ISSUE 28 / MAY 2014 / FREE

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ALSO INSIDE GRUDLE BAY / GLASS ANIMALS / METRONOMY / WILD BEASTS / REAL ESTATE / RODDY WOOMBLE / BOSSAPHONIK NEWS news

Candy Says , the new band fronted D Fest , the free festival in the garden at the Red Lion pub in by ex-Little Fish frontperson Juju Drayton, originally started to ease the post-Truck blues, have Sophie are appearing at Truck Store announced their lineup for 26 July. Headliner is former on 29 May. The band are releasing Supergrass member Mick Quinn’s dB Band and they’re joined their debut album Not Kings , all the by Empty Vessels, Happy Hooves and Balloon Ascents and tracks being recorded in Juju’s many more. There’ll be an acoustic lounge and marquee and garage at home. You can hear the outside bar and fine food. Meanwhile, festival organiser Craig single and title track, a slice of Evans (pictured), former electronic pop sunshine at candysays.it. Not Kings is released Dead Jerichos frontman, has on CD, vinyl and cassette on 28 May. been posing for a modelling session for ‘barbers & male grooming specialists’ Mur - dock London showing guys how to wet shave properly (we SIMPLESIMPLMPLLEE didn’t know he was even of the shaving age yet!). You can see the results at murdocklondon.com/themurdockman/ how-to-wet-shave-at-home WITH MELANIEMELANMELANIE C MINDSMMININDS AND MMARCARC ALMONDALMOND Last issue’s cover stars Flights Of Helios are set to perform their SCOUTINGSSCOOOUUTTIINGNG   KKIDID soundtrack for the 1920s animated film The Adventures of Prince KIDKID Achmed by Lotte Reiniger again. The show is part of the  FFOFOROORR GIRLSGGIRLSLS Museums at Night schedule at the Ashmolean on 16 May and it’s CCREOLEREOLO E free to enter. The band also appeared with the film at the Pitt    10cc10cc & TTHEE CCOCONUTSOCONUTS Rivers Museum recently – read our review on page 13 of this issue. Irregular Folk heads back down to The Perch pub at Binsey SUZANNEUUZZANNEANNNE V EGAE during the summer for another one-off all-dayer in the Local act Huck & the Xander Band , fronted by erstwhile Epstein SOPHIEOOPHPHIE ELLISLLLILIS BEXTOREXTORTORGGEORGIEEOREORGIE FAMFAM E HHUDSONUDSONN TTAYLORAYLOR amazing Bedouin tent in the garden. A varied musical lineup bassplayer Huck, perform their audio/visual stage show & GGUYUY BBARKERARKER’S BBIGIG BANDBABAND matching the grand surroundings includes: London’s baroque Alexander The Great, A Folk Operetta at the Old Fire Station on   pop outfit The Irrepressibles (pictured), You Are Wolf, The May 12 June. The show is inspired by Huck’s six week tour of the US, HOTEIHOTEI LUKE FRIEND Birds along with Oxford’s Duotone, Salvation Bill and Jess exploring literature, country/folk and jazz/blues. Listen to the music STAXSSTTAAAXSXS with SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY & THE ASBURY JUKES WITH G GARY A R Y U S B O N D S Hall. Speaking about the lineup, chief Folker Vez told OMS “The from the show by visiting huckandxander.bandcamp.com. SPECIALSPECIAL GUESTGUEST PPEATBOGEAATTBOGB G FFAEFAERIESAAERIES artists are a mixture of showstoppers from our previous gigs, Tickets are £10 or £8 concessions from oxfordplayhouse.com N I N A N E S B I T T artists we consider to be among the finest boundary pushing HOLYHOLLYY MOLMOLYLLYY & locals, and a lush selection of brand new bands”. Affordable THETHE CRACKERSCRACCKERKERS LISSIELIISSSSSSSIIIEE RUSRUSTYSTY SHACKLESHAACKLECKLEC eats and real ales also on hand. Tickets are £15 in advance Oxfordshire bands looking to busy up their gig schedules and REVEREND PEYTON'S BIG DAMNMNN BAND (from We Got Tickets or Truck Store) or £20 on the door. The get some exposure (in a legal way) ought to get in touch with Summer Session is on Saturday 12 July, music starts at 2pm. Cornbury Festival and Yardfest in Bicester. TTHEHE LOTTERLOTTERYY WINNERS THE DDUALERSUALERS Yardfest is an indoor festival in its second year, held at the Courtyard Youth Centre in Bicester – they are looking for THE ABSOLUABSOLUTE RADIODIO COMEDY EMPORIUM Local music promoter Daisy Rodgers celebrate 5 years in show bands to join their lineup for Friday 11 July which already business at the Jericho Tavern on 17 May. The popular nights includes Blitz Kids, Hype Theory, Scholars and Attention JEREMY HARDHARDY | MILESILES JUPP | AL MURRAURRAY sound like a Who’s Who of local talent and previous nights Thieves. Contact Centre Manager Jeremy Leggett at KIDS ZONE have included performances by Spring Offensive, Alphabet [email protected] Circus Skills | Storytelling | Junkunk Percussion | Magic Shows | Musicalusical Theatre WorkshopsW | Moo MusicM Backwards, Half Rabbits, August List, Beta Blocker, Wild Cornbury Festival are looking for six unsigned local acts Face Painting | Clay Sculptureculpture | Withy Weaving | Animation | Groovy Records | Carnival Masksasks Swim and many more. Ticket prices are kept to a bare to open the weekend’s proceedings at the campside stage Snot The Dragon | Bhangra Tots | Bollywood Dance | Glamba | Puppet Shows minimum – at just £2 for the early bird, who could refuse! on Thursday 3 July. To win one of these slots and get Painting & Making | Garden Gamesames | Interactive Musical Installationnstallation and World Class Streettreet Theatre The Epstein headline this birthday bash, with more to be tickets for the rest of the weekend, acts should apply at announced. Go to daisyrogers.com for gig info. www.jackoxfordshire.co.uk by midnight on 15 June. Fairground | Gourmet Caterersaterers | Festival Shops | Disco Shedhed | Amazing VIP and Glamping

