Doozer has been described as an underground festival hero (UK Festival Guides), vibrant, energetic and brash (Hastings Independent Press) and, direct, open, and in your face (RNR Magazine) He was also once described as “that talented bard of punky ballads and singer of modern sonnets” by With Just A Hint Of Mayhem, oh that one was me! Anyway that most wonderful human being Doozer McDooze has provided a Yuletide message to all the readers of With Just A Hint Of Mayhem and for me that is an honour and a pleasure. Click here to check out his site and while you’re there get yourself some of his music and merch. Alternatively, click here to go directly to his BandCamp page. I am 100% confident that the cap, the mug or the T-Shirt will be a much appreciated present for your Grannie!
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That talented bard of punky ballads and singer of modern sonnets, Mr McDooze has released yet another classy single, “Skint”. He bemoans his skintness with a rather jolly acousticy punky ditty. Being skint is something that I am sure many of us can relate to, I certainly can, which is why this track works so well. I love the lyrics, especially the lines “I’m skint does that make me a stockbroker” and “I’m skint does that make me the Prime Minister”, probably yes on both counts! Our Prime Minister is probably not skint in a monetary sense, but he is skint in terms of empathy and the ability to tell the truth to name but two! The video is rather spiffing too, it features Doozer in a kind of stop frame motion flow, which is really effective. Click here to check out more of his stuff on Spotify and click here to go to his website. If you’re not too skint yourself why not buy some Doozer McDooze merch, you know you want to!
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It’s February and time for our second singles round up of 2021. Eight classy tunes from eight proper talented bands and singers, none of whom have featured on With Just A Hint Of Mayhem before. This bunch come from Essex, Norfolk, Rotterdam, Liverpool, Lancaster and Manchester. Crank your volume up to 11 and dive into a sea of wondrously great tunes!
Austin Woodcock, Evan Butcher and Will Eagles are Gloria. They formed in 2018 in Lancaster. They claim that they write music for the soul. On the evidence of “Story Of Strife” I think that I believe them. This has deep feeling embedded in every part of it. At times I am reminded of Richard Ashcroft at his most introspective. The line “Freddie and Ziggy are in paradise now helping me write this song” is an absolute killer. “Story Of Strife” is an anthem we didn’t know we needed, but we really do!
Essex boy Ben Wood has been putting out great tunes since 2012. He has a very British sound with fragments of Paul Weller, Blur and the Arctic Monkeys among others. His lyrics for “Soho” can probably stand on their own as modern poetry. It is very much a story song and frankly if you are able to successfully mention Marianne Faithful in your song lyrics then you definitely get my vote!
A wonderful punky riff-fest from Das Kapitans with delightful punk harmonies throughout. The backing vocals are reminiscent of Steve Jones back in his Pistols prime. The video is a psychedelic jamboree and probably not for anyone who suffers from epilepsy. This is a great single and I reckon it will sound even better live. On his BandCamp biog Norfolk based Das Kapitans main man Stephen Potter describes himself as a Potato expert. Well if this song was a potato I believe it would be a Russet Burbank, probably the best potato in the world!
Recently signed to Rotterdam based Mattan Records this lot are pretty ace. They sound like a punked up, funked up and fucked up version of the Strokes with a dash of Talking Heads. I reckon this band is an instant party machine live. This track has taken up residence in my head and it doesn’t seem to want to leave anytime soon!
With it’s dark and sparse video “Roses” makes its whispered way into the world. It seems, to me, to be about a broken, abandoned relationship. Karl’s delivery oozes emotion and the song resonates long after it is over. It makes me want to hear much more from Liverpool based Karl McCann.
Positive Indie Lounge Core from Manchester’s Flowers Of Evil. “Getting Better” is essentially a positive tune and one that would be ideal to accompany us on the journey out of this Covid hell. Lead vocal and well drilled harmonies drift wonderfully over subdued but close to perfect instrumentation. I sense that you will be hearing a lot more from Flowers Of Evil!
Manchester’s Hurray For Tuesday refer to themselves as anti-folk. I assume that they mean they are anti folk music rather than just anti folk as in people. Either way it won’t work, this tune is steeped in the history of folk with a modern twist that evokes the Pogues and for me there is an undercurrent of glam rock in the driving incessant and fabulous beat. In the days when the charts mattered this would be instant top ten. It made me want to dance around the room, so I did! Based on this I want to see them on a festival stage when festivals are reborn! They make me want to shout Hurray for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and every fucking day of the week.
Doozer’s new single is the perfect sound to chill to after a heavy night out, do you remember what they were like? It is a hypnotic lofi style tune which stays with you like your favourite pillow or that old teddy bear you’ve had since you were a kid. I cannot think of a nicer tune to end this singles round up with. Doozer McDooze is, put simply, bloody ace!
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How does one man make so much noise? I don’t really care how, because Doozer McDooze makes a great noise! Hi new single “Panic Attack” is absolute proof of his great noise credentials. It is a rollicking, acoustic, stomping punk workout. There is anger, uncertainty and emotion here and yet I am still left feeling happy at the end of it. The softer breakdown at just after three minutes in evoked, for me, the best of Julian Cope and Traffic. It is also a tune that is difficult not to sing along too. It really is a great tune for these weird, weird times we are living in right now and I am sure the subject matter will resonate with many of you. But just breathe, keep breathing (good advice from Mr McDooze) and we will all get past these pandemic times. Music always help!
The video is pretty spectacular too, with stupendous animations and vibrant colours from The Famous Artist Birdy Rose, although be careful if you can’t handle flashing images. I love the kaleidoscope parts in particular. Apparently “Panic Attack” is the start of a wider creative project, working with the highly acclaimed producer/singer-songwriter Sam Duckworth (a.k.a Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly). Get some Doozer into your life now, you know it makes sense!
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