Category: Releases

Another Tuesday, another free download from Driving Lolita – this week proffering the Deepz & D-Code remix of their latest release, ‘Run’.

And there’s more… or there will be next week, as Driving Lolita will be giving away another ‘Run’ remix every Tueday as part of the build up to thier gig at The Queens Head in Islington, London, on Thurs April 25th

Click on the following picture/link below for a barrel of big beat goodness:

Driving Lolita – ‘Run’ JMist Remix

Driving Lolita headline at The Old Queen’s Head in Islington, London – on April 25^th

You can join the Facebook event page for this gig at https://www.facebook.com/events/337891936316894/

For more on Driving Lolita, visit www.drivinglolita.com

Kicking off the first in a month of free downloads, Driving Lolita give you ‘Run’ – JMist Remix

Free, gratis, livre, kostenlos – FOR NOTHING

Well almost… Driving Lolita‘s generosity over their latest release is part of the promotions for their upcoming headline gig, at The Queens Head in Islington, London – happening on Thurs April 25th

So it cost you a bit of attention. Click on the following link and tell us if it was worth it:

Driving Lolita – ‘Run’ JMist Remix

Ed King will be following Driving Lolita throughout April, ending up in Islington for their ‘&Beyond’ Birmingham Review.

Driving Lolita headline at The Old Queen’s Head in Islington, London – on April 25^th

You can join the Facebook event page for this gig at https://www.facebook.com/events/337891936316894/

For more on Driving Lolita, visit www.drivinglolita.com

Driving Lolita, the London based Electro Punk outfit, are giving away remixes of their latest release – ‘Run’, throughout April.

Every Tuesday this month, a new track will be available for download at www.drivinglolita.com – starting with the JMist remix, coming out tomorrow.

Diving Lolita are releasing their ‘Run’ remixes as part of the build up to their next headline show, at The Old Queen’s Head in Islington on April 25^th

Ed King will be heading down the M1 later this month, to give Driving Lolita their ‘& Beyond’ Birmingham Review; but not before clawing through some of the band’s portfolio.

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Driving Lolita is the brain child of Drum & Bass producer and Radio 1 presenter, D-Code; in a move to create an “organic, rough round the edges” new sound.

Known for his solid D&B productions, such as ‘Glitterstep’ – with Chan 1, and ‘Annie’s Horn’, D-Code’s flare for tough beats is one of Driving Lolita’s prominent foundations.

Guitarist Abrar Hafiz (previously bass & vocals for Sona Fariq) ‘provides the grit’, layering constant Punk riffs over a fearsome Big Beat backdrop; with vocalist Graziella Affinita (Foreign Beggars, Miss Frank) punching out a cross vocal approach, steeped in Blues and Hip Hop.

Driving Lolita also features contributions from Tom Cameron, aka Arrows Down.

Created with a live sound in mind, Driving Lolita “popped our cherry” at The Nest in Dalston – in Nov 2011.

Spending the subsequent two years “road testing” their live show, Diving Lolita have played stages halfway around the world – from Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend, to the NH7 festival in Pune, India.

Check out Driving Lolita performing ‘Run’ at XOYO:

Driving Lolita headline at The Old Queen’s Head in Islington, London – on April 25^th

You can join the Facebook event page for this gig at https://www.facebook.com/events/337891936316894/

And get more details on the venue at http://theoldqueenshead.com

Driving Lolita’s ‘Run’ – the JMist remix,will be available for free download from April 2^nd, at www. www.drivinglolita.com

Words by Ann Sulaiman

Six albums have passed since the Gregorian a cappella group, Mediæval Bæbes, came into being with their charming take on European folk music. Now album number seven, ‘The Huntress’, sees ‘the Bæbes’ revisit similar ground in time for the yuletide holidays.

Described as a celebration of “feminine energy”, ‘The Huntress’ contains interesting moments which explore this theme.

