Many thanks to Liz Dodd for our latest write-up in Oxford institution Nightshift:
Witches tear open a generous support set, exploding musical space between tense metal riffs. The sound is gigantic - stretching the boundaries of The Wheatsheaf – and wrenches excitement from every chord. Exuberant and spectacular: their crazy, Sovietwaltz beats splinter brass colliery band into a closer that bursts with vocal harmonies and hardcore maraca action.. Witches lift you out of your own head, whirl you around the room on the cusp of a trumpet tremolo and drop you, gently, back beside the bar.
Showing posts with label Nightshift. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nightshift. Show all posts
Friday, 23 January 2009
Thursday, 18 December 2008
New reviews
The first reviews of the new tracks have been received at Witches HQ:
Mischa from Backlash Magazine said:
With exquisite arrangements and clear production these five songs are an epic, breathtaking taster of what’s to come. They all sound quite different, but the variation just highlights exactly what this six-piece are capable of. Bring on the album!
Trigger from Alternative Vision said:
Witches were a complete new band to me until I gave this cd a listen and I have to say that I am very impressed with them, they are a really ambitious band who know how to write perfect sounding songs, the songs are full of passion and emotion and the band have such a strong creative edge as each song sounds different from the last. A lot of great bands have come out of Oxford and hit the mainstream and Witches have the potential to be the next if they continue in their creative ways.
Owain from God Is In The TV said:
Final track 'B.O.K.' sees the band inherit the insistent indie style of Clinic over growling synth, and they wear it well; in fact, as a whole this could be the album's strongest track. It's delightfully arch lyrics singing 'Momma I don't wanna go to school today, some people are waiting for me by the gates.' As the guitar starts being strummed more insistently, the drumming clatters, the synth rises towards the close accompanied by trumpet you start to feel a bit frustrated that this track is cutting itself so short when it could easily become a glorious The Who-style rock opera.
Thank you to Mischa, Trigger and Owain for their positive vibes. Go check out their sites!
Also, following on from Nightshift's review of our Halloween gig, we have a new review of our Holiday Special gig.
Joby from The Fly said:
The sheer strength in numbers of the audience at the packed Wheatsheaf is surely some sign of the respect that is held for this sextet not only by the citizens who live among the spires of this famed seat of learning but increasingly outside.. what's certain is that Witches have once again put us under their spell.
Thanks to Joby and to everyone who's supported us this year. Onward into 2009!
-Dave G
Mischa from Backlash Magazine said:
With exquisite arrangements and clear production these five songs are an epic, breathtaking taster of what’s to come. They all sound quite different, but the variation just highlights exactly what this six-piece are capable of. Bring on the album!
Trigger from Alternative Vision said:
Witches were a complete new band to me until I gave this cd a listen and I have to say that I am very impressed with them, they are a really ambitious band who know how to write perfect sounding songs, the songs are full of passion and emotion and the band have such a strong creative edge as each song sounds different from the last. A lot of great bands have come out of Oxford and hit the mainstream and Witches have the potential to be the next if they continue in their creative ways.
Owain from God Is In The TV said:
Final track 'B.O.K.' sees the band inherit the insistent indie style of Clinic over growling synth, and they wear it well; in fact, as a whole this could be the album's strongest track. It's delightfully arch lyrics singing 'Momma I don't wanna go to school today, some people are waiting for me by the gates.' As the guitar starts being strummed more insistently, the drumming clatters, the synth rises towards the close accompanied by trumpet you start to feel a bit frustrated that this track is cutting itself so short when it could easily become a glorious The Who-style rock opera.
Thank you to Mischa, Trigger and Owain for their positive vibes. Go check out their sites!
Also, following on from Nightshift's review of our Halloween gig, we have a new review of our Holiday Special gig.
Joby from The Fly said:
The sheer strength in numbers of the audience at the packed Wheatsheaf is surely some sign of the respect that is held for this sextet not only by the citizens who live among the spires of this famed seat of learning but increasingly outside.. what's certain is that Witches have once again put us under their spell.
Thanks to Joby and to everyone who's supported us this year. Onward into 2009!
