Bitter Grapes X Massive Fingers Vol. 2

Bitter Grapes X Massive Fingers Vol. 2

(Bitter Grapes)

LP | DL

Manchester garage-psych label Bitter Grapes launch an amazing compilation of bands which have performed their Massive Fingers membership night time by the 12 months.

There are specific matches made in musical heaven, and the Bitter Grapes-Massive Fingers is one such match of musical misfits that stands out from the group. The garage-psych label, primarily based out of Mars Tapes within the legendary Affleck’s Palace and accountable for the implausible Meltchester Pageant, have teamed up with Manchester music establishment Massive Fingers to current the second quantity of bands which have performed the label’s membership nights by out the 12 months. 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 fashion, like The Rezillos at their greatest, brief 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 12 months, showcased they bizarre and wired psych sound to perfection. They proceed to be an exquisite prospect on the scene and, as members are additionally concerned within the label, integral to its continued progress.

Bitter Grapes maintain issues native with an amazing slice of darkish and brooding psych-punk from the fingers of Lifeless Stilettos, with their very own title monitor. A fast scan by 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 power to reckoned with on Protecting Vegetation. 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 at first of the 12 months with the stellar Valuable Dream, and from that, we get Look At My Cellphone with its bounding rhythm and catchy hook. Nice stuff from the Toronto band earlier than we fly proper all over the world for a slab of Supply. From their Perpetually Givig Handshakes album, Bitter Grapes have gone for the easiest with joyfully pulsating Baader Meinhof. Two-thirds by the album and we’re in little doubt that the parents 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 affirm simply why our eyes needs to be mounted on what’s coming from our Antipodean cousins. One other band to be aware of for 2025. The monitor, Infinite Development was launched in 2021, however as quickly as I end scripting this I might be enjoying their newest album, Complete Actuality, and linined one thing up for my subsequent From The Storage present.

Native future Manchester heroes (in accordance with MK Bennet) Chemtrails are up subsequent with Sycophant’s Paradise from their addictive album The Pleasure Of Sects, which they launched at first of the 12 months. If the celebs align, they could possibly be in for some large issues. What a compilation like this highlights is that, simply as we’ve got our ears to the grassroots underground always right here at Louder Than Warfare, there are bands that cross us by, surrounded by the zeal of the whole lot we do cowl. It’s hammered residence extra after we hear the Fruit Tones‘ Again In The Night time (Once more). It oozes the traditional proto-punk blues groove that ought to have pricked up many an ear on the LTW headquaters.

And eventually, to spherical issues off, and watch out what you Google for at work this Xmas, France’s Bare Gentle Males ship Unhealthy Daddy. It’s a pounding journey into garage-punk weirdness to deliver the compilation to an in depth and show that Bitter Grapes are delivering among the greatest in nationwide and worldwide bands to the Manchester dwell scene.

Maintain yer eyes peeled subsequent 12 months for extra and, when you can, whereas shares final, head on over to their Bandcamp, or on upstairs to Mars Tapes and decide up a duplicate of this compitaion. I guarentee that you’ll not be dissatisfied.

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

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

Massive Fingers are on Instagram and Fb.

~

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

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