FACTOTUM

Bristol two-piece Factotum are making their mark as part of a new, inchoate, fuzzed-out garage scene. And like all good unholy unions, these racket slingers met in the pub. Singer and guitarist Alex told us, “I met Karl [Gowing, drums] when I played a gig at [Bristol venue] The Grain Barge with my other band The Bad Joke That Ended Well. He was behind the bar, we talked guitar pedals and fell in love.” Since then the pair have been sharing bills with the likes of lairy newcomers Taos Humm and Stolen Body Records labelmates Brown Brogues, whilst recording relentlessly in their Bristol studio. Their sound is a clamouring mix of scuzzy garage and grainy noise rock, a stripped back lo-fi din that marries Alex’s crunching, distorted guitar and throaty howls with drummer Karl’s loose crash and screeching hollers. They’ve just released their debut album Knife Gun through Stolen Body (which we gave you the exclusive stream of, and can still be listened to in full here) and are planning on releasing a follow up later this year. “We got another record coming out,” they revealed, “it might be part of a special Record Store Day release, it might be just a 7”. Either way, it’s just about finished.” Never ones to miss out on a chuckle they let slip a working title. “So far it’s called Loose Cannon Cops with Big Fat Heroin Hands.” This year will see the band destroying it at their old haunts, and they’re sure be playing a fair few UK dates over the next few months so keep your eyes peeled – their frantic live game is something you need to see to believe.