Features

Islet, Mammal Club, Summer Camp, Beaty Heart, Yuck - GIITTV'S INTRODUCING THE BAND - JULY #1

GodisintheTV 07/07/2010

So we're changing the way in which we showcase new music here at God Is In The TV. We're keen to move away from the blogging-culture of cutting and pasting hundreds of artists over a year possessing 100,000 Myspace hits between them, never to remember them again. We want to really promote some of the unheralded, unsigned and upcoming stuff that we LOVE rather than just like, and keep on promoting them.

This month is the first of hopefully many 'Introducing The Band' features. The premise is simple, all the staff submit a couple of unsigned, up and coming acts each who they think are worthy of coverage. We all then have a big vote-em-up between ourselves and the "winner" comes out on top with a three weeks worth of features, interviews and reviews that'll hang about on the front page until the end of the month. If this sounds partly about us trying to prove we offer continual support to the artist we champion then that's because it is. But more importantly, it's about the artists themselves and the winner will hopefully bring as much to the table over the month as we will...

We don't want to limit ourselves though, and so the rest of the nominees will be showcased right here, on the resurrection of the 'Now Hear This' linktape... enjoy browsing and listening below and join us on Monday when we'll be putting up the first our articles on the winning artist...

MAMMAL CLUB - 'PUT YOUR FEARS IN ORDER'
"Guitarist Adam Hiles rises from the ashes of North-Eastern math-rockers Yourcodenameis:milo to co-found a four-piece who still keep the heavy intact but possess a far more melodical slant. 'Put You Fear In Order' is a perfect example of their juxtaposed behemothic-yet-delicate sound (picked by Simon Jay Catling)"

Next gig: Get Involved All-Dayer @ Tyne Bar, Newcastle July 17th
Myspace

Put Your Fears In Order by Mammal Club


BEATY HEART - 'COLA'
"London's Beaty Heart are purveyors of woozy, electronic atmospherics approached from a very 80s pop direction. A rich listen for the ears whereupon hooks emerge from crisp soundscapes propelled along by constant grooves (picked by Rhian Daily)"

Next gig: The Flowerpot, Kentish Town July 8th
Myspace

Beaty Heart - Cola by RussTannen


MAY68 - 'MY WAYS'
"'My Ways' was the debut single released by Mancunian electro group May68 earlier this year; a knack for infectious surges of energy and infectious three-minute pop songs has led to them appearing regularly on the festival circuit this summer. (picked by Antonio Rowe)"

Read our thoughts on 'My Ways'
Next gig: Dockville Festival, Hamburg GER August 13th
Myspace




ISLET - 'IRIS'
"Notoriously evasive online, Welsh rockers Islet have found themselvs thrust into the limelight regardless of late, not least owing to their eclectic tapestries of fuzzy light and shade. Expect an interview on the site from our editor Bill Cummings soon. (picked by Bill Cummings)"

Here Islet on Episode 2 of God Is In the Pod
Next gig: Latitude Festival, Suffolk July 16th
Website




PENGUINS KILL POLARS - 'WISH WITH WORRY'
"Soaring emotional rock can be a difficult thing to get right, it's a tightrope walk between credibility and cheese. You need a balance between ferocity and sentiment which few bands manage to achieve, Penguins Kill Polar Bears look like they may well be able to follow in the steps of the likes of Brand New or Aereogramme by doing so though. (picked by Chris Tapley)"

Next gig: The Watershed, London July 16th
Bandcamp




JUSTIN GROUNDS - 'THE DISSOLVING'
"Electric troubadour and eclectic pioneer Justin Grounds was born in England and raised as a classical violinist. That's just about where the normality ends: he recorded his debut while on a round-the-world trip and purveys in everything you can't imagine.(picked by Tiffany Daniels)"

Read Tiffany's 5/5 Review of Justin's album 'The Dissolving'
Myspace




ELEANOR LOU - 'NEW TRANSMISSION'
"Eleanor Lou is a Manchester-based gritty female singer-songwriter, currently working hard on the local gigging circuit and armed with major label backing.(picked by Abbas Ali)"

Read what we thought of Eleanor at last year's In The City
Next gig: Latitude Festival, Suffolk July 16th
Myspace




LOST KNIVES - 'FAKE NATURAL SOUND'
"It's fair to say time are hard, both financial and political concerns are affecting all of us and so some may think that the world is on the brink of collapse. Luckily you'll have a sound track for both the pre and post-destruction of the Earth provided by Manchester's Lost Knives, who are causing their own rumble of fire and lightening.(picked by Chris Stanley)"

We tipped Lost Knives right back at the start of the year as ones to watch
Next gig: Ruby Lounge, Manchester August 6th
Website

Fake Natural Sound by LostKnives


IDEALS - 'LUNGS'
"London-based Ideals deal in bittersweet indie that really gets to the heart of the band's meaning. With a focus on a crescendo building structure that blossoms into a rousing chorus, 'Lungs' is just such an example.(Daniel Maslanka)"

Next gig: Twist, Colchester July 9th
Myspace




THE SCOTTISH ENGLIGHTENMENT - 'PASCAL'
"In 2007 this Fife quartet released their debut single Eyes to some considerable attention from radio and television...then they disappeared. Since then they have been crafting a debut album worth of material, and in May released the Pascal EP, a stunning five tracks of listless miserablism in the vein of Arab Strap. With the album to follow soon they seem set become one of Scotland's most talked about groups.(picked by Chris Tapley)"

