Not Many Experts

I’ve been trying to write this post for a while. Truth is, Wise Blood’s music is so unlike anything I’ve heard before it really needs to be heard to be believed. Its mix of soulful vocals, sampling, r&b beats, blues guitar, electronics and even unexplained background noise sounds, in theory, a worse idea than New Labour’s fiscal policy. “B.I.G. E.G.O.”, though, sounds like the template of a future avenue for music. It’s definitely a combination of sounds much more worth exploring than the drudgery of witch-house, and even if it doesn’t catch on, we’re still excited about Wise Blood’s future, because he’s one oddly-minded musician who’s eccentricities are making some of the most pioneering pop music we’re hearing at the moment. Either we’re just spending far too long repetitively watching the trailer for the new Harry Potter film, or this guy’s seriously exciting. Possibly both, decide for yourself.

Wise Blood – B.I.G. E.G.O.

Wise Blood – SOLO (‘4’ CLAIRE)

The new single from Wise Blood is out on Transparent mid November. Which, officially, is now, so it may well be available to buy if you have any money left from the start of the month. If not, a couple of hour’s energetic busking should get you where you need to be.

There’s something morbid or maybe just slightly pathetic about finding enjoyment in depression, but despite generally sticking to this trusty philosophy, we’ve found ourselves completely susceptible to the gothic charm of solo-Londoner Harry Granger Howell, aka Lonely Galaxy. Now there’s no way to scientifically prove this, but we’re willing to stake, erm, this guy’s freedom on the assertion that it’s probably impossible to get more melancholic than “Have A Heart”. Notice that we say “probably”. So we probably just can’t be wrong.

Jokes aside, there’s almost nothing to joke about here. “Have A Heart” contains in 7 heart-shredding minutes more subtle beauty, passion and carefully layered musicianship than one months worth of the music that passes through my e-mail inbox. Writing about new music is tough, because it’s generally quite hard to convince people to set aside time and take a gamble based solely on a recommendation and a few words, but Lonely Galaxy really is one of those artists that you need to stop for, just for a second, pay attention to what’s being said and enjoy some really, really special music. And did we even get to mention that the rest of his music is just more encouraging? Well no. Because that would take at least another two posts. Just listen.

Lonely Galaxy – Have A Heart

Lonely Galaxy – Nutts

“EP2” is going to be released on December 6th by Transparent and the first track we’ve heard from it is “Bible Truth Depot”.

Lonely Galaxy // Bible Truth Depot from theartof agency on Vimeo.

I get myself into this situation often. I’ll try to claim that I’m just making attempts at achieving some sort of perfect-seasonal alignment for the tone of the band name, but the truth probably lies nearer to my being quite busy most of the time. So I feel stuck between feeling like I should have posted about Summer Camp a few months back, and being “too late” and just bandwagon jumping. But the whole one-upmanship of trying to post about bands before everybody else is blatantly ridiculous. So it’s late. But it’s here.

The unpretentiously shining pop music that Summer Camp are making sounds like all of those teenage summer months condensed into three minute rays of burning nostalgia, fleshed out with a sense of purpose, not-giving-a-fuck and bursting raw drums that all pull them back from the wrong side of twee and excessively sentimental. That said, if you’re looking to exercise your macho-ears then you’re better off slobbering over the knuckle dragging legacy of Britpop; Summer Camp are unapologetically fey at times, but their bravery to attempt something completely different is far bolder than aping 1995, and as a result they are only something to be admired. And if they’re anything like as good live as we have been hearing, then it won’t be long before every crevice on the internet will be declaring their keyboard based love. Bleeding bandwagon jumpers.

Summer Camp – Montgomery Avenue 1984

Summer Camp – Was It Worth It

Summer Camp – Ghost Train