is Studio) through mutual friends. Danny met Christian at a business meeting meet the demanding criteria of today’s different delivery platforms. shrinkwrapped and sat on where “we didn’t do any business and talked about music instead.” The band In the past mastering involved turning up to a cutting room with your tape a shelf in a record shop. have released two singles, ‘Better Now’ and ‘Errors’, with a third, ‘Dundee’, (¼ or ½ inch) and cutting the lacquer. The engineer would play the tape to released to raise money for the mental health charity Mind, on December 2nd. ascertain the loudest peaks and execute slight compression and/or equalisation Secondly, you will have to ascertain what platform What do they sound like? Their favourite other Oxfordshire act is: and then play back the tape and cut the lacquer, simple really. Languidly anthemic, funk-tinged indie rock that neatly hides its melodic and “Currently it has to be our friends Ghosts in the Photographs: they are super the music is destined for: CD, download, streaming, vinyl, cassette etc. Today, artists turn up with digital files of final mixes from the studio. These sonic power behind an easy elegance which allows songs to unfurl at their loud and atmospheric and manage to convey real emotion without vocals.” Once you know this you can decide on the process to deliver the audio. You are almost always stereo interleaved WAV files. One file that contains the own, occasionally glacial, pace, with the emphasis on space, atmosphere and will need to make copious notes on all aspects of this process in order to If they could only keep one album in the world, it would be: information for left and right channels. And here begins the ‘journey’ of intricate dynamics and with Christian Johnstone’s airy, free-ranging voice “‘Arc’ by Everything Everything. We love how inventive it is, whilst navigate your way through the job. These notes will ultimately provide all the achieving the optimum sound from these files using an enormous array of described as sounding like “ if he saw the best in people and maintaining great pop hooks.” answers to the questions that your client and the label may ask. You will also analogue and digital tools and techniques. went on country walks to talk to lambs and bunnies while wearing a daisy When is their next local gig and what can newcomers expect? have to be able to deal with record companies and their specific requirements chain crown instead of dwelling on mass extinction and existential pain.” “All Tamara’s Parties on the 5th December at The Jericho Tavern, which will for delivery. It all amounts to a lot of work and we haven’t even started to Now the “Dark Art” will be demystified. I don’t know how that phrase came What inspires them? also be the launch show for the ‘Dundee’ single. Expect a lot of guitar pedals, “tweeze” the sound yet. about but one thing is certain. It’s not “Dark”. “Art” definitely but not “Dark”. “Our relationships with the people in our lives and the world around a lot of volume and Christian launching himself around the stage. Our live It’s not an evil process and I’m not a magician. I’ve been mastering music us, especially in these fast changing social, political and technological show has recently been described as ‘Loud and Righteous’; we think that In nearly every case the buck stops with the mastering engineer. Mastering since 1974 when I was 14 years old, when I acquired a 12 band per channel times. We’re also hugely inspired by the process of making music itself: sounds about right.” is the FINAL process that the music undergoes before the shrinkwrap. Mix JVC SEA-70 graphic equaliser. In the late 70s I used to charge my friends 50p working through difficult musical moments to create something new feels Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: engineers have the opportunity to remix, even re-record if necessary, but once to copy their albums onto cassette via my equaliser because it made the sound amazing, as does playing the songs live to people.” “Our favourite thing is the sense of community you get in a small scene. Our it leaves the mastering studio the job is DONE. So, don’t fuck it up! Over the more appealing. This is obviously very basic but it is still the same process of Their career highlight so far: least favourite thing is the lack of parking; it makes loading into venues feel next few articles I will deal with the different aspects and workflows that I use getting something to sound better than it was. I produced albums (and still do to “Our second single ‘Errors’ won Nightshift track of the month which was an like a World’s Strongest Man event at times.” a lesser degree) for 20 years and finally graduated to mastering full time. to master. amazing surprise. Playing to 1,600 people in Bristol recently was a massive You might love them if you love: To date I have worked on over 18,000 titles in pretty much every genre and adrenaline rush.” Everything Everything; Foals; Foxing; Radiohead; The National; Wild So, what is mastering? To me it is trying to achieve the optimum sound from more besides. Luckily, ears don’t wear out so I’ve got quite a few years left And the lowlight: Beasts; Bon Iver; Death Cab for Cutie; Frightened Rabbit. the music presented to me. This involves “critical listening”. You have to be ahead of me. “Nothing noteworthy, yet. Our luck is bound to run out at some point, so Hear them here: able to see with your ears. This is harder than you think because you have to watch this space. We can’t wait.” soundcloud.com/idealmarriage / idealmarriage.bandcamp.com detach yourself from the music and concentrate on the sound. First of all you Next month I’ll take a look at the equipment you will need and the use thereof.

