Video: To Kill A King – We Used To Protest/Gamble [premiere]

22 September 2011

To Kill A King

We’ve been keenly watching the output of To Kill A King (Facebook/Twitter) here at Walrus Towers ever since Lauren got wind of Fictional State being released by Communion back in May. And since then the band has been busy recording for their debut EP, My Crooked Saint (released 17th October on Virgin Records) – with a video for each track.

The EP is the fruition of their impassioned and intricate guitar-led songs, with the four videos hanging together as a single story, with each song unearthing a little more to the tale.

Today we’ve got the premiere of their latest video, We Used To Protest/Gamble – a song of love, togetherness and a video that is both beautiful and heart-wrenching.

This is the second video in the series of releases to coincide with the EP, with the band showing the video to Bloody Shirt a couple of weeks ago:

You can see a whole load of other videos from the band on their Youtube channel.

To continue the video theme, we’ve also got a recent video from the fine folk at City Sessions of the band playing an acoustic wistful version of Film Nineteen recorded on the roof of their recording studio in East London.

To Kill a King – “Wrecking Crew” (Acoustic Version) by To Kill A King
To Kill A King – “Bloody Shirt” by To Kill A King

[Photograph courtesy of Cat Stevens]

Introducing: Jessica Jalbert

By: emma.r.weston

22 September 2011

In: News & Leaks

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Jessica Jalbert

Paris Green is a track that separates Jessica Jalbert (Bandcamp/Soundcloud) from the rest of girls sitting in empty bar desperately trying to hit the big time for wistfully playing dream pop until their heart’s content. Her vocals are gently dynamic; breathy at first rising to an angelic crescendo whilst still remaining largely nonchalant. In the same way that Kim Deal manages to insert contented basslines into the most sombre of Pixies songs so does bassist, Rene Wilson.

Along with melancholic vocals and bass, the astral guitars ensure that Paris Green is an ambient, self reflective little number. If Jessica Jalbert carries on in the same vein, I reckon she’ll be a permanent fixture on many a CD rack in the next few years. She’s still a work in progress but so far the prediction is dandy.

Jessica Jalbert – Paris Green by Jessica Jalbert
Necromancy by Jessica Jalbert
Necromancy (Kuhrye-oo Remix) by kuhryeoo
Oh, The Wind Will Blow (ft. Jessica Jalbert) by Doug Hoyer

Cold Specks – Old Stepstone

By: Tim

21 September 2011

In: News & Leaks

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Cold Specks

When Al Spx, aka Cold Specks (Facebook/MySpace), released her hauntingly beautiful debut single, Holland, I was in love within the first few bars. And seeing here live a few days later only added to my excitement of what she may release next.

She has a notable but very roughly recorded back catalogue when recording under the names Basket of Figs and The Hotel Ghost, but a little more emphasis on production and drawing out her soulful voice was certainly needed, and that is what we are getting with her latest single Old Stepstone. It’s just her voice, left fragile and alone and sung with that haunting, gospel quality that reminds you of Christenings by the river in times of old.

Old Stepstone is the b-side from Cold Specks debut single, Holland, which will be released on 17th October on ParadYse.

Old Stepstone by Cold Specks
Old Stepstone by Cold Specks