Some cracking singles and EPs have crossed my desk recently so I would like to take this opportunity to share with you, dear reader.
Kontakte – Three Inch Tapes
Of course, I have to start my round-up with Kontakte’s new release. Regular readers will know this blog recently co-released the kosmiche duo’s final recordings. (A few twin CD physical albums are left so get yours soon or be disappointed.) In a shock twist, Kontakte founder Ian Griffiths released live versions of some of the tracks to coincide with the anniversary of the death of Stuart Low, his former musical partner. Head over to Bandcamp now and secure your digital copy of the EP.
Masal – ‘Black Beads’
Essex-based harp and synth duo Masal continue to mine a rich seam of musical wonder. A new LP, The Galloping Cat, comes out in a couple of months. ‘Black Beads’ is its first single.
Harpist Özlem Simsek said the song is about “finding one’s purpose in life, battling with uncertainty, the unexpected turns and changes while searching for the things that make us happy or make us feel fulfilled”.
Intriguing, enchanting, and challenging is a fair description of Masal, I think. I look forward to giving the LP a proper listen and featuring in these pages soon. (Why not subscribe below to ensure you receive all the latest from Even Butterflies Make A Sound?)
Colin Newman – ‘Turn’
Colin Newman, the frontman of post-punk legends Wire, has never been one to shy away from confrontational music. This was best epitomised by the release, in collaboration with Malka Spigel, of Bastard way back in 1997. The swim ~ label re-releases it this Friday (January 26).
A new edit of album closer, the breakbeat heavy banger ‘Turn’, is out now. Please see the video above.
“Jungle/drum and bass was the true sound of mid-’90s London, even if the ‘industry’ and its apologists wanted you to believe it was Britpop,” says Colin. “‘Turn’, the sole vocal track on Bastard, on which Malka sang instead of me, can be viewed as a creative riposte by us to the sad regurgitation of my own work from 20 years earlier by Elastica et al. Malka and I have always believed in the long game.”
Yoke – Yeah EP
The last entry in this round-up is a brilliant concept from four-piece Yoke, from Cambridge, UK. The EP is contained in colourful ecocotton paper impregnated with wildflower seeds and lovingly ink stamped by the band. They say: ‘It looks like a tiny record, but you can’t play it. You can plant it, though.’ Follow the link below to watch the band’s hilarious instructional video.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=w6N50GNuK-c
The band members have served/are serving time in acts like Moonstrips, Baby Seals, Model Village, and Doyouthinkhesaurus? Yoke is on the lookout for gigs further afield from Cambridge.
The EP’s stand-out track for me is the rocking, slide guitary ‘Game of Crows’. Interestingly, all the songs are named (not really) after other musical acts: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Game of (Black) Crows, Wayne Coyne, and Tortoise. Click here to go to Yoke’s Bandcamp page.
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[…] house, techno, breakbeat, drum and bass, and doubtless post-rock. The only singing is a one-line Malka sample on ‘Turn’. Not only did the album not play by the rules of what would these days be […]