Far Caspian's Sound Salad

Taken from the single "Sugarcrush."
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/jogru-sugar-itunes

The debut album "Weird Sister" is out now on Slumberland Records (US) & Fortuna Pop! (UK)

LP/CD: smarturl.it/jgws-album
iTunes: smarturl.it/jgws-itunes

Thrilling Cardiff-based noisepop five-piece Joanna Gruesome will be releasing their terrific debut album via Fortuna POP! (Europe) and Slumberland (USA) in September. Brimming with irresistible pop melodies and spiked with dissonant fuzzy jangle, their songs are shot through with loud discordant feedback and super-fast, hardcore punk drumbeats. This album sees their first foray away from recording in a living room to a proper studio under the guidance of producer MJ of the much lauded Hookworms.

Kicking it against sexism and homophobia, nothing is off-limits, drawing inspiration from DIY scenes such as Riot Grrrl/noisepop/C86 /K Records as well as post hardcore like Drive Like Jehu/Converge and the art rock of The Velvet Underground and My Bloody Valentine, Joanna Gruesome offer a staggeringly diverse album, unexpectedly quiet and surprisingly loud.

Joanna Gruesome comprise Alanna on vocals, Owen on guitar, Max on bass, George on guitar and Dave on drums. They all met in an anger management counseling group. During the course they were told that writing, making music, dancing or painting could relieve tension and help reduce feelings of anger. One initiative involved a project where they were assigned a group to compose and perform a song in front of other members. Initially they found each other infuriating but gradually acknowledged their musical chemistry and decided to continue with the band outside the therapy group.

Most of the album was written during a month long stay in a seedy west Brighton hotel (now closed down) called The Hell House. The residents were pretty strange, kept attempting occult rituals/using Ouija boards etc and many of the songs were written to distract from the weirdness. Heart-wrenching and exhilarating in equal measure, these are not cheerful songs.

Awash with nods to mental illness and the dark recesses of the mind, the record is littered with references to the devil or zombies and allusions to comic books. “Secret Surprise”, in which mental illness takes a physical form and is fought using razor blades. Or "Anti-Parent Cowboy Killers," which is about stealing a scooter and driving it into the ocean when you should be in school LEARNING. Or "Sugarcrush," about spending a summer burning knitwear.

They have built-up a phenomenal live reputation, blending obnoxiously loud guitars and the occasional band uniform, with a high energy performance dispersed with quieter reflection, boy/girl vocals and teenage angst.

“Abrasion, anger, attitude. One guitarist is in the audience, but this isn’t too much of a stretch. There are slower parts where the musicians take a second to breath. There are noisier bits where the musicians take a second to reflect. There are thumpy bits where the musicians take a second to dance and enjoy themselves. Everyone’s smiling. Everyone’s hugging themselves. What a glorious mess of a noise to be a part of. What a glorious sense of community.” Everett True, Collapse Board

"A brilliant band from Cardiff who love their fuzzy melodies and songs dripped in scuzzy reverb." Huw Stephens, Radio One.

Joanna Gruesome - Tugboat (Galaxie 500 cover)

Spiritualized "Mississippi Space Program" - 'Always Forgetting With You (The Bridge Song)' will appear on the upcoming 'Space Project' collection on Lefse.

Spiritualized "Mississippi Space Program" - Always Forgetting With You (The Bridge Song)

Low - Dinosaur Act

Closer

From the album Suburban Light, expanded reissue out May 13, 2014 on Merge Records.
http://www.mergerecords.com/suburban-light-reissue

Suburban Light (Remastered)

Buy from Merge

The Clientele "We Could Walk Together"


I got whiskey for breakfast, poker by noon
Gotta get to sinning and play the devils tune
The preacher says I'm headed straight to hell
Might as well go there with a story to tell

Got a woman in every town I've been
All of them just as steeped in liquor and sin
Times running out, my luck's running thin
But I'll keep on going till the house cashes in

I'm a hard drinkin', hard gamblin' man
Living fast as I can
The devil's got my soul on layaway
So I'm gonna make him wait
Squeeze every drop, roll every dice
If I'm damned anyway, might as well live twice
Yeah, I'm drinking with the devil tonight

I've lost more money than most men make
Broke more hearts than any man should break
When the reaper comes knocking I won’t blink
I'll say "Deal your self in and pour me a drink”

They'll bury me with cards and a half full glass
Won't be no tears, won't be no funeral mask
Just the truth that I lived how I chose
Went down swinging in my Sunday clothes

I'm a hard drinkin', hard gamblin' man
Living fast as I can
The devil's got my soul on layaway
So I'm gonna make him wait
Squeeze every drop, roll every dice
If I'm damned anyway, might as well live twice
Yeah, I'm drinking with the devil tonight

Pour me one more...
Deal me one more...
I'm going down...
But going down slow...


Make The Devil Wait

Pulling Our Weight

The Dreaming Moon (The Magnetic Fields cover)

Dream News

Inverted Youth

Behind The Sun (Deluxe Version) [Remastered]

Low Sun

Current Joys - Anything Could Happen The Clean Cover

Flea - Lovelovelove

From the <a href="http://www.pub.gaga.com.au">Gaga Pub</a> catalogue. If you want to know more, check out our <a href="http://www.gaga.com.au">site</a>, follow us on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/gaga_music">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/GagaMusic">Facebook</a>, and <a href="http://eepurl.com/Vtm-">join our mailing list</a>. For all licensing enquiries, <a href="mailto:katie@gaga.com.au">get in touch with Katie</a>. 

The Clientele "We Could Walk Together"

MergeRecords

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