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Post by mattchew on Sept 21, 2011 19:16:26 GMT
21 September 2011The SkinnyHowling Bells / Cold Specks @ Òran Mór, 19 September Canada's Cold Specks (****) is something of a pleasant surprise; 23-year-old singer Al Spx has one of those powerful old (but young) soul voices that can stop you at 20 paces, and does exactly that on a gloomy Monday night in Glasgow's west end. Playing a set of what the lady herself has labelled 'doom soul', her thoughtful lyrics, minimal but perfectly poised accompaniment on the cello, guitar and keys, makes for a mesmerising start. Now recording an album with former PJ Harvey producer Ron Ellis, expect to see much more of Spx in the future.
Aussie four piece Howling Bells (**) could only dream of being so hypnotic tonight. Fronted by the kitten-sized Juanita Stein, it all starts so promisingly: with a gravelly yelp, and sexy guitar swirl, the band don't just take to the stage; they wholeheartedly occupy it. Stein's model good looks only adding to the wow factor. Sadly, they can only keep it up for a couple of numbers. By the time the band are chewing through the almost Flight of the Conchords-esque Bowie pastiche of Spaceman they've well and truly lost the thread. It's a frustrating show, as there's something raw and interesting in their best moments, bluesy like The Doors, woozy and raw, but the set is hampered by too many lumpen moments, evoking some of Britpop's leaden howlers, and as clichéd titles like Ballad of the Bleeding Hearts slip past, you're left wishing the bells would chime no more.
3/5
Image: Ricky Skinner
Review: PJ Meiklem
Images courtesy of:Gordon BallantyneNicola SharkeyMatt Jolly[/size]
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Post by mattchew on Sept 22, 2011 0:57:12 GMT
22 September 2011The ScotsmanGig review: Howling Bells - Òran Mór, Glasgow *** WITH a new batch of student freshers swarming the cities, this is the optimum time for an up-coming band to head out on tour, picking up eager converts before they become seen-it-all seasoned gig-goers. Even in front of such a keen crowd, Howling Bells struggled to make any sort of impact during the first so-what half hour of their set, with a string of banal indie pop numbers enlivened only occasionally by quasi-gothic sweeping guitar breaks.
Frontwoman Juanita Stein has a naturally appealing vocal tone with just a touch of sultriness to it, but she didn't really exercise her very capable tonsils until one Kate Bush-like number, Gold Suns, White Guns, taken from their new album The Loudest Engine, an intergalactic love story of sorts on which she vaulted from breathily beguiling to coquettish soprano trill over tremolo-drenched guitars .
Round about this point, this handsome Australian band finally woke up, bid their audience draw near and started showing off what they can do, injecting dynamics into their songwriting and drama into the performance, the ballsy strut of Broken Bones scoring on both counts .
If in doubt, the stakes could always be raised when Stein's brother Joel unleashed some urgent, blistering prog-punk solos, complemented by his sibling's folk siren vocals. Although at times these two forces felt like disparate elements competing within a song - a sort of musical sibling rivalry - the sheer blowout force of their closing salvo was thrilling enough in its own right for this not to matter.
Fiona Shepherd
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Post by mattchew on Sept 24, 2011 7:28:56 GMT
21 September 2011RokbunHowling Bells @ Oran Mor, 19/09/11 It’s a Monday night in Glasgow and I’m standing in the rain. A soaked queue of people drip behind me. When we eventually enter Oran Mor we find a band ready to go almost immediately. At this moment I don’t envy Aerials Up, staring as they do at a soggy crowd in need of cheering up. Luckily they are just the band for the job.
The seven members provide, if nothing else, plenty to look at. Should I watch the cello or the violin? The guitarist or the xylophone player? The many musicians deliver a poppy set bolstered by the ensemble sound and are thoroughly enjoyable. Importantly, they also look like they are enjoying themselves enormously and that sense positively infects the room.
In fact Aerials Up are almost too much fun. Followed by the quieter, more thoughtful, Cold Specks who have the misfortune of playing to a room who have been primed for something more upbeat. The venue is full of chatter, which is a shame because Cold Specks perform an interesting set anchored around the gravely, gospel strains of a wonderful voice. The backing is sparse, a few kick drums and a cello, but the songs soar. One to look out for in more sedate surroundings for sure.
In the queue I’d overheard a fevered debate about whether Howling Bells were more “goth country” or “indie folk”. As they begin to play the word that comes to mind is “rock”. It’s a near-Zeppelin setup – drums loud and heavy on the riffs and solos. The counterpoint to that is Juanita Stein’s voice, which gets stronger by the song. A storming opener sets the tone for the next hour.
I’ve always found the trouble with Howling Bells to be that they have a great sound but not enough standalone songs to back that up. On seeing the band live things start to make more sense. They are all about the sound and the atmosphere, so even the less remarkable tracks have a certain power when presented with Stein dancing around a stage lit by fairy lights and filled with smoke.
That said, they are at their best on the singles. ‘Low Happening’ might be an old one but those opening guitar notes tear through the venue and the song is thrilling. Songs from the new album, The Loudest Engine, are given some set time and sound like more of the same – in a good way. It’s a formula that works and they are sticking to it. The “goth country”/”indie folk” debate can rage on but what’s certain is that Howling Bells are a terrific live band that are definitely worth waiting in the rain for.
Words: Alastair Mitchell
Pictures: Gordon Ballantyne
incoasterable Andy found this review and wanted me to post it.  What a good dude. 
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Post by mattchew on Oct 5, 2011 2:16:55 GMT
4 October 2011Truncated text:
Howling Bells emerge: three men and the Boudicca vamp of eyepleaser Juanita Stein. Opener ‘Charlatan’ commences with a cool tingle guitar and growling bass, its verses laying down a little rock bravado, its choruses keeping it country and simple. Earlier single ‘Blessed Night’ sets heads bopping and torsos leaning back and forth (the Scots equivalent of dancing) with another bluesy series of slick and cool verses. At this point I spot an old friend in the crowd and we begin an awkward shouting catch-up. I talk about the Howling Bells formula: creative time signatures, neat grooves and slick vocals that fill out the verses, and choruses that blast out a powerful disappointment of mainstream indie. The old friend nods, remembering how difficult it is to talk to me, noise or not.
Highlights include the sultry ‘Setting Sun’ which again proves more delightful in the verses. ‘Gold Suns, White Guns’ boasts a dreamy solo and spacey percussion from some geezer in the darkness. Lowlights are the samey ‘Sioux’ and ‘Ballad For Bleeding Hearts,’ which doesn’t quite hit the romantic highs it needs to. Stein is in another world during the performance and the band-crowd rapport is quite stiff, giving the group a more businesslike flavour. ‘Wilderness’ closes the set pleasantly, with Stein stroking her guitar, unsure if she should be playing or not. All the boys go home dreaming and all the girls go home dreamy. All in all, a mixed night out.
M.J. Nicholls
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