THIS MONTH IN OXFORD T H E W H E A T S H E A F Dr SHOTOVER: God Rest Ye Beery Gentlemen th ALL OUR YESTERDAYS MUSIC HISTORY Wednesday 4 December – 7:45pm Ah, there you are. Welcome to the East Indies Club bar. Pull up a pew and repeat after me: ‘There’s a terrific draught in here!’ Then buy beer. Mark Mulcahy and Suns of Arqua were doing The Wailers; Saw Doctors and Echo & the Lots of it. For everyone. After that, Newbie, you can join in with the 20 YEARS AGO If it’s December it must be that end-of-year Top their best to make it all a bit more bearable. Bunnymen (all at the O2) and Little Comets th latest craze sweeping the East Indies Club bar. [Drum roll]. Ladies and (The Bullingdon) were also in town. Thursday 5 December – 8pm 20 thing and back in 1999, Arthur Turner’s Swigs deeply from pint glass gentlemen - BEER ROCK! [ ]… So, we have Lovechild? found themselves topping the 10 YEARS AGO th BRAKSPEAR’S SISTER. We have 6XTC. We have ACE OF BASS (obviously). Friday 6 December – 7:45pm tree of Oxford tunes with their gorgeous and Was it really TEN years ago that The Original We have THE GREENE KINGS OF LEON. DR HOOK NORTON. FOUR 5 YEARS AGO uncharacteristically un-snarky ‘Black Heart Rabbit Foot Spasm Band made their debut on December 2014 saw Glass Animals topping TETLEY’S. TONY BANKS’S. WHITBREAD HOUSTON. TIMOTHY TAYLOR = Blue Morning’. Running them a close the cover of Nightshift? Seems it was. The band, Nightshift’s end of year Top 25 (there was so LANDLORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH. [Skiddy car-crash record-needle- th second were The Bigger the God with the Saturday 7 December 7:45pm still relative unknowns on the local scene had much great music about we’d had to expand the jumping noise]. What’s that Newbie? You don’t drink beer??? Good similarly gorgeous ‘Lullaby’, while other made their reputation with a riotous set at the Punt Top 20). Their song ‘Gooey’ triumphed over a God, man. Oh all right, let’s just slag off the Tory Party for a while. That’s names in the upper echelons were: The Klyvz earlier in the year and now talked about hiding all packed field and it’s great to see the band back in always a popular game here. Tell you what… if they don’t get back in (‘Saturday’); Paper Sun (‘Last Call’); Hester the Miles Davis CDs from HMV to stop people action after a painful, enforced hiatus. Coming th Tuesday 10 December – 7:45pm and Smegzit is cancelled… I will buy everyone in the place a round. Of Thrale (‘Happy Trails’); Camp Blackfoot buying them and being put off jazz for life, instead in as honourable runners-up were Maiians with CIDERS FROM MARS. Of ALCOPOPS STAPLES. Or even of SOFT MACHINE (‘Exorcismo di Paulo’)’ JOR (‘Distortion’); encouraging would-be jazz fans to discover their superb ‘Lemon’. The August List (‘Wooden th Thursday 12 December – 8pm DRINKS. Cheers! Down the multi-coloured hatch! Supergrass (‘Pumping on Your Stereo’); Ivy’s Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Jabbo Smith. Trunk Blues’); Spring Offensive (‘Hengelo’); Next month: Happy Xmas (Tories Over) (If You