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SoundsXP Presents

Friday 6th April 2012
All Day BBQ Festival

Sparrow and the Workshop
6 Day Riot
The Nuns
Singing Adams
Y Niwl
Colours
Dignan Porch
+more tbc

The Windmill
Brixton
Price tbc

On Our iPod

Golden Grrrls - New Pop 7”

Chris Devotion & The Expectations - Amalgamation & Capital (album)

Trailer Trash Tracys - Ester (album)

Throwing Up - Mother Knows Best 7”

Howling Wolf - Complete Chess Masters 1951-60

The Ketamines - A Rotten Bond/1 Yr (from Oddbox Singles Club Pt 2)

Cardinal - Hymns (album)

Proper Ornaments - Taking the Gamble Out of Buying 12”

Darren Hayman - January Songs (album)

Various: Marshall Teller EP 12”

Latest Forum Posts

Demo Review

The Black Tulips
Just Keep Coming

Article written by Matt P - Jul 31, 2005

A growing trend with recent bands appears to be the use of eccentric vocalists. (Sorry, did I say eccentric? Obviously I meant �unique.�) Pleasant examples include the angry Scotch miss and dandy highwayman effects of Adele and Scott from Sons and Daughters. A less pleasant example is that guy from Art Brut; winner of the London village gravel gargling competition.

New pretenders the Black Tulips boast the lyrical talents of singer/songwriter Alexandra, who contorts her vocal chords to produce a plethora of sounds: one moment soaring, the next growling. Indeed, on �I Don�t Want You� she produces a rather unexpected howl that has my cat suddenly interested in the music.

The vocals are where any comparisons with current bands begin to run out, though. The Tulips� sound is raw, primal and uncompromising. The flatulent bass line of �Just Keep Coming�, joined at the chorus by poison-laden guitars, sounds like something more likely to be heard in the ninth circle of hell. In �I Don�t Want You� the guitars are delightfully sharp, accompanying some colourful lyrical imagery: it sounds like Franz Ferdinand murdered, re-animated and instructed to �rock� like they never did in their former incarnation. �Sad Sally� is slightly more conventional, but is lifted by the crashing cymbals and vocal gymnastics.

The Tulips� crashing wall of sound may serve to put many off, but it is worth sticking with, as the result is truly innovative. And if it�s good enough for my cat to take interest in, it should be for you too!

Links:
http://www.theblacktulips.com