The Velvet Ditch EP new from punk duo Slaves is an excellent example to show anyone who wants to start listening to Slaves. The contrast between the two sides of the record perfectly shows both the light and the dark of Slaves. From the fast paced punk beats of It Makes Me Sick to the delicate piano quotas in When Will I Learn, this EP is a brilliant entry point to this sonic powerhouse of a band.

The first track One More Day Won’t Hurt has a mighty bass riff akin to Bugs from Slaves’ previous release Acts Of Fear and Love with a massive drum sound and Isaac’s spitting rap lines giving it an all together different but no less powerful blunt force. This track punched you in the face so hard you’ll have no idea what hit you.

Second we have It Makes Me Sick which while being my least favourite track on The Velvet Ditch it is still no doubt ferocious. That intro guitar riff from the wonderful Mr. Vincent is so reminiscent of the legendary Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath before the track launches into hardcore punk guitar chords, blasting drums and vocals harsh enough you wonder how Isaac hasn’t lost his voice yet. The song isn’t necessarily a bad one, but I never found hardcore punk that appealing so this track has less impact for me, despite being so heavy. Still, live this will be insane and I’d recommend it to anyone into the heavier side of punk.

The title track is up next and let me tell you, this track took me by surprise when I first listened to this EP. The massive 180 degree turn from the tracks prior was a brave choice from the duo. This soft guitar and vocal only piece has a steady rhythm with Laurie echoing Isaacs lyrics with a haunting pitch. The guitar riff is so simple and hypnotic, it’s the kind of riff that makes think one of a children’s television programme. My only complaint is that compared to the rest of the EP, this lacks the force previously and further heard, and in my opinion does not deserve to be the title track. A title track is meant to represent the entire piece of work and for me this track is too far removed from the other songs to do that, but again, maybe that was intentional.

And now we come to the end, the grand finale, and what a finish it is. When Will I Learn is so eerily beautiful and yet still has the catchiness to be sung along with. This is a song hugely different to anything Slaves has ever done before and yet is still unmistakably a Slaves track, thanks hugely to Isaacs vocals and lyrics. The production is also excellent and I don’t think the track would be as good as it is without the stellar producing. I can see many people, young and old shedding a tear to this.

The Velvet Ditch is so powerful, so uniquely contrasting that I urge all my readers to listen to it. It’s available on all major listening platforms and for to those who’ve never heard Slaves, this is the definitive jumping off point into your new obsession.

Peace, Love and Cowbells,

Oscar

I was watching one of my favourite youtubers today (Tomska) and he mentioned in the particular video I was watching that as much as he believed in gender equality, he did not describe himself as a feminist anymore because he could not handle the backlash that comes from using that label. The fact that a large portion of our society has decided that the term feminist is somehow a bad thing has really upset and angered me. As a proud feminist and believer in social justice I strongly believe in equal rights for all. Hell, I’ve even got Riot Grrl tattooed on my knuckles. So this throwaway phrase from Tomska has been on my mind for a few hours now and frankly I’m seething. I know some might say the people who are saying anti feminist things on the internet are just trolls trying to get a reaction, and that in modern society nearly all people believe in the western world believe in women’s rights. I’m afraid that’s just not the case. The right has been rearing it’s ugly head of late, and you can see it’s influence all over the net and in real life. It used to be that Nazis were considered the root of all evil, the evil that millions died fighting, and yet today we find them everywhere, from little, basement dwelling children calling anyone with a sense of respect for their fellow human an SJW liberal (which by the way, I am proud to call myself both SJW and liberal) to sieg heiling far right terrorists attacking mosques and waving swastikas. Even our leaders are leaning further and further right. Whether it be the Tories here or Trump over in the U.S. sexism is everywhere. It’s just awful. Also, the imbeciles who claim that they have the right to be discriminatory because of free speech can simply fuck off. Free speech is great and all, but not when it’s being abused to hurt others. You might say it’s just words but words have a huge impact on our society. Hateful words fuel hateful actions and people have, can and will die from it. Something needs to be done. I don’t know what, but we cannot stand for this kind of behaviour. All I can do as a blogger and musician is simply write and shout about it as much as I can to raise awareness. I encourage all of my friends and readers to vote responsibly, and even go as far as to email your local MP demanding they condemn any sexist, transphobic, homophobic or racist act, and to hold their fellow politicians accountable for their actions, such as a certain Tory bastard strangling a young female protester, or a particular president claiming he didn’t rape a woman because “she’s not his type”. These vile pieces of filth must be rooted out. They have no place in a civilised society.

