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After compiling a list of 50 favourite albums of 2012, it’s time to look ahead at a few newer names that may or may not ‘breakthrough’ in 2013. They’re all certainly worth watching out for and checking out over the next 12 months. Last year my list was a little longer, but it seemed a bit silly listing 35 acts (in 2010, I listed 50!) – So I’ve gone for a more stream-lined and concise 25!
I try not to tip or mention artists that are specifically destined for commercial success – it’s never a good idea to try and second guess people’s tastes. And who cares if an artist goes mainstream or not anyway? What I prefer to do is turn people onto interesting new music across a range of different genres and styles. Below you’ll see indie, rock, electronica, hardcore, experimentalism, pop, acoustic singer-songwriters, post-rock, hip-hop and more...
In alphabetical order:
1. Alarm Bells - BBC
After compiling a list of 50 favourite albums of 2012, it’s time to look ahead at a few newer names that may or may not ‘breakthrough’ in 2013. They’re all certainly worth watching out for and checking out over the next 12 months. Last year my list was a little longer, but it seemed a bit silly listing 35 acts (in 2010, I listed 50!) – So I’ve gone for a more stream-lined and concise 25!
I try not to tip or mention artists that are specifically destined for commercial success – it’s never a good idea to try and second guess people’s tastes. And who cares if an artist goes mainstream or not anyway? What I prefer to do is turn people onto interesting new music across a range of different genres and styles. Below you’ll see indie, rock, electronica, hardcore, experimentalism, pop, acoustic singer-songwriters, post-rock, hip-hop and more...
In alphabetical order:
1. Alarm Bells - BBC
The new band from ex-members of Dananananaykroyd, Alarm Bells will be heading out on a DIY Presents mini-tour this March, their first solo outing. The run will kick off 15th March in Nottingham, going on to visit London, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh:
MARCH
15 JT Soar, Nottingham (all ages / BYOB)
16 Old Blue Last, London (w/ Fatherson, Yo'True (ex Tubelord/Encyclopedia))
17 Cluny 2, Newcastle
21 Stereo, Glasgow
22 Fresh Air Festival, Edinburgh
That's not all we've got for you this afternoon however, we're also premiering the video for their track 'Speeding Ticket', which you can see above. It's the second cut from their debut EP 'Part One', which came out at the end of last year.
Here's a little about the footage:
"What if a band done an AOL webcast in 1999 and some one ripped it using windows 95 and you downloaded it from them through KazzA at 0.7kbps? Presenting the new video from Alarm Bells - 'Speeding Ticket'!
"It is a glitched-out, laser-fuelled live performance video harking back to a time when digital video was a mess of colour reduction and down-scaled interlace DivX conversions - a 56k dial-up nightmare." - This Is Fake DIY
The new band from ex-members of Dananananaykroyd, Alarm Bells will be heading out on a DIY Presents mini-tour this March, their first solo outing. The run will kick off 15th March in Nottingham, going on to visit London, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh:
MARCH
15 JT Soar, Nottingham (all ages / BYOB)
16 Old Blue Last, London (w/ Fatherson, Yo'True (ex Tubelord/Encyclopedia))
17 Cluny 2, Newcastle
21 Stereo, Glasgow
22 Fresh Air Festival, Edinburgh
That's not all we've got for you this afternoon however, we're also premiering the video for their track 'Speeding Ticket', which you can see above. It's the second cut from their debut EP 'Part One', which came out at the end of last year.
Here's a little about the footage:
"What if a band done an AOL webcast in 1999 and some one ripped it using windows 95 and you downloaded it from them through KazzA at 0.7kbps? Presenting the new video from Alarm Bells - 'Speeding Ticket'!
"It is a glitched-out, laser-fuelled live performance video harking back to a time when digital video was a mess of colour reduction and down-scaled interlace DivX conversions - a 56k dial-up nightmare." - This Is Fake DIY
Dananananaykroyd were quite a band. Edgy, involving, humorous and committed; it was with no shortage of sadness that the world bade farewell to them in 2011. Frenetic lines and up close live work, married to a fearlessly individual approach made them a grand proposition.
Alarm Bells is the new project from most of their previous line-ups. A solid ten people came and went, in their previous incarnation, and these individuals splintered off to create their own rackets in Acrnym, Dolby Anol and Multiplies. It must, also, be stated that Dananananaykroyd left a strong legacy of well thought out, well considered pop-core that pulled no punches, and confronting your bands’ successful past can be daunting.
