Transmission Announcement

Transmission turns weekly

Luton’s only indie and alternative radio show is going to be bigger and better than ever as Transmission is moving to a weekly two-hour Wednesday prime time slot on 102.8 Diverse FM.

Switching from a fortnightly one-hour slot, hosts Matt Crawley, Danny Buckley and producer James Cunliffe will provide you Transmission listeners even more of the freshest, new music from rising stars, unsigned artists and the biggest bands and artists around.

And with news, reviews, live sessions, interviews and everything you need to know about the local music scene, you’ll get to hear what’s hot, right now – before anyone else.    

Crawley said: “We’re really thrilled with what we’ve created so far with Transmission and there is no other radio show doing what we do in Luton. We pride ourselves on playing new music first and where Transmission leads, others follow. You’ll hear national radio stations play the tunes we do – only weeks later. 

“But we’ve always wanted to do things bigger and better. We can’t thank Diverse FM enough for giving us an improved platform and we’re ready to share even more of the music that we love.”

Buckley said: “Transmission has been drawing attention from all over the country. Bands and artists are hearing about what we do and have been sending us their music. We started the show saying that if we love a song we’ll play it and that won’t change because that’s how radio should be – no playlists, no pluggers, just a passion for great tunes. And now we’ve got even more scope to give great music the air time it deserves. C’MON LUTON!”  

If you’re in a band or you make your own music, send your tunes to transmissionluton@gmail.com.

You can also read news and reviews on our blog at transmissionluton.blogspot.co.uk.

This news comes soon after we announced our first ever Transmission Live show, with the Iggy Pop-endorsed False Heads headlining at Bedford Esquires on November 17. We’ve got two great support acts lined up, who regular listeners will be familiar with, and we’ll be announcing them on our first weekly show on Wednesday, October 3. Tickets are available at: https://www.seetickets.com/event/false-heads-plus-guests/bedford-esquires/1267409

FALSE HEADS plus guests from See Tickets www.seetickets.com Buy tickets for FALSE HEADS plus guests at Bedford Esquires from the official retailer, See Tickets.Prices from £6.60"

You can find, follow and like Transmission on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and discover interviews and live sessions on the Transmission Soundcloud page. And, after every show, all the tunes played can be found on our Spotify playlists, if you search Transmission on Diverse FM.

JAPANESE TELEVISION EP REVIEW

We’re about to take a journey through time and space with Japanese Television, traveling on a cyclone of organ and hypnotic reverb, that’ll put spirals in your eyes.  This self titled debut EP from the London instrumentalists is actually slightly unnerving, along with a fuzzy familiarity.  Like a 60s TV show repeated by Channel 4 on a Sunday.  Think ‘Time Tunnel’, or perhaps google it.

Japanese Television sound like they’ve been on the operating table of art-punk band Clinic, with their influence heard throughout the four tracks.  Opener ‘Tick Tock’ is the standout, with its effortlessly cool bass-line leading the way as the other instruments shimmer and shake, interchanging as the song takes its course to wherever it may be heading. I dare not ask, I’ll just accept my fate.  Prepare to accept yours.

 

Words by Ben Barry

 

THE VRYLL SOCIETY - Course of the Satellite (Album Review)

Astronaut suit on and ready for launch.  No interplanetary journey today, this is a mission to make contact with The Vryll Society, the latest big-noise coming from Liverpool, currently orbiting planet earth.

Signed to Deltasonic Records, home of The Coral and The Zutons, the label makes for a logical base with its proven record of encouraging melodic, timeless song writing, two qualities you can tick against The Vryll Society, but ‘Course Of The Satellite’ is not simply a retro throwback.  Existing in the here and now, the album takes a journey looking down upon the madness unfolding below.

A Psychedelic-rock influence shines throughout The Vryll Society’s debut, yet the LP remains a far more spiritual pursuit than hallucinogenic.  Its blend of trip-hop production keeping the mission on track, with ‘A Perfect Rhythm’ and ‘Shadow Of A Wave’ lending well timed engine boosts to the space-drifting notion.  With this album The Vryll Society join stars of the classic and modern to create a sign in the night sky that just might point towards a big future. 

Now, how do I go to the toilet in this thing?

 

Words by Ben Barry.

