Friday, 7 January 2011

The times they are a modifying ever so slightly

Should we just move to Tumblr?  seems what All the cool labels are doing.

Maybe we will,  more to follow.

Thursday, 6 January 2011

repost from http://apocketfullofseeds.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/fortunate-friends/

Lovely blog about the bandits o' foxx


Fortunate Friends


Paper Planes (Cover) by Foxx Bandits

January 6th, 2011 § Leave a Comment


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Foxx Bandits – Paper Planes


So it’s 7.16am and I haven’t quite been to bed yet. I’ve been mulling over this first post for a couple of days. Scrapped and some more scrapping. I think it’s something to do with new year and the coming of a whole 365 days of guaranteed new swell of musical delights (well, my first post on APFOS maybe too). It’s dead exciting but at the same time, it’s sort of like where do I start?
Listening to Foxx Bandits on a big fat comedown of a New Year’s day really did somewhat cuddle my frazzled head in a way that a band hadn’t done for a long time. Their EP ‘Gold Dresses’ is just, simply, wonderful. You put it on and you just get this familiar feeling. Like when you randomly catch a nice smell which gives you this vivid memory of being somewhere pleasant a long time ago; you can’t place it, but it makes you smile. It was like going back two or three years, but without the cringing. Like someone had gone through all those years and taken each of the happiest moments and given them to me in a nicely wrapped box. However, it’s their cover of Paper Planes that I was lying there listening to on repeat. I spent ages thinking who is the original by? I just couldn’t put my finger on it even though it’s such a massive track. They take it to this whole other place, like it’s been put in an oven and come out as this really yummy cake. “Dreampop folkgaze” is the genre they’re under on one of their tracks and it catches every element of their psychadelic yet washed-out, straight up yet continuously unpredictable sound.
This is how the beginning to a New Year should be.
Nice to be with you seedy people,
Milly X

Friday, 26 November 2010

Repost from Friends of Tomorrow http://friendsoftomorrow.wordpress.com/2010/11/26/foxx-bandits-gold-dresses-ep/


Foxx Bandits – Gold Dresses EP

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Let me introduce you to North-London four-piece ‘Foxx Bandits’. They signify where the indie scene is right now with their mixture of shoe-gaze, lo-fi and folk.
The young four-piece offer a great example of what every band needs in today’s ever evolving music industry, they have the look, they have the attitude and most importantly they have the tunes.
Their E.P is bang on and offers an exciting future for the band. It all kicks off with the beautiful ‘Beach Fatigue’ which doesn’t leave anything to be desired with catchy riffs and a voice that has more levels than tetris, most impressively the high notes he hits, reminding me of Wild Beasts lead singer Hayden Thorpe. The second track ‘Kafka’ sounds like an introduction to an early Los Campesinos song with the use of the xylophone. But as the song progresses the simple, hard bass, complicated tweeing guitar and smashing cymbals all rolls into one beautiful package.
Track three, ‘Youth’ is a lot punchier but keeps the character and emotion of ‘Beach Fatigue’ and ‘Kafka’ with yet again catchy riffs and the brilliant lo-fi vocal. As for the chorus in this track, that alone could launch them to where they want to be. By the end of ‘Youth’ you’ll surprised how rich and powerful the song has turned out, especially as parts of the song reminded me of ‘The Enemy’….
The last track ‘Gold Dresses’ offers a folky sound but with a lo-fi, pop twist. The song builds beautifully throughout and to me sounds like Mumford and Sons and Wild Beasts having a fight… in a good way.
Although I’ve compared ‘Foxx Bandits’ to many other acts, they are most defiantly not jumping onto another bandwagon. They have crafted an EP which twist and turns different genres into four tracks of beauty.
The EP ‘Gold Dresses’ is available from the 6th December. Why not go along to their EP launch at the Social, you might aswell it’s free

Tuesday, 23 November 2010

Repost from http://www.alterthepress.com/2010/11/alter-press-presents-foxx-bandits.html


Alter The Press! Presents: Foxx Bandits

With a mix of lo-fi indie and folk with elements of showgaze, North West London's Foxx Bandits produce tangling, captivating numbers like 'Gold Dresses'. Whereas 'Youth' sees the four-piece showcasing a harder edge with a subtle airy atmosphere. Throughout their new EP, 'Gold Dresses', Foxx Bandits delicately win you over with their light-hearted approach, that does not fall into the trap of being compared to other folk-like acts.


