You have to question the motives behind a band who put a picture of two gurning band members on the front cover of their debut 7″, or when asking the record company for a promo photo being offered ‘the one where they’re all dressed up in drag’, or ‘the one where they’re chewing grass’ (we passed on both). Sheffield’s Seize The Chair have the air of a band who clearly and delightfully just don’t give a fuck. In fact they probably just want to make music and have a laugh. Which, if you’ve seen that record sleeve, you’ll be laughing too.

Seize The Chair are not a comedy band. In fact they’re like a rockier, bespectacled version of The Housemartins. Released this week is “You Who”, the aforementioned 7″ on the Too Pure Singles Club. A freakishly catchy hook-driven number “You Who” breaks off at a fast guitaring gallop, throwing down some Oasis-class rhyming and adding a little Talking Heads “Road To Nowhere” into the mix (I swear it’s in there). Flipside “It Happens Periodically” is a more considered stab at indie country rock without the affectations, adding some unexpected diversity to their repertoire. Not only just for shits and giggles then, eh? So the question had to be asked (and believe us it was), who the hell are Seize The Chair?

01. Who are you?

We are Jam Freeman (drums), Nick Chantler (Vocals & Guitars), Rowan Roberts (Guitars & Vocals) and Steven Mullins (Bass). Our name came from a game that we used to play as infants. We are from all over Narnia, but we reside in Sheffield. We have probably been together about 18 months.

02. What do you sound like?

We sound like we have fun.

03. What do friends say you sound like?

John said we’re alright – we trust him.

04. How did the band get started?

Nick, Jam and Steven all met when they moved to Sheffield – Rowan joined us shortly after, although Nick and Rowan knew each other before the band was formed. It took us far too long to get round to actually go and make noise together. In fact, we booked our first gig while we were all at opposite ends of the earth. We had like, two weeks to write some songs and practise them in order to play it. Somehow, we pulled it off (we think).

05. Give me your five band-defining albums?

Well, this is going to change every five minutes, but, at the moment:

Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
Thee Oh Sees – The Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night In
The Strokes – Is This It?
Gomez – Liquid Skin
Queens Of The Stoneage – Songs for the Deaf

06. Current band lowlight/highlight (you choose)?

Well – we played a show in Coventry. The whole day was a disaster. We got mugged, then we played to three very drunk large men who only had ears for Kings of Leon.

07. Tell us about the last song you wrote?

The last one we wrote is an all out garage freak-out. It’s probably less than two and a half minutes long – sometimes, that’s all you need. It has 3 chords, ‘chuggy’ drums and delayed vocals. I think we finished it within ten minutes.

08. Who would be some dream collaborators?

Oh, erm – Steve Albini would be a good one. No one else though – we are control freaks.

09. You’re making us a Seize the Chair mixtape. What’s going on it?

Lots of The Fall, a load of Super Furry Animals singles & anything that has been put out by In The Red.

10. First time listeners, where should they start?

I guess “Deborah” would be a good song to start with. (Er, how about the single you just released?)

You Who by Seize The Chair ;

What is it with twee pop types and ‘going cuckoo’. Is it something in the music? Should people be warned? Back In July we announced the release of cinematic psychedelians Still Corner‘s debut album Creatures Of An Hour and gave away the first single “Cuckoo” as a free download, which as you can see now, has its own suitably shimmery video. “Cuckoo” shines in its simplicity, a single drumbeat, ghostly guitar, and distant organ highlighting Tessa Murray’s haunting soprano as she asks, “I’d like to read your mind/can you read mine?” “It’s about confusion,” explains bandleader Greg Hughes. “It’s about being confused. Am I going crazy? Does this person like me? What’s happening? That’s the vibe of the whole record really”. Now it all becomes clear. Creatures Of An Hour will be released on October 10 through Sub Pop.