‘Dianae’, ‘Queen and Huntress’ and ‘Dies Irae’ are notable examples,  not just for their lyrical focus on traditionally strong and female characters (Dianae being the Greco-Roman goddess of the Moon and the hunt), but also their show of harmony – as founding member Blake, and her newer cohorts, bring their voices together in a trill and hum of gentle unity.

The effect is a calm atmosphere that connects itself to female fraternity and imagery, through references of historically constructed ideas of feminine beauty and strength.

Since their first release in 1999, Mediæval Bæbes have been rooted through connected, female interpretations of folk songs, traditional and new, from ‘Coventry Carol’ to ‘Summerisle’ (from the 1973 film The Wicker Man).

However consistent, and however successful, this does make it somewhat redundant for Blake to devote an entire album to the concept, when she and the rest of the group have examined it many times before.

Another issue, that holds back ‘The Huntress’, is the overuse of filler performances and arrangements.

‘Dianae’ and ‘Dies Irae’, for all their strong points, are unfortunately pushed to the second disc of the album; becoming overclouded by the greater number of more accessible tracks on the first disc – which ironically represent the record’s weaker sounds, through restrained notes and vocal range.

And whilst Mediæval Bæbes’ seventh album will no doubt be an eager addition to several stockings this Christmas, an opportunity has been missed.

The chance to introduce European folk songs to a more mainstream audience has been arguably ignored, in favour of playing up to the image of an all-English, modern female carol.

‘The Huntress’ is available now, in store and online.

For more on Mediæval Bæbes, including information on their UK Christmas Cathedral Tour, visit http://www.mediaevalbaebes.com

I found Rachel Sermanni during Fin Greenall’s recent Perfect Darkness tour; the Scottish singer songwriter had been supporting Fink across Europe.

I didn’t see her perform, it was another dark haired songstress at the Birmingham gig, but after Google searching my curiosity I found a bevy of online broadcasts. Hhmmm, ‘Breathe Easy’… alright, let’s give that a listen then.

Under Mountains is Sermanni’s debut album, released on Sept 17^th – with limited edition artwork for those that pre ordered. And in short, it’s brilliant. If singer-songwriters are your sort of thing.

In a slightly more voluble evaluation, Sermanni’s storytelling solos drag you into a world of mellifluous yet dark mystic; an ethereal wilderness of lonely seas, opaque landscapes, and Robert Burns homage.

For the most part it’s just girl and guitar, which is the Sermanni I knew through YouTube and Vimeo – and that’s sufficient. Her sonorous vocals strong enough for any balcony, empty room or circling traffic.

Songs like ‘The Fog’ and ‘Eggshells’ heed warnings I don’t fully understand, but follow to the note; whilst ‘Ever Since the Chocolate’ and ‘Sea Oh See’ paint lullabies of strange intent, accompanied by considered keys and violin.

The occasional studio harmony can stomp its way into a few tracks, tainting the otherwise sublime ‘Sleep’.

Whilst a slightly overbearing approach to violins can also detract; a peak-too-soon crescendo drowning some of the fiery build in ‘Bones’ – a track that shows an encouraging fight to Sermanni’s vocals.

But when the production succeeds, as in the soft keys closing out ‘Song to a Fox’, it’s magical. An obvious word but one I’ll stand by using. In fact I’ll say it again, MAGICAL.

My only real gripe would be sequencing (I wouldn’t have opened with ‘Breathe Easy’, a song so beautiful it makes me want to use the word ‘weep’), and the unfortunate fact that over 50% of the tracks had been previously released.

Although considering I’ve had Under Mountains on repeat since last Monday, and bought two copies – one on download, one with limited edition artwork; I suppose I’ll live.

And I look forward to settling all outstanding accounts with album two.

Under Mountains is out now, available in store and online. For more on Rachel Sermanni, including available releases, visit http://www.rachelsermanni.net/

 Rachel Sermanni headlines The Studio Room at The Glee Club on Sept 27^th. For details on this, and other gigs at the venue, visit http://www.glee.co.uk/birmingham-music