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And so the agonising wait is over, the first week of term has finally arrived! But whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the streets of York or you’re descending upon this fair city for the first time, if you like your music, of both the live and recorded varieties, then you’ll want to stop by The Yorker every Monday. Here you will find a succinct weekly guide to musical goings-on, both locally and nationally, with previews of a selection of single and album releases, as well as a guide to the hottest gigs York has to offer.
The musical week gets a prompt kick-start from post-hardcore band We Are The Ocean who perform at Fibbers tonight; the London-based quintet are currently touring in the wake of the release of their debut album Cutting Our Teeth. Fibbers may also be the ideal place to end your week hosting Young Rebel Set, the as-yet unsigned but fast-rising indie folk-rock outfit, on Friday, and Bristol-based electronica act Wilder, a new addition to the Rough Trade roster, on Sunday.
For something different altogether, pay a visit to The Duchess on Wednesday where three-piece Adrian Edmondson And The Bad Shepherds will 'folk-ify' punk classics by acts such as Kraftwerk, Thin Lizzy and Talking Heads, utilising mandolins, fiddles and most intriguingly the Uilleann pipes; not one to be missed. The same venue draws the week to a close with a local swashbuckling theme: The Buccaneers take to the stage with their blues-rock stylings on Friday, with folk sextet Blackbeard's Tea Party hot on their heels on Saturday. Yo-ho-ho indeed...
Of course, on Saturday there is the small matter of The Big Bang, YUSU's revamp of the Fresher's Ball. While a number of last minute cancellations from high profile artists have marred several of the events of the last few years, the impressive ensnaring of pop sensation Marina and the Diamonds may just mean that this bash is worth a look in. See, hear and read about Marina's stomper of a single 'Shampain' below.
This week marks two big releases in the alternative circuit, the first coming in the shape of the ninth studio album from much-revered indie folk hero Sufjan Stevens. Hot on the heels of August's EP All Delighted People, the record, entitled The Age Of Adz, is said to incorporate a great deal of electronica and orchestration and features guest appearances from The National, an interesting addition to the Detroit singer-songwriter's portfolio.
Meanwhile, Glaswegian twee pop legends Belle & Sebastian make themselves known to the recording industry once more after a four-year break, following on from their return to the festival circuit this summer and in anticipation of their UK tour in December. Write about Love is the septet's eighth LP and you can see them performing album track 'I Want The World To Stop' here:
Kings Of Leon - 'Radioactive'
The taster that precipitates the Tennessee quartet's fifth studio album, Come Around Sundown released next Monday, 'Radioactive' would seem to indicate that the Followill's have managed to take a step away from the style that permeated 2008's mega-selling Only By The Night without alienating the many, many fans of 'Sex On Fire' and 'Use Somebody'. Unfortunately this may not be what the Followill's were after, having made plain their frustration with their newly acquired fair-weather fans in recent interviews. Audience issues aside, however, the spacious sound created by searing guitars and rattling drums makes for a refreshing change, with frontman Caleb relaxing his vocals beautifully in the verse before letting rip with his trademark hoarseness in each chorus. It's hard to picture people singing their lungs out to it in clubs, but I'm sure the band will take that as a compliment.
Marina And The Diamonds - 'Shampain'
The thundering electronics that launch 'Shampain' seem almost to herald Marina Diamandis as the new Princess of Pop before Her Majesty launches into her ever passionate lyrics, eloquently wondering when dawn will break as 'sleep is not my friend'. The previous three singles from her much-acclaimed and much-purchased album The Family Jewels were well chosen, and the fourth is no exception, a glittering, stomping account of personal crisis and a gargantuan bass hook that will rattle around your head all day. See the marvellous 'Thriller' inspired video here:
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