What we've been listening to...Wet Leg, Eades, Dois Padres, LIFE, Public Body

By Jon Milton

Part of me really wants to hate Wet Leg, mainly due to the excessive media fawning since Chaise Longue came out (which is obviously not their fault at all), but also stupid things like the faux Swedish accent in the vocals when they’re actually from the Isle of White. However, the other, far more sensible half of me recognises that they make really, good music, as evidenced on their latest single Angelica, which has a kind of 60s ye-ye feel to it interspersed with some meaty guitar and is just a really good pop song. Their debut album comes out in a month, and I bet its brilliant, the bastards. 

Far more likeable are LIFE, who this week gave us ‘Big Moon Lake’ and announced that their new album ‘North East Coastal Town’ will be out in June accompanied by a full tour. Big Moon Lake follows on last years ‘Friends without names’, and just like its predecessor is absolutely top draw. Big Moon Lake is the sound of a band at the top of their game, and it just oozes confidence. Life and Avalanche Party were the highlights of all the re-scheduled gigs we saw last year, so if you like what you hear of this track and see that they are playing near you make sure you get along to see them. 

Fellow Yorkshiremen Eades have just released their debut album ‘Delusion Spree’, which is also worth wrapping your ears around. Half of the album has already been released in single format (Reno, Delusion Spree, Ever Changing, Former Warnings Cluster, Smoking Hours and the just released Backseat Politic) which should give you an idea of what to expect – lots of bright, energetic tunes that are a little bit let down by the albums production, which in some respects is a shame but in others tells you what an exciting prospect they might be in the right hands. 

Which brings me nicely on to one of the UK’s finest producers Theo Verney, or rather his band Public Body who have just released their latest EP ‘Flavour of Labour’. The EP features songs about the workplace ‘Hard to Concentrate’; ‘Reset my Password’; and ‘Flavour of Labour’; ‘Formica’ about a Twitter dad and the politically charged ‘Sunburnt’. As we come to expect of the band there’s a lot of energy going on here, agitated synths, wonky guitar lines and propulsive percussion to accompany singer Seb Gilmore’s wry observations.

From art rock to swamp rock, Luton’s Dois Padres return this week with a new single ‘How you Gonna’. Think balls out bluesy rock and roll a la White Stripes, Led Zeppelin and the Black Keys and you’ll be in the right ballpark. The single is out on Vandalism Begins At Home Records and is the first missive from their forthcoming album ‘Comin’ in Hot’. Time to stomp those feet!

 We’ve been a bit lax on the articles front lately, (real life paid work just gets in the way, doesn’t it?) so head over to the playlists section and listen/follow the monthly to find out what you’ve missed. There’s lots of good stuff on there from the likes of Traams, TV Priest, Folly Group, Gag Salon, Deadletter to name but a few.