10. Lazy Day - With My Mind
"With My Mind" is most fully realised track that Tilly has released thus far under her Lazy Day pseudonym. Earlier tracks shared on her Soundcloud suited the band name (currently just Tilly, with hopefully a live band and dates to follow) perfectly, full of plaintive daydreams and spacious, echoed vocals. "With My Mind" takes that further with a brooding intensity and a hypnotic guitar riff that will embed itself in your brain, couple it with Tilly's magnetic voice, her sumptuous, soothing tones wrap around you and soon you're lost deep within.
9. Rae Morris - Skin
Rae returns to make 2014 her own with a new track "Skin", easily her finest to date and as devastating a moment as the year has offered us to date. "Skin", and please excuse the pun, gets under exactly that as metronomic piano chords chime with elegant simplicity amongst delicate vocals and luscious string instrumentation. It's all beautifully timed and Rae's lyrics possess a dark, haunting edge, the result is sure to bring goose-bumps to listeners all over.
8.Sea Change - Bridges
Sea Change (aka Ellen Sundes) was one of my revelations at The Great Escape (and judging by the reviews I've read, many others too). Even as an act I'd blogged about before the festival I was taken aback by her live show, performing as a trio in a pitch black (and tiny) basement I saw as intense and chilly a set I've ever, extraordinarily dark, her (surprisingly) epic electronic soundscapes and bass guitar rhythms combined perfectly around her undeniably sweet, ethereal vocal. It was simply stunning. The studio version of "Bridges" was released a couple of days before I departed for Brighton and with some distance from that performance the track still mesmerises, it starts relatively calm with ambient glitches, effects and spectral vocals immersing you within its hypnotic, dream-like state before spiraling to a searing finale of electronic noise, guitar and emotion.
7. The Night VI - Sienna
"Sienna" is simply magnificent, built around the crystal clear voice of Sophie-Rose, here filled with more heartache and emotion that you could bottle, the track will connect with anyone whose ever let someone they love slip through their fingers (pretty sure that's most of us) and supported by spacious, blissed-out instrumentation it provides an irresistible listen from its first to last moment.
6. Lykke Li - Love Me Like I'm Not Made Of Stone
...sparse and confessional with languid, haunting acoustic echoes the sole accompaniment for Lykke's devastating delivery, you can tangibly feel her emotion throughout - what a beauty.
5. Sophie Jamieson - Stain / Other
"Stain" leaves exactly that on you, combining Sophie's delectable vocals, heart shattering lyrics and restrained instrumentation, the perfect marriage of space and structure to get under your skin with spine-tingling effect. The track comes backed with "Other", a fully realised beauty which highlights her bands influence more than ever. A stark, haunting drip feed of emotion.
4. Eliza Shaddad - You For Me
Labelled as a radio edit and yet six minutes in length (that's the same length as Bohemian Rhapsody, a story I'm sure we've all heard) the track epitomises the soft and graceful style of Eliza's music. "You For Me" really is as pretty a moment as I've heard all year, a genuine love song with ringing guitar patterns and a delicate, haunting backdrop which slowly introduces Eliza's stunning vocals, gorgeous and defiant, here coupled with lyrics as optimistic and heartfelt as you're ever likely to hear. "You For Me" is the sort of track that will bring you to a stand still whatever you are doing - simply magical.
3. Lisa Alma - Bittersweet
"Bittersweet", comes backed with a beautiful, pure black and white video, the imagery the perfect compliment to the track which leaves you longing, desperate for more. Backed by little more than subtle drum pad beats and minimal, spacious synths it's Lisa's vocal that steals the show and has me hooked. It immediately makes me think of Prince's falsetto, not just any old Prince either, the Purple One at his 80's best, seducing with every note, whispered, extended words that make you fall hopelessly under their spell. I love the extended outro too, with a smouldering guitar that captures the feeling of the track, just bloody gorgeous.
2. Broken Twin - In Dreams
A true highlight of an extraordinay album, as intimate and arresting an experience as music can offer
1. Shura - Touch
effortlessly sexy / cool melody that swoons amongst soft-glittering electronics and Shura's luxurious vocal, its simple and refined and despite its lyrics of "I wanna touch you but it's too late, I wanna touch you but there's history..." is straight-up baby-making music.
Hands down track of the year so far. Go and give it your love. 550k+ plays, Wow!!
Monday, 30 June 2014
The Best Tracks of 2014 So Far (Part One)...
It's the mid-point of the year so I thought what better time for me to join in with the endless 'best tracks of the year so far' type posts... As you're reading this I'm probably just about getting home from Glastonbury but in no fit state to blog, so this post is a pre-write... I won't waffle too much, just copy my initial comments on tracks and add clips / link so you can listen to my twenty one favourite tracks of 2014 so far (it was twenty but I remember one I missed!). Eleven below in this post with ten more following in part two in precisely one minutes time. As ever with a list, it's ever-changing and I've probably forgot a couple of tracks too!
Before pedantic comments come out, a couple of these could technically be 2013 tracks but they are new to me in 2014, that's all that matters...
21. Tennis - Never Work For Free
...a slice of infectious, 80's leaning pure candy-pop propelled by a repeating drum beat, breezy guitars and shiny synth lines, it gives Alaina Moore's the freedom to soar with her timeless sounding vocal. The result is instant love and smiles.
20. Marissa Nadler - Dead City Emily
...sitting in the same realms of dark melancholy "Dead City Emily" is equally rewarding, with a pretty guitar melody creating a serenely beautiful mood around a soft soothing vocal, it's the sort of thing dreams are made of, comforting you like a warming blanket on a chilly, cold night.
19. Ottilia - Siren
"Siren" is as minimal as they come, much likes last years "and then he said" demo and causes goosebumps with little more than Ottilia's woozy, lovelorn voice, the repeated, haunted vocal of "Don't go home with me, I'm a siren" and the lullaby echoes of an acoustic guitar, it's all that is needed to be carried away by this intoxicating, emotive beauty.
