What's Your Favourite Number?

.. And what does it mean?

These New Puritans are brothers Jack (Vocals/Guitar) and George (drums) along with Sophie (Keys) and Thomas (Bass). They are from Southend and are signed to Angular, which is now apart of the brilliant Domino (Animal Collective, Franz Ferdinand, Sons and Daughters, them Arctic Monkey boys and many more).

Anyway, These New Puritans describe themselves as "Big Beat/Shoegaze/Live Electronics" however if you're a fan of The Fall or Sonic Youth this band could be for you. If you don't like The Fall or Sonic Youth then this band could still be for you, they are not your typical generic "indie" band. The music is complex and the lyrics are not always straight forward to understand, but I think if you give them a chance you'll fall in love, quick. I certainly did.

For some reason they have been likened to The Horrors, I have no idea why (I think it is lazy journalism because they are both from Southend). Do not listen to that comparison, they are nothing alike, These New Purtians are much better (although The Horrors album is very good). They've drawn Klaxons comparisons from that rag (NME), the only reason for this is because they supported Klaxons. I can't really compare them to anyone (which is a good thing nowadays), however I think you can hear The Fall influence in a lot of the songs including the new single Colours/Numbers, saying that there are parts which are not like The Fall at all.

The album (Beat Pyramid) was pencilled in to come out November 5th, however I have heard its been pushed back to January. However the single is out soon from not many record stores, but if you find it, BUY IT! They are touring in October starting on the 12th of October in Leicester and ends on the 29th of October in Bristol and features a date in the London ICA on the 25th October. Some dates are lucky enough to have support from the brilliant Ox. Eagle. Lion. Man.

www.myspace.com/thesenewpuritans

These New Puritans - Colours

These New Puritans - Numbers

Find Yourself A New Boy

Late of the Pier are on the cusp of becoming the must see band around town, having said that best wait till they finish touring with Hadouken (yuck). I almost saw them once in Hoxton however due to a mixture of vomit and to quote the bouncer on the night “undermining him” I did not see them. Despite my efforts to get into the venue along with the help of Erol Alkan it was not to be in Hoxton.

Roll on 24 hours at Fabric well known for its all night / early morning dance parties, Late of the Pier were scheduled to play and this time I was there to see them. Now there is no better band to kick start a party than these boys, as soon as they hit the room they controlled the stage and crowd. Ripping into ‘Broken’ the whole room was dancing to the first 60 second intro. “Didn’t sleep last night, couldn’t come down” I don’t know about last night, but I don’t imagine too many people in that room could come down that night, but that’s just the nature of fabric.

“Space and the woods” is the perfect party anthem; it has all you’d ever want from a song: great beats, killer bass-lines and lyrics that you just can’t help screaming back. Late of the Pier continue to pull out the brilliant beats and impressive songs from their extensive back catalogue including “Random Firl”, “A heartbeat a flicker a line” and “VW”.

‘The Bears are coming’ has just everything good about it, from the great chorus to the obscure sounds it just about epitomizes what Late of the Pier are about. They don’t take themselves too seriously but they certainly have putting on a great live show high on the agenda. Of course they end with the new single ‘Bathroom Gurgle’ which is just about the best song to be released this year. “Put your hands on your waist line and move your body to the bass line” Sam shouts, and it’s exactly what everybody does.

Late of the Pier - Random Firl

Late of the Pier - VW

New Shiny Start

I now own a laptop, which hopefully means I'll be updating this so far poorly updated blog a lot more. It's a shiny dell laptop, which cost me four hundred pounds! Getting your own computer is liking having a lock on your door, it means no more snooping around my files and music from certain family members. Oh yes.

I start university in a exactly 7 days, in fact this time next week I'll be moved into my new room and will be starting my new adventure. It's scary yet at the same time really exciting, especially as I'll be in London.

Ox. Eagle. Lion. Man. Have took my listening pleasures today, I never really gave them much of a chance, because in Les Incompetents I always preferred Billy's voice, however I think Fred is a great front man. They have some really great energetic songs yet at the same time being dark. The album titled Fatherhood/Motherhood is out on November 12th on the ever brilliant Transgressive. They are always doing gigs in London, so I shall definitely try to catch them at some point.

Ox. Eagle. Lion. Man. - Stories We Told
http://www.myspace.com/oxeaglelionman

Over and out.

Reading Volume 3

Sunday:

Late of the Pier; a great band that I expect to see a lot more in the coming winter months. definitely a great start to sunday morning.

New Young Pony Club; on record they are pop-tastic - however live i think they lack something. the crowd were pretty shit too, left after ice cream (when they finished with the get go)!

Operator Please; didn't really like them that much before seeing them, definitely a band i want to see again. just for the violin player! quote of the weekend was during their set from the bloke beind me "corr that bass player is pretty fit" - his mate responded "that's a bloke" i couldn't stop laughing.

The Maccabees; really good, i only saw four songs in the nokia tent - but they were very good although orlando's new hair is shit.

Jamie T; i didn't enjoy it as much as i'd hoped because the tent was too packed and full of cunts. he was on form as usual though.

CSS; great festival band, great live band.

LCD Soundsystem; a great band to end the weekend on, my highlight of the weekend - just for "all my friends" which was amazing live - spine chilling.

Reading Volume 2

Saturday:

Good Shoes; probably one of the best performances i've seen from good shoes, and i've seen a lot. they played nazanin half way through the set (never done that, ever?), it was a good shake up of the set list. wished they'd played some new stuff, but you can't have everything i suppose.

Nine Black Alps; i only saw a few songs, but they were pretty energetic - the new ones sound a bit too much like the old ones for my liking (aka Burn Faster).

Foals; Amazing. Simply amazing. I must see them again soon.

Bloc Party; it's the fourth time i've seen them, easily the worst i've seen them too. really boring, the new songs just don't cut it live (with the exception of a couple like hunting for witches and the prayer).

Arcade Fire; Oh yes. Simply breathtaking.

Hot Hot Heat; a better version of the kooks/pigeon detectives/kaiser chiefs etc. really fun live, they surprised me.