Want It) Itch (‘Shirley’s Head’) and Marine Research “The people of Oxford never got their jazz riot,” Jess Hall (‘Sea Song’); Vienna Ditto (‘Feeling th (‘Parallel Horizontal’), with Die Pretty; The Friday 13 December – 7:45pm declared band leader Stuart MacBeth. “They had Good’); Candy Says (‘Hummingbird’); Rawz Workhouse; Overground; Mindsurfer; Idiot to wait for The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm band (‘Mary Lamb’); Balloon Ascents (‘Cutout’) Sa Vants; Dustball; Lab 4; The Four Storeys; to come and shake it up for them.” and Mother Corona (‘Black Acid Morning’) Canola and Kamikaze Kittens also in the mix. th On the end of year Top 20 front, the divine ‘The made up the rest of the Top 10, with entries for Saturday 14 December 7:45pm Among the local releases this month were The Coldharbour Road’ by Stornoway sat proudly Liu Bei; Tiger Mendoza; Philip Selway; Ags Bigger the God’s second album, ‘...And the th at the pinnacle, with Borderville’s ‘Flights’, the Connolly; Undersmile; Hannah Bruce; Paddox Wednesday 18 December 7:45pm Ugly’ as well as ‘Stress Fractures’ by local goth late, great Kate Garrett’s ‘King of the Birds’, and Blankdread among the other acts featured. stars of the day Passion Play. Twenty years Richard Walters’ ‘The Animal’ and Mephisto Mother Corona were this month’s Nightshift on, singer and guitarist Justin Stephens, now Grande’s ‘Sea Life Part 2’ making up the rest of cover stars, their groove-laden metal described st Saturday 21 December – 7:45pm living in Berlin, finds himself top of the German the Top 5. Other entries included The Winchell as “the perfect soundtrack for the destruction of Alternative charts with his current band Wires Riots, Alphabet Backwards, Tristan & the Didcot Power Station, while the big news was the & Lights and their debut album, ‘A Chasm Here Troubadours, Mr Shaodow, Desert Storm, reunion of local stars Ride after a decade and a st and Now’. Good things do, indeed, come to those Baby Gravy, The Black Hats and The Dead half apart. The original quartet announced their Tuesday 31 December – 7:45pm who wait. Jerichos, the latter’s ‘Red Dancefloor’ also return on Sean Keaveny’s 6Music show with a set It wasn’t a vintage month for local gigs: insipid winning this month’s Demo of the Month. at Primavera Festival their first confirmed show, Newbina: ‘Is this the way to the East Indies Club Xmas Party?’ twee-pop crew Sixpence None the Richer’s The Horrors were the highlight of the gigging although of course, their real comeback was to be Oxford Imps - Every Monday during term - www.oxfordimps.com / The Spin Jazz - Every Thursday - spinjazz.net www.facebook.com/wheatsheaf.oxford Bedingfield: ‘Don’t go in there, madam. They’re drinking show at Brookes Union was the biggest show month, playing at The O2 Academy, while at a sold-out show upstairs at The O2 Academy The Wheatsheaf, 129 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4DF MULL OF KINTYRE WINE. And singing!’ in town, though The Selecter, Dick Gaughan, Seth Lakeman (Town Hall); Thea Gilmore; the following Easter.

