MORE THAN THE MUSIC POST: Introducing The White Album

No, not that one. The White Album are instead a fab new alt folk trio from Denmark. These heavily bearded young men offer a sumptuous, unassuming and serene sound full of a cool Scandinavian melancholy. Think along the lines of Troll Hunter or The Killing to sort of capture the vibe, minus the gruesomeness, of course.

The White Album recently released their second EP Conquistador, following on from the group’s debut EP The Album in 2011. Conquistador, released in September, offers listeners six tracks of delicate, soothing timbres and melodies, recorded in a cabin in the depths of the Danish wilderness. Throughout this recent EP, The White Album create typically sparse tracks, often with just guitars and vocals. Drums are thrown in occasionally for good measure, however, and although acoustic guitars are the order of the day, electric guitars with haunting chorus and reverb sections occasionally stir it up.

Contemporaries of The White Album could include Alt-J, The Magnetic North and Peter Wolfe Crier, who all share a love of intricate harmonies and haunting a cappella vocals. There is also a gentle, tender humour to their lyrics, alongside touching raw emotion.

The White Album are multi-instrumentalists with a diverse live show, which will hopefully visit our shores soon. We should also hope for a debut album in 2013.

See this at MTTM at: http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/the-next-best-thing/new-music-the-white-album/

MORE THAN THE MUSIC POST: Dum Dum Girls - End of Daze EP

End of Daze is the first release we have seen from the Dum Dum Girls this year, following a prolific number of releases from the girls in 2010 and 2011 (the Dum Dum Girls offered two LPs and three EPS over a two-year period). This tight and well-composed EP offers more of the Dum Dum Girl’s trademark lo-fi garage rock, but with this release the girls have offered listeners a more varied sound, proving to their critics that they have turned into a far more capable, versatile band than they perhaps were two years ago.

Throughout End of Daze there are subtle shifts in vibe and instrumental technique, from the subtly upbeat and almost peppy I Got Nothing to the melancholic, grave and sparse Trees and Flowers. There are catchy lyrics and vocal hooks too, noticeably more so than previous efforts.

The classic Dum Dum Girls vibe still shines through on this release however. The sonic atmosphere is moody, dark and mellow, with lashings of reverb, and gorgeously thick, heavy bass tones place deep into the mix. Vocals are once again heavily saturated, sultry and breathy, with that slightly flat delivery still ever so reminiscent of the Shangri Las, or contemporaries such as Best Coast and Friends.

With End of Daze, the Dum Dum Girls have once again offer their trademark non-clichéd guitar driven style. Stylish, heavy, but never overpowering or gratuitous. End of Daze is out now.

See this at MTTM at: http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/reviews/album-reviews/dum-dum-girls-end-of-daze-ep/

THE GIRLS ARE POST: My Tiger My Timing Single Review

My Tiger My Timing, ‘Let Me Go’, Snakes and Ladders

Taken from the group’s debut album Celeste released earlier in the year, ‘Let Me Go’ is the latest single from alt-pop pretenders My Tiger My Timing.  The single welcomes the listener with a rich tapestry of guitar timbres, sourced from a selection of new wave reference points, from Johnny Marr to The Cure, to Echo and the Bunny Men. The vibe is mellow with a syrupy smoothness, but enriched with a dark, brooding quality deep with the track’s subconscious. As is typical with My Tiger My Timing, this is definitively a pop track, but with a twisted, diverse edge and a decidedly cool character.


The south London five-piece have certainly come a long way from their emergence at the tail end of nu-rave. As with much of the group’s debut album ‘Let Me Go’ is complex and considered. New wave is certainly a strong influence on the group’s work, but they have also infused tribal pop, electro, post-punk and alternative indie to create a cultured yet accessible sound. The lyrics throughout ‘Let Me Go’ are also impressive – intelligent and considered throughout, yet maintaining a simple chorus hook that should be accessible to most audiences.

‘Let Me Go” is available now to download on the group’s own Snakes and Ladders label. My Tiger My Timing have one show left this year at Paradiso in Amsterdam, but are sure to commence live dates once again in 2013.