cool for cats – and so she thinks

Hatcham Social – More Power To Live

admin — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:15:11 +0000

You can tell that London four piece Hatcham Social have been hanging out with Tim Burgess. Their special free download single More Power To Live, released on Mr Burgess’ O Genesis label trips along in the early Britpop style, a repeated refrain over syncopated beats and a rolling rhythm., under nonchalantly delivered lyrics and chanting background vocals. More Power To Live is the first taste of what to expect from next year’s third album Cutting Up The Present Leaks Out The Future and is released to coincide with the band’s forthcoming UK Tour as special guests of Tim Burgess.

Lodestar – and so it grows…

admin — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 18:08:51 +0000

There are few things more enjoyable than sitting in the sunshine in a beautiful sunshine listening to great music, cider in hand. Can’t guarantee the sunshine, but the other ingredients will be all there in abundance at Cambridge’s Lodestar festival. Taking place from 30^th August to 1^st September, the three days are self described as ‘The place for lovers of great music!’ (the stellar line up includes The Joy Formidable, Hatcham Social, Thumpers, Dragonette and Mausi) but is also for lovers of all things fun, and wandering around the farm that has been owned and loved by founder of Lodestar Doug and his family for four generations you will find literature, zorbing, archery, samba, workshops, dancing, circus, fringe theatre and plenty of smiling faces.
The line up is evolving on a thrillingly regular basis, and latest additions include the liltingly lovely Lady Lamb The Beekeeper, Fiery Furnaces’ Eleanor Friedberger and her intense, edgy yet elegant sounds, perfect sunshine sounds from An Escape Plan , sonic loveliness from Swedish El Perro Del Mar mistress of reinvention VV Brown.
As well as hot indie darlings ike these and global superstars capable of hanging out with Dave Grohl the festival supports local artists, and this year acoustic indie-folk four-piece Fred’s House and indie dance group The Sticks are just two of the many who will be part of the event. Buy your tickets here…and keep an eye out for a competition from myself, Cool For Cats and Lodestar very soon!
For a sneak preview head down to the Old Blue Last on August 7^th where Hatcham Social and Flowers play a preview show, and make this Spotify playlist your soundtrack now.

Candy Says – Favourite Flavour

admin — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:57:14 +0000

Is it pop, indie, folk, disco…or just downright brilliant? The sweet and seductive music of new Cool For Cats signings Candy Says oozes pheromones, its hazy beats pummeling along, wielding casual wonder. Lo-fi, utterly chic, and hopefully and hopelessly romantic, they are a bit of a bright light on the dance floor. Their first single Favourite Flavour is a happy and pungent pop groove, and the teasing ‘now that you’re in my boat we can rock it together’ on B side Melt Into The Sun wholly representative of the kind of tongue in cheek lyrics from this ‘2013 take on the Velvet Underground.’ The launch party for the debut single is at The Servant’s Jazz Quarters on May 22nd, and as well as being available on cassette (yes, they are that cool) the tracks are here on Bandcamp.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKJ7SrmOY80?feature=player_embedded]

Oh So Quiet – Oh So Quiet EP

admin — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:39:57 +0000

Released on Cool For Cats Records on April 29th

From the opening gentle picking pattern on Rain At Night and the first time we are introduced to the warm wholesome vocals of Malena, through to the final lulls of Si Quedamos the debut EP from Oh So Quiet is one uses strings and strums to their full effect, being soothing and fluid whilst simultaneously dazzlling. Whilst being a ‘folk’ band they sound more at home in urban streets, the five songs on this EP having a feeling about them of not only living a life, but being scarred by it. Bubbling with wonderment throughout, the EP flickers and flutters with a gentle authority. Motorcycle Journey has a euphoric post verse riff, and Water’s Fall is so hauntingly delicate your ears are almost scared to listen too closely until it fights back with chimes and charm. The output of Argentinian pair Lucas and Malena Zavala, who currently live in Guildford and have substantiated the band with multicultural members Oh So Quiet combine indigenous Latin-American music with western world indie and folk to create something currently missing in the somewhat saturated folk scene, and are more than worth investigating.
A special Cool For Cats party is taking place at Tipsy in Dalston to celebrate the release.