Released last week and reviewed here was Coastal Grooves by Blood Orange, the latest musical project by ex-Test Icicle and Lightspeed Champion Dev Hynes. A lo-fi urban-sounding synth-pop record, Coastal Grooves has Hynes playing the Prince card and relishing the role, producing something fresh and unexpected. Originally appearing on two 12″ singles, you can listen to tracks remixed from the album by In Flagranti, Krystal Klear, Bottin and Bicep. But if you join the Blood Orange mailing list Krystal Klear’s smooth reworking of album closer “Champagne Coast” comes free.

There should be no love lost for the naming of this latest project from Dev Hynes, as the blood orange is considered a more bitter mutation of the sweet orange, and Coastal Grooves absolutely carries its fair share of musically bitter stylings over from Hynes’ previous project, Lightspeed Champion. The music is grungier, coated in lo-fi and splattered with New Wave tendencies offsetting Lightspeed’s baroque pop sensibilities. What hasn’t changed is Hynes’ tremendous ability to craft excellent songs and his near virtuoso approach to the instrumentation on the record.

Lightspeed’s first record boasted some clever strings, the second emphasized keyboards, and both sported plenty of nifty acoustic guitar work. Now, Blood Orange returns to this framework in the form of masterful electric guitar lines over minimal accompaniment. “I am not your savior,” sings Hynes on the first cut off the album “Forget It” over some carefully plucked-out rhythm guitar lines. Looped percussion and warm synths do little to detract from Hynes as he continues, before the second round of chorus introduces another guitar line, this time much higher and working against the original until a rockin’ guitar solo intervenes. It’s deceptively simple, but well-built and catchy. The second track follows suit: guitar, drum loops, synths, Hynes. The breakdown is not as extensive, and the solo doesn’t expand to such extremities, but we have a very good idea of how the rest of the album will play out.

In the hands of someone else, this formula could become banal quickly, but Hynes’ adept musicianship and engrossing melodies save it from too much repetition. Juxtaposing the tempos in the percussion and guitars (“Are You Sure You’re Really Busy?”, “S’cooled”); changing up the melancholy slouch of songs like “Can We Go Inside Now” with the tripled-rhythms and subtle disco grin of “The Complete Knock”; or just letting the music unfold slowly but assuredly, as on the record’s final cut, “Champagne Coast”. Not every cut on the album is a winner, but every one has something to ultimately contribute, and none are disposable.

Hard to say if this is a step in the right direction for Hynes, at least for fans of Lightspeed’s two wonderful records, since this is an entirely different musical direction altogether. What it is, is a stellar collection of songs, and that seems to trump any musical deviations regardless of fan expectations. Given Hynes’ propensity for the eclectic, such as his early screamo work with Test Icicles or the more recent classical performances with the Britten Sinfonia, these new explorations into other genres of music shouldn’t be a surprise. And as long as they continue to be this good, shouldn’t be unwelcomed, either.

Never in the history of doing these ‘Who The Hell Are… ?’ spotlights has a band come along and answered each question so thoroughly and excitedly that to praise them any further would make it seem like we’re actually in this band or take bribes (we do. email for details). From the same stable of acts (and household one would presume) that brought you the percussive pop concussions of We//Are//Animal and the not-very-French-at-all Masters In France, come spicy indie rock quartet Fennel Seeds. Further proof that North Wales these days is a happening place or one that naught much else happens.

Fennel Seeds excel, whether they want to recognise it or not, in grunge power-pop play. Vocalist Carwyn Ginsberg does share a similar register with that of Kurt Cobain and the music does venture into the same quiet/loud dynamics that made The Pixie so endearing, but that’s only part of the action. Debut download single “Strike Me Down” lines up a neat bait and switch, a seemingly straight-up acoustic track that unfolds with full band and neat chiming guitar work at the chorus. Delving into their soundcloud demos, you’ll see this the grunge tag isn’t entirely representative, but watch out when becoming the Welsh Kings Of Leon…

01. Who are you?

Fennel Seeds are based in a small village at the foot of Mt. Snowdon (North Wales), The Current line up is Caz Ginsberg on lead vocals and guitar, Huw Jones on lead guitar, Meurig Jones on Bass and Sam Roberts on Drums! Carwyn was the one who came up with the name for the band! He doesn’t remember how he came up with the name! We think it’s something to do with an incident involving his mother’s spice rack! Fennel Seeds started gigging in February 2011!

