LIVE REVIEW: Bury Tomorrow at Chinnery's Southend

I WAS covered in sweat, aching and getting more and more frustrated as I tried to piece together a Ikea chest of drawers for my son's bedroom in the height of summer - that was when I first heard Bury Tomorrow.

The song that came on the radio and eased my mood was Lionheart from the Southampton metalcore outfit's second album Union of Crowns. That track has been a favourite since.

Daniel Winter-Bates on the bar

I saw Bury Tomorrow perform at Download Festival in 2016 but their gig at Chinnery's in Southend was the first headline show I'd seen them play. 

The venue is sold out and plenty of the crowd are in place to see support act Loathe - a Liverpudlian band of similar ilk to BT.

When the main act arrives on stage, they do so with gusto tearing into Royal Blood, An Honourable Reign and the aforementioned Lionheart. I'm a happy camper already.

With the promotional commitments for their last album Earthbound well and truly out the way, the band - spearheaded by Daniel Winter-Bates' raucous vocals alongside guitarist Jason Cameron's smoother voice - are able to deliver a greatest hits set.

That said, they follow next with Cemetery, Last Light, For Us and title track Earthbound from that album with only Sceptres thrown in to mix it up.

They then take things back to their 2009 debut album Portraits for You & I and The Western Front before rounding off with The Torch and Man on Fire.

This tour - of which Southend was the second date I believe - was titled the Stage Invasion Tour, and so it was only appropriate that during Man on Fire the crowd was invited to climb up and surround the band for their final song.

It was another show of the connection between the band and the fans first seen at that Download appearance when Winter-Bates had vowed to stay by the front of the stage until he'd signed every autograph and fulfilled every selfie request.

And that is no style over substance gimmick. The band have a quality catalogue of metalcore songs that they perform with passion and ferocity. I loved it and would've welcomed a few more songs - and I can't wait to see them live again.

Dark Globes to release debut album

SHOEGAZE outfit Dark Globes will release their debut album Everyone I Know Is Falling Apart in the first quarter of 2017.

To celebrate the release, the Southend-on-sea band has shared the video for their track Never Let Me Down.

Dark Globes first came together in a Victorian boozer in the Essex seaside town, evolving around main songwriters Tom Burgess and Leighton Jennings. They played their first show as a three-piece at a local folk festival with no prior rehearsals.

Soon they took on third guitarist Richard Onslow, bassist Andrew Moore (known for his output as The Tumbledryer Babies) and drummer Chris Richardson, who also makes lo-fi pop as Happy Hooves.

One rehearsal later, the band began playing shows and recorded their debut album.

Guitarist Richard told RealSoundsOK: "Everyone I Know Is Falling Apart is the culmination of all our disparate influences - indie heroes Teenage Fanclub, the reverb-drenched melancholy of Yo La Tengo and Galaxie 500 and the precise jangle of Felt – but with a distinctive voice all its own, a sound that takes inspiration from all over, but could only come from the Essex coast."

The album, which is out on March 17th 2017, is the first to be released on the recently resurrected Half Machine Records – known for the debut singles by Real Estate, Woods, Banjo or Freakout and the critically-acclaimed reissue of Roberto Cacciapaglia’s space pop classic The Ann Steel Album.

You can watch the video for Never Let Me Down below and for more on the band visit darkglobes.com

Muertos Q&A

Your name:

DeAnna Avis, singer and guitarist for Muertos.

Where are you from?

Chelmsford, Essex, via California with a dash of Mexico

Name of band:

Muertos.

Who else is in your band? 

The lovely Marc Crane on guitar/vox and the dashing Tom Lewis on drums/percussion. 

How would you describe yourselves and your music?

Like a fucked up spaghetti western Tarantino film.

Who are your main influences musically?

PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Black Angels, Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Raveonettes, Ennio Morricone, The Cramps etc…

What do you hope to achieve in music?

To make a song and video as beautiful and deranged as PJ Harvey's C'mon Billy – the one where she was described as a “sadomasochistic dominatrix in blood-red dress." Then I can die happy.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Every gig becomes a new the highlight - the best thing is vibing off the crowd at each gig, we love the energy and it's nothing without the audience… playing with other cool bands such as the Sly Persuaders, Wonk Unit, riding around in a van and recording a video with Bleech, basically we are always having a good time, even when things go tits up - if we're not then check our pulse!