WWW.CORNBURYMUSICFESTIVAL.COMWWWW.CORNBUR.C.CORNBURYMUSICFESTIVTIVVAL.COMAL.COM Oxfordshire Music Scene is published by Back & to the Left. Editor: Stewart Garden. Contact: [email protected]. Design: Simon Minter at nineteenpoint.com Thanks to all the contributors: Leo Bowder, Celina MacDonald, Kerry Smallman, Andrew Fletcher, Andrew Grillo, James Cunning, Chris Blizzard, Tom McKibbin, Liz Green, Michael Chilcott. ’SENGLLAND’SAND S MOST CIVILISEDCIVILISED GATHERINGGATHERING SEE BACK ISSUES AT WWW.BACK2LEFT.CO.UK OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / MAY 2014 / 3 REVIEWS local releases d r a z z i l B s i r h C

GLASS ANIMALS

glass animals beats on this ridiculously smooth and immersive track. If peanut butter gooey vibes can be adopted as a musical term, it might sum up the listening Oxford’s latest buzz band and they are certainly deserving of the experience of Gooey . Second track attention. New EP Gooey is refreshing and exciting, especially ‘Holiest’, featuring New York’s Tei for a sound that seems to have more reverb than instruments. Shi, is equally moving but intensely The title track’s bubbly, electronic drums are deceptively strong darker, her strong vocals creating underneath Dave Bayley’s husky whisper, the overall sound, at a nice dynamic with Bayley’s voice. The accompanying ‘Gooey’ once, celestial and underwater. “You just wanna know those remixes are intriguing variations as well as a good excuse to peanut butter vibes” the singer woos over the throbbing electric hear the eponymous track three more times. (CM)

candy says we’ll give you a cast-iron guarantee you’ll be able to sing not kings along to it after just one play, whether you want to or not. Pretty unrecognisable from previous incarnation Little “Gotta get out before my heart Fish, this is the title track for the Candy Says debut album explodes” is the refrain, and with release. Subtle, melodic synths and electronic drum the more accessible sound on patterns are to the fore, Juju’s captivating, multi-tracked display here, it’s not a stretch of vocals and handclaps giving it a bit of heart and soul. the imagination to think that Candy Says could match, or even Overall, it’s totally poppy, more-ish and radio-friendly, and outstrip, Little Fish in a popularity contest. (SG)

black hats new wave influences are all present and correct, along with a no more smoke generous helping of funky basslines, squelchy keys and reverberating Pretty much a household name throughout Oxfordshire, Black guitars. ‘No More Smoke’ doesn’t Hats latest, an explosive taste of their next mini-album Does exactly travel a road we’ve never That Make You Nervous? , is as dynamic, floor-friendly, and been down before, but it’s certainly well-realised as we have come to expect. Their trademark mod/ a decent pop song. (CM)

