Woo!!!

Woo

Independent record label Independent Project Records (IPR) announced today that they have released two albums as companion pieces by U.K. cult band Woo. The band was recently featured in Electronic Sound magazine.

 

Both Robot X (originally released in 2016) and Xylophonics (2017) have been reshaped and newly conceived with updated artwork for release as, for the first time ever, a one-package release on double CD and double vinyl sets, as well as digital formats. Additionally, a new video for the Robot X focus track ‘Repeatability’ is out now on IPR’s YouTube channel, produced and created by Woo’s very own Clive Ives.

 

IPR and Woo first worked together in 1988 with the release of Whichever Way You Are Going, You Are Going Wrong and then the acclaimed 1989 cult favorite It’s Cosy Inside. Almost forty years later, the men behind Woo, brothers Mark and Clive Ives, have been remarkably prolific, and Independent Project Records is in the fourth year of its relaunch. Time to join forces again.

 

“We had a great collaboration with Bruce back then,” says Clive Ives of Woo. “Both Mark and I were delighted about this new double album with IPR. We love Bruce Licher’s aesthetic and distinct designs. He has really surpassed our expectations with his beautifully crafted letterpress artworks for the two albums. And IPR asked the brilliant Josh Bonati to master our albums!”

 

“I first met Mark and Clive Ives in the mid-eighties after being thoroughly amazed by the music of Woo on their self-released debut album Whichever Way You Are Going, You Are Going Wrong,” remembers Independent Project Records founder Bruce Licher. “I’m very excited to be working with them again on their catalog almost 40 years later, as both Robot X and Xylophonics are wonderfully weird albums cut from the same cloth as the electronic uniqueness they created years ago. There is nothing else quite like the sound that the Brothers Ives make — a sound that is quintessentially Woo.”

 

Robot X and Xylophonics tell a story of retro-futuristic visions from different angles: both proudly experimental, they combine a deluge of musical influences to offer something that is, quite remarkably, deeply layered and minimalist at the same time. The unpredictable instrumentals invite listeners to attach their own fantasies to what they hear, whether those fantasies belong to the past, the present or, more likely, a robotic future. 

 

Robot X was created from snippets of recordings made on a 4-track tape machine in the 80s. “One of our most abstract and surreal albums," Clive Ives calls it. When the record was first compiled in 2016, the brothers felt that the reality of humanoid robots being made and being used was imminent. This concept became the main inspiration for the album, fuelled by the influence of Terry Gilliam’s 1985 masterpiece Brazil, with its blend of sci-fi and dark comedy.

 

The story, set in a dystopian world in which there is an over-reliance on poorly maintained (and rather whimsical) machines, proved influential for Robot X’s artwork, too: Clive Ives collaged together various old industrial machinery etchings to create robots, coming up with something that is obviously not as practical and functional as modern (real world) robots are designed to be. Even with good design, the question arises: how will these logical machines co-exist with unpredictable humans?

 

Xylophonics came together after the brothers Ives started reworking tracks found in the 90s section of their spacious archive. Back then, they had just begun recording onto computers. These tracks showcase their first opportunity to properly link drum machines with keyboards, and create loops and multitrack more layers without the need of sound on sound on a tape deck, working on melodic loops made with tuned percussion instruments such as marimba, kalimba and xylophone, and creating a feel that is equally futuristic and optimistic.

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"No Condition"

LA area punk / power-pop band For Closure has released a new single "No Condition" via Mindpower Records.

Stream "No Condition" HERE: https://orcd.co/nocondition

For Closure drummer/producer Wal Rashidi says, “No Condition” encapsulates much of what I love and seek in a song. And I can say this as someone who’s somewhat detached from it, as I didn’t have a hand in the songwriting, just the production.

For Closure

It is equal parts bold and expressive in its outro, counterbalanced with intimate and sparse in its verses. The arpeggiated, glassy guitar tones we dialed in are an imperfect nod to the 1980s new wave/post-punk watery riffs emanating from the Roland Jazz Chorus amps in videos we grew up watching on MTV (or listening to early KROQ hits). Gizz’s (frontman Gizz Lazlo- Dr. Know, U.K. Subs, The Freeze, Dead Lazlo’s Place) legato vocals, delicately draped over my thunderous toms, recall bands like The Icicle Works, though they also possess the muscle and motivation of Samiam’s Jason Beebout.

