Granted Peace, the “dark and tropically fused indie band from Birmingham”, aren’t the newest new band we’ve ever featured on here but they’re new enough that we feel some of you may not have heard of them and good enough that we feel all of you should know about them.
The name has a predetermined logo built into it so I’m not going to fool anyone by running around screaming that this band’s shit hot original because, to a large extent, they’re not – you know how for most of us it takes time to grow, to find a suitable path and to develop the output of our creativity. Fresh out of the gate, what Peace does exude is an intriguing dynamic, tantalising lyrical attitude, some fruity rhythm and sassy indie guitars.
They cut their teeth as November and the Criminal & then morphed into Peace during 2011 and promptly set to self-producing demos, playing the West Midlands alternative Mecca The Custard Factory as well as house parties and other intimate venues around the UK & they carved out a fan base and a nifty leopard print faux fur jacket along the way.
January 2012, and as the New Year stretched and yawned in its infancy the four piece released their first track (online) ‘Bblood’. Critically heralded as the saviour of all indie kind, and not without reason, it really kind of deserved the brouhaha. ‘Bblood’ was that perfect slice of afro-pop shaken up with glossy post punk ‘tude. It also had some 90′s indie band swag thrown in that you could dance to and a cocky front man style mumble along to the lyrics. However, just under that kick ass rhythm that the drummer and bassist were knocking out – somewhere behind the dirtily sultry vocals, lay an emotional aggressiveness, which was the making of the track and which was Ωwhere this band of four’s uniqueness lies.
The first release through Columbia came as a mouth-watering four track ‘Delicious’ EP – ‘Bblood’ had been slicked and renamed ‘Bloodshake’ despite a dreadful accompanying video the track was still a diamond it’s edges polished off but the original beauty remains untarnished. ‘California Daze’, (which the band have made available as a free download) and ‘Ocean Eye’ are decent syrupy melodious feedback feasts showing a different side to their talent, admittedly one this time akin to the recent music output of The Horrors and M83, but there is no feeling that Peace attempt to be like either. Contradictory, however it maybe, it’s the cover of Binary Finary ’1998′ when they really come into their own, full of angst, vanity and posturing sound-scapes it would have been easy for arrogance to overshadow the quality in this solidly crafted, powerfully exaggerated and lascivious chaos of sound. ‘Delicious’ is a great EP and all points in the right direct for future groovy eclectic, darkly electric and tropical pleasures.
As 2012 drew to a close Peace went off on their first world tour stopping off in Milan, Los Angeles, New York and Birmingham – cause there ain’t nothing wrong with taking it back home bab. ‘Wraith’ is their first single, from their first album due later this year was released on January 14th. The video: seriously what the hell! Is that meant to be ironic? It comes across as a case of adolescent wish fulfilment at best and voyeurism on the company dime on the whole: reeks of a wasted opportunity. ‘Wraith’ the song however is a myriad of fluid levels that slide, trickle and envelope throughout, it is their most epigrammatic offering to date, certainly the most accessible to a mainstream audience, its afropopness is more juicy, more developed and the heightened sense of escapist expectation in its warmth and anthemic depth means ‘Wraith’, just like the band themselves, deserves to be widely heralded and ecstatically cherished.
Just the fourth name to be announced for Japan’s second biggest festival Summer Sonic in August, Peace will play both Tokyo and Osaka dates alongside current announced headliners Muse and Metallica and fellow Brit Jake Bugg. The festival is usually a sell out with an approximate 60,000 ticket holders in attendance. This year’s Summer Sonic side show Sonic Mania will be headlined by The Stone Roses.
Peace are part of this year’s NME Awards Tour joining Palma Violets, Django Django and Miles Kane for a 13-date tour around the UK in February tickets are available now:
Newcastle O2 Academy (February 7) Manchester Academy 1 (8) Leeds O2 Academy (9) Glasgow O2 Academy (11) Nottingham Rock City (12) Liverpool O2 Academy (13) Norwich UEA (15) Birmingham O2 Academy (16) Cardiff Uni Great Hall (17) Bristol O2 Academy (19) Bournemouth O2 Academy (20) Brighton Dome (21) London O2 Brixton Academy (23)
‘Wraith’ (Columbia) Available as a Download & Vinyl from iTunes and all the usual retailers. A 7 inch picture disc is available in limited numbers.
Keep up to date, locate links and indulge your need for Peace via their Soundcloud, Facebook and website.
All words by Katie Clare. More of Katie’s writing on Louder Than War can be found at her author archive here.
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