THE GIRLS ARE POST: February News Pieces

Rebecca Ferguson Video Release:

Soulful X Factor darling Rebecca Ferguson has unveiled the video to her new track ‘Too Good to Lose’.
Following on from the release of her debut, self-penned album Heaven in early December, ‘Too Good to Lose’ once again demonstrates her excellent vocal abilities, which have clearly matured past the boundaries of the show that spawned her.
The single is out on on March 4 and is a combined release through Syco and Epic. The track is currently available for pre-order on iTunes.
Ferguson also begins her first ever UK tour tonight, continuing throughout February and March.

Charlene Soraia Live Session:

Following on from the release of her critically-acclaimed debut album Moonchild, singer-songwriter Charlene Soraia has recorded a live session of a new track entitled ‘Animal’.
This entirely new song does not feature on Soraia’s debut, but it does include the musician’s genuinely unique guitar skills on her much beloved baritone guitar (affectionately named Barry). Known to many as the girl who sang ‘Wherever You Will Go’ on the Twinings advert, this new track once again showcases her talent beautifully.
Soraia’s first headline UK tour kicked off on Sunday – unfortunately, all shows are now sold out, but she has announced further dates in bigger venues across the UK and Ireland in April, this time with a full band.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Remix EP:

Hip Brooklyn-based indie-pop quartet The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart have announced details of a new remix EP in support of Record Store Day 2012.
The remixes have been lifted from the group’s critically-acclaimed sophomore album Belong, released in March 2011. This new EP, entitled Acid Reflex, is set for release on Play It Again Sam, and will be available on limited edition coloured vinyl and digital download from Record Store Day onwards, which will be held this year on April 21.
The tracklisting for Acid Reflex is as follows:
1. Heart In Your Heartbreak (Twin Shadow Remix)
2. The Body (Violens Remix)
3. Too Tough (Saint Etienne Remix)
4. My Terrible Friend (Washed Out Remix)
The band are also playing a one-off UK show at O2 Academy Islington on March 8 – tickets are on sale now.

Jodie Marie Additional Tour Dates:

Youthful pop-soul singer Jodie Marie has announced a new string of live dates for the next few months, including a low-key album launch show for her debut album Mountain Echo.
After successfully appearing at a number of key London venues, including XOYO, The Barfly and the Jazz Café, Marie will be performing at the Women of Peace fundraising night, hosted at Chelsea’s intimate Pheasantry Club. She also has a couple of homecoming dates planned for her native Wales.
Current dates are listed below; tickets are extremely limited. More dates are to be announced shortly.

See these at TGA:
http://www.thegirlsare.com/2012/02/20/video-rebecca-ferguson/ 
http://www.thegirlsare.com/2012/02/21/read-all-about-it-charlene-soraia/
http://www.thegirlsare.com/2012/02/28/read-all-about-it-the-pains-of-being-pure-at-heart-4/
http://www.thegirlsare.com/2012/02/28/read-all-about-it-jodie-marie-2/

MORE THAN THE MUSIC POST: Favourite Album Covers

Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables

A true punk album cover in every sense of the word. At first glance it simply has a vague, sense of cold, oppressive, unknown violence – lots of black, a little white, and a huge plume of smoke is the preliminary impression. Ultimately the image is *only* a row of cars burning out, but the air of tolerance and even an understanding of such acts of mindless nihilistic aggression on behalf of the artist (and by proxy the band themselves), is rather unnerving – a vibe that every genuine punk act should surely aspire to.

The Pogues – Rum, Sodomy and the Lash

This is such an iconic album cover – incredibly atmospheric, dirty and romantic, just like The Pogues themselves. Released in 1985, the cover to Rum, Sodomy and the Lash is based on the painting The Raft of the Medusa by Theodore Gericault, with each band member’s face subtly daubed over the original. The Gericault painting was based on real-life survivors of a shipwreck in the 19^th centaury, who had to ensure starvation, dehydration and eventual madness and cannibalism before being finally rescued. Another marvellously overdramatic metaphor for the band’s collective consciousness.

Roisin Murphy – Overpowered

A fantastically witty, subtly humorous album cover that exudes aesthetic intuition. The juxtaposition of your average greasy spoon café against Murphy’s outlandishly creative and gratuitous outfit is simply marvellous.

See this is MTTM: http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/features/musings-on-music/favourite-album-covers/

MORE THAN THE MUSIC POST: Introducing Katzenjammer

Katzenjammer have been floating around on the radar for a while, with a number of well-received UK gigs completed last year, along with plenty of good press and airplay. I was surprised therefore to discover that the group, who are from Oslo in Norway, have yet to release any music in the UK. That is set to change very soon however.

Katzenjammer are an all-female band who formed in 2005. They have released two albums in their native Norway to both critical and commercial success. Throughout 2011 though the girl’s have been developing a following throughout the UK, with a solid festival schedule introducing audiences to their riotous folk-pop cum gypsy-punk sound.

The name Katzenjammer itself is a German word, literally meaning a cat howling, or a discordant sound. In many ways this is an accurate metaphor for the group’s sound, which is incredibly varied, with a whole mess of influences and styles exampled. Katzenjammer’s music is mostly folk inspired, with Scottish and Irish folk being sourced in particular. There is also plenty of Balkan folk influences, country pop, swing, and bar room jazz in their music as well, so much so that the music sweeps in focus from track to track. One minute the group sounds like Golgo Bordello, then on the next track they sound like The Puppini Sisters, then the next they sound like Dolly Parton. It is a total mess at times, but very enjoyable with it.

Katzenjammer’s music is not only stuffed with genres and influences, but it is also chock full of instruments too. The four girls are all multi-instrumentalists, and can play over 25 different instruments between them, including accordion, melodica, balalaika and zither. They also have some lovely voices too, switching easily from pretty, soft vox to a more punchy, attitude-ridden style seamlessly.

Katzenjammer’s debut album A Kiss Before You Go is set for release in May 2012, and their debut UK single I Will Dance (When I Walk Away) is scheduled for March.

See this at MTTM at: http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/the-next-best-thing/introducing-katzenjammer/