Earlier in the year God is in the TV had a virtual board meeting. Tired of publications thoughtlessly sprouting hyperbole and praising the UK’s latest go-getters only to abandon them weeks later, we decided it was time to make a stand against consumerism on the internet. Enter the New Music section, part of the site dedicated to the continued promotion of up-and-coming musicians who surpass the usual and shine at what they do. Fundamentally, we’ve been operating a yearlong Tips for 2012.
The response has been fantastic, and you readers voted in Mary Epworth, An Axe, To Arms Etc and Ed Tullett as our respective Featured Acts. Their coverage culminated in our first ever showcase in London this November, with each band playing to a packed out and appreciative crowd.
But this feature isn’t about them. Continuing on from our first and second Preaching from the Pews roundup before the holidays, Tiffany Daniels takes a look at the final six of our 2011 tips who should cause a storm in the coming year. Check back here for exclusives from Bella Spinks, Among Brothers and Grant K. Fennell, and here for exclusives from Roxy Rawson and EULA!
KNESSET
“KNESSET are a shoegaze American band, based in and between Phoenix and Los Angeles. Producing shattering waves of cinematic walls of noise, and impressively lingering, epic lyrical narratives that reach inside your ribcage and grab you by the heart….”
Knesset – Steady Hands by andrecords
Jemima Surrender
“As the eldest child of eight, Jemima Surrender‘s blistering sobriety and heady maturity comes as no surprise. Comparatives to The Band end with Jemima’s odd choice of alias; some of her material is tainted with the down and out rock’n’roll of the 1960s act, but it draws better comparison to the likes of Cat Power, Scout Niblett and PJ Harvey. Note that all of the above are American – Jemima may well be Britain’s answer to the call, or so the poignant material she’s produced thus far would have you believe.”
HOW YOU demo by Jemima Surrender
The Nova Saints
“Forming in the walled city of Hereford in 09, five piece The Nova Saints decamped to the urban sprawl of Bristol in a bid to develop their sound, and boy has it paid off. Their debut ‘NewFoundLand’ is the sound of 90s shoegazing being given a fresh injection of life. You see the Nova Saints sound thunders into your solar plexus with the fuzz box kick of Six by Seven at their peak, swirls with the glittering psych flecks of Sonic Boom, and the spiralling melodies and rhythmic loops of Ride. But they outstrip any of their influences, The Nova Saints sound is fresh and HUGE: they lay a wall, ney a tower of multi layered instrumentation for your ears to clamber over, while shooting vocals burn across blue hazy skies.”
The Nova Saints – Sugar Coated by The Soundfull
Pet Scenes
“Now for a serving of something noisy, abrasive, and in your face. Pet Scenes are a four legged outfit from Limehouse, London.”
Melt by Pet Scenes
Letting Up Despite Great Faults
“We don’t claim to (always) be ahead of the curve here at GIITTV. Indeed, the idea of an exclusive is old hat sometimes. We aren’t afraid of further shining a light on acts that have already been picked up elsewhere. Californian band Letting Up Despite Great Faults recently received worldwide attention when they were featured on a trailer for the new Facebook apps – featured on BBC News, ITV, Channel 4 and just about every other news channel across Europe, which is kinda good going in terms of promotion, huh?”
Letting Up Despite Great Faults – Lift (bonus track) by lettingup
Loch Lomond
“Crafting gorgeously intricate swells of instrumentation that encompass everything from a flute solo, to a string section, to tinges of Americana, and the finest chamber folk. Their much anticipated second full length Little Me Will Start A Storm was released last month. The album was mixed by Adam Selzer (who has recorded all of M Ward’s records), Tucker Martine (Laura Veirs, The Decemberists), Kevin Robinson (of Viva Voce), and Jeff Stuart Saltzman. Lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Ritchie Young threads each melody with a highpitched kind of wonder not heard on my speakers since Crosby Stills and Nash and laces it with a aching, a indefinable longing for better times.”
