FADED GLAMOUR

Listen: Purity Ring - Belispeak [New Single]

2012-06-01T09:08:00.000+01:00

Words: Saam Das

A lot of people are getting excited about the Purity Ring debut album, 'Shrines', which is scheduled to come out in July. And lucky us, we get it a day earlier than our North American buds. (Insert generic playful taunt.) In the meantime, they're putting out their very first official video, for a newly mixed version of 'Belispeak'. Listen to the old and new versions of the track below.

Following on from the recent free download of 'Obedear', 'Belispeak' is the next preview of the forthcoming record. The track came out in 2011 but a newly recorded version is being released as a limited 12" vinyl, hence the fancy new video. Another dose of stunning beat-laden electro from the Canadian duo.

'Shrines' is out on July 23rd in the UK through 4AD.

Album Review: Moonrise Kingdom (Original Soundtrack)

2012-05-31T09:23:00.000+01:00

'Moonrise Kingdom (Original Soundtrack)' (UK Release: 21 May '12) // Words: Alicia McBride

Much as 'Moonrise Kingdom' is everything that defines Wes Anderson distilled into a palate pleasing shot of sugary whimsy and quirk, the soundtrack is a classic Anderson compilation of 50s rock and roll and classical music with a trademark French track nestled in for extra flavour.

This time round, Anderson exercises his Francophilia with the standout track from the film, Francoise Hardy’s 'Le Temps de L’Amour'. Soundtracking the blossoming love affair between Sam and Suzy and their burgeoning physical relationship, the track cleverly anchors the film in the right era as well as perfectly embodying youth’s first flirtation with more adult and sophisticated culture.

As Sam and Suzy leave home to expand their horizons so their cultural horizons widen. It is a typically teenage thing to explore growing maturity through explicit music and, given these are quirky Anderson teens, what cooler, sexier way to do it than in French?

The song’s memorability and impact on the viewer is matched only by the film’s opening track, Leonard Bernstein’s 'The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra, Op. 34: Themes A-F'. Here a child guides the listener through the separate parts that make up a piece by Benjamin Britten, introducing layer upon layer of sound.

While it may be an obvious metaphor for the different elements of the film all coming together by the end, Bernstein's offering is a suitably dramatic piece of music used to great effect in the trailer and on the closing credits (listen carefully for a few special changes to the child’s part). It also places the viewer in a child’s world and introduces the need for a child’s understanding of the events that unfold.

The soundtrack sees Wes Anderson partner up with famed film composer Alexandre Desplat again, after their work together on 'Fantastic Mr Fox'. In much the same vein, Desplat’s compositions are magical, whimsical pieces that are exciting and joyous and dramatic, sometimes all at once. They complete Anderson’s world beautifully.

★★★★ (4/5)

'Moonrise Kingdom (Original Soundtrack)' is out now and available to purchase from Amazon.co.uk.

TV Review: Grandma's House Series 2, Episode 6 [BBC iPlayer]

2012-05-31T00:42:00.001+01:00

'Grandma's House' Series 2, Episode 6: 'The Day Simon And His Family Opened The Door To Acceptance' // Words: Saam Das

SYNOPSIS: "Sitcom. It's Tanya and Clive's wedding day again, but Simon has other concerns as he gets a lesson in tough love." (bbc.co.uk)

Is it really all over? Simon Amstell, co-writer, co-creator and centrepiece of 'Grandma's House', has suggested that the finale of this second series could well be the last of the dysfunctional yet excellent sitcom. I honestly can hear Linda Bassett (who plays the titular Grandma) saying "ooh, what a shame". Especially considering the utterly bleak ending.

The last episode of the first series saw Tanya (Rebecca Front) and Clive (James Smith) getting ready for marriage. They didn't quite make it that time but come the start of 'The Day Simon And His Family Opened The Door To Acceptance' and the deed is already done. Cue a terrible rendition of 'Sex On Fire' from Clive - bad singing being a favourite trope of 'Grandma's House'.

For Simon (Amstell), things hadn't exactly been going well recently. A trend that continues in this episode, as his romantic liaison Ben Theodore (Iwan Rheon) turns up with bad news. Then good news. Which rapidly turns to bad news. For Simon, at least.

Theodore brings his own companion, Zazzy (Jessie Cave), whose irritable pretension is probably the low note of the series, too much of a caricature of a hipster. She did however inspire an incisive calling out from Grandma Lily, who also finally found the time and privacy to grieve for her departed husband. While standing by a door. (To acceptance?)

It's ironic that with Grandma beginning her grieving process that so much else is unresolved. Clive's financial and drinking situation and the deepening marital rift between Liz (Samantha Spiro) and her absentee husband being of particular interest. There is room to for Liz's son Adam (Jamal Hadjkura) to grow both literally and figuratively, his cameo performances being continued highlights of this series.

The acting has been superb throughout the series, with Samantha Spiro's performance in the fourth episode of the series and Lily's anecdote about her husband looking for Liz in this episode being undoubted high points. Even Simon Amstell has proved impressively competent.

The writing has been slightly more hit-and-miss, with an over-reliance on outdated and/or obscure pop culture references (this episode's use of Samantha Mumba being arguably the most incongruous) and the significant dip of 'The Day Simon Attempted To Express Actual Feelings Just Like A Person'. Nonetheless, 'Grandma's House' has been very accomplished, and quite possibly realised its potential as "the best thing on British television" as I once suggested.

I suppose it might be a spoiler to say that the series ends with Simon consuming copious amounts of "cheesy beans potato" while watching re-runs of his glory days on 'Never Mind The Buzzcocks'. To end in such a sad manner would be a wider reflection of the sadness of the viewer now that the series may never return. Perhaps this is all the bittersweet tragicomedy that Amstell and co-writer Dan Swimer have to give. Rather sadistically, we hope for more in the future.

Watch 'The Day Simon And His Family Opened The Door To Acceptance' on BBC iPlayer until 00:39, 4 Jun 2012. Read the rest of our Grandma's House episode reviews here.

Download: Bravestation - Signs Of The Civilized [Album Preview]

2012-05-30T09:02:00.000+01:00

Words: Saam Das

About a year ago, I first wrote about Toronto band Bravestation, having seen them live at at their debut UK gig. I compared them to Foals and Yeasayer, also noting that "I wouldn't be surprised if they match their contemporaries when the album eventually drops." Well, that album is soon to drop, and you can listen to a couple of tracks from it below.

