The next few months look busy for some of the acts who first came to prominence during the post-punk era – and who refused to join the heritage circuit. Wire, who released their debut Pink Flag in 1977, will shortly release their 13th album, entitled Wire. The line up is now Colin Newman (vocals, guitar); Robert Grey (drums); Graham Lewis (bass, vocals), and former It Hugs Back guitarist Matthew Simms, who joined the band in 2012.
The album tracklisting is as follows:
1. Blogging
2. Shifting
3. Burning Bridges
4. In Manchester
5. High
6. Sleep-Walking
7. Joust & Jostle
8. Swallow
9. Split Your Ends
10. Octopus
11. Harpooned
Hell, there must be some planning going on over at the indie superhouse that is 4AD/Beggars Banquet/Matador. Not only have they signed Broken Records (supported by this blog since August 2006), and signed Camera Obscura, (in addition to a roster that currently includes TV On the Radio, Stereolab and Bon Iver), they also signed It Hugs Back towards the end of last year, too.
I’ve mentioned this band before, but seeing as the debut album Inside Your Guitar landed on the mat at 17 Seconds Towers a few days ago it seemed like I should mention them again. Believe me, an album as summery as this will light up your spring and summer – even if the good ol’ British weather remains as sodding awful as it…well, it usually is, let’s be honest, isn’t it?
The band -Matthew Simms (Guitar, vocals), Jack Theedom (Organ, backing vocals), Paul Michael (bass) and Dimitri Sudell (drums) have made a debut that shows the first relase from this album ‘Work Day’ was no fluke. This is an album that is beuatiful and wonderful, and completely on its’ own terms. It’s dreamy – but you’d never call this shoegazing. It’s folky – but it rocks, as well, just gently. It evokes classic guitar stuff, but it’s never indie by numbers or c86 re-treads. And is that a hint of Nick Drake…or was I thinking of Ooberman? The best records make you want to go back and listen to them as soon as you’ve finished them. With this album, you find yourself planning to do it before it’s even finished. I might need to invest in a new msuical theasuarus. Sod, it, we’ll just call it the fabulous debut from It Hugs Back.
****1/2
Inside Your Guitar isn’t out until April 6 2009. A long wait, huh?
Well, until then, whet your appetite with this, the video for forthcoming single ‘Now + Again.’
The previous video for ‘Work Day’ can be seen here:
The last few days have been pretty busy around my inbox, as I try and fail to keep up to date and get to grips with everything I’m sent. Much as I cannot wait to get my hands on the new LPs from White Lies (already out) and Franz Ferdinand (out next week), there’s also new and exciting stuff being sent my way. And with the January blues permeting this little corner of Scotland, maybe it’s best I listen to something a little more upbeat than Mono, for example, who I love, but tend to make me wallow than quit the blues.
One of the incoming tracks is 4AD’s signing of Kent band It Hugs Back. this track actually made it to that alll-important no.48 position in the 2008 17 Seconds Festive Fifty.
Also arriving into the 17 Seconds inbox is the Whitest Boy Alive, whose sophomore album Rules will be released on their own label on March 30. I’m really loving this. I think you will, too.
Another new release bag through the door…somehow, already I cannot stop playing it!
Signed to 4ad, out on tour soon, and with this track already downloadable from iTunes and out on 7″ on Monday…what are you waiting for? Like Arcade Fire, Bruce Springsteen and Sonic Youth discovering that they’ve got common ground…b-side take apart’ is also pretty ace and goes further down the Sonic Youth route.
