Words by Ed King / Pic courtesy of FOMA
On Saturday 22nd June, Mutes celebrate the release of their new album, Pareidolia, with a special gig at The Sunflower Lounge – support coming from Magick Mountain, Exhailers, and Outlander.
Doors open at 7pm, with tickets priced at £7 (+booking fee) – as presented by FOMA. For direct gig info, including venue details and links to online ticket sales, click here.
Ah, the tortured artist… we have a small gooey soft spot for the one-man whirlwind of frustrated angst that sits at the centre of Mutes. Not just because, let’s face it, the man is pretty damn talented. But also because he’s kind of right. Most of the time. Some of the time. A bitter pill that leaves you a little sore to swallow, but one that will probably help clear away the mucus and bile that rests in the belly of Birmingham’s musical guts. Or who will one day go fully mad and burn down half the venues and recording studios in the city, so you know – either way, there are worse things than the occasional clean slate.
So… what’s all the fuss about, eh? Mutes have a new album coming out, that’s what – on Friday 21st June, Pareidolia will be set free into the world and you all are being invited to embrace it. You lucky lot.
More about that later… but what we can do right now is plagiarise the press release, which describes Pareidolia as ‘a meandering, exhilarating record that sees the Birmingham post-punk group delivering something entirely new.’ And whilst I’m not sure about ‘meandering’ (more a sneaky creeper that kicks you square in the throat) it’s certainly a step into more digestible territory than its predecessor, No Desire. Although we did like No Desire.
Currently being toured across the UK, with The Sunflower Lounge show being the midway mark, Mutes’ new LP has already been picked up by the great and good of Radio 6. Lamo (a nickname that reminds me of bullies at a Grammar school) even debuted the single ‘Guarded Young’, so for that we salute you Sir Steve. And you can’t get much more of a high profile new music endorsement than that.
Although it did, with Pareidolia also having a healthy thumbs up from Tom Robinson, DIY Magazine, Louder the War, and The Line of Best Fit – so prepare your greasy hands Birmingham, there’s a rising balloon leaving soon and you’ll want a firm grip.
It’s a pretty stonkin’ line up at The Sunflower Lounge release party too – with those ‘playful proto punk’ers, Magick Mountain, coming down from Leeds to play in the second city. Or third city, depending on which tour bus you’re on.
Lining up the local support are the ‘three-headed apeoid’ art-rockers, Exhailers, who also have a release on the table – their latest single, ‘Planetary Spin to the Stomach’, is now available via the usual online suspects.
Then breaking the magic number rule on this bill are Outlander, who’s latest five track release, The Valium Machine, came out in April this year – more about that later too…
So there you have it. And if all this well rounded/meaning foot stamping hasn’t convinced you to shimmy on down to The Sunflower Lounge on Saturday 22nd June, then perhaps a little AV persuasion is in order. In fact, have two. We’ve got a few minutes (seven) to spare:
‘Overfed’ – Mutes
‘Guarded Young’ – Mutes
Mutes perform at The Sunflower Lounge on Saturday 22nd June, celebrating the release of their new album Pareidolia – with support from Magik Mountain, Exhailers, and Outlander. For direct gig info, including venue details and online ticket sales, visit www.thesunflowerlounge.com/event/mutes-magick-mountain-outlander-exhailers
For more on Mutes, visit www.mutesuk.bandcamp.com.
For more on Magick Mountain, visit www.facebook.com/magickmntn
For more on Exhailers, visit www.exhailers.bandcamp.com
For more on Outlander, visit www.outlandertheband.bandcamp.com
For more from FOMA, including new releases and back catalogues from all the artists on their roster, visit www.wearefoma.bandcamp.com
For more on The Sunflower Lounge, including full event listings and links to online ticket sales, visit www.thesunflowerlounge.com
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