4 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / MAY 2014 DESIGNED BY NINETEENPOINT: WWW.NINETEENPOINT.COM FEATURES FEATURES

t’s been almost 3 years follow, but [the songs have] which Spring Offensive work with other people, Isince this magazine ended up having a lot in approach everything but for Young Animal Hearts spoke to Spring Offensive, common. You could say around their music. The it was perfect.” and in that time a huge they’re all about situations record was self-released amount has changed for that people don’t want to and funded by a Writing the Oxford 5-piece. find themselves in: buckling PledgeMusic campaign, I asked the band how spring They’ve upped sticks and under a mounting weight and it is a testament to they go about writing and relocated to London, of debt, struggling to their growing following developing a song. “We replaced a bassist… but communicate with those that the record was funded started writing almost as without doubt the most closest to you, wanting to in just a week. The soon as we’d finished important band milestone take a sick day because crowdfunding model made everything for Young Animal offensive in that time is the release you’re feeling too down to total sense – it was a Hearts actually. You never of their debut full-length face the world. It’s stuff that natural step for a band really stop. It usually starts michael chilcott wild about record Young Animal Hearts . you don’t want to necessarily who have always exuded a with Matt and Lucas young animal heart s debut It’s been a long time talk about but that strong desire to connect on together, working through coming for the band so I everyone goes through.” every level with their lyrics, melody, and basic chatted with them about audience. I asked how they structure. Then the rest of how it feels to have finally Recurring theme found the process: “We the band get involved, launched their debut Debt and money struggles loved it. At first we didn’t everything gets broken record into the world. are a recurring theme of know how it would go, but down and built back up “Putting something out Spring Offensive’s music – within a week we’d made again, then broken down that you’ve worked on for indeed, the first track our target and were able to again… It takes a bit of so long is a unique released off the record finish the record off. That time, and songs go through experience – the whole ‘Hengelo’ deals with the was a hugely moving crazy amounts of versions process is a bit of an edgy anxieties of a debt-ridden experience for us. Since before they settle.” Some cocktail of wild excitement character running away our first tour, we’ve been of the songs on the album and extreme fear – but from his old identity – but lucky enough to have fans have been on the Spring we’ve been overwhelmed it’s not something that who have been genuinely Offensive setlist for a while by how it’s gone down weighs them down. supportive and incredibly in a number of different really. Earlier this year we “Everyone has money encouraging every step of guises, and so I was went on tour with copies troubles, right? Especially the way, so being able to interested to know how a of the album for the first musicians – although you communicate directly with song develops from the time, and ended up coming could say that’s more than them, even up to writing initial versions: “Playing a home without a single one a bit self-imposed… a songs with them, playing song in a load of different left, which felt like a pretty couple of years ago we shows at some of their contexts, from acoustic great reaction!” were living in a house houses, felt like a really living room shows to gigs together in Oxford, natural way for it to come in churches really helps you Debut album working and doing the together.” think about it differently to Young Animal Hearts is a band at the same time, but how it first materialises in precise, dramatic, and our touring schedule meant Self-releasing your head. We never really weighty record, but with a that we had to give up Was it a conscious decision stop playing around with keen sense of light and house and jobs and move to release without a label? tracks that we’re writing, or shade… and it takes on a to London to stay on some “Self-releasing suited us for that we’ve already written number of pretty heavy very kind people’s floors. this record. We only had and released – it keeps issues without flinching. I At the risk of sounding ourselves to answer to, things interesting!” asked the band whether cheesy, we’re just lucky and we were just really Not interesting is not their album writing and enough to be broke but keen to get the record out. something that’s often recording process was doing something we love, Luckily there were enough thrown at this band. driven by a strong idea of as opposed to just broke.” people who wanted to the record that they hear it too! Retaining that young animal hearts is wanted to make. “At the Fan pledges control and flexibility is available now on vinyl, start of writing the album It could be said that such great – future releases cd and download from sp there weren’t any guiding adversity has bred the will no doubt be different, ringoffensive.co.uk principles that we set out to relentless creativity with and we can’t wait to 6 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / MAY 2014 DESIGNED BY NINETEENPOINT: WWW.NINETEENPOINT.COM SEE BACK ISSUES AT WWW.BACK2LEFT.CO.UK OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / MAY 2014 / 7 FEATURES FEATURES the bossaphonik riddim