Melbourne's Cat Cat really did themselves a disservice bringing out their debut LP Uralba in the last moments of 2011, for it got lost in the tide of best of lists and premonitions of 2012. Truth be told, this lo-fi threesome have created a excellent album of languid guitar pop gems that it makes me think that this is what Real Estate should sound like. Its sunny and sexy in the right parts, introspective in the right parts, trebly all the way through. Sure, there are many bands in this corner of the world over the past forty years that have delved into these waters, but Uralba is a great release all round.
All the way back in January 2010, just before Sonic Masala threw down its first entry into the blue yonder, I went to a show in London at The Lexington. The headliner - Real Estate. As many people may know by now, I found that set so fucking boring that I refused to watch it all, walked downstairs to drink whisky on my own. Support #1 - Yuck. Before the self-titled album and shedloads of acclaim. Again, I thought they were boring. Support #2 - Colours. Now THESE guys push my buttons in the right way. They nailed the 90s slacker/80s Pixies amalgam that night, something that Yuck would warm to in later months and Real Estate - well, they are Real Estate, they do what they do, perfect for a mid afternoon snooze.
Since then they have put a track out through Art Is Hard Records, but I kinda lost touch with what they were up to. Then a little while ago they founded Marshall Teller Records and put out a four way split that included Gross Magic and Echo Lake that was pretty sweet (sorry that i didn't post about that guys!! It was worthy though). They have also had a hand in bring to our ears the fairly great Total Slacker (who we do really like, and their 'Psychic Mesa' track made out hot singles of last year), Warm Brains, Weird Dreams and Dignan Porch.
Recorded by Warm Brains' Rory Attwell, Colours have a new 7" out. Its fucking sweet! Even sweeter is the launch at the Shacklewell Arms on March 2nd alongside SM faves Sex Beet as well as Dignan Porch and Yrrs.
Jack Tatum rode a tsunami wave of adulation on the back of his Gemini album of 2010 under the moniker Wild Nothing, and his underground king status is bound to escalate into something otherworldly with the release of his sophomore album later this year. In the meantime, Captured Tracks are releasing Wild Nothing's new 7", Nowhere, on Feb 21st. Check out the single below, which features vocals also from Andrea Estella of Twin Sister. There is something distinctly 80s sounding in the alt-rock college radio sense, yet with a more polished sound due to this being the first time that Wild Nothing has ventured into a real live studio. I personally think it sounds amazing, possibly the best track he has laid down to date - the production really suits him. Nothing feels fabricated here - this could be the sound of Real Estate if they weren't so fucking boring.
Pre-order the album here, where you might be lucky to get 1 of 500 limited white vinyl editions of the 7".
2011 has been a Yucky year. The quintet from London have really come into their own, dominating most festival stages, being at the pinnacle of the hip as fuck blogosphere intelligentsia, and raping the slacker rock songbook writ large.
As you can see from the above, I don't have the biggest love.
It stems from the only time I have seen them play, as a support for another massive band that I don't "get", Real Estate, back in January last year. Real Estate I found to be incredibly boring - I spent most of their set standing at the downstairs bar at the Lexington drinking Jagerbombs and talking shit to my sister and some other person to this day I cannot remember. Yuck and Colours supported, and whilst both acts exploited the Pavement MO, it was actually Colours who came away with the most points in my opinion that night.
Yet the release of Yuck has gone gangbusters for the Londoners, and although im happy for them, I haven't really given them the time of day (except for Mogwai's ace remix of 'Rubber'...). It seemed that they filled out the right questionnaire or application form, for, like Colours, there seemed to be many bands mining the 90s penchant for noodling guitars and haphazard pop hooks yet they remained on the periphery, whilst Yuck conquered the US and jammed with Jools.
Now Fat Possum is re-releasing Yuck as a double LP stacked with B-sdies and rarities. The editor at Time Off magazine in Brisbane implored me to listen, to be more forgiving (as he has seen millions of bands on many different continents, it kills him to know that he hasn't seen Yuck, an employee has, and said employee slags off his favourite new band on regular intervals).
TRACKLISTING
Get Away The Wall Shook Down Holing Out Suicide Policeman Georgia Suck Stutter Operation Sunday Rose Gives a Lily Rubber Milkshake (previously available on limited vinyl only, streamed digitally) The Base of a Dream is Empty (vinyl and digital B-Side to Rubber) Cousin Corona (iTunes bonus) Soothe Me (brand new) Coconut Bible (B-side to Holing Out) Doctors In My Bed (vinyl B-side to Get Away, only streamed digitally)
So I have. And it's...pretty good. Im not changing my tune too much - I really don't get hooked on these tracks at all enough to spin the record on frequent occasions - but it's ok. Right place, right time perhaps? 2012 will tell...
Below are two of those "new" cuts. Believe me, there is substance here. 'Soothe Me' has seen a lot of press due to the blatant Kevin Shields stealing, but who doesn't in this day and age? It is also a sound that is stolen precisely because its a style that can go with almost any other genre, and its cool as fuck. And it probably isnt their fault that they have been lauded so hard. AND, as seen by my intermittent Real Estate posts, I will give bands a second chance if it's deemed warranted. And on the strength of these two tracks alone, I may still be bemused at the level of hype and adulation, but it has me soothing the previously held rage. These kids seem ok. Bring on LP #2.
Before the band retreat into the studio however, they are slamming the UK in one final jaunt - although the London show is already sold out (again, THAT confuses me...)
UPCOMING LIVE DATES
November 14 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham 15 – Academy 3, Manchester 16 – Leadmill, Sheffield 18 – Academy 2, Newcastle 19 – Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh 20 – King Tuts, Glasgow 21 – 53 Degrees, Preston 22 – Wedgwood Rooms, Portsmouth 23 – Waterfront, Norwich 24 – Electric Ballroom, London 26 – The Button Factory, Dublin 27 – Speakeasy Bar, Belfast
I have to say that I've wavered on Ducktails - Real Estate guitarist Matt Mondanile's side project - almost as much as I have on my opinion of his "day job". Nevertheless, his Hamilton Road EP really impressed, in no small part due to the appearance of Panda Bear on the track 'Killin' The Vibe'. Now there is a fantastic video out for the title track, and Mondanile's guitar-driven expositions and wistful meanderings are growing on me in an A/V environment. What with Real Estate's 'It's Real' killing it, these New Jersey sun-dazed slackers might just win me over yet...And look at that above photo! Bromance looming...
