The Matinee '18 May 4th

The Matinee ’18 May 4th is ready for you and may the 4th be with you! We have a nice mix of tracks today to surely get your pulse going on this lovely Friday to kick off your weekend. We have artists representing Greece, The US, and The UK today.

TT – “The Dream” (Los Angeles, USA)

RIYL: Warpaint, Portishead, London Grammar, Massive Attack

In March, Warpaint’s Theresa Becker Wayman released her debut single, “Love Leaks” under the moniker TT. To say it was an unexpected yet pleasant surprise. It was nothing like Warpaint’s work, but rather it dripped with the dramatic electricity of London Grammar, Massive Attack, Portishead. While some artists may just hint at change in one song, it seems she’s going full-bore transformation as a solo artist, as evidenced with “The Dream”.

This track is another stirring piece of electronic cinema, and Wayman once again delves deep into the canons of the aforementioned great UK electronica greats. The production work is stark and minimalist, but it’s daring and darkly enchanting. The hollow piano cords add to the mystery while the jazzy rhythms provide the tantalizing groove. Wayman’s dissonant vocals are suspenseful yet alluring, and her lyrics are equally spellbinding. Is this really a dream we’re experiencing or could this actually be a faithful encounter between two strangers? Decide for yourself what the song means, but one thing is obvious – Wayman is one incredible artist.

TT’s debut album, LoveLaws, features Warpaint bandmates Jenny Lee Lindberg, Emily Kokal, and Stella Mozgawa. It is due May 18th via her own label LoveLeaks and Caroline International. Pre-orders are available from these links.

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Black Honey – “Bad Friends” (Brighton, England)

RIYL: The Kills, Warpaint

Anyone who has followed us knows we are huge fans of Izzy B Phillips, Chris Ostler, Tommy Taylor, and Tom Dewhurs who together form Black Honey. Over the past 8 to 10 months, the rest of the world has started to recognize the quartet as one of England’s great bands. For their latest tune, however, they turn over a new page and share a surprise. Their fiery indie-rock approach has been momentarily set aside for an electro-rock approach, but the excellence remains on “Bad Friends”.

Whereas many of their previous songs were overt bangers, “Bad Friends” is a more methodical, propulsive track. It’s heavier in its tone and even a touch foreboding. The dissonant guitar and the stark bass line, which is fantastic, create the haunting landscape while Phillips’ chilling vocals and gripping lyrics paint the environment. Her words are one part introspective, as she discusses the deep desires that burn inside us. On the other hand, she encounters those so-called “friends” who manipulate us and attempt to take advantage of our subconscious. And those friends are often us. No wonder we adore this band – never ones to stay stagnant and constantly challenging our notions of self.

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CHICKN – “Elevational Love of Frank Zappa” (Athens, Greece)

RIYL: Frank Zappa, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Team Picture

Get ready to lose your mind and be prepared to have every single body part flailing in all directions. This is because Greek psychedelic, heavy proggers CHICKN unleash a riot with their new single, “Elevational Love of Frank Zappa”. Riot actually might be an understatement.

Imagine Frank Zappa teaming up with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and that’s sort of what you get with this crazy tune. It’s 212 seconds of unhinged, delirious zaniness. From the rocking guitars, the pounding rhythms, the trippy vocals, and the booming horns – yes there are horns! – the song will have you losing your mind, but in a good way. But instead of trying to describe this multi-faceted piece of chaotic brilliance, just hit play and experience it. Free your mind and let this Greek quartet release your inner Zappa.

CHICKN’s sophomore album, Wowsers!, is out next Friday, May 11th via Inner Ear Records. The band is comprised of Angelos Krallis (vocals/synth/guitar), Pantelis Karasevdas (drums/percussion), Mark Brown (bass), and Chrs Bkrs (keys).

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Con Brio – “Heart Shaped Box” (San Francisco, USA)

RIYL: Con Brio x Nirvana

It’s been a while since we’ve actually shared a cover song, but sometimes one just comes along that you can’t help but say is a must listen.

San Francisco funk/R&B/soul experts Con Brio have totally just flipped around Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box”. They have turned the Nirvana classic into a sexy gem with front man Ziek McCarter’s amazing falsetto, that killer bassline and adding in those horns. Surprisingly the new twist on the grunge classic totally works. .We can only imagine this track would probably be pretty amazing in a live setting.

Singer Ziek McCarter says choosing a Nirvana song was a no-brainer. The band had been experimenting with grunge for while, incorporating Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” into their live shows, and loved the feeling of working with something out of their usual soul-funk-R&B wheelhouse.

Ziek shares: “We were reflecting on how many musicians we’d lost from that era, this scene that inspired so many of us, and we wanted to honor them.”

“Heart Shaped Box” Is the first single from the band’s upcoming album, Explorer, which will be out July 6.

Con Brio are Ziek McCarter (vocals), Brendan Liu (trumpet), Marcus Stephens (tenor saxophone), Benjamin Andrews (guitar), Patrick Glynn (keys), Jonathan Kirchner (bass), and Andrew Laubacher (drums).

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Drahla – “Fictional Decision” (Leeds, England)

RIYL: Wolf Alice, Sonic Youth, Eagulls

After sharing their trembling brand of post-punk within the Leeds music scene for more than 18 months, Drahla have signed with Captured Tracks. We’re excited to see what this pairing will do in the coming weeks and months, but Drahla’s first single with the great indie label has us immensely excited.