the Oxford Union debating chamber and the where it started. There’s probably a political Brexit crisis is a jolly wheeze we can all snap metaphor in there somewhere, right, except this out of with a bit of good-old British spunk. To somewhat disorientated mess of dissonance is be honest, a stuffed Eeyore toy would likely actually rather enjoyable. TRACks do a better job of running the country. Sponsored by Track of the Month wins a free remix from Soundworks studio in Oxford, VAGABOND HEARTS courtesy of Umair Chaudhry. Visit DUNCAN HARTLEY “In these modern times of superficial, recycled www.umairchaudhry.co.uk/nightshift Duncan admits he’s spent the last few years and compressed music, Vagabond Hearts gives sniggering at others’ misfortune in the demo the world a fresh air of pure rock n’ roll with “She won’t shut up, so you’ll have to make reviews and awaits his karma, but he’ll have a sincere urge to bring out the best parts of TOP her” as they rake through the rotten power to wait a while longer on that score on the good ,” declare a band whose name structures that allow such abuse to continue. strength of this almost album-length set of tells you about 95% of everything you need The bass is simple but obstinate and drives songs that begin a little too earnestly before to know about what they sound like. Which is TRACKS everything along as the song warps into properly pulling you into their gravitational essentially rock music that hasn’t washed its something lysergic and strange via what field. Duncan has a softly gravelly voice and underwear for a good 30 years and hence isn’t might be police sirens approaching. Saville, a way with an almost gothic piano ballad quite as fresh as that boast suggests. If, as our BERRY BROWN and others, escaped that kind of justice of In case you missed it, there’s another election that reminds us of Thin White Rope at times. beloved print media would have you believe, course, but you have to hope there is a hell, on the way. As the nights get longer and darker, Because we’re a bunch of hopeless old goths Jeremy Corbyn wants to take the country back one where’s he’s currently getting what’s due temperatures plummet, rain lashes down and here at Nightshift we’d always like things to the 1970s (when, let’s not forget, the gap to him. In the meantime, three quid gets you a several million turkeys prepare to exit their to be darker and, well, gothier, but Hartley between the richest and poorest in this country nice slab of something nasty and helps a good short, miserable existence in the most brutal manages to keep the light side of his dark was at its narrowest ever), then Vagabond cause. fashion, the prospect of five more years of pop on a short enough leash, even as we head Hearts want to do the same with music. ‘Bad Boris “I love The Clash, me” Johnson treating into some forlorn last chance saloon to drink Voodoo’ here is all swagger and chest-beating society’s least fortunate members with the cheap whisky and remember lost loves and bravado, extended guitar solos, fist-pumping same respect he and his Bullingdon Club LEON P FIELDS missed opportunities in the fine company choruses and sweat. It’s a pile of discarded Like Berry Brown Leon Fields uses electronics mates once treated local restaurants, we need of Kiefer Sutherland, who the more country Classic Rock magazines pulped, and distilled to make music and there’s something bucolic something sunny and uplifting to make things blues numbers here remind us of. Before we til its essence develops a rudimentary level of about his song and video here. But that’s where at least momentarily feel a bit better. And know it we’re on our third bottle of Tennessee sentience and writes a song inspired by all it any similarity ends. Where Berry is mostly here’s Berry Brown right on cue. Berry was sourmash and reminiscing about when knows. And what it knows ceased to have any sweetness and light, Leon is pensive and darkly previously singer in local synth-pop