I am satisfied with my mix of this song, probably because it happened so effortlessly. I love how the dozen-plus tracks of backing vocals neatly charted their course as they float amid the ether of the song, simultaneously transparent yet plenty apparent. Luis’s tight, crunchy guitar riffing in the bridge eventually yields to a full-throttle send of the outro, with the densely-layered choir repeatedly exclaiming “noooo!” as I hammer quarter notes on the crash cymbal — it really thrusts this cut into an elevated stratum and provides the mashed-pedal drive it deserves, even if the lyrics state an emphatic opposition that, “I’m in no condition / to drive you all the way home!”

What makes it even more impressive was watching Gizz on the other side of the glass, in the vocal booth at the recording studio — the eponymous, succinctly-monikered Studio — in Redlands, California, absolutely nailing it all in one take. I’m nearly sure I exclaimed a stunned “wow” as the hair rose on my arms (I have hairy arms, too). I could somehow still sense the sweet and mildly-spiced waft of a Djarum Special clove cigarette he had just dusted off mere minutes before nailing this cut, quizzically piercing its way through the double-paned window into the control room (“I see you walking through / that crowded, smoky room”). While I already knew Gizz was highly competent at his craft, I didn’t realize Gizz could be unassailably stellar in the studio. (Given this is my first album as a solo producer, perhaps I was just gifted a stroke of beginner’s luck?)

I think “No Condition” could resonate with just about anyone listening. It’s beautiful, powerful and might serve as the flagship track on this forthcoming full-length album by For Closure. I also hope that “No Condition” encapsulates much of what you love and seek in a song."

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No Reason This Can't Be Fun

The Disassociates

SoCal's The Disassociates have released their debut album No Reason This Can't Be Fun.

Stream the new album and follow the band on socials here: https://linktr.ee/thedisassociates.

Vocalist Brie Marie says, “No Reason This Can’t Be Fun is a fun, wild, and completely open & honest look into coping with life and all the struggles that come with it. Whether you want to laugh, cry, or rage, No Reason This Can’t Be Fun has a song for you.”

Stream the "I Don't Wanna" video here: https://youtu.be/5aC4gKQpjbY?si=AaFUSuE6q1bwPcYT .

The Disassociates are an electrifying alternative rock band emerging from Southern California, fusing elements of alternative rock, power-punk, and catchy melodies with relatable, authentic, and at times hilarious lyrics. Debuting in 2023 with their singles "I Don't Wanna" and "30mg", this enigmatic band is comprised of longtime friends vocalist Brie Marie, guitarist Jordan Sutton, drummer Michael Bonanno, and bassist Justin Pittman, each bringing a unique musical perspective to the table.

Known for their thought-provoking lyrics and dynamic instrumentation, The Disassociates navigate the realms of introspection and rebellion through their music with influences ranging from from pop punk to classic rock to metal. The band creates a sonic tapestry that is both familiar and groundbreaking.

The Disassociates' debut album, No Reason This Can't Be Fun, showcases the band's ability to push boundaries both lyrically and musically. If the clever yet true-to-life lyrics don't grab you, the melodies will be stuck in your head for at least 3-5 business days.

Upcoming Show:

March 22 Bakersfield, CA @ Jerry’s Pizza

Moon At Noon

Stream "Moon at Noon" HERE: https://orcd.co/moonatnoon

Frontman Gizz Lazlo (Dr. Know, U.K. Subs, The Freeze, Dead Lazlo’s Place) says, ""Moon at Noon" was written a few days after my dad's first major heart attack in May of 2018. I was sitting on my parent's porch while my dad lay in the hospital in a coma for 6 days. As I sat there confused and worried about what was going to happen, I needed to write something to calm my nerves a bit. Luis had sent me a demo that I'd listened to a few weeks prior. While I was listening to the music over and over on my headphones, chain-smoking trying to distract myself, certain phrases kept coming back as I was humming melodies over the music. A few hours later I'd finished these lyrics and just left them alone as I went back and forth to the hospital trying to deal with my mother and relatives who started arriving from Mexico to see my dad. When my dad was discharged from the hospital I couldn't sleep thinking that this may happen again. About a week after my dad was home I found myself in my studio wondering what these lyrics would sound like to the music. I spent about an hour behind the mic recording the original demo for this song. I sent it to Luis and we instantly knew we HAD to record this song. It's definitely not something we usually write together. That's the thing I love about writing songs with Luis is that we both don't care what people are going to think about them. If "we" like them then let's record them. Everything we've written in the past few years are songs about the dark side of life. Not everything is rainbows and butterflies. As much as we want it to be, it just isn't. My hope is that whoever listens to our songs finds something that they can hold on to if they ever feel down. I grew up with songs that helped me through some tough times. Maybe, just maybe we can help someone through their personal trauma with our songs. I've been close to the end many times, but I'm still here. So I guess the best advice I can give is to - Never Lose Hope!! You are loved!!"