The debut Bravestation album is entitled 'Giants & Dreamers', and two tracks are available to download from the record already - 'Tides Of The Summit' and 'Signs Of The Civilized'. Both share the experimental pop vibe of yesteryear, with Yeasayer acting as a continued influence. The latter track just edges it for us at the moment but you can download both at Bandcamp.

'Signs Of The Civilized' kicks off in an unexpectedly hip hop fashion, dropping heavy beats, before their self-diagnosed tribal pop slowly but gloriously takes over. A swirling, shimmering gem. On the evidence of the new tracks, we've still got the same high expectations of the album that we had a year ago. Listen to 'Signs Of The Civilized' below, or watch the embedded video.

'Giants & Dreamers' is scheduled for a July 10th release. Find more info at facebook.com/Bravestation .

Film Review: Men In Black 3 (2012)

2012-05-29T23:39:00.001+01:00

'Men In Black III' (UK Release: 25 May '12) // Words: Saam Das

In 1997, director Barry Sonnenfeld teamed up with Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones to produce 'Men In Black', a three-time Oscar nominated(!) science fiction action comedy. Its follow-up 'Men In Black II' was far less well received, and ten years on, another sequel has been created. We're pleased to say that 'Men In Black III' is much more of a match in terms of the original.

For those unaware of the premise, the "Men In Black" are a secret agency tasked with monitoring alien activity while keeping humans oblivious of the presence of aliens on Earth and any impending danger. Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are two such officers, partners since the first film.

'Men In Black III' sees Boris The Animal (Jemaine Clement) break out of his prison and travel back to 1969 in order to kill Agent K, who both imprisoned him and shot off his arm in the act, and open the door for an alien invasion of Earth. Agent J consequently also has to "time-jump" to save not only his partner but the planet by preventing K's death - only to find himself having to work with the younger Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save the now erased Agent K from the present.

Time travel is always a bit of a contentious plot device in films, ranging from the gleeful ('Back To The Future') to the migraine-inducing ('Primer') but 'Men In Black III' largely uses it successfully. Indeed, one of the best characters of the film is an alien who sees all potential timelines, Griffin (Michael Stuhlbarg), who provides comedy and heart at regular intervals.

Undoubtedly, however, the finest performance comes from Josh Brolin, embodying the character of K utterly - not simply replicating the past performance of Tommy Lee Jones but also adding a more spritely nuance to indicate his less world-weary views. Clement too is excellent as a villain that is one part pantomime, another part terrifying. Not once during the film do you recall either actor's previous work.

Considering the relatively fraught shooting schedule - production split into different parts, without a completed script - director Barry Sonnenfeld and writer Etan Cohen have crafted a remarkably adept edition of the franchise. The pacing is excellent, with frequent action and comedy beats, while the film's crescendo is a powerfully heartfelt moment between Brolin and a young child, evoking memories of a similarly sad scene at the end of the first film.

Unfortunately, Emma Thompson and Alice Eve are rather wasted as Agent O, a character which promises much but delivers little by the end of the film. This is perhaps for the best as the romantic subplot between O and K feels contradictory with regards to the first film. Some of the CGI effects are equally dubious but most are impressive, unsurprising with a kitty of $230 million.

'Men In Black III' doesn't quite reach the heights of the original but is nonetheless, an entertaining sci-fi action comedy that packs a surprising amount of heart into its twisting story. Whether it is worth seeing in the 3D or not is debateable, although its use of 3D is more impressive than 'Avengers Assemble', but as popcorn movies go, you could do much worse.

★★★½ (3.5/5)

'Men In Black III' is in UK cinemas now through Sony Pictures.

Festival Preview: Bushstock 2012 [Ten Bands To Watch]

2012-05-29T16:06:00.001+01:00

Bushstock Festival (Shepherds Bush, 2 June '12) // Words: Saam Das

Multi-venue inner city festival have become all the range in the past few years and why the devil not? Instead of wading through the mad of a Glastonbury or having to travel to the middle of rural nowhere, the likes of The Great Escape, Camden Crawl and Bushstock offer an increasingly tempting alternative to the traditional festival. More importantly, a collection of great bands will be descending on West London at Bushstock this Saturday.

Run by the esteemed folk behind the Communion record label, Bushstock 2012 takes in four venues around the Shepherds Bush area, easily accessible by a vast array of public transport links. While the furthest distance between venues is no more than fifteen minutes walk, like all multi-venue festivals, if there are acts you wish to see later in the day then you must get down early and stay put. Having said that, we do enjoy traipsing between venues, so our suggestions below reflect a spread of artists across the different venues.

Considering the Communion influence, it's hardly surprising that the line up is very much dominated by folk/acoustic acts but we're also highlighting a few of the artists from slightly different backgrounds. Many of them we've covered before, and often also already seen, so we're happy in the knowledge that they should thrill and excite you as much as they did when we went to see them.

TOP TEN BANDS TO SEE AT BUSHSTOCK 2012

Alessi's Ark (6-6.30, Sunday Best Stage - Defectors Weld)
We first wrote about Alessi's Ark back in 2008, when the project was simply Alessi, and caught up with her again with her efforts on the new Young Colossus project, with Orlando from The Maccabees. Shamefully, we haven't caught her live yet but we're fully confident she is as magical as we suspect her to be.

BASTILLE (10.30-11.30, Sunday Best Stage - Defectors Weld)
I'm not really sure we have anything left to say about Dan Smith and his BASTILLE outfit, who we've been religiously following since the end of 2010. We recently saw the band at the Camden Crawl, and once again witnessed their triumphant pop in action.

Daughter (10-11, St Stephen's Church)
Elena Tonra et al have been a firm FG favourite since early 2011, and with a new record deal under their belt (signing to 4AD), this will undoubtedly be the first of many festival headline slots. Raman FG claimed that "Daughter boasts one of the most stunning live vocal experiences so far this decade".

Dog Is Dead (2-2.30, Sunday Best Stage - Defectors Weld)
One of our tips for 2011 but never quite coming to the boil, they nonetheless excited us live with their joyous indie-pop when we caught them at last year's Camden Crawl. We suspect little has changed since then.

Lanterns On The Lake (7.45-8.15, St Stephen's Church)
We were blown away by Lanterns On The Lake at The Great Escape 2011, and we have a good feeling that they're even better live now. Mixing folk-pop and post-rock to stunning effect.

