Tunes of the Week :
YARD ACT – RICH
Another great track from Yard Act (pictured above) who occupy the space between John Cooper Clarke And Half Man Half Biscuit. It’s from their forthcoming debut album The Overload ( which contains the absolute classic “Land Of The Blind”) Speaking about the new track, James Smith explains: “‘Rich’ is the natural successor to [prevoius single] ‘Payday’. That’s the end of the story, right? Success! Status! Security! Except, there’s always more money to be made, and you’re deemed a failure if your life starts to head back in the direction it came from. It’s about being so lost you’re sure you know exactly where you are and how you got there. I also wrote it because I thought it would be quite funny if Yard Act made a shit ton of money after I’d written an anti-capitalist concept album. It’ll be funny if I’m singing this song on stage when I’ve made my mint.”
BLOOD RED SHOES – MURDER ME
A final taste of Blood Red Shoes forthcoming album Ghosts On Tape which lands on 14th January. “Murder Me” is everything you’d expect from a Blood Red Shoes track, sinister, slinky with menacing guitar riffs and eerie keyboards. The lyrics centre on a cinematic voyeuristic obsession which were doubtless inspired by Laura Mary Carter’s love of true crime podcasts and society’s morbid curiosity with what motivates dark dangerous outsiders
BRS are doing a few in-stores to celebrate the album’s release (pandemic depending)
Saturday 15th January – Kingston Banquet Records (Acoustic)
Sunday 16th January – Brighton Resident Records (Acoustic)
Monday 17th January – London Rough Trade East (Full Band)
Plus the band will be hosting THE JAZZ LIFE TV SPECIAL!
live via Veeps they’ll be chatting directly from Jazz Life HQ and answering questions, plus playing a set of new songs, as well as a set from Laura-Mary Carter’s solo album, and segments from other Jazz Life artists Queen Kwong, Circe, AA Sessions and Pieter-Paul Devos of Raketkanon. It arrives on Thursday, January 13th, the night before their album is released and tickets available here – https://brs.ffm.to/jazzlifetv.oem?mc_cid=dbe3f44340&mc_eid=25254b8520
SOFTCULT – GASLIGHT
Softcult are Candian sisters Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn who do a rather beguiling line in flanging chiming dream-pop guitars but underneath the shimmering sweet-sounding pop melodies they seek to address important issues – “Gaslight” explores the turmoil of existing within an abusive relationship in which one half of a couple breaks down the other halves mental stability, causing them to question their sense of reality and creating detrimental harm to their feelings, emotions, and their perception of self-being.”
In 2022, Softcult hopes to embark upon a UK tour. Full tour dates are below.
UK Tour Dates
Thursday, February 17, 2022 Crofters Bristol
Friday, February 18, 2022 The Victoria Birmingham
Saturday, February 19, 2022 Heartbreakers Southampton
Sunday, February 20, 2022 The Key Club Leeds
Tuesday, February 22, 2022 The Garage (Attic Bar) Glasgow
Wednesday, February 23, 2022 The Deaf Institute Manchester
Thursday, February 24, 2022 Camden Assembly London
US Tour Dates, Supporting Teenage Wrist
Thursday, February 3, 2022 Nile Underground Mesa, AZ
Friday, February 4, 2022 Soda Bar San Diego
Saturday, February 5, 2022 The Echo Los Angeles
Sunday, February 6, 2022 Constellation Room Santa Ana
Tuesday, February 8, 2022 Harlow’s Sacramento
Wednesday, February 9, 2022 Catalyst Atrium Santa Cruz
Thursday, February 10, 2022 Bottom Of The Hill San Francisco