"Moon at Noon" also features a roaring guitar solo guest appearance by Mike Williamson from L.A.-based band Jr. Juggernaut.

++++

Upcoming shows:

2/3 Sardine / San Pedro

2/4 Redwood Bar / DTLA

2/18 Supply & Demand / Long Beach

For Closure began as a simple studio project, a brief opportunity to relay some finality for multi-decade veterans hailing from the punk rock scenes of the Los Angeles County suburbs, who had desired a last hurrah before they closed shop on their previous bands. But what arose from a “goodbye” project was an assortment of compositions so compelling and novel, there was a change of heart in closing the book on the past and instead, an excitement brewing about the future.

Fronted by vocalist Gizz Lazlo—whose prior contributions include Dr. Know, U.K. Subs, The Freeze and his namesake, Dead Lazlo’s Place, plus continued memberships in a bevy of bands too numerous to detail—the ensemble’s material stems from a pairing of songwriters Lazlo and Luis Estefania (F.Y.P., Rhythm Collision, Buford), who most recently were together in longtime San Fernando Valley-based outfit For Sale. The dissolution of For Sale left Lazlo and Estefania with a backlog of yet-unrecorded material and a decision to continue establishing their songwriting partnership via a new outlet—hence, For Closure.

Armed with a batch of songs, polished and perfected for tracking, Lazlo and Estefania entered the recording studio named Studio in Redlands, California with producer/drummer Wal Rashidi (Jr. Juggernaut, Revolution Mother, Turning Violet) in the summer of 2022 to begin the sessions that would ultimately sprout the band’s first single, “Carousel,” to be released via Mindpower Records. This fruitful batch of material led to a second session in winter 2023, to complete the band’s forthcoming debut full-length album, to be released in 2024.

For Closure has since moved its material from studio to stage, as it made its live debut this past fall, via shows in the Los Angeles area, which also feature guitarist Marc Maxey (Sloth Fist, The Killing Flame, Justice League) and bassist Steve Wilenkin (Life in a Burn Clinic, Dead Man’s Life, IDK).

What launched as an exercise in finality is now only the beginning of this new musical collective. It’s time for For Closure’s grand opening.

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"Hyperfocused"

 

Photo:
Alex Zarek

Illinois pop punk heroes Wilmette will release their long-awaited debut full-length, 'Hyperfocused,' on August 4, 2023 via Mutant League Records. Along with launching pre-orders, the band is debuting the title track, along with a companion music video directed by Alex Zarek. The new album, produced by Seth Henderson (State Champs, Knuckle Puck), is the follow-up to their 2019 debut EP 'Anxious Body.' Stream "Hyperfocused" on DSPs: https://orcd.co/7bypaek. Stream the video here: https://youtu.be/KqthiJw7PuM Guitarist Griffin Guge says, "This track is about running the fine line between pursuing your own personal goals/interests and what others expect from you. It’s important to learn how to compromise with both of those things without letting either side get sabotaged. There’s always multiple perspectives with countless experiences to back them up. Hyperfocused is about pursuing your own personal growth without destroying the growth of others." Facebook Instagram TikTok Twitter Mutant League Records

Catholic Guilt

Melbourne alt-rockers Catholic Guilt mark their return with the new banger "Live For The Rush," off their upcoming sophomore LP due out later this year on Wiretap Records.

The single is the band's first to feature new full-time guitarist/vocalist Megan Sidwell.

Stream "Live For The Rush" on Spotify: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/catholicguilt/live-for-the-rush

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytPt_ZbF2s4

Got Guilt?
Catholic Guilt

Vocalist Brenton Harris says, ‘Live For The Rush’ is a song about wanting to feel truly ‘alive’ again, after a prolonged period of emotional paralysis. It is about holding an insatiable desire to experience the sensation of life, yet at the same time living in fear of the risks and changes that might be required to do so.

It is a very human thing to want to feel everything, all at once, to want to explore all that this finite existence can offer, yet it is also a very human thing to want to protect the status quo because the status quo offers the safety and the surety of knowing, even if what we know isn’t providing fulfilment. ’Live For The Rush’ is an anthem about rediscovering the joy of the unknown and in the process learning to feel again.

