Theo Verney - Mountain Rose

Over the last few years Brighton's Theo Verney has been building up a bit of a reputation. Slamming bricks of sludgy distorted guitars under raucous howling vocals to build rooms of pure noise. Now Theo's back and better than ever.

'Mountain Rose' is the first song to appear from Verney's upcoming Brain Disease EP and offers up a slightly more refined sound than the unadulterated fuzz of previous releases. Built on foundations of sprinting guitars and a hopping drum beat, Verney's vocals are soft, gently filling in all cracks and crevices of the chugging verses.

A heavy riff demolishes any sense of calm as a punchy chorus explodes into life. "I wont get knocked down!" insists Verney, calling out from beneath boisterous guitars and crashing cymbals. The gallop of guitars once again takes over, quickly rebuilding what was demolished just moments before, only for it to be once again crushed under the weight of more fearsome guitars.

A shimmering guitar solo is the perfect interlude between the final lethal rounds of wrecking-ball guitars. The song quickly collapses out of view leaving just a murmuring cloud of dusty feedback.

Verney's Brain Disease EP is out soon on Marshall Teller Records and if this first peak is anything to go by we are in for a treat. If an upcoming EP isn't exciting enough a debut album is also on its way to our ears in the not-too distant future!

Yak

Just a few nights ago I was lucky enough to witness the fantastic Peace live in all their indie glory! I've still not quite come to terms with the excitement of it all. However while Peace where unbelievable, it was their support who really caught my eye. London trio Yak where only supporting Peace on four dates of their on going mega-tour, so perhaps it was fate that it should be them who graced the stage last Friday night at the Fleece in Bristol.

Frontman Oli Burslem, who if the music doesn't work out could easily fall back on a career as a Mick Jagger look-a-like, filled in for Peace's Doug a few years ago on a North American tour when fatherhood came calling. Since then Burslem has accumulated two bandmates to form Yak in the form of Andy Jones and Elliot Rawson.

What really struck me as I watched the sweat drenched trio fill The Fleece with fuzzy riffs was their infectious energy. Although the night was young, feet where moving and heads where bobbing. As the set clambered up to a new level of rowdy Burslem, in an explosion of rock and roll absurdity, began to grind his guitar against the venus nearest stanchion creating a wave of noise which almost blew the glitter off of the more sparkley members of the crowd.

Debut single 'Hungry Heart' was performed with the same intensity that ran throughout the short but sweet set. A beautifully furious chugging bassline met squealing feedback while Burslem howled "Again. Again. Again", one had firmly gripped around his microphone as the other wildly swiped at his guitar strings. 'Plastic People', the first of the band's two songs to appear online, brought the set to an epic conclusion. As the track came to it's mind tingling finale, local hero Big Jeff (a regular gig goer in Bristol) took to the stage at first viciously stroking the strings of Burslem's guitar before collapsing to the floor for a slow keyboard outro.

As Yak absorbed the crowds excitable applause and payed tribute to their fluffy haired new bandmate, Burslem, in all his Jagger-like glory, stood arms out like the future musical masire that he will surely become. Yak may be a band in their infancy but with a rapidly growing live reputation and an epic first single out soon on Fat Possum, I firmly believe they are a group we will grow old with.

Musical Love Affair: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Cellophane

It may be a bit of a mouthful but King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard is a name to remember. The crazed Australian seven-piece consist of two guitarists, two bassist, two drummers and a synth/harmonica player. The band's fifth record I'm In Your Mind Fuzz was released on December 1st in the UK and is their first for label Heavenly Recordings.

I came across the video for 'Cellophane' while scrolling through my Facebook news feed and I've been hooked ever since. Like label mates Temples on acid, the track chugs along as it's two baselines twist and turn around each other. Meanwhile guitars wobble and squeal while frontman Stu Mackenzie screeches in between an echoing chorus of "Cellophane".

The song comes with a suitably insane video in which Mackenzie is sucked into a 3D TV to join his band mates in a swirling world of bright colours and ever-changing patterns. I couldn't decide if my 3D glasses actually worked with the video's 3D effect but it was worth a try.

Albums of the Year - #4 The Voyeurs - Rhubarb Rhubarb

Charlie Boyer and his Voyeurs rocked my world in 2013 when they released their debut album Clarietta. The band became one of my favourite groups with their modern interpretation on the post punk genius of Television. Just one year on and they are still held in equally high regard having released yet another masterpiece!

While the majority of Clarietta was written by Charlie himself, Rhubarb Rhubarb was a more collective effort. This more collaborative approach is what lead to the name shortening and it has given the rest of the band members a chance to strut their stuff. Ross Kristian does this particularly effectively with his organ which holds together 'Pete The Pugilist' while taking 'Say You Love Him (And Choke)' to a whole new magical level.

On glam rock anthem 'Stunners' frontman Boyer cries out "baby, baby, baby" and Sam Davies swipes at his guitar before the organ of Kristian dives into a short swirling solo. On 'The Smiling Loon' Danny Stead's bass leads the band on a dizzying walk around Boyer's dreamy vocals which are occasionally interrupted as Davies' guitar howls. On title track 'Rhubarb Rhubarb' guitars twinkle while Boyer questions "why did you choose to lose?" before he plunges into a shrieking chorus of "Rhubarb Rhubarb/the fastest by far". 

There was little over a year between the release of Clarietta and Rhubarb Rhubarb however it feels like a lot has changed in that time. Boyer's Tom Verlaine hair is gone (replaced by a Lou Reed hair and sunglasses look) and the band's post-punk sound is morphing into extravagant art rock also reminiscent of the late great Lou Reed. 

Despite all the changes The Voyeurs remain one of the essential bands of my record collection. I can only hope that this time next year I am writing about an equally different but fantastic third album the modern kings of glam rock.

Pond - Elvis' Flaming Star

Pond's 2013 album 'Hobo Rocket' was a roller coaster of psychedelic rock. Not only were the songs great but also the album slotted together like a jigsaw puzzle. It was clear that the Aussies had learnt a thing or two about writing albums in the short time between the releases of 'Hobo Rocket' and it's predecessor 'Beard, Wives, Denim'. Now as we move towards January 2015 and the release of Pond's new record 'Man It Feels Like Space Again', new songs are beginning to show their glittery faces.

The first single to be released from the album 'Elvis' Flaming Star', is typically crazy. Jamie Terry tickles the keys while Julien Barbagallo's bass weaves it's way though the song. At times flutters of Bowie can be heard in front man Nick Allbrook's vocals.

The song was recently performed on Seattle's KEXP on which the band revealed that the new album took only two weeks to make. Pond didn't treat us to any other songs from the new album in the performance, preferring to give outings to 'Don't Look At The Sun Or You'll Go Blind' from the band's first album 'Psychedelic Mango' and 'Midnight Mass' from 'Hobo Rocket'.

The record will be released in the UK on January 26 and if 'Elvis Flaming Star' is anything to go by Pond have created an album to get excited about.