band The cowboys rode the earth, good guys wore black relevance several decades ago. atmospheric, ‘Engage’ being a song he wrote Big Sun but the Eynsham singer is now going and politicians saw the NHS as the national about mental health issues a few years ago and it alone and sounding like it’s all carefree blue treasure it is rather than another bauble to is only now ready to be heard. Worth the wait: TURAN AUDIO.co.uk skyrides and cute woodland creatures from bribe their billionaire buddies with. Best to Professional, independent it’s minimalist in its construction – plucked TOILET here til teatime when there’ll be cakes with keep drinking – if nothing else it blots out audio mastering guitar rhythm, simple electronic beats and rainbow-coloured icing for everyone. Berry has nightmarish mental images of Nigel Farage’s almost gothic vocals that try not to give too a sleepy-eyed, slightly husky voice that sounds leering, laughing face and sulphurous aura of TRACKS much away, as if shying away from emotional Mastered in the studio last month; Apple approved like she’s a tiny bit sad but only because she’d corruption and decay. With this rugged, darkly exposure. Electronics and heavily effected mastering like even more kittens and wishes they’d get romantic soundtrack on the jukebox, why THE THIRD guitars begin to swell and swarm around the PUPPY, ACID REIGN, BONESHAKER, on better with the baby chipmunks she keeps would we want to leave anyway. SUPERGRASS, BOJO & Co, MODERN GUILT, song, like an imposing, enveloping darkness. It in her spare room. This makes ‘Nightbird’ PROCESS GWEN AND THE GOOD THING, SHE BIT ME FIRST, works well with the video, filmed in black and Declaring themselves “the third and ultimate seem almost folky and there’s a similarly REKUIEM, THE GREAT WESTERN TEARS, EAN white in time-lapse motion on Port Meadow, incarnation of a process to create the greatest bucolic feel to ‘Cindy on the Wall’, even as DJ GENERAL JONES, SAVAK, YOUNG KNIVES, MYST, LVRA, where ducks and trees and general rustic calm authentic rock band in Oxfordshire and it bubbles and spangles with simple, skittery MOJO DEMON, WONDERLAND. take on a more sinister air with an almost sci-fi beyond” (hence the band name, we guess, electro-pop energy. ‘Here Comes the Flood’ is PUBLIK southern gothic sense of doom descending on though feel free to poke us repeatedly in the almost childlike in its melodic simplicity, all DJ General Publik is pictured on his 01865 716466 [email protected] the whole thing. On the one hand bleaker than neck with a pin if we’re somehow wide of the bleeps and bloops, but best song here is ‘Starve Soundcloud profile with his face half covered, the idea of Andrea Leadsom having any kind mark), The Third Process proceed to make a Fever’, all fluttery electro bounce, unsure if pulling a gang sign and holding a knife, while of say in your future, on the other, considerably Vagabond Hearts sound like Billie Eilish it should be a nursery rhyme or a club hit and his email introduces him thus: “Yeah yeah yeah more enjoyable than that might suggest. experimenting with Martian future dub by deciding to be both at the same time. Should what’s good, it’s me ya realest homeslice DJ COURTYARD comparison. As soon as any band describes the worst come to the worst (and sure as General Publik comin at cha with some fresh themselves as “authentic” (compared to all RECORDING STUDIO Jacob Rees Mogg is an incorrigible, incurable new urban beats straight off that muthafuckin 2 Tracking Rooms. Superb Control Room with: MARK BOSLEY that terrible manufactured rubbish that uses hornswaggler, it will) we’re playing this on a press, hoe. I is returned from the hardships NEVE 5106 32 Channel Console. ProTools HD3 Talking of elections, bastard Tories and things modern fangled technology and possibly MTR 90 2” 24 Track Tape Machine. Vintage EMT Plate Reverb loop on Friday 13th December in a fun if utterly offered from livin life in the middle class gothic, good