Live Review: Declan McKenna @ Norwich Arts Centre

Words originally for Outline Magazine

All photos and more in high resolution here.

Declan McKenna live at Norwich Arts Centre

Declan McKenna is just 17 years old, but has already graced the stage at Norwich Arts Centre as Blossoms’ opening act last October. Since then, he’s supported Foals in Paris, received praise globally and revamped his live show, adding a backing band to what used to be a solo act. Courtesy of Pony Up, I went along to check him out as well as some fine up-and-coming local talent too.

Riot-grrrl rock outfit Peach Club kick things off. Their line-up has gradually expanded from a solo act to a foursome and tonight they sound better than ever. Frontwoman Katie Gilbert’s adlibs come across a little awkward but nerves hardly stifle the message that can only sound strong from ambitious tempo hikes and fiery lyrics like “You don’t like me? / Tough shit, I love me!”

Peach Club live at Norwich Arts Centre

Next, Dazy Crown deliver lo-fi, surf beats, with a sound similar to Mac DeMarco and Courtney Barnett. Intermittent technical issues cause frustration throughout, but frontman Thomas Little’s natural stage presence and warm Canada accent go hand-in-hand with the laidback vibe of his music. His perfect comic timing makes more than the best from a bad situation, and everyone has a great time.

Declan McKenna isn’t even 18 yet, but from the confidence with which he performs tonight, you wouldn’t know it. The only allusion might come from the twinkling fairy lights, which adorn his equipment, bringing an aura of delightful innocence to the room. He opens with Brew, solo, before a guitarist, bassist and drummer join, all as fresh faced as their frontman. From the very start, the elaborate details of this young talent’s music are clear to see (and hear), and there’s no wonder in anyone’s minds as to why he’s been the subject of so much hype.

Basic highlights McKenna’s smooth vocals before the bittersweet Paracetamol shows off the 8-bit, video game audio style that makes his material so compelling. As one of his two singles to date, it also gets the first sing along of the night. An as of yet unreleased “really new song about war and shit”, The Kids Don’t Wanna Go Home, sticks in mind as a positive sign of what’s to come; it’s powerful, it’s danceable and the maturity and nonchalance with which McKenna performs it impresses beyond belief. His irresistible charm and honestly funny quips – including such gems as “it’s so friendly in here! We’re used to having things thrown at us, like live human children” – are refreshingly entertaining.

Set closer/debut single Brazil is met with a wave of enthusiasm from the small but enthusiastic audience. “People actually know it!” he exclaims, before diving into its lush, downbeat melodies. No one is stood still by the end of the night, a deserved reaction to a young talent with a bright future ahead of him.

Paracetamol is out now on download and coloured vinyl.

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Album Review: The 1975 - 'I like it when you sleep for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it'

Words originally for Outline Magazine

Label: Dirty Hit
Release Date: February 26th, 2016

London pretentio-ponces The 1975 are undoubtedly one of the most prolific bands of this generation, having developed a cult following since their 2013 breakthrough. On this, their second album, pop culture and self-obsession are sucked through a neon pink wormhole of hairspray and subtext, to mixed results. Technically, it’s a cornucopia of audio titbits. The singles – Bowie evocative Love Me, bubble-gum techno-samba UGH! and honkytonk powerhouse The Sound – represent just one aspect of I like it when you sleep… Elsewhere, Matty Healey and co. explore more ambient manoeuvres, like on Please Be Naked, reminiscent of their early EPs. There’s also acoustic downtime towards the end on emotive closer She Lays Down. The uniting factor throughout this record is Healey’s devotion to intricacy. His lyrics overflow with hints and references to not only the first album but also his development as a person, a topic closely scrutinized by countless devotees online. Messages of solidarity and acceptance bubble up through the glittery murk in ways that only true fans will recognise, and the bouncy, capricious character on top stands religiously as a figure encompassed in the vicious world of celebrity. Simply put, few albums quite so fantastically balance the realms of pompous controversy and downright musical brilliance.