Foxx Bandits - Youth

For Fans Of: Sunny Day Real Estate, The Pixies and Local Natives.

Alter The Press: Why should Alter The Press! readers check you out? 
Foxx Bandits: The music is honest, up-front, and mixes delay driven wall of sound guitars with folk sensibilities. It has the intention of mixing influences from our previous projects. Taking instrumental post-rock and moody acoustic folk and putting it within a pop context.

We also have a drummer with the ability to hold a lovely camp poise during his better moments! If that’s not enough for you we’re all under 24. Cougars beware.


ATP: What's the story behind the band?
FB: The band is the brainchild of Fraser and myself (Jith). We met through a shared infinity for Frank Black, South East Asia and Spiced Rum. Deciding on starting a band we then enlisted the help of our friends; Mary Chain obsessed Niall on drums and the unique bass styling’s of Tom, who has been involved with one of Fraser’s previous musical outlets. Since the bands conception we have gone on to play as much as possible, trying to create a name for ourselves within a saturated music scene.

ATP: Single highlight as a band so far?
FB: Well considering we have only been gigging since March we have already achieved quite a lot. Our first ever show was a headline slot at The Barfly in Camden which was a massive highlight, but I guess for all of us it would have to be when we were asked to play at London’s Koko in Camden. To play a venue that large and to play to that many people, before we had even released anything was a massive rush and is definitely our highlight of the year.

ATP: What are your plans for the 12 months?
FB: Well we’ve just finished the final touches of our debut E.P, which will be out on December 6th. As for the rest of the 12 months; we are planning a tour early next year as well as releasing another single. There could be a couple of festival appearances next summer but that is all still a work in progress. Ultimately, we are still in a very early stage of our life as a band, so we're hoping to just progress as much as possible. We will be putting out another release and gigging as much as possible, aiming to increase our presence in the UK and hopefully make a trip to the states. 

'Gold Dresses' by Foxx Bandits is released on December 6th through Inaugural Records.

Foxx Bandits on MySpaceTwitter and Facebook.

Sean Reid

Sunday, 21 November 2010

Repost from Hand Clap Movement http://handclapmovement.com/post/1578944022/foxx-bandits-ep-review

Foxx Bandits EP Review

Londoners Foxx Bandits are preparing to release their debut EP, Gold Dresses, on December 6th, and the world should start getting excited. Only having formed about a year ago in North West London, the band has already accomplished many things in such a short period of time. They have already had a BBC Introducing feature on BBC Radio London, headlined a show at Camden Barfly and were the last band ever to play at the much loved Pure Groove Records. The band combines a lo-fi, shoegaze sound with their original folk influence. I had the great pleasure of reviewing their debut EP.

