crablin has written the following articles:
In October, DiS writers Colin Roberts and Raziq Rauf ventured to Reykjavik for the annual Iceland Airwaves festival. Whilst there, as well as scaling churches, dipping in lagoons and drinking bad alcohol, we caught up with Klaxons - mere days after finishing their debut LP Myths Of The Near Future, which has seen the light of day this week...»
Well, we're three nights into the DrownedinSound.com affiliated superclub that's causing a stir in many circles, so we thought it time to issue an update.»
This isn't a rave record. It was never supposed to be. It's a wildly varying catalogue of melody and energy that eschews genre and scene in favour of songwriting and awe-inspiringly beefy production. Don't let anything get in the way of you picking up this record: it's expansive, free from pretension and easily one of the finest debuts of recent times...»
Tonight, the Barbican is a vortex. There's an indescribable chasm between my body and my conscience; between bouts of frenzied applause and a brief nicotine-fuelled interval, there is no one in this room other than me, Joanna Newsom and the distant faces of an orchestra...»
Sunday nights are usually pretty rubbish. If you're not desperately avoiding Heartbeat on ITV1, then there's dishes to be done and washing to be dried. For one week though, how about you forget all of that and pop to East London for a couple of beers and a chuckle with some great new bands.»
Hello, Monday. How dare you creep up on me like this, particularly when I've just started beating my PS2 at Pro Evolution Soccer 6 on the hardest mode. A pox on your new week-based annoyances...»
On Thursday we announced our involvement with the inaugural Hovefestival. A fantastic new event in Norway that plays host to a incredible varying bill across day and night stages, all by a beach with boat camping and more. Now we've chosen to announce the first batch of bands to be appearing across the weekend. This is a very small sample of the array of acts performing across the five-day event and there's lots more - of bigger and smaller sizes - to be added. »
Domino Recordings, who have just confirmed a stage at the DiS associated Hovefestival 2007 have signed US-based indie faves Animal Collective.»
This year, DrownedinSound.com is expanding its horizons and making inroads into the magical world of continental Europe, and we're more than happy to start by letting you know about one of the biggest and most exciting of all, the inaugural Hovefestival, in Norway, with which we are in close media partnership...»
Chart news: early indications are pointing towards Klaxons' new single 'Golden Skans' climbing into the top ten this week, alongside risers from the likes of The View, Jamie T (awesome, times two) and the world's worst person, Mika...»
What do drugs, hookers, cheap pizza, homeless people and more drugs have in common? They are all rife on the streets of our nation's capital and nowhere can claim to support all these things more happily that the ever-colourful Soho area of the West End. There is, however, a reliable and beautiful diamond in the rough, known quite simply as 'White Heat'.»
Having just picked up a coveted DiS tip for 2007, as well as a significantly less important tip from womens' institute almanac (NB: humour) Vogue, Emmy the Great headlines East London's Hoxton Bar and Kitchen this Thursday.»
Never ones to disappoint, the opening track to the band's current long-player Young Machetes rips everyone local to the stereo a new set of ears and, for that matter, nipples...»
This Saturday, Chalk - the new DiS-associated superclub launches at Scala, King's Cross, London.»
I'm here to protest that more tracks come complete with a title and refrain that is utterly nonsensical and as such beneficial to the chrous and memorability of the song. In fact, after repeated listens to this particular nugget of saxophone-led pop joy, I'd wager that when the agenda is set to dumb indie fun, the lyrics are pointless anyway...»
The Netherlands, Holland, 'Dutchville' - whatever you wish to term it, DiS is heading there this week for another dose of new music discovery, with full reports back to y'all for your aural pleasure.»
As promised, here’s part two of DiS’s Tips for 2007. Each and every one of the acts mentioned below have been getting the powers that be at the DiSopolis particularly excited of late, and we’re predicting bigger and better things for them over the next twelve months. Might they touch you? They just might…»
With effect from January 1st, the UK singles chart rules have been changed. As well as the physical single rules being relaxed (a single is now chart-eligible if 25-minutes long, an increase from the previous 15-minute limit), a larger change is liable to alter the UK charts forever, be it for better or worse...»
Getting back into the swing of things in 2007 is already proving difficult for some. Me? Well, I've spent the last 12 hours being ill and generally feeling sorry for myself. Not to worry though, as great gigs are around the corner!»
What needs to be understood is that this is the kind of sheer, unabashed glory that evokes an emotional response that can truly only be matched by love itself.»
2006 has - every now and then - leaped up and bit me in the ear. Of course, I mean this in the most pleasurable way possible. Like the first time 'Bohemian Rhapsody' went into the rock-out (actually, every time that song metamorphoses is just gets me going) or how 'Idioteque' becomes an all-consuming powerhouse of glory and you can listen to it more than 600 times a day and it still blows your head off...»
Brought to you by Stylish Riots, Young Turks and Drowned in Sound, alongside ActionAid's Bollocks to Poverty campaign, Chalk will be hosting three rooms of DJs and bands, spanned across a range of genres and styles, every Saturday night.»
It's Christmas time. I know that because this morning when I walked past the internet café in Paddington, a man was wearing a flashing badge that featured a Christmas tree. Oh lordy! Good times!»
Yeah! This Friday sees our last regular DiS Barfly night take place. We're taking a back seat in Camden Town and giving you longer, irregular nights on a special guests basis. 2007 will be a live year to look forward to from DiS for sure!»
We're incredibly happy, excited and proud to announce that this year's big Drowned in Sound Christmas Party in aid of Shelter is to be headlined by our breakthrough artists of the year Guillemots.»
Acoustic Ladyland are jazz, punk, rock, metal and FUN. Their new album Skinny Grin is out now through V2 and it's fucking brilliant. Don't believe me? Well, read this, then come back and buy some tickets. Perhaps thirty tickets? Yes.»
So, we're nearly there now. A couple more left to announce and fill your boots with. Today, we're unveiling the bleeding edge of the bill. The brand new artists whom have been plucked from the pack and presented for you at King's College, this Christmas.»
Trekking the epic distance to the Transgressive Records offices in North London, Drowned in Sound editor Colin Roberts meets the unpredictable master of melody known as Jeremy Warmsley. Complete with a world exclusive live performance, clips from his phenomenal debut LP and more, this is a must listen for fans of skewed pop and genius songwriters.»
Having written here but days ago that essentially, the only area of music that is currently exciting me is the world of electronica. Be it techno, ambient house or unpredictable waves of noise, there's been more there for me to grasp than anywhere else in the musical sphere for a while now. Of course then, when I'm presented with four average indie whiteboys in the overtly indie hangout and beer cellar known affectionately as the Borderline, I'm less than excited. That is of course, until they start to play.»
2006 releases by The Knife, Jimmy Edgar and Adrian Klumpes have left me in no doubt that electronic-led music and its copious sub-genres and cliquey groups is the only real area in music that is innovating at every step and enthralling the open-minded listener quite so meritoriously. It's quite enjoyable then to report that the finest example of the genre, the most cutting, immersive and downright enjoyable experience comes in the last month of the year.»
