THE 405 CHARITY ALBUM: ARTIST PROFILES
November 21, 2009,
Written by Will Slater
On 21st November, we release our long awaited compilation album in association with the charity, Invisible Children. Here's some info on each artist involved and the tracks that they've contributed.
Little Glitches – Two Dead Men
www.myspace.com/littleglitches
A buzzing folk roots band from Sheffield. Little Glitches provide a harmonious, layered display of sounds that take you on a journey.
With its series of crackles, clicks and soothing vocals, Two Dead Men, from their recent ‘123’ EP, gives the album an endearing launch.
A Slient Film – Sleeping Pills (Steane)
www.myspace.com/asilentfilm
They’re as contemporary as they come. A Silent Film keep the listener occupied with soaring vocals that blend with the echoing guitars and fast paced drums. This version of Sleeping Pills however, shows a different side of them; a sole piano with the vocals remaining give them a fittingly pure sound.
Secret Moves – Midnight Surfwatch
www.myspace.com/secretmoves
Secret Moves are a fiery young indie band from Manchester, who perform with a combination systematic instrumentals and heartfelt vocals, very much drifting away from the Madchester craze that many of their contemporaries still conform to. Midnight Surfwatch, from their forthcoming debut album, is their example of creating what is familiar to them, powerful rock riffs, while looking to another culture, what was first popularised in 50s California.
Adam Gnade – We’re Sick Of It
www.myspace.com/gnade
A favourite of the 405’s, Adam Gnade is an obscure and bleak, but fascinating storyteller, whose literature dominates his music the way poetry dominated Leonard Cohen’s. In We’re Sick of it he adopts the role of a social commentator. This is something that you would have heard Woody Guthrie playing in a boxcar.
Data Select Party – Wake Up The Town
www.myspace.com/dataselectparty
Data Select Party brings some of the strongest elements of hype to the album. They play punchy beats and twiddling guitars that fill every contemporary rock freak’s iPod at the moment. Wake up the Town pretty much does what it says on the tin.
Phantom – We Float
www.myspace.com/thisisphantomuk
A group with a boho-rock n' roll image and a hazy, enchanting surf rock sound, fit to span a revamped Sergio Leone western, with a bit of David Lynch's surreal thrill thrown in. They raise a state of trance, like you've just gotten the whiff of an opium den. This demo of We Float is a taste of the exciting music that Phantom are due to bring to the world.
Jeremy Warmsley – I Believe In The Way You Move (Live)
www.myspace.com/jeremywarmsley
One of the most talented pop songwriters that London has to offer, Jeremy Warmsley has released gem after gem since 2005. This live version of I Believe In The Way You Move is a very different, stripped down version of his first single, but carries the same charm.
Red Room – Calmness In The Chaos
myspace.com/marblesmusic1
Led by a fresh and thoughtful songwriter, Sam Frankl, Red Room are a band that bring a fantastic live, blues rock sound to their recordings, which could have been played in any era. Legendary New York producer, Robert Khozouri, produced this special demo of Calmness In The Chaos and it has the same power as the bands he worked with at CBGB in the 1970s.
Zoey Van Goey – Where It Lands (Demo)
www.myspace.com/zoeyvangoey
The marvellous Glaswegian folk outfit, Zoey Van Goey, inspire great thoughts of fantasies and create some of the most comforting melodies you’ll ever hear. Their demo of Where It Lands has connotations of a night time ocean. The ever quiet, later introduction of an organ blowpipe can transport the listener.
The O’Darling – Where Harbour Meets The Sea (Demo)
www.myspace.com/theodarling
An alliance of six remarkable musicians and singers from Toronto, who form some simply beautiful ambient folk/pop arrangements. The O’Darling gave us possibly the most personal song for the album, as it was composed by one of their parents, for whom they arranged and recorded it in a small local church. Where Harbour Meets The Sea tells a simple, yet solemn and moving story.
Mimas – SMOM (Demo)
www.myspace.com/mimas
Yet another group of musicians that Scandinavia has to be proud of. Mimas have many recognisable quirks, disturbances and passions in their sound. Nevertheless their songs have an intensity and stirring of emotions that only they can muster and that can draw you in more than anything else. The demo of SMOM from their forthcoming second album shows what they can do with just a few twisted lyrics on top of a scrambled instrumental sequence and a simple bugle solo.
Venomous – Look Up (Piano Version)
www.myspace.com/venomdossier
A rock band with elements of psych and synths. One of our editors, Aaron Hunt, is looking to bring them from Pennsylvania over to the UK, just to show people what they’re capable of. Venomous bring the album to a close with a very poignant version of Look Up. The voice and lyrics will leave you with food for thought by the time it finishes.
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Will - 09/02/10
Quite often when a song becomes part of a soundtrack, the artist doesn't get a say as to what programme or advert that song goes on, as music is mostly put on a huge database that production companies pay for and choose any song they like from. Can't quite remember what this database is called and I'm not sure if I've explained it correctly either, but the point is I don't think Oberst chose to have his song associated with a bank so that he could make money... maybe. [view article]
Emma - 09/02/10
I accept Danny's Lostprophets diss (Oh how I used to LOVE them when the Fake Sound of Progress came out) BUT, Iggy Pop! Iggy pop is the man. It doesn't matter that he's sold out. I'd do the same thing in his shoes. I mean, Iggy Pop, selling car insurance? It's just funny. And that freaky little side kick puppet wasn't actually provided for him by the insurance company. At least I'm assuming it's the same one that was used in the BPA video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6NbMYbX4DU (Just made slightly less disturbing for the general public) [view article]
Euan - 09/02/10
just to throw a less 'in your face, that ad makes my piss boil' examples... Where do people stand on Journey or anyone involved with the whole Glee-commerce phenomenon...? ...or what about Leonard Cohen...? Whilst he has not sold out in quite the same way, he did sell Hallelujah to Simon Cowell and Alexandra Burke for it to be brutally butchered... though granted he had been robbed by his accountant and was broke so there was some justification... Whilst I was young and idealistic about this, I'm now a lot more realistic. I think that times have changed in the digital age whereby much of music is being acquired for free (legitimately or otherwise). Given this providing soundtracks to ads, movies, eastenders, hollyoaks or whatever is now a realism and it's a way of your favourite artist making ends meet and getting enough exposure for their record company to keep them signed. Hell, even 405 faves Grizzly Bear featured on an ad in the middle of the Superbowl, Telekinesis are the sound of Ford, Conor Oberst in the shape of Bright Eyes is telling us all about Halifax, Death Cab have appeared in the OC, as have Rilo Kiley and Modest Mouse etc etc... the list goes on... Not the most structured arguement really... but the long and short of it is this... What Iggy did was the worst kind of sell out, as his appearance had nothing to do with his music but, let's face it, it's mainly just that the ad was so fucking irritating. [view article]
Oliver - 09/02/10
SUPER excited about that lineup! [view article]
emma - 09/02/10
Caribou to play alongside Phoenix for Field day 2010 http://www.the-fly.co.uk/words/news/top-news-stories/6978/phoenix-to-headline-field-day- [view article]