Introducing... EMA

EMA is the initials of Erika M. Anderson, former frontwoman of the California noise-folk band Gowns. That band, led by Anderson and ex-boyfriend Ezra Buchla, released only one album, 2007's harrowing Red State, but their intense live show provided enough legacy for any group. According to Anderson, the group "self-destructed" last year.



And now the singer and songwriter is readying her first solo album, Past Life Martyred Saints, for release on May 10 in the U.S. and June 4 elsewhere via Souterrain Transmissions. "The Grey Ship", which is available to download at the bottom.

Her harrowing, emotionally raw sound will stop your heart. After splitting from noise-folk band Gowns last year, she's been recording her solo debut, Past Life Martyred Saints, which drops May 10.

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EMA - The Grey Ship

Introducing... Big Deal

Big Deal, whose MySpace says "we don't know how to put this but we're kind of a big deal", a bold boast indeed for an act that's had no more than one Guardian mention to date, but in this case they may just be pre-empting their status come 2011. They are destined for the NME Radar Tour in 2011 which before has seen the likes of Hurts, Everything Everything, Chapel Club, La Roux and Darwin Deez play on.



The music recreates the feelings of long, lustful summer afternoons in bed. It’s intimate and so beautiful. The harmonies between the two members are outstanding on 'Locked Up' which is attatched as a free download. And personally I think their sweet boy-girl harmonies are vaguely reminiscent of fellow Londoners Slow Club, who knows what the future holds for this London based band, but one thing is for sure, they will releasing an album in the summer so keep an eye out for that!

Big Deal - Locked Up

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Introducing - Pharaohs

They formed in late December 2008 and their music is best described as Math Pop Rock. They use ultra-melodic vocals with big pop choruses and detonating breaks but mix them with ‘techy riffs’ and cleverly constructed instrumental structures producing a sound similar to Foals, Minus the Bear, Bloc Party and the Police.

The band have always kept themselves busy with several UK tours and shows playing alongside many bands including Glassjaw, Young Guns, The Subways, Canterbury, King Blues, Lights Go Blue and Shapes. They’ve played several well-known London venues such as Punk, The Old Blue Last and Macbeth as well as a few festivals like Rapturefest and Hevy Fest, and various venues up and down the country.



Pharaohs will be touring Europe in April where they will be supporting Battles in Luxembourg along with headline shows of their own in Germany and France, and they plan to go out to Japan and China later in the year. The rest of the year will see Pharaohs promoting their new 8 track ‘Photosynthesis’ with a series of video’s, live dates and downloads. This 8 track release is full of energetic, exciting tunes with good breakdowns just in time to put the spring in your step as the weather changes for the better and kick off the soundtrack to your summer.

The mini album is set for release on 30th May 2011‘Photosynthesis’ takes you on a journey with its care-free, upbeat vibes. From the title track, to the empowering and encouraging ‘Lifts’, to a nice chilled, mellow ending with ‘See Sea’ with plenty of good lyrics, guitar riffs and much more in between. Pharaohs are Joe, Inigo, Jonny and Rob.

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Pharaohs - Photosynthesis

By - Fred Bambridge

Introducing - Geographer

A three-piece indie/electro band hailing from San Francisco, Geographer are a much-underrated band. Any fans of bands such as The Postal Service should really enjoy their music.

Michael Deni is the man behind the group, moving from his hometown of New Jersey after the tragic loss of his father and sister. With nothing more than a guitar and a synthesizer, Deni used the raw emotion from this tragedy to craft some truly clever and emotional songs. With cellist Nathan Blaz and drummer Brian Ostreicher soon joining Deni, Geographer was officially born.



The group soon began touring the Bay Area, transforming their songs into the powerful and striking songs Geographer’s rapidly growing fan base grew to love. They were soon ready to release their first album, Innocent Ghosts. For me the stand-out track of the album is Can’t You Wait which showcases the talents of all three members perfectly. Blaz’s cello provides the backbone to the song with Ostreicher’s drumming rising and crashing like waves. Finally, Deni’s vocals really do show the emotion which is the driving force behind the group.

The EP Animal Shapes was to follow, having been released last year. It continues Geographer’s rise of heartfelt lyrics and synth-pop. The strongest track on the EP has to be Kites with the combination of electro and acoustic once again working wonders. Deni’s vocals hypnotize the listener and his ability to leave a note hanging on the air is second to none within the Indie genre.

With Geographer not that well-known in England at the moment, I hope this review inspires you to check them out and give them a few more reasons to hopefully tour this side of the ocean!

Geographer by RootMusic

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By - Joe Gadd

Introducing - From A City In Ruins

Born out of the depleted industrial area of Grimsby, Lincs, From A City In Ruins stride forward with their mouthwatering mix of razor sharp and dynamic Alt-Rock. Brimming with raw passion and boundless energy, the youthful upstarts continue their ascent with a cluster of UK shows . With a flurry of influences ranging from the edgy post-hardcore sounds of Refused through to the atmospherics and artsy cool of Joy Division and The Cure, From A City Ruins have amassed a riveting sound that is laced with innovate ideas, peppered with hooky riffs and perfectly complimented by jagged guitars and off-kilter phrasing.

The alt-rockers have locked their absorbing sound down to tape and it's ideally showcased on their début single "Fin! Fin! Fin!" which is also backed by the quite fantastical "Introverts". With a full length album in the works and further touring in the pipeline, everything is slipping into place for the northern upstarts.



From A City In Ruins have already racked up an impressive 200 plus shows during the past two years, including dates with the likes of General Fiasco, Flood Of Red, The Computers and This City, to name a few. With an increasing fanbase, further UK and European shows scheduled throughout 2011, with broad underground support already garnered, and having been touted by Rocksound Magazine as ones to watch, it's evident that this industrious quartet show no signs of letting up!