And what’s the moment you want to forget? When we turned up to play one of our first ever shows and there was no drumkit. We had to improvise stomping the floor and got the audience to bang on plastic chairs. It still managed to work in some kind of way…

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? Our song ‘Cruel’. Its got the Muertos concoction of melodic soundscapes and haunting sounds that concludes in an explosion of feedback and gritty distortion. We want to take people on a wild ride. 

Where can we listen to it?

You will have to come to one of our shows to hear Cruel live… in the meantime you can hear us on http://muertos.bandcamp.com/releases 

Where can we find out more about your music?

Merch & music: Bandcamp – muertos.bandcamp.com and soundcloud.com/muertosband

Keep up to date on our gigs at facebook.com/muertosband

See the inside of our brains at muertosband.tumblr.com

Feast your eyes on instagram.com/muertosband

Tweet us @muertosband

Whew!

Anything else you’d like to say about your music that I forgot to ask?

We have some new recordings coming out soon….. one of which is guaranteed to melt your brain. Mmmm, melty….

The Uppercuts Q&A

Your name: 

Jamie Hall.

Where are you from? 

Essex and Hertfordshire, UK.

Name of band: 

The Uppercuts.

Who is in your band?

Jamie Hall - lead vocals & guitar

Wes Myers - lead guitar and backing vocals

Steve Dewis - drums and backing

Lee Head - bass and backing  

How would you describe yourselves and your music? 

Mix of rock, ska and punk. Energetic and upbeat with catchy melodies riffs a plenty and stomping drums. Rock with a bounce..!!

Who are your main influences musically?

Rancid, The Clash, The Jam, The Police, The Specials.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

The dream is to play music full time. It's what we all love. It's a drug ya know. Like you can't go a day without thinking about it and just itching to get on the road and hit them venues.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Definitely supporting Rancid and Cock Sparrer at the Forum in London. What a night...!! Just spurs us on even more to make this what we do and who we are.  

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Drinking far too much and putting on the worst set of our lives on headline slot to a full house at the Purple Turtle in Camden. Never again. We now have a no drinks policy before every gig. After the show? Fill your boots..!! 

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

That's a tough one. But maybe a track that's not yet release titled Don't Complain. It's a real upbeat bounce-along track with a positive message and I love it. Keep your ear to the ground for that one. It's coming 

Where can we listen to it?

You can't yet. But you can check out the double A side here - 

https://soundcloud.com/theuppercutsuk/sets/double-a-side/s-k26j3

Where can we find out more about your music?

Facebook

Twitter

Www.theuppercuts.net

And Soundcloud of course with the link -  

https://soundcloud.com/theuppercutsuk/sets/double-a-side/s-k26j3

Panama Sunrise Q&A

Your name: 

Dan Westall. 

Where are you from? 

Harlow, Essex. 

Name of band: 

Panama Sunrise.

Who else is in your band?

Connor Coles, Joel Cullen and Lee Howard. 

How would you describe yourselves and your music?

Four young bucks that decided to try and make music they would actually want to listen to on the radio. This music ended up being catchy, punchy, melodic indie rock bangers. 

Who are your main influences musically?

Arctic Monkeys, The Hives, Kings Of Leon, Robbie Williams. 

What do you hope to achieve in music?

Everything. As much as possible. Anything. Would love to play Reading Festival as we've all been there numerous times over the years.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Selling out our first show which ended up being one of the busiest nights the venue had held in the last 10 years. Have just been asked to headline the same venue this December. 

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Ironically, forgetting the lyrics to half the second verse in our last song. Haha. 

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

Ticking Away. If you were stuck on a desert island with that on repeat, you'd be so pumped by the tune that you'd have a raft built in 24 hours. 

Where can we listen to it? 

soundcloud.com/panamasunriseuk 

panamasunriseuk.bandcamp.com

Where can we find out more about your music? 

soundcloud.com/panamasunriseuk 

panamasunriseuk.bandcamp.com

EP available on Itunes, Spotify & Apple Music. 

@panamasunriseuk 

facebook.com/panamasunrise  

Anything else you’d like to say about your music that I forgot to ask?

You'll love it. 

Hey Vanity frontman Marc Halls goes solo

HEY Vanity frontman Marc Halls will release his solo EP Bittersweet Memories on July 13th.

He is teasing it by streaming the single Playground Swings, which you can listen to below.

Marc told RealSoundsOK: "Late last year I went through a bit of a strange phase. For the first time in years I had no real musical plans; no tours, no release, I was uninspired to do anything musical. 