Let's Buy Happiness (9.15-9.45, Sunday Best Stage - Defectors Weld)
Another of the FG tips for 2011, it's been a while since we saw their majestic eighties soundscapes live. But we very much enjoyed their live efforts so can heartily recommend you explore their sounds at Bushstock.

Mystery Jets (11.15-12.15, Shepherds Bar)
If it's been a while since we saw Let's Buy Happiness, then it's been eons since we saw Mystery Jets. Indeed, the last time we caught them may well have been when they still had Blaine Harrison in their line-up, a good five or more years ago. Since then, they've also lost Kai Fish, but we've heard fairly good things about latest album 'Radlands' and with a back catalogue of hits, they should be one of the big crowd-pleasers of the festival.

Pale Seas (8.45-9.15, Shepherds Bar)
We're only just starting to click with Pale Seas after a couple of our pals recommended them back when they were known as Netherlands. Dreamy folk, which should go down a treat with the Bushstock audience.

Rae Morris (3-3.30, Sunday Best Stage - Defectors Weld)
At only 18 years old, Bournemouth's Rae Morris remains a raw prospect but on the basis of 'Don't Go', her performance could well be an eye-opener. Powerful vocals and restrained instrumentation remind us of the ubiquitous Adele when she first started out, and we hope that Rae shows the same kind of determination and longevity as the aforementioned artist.

Silent Devices (8.15-8.45, Sunday Best Stage - Defectors Weld)
As we mentioned before, Bushstock is heavy on the folk/acoustic sounds, so when a band does something different then they undoubtedly stand out. Leicester's Silent Devices are one such band, combining ambient-pop, post-rock and Elbow-esque anthems. Hauntingly arresting.

Find more info (including the full schedule) and buy tickets at bushstock.co.uk.

Surfacing: Eden Ley [New Artist]

2012-05-29T08:57:00.000+01:00

Words: Saam Das

Eden Ley is a singer-songwriter from London. Dime a dozen, you may cry. But no, there is something special here, even though his newest project is less than a week old. Listen to the sublime 'Daughter' below, along with a cover of the Everly Brothers' 'All I Have To Do Is Dream'.

You may recognise Eden Ley under his former performing name of Jamie, a past somewhat shrouded with in this new project, yet with strong enough hints left to not prove irksome. Having not been particularly familiar with Ley's previous work, I cannot make too much of a comparison with his latest efforts - yet 'Daughter' could well be the best thing he's ever done.

A beautiful piano-based ode to a former companion, emboldened by solemn vocals and soaring strings. Killing Moon Limited, who were onto Mr Ley within a flash, suggest hints of Jeff Buckley, Johnny Cash and Jamie N Commons. I'm thinking of Elton John for some reason.

I suspect that the lyrics of 'Daughter' are about Ley's former collaborator Elena Tonra but that almost seems too obvious. Either way, in this case, I'd probably rather not know. What I would like to know, however, is the identity of the backing vocalist on 'All I Have To Do Is Dream'....

Find more info at Facebook.

Film Review: Ill Manors (2012)

2012-05-28T16:05:00.000+01:00

'Ill Manors' (UK Release: 6 June '12) // Words: Raman K

Plan B’s 2nd album, 'The Defamation Of Strickland Banks', wrong-footed the entire British music industry. His metamorphosis from gritty cult London rapper to a Brit award-winning mainstream artist was outstanding. It is equally remarkable that with only a fledgling acting career he has written and directed his first feature length film, 'Ill Manors'. Centred on London’s underbelly of disaffected youth and violence, Plan B – real name Ben Drew - has “Broken Britain” in his crosshairs. This is not for the faint hearted.

'Ill Manors' weaves six storylines together, predominantly focusing on dealers Aaron (Riz Ahmed) and Ed (Ed Skrein). After a police sting, Ed’s phone goes missing and Aaron accuses crack addict Michelle (Anoushka Mond) of thievery. What follows is an exploration of gang brutality, drug-running, traumatic upbringings and premature sexualisation.

Plan B does not shy from experimentation, introducing each protagonist with hip-hop laden narration, colouring their backgrounds through the gifted lyricism that won him an Ivor Novello award for best songwriter. Edited artfully, this mechanic thankfully steers away from becoming a series of music videos.

The film is pulsating. The pacing is brilliantly dictated and boasts a slick soundtrack. Notably, 'Ill Manors' is full of contiguous scenes, leaving the audience unsettled as to the alignment of each story in the overall timeline. Elsewhere there is use of stop-motion, camera-phones (remember happyslapping?) and SnorriCams. Grotty estate colours of concrete by day are overlaid by saturated colours of the London at night. Plan B gives plenty of stylistic nods to Gaspar Noe, Quentin Tarantino and Darren Aronofsky.

Unfortunately, the film‘s muscle is weakened on two accounts; the handling of multiple narratives and the effectiveness of the message against David Cameron’s “Broken Britain”. With so many tales being told at once, there is a messy overuse of coincidences to build to the crescendo. The jumbling of narratives may leave you feeling as drug-addled as those on screen.

Secondly, the glorification of and desensitisation to violence amongst ‘Laandan yoof’ culture is rationalised by the severely troubled environments and childhoods of each person. Whilst trying to humanise sometimes seriously inhumane behaviour, there is neglect of another critical aspect –the people raised in similar impoverished and traumatic circumstances who prevail to become contributing members of society. 'Harry Brown', a film Plan B starred in, does a more subtle and effective job of addressing the entire ecosystem of the capital’s vulnerable communities.

In the same ilk as Noel Clarke’s 'Adulthood', there is huge potential here for Ben Drew to be the cinematic conscience of London’s underrepresented youth. 'Ill Manors' is poignantly timed as we near the 1-year anniversary of the London Riots. The directorial innovation and bravery with a largely unknown cast deserves applause. Several moments are heart-pounding and create squeamish tension. Unfortunately the honest reflections on the ills of his urban jungle are overshadowed by the gratuitous extremes of the drama.

What 'La Haine' did to re-energise French political discussion of youth in the “fractured” suburbs, 'Ill Manors' lacks in substance to achieve in the UK. Nevertheless, 'Ill Manors' is an assured debut from Plan B and certainly merits a watch.

★★★ (3/5)

'Ill Manors' is released on 6 June in UK cinemas through Revolver.

