Few great indie rock bands are built without an enthralling story to boot. The Encierro (acronym N*C*R*O), a five piece from Stirling, Scotland are no exception. Since their impressive start in 2003 where they excelled and won the esteemed Stella Artois Battle of the Bands (astonishingly within four weeks of forming, a feat not at the grasp of many) they have crafted themselves an extraordinary tale of talented music, rapid success and sold out shows. Now, The Encierro are ready to unveil their superb first official mini EP Be Yourself, a single likely to further catapult the group. The band’s ambitious story continued when the Stella Artois achievement was rewarded with £1500 and studio time, allowing them to record their first EP ‘Idiot Rock N Roll’ at the Glasgow based Cava Studios, where prominent acts such as Mogwai and David Byrne had recorded before. The Encierro appear to have already had a stellar ride since their somewhat quirky inception in 2003 at a swimming pool in Los Christianos, but the new single only adds to this further. Souey, Janek Kanikula, Junior Bone, John Liddell and James 'shoogz' McDonald comprise the quintet and with the Be Yourself EP, really give us a taste of that journey with three tracks strong in melody, percussion and riffs that tell a story in themselves.
The Encierro’s new EP really is as accomplished a debut single as a band is likely to put out, with a level of musical maturity that really shines through. The band’s progress from past tracks such as ‘The Girls Only Go Where The Coke Is’ and ‘Broken Record’ may be attributable to settling on a line up that truly works for them, and the result is an EP that really excels. The quality of the two B-sides accompanying Be Yourself are a joy to behold in an age where the radio edit remix has taken over from the days where bands showcased unreleased material on their singles. Here The Encierro pull out all the stops. The production on the title track Be yourself is homely, merging the electric and acoustic sides of the song seamlessly. The song drifts dreamily through the chorus, with the acoustic structure complimenting Souey’s vocals perfectly leading to a strong riff driven chorus. As it develops, the track builds to a potent, percussion filled, slick guitar licked ending. An almost R.E.M. style track in its beauty and composition, with slightly more of a Britpop undertone.
There is also an unnerving quality about both the B-sides on this single, quality not usually seen on a debut EP. The first being a Manic Street Preacher-esque style rock track titled Esconde Mi Mente. An instantly catchy tune that coupled with the subtle maracas and the exquisite jangly flamenco guitar riff, gives this powerful song an intriguing Spanish twist. The second track is an equally well written if altogether more direct style indie track. Things Get Better! has a glorious electric guitar riff reminiscent of groups like The Kooks or The View. The strained vocals of Souey give the track a rough quality rarely heard since The Strokes and the tight percussion of John Liddell gives the song an upbeat air that has you moving uncontrollably.
The band’s name (literally meaning the ‘lock-up’ in Spanish) refers to the notoriously dangerous Bull Run in Pamplona, Northern Spain, a furious pace that the group can relate to. Everything about The Encierro has you listening and wanting to know more, and given the rate they are hurtling towards stardom, this is a story that doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
(Mark McDermott)
Be Yourself is released as a 3 track cd single/download on December 7th 2009 - Platform Records.
www.myspace.com/theencierro
With a name as exotic as The Encierro they should really hail from Spain, but Stirling? Regardless, the band specialise in the sort of inspiring songs that gave Britpop such gravitas. Take lead single ‘Be Yourself’ for example, with its subtle acoustic refrains and ever more delicate riffs, the track hints at the refined touch of REM combined with the melodic thoughtfulness of The Kooks. The key is in the production as the verses flow seamlessly into the chorus, gifting front man James Lafferty an imposing platform on which to deliver his impressively passionate vocals.Thankfully, ‘Esconde Mi Mente’ does offer an expectant flamboyance with its slight flamenco guitar and Lafferty’s notably catchy vocals playing second fiddle to cunning, building acoustic riffs. Final track ‘Things Get Better!’ hints at the band’s more traditional take on indie with a gloriously simple yet effective exchange between jangly electric guitar and Lafferty’s laboured vocals granting the track a homeliness evident on the single throughout. (10 out of 13, by Omar Soliman)
http://www.roomthirteen.com/cgi-bin/cd_view.cgi?CDID=10598
The Encierro Be Yourself EP
ANOTHER debut - this time from a Stirling five-piece. Be Yourself is bouncy positive pop rock. Think Dodgy maybe or early Supergrass.
