Features The Neu Bulletin (3rd September 2013)

Oh goodness. Here we are: It’s the 1 year anniversary of Neu Bulletins. For the last 12 months / majority of the last 365 days, new music tips have come left, right and centre from these obsessive, hastily scribed posts about exciting things.

Has anybody learnt anything? It’s hard to say. Bands exist and make songs: This is a certainty. Some of them sound good and promise bigger things. This isn’t a revelation, strictly speaking, but it’s enough to make Neu Bulletins a worthwhile exercise in telling folk what’s what and when.

THE GIG
SKATERS - London, The Lexington


NYC rock ‘n rollers SKATERS ran riot the last time they held a headline of this size in London. We’re talking fans bouncing off the walls, giving the venue a whole new shape, even. Expect The Lexington to receive a similar treatment tonight.

THE SONG
Vaults - Cry No More


London groups with little to no info surrounding their name are hardly a rare thing. It’s unusual however for a ‘mysterious’ project to reveal itself musically in such clear detail.

The driven bass & baroque songwriting of Vaults’ debut song ‘Cry No More’ latches onto an organic, emotionally-charged Bat For Lashes-channelling style. Strings build, glockenspiels chime - at the very front is a three minute gushing of words and inner thoughts. Whoever’s keeping their name out of the spotlight just so happens to be showcasing a fascinating, musical diary of sorts.

OTHER NEU BUSINESS
Prehistoric Forest - Good Time
Good Time - Single by Prehistoric Forest

‘Don’t be so stupid. Nobody gives a fuck,’ runs the slurred chorus of New Jersey outfit Prehistoric Forest’s new single. They’re channelling some seriously stoned and stuffy Julian Casablancas vibes, here. Somebody had to. ‘Good Time’ is a lesson in how to quit personal shortcoming and stop giving a stuff about people’s first impressions. The Strokes needed some new offspring - it’s arrived in rude form right here.