Band – Prawn
Album – Ships
Label – Topshelf Records
My goodness it has been a long time since I last posted something. The main reason being that my wife and I both got completely hooked on the London Olympics, spending the first week obsessing about what was going on in the aquatics centre to then being totally consumed by what was happening in the Olympic stadium. With sudden interests in Tae-kwon-do, womens boxing and the awesome velodrome action this left little time for other things such as sleeping/washing/going outside/blog writing. Of course, this is all over now so things can start to return to normal and I can get on and write all things I had planned to write over the last few weeks, that is before the Paralympics starts and we get completely swept up again.
The first thing I want to write about is a record that blew me away on the first listen and has continued to blow me away with each subsequent listen. You may recall I wrote about Prawn playing in Folkestone a couple of months ago (if you didn’t, you can read it HERE), for reasons out of their control they only ended up playing 4 songs that night. But, despite the short set and the technical difficulties they were experiencing it was still an amazing show. I came away from the venue that night on such a high. Having included a new song into their short set it was obvious a new release was on it’s way and you can imagine my excitement when I recieved ‘Ships’, their new EP/mini album to review. And, my goodness, I was not disappointed.
Having been a massive fan of ‘emo’ since the late 90′s, it means the world to me that bands are making music like this again now. Having thought for years that it was a forgotten culture, a scene that belonged to the past that would never be repeated, it feels like a dream to be in the midst of it again. And with bands making records as good as ‘Ships’ by Prawn you could start to think that we’ve never had it so good. I made this comment to a friend on Twitter recently, that maybe the scene now is better than it ever has been, he countered with the point that maybe it was because of how much the past scene meant to us that it’s making it all the more sweet now. I think he’s probably right, with all the mid noughties suffering we endured we have emerged with incredible rewards for our patience.
I know I have digressed some what but it helps illustrate the point of how much this new record by Prawn means to me. The record starts with distant, faint and gentle guitar interspersed with muffled voices, it’s remeniscent of the start of Low Level Owl by Appleseed Cast. I have thought in the past with their last record that Appleseed Cast was an influence on Prawn’s sound but as soon as the first song, ‘Costa Rica’, kicks in properly those comparisons fade away. Instead you have a band who have made this sound their own. And the sound is glorious. The band sound huge, the guitars are clean but big and the energy and passion with which they play makes the record rock.
The second track, ‘Grass and Bones’ is an instant hit, the kind of song you could listen to 20 times in a row and still wanna hear it some more. The slightly off kilter timing to the intro, the sweet and twinkly verse and in to the stoccato guitar riff in the middle all come together to make an unforgetable song. It’s rare for a song to start off so well yet still get better with each part that follows. To top it off it has you singing, “Will you recognise me in 20 years?”, along with them at the end as well. Just when you think that this could be as good as it gets the next track has the hair on the back of your neck standing on end within the first few bars. ’Donald Domesky’ launches straight in with the most uplifting start to a song you’re likely to hear. As with the previous track as the song progresses it gets better and better. You start to realise that Prawn don’t have to rely on clever lyrics and catchy vocals to reel you in. Of course there is plenty of that on display too but they are also just as memorable and catchy when it’s just the band playing. Take the chorus section of this song, for example, when it kicks in it lifts the track and gets you dancing along. And the trumpet line at the end will be on constant rotation in your head for the rest of the day.
The next 2 tracks take on a more laid back direction whilst remaining beautifully brilliant. Each boasting much to savour whether it’s the effective lullaby-esque vocal line and lovely backing vocals on ‘Spring River’ or the chant along section of ‘Praxis’. Things are brought to a close with ‘Two Ships’, which rocks a little harder than the other songs with an epic, post-rock feel to parts of it. Again it’s another fantastic song that closes the record in the most perfect and sweet way.
I really can’t praise this record high enough. My only criticism is that it is only 6 songs long, for very selfish reasons I would love this to be a full length. But like seeing them live, they don’t need to go on for ages to convince me that they are one of the best bands around at the moment. Plus I guess it just means I can listen to it all the way through on a more regular basis.
Go and download or buy a physical copy now. Click HERE to go to the Topshelf records bandcamp page. You won’t regret it.
Thanks for reading, I won’t leave it as long to post the next piece, promise. x
The Is this thing on? Top 10 Records of 2012
What a year 2012 has turned out to be. So much so that this list has proved to be near impossible to write, choosing the 10 best records of the year and then listing them in order of bestest has given me a headache. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good headache and I ain’t complaining. Last year I posted a top 10 and so I thought i would continue with this. My best friend paul who writes the Wallernotweller blog made the sensible choice of listing 15 records but I’m not that wise. So, 10 it is. Meaning that some bloody good records have ended up missing out on this list. Bands like Suis La Lune, Converge, Joyce Manor, The Cribs, Sport, Ape Up! and Dads have all produced some quality work and have only missed out on my top 10 by the slightest of margins. Annabel too, whose album ‘Youth in youth’ is packed with greatness and if it had come out earlier in the year it might have taken one of the top ten places. These are all very worthy but they can’t all be winners so on with the list..
10. You Blew It! – Grow Up Dude
This is an album that just keeps on growing on me, I like it more every time I listen. The records perfectly understated production mixed with the heart and melody of the music make it hard not to love this album. The fact that bands are making music like this is the reason why I write this blog, if someone asks you if there really is a 90′s emo revival happening at the moment then play them ’Grow up dude’ and they will have their answer. I’m sure I saw someone mention on something or other that You Blew It! might be coming to the UK in 2013, this needs to happen. In the meantime I’ll just make do with falling in love with this album some more.
