Four 0: Tales of the Unexpected
Posted by jamie on Feb 26, 2011
Four 0
Tales of the Unexpected – Do the Dog, 2010
26th February 2011
Jamie
Four 0’s first record, Across the Borderline, was strikingly different and instantly addictive: melodic, thoughtful and drenched in some of the juiciest harmonies I’ve ever heard, it stood apart from anything I’d heard in a very long time. It would have been really, really interesting if it hadn’t been much too much fun to waste time thinking about stuff like that.
So, the first time I saw them in concert, I was really excited. Their live set, though, turned out to be just as enjoyable, but markedly different from the way the record sounded: much more emphasis on the guitars, quicker, more instantly danceable, and edgier: more primal energy and a little rougher around the edges. For want of a better word, more of what you’d instantly recognise and loosely file under “punk”.
When it came to eagerly anticipating a second album, then, it was tough to know exactly what to expect (no pun intended), except that it was likely we’d be surprised once again.
Tales of the Unexpected picks up nicely where Across the Borderline left off: for the most part, it’s breezily laid back and immediately likeable in both the innocence and accessibility of its gently reassuring and peaceful summer pop songs. It rocks out in places: that four-part harmony that opened Across the Borderline is replaced by a Ramones-esque guitar riff that launches Step Back, but, for the most part, this is a gentler, more soulful disc, and, in the main, it’s better for that. It’s excellent throughout, but the real highlights, Lost and Lonely, for example, and Ukelay Saturday are the breezy, semi-acoustic, summer songs loaded with harmonies and feel-good factor.
Desert Rains and Tequila Salt & Lime are peppier, foot-tapping tunes, and the delightful Goosfrabar is so skankable and so happy it’s like someone got a giant sticker of a stupid smile and slapped it across your mouth. I defy anyone not to run around in circles when you put it on.
In its songs and its lyrics, it’s generally all happy, this. At times, though, when the songs are at their mellowest, there’s a swift kick in the teeth: Lost & Lonely, is an obvious example, but it’s not the only time that this happens. Till the End and Step Back aren’t happy songs at all, but even when their songs are about a life ruining relationship, it’s tough not to sing along like you’re being spoon-fed with Ben and Jerry’s. There’s just something about the way that Four 0 play these songs that just makes everything seem that little bit better. They write and arrange them like works of art, but they play them so soulfully, so smoothly, that it’s impossible not to smile.
Tales of the Unexpected gives that warmer, better feeling to the world around you in the same way that putting sunglasses on makes things look better and makes you feel better about ourselves and puts us in a good mood for the whole day. It’s basically like a really cool pair of shades for your ears. I love it.
Stand-out tracks:
Lost & Lonely
Tequila Salt & Lime
Desert Rains
Goosfrabar
Ukelay Satuday
Four0: album art ready
Posted by jamie on Nov 9, 2010
Album art for Four0’s new album Tales of the Unexpected has now been released. The record is due any time now on Do the Dog, and we here literally cannot wait.
Have a look at this one.
Four 0: nearly new album time
Posted by jamie on Oct 28, 2010
How exciting is this?
The new album is on the verge of being finished all artwork has been completed the mastering has been done and all that left now is for us to get them printed!
Get the full story here.