is 10! dan ofer, dj/promoter from the world/ jazz night tells stewart garden about the first 10 years and the tunes that’s section made it a ‘must-visit’ in local clubland roots and culture with leo b OMS: Can you define Cuban-Afrobeat fusion OMS: How do you go about funkiest dance music ever! Bossaphonik’s music that’s just divine. Dele finding the bands for The Red Hot tribute policy? Sosimi was so exciting for Bossaphonik? includes top current Macka B Boomtown DO: Very broadly – it’s me to host, he was Fela DO: There’s now such a African artists and updates After weeks of fevered If you missed the Cellar MACKA B world-dance and jazz- Kuti’s keyboardist in the wonderful melting pot of the afrobeat sound. build up, Macka B gig, Macka B will also be dance. All sorts of grooves, ’80s and Fela is probably global music in the UK, (pictured) finally played the at Boomtown Fair, as will vintage to cutting-edge, my greatest musical hero. particularly in multi-cultural OMS: What do you think of Cellar in March. 6’3” of local jazz punks The from Latin America, For Balkan-inspired London. We’re spoilt for other clubs and music reggae legend that he is, Original Rabbit Foot Africa, The Balkans, the music Orkestra Del Sol choice! I regularly go to gigs that’s going on in Oxford? the roots veteran hasn’t lost Spasm Band. The Middle East as well as soul- blew us all away, and, just in places like Passing Clouds DO: In terms of music anything of his famous unmissable dance festival jazz, nu jazz, electro-swing this April, Manteca and the Empowering that’s relevant to lyrical agility and Hi-Powa happens at Winchester on and brass band music. delivered their exhilarating Church in Hackney and Bossaphonik, there has been delivery over 30 years of 7–9 August with the One of my main blend of ’70s Nuyorican- Hootananny in Brixton. some great local bands in the relentless recording and Wailers, Jimmy Cliff and philosophies is to bring style Latin funk, salsa past – Mariana Magnavita performing worldwide. He Easy Stars All Stars (who back dancing to music! and cumbia. OMS: What was the first band, Confidential treated the crowd to a full re-imagined OK Computer Once upon a time, people record you ever bought? Collective, Barcode, The hour and a half of Rasta as the dub album danced en masse to just a OMS: How do you find out DO: It was in 1986 by Spiralist, Natureboy who all chanting, liberally Radiodread) plus tons of couple of instruments. about new music? obscure Australian electronic played at Bossaphonik in its interspersed with hi-speed other reggae, roots and Indeed my father was the DO: I’m still sad that the artist Ken Davis called first year. Nowadays there’s ragga break-downs – a full jungle acts, more than you sole kibbutz accordionist bible for my area of music, Visual Dreams . I was seven the Phat Sessions band and 17 songs in all including could possibly get your for the weekly dances. I Straight No Chaser magazine, and we bumped into this Temple Funk Collective. ‘Never Played a 45’, ‘Tired ears around – see like to bring this spirit has come to an end after guy in playing open There’s also an awesome of the War’, and ‘Don’t boomtownfair.co.uk for back and go against the over 20 years in print. But air with about 10 analogue new clubnight, Kwassa Drink Too Much’. The more info. grain of a lot of today's now I regularly check out synths around him – I was Kwassa at Blanco for a night was cranked up by dance music. The live webshops and I listen to mesmerised. The most vintage Afro-Latin party. storming selections from One Love Festival DUBWISER music I bring to radio shows and mixes. recent was Fanfarai:Tani – DJs Garvin Dan (Positive Positive Vibes and seminal Bossaphonik is rich, SOAS radio has many unique North African brass OMS: Will you keep Vibes Crew) and Nico D Oxford reggae band sophisticated music with great shows – Movimientos band funky fusion. Bossaphonik going another 10 years? (Cornerstonemusik). Dubwiser (pictured) will as John Holt, Wailing check leo b’s we incredible musicianship for all things alternative ekly dub/ OMS: Most amazing item in Macka’s Roots Ragga both be making the trip to Souls, Cornell Campbell roots programme the whilst still being Latin, and Hackney DO: Let’s hope so! band were evidently full- the, also not-to-be-missed, and Tapper Zukie – see riddim show on des exhilarating dance music. Globe Trotter for eclectic your record collection? tiny bossapho joying themselves too, and One Love Festival, as you onelovefestival.co.uk for 105 (www.facebook.com/ global beats. My earliest DO: I’d have to say the nik, the cellar, ther 2nd friday of the mo although this was his first should, this time in full lineup and ticket iddimshow, OMS: Any highlights from radio inspiration was first Red Hot & Riot LP – a nth @riddimshow on twitt don’t miss: bos stage performance in Stockwell Farm, Leighton details. er the 10 years? Gilles Peterson who I still tribute to Fela Kuti. Fela saphonik or email him at radio show, destiny 105, Oxford, we are promised it Buzzard on 15 –17 August, [email protected]) DO: Lokkhi Terra are a listen to for the soul/jazz tried to change his world sundays 8– 10pm would not be his last. alongside genre greats such Leo B/Hugo Makepeace totally unique Bangladeshi- side of things. through a medium of the 8 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / MAY 2014 DESIGNED BY NINETEENPOINT: WWW.NINETEENPOINT.COM SEE BACK ISSUES AT WWW.BACK2LEFT.CO.UK OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / MAY 2014 / 9 FEATURES REVIEWS national releases