-Dave G
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Many thanks to Nightshift for reviewing our Halloween promo launch. They've recently had a website revamp, so go check it out and download the latest issue: http://nightshift.oxfordmusic.net/. Here's what was said:
It's Halloween, so obviously Witches are playing. Except tonight the band are dressed variously as ghosts, vampires and slaughtered Victorian brides. And, hey, check out those song titles: 'Dead As A Ghost', 'There's A Darkness', 'At Night I Dream Of Black Dogs.
The wonderful thing about Witches is that despite all this, they're a world away from gothic pantomime or naval-gazing melancholy; if anythingthe costumes detract from the often genuinely haunting nature of the music. Given we haven't caught the band live for a year, during which they've undergone a line-up change, it's a timely reminder just what a fantastic band they are.
Set opener 'BOK' is oddly exuberant despite its apparently morose nature, while 'In The Chaos Of A Friday Night' is fevered, maraca-led splendour; even the more downbeat 'There's a Darkness', relatively stripped down from the band's typically opulent sound, manages to soar.
It also showcases Witches' real secret weapon: trumpeter Bernard Chylinski who, as much as Dave Griffiths' plaintive vocals or Martin Newton's nonchalantly abrasive guitar fuzz, takes each song to a higher level. The Bunnymen-like scurry of 'Dead As A Ghost' particularly benefits from his Mariachi squall.
Amongst a swathe of new songs aired tonight from a promised second album to come next year, stand-out songs are the sludgy, harpsichord-led grunge shimmer of 'Church Beds' and the horn-drenched 'Leave', Witches climaxing the set with the frenetic punk blast of 'Stammer', frontman Dave leaping about, maracas aloft as if performing a suitably pagan Halloween ritual.
What makes Witches such a great band is the carefully controlled balance between musical intimacy and overwhelming chaos. Songs build and erupt, often violently, but within each is a seductive, soulful melody, without which none of them would survive. On a magical night, this is magical music.
Dale Kattack, Nightshift, November 2008
It's Halloween, so obviously Witches are playing. Except tonight the band are dressed variously as ghosts, vampires and slaughtered Victorian brides. And, hey, check out those song titles: 'Dead As A Ghost', 'There's A Darkness', 'At Night I Dream Of Black Dogs.
The wonderful thing about Witches is that despite all this, they're a world away from gothic pantomime or naval-gazing melancholy; if anythingthe costumes detract from the often genuinely haunting nature of the music. Given we haven't caught the band live for a year, during which they've undergone a line-up change, it's a timely reminder just what a fantastic band they are.
Set opener 'BOK' is oddly exuberant despite its apparently morose nature, while 'In The Chaos Of A Friday Night' is fevered, maraca-led splendour; even the more downbeat 'There's a Darkness', relatively stripped down from the band's typically opulent sound, manages to soar.
It also showcases Witches' real secret weapon: trumpeter Bernard Chylinski who, as much as Dave Griffiths' plaintive vocals or Martin Newton's nonchalantly abrasive guitar fuzz, takes each song to a higher level. The Bunnymen-like scurry of 'Dead As A Ghost' particularly benefits from his Mariachi squall.
Amongst a swathe of new songs aired tonight from a promised second album to come next year, stand-out songs are the sludgy, harpsichord-led grunge shimmer of 'Church Beds' and the horn-drenched 'Leave', Witches climaxing the set with the frenetic punk blast of 'Stammer', frontman Dave leaping about, maracas aloft as if performing a suitably pagan Halloween ritual.
What makes Witches such a great band is the carefully controlled balance between musical intimacy and overwhelming chaos. Songs build and erupt, often violently, but within each is a seductive, soulful melody, without which none of them would survive. On a magical night, this is magical music.
Dale Kattack, Nightshift, November 2008
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Yay Nightshift cover!
We are very excited about being on the cover of the August edition of Nightshift.
Ronan Munro interviews Dave G and finds out more about the forthcoming album. We would like thank Ronan for helping Witches get the word out - the suitcase of drugs and cash is on the way.
Ronan Munro interviews Dave G and finds out more about the forthcoming album. We would like thank Ronan for helping Witches get the word out - the suitcase of drugs and cash is on the way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)