Competition: Win Tickets To Festifeel 2012 @ Queen Of Hoxton

2012-05-28T12:20:00.000+01:00

Words: Saam Das

Following on from our competition to win tickets to see Caan at Dingwalls, we have a pair of tickets on offer for the forthcoming Festifeel festival at the Queen Of Hoxton in London, on Monday 4th June. In aid of the Coppafeel! breast cancer charity, the all day event features the likes of Norman Jay and Newton Faulkner, along with a whole host of FG faves. Find out more and how to win below.

It's not just more established artists like The View that are on offer at Festifeel, there are an array of bands we've hotly tipped including: Dog Is Dead, Kyla La Grange, Chew Lips, YADi etc. Plus, there's a few bands we've been hankering to check out live like Among Brothers and The Milk. Today, Lianne La Havas has been added to the bill, and one rather seminal British band still remain to be announced.

Festifeel is curated by Fearne Cotton, who's not everybody's cup of tea but we don't mind. And at least for the day, you shouldn't either. All in all, it'll be a great event for a great cause so dare we suggest you to maybe even purchase tickets anyway? But if you'd rather enter our competition first, then by all means follow the instructions below.

HOW TO WIN: To win a place for you and a friend on the guestlist (that's two places in total, maths fans) for Festifeel at the Queen Of Hoxton on 4th June, simply email fgcompetition-festifeel@yahoo.co.uk with your full name in the subject/title box by noon on Thursday 31 May.

Our privacy policy and general terms and conditions apply. (Rest assured, we won't be passing on your details.) The winner will be contacted via the email address they have used to enter within 24 hours of the competition ending.

For more info and to buy tickets, head to festifeel.com. Visit coppafeel.org for more on the breast cancer charity.

Album Review: Alt-J - An Awesome Wave

2012-05-28T08:45:00.000+01:00

∆ (Alt-J) - 'An Awesome Wave' (UK Release: 28 May '12) // Words: Jack Thomson

In 2005, The Maccabees released their debut single 'X-Ray', in 2006, Wild Beasts released their first single 'Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants', and in 2007, Foals released their debut single 'Hummer'. What excited me about all three of these bands was their ability to make every note count in writing very well thought out songs. It felt like a new breed of more intelligent music. A trend Alt-J are continuing in 2012.

At the time of the aforementioned releases, each were seen as very 'indie', but the intricate level of musicianship was undeniable. All three bands went on to release incredibly mature sounding second albums and both The Maccabees and Wild Beasts have had great success with their critically acclaimed third records. All have grown beautifully and created more accessible music while maintaining the high level of musicianship that got them noticed in the first place. I will always be a massive fan of these type of bands.

Enter Alt-J. Having already released two AA singles ('Bloodflood'/'Tessellate' and 'Matilda'/'Fitzpleasure'), along with current single 'Breezeblocks', all of which I've been a huge fan of, I'd be lying if i said their debut album 'An Awesome Wave' wasn't one of the most exciting prospects in music this year for me. Hailing from Leeds, things have been steadily growing for the band and they've created a beautifully haunting and incredibly hypnotic sound that is, much to my delight, very mature and full of musical intricacies much like the aforementioned.

The vibe of the whole record, if not band, can be perfectly summed up in album opener 'Intro'. Starting with just a piano, the track blossoms with the introduction of jittery beats and guitars full of reverb. When it comes time for Joe Newman's lead vocal to come in, its harmony is an eerie, low end auto-tuned voice that almost blends in with the deep bass line, before the instruments take over again and the track builds into a huge atmospheric ensemble.

We are then instantly shown the bands lyric writing talent and vocal harmonic ability in acapella track 'Ripe And Ruin'. Its minimalism forces the listener to really focus on the story, ending on the genius line, "Like all good food, the balance of life is in the ripe and ruin". Indeed, I could talk about every track on the album in detail, but whether it's the dream like feel of 'Tessellate', 'Matilda' with its delicate and beautiful sound, 'Fitzpleasure' with its dark, brooding bass line, or the more pop sounding 'Dissolve Me', you really need to hear this album in its entirety for yourself.

The album feels like it spans a number of genres, but as a whole, it feels remarkably complete and well thought out. It is full of intricate instrumentation, stunning vocal harmonies and perfectly penned lyrics resulting in a mature, yet very exciting record. As a body of work, from start to finish, the album is an absolute delight to listen to and is definitely one of my albums of the year so far.

9.0/10

'An Awesome Wave' is out today, and available to purchase from amazon.co.uk. Stream the album in full at soundcloud.com/alt-j for a limited time.

DVD Review: Tiny Furniture (2010)

2012-05-27T23:58:00.002+01:00

'Tiny Furniture' (UK Release: 28 May '12) // Words: Saam Das

Lena Dunham's recent HBO series 'Girls' has taken off in a big way, and is scheduled to arrive on UK television this September. Similarly, her 2010 feature 'Tiny Furniture' took its time to make it over to our fair island, with a limited release in March. Now, it comes out on DVD, backed by a host of positive reviews and favourable comparisons to Woody Allen and Tina Fey - a reaction that I feel is overly generous.

'Tiny Furniture' begins with 22 year old Aura (played by Dunham, who also wrote and directed the film) returning to her New York family apartment in a "post-graduate delirium". Her film theory degree not providing much of an avenue for employment in hard-hitting times, she nabs an opportunity to work at a local restaurant. Despite the relative stability of a job and a rent-free home, Aura finds her life situation unravelling by the minute.

Aura struggles in a dysfunctional family, battling her mother (Laurie Simmons, Dunham's real-life mother) and sister (Grace Dunham, her real-life sister) but her own internal battles are just as great. Aura's motives for the future remain unclear while her romantic aspirations are fraught with insecurity and poor decision making. A place in our lives which we've all undoubtedly found ourselves in.

The film won Best Narrative Feature at SXSW 2010, an impressive feat, all the more so as its narrative is somewhat jumbled. Its central theme seems to reflect the idea of self-respect, Aura's willingness to expose herself in substandard YouTube videos and allowing men to use her yet her aim for more ambitious employment - something of an infuriating contradiction.

Indeed, 'Tiny Furniture' makes you regularly despair for humanity - hopefully this isn't an accurate microcosm of New York life. Otherwise, it truly is inhabited by massive wankers. However, a few bright moments do permeate through the film, typically in an awkwardly dry, neurotic comedic manner - evocative of Woody Allen but without his charm.

