Bitter Grapes X Huge Arms Vol. 2

Bitter Grapes X Huge Arms Vol. 2

(Bitter Grapes)

LP | DL

Manchester garage-psych label Bitter Grapes launch an excellent compilation of bands which have performed their Huge Arms membership evening via the yr.

There are specific matches made in musical heaven, and the Bitter Grapes-Huge Arms is one such match of musical misfits that stands out from the gang. The garage-psych label, based mostly out of Mars Tapes within the legendary Affleck’s Palace and accountable for the unbelievable Meltchester Pageant, have teamed up with Manchester music establishment Huge Arms to current the second quantity of bands which have performed the label’s membership nights via out the yr. As a snapshot of the native, nationwide, and worldwide garage-psych-punk scene, you’ll be hard-pressed to discover a higher set of tunes.

The compilation cranks up proper from  the beginning with Australia’s Drunk Mums. Their monitor Journal, taken from the album Beer Child, swaggers in a new-wave punk type, like The Rezillos at their finest, quick and sharp. These after exclusives are rewarded shortly after with Ahmed & The Romans’ Mathmatics. Tipped by us as ones to look at, their EP, launched final yr, showcased they bizarre and wired psych sound to perfection. They proceed to be a beautiful prospect on the scene and, as members are additionally concerned within the label, integral to its continued progress.

Bitter Grapes hold issues native with an excellent slice of darkish and brooding psych-punk from the palms of Lifeless Stilettos, with their very own title monitor. A fast scan via their Bandcamp, and this can be one other unheard monitor, a breadcrumb for a future Bitter Grapes launch? We will solely hope as Lifeless Stilettos definitely sound like ones to pay attention out for. As do the mind-melting SLAP RASH. This Manchester duo sound like a pressure to reckoned with on Protecting Crops. Half John, half PiL, all energy.

And, earlier than we momentarily depart from Manchester, we’re handled to the barnstorming Rusty Cutter, the most recent single from Wax Head. On an already sturdy facet A, this nearly tops the remaining…solely simply. Earlier than we flip issues over for facet B, we’re left with the good synth-psych groove of Italy’s a/lpaca. Their Make It Higher LP was an early launch on Bitter Grapes and for followers of King Gizzard and Slift, they’re a must-hear.

Sizzling Rubbish returned initially of the yr with the stellar Treasured Dream, and from that, we get Look At My Telephone with its bounding rhythm and catchy hook. Nice stuff from the Toronto band earlier than we fly proper world wide for a slab of Supply. From their Endlessly Givig Handshakes album, Bitter Grapes have gone for the perfect with joyfully pulsating Baader Meinhof. Two-thirds via the album and we’re in little doubt that the oldsters at Bitter Grapes have nice style certainly.

Issues drop down, a respite of jerking new-wave post-punk from Dr Positive’s Uncommon Follow. These are completly new to us however verify simply why our eyes needs to be mounted on what’s coming from our Antipodean cousins. One other band to pay attention to for 2025. The monitor, Infinite Development was launched in 2021, however as quickly as I end scripting this I will likely be taking part in their newest album, Whole Actuality, and linined one thing up for my subsequent From The Storage present.

Native future Manchester heroes (based on MK Bennet) Chemtrails are up subsequent with Sycophant’s Paradise from their addictive album The Pleasure Of Sects, which they launched initially of the yr. If the celebrities align, they may very well be in for some huge issues. What a compilation like this highlights is that, simply as now we have our ears to the grassroots underground always right here at Louder Than Struggle, there are bands that cross us by, surrounded by the zeal of every little thing we do cowl. It’s hammered house extra once we hear the Fruit Tones‘ Again In The Evening (Once more). It oozes the traditional proto-punk blues groove that ought to have pricked up many an ear on the LTW headquaters.

And at last, to spherical issues off, and watch out what you Google for at work this Xmas, France’s Bare Comfortable Males ship Dangerous Daddy. It’s a pounding journey into garage-punk weirdness to convey the compilation to a detailed and show that Bitter Grapes are delivering among the finest in nationwide and worldwide bands to the Manchester reside scene.

Preserve yer eyes peeled subsequent yr for extra and, when you can, whereas shares final, head on over to their Bandcamp, or on upstairs to Mars Tapes and choose up a duplicate of this compitaion. I guarentee that you’ll not be disenchanted.

Bitter Grapes are on-line, Bandcamp, Fb, X, and Instagram.

Mars Tapes are based mostly in Affleck’s Palace, Manchester. They’re additionally on Fb, Instagram, and Discogs.

Huge Arms are on Instagram and Fb.

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Phrases by Nathan Whittle. Discover his Louder Than Struggle archive right here.

Nathan additionally presents From The Storage on Louder Than Struggle Radio each Tuesday at 8pm. Tune in for an hour of fuzz-crunching storage rock ‘n’ roll and make amends for all exhibits on the From The Storage Mixcloud playlist.