Rad Releases 20 – Wild Cat Strike
It’s that time once again, as the countdown to the end of 2020 rapidly approaches and we quickly want to move away from this year- we take a personal look back on familiar names, labels, promoters, and musicians’ best releases of the past 12 months. In what has been a challenging year for all, the one constant has been how artists and their labels have adapted and produced some of the best records of our time and it’s those releases that have the audience has depended on to get them through the year.
This year the Rad Releases special celebrates 10 years, to mark the decade-long feature we let our favorites take over the site to tell us the records that have kept them going throughout this trying year. Telling us how they’ve adapted, if they’ve returned to a loved record and what we can look forward to from them next year.
Our next takeover comes from Brighton four-piece Wild Cat Strike. At the start of 2020 we had the pleasure in hosting a live video from the band and news of their April tour. When that tour sadly had to be post-phoned, Wild Cat Strike pushed their energy into a new release, their EP Mustard Coloured Years came out via Small Pond Records. The band continued to focus on a special lockdown sessions video series. Singer, Danny stepped out solo to release his new debut EP out via Small Pond, and each musician continued to use their platform to promote playlists, their label and uniting from their separate homes to continue to play. We hand over to Danny, Chris and Antoine to find out more about their year in music, plus listen to a specially curated playlist streaming below…
Danny
Top 5:
Bright Eyes – Down In The Weeds, Where The World Once Was
I’m a big Bright Eyes fan, and was very pleased for the new album to finally be released (though Conor Oberst various other projects kept me more than satisfied). It is full of all the tricks I like so much; cinematic strings, great lyrics, and some slide guitar.
Lomelda – Hannah
Antoine sent me this whilst I was in the Lake District, so it reminds me of vast hill top panoramas. Really great harmonies on the record and unique sound.
Tim Heidecker – Fear Of Death
I’m still not sure if this is an elaborate joke by the comedian, but this album is full of great 1970’s sounding country/folk rock. The arrangements and chords patterns are charming and quentasencisl dad rock.
Dan Deacon – Mystic Familiar
I listened to this in the heat wave after the 3 month lock down, the manic arpeggios and synth colleges summed up our release back into society.
Andy Shauf – The Neon Skyline
This is a very calming beautiful album, full of charm, the lyric writing always reminds me of Paul Simon. Perfect morning listening.
Best Show:
(Sandy) Alex G at The Old Market Brighton
Best Discovery:
Lomelda,
Album that got you through:
Mewithoutyou – Pale Horse
This is an album I find myself constantly going back to. The dexterity in his lyrics, and vast lexicon always leave me in ore. The guitars and rhythms always make me want to dance or pump my fist.
Band to look out for:
Bxris Bekka are releasing an album next year. We played with one of them a few years ago when he was in LIRR (who are amazing too) and cant wait to hear more from him.
Past Ten Years:
Everything by Conor Oberest, The National and Mewithoutyou.
How have you adapted:
We had a year of touring planned wich sadly got cancelled, we were even going to Sweden which would have been amazing. During the lock down we sowed the seed for our next release “The Red Brakelight Sky Sessions’; recording stripped back versions/videos of the songs from ‘Mustard Coloured’ from our various locations. This has turned into our fully formed next release.
I had the time to release my solo project (Daniel God Damn Byrom) into the world, which I plan on doing alot more with, if the coming year allows.
Plans:
We are releasing an MTV Unpluggled style ep ‘The Red BrakeLight Sky Sessions’, which is acoustic reimagining or our ‘Mustard Coloured Years” EP, replacing distorted guitars for banjo, violin and organ.
We will also be releasing our second album, which we can’t wait for, but thats all hush hush at the moment (CS exclusive)
Chris
Top Releases:
Moses Sumney – Græ
That voice. God damn.
Moses Boyd – Dark matter
Those grooves. God damn.
Mary Lattimore – Silver Ladders
Lovely dreamy harp vibes
Laundromat – Blue EP
One of my favourite songwriters. Love this new project.
Loathe – I Let it in and it took everything
Some crushingly heavy bits on here
The best show you have played this year / gig attended (if you had the opportunity at the start of the year)
We didn’t get to play any 🙁 There were some great socially distanced gigs at the Brighton Dome a few months back. I loved seeing Libra Libra (featuring 2 former Wild Cats) kill it on the big stage as well as our label mates CLT DRP and the incredible Ditz.
Has there been any record that’s got you through this year?
I’ve been listening to Thursday Afternoon by Brian Eno while trying to sleep or meditating. Though I haven’t been doing enough of either.
How have you adapted with releasing/recording/promoting during this year?
We all got set up to record at home, which we wouldn’t have done in normal circumstances and has been super beneficial.
Best discovery this year?
Sea swimming. Not a band. Just like, swimming in the sea.
As this is our 10th year of Rad Releases, we want to look back on your 10 years- has there been on standout moment/standout record of the past 10years for you
I can’t pick 2 records and a gig that bookend the decade. Lastfm says my most played thing of the past 10 years is Parrot Flies by Algernon Cadwallader (2011). That got me into Hop Along, (they shared a couple of members) who released Painted Shut in 2015, which is an absolute classic for me. Then I finally got to see them in Brighton in 2019.
Artist/Band to watch for 2021
Black Country, New Road. I saw them at Great Escape and then again at their headlining show in Brighton. Unreal. They’re like a much better version of us.
Squid. Former Brighton-ians have just signed to Warp and everything they do is solid gold.
Plans for the New Year
Record and release our second record. Play lots of shows. World peace. Whirl peas.
Antoine
Top 5 Releases
‘Hannah’ by Lomelda
It’s a sad yet soothing record, probably my AOTY
‘Likewise’ by Frances Quinlan
(solo project of Hop Along’s singer) – I’ve always been fascinated by her, I think she’s such an amazing artist and it’s nice to hear her exploring different sounds
‘Senicarne’ by Fall Of Messiah
Absolutely crushing post-rock/screamo band from France, they floor me with every single one of their releases
The best show you have played this year / gig attended
Colossal Squid // Luo in Brighton – such a great lineup. Had a big smile on my face during the entirety of Colossal Squid’s set.
Has there been any record that’s got you through this year?
The Self Titled album by Young Jesus, like every year since its release (2017)
Best discovery this year?
There’s been many but Trachimbrod was a cool one – great screamo band from Sweden, their album ‘Leda’ is pretty rad. Also ‘These Northwood Blues’ by Jack M. Senff.
Artist/Band to watch for 2021
I just want Lomelda to come to Europe now I think after releasing this album, she’s (hopefully) gonna get huge
—
The band have also compiled a special Circuit Sweet playlist for their end of year feature – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4DpxoB6A89D7ilbl9FXgYi?si=Wu1AxtyMRVePThpxbYJVYw
Thank you all and hello new album on the cards!
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