Psychedelic Rock Singer-songwriter Def.fo recently released ‘Play It Cool’, on the 1st of September. Inspired by the likes of Tame Impala, ‘Play It Cool’, is a stunning slice of retro induced psychedelic rock with a clear contemporary edge. Based in Liverpool, the son of a famous record producer, Tom Powell aka Def.fo has been honing his songwriting from an early age. Mixed by Roy Merchant (Omar, M.I.A, Basement Jaxx) and mastered by Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, Kasabian, The Red Hot Chili Peppers), it’s a track with no shortage of capable collaborators.
Featuring in-your-face drums and reverberated vocals, the star of the show is the phaser rich guitar sound that is gritty while still maintaining its loose psychedelic sound. Its lo-fi and loud, riding the line between old and new. However, the true essence of ‘Play It Cool’ lies in its message— a pertinent and poignant response to a culture engrossed in Social Media and Technology. Serving as a reminder to stand at attention, and tune out the noise around us.
The music video accompanying the single is a captivating ode to the iconic Tarantino/Tony Scott film, True Romance. Featuring an exciting escape to Mexico after a successful heist from the Hollywood wardrobe department, two lovers and a Cadillac break down, as the bonnie and clyde duo find solace in a garage, engrossed in love for a fleeting moment in time.
In her poignant new song ‘Thirty and Thriving’, singer-songwriter Sam Hart reflects on the complexities of coming of age as a woman, in our modern society. Accompanied by the moving visuals of actual VHS footage from her early childhood, the song’s cathartic lyrics allow Hart to disclose her challenging journey towards self-acceptance in spite of unrealistic pressures.
The gentle and melancholic piano accompaniment unveils the Canadian artist’s true essence as a powerful vocalist, effortlessly switching between delicate nuances and powerful highs and allowing her versatile voice to shine through.
When asked about her inspiration for the song, Sam Hart reveals “I wrote ‘Thirty and Thriving’ at a time when I was falling behind. It felt like I was running toward a door that never seemed to get closer. Writing this song helped me to truly understand that everyone’s path looks different and that’s okay”.
Following the release of their exceptional new album, Off Planet, Django Django have revealed a new video for the trance-inducing dance anthem, ‘Slipstream’.
The fast-paced techno of ‘Slipstream’’s humming beat, and addictive synth tones are accompanied in the new video by Tron-esque flashing lights and neon scenery, while lead singer Vincent Neff journeys through a sonic landscape that visualises Django Django’s unparalleled musical electronica.
Speaking of the video, the band said: “The lyrics are a bit of an ode to watching the Tour de France with Pete Shelley’s signature track playing as a kid. We thought it would be fun to build upon that with the video, which sees Vinny being put through his paces, ramping up in speed until he breaks beyond reality”.
Director Daniel Nellis continues: “In ‘Slipstream’ we join Vinny on his wayward journey through a twilight town. In this parallel universe characters are stuck in motion forever, their soundtrack cosmically transmitted between them, leaving each other in a state of ecstasy. Vinny’s search for his non-existent destination leaves him in ever increasing kinetic states of blissful speed fed highs, leaving the others in his world forever and ever in his Slipstream.”
The video’s unveiling arrives just after the announcement of a new headline UK and European tour, which includes a show at London’s KOKO on 14th December.
Off Planet, the band’s fifth full-length studio album, is out now via Because Music (stream / purchase it here.) Released in four parts, each representing a different “planet”, Off Planet is the biggest, boldest, and most varied statement the band have made, with a cavalcade of mainstream and underground stars – Self Esteem, Jack Peñate, Stealing Sheep, Toya Delazy and many more, all of them either friends of the band or personally sought out by Dave – bringing entirely new creative angles into play. Off Planet was conceptualised by Django Django co-founder and producer Dave Maclean as “a way to go beyond”, to bring new voices, new rhythms, new experimentation into play, and effectively to deconstruct the band’s identity. From bluesy pop and Middle Eastern cabaret goth to Afro acid and piano rave, to call it kaleidoscopic is putting it mildly. Despite at times not sounding like anything on their previous releases, Off Planet is very much still recognisably Django Django.
The album was described by Uncut (8/10) as “their most accomplished and ambitious record to date”, by The Arts Desk(4*) as “sprawling, eclectic and ear-pleasing” and Record Collector (4*) as “a rewarding listen”.
Off Planet features multiple standout singles including the BBC Radio 6 Music A-Listed 90s dance-pop explosion, “Complete Me” ft. Self Esteem, the genre-bending “No Time”ft. Jack Peñate, the futuristic club track “Don’t Touch That Dial” ft. Yuuko plus “Slipstream”.
See below for the full tour routing and click HERE for tickets.
Admiration is a state, if we can call it that, full of conflicting emotions. There’s a shard of envy in there, a dash of desire to complicate things, an extra helping of high esteem and unconditional regard. It is the recognition of an ideal. An ideal that music tries to reach. Pursuing said ideal and capturing the accompanying emotions, the Indie rock band Black Light White Light has shared an emotionally-turbulent single from their latest album, a project titled The Admirer.
“I think the album presents the band’s most personal, versatile and certainly most adventurous release to date,’ said Black Light White Light. ‘It delivers psychedelic rock, cosmic pop, and piano-driven ballads with wandering melodies, layers of keyboards, sizzling delay guitars, and manipulated effects to an intoxicating mix that jumps and has plenty of edge in 10 songs with personal lyrics about pain, doubt, love and confusion. My most personal songs to date.”
The single, ‘Epilepsy’, sees songwriter and band member Martin Ejlertsen pen a tale that disturbs but entices in its free-flow lyricism. Available now under the Forward Backwards Recordings label.