"I started focusing pretty much all my attention on negativity, sitting around all day watching upsetting documentaries and getting bitter at the state of the world. It put things in perspective and made me realise that I've spent way too much time stressing over my 'musical career' as if it were anything but something I just love to do." 

While maintaining nods to his rock roots, the artist from Witham, Essex, heads towards a folkier, bluesier sound with his solo work.

He added: "After a well-needed kick up the arse from a close friend, I started writing again and these songs were suddenly pouring out of me. Everything I wrote seemed to be about the bands I've been in, friendships and relationships I've formed and lost, and most of all, how much I regret taking it all too seriously. 

"Bittersweet Memories was the result. It's the most honest, D.I.Y recording I've ever released, I recorded and mixed everything in my 'Man Cave' (garden shed) using only whatever I had in there. I even restrung my first ever guitar for the first time in ten years (£30 acoustic from Argos) and recorded two of the tracks with that, turns out it sounds awesome! 

"This EP is a very simple, stripped back piece of work. My next release is going to be bigger and louder, but this is just what I wanted it to be."

Marc appeared at the Field Day festival in London over the weekend and has more dates lined up including in Brighton, Eastbourne and York.

For more visit www.facebook.com/marchalls

InMe return for concept albums - and need your help

ROCK quartet InMe are back in the studio working on a three-record concept project.

The Essex band will launch a PledgeMusic campaign on Good Friday April 3rd to help fund the first, titled The Trilogy: Dawn.

It follows their appearance at the recent Takedown Festival alongside Mallory Knox, The Blackout and Arcane Roots.

They will be on the road again next month, starting off in Manchester on May 4th before heading to Glasgow, Liverpool, Cardiff, Bristol, London, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Norwich, Reading and Wolverhampton. More info at SeeTickets.

Next year marks InMe's 20th anniversary as a band with the highlight for Dave McPherson and the boys, no doubt, being when they camped a tent away from RealSoundsOK at last year's Sonisphere Festival.

To celebrate all the good news, the band have given a taster of sounds to come with the track Trauma: Door Slam Crescendo, which you can listen to below. It will be available to download for free via PledgeMusic in return for an email address.

For more on the band, visit InMeofficial.co.uk

New EP from David Woodcock

ACCLAIMED singer-songwriter David Woodcock has released his new EP The Adventures Of You And Me.

It follows hot on the heels of the Southend musician's self-titled debut album, which won strong support from the likes of Steve Lamacq, Marc Riley and John Kennedy.

The Adventures Of You And Me comes from the album but is backed up with new tracks Why Does My Heart Ache So Much?, Any Fool Can Fall In Love and I Forgot To Miss You.

Have a listen below and visit davidwoodcockmusic.com for more.

IX Q&A

Your name:
IL: Iain Laskey.

Where are you from?
IL: I'm from Great Wakering, a village in Essex. 

Name of band: 
IL: IX (Pronounced "icks").

Who else is in your band?
IL: Darren Esp - he's from Chelmsford, also Essex.

How would you describe yourselves and your music?
DE: We always struggle with this question. It's a bit of a cliché but we don't really see ourselves sitting solidly in any one category. Is electo-prog-rock a category?

Who are your main influences musically?
IL: My heart has always been in electronic music. I had a vague interest in music as a teen but when John Foxx's Metamatic came out and that sudden rush of synth music, it just felt special to me. I quickly started backtracking, discovering all the 70's pioneering experimenters. I was resolutely synth only for years but since then I've started to go through phases, Krautrock, 70's funk, 60's psychodelia, anything that sounds interesting really. I'm far more about moods and texture rather than catchy riffs though. I can get quite unfeasibly excited by a sound! 
DE : We're quite eclectic when it comes to influences, some of the great electro pioneers like the early Human League, John Foxx, OMD for sure, but also people like Led Zeppelin, Rage Against The Machine, Mozart, Jean Michel Jarre, Underworld, NIN, Earth Wind and Fire... we're a bit all over the place when it comes to influences.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
DE: IX is about building up a body of quality work and a reputation. Our style is going to change from release to release but we hope the people who take the time to listen to us will like what they hear no matter where we go with it. In the long term we plan to get into doing soundtrack work and producing other artists as well as continuing to put out albums as IX.
IL: Whilst riches would be great, we're far more interested in producing something we like and are happy with quality wise. If other people enjoy it too, we're doubly happy.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
IL: I think the realisation, after years of enjoying other people's music, that we can do it ourselves and produce something with a certain level of polish. I grew up through the years when the music industry was a closed book unless you went through the route of getting a manager, getting signed, expensive studio time and all the manipulation that then follows. Being able to put a release out across all the major outlets, for minimal funding and with just our own efforts was a huge buzz. I've also been massively impressed by just how supportive the self publishing indie world is. There's some fantastic web sites, people on Twitter, Soundcloud and so on who are all promoting each other, working together in a totally ego free way, often giving huge amounts of their time, basically for the love of music.
DE: There's been a couple for me. Our first sale on iTunes, yeah that was a good feeling... but for me the best moment was when I'd just finished recording The Machine (parts I - III) and I sat back for the final play through and thought... yeah...  that's proper that is.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
IL: So far so good :-)
DE:  For me the massively long mastering sessions for the System VII which resulted in insane amounts of frustration. Finally we ended up dumping all the work and starting over again. We'd decided that were going to take a High Dynamic Range approach to mastering and to hell with the "loudness war" and modern conventions.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
IL: I would say The Machine (Part I-III) is most representative of our work up until now although newer tracks are off in a different direction to some extent.
DE:  I'd have to pick the track IX from System VII... It's a real mish-mash of influences but for me totally works.  It's got an odd time signature, a kind of rocky edge and some serious electronic noise assaults too.