7/10

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Album Review: DMA's - 'Hills End'

Words originally for Outline Magazine

Label: Mom + Pop Music
Release Date: February 26th, 2016

At first listen, the debut album from Aussie rockers DMA’s bemuses and mystifies. How is it that a trio of sun-cooked, bucked hat-adorned lads from down under have triumphed in creating a record so irresistibly Britpop? And one far more appealing than their British contemporaries at that; looking at you, Catfish and the Bottlemen. Timeless leads the retro assault with spacey melodies and raspy vocals, followed by Lay Down and the acoustic zest/Gallagher swag of Delete. Step Up the Morphine hits the spot at the midway mark with a dreamy lull of lo-fi nostalgia. But morphine is probably what you’ll need to sit through the comedown of Hills End. So We Know signals the end of DMA’s innovation and drafts in banality instead, as it becomes apparent that they are just a one trick pony, belters melting into boredom quicker than an ice cream in the outback sun. Straight Dimensions sounds like alternative Aussie whizz-kid Courtney Barnett without the deadpan lyrical flare, and as for Blown Away, I’m definitely not. The Switch is one saving grace, with an airy Suck It and See-era Arctic Monkeys sound, but it does little to brighten up the end of an album that goes from promising to promise broken in a matter of minutes.

6/10

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Live Review: Fickle Friends @ The Waterfront Studio, Norwich

Words originally for Outline Magazine

All photos and more in high resolution here.

Fickle Friends live at Norwich Waterfront Studio

The last time I saw Brighton-based disco quintet Fickle Friends perform was in 2014, opening the main stage at a festival in Oxfordshire. Two years and a string of catchy releases later, they pitched up at the Waterfront Studio to spread some tropical cheer with their 80s inspired tunes.

Odder Seas live at Norwich Waterfront Studio

Local lads Odder Seas are on first. Their cool stage presence fits perfectly with the evening’s murky vibe, their sound boasting disjointed guitar lines reminiscent of Two Door Cinema Club. Frontman (what a name) Oli de St Croix’s deep vocals seem a little out of place to start with, but on the chorus of Limbo everything aligns to create Cribs-like indie greatness. All good so far.

Clean Cut Kid live at Norwich Waterfront Studio

Clean Cut Kid are main support. A jolly Scouse four-piece who previously opened for Circa Waves downstairs, their signature enthusiasm seems lacking this evening but the songs speak for themselves; Runaway sounds punkier than on record but just as uplifting and new tracks Stay and Brother Of Mine prove that this primarily mainstream pop group have a real, concealed substance to them. The retro Pick Me Up and debut single Vitamin C close a half hour of fun with pounding beats and ear-worming hooks.

When the lights dim, Fickle Friends get straight down to business. Say No More showcases everything this act has to offer – there’s a steamy bassline, floaty vocals and more synths than you’ve had hot dinners. There’s even a twangly guitar solo in there for good measure.

A quick reminisce about the group’s last visit to Norwich gets the audience laughing – at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, “I fainted during Muse! I wasn’t even drunk, I just had enough”, frontwoman Natti Shiner recalls. Technical difficulties plague the set, first on Chris Hall’s guitars then Sam Morris’ kick drum, but the five-piece persevere skilfully. And through the vibrant light show and Shiner’s endearing enthusiasm, the audience couldn’t care less anyway.

New songs like Call and Freak sound fairly alike, but fresh and original nonetheless – certainly unlike anything any other pop acts are producing nowadays. My preference falls on the older tracks like Play and Swim which earned this energetic collective so much hype two years ago, and have matured exceptionally over time to create beautiful pop masterpieces. With luck, the same will happen to the newer stuff too.

At first glance, it wouldn’t be unforgivable to mistake Fickle Friends as being just another wannabe pop group. But tonight cements in my mind for sure that with an authentically fun live show and solid tunes to back them up, this group have a truly bright future ahead of them. 

Fickle Friends' Velvet EP is out now. 

Facebook: Fickle Friends / Clean Cut Kid / Odder Seas

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Soundcloud: Fickle Friends / Clean Cut Kid / Odder Seas