Secret Rivals – and so she thinks

Secret Rivals – These Are Only Obstacles

admin — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:14:24 +0000

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCZgJq4JUFs]
The new video, from album Just Fall.

Radio! Fri 12th April

admin — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 09:09:56 +0000

In which I say ‘erm’ far too many times, don’t talk enough inane crap, wish I had printed some kind of script, and played the following blinders of tunes…listen away.

Thoughts & Rhythms – Fri 12th May 2013 by Francesca Baker on Mixcloud

Guards – Ready To Go
Secret Rivals – I Know Something
Half Hour Hotel – Run From Sirens
Let’s Say We Did – The Stars Above Looked So Bright & Green
The Colourist – Yes Yes
Thao & The Get Down – Holy Roller
Atlas Genius – If So
Hospital – Made of Sand
The Liberty Vessels – Sleep My Dreams Away
Fine Times – Hey Judas

Secret Rivals – Just Fall

admin — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:27:08 +0000

‘What a way to spend a weekend, well some fucking best friend you’ve turned out to be…too readily swallow the same lines, well not this time’
They say that troubled souls make great artists. Both are true of Secret Rivals. Just Fall is their snappy ten track album, funded by fans as part of Pledge Music campaign last year, and is a perfect summary of their sound. From the flickering flux at the start if I Know Something, to Jay’s yearning vocals on Just Fall, this is an album boarding on exorcism. The soundtrack to the moment when you’re gazing into what you thought was concrete and forever and it all starts to fade, yet actions and reactions don’t quite correlate in the way you want them to, as oscillating vocals between Clouds and Jay jump over exploratory fretwork and punky riffs. The guitars and drums clatter and flurry, sonically displaying two emotions simultaneously yet indiscriminately, and the vocal reaction seems to be one that straddles a flashing toothy grin and tears rolling down the cheeks. Feisty as ever, there’s a tinge of vulnerability underneath this rambunctious fury.
Anyone who knows the band will be familiar with the tracks on here, I Know Something, Panic/Don’t Panic, Once More With Heart and Everything I’ve Lost having all been released before. Just Fall sounds like band growing up, a cathartic output. There comes a point when bands evolve and develop, and Secret Rivals seem to be teetering on that edge. ‘These scars show everything I’ve lost’ sings Clouds – and that marks the end of it. A fantastic album, and I hope Secret Rivals take the best of it with them for the future, but now it is time to move on; not fall but fly. Besides, These Are Only Obstacles.

Upcoming gigs
———————————————————————————————————————
6th April @ The Barfly, Camden, London
11th April @ The Cellar, Oxford
16th April @ Buffalo Bar, Islington, London
—————————————————————————————————————————

Sunday Music Mix #16 – Twenty Something London

admin — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:36:12 +0000

Your soundtrack to Sunday, open your ears for an open mind

Sunday Music Mix #16 is here! This week’s mix is curated by Francesca of And So She Thinks, a blog of fresh music and words from around the world. And So She Thinks is an addictive mish-mash of stories on travel, London, tunes and literature and this Sunday’s mix is reflective of Francesca’s varied and discerning taste. Happy listening!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLlEFNl2uiVKXiT7hBpb74h36pVPrPPLoP]
(To view all the songs first hit ‘play’ then the ‘playlist’ button – first icon of five on the bottom right)
1. Tall Ships – “Vessels”
Definitely one of my favourite discoveries of 2012, and one I’m excited about seeing how they evolve in 2013. Every song sounds like standing on the edge of a cliff looking out over the epic vista of your life – and being scared and excited at the same time.
2. The Sunset Strip Club – “Einstein’s Theory”
Easy, guilty please, this bounds along with great guitar riffs and a banging bass line.
3. Vuvuvultures – “Stay Still”
Stupidly brilliant name, this is a great piece of rock music seasoned with electro disco. More complex than previous efforts, but then the less striking. And that riff 3 minutes in is almost Muse-esque!
4. Post War Years – “All Eyes”
This band are definitely up there with wine, chocolate, and sex. Amazing.
5. Charlie Dupre – “2012 Male”
Bit of impressive vocal wizardry from Charlie Dupre.
6. Mile Me Deaf – “Troubles Caught”
Superbly catchy seismic tunes
7. Fine Times – “Hey Judas”
Epic and grand, yearning and soaring, littered with peaks and valleys – and somehow it all comes from only two people.
8. Klak Tik – “Reborn”
Saw this trio supporting Slow Club, and I can totally see the link. Completely delightful, unapologetically simple pop songs. Timeless.
9. Thom Price-Stephens – “Peter Pan Shoes”
I’m a sucker for warm vocals and disarming honesty. Relationships in their gritty reality – uttered and unuttered words.
10. Secret Rivals – “Once More With Heart”
Ramshackle, chaotic, honest, soulful, and real. Gravelly emotions and gritty excitement, oscillating melodies, full of perpetuating energy.
Originally on Twenty Something London

