Wax Idols 'No Future'

Wax Idols are a quartet formed by Hether Fortune in Oakland featuring a classic line up of guitar, bass and bass. Thus far in the Wax Idols cannon one single 'All Too Human/William Says' on Hozac Records precedes their debut 'No Future' on the same label. After being kicked out of Bare Wires and Hunx & His Punx Hether Fortune took the bull by the horns to front her own band as well as playing in Blasted Canyons currently, and it's not a shock to find that 'No Future' sounds nothing like previous groups she's played in. Wax Idols deliver splintered, melody heavy guitars, rubbery bass and direct, heady rhythms lead by vocals sung with a whole load of gusto. These new songs echo bands like Joy Division in that they hand out happy and sad in equal measure. Saccharine tinged guitars carries melodies through opener "Dead Like You", disturbed towards the end by a blood curdling scream giving a taste of things to follow as bright pop is shadowed by moody undercurrents. Another highlight is "Human Condition" a song dealing with feeling curiously sung in disaffected, vacant vocals as though challenging those trapped in a life long trance - going through the motions, and this is what I take away from listening to 'No Future', eleven songs going through paces of human emotion. This debut is 35 minutes of carefully crafted pop songs slickly recorded whilst sounding as though they were made by a neighbour playing too loud through the bedroom wall. I can't wait to see what the next album will sound like...

Wax Idols - Hotel Room by Gilded Gutter



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Fungi Girls 'Some Easy Magic'

Three teenagers Jacob Bruce, Skyler Salinas, Deryck barrera from Cleburne, Texas have released their second album 'Some Easy Magic' earlier this month on the flawless Hozac label. These eleven sun drenched tracks are a hybrid of Psychedelic and Garage Rock delivered from a threesome with a crush on Shoegaze. Within the 30 minutes you can hear a love for 13th Floor Elevators and Velvet Underground plus they have this chilled out, lush sound that washes over you like a surfer rock piece - listen to "Lucie" to see what I mean! A highlight is "Velvet Days", elasticated guitars erupt into a hyper tensed, fraught solo with indecipherable vocals wafting over the song. 'Some Easy Magic' magnifies a mellow sound where the Fungi Girls produce songs that are free-minded as they are mindful. Yesterday I was watching some friends play cricket and said how the summer should simply give up, it's got to be said we haven't really had one this year in London, if you get a chance to listen to 'Some Easy Magic', its bright sound will help you give one last hurrah to the season.

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Fungi Girls - "Velvet Days" by Creeping Wave

Wax Idols 'All Too Human/William Says'

'Wax Idols Cassette 2011' (Psychic Snerts) put out earlier in the year landed Wax Idols their first 7" release on the mighty HoZac label, who will also be putting out their debut album ('No Future') in September. At the core of the band is Hether Fortune/vocals/guitar (Bare Wires, Hunx & His Punx) with current line up Amy Rosenhoff/bass, Keven Tecon/drums and Jennifer Mundy/guitar. (Previous band members have included; Mat Hartman (Sic Alps), Ashley Thomas, Courtney Gray, Paul Keelan and Taylor Valentino.)

Opener 'All Too Human' is laden in fuzz with Wax Idol's dreamy ruptured pop surging through the distortion. This song may be familiar to some as it featured on the 'Wax Idols Cassette 2011' release. The B Side 'William Says' also features on the Psychic Snerts tape under 'Gooey Gooey'. The vexing number channels spooked, hypnotic vocals, swarming guitars and pulsating rhythms that build to a perfectly rendered paranoia attack. Wax Idols' wrong-footed luminous punk coupled with Hether Fortune's unfeigned approach to lyrics and songwriting makes this band one worth watching. Can't wait to hear the album.

Video for 'All Too Human'
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Gentleman Jesse & His Men 'You've Got the Wrong Man'

I've been thinking recently about Gentleman Jesse & His Men and how only a year prior to their debut release people's love of Power Pop was being rekindled with reissues from Hubble Bubble, The Nerves and Milk 'n' cookies. Their self titled album struck like a bolt from the blue, with its irresistibly glamorous hooks and sing-a-long choruses this record proves somethings you can never tire of.