Peace, Love and Cowbells,

Oscar

In just two minutes and seventeen seconds Kim Jarvis’s debut single Bloodsucker has more impact than songs two or three times the length. This catchy, upbeat, absolute banger of a tune is simple enough to be stuck in your head for days and yet possesses an intelligence and energy unheard in many bands both underground and mainstream today.

Kim Jarvis of Gaffa Tape Sandy fame is yet again proving what an excellent songwriter he is, and upon hearing his solo music you can clearly hear how his wonderfully upbeat garage style influences the Gaffa crew. The vocals hook you in, building in intensity throughout the song before the final emotional repeated cry of “I’m a Bloodsucker!” at the end of the track adds the final piece of the puzzle, ending the track powerfully and with a great sense of finality to it. The instrumental parts of the song hold up the vocals brilliantly, simple chords and drums support Kim’s singing with the controlled chaos of the lead guitar lines filling the space, adding noise and building a sense of frantic tension.

The video for Bloodsucker is also excellent, very DIY and authentic. From Kim casually lying back on the bed, playing his guitar and singing to the home video style shots of Kim and friends antics. The video and song combined create a warm, home made atmosphere to Kim’s debut leading to a wonderfully positive vibe.

A truly stand out track, I’ve had Bloodsucker on repeat since it came out a little over a week ago, I am desperately hoping it will be released on Spotify so I can add it to every single one of my many playlists, it’s just that good, but for now the song is available on Kim’s YouTube channel. Please support Kim’s work both in his solo career and with Gaffa Tape Sandy as they are both excellent and Kim is one of my favourite artists and a wonderful guy in general.

Peace, Love and Cowbells,

Oscar

Today marks the day of the greatest act of rebellion in the history of Britain. The sheer act of defiance has awed and brought hope to the people of Britain and even, the entire world. The fact that one legend could stand up to the height of tyranny, the very thought that one hero could do what the entirety of Britain could not. Today Larry the Downing Street cat stopped Donald Trumps armoured motorcade by simply sitting underneath Trumps limousine, named the Beast. But nay, the only beast here was a Larry, who has become an icon to the British populace.

Thousands of protesters from across the country today gathered in London in defence of our homeland against the great evil from afar. The British Empire, brought down from the largest force the world had ever seen, to become America’s bitch. Our Prime Minister and our Queen cowered before the behemoth. But not Larry. When our leaders failed us one cat rose up to fight for us, to lead us in glorious victory against the menace! He did not do it with force, or with devious scheming. He simply sat down in quiet and dignified subversive protest against the might of the most powerful puppet on planet earth.

Larry now joins the history of great British rebels, to be on the same level of legends like Guy Fawkes and Oscar Wilde, to leave the same impact on our society and culture not as a human being but as a mere house cat. Perhaps the Egyptians were right in their worship of what we can now clearly see, are higher life forms.

Adding to Larry’s brilliance today is the 30th anniversary of the Tianamen square protests, where an unknown Chinese man stood in front of, and was therefore crushed by an entire column of tanks. Did Larry know this? We shall never know, but if he did it is clear that our feline companions possess intellect beyond what we ever believed.

