Suds and Songs: Lippy Kid

Up the local in the rental.

Today we look at Derbyshire based, ambient loop creator, Lippy Kid. 

First things first. Let me tell you that this isn't just music, this is theatre. Using minimal loops to create powerful melodies you're forced to visualise before you, what you hear around you.

You can't just listen to this, you have to put shape to the sound and become, well, transfixed.

You can find multiple releases by this alter ego (Think more Ziggy Stardust than Tony Clifton) but a great place to start is with Anatomical, released in 2014. Three Digit D.I.S.C.O is a mind bender. It sounds as though it is taken from the boss level of a Nintendo game fused with a cross country car trip from an indie movie and I mean this as the highest compliment, because that's what I saw. That's what this music forces you to do in a way that very few others can.

Lippy Kid isn't one to go it alone either and is always looking for collaborators. On his last project, he asked his Twitter followers to add one word to the statement 

"We Search The World To Find....". The result was, one word, stunning.

And it is for that reason, the desire to want to mix with others and make something unexpected and beautiful that I'm pairing this with a Whiskey Cocktail known as the Brain Duster.

Now.

This fits in two ways. First, Brain Dusting is honestly a great way of describing Lippy Kids' music. After a few hours of watching (remember not just music, theatre) his creation you will feel well and truly refreshed and inspired, a good old brain dusting.

The second way is that this is blend of things that shouldn't go together but hell they create something spectacular. Whiskey, Italian Vermouth and Absinthe. It's classy, goes down smooth and leaves just enough of an impression to make you question everything, and that's just Lippy Kids' music.

Minimal.

Melody.

Theatre.

This is Lippy Kid.

https://lippykid.bandcamp.com/track/three-digit-d-i-s-c-o
http://www.lippykidmusic.com/

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HepkattFM

Suds and Songs: Milk Carton Kids

MILK CARTON KIDS AND JACK DANIELS:HONEY

Sing.

Sparrow.

Sing.

They're the words of messrs Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan who form Contemporary Folk duo Milk Carton Kids.

I first heard of these guys when a friend of mine performed a cover at one of his gigs. Queue hours of You-tubing their performances and one thing became glaringly obvious. No matter the venue, no matter the size of the crowd, they always offer an intimate experience. (For the most gorgeous of performances check out the Tiny Desk Sessions courtesy of NPR)

Their stage presence is still but full of movement, very Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings. Their most recent album, Monterrey, offers a gluttony of swaying guitar crawls and perfect harmonies. Recorded on stages of theatres throughout America, without a crowd, without the nitpicking over each bar, it makes you feel, well, human.

So what do you pair with this? 

It's cliche but the sound created does go down like Honey and leaves you burning up as you wish you were as good as them, so why not pair it with Jack Daniels with Honey.

While you sip on this, you can slip away to the ambient vibes created from songs such as Sing, Sparrow, Sing and Asheville Skies.

Wherever you are in the world, whatever music you like, you need to unwind and appreciate talent, these guys have it in abundance. 

Stop the search.

We've found the Milk Carton Kids. 

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http://www.themilkcartonkids.com/

http://www.npr.org/event/music/156679789/the-milk-carton-kids-tiny-desk-concert

http://jackdaniels.com

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HepkattFM

Alreet...

Nah then. 

I grew up when the boardwalk was still the place to be to see the upcoming bands in Sheffield. One of the best exports has undoubtedly been the Arctic Monkeys. They've gone from track suits to church suits but the message stays the same. 

I wrote this review at the time AM was released. 

Enjoy ah kid.

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This is Chip Shops and Chardonnay; Sean Bean and Motorcycles, truly rock and roll with the lights off. AM is a long way from the Boardwalk but this still feels like a new beginning, a new twist on the Arctic trail.

Do I Wanna Know sets the scene as it seduces you with it's swaying riff and electronic drum heartbeat. It feels like a your listening to a Turner monologue whilst star gazing through an electric guitar. If this sets you up then R U MINE? knocks you out.

From the moment it kicks in you're hooked. The lyrics are both brilliant and brave as it feels set in reverse " I'm a puppet on a string, Tracey Island: Lone ranger riding". If a song had a dress sense R U MINE is in leather and shades and not taking them off to go indoors. Helders screeches in the background, linking with Turner as they quip "oh ahh" in the middle of a blatant rock song.

This slinks into One For The Road where the whole thing feels like you're watching Turner put the moves on a dame in a Jazz Club; the music is splashy and the drinks are free. The whole feel of the album is progression, you know there are songs waiting in the wings that didn't make the first team like "you're so dark" which could have easily made the cut but the balance feels right.

