Exclusive: COW release new single on Mai 68 Records – listen here

COW are the latest outfit to join the ever excellent Mai 68 label, which can only be a good thing for music lovers. Mai 68 seem to have the knack of releasing a constant stream of top quality material from the likes of Sunstack Jones, Campfire Social and Ennio the Little Brother, to name but three.

In fact, we would be hard pressed to think of another label who have had such a prolonged run of excellent singles and album since the heady days of Motown and Stax. This is not an easy task these days, but the label have constantly set the bar high and have a firm hand on the quality control of their releases.

The news that they have another new band to deliver is cause to celebrate. Step forward then COW.

While the name might not immediately spark images of celebratory guitar music, Notemakers – COW‘s first release on Mai 68 – is exactly that. The song is a slow burn that combines melody with noise and grunge with groove.

On first listen, I am put in mind of the loud/quite/loud aesthetics of Pixies and also of Teenage Fanclub’s knack of weaving catchy pop hooks into a rock squall. With repeated listens, Notemakers finds its way under your skin and, as with a lot of Mai 68 records, once there it tends to stay a while.

The video to this new single reveals COW to look like a bunch of friends making great music with nothing more than bass, guitar and drums, accompanied by their own songwriting nous.

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Notemakers is a song that makes me long to return to the environs of a gig at the earliest opportunity. It is easy to imagine this roaring out of the speakers at a sweaty club gig and driving the crowd along on its waves of infectious enthusiasm.

The song finishes with a stop start section that shows there is more to COW than might initially meet the eye. There is a saying that states a band should always leave their audience wanting more.

Job done.

COW live dates:

Saturday, August 21 – Gullivers Manchester – Mai 68 Records Showcase
Saturday, September 4 – Arts Club Liverpool – w/ By The Sea
Saturday, September 11 – Live Rooms Chester – w/ By The Sea
Friday, September 24 – Smithdown Road Festival Liverpool
Saturday, September 25 – Northwich – Salty Dog
Friday, October 1 – Newport – Le Pub – w/Campfire Social
Thursday, October 21 – Late Lounge Rhyl – w/ Maines
Saturday, October 30 – The Castle Manchester – w/ Groan Room and Lossline