Where can we listen to it? 
DE:  https://soundcloud.com/ix_band/ix-1
IL: https://soundcloud.com/ix_band/the-machine-parts-i-iii

Where can we find out more about your music? 
http://www.ixband.co.uk/
@ixbanduk
https://ixband.bandcamp.com/
http://www.reverbnation.com/ixband
https://soundcloud.com/ix_band
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/system-vii/id930786050
https://www.facebook.com/IXBAND

Anything else you’d like to say about your music that I forgot to ask?
DE:  Our next album called "Grinder" is well under way and should be out in the spring.  Look out for the pre-orders going live on Bandcamp soon.
IL:  Just that we always appreciate any and all feedback, especially via Twitter and Soundcloud. It's the interaction with fans and other bands and indie supporters that has been really rewarding for me.

David Woodcock's Relatively Single Man

SINGER-songwriter David Woodcock will release his track Relatively Single Man on November 10th via Blow Up Records.

The single - taken from his self-titled album - follows the release of Open Secret, Same Things and Beggars Can't Be Choosers.

David's lyrics are typically British, filled with humour and wry observations and the artist has been described by BBC 6Music's Steve Lamacq as "an Essex Jarvis Cocker".

And better still, he comes from RealSoundsOK's home town of Southend on Sea!

You can listen to some of his previous tracks below and for more on David visit davidwoodcockmusic.com

Arizona to self-release debut EP

POST-hardcore band Arizona will self-release their debut EP The Hunter, The Gatherer on October 20th.

The Essex quintet made a name for themselves through BBC Introducing in their home county after it showcased their first singles.

Frontman Jacob told RealSoundsOK: "The next year is hopefully going to be a busy one for us.

"We are well into writing for our full-length debut and I don't think we will stop until that has been torn apart and meticulously analysed from every angle.

"Festival season next year is certainly something we're excited to hit and just look forward to branching out after the release of the EP."

You can listen to the single Black Hart below and if you like what you hear find out more at facebook.com/ArizonaUK

Ian Haygreen Q&A

Your name: 

Ian Haygreen

Where are you from? 

Ridgewell, Essex.

How would you describe yourself? 

Not sure, to be honest. An electronic musician who mainly uses a laptop and iPhone. Musically I range from dark ambient to electronica and occasionally Krautrock-style noodlings. Pretty much whatever takes my fancy at the time. Something like that anyway.

Who are your main influences musically? 

All sorts: Tangerine Dream, Cluster, Stravinsky, Beethoven, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, Brian Eno, Klaus Schulze, Harmonia, Conrad Schnitzler, Sibelius, Atrium Carceri, Lustmord, Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis, Stockhausen, Bach, Vivaldi - and so on. In no particular order. I listen to a quite large range of music.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

A living wage - haha! Really I don't know - I started simply to amuse myself and much to my surprise it seems to be slowly taking off - a few people are kind enough to like what I do.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

Having a piece played on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction programme.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 

I can't remember.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

Ah, now that it difficult because it all depends on what mood I'm in. I don't know if I can pick just one - Underworld sums up the dark side, I suppose, and Early Autumn Morning Bike Ride sums up the more cheerful side (if cheerful is the word I want). I know, that's two, but there it is.

Where can we listen to it?

