Song of the Week - Geordie Greep - Holy, Holy

 

Is Steely Dan cool these days? Or is it the case that they’re deeply unfashionable? Either way, every person should make it their mission in life to listen to The Nightfly by Donald Fagen (the lead singer of Steely Dan). If I was writing one of those ‘100 Albums You Must Listened To Before You Die’ lists it would definitely feature.

The reason I mention this record is that there is definitely a Donald Fagen reference to Holy, Holy the debut single from Geordie Greep, who was previously a member of a band (Black Midi) but has now gone solo. A second reference point would be Thomas Dolby and his bonkers album Aliens Ate My Buick. Now there's a title.

It’s a pervily-odd bendy blend of disco-funk-rock that finds its creepy womanising narrator suggesting to whoever he is singing to that they should ‘take it further’ than just dancing – but there’s a twist, as he asks “How much does that cost?” Maybe he’s not quite god’s gift to women that was first made out, but a rather sadder more desperate character.

Sounding totally different to everything else around, Geordie Greep bags this week’s song of the week, which you can find on the Breaking More Waves New Music Weekly playlist (here), together with some other strong contenders including Ugly Ozo (posted earlier this week), Floating Points and Good Neighbours.

Geordie Greep - Holy, Holy

NEW #80 - Ugly Ozo

 

Whilst Breaking More Waves has never been a ‘local’ music blog, over the years these pages have introduced a fair-few artists from the south-central region of the UK. Today it’s time to welcome another, a band that, based on their debut single, could possibly be filed under the category ‘Beach-Goth’.

Ugly Ozo hails from the Isle of Wight and is the latest in a line of guitar wielding, freakishly cool-kids from across the Solent that have previously included Wet Leg, Coach Party, The Pill and Lauran Hibberd. Lauran Hibberd is of particular note here because Ugly Ozo is fronted by Jess Baker, who also plays in Lauran’s band. But here Jess combines with her younger sister Boo who plays bass. 

Debut single Remains is a dark surf-rock extravaganza that puts the fun back into funerals, coming across like a gothic Dick Dale mixing it up with the Pixies or Breeders. The darker element is taken even further with Jess ticking the occult / goth box in the video: Graveyards! Angel wings! Crystal balls! Tarots cards! Candles! And rather like the debuts from Wet Leg and The Pill some of the video is shot out in a field somewhere. Is this a 'thing' for Isle of Wight bands?

Remains is released through Portsmouth based label Strong Island Recordings who have previously put out tunes by Los Bitchos, Ugly and Melt Dunes. Ugly Ozo makes a fine addition to that roster and let’s hope we hear more from Jess and co soon.

Ugly Ozo - Remains