Guitarist Dean Gordon adds, "Being a kid of the 90s the word ‘Rush’ has strong ties to extreme sports like surfing & skateboarding, taking me back to my adolescence and the excitement and freedom of the summer holidays. An escape from the responsibilities of everyday life, and the opportunity to get out into the world, take risks and make new connections.

It seemed fitting that musically ‘Live For The Rush‘ should look to conjure those same nostalgic feelings for the listener. Attempting to mirror the contemplative internal dialogue of fear, tension and ultimately bliss, when you decide to get up, get out there and experience everything life has to offer."

The video depicts a day of activity for a Sauce bottle character which turns into an uplifting jam with their friends who need a bit of spark.

The clip's director Sophia Van Doorn says "The premise of this video at first glance is silly, funny and kinda weird. But when you delve into the bright, shiny world that Sauce lives in, there’s a whole lot more to it. Given that Sauce is depicted in an overly saturated, orange-hued world, their life is a vibrant, action-packed and fulfilling existence. Its stark contrast to the initial band shots of gloomy, lackluster monotony creates a juxtaposition of light and dark. The band's jubilant facial expressions upon Sauce’s arrival are the hero of this video and really tie back to the incredible lyrics, uplifting the viewer. It was hilarious running around town shooting the Sauce scenes and the band nailed all their shots in every aspect - the fun and ridiculousness shines through in the video. As a first-time director of a music video, I’m thrilled with the outcome, it looks awesome. Awesomesauce."

Catholic Guilt combines elements of punk, alt, folk and rock, resulting in a sound they describe as 'honest music.’

Following the success of 2018's independently released debut EP Hymnbook Vol. 1 which saw the band sellout Melbourne's iconic Reverence Hotel, secure Spotify editorial playlisting and receive national radio airplay via triple j for singles "Counterfeit Guitars" and "Paper & Ink," the band released a critically acclaimed follow-up This Is What Honesty Sounds Like via the Californian label Wiretap Records in August 2020. A musical exploration of five very different human experiences, isolation, frustration, love, anger, and loss, This Is What Honesty Sounds Like earned the band national and international airplay via over 130 stations and received widespread acclaim from outlets including Alternative Press, Music Feeds, Brooklyn Vegan and Pop Matters.

The band also achieved the rare feat of having all five songs on the release secure triple j 'first plays' and a coveted triple j unearthed feature artist spot. The release also saw Spotify editorial playlisting support via New Punk Tracks ("Song Of The Renter", "The Awful Truth", "A Boutique Affair", "Life In Three Part Harmony") and The Scene ("The Awful Truth").

The band built off the success of the release by signing with booking agency Destroy All Lines and playing a run of shows in Australia, including multiple sold-out shows in their hometown of Melbourne.

Catholic Guilt has since gone on to appear on major Australian festivals Full Tilt and Knight and Day as well as stage a successful tour of the East Coast of Australia and secured the main support with Pure Noise Records act Real Friends and most recently landing a slot opening slot for Switchfoot. Off the back of the success of This Is What Honesty Sounds Like, they were invited to perform at the iconic Gainesville punk festival FEST in October. The band also contributed a cover of Saves The Day’s "At Your Funeral" to the Vagrant Records 25th Anniversary compilation Undercover On The Streets put out by Wiretap Records and Friend Club Records. This cover received Apple Music editorial playlisting on New In Rock.

The quintet recently welcomed guitarist/vocalist Megan Sidwell into the fold and released the single "Talking Fake." A slow-burning, emotive rock song about the communication breakdown that occurs within fractured relationships, the song saw Catholic Guilt expand their sonic palette, incorporating a Hammond organ, a string section, congos and glockenspiel. The single was accompanied by an award-winning cinematic short, co-produced by Soft Focus Media and Taymaynari Productions, the film tells the story of a couple who are drifting apart, thrown into a fantasy-stylized world of the night they first met.

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"Devil Inside Me"

Welsh Rockers The Now Releasing New Single 'The Devil Inside Me' on February 17

Debut Album Produced By Oli Jacobs (The 1975, Harry Styles, Pale Waves) Out This Summer

The highly infectious and guitar-heavy hooks of four-piece band The Now were born in South Wales in 2018 after Shane Callaghan (Rhythm Guitar & Lead Vocals), Will Scott (Drums), Callum Bromage (Guitar & Vocals) and Jay Evans (Bass Guitar) met at a local jam night.

