Situationists: New Songs / Breaking Up

"Onwards and Upwards"

Myspace // "Digital Love" [Audio] // "Whiskey and Water" (remix) [Audio]

Sheffield-based Situationists have been busy since the release of their debut EP Onwards and Upwards last year on Tough Love Records. They've been focusing on new material, so far recording five new songs in their home-based studios, four of which will be released in the coming months. To tide everyone over to then, the band has a remix available, done by electro artist The Aspirins For My Children, and a cover of Daft Punk's "Digital Love."

I had written the paragraph above before actually looking at the band's Myspace page, which indicates that the band's London show this past weekend, as well as a yet to be announced gig in Sheffield, will be the band's last ones. I shouldn't have dragged my feet with posting up those new tunes above because now instead of serving as treats for what is yet to come, they are now goodbye presents from a very promising young band.

A little confusing, but the e-mail from their label containing the new tunes came four days after the band announced their break-up. I guess the guys at Tough Love really could not let go.

Situationists

Myspace // "Onwards and Upwards" [Audio]

While many bands I like cite Q and Not U and the Dismemberment Plan as influences, more of them should start listing Abba. This Sheffield group has mad love for the world famous Swedish quartet, and while they may not wear that influence on their sleeves, their knack for writing a good hook shines through on their latest EP (out now on Tough Love), Onwards and Upwards. The four songs contained within are amazingly precise pop nuggets, easy to appreciate, yet with enough depth to stay fresh over time.

Rolo Tomassi

[Photo Credit: Tom Barnes]

Myspace // "Scabs" [Audio]

I've spent a lot of time going back and forth on these guys and I've finally come to the conclusion that they're good, although I have to be in the right frame of mind for them. It's stuff that I went wild for when I was 17, but every now and then, the right band like this comes along that I can get down with. At times, they remind me of the Assistant, albeit more tuneful and without the five minutes of pretentious stories between songs. Rolo Tomassi also gathers as much influences from electronica as they do guitars, and they've recently wrapped up a tour with Blood Red Shoes, who are pretty much the best band ever.

The band's debut album Hysterics is out now in the UK on Hassle Records.

Rotary Ten "Time Is Not A Line And I Am Not A Rock"

Myspace // "Idols of Our Own Design" [mp3]

Early in '07 we covered Rotary Ten, a Sheffield outfit with a few singles, a hope, and some dreams. This past June, Xtra Mile Recordings dropped the band's debut album These Are Our Hands, but like the bad blogger that I am, I neglected to mention it. Here we are in the end of September and I am just getting around to it. The band's latest single is brilliant and well worth the price of admission (the album).