18. Abbey Bowden - Dust
"Dust", recorded live for Basement Sessions, sees Abbey sitting in a dimly lit room with pictures of singers hanging on the walls alone with her guitar. What comes to pass over the next four minutes is as cathartic experience as music can bring, a real send shivers down your spine moment as Abbey's soulful, emotive vocal purrs over delicate finger-plucked acoustic, utterly, utterly transfixing.
17. Layla - Black Mud
"Black Mud" aims to hit at your emotions, that much becomes clear after mere seconds as piano twinkles are joined by a string orchestra and Layla's soulful voice, they ebb and flow in perfect harmony with the instrumentation, one moment delicate, tender and pure, the next strong, passionate flourishes. The result leaves me swooning all over.
16. Ice Cream Cathedral - The Swans
A bizarre yet incredible single "The Swans" Immediately takes the trios self-defined genre of 'space pop' to the next level with a video that sees the band on an intergalactic journey across the universe propelled by subterranean beats and dreamy, Blade Runner esque atmosphere. It's not just Anja T. Lahrmann's breathy, soothing vocals that draws instant comparison with Annie Clark's but the magical sonic palette that "The Swans" follows, deliciously offbeat, eccentric and unpredictable, woozy synths are complemented by soaring guitars and all manner of 'space' effects and then at the four minute mark the bizarre turns into the unfathomable when the video sees the trio arrive on a barren looking planet inhabited by gigantic dogs (really) as the track morphs into an elongated instrumental ending of stark instrumentation and galloping beats. Quite the introduction!
15. Alexandra Stewart - I Grow
The skeletal beauty "I Grow" is led by melancholic piano and understated instrumentation which beguiles around a soft, dreamy atmosphere and Alex's soft, luscious vocal. The sort of voice that carries your mind away and here I'm left with my eyes closed and transported to somewhere as beautiful as the artwork that comes supplied on the soundcloud link. After three and a half minutes the track surprises, morphing from plaintive piano-ballad to something akin to a slow-motion Dirty Projectors at their finest, with ambient guitar shimmers and pared-down drums closing the track with the repeated whispers of the title. Absolutely gorgeous is this and that will do just fine for me today.
14. Eliot Sumner - Information
A surging drum march drives the synth-and-strings track forward with gorgeous shimmering guitars dueling with korg keys, it's Toy-esque both in terms of its dense, extended Motorik rhythms and progressive, glistening melody. "Information" keeps on giving throughout its seven minute duration, Eliot's soaring, impassioned vocal is just the icing on the cake.
13. Aldous Harding - Hunter
"Hunter" is taken from Aldous' self-titled debut album and now comes backed with a rather fittingly chilly, brooding video. The track is the sumptuous feast of rich musical landscape and fragile, haunting vocals from the get-go, Aldous blends a style not dissimilar from Joanna Newsom with touches of Joni Mitchell, with subtle, weaving melody and intriguing lyrics full of lovely imagery and extraordinary beauty carrying off to places warm and brilliant. It's just a shame you have to get on with your real life after. Here's a talent that can't stay hidden for long.
12. Hunt - Reset My Bones
Entwined around the poem "Jellyfish" by Andrea Gibson the track is heady mix of melody, emotion and beauty. It begins with a slow, longing introduction, built around a fuzzy bass line, metronomic drums and shimmering guitars before climaxing with a luscious crescendo of post rock noise and atmosphere and gorgeous, hazy vocal harmonies, light and dark merge effortlessly and my heart is instantly melted. Those drums at the end too...
11. First Aid Kit - Cedar Lane
Cedar Lane" is a rich, sumptuous beauty with slide guitar melody and heart melting vocals, just the sort of thing we've become accustomed to from the duo.
Before pedantic comments come out, a couple of these could technically be 2013 tracks but they are new to me in 2014, that's all that matters...
21. Tennis - Never Work For Free
...a slice of infectious, 80's leaning pure candy-pop propelled by a repeating drum beat, breezy guitars and shiny synth lines, it gives Alaina Moore's the freedom to soar with her timeless sounding vocal. The result is instant love and smiles.
20. Marissa Nadler - Dead City Emily
...sitting in the same realms of dark melancholy "Dead City Emily" is equally rewarding, with a pretty guitar melody creating a serenely beautiful mood around a soft soothing vocal, it's the sort of thing dreams are made of, comforting you like a warming blanket on a chilly, cold night.
19. Ottilia - Siren
"Siren" is as minimal as they come, much likes last years "and then he said" demo and causes goosebumps with little more than Ottilia's woozy, lovelorn voice, the repeated, haunted vocal of "Don't go home with me, I'm a siren" and the lullaby echoes of an acoustic guitar, it's all that is needed to be carried away by this intoxicating, emotive beauty.
18. Abbey Bowden - Dust
"Dust", recorded live for Basement Sessions, sees Abbey sitting in a dimly lit room with pictures of singers hanging on the walls alone with her guitar. What comes to pass over the next four minutes is as cathartic experience as music can bring, a real send shivers down your spine moment as Abbey's soulful, emotive vocal purrs over delicate finger-plucked acoustic, utterly, utterly transfixing.
17. Layla - Black Mud
"Black Mud" aims to hit at your emotions, that much becomes clear after mere seconds as piano twinkles are joined by a string orchestra and Layla's soulful voice, they ebb and flow in perfect harmony with the instrumentation, one moment delicate, tender and pure, the next strong, passionate flourishes. The result leaves me swooning all over.