The chiming guitar through the song lifts this from just another Britpop workout to something rather more special.
Esconde Mi Mente kicks off with a film sample and sounds like Manic Street Preachers with the title being sung by James "Souey" Lafferty just like James Dean Bradfield.
However, the band again add a twist with the rhythm more like Animals-style R&B.
Third and final tune Things Get Better blends the two elements together - Lafferty adding some epic Manics vocals to a perky tune that will have the indie disco kids skipping as they go up for another cider and black.
The band launch their single at HMV Stirling on December 7.
They play The Apple Store, Glasgow, on December 10, Old Victoria, Falkirk, on December 11 and are back at HMV Stirling on December 12.
Be Yourself is out on December 7. www.myspace.com/theencierro
Rick Fulton (Daily Record - Soundcheck December 4th 09)
Scottish quintet Encierro's name means 'lock up' in Spanish and relates to a famous bull run in the northern town of Pamplona, the furious pace of which is matched by their indie rhythms.Début single 'Be Yourself' is a driving indie-pop number holding an electricity which, when coupled with front-man Souey's strained vocals, quickly proves irresistible. Two B-sides accompany, and are equally good; the Kookish 'Things Get Better' and the Spanish-flavoured 'Esconda Mi Mente' which shows some diversity. 4/5AW
http://www.spoonfed.co.uk/spooners/music-team-2636/new-releases-7th-dec-1802
by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Wednesday
FORMING in 2003 Stirling indie stalwarts The Encierro have seen it all in the local scene.
The band’s name means "lock up" in Spanish and is taken in reference to the notoriously dangerous bull run at Pamplona, Northern Spain.
After a number of line-up changes the current members Souey, Janek, Junior, Shoogs and Liddell have come together to release the band’s debut single "Be Yourself".
The result is a driving indie-pop track which brings to mind Britpop class act The Bluetones (who the band have supported in the past) and more contemporary bands such as The Enemy and One Night Only.
"Be Yourself" is supported by two B-sides including Spanish influenced "Esconde Mi Mente".
The release sees the band get out on the road once more including a date last weekend with ex-Oasis member Bonehead’s new band The Vortex.
The Vortex and The Encierro took to the stage last Saturday (November 14) at McQs in Bannockburn. The rest of the tour takes in dates in Glasgow, Stirling and Falkirk, ending with a promotional gig in Stirling’s HMV on December 12.
You can find out more about The Encierro at http://www.myspace.com/theencierro
The Encierro’s debut single hits the shops on the December 7.
Details for the band’s upcoming gigs are on the band’s Myspace.
And by be yourself, I presume they mean be early REM. Because it's the early jingly-jangly sounds of said Georgian chancers that The Encierro seem to be trying to emulate on this, their debut single. So, if you like that sort of thing, then you'll like this.The B-side 'Esconde Me Mende' goes a bit more psych pop, and is all the better for it.
http://www.the-rocker.co.uk
Tuesday 13 October 2009
Thursday 8 October 2009
Vegas Nights - debut single 'Touch and Feel' - press release and reviews.
Not many up and coming indie acts can claim to have the Japanese music market watching their moves. This however is an accolade which Vegas Nights can lay claim to after a sampler CD distributed by a series of online record stores earlier this year, caused a stir in the Far East. Touch And Feel / It Came As No Surprise is the band’s brand spanking new debut double A side which not only introduces us to the band, but gives us a real insight into their past influences and it’s future direction. The current penchant for throwback 80’s music has seen an increase in the synth heavy pop song, so it is rare and refreshing to see a band that manages to not only cross eras but portray them with it’s musical sounds. Hailing from Stirling originally but basing themselves musically out of Glasgow, the talented five-some thrash through evocative songs that are strongly reminiscent of the ‘Madchester’ sound that groups such as The Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses so masterfully crafted.
Touch and Feel springs to life immediately and crushes through the verse/chorus/verse approach. A precise and plucky guitar riff drives the track forward and beautifully compliments the echoey almost Smiths-esque vocals and harmonies as they plead ‘Maybe if we could touch and feel tonight/Then you would be just as satisfied’. This punchy pop track certainly leaves you satisfied, landing you somewhere between Gigolo Aunts and The Lightening Seeds.
Vegas Nights list The Cure as one of their major influences and this is particularly evident in the second A side It Came As No Surprise whilst never taking away from its originality. A melodic and layered verse slowly opens the song up and has a slight tinge of The Beach Boys about it. The potent chorus is made more grandiose by the drudgeoning drums and crashing cymbals accompanying the ever present reverb-style vocals made so prominent throughout the Manchester scene. Guitarist John leaves his mark on the overall sound with a striking riff leaving you with a track that conjures up memories of The Housemartins ‘Happy Hour’.
With the band becoming ever more renowned on the gig scene in Scotland and Northern England, Touch and Feel / It Came As No Surprise is set to open them up to a much wider fan base. This E.P. is a really solid debut for the five-some and the beauty of Vegas Nights is that repetitive listens to these tracks will have you spotting a degree of influences from all genres. The band state that they were formed under the challenge of experimenting with old and new sounds in order to create inspiring and exciting music, this double A side single proves this to be the case and means we can look forward to an exciting future for the group.
Watch this space!
(Mark McDermott)
Touch and Feel / It Came As No Surprise is released October 26th 2009 on Platform Records.
www.myspace.com/vegasnights06
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traditionally popular music as a whole tends to move in cycles, an ever trundling wheel of reinvention and recycling of ideas. At this particular moment in time there seems to be a glut of bands intent on reviving the sounds of the 1980’s. As is often the case though, many of the acts involved in this resurgence tend to miss the point completely, bypassing the spirit of the music which initially made it so exciting. Instead mistaking it for being all about faux romantic posturing, silly haircuts and refusing to smile for press photos. As such it's a relief to come across bands like Vegas Nights who imbue their influences with a sense of substance rather than style, coalescing them in to something with a bit of personality. There's a familiar mixture of inspirations certainly; The Cure, OMD, The Stone Roses. Unlike many of the other bands around at the moment though, they retain the slight experimental tendencies which initially made these bands so vital. It Came As No Surprise boasts what sounds ostensibly like a chorus without any lyrics, yet somehow manages to be insanely catchy. Touch and Feel bounds straight into life with anthemic harmonies reminiscent of The Beach Boys with a hint of The Housemartins. As you would imagine given such references, this very much seems like a pop song. There’s a happy go lucky façade to these songs, but there’s still an underlying cynicism which at times recalls the skewed romanticism of Ian Curtis or Edwyn Collins. The latter part of the track being characterised much more of a melancholic disposition with fragile vocals and less frenetic almost languid instrumentation, which points toward an interesting ‘other side’ to their sound. It Came As No Surprise confirms these traits with it’s instantly memorable Cure style riff and despairing lyrics. It’s a veritable snapshot of the very best periods of British pop music; a time when popular music had more of a soul, and certainly more artistic merit than is exhibited in today’s charts. Yes it was catchy, but more than anything it was born out of a feeling of discontent, of wanting something better. That cynicism was masked by the songs upbeat tones and a sense of bravado though, bands like The Smiths and Orange Juice being prime examples. It’s this apparent shared spirit which makes Vegas Nights more exciting than most of the other derivative 80’s style dross being spouted out at the moment. This is a very promising debut from a band with the potential to make records as exciting as they are accessible, something which has been mostly lacking in the British music scene for quite some time.