with james & andrew from progressively less elephant g n u h P

l u a P

GRUDLE BAY WILD BEASTS “RIGHTFUL CLAIM AS THE BEST BRITISH BAND CURRENTLY AT WORK” Wild Beasts Present Tense Real Estate Atlas Wild Beasts have become such It really doesn’t seem like that BUSY SUMMER AHEAD FOR a respected part of the indie long ago that this reviewer was furniture by the point of this, waxing lyrical over Days, the their fourth full length release, second Real Estate record. ABINGDON’S ELECTRONIC POP OUTFIT and this album is a testament Turns out that when you get to their continuing evolution and older, days fly by, and what nathan allsworth tells all to tom mckibbin quest for quality in everything actually happened two years rudle Bay (previously expanding on Grudle Bay’s the year off with a video station KOOL Rock chose they produce. While each record ago seems like yesterday GGrudle Bay Riots) DIY ethic: “Everything we for our track 'Running', us as their ‘band of the has its own mood, the muted afternoon. Anyway, they’re back, have been together for produce, from the music to quickly followed by our month’, which was hugely and, at times, brooding feel of tracks such as ‘A Dog’s Life’ and and by the sounds of it, the same has happened to them, in that ‘Daughters’ is at stark contrast with the theatrics that marked new record Atlas picks up nicely where its predecessor ended. more than ten years, the videos to stage props to Colder EP and launch flattering! We’ve spent a lot their debut album. Here the twin vocals of Hayden Thorpe and On first listen, I must confess, I found Atlas a little laboured, a beginning as a bedroom merchandise is made by show at the Cellar – the of time working on new Tom Fleming are more complementary and bleed into one another, little ‘Real Estate - by - numbers’. The first three tracks seem to project between Nathan the band.” first time we’d sold the material. This includes a rather than providing the high voice/low voice contrast of old. The blend into one another, and it was only at the instrumental ‘April’s Allsworth and Tom venue out as Grudle Bay. remix album (remixes pulsing ‘Wanderlust’ and ‘A Simple Beautiful Truth’ channel the Song’ that my ears paid any attention at all – it seemed that the Hodges in Abingdon back Full band We got a really great from The Guillemots, new found focus on electronics into poppier moments that still opening salvo had compressed into some insipid aural soup. in 2001. The fluid, breezy So, how is being a full response to the release, Dubwiser and Flights of stay clear of being throwaway. This is another bold statement for I’ll say one thing for them, they know how to create a mood, and pop of Grudle Bay band different from being most notably from BBC Helios). We will also be a band that have a rightful claim as the best British band that’s where I’d gone wrong with the first three tracks. A Real combines the sounds and a duo? “With four creative Introducing, which lead to releasing three singles, all currently at work; long may they continue. Estate album does exactly what it says on the tin, and with the atmosphere of Air with forces instead of two, and a number of festival brand new material, sun filtering in through the curtains on a hot day there’s not much Angel Olsen Burn Your Fire For else I’d want on the stereo. On subsequent listens, ‘Talking the more folktronic the usual time-restrictions performances throughout starting with our lead track No Witness Backwards’ reveals itself to be a bit of a juggernaut – all leanings of Four Tet with that comes with the regular the summer, including ‘Bau Bau’. Gigwise we’ll A collection of lovelorn tracks intertwining guitars and repetitive melodies, and ‘Had to Hear’ is a healthy