The TrendRobot Marches On » kingdom

Another terrific band to come from the UK: The Answering Machine

Tobias Lee — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:27:31 +0000

Debuting in 2005 as a three piece band, later to become a four-piece ensemble, The Answering Machine has conquered its way into my heart and my playlist. Martin Colclough, Pat Fogarty, Gemma Evans started the band sans drummer, but would later make up for this using a drum machine dubbed Mustafa Beat. Ben Perry later came in to replace The Answering Machine’s artificial drumming counterpart as their new, full-fledged, living, breathing drummer. The art rock group is based out of Manchester, UK and bares a similarity to a few groups such as The Flashguns, Bombay Bicycle Club, Johnny Foreigner, The Strokes, and Good Shoes. All of which are Ace in my book.

Their first full length album Another City, Another Sorry dropped late in 2008 under the brand new indie label, Heist Or Hit Records. The album of 11 tracks contains songs that make me want to sing along even though I don’t know the words while the guitar bombards my eardrums with consistent infectious rhythmic riffs. Songs, such as Emergency, where Gemma Evans lets her charming voice chime out definitely stand out. Each of the tracks stand out in their own right and there isn’t much by the way of redundancy between songs. I am currently listening to the album for the 17th time around in the past 24 hours, so it’s worth listening to.

Despite being such a young band in the wide world of music, they have already had great success. They have their track “It’s Over! It’s Over! It’s Over!” featured in EA’s FIFA 10. In Addition to that Triumph they have also played at the Glastonbury festival in 2007 and the SXSW festival in 2008. Not too shabby for a band that started off playing in bars during their term at the University of Manchester in 2006.

Album Review: Two Door Cinema drops their first full-length album, Tourist History

Tobias Lee — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:26:57 +0000

MP3: “I Can Talk” – Two Door Cinema Club
MP3: “Something Good Can Work”-Two Door Cinema Club

In my opinion, one of the most promising up and coming bands out of the United Kingdom is dropping their first album in March of 2010 under the label of Kitsune records. The three lads (Alex Trimble, Kev Baird, Sam Halliday) of Two Door Cinema Club are out of Bangor, Ireland and have been working together since 2007. Tourist History is the second album to have been recorded in Eastcote studios in London, and mixed in the recently built Motorbass, the first of which was Phoenix’s new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The trio is without a drummer so they use a drum machine as a substitute which gives the band a unique electronic/alternative sound, self-dubbed by the band as “alteronica.”

Taking their influences from the likes of Bloc Party, Death Cab for Cutie, Wolf Parade and Broken Social Scene, the trio sets out to create a fun and quirky sound that immediately invades your ears. All three of the band members are vocalists and utilize their rhythmic, quasi-soothing guitar/bass while juxtaposing palpitating drum machine developed beats to produce a unique sound that is a breath of fresh air from the stale pop tracks that are being pumped out indiscriminately ad nauseam.

At first listen I had a hard time with Tourist History, the reason for this being that there seemed to be more emphasis on the drum machine than in previously released EPs. The songs I had enjoyed prior to the full length album had been revamped with more sophisticated drums and beats while basically maintaining the same addictive guitar, bass, and vocals. For me, the songs had (temporarily) lost their lo-fi appeal that previously drew me in save for my personal favourite I Can Talk. However after the second listen I had become obsessed with the more electronic, catchy, foot tapping Tourist History. As my old guitar teacher always said, “A band that doesn’t evolve isn’t a band worth listening to.” After all who wants to hear the same sounding track just combined with different lyrics over and over? I for one would not, but that is just me. Bottom line: Listen to Two Door Cinema Club.

Watch for: The Flashguns

Tobias Lee — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:45:55 +0000

For those of you who enjoy Bombay Bicycle Club, Two Door Cinema Club, The Maccabees or really any of the music that is coming out in the UK, this band is for you.

These lads are from London and have a unique sound about them; catchy guitar riffs, solid drums, and earthy vocals all make your feet tap, and head bob to the rhythm. What’s impressive is that the band is still in school working on their A-levels; junior or senior year in high school for most of us states-side kids. It’s impressive to see such mature music coming out of such young musicians. They have only released a couple EPs and singles however The Flashguns are already on the ears and minds of thousands of listeners. They have already toured with the likes of Pete and the Pirates and Bombay Bicycle Club. Keep an eye out for this band, they’re going somewhere.