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Surface Noise Issue 2 Part 1.

Find Part 2 here

Grab a physical copy from: https://surfacenoisezine.bandcamp.com/

Follow on twitter: https://twitter.com/SN_Zine

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Surface Noise Issue 2 Part 2. Find Part 1here

Grab a physical copy from: https://surfacenoisezine.bandcamp.com/

Follow on twitter: https://twitter.com/SN_Zine

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#THEFUTUREISBIRKENHEAD

Birkenhead is perhaps best known as being the best place to view the famous Liverpool skyline. But Birkenhead is also home to Tranmere Rovers, Half Man Half Biscuit, Cammell Laird ship building yard, a defunct tram system and Stairways (the greatest alternative music club known to 16 year olds). For better or worse Birkenhead is also my hometown.

That’s why I’ve been really excited to see its name popping up on lots of gig-posters recently, courtesy of the new venue Future Yard. (Yes, this massively local news to me but I’m sharing anyway!)

Since opening its doors in April 2021, Future Yard has already hosted Shame, Black Country, New Road and is also set to host Lazarus Kane, BDRMM and OMD.

In its continuing commitment to live music and supporting the next generation of musicians, Future Yard has recently announced a new artist membership scheme: Propeller.

Propeller will give up and coming acts access to quality practice space, bespoke mentor support and expert knowledge. Through this membership scheme Future Yard will “work with early-career and established artists with huge potential, to help them develop their work, build their audience and establish robust career foundations.”

Project lead and mentor Cath Hurley says, “Having worked with exciting and emerging talent for the past 15 years, it’s easy to spot where the disconnects lie in the pathway for regional talent who deserve to progress on to a world stage…Future Yard is creating a community where information and experience is shared freely and opportunities can be sought out and maximised in order to grow.”

To help support artists in achieving this, Propeller members will have a tailored development plan. They will also have access to workshops and classes provided not only by Future Yard, but also by industry leaders who come from a variety of institutions including Bandcamp, Redlight Management, Partisan Records and The Musicians’ Union.

Cath Hurley again, “The wider Propeller team is packed full of professionals that inspire us and have achieved great results with special artists. I can’t wait to introduce them to our growing community of local talent. Music in our region is so special and I can’t wait to hear so much of it thudding out of our rehearsal rooms and onto our stage.”

There are two levels of membership available and Future Yard is accepting applications for a September 2021 start until 2md August 2021. For more information visit propeller.futureyard.org

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Review: The Goalie’s Anxiety At The Penalty Kick - Ways of Hearing

The Goalie’s Anxiety At The Penalty Kick’s debut album ‘Ways of Hearing’ was originally released in October of last year on cassette and digitally by Count Your Lucky Stars. But due to popular demand it is getting its first vinyl release on Friday (11th June).

Hailing from Philadelphia, the 6-piece layer dual vocals over artfully blended strings and keys, adding acoustic guitars and delicate drumming in to the mix to create a soundscape to lose yourself in. Party music it is not, atmospheric, introspective, thoughtful and well crafted it is. I’ve seen it dubbed as ‘slowcore’ and I’m happy to run with that description. It’s an album to completely throw yourself into, actively listen to and be enthralled by, it is no way background music.

The standout track for me is ‘The Cat Stands on My Arm’ that gently and slowly builds to a (realitively speaking) crescendo with the strings taking the lead to get the listener there, before coming back down again.

Although at times it is slow, gentile and understated, this not a sad album. Yes ‘Ways of Hearing’ plays with emotion; at times it feels mournful but it then equally feels blissful and euphoric. The warmth of vocals ensure that any feelings of the album being cold don’t linger for long. It is a totally captivating listen.

As I said at the start, this has had a vinyl release due to popular demand, a quick search shows it listed in a number of independent shops in the UK. It’ll definitely be worth your time picking up a copy if you’re out and about this RSD on Saturday.

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Review: Parting - Unmake Me EP

Released through Count Your Lucky Stars, Parting’s debut EP Unmake Me comes with release notes that sign off with; “recommended if you like The Get Up Kids, Knapsack & The Promise Ring.” For the record, I’m now closer to 40 than 30, sporting a beard; wearing plaid shirts like it’s still 2007 and musically I know what I like. I know that I am very much the target audience for this release.

