Londonist profiles three more new London bands who know the right end of an Ibanez S421. They play guitars, so you don’t have to.
Who?
Boban Tran, Boots Woodhouse and Carvin Loen.
Where?
The band are based in and around Stoke Newington though, full disclosure time, they originally hail from Northern Ireland. Tough, now they’re ours.
What?
Continuing the trend towards dark, introspective rock popularised by the likes of Editors and White Lies. They’ve heard a Jesus and Mary Chain record in their time, certainly, but JoyLand’s take on this style of indie rock is harder to pin down than throwing out a few band names, never more so than in debut single Whitebate.
Why?
Most recent single Bella The Butcher is more aggressive in intent and it’s clear this band mean business. Recent shows at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen and babble.jar in Hackney confirmed the trio as a fearsome live unit, and though they are currently concentrating on writing new material it seems unlikely they’ll be away from the gig scene for long, so keep your eyes peeled.
Who?
William, Philip, Matt, Chris and Gary.
Where?
Above an Indian restaurant in Kentish Town. Now that’s commitment to your city.
What?
Heartfelt, cloudless indie, jaunty and jangly, like Boy Kill Boy with joie de vivre. The unconventional influence of Vampire Weekend can be felt in places without sounding in any way forced (please, Bastille, just stop). Fans of Atlanta rockers Deerhunter will find a home here.
Why?
Shy Nature’s music reminds us that not every guitar needs to be used cathartically. Uplifting tunes with bite suggest we may be hearing a fair bit of the band’s first proper release, an EP due in mid-September. A prestigious slot ‘just over the road’ at the Forum supporting the Breeders this month went down well with the sweltering crowd, and further dates will be announced over the summer.
Who?
Helen and Chris Hamliton.
Where?
Holding up south London’s end of the musical bargain in New Cross.
What?
‘Electronic gloom pop’ in their own words. A touch more electronic than a full-on band attack. Siouxsie Sioux morphs with Marilyn Manson and soundtracks a David Lynch film. A slightly more approachable Nine Inch Nails is another admittedly still-vague description.
Why?
Death Rattle offer a frequently challenging listen, though not in a Boards of Canada way where you know you’re meant to like it but have to actually force yourself to. Their videos are similarly disturbing yet pleasurable. Londoners can next catch them supporting Delooze at the criminally underused Islington Assembly Hall on Wednesday 3 July.
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