The Bee Gees on diazepam? Formed at Paul McCartney’s performing arts school, LIPA, this self-proclamation from Liverpool (via Norway/Ireland/Brazil) trio All We Are is a bit of a head scratcher if one only ever heard the barn burning single “Keep Me Alive”. Upon listening to the whole of the album, Stone (Domino Recordings), the description begins to make a little more sense, if only sporadically. Shall we??

Clearly not indicative of the whole of the album, “Keep Me Alive” is by far the standout, its dreamy guitar hooks and Guro Gikling’s haunting vocals (think Cortney Tidwell) make the LP worth its salt for sure. Sprinkled among the ethereal guitar twinklings and charming falsetto-infused harmonies is a mix of soul, XXish basslines (“Feel Safe”) and, if you can believe it, disco head­-nodders (“I Wear You”). Cue the Bee Gees. For a listener it’s a bit exhausting…but pleasantly so.

As an album it is all over the place stylistically. To be perfectly honest, I had my fingers crossed and locked in hopes that the penultimate track “Something About You” would round things out and be a gazey, reworked Level 42 cover. Dreamy, yes, but also a lovely original (cue sad, 11 year-­old Abby, circa 1984). Are they finding their voice with this debut? Perhaps. Think it just might be a matter of having too much talent in their musical pockets. Nothing wrong with that.

Nothing at all.

Stone is available in shops now. Catch All We Are live in the UK and Europe starting 5 February.

Happy Monday.

Here we are on the fledgling wings of yet another year, thousands of bands vying for our attention in a sea of Soundcloud links, drop dates and nervously planned record release gigs. On days like this I’m glad to be a lowly consumer rather than an actual musician. While it makes me sound lazy (and talentless), I much prefer snuggling on the sofa with a cup of coffee and listening rather than wrangling up band members’ calendars and figuring out who is available on what date at X venue in X city. What a headache. Cast solely as the role of Listener, I have none of the drama I hear and see occurring regularly among some of my musician friends (and strangers alike). I can pick and choose the little nuggets of lovely I listen to rather than say, having to sit through a long­winded Skype yarn from my drummer who has to go to his kid’s 1st grade Noah’s Ark performance instead of playing a gig that’s been planned for ages. Because, you see, Abby’s Imaginary Band is made up of oldsters, like me, with decent taste, day jobs and offspring:

“HE’S THE MALE OSTRICH. I CAN’T MISS IT.”

What a fucking pain. Right. Happy New Year. Moving on.

I must admit that while I scour the internet, shops and magazines for new music, radio has proven itself an integral part in opening my ears to tunes I otherwise would have missed. Take new-­to-­me favorites Crushed Beaks and their airwave­-friendly single ‘Overgrown’.

A few choice senders have been playing the grooves out of it, and for good reason. Hailing from SE London, Crushed Beaks have been tickling ears with several EPs since 2011. 2015, however, will play host to their full-­length debut, Scatter. Armed with a mutual love of horror flicks, Alex Morris, Matthew Poile and newest recruit Scott Bowley present smart, hook-­filled pop with just enough fuzz and grit to tempt the ears of staunch shoegazers and indiepop kids alike (hi).

Fear not, my chickadees. On February 9, you can have your own physical copy to dance/swoon/sip coffee to courtesy of their own label, Matilda Records. If you are lucky enough to find yourself in London on the same day, pop by Sebright Arms for the album launch party. Tickets are limited so get on it. In the meantime, you can find me sitting quietly in my Wohnzimmer, listening, fingers crossed for a Berlin gig in the near future. Let me know, fellas. I’ll be on my sofa.

Remember: buy local, wherever you are. Happy weekend.

(It’s worth mentioning that I spent the better part of two weeks lying awake at night, wracking my melon in an attempt to pinpoint whose voice Poile’s reminds me of. Yesterday I got it. In the higher registers there are quite a few Richard Butler moments. In my head, anyway. It’s not a bad thing. There are worse voices to be compared to, most certainly. Snore.)

It’ll be Friday night soon. What will you be doing at midnight? I hope you the feel the same way as Tor Miller.

(PS: Miller is only 20 years old.)

Bonus:

Preorder the Headlights EP

These folks may be popular, but it’s the first I’m hearing of them, and damn am I smitten. Margret Ran Magnusdóttir, an openly gay singer, fronts the Icelandic Vök trio, and I only mention that because she’s made a point of sharing how her story, from an Icelandic perspective, has influenced her music. Regardless of what’s influenced her music, it’s a gorgeous and chilling slice of dream pop with an array of instrumentation, including an unexpected jazz twist.

