Indie
Track: Sextile – ‘Flesh’
We introduced you to LA post-punk-noir outfit Sextile a few weeks back (click here for interview) after we were instantly blown away by their debut release ‘Can’t Take It’. Well in no time at all they’re back with another number from their forthcoming debut album ‘A Thousand Hands’. Again it’s a beautiful, dark, slice of …
Sarah Cracknell reschedules Leeds City Varieties gig
I was one of those punters who turned up for Sarah Cracknell’s much anticipated City Varieties appearance on Sunday June 21st only to find it been cancelled at the last moment due to a throat infection. The St Etienne singers has now rescheduled for Sunday 26th July as she promotes her highly acclaimed second solo …
Live Review: Gengahr – Rough Trade East, London 2.7.15, plus gallery
We were in the middle of a heat wave but, judging by the large crowd that formed in Rough Trade East on a balmy July evening, Gengahr were going to get a warm reception whatever the weather. I’m pleased to say that Gengahr’s teenage fans showed up en masse for this in store show, waving …
Track: Seapony – Let Go
Seattle’s Seapony are back after nearly two years with new album A Vision due to be released on 31 July. Let Go is the second single from the album and is just under three minutes of breezy surf pop perfection. Jen Weidl’s dreamy vocals and Danny Rowland’s jangling guitar combine with a touch of synth …
Track: Mercury Rev – The Queen of Swans
We’ve been waiting a long time for a new Mercury Rev album – since 2008’s Snowflake Midnight – and, if first single and album opener The Queen Of Swans is anything to go by, The Light In You will have been worth the wait when it is released on 18 September. This is a sparkling …
Album Review: Labasheeda – Changing Lights
Dutch three piece Labasheeda, aka Saskia van der Giessen (vocals, guitar, violin) Arne Wolfswinkel (guitar) and Aletta Verwoerd (drums) make this sort of experimental, unsettling music, that is often mind boggling with its constant changes of direction, often mid song. Over the years they’ve released a handful of increasingly well received records. Their latest, Changing …
Premiere: The Floodgates – Broken Kite
Tumbridge Wells three piece The Floodgates began as a folk duo, before graduating (and bear in mind that they’re still all in their teenage years) into a fully fledged indie / alt band. The trio, Martin Stenning, Alex Wane and Tim Fullbrook have today allowed us to premiere their new single Broken Kite right here …
Premiere: Mush – Machine Envy
Leeds four piece Mush have been on an upward trajectory recently, becoming something of a house band at Brudenell Social Club, and supporting the likes of Action Beat and Ringo Deathstarr. We’re very pleased to be able to premiere there rather wonderful new track, Machine Envy, right here on Backseat Mafia. It’s slow moving fare, …
Track: Frog Eyes – Joe with the Jam
It’s been almost two years, but Carey Mercers project Frog Eyes are back with a new album, Pickpocket’s Locket, which drops on August 28th via Paper Bag Records. Despite featuring contributions from Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, Swan Lake), Jesse Zubot, John Paton and Paul Rigby, Mercer wrote the album on his acoustic guitar, …
Track: Wild Ones – Show Me islands
We’re not quite used to heat waves here in the north of England, so when we get one, like today (the hottest July day on record, apparently) we get all giddy, kicking back in the garden and drinking beer. I’m sat between work and work, in a supermarket cafe (with no air conditioning) so I’m …