What We've Been Listening To - Opus Kink, Luna Rosa, Gag Salon, Porchlight, Life, Pigeonhole, Moreish Idols, Gawjuss, Hallan

By Jon Milton

Last month (on a whim) I paid a visit to Bedford Esquires for their ‘Ceremony 2’ all-dayer, principally to check out Keg and Hallan. Both of these were excellent on the day, but another couple of performers really stood out, Low Hummer and Opus Kink. I had the added bonus of seeing the latter again five days later as they opened for Feet, and I would recommend anyone reading this to check them out when they play next, as their performance is a wonder to behold. The band have also just released their debut EP ‘Til the Steam Runs Dry’ on Nice Swan Recordings, a heady mix of tunes seemingly drawing influence from Tom Waits, The Pogues, The Redskins and Pigbag.

Luna Rosa released a cracking single in ‘Brutal Nature’ at the start of May, and their EP of the same name has also just launched via those good people at Vandalism at Home. When talking about the EP, lead singer Rory McDade says it is

‘our stance against the ineffective asinine powers that be, a statement to every wave of self-doubt and a message to the downtrodden, the fucked and forgotten. Its core forged by our own truth and soul, its pulse and spirit soundtracks our defiance and conquering of the stronghold placed upon us in our times of tribulation. This is our proclamation of intent, our resistance against being ruled by anyone but ourselves. We mean every last second of this record, every word, every note, right down to the end. Hopefully it opens a few eyes and reaches a few hearts’.

​The band cite The Verve as influences which certainly comes across on tracks like 'MK Ultra' and 'Empty'. 'Brutal Nature' the song reminds me of The Blinders when they were good, and the other stand out track on the EP ‘I in the Centre of Pride’ has shades of one of my personal favourites, Echo and the Bunnymen. The EP is thoroughly impressive throughout and a real statement of intent from the band. 

Completing a trio of tasty new EP releases from bands on the up is ‘Get a Load of this Guy’ from Gag Salon. The band announced themselves in February with their debut single, the frantic ‘Horses’ with a further couple of tracks ‘My Gun’ and ‘Don’t Eat Stuff off the Pavement’ following. The equally insistent 'Germs' and '21st Century Classical Music' complete the madness wonderfully on this full release, which has flashes of Josef K, Gang of Four and Parquet Courts, albeit a bit more hopped up and quirky.        

On the singles front, Porchlight’s new single 'Silver Spoon' is well worth checking out. I have to say I’m desperate to see this band play live but have been sadly thwarted in my attempts thus far. Silver Spoon and its preceding singles Drywall and Country Manor are all superb, with this latest one packing loads of post punk attitude, sass and noise. More please, and give us a gig on a Thursday or Friday somewhere centrally in London! 

Other standouts just out are 'Hangar' by Moreish Idols, 'Black Cat, White Cat' by Pigeonhole, 'Cry Harder' by Gawjuss, 'The Drug' by Life and 'Sich Ubergeben' from Hallan. I was rather taken with Moreish Idols first single ‘Speedboat’ but Hangar is even better, and the best thing I’ve heard on Speedy Wunderground for a while. Many years ago the addition of saxophone on an indie track normally happened when they signed to a major and the major wanted them to sound more accessible, but invariably made them sound terrible instead. These days when done well it can really lift the track, and on Hangar its done really well, perfectly complementing the songs manic thrashing and the Do Nothing style vocals. 

I've not come across Pigeonhole before on the evidence of Black Cat, White Cat I like what I hear. A Psycho Killer like bass line kicks off the track and then its indie glam stomping and attitude all the way. The band play The Windmill in Brixton at the end of the month with the equally intriguing Neuro Placid which should be a good night out. On Cry Harder, Gawjuss continue to honour the long established legacy of quality noise that Leeds bands seem to be so adept at making, and they have an album on the way on Clue Records out in September. 

Life’s new single The Drug is yet another telling sign that their forthcoming album North East Coastal Town might well be up there as one of the albums of the year, sitting alongside TV Priest, whose excellent album we reviewed last week (scroll down). I thought Life’s last album A Picture of Good Health was good, but if this track, Friends Without Names, Almost Home and Big Moon Lake are anything to go by, then the new album will be another level. 

Hallan had a great EP out last year ‘Reporting Live From The Living Room Floor’ but have been quiet since them up until now. Sich Ubergeben (Throw up according to google) is a welcome return from the band who are another who really deliver live. Its another top tune from The Nice Swan Recordings stable too, who just seem to consistently release quality.