The Atlanta Power Poppers are due to have a new album out and until then, HoZac has released a single to tie us all over. 'You've Got the Wrong Man' and B Side 'Stubborn Ghost' are consistent with their previous stuff. You could say, Power Pop in general is dependable for striking pleasure centres with a familiar guitar, bass and drums mold. With this simple formula Gentleman Jesse & His Men do something so right with what can easily be done wrong. Unrivaled in their ability make music you can put on whatever mood you're in, and it always manages to hit the right spot (how do they do that?!) it's probably stating the obvious at this point, this blogger is excited for Gentleman Jesse & His Men's new album.

You can here both of the new songs on Strofoam Drone!

Reading Rainbow 'Prism Eyes'

Philadelphia's boy girl duo brought in the New Year with a show in New York celebrating the release of new album 'Prism Eyes'. Following a slew of singles over the last year or so on Chimney Sweep, Zoo Music and Ciseaux it was their debut 'Mystical Participation' and a show at SXSW that made HoZac Reading Rainbow's number one fan, and home.

Reading Rainbow sound like they could have been Slumberland fiends in their formative years and sure, words like 'jangly' 'pop' and 'indie' seem unavoidable at the moment. That said, it would be a real shame to let this band pass you by simply because these adjectives are currently circulating so heavily. What Reading Rainbow bring to the table that makes them stand out is a curious balance of sugary and scuzzy music. The two part vocal harmonies range from unaffected tones not unlike English post punk to infectious angelic pop. These singing parts soar over fuzzed out keyboards, consistent tapping and crashing rhythms with glittery, grinding guitar hooks. The surprising thing is, I would never have guessed this was only a two piece given how rich the songs sound. This record is harmoniously sweet and sour. 'Prism Eyes' proves there are still some bands out there with some tricks up their sleeves for you.

Super Wild Horses 'Fifteen'

Super Wild Horses is the latest band budding from the garages, basements and bedrooms of Australia's humming music scene. Their debut full length 'Fifteen' is out on 'Aarght!' in Australia, and HoZac for everywhere else. Amy Franz and Hayley Mckee make up the girl duo both playing keyboards, guitar and drums. The girls have already toured with the likes of Jon Spencer, The Drones and Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Mikey Young of ECSR also recorded their first (sold out) EP and went on to work on 'Fifteen' as well. 'Fifteen' is full of playful two part harmonies, minimalistic post punk wrapped up with 90s a pop feel to it. The Breeders, Black Tambourine both come to mind, but some of their songs wouldn't sound out of place on a Wetdog record either. These 12 new killer songs show just what these girls are capable of while being fun and unassuming at the same time, which makes the record that much more endearing.


Read full review of Fifteen - Super Wild Horses on Boomkat.com ©

Rayon Beach 'Memory Teeth'

Can't stop, won't stop HoZac Records does it again. Already boasting a release from Austin's illustrious music scene Woven Bones, Rayon Beach is the newest edition originating in the southern state to the Hozac cannon. 'Memory Teeth' is another example of how the label has an uncanny knack of sniffing out garage rock gems. Six adrenaline pumped face melting songs mixes Swell Maps, Pink Floyd and track 'Wave Pool Ether' wouldn't sound out of place on a Spacemen 3 record. 'Memory Teeth's' exotic-garage-psychedelica is totally worth your time. 550 of 1st pressing. Hozac please, do it again, and again and again!!!


Read full review of Memory Teeth - Rayon Beach on Boomkat.com ©

Woven Bones 'In and Out and Back Again'

In little over a year Austin's Woven Bones have delivered a celebrated 4 singles, one 12" and earned a spot on Matador's 2010'Casual Victim Pile' compilation. So, the anticipation for a full length these seething garage rock releases inexorably led to is warranted, but not all the surprising.

'In and Out and Back Again' has just come out on HoZac. The LP is super consistent in itself and compared to their other releases. Their signature heartbeat-throbbing rhythms, mixed with Andrew Burrs unaffected vocals makes the album for a heavy, catatonic listen. Sure, they've tweaked a few things here and there. Overall, 'In and Out and Back Again' is indicative to songs heard on the 'Minus Touch' EP. Clocking in at around 35 minutes, this record was tailor made for an evening at home with some time to kill.


Read full review of In and Out and Back Again - Woven Bones on Boomkat.com ©