Secret Rivals – Marketing

admin — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:01:26 +0000

Secret Rivals land in May with Make Do And Mend (part 2), the follow up (as the name suggests) to the 2011 Make Do And Mend, which was picked up, praised and played by ,amongst others, indie taste makers Tom Robinson, Steve Lamacq and Rob Da Bank.
Continuing with their deliciously scuzzy pop sound, nfluenced by the likes of The Cribs, Johnny Foreigner, Los Campesinos, early Idlewild and 80s indie, Make Do And Mend (part 2) is full of arresting indie pop combined with punky razor sharp riffs. Previously unheard tracks The Part That Kills and I Hope She Knows are magnificently immersive explosions of tunes, the chaos of excitement and angst managing to be perfectly and powerfully contained within the song structure. The final, and title, track reveals a softer, more vulnerable side to the band, quivering vocals over a gently mournful melody, and the stripped back production courtesy of fellow Oxfordians Alphabet Backwards allows the track to simmer and soothe to its full capacity.
Released on May 28th, through It’s All Happening! Records, Make Do And Mend (part 2) is available to pre order now.
Once More With Heart is an energetic, upbeat behemoth of a track, spurred by a driving bass line perfectly showcasing theirharsh/melodic dual vocal attack’ – Oxford Music Blog
‘from the first note a musical breath of fresh air…an uplifting package; energetic, open-hearted and pleasingly free of pretension’ – Nightshift

Clearly It’s All Happening! believe that the gravelly emotions and gritty excitement, oscillating melodies and compulsive substance, confident and explosive rhythms of Secret Rivals Once More With Heart and I Know Something make them great examples of those sorts of songs that leave your life better than when they entered it, and an excellent follow up to their September mini-album Make Do And Mend. That’s why we’re releasing it.
But it’s not only us; a fair few others have been enamoured too.
On 7^th January Sky Sports chose the song as the soundtrack to their Championship Goals montage (and managed to relocate the band to New York.)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gecZ5s84Oak]
AltSounds caught up with the guys to discuss 2011 and 2012 and Gaydar discussed being a Gay Icon. Gigape chose to share the song as did the The Music Fix, the F-Word featured Once More With Heart in a piece on their praise for female fronted bands.
The NME were treated to an exclusive of the video, and as well as sharing the video for Once More With Heart Subba Cultcha extracted from Jay that the album to change his life was Pulp’s Different Class – confirmation Secret Rivals and It’s All Happening! are the perfect match.
Panicdots love the fact that the ‘new single has a great dancey feel to it, while still retaining a punky vibe’ whilst The Found of Confusion cite the song as a ‘typically thrilling audio conniption’ (definition: a fit of rage, hysteria, or alarm).
The Oxford Music Blog believes the release on January 16th ‘looks set to kick off a landmark year for the band’ and similarly Sour Mash kick off their New for 2012 list with gushing praise for the ‘charm and damn good leg-slapping joy’ from this ‘glorious band.’ And legendary Oxford magazine Nightshift loves it as an example of ‘pure and unvarnished…timeless indie pop.’
And HMV simply state ‘we LOVE this song.’ Sums it up nicely.
Available to buy January 16th from here!
Clearly It’s All Happening! believe that the gravelly emotions and gritty excitement, oscillating melodies and compulsive substance, confident and explosive rhythms of Secret Rivals Once More With Heart and I Know Something make them great examples of those sorts of songs that leave your life better than when they entered it, and an excellent follow up to their September mini-album Make Do And Mend. That’s why we’re releasing it.
But it’s not only us; a fair few others have been enamoured too.
On 7^th January Sky Sports chose the song as the soundtrack to their Championship Goals montage (and managed to relocate the band to New York.)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gecZ5s84Oak]
AltSounds caught up with the guys to discuss 2011 and 2012 and Gaydar discussed being a Gay Icon. Gigape chose to share the song as did the The Music Fix, the F-Word featured Once More With Heart in a piece on their praise for female fronted bands.
The NME were treated to an exclusive of the video, and as well as sharing the video for Once More With Heart Subba Cultcha extracted from Jay that the album to change his life was Pulp’s Different Class – confirmation Secret Rivals and It’s All Happening! are the perfect match.
Panicdots love the fact that the ‘new single has a great dancey feel to it, while still retaining a punky vibe’ whilst The Found of Confusion cite the song as a ‘typically thrilling audio conniption’ (definition: a fit of rage, hysteria, or alarm).
The Oxford Music Blog believes the release on January 16th ‘looks set to kick off a landmark year for the band’ and similarly Sour Mash kick off their New for 2012 list with gushing praise for the ‘charm and damn good leg-slapping joy’ from this ‘glorious band.’ And legendary Oxford magazine Nightshift loves it as an example of ‘pure and unvarnished…timeless indie pop.’
And HMV simply state ‘we LOVE this song.’ Sums it up nicely.
Available to buy January 16th from here!