Website




TAKEDA - 'I KNOW'
"Norwich three-piece Takeda currently stand above the pack of softly plucked twee acoustics surrounding East Anglia at the moment; their songs are reflective far beyond their apparent years, adding depth to a simple but effective acoustic formula. (picked by Bill Cummings)"

Here Takeda on Episode 2 of God Is On The Pod
Next gig: Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich July 13th
Myspace


Takeda

BBC Norfolk Introducing | MySpace Video


YUCK - 'SUICIDE POLICEMAN'
"Formed from the embers of Cajun Dance Party, London four-piece Yuck are a glorious celebration of lovelorn indie pop produced by the likes Dinosaur Jr, My Bloody Valentine, and Teenage Fanclub.(picked by Abbas Ali)"

See what we made of Yuck live
Next gig: Latitude Festival, Suffolk July 16th
Myspace

Yuck - Suicide Policeman by nmemagazine


INSECT GUIDE - 'DOWN FROM HERE'
"Not an audio book on the crawling creatures of your garden's undergrowth, but one of the best bands to grace the airwaves of Marc Riley's recently saved show and a perfect audio display of noise, harmonies and catchy tunes.(picked by Chris Stanley)"

See what we thought of Insect Guide at last year's In The City
Next gig: The Wilmington Arms, London July 20th
Myspace

THE INSECT GUIDE // Down From Here by ourbandcanbeyourlife-77


BEAR DRIVER - 'A THOUSAND SAMURAIS'
"Stirring a splash of insane into their frantic pop, of all the new psychedelic bands out there, Bear Driver have the most potential. Comparisons to Wolf Parade are more than justified.(picked by Tiffany Daniels)"

Read our review of last year's 'Paws & Claws'
Next gig: Oh Inverted World @ The Old Queen's Head, London July 22nd
Myspace

01 A Thousand Samurais by Bear Driver


CHARLIE BARNES - 'ORADOUR'
"Just occasionally a male vocalist will come along and really make you sit up and take notice; Charlie Barnes' is one such singer, an artist possessing quite stunning range and power. It's only matched by the wizardry of his loop-constructed pop swirlings. Debut LP 'Geekk' has just been released.(picked by Simon Jay Catling)"

Read what we thought of Charlie's 2009 EP 'No Offenkk'
Current release: 'Geekk'
Myspace

Charlie Barnes - Oradour (Acoustic) - Promo Video from Charlie Barnes on Vimeo.

SUMMER CAMP - 'GHOST TRAIN'
"Jeremy Warmsley reinvents himself with Elizabeth Sankey as a glimmering pop act drenched in lushious reverb and looped delay. Already making waves, a full summer of festivals awaits.(picked by Antonio Rowe)"

Read what we thought of them live
Next gig: Lounge On The Farm Festival, Canterbury July 10th
Myspace

Summer Camp - Ghost Train (viral) from Paddy Power on Vimeo.

THE MORNING AFTER - 'SOMETIME AFTER THE DARK'
"A world away from most of the selections here, This Morning After bring power metal in abundance, anthemic choruses a top scincillating guitar wizardry that pounds the ears until you can't help but submit.(picked by Daniel Maslanka)"

Myspace




IS TROPICAL - 'WHEN O' WHEN'
"A menagerie of different sounds, from casio-keyboard hooks, acoustic guitars and through to stomping post-punk and glam pop, Is Tropical aren't easily pigeonholeable - we love them all the more for it.(picked by Rhian Daly)"

Next gig: Tramlines Festival, Sheffield July 23rd
Myspace

Is Tropical - When O When by Pure Groove


MAZES - 'BOWIE KNIVES'
"Proof that Manchester goes beyond its history of lad rock; swaggering Mazes are a ray distortion drenched sunlight and a direct representation of the city's undwindling DIY scene. With support slots with the likes of Wavves, garage noise rock has a new member AND they are Mancunian.(picked by Chris Stanley)"

We tipped Mazes right back at the start of the year
Next gig: 1234 Festival, London July 24th
Myspace




MNDR - 'FADE TO BLACK'
"MNDR subverts krautrock influences so that they resemble the brightest of electronica pop; 'Fade To Black' brashly bounces around and just refuses to quit, jumping right into your head never to escape.(picked by Antonio Rowe)"

Next gig: Madame Jojo's, London July 13th
Myspace

MNDR - Fade to Black by user39221


JO ROSE - 'LAST BREATH CALIFORNIA'
"Manchester-based but with an eye on the Great American plains, Jo Rose is a solo artist whose lyrics and vocals have a wonderfully world-weary quality, the reflections of a young man whose experienced too much too soon, though never at the expense of losing the chink of light that is the future.(picked by Simon Jay Catling)"

We tipped Jo right back at the beginning of the year
Next gig: Deaf Institute, Manchester July 16th
Myspace

Jo Rose - Last Breath California by Monsieur Le Menthe


ELEPHANT & SOLDIER - 'FIRST SHOTS'
"Elephant & Soldier are a cut above the plethora of twee acoustic acts kicking around Cardiff at the moment. With string-tinged tales of love and friendship, the act aren't afraid of laying emotions all on the line, tenderness switching to full-throated passion within a bar.(picked by Bill Cummings)"

Read our review of their debut EP 'First Shots'
Myspace



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

BRETON - 'EPISODES'
"A blurred shape of spikey guitar, rolling dance rthyms and synth nuances, Breton are as tight and punchy as they come, but with an accessibility that makes them ripe for the club floor.(picked by Rhian Daily)"

Next gig: 1234 Festival, London July 24th
Myspace

Episodes by bretonlabs