16. Ice Cream Cathedral - The Swans
A bizarre yet incredible single "The Swans" Immediately takes the trios self-defined genre of 'space pop' to the next level with a video that sees the band on an intergalactic journey across the universe propelled by subterranean beats and dreamy, Blade Runner esque atmosphere. It's not just Anja T. Lahrmann's breathy, soothing vocals that draws instant comparison with Annie Clark's but the magical sonic palette that "The Swans" follows, deliciously offbeat, eccentric and unpredictable, woozy synths are complemented by soaring guitars and all manner of 'space' effects and then at the four minute mark the bizarre turns into the unfathomable when the video sees the trio arrive on a barren looking planet inhabited by gigantic dogs (really) as the track morphs into an elongated instrumental ending of stark instrumentation and galloping beats. Quite the introduction!
15. Alexandra Stewart - I Grow
The skeletal beauty "I Grow" is led by melancholic piano and understated instrumentation which beguiles around a soft, dreamy atmosphere and Alex's soft, luscious vocal. The sort of voice that carries your mind away and here I'm left with my eyes closed and transported to somewhere as beautiful as the artwork that comes supplied on the soundcloud link. After three and a half minutes the track surprises, morphing from plaintive piano-ballad to something akin to a slow-motion Dirty Projectors at their finest, with ambient guitar shimmers and pared-down drums closing the track with the repeated whispers of the title. Absolutely gorgeous is this and that will do just fine for me today.
14. Eliot Sumner - Information
A surging drum march drives the synth-and-strings track forward with gorgeous shimmering guitars dueling with korg keys, it's Toy-esque both in terms of its dense, extended Motorik rhythms and progressive, glistening melody. "Information" keeps on giving throughout its seven minute duration, Eliot's soaring, impassioned vocal is just the icing on the cake.
13. Aldous Harding - Hunter
"Hunter" is taken from Aldous' self-titled debut album and now comes backed with a rather fittingly chilly, brooding video. The track is the sumptuous feast of rich musical landscape and fragile, haunting vocals from the get-go, Aldous blends a style not dissimilar from Joanna Newsom with touches of Joni Mitchell, with subtle, weaving melody and intriguing lyrics full of lovely imagery and extraordinary beauty carrying off to places warm and brilliant. It's just a shame you have to get on with your real life after. Here's a talent that can't stay hidden for long.
12. Hunt - Reset My Bones
Entwined around the poem "Jellyfish" by Andrea Gibson the track is heady mix of melody, emotion and beauty. It begins with a slow, longing introduction, built around a fuzzy bass line, metronomic drums and shimmering guitars before climaxing with a luscious crescendo of post rock noise and atmosphere and gorgeous, hazy vocal harmonies, light and dark merge effortlessly and my heart is instantly melted. Those drums at the end too...
11. First Aid Kit - Cedar Lane
Cedar Lane" is a rich, sumptuous beauty with slide guitar melody and heart melting vocals, just the sort of thing we've become accustomed to from the duo.
Friday, 27 June 2014
Dream Lake #2 - Let Us Stay In the Light
A welcome return now to Dream Lake whom are here to confuse us with light based songs... Following their track "In the Light" with new one "Let Us Stay In The Light", arguably the duo's slickest and most realised track to date.
A heavenly, dreamlike experience from beginning to end built around an uplifting piano melody and airy synthetic beats with the intoxicating, wistful/angelic vocals of Isabella Svärdstam sounding more serene than ever. It's a delicate, beautiful and fresh listen and marks the Swedish pair as an essential band for fans of nostalgic dream-pop to follow.
The track is available on iTunes now.
Thursday, 26 June 2014
Zola Jesus #17 - Dangerous Days
It takes precisely three seconds for you to know "Dangerous Days" is a Zola Jesus track, so distinguishable is Nika's vocal. The song is the first track taken from her forthcoming album Taiga and her first for new label Mute.
Fans of old, (and by that I mean post Stridulum, perhaps now regarded as her debut, certainly the first of her pop albums) will be happy, there's much akin to Conatus here, an expansive combination of pulsating beats and propeller like effects in which Nika's incredible vocal soars even higher. The name of the album is apparently a homage to her homelands, she's certainly gone big. I've blogged about her seventeen times now, I think that's indication alone that I'm happy with that.
The track is available to download free via ZolaJesus.com. Taiga follows in October.
Black Honey - New Music "Introducing"
Black Honey released their debut track "Sleep Forever" yesterday with no press release or details of their members, so for now we'll simply let the music do the talking (which I what I do all the time to be honest, liking a band for reasons other than music is a little bit perplexing to me). The track instantly ticks most of my boxes...
Think Widowspeak meets Lana with languid, dusty guitar twangs shimmering around hollow drum beats and a luxurious, alluring vocal pulling you deep within its absorbing atmosphere around the repeated cries of "I wish I could sleep forever with you".
I'd call that a great start.
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
Ibeyi - New Music "Introducing"
I don't know much about this band, Ibeyi have recently signed to XL Recordings and are French/Cuban twin sisters, that's about it. Oh, and this, their stunning debut track "Oya"...
Throughout the production is polished and rich but it takes nothing away from the spiritual mood that dominates. Building amongst layers of ghostly harmonies, what begins as a haunting, sombre and mysterious march morphs half way to something bigger and bolder with the introduction of strong percussion and soaring harmonies that combine English with a language I cannot place - from reading a couple of other pieces on the band it is perhaps Yoruba. In any case, a dark, chilly beauty awaits...
The She's - My Secret To Keep
From a couple of new discoveries to a post I meant to write up in April, San Francisco quartet The She's first track from their Dreamers EP (after a debut released back in 2011) is an absolute joy from start to finish...
"My Secret To Keep" is made for the sun and made to sing-along with friends, full of youthful daydreams and sweet harmonies as super-charged fuzzy guitar riffs, sturdy bass-lines and spritely drums sparkle in warming unison. There's even room for a nice little guitar solo in the middle, you couldn't ask for me than that.
Grab the track for free via Bandcamp and order the EP here.
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Daisy Jean Russell - New Music "Introducing"
Here's the nicest find from my submissions box for a little while, the debut track from Brighton based singer-songwriter Daisy Jean Russell and a song written for her parents whom have been together since they were thirteen.