02. What do you sound like?

The sound is trashy and raw but has a melodic grab to it! All demos are recorded on a small 8 track digital recorder with only one microphone over the drum kit! Which sums up how raw Carwyn likes his music!

03. What do friends say you sound like?

Many say it’s a mixture of influences from early Punk to 90s Grunge but it’s almost impossible to pigeonhole the style and sound! Lots of people have come up to us after gigs comparing us to The Pixies or Nirvana! But we aim to produce our own unique sound!

04. How did the band get started?

Carwyn started song writing back in 2006, it was then he came up with the name Fennel Seeds as a stage name for himself! After recording some demos in his bedroom he started receiving airplay from the likes of Adam Walton (BBC Radio Wales Introducing) and Tom Robinson (BBC 6Music). After meeting Tom Robinson in a songwriting workshop in 2010, Carwyn was even more determined to put a band together to perform his songs live! In late 2010 Fennel Seeds were busy rehearsing and started gigging locally in February 2011 then moved on to play gigs in London, Cardiff and other cities in the UK.

05. Give me your five band-defining albums?

This band has no defining albums as such! People say that Fennel Seeds’ sound is defined from the late 80s and early 90s Grunge albums such as The Pixies – Surfer Rosa and Nirvana – Nevermind!

06. Current band highlight/lowlight/amusing anecdote? (pick one)

Just released debut single as a free download via soundcloud page and the response has been amazing! Awesome feedback and support from various radio presenters and DJs and great press reviews!

07. Tell us about the last song you wrote?

“Strike Me Down” was released as a free single on th 4th of July via our Soundcloud page!

08. Who would be some dream collaborators?

I guess some one exciting and a cutting edge producer like Gordon Raphael would be awesome to work with! But we’re a long way from that!

09. You’re making us a ‘Fennel Seeds’ mixtape. What’s going on it?

1. Kings of Leon – “Red Morning Light” (or any thing from their first Album)
2.Eagles of Death Metal – “Boys Bad News”
3. The Pixies – “Where is My Mind?”
4. David Bowie – “Electric Blue” (I think you mean “Sound And Vision” here, boys)
5. Queens of The Stone age – “You Think I Ain’t Worth A Dollar But I Feel Like A Millionaire
6. We//Are//Animal – “Luminous Lights”
7. Masters In France – “Mad Hatter”
8. Canned Heat – “Going Up The Country”
9. Os Mutantes – “A Minha Menina”

10. First time listeners, where should they start?

Visit our Soundcloud page! All new demos are uploaded there or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Myspace for latest news on gigs/releases! All tour dates are posted on these pages!

www.soundcloud.com/fennelseeds
www.myspace.com/fennelseeds
www.twitter.com/fennel_seeds

Strike Me Down by Fennel Seeds

 

There’s nothing more frustrating or confounding for a band to be dealt such hardships as was handed down to Sheffield’s The Long Blondes when their guitarist and songwriter Dorian Cox succumbed to a stroke at the unlikely age of 27. Their second album “Couples”, released only a few months before, was such a mammoth leap forward for the band, sonically and lyrically. Since then, vocalist Kate Jackson has been hard at work forging a solo career, working with various songwriting partners, including Bernard Butler and Marco Pirroni, while roadtesting her new outfit, the Kate Jackson Group. They’ve just made available their first track for download with “Date With Dawn”, a stylish glam rock stomp that makes us feel glad that the spirit of The Long Blondes is still alive.