dose of post- 9–5, kids, running Truck, Riverside and also be playing Cornbury that run the gamut from heart- a wonderful opener. millennial Radiohead to businesses etc, the process Wychwood.” and Riverside festivals as breaking sadness to righteous The second half of the album picks up in pace significantly – wonderful effect. of releasing material has well as hosting some anger, all powered by Olsen’s ‘Crime’, with a spidery guitar melody providing something for you slowed down somewhat, Band of the month special nights around the tremulous voice and some to hang your hat on, and the Alex Bleeker led ‘How Might I Live’ in Bedroom sound but ultimately still remains After such a busy 2013, city to support new impeccably judged arrangements. particular leading the way. Closer ‘Navigator’ plods along “Retaining the ‘bedroom’ a hugely enjoyable and the band shows no sign of material.” ‘Forgiven/Forgotten’ ploughs a delightfully – with a really mournful melody. It’ll be making many sound was a hugely rewarding process.” slowing down in 2014. joyously grungy furrow while the more appearances on the stereo this summer, that’s for sure. closing ‘Windows’ and ‘Dance Slow Decades’ are emotive, important element of the “2014 has seen us expand visit grudlebay.co.uk for release nostalgic and powerfully personal pieces of work. BYFFNW marks transition into a live band, Rewards to a 5-piece, with bass & gig details Olsen out as an artist whose next move will be hotly anticipated keep up to date with the and is still very much part Frustrations aside, 2013 player Greg Hooper don’t miss: progressively less elephant grudle bay at cornbury by all who come across this album and is a reminder that it is djs at facebook.com/progressivelylesselephant of the Grudle Bay ethos,” was a year full of rewards joining the fold. In festival 4, 5, 6 july 2014 the sense of personality behind the songcraft that can turn a good Nathan explains, before for Grudle Bay. “We kicked February, American radio record into a great one. 10 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / MAY 2014 DESIGNED BY NINETEENPOINT: WWW.NINETEENPOINT.COM SEE BACK ISSUES AT WWW.BACK2LEFT.CO.UK OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / MAY 2014 / 11 REVIEWS REVIEWS live d r a z salvation bill, limbo kids, after the thought z i l B s i r the cellar, oxford h C After The Thought, a one-man electronics guru delivering cosmic electronic fizzle, slightly reminiscent of Trophy Wife. This is pop techno beats and hazy electronic atmospheres gives the sound music that strays far enough from the formula to keep you system a good working out. The set includes an impressive new guessing as to what will happen next. ‘Intro’ track in the vein of Kompakt, re-workings of old material, Salvation Bill closes the evening with his first headline set, and closes with another new track ‘Looking Down’. Hopefully he another act able to prove that one man is capable of making a lot gets the looping and droning pedals working again soon – a much of great sounds. Recent single ‘Dead Dog’ gives a good idea to missed element from his setup this evening. the tone of his song writing – darkly comic with an air of The swelling Cellar crowd are then treated to Limbo Kids, a brooding menace a bit like The League of Gentlemen . As well as disco-pop ‘supergroup’ featuring members of Alphabet Backwards looping his vocals and acoustic guitar, he now introduces a and Minor Coles. ‘Headstrong’ and ‘Heartshots’ are the stand out saxophone into the set to help expand on the sound. Compelling tracks featuring both male vocalists, offering plenty of funk and and cheeky in equal measures. (AF) girl power, sebastian melmoth, halber mensch the wheatsheaf, oxford

