THE GREAT ESCAPE

BAND OF THE DAY #109 - Me and the Bees

As you may already know, as part of The Great Escape’s lead international focus on Catalan Sounds, we’re presenting a variety of music from Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, currently a hot-bed of new music, both live and recorded. Me and the Bees are one of many great bands to come out of Catalan territories, featuring Esther Margarit (lead vocals and guitar), Eli Molina (guitar), Verónica Alonso (drummer), and Carlos Leoz (guitar) with back up vocals provided by all of them.

Streaming here is “Cleopatra” of the “Cleopatra EP”, Esther’s raspy vocals are soothing and the honest band’s sound has that unexplainable quality that makes you smile every time you listen to them. You should check out their debut LP “Fuerza Bien” that was released back in late 2010 on Barcelona record label, La Castanya. Can’t wait to see them at TGE!

Angela S.

BAND OF THE DAY #108 - Damages

Brighton’s tweecore trio Damages will release their debut single ‘Tie A Ribbon’ as part of an upcoming split single with former band of the day Towns through Cartoon Records, order here.

They have been described as ‘having enough fire in their belly to stoke a chimney’ and conjuring up ‘what the faster tracks of The Pixies seminal work Dolittle would have sounded like if they had been reinteruperated by Nirvana, spliced with John Spencer Blues Explosion’ before being dropped into a sewer based toxic ooze’

BAND OF THE DAY #107 - The Cast Of Cheers

The Cast of Cheers hail from Dublin and debut single, Family, is out on February 20th is full of angular, giddy guitars and yelped vocals. Its sounds like the best bits of Hot Hot Heat with a bit of early Foals thrown in to the mix The band are set to embark on a three month tour with Theme Park from February.

Next show is 31st January (tomorrow) at Madame Jo Jo’s. Details here

BAND OF THE DAY #106 - Vondelpark

Today’s Band of the Day is Vondelpark, a London based production trio on R&S Records. Lewis Rainsbury, Alex Bailey and Matt Law create wonderfully atmospheric sample based sounds using minimal guitar chords and soulful vocals, with this accompanying video completing the ‘washed-out’ vibe. “Camels” was released on their “nyc stuff and nyc bags” EP last July and they’ve supported James Blake who’s also released material on the label.

BAND OF THE DAY #105 - Data Romance

Ajay Bhattacharyya and Amy Kirkpatrick from Canada are electro-indie duo Data Romance. They create industrial-infused pop likened to that of Nine In Nails, but watch this bewitching video for their track “The Deep” and you’ll soon agree that they have a sound of their own, which they describe as “the contrast between human feeling and hard tech”, with Kirkpatrick’s ghostly vocals offering a feminine edge. Don’t miss the band’s full-length album, due out soon.

BAND OF THE DAY #104 - Hoodlums

Hoodlums are a 5 piece band, fronted by the commanding vocals of Lou Vaingloriuous. Their music emanates a dark and brooding atmosphere that sets them apart from most indie-pop, culminating in euphoric choruses and colossal sounds.

You can catch them next at Wilmington Arms in Clerkenwell on the 9th of February where they’re launching their second single, “Dark Horses”, featured here.

BAND OF THE DAY #103 - Charlift

Chairlift’s much anticipated second album “Something” was released yesterday, however without founding member Aaron Pfenning who left the group, now only featuring vocalist Caroline Polachek and multi-instrumentalist Patrick Wimberly.

You may have first heard of Chairlift when their track “Bruises” became a mainstream success off the back of Apple’s iPod Nano advert back in 2008, but the release of “Something” has proved they are more than just a one-hit-wonder, presenting an album of bolder melodies and 80s pop influences, and Polachek’s vocals are as elegant as ever. Watch a stripped down version of “I’m a Ghost Tonight” from Black Cab Sessions.

Chairlift - Ghost Tonight from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

And while you’re at it, Chairlift’s Boiler Room session back in early November is quite a watch. I was at Corsica Studios on the night to see it live and it was quite the performance, certainly the first of it’s kind to grace the Boiler Room, hence causing a bit of a stir in the infamous chatroom.

BAND OF THE DAY #102 - Street Chant

Street Chant are a heavy pop trio from Auckland, New Zealand. The band consists of Emily Littler (vocals/guitar), Billie Rogers (bass/vocals) and Alex Brown (drums). Formed out of boredom, teenage binge drinking and other bands making them want to vomit. They have since gone on to storm SXSW and release their debut album ‘Means’ through Arch Hill Recordings.