While 'Tiny Furniture' does successfully capture some of the confusion that comes out of growing into your mid-twenties, it does so in a manner that makes literally every main character almost entirely unsympathetic. Nonetheless, Dunham's film feels absolutely naturalistic and her brave self-analysis encourages our own reflection and comparison although the viewer pines for a deeper, more satisfying examination of the flaws offered.

★★ (2/5)

DVD EXTRAS:
- Interview with Lena Dunham
- Five short films ('Dealing', 'The Fountain', 'Hooker On Campus', 'The Hostess With The Leastest', 'Open The Door')
- Theatrical trailer

Dunham showcases her quirk via a selection of short films but the most interesting feature here is a meaty interview covering Dunham's influences (Woody Allen, Noah Baumbach etc) and her thoughts on the industry and making 'Tiny Furniture'.

'Tiny Furniture' is out in the UK on DVD through Independent Distribution. Purchase at amazon.co.uk.

Simon Says: 21st Century Punk With Moral Dilemma

2012-05-26T22:58:00.002+01:00

Words: Simon Opie

Punk is now just a style and the Sex Pistols were just a band, to quote Scroobius Pip. So what does the legacy of Punk mean in the 21st century? Well there’s many who claim to have been influenced by it and there’s some like Moral Dilemma who play it straight up.

Those who belong in the latter camp tend to prosper rather better in the USA – Green Day, Rancid and Bad Religion being obvious examples - but Moral Dilemma have paid their dues here in London, England, and the result is really rather good. They formed in 2004 and have played in squats with makeshift gear so they’ve earned their stripes – or whatever Punk rewards may be.

Their new EP, to be released next month, is led off by single 'Bigger Cages, Longer Chains', a title that doesn’t leave much to the imagination but is full-on, uncompromising punk rock and dare I say, is as relevant today as it ever has been. The other two tracks are 'Spare The Vote Spoil The Ballot' and 'New Empire'.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://moraldilemma.bandcamp.com/track/spare-the-vote-spoil-the-ballot"&amp;gt;Spare The Vote, Spoil The Ballot by Moral Dilemma&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

'Spare The Vote...' is easier paced but just as heartfelt with an almost cowboy twang to it and some nice slide guitar. How I imagine Calexico might sound if they covered a punk song. Whereas 'New Empire' is two minutes of rage with a tune, just how I remember the Pistols.

So if it was a style, and they were just a band, it’s uncanny how prescient a movement Punk has turned out to be. The world’s in a mess, and there’s every reason for people of all ages but especially the young, to be angry. That’s why I think bands like Moral Dilemma are relevant and necessary. Go find them at a moshpit near you sometime soon. You know it makes sense.

'Bigger Cages, Longer Chains' is set for release on 25 June '12. Find more info at Facebook. To feature in this Simon Says column, email altrock(at)fadedglamour.co.uk with your submission.

TV Review: Grandma's House Series 2, Episode 5 [BBC iPlayer]

2012-05-25T23:34:00.000+01:00

'Grandma's House' Series 2, Episode 5: 'The Day Simon Found Himself Back On The Path To Fulfilment And Joy' // Words: Saam Das

SYNOPSIS: "Sitcom. Simon makes his TV comeback, but a comment he makes about a singer's tumour is picked up by a newspaper." (bbc.co.uk)

'Grandma's House' has always had a certain self-referential/meta slant but this episode really takes one of co-writer Simon Amstell's real-life issues head on. His "off colour joke" about Russell Watson's brain tumour at the end of a BBC news interview becomes the centre-piece of an episode that sees Simon's career yo-yo-ing up and down in the course of just a matter of hours. With Tanya's (Rebecca Front) love life doing much the same.

It's hard to tell just how much the reaction to Amstell's good-natured rib still affects him. His use of it as a plot point in his own TV series either suggests that he still holds some bitterness or much the opposite, that he can happily derive humour from an uncomfortable personal situation. Either way, he certainly attempts to set the record straight, repeatedly batting away the suggestion that he was making fun of Watson's cancer.

While Simon's career takes a nosedive in the fallout of his supposed gaffe, Tanya finds herself in the curious position of pining for Clive (James Smith). So much so, she's all but given up on men ("I'm sewing it up", a rather monumental change of mind compared to the early episodes of the series.

Indeed, Tanya's in a particularly grumpy mood, and quite rightly calls Simon out on his philosophical nonsense - "You're in a vortex of deliberate bullshit" she cries at one point, leaving us to giggle gleefully. Tanya's luck changes however (with one of the best, or possibly worst, uses of the phrase "deal or no deal?" ever) while Simon continues his downward spiral, finding his inheritance disappearing at a unexpectedly rapid rate.

As the series draws to its conclusion, it's difficult to tell just who will be satisfied. Tanya taking the easy way out, Simon's unhappiness mounting, Grandma's (Linda Bassett) grief unaddressed, Clive in a financial pickle, and Liz's (Samantha Spiro) marriage still somewhat up in the air - that's a lot of precarious situations to attend to in thirty minutes. But writers Dan Swimer and Amstell have done a sterling job thus far, and I suspect things will end on a suitably sublime note.

Watch 'The Day Simon Found Himself Back On The Path To Fulfilment And Joy on BBC iPlayer until 22:29, 31 May '12. Read previous episode reviews here.

Listen: Mammal Club - Painting [New Single]

2012-05-25T08:33:00.000+01:00

Words: Saam Das

We've been bigging up Mammal Club since October 2010, and this week they released a new single, 'Painting'. It's perhaps the most pop record they've created yet it still carries the distinctive experimental elements of previous releases. In short, it's a banger.

A man down from the quartet that I originally wrote about, a fearsome foursome that produced the terrific 'Au' EP, Mammal Club nonetheless show little sign of discomfort. Aiding and abetting their usual experimental pop fare with an electro-rock vibe, 'Painting' is a glorious anthem.

The track has been teamed with b-side 'Toward You With Lust', which we wrote about back in January, when a studio version was shared with the world. Listen to the two tracks below.

'Painting' was released by Everybody's Stalking on 21 May. Find out more at facebook.com/mammalclub.