Opening tonight are Sebastian Melmoth, straight off the train from screaming with an array of foot pedal with thrash drums thrown in London village and just like the Gappy Tooth night as a whole, for good measure. A number of electronic artists build up sounds this hard to pigeon hole down to a particular genre. The three-piece way (Tim Exile, Max Tundra and local talent After the Thought come to present a curious mixture of dystopia-infused pop lyrics, feedback mind) but Halber uses this aesthetic and drags it to the extreme edges guitar drones and punk attitudes. Tracks such as ‘Catching up of dark metal with obvious passion and enthusiasm from the very first with Morrison’ offer a catchy guitar hook that also showcases the chord. If you need any more of an incentive to check him out, tune into lead singer’s Brian Molko-esque gravelly vocal range, whilst ‘Surf - Banbury Hospital Radio who apparently have played his music. ing’ adds some tongue in cheek respite to their generally dark and Lastly we have Girl Power who crank up the volume and the pace – METRONOMY foreboding subject matters. Towards the end of the set, the levels and that is just them tuning their instruments. Just a few tracks into of feedback increased but if they hadn’t mentioned broken equip - their rather aggressive set and a mini-mosh breaks out. Despite being ment then I probably would have taken it to be all part of the the loudest, most technical and badass band of the night, the Girl Power metronomy, glass animals show – it certainly, albeit accidentally, fit in with their avant garde sound is the cleanest and pushes fewer boundaries than the rest of approach and only added to the refreshing experience. the music tonight. As a result I find myself being more entertained by the o2 academy, oxford Next up we had local one-man sonic attack force Halber Mensch moshers rolling around on the floor and elbowing each other in the Arms flailing and body swaying fluidly, Dave Bayley’s got the dressing lends to the bright/cold atmosphere of the music, with who looped guitar stabs, violin refrains and good old fashioned ribs than the barrage of ferocious drums and punchy guitar riffs. (AF) moves like Thom Yorke. Glass Animals have a gentle and hypnotic restrained emotion always lurking in Mount’s voice. The keyboards presence and their music translates perfectly from recording to are hidden behind large, fluorescent, glowing blocks and the drum flights of helios stage. The drummer is set on the front of the stage beside Bayley, kit is lit up garishly, at once glamorous and trashy. The band wear pitt rivers museum, oxford his work on a mix of drum pad and acoustic drums driving the set matching suits except for drummer Anna Prior who has flawlessly powerfully underneath otherwise ethereal instrumentation. Recent colour co-ordinated her dress with their outfits. ‘Everything Goes Tonight’s ‘After Hours Cinema’ event is a fascinating meeting of Hills, appear completed fixated by the projected images single ‘Gooey’ makes an appreciated appearance, but their set is My Way’ is a nice surprise mid-set, with Prior taking lead vocals. cultures and of audience as Oxford drone pop (or whatever they’re throughout the performance. While Chris Beard’s vocals are the one immersive experience rather than a string of hits and filler. ‘I’m Aquarious’ is an obvious hit, a calm yet pulsing track with a calling themselves now) favourites Flights of Helios soundtrack a usual highlight of a FOH set, here he is restricted to bass guitar Having received attention from all corners of the world, tonight generous helping of backing “shoop doop doop ahh”s throughout. ground-breaking animation feature made and released by Lotte and some tasteful and beautifully timed vocals, with the feels like a good opportunity to catch them before they are whisked ‘The Bay’ is a perfect example of Metronomy’s appeal: bright yet Reiniger in the 1920s. Either side of the performance of an especially percussion, chiming and at times abrasive, Eastern-inflected away to headline tours of their own. slightly sinister. You can’t help dancing, even while Joseph Mount composed hour long piece that accompanies the film tonight we have guitars and atmospheric keyboards to the fore. Metronomy start their set by firing off ‘Love Letters’. With sounds typically downcast as he plots his escape: “If you want to talks from experts and a Q&A that follows the band’s performance. The film itself is at times breath-taking, particularly given its slightly mad retro keyboard and relentlessly upbeat drums, the go, I’ll take you back one day” he promises. The bromantic Perhaps fresh eyes were a benefit, and for this reviewer there painstaking methods of construction. Silhouettes dance, flirt, release of their latest album’s title track caused a few raised ‘Heartbreaker’ shows off beautiful harmonies, as do most Metronomy was no previous experience of Reiniger’s film, although it was march and fly through the air on magic horses and it is to the eyebrows, the cheerful cacophony seeming like a sudden change tracks. The whole group contribute to backing vocals, the apparent from the occasional startled faces that there were a band’s credit that the dexterity and subtlety of the movement is of direction for the band. However eyebrows settled peacefully on energetic Olugbenga Adelekan a particular star with his high voice few present who found the new, more modern soundtrack (no reflected in the score. hearing more of the new Metronomy, a band with such a distinctive and infectious smile. Mount claims at one point, referring to the Wagnerian crescendos here) more of a challenge. The performance was a triumph, and an intriguing way for sound that pretty much anything they could release would sound temperature in the venue tonight” This is the hottest we’ve ever Helios have clearly been putting the hours in to rehearse for one of Oxford’s current leading lights to stretch their creative unmistakably theirs. The modern theatricality of the stage been!”, and it’s true – Metronomy are hot stuff tonight. (CM) the piece and the band, augmented here by percussionist Chris muscles. (AG) 12 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / MAY 2014 DESIGNED BY NINETEENPOINT: WWW.NINETEENPOINT.COM SEE BACK ISSUES AT WWW.BACK2LEFT.CO.UK OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / MAY 2014 / 13 REVIEWS / FEATURES introducing live in oxford s e

