trash kit, wetdog & wikipedia.org

London, Laandhaan, Londres, the Town, land of Opium dens, cosmopolitan people and cognitive mapping. Here, simply, are 3 swell new/rising LDN bands.

Trash Kit are ultimate skilled-fun porridge riffs. 'Attack of the 50ft Woman' hits you like an indecisive old woman with her umbrella turned inside-out. I like them a lot because it's refreshing to hear the ammount of emphasis current bands are putting on percussion, and percussive evolution within a song - like Teeth or Male Bonding. 'New Face' especially is an infectious little love.

Wetdog are postfeminist postformalists and all the better for it. Definitely Slitsy, definitely sly, long, linear college harmonies and "exorcist vocals" make this band one to watch with your eyes. '8 Days' is an instant classic, with that immediate packing-up-ready-to-go-home bassline and judgemental twangs. 'Zah Und Zaheet' is like a riot grrrl march into the centre of the earth. Nice face, indeed.

Wikipedia.org are equally at home with shameless fun like 'Tabbed Browsing' as they are with some seerius long, deep stuff. 'Uporm' is a surprising reflection of this, with eerie spoken word and art-damaged, Pavement-y chords. In a parallel universe it could've been a Xiu Xiu song. That's some praise right there.

-S

WETDOG - 8 Days

pens

oh hello PENS! do you happen to be the cutest band this side of the pond??? you do??!!! aces!!!!

the DIY scene in the u.k. has been pretty lacking with all the cascades of cool in america -- blank dogs, times new viking (i don't have to link this, if you don't adore t.n.v. by now then there's basically no hope for you, go and listen to kings of leon you cum drinker), vivian girls, wavves, christmas island, meth teeth, blah de blah.. but now we have our own shit! it's awesome -- sexy-arse (not ass in this case) bands like Male Bonding and the yankee doodle vocalisted Graffiti Island, and freakin Pens! all on our doorstep... things are looking gooooodddd.....

there's something immediately likeable about Pens. everything from their goofy URL -- myspace.com/penspenspenis, is pure, subtle fun, anti-credit crunch "i honestly didn't even think about giving a fuck" cool cool crap! "yeah baby i'll take you to bagel town" is an excellent song, as is the totally hummable whilst you make tea "high in the cinema", as played on DJ Rick's outstanding radio show in california, Art for Spastics. they are, as you can see, sweet as 3 shiny buttons. sooooo, basically go see them.

S