to have Mark Bosley back in streets of greater London to give you a taste takes regular showers) you know you’re in Loads of Brilliant Outboard Gear futile attempt to make all the bad stuff go away. Loads of Great Mics, Vintage and Modern action with three songs that – as is traditional of wot it is all really about, do you feel me? for some thrill-a-minute party fodder and so it from him – always look on the bleak side of Old School Akai/Roland Synth Modules Oxford is you READY!? This is my most is: more swaggering machismo, masturbatory Upright Piano, Fender Rhodes, Amps and great vibes. life. Actually, we say that but ‘An Ending brutal work to date, ain’t no suckers gonna guitar abuse, blokey vocals so devoid of soul Residential recording studio in Sutton Courtenay. is a Beginning’ is awash with spring-like try shit,” so we know we’re in the presence of or sexuality they might as well have been www.courtyardrecordingstudio.co.uk GLITCHKRIEG optimism by Mark’s standards, with its pretty It’s a rare thing to fully capture the sleazy, an actual gangster, even though we have just sung by a Tesco self checkout machine and In-house producer: Ian Davenport www.ian-davenport.co.uk guitar spangle and some sweet, swoon’n’sigh slimy miasma of utter disgust in music but the sneakingest of sneaking suspicions he’s an adherence to verse/chorus/middle-eight/ Email: [email protected] backing vocals, though it still has a bit of an this gets damn close. Glitchkrieg is a one-off having a larf an’ shit. And he’s actually called chorus formula that makes Noel Gallagher’s Phone: Kate on 01235 845800 Eeyore-ish feel about it, and like Eeyore it’s collaboration between Brendan Morgan from Jeremy. And, yup, there’s no bulldozing grime High Flying Birds sound like John Zorn impossible not to love. If ‘No Trick Ponies’ garage-grunge rockers Grub and Twat Daddies’ or drill to be had, instead Mr Publik offering on a mescaline bender. It’s competent and is formless navel-gazing, ‘Underdog Nation’ John Little, here reworking Mudhoney’s classic two elongated electronic journeys that are regimented to an almost stultifying degree is proper on-point for the current political ‘Touch Me I’m Sick’ into an anti-sexual abuse variously ambient and dreamy, like a slightly and you have to ask, if this is the third and climate – an unabashed old-school protest piece, ‘Touch Me I’m Six(teen)’ with all the stoned Vangelis, or harsh, lo-fi industrial noise, ultimate incarnation of the process, what were song, like a gothic Billy Bragg going 1930s money raised from the Bandcamp sales going all scrunchy beats, wowsy, flowsy synths and the previous two like? A toddler repeatedly musical hall with foreboding lines like “Under to local charity Clean Slate. It starts off with disembodied Vocodered voice that sounds like hitting a rock with a spoon? A cartoon drawing the jackboot of the suits and ties” harking a jovial sample of Jimmy Saville saying “I’m a malfunctioning android trudging through of a simpleton stuffing sausage meat down his back to 80s anti-Thatcher folk-rocking and the Rehearsal and Recording studios feared in every girls school in the country,” snow as its memory circuits start to burn out trousers? Brexit? Oh sod it, let this lot run the call-and-response of the track’s title coming which now feels like a whole new league of and it begins to hallucinate and realises it’s country for a few days – can’t be worse than Four state of the art rehearsal rooms on a bit like Red Wedge doing the Hi-De- creepiness, before grinding into a dirty techno been walking for hours and simply ended back what we’ve put up with the last ten years. and a professional recording studio. Hi theme down their local 1930s-themed dirge that reminds us a bit of Primal Scream speakeasy. Of course it’s not subtle but we’re Send tracks for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU, or email links to at their raviest but with all the good vibes For bookings call Jamie on 07917685935 not sure we can afford knowing irony when [email protected], clearly marked Demos. IMPORTANT: no review without a replaced by something fetid lurking in the Glasshouse studios, Cumnor, Oxford • glasshousestudios.org faced with a smirking poltroon as prime contact phone number. If you can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. Same goes background, the lyrics replaced by lines like minister who somehow thinks he’s still in for your stupid, over-sensitive mates. facebook.com/o2academyoxford twitter.com/o2academyoxford instagram.com/o2academyoxford .com/o2academytv