Here: https://soundcloud.com/ian-haygreen or here: https://ianhaygreen.bandcamp.com/

Where can we find out more about your music?

I'm not a big Facebook user so Twitter would be best and the the two sites listed above. Mind you, Twitter is mainly waffle with bits about the music thrown in. 

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask? 

It will probably interest nobody but I'm foolishly working on a version of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring - because it has always been one of my favourite pieces of music and it represents a challenge. It's one of those projects one starts and then half way through think - why? Why did I start this? But I'm an obstinate bugger and I will get it finished in the next few weeks. Hopefully.

EllisRed Q&A

Your name:
Chris Morley.

Where are you from?:
Tiptree/Colchester, Essex.

Name of band:
EllisRed.

Who else is in your band?
Gary Stone (Guitars & Vox), Nick Barnard (Bass & Vox) and Dave Carter (Drums).

How would you describe yourselves?
Musically relaxed, focussed fun lovin’ dickheads. We like to try and create stuff that people will enjoy as much as we do with just enough self indulgence to keep us engaged but not so much that we bore the shit out of people. We’ve all been pre-ocupied by the wrong things in previous bands and lost focus on the fun of music in various ways. This band is about re-connecting with the enjoyment of creating and playing music.

Who are your main influences musically?
Wow, here’s a cliche for you but there genuinely is too many to list. Our collective taste pretty much covers anything with a guitar from the 50s onwards. Personally, my roots sit with metal legends like Metallica, Maiden blah blah blah but I’ve weaved my way through 70s rock, pop punk, pop, dance, dub step, rock… So far so that I don’t really have a favourite. Foo Fighters, Queen and a couple of others will always unite the four of us without argument. When writing, I personally tend to take influence from newer bands. Its not a conscious decision it’s a bi-product of being a great believer in respecting and enjoying the past but moving with the times. We’d never create a mark for our own musical generation otherwise.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
Nothing? Everything? SOMETHING! Ok, bullshit aside, I don’t think there’s a creative musician alive who wouldn’t say they’d love to make a living out of it. However, if it stops being fun it’s pointless so I hope that I can enjoy writing and playing music for the rest of my life. The rest is a bonus.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
In previous lives, we’ve all played together in different bands. Those bands have shared some amazing times but I think we’d all agree there’s nothing better than playing a gig and seeing people you’ve never met before singing your lyrics or holding up a banner with your name on. It’s a completely and utterly awesome sensation.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
I don’t like forgetting anything (especially when Jack Daniels has given me no choice) but if I could avoid waking up in a leaking, freezing cold LDV Convoy van in a motorway service station at 7am with a hangover and Dave’s morning glory staring me in the face, I would.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
Tricky. Probably Bones and Beauty. For me it’s got most of the things that we love about music in it - passion, beauty, structure and hooks (well, in our opinion of course).

Where can we listen to it?
http://ellisred.bandcamp.com (free download as well if you’re feeling strapped for cash. Just “BUY NOW” and enter “£0” as the price you want to pay!)



Where can we find out more about your music?
@ellisredband (twitter)
ellisred.bandcamp.com
facebook.com/ellisredband
soundcloud.com/ellisred

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask?
Loads, but nothing that wouldn’t bore you into an early grave. Come and talk to us on twitter or Facebook instead.

Rockers Villains reveal their Wicked Ways

ESSEX rockers Villains have released the video for their new single Wicked Ways.

The band have already gained plenty of UK airplay from Radio 1's Edith Bowman and Kerrang's Alex Baker, as well as having Scuzz TV's number one most requested song for two weeks running with The Fall.

You can see the video for Wicked Ways below and for more on the band visit facebook.com/villainsofficial

Debut album coming from David Woodcock

SINGER-songwriter David Woodcock will release his eponymous debut album on September 1st through Blow Up Records.

The pianist's first singles have already gained strong UK radio support from Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music, and John Kennedy on XFM.

And what's more, David is from RealSoundsOK's home town of Southend-on-Sea.

You can order the album now on iTunes and you can listen to the track Beggars Can't Be Choosers below.

Debut single from See You In Reno

ROCK four-piece See You In Reno have released their debut single Check.

It is taken from the Essex outfit's debut EP Masks, which is out next month, and was produced by Feed The Rhino's Oz Craggs at Hidden Track Studios.

Of course, RealSoundsOK was waaaayy ahead on these guys and if you want to find out a bit more about them, check out the Q&A they did with me a full year ago by clicking here.

