Pictured: HeartsRevolution

On Tuesday September 23rd, 2008 White Heat at Madame Jojo’s in Soho, London is to feature a special 1AM show by New York’s HeartsRevolution + guest DJ from LA – Franki Chan of Iheartcomix and more.

Live band lineup:

Black Affair
Black Affair is the new band of Steve Mason of Beta Band fame. The end of the Beta Band was a blow for lovers of genuinely progressive British music; its experimentalism, however, is brought into new areas by Black Affair and the results are original and soulful. Steve Mason’s renowned love of hip-hop creates something remarkable, with eerie horror-film synths meeting with staccato percussion, all with an enigmatic 80’s flavour and an amazing mechanical sheen. It’s ambitious, inspired music. “It veers towards the sinister soundscaping of Depeche Mode and the synth-addled tendencies of The Human League” – Drowned in Sound.
www.myspace.com/blackaffair

The Oscillation
Drone hypno electronic rockers The Oscillation take shoegaze, krautrock and plenty of other influences and make something else. The brainchild of multi instrumentalist and producer Demian Castellanos, The Oscillation has risen out of the ashes of the critically acclaimed Orichalc Phase (two 12″ only releases for DC Recordings in 2006). Having already worked with such luminaries as producer Tim Holmes from Death In Vegas, as well as a new forthcoming project with a member of Chrome Hoof, Castellanos’ position amongst the cream of the UK’s music fraternity will seem inevitable to anyone who hears The Oscillation.
www.myspace.com/theoscillations

HeartsRevolution (1am show)
New York boy and girl electronicas HeartsRevolution have an unusual take on promotion as they enlist a refurbished ice cream truck, known as HeartsChallenger, to serve as a kitsch store, transportation and record label HQ all in one go. Currently very hot in electronic circles partly due to their split single with, and resemblance to, the wildly popular Crystal Castles.
www.myspace.com/heartsrevolution

Guest DJ: Franki Chan of Iheartcomix

Plus White Heat Djs Matty and Olly.

White Heat
Tuesday 23rd September 2008
Time: 8pm-3am
£7 advance, £8 on the door
Madame Jojo’s, 8–10 Brewer Street, London, W1F 0SE.
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus.
020 7734 3040
events@madamejojos.com

Madame Jojo’s Official Website

I have noted before how much I like The Aliens’ “Robot Man” single and I was happy to see that it’s the next release off of Astronomy For Dogs to hit the shelves and the airwaves. The lads formerly of The Beta Band have got a good thing going with their new band and I’m always looking forward to hearing their latest releases.

“Robot Man” is made up of simple lyrics with the song title often repeated, however there’s just something about the way that the sounds come together – the piano, synths, guitars, bass, drums, vocal harmonies and the groove – feels ‘in the pocket’ and is perfect for the summer.

How about this: sitting out in the back garden on a hot summer’s eve, sipping your favorite choice of beverage with the sounds of “Robot Man” swirling around in the breeze. Or dancing along to the track in the clubs while trying to simulate the robot dance as seen in the video. Cruising down the road with the top down. I think you get what I’m sayin’: “Robot Man” is great for all occasions.

A definite thumbs up from me.

Watch The Aliens video for “Robot Man”

*Dates could change or be added. Go to The Aliens Official Website for the latest news and information.

June

5th Sheffield Leadmill
6th Nottingham Social
8th Reading Fez
10th Norwich Arts Centre
11th Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
13th Bristol Thekla
14th London ULU
16th Glasgow Classic Grand
18th Dublin Crawdaddy
19th Belfast Speakeasy
22nd Glastonbury Festival Park Stage

August

10th Leicester Summer Sundae
11th Field Day
18th Brighton Loop Festival
31st Inveraray Connect Festival

The Aliens Official Website
The Aliens on Myspace

By: Jenny May

Having reunited at the end of 2004 after The Beta Band called it a day, The Aliens put out their debut EP, ‘Alienoid Starmonica’ in May last year before heading to the studio to record their first full-length album. The resultant, ‘Astronomy For Dogs’ was released earlier this year to massive critical acclaim and looks certain to land the band a top slot in the 2007 album of the year lists.

The band’s fantastic new single “Robot Man” is released on June 25th following up last two singles “The Happy Song” and “Setting Sun” and with a summer of festival dates lined-up it looks like The Aliens are here to stay.

The psychedelic-infused rock trio are set to take to the road in the UK and Carling has got 10 tickets to give away for their spectacular live show at Carling Academy 2 Birmingham on Saturday 2nd June. Check http://www.carling.com/members/ for more information.

Well, I had mentioned this to “a friend” and they immediately dismissed the name The Aliens as not good and because of their name, they don’t have any interest in hearing their music. Of course now that I have looked up The Aliens and have now become familiar with them and their music, my friend will just have to grin and bear it when I do go on to play their music for him.

I can’t help but want to share their sound with him. And before I play their music to my friend, he may change his mind about them when I tell him that the members of the Scottish band The Aliens – John Maclean, Robin Jones and Gordon Anderson were also in The Beta Band.

When The Beta Band split up 2004, the following year The Aliens were formed and then in 2006 they released the Alienoid Starmonica EP in the UK.

Their latest single, “Setting Sun” sounds familiar in the sense that there are sounds reminiscent to “All Along The Watchtower” and “California Dreamin’”. However, what I like about “Setting Sun” is it does carry a vintage 60’s sound and it stands out amongst other new releases as of late. They seem cool and listening to their other tracks, “The Happy Song” and especially “Robot Man” (love that song) proves that they’ve got quite a few tricks up their sleeves and I’m looking forward to hearing more.

Watch the video for “Setting Sun”

Following are The Aliens tour dates for March 2007:

*Dates could change! Go to The Aliens Official Website for the latest tour dates and information:

Mar 14 2007 LEADMILL SHEFFIELD
Mar 15 2007 THE SOCIAL NOTTINGHAM
Mar 17 2007 NIGHT & DAY MANCHESTER
Mar 18 2007 FLEECE BRISTOL
Mar 19 2007 ULU LONDON
Mar 20 2007 FAVERSHAM LEEDS
Mar 21 2007 CLUNY NEWCASTLE
Mar 23 2007 CLASSIC GRAND GLASGOW
Mar 24 2007 SPEAKEASY BELFAST
Mar 25 2007 CRAWDADDY DUBLIN

The Aliens
The Aliens on Myspace

By: Jenny May