(4.5 out of 5) by Chris Tapley
http://godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=3792&type=Singles
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviewed By: Lisa Torem Label: Platform Records Format: CDS
What a global paradox that five Glaswegians woo the Japanese music scene and name themselves after that American adult wonderland known as Vegas. Compared to the Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses for their emotionally-packed repertoire, Vegas Nights release their debut AA single in late October.The band's influence by the Cure is evidenced by the first cut ‘Touch and Feel.’ Immediately effusive, it embraces perculating guitar riffs and punchy vocals. The second cut ‘It Came As No Surprise embues a solid melody and masterful vocals. Punch-drunk drums, acerbic cymbals and heavy reverb come together on the chorus - a rousting guitar riff rounds off this revelation. The band members promised a sound that would encompass a variety of genres. They have done so and some of the guitar work by Johnny often recalls that of the Ventures. While it may take some time for them to acquire the magical chemistry of an established band like the Cure, they’ve captured the musical immediacy of the moment and look like they’re well on their way to cashing in their hard-earned casino chips.
http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Review.aspx?id=6834
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vegas Nights is not a compilation of songs from Celine Dion's recent stint playing to packed, no doubt tasteless, crowds on the strip. (Thank heavens to Betsy I hear you cry!). Nor are they a collection of dubious clips from some over exuberant frat party. They are in fact a very promising five piece from Scotland due to release their debut, for your audible delight, on October 26th.
Comin' atchya,' mercifully not like Cleopatra, but rather more like a Jack-In-A-Box on speed, 'Touch & Feel,' the first track on this double 'A' side from Stirling's finest, is a runaway train of a track, a fine piece of Indie power pop bursting with energy. Vocally despatched with just enough youthful petulance and a 'couldn't give a ---- attitude,' it's reminiscent of the Buzzcocks, and particularly Pete Shelley. From the metaphoric slap in the face you get from the opening bars the pace doesn't relent, it's carried along with harmonies and a sing along, get ready to pogo in the mosh pit, tempo.
The second of the AA's is a gentler affair, a little slower, but only just, and for me the ever so slightly better track. Again there are plenty of harmonies, a backing guitar break and accompanying vocal that come oh so close to 'Happy Hour' by The Housemartins and a nostalgic day dream towards Scotland's very finest export (No not Tizer), Jesus & Mary Chain. A little more reverb, and a bit more polish who knows.
Vegas Nights have delivered a stirring debut bristling with frantic, almost naively positive, excitement. They deserve to be heard. Keep your ears peeled. Whether it be on Round Table, or as someone's 'single of the week,' etc. Vegas Nights should get given their chance. If it's not this time around I'm sure they've got a lot more to offer, and based on this AA release, let's hope so. Andrew Lockwood (3 stars)
http://www.allgigs.co.uk/view/review/4209/Vegas_Nights_UK_Touch_Feel_It_Came_As_No_Surprise_Single_Review.html
''Like the beatles going through an early 80’s indie blender…''
http://www.subba-cultcha.com/singles.php
Vegas Nights are from Stirling ( which is the same town as Jack Butler in fact) and in some respects they’re singing from the same 20th Century song book. "Touch And Feel" is driven completely by jangled guitars, but with a little more of an influence from Brian Wilson had he perhaps been a member of the Buzzcocks. Throughout this sprinkling of scuzzy psychedelia, the vocals seem to hang on to each note with a slight charming wobble, as the band take cues from the Beatles to the Smiths with an equal amount of pop fuelled glee.
