Glastonbury 2011 - Saturday Review

Saturday starts dull and overcast but thankfully not raining, the mud however is hard work in the sludge makes walking a thing not to be savoured. I start at 11am with a small crowd of other early birds to see Exlovers take to one of the dance tents, they are very enjoyable too. A set which gets better and better as more and more people manage to wake up and enter the tent. Latest single "Blowing Kisses" stand-out, their fuzzy, shoegaze charm is the perfect way to kick start the day.

Next came a bit of a gap in my schedule so I take some time out and sit towards the back of the park stage. Though, I'm soon tempted forward by the luscious sounds coming from the stage as The Balearic Folk Orchestra play some modern covers and sound utterly delightful. The problem with writing a review a week later is you forget which songs are played but a sensational rendition of one of the finest songs of the past ten years Sébastien Tellier's "La Ritournelle" was one.

After some lunch (noodles seems to be this years staple diet) Those Dancing Days come on stage around two o'clock and are utterly superb. I spend half the equally wondering why I'd not listened to them before and falling in love with each and every one of the girls. It's only normal to come back from a festival and purchase a few CD's (sorry not yours Beyonce) and TDD's both got ordered on Tuesday. The most glorious thing? The Scandinavians' even manage to bring the sun out, the sun! Wonderful.

It was almost three o'clock and I hadn't made a trip to The Crow's Nest, that's corrected in order to catch Guillemots. Their acoustic set is incredible. From a piano rendition of "Made Up Love Song #43" and "We're Here" to a wonderful "Trains to Brazil" which sees one of the groups old saxophonist joining the band impromptu - well I'm not sure it was to be honest, he did lug his saxophone up the great big hill and on Saturday getting up the hill was hard, very hard! I feel great respect for those who did it, let alone with an instrument (one of Stornoway got a cello up it!). The show is breathless, energetic and fun, definitely one of the entire highlights on the weekend. It's a shame I never saw them again over the weekend but this half hour set was brilliant.

Next come a trek, one hell of a trek (it what was now glorious sunshine). From one corner of the site to the other to see Emily and the Woods play the acoustic stage. I miss perhaps the first ten minutes but am entranced. There is a quite large audience and Emily is simply delightful. She plays tracks off both her EP's and with the success of another folkstress Laura Marling (who'll play The Pyramid stage the next day) I'm hoping Emily will follow her into the hearts of many household up and down the country. Her voice is gorgeous and she appears a natural on stage with no real sign of the nerves she talks of.

On my return to The Park I can see it's getting busy already, the not-so-secret 'Special Guests' mean the area fills up very quickly meaning I take place near the front to make sure I've a decent view. First though are Tame Impala who are frankly, absolutely awful. Their psychedelic 60's rock perhaps would sound alright played by some technically gifted musicians. Tame Impala are not, they play slow, badly and the whole crowd is bored, bored rigid. Almost as bored as the lead singer looks. The sound is muddy and it ends, thankfully, finally it ends. We await the 'Special Guest's or Pulp as we'd rather know them, here is the crowd shortly before they take stage.

Pulp of course were the polar opposite. They are unbelievable. A level above everything else over the weekend. Jarvis seems so sure on stage now, his banter less awkward and now hilarious and precise, delivering exactly the message he wants to put across. Then comes the songs which completely blows you away. The band may now bare resemblance to music teachers on tour but they are amazing. They play four or five different tracks than Primavera which pleases the fan-boy in me. "Mis-Shapes" fits the stage perfectly and getting some more tracks off 'His & Hers' is great "Joy Riders", "Acrylic Afternoons" are stunning.

Then of course there is the moment that everyone in the crowd has been waiting for, predictably they end with "Common People" and the entire park stage goes mental, it was a real 'I was there' moment. Jarvis does a quick quip to say that'd he'd like to make it five Glastonbury's, five is a nice round number. 2013 head-liners? They should be.  I've now seen Jarvis and co twice since the end of their hiatus and they're easily the best two gigs I've been to so far this year, I'm seeing them again at Wireless this weekend and they might just top it. Cannot wait.

