This is another track based on my grandfather's WW2 letters, but this one to his sister-in-law Mildred. I found the change in tone in the early letters to her really intriguing. There’s more bravado and levity from my grandfather, almost like he’s showing off a bit. Then as the years go on, the tone changes and he becomes much more sceptical and pessimistic about the direction the war was going in. He questions the leadership and the morality and whether it’s all really worth it. Throughout the letters is my grandfather's trademark mix of wartime horror tempered with matter of fact detail, which I've tried to recreate through the lyrics. 

I tried to recreate this contrast through the music. With lighter, swaying verses and slightly syncopated vocal phrasing to suggest a bit of swagger, juxtaposed with darker, denser choruses. The beat is direct from my old Casio VL-Tone. This meant I couldn’t midi-sync any arpeggiators or sequencers, so it forced me to come up with a different approach to arranging. It also includes the only library sample on the entire record. A little clip of a marching band that really fitted the mood and lyrical content of the verses.

Lyrics:

A show
Issued gin to make us glow 
Morning comes and we still sing 
Dropped flares, didn’t see a thing

Crawled into bed
Regrets and ‘never again’
Heavy shells and night bombs stop 
Keep entertained until they drop

And in the photograph
There’s one face that will never come back 
So they find things to make us laugh 
Some light entertainment

On his knees
So why would they send us east? 
I need some news that I can trust 
One more front and I’ll be crushed

And in the photograph
There’s one face that will never come back 
So I shaved off my moustache
For rejuvenation

08 - Debris Discs - Letter to Mildred

The inspiration emerged from the raw emotions that surge within us during life’s tumultuous moments. Our feelings can take us on exhilarating highs and heart-wrenching lows. The lyrics capture the essence of holding on when faced with twists and turns. Imagery of sunshine and rain symbolizes growth, resilience, and the enduring power of love. Ultimately, it’s a celebration of the wild ride that is human connection and how, until our last breath we hold on to love.

Last Breath

Cock of the fifth year is what we called the biggest jock types when I was in high school. Cocky, brash loud and overly confident. Puffed up, swaggering, mouthy bellends who can be pretty intimidating when you’re a woman just trying to get on with your day.

But it's not just in high school we encounter them, they're everywhere: the LinkedIn narcissist, the Tinder predator, and the (very scary) furious nice guy etc.

The phrase ‘lock up your sons’ will be contentious but we're not endorsing prison systems (far from it). The point is, the phrase’ lock up your daughters’ is relentless and women are always told to be careful, not wear headphones when walking at night, be wary of predators on the streets carry your keys between your knuckles as a weapon. Women are told they need to protect themselves by avoiding walking alone in the dark home from a night out, cosseted, hidden away safe from the threat of, let’s face it, male violence. On that logic, why not lock the blokes up at home for women's safety at night if they can’t be trusted to behave?

Imploding

Cock of the Fifth Year

Cock Of The Fifth Year (Radio Edit)

CAME TO A HALT

Fire

New single from CLT DRP out on Venn Records

Until You Showed Me

1974 (that's how it was in those days)

Robotic electronic house

The robotic takeover of human labour, and the ever evolving A.I. gradually rendering mankind redundant.

Automation Nation

Little Strange - Alright Now 

Released 22/02/24 via Play Loud Sound

Written by Jamie Thompson, Olly Davis, Jack Clynes and Charlie Harris 
Recorded at Play Loud Sound
Produced & Mixed by Olly Davis 
Mastering by Charlie Harris

Alright Now

Awfully Civilised marks a significant milestone for Broken Bear as it represents their first collaboration with a producer outside of their ranks (whose recent credits include Blur, Massive Attack, Tom Grennan, and James Bay!). This collaboration has allowed them to infuse new life into their already unique sound, resulting in a track that promises to captivate audiences with its emotive lyricism and innovative soundscapes.

Broken Bear’s signature dark, melancholic, moody, raw, and grungey style has captured the attention of BBC Introducing and Tom Robinson's BBC 6Music Mixtape and has garnered them comparisons to iconic acts such as Nirvana, Radiohead and Fleetwood Mac.


LYRICS:

I found my peace
In the middle of a war 
Became the beast 
But forgot what for
Smashed through the ceiling 
Which was also a floor 
Feeding the plants
But killing the soil

Bleach it 
Start again

Been awfully civilised 
Being awfully civilised

I cut my teeth
As a professional whore 
On my knees
I can see much more
Saving yourself 
Is killing us all

Bleach it 
Start again

Been awfully civilised 
Being awful civilised

We are adjusting to a sick society

Awfully Civilised

With angular melodies and cascading drums, ‘We Woke The Monster’ is a loud condemnation of every terrible relationship you've ever had. The latest single from Bristol based Shoun Shoun loads up their genre defying playstyle to deal with the effects of gaslighting and emotional abuse. It talks about narcissistic people that have an inflated sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy and use charm and deceit to manipulate the people around them. Affected people begin to question their own sanity and reality.
‘We Woke The Monster’ is about waking up to this reality and walking away.

‘We Woke The Monster’ is due for release April 21st 2024 and will be available on all major streaming platforms.

The video out now
https://youtu.be/dZhaUGTckmc

We Woke The Monster

Emerging from the shadows - as if their Tarantino-esque logo is beamed into the night's sky - Little Strange's never-say-die attitude is a true testament of character. Returning in 2022 after a two-year hiatus, the band are quickly making up for lost time, complete with a new line-up and many new songs to boot. 

After headlining the Yuck Magazine-curated Another Fine Festival, the band joined indie heroes The Coral & Everything Everything on the main stage of Coast Roads Festival. Several headline shows across the UK, including a notable performance at The Lodge at the Deaf Institute, have earned the band a reputation for their emphatic live sound. 

Following the releases of 'Holy Rigmarole', 'I Get By' & 'Hard Days Hard Times', the excitement surrounding the band has been widespread. Receiving support from BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 1, subsequent airplay has followed both nationally and internationally from the likes of The Face Radio, Amazing Radio & Amazing Radio USA, as well as playlisting support from Pretty Green, The Manc and Shoot Music.

With a release schedule decided until mid-2024, the band are currently mixing their forthcoming single, 'Alright Now', which is due for release February 1st. Armed with a timeless sound which resonates with audiences of all ages, it's started and it won't slow. 

Praise for Little Strange: 

"A timeless rock'n'roll sound" - Northern Exposure

"The kind of coolness that radiates from some of the more hard rock-tinged work of bands like The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys, with the kind of rock star bravado that can't be manufactured or faked" - CLOUT

"The band making a boot-shaped mark in Manchester" - Yuck Magazine 

"Filthy blues rock'n'roll" - Mark Speller, Future Hits Radio

"One of the UK’s most exciting up-and-coming indie rock bands" - B-Side Guys

"Your next favourite band" - Steven J. Gill, Author of ‘The Rock 'N' The Roll. 'N That’

Little Strange are Jamie Thompson (Vocals), Olly Davis (Guitar/Backing Vocals), Jack Clynes (Bass), and Charlie Harris (Drums). 

Contact: hello@littlestrangeband.com

Alright Now

Little Strange

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