This is shown perfectly by the next track on the album Arabella. The start of this track is pure rock in its most subtle and yet glaringly obvious form. The way the drums are simple and yet pierce through, the guitar that skittles across the track, tip-toeing to the chorus where you are slapped in the face with the cosmic call of Sabbath style riffing. This is supposedly based on Turners girlfriend and what wouldn't be to like about a girl with Gator skin boots who smokes organic cigarettes.

Whilst this album is about growth (the only thing that has moved back is each members hair with the help of a tub of hair gel) they also point to their influences and give them a tip of the hat. Mad Sounds, a song that sounds straight out of Costellos back catalogue, (possibly because his own drummer Pete Thomas is on this one) is taken from early Arctics producer Alan Smyths original song. Then there is the much more on the nose use of I Wanna Be Yours plucked from John Cooper Clarke. This gives the record a route home from the States with lines such as "I wanna be your leccy meter, that you get cold without".

The Sheffield group were given plenty of help from friends old and new with people like Bill Ryder-Jones (ex-Coral) creating the melancholy solo in Fireside,which is backed by the 70's style backing of "shoo op, shoo op". Josh Homme a familiar face to these now belts out of 30 seconds of high pitched melody in Knee Socks and lends his voice to One for the Road.

The first single released from this album that set everyone up to AM was the R&B influenced Why Do You Only Call Me When You're High? Turner strolls though this like a trip down memory lane and the groove of the track simply chases him with Helders cracking backing in tow.

The record is kept moving throughout with tracks like I Want It all which features rising guitar only topped by the height of the vocals. No 1 Party Anthem in which you hear Turner talking about parties previous " Sunglasses in doors, par for the course" and Snap Out Of It which feels ultimately like a song from the back end of the 60's. 

This is still Rock and Roll but written by Dr Dre on the wall of the Leadmills bathroom. This record is a cosmic shot of adrenaline to those who had fallen out of love with the Arctics. Put on your leathers, turn off the lights, hold on and ride the AM Helter Skelter.

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HepkattFM

Suds and Songs: Turbowolf

TURBOWOLF - BREWDOG

Music.

Alcohol.

Fewer things go as well together as the above. Whether you're in a dingy working mens club ordering pints of warm John Smiths waiting for the out of tune, out of time support act to finish or simply spinning vinyl at home with a choice tipple, it works.

In a new regular spot, I'm going to give you my thoughts on what goes well together.

First up is one of my favourite bands of 2015, Turbowolf. The first thing you notice from this Bristol based band is that their energy isn't just limited to the stage. Their records are just as lively and full of punch as their live offering.

I was able to catch them earlier in the year at The Harley, Sheffield (I spent most of my university life in this place and it's still one of my favourite haunts. Well worth a visit if you've never been) and saw first hand just how their brand of punk rock can grab you by the arm and drag you through a full throttle trip of psychedelia and moustaches.

I'm pairing this with Nanny State from Brewdog. The more experienced drinker among you will notice straight away this is non-alcoholic. The fact is, I quit drinking 6 months ago after a rather life changing experience but I've done my time drowning barrels. 

Not drinking is hard and I sure miss the sweet nectar now and then again and this is why I'm grateful to Brewdog. They have actually produced a non-alcoholic drink worth it's salt. It's a true punk drink for a true punk rock band.

So for you to truly relax and enjoy the album above (Turbowolf - Two Hands) with a beer, pick up one of the first ever Brewdog beers and enjoy a pint of Punk IPA. Once you've got the taste you can head over to Brewdog in Sheffield and experience this straight from the tap.

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https://www.brewdog.com/bars/uk/sheffield

http://www.theharley.co.uk/

http://turbowolf.co.uk/

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HepkattFM

Whiplash: In review

2015 has produced some exceptional films and Whiplash was one of my absolute favourites. I wrote the following review after experiencing the wild ride this jazz film offers up.

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One. Two. Three. Four. One. Two. Three. STOP. That's not my tempo. Relax. Im not going to throw a cymbal at you and you're probably not a jazz musician, but that doesn't matter. Whiplash is foot stomping, head rattling, breath stealing, beauty and tragedy all crammed into a jazz measure. Everybody on point? And...

The brass screams, the drums drop in and Whiplash is in full flow. As subtly as big band leader and music teacher Terence Fletcher (J K Simmons) lightly flicks his finger to strike the band, this film begins to play you. You follow 19 year old music student Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) as he pushes his limits to be the next best Jazz drummer. You’re hanging on every beat, every fill, every crash of the cymbal, probably learning something as you desperately try to discover whether you're in time.