Vök is set to release an upcoming EP, Tension, so be on the lookout.

When I first started listening to “indie” music, so to speak, it was the likes of The American Analog Set and Pinback. Laid-back, understated pop with a certain twang that uniquely defined to whom the music belonged. I’ve been missing that lately, but luckily for me The Things of Youth have come along to fill that void and make me nostalgic for the days that used to be.

Have a listen to a couple of bonus tracks on YouTube.

Monophona, you’ve impressed me. “Thumb” sticks out like a sore one in the best way possible – it’s madly unique with acoustic instrumentation, sampled backgrounds, and dark/edgy atmospherics. All in all, it adds up to an odd assortment of beautiful sounds and a track that I’m finding tricky to get out of my head.

Monophona is releasing their second LP, BlackonBlack, at the end of the month.

Sometimes it’s hard to know where you want to be. Or who you are. Are you content or are you looking for something more? Can you ever really be content? When do we get to that moment in life where we confidently say “I am fulfilled. This is me.”?  I don’t know the answers. But I’m learning the journey.

There Is Nothing To Fear is due April 20.

As usual, we asked Knox Road writers to provide their Top Albums of 2014. We’re excited to provide you with the results just in time for the new year! We’ve got some great lists and even better blurbs. Have a happy new year.

*               *               *

Adam

In 2013, albums from Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, Kanye West, Chance The Rapper and Haim topped a ton of year-end lists. Albums not just filled with ambition, but also with an abundance of hooks. In 2014, the most critically acclaimed records are very different, coming from artists like FKA Twigs, Aphex Twin, Caribou, and Grouper. After giving each of them a try, I’ve had one consistent thought: “What am I missing?” I get it—they’re technically impressive, with unique and futuristic sounds. But to me, so many of these albums are emotionally cold. My #1 album of the year is the very opposite. Beatenberg’s music is driven by a relentless warmth: A lead singer with personal, delicate emotion; guitars with the sunny, positive spirit of Graceland; rhythms representing Afro-pop at its finest. The band comes from South Africa, and while they’ve yet to gain popularity in the states, it takes just one listen of The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg to know that these guys can be the next big thing. Some tracks are slow and melancholy, others are upbeat and funny—all of them share a remarkable emotional intelligence, and a knack for beautiful melodies. It’s not on Spotify yet, but it’s worth dusting off an old iTunes gift card for this one.

1. Beatenberg – The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
2. The New Pornographers – Brill Bruisers
3. The Griswolds – Be Impressive
4. Weezer – Everything Will Be Alright In The End
5. Fanfarlo – Let’s Go Extinct
6. Future Islands – Singles
7. Bleachers – Bleachers
8. Allo Darlin – We Come From The Same Place
9. La Roux – Trouble In Paradise
10. Real Estate – Atlas

Honorable Mentions: Beck, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, TV On The Radio, Frankie Cosmos, Run The Jewels, Tune Yards, The War On Drugs, Jon Bellion, alt-J

Abby

2014. While it was a hectic year mostly spent getting my ass settled in a new city, I still managed to scoop up at least 10 new LPs worth their salt. My picks represent both dazzling newbies and the seasoned veterans who I can (mostly) count on as far as new releases are concerned. The stand-outs of the stand-outs, however, are both new to me this year and have remained dead even as far as spins in Abbytown are concerned. Tied at number one I give you Canada’s Alvvays and Philadelphia’s Literature, both of which tickled my jingle­jangle, indiepop roots from the get­go. All the rest can fall wherever the wind blows them into slots 3-­10. Happy holidays. Buy physical music, people…and don’t forget to tip your bartender.

Alvvays, Alvvays (Polyvinyl)*

Literature, Chorus (Slumberland)

East India Youth, Total Strife Forever (Stolen)*

Mogwai, Rave Tapes (Rock Action)*

Sun Kil Moon, Benji (Caldo Verde)

Mac Demarco, Salad Days (Captured Tracks)*

Horsebeach, Horsebeach (Alone Together)

The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Revelation (A)

Perfume Genius, Too Bright (Matador)*

Caribou, Our Love (City Slang/Merge)

BONUS!! Favorite 7” release of 2014:

PERU, “Sent To Saltcoats” / “Time On The Clock” (Archdeacon of Pop)*

*Seen live in 2014 and highly recommended to all. Cheers!

