Musos' Guide Underexposed 20150424

Released in November of 1995, 'Heartworm' was Whipping Boy's second studio album. While it didn't go on to become world-renowned or sell multi-millions, it's an album that is still held in high regard by those who remember from the time, and new generations of music fans that have discovered it through the years since its release.

Over 60 minutes, Dan profiles the album and the band during this period of their career with the help of contributors such as the band's guitarist Paul Page, 2fm's Dave Fanning, Tanya Sweeney (The Irish Times), Ben Vendetta (author of the novel 'Heartworm', which borrows its name from the album), Jenny Huston (founder & Creative Director of Edge Only jewellery), Torsten Kinsella (God Is An Astronaut), and Olan McGowan (ex-Sony Music/now RTE) who signed the band.

The Story Of Heartworm - Dan Hegarty - May 2021

Second track from debut album "Ten Solid Years of Applause"

2. Constant Delicious

Taken from both band's forthcoming split 7" on Upset The Rhythm, released May 11th!
Available to pre-order here: upsettherhythm.bigcartel.com 

Track listing:

Side A
01. SAUNA YOUTH – ‘Transmitters’

Side B
02. MONOTONY – ‘Luxury Flats’
03. MONOTONY – ‘Human Troll’




Monotony - Luxury Flats

Taffy - Suicidal Bunny

No Reason To Stay

“Half Heart Necklace” is the new single to be taken from Allo Darlin’s latest album We Come From the Same Place (out now on Fortuna POP!). The third full-length recording from the much loved Anglo-Australian four-piece is made up of smart, beautiful pop music, with lyrics that resonate with experience and melodies that chime, echo and soar.

Unusually for Allo Darlin', "Half Heart Necklace" is written from someone else’s perspective, a rare occurance among songwriter Elizabeth Morris' catalogue of intimate, heart-wrenching songs, and taps into a dark story from her youth in a small Australian town. As she explains; “This is a song written from the point of view of a girl from my home town who did quite a strange thing when I was growing up. There had been some murders, and this girl who was my age was missing and presumed killed. It turned out she had been hiding for years in her boyfriend´s cupboard, and she was charged for wasting police time and there was a big brouhaha. Half Heart Necklace is a Twin Peaks thing. Sometimes I think my hometown is like Twin Peaks in more ways than one.”

Allo Darlin’ were formed after Australian Elizabeth Morris arrived in London and bought a ukulele from the Duke of Uke shop in Shoreditch. She began writing music and was soon joined by fellow Australian Bill Botting (bass), Paul Rains (guitar), and Michael Collins (drums). Their debut album attracted many plaudits including being named No. 2 record of the year by online retailer eMusic, and a glowing 1,200 word essay by Robert Forster of The Go-Betweens in the Australian critical magazine, The Monthly. Their second album "Europe" scored 8.1 on Pitchfork, was made USA Today’s Album Of The Week, and garnered praise from Uncut, Q, NME, The Quietus and The Guardian. It was also named Rough Trade Shop’s Album Of The Month, where it went on to become the biggest selling album of the year. The band have been playlisted at BBC 6Music and have recorded sessions for Lauren Laverne, Marc Riley and John Kennedy (XFM), as well being Steve Lamacq’s personal pick for BBC Introducing. Their releases to date, along with their joyous and effervescent live shows, have seen them build an intensely loyal and ever-increasing fanbase.

The new album combines the eagerness, urgency and immediacy of their 2010 self-titled debut with the contemplation, sophistication and ambition of their 2012 follow-up "Europe," and yet it goes beyond either both sonically and in the songs. It was written at a time of considerable change for songwriter Elizabeth Morris, a time during which she fell in love, moved to Italy and got married. The truism is that third albums are difficult beasts, but by remaining true to themselves Allo Darlin’ have side-stepped the pitfalls to produce a wonderful record - thoughtful and exciting and exquisitely played – that will please their existing army of fans and newcomers alike.


Allo Darlin' - Half Heart Necklace

Kitty's Cool Beams

Is Bliss
‘Velvet Dreams EP’
21st October 2016
12” Vinyl EP / AC3013084. 
www.clubac30.com

Introducing ‘Velvet Dreams EP’, the debut from psychedelic shoegazer trio Is Bliss, set for release this autumn on Club AC30. 

‘Velvet Dreams’ is a tantalising taster of this new band’s potential. It’s atmosphere resonates strongly with the hazy sixties underground, with its sitar-like waterfall guitars and hypnogogic beats, but other, harder influences bleed through. From the intense hit of fuzzed-up anger on ‘Truth’, through to yearning, soaring dream-pop gorgeousness of ‘Lure’ and lead track ‘Ocean Blue’, this release sets out to show Is Bliss’ full range and depth.

Comprising of Jimmy Stuart (vox, guitar), Dean Edwards (bass) and Sam Speakman (drums), Is Bliss have been together barely a year and yet have quickly gained attention opening for Wolf Alice, Telescopes, Nine Black Alps, Mark Gardener and Robin Guthrie. Many bands today cite My Bloody Valentine as a major influence, but Is Bliss exist because Dean clocked Jimmy’s MBV t-shirt and when they struck up a conversation they discovered a shared a love of Slowdive, Spacemen 3, Verve and The Cure, along with a need to escape the mind-numbing boredom of rural Hampshire. This first clutch of songs was developed through live improvisation, but is taken to the next level here by Pat Collier (The House Of Love, Primal Scream, Swervedriver).

Is Bliss are planning a UK tour in the autumn to promote the EP, followed by the release of their debut long-player in the new year. 

Live:
Thursday 4th August - The Victoria, London - Supporting The Hacienda
Friday 5th August - The Fat Fox, Southsea - Supporting New Desert Blues
Saturday 24th September - Edge of the Wedge - Southsea Psych Out
Saturday 28th January - The Fat Fox, Southsea - Icebreaker Festival 2017

For all press enquiries please contact Clare Buckland at Big Wheel PR 
on 07968 379 355 or e-mail clare@bigwheelpr.com


EP PERRY VALE

Is Bliss - Ocean Blue

Pinkshinyultrablast - Dance AM

Inner Nerd

Taffy - Inner Nerd

Is Bliss - What To Believe

She Divine EP

Black Doldrums - Mae's Desire

Desolation Angel EP

Purple Heart Parade - Petrichor

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Taffy - Suicidal Bunny

Club AC30

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