The Brownies

Tin Man

violet violet

REVIEWS

Single Of The Week 26th/30th Nov 2007 Love This Band b/w Baby's Going Down - Steve Lamaqc BB6 Music

THE-MAG 14/11/2007
There are so many girly / shouty bands on the market at the moment, it gets oh-so easy to write each one off as 'yet another'. With Violet Violet, though, it isn't easy at all.

The audible hooks in 'Love This Band' include a great bit of guitar and seriously good drumming. There's also a comprehensive buttering of quality vocals to prove they can hit a melody as well as a squeek.

'Babys Going Down' has a seriously great beat, like The Cure's 'A Forest', but with an up and down bass line and really simple guitars. The vocals do the rest of the work, supplying instrumental hooks with their ooh-oohing.

I can't dismiss Violet Violet as another grrrlpunk outfit, because they're just too damn good.

Saur 8/10

DROWNED IN SOUND

Both tracks on here are perfectly worthy of a-side status, both being riotous slices of girl rock fantasticness with enough variation between ‘em to prevent Violet Violet being charged with one-song-ponydom. ‘Love This Band’ crunches and thunders its way through an aggressive, power-chording verse which makes way for a sharper edged, jerkier sound in the chorus; while ‘Baby’s Going Down’ spirals frantically through the descending guitars of the verse before switching to an ominous and overcast mood for the chorus. ‘Love This Band’ has a straight-upfront, unapologetically in-yer-face stripped-down feeling to it; ‘Baby’s Going Down’ uses interlaced “Woah-oh-oh” noises to add a disorientating layer of sound over the top of the already frantically fast riff.

Both tracks are fine samples of angry riotgrrl-type punk in the Sleater Kinney vein, with the intelligence to sneer with accuracy and the guts to be loud enough to mean it. And, along with all the venom, there’s also an ear for a tune and an inventiveness which mean that as well as being invigorating and ear searing, these tracks are bloody good fun.

The Kabeedies

The Unremarkables

2 Hot 2 Sweat

ARTROCKER JULY 2008

2 HOT 2 SWEAT (London)
From the already impressive roster of artists on NROne records (Violet Violet, The Brownies) of Norwich, 2 HOT are just Mia and Matt exchanging plenty of call and response vocals, keyboards, guitar, cheap drum machine and programming. Those bemoaning the absence of Tigerforce, LeTigre or inaccessibility of Deathset, look no further than the punk-pop tunes landing as abrasive as Yeah Yeah Yeahs but dancable as CSS. The debut single 'Your space or mine' NROne Records Was a brilliant take on the dominance and dangers of the online community and a wonky electro art-punk classic which we included immediately on the Artrocker Un-signed Volume 4 CD this month. Lo-fi, even twee, but with plenty of mashed-up attitude and tunes.

The Barlights

Rory McVicar

Aeroplane

The Great Shakes

"Martha Reeves and the Vandellas drinking Gin with Philip Larkin."

The Great Shakes are fans of economy. Packing uptight bass, drums, layered harmonies, intelligent guitar, melodies and lyrical wit into a set of intense three-minute pop songs, performed with verve and energy.

On stage, the Shakes bash retro organ and telecaster twang into shape, sounding like The Beach Boys in the echo of a lightly rain dampened British town, but, The Great Shakes are upbeat and love being there. Fall in love with them, and then maybe break their hearts so they can write more great pop songs. Each gig a whistle stop history of pop. 

The Great Shakes have performed with Ghosts, Vincent Vincent and the Villains, Scouting For Girls, Alterkicks, Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man, Cheeky Cheeky & The Nosebleeds, The Others.

About The Great Shakes:
“Welcome to the world of The Great Shakes. A world where jangly guitars and choppy chords make perfect bedfellows. A world where handclaps and harmonies get you wishing it was the Summer of ‘65.” - The Fly

Volatile pop that makes them cosy bedfellows with Vincent Vincent and The Villains and The Postelles. Short, sweet and sprinkled with vocal harmonies. - noisemakesenemies.co.uk

The Great Shakes show real musical skill, vocal ability, and put together great, old-fashioned pop songs with simply descriptive lyrics. Something different from all the samey indie bands around at the moment. - High Voltage

Poppy, loveliness - Lauren Laverne XFM

Man, these guys are good. Melodramatic and theatrical with an element of Mod rock and Motown swing - Bibabidi

The Great Shakes are:
Dan Foden: guitar, keys, vocals

Adam Darricott: guitar, vocals
Max Lutkin: bass, vocals

Joe Mace: drums

The Matthew Project

The Shadow Project

Fuck Dress

The Lost Levels

Rosalita

REVIEWS

ARTROCKER 26/11/2007 (single of the week)
Winning ‘The Road to V’ competition will either be a blessing or a curse for these young chaps, but they're already showing great potential, and coming out fighting with ‘Manga Girl.’ The lyrics aren’t quite there yet, but then again there are only so many ways you can write about cartoon 20-somethings who dress as schoolgirls. Keep one eye firmly on the additional track ‘Art Attack’ - which could be a belting future single.

"It’s filthy bass line will draw you in like a hobo to a can of Special Brew..."

Rory Carroll

Cortez

Oblique

My Visor

These Ghosts

Various Artists

NR2 SUICIDE SING-A-LONG

One of our finest collections to date. A limited Edition (250) 10" Vinyl with the exception of a few promotional copies in orange covers.

Fiel Garvie - Suicide Sing-a long (Renamed for their album)

Magoo - Golden Tones

Alto 45 - Ain't Got Nothing

50ft Monster (Ex Catherine Wheel) - All Lies 

My Visor - Frank

Cthru 27 - Radio'N

NR9 WOMBATONEBAT

TBA

NR HAPPY FUCKING CHRISTMAS 2008

TBA

Alloy Ark