There is a new-old music trend a-brewing and its headquartered (surprise!) in the underground clubs and venues of New York City.
Coldwave is a term traditionally used to describe a group of European post-punk psychedelic experimental bands in the late 70’s and 80’s that you’ve probably never heard of. Taking notes from the Cure, Joy Division and Siouxsie and The Banshees, Coldwave draws inspiration from punk and goth styles and then chills everything out a whole lot. Think multi-layered analog synths, deadpan vocals and lyrics that would bring yo mama to tears and you’ve got the idea.
At first listen it doesn’t look or sound like Uh Huh Her is doing much new. Like countless others, they’re riding the 1982-87 New Wave for all it’s worth, packing their stage full of vintage synths, programmed drums, and guitars drenched in delay. Watching their spirited performance at the El Rey on Friday night, it was still hard not to think of Gozer from Ghostbusters and those slicked-down backup dancers from that Robert Palmer video.
But unlike so many others, UHH gets it right, capturing the post-punk spirit of what made bands like Joy Division and The Creatures so catchy. Songs like “I See Red” are infectious and ethereal, even dreamy; “Never the Same” (a preview from their upcoming album Nocturnes), is awash in an astral noise that’s somewhere on the spectrum between Enya and top 40 pop.
And judging by the rapturous applause, they stole hundreds of girls’ hearts tonight. As for the boys, who cares.
You may not realize it, but you’ve probably heard the opening bassline to New Order’s “Age of Consent” — although nowadays you likely heard it in a commercial for a car or some other product. ‘Twas written by Peter Hook, the bassist for New Order, formerly known as Joy Division — one of the very first bands of the 80s New Wave movement, and an inspiration for hundreds of modern acts who have ripped them off.
Along with “Age” Hook penned countless other gems with New Order from inception until their recent break-up in 2007. He left to pursue other endeavors like founding now- legendary club The Hacienda, and produce other bands like The Stone Roses. From the days of “Blue Monday” until the more synthed-out Brotherhood LP and tracks like “Bizarre Love Triangle”, Hook’s known for his huge inspiration on legions of bass players — many of whom will go on record as hating a lot of new wave music — partly because he always maintained an active presence in the recording process and never let himself get drowned in the mix. The bass was up front, in-your-face, and flawless.
On Red Bull Music Academy right now, you’ll get a playlist of some of The Master’s preferences, including The Smiths, The Buzzcocks, and a host of countless other bands that influenced him.
If you’ve never seen 24 Hour Party People, you might not know the incredibly important effect the Manchester Scene had on U.K. dance/New Wave, especially in the early 80s. And if you have, then the extent of your knowledge still might be a little iffy — for many, it dwindles after the Happy Mondays’ Forty-Five E.P. and New Order’s early days with Tony Wilson and Factory Records. All that said, Delphic is among the newest in the Manchester scene’s legions of post-New Wave brilliance, a trio that mixes the dance-pop of New Order with the catchy rock and pop of The Stone Roses, and the sweet, sometimes sappy symphonic sounds of post-Smiths Morrissey. I’m quite the lad for saying it… but they’re lovely. Ugh, I need to take a shower! But the band’s possibly the newest of the new — less than a year and a half on the UK scene, in fact — and within a few months managed to attract the attention of Polydor and a few other big labels. Even though I’m used to slam-dancing and other primal and sopho-moronic acts, these songs really just make me want to go frolic in a field. After watching 24HPP though, it would preferably be under the influence of any number of illegal substances. Right now, Red Bull Music Academy Radio will suffice.
The infamous Peter Hook flew into the Windy City this past weekend to talk with Chicago music aficionado and owner of the Metro and Smart Bar, Joe Shanahan. Approximately 50 people attended the invitation only gathering to meet and ask questions with Peter during the session hosted by the Red Bull Music Academy. Former presenters at the Academy and long time friends, Joe and Peter discussed their musical interactions through the years including several precarious hunts down the dark alleys of New York and Detroit in search of new underground, emerging sounds.