DO THE DOG BANDS’ TOUR DATES
Posted by jamie on Jul 26, 2009
ROBB BLAKE
25 07 Pontdolgoch, Neuadd Newydd - Kippertronix Festival
02 08 Kendal, Lowther Castle - Kendal Calling Festival
15 08 Southampton, The Joshua Tree
22 08 Salisbury, City Hall
24 10 Southampton, The Hobbit
CAPTAIN BLACK NO STARS
30 07 Burnham Thorpe, Lord Nelson
01 08 Dereham, Splitz - Charity All Dayer
15 08 London, New Cross Inn
22 08 London, Kings Cross, Cross Kings - No Sweat Alldayer
CARTOON VIOLENCE
24 07 Machynlleth, The Braich Goch
25 07 Pontdolgoch, Neuadd Newydd - Kippertronix Festival
30 10 Swansea, The Garage
CATCH IT KEBABS
17 07 Newport, TJ’s
18 07 Swansea, The Garage
24 07 Pontdolgoch, Neuadd Newydd - Kippertronix Festival
31 07 Sheffield, The Stock Room
05 08 Blackpool, West Coast Rock Cafe
08 08 Powys, venue tbc - Boomtown Fair Festival
12 08 London, Camden Underworld
28 08 Bristol, Lab
25 09 Edinburgh, Maggies Chambers
09 10 Sheffield, Raynor Lounge
25 10 Manchester, Retro Bar
07 11 Rotherham, Dickens Bar
27 11 Bristol, Mr Wolfs
06 12 Manchester, Retro Bar
DIRTY REVOLUTION
17 07 Newport, TJ’s
18 07 London, Soho, 12 Bar Club
25 07 Pontdolgoch, Neuadd Newydd - Kippertronix Festival
31 07 Margate, West Coast Bar
07 08 London, Camden Underworld
09 08 Blackpool, Winter Gardens - Rebellion Festival
13 08 Swansea, Sin City
15 08 London, New Cross Inn
20 08 Bournemouth, Mr Kyps
22 08 London, Kings Cross, Cross Kings - No Sweat Alldayer
04 09 Bedford, Esquires
14 10 London, 100 Club
22 10 Manchester, Satans Hollow
27 10 Nottingham, The Maze
28 10 Newcastle, St Trillians
29 10 Kettering Sawyers
30 10 London, Bar Academy
DREWVIS
25 08 London, Lewisham, Dirty South
28 08 London, Brixton Hootanannys
03 09 Bournemouth, Champions Bar
JIMMY THE SQUIRREL
17 07 Nottingham, The Maze
24 07 Pontdolgoch, Neuadd Newydd - Kippertronix Festival
30 07 London, New Cross Inn
31 07 Derby, The Vic
01 08 Guilford, venue tbc
02 08 Manchester, Retro Bar
08 08 Nottingham, The Maze
09 08 London, Soho, 12 Bar Club
14 08 Derby, Old Bell Hotel
16 08 Nottingham, Speakeasy
JOHN PLAYER SPECIALS
16 07 Blackpool, West Coast Cafe
17 07 Wigan, The Boulevard
24 07 Pontdolgoch, Neuadd Newydd - Kippertronix Festival
28 07 London, Lewisham, Fox & Firkin
21 08 Wigan, The Boulevard
22 08 St Helens, Fluid Live Lounge
23 08 Bolton, Blue Boar
26 08 Wigan, The Tudor
28 08 Manchester, Retro Bar - Ignition Festival
26 09 Sunderland, The Royalty
25 10 Manchester, Retro Bar
NEW TOWN KINGS
16 07 Amsterdam (Holland), Winston Kingdom
17 07 Cottbus (Germany), Bebel Bar
19 07 Olsi U Tabora (Czech Republic), venue tbc - Mighty Sounds Festival
23 07 Antwerp (Belgium), Bar Mondial
24 07 Krefeld (Germany), Kulturrampe
31 07 Colchester, Riverlodge
21 08 Colchester, Tom Peppers
23 08 Colchester, Minories Art Gallery
LIAM O’KANE
15 07 Kettering, Sawyers
16 07 Bristol, The Croft
17 07 Nottingham, The Maze
19 07 Nottingham, Loggerheads
30 08 Nottingham, The Maze
21 09 Nottingham, Speakeasy
PAMA INTERNATIONAL
17 07 near Sailsbury, Larmer Tree Gardens - Larmer Tree Festival
