Ahuizotl

Ahuizotl (au-wi-zot-l) is a German indie rock band comprising of Barry Langer (guitar and vocals), Christof Schulte (drums), Stefan Ebbers (bass), Felix Hedderich (keyboards). The band have been working on their new album 'Integrity Is Overrated'  which is released today.

The album opens with a vibrating electronic space sound, a repeated strum accompanied by another quick, constant strum stirring in the background. As soon as the raspy voice kicks in you realise that the album has an air of promise, thoroughly proven in 'Ghosts of Departed Quantities'. 'Movie' follows, opening with isolated guitar notes and then bouncing drums along with what sounds like a sincere chorus. 'Everybody's Breaking Up So Why Don't We' is a song tinged with sorrow and an air of an uncommitted attitude. The attitude is thoroughly shown within the song through the laid back melodies that seem to just be a flow of emotion.
'Slide' shows a slide in genre. The tones of the track are softer and gentle, revealing a different edge to the band. 'I Wanna Be Ignored', a track which squeezes out the bands juices as a light buzz backs the songs giving you a feeling like that of the lightheadedness when drunk and an interesting instrumental is full of a symphony of different notes form different instruments. The song loiters a bit near the end, as if it doesn't want to end but this could possibly be the best track on the album.


'Perfect Day' holds an echoing techno noise which changes the shape of the song; 'Go Away From Under My Cloud', while sounding like the Rolling Stones song, holds contrasting drum beats that holds your attention; 'Self Made' and 'Nice' both share the same staple sounds. These four tracks are where you can see the bands youth, however, it wouldn't take much effort to improve them to meet the standards they have created through their other tracks.
The album finishes with 'Decadence Will Save Us All', a song which comes in waves, a calming finale to a recherché album.

Keep up with Ahuizotl:
Twitter
Facebook
Bandcamp

Emily, (@emiemzy)

Perma F

Perma F are a Swedish duo comprising of Leif and Birgitta Ekman. They have released their 6th single over the past few weeks following their March single and their debut album which came out last year.

Their single release includes two songs; 'Burning Angel' and 'One Way Ticket'.

Blondie fans really need to take notice of the first track. The vocals of 'Burning Angel' are freakishly akin to the voice of Debbie Harry's. The track also features lighter synth sounds which accompany a thrashing drum beat. This is not any drum beat though, it is the sort of drum beat that, when focused on, increases your heart rate and fills your veins with power and energy making you feel invincible.

'One Way Ticket' boasts a very different sound which is obvious from the beginning. The vocals are slightly warped, the melodies akin to an Egyptian dream and, while a contrast is obvious, there are still similarities to the first song. The fast paced tempo breathes energy into the notes and there are still synth-like sounds which give an aroma of 70's new wave.



Keep up with Perma F:
Facebook
Twitter.
Bandcamp
iTunes.

Emily, (@emiemzy)

Smiling Ivy

Smiling Ivy are 5 piece band from Sheffield. I would like to describe their sound to you yet I can't. It is definitely ska yet they are diverse; they mix up several genres effortlessly and continuously inject fun and fast paced feeling into every track. I can only describe as contagious, you say 'oh, its not my type of music' but I can assure you that you will love it.

Their album, Quick Sin Jukebox, kicks off with 'Lab Rats' which immediately reminds you of Madness, a track dominated with sax, jazzy and groovy sounds and the ascending and descending vocal notes create a lively sound. 'Free Ride' doesn't lose any of these things as the infectious sound and lyrics of the song take over your mind.

 'Offshore' is next to greet your ears, it boasts a fast, dancey tempo and an unmistakable hint reggae. This is not the only reggae appearance on the album, 'Spent' alludes to this genre with it's plodding beat and auspicious notes of saxaphone along with 'Wrong Side' where it begins with reggae tones and evens out into a fast yet casual drumming interval. In this track, the female voice also adds another dimension to the song, a factor you wouldn't expect it to work yet it does amazingly. 

'Let Loose' does exactly what it says on the tin, an electric whining guitar pulls it near to rock. Its lyrics, its saxaphone and its being forces you to dance and move and allows you to really 'let loose'. 'Trick or Treat', just the title of this song makes me happy reminding me of halloween. The song has a simple, running beat which mostly dominates the track. 'Private Dreams and Public Nightmares' feels like a dream, it contains a pre-recorded voice and flaunts a jazzy, sluggish beat.

'Blissfully Blind' has a rap and Caribbean feel to it while being very instrumental based. It also hosts a violin piece which makes it slightly more serious than their other songs without being too pretentious about it. 'Phenomenon' discusses reality TV with a contagious beat and the raspy voice which has become a staple of their songs by this point in the album. The final track, 'Back in '04', is the most interesting track of the album through their lyrics, it tells the story of the bands past and how they got to where they are today. It takes guts for a band to make a song about themselves but the band have such a quirky story, it would be stupid not to tell it, plus, it is the perfect end to a phenomenal debut album.