I was originally a little wary of pressing play after reading that, I've heard plenty of really, really bad tribute tracks. "Only You" is not one of them, it's pretty much the complete opposite. Transporting you with rose-tinted glasses for three minutes of serene, nostalgic yearning as sparse, simple beats and twinkling keys provide a blissful backdrop for Daisy's pure, softening vocals to shine. I love the harmonies near the end the most.
"Only You" is guaranteed to make your heart feel that little bit warmer. Perhaps it's time to dig out the phone number of your childhood sweetheart?
Lupa - New Music "Introducing"
"Statues" is the (apparent, I'll come onto that in a moment) debut single of Lupa, the project of sixteen year old Imogen Jones from Sydney. It serves as my introduction in any case and one I'm glad to have made, combining subtle violin plucks with shifting electronic patterns and processed percussion, creating a sound that's part chilled Portishead ambiance and part Daughter-esque intimacy with Imogen's soft, haunting whispers devastating throughout.
There are a handful of tracks on Lupa's soundcloud that pre-date "Statues", my favourite of which is "Starved", similarly drenched in down-beat layers of restrained soundscapes and half-eerie atmosphere, it's stark musically and emotive lyrically, it carries its message to perfection.
Monday, 23 June 2014
Exiles - New Music "Introducing"
This week is all about the weather forecast, if like me you are heading to Glastonbury festival in a couple of days time. Last week we heard there was "very, very little chance of rain" which, of course, has subsequently been replaced by a forecast which shows rain falling for much of Friday and whilst some will argue Glasto isn't the same without a bit of mud, as someone who has experienced both a wet and a dry Glasto, I'd like to disagree with that...
Why the weather forecast? Well, Brooklyn quartet Exiles are the sort of band that immediately command the weather to stop fucking around and be sunny so with that in mind perhaps I should sent the link to this track "Circular Key" to a certain Eavis family, I'm sure they aren't up to anything else about now...
The track is idyllic, a calming blissful vibe oozes out of the chiming guitar melody as a pared down drum beat and soft, dreamy vocals wrap around you like the embrace of a long-missed friend. It's lovely is this.
An EP, the perfectly titled Only Summer is available now via Bandcamp.
Camille Delean #3 - Daylight / Black Sail
It's hard to believe it's been three and half years since I first mentioned Camille Delean on this blog, a stint living and performing in the UK has come and gone with Camille now finding herself back in her native Canada and after a prolonged period of silence, sharing her music once again.
The two tracks "Daylight" and "Black Sail" remind me what I've been missing. English may be Camille's second language but you'd never guess, she sings with such perfect tone and heart-breaking beauty. "Black Sail" is stunning. A wistful melancholy dominates as peaceful, languid guitar shimmers and restrained percussion combine with Camille's folknoir vocals to serenade with soul-touching results.
As perhaps the titles dictate, "Daylight" is brighter and more optimistic with vocals full of an timeless grace and assured tenderness whilst the tracks rich instrumentation sweeps you off the feet. I'm not sure what the current plans are further down the line but it's certainly good to have you back Camille.
The videos which accompany the two tracks are perfect too, coupling the feeling of space and beauty with such stunning clarity.
Saturday, 21 June 2014
Eliot Sumner - Information
The chances are you've heard of Eliot Sumner, I remember (perhaps slightly incorrectly) her previous project I Blame Coco as being youthful pop project which highlighted a unique, raspy vocal with some nicer acoustic versions hiding away. Four years later Eliot is back under her own name with a song that instantly makes me stand up and pay attention.
A surging drum march drives the synth-and-strings track forward with gorgeous shimmering guitars dueling with korg keys, it's Toy-esque both in terms of its dense, exetended Motorik rhythms and progressive, glistening melody. "Information" keeps on giving throughout its seven minute duration, Eliot's soaring, impassioned vocal is just the icing on the cake.
More like this please.
Friday, 20 June 2014
Ten Acts You Should See at Glastonbury 2014
It's less than a week until the gates open and I cannot wait. On this extended blog post I'll give a few tips, some musical and a few general ones about how I think you can get the best out of your weekend. I'm not claiming to be a Glasto expert, I've been five times, others I know have been countless more...
The first and most important thing to tell any newbies is to pack properly, take wet and dry, warm and cold clothes and wellies, definitely take wellies. Definitely. No matter what the forecast is. If you don't use them, it's better than not having them and needing them. A little bit of rain and the ground turns to slush. The other essential thing to mention is respect, and although it's something that perhaps shouldn't need mentioning, photographs of the aftermath show that it does. Respect those you are camping around, everyone you are walking past and respect the festival. As tempting as it may be (for some) if the weather is especially bad, leaving your rubbish littered all over the farm and your tent erected gives someone a huge clean-up task after you've gone home. It take each of us ten minutes to ensure we leave the ground we pitch in as we found it, show some consideration.
If you are anything like me, you've not actually looked too much into the line-up yet, I think it pays to leave your daily plan not too rigid, at Glastonbury things are never quite simple. Packing in a dozen acts over the day is easily possible but if you plan on seeing one act at the John Peel and then another five minutes later at The Park and then the same again at The Acoustic Stage, think again. It's not going to happen. The festival is spread out through miles of land and getting from one stage to another, especially in packed crowds and even more so in mud, is a timely and energy sapping experience. My advice is to pick a handful of must see acts and then to enjoy yourself in-between, soak up some of the festival's unrivaled atmosphere, head to the Circus/Cabaret area or take a trip to the Green Fields and then perhaps stumble on something you've not even looked up in the programme. I say this about every festival too; take pen and paper, it never runs out, unlike the battery on your phone...
One of my 2010 highlights Mountain Man happened exactly that way, at an area I whole-heartedly recommend you to check out, The Crow's Nest. It's located at the very top of The Park, to the left of the big Glastonbury sign as you look at it, up the big hill, a haven of tranquility and fantastic secret sets awaits. I've seen the aforementioned Mountain Man play there, alongside Oh Land, Caitlin Rose, The Guillemots, Summer Camp and more. It's worth checking daily to see who is playing, I'm not sure some of the acts will be announced in advance (that is of course if there is live music this year, I hope so!).