My tastes are still heavily influenced by what I was listening to just after the turn of the century when I was 16/17. Back then I was obsessed with The Get Up Kids and basically every band that has it roots linked to Cap’n Jazz, such as The Promise Ring. Parting (made up of members of Annabel, Dowsing & Empire! Empire!...) certainly remind me of those days.

Unmake Me is a 7-track EP that really delivers on its recommended if you like promise. As soon as first single ‘Jesse Eisenbird’ was released a few weeks ago I was hooked, my immediate reaction was “this is music for me.” There are driving guitars, vocals with a sense of urgency that make you want to sing along and the pop sensibilities of late 90s emo.

This feels familiar, after one listen I know this song but only in a good way. It’s not a case of just repeating what was being played 20 years ago; it’s very much a contemporary take on it.

There are hooks and harmonies galore scattered throughout the whole EP, and tracks like ‘Ratt Michards’ that I found myself singing along to on just the second listen.  But it is not at all single-paced; the latest track to be released, ‘Stapler’s Monster’, is far moodier and much more atmospheric affair.

The pop-infused ‘After The Fact’, picks the pace back up again. It is the most melodic sounding track on the EP, which incidentally is being released on the lesser-spotted 10-inch format. There’s definitely less urgency than on ‘Jesse Eisenbird’ but it still drives hard and again I can’t help but sing along. ‘Living Proof’, nicely rounds off the EP as a slower track that builds to an ending.

I really like this EP; I knew I would after one track was released. While it is reminiscent of bands I used to listen to, the songs stand up in their own right as part of the current emo landscape fitting in next to the likes of The Hotelier, Barely Civil, Good Sleepy and Charmer. Do I like the fact that it evokes memories of being a teenager and discovering this music for the first time? Absolutely music should produce some kind of emotional response. But that’s not THE reason I like it. At the end of the day Unmake Me is a collection of 7 bloody good songs and THAT’S why I really like it.

Unmake Me is released on Friday 4th June by Count Your Lucky Stars (pre-order) and strictly no capital letters (no pre-order) in the UK.

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Short Review: Remember Sports - Like A Stone

A full review will follow in Issue #2 but for now here is a shortened review.

‘Like A Stone’ is the fourth Remember Sports album and is again released via Father/Daughter Records in the US. The UK/EU release has been handled by Big Scary Monsters.

From the very first notes of opening track ‘Pinky Ring’, I know it’s going to be good. It instantly draws you in, and is a very solid opening to the album. This is followed by the 39 second ‘Coffee Machine’, which serves as a sweet cleanser before we are greeted by ‘Sentimentality’. It is a nod to the past sounding more like some of their previous releases. However, track 4, the excellent, ‘Easy’ is the signature Remember Sports sound and is the highlight of side A, which is completed by the slightly country-ish ‘Eggs’ and then achingly glorious ‘Materialistic’.

Side B opens with the title track ‘Like A Stone’ and it picks up the pace just as it’s needed, this songe really packs a punch. On ‘Clocks’ Carmen Perry sings, “I’m not taking things too well” against fuzzy guitars. The frantic pop-punk ‘Falling Awake’ delivers everything I want in from a Remember Sports song, it’s dynamic, fun and vibrant. ‘Flossie Dickie’ is next, and that is followed by the outstanding 7 minute ‘Out Loud’, this is my fvaourite track on the whole album. ‘Like A Stone’ is finshed off by the acoustic country inspired ‘Odds Are’.

I really liked this album on first listen, it offers something different to their previous albums whilst still sounding like a Remember Sports album, and it gets better with subsequent listens too. It totally fits into the Remember Sports canon and would be at home being played at the basement shows in which they made their name.   Highly Recommended.

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Issue #1 is here

Grab yourself a copy from http://surfacenoisezine.bandcamp.com

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First Impressions: McKinley Dixon - For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like Her

Yesterday saw the release of the hotly anticipated ‘For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like Her’. This is first label offering from Virginia based artist McKinley Dixon and is out via Spacebomb. Here are my first impressions after the first few listens...