Luckily, there is no such concerns with Alarm Bells. ‘Speeding Ticket’ is a bewildering mash of pixelated half-colour, miasmal in its explosive imagery. Creating a video this deliberately obtuse in such media-dependant times speaks to a band who are confident enough to let the music speak for itself.
That music is intense, diligently crafted and delivers a huge amount of information in it’s 4:43 timespan. Bits of spazzed Fugazi, OK Go, fast-core drumming and indie delicacy operate as a seemless SWAT team of musical interplay, and though there are inevitable tips of the hat to their previous outfit (John Baillie Jnr’s vocals being a primary focus); this stands alone in its individuality.
Truly exciting stuff, and looking at their other video (the truly surreal ‘Cocoons’), there is an abundance of top stuff due to emerge from this gifted band. - Fortitude Magazine
Dananananaykroyd were quite a band. Edgy, involving, humorous and committed; it was with no shortage of sadness that the world bade farewell to them in 2011. Frenetic lines and up close live work, married to a fearlessly individual approach made them a grand proposition.
Alarm Bells is the new project from most of their previous line-ups. A solid ten people came and went, in their previous incarnation, and these individuals splintered off to create their own rackets in Acrnym, Dolby Anol and Multiplies. It must, also, be stated that Dananananaykroyd left a strong legacy of well thought out, well considered pop-core that pulled no punches, and confronting your bands’ successful past can be daunting.
Luckily, there is no such concerns with Alarm Bells. ‘Speeding Ticket’ is a bewildering mash of pixelated half-colour, miasmal in its explosive imagery. Creating a video this deliberately obtuse in such media-dependant times speaks to a band who are confident enough to let the music speak for itself.
That music is intense, diligently crafted and delivers a huge amount of information in it’s 4:43 timespan. Bits of spazzed Fugazi, OK Go, fast-core drumming and indie delicacy operate as a seemless SWAT team of musical interplay, and though there are inevitable tips of the hat to their previous outfit (John Baillie Jnr’s vocals being a primary focus); this stands alone in its individuality.
Truly exciting stuff, and looking at their other video (the truly surreal ‘Cocoons’), there is an abundance of top stuff due to emerge from this gifted band. - Fortitude Magazine
Known for their anarchic ‘fight-pop’ style, when singer John Baillie Junior wasn’t breaking limbs in stage jumps, their live shows were actually collective displays of camaraderie. Wall of cuddles, anyone?
In September 2011 they announced they were calling it a day after two albums, but last year Alarm Bells rose phoneix-like from the ashes, with five of the original members on board.
The trademark energy remains, but if anything their playful brand of post-hardcore has become even more inventive. On the EP Part One, the quintet veer from head-spinning squelch-rock (Speeding Ticket) to the measured brutality of lead single Cocoons. - WOW 24/7 | The Scotsman
Known for their anarchic ‘fight-pop’ style, when singer John Baillie Junior wasn’t breaking limbs in stage jumps, their live shows were actually collective displays of camaraderie. Wall of cuddles, anyone?
In September 2011 they announced they were calling it a day after two albums, but last year Alarm Bells rose phoneix-like from the ashes, with five of the original members on board.
The trademark energy remains, but if anything their playful brand of post-hardcore has become even more inventive. On the EP Part One, the quintet veer from head-spinning squelch-rock (Speeding Ticket) to the measured brutality of lead single Cocoons. - WOW 24/7 | The Scotsman
The former members of the much missed Dananananaykroyd decided to reconvene in the guise of Alarm Bells and release Cocoons last week.
Retaining their previous incarnation’s ability to turn on a sixpence, pull-themselves inside out and tumble over without missing a beat, Alarm Bells have added electronic elements and a Cronenberg psychedelia. Think The Mars Volta without the 9-minute solos and you are probably still quite far off, but you are in the right frame of mind. Extremely limited copies were available from last week, and every one goes towards funding the next release. - STV Entertainment
The former members of the much missed Dananananaykroyd decided to reconvene in the guise of Alarm Bells and release Cocoons last week.
Retaining their previous incarnation’s ability to turn on a sixpence, pull-themselves inside out and tumble over without missing a beat, Alarm Bells have added electronic elements and a Cronenberg psychedelia. Think The Mars Volta without the 9-minute solos and you are probably still quite far off, but you are in the right frame of mind. Extremely limited copies were available from last week, and every one goes towards funding the next release. - STV Entertainment
Remember Dananananananananananakroyd? Those self-proclaimed fight-pop pioneers from Glasgow? When they announced their split - or more accurately their decision to stop ‘smashing audiences around their collective faces’ – in September of last year, many mourned the loss of a band that never quite achieved the mainstream recognition that they probably deserved. Thankfully though, for all those still listening to Black Wax on loop, there is a glimmer of hope.
