I have had loads of favourite bands over the years. I’m actually off to see one of the first of my favourite bands tonight, who I first fell for back in 1984 and if I ‘m not in my cups by the end I may even post a review on here.
My current new favourite band are called Plastic Mermaids and they come from the Isle of Wight. They sound like a nice cross between the Beta Band’s 3 EPs and Flaming Lips’ Soft Bulletin, which is pretty good to my ears. I guess if you make something that sounds like 1998, then I’m probably gonna love it!
Like the bands I loved 30 years ago I want everything I can get on them. Back when I was a teenager this was pretty difficult, if not impossible. I would have to not eat for a week and save up my school dinner money so that I could afford the £4 for a 12″ EP when I nipped into the record shop on Saturday. Even then I could probably only afford one record a week and if a band had a more extensive catalogue than the odd EP then I was unlikely to get everything, especially if that first single was already deleted or what have you. Thankfully now I have the wonders of the 21st century I can find out what a band has released, listen to it and have it brought within an hour if I like. Simples. That said, I sort of missed the boat on the first two Plastic Mermaids EPs, long since deleted, but apparently there’s an album due in the new year and a new song has appeared online. When I heard this yesterday I had that same excitement that I had when I was 14, and I can’t wait for the album. The video is pretty cool too.
And here’s another one that’s a bit of winner as far as I’m concerned-
I avoid buying entire catalogues. However, when my step-daughter drew my ear to this band, I immediately bought their 3 CDs and I obsessively skulk their pages looking for their very infrequent tours, without, so far, any joy.
A superb gentle, mournful caledonitronica sound, mournful songs with tinges of organic trumpet and banjo peeking through.
https://youtu.be/QJJzyveuIAI?list=PLkQe6cxM0yDHTNsC5Utz_Q81yNZC_ErNs
Other new faves are Niteworks, banged on about before, to a deathly silence, gaelic trad-techno, and Curse of Lono, home counties americana. They launch their 2nd record on a tour next month into December.
My new favourite band is Spiritualized. I’d never heard them a month ago, and now can’t get enough of them. Makes me think of that Taleb bloke who wrote ‘antifragile’ who won’t read a book less than 20 years old, to avoid fashionable trivia.
I think I posted recently that Lazer Guided Melodies would be my desert island album. It’s flawless in my opinion. Enjoy the back catalogue.
I’m about to put my double vinyl copy on Discogs. Not a big fan.
I just hope they stay together!
Dawes were my new favourite band a couple of years ago – on the strength of one album.
However, when I started going backwards it wasn’t as great as I hoped. And the disappointment/frustration continued with their next album. Not heard the newest one.
I haven’t got on with the new one. It’s great but there’s something about his writing which irritates me – the meter of the lyrics is always the same which is boring. I love the previous one though.
Big Dawes fan, but their later stuff is moving away from the sound I liked. Fast.
Loved them, can’t get on with anything they’ve done of late. But I suppose their wonderfully promising early Eagles like career could have ended up at Hotel California.
Recently?
Well, after a thread here I decided that Bobbie Gentry had just the best sounding voice I think I’ve heard. I love ELH for her crystal clarity, and Sandy Denny, but something in BG’s voice just wraps itself around you and squeezes in just the right place.
Other than that? Mastersystem. For a debut album that was two sets of brothers, I thought they blasted it out of the park. I fully acknowledge that OOAA
I’m currently loving the 50’s-tinged summery pop of Dreamland by Elma, from the rock and roll capital, Ely. Here’s the single, California:
Best use of the Oo-oo-oo-oo BV since the Maisonettes’ Heartach Avenue?
Top pop trivia: guitarist Mark used to be drummer in Hamfatter, the band who appeared on Dragon’s Den.
Yeah, I heard the Plastic Mermaids song on 6Music & really liked it.
I’m so into Beak right now (insert drug-related joke here).
I can’t remember the last new band I got into… probably my most recent significant conversion has been to latter period Radiohead. Although I still struggle with King Of Limbs.
Yes it’s all a bit silly, but the band I’ve most recently been devouring is this lot: