With a series of successful releases under their belts, Glasgow based quartet Conscious Pilot finally unveil their sophomore EP Wipe Clean on October 18th. 

Intended to be “swallowed like a pill, rather than eaten with dignity” Wipe Clean builds on the refreshingly upbeat approach Conscious Pilot established in their debut Epoxy Plains, crafting  a collection of tracks that are as thought-provoking as they are danceable. From the high-energy ‘God’s Hot Car,’ which explores the chaos of contemporary living, to ‘Roman Architecture,’ a critique of educational and economic inequalities wrapped in an unexpected waltz-to-beat transformation, the band’s knack to blend weighty themes with irresistible melodies shines throughout. Led by Joe Laycock’s baritone howls, Conscious Pilot wrap their thoughts on hedonism, modern art, and the relentless pace of modern life into a cathartic, beat-driven package.

Founded by Joe Laycock and Jack Sharp from the ashes of the theatrical punk group Cheap Teeth, Conscious Pilot are now a fully-formed songwriting beast.  Unlike their debut, which was primarily written by Joe and Jack in a more solitary process in their native West Yorkshire, Wipe Clean was crafted collaboratively by the entire band in a shared rehearsal space. With a move to Glasgow and the addition of acclaimed producer/drummer Chris McCrory (Catholic Action, Walt Disco) and guitarist Emmy Leishman (Big Girls Blouse) the EP’s production is a testament to the band’s newfound collaboration as they embrace a more organic approach to songwriting. Recorded in the intimate confines of Glasgow’s Green Door Studio and produced by McCrory, Wipe Clean captures the raw energy and DIY spirit that defines the city’s music scene. 

“With our first music as a four piece we wanted to keep the distinctive linear arrangements and melody of our debut, but add in a sense of urgency.”  says Conscious Pilot of the EP “A danger that was born out of chemistry and a mutual respect for each other’s creativity. It was written under a spotlight in the middle of a room, each member trying to pip the others to the musical punch line. This resulted in a more confident sound, full of adlibs, spontaneity and fluid dynamics”

Attention must also be drawn to the EP’s closing track ‘Paint It Slowly’, a track originally conceived during the Epoxy Plains era. Initially deemed a misfit, this song  finally found its rightful place on Wipe Clean, balancing the collection. This pop-infused anthem carries a clever contradiction: while its infectious rhythm invites listeners to dance, the lyrics offer a sharp critique of art world exclusivity. “The lyrics are about art.” Conscious Pilot says of the track “How it is up its own arse. How, hypothetically, if there was a natural disaster, the art dealers holding the remaining art would become even richer, and how this epitomises the gross exclusivity of it all. We intend to cut that exclusivity by hopefully giving you something you can dance to, dancing being about the most inclusive thing one can do.”

Seattle based trio, Naked Giants, are now signed to DevilDuck Records. We’re thrilled to be releasing their third album ‘Shine Away’ October 4. Out today is the first single ‘Apartment 3’.

When Naked Giants formed in 2014, the Seattle trio—vocalist/guitarist Grant Mullen, bassist/vocalist Gianni Aiello and drummer Henry LaVallee—were all eighteen years old, and full of the reckless, restless energy of youth. A decade on, both they and the world have changed immensely. Shine Away—the band’s third full-length, following on from 2018’s SLUFF and 2020’s The Shadow—is very much an acknowledgement of that. It’s an album that doesn’t just reflect on the personal life and times of the three of them and the world at large, but casts a discerning, self-reflective eye on what it’s like to be in, and be, Naked Giants. It’s the sound of a band coming into, and becoming, themselves. Of course, that’s a never-ending process, but for the first time in their career, Naked Giants are taking stock of their journey—who and what they were, are, and want to be. 

We’re a little proud to have survived in this music industry for 20 years now and please don’t take the compilation title „Tired Like Dirt“ too literally. Even though there is some truth in it we stole it from a Gunner & Smith song and it has been in my brain for quite a couple of years so now it was the perfect time to get it out….. don’t know if people out there are interested in label compilations but I love it and for those who don’t we’ll also have some new shirts soonish but meanwhile enjoy and give some DevilDuck music a listen.…talking about Gunner & Smith there is a brand new song called ‚Edge Of The Water‘ on our compilation and it’s beautiful.

DevilDuck Records is turning 20 years in 2024 and some might say this has to be celebrated in whatever way……which might be true.

Even though we did a label compilation a while ago for our 15th anniversary what makes more sense than coming up with another one as it’s the artists who define the label and not the other way around, right?

When sitting down and thinking about a possible tracklist semi-creative people like me do have a bunch of ideas e.g. one artist is doing a cover of another or just putting rare tracks & demos on it and things like that. But I thought why shouldn’t it just be our current artists with some of their songs I like the most.

