joy division – and so she thinks

Morning Smoke- Hunger/Stephanie I

admin — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:39:00 +0000

A dark and riotous double A side from Brighton-based noisy post-punkers Morning Smoke, this duo skids with fever and lack of direction, with smoky tension on the lead guitar cavorting with anguish with the tormented bass riffs. Milo McNulty’s vocals echo with Joy Division and Sonic Youth style emotion, angst ridden and drowning in raw distress, harking back to classic and drama heavy tracks. Hunger is a powerful tune, the heavily reverberated guitars running with an unbound and slightly sinster energy, whilst the layers of subtle spoken French flirting with the fizzing and grainy chords on Stephanie, I suggest an almost menacing romance.

Musically celebrating World Mental Health Day

admin — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 13:05:26 +0000

To raise awareness of World Mental Health Day, and demonstrate the complexity and misunderstood nature of this type of illness that will affect 1 in 4 of us throughout our lives, here is a collection of tunes from some of the most talented and creative minds in the music business. All of whom suffered from a mental health problem, but were not defined by it, and battled their problems to write some of the most best songs I know.
Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins has suffered with severe depression for much of his life – yet still managed to write the lyrics ‘Believe, believe in me, believe / That life can change, that you’re not stuck in vain.’

The late Ian Curtis sadly could not overcome his battles with depression, and committed suicide at a tender age. Under the name of Warsaw the Joy Division singer delivered moments of happiness – ‘Don’t call me no crud/I really think I’m good.’

As you melt into the gorgeous tapestry of Feel Flows pay homage to the genius of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, who also suffered from bipolar disorder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh1YKIZlXWs
Proving that behind bouyancy, blonde hair and boobs can lie some darker issues, country queen Dolly Parton has fought depression her entire life. But 31 years after its release, she is performing Jolene live at Glastonbury – what a fighter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1plvBR02wDs
There is nothing better than a Sunny Afternoon, and the little things can brighten a mood, as The Kinks‘ Ray Davies who has experienced bipolar well knows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLs09J_x6-c

Jubilee Courts – Strip Down

admin — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 09:24:20 +0000

Starting with a gentle and ambient plucking, Strip Down from Northampton’s Jubilee Courts soon swarms around the listener with steel vocals and grinding melodies. Sparse and subdued but still making its presence felt, the influences of Joy Division and The Jesus and Mary Chain are evident. I could have done with a little more vibrancy in the lyrics, but I can imagine that with the lights down in a smoke fug filled room (not that this ever happens any more) the effect would be intoxicating. (I write this on a sunny Sunday morning, probably not its ideal home). Sway and sashay, gaze at your shoes, with a mood on.

I Am In Love tell us about it

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:05:15 +0000

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3CFTLUvOS4]
Tumbling and tidy riffs, ambitious vocals and pulsating synths, Call Me An Animal is the latest single from I Am In Love, a band so called because the singer, is. January 21^st sees them play a free show at 93 Feet East – something to look forward to in the grim days of a new year. It’s All Happening have a quick chat with drummer Edmund, who tells us about himself and his bandmates Seb (vocals), Martin (guitar) and Nicci (keyboards).
It’s hard work, no one’s making any money, lots of the romance has gone from the industry – why are you in a band?
We love music. It is a bit of an obsession for all four of us, we love going to see bands, buying records, writing music and most of all performing live. Travelling to new places to play music and make friends is the best way we can think to spend our time!
How did you start?
We started in December 2010 when an old band sort of fell apart. Martin and Seb had some songs that they wanted to record with me and Nicci and the rest just kind of snowballed from there. That tends to be how it works – Seb and Martin will normally have an almost fully formed song before Nicci and I even hear it. We will then play it in rehearsal a few times to see what works and what doesn’t.
You met at Leicester university and have just moved to London? What is everyone up to now?
Nicci is still at uni although she is a researcher rather than a student. Me and Seb both work at schools which is ideal because we get lots of holidays for touring. Martin has just got a job actually. I’m not too sure what he is going to be doing. I would imagine something technical as he loves that sort of thing.
The name of the band is clearly reminiscent of every pop song ever written – are your songs about love?
Most of them are yes, it is one of the easiest subjects for people to identify with. We don’t always show love to be a positive and lots of our songs are darker and about longing and lust.
Call Me An Animal was the debut EP, followed up by Of Regard And Affection – do the titles and subjects reflect a state of mind at the time?
I think all of our songs are about the moment they are written in. If they arent true to the singer they can’t have the same meaning for an audience. The best songs have some truth in them!
The NME says you sound like Joy Division and The Cure – who else influences you?
We love newer bands too like Bloc Party, Empire of the sun and Foals and the excitement in their music. Kate Bush has been pretty influential recently and also twinges of the classics like New Order and Prince can be heard in parts of our music.
What have been your highlights of 2011 and what are you looking forward to in 2012?
Playing our first live show at the Camden Enterprise in February was pretty amazing, but I think we were all too nervous to really enjoy night though! I think everyone in the band would probably have different live shows that they have enjoyed the most, but for me Y Not Festival in the summer was pretty special as was our first shows in Berlin and Munich which were both fantastic. Away from the stage, our mini-album was released in Europe in May and I remember the first time we saw it in a shop was great.
You’re still a young band, but some pretty good marketing tactics (as well as good songs!) have managed to get your name out there, and to the US…do you think more needs to be done to help new bands, or does it depend on your own get up and go?
Im sure every band in our position would love some extra help, but we do try and do as much for ourselves as we can, but we have had some great help from our labels, promoters, DJs and lots of other people who we are hugely grateful towards. It was fantastic to get the support of Radio 1 for I Want You early on, and I think because of that we were able to have such a great first summer of festivals. I Am In Love could not have had a better start!