You can also have a listen to Check below and visit seeyouinreno.com for more info and loads of links.

Create To Inspire give us title track from debut EP

MELODIC-hardcore five-piece Create To Inspire have released the title track from their debut EP Halfway Home, due out on August 18th.

The Essex band recently played Download Festival's Red Bull Studio.

Frontman Sean Midson said: "Rather than a song, we see this track as a statement; you will always have the support from your loved ones, be they close friends or family, they have your back throughout everything you do and with everything you aspire to be - even if it doesn't quite seem that way from time to time, it's there and very real."

You can check out the video below and for more on the band visit facebook.com/createtoinspireuk or twitter.com/CTIUKofficial

New EP and tour from New Town Kings

TRAD-ska collective New Town Kings have announced a new EP and summer tour dates.

Pull Up & Rewind will be released on July 13th through Bomber Music and is available for pre-order by clicking here.

It is the first release with new vocalist Dabs Bonner, who brings a stronger reggae - and more politically aware - vibe to the party.

To accompany the release, the band head out on tour at the beginning of July as they play Norwich, Nottingham, Newcastle, London, Bristol, a home town show in Colchester, and then Guildford.

They will also be playing a series of festivals in August including The Big Gig, Nozstock, Rebellion, Boomtown Fair, Summer Live, Concrete Jungle and then the Undercover Festival in September.

For more on the band visit newtownkings.com or facebook.com/newtownkings and here's a few bits from their back catalogue to whet your appetite.

The Virgance Q&A

Your name:

Nathan Smith.

Where are you from? 

Colchester, England.

Name of band: 

The Virgance.

Who else is in your band? 

Just me.

How would you describe yourself? 

A solo artist pretending to sound like a band! Specialising in shoegaze and dreampop.

Who are your main influences musically?

Beatles, Who, Hendrix, Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Stone Roses, Ride, Verve, Blur, Broadcast, Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin, Brian Eno...

What do you hope to achieve in music?

To enjoy it, do myself justice, make a decent body of work, make my son proud, and a little bit of critical acclaim along the way is quite gratifying.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Finally finishing the 'Lost Continent' album, I thought it would never happen! BBC Radio 1 Evening Session in '98 is a good memory.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Not forget as such. I believe that everything good and bad happens for a reason. One regret I do have is being a bit lazy when I was younger. Too much partying and time wasting and not enough knuckling down.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

That would be 'Cataclysm' I suppose, as it has most of the elements to be found on the record - ambience, noise, melody, a decent groove and a little bit of emotion, albeit a more uplifting vibe than the melancholia of other tracks.

Where can we listen to it?

https://thevirgance.bandcamp.com

Where can we find out more about your music?

https://www.facebook.com/thevirgance

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask?

The second album is well under way and should be ready for release early in 2015.

Harper stream new EP Mono No Aware

Photography by Luke Weall

ALT-rock four-piece Harper are streaming their new EP Mono No Aware ahead of its release.

The London/Essex outfit recorded the EP earlier this year at Shelter Studio in Dalston and was produced by Dominic Rippel.

Matt from the band gave RealSoundsOK a track-by-track run down of Mono No Aware, as follows...

Cast in Stone - This song came together pretty organically, and when we were discussing the tracks we wanted to record, we knew we had to have this in there, and it had to be the opening track. 

Eastern Road Dance - The oldest song on there, but also one of our favourites. We tried experimenting with different textures and vocal harmonies. Our producer was great when it came to this, he really encouraged a lot of experimentation that has ended up on the E.P. Even though it's probably the oldest song we play live now, the outcome of its recording has breathed a new life into it. A good driving song, or so the boys in the band that can drive tell me.

Bringing Me Down - This song is again, a lot of fun to play. Unlike the first two tracks, which are us kind of presenting a new world of ours, Bringing Me Down is a bit more straight forward. We wanted to incorporate some classic song structures but give those structures our own feel, keeping it heavy, but a bit more danc-ey perhaps.

Ligature - Probably our most far out song, and definitely one that shows what we're about in the studio. It's a difficult one to pull off live. But that's not to say it lacks anything, if anything we knew we wanted this to end the E.P, and show our progression throughout the 15 minutes that make up Mono No Aware. When Jam was recording his bass part, we knew we were onto something. It's a real show-piece of the rhythm section in the band.

You can listen to the EP below or at soundcloud.com/HarperBandUK and for more on Harper, check out the Q&A they did with RealSoundsOK back in January by clicking here.