MMM By Simon Brown
http://www.music-dash.co.uk/releases/release.asp?item=6509
Originally from Stirling, but now based in Glasgow, Vegas Nights show that they have some promise here on this, their debut single. They’ve been listening to a lot of different music -clearly both the Beach Boys and The Cure (good), but what they need to do is work on finding their own voice. Some good ideas here - I look forward to seeing them grow (3 STARS)
http://www.isthismusic.com/vegas-nights
Touch and Feel springs to life immediately and crushes through the verse/chorus/verse approach. A precise and plucky guitar riff drives the track forward and beautifully compliments the echoey almost Smiths-esque vocals and harmonies as they plead ‘Maybe if we could touch and feel tonight/Then you would be just as satisfied’. This punchy pop track certainly leaves you satisfied, landing you somewhere between Gigolo Aunts and The Lightening Seeds.
Vegas Nights list The Cure as one of their major influences and this is particularly evident in the second A side It Came As No Surprise whilst never taking away from its originality. A melodic and layered verse slowly opens the song up and has a slight tinge of The Beach Boys about it. The potent chorus is made more grandiose by the drudgeoning drums and crashing cymbals accompanying the ever present reverb-style vocals made so prominent throughout the Manchester scene. Guitarist John leaves his mark on the overall sound with a striking riff leaving you with a track that conjures up memories of The Housemartins ‘Happy Hour’.
With the band becoming ever more renowned on the gig scene in Scotland and Northern England, Touch and Feel / It Came As No Surprise is set to open them up to a much wider fan base. This E.P. is a really solid debut for the five-some and the beauty of Vegas Nights is that repetitive listens to these tracks will have you spotting a degree of influences from all genres. The band state that they were formed under the challenge of experimenting with old and new sounds in order to create inspiring and exciting music, this double A side single proves this to be the case and means we can look forward to an exciting future for the group.
Watch this space!
(Mark McDermott)
Touch and Feel / It Came As No Surprise is released October 26th 2009 on Platform Records.
www.myspace.com/vegasnights06
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traditionally popular music as a whole tends to move in cycles, an ever trundling wheel of reinvention and recycling of ideas. At this particular moment in time there seems to be a glut of bands intent on reviving the sounds of the 1980’s. As is often the case though, many of the acts involved in this resurgence tend to miss the point completely, bypassing the spirit of the music which initially made it so exciting. Instead mistaking it for being all about faux romantic posturing, silly haircuts and refusing to smile for press photos. As such it's a relief to come across bands like Vegas Nights who imbue their influences with a sense of substance rather than style, coalescing them in to something with a bit of personality. There's a familiar mixture of inspirations certainly; The Cure, OMD, The Stone Roses. Unlike many of the other bands around at the moment though, they retain the slight experimental tendencies which initially made these bands so vital. It Came As No Surprise boasts what sounds ostensibly like a chorus without any lyrics, yet somehow manages to be insanely catchy. Touch and Feel bounds straight into life with anthemic harmonies reminiscent of The Beach Boys with a hint of The Housemartins. As you would imagine given such references, this very much seems like a pop song. There’s a happy go lucky façade to these songs, but there’s still an underlying cynicism which at times recalls the skewed romanticism of Ian Curtis or Edwyn Collins. The latter part of the track being characterised much more of a melancholic disposition with fragile vocals and less frenetic almost languid instrumentation, which points toward an interesting ‘other side’ to their sound. It Came As No Surprise confirms these traits with it’s instantly memorable Cure style riff and despairing lyrics. It’s a veritable snapshot of the very best periods of British pop music; a time when popular music had more of a soul, and certainly more artistic merit than is exhibited in today’s charts. Yes it was catchy, but more than anything it was born out of a feeling of discontent, of wanting something better. That cynicism was masked by the songs upbeat tones and a sense of bravado though, bands like The Smiths and Orange Juice being prime examples. It’s this apparent shared spirit which makes Vegas Nights more exciting than most of the other derivative 80’s style dross being spouted out at the moment. This is a very promising debut from a band with the potential to make records as exciting as they are accessible, something which has been mostly lacking in the British music scene for quite some time.