Small Screen: Hell On Wheels [New TV Series]

2012-05-24T13:42:00.002+01:00

Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn

Anyone lamenting the sweaty, grime-coated nature of their daily commute might find a heartening sense of perspective by watching 'Hell On Wheels', a new, brutal historical drama from Endemol USA (airing on TCM in the UK) that charts the building of the Union Pacific Railroad in post-Civil War America, starring Colm Meaney and sometime-rapper Common in leading roles.

Meaney plays Thomas Durant, an enterprising and utterly unscrupulous businessman who plans to realise his vision of building the transcontinental railroad and make himself a fortune into the bargain. The railroad building itself is a mammoth undertaking, beset by numerous difficulties and opposing factions, including the recently emancipated slaves that make up the majority of the workforce. For them, the work is merely a repackaged form of slavery.

Common’s character, Elam, is a recently freed slave working on the digging crew. He radiates a volatile mixture of defiance, resentment, ambition and pride, all executed with a surprising amount of skill by Common, whose most notable appearance on screen to date has perhaps been as the voice of Seymour in 'Happy Feet 2'.

Another major character in the sprawling ensemble cast is Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount), a taciturn lone ranger on a quest to avenge the murder of his wife. With a lazy drawl, dry wit, measured speech and a generous helping of moral ambiguity, he’s an anti-hero cast in the 'Fistful Of Dollars' mould.

The makeshift town of "Hell On Wheels" serves as the crucible that brings these characters together – a dusty, joyless place lubricated by prostitution, liquor and bloodshed. It’s a setting that lends itself well to drama, and the first two episodes of 'Hell On Wheels' lay down complex foundations for the rest of the series.

Every character seems to have an intriguing back-story to be explored, and it will be interesting to see whether the series manages to draw all these threads together into a cohesive whole.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that, in spite of the period setting, the script still had a sense of knowing relevancy. It’s easy to recognise the posturing of modern politicians in Durant’s grandiose speeches, to see echoes of recent scandal in his casual bribing of public officials, and – amusingly – to witness the ease with which he dictates a heavily embellished news story to a journalist.

In the particularly ‘meta’ speech that concludes the first episode, Durant soliloquises: “And what is the building of this grand road, if not a drama? This business is not for the weak of heart.” This sounds like a challenge and a promise rolled into one – I hope the series delivers. It’s off to a good start.

'Hell On Wheels' airs every Sunday on TCM UK, and the first episode is repeated tonight at 9pm.

Competition: Win Tickets To See Caan @ Dingwalls

2012-05-24T09:09:00.000+01:00

Words: Saam Das

Thursday 31st May sees former Ou Est Le Swimming Pool man Caan Capan headline Camden's Dingwalls venue, ahead of his intriguing forthcoming 'Into The Night' single, which you can listen to below. Better yet, we've got a pair of tickets to give away to Caan's gig, keep reading to find out how to win.

Growing in reputation each passing day, hypnotic debut single 'Now Hear This My Friends' was followed by March's 'Every Little Thing'. Melancholic single 'Into The Night' is out on 11 June, another fine addition to Caan's catalogue of mesmerising electro. Caan will be dropping those tracks and plenty more where that came from at the Dingwalls gig.

HOW TO WIN: To win a pair of tickets (to be more precise, yourself and a +1 on the guestlist) for the Dingwalls gig on 31 May, simply send an email with your full name as the subject/title to fgcompetition-caan@yahoo.co.uk by noon on Wednesday 30 May.

Winners will be contacted within 24 hours of the competition ending, via the email address used to enter to the competition. Our privacy policy and general terms and conditions apply. (Simply put, we won't pass on your details. We're not twats.)

Find out more on Caan at facebook.com/iamcaan.

Film Review: Iron Sky (2012)

2012-05-23T12:00:00.000+01:00

'Iron Sky' (UK Release: 23 May '12) // Words: Ced Yuen

Nazis from the Moon: that’s the concept for 'Iron Sky', which was scheduled for a single-day release** before going straight to DVD. I wasn’t expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. Despite the ridiculous concept and low budget, it fares no worse than something like 'Transformers 3'.

In 2018, the US president (a thinly veiled Sarah Palin spoof) sends a black man into space as a publicity stunt. The astronaut (Christopher Kirby) stumbles across Nazis, who have been hiding on the moon. Thinking that they are being invaded, the Nazis launch a counter-attack to conquer Earth.

Director Timo Vuorensola wholeheartedly embraces the absurdity, which is one of the film’s strengths. There is no winking and nudging, no tongue-in-cheek satire: this is a straight-up telling of a ludicrous story. As a result, it is occasionally quite enjoyable.

The film is at its best when it highlights the Nazis’ old-fashioned mentality, like when they discover modern-day technology. Or pornography. These scenes allow for some classic fish-out-of-water humour. Another source of laughs is the UN, where a metaphorical World War III takes place.

Unfortunately, a significant chunk of the film is just plain cringeworthy. This is whenever the action shifts to the Americans on Earth. The film tries too hard to draw comparisons between Hitler and the mock-Palin administration.

A full-on translation of the Nuremberg speech is cheesy, not clever. A shot-for-shot re-enactment of the (now-meme) Bruno Ganz breakdown scene from 'Downfall' just ends up being embarrassing. The film is very clearly a European piss-take of America, but these attempts at comedy are overbaked, falling on the wrong side of silly.

Consistency is the main problem here. By mixing straight-faced sci-fi comedy with unfunny gags belonging in Political Movie, the film ends up with an odd, indecisive tone. Honest laughs are punctuated with uncomfortable groans and it’s almost as if the Nazis ought to take over.

This is a shame, because the Nazi elements actually work very well. The invasion itself is solid. I was rather expecting cardboard cut-outs on strings but the special effects are pretty good, considering the budget. While it won’t rival Hollywood, the CGI does the job and all the space scenes look perfectly convincing.

This is no doubt a trashy B-movie, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not enjoyable. It is certainly more entertaining than a lot of mainstream dross with high ticket prices. For an almost-straight-to-disc movie, 'Iron Sky' is above average.

★★★½ (3.5/5)

** NOTE: Although originally intended for a one-day cinema release, 'Iron Sky' has been granted an extended run at select cinemas, listed here.

'Iron Sky' is on limited release in UK cinemas today, and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on 28 May.

Listen: Dan Mangan - About As Helpful... [New Single]

2012-05-23T08:44:00.000+01:00

Words: Simon Opie

I know next to nothing about Dan Mangan except he’s from Vancouver, which I’m told is a great place to live, and his 2011 album 'Oh Fortune' is amazingly well put together. This song was one of my top tunes of 2011 and hey – there’s a new video release for it and that’s a great excuse to introduce it all over again.