Okay, enough rambling. Ten acts I've got highlighted to see over the weekend. I'm not going to write too much for a change...
Arcade Fire
The Pyramid Stage - Friday - 22.00 - 23.45
Let me start with the most obvious of all, Arcade Fire, who headline the main stage on the first evening and will mark the first time I've actually seen a headliner on the Pyramid Stage since 2007. This band will be worth the crowds. They are a phenomenal live band, their set is going to be an extraordinary release of shiver-inducing emotion full of sing-along anthems and euphoric energy. I'm somewhere in the crowd of the video I've included below, seven years ago... wow!
Lykke Li
John Peel Stage - Friday - 21.15 - 22.15
Thankfully Lykke Li is playing at one of the closest stage's to the Pyramid, the worst partial clash of the weekend see's her play just before Arcade Fire, I'll probably only stay for half her set. I saw her a couple of months back and as I just said, AF is unmissable but Lykke Li has produced one of my favourite releases of the year so for with I Never Learn and her live performance is a thunderbolt of perhaps unexpected joyous energy and propulsive rhythm. Expect to be dancing.
Courtney Barnett
The Park - Friday - 15.30 - 16.30
John Peel Stage - Saturday - 17.00 - 17.40
I think Courtney Barnett played about fifty sets at The Great Escape yet I managed to miss them all, thankfully she is playing two more at Glastonbury and I promise not to make the same mistake again, her set promising to be an intoxicating blend of intimate beauty and an expansive live sound that her studio recordings seldom hint at. It comes highly recommend and an afternoon slot at The Park should be the perfect setting.
Lana Del Rey
The Pyramid Stage - Saturday - 16.00 - 17.00
The last time I saw Lana Del Rey at the Hammersmith Apollo I felt like I was in the half-way house between a youth club and couples dinner. The noise the kids made was deafening throughout, they can't possibly have been enjoying the music, though perhaps the experience whilst at the back it was couples making out to "Video Games". Hopefully the audience at Glastonbury will be there to enjoy the entire set and not one track, after initially leaving myself out of the LDR argument Born to Die became my most-listened to and favourite album of 2012, the recently released Ultraviolence delivers darker, starker moods and beauty. It's going to be interesting to see how it is delivered live.
Smoke Fairies
Williams's Green - Saturday - 18.00 - 18.40
I'm anticipating me spending quite some time in William's Green next weekend, it's line-up is perhaps the most 'alternative' of all the stages, full of the smaller sort of bands who fill these pages, one such is Smoke Fairies who are a band with the perfect fit for a Glastonbury crowd and I'm expecting their set to deliver.
Manic Street Preachers
Other Stage - Saturday - 19.30 - 20.30
I have a great memory of seeing The Manics at Glasto, it was basically an hour long sing-along. I'm hoping it will be again - although I'm sure some die-hard fans are not - who doesn't want to be transported back to the nostalgia of Everything Must Go. Nina Persson is playing on Saturday as well - can we expect a reunion once again?
Dolly Parton
Pyramid Stage - Sunday - 16.20 - 17.30
I think my Dad would kill me if I didn't go and see Dolly Parton, I think you have to in any case. When else are you going to get the chance to see her? Expect tens of thousand of people swooning and even more singing along to "Jolene". It promises to be one of the 'I was there' moments of the entire weekend.
Only Girl
Avalon Cafe - Sunday - 18.30 - 19.30
It's good to see all the bands that made the Glastonbury Emerging Talent contest final find their way onto the final line-up in some form, I'll definitely be checking out a couple of them but the one I am most looking forward to is Only Girl, I'm perhaps a little biased after selecting her as one of my picks but what a vocal delivery on "Bittersweet".
St. Vincent
The Park Stage - Sunday - 19.30 - 20.30
Another somewhat predictable pick from me but seeing Annie Clark is essential. I'm loving the St Vincent album and how it transfers live too, a set that combines the rhythms and horns of the side-project with David Byrne with Annie's rockier guitar-wielding side. It's a match made in heaven.
London Grammar
John Peel Stage - Sunday - 22.15 - 23.15
It's quite incredible that London Grammar are headlining one of the recognised stages at Glastonbury a little more than eighteen months after they started. Their rise has been meteoric but it's hardly surprising once you give the band a listen, soaring, anthemic, beautiful. Expect a transfixed audience and a spectacular conclusion to the weekend.
Thursday, 19 June 2014
Stranded Mermaid - New Music "Introducing"
I can't quite put a finger on why but I've listened to this track "My Last Summer on Earth" by the Swedish band Stranded Mermaid a fair few times this week and I keep imagining the song soundtracking a scene in a James Bond or Indiana Jones film. A scene where either is getting seduced by an exotic dancer with snakes slithering around to make it clear what's about to happen, the combination of alluring seduction and ominous peril with lyrics about the "last summer on Earth" letting all but our 'hero' know of their impending danger.
It's the tracks rich, exotic instrumentation that does it, that and Louise Lindenger's sultry vocals, it's uniquely, beautiful and mysterious.
The track is a new one I think but I've just helped myself to their debut album released last year, the somewhat perfectly titled Dark Downbeat Film Noir which is available completely free via Bandcamp.
Time is most definitely not on my side at present, so I've not digested the album yet (and with Glastonbury fast approaching and my preview coming over the next day or two, I'm not likely to soon) but I've clicked play on one track "Halloween" and similarly fallen for it's wistful, cinematic landscapes, delivered with a Lana-esque melodramatic croon complete with downbeat atmospherics and beauty. Listen below:
Agnes Obel #4 - Words Are Dead
Nine months is quite a long time for a record to have a life in 2013/14, the Internet seems to rush everything through quicker each year. I can remember five or six 'big' singles being released from records in the 90's but that doesn't seems to happen much anymore (unless you are One Direction). Blame Spotify or perhaps YouTube (who actually host the video I'm sharing, as they seem to host pretty much everything, although apparently not for much longer?)...
