Burntaxe

Check out this stunning PRS with inspired artwork from the puzzle box in the 1987 fantasy slasher film Hellraiser.

Complete rebuild and set up

Wall Art.

Hand-drawn, painted and laser etched Jellyfish by Valeria Nicolai for Burntaxe

Wall Art.

Hand-drawn, painted and laser etched Jellyfish by Valeria Nicolai for Burntaxe

Original Wall Art

Skater's Blues Wave Deck. Hand drawn, painted and laser etched by the artist Valeria Nicolai for Burntaxe

Hand drawn, painted and Laser etched by the artist Valeria Nicolai for Burntaxe

The most adventurous guitar we have done to date. This stunner was an experiment with colour, and what a result. The 2 way colours sprayed over this design were intended to be bright, psychedelic and in-your-face.

When you think of guitarists Jimi instantly springs to mind. It seemed obvious we needed to make a tribute guitar, so we did. They say you should have no regrets. We don't see how you could ever regret making or buying this guitar. It's all of the splendids. To make the colour 'pop' and to ensure the insane swirling graphic stands out even more, we kitted it out with all black hardware.

Hendrix played many Stratocasters  which is why the Strat was perfect for this project. The front is reflective of a 60's hippy vibe with Jimi's head spiralling into a vortex - trippy or what? We also integrated the design from one of his own guitars on the front for an extra special touch.

"Valeria" Original painting by Valeria Niccolai

Watercolour and Laser Etch on wood

Media: Watercolour

Surface: Wood. Unframed Dimensions 426mm circle.

Dig Deeper – In Central European Time (Alien Agency – Out 7th Oct 2017)

 Politically charged and poignant Americana from the shores of Norway.

Having become increasingly aware of Norway’s Dig Deeper over the last few months, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of growth shown on their new record In Central European Time. The album strikes a particular chord in today’s hostile world through its emotional and, I would argue, crucial subject matter. Singer and chief songwriter Einar Kaupang describes his and the band’s motivation for creating the record:

“When we realised we were stuck in a northern outpost, where those elected to political power were working to close borders, refuse people in need basic rights and brag about having the strictest policies on immigration in Europe, we decided to make this record.”

Charting the journey of a young refugee leaving his home, only to be faced with hostility and closed-mindedness from the world around him, the album’s message is particularly poignant in this day and age given the rise of far right populism and anti-immigration sentiment being seen across much of the continent and on our own shores. There is a clear narrative thread throughout the album, which comes in at 41 minutes and 7 seconds in length, impressive given that it only comprises 6 songs. A palpable sense of desperation and despair runs through the opening tracks “How Can I Be Certain” and “Stars Tonight” which gives way to genuine threat in “Don’t Ask Too Much”. “Hey!” is a lament to how life could have been while “The Ticket” evokes a sense of hope, a moment where everything changes for our young protagonist. The album culminates with “Sky Brown Sky” which leaves us with a sense of uncertainty for the future in a harsh and unforgiving world.

The ambitious subject matter is more than matched by the impressive instrumentation which creates a sonic space that seems to stretch for miles with its long, lingering guitar sounds and slow rhythmic grooves. There is not much variation in tempo it has to be said, and every once in a while the album does veer into self-indulgence, at times lacking the urgency with which such an important and emotionally charged topic deserves to be treated. Indeed several of the songs are approaching 8 minutes in length. However, while these could be seen as criticisms the album in fact manages to turn them to its strength; the dreamy, psychedelic sheen which colours the production creating a powerful sense of drift, of never belonging anywhere which lends itself perfectly to telling a story such as this.

On In Central European Time, Dig Deeper have achieved something quite remarkable. By using the sounds and sonic conventions usually associated with American alt-rock, they have managed to tell a distinctly European story. Furthermore it is a story that resonates with love and understanding, hope and compassion, qualities that are sorely missing from the political discourse of our time.  

Review by Jonny Cloke

The LaFontaines – Common Problem (A Wolf at Your Door Records – Oct 2017)

Daring alt-rock/hip hop hybrid with an unmistakably Scottish sound and plenty of venom.

Responsible for launching the careers of Deaf Havana and Mallory Knox, A Wolf at Your Door records have a proud history of signing acts with just that little something different about them. While both have largely moved away from their post-hardcore beginnings towards a more alternative rock sound, they have both managed to retain something of the unique edge which first endeared them to scores of music fans looking for something distinctive. This tradition, it would seem, is alive and well on the second album from Scotland’s The LaFontaines (named after the American voice actor, Don LaFontaine), entitled Common Problem.

The follow up to 2015’s Class, on first impressions it seems as if the band are experimenting with the same form of genre-terrorism that propelled The King Blues (are we allowed to talk about them anymore?) and Sonic Boom Six to the forefront of the UK punk scene in the late 2000s. However, it quickly becomes apparent that their vision is something more ambitious. Seamlessly blending the ethics of punk with the attitude of hip-hop and the bold, almost stadium-esque arrangements of modern alternative rock, what results is something truly impressive more akin to the likes of Twenty One Pilots and Young Fathers, both of whom have made considerable waves in recent years, the latter even winning the Mercury prize in 2014 for their debut album Dead.

The album’s opening track “Explosion” sets up its social and political conscience, dealing with social issues both at home in the band’s native Motherwell and further afield with the rise of the far-right in Europe and America. This is something that the album never loses sight of, even on more inward-looking, commercially-driven songs such as the title track “Common Problem”, which wouldn’t sound out of place amongst chart pop at your local club night. “I hope for smaller gains, punctual trains, a living wage” lead singer Kerr Okan venomously spits on “Torture”. “Goldmine” is the undeniable centrepiece of the album which effortlessly shifts gear between softer dynamic spaces and the powerful, driving hooks which, by this point of the album, have become something of a regular occurrence. The thumping bass intro of lead single “Release the Hounds” is especially rousing and does more than enough to dispel worries of any potential gimmickry from a title which, whilst it sounds menacing, is essentially a Simpsons reference. The album’s closing song “Asleep”, it strikes me, would have fit perfectly on the soundtrack to Danny Boyle’s recent Trainspotting sequel.

On Common Problem, The Lafontaines have succeeded in bringing back a sense of ferocity and individual identity seldom seen in mainstream music these days. With any luck, this could be the album that pushes them there.   

 UK Headline Tour

13th November 2017 - Lending Room, Leeds

14th November 2017 - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff

15th November 2017 - Sound Control, Manchester

16th November 2017 - MK11, Milton Keynes

18th November 2017 - Barrowlands, Glasgow

19th November 2017- Northumbria Institute 2, Newcastle

20th November 2017- O2 Academy 3, Birmingham

21st November 2017- Boston Music Room, London

22nd November 2017 - Leadmill, Sheffield

23rd November 2017- Rock City, Nottingham

   Review by Jonny Cloke

Our latest custom guitar: Giulia

The idea

We wanted to build a pure and simple guitar, a guitar that does one thing, very, very well. This awesomely beautiful guitar "Giulia" features the mighty Seymour Duncan SH4 JB passive humbucker pick up, which sends 100% pure quality straight to the output, bypassing any concept of tone or volume controls.  

You can buy Giuila for £250

We've set up Giulia in D* standard and will be used as Tom's back up guitar at River Jumpers shows. Ask Tom for a demo at any show and he'll be happy to show you Giuila in all her glory.

Artwork by Giulia Carraro

Photos taken at Brighton Electric Studios