Hey there everyone. Guess someone needs to show some love to the blog, so it’s the perfect opportunity to use it as a basis for a feature of sorts. Somewhere that our loving webmaster/editor Bob doesn’t have to work his fingers to the bone creating and editing .php for it. He likes it really though… masochist….
So this is a little thing I’d like to call Theirspace. It first featured on the ill fated/underground (delete as applicable) radio show I ran on Wave of Oscillation. It’s a regular look at the world of MySpace and the bands that populate it – of course to discuss all the bands on MySpace would take forever. No, hopefully by coming here you can take a look at five bands who’s work I’ve come across and enjoyed each week. There are ground rules to this, however;
1) Big bands of course are getting overlooked. What’s the point in telling you that someone like Pete Doherty’s got a MySpace account and releasing his latest heroin addled car crash when of course someone here would report it as news, or you’ve already heard it already
2) Cover bands, as much as I love them, won’t be getting a look in. That’s simply because there are a lot of musicians out there who are busting a nut writing original material. As harsh as it seems, I don’t care if you’ve managed to turn the “funeral march” into a Polyphonic Spree song, it’s a cover.
With that all said….
1: Verdant Skies (www.myspace.com/verdantskies)
Genre: Ambient/Electronica/Downtempo
Location: Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Standout Track: Ortuo
Verdant Skies started off as a simple side project, but looks to have overtaken the popularity of the band it was originally on the side of. Co-created by Hudson guitarist Ant Whitton with Jim Kirk, the project is heavily influenced by the post rock work of Boards of Canada and Sigur Rós, bands Whitton himself has professed to having a love for. They rocketed up to the Number One Music charts and there is expectation around the Lincolnshire/Nottinghamshire music scene for a CD to be released. There’s been little talk of doing some live shows, with Whitton’s loyalty to Hudson fierce – the group hopefully embarking on some more live dates showcasing their at times Sonic Youth inspired post grunge.
2: Laymar (www.myspace.com/laymarmusic)
Genre: Experimental/Alternative/Progressive
Location: London, United Kingdom
Standout Track: JWL vers 32 demo
After taking a listen to their lo-fi demo I received through the post, I decidedly took their advice to visit their MySpace site. It was there I came across two different tracks omitted from the CD – a demo version of Juvenile Whole Life which thanks to it’s rough recording sounded twice as haunting as the version on their CD. Laymar are definitely worth taking a listen to on MySpace; much like Verdant Skies, their possibility and potential seems very positive in the months to come.
3: Soulkut (www.myspace.com/soulkut)
Genre: Trip Hop/Turntablism
Location: Lyon, France
Standout Track: The Trigger
At 24 years of age, the potential of turntablist Soulkut could be unrivaled. Not content with the promotion of music in his native Lyon, Soulkut gathered together different DJ’s, breakdancers and graffiti artists to help promote new talent within the area, going under the name “800 Industrie”. He found turntablism after working within the reaches of a hip hop act, which was what he called “an important discovery”. Mixing a eurodance style with big beat synths and trip-hop/breakbeat beats, this mish-mash of dance genres makes a funky outlet – The Trigger may be his only track available so far, but it’s garnered the attention of dance indie label Elektrotribe. He is also becoming a renowned producer in France, having worked with K.NAI to produce some tracks for his last album
4: Waif du Jour (www.myspace.com/waifdujour)
Genre: Electroclash/Trip Hop
Location: United Kingdom
Standout Track: Waif du Jour
Avant-garde and every bit as arty as their graphical design, Waif du Jour are either the most pretentiously good electroclash bands on MySpace, or possibly one clever attack on the indie/electronica ideals of present day. Either way, their music is exceptional, with their electroclash a combination of biting social commentary, very comical lyrics and an almost perfect take on the eighties dance/eurodance genre. The cite that they sound like “1990’s chart hits fished out of a 2nd hand bucket“, which is somewhat of an accurate description – only, with a glass half full mentality attached to that. Very fun and one to add to your friends, if not for the remarkable “thank you” comments complete with personalised artwork of your MySpace name.
5: Proxy (www.myspace.com/proxybyproxy)
Genre: Rock/Indie/Alternative
Location: London, United Kingdom
Standout Track: Jetlag
Proof not every band wants to sound like Arctic Monkeys. This band sound like they want to be almost like The Kooks at times, which is acceptable… odd choice… but acceptable. Aside from that, Proxy are a good, old fashioned, uncomplicated alternative rock band with their three chord progressions and stop/start melodies. It is very catchy, however, and breathes life into indie bands on MySpace as it shows their not all following a formulaic approach singing about what the common man would do. There are tales about girls, but it packs a power pop punch, and it’s fun – which ultimately should be part of why you’re searching MySpace for music anyway
There’s five for you, but if you think you’re band deserves a shout on TheirSpace and you, as many, many, many people do, have a MySpace page with tracks on, you can give me a shout at ben@rawkstar.net. Please also, if you are reviewed and are pleased with our account, have the good grace of including Rawkstar.net in your top five MySpace friends list, or even a banner!
Till next week!
Benjii