This spring two thirds of the briefly defunct band, and one new addition, formed Alarm Bells. The sort-of-fledgling group have already toured with Bloc Party and Maps & Atlasses and, this week, they uncovered the mind-bendingly progressive, Cocoon – and the surreal, confusing, and slightly nauseating, video that accompanies it. - This Is Fake DIY
Remember Dananananananananananakroyd? Those self-proclaimed fight-pop pioneers from Glasgow? When they announced their split - or more accurately their decision to stop ‘smashing audiences around their collective faces’ – in September of last year, many mourned the loss of a band that never quite achieved the mainstream recognition that they probably deserved. Thankfully though, for all those still listening to Black Wax on loop, there is a glimmer of hope.
This spring two thirds of the briefly defunct band, and one new addition, formed Alarm Bells. The sort-of-fledgling group have already toured with Bloc Party and Maps & Atlasses and, this week, they uncovered the mind-bendingly progressive, Cocoon – and the surreal, confusing, and slightly nauseating, video that accompanies it. - This Is Fake DIY
Former members of Dananananaykroyd have launched a new project, titled Alarm Bells.
Shuddering to a halt last year, Dananananaykroyd left behind a small yet impeccable back catalogue. Much loved, the Glasgow group wasted no time in splintering off into a myriad of new projects. Alarm Bells are perhaps the most potent of these.
Formed just over a year ago, the five piece share a similar energy to their parent collective but seem to push off in an entirely different direction. Playing a number of shows, the band are now gearing up for their first official release.
'Part One' will be available on limited quantities of 12 inch vinyl, with the four tracks running to the length of an entire album. Fusing elements of prog with analogue electronics and twisting, turning post-hardcore rhythms, Alarm Bells have made an impressive introduction.
Former Gay Against You vocalist turned visual artist Lachlann Rattray has stepped in to shoot a video for lead track 'Cocoons'. - Clash Music
Former members of Dananananaykroyd have launched a new project, titled Alarm Bells.
Shuddering to a halt last year, Dananananaykroyd left behind a small yet impeccable back catalogue. Much loved, the Glasgow group wasted no time in splintering off into a myriad of new projects. Alarm Bells are perhaps the most potent of these.
Formed just over a year ago, the five piece share a similar energy to their parent collective but seem to push off in an entirely different direction. Playing a number of shows, the band are now gearing up for their first official release.
'Part One' will be available on limited quantities of 12 inch vinyl, with the four tracks running to the length of an entire album. Fusing elements of prog with analogue electronics and twisting, turning post-hardcore rhythms, Alarm Bells have made an impressive introduction.
Former Gay Against You vocalist turned visual artist Lachlann Rattray has stepped in to shoot a video for lead track 'Cocoons'. - Clash Music
Discography
January 4th 2013: "Part One" EP 12" Vinyl/Digital
Photos
Bio
When influential ‘fight-pop’ band Dananananaykroyd announced their split, their peers breathed a collective sigh of relief. There would be no more stage acrobatics, splitting crowds apart for the ‘wall of cuddles’ or legendary sets that were so absurdly out of control that they seemed to be held together by kinetic energy.
Little did we know that lead members (the driving force and main songwriters) were already planning a left turn on their next onslaught.
Formed in spring 2012, Alarm Bells were quickly showing off an all new sound, supporting the likes of Bloc Party and Maps & Atlases, tipped by BBC's Vic Galloway as one of his Bands of 2013, as well as playing a handful of festivals throughout the UK. Processed guitars, ancient analogue synthesisers make a unique sonic texture and the kind of mock-grandeur delivery you’d expect from members famous for engaging in actions more irrational and dangerous than the last. Like a mix of the grooves and textures of 70’s Yes contrasting with spartan Fugazi-esque sections, sitting against nauseating math-y interludes and choruses so dense and catchy they seem to come out of nowhere.
"Gloriously batshit crazy" - Horses Playing Harps
"Mind-bendingly progressive" - This Is Fake DIY
"[Alarm Bells have the] ability to turn on a sixpence, pull-themselves inside out and tumble over without missing a beat" - STV Entertainment
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