Deep Cuts – July 2019 edition
Can you believe it’s July already? The year is flying in, so make sure you’ve got something to show for this month as Getintothis bring you some tasty new music.
A few weeks back I had a discussion with a mate about music consumption, with the overriding question being which of traditional record shop sifting and online music streaming was ‘better’.
Of course, the debate proved inconclusive.
We often ask bands and artists a similar question on these pages, and we tend to get the same response that although streaming isn’t the purest form of consumption, it is easiest and therefore most effective.
Back to my conversation with Greeny, and despite the main aim of those few pints was to twist his arm into playing in a football tournament the following day, it did make me think about my usage of streaming services.
I use Spotify. SoundCloud, too, for Deep Cuts, but mainly Spotify.
My usage of it is pretty simple, I’ll click my headphones in, search for a song, album or artist, and press play. That’s basically it. I don’t really do playlists, podcasts, artist radio or any of that sort of stuff.
Why? I guess I just know what I want to listen to.
So the other night, when the FIFA Women’s World Cup was having a rare night off, I decided to clean up my Spotify act. I deleted my library, my followed artist’s, and started afresh.
I thought about my recent listening and went in search of those bands, following them, as Spotify suggested bands I also may like as I tapped, as I followed Eyesore and The Jinx, Pale Rider flashed up, perhaps the genius in charge of my account goes to Sound a bit.
Then I went back and re-followed some favourites, and upon returning to the home screen, The Indie List was there. I spoke about The Indie List with fellow Getintothis contributor Conor Baxter at the Mathew and The Atlas gig the other week.
He’s found some of his favourite new bands on there, so I thought I’d give it a whirl too.
Deeper Cuts Festival – an interstellar new music happening in Liverpool
According to some label heads I’ve spoken to, getting onto a Spotify playlist like The Indie List is the ultimate breakthrough.
I was kinda joking when I said about my Spotify wizz in the back of my phone had maybe been to Sound, but it turns out that they have hundreds of actual curators who handpick these playlists.
I guess in this day and age I assumed it was algorithm based, but it turns out I was discrediting Spotify.
We recently published on Facebook some statistics on what bands or an artist actually get paid on streaming sites. Per stream, an artist earns $0.00437. That’s around 2,000 streams an hour to make minimum wage.
It’s a depressing state of affairs.
However, we know that isn’t the full story, if our mate Conor has found Marsicans on The Indie List, gone to watch them, bought the t-shirt, spread the word, perhaps their inclusion on that playlist has had a more profound impact.
I can only imagine the number of dissertations, PhD studies even, that focus on just a small part of this huge machine. I guess the only update from me is that I’m listening to more playlists now, and my experience of Spotify is very different.
Greeny played in the tournament the next day, by the way, and he was probably our best player.
Lewis Ridley – new music editor
Goa Express. Photo by Warren Millar
The Goa Express: The Day
With a synth undertone, a powerful Madchester drum beat and a vocalist that rhythmically speaks instead of sings, this band offer clarity and confusion, something old and something new.
With backing from Nathan Saoudi (Fat White Family) and BBC Introducing, this band have sparked a lot of interest, including ours at Getintothis.
Music is often a reflection of the times it was produced in and the mention of cigarettes and weed in the first thirty seconds of this song certainly supports this.
They seem to be thriving off the devil-may-care attitude of their Mancunian predecessors and one can only praise them for doing so.
Honesty, observation of the world around them and a song that makes you want to seize the day, this is a song to put on when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, believe me, it’ll work. – Megan Walder
Sola (Credit: Artist’s Facebook)
Sola: Closure
Lingua Ignota
Lingua Ignota: Do You Doubt Me Traitor
Going to church never really appealed. Raised a Catholic I’d pretty much made my mind up by six it was a depressing thing religion which laboured you down with all manner of guilt and worry that come Sunday morning I was fraught with worry. Plus it was boring as shit.
Fortunately, I was half decent at cricket – so practising bowling – which included running up and down my parent’s driveway and firing a ball at a pretend batsman which resembled a bat and a step ladder with a small canister of oil as the wickets proved not just fun but a solid way of avoiding church.
Sadly, when we moved house, we switched going to mass on a Sunday morning to a Saturday night and my Kurt Cobain years wasn’t having any of this which resulted in a monolithic argument with me basically raging for 20 minutes at my parents about THERE IS NO GOD.
I never went to church again and weirdly my cricketing career took a nosedive too.
I kinda suspect Lingua has a similar relationship with Our Lord. She’s most likely a believer – but believer in what is another question. On her frankly terrifying single Do You Doubt Me Traitor she’s firmly aligning herself with Satan.
Lucifer it seems is her companion – and the soundtrack is pretty appropriate to a long suffering in hell. It’s abyss-like in it’s full-throttle doom. I think we’d get on. – Peter Guy
Kirby Forest
Kirby Forest: I Don’t Care
Rising UK talent Kirby Forest’s latest track I Don’t Care is a sensational work of exploratory UK hip hop, fusing elements of a LoFi beat with more contemporary elements such as the crisp bass sound heard throughout, and tight drums.
I Don’t Care clocks in at a mere 1:58, which means the track packs a real punch. Following a short intro, Forest gets stuck in with a relentless flow virtually unbroken through to the end of the track.