Date With Dawn by Kate Jackson Group

Scottish alternative rock band The Jesus And Mary Chain are due to reissue their entire back catalogue in deluxe 2CD/1DVD editions this September/October, starting with two of their greatest albums – Psychocandy and Darklands – on the Edsel label. Psychocandy is still one of those divisive albums that even decades after its 1985 release is enough to make a conventional music fan reach for their ears and go ‘what the fuck is this?’. I mean these days, throwing feedback over a beat and adding vocals is old hat, but the Mary Chain did it first, well, maybe not first, but definitely best.

These deluxe expanded editions, will feature anon-album b-sides, as well as previously unreleased demos, rare outtakes including the controversial early track “Jesus Fuck” and a recently unearthed version of “Darklands” with strings. The accompanying DVD will show all of the promo videos for the singles released from the albums alongside seminal and previously unreleased TV appearances, including their live TV debut on the Old Grey Whistle Test, and never before seen footage of the infamous riot at North London Polytechnic.

The reissues also include 32-page booklets with new interviews “that tell the band’s story in their own words,” including contributions from former drummer and current Primal Scream leader Bobby Gillespie. Following the release of the 4CD boxset Power Of Negative Thinking in 2008, this looks to be the final word on The Jesus And Mary Chain story, lest they pony up a new album in the meantime.

Psychocandy and Darklands are set to be released on September 19, with Automatic and Honey’s Dead to follow a week later, finishing up with Stoned & Dethroned and Munki on October 3.

Tracklist: Psychocandy

CD 1
1. “Just Like Honey”
2. “The Living End”
3. “Taste The Floor”
4. “The Hardest Walk”
5. “Cut Dead”
6. “In A Hole”
7. “Taste Of Cindy”
8. “Never Understand”
9. “Inside Me”
10. “Sowing Seeds”
11. “My Little Underground”
12. “You Trip Me Up”
13. “Something’s Wrong”
14. “It’s So Hard”
15. “Suck”
16. “Ambition”
17. “Just Out Of Reach”
18. “Boyfriend’s Dead”
19. “Head”
20. “Cracked”

CD 2
1. “Upside Down”
2. “Vegetable Man”
3. “In A Hole”
4. “You Trip Me Up”
5. “Never Understand”
6. “Taste The Floor”
7. “The Living End”
8. “Inside Me”
9. “Just Like Honey”
10. “Some Candy Talking”
11. “Psychocandy”
12. “You Trip Me Up”
13. “Cut Dead”
14. “Up Too High”
15. “Upside Down”
16. “Never Understand”
17. “Taste The Floor”
18. “In A Hole”
19. “Something’s Wrong”
20. “Just Like Honey”
21. “The Living End”
22. “My Little Underground”
23. “Never Understand” (Alternate Version)
24. “Jesus Fuck”

DVD
1. “Never Understand”
2. “You Trip Me Up”
3. “Just Like Honey”
4. “In A Hole” (Old Grey Whistle Test)
5. “Riot at North London Polytechnic” (Interview and Live Clips)
6. “Interview” (VRT, Belgium)
7. “Never Understand” (VRT, Belgium)
8. “Just Like Honey” (The Tube)
9. “Inside Me” (The Tube)

Tracklist: Darklands

CD 1
1. “Darklands”
2. “Deep One Perfect Morning”
3. “Happy When It Rains”
4. “Down On Me”
5. “Nine Million Rainy Days”
6. “April Skies”
7. “Fall”
8. “Cherry Came Too”
9. “On The Wall”
10. “About You”
11. “Some Candy Talking”
12. “Taste Of Cindy” (Acoustic Version)
13. “Psychocandy”
14. “Hit”
15. “Darklands”
16. “Down On Me”
17. “Deep One Perfect Morning”
18. “Fall”
19. “In The Rain”
20. “Happy Place”

