Octane OK are a four piece from the Midlands, currently being featured on Kerrang radio and TV, Scuzz, Lava and Xfm Radio. Without a doubt they look like a lot of other young bands currently trying to battle the pop onslaught we are currently experiencing, but importantly, they sound just that different. They know how to right a good hook, both in lyrics and music; “The time has come to fly again”, is beautifully simple, easy to remember and sung with passion. It also helps that they have supprted all this with a video that grips you the moment you start watching, which is how I discovered them in the first place! I caught a few seconds of the video and wanted to see the outcome, and when so many people are now discovering music through visuals as well as audio it is incredibly intelligent and important to have both a song and video that engages an audience, something that Octane OK seem to understand.
In terms of their music, it’s catchy “Power Pop/Rock” akin to the currently popular sound of All Time Low. However, the music sounds more raw (insert less cheesey if you wish!). The lyrics speak honestly of strength and survival, and all the while the ever-present drum-beat keeps your head bobbing or your foot tapping in time, regardless of whether you want to or not. It is hard, therefore not to immerse yourself in the song. The other stand out difference between Octane OK and other bands like them trying to make it, is the sound of their lead singers’ vocals. Paul Tandy’s voice has an edge to it, a gruffness reminiscent of older rock stars, making it easier to identify Octane OK’s music, and also make it sound that bit more credible than some of the other bands currently at their level. Just listen to the way he sings the words “Fly Again” to understand what I mean about his voice. Below, therefore, is the video for their latest song ‘Fly Again’, and I do urge you to watch the video as well as listen to the song as both are incredibly catchy.
This is going to be a rather short post! The song here is good, incredibly catchy and will be recognisable to some as the theme on the Hollyoaks advert. However, the real reason I have posted about this is the video! Absolute genius! Really silly, but very funny! And a bit of silliness is always good. So basically just watch. Sorry about the shortness of the post, normal service will be resumed in the week!
Fresh off the Summer Festival Circuit, Tom Williams & the Boat have gained the attention of major players in the music industry, including Radio 1′s new music guru Huw Stephens. On the back of that attention and a phenomenal five sets at Glastonbury, the band have just released their brand new EP See My Evil to critical acclaim. In a world of bubblegum pop the darkness that pervades Tom Williams’ songwriting at all levels is unique and refreshing. Admittedly, this darkness also means that they will be inaccessible for some who see music as being better when it’s easy, when it doesn’t challenge as ‘See My Evil’ does. Issues of pregnancy, suicide and taking money from your employer are just the tips of the iceberg when it comes to the controversial subjects the song examines, and for that the band must be applauded for their bravery. The song, therefore, is intimidating not because it is scary or dark, but because it is real, it speaks of events that happen regularly that shock and scare us in turn. In addition, the music fully supports this, it blends naturally, driven by the drum beats of David Trevillion it neither overpowers or undermines the lyrics, and this seemless synthesis of music and lyrics is yet another element that puts this band above many of their peers; it is so rare to hear the two compliment each other so well.
Accompanying track ‘Get Older’ also oozes anger, and starts with the foregrounding of the drums, but the music gradually becomes more upbeat and versatile than ‘See My Evil’. Despite the folksy sound though, they maintain their credence of being ‘anti-folk’ with the constant presence of Tom’s rough vocals, which could not be further away from the tone of Marcus Mumford’s soothing melodies that are currently heading up the folk revolution storming the charts.
Tom Williams & The Boat, then, put a shot of reality back into music for those wishing the music they listened to recognised the problems they face in their everyday lives. To fully understand click play below for ‘See My Evil’ or visit their MySpace for ‘Get Older’. If it rocks your boat (very bad pun intended! Sorry!) the click HERE for a free download of “See My Evil”.
Even in a market flooded with female singer/songwriters Lissie stands out for her simple, underproduced music. It is easy to see why she is the current darling of music critics with her haunting voice and lyrics, so much so that it almost speaks for itself. Her current single is called Everywhere I Go with backing vocals from fellow songstress Ellie Goulding. It has a very strange video but to be honest the visuals are not what’s important, all her songs are about the listening, about losing yourself completely in the beauty of her voice and the lyrics she writes. Seeing as it is her latest single I have put below the latest single Everywhere I Go. Also I have included a song that I discovered in the process of researching Lissie, Here Before. The moment I heard it I was hooked. The video is even less important with this song than it is with Everywhere I Go, the lyrics are enough to make you just stop, listen and utterly lose yourself in the story of the song. So listen, and enjoy.
After a quiet couple of weeks I have returned! (Partly thanks to a gentle encouragement from the wonderful Hannah Young!) I present you with a song I am unable to get out of my head at the moment; Tokyo (Vampires and Wolves) by The Wombats. When I first heard this I was unsure what to make of it, despite the fact that I absolutely loved their first album; but I assure you it’s a grower! I think it’s one of those songs that is just too damn catchy to dislike.
I cannot explain why I was so unsure when I first heard it, perhaps because it needs a certain level of recognition before it becomes embedded in your head, as it is in mine at the moment. In fact for me it’s got so bad that I catch myself singing the song, completely unaware that I was doing so!!! The melody is infectious and, like most of A Guide To Love, Loss and Desperation, becomes hard to resist listening to. It’s difficult to see much progression from their first album, the sound of this song is very much the same but I had to remind myself why I loved them so much in the first place; because it’s fun. Yes they may be singing about escapism (apparently a recurring theme in their music) but it’s done with such upbeat optimism in the music that it becomes a song to sing and dance along to. This is helped by the fact that, live, the lead singer never stops moving and is so energetic, it’s impossible not to join him in his jubilation! This is another of those songs that may not be ground-breaking, and is difficult to pinpoint as a step forward for the band, but as they what’s not broken doesn’t need fixing, and when the result is something as addictive as Tokyo, you realise that sometimes it really is better to use a tried and tested formula.
I really do encourage you to listen a few times to this before making a final opinion!
Octane OK are a four piece from the Midlands, currently being featured on Kerrang radio and TV, Scuzz, Lava and Xfm Radio. Without a doubt they look like a lot of other young bands currently trying to battle the pop onslaught we are currently experiencing, but importantly, they sound just that different. They know how to right a good hook, both in lyrics and music; “The time has come to fly again”, is beautifully simple, easy to remember and sung with passion. It also helps that they have supprted all this with a video that grips you the moment you start watching, which is how I discovered them in the first place! I caught a few seconds of the video and wanted to see the outcome, and when so many people are now discovering music through visuals as well as audio it is incredibly intelligent and important to have both a song and video that engages an audience, something that Octane OK seem to understand._andrew_calder_60SCALED_medium-300x300.jpg)
Even in a market flooded with female singer/songwriters 