9. State Faults – Desolate Peaks
My first listen to ‘Desolate Peaks’ was my first experience of State Faults and by heck it was a good one. I love it when you put something on completely without assumptions and end up being blown away. The record is powerful yet touching. It perfectly fills the void left by Pianos Become the Teeth not releasing an album this year. But of course State Faults are a lot more than just a lazy comparison and they are by far the heaviest, screamiest band on my list this year. Earlier in the year they were kind enough to answer some of my questions, click HERE to have a read.
8. Dowsing – It’s still pretty terrible
This is a record that is full of charm and beautiful indie pop songs that warm the soul. I said in my review of this album a few months ago and I stick by it, this is the record The Get Up Kids were trying to make with ‘On a wire’ and failed. Dowsing however hit it spot on. Now I know for a fact that they are planning to tour the UK next year, this is one not to miss. These songs in a packed venue with a whole crowd singing along to every word is something I definitely wanna be a part of!!!
7. Basement – Colourmeinkindness
This is a record that appeals to the teenager in me, the spotty kid in the early 90′s with long greasy hair who was proud to called a ‘grunger’ by every chav in Thanet. There are so many grunge influences on this record that it’s hard to keep up, Basement mix in their straight up melodic hardcore and what you have is an album that’s screaming out to breakthrough. If it does it’ll be too late though as Basement are no more which is more than a damn shame. Great record!
6. Glocca Morra – Just Married
Glocca Morra are quite possibly my favourite band that I discovered this year. ‘just Married’ got a hefty few plays again and again this summer and listening to it now immediately reminds of that time. This is a perfect summer album because it’s just so much damn fun. If I was in to having house party’s and was wanting to get things happening then i would reach for this record, it would pretty much guarantee everyone a good time. Not only did Glocca Morra give us ‘Just Married’ this year, they followed it up with the equally amazing ‘An obscure moon lighting an obscure world’ EP. I hope they keep this momentum up and maybe next year they can claim my entire top ten!
It has come time to take a short break from this countdown and take a minute to remember the bands that we have lost this year. I mean, what awards show would be complete without a memorial montage and this Top 10 is no exception. So watch the video below and join me in some quiet reflection as we remember those that are gone.
5. Crash Of Rhinos – Distal
Now, I know what you’re thinking, technically this record didn’t come out this year. It was first released in April of 2011 but it was re-released this year by Big Scary Monsters and this record is too good to be left out on a technicality. Plus who are you to say I can’t have them in my top 10, you’re not my mum! (mum if you’re reading this put the laptop down and back away, they’re in and that’s final). Crash of rhinos are almost too good, beautifully brilliant songs that last forever yet never outstay their welcome. With incredible vocals that seem to come from every member of the band and more bass players than bands that only have one bass player in them. They are touring in January with Raein which has ‘tour of the year’ written all over it already!!!
4. Prawn – Ships
Shortly before getting this EP I went to see Prawn play live in Folkestone, the show was beset with technical problems so much so that they ended up only being able to play 4 songs. At the time I wasn’t bothered because I’d had a great night and Prawn were still fantastic. But after getting ‘Ships’ a few weeks later I was gutted that they couldn’t play all night. The songs that make up ‘Ships’ are so incredible that hearing them live would surely constitute one of the best gigs you’re likely to ever attend. Perfect emo like a poppier Appleseed Cast, love it!!
3. Title Fight – Floral Green
Title Fight keep going from strength to strength and ‘Floral Green’ is their best record to date. Only a year after releasing their first studio album ‘Shed’ they released a record that was not only brilliant but also showed they had made great leaps forward in terms of sound and maturity. The dreamy, shoegaze magic of ‘Head in the ceiling fan’ showed a new side to Title Fight and ‘Secret Society’ proved that Title Fight can write catchy, instantly likeable grunge songs as well as anyone. Another essential record.
2. Dikembe – Broad Shoulders
Dikembe are one of the best bands you’re ever likely to hear, following up the massive potential shown on last years ep ‘Chicago Bowls’ with a near perfect record of beautiful, mid paced emo. My heart melts at the first sound of Steven Gray’s voice and the guitar sound they have only heightens this sensation. I can see this album/band coming to define this current wave of emo tagged music, in a few years we’ll be looking back at it with the same fondness that we look back at, for example, ’30 degrees everywhere’ by the Promise Ring it’s that good. In any normal year it would easily win my album of the year top spot and they were only very narrowly beaten this year by…….
1. Joie De Vivre – We’re all better than this
This years first prize just has to go to Joie De Vivre with ‘We’re all better than this’ an album which I’ve very rarely not been listening to since it came out in the summer. Having split up it is unfathomable that this record could never have been made and I am so grateful that they gave it another shot. Seeing them play this summer in Brighton is one of the best shows I’ve ever been to, a brilliantly uplifting experience. Which is like what you get every time your hear ‘We’re all better than this’. An album that both boasts the best use of trumpets all year and the amazingly lovely backing vocals from Lindsay Minton (Football, etc) cannot fail to impress. A beautiful, beautiful record, well done, FIRST PRIZE!!!
Well, there you go. 2013 is already shaping up to be another incredible year that is promising new albums from Tigers Jaw, Football etc, Daylight, The Reptilian, Appleseed Cast, Jimmy Eat World and many more. I literally cannot wait. In the meantime thanks for reading and have yourself a very merry christmas xx
I’ve made an Is this thing on? best of 2012 playlist on Spotify if that’s your kind of thing, click the link below x
Is This thing on? best of 2012