Issue 43 - University of Surrey's Student Union

32 MUSIC
The Stag | 6 th March 2012 music@thestagsurrey.co.uk
Dry the River – Shallow Bed
By Tanya Noronha, Music Team
Despite their place on the BBC
Sound of 2012 list, several
appearances across the 2011
festival circuit, and an upcoming
tour in March, Dry The River can
be seen as the antithesis of the
pounding bass lines and synthheavy
vocals which often dominate
the mainstream charts.. This fivepiece
London-based band pride
themselves on their stripped back,
acoustic vibe and come complete
with a violinist. They have all the
features of a top folk band, but
somehow bring so much more
depth to their music. Shallow Bed
makes for a truly unique album
which is worth a listen.
With this in mind, Shallow Bed
is a remarkably intense listen.
Filled with layered harmonies
and eloquent lyrics, the violin and
acoustic guitar is woven expertly
throughout. The opening track
Animal Skins showcases lead singer
Peter Liddle’s haunting vocals,
yet as it shifts into New Ceremony,
the band begin to display a more
heartfelt side – “...don’t think about
the future now/ I know it’s got to
stop, love, but I don’t know how...”
Perhaps the most moving aspect of
the entire album is the simplicity of
it all. It is easy to picture Liddle, pen
in hand, attempting to illustrate
whatever was happening in his
head. This has resulted in an album
where tracks tend to flow into
each other. Some are soliloquylike
in nature, yet others paint
the listeners vivid tales to picture
at will. Each song is awash with
emotion, regardless of whether the
pace is relentless and sweeping, as
in The Chambers and The Valves and
the triumphant, trumpet-tinged
Lion’s Den, or whether it is the
mournful Bible Belt.
Shallow Bed seems to demand
you to put down whatever you are
doing and just shut your eyes to
listen. Dry The River have put soul
into this album, and from beginning
to end, their craftsmanship shines
through. That said, it is not one to
listen to when feeling low, as it may
just move you to tears.
Shallow Bed is out on 5 th March.
Gig Reviews
LIVE: The Sounds at Kings College, London
By James Campbell, Music Team
Like a wave surging onto a shore, a raucous flock of
students move with force toward Kings College’s
Union stage on the verge of half nine on the 4th
February. Enveloped in darkness, and amidst incessant
clamourings, The Sounds swagger on, with lead singer
Maja Ivarsson’s triumphant
smile shining resonantly
from ear to ear with the
effect of a fired bullet,
ricocheting from wall to
wall as the stage lights
loom, blazing furiously
on feverishly excited
faces. The atmosphere
is electric, and ‘whoops’
of anticipation grow to
a crescendo, as with a
lingering glide of the hand,
Maja gives the command to
strike. The Sounds proclaim
that the energy in their
performance is what gives
them the edge; but does it?
The Sounds chose
their support act wisely,
unleashing The Limousines onto unsuspecting
eardrums, a crowd friendly, bombastic duo from San
Francisco. Armed with decks, a microphone and a
not so conspicuous megaphone as their only means
of musical weaponry, these two musicians keep the
audience enthralled with their own take on the modern
electronic scene, combining influences from MGMT
and La Roux, which unfold as a tirade of hypnotic
beats and rasping vocals that pummel the crowd in a
relentless fashion.
In the wake that follows, a bright eyed and not to
mention Carling splattered crowd waits restlessly with
whetted appetites until an uproar from the furthest
part of the stage reverberates around the room with
lightening speed, heralding the arrival of a strutting
scantily clad Maja, followed in hot pursuit by some
scrawny, rebellious looking lads that take their
positions behind their instruments. Upon plunging
into their first song of the night, It’s So Easy, an anthemic
and uplifting number, heads bob and arms are flung
aimlessly into the air as the Sounds and their disciples
embark on the night’s musical pilgrimage. Tracks such
as Dance With Me and Better Off Dead are lapped up with
gusto, and Maja almost seems to toy with the audience
before the band perform popular singles Something to
Die For and Yeah Yeah Yeah, which are readily devoured
by greedy ears.
Emblazoned as a pop
act with a sound tinged by
synthesizers, memorable
hooks and dynamic twists
and turns, the Sounds
have a repertoire that can
get listener’s heartbeats
pumping, both old and new.
Despite their blustering
persona however, the
group’s performance
illustrates that they are
not embarking on any
new musical territory
that groups like Blondie
and The Epoxies have not
already tried to penetrate.
Churned out like so
many other quasi indie
pop bands of late, The
Sounds are fortunate that they have an enduring stage
presence, which makes up for the fatal weakness of a
setlist with numerously tedious song structures, which
do not take one’s breath away in the very least.
Nevertheless, tumultuous cries for two encores
stands as testament to the fact that the crowd did not
seem to come away disappointed; a buzz of frenzied
chattering was more than enough to leave ears ringing
after we lunged for our belongings, and were herded
out into the freshly fallen snow. The Sounds can be
recommended to anybody who likes to dabble in easy
listening pop, and are an ideal accompaniment to add
to your house party playlist!
Experience Get Sharp by The Limousines,
available at for £7.99 (iTunes) and Something to
Die For by The Sounds at £7.99 (iTunes) or £7.90
(Amazon) for a fuller perspective of what these
groups have on offer!
LIVE: Ben Howard at the
Shepherds Bush Empire
By Hannah Jelliman, Music Team
Ben Howard? Who? I hear you
ask…well now’s the time to
find out! Having been introduced
to his music by my brother, after
seeing him at a tiny festival in
Wales some three summers ago,
Ben Howard is ever so slowly
receiving the recognition he so
greatly deserves. His music has
an acoustic, surfer-type feel, with
an added use of cello and some
rather odd percussion (including
plastic bottles); Ben Howard’s
music is feel-good, relaxing yet
often incredibly moving. His
innovative use of acoustic guitar
never ceases to amaze me, with
astoundingly fast plucking,
slapping and strumming with
great precision and beauty. I like
to think of him as a new Jose
Gonzalez, but with a cool, surfer
edge.
Having seen him perform
less than a year ago in a tiny
bar in London (with an audience
of no more than 100 people), I
think I almost screamed when
I first heard Fern Cotton say his
name on Radio 1, and when he
announced his first ever headline
tour of the UK. The Shepherds
Bush audience was the largest
headline performance Ben
had ever given, and genuinely
looked astounded and moved by
the response the audience gave
him: Singing along to his lyrics,
performing call and response to
several songs off his recent album
Every Kingdom and giving roaring
extended cheers and applauses
after every song. Of course, he
looked ever so slightly terrified,
but who wouldn’t be! He’s just a
young, down to earth, ordinary
guy from Devon who has a
passion for music and is evidently
overwhelmed at the enthusiasm
of his fans and getting to headline
at such a great London venue. If
you haven’t heard of him, and are
into folky, acoustic music (or even
if you’re not for that matter, you
might still like him!) then I urge
you to check him out. I think he’s
going to go a long way and there’s
nothing more satisfying than
watching a talented musician
make it to the top!
Had an unforgettable
live experience?!
Email music@thestagsurrey.co.uk and tell
us who? when? and why? for your chance
to have your say about an incredible live
performance in the next issue!