New Music Review #29

Here at KBPS we bring you some more songs to listen to and enjoy as well as an EP and two albums!

Divisionists - Daybreak (Album)

'Daybreak' is a gritty lo-fi album of twelve tracks, each strongly produced and offering a focussed indie-rock vibe that plays along well for over 45-minutes. With strong lyrics and a good mix of tempos, paces and vibes, this is a strong album to put on and chill out to that's not afraid to make it quieter when it needs to, though it does at times get a little too maudlin for its own good. (6.5/10)

Eugene Twist - Stuntman

'Stuntman' is a well produced indie number with retro throwbacks with some great changes in pace and emotion that hold your interest. (6.5/10)

Fancy Cars feat. Foy - Heart of Stone

'Heart of Stone' is a great track of electronic swagger with a catchy central chorus and some strong production effects with a big bite. (7/10)

Flora Cash - Nothing Lasts Forever (And It's Fine)

Brought to you by the sweet and listenable voice of Flora Cash this song mixes some neatly written lyrics that come with a message and a quirky, poppy electronic riff. (7/10)

Fufanu - Liability



'Liability' is a neat little mid-tempo electronic number that sounds like Kraftwerk meeting Gary Numan. Fans of that era will get much out of this fun little track. (5.5/10)

God Damn - It Bites

A little heavier than the music I would normally listen to there's still plenty of fun in the catchy chorus and strong flow of lyrics to hook in people who aren't maybe into as guitars as loud as this. A crossover song with good appeal. (6.5/10)

KOYO - Tetrachromat




The intriguingly titled 'Tetrachromat' is an atmospheric electronic number with an otherworldly vibe that really suits its musical aesthetic. Nicely produced. (6.5/10) 

Thieves Like Us - Thieves Like Us (Album)

This nine-track album has a strong indie, ethereal vibe and though no particular tracks stands out as a radio-friendly single (though 'Jennifer', the concluding track is the best contender), the overall vibe as each song flows into the next works really well, and there a few more uptempo pieces amongst the sultrier ones to lift your mood. As an atmospheric, electronic-heavy concept album, though, it works very well. (6.5/10)

Tuxedo - Fux with the Tux (EP)

Opening with title track, this is a seventies sounding EP mixing up the sounds of Chic and Earth, Wind and Fire but with the benefits of modern production values. Catchy and funky in equal measure, the opening track sets the mood for the piece with its quirky and catchy effects and riffs. 'Special' is the second track and has shades of 'Ladies Night' in its vibe and it continues the sound from track one, whilst the third and final song 'July' drops the tempo and brings you a more soulful number, rounding off a really strong and well produced seventies sounding vibe. (7/10)

Vanbot - Collide (Krasnoyarsk)

'Collide' is a hazy, fuzzy little electronic number that growls along with its genuinely intriguing production style, lifted up with its simple but perky synth riff. (6/10)

KBPS Interview: Eugene Twist

With a lyrical arena that boasts whistleblowers, extraterrestrials and self-consuming psychonauts, Scotland’s Eugene Twist is not your everyday songwriter. After two years in the musical wilderness, his second album ‘The Stuntman’ has arrived on the back of one mission: to let the storyteller run riot inside the song. Taking time to build a makeshift studio and learning how to record and mix allowed Eugene time to breathe with his arrangements. We spoke to Eugene all about his new single ‘Stuntman’.

How would you describe your new single ‘Stuntman’?

It’s an upbeat song with a very kind of narrative lyric. Hopefully, if you tune in and listen long enough, there’s a story there you’ve not heard before!

And is the stuntman based on anyone?

I think it’s based us all and also a character from my imagination.

Is that how your songs usually come about?

It depends. Sometimes you want to go into some kind of fantasy or metaphor for something you’re feeling and then other times you might need to be more topical, referring to something that’s a bit more direct. It really depends on me; I write in lots of different ways.

There’s a great retro-style video to go with the song; what was that like to do?

I did it with a bunch of friends on not a very big budget and not on a very long timescale. The day itself was quite intense. We had these big bright lights that were very hot, and just trying to get the right attitude under the time constraints was fun but quite sweaty!

‘Stuntman’ is taken from your second album; is the single reflective of the album as a whole?

I think ‘Stuntman’ stands as a good mid-way point for the album. It’s maybe not a climax for the album but it’s followed by some similar songs, and there are some similar songs that come before it. It’s a very varied album; there’s a wide range of music on [there]. There are ballads and stuff that’s more visceral like ‘Stuntman’. I’d say to anyone, just to listen through to get the best measure of the album. I plan to release a few more singles for people to get the full extent of the writing and the band.

Will you be working on videos for those?

Yeah. There will be one or two more videos to come from the album.

What have you been up to over the last two years?

I’ve never stopped doing music, ever. I kind of got caught up in the recording process, mostly the technical side of things. The writing happens very quickly but I decided this time to go out and get some gear together and record it myself, so that was kind of my downfall in terms of how long it took, as I had to learn the ropes. It started to get easier. The technology started to inform the writing and visa-versa. It’s a useful skill to have now, this technology at [my] fingertips.

Did this help the album become closer to your vision?

It does. It affords [me] some control. I’m not having to watch the clock as much when it comes to experimenting.

Have you got any live dates coming up in support of the album?

I’m just about to announce some, probably next week. I’m hoping to get down to London and maybe Manchester, and definitely Glasgow.

How would you describe your live sound?

You’ll want to dance and you’ll also want to tune in and listen!

Finally what are your big ambitions for 2017?

As an emerging artist you’re always trying to get set up so you can just keep on doing it, so really it’s just to get out and play as many good shows as we can, and then maybe think about another release for the year!

Find out more about Eugene Twist on Facebook and listen to this interview and his new single on our radio show on Saturday 18th February at 6pm on bcbradio.co.uk.