Yet one album that has achieved an extended life is Agnes Obel's Aventine, released in October 2013 and with its next single "Words Are Dead" released June 30th. It's possibly because it has been a slow-burn success for Agnes (I'm talking domestically here), little known before the release of her second record, her popularity here in the UK gradually increasing with performances on key barometer's for success Jools Holland and sold-out shows at Union Chapel and The Barbican amongst others. This latest track and the accompanying live video sums up exactly why that's the case.
An intoxicating blend of understated, beautiful piano led melody with haunting string arrangements combining with Agnes' softening vocals, the result is an impeccably constructed, mysterious journey through dark ethereal worlds that fire up your heart. Simply Majestic.
Aventine is available now. (Buy here).
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
Tree of Wolves - New Music "Introducing"
Wales has produced a steady crop of exciting indie bands in recent times, top of the pile of course is a band who you should all know of my love for, The Joy Formidable. There are others too; Islet are one of the most compelling live bands around and Cut Ribbons have a dramatic, cohesive sound that deserves more success.
The latest Welsh band to come to my attention are Carmarthen quintet Tree of Wolves, who introduce a shimmering, summery slice of guitar-based prettiness on their new track "Half Light". There's a tight rhythm section throughout and the combination of dual-vocals, chiming guitars and big, bright melody does make you think of breathless, whirlwind noise produced by Cut Ribbons, that's definitely a good thing.
You can download the track for the price of an email here.
Teenagre - "New Music" Introducing
Every so often a new band come along and you think, wow, they sound like they've been together for years. Here's one such band, yet, without looking too deep into their history, Teenagre are a Vancouver quartet who formed as recently as this year and this track, "Visitor", is their debut. It leaves an impression.
The addition of swooping violin adds an extra dimension to "Visitor" as elegant swirls of sun-drenched and immediately likeable indie-pop guitars cascade around playful rhythms and the highly cooed vocal of Zuzia Juszkiewicz, her ethereal tones instantly recall that of Twin Sister's Andrea Estella. It's full of a warming charm that demands repeat plays, you can't ask for more than that.
Tuesday, 17 June 2014
Beach Day #2 - Don't Call Me on the Phone
After yesterday's Beverly post, I'm going to make it two posts in two days for both fuzz pop and Kanine Records bands, it's hard to believe it's been over two years since I last talked about Beach Day here...
The Florida duo return to my attention with "Don't Call Me on the Phone", a track which picks up exactly where debut release Trip Trap Attack left off, with spritely keys, kick-drum beats and effortlessly pretty, vintage vocal harmonies evoking yesteryear memories full of wistful romanticism through upbeat surf-pop sounds.
Also taken from the album is "All My Friends Were Punk", a song which fits the bands Facebook description of "Surfy Punky Garage-y Gnarly" to a tee, a blast of in-year-face energy and fun, with over-charged guitar riffs and a propulsive rat-a-tat drum beat that is impossible not to tap your feet along to.
Native Echoes is due August 19th via Kanine Records.
Monday, 16 June 2014
Billie Marten - New Music "Introducing"
I'm late on this one. That doesn't matter. Billie Marten is a fifteen year old singer-songwriter originally from North Yorkshire (now seemingly based in London) whom had previously gained a following with a series of YouTube clips under her real name Billie Tweddie, her debut release is the title track from her forthcoming EP Ribbons (due next week, June 23rd).
The track is a stunner, yet further proof that talent knows no boundaries, you are soon introduced to a haunting, pure-toned vocal, a soft whispered beauty that flutters as natural and serene as the backdrop of birds tweeting in the live video I've also included. The melody begins as a gently picked acoustic but soon picks up momentum as Billie's finger-plucks increase in tempo amongst swelling strings and restrained percussion.
After listening to "Ribbon" a half dozen times or so over a 24 hour period I'm left with the feeling that I'm listening to an artist capable of incredible things. Time will tell, this is quite the start.
Beverly - Honey Do
There was a period of time when the simple fuzz pop charm that makes up Beverly, the project of someone I've featured here before in various guises; Frankie Rose and Drew Citron, would have adorned this blog on a weekly (daily?) basis. Recently though these pages have been overtaken with brooding 80-esque anthems and sad-pop songs of love lost and unrequited, it's good to return to those roots at the start of new week (they go too quickly)...
"Honey Do" instantly lets you know what it is about, a healthy doze of fuzzed-up guitar chugs, pumping percussion and sunny/sweet harmonies, its dreamy warmth makes you long to be away from the normal routine (I've no holiday booked). The duo's second track "You Can’t Get It Right" bringing similar things to mind, sounding bigger still amongst a swarm of super-charged riffs, thumping drums and infectious bass. I like it a lot.
The debut album Careers is due July 1st via Kanine Records.
Friday, 13 June 2014
Broken Twin #4 - You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory
I've talked about Broken Twin here lots already this year, I've repeatedly said both her and on twitter that I doubt they'll be an album that surpasses her debut, May as my album of the year. It is breathtaking from beginning to end, much like her live performance from which I recognise the video I'm sharing now, a cover of Johnny Thunder's "You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory" (as well as being the flip side to the "Sun Has Gone" single).
Transformed from raw, punchy power to plaintive, brooding melancholy with barely there instrumentation slowly and surely building around Majke's typically devastating, echoey vocals, the sound you can hear is probably that of more hearts breaking by the second.
If you haven't heard May, you don't know what you are missing. Go and buy it here. It will be the best decision you make all day.
