BEF is a new project featuring Yourcodenameis:milo guitarist Justin Lockey and Aid Burrows, the singer/guitarist from My Architects. Their first record, ‘Chapter One: A Long Way Home’, is released digitally via the relatively new label Erased Tapes on the 26th of November. I have always been a massive fan of the misunderstood and frankly underrated YCNI:M, but the music offered here is rather different from that band’s dense and (at times) over-complicated music.

On their debut BEF layer beautifully harmonised vocals over fuzzy, glitchy electronica. The songs are constructed around simple, repeating piano motifs which, along with Burrows’ gentle northern accent, contribute a real sense of warmth to the album.

Final track ‘All Those Demons’ best illustrates the record’s overall sound, while the title track, placed midway in the running order, is both uplifting and intense and showcases the group’s broad sonic palette. Hopefully these songs will encourage you to download the rest of the album (thoroughly recommended!), which you can pre-order by clicking here.

Hamish.

BEF – A Long Way From Home [Download]

BEF – All Those Demons [Download]

The Metal Hearts’ second album Socialize has a steady, brooding urgency that makes for a not entirely comfortable listen, but it is compelling all the same. The stark, simple sound of Anar Badalov’s and Flora Wolpert-Checknoff’s guitars is clearly influenced by Cat Power, and is always underpinned by their reliable drum-machine. Occasionally things build up to create a denser, more enveloping sound, recalling the weightier moments of Mogwai’s Rock Action LP (check out Mountain Song on the band’s myspace page and see what I mean). Flora’s voice seems to be more prominent than Anar’s, though they mostly sing in unison. This adds warmth to arrangements that might sometimes feel a little structurally exposed.

Amidst all this bleakness, the title track stands out for its major key melody (at least in the chorus) and soothing, delicate vocals. It’s a great introduction to the The Metal Hearts, and you can download it right here…

The Metal Hearts – Socialize

Buy Socialize LP

metalheartsmusic.com / Myspace

Hamish.

P.s. Please let us know what you think of the music we recommend – leave us a comment by clicking the link below. After all, the reason we write on The Blue Walrus is because we want to talk about the music we love, so it would be great to know if people agree or disagree, with us or with each other, about what we say about bands!

Is Fionn Regan just another Damien Rice? (please keep reading…) No! The two are analogous up to a point – same nationality, both singer-songwriters, a similar raspy, honest voice, but pleasingy Fionn is miles apart in every other way. His voice has an engaging innocence and his compositions avoid the cloying sentimentality that Rice trades in, whilst still managing to pull gently at the heart strings. The music is folksy yet innovative, with twists and idiosyncrasies that frequently make your ears prick up. This eccentricity courses through his lyrics as well, the charming meander of ‘Put A Penny In The Slot’ a case in point.

Fionn’s new album ‘The End Of History’ was released in August on Bella Union records, and you can buy it at Amazon, well worth the bargain eight quids they’re selling it for!

Fionn Regan – Blackwater Child

Fionn Regan / Myspace