Mangan is aided by some terrific musicians and some backroom people who’ve coincidentally worked with many of my favourite artists – Black Mountain, Bill Frissel, Mike Patton – and despite there being a throng of singer songwriters on the loose just now (or whatever the collective noun for singer songwriters actually is), it’s a surprising and original piece of work. So it stands out.

'About As Helpful As You Can Be Without Being Any Help At All' is my favourite track from the album and this video is as quirky as the music. It takes about as long to get going as the song – around 60 seconds – but thereafter it’s mesmerising. Sort of 'Lord Of The Flies' meets Pina Bausch somewhere in South East Asia. If you like this, you should definitely give the album a try, as its consistently excellent.

'Oh Fortune' was released by City Slang in the UK now, and is available to purchase from amazon.co.uk.

Film Review: The Dictator (2012)

2012-05-22T23:58:00.001+01:00

'The Dictator' (UK Release: 16 May '12) // Words: Saam Das

Sasha Baron Cohen rose to fame with his man(dem) of the people interviewer Ali G, following up with the increasingly controversial Borat and Bruno, each of which spawned their own feature films. Cohen has returned with a new character, the charmless leader of a fictional North African state, Admiral General Aladeen, in 'The Dictator' - a comedy filled with crass humour, occasionally poignant political satire and dubious romantic subplot.

For his latest feature film outing, Baron Cohen has once again teamed up with 'Borat' and 'Bruno' director Larry Charles. While those films embraced a mockumentary style, often based on improv with otherwise unassuming members of the public, 'The Dictator' treads more of a conventional path.

Cohen's character of General Aladeen is a selfish misogynistic buffoon, proud of his anti-Semitism and his expertise in torture. His intentions to build nuclear weaponry causes the UN to vote for military action against his country of Wadiya. Aladeen decides to visit the US to address the UN Security Council but an attempt on his life finds himself having to live life as an ordinary man, aided by Zoey (Anna Faris).

The plot is exceedingly flimsy and simply exists as a skeletal structure for the regular appearance of Baron Cohen's jokes, which veer between the unbelievably crass to the unexpectedly clever. Admittedly, 'The Dictator' very much specialises in the former, particularly at the expense of women. Nonetheless, this is firmly tongue-in-cheek material, outlined from the outset by the opening title screen - "In loving memory of Kim Jong-il".

There is a clear nod to Charlie Chaplin's Hitler send-up 'The Great Dictator', not just in its title, but in an impassioned speech delivered by General Aladeen which draws links between democracy and dictatorships. The scene may not resonate quite as much as Chaplin's closing effort in 'The Great Dictator', which still largely bears true more than seventy years on, but nonetheless, it demonstrates a mildly intellectual basis for 'The Dictator'.

Unfortunately, that speech is a rare example of (arguably) sophisticated humour in the film. The jokes are hit-and-miss but they do arrive with regularity, lending a breezy pace to 'The Dictator', while Baron Cohen triumphantly embodies his dictator, as expected from one of the finest comic actors of his generation. Yet the lack of engaging storyline and daft romance cripple the otherwise gleeful satire.

★★ (2/5)

'The Dictator' is out in UK cinemas now.

Listen: Cold Specks - Blank Maps [New Single]

2012-05-22T09:05:00.000+01:00

Words: Jack Thomson

Cold Specks is the stage name of Londoner Al Spx, originally from Ontario, Canada, who has been making the most beautiful music, describing it in her own words as "doom soul". In listening to her songs, it’s clear that she’s been heavily influenced by American gospel from the Deep South, and this is very apparent in her latest single 'Blank Maps'.

The track as a whole, like most of her music to date, is incredibly simple at its core, but it’s the instantly recognisable sound of Spx’s voice that draws the listener in and creates an emotionally captivating story. There is a slight feeling of fragility to the whole thing that gives it a sense of honesty, while at the same time filling it with real conviction when she sings the chorus line “I am a goddamn believer”.

'Blank Maps' is another strong track taken from her newly released debut album, ‘I Predict A Graceful Expulsion’, and the accompanying video is equally as beautiful. Stream the album below in its entirety, via The Guardian.

‘Blank Maps’ is out now, as is 'I Predict A Grateful Explosion', on Mute.

Listen: Spector - Celestine [New Single]

2012-05-21T08:02:00.000+01:00

Words: Saam Das

Unveiling the solemn debut single 'Never Fade Away' just over a year ago, the rise of London quartet Spector has been rather impressive. A single or two later, and the band signed for Fiction, finding themselves in the BBC Sound Of 2012, and even our very own ones to watch for the year. 'Celestine' is arguably the high point of their career, a sparkling anthem worthy of The Killers in their pomp.

The more traditionally indie nature of Spector combined with the divisive persona of frontman Fred Macpherson has led to ample criticism of the band. Yet I suspect 'Celestine' may convince some of the naysayers that Spector are a cut above. 'Celestine' itself is hardly groundbreaking but it is triumphant, unashamed pop. Produced by one Trevor Horn, no less.

Hopefully Spector's legacy won't be enshrined to a sole track appearance on a future compilation of "indie hits" but even that wouldn't be so bad. Still, with their as yet untitled debut album not due out till August 13th, we can look forward to that as well as enjoying the glory of 'Celestine'. The video by the High5Collective is pretty rad too, watch it below.

'Celestine' is out now, and available to purchase at amazon.co.uk.

TV Review: Grandma's House Series 2, Episode 4 [BBC iPlayer]

2012-05-18T16:55:00.000+01:00

'Grandma's House' Series 2, Episode 4: 'The Day Simon Was Really Determined To Heal His Grandma's Pain' // Words: Saam Das

SYNOPSIS: "Sitcom. Simon gets Grandma to see a therapist about her unresolved grief - and the ensuing kleptomania." (bbc.co.uk)

I was somewhat morose, and perhaps even distraught, at the plummeting scale of quality witnessed between episodes two and three of what was otherwise becoming my favourite thing on British television. Thankfully, 'Grandma's House' has just about managed to recover its composure.