 

 

OH SEES - Smote Reverser (Album Review)

With the fluency of which ideas come to the mind of John Dwyer, Commander in chief of Californian, psych-garage-rock extraordinaires Oh Sees, it must be essential that he records as many albums as his unprecedented talent allows, or risk self-combustion.  A minimum of two LP’s a year the usual output.  With this latest exploration into rock hallucinogenica, there are moments that almost resemble traditional song-writing, the groove machine that is ‘C’ a prime example. Of course this notion is broken with absolute bone crunchers, ‘Overthrown’, along with the band’s trademark space-rock launches to destinations unknown.  After all Dwyer has become the key-master of the genre, able to alter his surroundings at will.

John Peel famously described The Fall as “always different, always the same”, which can also be said of Oh Sees.  ‘Smote Reverser’ delivers everything  you expect from an Oh Sees album, whilst surprising throughout.  The Oh Sees influence has surfaced of late, with a string of psyche bands making waves, and while King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are very good, Oh Sees are great. 

 

Words by Ben Barry.

 

 

THE SURRENDERS - Shouldn't Have To Dig (Single Review)

West Midlands based four piece The Surrenders first came on my radar when they supported local indie heroes The Scruff at Esquires in Bedford a couple of months back. Having shared many stages recently for This Feeling, The Scruff recruited The Surrenders as main support for their hometown gig and it was an inspired choice as the band's raucous blues rock won them a whole host of new fans.
 
Having since played their self titled EP to death I was glad I wouldn't have to wait long for new music from The Surrenders, as their new single Shouldn't Have To Dig is released this Monday, 3rd August.

The track has a real retro feel about it and you can tell the band are massively influenced by the 60s. Combining the tight musicianship of the likes of The Rolling Stones and The Jimi Hendrix Experience with Connor Brooks' cocksure, soulful vocals, if you shut your eyes it could almost be the summer of love again. In terms of more recent influence you could argue that guitarist Richard Jones' heavy riffs are reminiscent of John Squire's during the Second Coming era. It's the sort of song you can imagine going off with much throwing of beer and limbs at small venues and large ones alike and hopefully it can propel The Surrenders to the next level.

Words by Danny Buckley

SUEDE - Don't Be Afraid If Nobody Loves You (Single Review)

90s legends Suede released the second single from their upcoming eighth studio album The Blue Hour last Friday and it’s a belter.

Don’t Be Afraid If Nobody Loves You sees the Londoners return to the glammed up but somewhat dark indie rock that has made them so successful over the years after string laden lead single The Invisibles. Richard Oakes’ lead guitar drives the song along at pace and Brett Anderson’s trademark falsetto is present and correct in the chorus. You get the impression that DBAINLY would be at home on either one of their most critically acclaimed albums, 1994’s Dog Man Star or Night Thoughts from two years ago.

Eight albums in and it seems that Suede’s creative juices are still flowing as well as ever. It’s a good omen for the new album The Blue Hour, which is available to pre order now ahead of it's release on 21st September.

Words by Danny Buckley

THE TWILIGHT SAD - I/m Not Here [Missing Face]: Single Review

 

 

‘Nobody Wants To Be Here & Nobody Wants To Leave’ released in 2014, was almost the last throw of the black dice for The Twilight Sad.  As fortune favours the brave, the album led to critical acclaim finally breaking through the wall.  The band haven’t looked back since.  Touring arenas with The Cure, and winning over all audiences in front of them with their sound of mope & glory.  Residing on post-rock royalty Mogwai’s record label, Rock Action. They make for perfect bedfellows.  With an unwavering intensity, The Twilight Sad are not just storm clouds, they bring the thunder and lightning with latest single ‘I/m Not Here (Missing Face)’.

Amongst the bleakness, there’s always been a fire raging in the heart of Scotland’s purveyors of doom laden indie.  Here they continue their reign of soul striking, miserabilist bliss.  James Graham’s unmistakable Glaswegian delivery acts as the prophetic voice of the plight and darkness surrounding, as the pounding rhythm builds to a cyclone of emotion.  The Twilight Sad are a dream, or perhaps nightmare come true.  Triumphant in the face of adversity with more sweat, guts and soul than any other band around, long may they continue their journey into the abyss.

 

 

 

Words by Ben Barry.