STACK #123 Jan 2015

EXTRAS

NEWS

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A Quick Look at New Music,

All Different Kinds, All Different Places.

Kitty, Daisy and Lewis’ Third

L ondon siblings Kitty, Daisy and Lewis Durham are music purists. Growing up Camden Town, North London, they were surrounded by music, and have recorded all their albums live to analogue tape. Their new album, Third , was recorded in a newly built studio of their own design, and helmed by a bona fide English musical giant, Mick Jones (ex-The Clash, Big Audio Dynamite, now sometimes seen with Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz). Vaguely rooted in classic rhythm and blues, the music of Kitty, Daisy and Lewis soaks up influence from all over the world. “My dad was from India – but he was Anglo- Indian – and they had rock and roll, jazz and stuff, which obviously got there through Great Britain,” says Lewis on the line from London. “My mum’s family was Jewish, from Eastern Europe. There’s loads of mish- mashing of music, in this country which came together and formed some pretty crazy sounds, which a lot of people aren’t quite used to.” Kitty, Daisy and Lewis is a resolutely family affair: the three siblings recorded their previous albums in their parents’ cramped backroom, but having built their own studio, they could stretch out a bit. “We wanted more space, make it a bit ‘bigger sounding’ – musically as well as technically. I like a good technical exercise myself, and we enjoy recording in our own space and in our own time. I like having personal vibes on a sound, differences in sound. It’s something I really enjoy in music.“ A chance encounter with punk legend Jones at London’s Notting Hill carnival lead to him helming the new album, but instead of a couple of rushed weeks, Jones spent a full four months with the band rehearsing. “He was like taken away by it,“ says Lewis. “He said, ‘I want to learn the song’ – that was his way of starting out the record. Mick just wanted to get down on tape what we were doing in rehearsal and capture that vibe.”

M ahalia Barnes (above) has teamed up with American blues maestro Joe Bonamassa for an album that pays tribute to ’70s funk icon Betty Davis (who was once also married to Miles Davis). Mahalia’s father, Jimmy Barnes , guests on one track. It’s released in February. Gaz Coombes of Supergrass issues a solo album called Matador on Jan 26 . Bob Dylan sings Sinatra: yes, you read that right; Zimmy releases Shadows in the Night in February, cut live in the studio with his touring band. Speaking of Frank Sinatra, his centennial year is being celebrated in 2015. Those Earles are just damn prolific, aren’t they? With son Justin Townes releasing two albums in the last six months, Steve Earle is no slouch either: he has Terraplane coming out on February 17. British India will return with a new album early in 2015. Modest Mouse return after eight years with Strangers to Ourselves on March 8. English expat, now LA resident, Laura Marling releases a new album called Short Movie on March 23. San Francisco’s Vetiver return with Complete Strangers in late March. The B 52s’ Kate Pierson releases her solo debut Guitars and Microphones in February. The Pop Group issue their first record since the 1980s to coincide with their upcoming Australian tour: it’s called Citizen Zombie . ’90s it-girl Juliana Hatfield (ex-Lemonheads) returns from a long period of seclusion with Whatever, My Love on Feb 17. Imagine Dragons return with Smoke and Mirrors on Feb 13. The Wombats will follow-up 2011’s The Modern Glitch with Glitterbug in April. Blink 182 have solid plans to record their seventh album in 2015, the follow up to 2011’s Neighbourhoods.

Lewis says Jones was a perfect fit, because from just talking about the old punk days, he was a genuine music nut. “He loves a good waffle: loads of stories and he’s a sweet, knowledgeable guy. We spent hours talking about music, and politics. He’ll come out and say, ‘Have you heard this? I love this record.’ It will be something which no one would ever imagine Mick Jones liking – a show tune or some sort of French ’60s tune!”. The album’s closer, Developers , is a short musical protest aimed at London’s gentrification. “Most places I go in London are disappearing or are on their way out. I feel very strongly about it. Camden has changed so much in the years that we’ve been on the planet. They demolished what’s called The Stables Market, like an old fashioned stables. That’s all gone. There’s developers burning down pubs and all this, and you know, it’s terrible.“

Third by Kitty, Daisy and Lewis is streaming on JB HI-FI NOW, and is released Jan 30 on Shock.

DECEMBER 2014 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.com.au

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