Praise be! Not to any tyrant God but to the silent action of one creature. The mighty Larry, he who is both cat and some might say, divine. Surely there is some religious significance to this event, while the worship of cats has died out in the modern world, perhaps we were wrong to dismiss these ancient traditions.

Not just the religious but the historical significance of Larry’s actions are hugely important, scholars across the world are marking this day, parents are starting to pass down the story of the lone wanderer who defied an entire security team and stopped a vehicle designed to be impervious to small arms fire and costing one and a half million US dollars. Staring in the face of Donald Trump and refusing to move, an act of resistance that will be remembered for all time. Children of the future will celebrate this day as the day where Britain stood as one, with Larry leading us against the great oppressor.

Speaking of the future, who knows what it may hold. The ramifications of Larry today has the potential to escalate and lead to a great conflict between our two nations, all it takes is for a certain orange cunt in a blonde toupee and shitty suit to take offence and next thing you know political relations worsen, Boris Johnson says the wrong thing like the idiot he is and then it could trigger the start of the Third World War. But for now we hail Larry as the hero he is, yet be wary, for the future is uncertain, and with complete mouth breathers for politicians on both sides of the Atlantic, all it takes is a press of a single button and boom! Humanity as we know it will cease to exist. Perhaps this is the last great victory of our species, the calm before the storm, the beginning of the end.

All hail Larry the Downing Street cat. A hero to us all. You will be remembered for all eternity. For Larry! For the Queen! For England!

Peace, Love and Cowbells,

Oscar

– Derby alt-rockers Verona take me back to being fifteen, at the height of my edgy phase. With influences like You Me At Six apparent in their sound, with a slight indie accent, Verona come out swinging with their debut single Breathe. Hypnotising, clean chords introduce the track, getting one hooked immediately. Shortly after, the distortion is stomped on for a further few loops of the simple yet catchy chord progression. The song quietens for the verse, and you can easily hear the indie influence with the dreamy guitar notes ringing out over the bass part. The chorus suddenly kicks in with a monstrous noise, contrasting the quiet verse beautifully. However it still remains catchy, thanks to the powerful vocals. Breathe continues in much the same fashion through the song until at two minutes and four seconds my favourite part of the song kicks in. A beautifully catchy and melodic lead guitar soars above the other instruments, so beautiful it’s no wonder it’s featured twice throughout this entire track. This bridge/ guitar solo hybrid has been stuck in my head since I saw Verona live two weeks ago at Dubrek Studios. I had such a good time that night both listening to and talking to the band that I decided to write this review. I’d definitely recommend going to see them if you can, and check out their music available on Spotify.

– Peace Love and Cowbells

– Oscar

Punk. Punk is many things. Punk is a music genre, a fashion style, an act of rebellion, a political statement. To me, and to many others, Punk is a lifestyle. One of my early hero’s Duff McKagan said in a video for Fender “punk rock is an ethic” and that is the truth if I’ve ever heard it. So when it comes to big companies using punk and other alternative subcultures to make money I’d imagine the majority of punks would be against such corruption of the thing that defines them. However I see two sides to this argument, and would like to present both in this short essay in order to promote discussion and debate. On one hand it’s very easy to see why punks would rebel against the many corporations out to ruin the meaning of punk. After all it’s what punks have done since the late 70’s when punk bands like the Ramones and Sex Pistols had their start in the clubs of America and Britain. It used to be that punks would be abused and ostracised daily just for being punk and now you can buy The Clash t- shirts in shopping centres all over the Western Hemisphere? “What deformity is this?” One might proclaim. Now I in no way am singing the praises of these giant money machines, these companies aren’t interested in the welfare of its customers. Like a hound bred for war, these corporate scumbags are only after one thing. Money. However I do see an upside, with punk being brought to the masses through punk fashion being sold in shops and the resurgence in the popularity of punk music in recent years it enables punk as both an art form and a code of ethics to reach a larger audience. The message of punk in my opinion is a positive one, calling for free speech, equality and saying “fuck you” to the governments who care so little about the common person. Any decent person can value these ideas, so surely it’s a good thing that more people are being exposed to such positivity. As cool as it is to be part of an unground movement, punk is for everyone and we should not be gate keepers. We should welcome our fellow punks with open arms. Whether it be a 18 year old protester in a leather jacket or a 46 year old mother of 3 from Cornwall. Even if you don’t look punk, or even if you don’t like the music, the message of punk can still be appreciated and it’s ethics still followed. Everyone has a punk inside them, it’s part of being human. To be “truly” punk, and follow its morals of inclusivity and equality, we must show our love for all. Idles have a fan group called the A.F. Gang and their example should be followed, never have I seen a more beautiful and positive community. Punk is a community, punk is a people. Punk is love.