d with show producer liz green a r P n e e l i

E Festivals It’s nearly festival season, and for us at BBC Introducing in Oxford that signals the start of an extremely busy time. For a city of its size, Oxford has a lot of musical activity all year round, but the combination of (hopefully) nice weather and green fields attracts festivals and provides us with a whole new focus for the summer months. We’ll have our usual presence at Truck, Cornbury and Wilderness Festivals, alongside coverage of Towersey. Those are by no means the only festivals in the area though – with Wychwood, Charlbury, Supernormal also in the vicinity, music lovers really are spoilt for choice in Oxfordshire this summer.

Guests Over the past few months RODDY WOOMBLE we’ve had a BALLOON ASCENTS number of guests in the studio, including Ags Connelly, Balloon roddy woomble, jen ord Ascents and Chris Ryder, but one name that has been the art bar, oxford fairly ubiquitous recently has been that of Jess Hall. She released her debut album Bookshelves in February with a The lineup of indie-veteran-turned-bearded-folky, Roddy Woomble show at the Holywell Music Rooms to rapturous with support from Jen Ord has attracted a mixed crowd ranging applause from the sold-out crowd. We interviewed her from hirsute hipsters to your slightly older real ale aficionados. in the studio the day after and she has also been played When you discover Jen Ord is signed to a label called Haystack nationwide on the Mark Forrest show – so it’s been a records, you know you’re going to be in for some of Trad Arr’s finest busy time for her. We popped down to her recent show compositions, and tonight is no exception. Mercifully, Jen Ord has at the Beatnik Bookstore to film the performance and carved her own niche by singing English Folk songs over her own, rather daring, jazz piano and double bass arrangements. Her hope to have video available on our site soon. set is all apples and cuckoos and the blacksmith’s wife, but over suspended sevenths and syncopated bass runs. Record Store Day Roddy Woomble takes an altogether different tack in his Record Store Day took place on 19 April this year and updating of the folk canon. His set includes a fair few Idlewild rejigs, Truck Music Store justified its position as the hub of including a very delicate ‘You Held the World inYour Arms’ and a local music on the Cowley Road by hosting a day of live gutsy version of the American classic ‘Green Green Rocky Road’. music in the shop in honour of it. A packed out If the lyrics weren’t name-checking the Atlantic ocean or the smell audience were rewarded for their early-morning record of earth on his hands, you’d be forgiven for forgetting you weren't buying with sets from national stars Get Cape, Wear at a Keane concert at times. It’s only when Shona Aitken fires up her fiddle that we are whisked out of the Cowley Road and into Cape, Fly and Luke Sital Singh, as well as local acts the misty sea air of the Hebrides. It’s no mean feat to front both Dubwiser, The Dreaming Spires and We Aeronauts. a hip Art School band and a rural nostalgia-folk combo, but Roddy Woomble manages to do both with considerable aplomb. We hope to have some really interesting stages After 20 years in the game, he is as enthralling and eminently for you at the festivals this year – please continue likeable as ever. (KS) to upload your music at bbc.co.uk/introducing 14 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / MAY 2014 DESIGNED BY NINETEENPOINT: WWW.NINETEENPOINT.COM