Alice Boman #6 - Red Eyes
You probably noticed the World Cup started yesterday. I spent my evening like pretty much everyone else, watching the game in the hope of a great footballing spectacle from Brazil only to find myself increasing cheering for Croatia as the decisions of the referee continued to impact the result. With England kicking off on Saturday on a pitch that looks utterly horrific, I can only imagine the things I'll be shouting at my TV then...
The obvious side effect of my increased exposure to football is a decrease in gig attendance (until Glastonbury at least and unless anyone has a spare DeLorean hanging around), yesterday saw me miss an artist I've been meaning to catch up with again for a little while and whom I also missed at The Great Escape due to clashes, Alice Boman. She played at the lovely St Pancras Old Church, the setting was sure to be a match made in heaven...
Yet, as if she knew I was eager for more music from her (her EP II was released just last week and is available via Rough Trade), I popped onto soundcloud before bed and there waiting for me (and the whole Internet) was a track from Alice, a cover of the War on Drugs song "Red Eyes".
It sees Alice add her typical intimacy and stark piano chords to the track, stripped bare of the originals buoyant melody and sparkling synths with the emphasis put firmly onto her haunting vocals, here front and centre; turning a Springsteen-esque rocker into a sad-pop lullaby is something Alice Boman can seemingly do at will, beauty awaits below.
Thursday, 12 June 2014
Kairos #2 - Dirt and Grit
On my recent "introducing" post about Lena Simon's KAIROS I talked about an EP that made me think of the quirky, futuristic style of St Vincent, it's something I'm coming back to again now with the release of a live video of a track from the release, "Dirt and Grit".
Instrumentally rich, the track is propelled by off-kilter midi rhythms, funk-laden bass and dreamy vocal harmonies before exploding before the three minute mark with boundless energy and some inventive, chunky guitar hooks. It's ace.
I've included the gorgeous video to the hazy track "Can/Cannot" as well. The EP can be ordered now via Fin Records.
The Night VI #4 - Wonderlust
The last time I caught up with the London based sextet The Night VI it was to post a gorgeous, enchanting acoustic version of their soulful track "Sienna", they return with new single "Wonderlust", their third release, a driving, polished 80's power-pop anthem in waiting which will immediately have you bopping your head along in approval amongst its punchy rhythms and sprightly synths, there's even room for an emphatic guitar solo half-way through.
Yet again, the production is flawless, crisp and clear throughout it only adds to the smooth flow of the song, full of electricity and energy, its a joy from start to finish.
The Night VI have quickly put together a group of tracks capable of sending shivers up your spine or making you smile with pleasure every time you hear them, they deserve to be one of 2014's break-out acts.
The band play a show I cannot make :( next Wednesday, June 18th at London's Oslo - details.
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
The Cadbury Sisters #2 - Fire
Earlier this week saw the release of the second track from the forthcoming Close by Bristol trio The Cadbury Sisters, due out next week via Fear of Fiction "Fire" is the closing song from the five track EP and bookends the previously released "Milk", a track it perhaps surpasses it in terms of soul searching intimacy and slow-release emotion.
It was the last track played when I saw the band at The Great Escape last month, building gradually from a beautiful, sparse opening with a ringing guitar the sole accompaniment to the sister's blissfully pure voices before exploding amongst a cacophony of fuzzed-up noise that sounds like an expressive release of anger a the tracks subject before closing on the leading line of "all I ask is patience"...
If you are reading this and in need of something to do tonight, you couldn't do much worse than heading to The Islington to see the girls live... At worst you can listen to "Fire" below:
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Lisa Alma - Oh Darling, Let’s Be Adventurers
This song. Instant love. Honestly it goes straight into my top five tracks of the year. Thanks to Ja Ja Ja Music for the introduction to Lisa Alma, a Danish electro/dream pop artist who released her EP Oh Darling, Let’s Be Adventurers back in February via Ikaros.
The song, "Bittersweet", comes backed with a beautiful, pure black and white video, the imagery the perfect compliment to the track which leaves you longing, desperate for more. Backed by little more than subtle drum pad beats and minimal, spacious synths it's Lisa's vocal that steals the show and has me hooked. It immediately makes me think of Prince's falsetto, not just any old Prince either, the Purple One at his 80's best, seducing with every note, whispered, extended words that make you fall hopelessly under their spell. I love the extended outro too, with a smouldering guitar that captures the feeling of the track, just bloody gorgeous.
The rest of the EP is likewise intoxicating, "Oh Darling" purrs like the softer side of Metric's Synthetica LP, a fragile but sparkling melody full of catchy hooks, rhythmic beats and crystal clean production with "When I Knew" fluttering in equally heavenly plains, an effortless marriage of dream-inducing synths, soul vocals and melancholy, you've possibly got the idea already but I'm spellbound.
Oh Darling, Let’s Be Adventurers is available now via iTunes and with it comes the discovery of an album released last year... Christmas has come six months early.
Monday, 9 June 2014
Aldous Harding #2 - Hunter
Aldous Harding is a New Zealand singer-songwriter whom I 'introduced' here a couple of months back after a recommendation came to me from fellow Kiwi's French For Rabbits (who I've since had the pleasure of meeting and seeing live). Yet besides a blossoming reputation in her native country you'd probably be forgiven for not having heard Aldous (real name Hannah) before, however in the infamous words of Lemar, if there's any justice, that will surely soon change (and I'm here to do my small part)...
"Hunter" is taken from Aldous' self-titled debut album (which is available to download / purchase now via Lyttleton Records - a decision you will not regret) and now comes backed with a rather fittingly chilly, brooding video. The track is the sumptuous feast of rich musical landscape and fragile, haunting vocals from the get-go, Aldous blends a style not dissimilar from Joanna Newsom with touches of Joni Mitchell, with subtle, weaving melody and intriguing lyrics full of lovely imagery and extraordinary beauty carrying off to places warm and brilliant. It's just a shame you have to get on with your real life after. Listen below and share with your friends, here's a talent that can't stay hidden for long.