You can follow the band on Twitter and like their Facebook page.
You can get their album on Bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon.

em, (@emiemzy)

The Black Delta Movement

The Black Delta Movement are a four piece band from Hull comprising of Matt Burr (6 and 12 string guitar and vocals), Dom Abbott (guitar and vocals), Jack Brown (drums) and Liam Kerman (bass). The band boasts a sound similar to Kasabian, dark and slightly psychedelic while rich in rock sounds.

The two songs I've managed to get my dirty little fingers on are 'The Messenger' and 'Ivory Shakes', two songs which both express the ability and beauty of the band.

'The Messenger' hosts the perfect stomping beat to get your emotions, and energy, out on. The band has also managed to include perfect guitar sounds, a vibrating, echoing jangle of stringed noise. As the track builds momentum, it becomes a song which picks up your spirits and throws them higher than a song should be able to, a song which makes you heart balloon with excitement and elation, I'm not sure what happened to make the song so good but it is the sort of thing you play loud and proud.

'Ivory Shakes' features stumbling riffs which crash over a bold beat, dominant vocals which ends up repeating in your head and the perfect crescendo of notes. While the lyrics "She knows where she'd rather be" make you wonder where you would rather be, I can definitely say I'd rather stay and listen to their music for a little while longer.


You can follow the bands Twitter, like their Facebook page or check out their shop.

em, (@emiemzy)

Hazels

Hazels are a fairly new 5 piece band from Durham comprising of James Gibbons, Robbie O'Neill, Peter Lavery, Tomo Errington and Matthew Duffy. The band was born after jamming in a greenhouse of all places and has gained a sturdy following, with good reason too, Hazels boast a constant appearance of tracks you sink your teeth into; authentic and original songs and infectious, fast tunes you want to listen to over and over again.


'This Ain't A Game' contains a compact, persistent beat with no fault, one which will infect your mind and leave a reminder of the song there for a day or two. The song is competitive and the melody barely slows, in fact it mostly changes as it quickens for the chorus. Vocals, think Franz Ferdinand, think rockabilly, they sound like they've had years of experiance but have only had a little, this can only be interpreted as a sign this band has infinite success awaiting them in the future.

You can like the band's Facebook page, follow them on Twitter or follow their Soundcloud and keep up with all their brilliant new stuff.

em, (@emiemzy)

Deaf Poets

Deaf Poets are a Miami based duo who are blessed with some real talent, especially considering the band was formed as a way of killing time. The duo consist of Nico Espinosa (vocals/drums) and Sean Wouters (vocals/guitar) who, regardless of their small numbers, create a sound which blows you away with its depth.

Their most recent album, '4150', features some pretty amazing sounds, starting off with the first track 'Fly', a rebellious, fast paced track with strong vocals. 'Fly' is something you can really get your teeth into, and, while giving you a taste of what is to come in the album, it gives you something to get your rock spirit going. 
'Pale Skin' opens with showdown riffs, very similar to the Arctic Monkeys and carries on with a slow, waltz like chorus. 
Then the album moves onto 'Had Me Waiting', a song that boasts a more dirty rock feel compared to the previous tracks and the riffs are very similar to some Black Keys tracks. 
'Can't Breathe' contains scratchy vocals, a powerful crescendo of notes and just overall energetic vibes. It is a definite song to rock out to and lift your spirits. 
'This Pain' sounds alot like a Kings Of Leon track, especially in the vocals. It's quick beats fly by, sweep you up and drown you in an edenic flush of strength giving sound. 
A slower track follows called 'Cold Cold Thieves'. In this track you really start to see the softer side to the duo through smoother vocals, gentler beats and subdued guitar notes. This is not to say this track has lost its rock feel though, somehow Deaf Poets have managed to deftly show their gentle side while continuing to boast their defined wild sound. 
'Degenerate Mind' goes on to continue the agile pace in the album. The song is full of 'ah-ah-ah's and lyrics which make you want to shout them out loud. The repetitive nature of the song also means it will get stuck in your head for awhile but who's to say its a bad thing when it comes from a band like this? 
'Sunlight Sunset' is another one of the bands slower songs, it features synth sounds, staggered beats and laid-back vocals while 'Sally' flaunts a slow, loud beat accompanied with killer riffs, creating a strange ominous feel, a more 'show-off'y track from the band.
'Little Red Wagon' is a slightly more grungy track with similar vocal sounds to 'Can't Breathe', the song is mostly instrumental with repetitive infectious lyrics you learn within seconds.
 The album ends with song that, if sung live, would force lighters (or phones) up in the air as a crowd becomes one and sways in time to the notes. 'Make Believe' is a track with a slow plodding beat and fuzzy calm vocals which voice words of deep feeling.
Just listen to the album. It will become a new favourite.

You can follow the band on Twitter, like their Facebook page or check out their Soundcoud where you can listen to the album.

em, (@emiemzy)