“Fictional Decision” is the song, and it is awesome. It’s reminiscent of Wolf Alice at their heavy, punk-ish best or a young Sonic Youth firing away socially-charged lyrics like they were ammunition targeting our oppressors. The dense, dark, and edgy post-punk approach is bone-jarring and hypnotic while front woman Luciel Brown’s lush voice is the sound that emanates from the corners of our subconscious and tells us what to do and not to do. In this case, she cites sections of the Bible, and how this religious doctrine has governed so many lives and at the same time destroyed so many or put “a wall between us”. Somewhere, Thurston Moore is smiling.

Drahla are Rob Riggs, Luciel Brown, and Mike Ainsley. Their debut album should arrive later this year or early next year (we’re hoping anyway).

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GRDNS – “Roulette Love Gun” (Bradford, England)

RIYL: Childhood, Palma Violets, The Slow Readers Club

GRDNS have just released a new track titled “Roulette Love Gun”. If you can’t listen to the GO track, it’s available on Spotify here.

Their newest track is a hazy reverb-laden masterpiece. It flows perfectly with soaring guitar lines interwoven with Jacob Lyons’ atmospheric vocals. It’s the perfect track to jam while taking a nice road trip or staying in for a relaxing weekend.

GRNS are touring supporting with the likes of Genghar, Marsicans and have just secured upcoming slots at the Live At Leeds festival as well as the Gold Sounds Festival. With their continued exposure there is no doubt their fanbase will continue to grow.

“Roulette Love Gun” is the third single from their forthcoming EP out this summer via Dance To The Radio.

GRDNS is Jacob Lyons (vocals/guitar), Sam Gledhill (guitar), Cameron Harrison (bass) and John Fitzpatrick (drums)

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Maribou State – “Turnmills” (London, England)

RIYL: Matthew Dear, Burial, ODESZA

Oh yeah! Chris Davids and Liam Ivory – a.k.a. Maribou State – are back! They’ve intermittently released songs and covers, as they’ve been spending their days DJ’ing in Ibiza. The London duo, however, are at their best when they’re creating original, cinematic sounds that floor listeners. Creating music that doesn’t resort to predictable drops, beats, and tricks, but instead intoxicate us with soundscapes that transcend time and space. They’ve done this yet again with “Turnmills”.

This is music made for losing yourself in, whether on the dance floor of the most exclusive night clubs or in your bedroom while imagining the exotic places you’ll visit next. The song is simultaneously lush and enchanting yet exhilarating and ravishing. It is like the convergence of day and night, where beauty is seen both in the flashes of color and the depths of the darkness. There aren’t many, if any, electronic duos crafting such gorgeous art.

“Turnmills” is out now via Counter Records. Let’s hope a new album is around the corner.

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The Old Pink House – “Jaded” (Newcastle, England)

RIYL: Marsicans, Paris Youth Foundation, PLAZA

“Jaded” is the newest track from The Old Pink House. Their newest track is super addicting and catchy with a definitely 80s vibe. The glorious harmonies are super infectious and really force you to move. We also don’t want to downplay the sleek guitar, either so it’s definitely indie pop at it’s finest.

Frontman Christopher Brown shares: “Jaded is about how things we go through wear us down. I’m naturally a pessimistic person and the lyrics are shot through with that sense of cynicism, but at the same time I’m always trying to peel away at it as it traps us in a vicious cycle where we become more and more numb to everything around us. With the way everything in the world is going now, it’s the last thing anyone needs.”

“Jaded” is the second offering from the bands forthcoming debut EP.

The Old Pink House are Max Middleton, Harry Smith, James Grant and Christopher Brown.

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Valley Queen – “Supergiant” (Los Angeles, USA)

RIYL: Waxahatchee, Big Thief, Courtney Barnett

Sheepishly, we only discovered Valley Queen this year after they released the face-melting “Chasing the Muse”. Hearing them for the first time made us question how we didn’t learn about their indie-rock brilliance earlier because the quartet of Natalie Carol (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Neil Wogensen (bass/vocals), Shawn Morones (guitar/vocals), and Gerry Doot (drums) have been plying their trade since 2014. So we’re a little late to the party, but the fireworks are just about to begin. Specifically, a little after the Fourth of July – specifically July 13th – the band will release their debut album, Supergiant, via Roll Call Records. Yesterday, they released the LP’s second single and its title track.

“Supergiant” is an example of indie-rock perfection. It’s that rare song that from the first to the 100th spin sounds absolutely divine. There isn’t a single thing you would change because the gritty vibe and grizzled guitars are awesome delivered, the rhythms pound just hard enough that you can feel it in your chest, and the vocals take you to another place. Natalie Carol’s siren-like voice rattles your bones and penetrates deep into your core, and they never leave you for a second. Her words, too, are empowering, as she states we all can be a supergiant. This is the kind of message we so desperately need to hear today. Valley Queen are a band that we so desperately need to hear and to be a part of our lives today.

Pre-orders of Supergiant are available here. Valley Queen will be back on tour this summer, which includes stops at Pickathon and Winnipeg Folk Festival. Dates and information are here.

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