Maybe I was too hasty to build up this series of 'Grandma's House'. Or maybe I'm slowly embodying Simon Amstell's character - second-guessing myself at every step, flailing in my own neuroticism. 'The Day Simon Was Really Determined To Heal His Grandma's Pain' tones it down slightly compared the overly dramatic and somewhat sinister previous episode, albeit turning itself into something more reminiscent of slightly quirky soap opera episode.

Following the fallout of the last episode, Clive (James Smith) doesn't go out with Tanya (Rebecca Front), instead accompanying Liz (Samantha Spiro), whose marriage is in a somewhat precarious position despite her protestations, on a night out at the theatre. Repercussions develop as it emerges that Clive and Liz kissed, halting Simon's attempts to introduce his unwittingly grief-stricken Grandma (Linda Bassett) to a therapist and his date with Ben Theodore.

Following on the usual formula of pop culture references, meta moments ("Why do you have to use your family to entertain strangers?"), brilliant one liners and dodgy singing (Simon singing the intro to 'Circle Of Life' from 'The Lion King' was quite something), episode 4 finds its footing as something of a post-modern tragicomedy. In particular, this episode allows Samantha Spiro to shine, her character deriving an entirely unexpected source of empathy from the viewer.

Equally unexpected is the scale of Tanya's anger about Clive and Liz's minor indiscretion considering her supposedly flagrant disinterest in the former, pushing Grandma's rather more important issues aside. Simon finds himself stuck in the middle, as ever, his dampened mood somewhat indicative of where the series has now found itself - "Okay, well this is almost fun isn't it?" Almost, Simon, almost.

'The Day Simon Was Really Determined To Heal His Grandma's Pain' is available to watch on BBC iPlayer until 22:29, 31 May '12. Previous episode reviews here.

Surfacing: Lovepark [New Band]

2012-05-18T08:39:00.000+01:00

Words: Saam Das // Photo: Francesca Hill

One of the nicest things about The Great Escape festival in Brighton is that they actually celebrate local talent, in amongst the HAIMs and Oliver Tanks of the world. One such group of talented young chaps is Lovepark, whose origins lie in Burgess Hill, not too far from Brighton. Top melodic indie rock.

We're pleased that Lovepark aren't afraid of a good melody. And we're not afraid of them. The band or melodies, that is. Born from the ashes of Puritans, this new incarnation has been quietly rising in stature, with recognition from the likes of Killing Moon Limited and Cruel Rhythm before their debut single drops, hopefully later this summer.

In the meantime, you can do with a couple of their older demos, namely 'Almost As One' and 'Eager Jester', embedded below. The tracks are not too dissimilar from fellow Brighton area outfit Flashguns, which I suppose is handy seeing as they split up last year leaving a small sized gap in the market. Another Lovepark track, 'How Do I See?, can be found on their Soundcloud page.

Find more info at Facebook.

Film Review: The Raid (2012)

2012-05-17T16:23:00.000+01:00

'The Raid' (UK Release: 18 May '12) // Words: Saam Das

Already one of the most hotly talked about films of the year, 'The Raid' may well go down as a cult action movie in years to come. Combining the likes of 'Die Hard', Attack The Block and John Woo's finest efforts, 'The Raid' isn't quite the sum of influences.

Considering 'The Raid' ('Serbuan Maut') is very much an Indonesia production, it is surprising that this is in fact a feature from Welsh writer-director Gareth Evans. Similarly surprising is the appearance of Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda, composer of the film's soundtrack. Both aspects may be somewhat out of the leftfield but prove somewhat successful, particularly Shinoda's pulsating efforts, which adds to the thrills of the action.

'The Raid' centres around a police siege of an apartment block, which houses Tama Riyadi (Ray Sahetapy), Jakarta's foremost gangster and druglord, along with his various murderous associates. Our main protagonist is Rama (Iko Uwais), an officer of rare integrity and also an expectant father. Yet he holds his own secrets. Soon, the alarm is raised and Rama and the rest of the SWAT team find themselves trapped in the block, and the only way to get out is find Tama.

The film showcases brutal set-pieces, often inspired by the Indonesian martial art Pencak Silat, with visceral effects. These back-breaking, neck-crunching moments are very much the highlights of 'The Raid', well-(s)paced throughout the film. Unfortunately, there is comparatively little going on in terms of the characters, and the more the death toll racks up, the less I end up caring. The film also ends in something of a damb squib, perhaps as a result of Evans saving plot points for his planned sequel(s).

'The Raid' thrills with its gory action set-pieces but falls short on the storytelling, rather nullifying any interest in the outcome of the excellently choreographed fight scenes. An English language remake deal is already in place, and with Evans serving as producer, this is one remake that I'm actually looking forward to.

★★½ (2.5/5)

'The Raid' is out in UK cinemas on Momentum Pictures tomorrow, Friday 18th May.

Simon Says: Explore Rock Sounds From Soundcloud

2012-05-17T08:11:00.000+01:00

Words: Simon Opie

I wanted to collect up some varied new music from the UK that’s been coming in to FADED GLAMOUR Towers over the last few weeks and falling into the Altrock inbox. There’s a lot going on and this is only a fraction but it’s the part I feel is really worth passing on - featuring Static Plan, Since Monroe and Dissociates.

First up is Guildford band Static Plan who have a self-released and self-titled 4-Track EP just out. It’s a self-confessed blend of influences from Nine Inch Nails to Radiohead, but I like it because it reminds me most strongly of Pitchshifter – a tremendous British band who deserved greater success. With its tribal beats, electro voicings, grinding guitars and driving, gritty basslines the EP still covers a lot of styles.

Opener 'Will' is the hardest hitting (and so my favourite track) and it’ll be really interesting to see what path Static Plan finally choose to follow. Download it for free above. Find more info at facebook.com/staticplan.

Birmingham’s Since Monroe also have an EP out – 'Lost Generation'. It’s more of a nod to the Foo Fighters, and nicely done with an urgent, full guitar driven sound. Hooks abound though and there’s melody in their madness for sure. So another recommended listen with all four tracks strong songs, but check out 'DJ' and title track 'Lost Generation'. I think you will hear more from this quintet. Keep up to date at sincemonroe.com

Finally, there’s some post-punk jagged guitar jangle from London’s Dissociates whose EP is called 'Drown This Town'. A Brit-pop inspired take on the Dischord stable, lead single 'Kick & Shove' can be found below. Further info can be found at facebook.com/dissociates.

Email Simon at altrock(at)fadedglamour.co.uk to potentially appear in a future Simon Says column.