CD 2
1. “Kill Surf City”
2. “Bo Diddley Is Jesus”
3. “Who Do You Love”
4. “Everything’s Alright When You’re Down”
5. “Shake”
6. “Happy When It Rains” (Demo)
7. “Happy Place”
8. “F.Hole”
9. “Rider”
10.”On The Wall” (Portastudio Demo)
11. “Surfin’ USA” (April Outtake)
12. “Here It Comes Again”
13. “Walk And Crawl”
14. “Some Candy Talking” (NME Version)
15. “Mushroom ”
16. “The Hardest Walk” (Soundtrack Version)
17. “Don’t Ever Change”
18. “Swing”
19. “Darklands” (With Strings)
20. “Interview” (Janice Long)

DVD
1. “Some Candy Talking”
2. “April Skies”
3. “Kill Surf City”
4. “Happy When It Rains”
5. “Darklands”
6. “April Skies” (Top Of The Pops)
7. “April Skies” (Villa Tempo)
8. “Happy When It Rains” (The Roxy)

Tracklist: Automatic

CD 1
1. “Here Comes Alice”
2. “Coast To Coast”
3. “Blues From A Gun”
4. “Between Planets”
5. “UV Ray”
6. “Her Way Of Praying”
7. “Head On”
8. “Take It”
9. “Halfway To Crazy”
10. “Gimme Hell”
11. “Drop”
12. “Sunray”
13. “Sidewalking” (Extended Version)
14. “Sidewalking”
15. “Sidewalking” (Chilled To The Bone Mix)
16. “Taste Of Cindy” (Live in Detroit)
17. “April Skies” (Live in Detroit)

CD 2
1. “Surfin’ USA” (Summer Mix)
2. “Shimmer”
3. “Penetration”
4. “Break Me Down”
5. “Subway”
6. “In The Black”
7. “Terminal Beach”
8. “Deviant Slice”
9. “I’m Glad I Never”
10. “Drop” (Acoustic Remix)
11. “Sidewalking”
12. “Coast To Coast”
13. “Take It”
14. “My Girl”
15. “Far Gone And Out”
16. “Silverblade”
17. “Here Comes Alice”
18. “Coast To Coast” (Alternate – William Vox)
19. “Just Out Of Reach” (88 version)
20. “Radio Ad”
21. “Nine Million Rainy Days” (Live in Detroit)

DVD
1. “Sidewalking”
2. “Just Out Of Reach”
3. “Blues From A Gun”
4. “Head On”
5. “Her Way Of Praying”
6. “Gimme Hell – SNUB TV”
7. “Take It – SNUB TV”
8. “Interview – Rapido”
9. “Interview – MTV Week In Rock”
10. “Interview – MTV Australia”

Tracklist: Honey’s Dead

CD 1
1. “Reverence”
2. “Teenage Lust”
3. “Far Gone And Out”
4. “Almost Gold”
5. “Sugar Ray”
6. “Tumbledown”
7. “Catchfire”
8. “Good For My Soul”
9. “Rollercoaster”
10. “I Can’t Get Enough”
11. “Sundown”
12. “Frequency”
13. “Rollercoaster”
14. “Silverblade”
15. “Lowlife”
16. “Tower Of Song”
17. “Far Gone And Out” (Arc Weld Mix)
18. “Teenage Lust” (Desdemoana Mix)
19. “Reverence” (Radio Mix)

CD 2
1. “Heat”
2. “Guitarman”
3. “Why’d You Want Me”
4. “Sometimes”
5. “Teenage Lust” (Acoustic Version)
6. “Reverberation” (Doubt)
7. “Don’t Come Down”
8. “Why’d You Want Me” (Alternate Version)
9. “Catchfire”
10. “Blues From A Gun”
11. “Head On”
12. “Reverence”
13. “Far Gone And Out”
14. “Halfway To Crazy”
15. “Frequency”
16. “Sidewalking”
17. “Mark Goodier – Honey’s Dead”
18. “Tommy Vance – Lollapalooza”

DVD
1. “Rollercoaster”
2. “Reverence”
3. “Far Gone And Out”
4. “Almost Gold”
5. “Teenage Lust”
6. “Reverence – The Word”
7. “Far Gone And Out – The Late Show”
8. “Teenage Lust – live at MTV Studios”
9. “MTV Interview and Video Retrospective”