The first song on the EP, “Beach Fatigue,” starts off with pounding drums, followed by the bass line and, within a couple of seconds, the vocals and guitar come in. The first fifteen seconds of the first song I had ever listened to by Foxx Bandits was enough to recognize their serious talent. A minute in and I couldn’t seem to stop my toes from tapping and my head from shaking as the huge sounding guitar solo had me drawn in. You could swear that “Beach Fatigue” came straight from California, but Foxx Bandits give the song a natural, authentic sound, all the while allowing you to enjoy it as an exceptional surf rock jam. In a complete contrast to the huge sounding opener, the band quickly introduces the listener to their diversity with the dreamy song, “Kafka”. The combination of xylophone and guitar provide the tune with a magical feel and the listener with visions of forest scenery. The vocals, playing a vital focus of this track, gives the listener a very raw, haunting sensation to hold on to. The band’s folk origins are highly evident within “Kafka,” while tracks like “Youth” highlight shoegaze as a large influence, while also making use of energetic guitars. The combination of the lo-fi chorus and dual screams towards the end of “Youth” is refreshing to the ear. The lyrical message of “Youth” appealed to me with standout lines like, “When we were younger, we could still lie with big convincing eyes.” EP closer and title track, “Gold Dresses,” is certainly the most folk influenced song of the collection. While it might contain less “rock” than “Beach Fatigue,” the band sounds right at home within the sound that started off their success. The xylophone is used again here to add a seamless energy to the track. There is a ten second long, beautiful vocal harmony near the end of the song, followed by less than a second of soft guitar before an absolute explosion of sound. During the last few moments of the song, the listener is able to come to full appreciation for the talent within the track and within the EP itself.

After listening to these four tracks many times now, I’ve come to the conclusion that Foxx Bandits possess a talent which many bands, four or five albums in, don’t even come close to having. Gold Dresses seamlessly ties together different genres and wraps them up together in a perfect four song package. I began listening to this band with completely open ears, and they have impressed the hell out of me. I sat with a dumb smile on my face listening to how good this is, and picturing in my head, this very band selling out gigs everywhere. Also, for anyone in London currently, the band is having a free entry EP launch at The Social in Central London on the release date, December 6th. Do yourself a favor and go get Foxx Bandit’s debut EP, Gold Dresses, out December 6th, 2010 available at most digital outlets.

Repost from Noize Makes Enemies http://www.noizemakesenemies.co.uk/?p=4514

FOXX BANDITS – GOLD DRESSES E.P REVIEW

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Are they foxy? Hard for me to tell being the heterosexual, married-and-expecting-child that I am. But I’d probably give them a 7 out of 10 if I were that way inclined and was a few pints in. Are they bandits? Well, now, that’s just too personal a question and, without being able to interview this fine young band from the Northwesterly throes of our beautiful capital city, I just can’t say. But what I can tell you is that they’re set to release what one can only describe as an extremely fine record. And that makes them foxy enough for me…
Having only recently formed (the end of 2009 is pretty recent isn’t it?), Foxx Bandits have gone from strength to strength in this short space of time. Headlining at the Camden Barfly, playing a mouth-watering slot at KOKO, and obtaining the great privilege of being the last ever band to perform an in-store at the much loved Pure Groove Records, the guys now bring us the first sample of what they’ve got to offer. And my, it’s a definitely a pleasurable offering.
‘Beach Fatigue’ has a light-hearted, upbeat start, with a low-fi, shoe-gazer feel introducing you nicely to the band’s take on this popular genre. Instantly you feel at home with their approach, wanting to hear more of what they’ve got to say.
‘Kafka’ slows things down a tad, bringing us firmly into a Folky/Americana vibe which feels somewhere between Vampire Weekend and Mumford & Sons. But don’t be fooled – Foxx Bandits have their own sound and are definitely not mere imitations jumping on the bandwagon.
In ‘Youth’ there’s a definitive sense of irony in the bands lyrics, and I love the fact that these young pups can deliver lines such as “When we were younger we could let sleeping dogs lie” with such heartfelt belief. They’re wise beyond their years and the more you listen the more you can see the influences taken and wisdom learnt in their first year in the relative limelight. Their recent trip to New York has also massively helped grease the creative cogs and this 4-track E.P is a fantastic entrance for the band.
Finishing with title track ‘Gold Dresses’, this record leaves me wanting more. Opening with the cheeky sound of a triangle, this track plays with tempo, bring you up, and then down, to finally leaving you gagging for future content.
We’re going to be hearing a lot more from these lads, and if this is what they can achieve on a shoestring budget then cleanyou’re your ears and watch this space!