Secret Rivals – Everything I've Lost

admin — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:00:30 +0000

Released September 24th

There’s one way to work out if your music is worth making and if you really have fans – ask them to contribute to the costs. People will only put their money where their mouth is when it really matters, which is why Pledge music has helped numerous bands make records that may not otherwise have happened.
Secret Rivals have recently hit their target and promised numerous handwritten lyric sheets, house party gigs and personalised acoustic tracks, but before they head in the studio to record debut album Just Fall, they have this treat, a free download of Everything I’ve Lost.
Energetic angst abounds, bubbling under the surface and ready to break free, much like the band themselves. Over the last few months there have been numerous signs that this is a band about to break, in the form of Steve Lamacq, Sky Sports, Tom Robinson and Amazing Radio, and the more people that hear this sublime example of their C86 pop, the more likely it is to happen.

Passion unravels over spirited drumming, the interplay of vocals a convincing portrayal of the fireworks of a disintegrating relationship. Pummelling away on the bass, new member Andy slots perfectly into the Secret Rivals jigsaw. Secret Rivals magic lies in their juxtaposition of sweet and sordid, the ongoing volley of the violent and the whimsical and throughout Everything I’ve Lost the melody flirts with anomie underpinned by something less optimistic in sound.
Head down to Oxford’s Wheatsheaf for the launch gig on September 22nd or catch the band at the Buffalo Bar on the 25th as part of an Oxford Showcase and make sure you download the track here.

Hello Bear

admin — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 11:43:32 +0000

They describe themselves as a ‘Post-Sad Core Fun Pop Rock Trio From Norwich.’ This is better than it sounds. Dancey undulating pop, twee melodies, and randy rhythms, Hello Bear make the kind of music that perfectly accompanies both tea drinking afternoons and beer fuelled evenings. Think Los Campesinos, executed by three, all emotive and exciting. Listen to their podcasts, or catch them supporting Secret Rivals at the single launch for Everything I’ve Lost, on September 22nd at Oxford’s The Wheatsheaf.

Help Secret Rivals make music

admin — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 19:37:24 +0000

Due to the unfair nature of the music industry (nay, life), sometimes the best bands are not the ones awash with the cash to make the music they want to give to the people who want to hear it. To fund some of the recording and production of their debut album, Secret Rivals are going all Blue Peter, and asking fans to donate some cash to the pot, to be all pooled together and put to the project.
Of course, realising that not many people will do something for nothing, or just due to being cool chaps, as well as everyone receiving a copy of the album, they are offering a variety of goodies in exchange for a donation, including handwritten lyric sheets, personalised messages, VIP passes to a show, and the band playing your house party.
Head to their page to be part of this project and let music be made by making your pledge – let’s make this happen!
Don’t forget you can still buy their latest EP, Make Do And Mend Part 2 from a number of good online retailers.

Free download of Secret Rivals – Tonight Matthew

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:44:46 +0000

The wonderful Secret Rivals are offering you the wonderful Tonight Matthew I’m Going To Be Honest With Myself for free…if you tell your friends! Easy! Just click the button and grab your new tune. And don’t forget to check out the new EP Make Do And Mend (Part 2)!
The full tracklisting for Make Do And Mend (Part 2), released 28th May 2012, is as follows:
1. Once More With Heart
2. The Part That Kills
3. I Hope She Knows
4. I Know Something
5. Make Do and Mend (Part 2)
It is available to purchase from here or here.

Make Do And Mend (Part 2)

admin — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:40:04 +0000

Yes, the summer’s finest EP is available on Monday 30th May, just in time for your party weekends and a long smooth summer.
Secret Rivals will be releasing Make Do And Mend (Part 2) on It’s All Happening Records, and you can buy it here.
Tracks
1 The Part That Kills
2 Once More With Heart
3 I Hope She Knows
4 I Know Something
5 Make Do And Mend (Part 2)
If you can’t wait, because we’re lovely people, you can get a free download of Tonight Matthew I’m Going To Be Myself, simply by telling all your mates about it!