Thur 14th Nov Wed 27th Nov • 6pm Fri 13th Dec • 6.30pm Thur 19th Mar 2020 The Smyths... Ally Pally Razorlight Lee Scratch Perry A celebration of the debut L.P Oxford Uni Darts Sat 14th Dec • 6.30pm Fri 20th Mar 2020 • 6.30pm Fri 15th Nov • 6.30pm Wed 27th Nov • 6.30pm Little Simz The Cat Empire The Treatment Electric Six + Airrace + Lake Acacia Sat 14th Dec Wed 25th Mar 2020 • 6.30pm + The White Tips + Vigilantes Fri 15th Nov • 11pm Rhymeskeemz Live - Plain White T’s Thur 28th Nov The Christmas Party + Harry Marshall Silent Disco Oxford - Happy Mondays Fri 27th Mar 2020 • 6.30pm Bigger & Bolder! - Greatest Hits Tour Sun 15th Dec + Jon Dasilva Joanne Shaw Taylor Fri 15th Nov • 11pm • SOLD OUT A Gospel Christmas Black Parade Thur 28th Nov • SOLD OUT with John Fisher & Thur 2nd Apr 2020 – 00’s Emo Anthems Rhys Lewis IDMC Gospel Choir Hayseed Dixie + 8 Ball Aitken Fri 20th Dec • 6.30pm Sat 16th Nov • 6.30pm Fri 29th Nov • 6pm Ally Pally Oxford Megzz Fri 3rd Apr 2020 • 6.30pm Dub Pistols Cut Capers + ZAIA + Zen Lewis Brookes Uni Darts EP Release Show Sat 4th Apr 2020 • 6.30pm Sat 16th Nov • 6.30pm Fri 29th Nov • 6.30pm Sat 21st Dec • 6.30pm Mad Dog Mcrea Little Brother Eli - Bulsara and His + Flats & Sharps Queenies Sat 16th Nov • 11pm • SOLD OUT Christmas Party Fri 10th Apr 2020 • 6.30pm Switch presents: Sat 30th Nov • 6.30pm Sat 18th Jan 2020 • 6.30pm Hybrid Minds Definitely Mightbe The White Lakes Dutty Moonshine (Oasis tribute) Big Band Sun 17th Nov Sun 2nd Feb 2020 Sat 30th Nov • 6.30pm Black Water County Billy Lockett Fri 10th Apr 2020 • 6.30pm + The People Versus Airbourne The Night Cafe + Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown Tue 11th Feb 2020 + Dreamers + On Video Mon 18th Nov Satu 30th Nov • 11pm Miz Cracker’s Scouting for Girls Fri 17th Apr 2020 • 6.30pm American Woman + The Dunwells Switch presents: Goldie Lookin Chain Kanine / Darkzy / Fri 28th Feb 2020 • 6pm Tue 19th Nov Sat 18th Apr 2020 • 6.30pm Primal Scream Window Kid / Indika / Hot 8 Brass Band Lazcru Fell Out Boy Thur 21st Nov Fri 28th Feb 2020 • 6.30pm & The Black Charade A Sun 1st Dec • SOLD OUT Vex Red + We Aren’t Paramore + ‘68 + False Heads The Chats Mon 2nd Mar 2020 Tue 21st Apr 2020 + Bad // Dreems + Crocodylus Fri 22nd Nov • 6.30pm Kiefer Sutherland Beatenberg Half Man Half Biscuit Thur 5th Dec Carols at Thur 5th Mar 2020 Sat 25th Apr 2020 • 6.30pm Fri 22nd Nov • 11pm O2 Academy Oxford The Aristocrats UK Foo Fighters The Craig Charles Tue 10th Mar 2020 (Tribute) Funk & Soul Club Thur 5th Dec Kerrang! Radio Fresh Sat 25th Apr 2020 • 11pm + Brasc0 + Tony Nanton The High Contrast Band + Count Skylarkin Blood Tour: PENGSHUi King Shine Vs Empire Fri 6th Dec • 6.30pm Sat 23rd Nov • 6.30pm Pearl Jam UK Wed 11th Mar 2020 • 6.30pm Mon 27th Apr 2020 Bingo Lingo + Eddie Vedder Solo Tribute The Calling Mystery Jets

Sat 23rd Nov • 6.30pm Fri 6th Dec • 6.30pm Fri 13th Mar 2020 • 6.30pm Fri 22nd May 2020 Biffy McClyro (Tribute) Gentleman’s Dub Club The SUPERSONIC The Springsteen

Sat 23rd Nov • 11pm Sat 7th Dec • 6.30pm 70s SHOW Sessions Switch presents: Absolute Bowie Sat 14th Mar 2020 • 6.30pm Fri 11th Sep 2020 • 6.30pm Jungle Cakes - Legacy Tour Anamanaguchi The Dualers

Tue 26th Nov • SOLD OUT Wed 11th Dec • 6.30pm Sat 14th Mar 2020 • 6.30pm Sat 3rd Oct 2020 • 6.30pm Fontaines D.C. The Quireboys Twin Atlantic Nirvana UK (Tribute)

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