Bands to watch: Boy Mandeville

27 April 2011

I was lucky enough to catch Boy Mandeville (facebook/twitter/soundcloud) a few weeks ago when they played a Lyle & Scott night at XOYO along with Ice Black Birds and the much-hyped Summer Camp. There was no denying that Boy Mandeville stole the show that night, getting the crowds dancing to their sun-drenched tunes as we all wished in the summer.

The London-based but Cambridge-formed quartet may have invented their name as a corruption of Bernard Mandeville, a Dutch/English philosopher, but their frantic jaunty worldbeat is the perfect accompaniment to any day in the sunshine. Like today. They’ve garnered comparisons with the likes of Larrikin Love and Vampire Weekend, but they have settled into their own style that is more than a combination of their influences, as shown rather sweetly on Gorilla – their latest release on their own Around the Dial Records.

And the best way I know to show my appreciation of the new soundtrack to my summer was to book them to play our showcase on 19th May at Dingwalls, Camden (tickets)

[BUY] By Mandeville – Killing the Work @ East City Records | Amazon | iTunes
[BUY] Boy Mandeville – Christina/Raising Snake @ Amazon | iTunes
[FREE] Boy Mandeville – Mo Skrib EP for the price of an email address

Boy Mandeville – Gorilla
Boy Mandeville – Christina
Boy Mandeville – Steel Horse
Boy Mandeville – Hives
Boy Mandeville – Need More Stuff

Yonderboy – All Bob Minor/Too Easy

By: will

22 April 2011

In: Reviews

0 comments

Yonderboy is just another example of the seemingly endless supply of talent flowing out of Leeds. On the verge of their second release, the band has already gained raving reviews for their first release effort, a split EP with Leeds indie-popsters Just handshakes (We’re British). In the past, the band have been picked by both Frightened Rabbit and The Antlers for support and have a great reputation for their live sets.

This forthcoming release, the double A -side single All Bob Minor/Too Easy, demonstrates the band’s innovative approach to the contexts of their songs, with the first track discussing the wrongdoings and immorality of breaking into a church.
While the band clearly takes influences from artists such as the Smiths and The wedding Present, their sound is appreciatively distinctive. With the bass having an almost Maccabees’ style, the simplistic and clean guitars add layers of interesting picking and clear rhythm. Horns adds an almost sorrowful aspect to the narrative of the first track ‘All Bob Minor’. The pace of the two tracks is dizzyingly varied, with driving tempo being met with gaps of slow rhythm.

Vocally, the band’s range is impressive; high pitch singing and quieter instruments at certain points add greatly to the style of the band and gives an opportunity to enjoy the established vocals of lead singer Zand Murphy. The lyrics appear thoughtful and carefully selected, adding to bands overall sound quite effectively. I particularly enjoy the options the tracks offer, a mix of danceable choruses and laid back verse.

Yonderboy have many of the elements of a great indie-pop band, yet with a notably thoughtful and retro approach.

The double A-side single All Bob Minor/Too Easy will be available to download from the 30th of April. Hopefully I will put together a live review of their set at Live at Leeds.
All Bob Minor / Too Easy by Yonderboymusic

Live Dates

28th April – The Bakery Vaults, Stockport (Headline)
30th April – Live At Leeds (The Cockpit Main Room – 5pm)
19th May – Trof – Fallowfield, Manchester (Headline)
23rd July – Deer Shed Festival

Beau and The Arrows – 0.7.9.3

By: Tim

21 April 2011

In: News & Leaks

3 comments

Beau and The Arrows - 0.7.9.3 April has been a busy month for South London post-punk quartet Beau and The Arrows (Facebook/Twitter) with the band putting out their second single 0.7.9.3 only a few weeks after their debut.

0.7.9.3 is out on Happy Release, and frontman Beau Carter describes it as “An anthem. An in your face, gut wrenching song that showcases the bare bones of what Beau and the Arrows are all about.” – tough to argue with that.

B-side One Last Summer is more brooding, slower and darker, and demonstrates a different side to the band which we might see more of on their debut album “Future Kicks” which hopefully will be released sometime this summer.

Beau and The Arrows are playing tonight at The Monarch, Camden (Facebook) so get yourself along.

[BUY] Beau and The Arrows – 0.7.9.3 from Bandcamp | Amazon

Beau and The Arrows – Beau and the Arrows – 0.7.9.3
Beau and The Arrows – Beau and the Arrows – One Last Summer (B side)