Tracklist: Stoned & Dethroned

CD 1
1. “Dirty Water”
2. “Bullet Lovers”
3. “Sometimes Always”
4. “Come On”
5. “Between Us”
6. “Hole”
7. “Never Saw It Coming”
8. “She”
9. “Wish I Could”
10. “Save Me”
11. “Till It Shines”
12. “God Help Me”
13. “Girlfriend”
14. “Everybody I Know”
15. “You’ve Been A Friend”
16. “These Days”
17. “Feeling Lucky”
18. “Snakedriver”
19. “Something I Can’t Have”
20. “Write Record Release Blues”
21. “Little Red Rooster”
22. “Come On”
23. “God Help Me” (William Vocal)
24. “Everybody I Know”
25. “The Perfect Crime”
26. “Till I Found You”
27. “Dirty Water” (Demo – William Vocal)
28. “God Help Me” (Alternate Vocal Take)

CD 2
1. “The Perfect Crime”
2. “Little Stars”
3. “Drop” (Re-recorded)
4. “I’m In With The Out Crowd”
5. “New York City”
6. “Taking It Away”
7. “Ghost Of A Smile”
8. “Alphabet Street”
9. “New Kind Of Kick”
10. “Come On”
11. “Reverence”
12. “Snakedriver”
13. “Come On”
14. “Happy When It Rains”
15. “Teenage Lust”
16. “The Perfect Crime”
17. “Everybody I Know”
18. “Girlfriend”
19. “Hole”
20. “Head On”
21. “Sugar Ray”
22. “I Hate Rock’n’Roll”
23. “Jim & William talk to Steve Lamacq about Stoned & Dethroned”

DVD
1. “Snakedriver”
2. “Something I Can’t Have”
3. “Sometimes Always”
4. “Come On”
5. “Something I Can’t Have – Later with Jools Holland”
6. “Snakedriver – Later with Jools Holland”
7. “Reverence – live on MTV 120 Minutes”
8. “Sometimes Always – live on MTV 120 Minutes”
9. “Everybody I Know – live at MTV Studios”
10. “Come On – live at MTV Sudios”
11. “Interview – MTV”

Tracklist: Munki

CD 1
1. “I Love Rock’n’Roll”
2. “Birthday”
3. “Stardust Remedy”
4. “Fizzy”
5. “Mo Tucker”
6. “Perfume”
7. “Virtually Unreal”
8. “Degenerate”
9. “Cracking Up”
10. “Commercial”
11. “Supertramp”
12. “Never Understood”
13. “I Can’t Find The Time For Times”
14. “Man On The Moon”
15. “Black”
16. “Dream Lover”
17. “I Hate Rock’n’Roll”

CD 2
1. “45 RPM”
2. “Bleed Me”
3. “33 1/3″
4. “Lost Star”
5. “Hide Myself”
6. “Rocket”
7. “Easylife, Easylove”
8. “40,000K”
9. “Nineteen666″
10. “Reverence”
11. “I Love Rock’n’Roll”
12. “Degenerate”
13. “Mo Tucker”
14. “Snakedriver”
15. “Cracking Up”
16. “Happy When It Rains”
17. “Stardust Remedy”
18. “Head On”
19. “Sugar Ray”
20. “Dream Lover”
21. “Supertramp”
22. “Virtually Unreal”

DVD
1. “I Hate Rock’n’Roll”
2. “Cracking Up”
3. “I Love Rock’n’Roll”
4. “I Love Rock’n’Roll – Later with Jools Holland”
5. “Cracking Up – Later with Jools Holland”

On a day when the once great Morrissey lost his goddamn mind, alienating fans and supporters with his ill-considered opinion about the Norway tragedy in a desperate attempt to appear controversial and relevant, it seems a timely occasion to announce the latest addition to The Smiths shop floor. Rhino Records, in their continuing attempt to bleed the collaborative corpse of Morrissey and Marr dry, have prepared for fans the Rolls Royce of Smiths collectables with their Deluxe Collectors Boxset, containing remastered versions of the entire back catalogue on vinyl and CD and mostly everything else you have already.