The short length actually works to the benefit of the track, feeling like the track is able to do all it needs to do without overstaying its welcome.
The minimal nature of the beat and the repetition of the simplistic sample behind the vocals are a perfect example of contemporary hip-hop production at its finest, providing an interesting backing to Forest’s excellent lyrics without being intrusive.
Forest’s voice is effortlessly smooth, with razor sharp delivery that fuses well with the beat. I Don’t Care is a silky track, sure to gain attention over the summer months, be sure to give it a spin. – Max Richardson
Lemonade Fix
Lemonade Fix: The Apple Tree
Scouse indie rockers Lemonade Fix have released their track The Apple Tree to the world with a spacey guitar riff that follows you around the room and Mersey sunset BBQ vibe to go.
Definitely for fans of Hooton Tennis Club for a guitar line that puts itself at the forefront as well as a lackadaisical attitude DMA’s would be proud of. Get your sunnys on and get down the park as The Lemonade Fix are bringing a taste of Cali desert rock to Liverpool for the ages.
The group have been on the scene for a while now soundtracking sweaty indie nights supporting The Murder Capital, Average Sex and Vryll Society along the way.
They are set to launch the single at the Lemonade Fix’s Global Gathering at Brick Street on July 27.
With a massive set being supported by Samurai Kip, The Floormen, Anna Mae, Podge, TRACKY, Dan Disgrace and Getintothis favourite Roy – what a line-up. – Will Whitby
Luna Bec
Luna Bec: Over
After the loss of her father, Luna Bec had an understandably quiet couple of years, but this month she has come back with a banger to cure us of the deprivation of her creativity. Luna recently released her single Over which has definitely left us eager to hear more.
Luna admitted that this single was written in a tent in central France, which only shows the level of talent she possesses. Although, what better city to write about a break-up than the country of love.
With every second of the work of art, we looked forward to the next, feeling the emotion that Luna was experiencing ourselves. Such talent embroils a listener to hang on to every long note and wish the song would go on for longer.
The single Over is relatable and inspirational to those who have experienced the pain of having to walk away from love, providing the perfect melody to bring you up from those bad days or to help you get through them at least.
We cannot wait to hear more from Luna Bec and certainly cannot wait to find out where she will write next. Whether it be a caravan in the middle of Austria or a cabin in the Lake District. – Courtney Hughes
Abby Meysenburg
Abby Meysenburg: At Least Mostly Sure EP
The debut release from Washington State born Abby Meysenburg is an ethereal, lucid, three-track bundle that introduces the now Liverpool based singer-songwriter to the wider world.
Opening track Anything gets the ball rolling, as Meysenburg‘s gentle character cushions around strings and keys. Her lyrics remain central throughout, though, and when instruments rest she exchanges in an almost conversational sense with her listener.
Two softly knit tracks are split by a perkier one in Restless Heart, the most assertive of the trio, all produced by classmate and fellow soloist Nolan Garrett. This may well be the track that has the most longevity in a live sense.
Final track Untether sees her return to her thoughtful, sitting on a cloud self. Again, strings offer an orchestral dimension as she ebbs her debut EP out.
At 11 and a half minutes, this is a release that provides relief from the outside world – perhaps next she will protrude it. – Lewis Ridley
Elson
Elson: Closer To
Singer/songwriter Elson has just released his third single, again through Odd Job Music, becoming the first English-based act to be distributed by Cardiff’s PYST service.
The song starts with some pulsating bleeps before the drums and other instruments arrive, and then finally James Elson’s breathy vocals, with the whole effect being somewhat 1980’s 4AD-esque.
However, a more traditionally rocky guitar solo interrupts proceedings, sounding a little like you’ve just changed the radio to another station.
Overall, it’s a stronger effort than the preceding folkier Wandering and Silent Observer, although his professed influences such as George Harrison, Sparklehorse and Harry Nilsson still remain below the radar.
Elson was brought up on Merseyside, having been born down south, and is now based in Leeds, having moved there to study music.
His first solo show was as support to scouse favourites The Tea Street Band in Leeds, and he featured on the bill for Liverpool Sound City earlier this year. – Will Neville
The Heavy North at Deeps Cuts #23
The Heavy North: Some Good Lovin’
Some Good Lovin’ is the third single from Liverpool’s The Heavy North, who were last seen tearing it up at Deep Cuts earlier this year.
The follow up to The Night Don’t Give No Love and Don’t You Wait For Me is more of their trademark heavy style of bluesy rock.
The chorus, in particular, is built on one particular riff, which stays lodged whilst the rest of the song builds around it, the unusual, growly vocal style just helps accentuate the swirly American bar-room vibe, before the drums come crashing.
You could imagine this tearing a roof of when played live, and with spots at LIMF and supporting Saint Agnes at the Arts Club to come, there’s ample opportunity to test that theory.
Something knowingly different to most of what’s going on locally, and all the better for it. – Steven Doherty
Primyl Vinyl
Primyl Vinyl: Halftime Entertainment
Paying homage to the local scene, the song delivers a memoir of midday tequila shots and flirtatious exchanges, the band have enjoyed numerous home town support shows recently, as well as playing further afield, and are bound to rack more up with releases like this. – Amos Wynn
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