Gunning for Tamar - Camera Lucida EP

(Alcopop, 2012)

From the opening chiming piano notes of Camera Lucida, it's crystal clear that Gunning for Tamar mean business. Firstly, this is their best sounding recording by a country mile and that's certainly saying something – when the chunky guitars kick in on opening track 'Yogging' it will actually take you by surprise how heavy they sound and in every other sense you can hear the care that has gone into craft this EP. Gunning for Tamar have always had an incredible knack for making complicated ideas sound simple by infusing them with melody and Camera Lucida is a veritable bag of tricks, changing time signatures and huge emotive choruses. On their last EP Gunning for Tamar time travelled; this EP is a snapshot of a band on better form than ever before, with absolutely everything going for them to ensure they break free of this one horse town.

[Originally published in Oxfordshire Music Magazine, issue 22, March 2013]
http://www.musicinoxford.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/OMS-22.pdf

Gunning For Tamar - Time Trophies EP

(Alcopop! 2012)

Watch out because Gunning for Tamar's newest release is coming straight for your wrist. That's right, GFT have teamed up with Alcopop! Records for a wristwatch release of the band's new EP (there will be a download code on each watch) in what has to be the most unorthodox release from an Oxford band in some time. But what less would you expect from one of Oxford's brightest indie prospects? “Time Trophies” is full of the band's familiar jittery energy but it is so concentrated that the song sweeps you off your feet and you feel like you're being carried through space and time in the DeLorean. “Chocolate Hooves” shares the same restless rhythm but is mellower (by GFT standards). Final track “Astronaut-Abort” is one of the most complex things the band have recorded yet, boasting grand pianos, shifty time signatures and a cinematic scope. There's a sense that the band have tried to cut all the chaff and keep each section of the songs essential and anthemic and it works to their credit. If this doesn't launch GFT into the next stratum of British indie acts then nothing will.

[Originally published in Oxford Music Scene magazine, issue 17]
http://www.oxfordmusicscene.co.uk/images/oms_issue17.pdf

Gunning For Tamar Feature for OMS

In the wake of a great year for Gunning for Tamar and at the start of what looks like will be an even better one for the band, we caught up with the guys for a quick chat about their time together so far, their upcoming single and what the future has in store for the rising stars of Oxford’s indie scene.

“The last year was pretty ace for the band, we sold out the first pressing of our debut EP Deaf Cow Motel, DIY toured the UK a few times, toured Germany, played some festivals, and played with some amazing bands. And after driving quite a few thousand miles, our tour van only failed its MOT on a broken horn. Big win.”

This hard work culminated with the band signing to Alcopop! Records at the end of the year for the release of their new single “Time Trophies” which they’ve chosen to release in an unorthodox manner.

“When we were thinking of how to do the physical release for the single we had the idea of putting it out on a watch with a download code for the tracks on each one; Jack Clothier (Alcopop! Founder) is the master at putting out music in interesting and cool ways so we knew if anyone could make a watch release work it would be him.”

In many ways the band seems to have found the perfect record label to match their ambitions. We asked the band how it felt to be working with Alcopop! and the recording process for “Time Trophies”:

“Jack Alcopop! is the coolest guy without a doubt and his roster is dangerously good [see: ute, Jumping Ships, Johnny Foreigner, The Family Machine] so we really wanted to be part of the family. We recorded the tracks with Forward Russia! hero turned production badass Tom Woodhead in a beautiful studio in Wales called Giant Wafer.”

Indeed, working in these comfortable conditions seems to have done the band a world of good but has it changed the band’s sound?

“The new songs definitely have our sound but we like to try different things to keep it interesting and exciting. Ideally every new song should feel like it's better than the last so that's what we aim for. We used a grand piano in one of the tracks which we've never done before so that was cool, we almost felt like proper musicians…”

But it’s not just the band’s recorded output that stands as testament to their improving musicianship – their live show has become one of the best and most accomplished in Oxford and they have plans to take it further afield.

“We draw inspiration from bands like 65daysofstatic – we’ve tried to emulate the sheer energy of their live performances. The best part of being in a band for us is creating something and then getting to play it live. Our German tour was the best tour we’ve done; some of the venues had this amazing punk ethos and were full of welcoming, good people. On top of that the gigs were run by young people who actually care for music, are all politically active (strongly anti-fascist) and genuinely believe everything they do and say. It was really great to see that desire. Hopefully we'll hit some cool festivals this year.”

Festival appearances are not the only thing band have to look forward to; Gunning for Tamar have already been heralded as ones to watch for 2012 by taste-makers Rock Sound magazine and from listening to “Time Trophies” it’s not hard to see what all the fuss is about. But there’s no chance of this praise going to the band’s head.

“We believe in the music we make, so it's always cool when other people get and want to support the stuff you do – I don't think we'll ever stop being grateful for that.”

[Originally published in Oxford Music Scene magazine, issue 17 ] http://www.oxfordmusicscene.co.uk/images/oms_issue17.pdf

Gunning for Tamar - Deaf Cow Motel

(Walnut Tree Records, 2011)

Opening track “German Treasure Island” has a slightly off-kilter time signature that never becomes jarring but instead lends itself to the sense of frustrated urgency in the lyrics and frenetic guitarwork. There’s a strong Incubus feel to the way singer Joe Wallis sings “gold and silver,” American inflection and all. “Running With Scissors” begins with some serious bombast and is the song that best demonstrates the great live band GFT are. “God Made Colours” is jolly nice and sounds like Elbow and fellow Oxfordians Cat Matador, but the song ends so abruptly that it feels a little half-baked. The problem with GFT is that they wear their influences more than they demonstrate their own unique charm; it feels like there’s a formula being very closely followed. However GFT are good enough to create their own formulas - hopefully in time for the next release.

[Originally published in Oxfordshire Music Scene, issue 14]

http://www.oxfordmusicscene.co.uk/images/oms_issue14.pdf

Various Artists - Spires: A Collection of Music From Oxford Bands

(Free Download, 2011)

When NME recently ran an article on the ‘mysterious’ Blessing Force scene, it gave the nation the impression that those bands were running the Oxford music scene when in fact a lot of regular punters and hard working Oxford bands had hardly heard of most of them. Here, Aaron from Phantom Theory has taken this as an opportunity to compile a collection of those Oxford bands which are really out there, gigging, making music and working hard. If you follow the local scene then you’ll recognise the bands spotlighted here; Black Hats, Dead Jerichos, Dial F, TROT, Ute, Spring Offensive et al. This isn’t a surprising compilation by any means, and the songs collected here are among the respective bands’ most well known. It’s a simple idea - just as Jon Spira’s upcoming documentary Anyone Can Play Guitar will attempt to give a history lesson on Oxford music, Spires catalogues some of the city’s best current bands. Don’t lament the bands which have been left off this compilation, the idea behind Spires is admirable and it’s free, so go direct those who have been misinformed by NME to go download it.

http://spirescompilation.wordpress.com/

[Originally printed in Oxfordshire Music Scene magazine, issue 12, February 2011]

http://www.oxfordmusicscene.co.uk/images/oms_issue12.pdf