RANT - Exit Calm split

It was an incredibly sad moment when shoegaze/ soundscape champions Exit Calm announced via Twitter and Facebook that the band had split.

exit calm Nothing lasts forever. Thankyou to all, love to all.
— Exit Calm (@ExitCalm) March 9, 2015

I was lucky enough to see them twice, once at Glastonbury on the BBC Introducing stage in 2008 and at the Borderline in London on a cold February night in 2013.  The huge guitar sound and powerful vocals were simply incredible.  They were one of the few bands I've found not to lose that washy atmospheric sound on record, that gives the listener a 3-D sonic experience at the live shows.

They should have been a huge band, their brilliance was undeniable, such is life.

RANT - Lowpines, Cassette EP

I haven't been so excited to buy a cassette tape in about 12 years, but getting hold of a copy of Lowpines latest output on the format filled me with a giddiness that you occasionally miss from music in the digital world.  Aside from the novelty value of the cassette tape, (you do get a download code to download a digital version as well) the music it contained was incredible... naturally!

I've been following Lowpines for a while and everything they have put out whether tracks via their BandCamp page or live sessions on music blogs, has always been phenomenal.

There is something mesmerising about Oli's songwriting and bearing in mind most tracks are simply acoustic and electric guitar its even more impressive that there is such an intense atmosphere and ambience to the production.

Buy this cassette tape!