I’m just going to say straight away that I really love this album; after the release of the singles over the last few weeks I was super excited for it and it does not disappoint. The album opens with  ‘Chain So Heavy’ which was released a few weeks a go and it instantly introduces the listener to the jazz influences that will feature throughout the album. Dixon’s talent shines through on ‘make a poet Black’; an atmospheric string laden track on which he takes on the role of a narrator questioning themselves during the trauma of loss. The standout track in the second half of the album is ‘Mama’s Home’. This provides a shift in tone and feel, Dixon sounds less angry than he does in the earlier tracks. That is not to say he isn’t feeling pain and suffering still but is more fronting up to it.  

I think to call ‘For My Mama and Anyone Who Look Like Her’ a rap album would be doing it a disservice as there is so much more going on. Even the look of the artwork by Amber Pierce doesn’t feel like a typical rap album. Dixon’s skill as a storyteller shines through as do his varied musical influences. His use of those influences are much more rounded and subtle than his previous work and it creates a much more complete and coherent record.

I fully accept that I am no expert in rap and hip-hop but this is as good as anything I’ve heard in the last 20 years, it’s comparable in skill and talent to the likes of Kendrick. It was deservedly Bandcamp Album of the day.

Genuine Album of the Year Contender.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0lSaPO2OKn5eeUCiEcbumJ?si=jGROGn_7Qc-PUcqD_oEa4w

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Review: Fresh - The Summer I Got Good At Guitar EP

I really like Fresh and I really like EPs, they are a massively underrated format I reckon. So naturally you would assume I like the new EP from Fresh, released via Specialist Subject on Friday?

Well, you’d be right. It is 13 and a half minutes of pure unadulterated fun. The benefit of it only being 13 and a half minutes is that I’ve been able to listen to it quite a few times already, ably supported by the fact that they have released two tracks as singles in advance of the EP (’Girl Clout’ & ‘My Redemption Arc’).

The EP kicks off with the poptastic title track. The lyrics show off an additional level of introspection perhaps not quite seen before in the previous releases. This is then followed up with ‘Over There’ during which I don’t think vocalist Kathryn Woods voice has sounded as good as it does here. I’ve always thought of Fresh of band who don’t take themselves too seriously and are just having fun. But I believe them when w’re told that “No one will take me seriously, I want to be the best” on lead single Girl Clout. When it was released in March it instantly became my favourite Fresh song. An impassioned plea against sexism in the music industry ( “It's here for sure and certain, I see it in your eyes, Play shows with us for girl clout, Tell me you're one of the good guys”) it is the highlight of the EP.

This followed by second single the anthemic, ‘My Redemption Arc’, possibly my least favourite track on the EP, its still great. I can’t help but feel that this is a track designed to be played live in front of sweaty, bouncing crowd who are siging every word.

The EP signs off with the slowest track, ‘Cry For Help’ which is a really nice change of pace that you just sometimes need after the frenzied blitz of pop-punk goodness that preceeded it.

The last fresh album was released in 2019, and they have seemingly spent lockdown really honing their craft, both musically and lyrically. This is a really great EP and, for me, their best release to date so far. There is not a second wasted here. If this is an indication of the an album to come then I am massively excited. I’ve got my pre-order in, you should get yours too here.

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Grab a physical copy form: https://surfacenoisezine.bandcamp.com/ Follow on twitter: https://twitter.com/SN_Zine

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Issue #1 - Review

Read the full review of 5th wave emo band Home Is Where in issue 1 - out this weekend

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Issue #1 - Interview

Find out who really really likes James Yorkston’s music in Issue 1, out this weekend.

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Issue #1- Interview

find out who inspired Erik from Proper. in issue 1 - out this weekend.

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Issue #1

See the full review in issue 1 - out this weekend

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Issue #1- Review

Find the full review in Issue 1 out this weekend!

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Issue #1- Review

See the full review in issue 1 out this weekend.

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Merch Alert!

Punk is dead / Punk is not dead pin badges https://surfacenoisezine.bandcamp.com/merch/punk-is-dead-punk-is-not-dead-pin-badge-button