Peace, Love and Cowbells,

Oscar

“Donald Trump will signal the re-birth of punk rock”. I’m not sure where I heard that but I do however remember when I heard it, the day Donald Trump got elected. That phrase stuck with me, and as the 2 and a bit years since Trump became president of America has shown, that fact has proven to be true. I remember being 17, going to see Slaves live for the very first time with my band mates around the time Trump was running. The support band (who’s name I never annoyingly found out, I’d like to credit them for their awesome gig, Slaves were hanging about with Spring King and Wonk Unit at the time so it may have been one of them but I’m not sure, anyone go to see slaves at the Cambridge corn exchange late 2016 and can tell me?) did a huge “Fuck Trump” chant which both the crowd and I loved. It was my first punk rock gig, and before this I wasn’t that into punk, but seeing Slaves changed everything for me. The energy, the style, the noise, it was perfectly describing my rage at the world but in an intelligent way. Slaves are now my favourite band along with Idles, yet another awesome band (AF gang love) who despite having been formed in 2012, they’ve only picked up steam in the past couple of years. These two are part of a small group of underground rock/punk bands that since 2016 have gained massive attention from fans and the media alike. That list goes on to include Fontaines DC, Heavy lungs, Estrons and many more. One of my personal favourites, Estrons are largely identified by a female lead singer who sings about feminist topics in true Riot Grrl fashion, and even legends like Bikini Kill are doing UK shows again (if you go on the 11th of June, and you see a skinhead 19 year old with Riot Grrl tatted on his knuckles, thats me come say hi!). So why all this attention around punk? Well in my opinion it’s simply punk being punk. Rebelling against the injustices of this world with angst filled lyrics, loud guitars, heavy bass and pounding drums is the cornerstone of punk and rock n’ roll as a whole. Where ever the right wing bastards rear their ugly heads, punk is there with a left response. Think of all the major events that have happened since 2016. Donald Trump, Brexit and terror attacks were all features of 2016 and were largely the reason everyone fucking hated that year. My Mum told me “when bad things happen, artists go to work”. This is a quote I live by, whenever shit goes wrong in my life, or there’s some asshole politician trying to do some dodgy shit, I go write a song or a blog post like this one. I know I’m not the only one who does this, and there’s proof! Everyone from comedians to musicians to artists have all made their voices heard in the past couple of years, rallying together in the face of adversity. Punk rock has been at the forefront of this fight, as it always has been in every fight it’s ever been in. Music is emotional, primal and deeply personal to us as humans, and we need to use that force of nature to combat the mega-corporations, politicians and the afore-mentioned right wing bastards. This fight will never end. But it’s our duty to keep fighting, not because there’s a chance that we will eventually defeat all the bigots and live happily ever after. We know that’s not happening. But because it’s the right thing to do.

Peace, Love and Cowbells,

Oscar

Coming straight out of the Cambridge rock scene with their debut album, Sunlight for Honey hit it out of the park with So Much for the Harmony of the Day. A brilliant combination of intelligent songwriting and in your face raw power. While it’s only March, So Much for the Harmony of the Day is my favourite album to come out this year.

