Amusement Parks On Fire came to prominence in 2004 with the release of the eponymous debut album, conceived and consummated by the then-adolescent founder Michael Feerick and phonically actualized on a shoestring with Nottingham cohabitant Daniel Knowles. Issued on Geoff Barrow (of Portishead)’s Invada label, it was described by the New Musical Express as ‘hedonistic teenage genius’.
A live line-up was essentially performed and extensively performed with the likes of Dinosaur Jr, M83, and dEUS among innumerable other acts of the era. The unit then retreated to Sigur Rós’ private swimming-pool sanctuary Sundlaugin in Álafoss, Iceland to complete the venturesome sophomore release ‘Out Of The Angeles’, during which time they experimented with sleep, food and sunlight deprivation at the insistence of V2 Records. After several years of international incidence, the band crash-landed in Los Angeles in 2009 to make ‘Road Eyes’ with producers Michael Patterson (Beck, NIN) and Nicolas Jodoin (Arcade Fire, BRMC). Again inspired by the locale, the collection was intended as ‘a skewed Californian contemporary-classical’, with Alternative Press defining it as ‘sun-drenched, challenging and gratifying… a near-perfect album’.
Last year, Amusement Parks On Fire returned with their first release in ‘8.8 years’. The single ‘Our Goal To Realise’ saw the British art-rockers reappear with signature songwriting sophistication and sonic scope. All The New Ends seeks to further cement their insignia whilst eschewing genre-tropes and preconceptions of form. Like the expansive concept singles surrounding their second album ‘Out Of The Angeles’, the medium-length format once-again provides the perfect platform to push perceptions and extend expectations.
LINKS:
http://apof.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/amusementparksonfire
https://twitter.com/APOF
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The Neville Staple Band – Put Away Your Knives
The Neville Staple Band has released their new single ‘Put Away Your Knives’, a 2Tone influenced punky ska and reggae mix with on-point lyrics addressing the growing knife crime problem in the UK. This is a lyrical and musical cry to young people involved in knife crime, motivated by a tragic event that struck their family in September 2018 – the fatal stabbing of Neville’s 21-year-old grandson Fidel Glasgow.
Here Neville and Sugary Staple are joined by British-Jamaican reggae musician and producer, Dandy Livingstone, who penned ‘Rudy, A Message to You’, which was later a hit for The Specials (as ‘A Message to You, Rudy’). His 1972 hit ‘Suzanne Beware of the Devil’ also reached number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.
This single follows their new ‘Rude Rebels’ album, released via Cleopatra Records in autumn of 2018 with contributions by The Specials’ original guitarist Roddy Radiation (a.k.a. Roddy Byers).
“We are dedicating the song to my grandson Fidel and to everyone else out there, who have been affected by violent crimes. It’s time we take back some control and teach the youth right from wrong, and the consequences of their actions. This song is highlighting the pain and the anger being inflicted on the families too. It asks the youths to just stop, think and put down the knives,” says Neville Staple.
“Even while we were in the studio recording this, my wife Sugary and I became very emotional. It hurts bad when you lose someone so young in the family, but it’s even harder when you know that someone took their life early. I get angry at just how easily the youth find it now, to carry weapons around. They seem to have no thoughts for who they are really hurting, including themselves. It is us, all the generations above them that must step in now and help fix this mess. This disregard for life! No one else is going to sort it out!”
The Staples are a permanent fixture of the widely regarded and enormously active UK ska scene, performing regularly at clubs and massive festivals. They are also well known for their charitable work and social activism.
Known as The Original Rude Boy, Neville Staple is a legendary frontman and co-founder of The Specials, Fun Boy Three, 2Tone and the Special Beat with Ranking Roger. Over the past four decades, Staple has picked up multiple awards, including from MOJO and NME, as well as Gold, Silver and Platinum discs. Today he fronts The Neville Staple Band together with award-winning wife Sugary Staple, known for spearheading the Skamouth series and also as an actress, vocalist end event promoter for over 30 years,
With 2019 being the 40th anniversary of Neville’s successful music career, and also for The Specials and 2Tone Records, this is a timely release. ‘Put Away Your Knives’ underlines that, not only has violence not gotten better after all these years but that it has actually escalated.
“We talk to young offenders and go to some schools and chat about the seriousness of violent crimes and talk about ways of staying away from it. Some are even young parents themselves! I asked if they would want their child to know that they cut someone or even killed someone. What kind of a role model is that?” asks Sugary Staple.
“If you don’t feel safe going to that place without carrying a weapon, then don’t go to that place. Just don’t go! It can’t be a good place to hang out anyway if weapons are needed. And if you feel pressured into carrying a knife or anything else that’s dodgy, talk to somebody you trust. If this is not your parents, then maybe a cool cousin, uncle or auntie, a grandparent or even a friend. This includes those of you who are groomed into that life and need a way out (forced into being someone you were never meant to be).”
Releasing this song also gives rise to the occasion for Neville and Sugary to highlight the great work that the independent charity Victim Support is doing. By promoting awareness about their services, they are encouraging more support and donations, especially in relation to the help they give to families affected by knife crime.
“Working closely with victims and bereaved families, we know just how destructive these shocking crimes are for everyone impacted. We’re really pleased to be working with Neville Staple and his wife Sugary Staple to help raise awareness of the issue and raise vital funds to allow us, as an independent charity, to continue our work. Families and communities are being devastated by knife crime and it is so important that we all come together to tackle this – organizations, government agencies, and all communities,” stated Diana Fawcett, Chief Officer of Victim Support.
