“In The Ever”, the title of Mason Jennings’ new album, is a phrase used by his son to describe the state of being unborn. It’s a fitting introduction to the soft-focus Americana of the album, on which Jennings talks about his spirituality, amongst other things, in the lightest way imaginable. In The Ever comes off like a pastoral East coast ‘Transformer’ on tranquilizers, all typically relaxed in the sunny Brushfire Records style, but with some outstanding songwriting and a keen ear for pop hooks, as heard on the single ‘Fighter Girl’.

We caught up with the man himself to talk about what music, books and films have been keeping him busy lately.. Continue Reading

This weeks edition of After Hours comes courtesy of one of our favourite-est new bands: Sons Of Noel and Adrian. You’ve already read how much we love their debut self-titled album (out now on Shels Records) so we thought we’d catch up with the two main men responsible Tom Cowan and Jacob Richardson to find out what they’ve been listening, reading and watching over the past few months. Continue Reading

We’ve already told you how much we love Hawnay Troof’s new album, so we thought it was about time we got the brains behind it Vice Cooler to answer out After Hours questions. Judging on his answers he could possibly be my new best friend or something. He loves Weeds, cookies and fried foods. Plus he hates sports. It’s like we were seperated at birth or something.

His album, Islands of Ayle is out now on Southern Records. Continue Reading

After Hours is back after a short vacation. We’ve been in touch with tons of your favourite artists as well as some of our new favourite acts to find out what they’ve been listening/reading/watching etc. Kicking things off this week is David Cronenberg’s Wife’s lead singer Tom Mayne. We were rather taken with their debut album Bluebeards Room and thought we’d get inside his head a little bit more.. Turns out he’s a bit of an agraphobe in his spare time - perhaps that explains some of the paranoia strewn lyrics that run throughout the album.. Continue Reading

Mothlite release their mesmerising debut album The Flax Of Reverie next week via Southern Records. It’s hard to pin a category on these guys - their music is simply epic. A whirring carousel of sound that occasionally feels like your listening to the end of the world happening before your very ears. Listen to some songs here or even better, buy the album here.

Find out what the London based duo have been watching/reading/listening to lately…

Who’s your favourite new band at the moment? Tell us a bit about them.
New bands of interest are few and far between. Fovea Hex has been working for me lately. That’s Clodagh Simonds’ ambient project with favourable collaborators… including Eno, Carter Burwell, Andrew Mckenzie, etc. Continue Reading

It’s that After Hours time of the week again..This week, it’s the turn of The Owl Service. An intriguing four piece who create a truly strange and beautiful sound, as if beamed in from another era. A track from their forthcoming album A Garland Of Song (release June 13th via Southern) can be downloaded for free from our rather awesome Southern Records Sampler. Grab the whole thing here folks. We caught up with founder of the band, Steve Collins to find out what he’s been reading/watching/listening to lately….

It’s our round, what are you having?
A pint of Adnams Broadside please, with a Jack Daniels chaser.

Who’s your favourite new band at the moment? Tell us a bit about them.
One of my favourite new bands is Rubus - a 3 piece centred around singer Emily Portman (who also plays in The Devil’s Interval with another fine singer named Jim Causley). Basically, they’re dedicated to playing traditional British folk music with great arrangements, all topped off with Portman’s stunning vocals. - What’s been the best album you’ve heard in the last 12 months?My favourite new album from the last 12 months is probably Wolves in the Throne Room’s “Two Hunters”. My favourite old-but-new-to-me album is Sandy Bull “Fantasias For Guitar and Banjo”. It’s the blueprint for the current freak-folk sound - you’d think it was Six Organs of Admittance, but it was recorded in 1964. Just amazing, timeless music. Continue Reading

Not only is he the newest member of the magnificent Fleet Foxes, Josh Tillman is also a highly respected solo artist in his own right. Having released three albums over the same number of years, Tillman has just finished his fourth Vacilando Territory Blues which is set for release at some point this year. We caught up with Josh a few days ago to find out what he’s been listening/reading/watching over the past few months.

To find out more about Tillman’s work, check out our TLOBF Loves piece on him from a couple of days ago.

Who’s your favourite new band at the moment? Tell us a bit about them.
An instrumental group from Texas called Balmorhea. It’s pretty classically informed and a great sucker-punch for the Western ear. “River Arms” has been great company on bike rides, etc.

What’s been the best album you’ve heard in the last 12 months?
The Daktaris “Soul Explosion”

What was the last book you read? Would you recommend it?
I just finished “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins. Carrying that book around is something of a confrontation sandwich board and I’ve had to diffuse quite a few “witnessing” attempts on airplanes, gettng coffee, etc. I’d recommend it for private enjoyment, or to invest in a Bible book cover. Continue Reading

For this edition of After Hours, we managed to track down NYC based Milena Mepris, one half of Transatlantic duo Pin Me Down. Ultimately a side project for Bloc Party guitarist Russell Lissack, Pin Me Down have been making waves with their current single ‘Cryptic’. Shedding the angular restrains of Bloc Party, Lissack has forged his distinctive guitar parts with infectious 80’s beats and Kim Wilde-esque melodies. Check out their myspace why don’t ya.. ‘Cryptic’ is released on June 2nd via Kitsune.

Who’s your favourite new band at the moment? Tell us a bit about them.
Milena Mepris: I quite like Santogold - she is based near us in Brooklyn and, for a while, we were sharing a drummer with her. Santi’s music is great - a mesh of a ton of genres - everything from electronic and hip hop beats to pure pop to ska guitars. She’s got a great ear for melody, a malleable voice, and a lot of personality. I think she will do really well. Continue Reading

Tapes ‘N Tapes have returned with their sophomore album. Whilst not quite hitting the heights of their debut, their twisted and slewed pop music has been amusing us at TLOBF Towers for some time. We caught up with their drummer, Jeremy Hanson to find out what he’s been upto recently outside of band practice…

Continue Reading

As our new feature gathers momentum, we caught up with Hutch Harris of the Portland-punk outfit, The Thermals, and found out what he’s been up to recently. It sounds like he’s been living in a 80’s time bubble…

Continue Reading

We’ve had The Last Tycoon, the debut album from Peter Morén on heavy rotation at TLOBF for weeks now. On a brief hiatus from his day job in Peter Bjorn & John, Morén has proved he has the chops to make it on his own as a solo artist. But what makes him tick? We caught up with him last week to find out.

Who’s your favourite new band at the moment?
Probably a swedish band called Park Hotell. They’ve only released one ep last year, which I really enjoyed. Kind of New Orderish. I also really like White Williams. Continue Reading

Would you believe it, a new feature on TLOBF! We’ve put our thinking caps on and come up with this - After Hours - a means of finding out what those mysterious bands and artists get up to outside of the day job. What do they watch? Do they spend hours on Facebook? We find out so you’re better informed… First up is the Prince of Depression: Malcolm Middleton who’s Sleight Of Heart album was recently released and embarks on a tour of the UK NOW (dates belows)…

Continue Reading