Bari

x — los angeles [1980]
this summer, i spent two and a half months in hawaii; and while everything was the dreamy, sun-drenched, mai-tai calm one would expect, i was anxious to get back to the urban grittiness of philadelphia. within a week of being home, stomping cigarette butts out on the street, i went to see X play the grungiest venue in the city of brotherly love — the trocadero. it was honestly one of the best shows of my life, replete with moshing and elbows and too many bodily fluids. i was concerned about the vocal survival of exene cervenka, given a life of [seemingly] hard living, but all was as much perfect chaos and discord as one could hope.

diarrhea planet — i’m rich beyond your wildest dreams [2013]
when i was 22 and living in colorado, i [don’t judge me] kind of hated siouxsie and the banshees for a while, simply because of the way she spelled her name… i know, i know. it just seemed to me, in my infinite wisdom, that she was reaching too hard for something. two shots of whiskey and a jukebox later, i was hooked, and thank god for that. i regret to inform you of another — less drastic, but still — experience regarding completely foolhardy decision making. that is diarrhea planet. i even went to their show and wasn’t particularly impressed. fast forward a few months to the serendipitous marriage of skydiving in tennessee and the song “separations”, and the rest is history. “togano”, “hammer of the gods”, “lite dream” all became staples in my music queue, fueling long drives to coachella and toronto.

the orwells — disgraceland [2014]
a few days before the orwells’s show, i ended up getting the best black eye of my life. and let me tell you, there’s nothing quite like being in the pit during “the righteous one” while sporting an amazing shiner. this album is the audial version of winston churchill’s famous quote, “if you’re going through hell, keep going.” when i feel i’m losing my nerve — or my edge — i crank this up and get some tuff back in my step.

kings of leon — aha shake heartbreak [2004]
finally, the last and arguably most important album of this last year; the oldie, aha shake heartbreak. when i was 19 — living in california, fresh off a broken engagement, finding my feet — this album made me feel happy in ways i hadn’t felt happy for a while. a few weeks ago — visiting california, fresh off a broken relationship, finding my feet — i found this album again. i was driving to LAX to catch my flight back to philadelphia, and “the bucket” came on. it all seemed so perfect, and i find this album saving me all over again. it’s a reminder that i’ve experience heartbreak before, and i’m older and wiser and better now. that even this heartbreak is easier in some ways. that — even when you don’t think you are — you’re constantly building your foundation, and you’re stronger than you think.

[ed. note: refer to the first “and bravely, i.” soundscape for context]

photo: andreia

song: brother courage – “growing old”

“i imagine yes is the only living thing.” — ee cummings

there is one still point in a turning world. one piece of clarity for each moment. one bright star, winking at you, before closing its sleepy eyes and going dark and quiet. the world is big, but our kingdom small.

i think about our moments, strung together like the christmas tree lights of rockefeller center, and i don’t know how to disconnect from them. that now, they are buzzing and humming along inside of my body, threatening to float out of my mouth every time i open it to speak or yawn or smoke a cigarette; like lightening bugs in a glass mason jar. and i feel too full of them, and i feel like there are too many in there to possibly allow for any more new moments to come in. and i know that with each new moment i allow in now, i am threatening to trample the old moments. our moments. i want to preserve them, but i so desperately wish to keep them separate; to keep them neatly, organized by dewey decimal system, so i can take them out gingerly and examine them — one by one — when i want to. not this rushing that i feel now. not this tangle of chords and wires that have no beginning or end.

i want to keep them because they are a part of me now. intrinsically. they oxygenate my bloodstream along with my memories of the duck pond when i was four, and looking up at the moon when i was three, and driving from california to nashville when i was a too-old 18.

and i want to keep them because losing them, somehow, would be more painful than not ever having had them.

they are within, and you are there, and i am here, and sometimes there is too much everywhere.

but yes to the everywhere. yes to the everything. yes to the overwhelming pressure of a new atmosphere.

yes to this new, unexplored world of mine. a world of indian summers and barefoot adventures and too little sleep and too long drives. and yes to new memories joining the old. and yes to the small pulp of my life.

and i know it’s foolish to believe in a world like this; a world outside my small kingdom.

and i know it’s foolish to believe in a world like this; a world all my own.

but yes.

photo by bari sowa | more

Hundreds new video for “Ten Headed Beast” is colorful and beautifully imagined, but the main reason why I’m posting it here is because I can’t stop listening to the song itself.

“Ten Headed Beast” is off the album Aftermath.