Next week track of the week is also by this band, keep an eye out for that too!

From A City In Ruins - Fin! Fin! Fin! by It's All Indie

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By - Fred Bambridge

Introducing - The Spires

Teaming up with producers The Animal Farm and Intruder Records in late 2010 produced three cracking singles, the first of which, Fireworks, is out on 18.04.2011. The Spires new single ‘Fireworks’ is a multi layered carnival of colours, an adrenaline filled floor filling anthem that blurs the boundaries between dance and indie-rock scenes, a synth sounds and wired dance beats, are given precise human form not through drum machines but by the electric instrumentation of this three piece. Rhythmically building up the pressure until ‘Fireworks’ explodes into an insatiable disco-rock chorus, fired through with striking guitar licks. ‘Fireworks’ is already receiving enthusiastic blog commentary and BBC Sheffield Introducing support.

The Spires were born at a mental asylum on the outskirts of Sheffield, where lead singer Matt Smith worked as a caretaker. Inspired by his surroundings, Matt put all his energy into riotous, lung bursting performances that soon established The Spires as a must-see live outfit in Sheffield.



With a batch of scratchy home demos and an insane live show, Matt and his band mates Matt Dacey and Matt Pike - The Three Mattsketeers, anyone? - caught the attention of Embrace lead singer Danny McNamara who featured them on his BBC1 show. Support slots with Delphic, festival appearances and a bizarre gig with INXS at Sheffield’s City Hall followed. The gig coincided with unprecedented flooding in the city that day. Biblical? Maybe. Ominous? Certainly.

The Spires completed their first UK tour of toilets in November 2010. “I guess it’s progress. I used to clean up after the loonies. Now I get to play to rooms full of them”, says Matt.

Shows:
7th April - London, Barfly
19th April - Norwich Arts Centre
20th April - London tbc
21st April - Bury St. Edmunds, LP
22nd April - Leeds, Milo
23rd April - Sheffield, The Leadmill

Recently they have been one of the lucky artists to have our 'Track Of The Week' treatment, and they are still getting played day in day out on my laptop! Download it below. They are a three-piece that combine Synths, Guitars, Drums and amazing Vocals to create this amazing track. The track starts off with a ticking synth keyboard then flourishes into the verse which builds and builds until the chorus hits. The vocals start the ball rolling with a warm synth flowing in the background and the guitar riff coming in over the top. I first thought they must use a drum machine because the drums are so neat and tidy. Nope, they use an actual person! Kudos to him, brilliant work! The whole song is adrenaline filled and is a real ear pleaser!

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The Spires - Fireworks

Introducing - Mickey Cupid

Mickey Cupid happened when New York and Brussels collided in 2010, Marcus Harmon (New York) and Matt Nannetti (Brussels) came together on a trip to Brussels when Marcus needed someone to jam with, he found Matt and together they eventually founded Mickey Cupid.

The band are set to release their EP ‘Hey Crazy World’ which will be available to download for free from their website, and will provide you with a snippet of what is to come. The lead track will be 'Keep It In Disguise'. Mickey Cupid are the ultimate pop band, Matt provides the element of dance, electro and club while Marcus understands song-writing and supplies the pop.



The EP is 6 songs long and the band have a whole host of other material ready to be put out there for the world to hear. Mickey Cupid are passionate about what they produce and along with their upbeat, stimulating new sound, they are sure to provoke an electrifying reaction.You can catch the band through their website, and you can listen to a full 40 minute set below!

Mickey Cupid CLUB LIVE SET by MICKEY CUPID

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Pilots - By Fred Bambridge

Out of the London metropolis is a fresh new band, they call themselves Pilot. They are 5 guys who create gentle Indie-Rock that appeals to everyone who enjoys music made with guitars. You can hear bit of every band we love and they sound like they have a promising future.



The track I heard that inspired me to have a little write up is called 'How Far Did I Run', and if you give it a listen below you can understand why I think they can become so much bigger than a small unsigned band with less then 200 'likes' on facebook. The harmonious vocals are so crisp, warm bass and smooth guitars. This track has produced brilliantly, I have been informed it was Ant West (of Futures) and he has done it has done a wonderful job!

This band is one band of many that have set their sights on becoming big, and if they continue on the lines of this song they are a sure thing.

How Far Did I Run by officialpilots

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Pilots - The Minister (Live Session)

Band Review... Wave Machines

Wave Machines, are not the ones that one can find in a local recordshop, but an electro-pop four piece from Liverpool. With such an interesting name, their songs are equivalently interesting.

‘I Go I Go I Go’ has an extremely eye-catching name, also an ear-catching chorus. The bass on ‘I Go I Go I Go’ is very fun and so is the drum. The hand-claps in the middle of the song lives up the song even more. ‘Punk Spirit’ starts off with guitar strums and lyrics about guitars, moves on with a chorus about ‘punk spirit’ then all the other instruments join in daintily. ‘Keep The Lights On’ is rather bouncy and has such strong beats. ‘Keep’ also has a retro sound, which reminds me of a few 80s songs.

































One rather similar song, ‘The Greatest Escape We Ever Made’ might be more easy-listening compared to ‘Keep’. The chorus talks about self-made paper telephones and the greatest escape. Not to mention the music video consisting of cut outs of the band members.‘Laugh It All Away’ is a track which is not on their début album (‘Wave If You’re Really There). ‘Laugh’ has a dreamy intro, as if Wave Machines were taking you on a journey. It’s also more experimental, the sound differs from most of the tracks on their début.If you like subtle electro-pop, Wave Machines are for you.

Wave Machines - Like Breaking Glass - MP3
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Reviewed by guest contributor: Coco Wong