domgourlay has written the following articles:
One of the most consistent independent labels in recent years has been Labrador. Now entering its fifteenth year of existence, Drowned In Sound caught up with Acid House Kings' Johan Angergård, now essentially responsible for running the label. We also spoke with The Mary Onettes' Philip Ekström and Johan Duncanson from The Radio Dept. about their time with the label, and in the latter's case potentially opened a huge can of worms in the process. »
Haiku Salut aren't your stereotypical band. »
The days when Black Rebel Motorcycle Club would vie for front page headline space with The Strokes and Oasis are long gone.»
Two of the most eagerly anticipated tours in the early part of 2013 undoubtedly center around the return to UK stages of Sigur Ros and My Bloody Valentine. In the second of Dom Gourlay's regular series of Gourlay Files reports from the UK's best gigs, and some of the world's finest festivals, DiS handed Dom the unenviable task of comparing the two in a head-for-head battle before deciding which one came out on top. Let the Clash of the Titans commence... »
If guitars are supposed to be dead it's probably because Spectres have killed them...»
For a band that's been amassing plaudits and critical acclaim since their conception in 2006, it's something of a travesty that Exit Calm still reside in the same underground backwaters seven years on.»
With a lineage of musical talent that includes REM, Neutral Milk Hotel and The B52s among its number, the city of Athens, Georgia has a history to be proud of. One of its more recent exports are Tunabunny, a four-piece whose lo-fi, post-punk stylings have occasionally drawn comparison with Sleater Kinney, Throwing Muses and Yo La Tengo. »
Pearl Mystic just happens to be one of those records that embodies perfection.»
Birmingham quartet Swim Deep have become next band-most-likely to emerge from the country's second largest city and into the mainstream. DiS caught up with them post-soundcheck prior to their recent show at Nottingham's Bodega. Here's what they had to say...»
At times, The New Life feels like a concept. The sound of isolation and despair. Even visually mirrored and depicted by Rob Peart's monochrome sleeve photo.»
It wouldn't be unfair to say any band that goes by the name of Golden Grrrls are likely to have been influenced by the likes of Bikini Kill, Huggy Bear and Bratmobile. »
In the first Nottingham scene round-up of 2013, Drowned In Sound's man in the East Midlands looks at the best new releases and live shows the city has to offer in the coming months and talks to up-and-coming three-piece Kagoule. »
Clash The Truth isn't so much a departure from Beach Fossils' playful innocence as a more a mature statement of intent documenting Dustin Payseur's coming of age as both a musician and songwriter.»
Business as usual then for Pissed Jeans on their first long player in four years and fourth in total.»
Psych For Sore Eyes is a must-own compilation for anyone with a remote interest in reverb-heavy psychedelia. »
With over thirty years as a recording artist under his belt, Robin Guthrie's iconic status is well and truly justified...»
It's finally here! MBV (that's My Bloody Valentine to you and me) have gone and released their first album in 22 years also called mbv. Having spent twenty-four hours encompassing a total of eleven listens (one has to eat, drink and sleep too you know) in its company, here's DiS' first impressions of possibly the most eagerly anticipated album in history.»
By no means perfect, but as an introduction to the pun-happy, riff-heavy world of Fat Goth, Stud is an invitingly vigorous place to start. »
It's fair to say that no other record has influenced music in the same way as Loveless since landing at the tail end of 1991...»
There's an old adage that if something isn't broke then why fix it. Whether Veronica Falls pay much if any attention to such idioms is debatable, but having announced their arrival in style with 2011's excellent self-titled debut, it's a case of business as usual here.»
Guitar music dead in 2013? Not in East London it isn't...»
Next month sees the release of Foals third album, Holy Fire. With a heavy promotional schedule ahead of them before their mammoth worldwide tour commences in Australia next week, DiS caught up with frontman Yannis Philippakis. Here's what he had to say. »
An ambitious meeting of minds... A record brimming with diverse personality...»
Later this evening Holy Esque will play as though their lives depend on it to a full house of mostly open-mouthed punters at Sheffield's Queens Social Club. Beforehand, DiS caught up with the quiet and unassuming four-piece post-soundcheck.»
Keyboard genius-cum-producer, remixer and sound engineer Ulrich Schnauss has been something of an institution in shoegaze-related circles for the best part of a decade now...»
One of last year's brightest discoveries arrived in the shape of Melody's Echo Chamber, the self-titled long player from the solo project of Parisian chanteuse Melody Prochet. Currently holed up in Paris working on songs for the follow-up, DiS caught up with the amiable Ms Prochet in the offices of Domino Records.»
Regardless of each member's musical output since, there's little disputing the fact The Jam remain one of the greatest singles bands these isles have ever produced.»
Once again, it's approaching that time of year where reflection becomes the name of the game and lists are drawn up accordingly. Having taken in sixty-nine separate events including eighteen festivals and witnessed a grand total of 400 live performances so far this year, I've condensed that little lot into a final top ten... »
This time last year, Brooklyn four-piece Diiv were something of an unknown quantity outside of their New York homebase. Having amassed a wealth of critical acclaim largely off the back of debut long player Oshin, Diiv found themselves recently asked by The Vaccines to support them on their long sold out UK tour. Before one of those shows, DiS caught up with Diiv frontman and songwriter Z. Cole Smith... »
Looking back over the past year, it's been an incredible twelve months of music and here are forty reasons why pedal boards, tremelos and echo chambers rule. »