Saturday, 7 June 2014
Polly Scattergood - Miss You
Something I continually mention here is that there is more music available than I, as one person, can ever listen to, Polly Scattergood is one such example of an artist I should have heard sooner... Although I was aware of her name from a release a good few years ago, her second album Arrows was released at the end of 2013 and I subsequently missed that altogether too.
I come to Ms Scattergood mid-way through 2014 thanks to the video to her track "Miss You" which I pressed play on by chance after watching another video on a well known video site. The song wasn't at all what I was expecting (I was expecting electro-pop, which from a listen to some more tracks the album certainly could be, a glossy, dance-floor ready sheen is certainly in evidence on recent single "Subsquently Yours"). I'm going to focus on "Miss You" now though (and do some further investigation after)...
"Miss You" is a plaintive piano led ballad that is simply devastating, a wordy, deeply intimate track delivered by a voice that is seemingly teetering on the verge of tears, I can imagine it was difficult to record both track and the video, delivered with piercing wide-eyed stares and brooding intensity. The result, however, makes it all worth while, a shiver inducing beauty.
Arrows is out now.
Friday, 6 June 2014
Acre Tarn - New Music "Introducing"
Manchester based duo Acre Tarn (nope, no idea) arrive with the their debut track, the Fever Ray inspired "This Once".
A carefully measured combination of dark, minimalist synth-pop and slow, breathy vocals which morphs from slow, seduction to distorted highs, hypnotic beats, siren like beauty and a propulsive heart-beat. It's what all electronic music should aspire to (in my opinion of course).
Acre Tarn make their live debut next week supporting Alpines in their hometown of choice, I'll be looking out for reviews with interest.
Thursday, 5 June 2014
Frame #2 - Only Other
Frame returned earlier today with a new track "Only Other", a glistening soft-pop beauty that takes the Brooklyn based project of Caitlin Frame to smouldering highs, here an 80's influenced melody, heartbreaking R&B vocals and jagged guitar patterns combine to make the sort of track that would have sold in its millions if recorded by Fleetwood Mac.
Like "Run Around" before it, "Only Other" is taken from the Frame's debut album Polarizer due later this year.
GOSPEL - New Music "Introducing"
Whilst it may not quite be time to say RIP to Creatures of Love, the band have been on 'hiatus' for a little while now and one of its member Chris Willsher has seemingly had enough of watching DVD boxsets and returns with a new project, GOSPEL, a duo alongside Beth Anderton-Allen.
Their debut track "Disasters Running Wild" will instantly find home with fellow CoL fans, a dark, brooding masterpiece of slow release emotion which sees Beth's soft, considered vocals weave themselves around a bed of sparse, hypnotic electronic beats, down-tempo piano chords and guitar textures. The track explodes half-way through as the percussive beat and guitar shimmers step up a gear, the increase in tempo allowing Beth's vocals to soar higher and with compelling result. A mighty fine introduction indeed.
"Disasters Running Wild" is released July 7th via Not Like That Records.
Wednesday, 4 June 2014
ATTU - New Music "Introducing"
ATTU are a London based quartet who yesterday shared the title track from their debut EP We Are Ordinary People, due in August through exciting new label Beatnik. It's a release that instantly perks interest and emotion, choral, euphoric and beautiful.
I recognise three of the four from Delta/Alaska and many of the the characteristics I recall from their earlier band return during "We Are Ordinary People's" stunning four minutes, a shifting quiet/loud dynamic, starting humble with fragile, pretty vocals and a blissful melody before rising to a wholesome barrage of noise with percussion of paramount importance amongst kaleidoscopic rhythms, swirling guitars and rousing climatic vocal harmonies.
If there's more like this to come, you can imagine it'll soon be filling arenas.
Tennis #7 - Never Work For Free
A couple of weeks ago after seeing Tennis at The Great Escape I said something along the lines of the stand-out of their set being a new track; this is it...
"Never Work For Free" is a track from a band that have come along way since their debut; the cute, sea-faring set of tracks that made up Cape Dory. Here we're treated to a slice of infectious, 80's leaning pure candy-pop propelled by a repeating drum beat, breezy guitars and shiny synth lines, it gives Alaina Moore's the freedom to soar with her timeless sounding vocal. The result is instant love and smiles.
You can download "Never Work For Free" for free(!) via Tennis Music now. The album Ritual in Repeat is due in September via Communion.
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
Don't Cry Shopgirl #2 - Boy You Can Tell Me
I'm going to post about a track that's eight months old now because I missed it first time around and the band, the Swedish indie-pop duo Don't Cry Shopgirl just came back to my attention thanks a picture on Tape Waves' Facebook page, taken at a show from last weekend's NYC Popfest where both bands played...
"Boy You Can Tell Me" is similar in mood, melody and charm to the two demo tracks I mentioned last year, a toe-tapping, smile inducing track to instantly fall in love with thanks to the combination of home-recorded beats, shimmering Pains-esque guitar riffs and the beautifully pure vocal of Astrid Wiezell.
It makes you want to dance around your room - I won' t do that because I'm writing this blog on my lunch break at work and collegues will perhaps look at me a bit strangely, but you get the idea. There's a 7" due soon via Cloudberry Records too. One to keep an eye out for...
Monday, 2 June 2014
Wildest Dreams - New Music "Introducing"
I've got Robin over at Breaking More Waves to thank for this post, he not only was the first to post about the London / Porstmouth based duo Wildest Dreams (Holly Mullineaux and Zoe Mead) but he also sent me a text message urging me to check them out... About two weeks later I finally have and he was right.
Their debut track "Dark Matter" is gorgeous, a lovelorn, dream-inducing tapestry of pretty as a flower vocals, softly cooed harmonies, chiming guitar riffs and drum machine beats. The soothing, ethereal quality instantly makes me think of the sublime "Don't Fall In Love / Wish" release by Still Corners, that's definitely a good thing.
If this is the quality of their bedroom demos, consider me excited to hear the results of real studio session.
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