JAWS Right In Front of Me

Check out my thoughts on JAWS new track over at Popped Music!
https://poppedmusic.co.uk/2016/09/13/just-listen-jaws-right-in-front-of-me/

Jamie T Trick Review

After taking a five year hiatus from music, Wimbledon’s Jamie T made his return to the scene with his excellent 2014 album Carry On The Grudge. Thankfully Jamie hasn’t made us wait half a decade for a new album again and is back with Trick, his fourth LP. Trick masterfully meshes together multiple styles that he is well known for, not deserting the softer Indie of his last effort but reembracing the punk and rap fused sound that won him so many fans back in 2007. The result is a fantastically eclectic offering that takes the best elements of his previous three albums, with some of the sharpest and smartest song writing that he has delivered so far.

The genre dodging opening track Tinfoil Boy is a wild departure from Jamie’s previous songs and gives the album an unexpected beginning, being the most rock-heavy track he has produced yet. Bringing to mind both Arctic Monkeys and Slaves, it begins with a smooth Alex Turner-esque verse only to plunge into a chorus which oozes pure anger and paranoia.

Devotees of Jamie’s older musical style are well served by the sample filled tracks Drone Strike and Police Tapes, the kind of hard hitting, politically charged tunes that flavoured his first two albums.

The excellent Power Over Men is a slick and atmospheric track telling the dark story of a femme fatale and builds upon the style of indie pop that was prevalent in his 2014 album. With a suitably haunting chorus and an attractive and catchy hook, the song is as mysterious as alluring as its character.

Album highlight Tescoland detracts from the darker aspects of other songs on the record with its bouncy fusion of punk and reggae, and has echoes of the themes of British cultural identity and home comforts explored in Blur’s Parklife album. Sure to be a new live favourite, the track packs a cracker of a chorus that is destined to be loudly belted out by fans at future gigs. This same light hearted sense of fun is all over Robin Hood, a catchy and cheery song that is clearly a loving tribute to Jamie’s heroes The Clash.

Closing track Self Esteem is the most personal on the album, a reflective and moody song that finds Jamie exploring his inner demons. The distorted and crackly vocals perfectly capture the feelings of helplessness and melancholy expressed in the lyrics

Trick sees Jamie T at the top of his game, developing the styles of music he tackled in his previous works, experimenting with new sounds and offering a varied and unpredictable set of songs on an album that consistently surprises. The number of genres and musical styles that get a spotlight here cement his reputation as an extensive and diverse musician, but every song has his own unique stamp on them.  He is an artist who has built his own recognisable style but is unafraid to try new things. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for the next album. 

Jamie T Power Over Men

After his triumphant return with 2014's Carry On The Grudge following a five year hiatus, fans of Wimbledon's Jamie T don't have to wait as long for his next record.

In preparation of his fourth album Trick set to be unveiled on 2nd September, Jamie has released the album's second single Power Over Men. The track features the smart songwriting and slick, catchy chorus that has come to be expected from Jamie T and is a small taste of what is sure to be another excellent eclectic album.

Listen to Power Over Men below, and be sure to check out Trick when it's available next month.

The Magic Gang All This Way

Following their excellent debut released back in January (http://beatsurrender.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/the-magic-gang-ep-review.html), The Magic Gang are back with All This Way, a new single taken from their pending follow up EP From The Magic Gang.


Just like the songs on their January release, All This Way shows off the band's talent for creating catchy tracks rooted in classic 50s and 60s pop. I'm impressed at how The Magic Gang's music manages to evoke nostalgia and melancholy whilst simultaneously being utterly uplifting and breezy, and this song is no exception. With a strong chorus that will no doubt be belted out by fans at future live shows,  All This Way is another winner from The Magic Gang 

Check out All This Way below and be sure to catch The Magic Gang when they tour this autumn!

Slaves Spit It Out

In anticipation of their second album Take Control, due to drop on 30th September, Kent's punk pair Slaves have unleashed new track Spit It Out, a massive track that certainly lives up to the duo's promise that album number two will head in a ''really heavy'' direction.

This track certainly packs the punch and attitude that made their debut album such a success, and with the band claiming that the follow up will also cover some new ground when its released fans are expecting to be in for a treat come September.

Honeyblood Ready For The Magic

Glasgow duo Honeyblood are back with new single Ready For The Magic, a taste of what's to come from their second album Babes Never Die. 

 Their excellent self-titled debut from 2014 is one of my favourite albums of recent years and the band's latest track delivers the punch, energy and sense of fun that flavoured their previous offerings.

If this song is anything to go by, Cat Myers, Honeyblood's second and current drummer has certainly put her own stamp on the new material as this song captures an essence of the strong and vigorous sound that has characterised the band's live performances since she joined. 


Check out Ready For The Magic below.

RAT BOY Get Over It

One of 2016's most talked about up and coming artists RAT BOY aka Jordan Cardy has dropped new single Get Over It, from the  EP of the same name set for release on 26th August. The funky track feels like Cardy's take on a 70s exploitation film soundtrack, and showcases his knack for combining elements of multiple musical genres and styles to create something that's unmistakably his own. 

This catchy and slick song bodes well for the upcoming EP, and it's made me think how great a RAT BOY/Gorillaz collab would be!




Be sure to catch RAT BOY when he hits the road on his September tour! Check out my review of his set at this year's Dot To Dot Festival http://beatsurrender.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/dot-to-dot-festival-nottingham-review.html