First things first, a little history in the spirit of being transparent. This particular writer is biased in favour of Sunlight for Honey. Louis, James, Adam and Adam are old friends of mine and I’ve been to many of their gigs around Cambridgeshire. However, I’ve done my best to not let my friendship with them alter my opinions of this album. I can say as objectively as I can muster, that I genuinely love this album and consider it to be a contemporary masterpiece of its moment. What I can tell you from knowing the band is this: their live show is a performance spectacle of professionalism and individual character; the songs are heavy yet anxiously beautiful. I also have to give props to the nuanced theatrical stylistics of the performance in dress and action.

The opening track Pacified gives off an almost 90’s west coast grunge vibe, with a Lemonheads-like frequency, however, with its lower, lazy tempo yet higher functioning psychedelic sound, the track really gives off a hazy but purposeful atmosphere. The lyrics of Pacified talk about relationship dynamics being subdued and numb, adding to the tripped out effect.

One lyric in particular “I don’t like real life I like video games” is repeated, adding emphasis. This combination of lyrics about psychedelic numbness and wanting to play video games both project one word into my mind: escapism. Escapism through drugs; through technology. Why then are a group of young creatives from Cambridge singing about escapism? As I myself spent my teenage years living in Cambridge I think I can get a good idea of where they are coming from. My friends and I spent many hours indulging in the pursuit of the escape from the confines of 21st Century Western hemisphere banality and the post-trauma of institutionalised Tory education. Whether through video games, drugs, sex or music, this generation is constantly trying to get away from the ‘real’ world to a spectrum of other realness or hyper existence. It’s no wonder really, considering the downward spiral of libertarianism to rising right wing movements that the internet has made simultaneously more visible but yet also incomprehensible. Whether it’s famine and war, corruption, or social division, things perceived by emerging thinkers are at a state of despair. Sunlight for Honey absolutely illustrate this message home with this track. The chilled out drum beat with a snappy snare, bass drum and hi hat combo keeping everything in place is a stand out part of Pacified. It sets the pace perfectly, and despite how manic the guitar parts get, the drum beat keeps it chilled. The guitar parts are soaring and melodic, going from both slower, psychedelic grooves in the introduction, to a manic, crazy guitar solo in the latter half of the song. The bass locks in perfectly with the drums and plays a simple yet seductive groove, providing the background for the soaring guitar parts and raspy, psychedelic vocals. Purposely bipolar in its anachronistic elements, this is my favourite track from the album and I can totally see why they chose Pacified as the single to release ahead of the album. Relatable lyrics, steady grooves and psychedelic elements add up to an outstanding track of conceptually rhythmic insentience.

City Lights (Drowning) is the second track from the album which starts with a slow bluesy walking bass line and an almost B.B. King style lead guitar part which builds to a riff -heavy crescendo in the bridge. The minor key and slower tempo at the start of the track give a very forlorn feel, and that is emphasised in the lyrics. The low voice, and lyrics in City Lights (Drowning) talk about being unable to fly, meeting someone in the dirt and “drowning all the time”.

The blues influence is clear not just through the music but the lyrics are also very melancholic, which blues vocalists are famous for. This was pronounced especially during 1930’s blues hailing from post Reconstruction-era America when the civil rights movement was still in its infancy. Due to inequalities of race, many blues artists (the majority of which were black) would lament their problems through their music. While of course four white young men from Cambridge have multiple privileges by comparison, the style of the vocals and general woeful sound of the track does harken back to those oppressed blues artists, which is a cultural and chronological juxtaposition. The chorus relies on some heavy chords and haunting piano section to create a dark heavy sound, with the sustained lead guitar solo accent the chorus until it leads into the bridge. The bridge differs greatly from the rest of the track, changing tempo with a heavy riff and pounding drums whilst the vocalists, wildly scream their heads off like wailing echos in the background. I’ve seen this performed live and when this bridge kicks in, everyone goes wild with them and it’s clear why. Like a clarion call to a young, disaffected and petrified generation, this animalistic cry draws something primitive of its audience. The track ends by harkening back to the slower heavy chorus and the last few notes are played by that same haunting piano section. An excellent blending of styles on this track create a moody yet heavy sound I’ve not heard in many bands.