Sugary Staple adds, “I call upon all the ‘good’ young people out there to join forces in saying #PutAwayYourKnives to other friends who you know are carrying. Why not make it a cool thing to share that message and separate yourselves from the negatives and the dangers.”
‘Put Away Your Knives’ can be downloaded from iTunes and Amazon. It can also be streamed on Spotify. You can also donate To Victim Support at www.victimsupport.org.uk/get-involved/donate.
LINKS:
http://www.originalrudeboy.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/NevilleStapleBand
http://goldenlanestaple.bandcamp.com
http://twitter.com/nevillestaple
http://soundcloud.com/the-neville-staple-band
http://www.sugarystaple.com
http://www.facebook.com/SugaryStaple
http://twitter.com/SugaryStaple
http://soundcloud.com/christine-sugary-staple
http://www.instagram.com/sugarystaple
http://www.youtube.com/user/Ceejaytee1/videos -
Pinhdar – Too Late (A Big Wave)
Pinhdar has released their new video for the track titled ‘Too Late (A Big Wave). I must say that the lockdown is producing some really good music and that is none the more true than with Pinhdar’s newest release titled ‘Too Late (Big Wave)’. Pinhdar has been a duo of artists that seem to be on an energetic quest to find their sound and perfect it on multiple levels.
‘Too Late’ is the latest in the evolution of revolution that Pinhdar is on a quest to said perfection. That haunting intro that transitions into an almost Laurie Anderson-inspired chorus is brilliant in so many ways. This is a song that goes left when you think it will go right, musically.
Add to that the cinematic scope of the video and you have the reverse effect of a film where that film’s score compliments the film itself. Here, you have the opposite. The cinema is here to complement the music. And that music is bold.
Check out our other features with Pinhdar HERE.
About Pinhdar
Since exploding onto the music scene in 2019 with their self-titled debut PINHDAR has further refined their brand of Psychedelic dark Pop on this latest album. The duo has made a name for themselves on both sides of the Atlantic when in the band Nomoredolls; relentlessly playing New York venues like CBGB’s, Knitting Factory & Arlene’s Grocery and established a loyal US fanbase before moving on to establish PINHDAR. Under the new name and armed with a new sound it wasn’t long before they’d won over the ears of legendary British critic and Rock Music Biographer Kris Needs.
So impressed with the bands unique sound, Kris invited them to play at the launch of his new book in London, all the while ‘TOY’ was starting to gain critical acclaim across the world with VICE/Noisey listing it in their top 10 tracks of 2019 and legendary station KEXP adding it to their repertoire.
Recorded Entirely during the lockdown in their Milan-based studio alongside Scottish producer Howie B (U2, Bjork, Tricky, Massive Attack, and many others). The musicians initially contacted their producer hero without expecting a reply, Instead, his response was enthusiastic and at a level, they had never expected offering to not only mix the raw tracks but also to contribute creatively as the album’s producer. The bewilderment felt during the months of lockdown while recording and writing led PINHDAR to seek refuge in a parallel reality, a universe of surreal and alien sounds and concepts encapsulated by the Albums cover; a house miraculously floating on the water’s surface.
The record is a dream-like journey and trip through existential anxiety exasperated by the current social environment and dangers both to humankind and our environment. Exploring themes such as solitude, social indifference, environmental threats, and our fear of mortality. These elements are interwoven in dreamy imagery capturing a mixture of emotions against a backdrop of hope. A rollercoaster of uncertainty Parallel is a snapshot of life experienced in 2020.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/Pinhdar
https://www.instagram.com/pinhdar
https://twitter.com/pinhdar
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dyLnwsbDsTfxa6qPi7LjF -
Evidence – Bad Publicity feat. Krondon
As both a solo artist and one-third of Dilated Peoples, Evidence has established himself as one of hip-hop’s most accomplished rappers and producers, working with Domo Genesis, Linkin Park, Beastie Boys, Defari, Madchild, and Krondon, amongst others.
His production work has already earned him a Grammy Award for co-production on Kanye West’s College Dropout, and two JUNO Awards for his work with Canadian hip-hop group Swollen Members.
As fans would expect, “Weather or Not” embodies the very heart of the hip-hop culture; clever wordplay laid over heavy boom-bap production, but Evidence also exhibits his gift for weaving moments of personal and introspective reflection into his writing, whilst remaining true to his hardcore hip-hop sonic and lyrical sensibility.
The album features an array of exciting collaborations including the likes of Slug (Atmosphere), Rakaa (Dilated Peoples) and Jonwayne, plus production from Evidence himself, Alchemist, Nottz, and DJ Premier.
After an array of spellbinding videos to compliment the album, his latest outing is for the track Bad Publicity featuring Krondon.
Directed by Todd Angkasuwan the video showcases many prominent locations of Los Angeles where it appears the whole city has been shut down with all the roadways clear of cars and people. The Nottz produced track features Strong Arm Stready rapper Krondon with his deep voice on the chorus, who has recently found new fame by playing the key villain Tobias Whale on DC series Black Lightning.
LINKS:
http://rhymesayers.com/evidence
http://facebook.com/misterevidence
http://twitter.com/evidence
http://instagram.com/evidence
http://youtube.com/rhymesayers