Brighton Noise – the week in music

As the summer winds on (glorious, isn’t it?) time indoors is perhaps not so enticing when there is a big beach to play on. But, as always, Brighton serves up some goodies with the you-might-think-twice-about-saying-you-like-Perfect Pussy-to-your-Mum, starting off the week (Tues 29 July) at Green Door Store. Set up following the demise of Shoppers, and on the basis of being asked to form a band for a film, Adult World, the noisy but fun nu-punk rockers are led by the Suicide Girls-esque Meredith Graves – their debut album ‘Say Yes To Love’ released earlier this Spring. In support on this fine looking bill are the Cardiff-based Joanna Gruesome whose self-proclaimed ‘dissonant wimp music’ is far from limp-wristed; it’s fast and furious punk-pop. Fun, too.

Ireland’s upbeat electro-pop Le Galaxie (Wed 30 July, Sticky Mike’s) are also a fun band. Their pumping hands-in-the-air tunes are well-crafted, very ’80s in feel, with searing synths, keyboard stabs, drum pads and claps, but all in the best possible taste …

Meanwhile, Brighton singer/songwriter David T. Vine has put together a new six-piece band, Whiskey For The Wounded (Wed 30 July) and will be launching their EP upstairs at The Wick, on the corner of Holland Road and Western Road. Heavily inspired by classic literature, poetry and sci-fi, the music draws influences from the likes of Elliot Smith and Bon Iver. As the band’s name suggests, the music is reflective, and best accompanied by a stiff drink. The American raised but Brighton based Ed Prosek is in support.

Brighton’s Republic of Music are a growing music company of repute, mainly concerned with distribution but now spreading their wings into artistic management. And here (Thurs 31 July, The Hope) they have put together the first of hopefully many new act nights, headlined by the Hot Chip-meets-DFA’s irresistible modern dance grooves and hooks of We Have Band. WHB’s third album, ‘Movements’, was released recently, garnering 8/10 in the NME. The moribund would even tap, nod and groove to this lot. Support act, the rather mysterious I.AM.L, were unveiled at this year’s Great Escape, while Fable (aka Holly) is only a petite 19 year old, but possessor of a big voice … her theatrical art rock credentials already turn heads. Expect to see her featured on the forthcoming Phil Hartnoll/Orbital album, but in the meantime check out fablemusic on Soundcloud to hear her debut ‘I Speak Words’, made with progressive trip-hoppers Archive. In the words of music journalist Simon Price, Fable is ‘Lorde from the darkside’.

Finally, Pride (Sat 2 Aug, Preston Park) continues its journey in throwing off the shackles of the wholesale, camptastic, manufactured-type bills of previous years, with its best line-up yet. Yes, you can catch the delights of the emotive X Factor diva Sam Bailey and Britain’s Got Talent’s very hot Callabro, but you can also see and hear the likes of Katy B, Heather Peace, Martha Wash, Republica, Frankmusic, Lucy Spraggan, Massive Ego and a healthy smattering of Brighton-based acts including Paul Diello and Echo & The Beats. Go wave that flag!

– Jeff Hemmings

Picture credit: David Levine Photography