Daisy Blue blasts onto the album with a ridiculously heavy, screaming riff to introduce the track before switching to a slightly more relaxed but groovy riff for a verse. With an awesome heavy breakdown and ending on that same introductory screaming riff, Daisy Blue accomplishes a lot in just over three minutes. Undoubtedly the heaviest track on the album, the main riff definitely reminds the listener of Black Sabbath and/or Alice in Chains while the breakdown is akin to more modern metal, the raspy vocals, repeating the worlds “Cry on Daisy Blue” before switching to a lower vocal for the beginning of the verse, adding to the groove. All the riffs from the guitars on Daisy Blue are excellent, ranging from groovy to heavy as hell and the screaming leads are nothing to sniff at either. The drums match the riffs perfectly, equally as heavy and groovy as the guitars. I have to also acknowledge the badass bass solo in this track, even though it’s only a bar long, it ends the breakdown and leads back into the main riff with such enigmatic style. My second favourite track on the album, Daisy Blue really punches the listener in the face. Hard.

In conclusion, So Much for the Harmony of the Day is a highly recommendable album of acoustic angst, agitation and alienation. Its title alludes to the frustrations of our collective times. The tracks discussed are only my favourites. There are still six more tracks to dive into. So Much for the Harmony of the Day is available on most platforms, and I want to personally thank Sunlight for Honey for sending me a physical copy of this awesome record to review.

Peace, Love and Cowbells,

Oscar

Brexit, many things have been said on the matter, what can I say that the politicians, who know way more about the inner dealings of Brexit, haven’t? As it turns out, quite a lot. You see around the time of the referendum, when the tv was full of people screaming at eachother on the matter(although, not much has changed since then) I overheard and saw many arguments on the subject. However, often those arguments are extreme. So it’s no wonder why we saw an increase in hate crime, why in the town I lived in at the time a group of morons went round posting flyers through people’s doors telling immigrants to leave Britain! Its these far right fuckheads that concern me. We’ve seen a trend in the U.K. leaning further to the right, informed by Brexit and the terror attacks in recent years, America has also seen a spike in far right movements, and with our two countries being so intertwined and Donald Trump dominating the news, so it’s again no wonder why we’ve seen this far right movement crop up. There needs to be a strong response to this extremism and who else to give that response than the young people of the U.K.? After all it’s our future that’s going to be messed up if Brexit goes to shit. The EU provides so much for this country, trade, jobs, security and people want to throw this away because they don’t like immigrants? How many immigrants are cleaners, bus drivers, retail workers? These are things that this country desperately needs! Some might say that those jobs should be going to British people, but I say those jobs should go to whoever does that job best, country of origin be damned. How can people not see the ridiculousness of hating immigrants? What you’ll enjoy a good curry but you’ll threaten a Sri Lankan woman? Can no one see the madness in that? Being part of the EU is so important to this country and we will lose so much more than we gain if we leave. Just look how the pound dropped after we voted leave. I’m still holding out hope for a second referendum but honestly I doubt it’ll happen. I say it’s the job of every young person to do something about this, write to your local MP’s, rise up and try and correct this countries awful mistake. Because once we leave, they won’t take us back, and if it goes wrong, we are royally screwed.

Will be back to regular posts next week.

Peace, Love and Cowbells,

Oscar

Greetings! Welcome to the first post on my new blog. This is the centre for all things musical, with a focus on punk music and lifestyle. I plan for this to be a haven for the alternative people of the world. I will be discussing everything from music documentaries, legendary albums, subculture, the latest guitars and ultimately deciding if something does or does not, need more cowbell. Leave me a comment, lets get the discussion going!