We haven’t heard this type of urgency since Die! Die! Die! It feels like it could all fall apart at any second. They know what being a heavy guitar pop trio is all about. Turn it up loud, hit the distortion pedal and get to the point. Some UK shows this year wouldn’t go a miss either.

Street Chant ‘Yr Philosophy’ from Rover on Vimeo.

BAND OF THE DAY #101 - Towns

Towns are a quartet from Weston-super-Mare, a seaside resort from which John Cleese, T4 on the Beach and donkeys reside.

The debut single ‘Gone Are The Days’ produced by Owen Morris (Oasis, The Verve) is four minutes of fuzzy guitars full of reverb and hook laden vocals which effortlessly sear over the wall of noise which reverberates all over it. Think Ride covering My Bloody Valentine songs. It’s out on the 20th February.

Towns are also playing across the UK over the next week, go here for further details and ensure bragging rights that you saw them first.

Brett P

BAND OF THE DAY #100 - Porcelain Raft

Meet Mauro Remiddi, a former member of the band Sunny Day Sets Fire, now recording under the name Porcelain Raft. His brand of fidgety synth-pop sits somewhere between 1990s George Michael and M83.

His debut album, Strange Weekend, will be released on Monday (23rd January). Check out the video below for his latest single ‘Put Me To Sleep’.

BAND OF THE DAY #99 - Mausi

Italian siblings Daisy and Thomas Finetto formed the band Mausi after meeting Ben Brown and Benji Huntrods at university in Newcastle.

Due for release on February 20 via US label All Things Go, “sol.” is the first offering from the four-piece, showcasing their youthful energy with infectious up-beat pop injected with summer vibes that command you to ‘Dance! Dance! Dance!’, and accompanied by a self-written, directed and produced video.

M A U S I - sol. from wearemausi on Vimeo.

BAND OF THE DAY #98 - Friends

Friends are the latest in a long line of cool-looking bands from Brooklyn. What sets Friends apart, however, is that the songs are good. There’s a looseness and spontaneity to what they do.

Recently released single ‘Im His Girl’ printed on a limited run of vinyl, sold out within days of it’s release. They are heading over to the UK in February to play shows in Manchester and London, tickets are selling fast. Get them here .

Check out the video for the catchy-as-hell bubblefunk single “I’m His Girl”. Friends singer/songwriter Samantha Urbani co-directs alongside Aurora Halal. Watch it below.

BAND OF THE DAY #97 - You Love Her Coz She’s Dead

Brighton duo You Love Her Coz She’s Dead have been described as Atari Teenage Riot meets Digitalism. Having notched up previous release through Kitsune and shows with Flux Pavilion and Sleigh Bells this lot have been causing quite a stir for the last few years.

The debut album was released at the tail end of last year and is available to buy from here. Look out for further releases and collaborations in 2012 and check out the amazing video below for ‘Leap Of Desire (I)’ which was shot in Brighton and is dedicated to the late DJ Mehdi.

BAND OF THE DAY #96 - I Break Horses

Stockholm natives, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Maria Lindén and drummer Fredrik Balck are I Break Horses, who released their debut album “Hearts” last summer on Bella Union, famously home to Fleet Foxes and Explosions In The Sky. What followed was almost universal acclaim for their shoegazy electronica, created using keyboards and plenty of reverb to emanate a textured soundscape.

They’re joining M83 on tour later this year, but for now have a listen to “Winter Beats”.

I Break Horses - Winter Beats from Bella Union on Vimeo.

Angela S.

BAND OF THE DAY #95 - Megafortress

Megafortress is the brainchild of New York-based experimental pop musician Bill Gillim. His self-titled debut on Software and Mexican Summer (home to previous Band of the Day Oneohtrix Point Never) is awaiting release on January 31st, and judging from this track we’re excited to hear it. His gently obscured falsetto is reminiscent of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, and he completes the track with a simple arrangement including electronic steel drums and rainsticks. Fader also dubbed his music as “the most beautifully inward, fetal position-inducing music imaginable”.

And on that note, check out the video for “Green Child below” by Grant Nitsch.

Angela S.

BAND OF THE DAY #94 - Replicas

Helena Gee and Ashiya Eastwood are Replicas, who recently debuted on O Genesis Recordings last September with a three-track EP produced by Tim Burgess, featuring singles “Hearts Beat”, “The City” and “You Disappear”. Each track exudes sensual melancholy with brooding synths and ambient vocals from both Helena and Ashiya.

Stream “Hearts Beat” here, if you’re into it make sure you listen to the EP in its entirety at soundcloud.com/replicasreplicas and it’s also available to purchase on 7” as well as digitally on O Genesis Recordings.

Angela S.