And that’s what „20 Years – Tired Like Dirt“ is delivering now with 13 artists and bands incl. only one cover and still a lot of newish stuff as we signed 6 (!) of these only last year.

We still do love Canadian artists (Marissa Burwell, Gunner & Smith, The Dead South) and some German ones are always obvious (Scotch & Water, Palila, Would, Wisent, Merlin Hydes, Kommando Kant) but after quite some time we have started to work with a British band (Conscious Pilot) and some U.S. Americans (The Macks, The Fourth Wall, Timesbold) again.

The running order came up a bit spontaneously which I always like because in the end it all makes sense…so kind of by accident all three bands & artists from Canada are from Saskatchewan and in a row here. Some new stuff is at the beginning of the album and for obvious reasons Timesbold had to close it.

‚The Long Run‘ from Palila is a newly recorded track and something like the single of the compilation as well as ‚Edge Of The Water‘ by Gunner & Smith so both can not be found anywhere else and of course „20 Years – Tired Like Dirt“ will be released on vinyl as well – who can live without?

Cheers & Love from Hamburg,

Jörg Tresp

Emerging with phoenix-like resilience from the ashes of the vibrant theatrical punk powerhouse Cheap Teeth, the newly formed Conscious Pilot takes the stage. Following the release of their debut single ‘Halfway To Hockney’, Conscious Pilot are back with their latest offering ‘Modern Religion’ on 19th January 2024. 

Crafted by Joe Laycock and Jack Sharp, both former Cheap Teeth members, the dynamic duo has joined forces with musicians from Catholic Action and Pressure Retreat, birthing a post-punk revival supergroup. Rooted in Laycock and Sharp’s shared passion for immersive, beat-driven soundscapes, this newly forged ensemble pledges to urge the listener’s ear into progressively choppy waters whilst simultaneously grounding them in firm lyrical soil. 

Being the inaugural track Conscious Pilot wrote for their debut EP, ‘Modern Religion’ signals a departure from their prior penchant for critical jabs at religion. Instead, the song acknowledges and appreciates the various means by which individuals validate their existence, whether through organised religion, music, exercise, or even seemingly unconventional activities like fishing. Carried by Sharp’s pulsing bass line reminiscent of a quirky rendition of Dusty Springfield’s “I Only Want to Be with You”, ‘Modern Religion’ mirrors Conscious Pilot’s quest for meaning as they venture into a fresh musical direction.

Of the single, Joe Laycock said “Modern Religion was the first song we wrote. It formed the conceptual foundation for this EP and indeed the project as a whole. Written about a lost individual in a perpetual struggle to find meaning, (pushed towards a sense of collective faith in an atypical religious ideology), the song is a symbolic reflection of our formative period. After choosing to move on from our former band, Cheap Teeth, which had been our predominant focus for the past seven years, we were ourselves experiencing such a struggle.” 

We’re proud to announce The Fourth Wall’s single Never A Part is out now! Read what Stephen Agustin from the band has to say:

Never A Part was inspired by a visit from my grandmother. During the writing of this upcoming record, I was trying to learn more about my family’s history. It took me an embarrassingly long time to become curious about the story behind my family and how they ended up in the States. The discovery of some of the past traumas they endured prompted me to also question why the silences surrounding their history became the status quo. 

During her visit, my grandmother and I exchanged a few obligatory phrases in each other’s language (I am as unfamiliar with her language as she is with mine) and the absence of knowledge about each other was palpable. It brought to the surface this question about what the driving force behind the family relationship is and how affection is maintained even in the absence of a means of communicating with each other. Do the gaps preserve and maintain the love even?  

Never A Part is sort of a fictionalized monologue by a person who has fled their place of origin to have children in a new world, knowing that they would acquire new and unfamiliar cultural norms. The logic of exchange is at work here. “For my grandchildren’s prosperity, I give up the means to know them (and for them to know me).” This gift of self-erasure for the sake of a loved one is at the heart of the song. 

With the music video, we wanted to play with the difficulty of representation more broadly. In the video, memory is created then destroyed in one continuous shot. The people in the video act as if they are fulfilling a duty to create images of a certain kind and they comply just as obediently to the order of destroying images that don’t meet the criteria. The video attempts to bring forth the theme of self-erasure in the song.

Hey Guys! Last weekend was the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg – and just like every year we did a showcase at Langbrett Store! It was a blast as we had 5 great performances from Would, Dump Babes, Kommando Kant, Marissa Burwell & Wisent!

There were a lot of you there (so many that we ran out of beer! Shame on us…).

Here are a few impressions:

Palila released their new album “Mind My Mind” today! Be sure to check it out!

Palila’s tour has started and is going really great so far! We are looking forward to some great shows coming up!
Here’s an overview of the dates:

Also a little reminder: On Friday the band will release their album “Mind My Mind” via DevilDuck! So be sure to check it out!