25 07 Gloucester, venue tbc - Summer Festival
01 08 Bromyard, Rowden Paddocks - Nozstock Festival
07 08 Luton, St George’s Square - Luton Summer Festival
08 08 Six Penny Handley, Oakley Farm - Endorse It In Dorset Festival
05 09 Mersea Island, venue tbc - Scooter Rally
RASTA4EYES
16 07 Blackpool, West Coast Cafe
17 07 Wigan, The Boulevard
18 07 Bolton, The York
18 07 Manchester, Saki Bar
19 07 Manchester, venue tbc - Farrantfest
19 07 Southport, The Shakespeare
01 08 Bolton, Soundhouse
02 08 Droylsden, The Bush
04 08 Bolton, Dog & Partridge
21 08 Wigan, The Boulevard
22 08 St Helens, Fluid Live Lounge
26 08 Wigan, The Tudor
29 08 Manchester, Retro Bar - Ignition Festival
05 09 Tamworth, Birch Coppice Social Club - Wakinyan Rally
10 09 Manchester, Saki Bar
19 09 Salford, The Crescent
01 10 Manchester, The Attic
10 10 Leamington Spa, Bath Place Community Venture
15 10 Manchester, Satans Hollow
17 10 Wigan, The Boulevard
07 11 Bradford, Room At The Top
24 11 London, Lewisham, Fox & Firkin
11 12 Macclesfield, The Studio
REBELATION
24 07 Pontdolgoch, Neuadd Newydd - Kippertronix Festival
21 08 Bedfordshire, Clapham Twinwood Arena - Rhythm Festival
28 10 Graz (Austria), PPC
29 10 Vienna (Austria), Arena
RESOLUTION 242
17 07 London, Soho, 12 Bar Club
25 07 Stratford On Avon, Cinema Bar
30 07 Nuneaton, The Crown
05 08 Birmingham, The Asylum
08 08 Blackpool, Winter Gardens - Rebellion Festival
16 08 Derby, Bar One
22 08 London, Kings Cross, Cross Kings - No Sweat Alldayer
27 08 Plymouth, The Ride Cafe
28 08 London, Camden, Underworld
03 09 Nottingham, The Maze
25 09 Margate, West Coast
SMOKE LIKE A FISH
25 07 Pontdolgoch, Neuadd Newydd - Kippertronix Festival
02 08 Bromyard, Rowden Paddocks - Nozstock Festival
07 08 London, Brixton Hootananny
08 08 Powys, venue tbc - Boomtown Fair Festival
19 09 Lincolnshire, venue tbc - Alchemy Festival
25 10 Manchester, Retro Bar
30 10 Swansea, venue tbc - Swansea Ska Festival
31 10 Narberth, Queens Hall
SPLITTERS
25 07 Pontdolgoch, Neuadd Newydd - Kippertronix Festival
04 08 Leicester, The Sumo
15 08 Ratlinghope, venue tbc - Farmer Phil’s Festival
30 08 Nuneaton, Ansley Social Club
19 09 Harelbeke (Belgium), venue tbc - Rat Rock Festival
01 10 Leicester, The Shed
THE STEADY BOYS
18 07 Edinburgh, Spiders Web
25 07 Low Wham, venue tbc – Full Throttle Festival
31 07 Darlington, The Speedwell
01 08 Hartlepool, The Studio
28 08 Ashington, venue tbc - Run To The Hills Scooter Rally
29 08 Ashington, venue tbc - Run To The Hills Scooter Rally
05 09 Durham, Old Chapel
12 09 near Marske, The Crown
03 10 Newcastle, Civic Centre
16 10 Shildon, The Queens
24 10 Glossop, Moon & Sixpence
3 MINUTE WARNING
25 07 Pontdolgoch, Neuadd Newydd - Kippertronix Festival
TINROOTS (formerly known as ETTIN)
23 07 Brighton, Latest Music Bar
20 08 Brecon Beacons, Glanusk Park Estate - Green Man Festival
31 08 Brighton, venue tbc - Beachdown Festival
New Four0 album ready “soon”.
Posted by jamie on Feb 24, 2009
Ah, yes. There’ll be a new Four 0 album out very soon: see the lads’ blog here.
