The Men - Electric

Looking for something to bludgeon your face in this spring time, along with the new Iceage album? Well, lucky for you The Men are back to follow up their 2012 opus 'Open Your Heart' with new album 'New Moon' on Sacred Bones (presumably not an ode to the twilight book of the same name).

The first track to be previewed from the album, titled 'Electric' is just as dizzying and thrilling as you'd expect. Pummelling guitars and their trademark badass sentiment take precedence here, in a way that could make anyone inhibited enough completely lose their shit. March 5th can't come soon enough.

Toby McCarron

Sound Influx Albums of 2012: Numbers 50-21

It's that time of year again, where we at Sound Influx ask our writers the daunting question: "What are your favourite albums of the year?". Well, the writers answered in force, and their suggestions have been meticulously tallied up into a rather fine list of this year best and boldest. Here are the albums we loved this year, that didn't quite make our top 20 (which is coming soon,) and links to the ones we did original reviews of. Enjoy!

50. Delicate Steve - Positive Force
49. The 2 Bears - Be Strong
48. Actress - RIP

47. ScHoolboy Q - Habits And Contradictions
46. David Byrne and St. Vincent - Love This Giant
45. METZ - METZ  
"The only danger they’re in is that with one record built primarily of tracks under the 3:30 mark, there’s simply not enough to satisfy the ravenous demand." Read Braden Fletcher's review. 
44. Jessie Ware - Devotion 
43. Best Coast - The Only Place 
"The return of Best Coast on the music scene is a welcome one indeed." Read Bella Roach's review.
42. Plan B - Ill Manors
41. Yeasayer - Fragrant World
40. William Boney - Good Vibes

39. How To Dress Well - Total Loss 

"‘Total Loss’ is a haunting and intelligent album that will play well with a particular type of intellectual pop fan" Read Max Sefton's review.

38. Deerhoof - Breakup Song

"Breakup Song is a great party record from a band unafraid to reclaim pop for their own ends."

Read Max Sefton's review. 

37. Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man

36. Lone - Galaxy Garden

35. Peggy Sue - Play the Songs of Scorpio Rising

34. Dan Deacon - America

33. Lucy Rose - Like I Used To

32. Of Montreal - Paralytic Stalks

31. Sharon Van Etten - Tramp

30. The Men - Open Your Heart

29. Ty Segall Band - Slaughterhouse

"A songwriter playing with the same freedom and love of noise, melody and self-expression that his heroes did all those years before." Read Max Sefton's review

28. The Cribs - In The Belly of the Brazen Bull

"In The Belly of the Brazen Bull is by far the darkest and heaviest Cribs record to date, but also the most important. The Cribs have come to reclaim indie rock." Read Aaron Lewins' review.

27. Sigur Rós - Valtari

26. Tall Ships - Everything Touching

"Time spent with this record is indeed precious, but definitely not forgettable." Read Braden Fletcher's review.

25. Porcelain Raft -  Strange Weekend

"Strange Weekend does however manage to come away feeling like a good pop record, and whilst it may not last a life time, it is at least an enjoyable and interesting listen." Read Will Hall's review.

24. Kindness - World, You Need A Change Of Mind

"World, You Need A Change Of Mind is exactly what you would expect from this Peterborough-based pioneer who seems to be capable of reviving any genre that’s thrown his way and make it relevant." Read Aurora Mitchell's review.

23. Swans - The Seer

  

"The listen is definitely a very long and full experience, but ultimately rewarding and rich, with vast swathes of colour and atmosphere." Read Eliot Humphreys' review.

22. Killer Mike - RAP Music

21. Hot Chip - In Our Heads 

"Accomplished, dreamy and jubilant throughout." Read Holly Read-Challen's review.

That's your lot for now, stay reading for 20-1 of the list coming soon!

Compiled by Toby McCarron

Field Day 2012 - Preview

On the second of July, Field Day returns to London's Victoria Park to bring out their usual eclectic line up. And the mixture of cult favourites with acclaimed modern acts is insanely good this year, with the likes of R. Stevie Moore, SBTRKT, Sleigh Bells, Liars, Franz Ferdinand, Austra, Metronomy and Peaking Lights playing, there's none short of constant entertainment.

But who do you choose to see when so many great artists are on offer?
Here's our tips of 5 acts you should definitely check out:

Grimes

Having produced one of the albums of the year, performed on Jools and even expanding to jewellery, launching a jewellery line with pussy rings, it's safe to say that Claire Boucher is having the best year. Having already put on a competition-only show for The Fly and about to play a sold out gig at XOYO this month, it's an understatement to say that she's been in demand lately. Whether she'll be performing solo or with her band, it's going to be something you definitely don't want to miss. 

Django Django

Although they've been around since the early days of 2009, Edinburgh based four-piece Django Django released their brilliant self-titled debut album back in late January. Although, don't expect live shows to sound the same as there are so many layers on the album that they can't even remember all of the instruments on it. Let's hope they at least play Default which still ceases to leave my head whenever I hear it. 

The Men

The Men's most recent album 'Open Your Heart' was an impressive tumult through a variety of genres. Everything from Classic Rock, to Punk to Country was taken on board and riffed out sonically to create a mind-blowing album from start to finish. With an already acclaimed energetic live show, The Men are sure to pack a punch at Field Day, likely drowning out all the other stages with the abrasive likes of 'Animal' and 'Ex-Dreams'.

Gold Panda

Since 2010's Lucky Shiner, Gold Panda has been keeping a relatively low profile, communicating through his Twitter, falsely proclaiming that he's been 'musically disappointing since 2008'. With this festival appearance and the emergence of new jam '4' recently, which he says he made in 10 mins whilst waiting to DJ, could this mean a new album is on the way? Perhaps this means Derwin will be playing some new material at Field Day.

Here We Go Magic

   Off the back of their recent album 'A Different Ship', the Nigel Godrich backed Here We Go Magic will take their live show to Victoria Park. Expect exquisite artistry from the off, this music is truly soundscapes to get lost in. Let's just hope their heartfelt paeans come across well above the other noisier stages (we do not want a Sleigh Bells / HWGM clash).

Buy tickets here: Seetickets
Ticketweb 
WeGotTickets 


 For more info go to:  http://www.fielddayfestivals.com/

 

Aurora Mitchell