Search "hello+cruel+world" 436 Items

‘Empires into Sand’ is the first album of new material from Normil Hawaiians in 40 years. The group first refined their sound during the early 80s, hitting on a pastoral experimentalism that drew on ambient drone, motorik impulse and post-punk pep.

‘Empires into Sand’ came together in the familiar manner of their original three albums, with improvisation and nuance informing the blueprint of the tracks. It was with the official release of this last record ‘Return of the Ranters’ (originally recorded in 1984/85, but then unconsciously shelved) in 2015 by Upset The Rhythm that led to the group reconnecting with the intention of playing music together again. Normil Hawaiians played a launch show for that ‘lost album’ and followed that up with more concerts, including an appearance at Supernormal, a residency at the Edinburgh Festival, gigs at Cafe OTO. They were even chosen by Richard Dawson to perform with him in London.

Throughout this time, Normil Hawaiians revisited their original songs for live performance. However for a group always so interested in evolving their sound, it came as no surprise that they shirked at the idea of a faithful retread. The band pushed their songs into new inventive dimensions, still progressive at core, but now imbued with a cosmic uncanny. A cinematic approach that was always quietly present has come to the fore. The quaint weirdness of folk song, the humanity of communal practice and the group’s ecological mindedness have all found a place in Normil Hawaiians’ current sound world.

When Normil Hawaiians write and record music they prefer to gather in a remote location and live together for a while, such is their communal ethos. Being far-flung across the UK, the Family Hawaii (numbering seven key members) decided to encamp to Tayinloan, a small village on the west coast of the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland. They set up their own studio in an isolated, windswept house overlooking the sea and started the tape rolling. Noel Blanden from the band explains the process neatly: “we set up and began playing, slowly and patiently, allowing the music to take its own shape based on where we were staying and our ongoing friendship. We recorded for days, capturing everything. A lot of new and rich ideas began to emerge”.

Normil Hawaiians took their time to develop these threads at their own pace, allowing songs to mutate and settle over months. Simon Marchant deftly produced and recorded the album whilst also

performing in the band, this marked the first time the band had total control of their own sound. The last few years has seen the band reconvene in Herne Bay, Faversham, London and Leith to record new parts, constantly responding to the changing form of these quietly spectral songs of defiance.

‘Empires into Sand’ incorporates samples from old rehearsals and live music into the new finished pieces, this is in continuum with their previous records. Snippets of sound from the static of short wave radio and satellite transmissions also embellish the work. In fact the whole album is stitched together with interludes, creating an acutely immersive 45 minutes. ‘Exiles’ opens the album amid swirling atmospheres, synth flights and recordings of Vilnis Egle (father of Zinta Egle from the band) retelling his experience of fleeing his home in Latvia during Soviet occupation in 1942. George Bikandy also features on this track talking about his flight from Syria in 2014. ‘Ghosts of Ballochroy’ is a winding river of a song featuring a lively discourse in Scots courtesy of Rodney Relax. There’s a commitment to truth telling present across this hopeful album populated with angels, incoming tides, long shadows and the rose-washed sun. “From our broken windscreen, we feel the breeze” soars Guy Smith triumphantly over the driving beat of ‘Waterfalls : Bedford 330’. ‘Big City Sky’ flutters and sparkles with rapid synth runs, tape-looped drums and Jimmy Miller’s commanding vocal. With ‘In The Stone’ Zinta’s melody is deliberately jagged and blunt, exaggerated by octave-layered vocals and interjections from Guy.

This is thought-provoking, boundary-bothering music. Honest in intent, a solidarity of vision. The album’s title is derived from a poem by band member Mark Tyler, who sadly passed away during the recording process and the transience of life is felt heavily throughout. Noel best coins the group’s wish for the album: “we wanted to create an album that acknowledges our history and also reflects who we are today. We remained true to ourselves and we wanted to make something beautiful without removing the edges.” ‘Empires into Sand’ certainly does that, it’s an echo from the past, an echo from the future.

Refusing to be categorized easily, and playing uniquely original music unlike anything else, the band Totsuzen Danball is truly the one and only. Their 4th album "Fubi," was recorded in 1991, almost the same time they released 3rd album "Yokushi Onryoku" which known as one masterpiece in the band's career. P-vine proudly presents the lost gems on vinyl format for the first time. This release stands as the band's sole contribution to Alchemy Records, which is operated by Jojo Hiroshige from Hijokaidan. Though the album features a minimal three tracks, including the epic "Around the Lost World" clocking in at 17 minutes and 29 seconds, the distinct world they create defies description, truly embodying the essence of Totsuzen Danbooru. With front artwork boasting an overwhelming impact that transcends mere comprehension, this LP-sized release is a must-have.

2024 repress, Glow In The Dark Vinyl.Bergen, Norway- Blood Command have announced their new studio album, "World Domination"(Produced by Yngve Andersen) to be released on the 29th September 2023 through Hassle Records. Whilst early singles have cradled audiences with their ethereal death pop sound, make no mistake, the album "World Domination" is 20 rapid bursts of every side the band has to offer. Infectious grooves, blast beats, singer Nikki Brumens powerful screams and riot grrrl chanting, techno interludes and that delicate side which lulls you into a false sense of security before ripping into the listener once more.The record dives into unrequited love, the hatred of the unjust, the power of faith and the darkness of the abyss and never giving up on trying to climb out of it."Like various underground religious groups throughout history, Blood Command's ever growing following, The Awaketeam, is rising around the globe, and we are not stopping until World Domination. So keep your eyes peeled for purple shrouds, three stripes and black and white sneakers."This is Blood Command at its most interesting. Come and be a part of the movement.

This is the second 7-inch single by Voodoo Club, a Rock and Roll Band with an average age of 20 whose debut 7-inch single "Theme of Voodoo Club" was released November 3, 2023 and ranked No. 8 in the famous Japanese ranking Oricon Rock Singles Weekly Ranking. The title track, "Cynical Baby," is a very popular live number that gets the audience going as soon as the intro drum beat sounds. It is a rock and roll pop song for a new generation that can be easily hummed once heard, and in the near future, you can hear the audience's loud chorus echoing in the packed stadium. The coupling song is a cover of "Kininaru Omae" (lyrics by Kazumi Yasui, music by Kunihiko Kase), the B-side of the 1973 single "Muneippai no Kanashimi wo" by the great Japanese top star Kenji Sawada. It is a medium upbeat rock'n'roll song that begins with a guitar cutting. The original Japanese rock 'n' roll is covered by a young Japanese rock 'n' roll band, resulting in a global rock 'n' roll that can be heard nowhere else in the world! Rock 'n' roll on both sides! Wild, provocative, charming and glittering rock 'n' roll that seems to be available nowhere else today! This is a riot of a rock'n'roll band!

With all eyes seemingly on the international street-punk scene during a time of boundless creativity, Guadalajara’s Mess stands poised to make a global impact. Influenced by the classic sounds of Oi! and Uk82, the band brings a raw but catchy sensibility to their street-level, rock ‘n’ roll anthems, sung mostly in English, with a little Spanish. After making a huge impression with their opening salvo of singles and EPs, as well as a split with UK heroes THE Chisel, the 14-song LP Under Attack is Mess’s most fully formed creative vision to date, showcasing a timeless sound across songs like “Leave Me Alone,” “Fueled By Rage,” and the impossibly catchy, mid-tempo anthem “In The City.” Taken together, this is the sound of the streets, tough as nails, but with an appeal to the human spirit of survival in a bleak society. Under Attack is the world according to Mess.