Webcuts Music

Any band who writes a protest song and uses the word “control” in the title knows they’re entering The Clash territory, so it better be damn good. British Sea Power, I’m looking at you. Perched as the lead track on their Webcuts approved 9/10 album, Valhalla Dancehall, “Who’s In Control?” is a politically charged, apathetically raging anthem that hits like the proverbial brick through a shop-front window, while also appearing to presciently describe the December student tuition fee riots in London. With lyrical asides like “sometimes I wish protesting was sexy on a Saturday night”, the film-makers have contrived to take on the sex and protest angle residing in the lyrics and create something that is akin to watching an episode of Skins. A little bare flesh, partying and placard waving. Just an ordinary day in the life of a student. Released through Rough Trade records, Valhalla Dancehall is out now.

The Decemberists discard the costumes and dispense with the theatre slipping into more familiar musical threads on album number 6.

Almost five years on since the release of The Strokes last album, First Impressions Of … Ugh the band are back with “Under Cover Of Darkness”, the first single to be taken from their forthcoming fourth album Angles. As a kind of getting-to-know-you-again gesture, the band will giving away said track as free MP3 via [...]

Hurrah for English music. Just when you think Webcuts panders almost exclusively to the Americans, British Sea Power save the day.

Appearing in our Favourite Tracks of 2010 countdown with “Undertow” were the women of Warpaint. From debut album The Fool comes second single “Shadows” released on January 10 as a limited 12” with remixes of “Shadows” and “Undertow”. Sign up for the Neon Lights remix of “Shadows” below.

We featured Warpaint last time so this week we’ll focus on forgiving British Sea Power for bypassing Brisbane on their Australian visit last year as they’ve provided us with the title track from their upcoming 7-track EP Zeus which is every bit as thunderous and powerful as the Greek god its named after. Zeus is [...]

Sounding something like a monochrome, multi-vocaled Luscious Jackson, the Los Angeles’ ladies of Warpaint left a noticeable impression with music fans after the release of last year’s Exquisite Corpse EP. Set to release their debut album, entitled The Fool on October 25 through Rough Trade in the UK (Remote Control in Aus), they’ve given out [...]

One of the stand out tracks, if not the stand out track from The Morning Benders sophomore release Big Echo. “All Day, Day Light” crackles with electricity and smacks of effortless cool. As hand-claps slap against the stab of guitar chords, Morning Benders vocalist Christopher Chu hands out alliteratively perfect lines like “someone somewhere sails the ocean/someone somewhere selling the seas”. Signed to Rough Trade in the UK, The Morning Benders appeared out of nowhere with this near-perfect album, unburdened by pre-release hype and fanfare. A seasonal themed video, the clip reaches its climax as the song descends into a discordant guitar wind-out over a fake snow fight. Impressive without actually trying to impress, The Morning Benders own Big Echo and make the loudest of noise by letting the music speak for them. For indie guitar aficiandos, “All Day, Day Light” is embarrassingly good, yet as straight-forward guitar pop as it gets.