Genre: Electro-pop

Record Label: Moshi Moshi

Download Single:

Our Rating:

After being talent scouted by the Moshi Moshi label, Fins Juho Paalosmaa and Tomi Hyyppa are here to give us Brits a taste of how electro-pop sounds filtered through the cold of the Nordic countries; it turns out that what we’re left with is a more reserved sound than we’re used to via the likes of Chew Lips et al, littered with laid-back grooves and tinkling, frosty keys. ‘Running On’ is a slow-burner, lingering keys leading the way as the track builds momentum; gradually, archaic synths ease their way to the foreground. As a love song, B-side ‘Moving On’ lacks romance, sounding detached and too spaced out; as dreamy pop, the song has more success. ‘Ways To Be’, meanwhile, combines pulsating synths with strong vocal lines, producing what could be the soundtrack to a club night in the Himalayas: kinetic yet also offering aural glimpses of the ice of Villa Nah’s homeland. A trio of songs that won’t set the world on fire, but score points for offering a chilled out take on a genre fast becoming saturated.

Following the hugely successful outdoor performance from Camden’s legendary Madness on Inverness Street Market as part of Gaymers Camden Crawl in 2009, the festival is pleased to announce the addition of a fully licensed outdoor live arena for the event in 2010. Situated upon the length of Hawley Crescent outside MTV’s studios, the location will house both main and DJ stages as well as several bars and food stalls from 12:00 until 7:00 pm on both days of the event. Working in partnership with the Crawl for the 3rd consecutive year, Red Bull Bedroom Jam returns to host only 14+ element of the Crawl this year. The newly dubbed Red Bull Bedroom Jam Arena will top off the truly festival atmosphere in Camden Town on the bank holiday weekend with live performances from the likes of Kasms, Lets Go To War, We Are the Ocean, Skepta and Man Like Me on Saturday and Chew Lips, Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip, Is Tropical, Rolo Tomassi and Flood of Red on Sunday. The Red Bull Bedroom Jam Arena will be free to any NW1 residents and members of the RBBJ website members over the age of 14 as well Gaymers Camden Crawl wristband holders via guest list application form hosted at each www.redbullbedroomjam.com and www.thecamdencrawl.com/camden

WINNERS EMERGING TALENT AWARDS REVEALED

The Emerging Talent Awards were launched by the Crawl in January 2010 to identify the most gifted new music artists in the UK across a variety of disciplines through a combination of popular vote and judged awards. Following a three month period of nominations and public voting, a shortlist of 45 artists were judged by a panel of music industry experts to select the final award winners.

We are please to announce the following Emerging Talent Award Winners:

Best New Band – GAGGLE (www.myspace.com/gagglespace) sponsored by Gibson
Best Live Act – THE STOW(www.myspace.com/thestow) sponsored by Koko
Best Solo Artist – TRUTH (www.myspace.com/truthboe) sponsored by Shure Microphones
People’s Choice – THE OCTOBER GAME (www.myspace.com/theoctobergame) sponsored by Backstreet Intl.
DIY Award – MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK (www.myspace.com/mps) sponsored by Key Production & The Exchange
Best Visual Impact – NO FIXED ABODE (www.myspace.com/nfamusic) sponsored by Pete Cranston Photography
Innovation Award – CREATURES OF LOVE (www.myspace.com/creaturesoflove) sponsored by 3 Angrymen
Best Song – SHIV LIZZY (www.myspace.com/shivlizzy) sponsored by Strongroom Studios

Each winner will be invited to play a 30 minute live set at the ETAs stage at the Ice Wharf, Camden Lock on one of the 2 days of the event. They will be presented with their award and prizes by a surprise guest host following their set in front of a live audience.

Kitsune Records recently showcased their latest talent to a mixture of label mates, journalists and a host of lucky onlookers. The bands on show were electro-melancholies Chew Lips, odd balls Crystal Fighters and New Cross’ very own My Tiger My Timing. Have a look at the bands in action and tell us what you think people…

2009 has been a blur of frenetic activity for the London trio known as Chew Lips. Bursting forth at the start of the year, they surfed a tidal wave of press and overwhelming buzz due to two white hot debut releases, the glorious pop anthem “Solo” and the darker, edgier but no less addictive follow up “Salt Air”, both released on the much revered Parisian label Kitsune. Since then, in short order, they embarked on tours with Howling Bells and The Virgins, played at every summer festival worth its salt, and recorded an incredible debut album with Dave Kosten.

Such a schedule would be enough to fell most bands, but not the indefatigable Chew Lips. For the rest of 2009, the band will be taking a most unusual step of putting together a free monthly residency, during which they will compere, curate and perform. Starting in October at Catch, the band will be putting the lineups together, as well as previewing brand new tracks from their upcoming LP. Moreover, they will be giving away signed, strictly limited edition CD singles of a different track each month, which will subsequently be made available for download the very next day. The exact details of the lineups and exclusive tracks will be made available very soon, so keep your eyes on this space!

Genre: Electro

Location: London, United Kingdom

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/chewlips

Recommended Track: Solo

Recommended Album:

Our Rating:

Electro-pop is blanketing the British musical scene in the early part of 2009 and yet another band have come along to throw their bleeps and bloops into the picture. Chew Lips are only a year old but have already amassed a horde of online support, using a drum machine and assorted instruments to craft pop hooks drenched in repetitive, pulsating beats.

Quick to act, the group wrote ten tracks upon their initial rehearsal, before setting out to play at house parties and backstreet clubs across London. The trio have since toured endlessly, travelling the length of the UK and even heading over the pond to demonstrate their electro expertise to mainland Europe. Pouring forth like a lo-fi Crystal Castles, the group are carving yet another notch in the new electro wave that is crashing on the shores of the British music scene.

Chew Lips leading tracks is ‘Solo’, a rolling, vibrant tune that bounces atop a beauty of a bass line and sways alongside front woman Tigs’ clear and distinctive vocals. Also worth a listen is the funk-filled ‘Toro’ and ‘Play Together’, a synth-fest fuelled by playful lyrics.

The band have a heap of gig dates over summer, including festival appearances at Glastonbury, Rockness and Bestival, so there really is no excuse for missing them live. Releasing their stuff on acclaimed French record label Kitsune, they are earning a respected (albeit difficult, sending many searching for a non-existent electro trio called Tulips) name for themselves left, right and centre. Although beloved by Steve Lamacq, Chew Lips still have a way to go and a debut album could either make or break the fledgling career of the electric three whose promising start hints at a future filled with success.