(4.5 out of 5) by Chris Tapley
http://godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=3792&type=Singles
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviewed By: Lisa Torem Label: Platform Records Format: CDS
What a global paradox that five Glaswegians woo the Japanese music scene and name themselves after that American adult wonderland known as Vegas. Compared to the Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses for their emotionally-packed repertoire, Vegas Nights release their debut AA single in late October.The band's influence by the Cure is evidenced by the first cut ‘Touch and Feel.’ Immediately effusive, it embraces perculating guitar riffs and punchy vocals. The second cut ‘It Came As No Surprise embues a solid melody and masterful vocals. Punch-drunk drums, acerbic cymbals and heavy reverb come together on the chorus - a rousting guitar riff rounds off this revelation. The band members promised a sound that would encompass a variety of genres. They have done so and some of the guitar work by Johnny often recalls that of the Ventures. While it may take some time for them to acquire the magical chemistry of an established band like the Cure, they’ve captured the musical immediacy of the moment and look like they’re well on their way to cashing in their hard-earned casino chips.
http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Review.aspx?id=6834
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vegas Nights is not a compilation of songs from Celine Dion's recent stint playing to packed, no doubt tasteless, crowds on the strip. (Thank heavens to Betsy I hear you cry!). Nor are they a collection of dubious clips from some over exuberant frat party. They are in fact a very promising five piece from Scotland due to release their debut, for your audible delight, on October 26th.
Comin' atchya,' mercifully not like Cleopatra, but rather more like a Jack-In-A-Box on speed, 'Touch & Feel,' the first track on this double 'A' side from Stirling's finest, is a runaway train of a track, a fine piece of Indie power pop bursting with energy. Vocally despatched with just enough youthful petulance and a 'couldn't give a ---- attitude,' it's reminiscent of the Buzzcocks, and particularly Pete Shelley. From the metaphoric slap in the face you get from the opening bars the pace doesn't relent, it's carried along with harmonies and a sing along, get ready to pogo in the mosh pit, tempo.
The second of the AA's is a gentler affair, a little slower, but only just, and for me the ever so slightly better track. Again there are plenty of harmonies, a backing guitar break and accompanying vocal that come oh so close to 'Happy Hour' by The Housemartins and a nostalgic day dream towards Scotland's very finest export (No not Tizer), Jesus & Mary Chain. A little more reverb, and a bit more polish who knows.
Vegas Nights have delivered a stirring debut bristling with frantic, almost naively positive, excitement. They deserve to be heard. Keep your ears peeled. Whether it be on Round Table, or as someone's 'single of the week,' etc. Vegas Nights should get given their chance. If it's not this time around I'm sure they've got a lot more to offer, and based on this AA release, let's hope so. Andrew Lockwood (3 stars)
http://www.allgigs.co.uk/view/review/4209/Vegas_Nights_UK_Touch_Feel_It_Came_As_No_Surprise_Single_Review.html
''Like the beatles going through an early 80’s indie blender…''
http://www.subba-cultcha.com/singles.php
Vegas Nights are from Stirling ( which is the same town as Jack Butler in fact) and in some respects they’re singing from the same 20th Century song book. "Touch And Feel" is driven completely by jangled guitars, but with a little more of an influence from Brian Wilson had he perhaps been a member of the Buzzcocks. Throughout this sprinkling of scuzzy psychedelia, the vocals seem to hang on to each note with a slight charming wobble, as the band take cues from the Beatles to the Smiths with an equal amount of pop fuelled glee.
MMM By Simon Brown
http://www.music-dash.co.uk/releases/release.asp?item=6509
Originally from Stirling, but now based in Glasgow, Vegas Nights show that they have some promise here on this, their debut single. They’ve been listening to a lot of different music -clearly both the Beach Boys and The Cure (good), but what they need to do is work on finding their own voice. Some good ideas here - I look forward to seeing them grow (3 STARS)
http://www.isthismusic.com/vegas-nights
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