J K Simmons offers an intense, raucous, raging kind of performance. Beautiful yet tragic. Every bit the horrible teacher we all had but without the human nature to hold back mentally or physically, evidenced by launching a cymbal at Andrew after he drops out of time briefly a la Charlie Parker.  Fletcher has a reputation as the man who creates class from mediocrity and wins every competition he enters but you close those doors, confine him to a classroom, a stage, a rehearsal room with just a bunch of instruments and those things that work them and he will take whatever self confidence you have left and devour it. He sees nothing wrong in what he does, the fear, the intimidation, he knows what he is doing and believes that this is the only way to bring out the best in someone. He will break the spirit of everyone near him if it will find him the next Buddy Rich “I was there to push people beyond what's expected of them. I believe that's an absolute necessity”.

Young Andrew is transfixed by Fletcher and continually seeks his approval, climbing out of a car accident to ensure his position in the band, flesh wounds and all. Then again, after being forced to practise until his hands bleed this was probably just another day in the office for the aspiring jazz-oid. Miles Teller runs the rule over his character and you can see a true determination to succeed but what is his ultimate goal? Make a life and a career out of music? (If not, leaving his girlfriend wasn’t the smoothest of moves you’d expect from a Jazz Kat) Or simply to impress Fletcher. Whatever the answer, Fletcher inspires a new drive for Andrew and he doesn’t hold back from his family when it comes to his future “I'd rather die drunk, broke at 34 and have people at a dinner table talk about me than live to be rich and sober at 90 and nobody remembered who I was.”

This film is a symphony and whilst you’re watching you feel like the conductor. You stretch forward in anticipation as the film lifts and slump back as it softens, jump up in excitement and gasp at what you’ve created. Triumphant. But there’s more to it than just stellar acting performances, this is a throwback to a genre of music that the modern generation has long turned it’s back on, so maybe we deserve to have Jo Jackson throw a cymbal at us to kick us in to gear eh. Most of all remember the words of Fletcher, “There are no two words in the English language more harmful than ‘good job’”. Lights fade..applause...you’ve made it...now get off my stage.

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HepkattFM

Pumping On The Stereo

Now.

You've sat back and (hopefully) enjoyed the acoustic playlist. You're feeling pretty darn chilled. 

So we need to pick it back up. Maybe it's time to get ready for your Christmas party and all associated debauchery or maybe the Christmas blues (that's a thing right?) have taken their toll and it's time to jump out that funk.

Put away the electric heater. Pop your collar. Enjoy.

Set The Fire In Me C-C  -  Tom Vek

Cassius  -  Foals

R U MINE  -  Arctic Monkeys

Left Hand Free  -  Alt J

Pedestrian At Best  -  Courtney Barnett

Come On Over  -  Royal Blood

Islands  - The XX

Loser  -  Beck

Clint Eastwood  - Gorillaz

Maps  -  Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Song 2  - Blur

Big Sur  -  The Thrills

Fire  -  Kasabian

Homesick  -  Catfish And The Bottlmen

Alright  - Supergrass

Pretty Green  -  White Denim

Inhaler  -  Miles Kane

Golden  -  My Morning Jacket

Solid Gold  -  Turbowolf

Gold On The Ceiling  -  The Black Keys

There we go.

Suitably pumped?

HepkattFM

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The Acoustic Playlist

Let's face it.

Living in England it can feel like winter is a 12 month resident, however, we sure are in the thick of it now. 

So to warm your bones, why don't you take a seat by the fire (I'm joking, pull out the electric heater) and relax with these acoustic numbers guaranteed to make you feel cosier than your awful novelty Christmas jumper.

Come Pick Me Up  -  Ryan Adams

20 Years -  Civil Wars 

Chocolate Jesus  -  Tom Waits

First Day Of My Life  -  Bright Eyes

I'll Fly Away  -  Gillian Welch and Alison Krauss

Sing, Sparrow, Sing  -  Milk Carton Kids

To Be Young  -  Dave Rawlings Machine

Rye Whiskey  -  Punch Brothers

Emmylou  -  First Aid Kit

Skinny Love  -  Bon Iver 

Shelter From The Storm  -  Bob Dylan

Day We Caught The Train  - Ocean Colour Scene

See.

You can practically smell the ambience.

HepkattFM

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Welcome happenin' cats

1931, two musicians sit at the bar in a run down speak-easy, the kind filled with more smoke than people. On the stage, a young man sways to the beat of his band and lurches forward with intent at his Saxophone. 

Now the two at the bar were no strangers to performance and could cut it with anyone who said they played an instrument. Their interest was peaked and their eyes shifted from the bourbon before them to the sounds around them.

“This kid ain’t bad, takes a bounce on that stage like the best of em” says one to the other.

“Yeah...he’s a real Hepcat”.

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Welcome.

I'm a musician with a keyboard as an instrument. 

Here you'll see my thoughts on all things music from reviews to the perfect playlist.

So let's pack up the gear, jump in the van and make some noise together.

HepkattFM

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