Their stage presence was something special, and after perfecting their sound, The Now released its debut single "Friendly Fire" in 2021, followed by the 2022 debut 5-song EP 'The Truth Always Comes Out In The End,' which spawned the singles "Holy" (which was chosen as "The Coolest Song in the World" by SiriusXM's Little Steven's Underground Garage) and "Rockstar," both of which landed them exposure on ITV, BBC, Sky Sports, MTV and a number of local independent radio stations.

The last year found The Now selling out the opening of their hometown Swansea Arena and supporting the likes of Placebo, Noel Gallagher, Reef, Trampoline, Florence Black, The New Roses, and more.

With an average age of 25, the Welsh rockers deliver a huge punch to the head with superb lyrics and highly charged instrumentals.

Having already worked with legendary producers like Grammy award-winning producer Jason Perry (McFly, Busted, Don Broco, The Blackout), Adam Noble (Coldplay, Biffy Clyro, Liam Gallagher) and Richard Jackson (The Automatic, Super Furry Animals and Duffy), the band is excited to announce a February 17 release date for their new single "Devil Inside Me," The track will appear on their upcoming debut full-length album, produced by Oli Jacobs (The 1975, Harry Styles) and due out this summer.

Pre-save 'Devil Inside Me' here.

Upcoming Shows:

Feb 22- London, England @ The Camden Assembly Tickets

April 27- Poole, UK @ Lighthouse Tickets

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Walk In A "Straightline"

Straightline

Munich, Germany's Straightline will release their new album 'Keep Your Cool' this Thursday, September 15.

Album pre-save & Pre-Order (vinyl): https://bfan.link/keep-your-cool

Stream the songs "Earth Defenders" and "Weltschmerz" here: https://www.youtube.com/c/StraightlinePunk

After more than 2 years in pandemic hell production, Straightline is finally back with “Keep Your Cool” and ready to deliver once again their full package of metal-infused thrash skate punk. The band has set its sights on global domination, with tours of Canada and Slovenia planned to celebrate the release of their new album "Keep Your Cool," their first release on Thousand Islands Records and Lockjaw Records.

Straightline wrote and recorded the album in 2018-19 but waited for the world to re-open before unleashing it alongside several live shows in 2022. The release of "Keep Your Cool" sees an exciting new chapter opening for the band, who are writing new songs with new members for future releases.

The follow-up to "Vanishing Blues" is available on colored vinyl and CD with thematic merch and a skateboard deck.

Straightline will be touring Canada with Belvedere, Darko and Walt Hamburger starting this week.

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The Rundown Kreeps

 

Los Angeles Ska/Punk Trio Rundown Kreeps’ Pay Homage To The Beatles' 'Help!' In New Video "NOLA” Tour Dates Announced; Playing Fest on October 27

Watch the video here.

"This one combines sugar-sweet bubblegum pop melodies and punk energy in a Ramonesy fashion- Brooklynvegan

""NOLA" observes and compares the theme of escapism in relation to the banality of everyday life. Whether it's work stress, financial struggle, emotional hurt, or the hunger to accomplish a dream; we're all either running towards or away from somewhere. Recorded and mixed by Jonathan Mireles (audio engineer for Travis Barker as well as Machine Gun Kelly's "Tickets to My Downfall). With this music video we wanted to pay homage to our musical heroes The Beatles; as well as subtly remain on the theme of escapism. The idea is that instead of making a video in which the subject matter is asking for help; we'd remake the "Help!" music video as close to shot for shot as possible". -Rundown Kreeps "NOLA" Music Video https://youtu.be/F3aOLeOxK2g Stream the track here: Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Tidal Formed in 2009, LA-based trio Rundown Kreeps perform amped-up melodic Punk Rock with heavy dashes of frantic Ska, punk backbeats, and twangy vibes to keep audiences moving across a variety of dance floors. Rundown Kreeps have completed several tours throughout the Southwest, Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii and have shared stages with notable acts like The Toasters, Reel Big Fish, Nekromantix, Buck-O-Nine, The Wierdos, The Phenomenauts, and Mustard Plug, to name a few. All of Rundown Kreeps' past catalog of music is available on Apple Music, Spotify, Rhapsody, Tidal, Google Play, Pandora, YouTube and more! Catch the band on tour in Sept.October. See dates below. Social Media: Website- www.rundownkreeps.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RundownKreepsLA Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rundownkreeps/ Twitter- https://twitter.com/rundownkreeps