Reworked by Johnny Marr and Rhino UK and packaged together for the first time – the ultimate The Smiths remasters collection includes all four of the band’s studio albums – The Smiths (1984), Meat Is Murder (1985), The Queen Is Dead (1986), Strangeways, Here We Come (1987) and their sole live album Rank (1988) as well as the compilations Hatful Of Hollow (1984), The World Won’t Listen (1987) and Louder Than Bombs (1987). Each has been taken back to original tape sources and remastered by Johnny Marr and Frank Arkwright at the world famous Metropolis Studios in London.

The Deluxe Collectors Boxset is individually numbered and limited to 3000 copies worldwide, and takes the shape of a heavyweight trunk boxset including:

All eight album releases taken back to original tape sources and remastered by Johnny Marr and Frank Arkwright All eight albums on Mini LP replica style CDs in gatefold card wallets
All eight albums on 12” vinyl LPs (5 singles, 3 doubles)
25x 7″ Singles (the entire The Smiths Singles collection) inc. specially reproduced rarities
A 36″ x 24″ Poster of all album and single cover artwork
‘The Complete Picture’ DVD of the band’s music videos
An 8 page 12″ booklet feat. expanded liner notes
8x 12″ art prints of each album cover artwork
An Exclusive Code to download the whole catalogue as high quality MP3s (320k)

Due to be released on October 3, the package retails at £249.99 and can be ordered direct from the Rhino Records website here

A once Test Icicle and with two albums to his name as Lightspeed Champion, Devonté Hynes has remained constant with his musical outpourings. Residing in New York City for the past three years, Hynes has been concentrating on writing and producing for other artists (Solange Knowles, Bleeding Knees Club), while continuing to work on new songs, compiling them onto mixtapes that he would listen to while travelling around the city at night (a process adopted by Wes Eisold of Cold Cave for their second album). Informed by such diverse artists as Chris Isaak, Billy Idol, 80′s Japanese pop such as Yellow Magic Orchestra and French singer F.R David, Hynes gave this new project a fresh name Blood Orange and took the songs that form Coastal Grooves on a trip to the West Coast where he started turning the ideas into an album in which the Prince-like, Twin Shadow-echoing urban groove of “Sutphin Boulevard” is the first taste of what to expect.

Without wanting to be dictatorial and draw a line between the good festival and the bad festival, we’ll let you make that decision for yourself. But if you’re interested in a festival that focusses on the more innovative side of current alternative acts and djs, while placing them a little closer to home, and by home we mean London, then there’s no better choice than Field Day.

Celebrating their fifth year, Field Day happens on Saturday August 6 and attempts to brings together many of London’s alternative concert and club promoters (Eat Your Own Ears, Adventures In The Beetroot Field, Bugged Out!) to produce a day of music set in London’s Victoria Park.

The line-up is set to include current chart stars The Horrors, who recently released their third album Skying, past Webcuts featured acts Warpaint, Twin Shadow and Factory Floor, as well as the long-awaited return of Brighton’s Electrelane. Other acts include London up n’ comers 2:54 and Trophy Wife, Red House Painter’s Mark Kozelek, the three James’ — James Blake, Jamie Woon and Jamie XX, John Cale, Villagers, Zola Jesus, Sun Ra Arkestra and many more.

There’s enough acts (as well as the attraction of a Village fete inside the grounds) for it to seem like this should be a two day festival instead of the one. We anticipate a lot of hard choices and running between stages throughout the day (and let’s hope the temperamental English summer holds out, eh?).

Tickets are priced at £39.50. Tickets can be purchased here.

For more information and a complete list of the acts appearing, go to www.fielddayfestivals.com

Hate to ruin the party all the kids out there, but be warned, this event is over 18s only.