After the euphoria of Pulp it's going to be hard for anything to compare. A couple of quick Brothers Cider's later and I'm ready to see my head-liner, Caitlin Rose. The other 50 or so people who chose to do the same will all say exactly the same. Fuck Cold Play, The Crow's Nest is where you should have been on Saturday night. A more intimate setting than the day before see's Caitlin feel more at home, smiling and joking with the audience and band-mates, it suits her down to the ground. The short set is charming, natural and utterly wonderful. After her own set Caitlin's friend Jonny Corndog plays a few of his own songs and Caitlin joins in on co-vocals, I remind myself to check out his music when I get home. After a slow descent down the hill as night takes over I watch Wild Beasts but they pass over me somewhat and I'm happy to end the second day of Glastonbury 2011, the highs make today perhaps even better than Friday.

Eye To Eye by Emily and The Woods
Pulp - Common People - Electric Picnic 2011
Blowing Kisses by exlovers
Those Dancing Days - Fuckarias

Ten Bands You Should See at Glastonbury 2011 Part Two

The second part of my bands to watch at Glastonbury, following on from part one here:

The Joy Formidable

     John Peel Tent, Sunday 26th, 14.00 - 14.45

Kicking off the second part of my tips to see at Glastonbury with any but a surprise for readers of this blog. The act I've seen the most live in the past twelve months, The Joy Formidable are (for me) the best live act currently on tour. The intensity created by the three members is extraordinary, their songs are fantastic, their album is one of the best albums since who knows.

Expect TJF to tear up the John Peel stage early on Sunday afternoon. Cannot wait.

Whirring by thejoyformidable

Lykke Li

      The Park, Sunday 26th, 20.00 - 21.00

I'm looking forward to seeing Lykke Li on The Park stage, it will be the first time I've seen her since the Rough Trade East show the same day her second album 'Wounded Rhymes' came out, I went to that show by chance, they'll be no chance I'm missing this one, the album has established itself as one of my favourites of the year.

Stunning, inventive pop tracks and some of the best beautiful ballads of the year with tracks like "Sadness is a Blessing" and "I Know Places", she is going to be amazing, Beyonce who?

Lykke Li - Sadness Is A Blessing

Hurts

      John Peel Tent, Sunday 26th, 19.05 - 20.05

I'm expecting a qutie spectacular show from Hurts, despite struggling to get critical acclaim from some quarters the group have established themselves as a real hit with fans amassing some fervent fans, especially in Eastern Europe.

Their blend of theatrical operatic-pop, brooding demeanour and 80's grandiose styling is perhaps too flamboyant for some but after seeing them rise from their debut London show at Wilton's Music Hall to a Brixton Academy date I'm looking forward to seeing them on a big Glastonbury stage.

HURTS - Wonderful Life

Guillemots

      Oxlyers In West, Friday 24th, 15.00 - 15.40
      Chai Wallahs, Saturday 24th, 16.00 - 16.45
      Avalon Stage, Saturday 25th, 21.40 - 22.40

A hat-trick of official gigs (with at least one more at The Crows Nest) for Guillemots, a band I saw on the main stage back in 2007 (they've since fallen off the mainstream radar, perhaps partly at the bands doing thanks to their rather eccentric 'Red').

I said recently (here) just about everything I could about the band, so let's just say I'll see you at a couple of these Glasto shows.

Made-up Lovesong #43 by Guillemots

Special Guests

       The Park, Friday 24th, 20.00 - 21.15
       The Park, Saturday 25th, 19.45 - 21.00

It wouldn't be Glastonbury without some wild and wonderful rumours about who the special guests at The Park stage are going to be, some I think are wide of the mark, I can't see Arcade Fire playing when they are in Poland Friday and Luxembourg Sunday, of course I'm happy to be surprised. The Killers play in London Wed-Friday and although they could play for a fourth day in a row in Pilton, I can't see it happening.

My guesses? Well I think it's going to be Arctic Monkeys and Pulp. The Monkeys might be alright, I saw them headline in '07 and it was pretty rubbish though but on a smaller stage perhaps they'd be worth a viewing (although I'm not a fan of their new material) but the weekend could be made by a Glastonbury return for Jarvis et co. Why they aren't headlining the festival is Michael Eavis' business, I personally think they should be and I've got just about everything crossed that Pulp turn up and put on a phenomenal show during the weekend, if it's anything like the Primavera show, phenomenal it will be. See you there Jarvis?

Pulp - This is Hardcore

Still want more? Well if I was to make it 15 bands to see, I'd have recommend: Sea of Bees (The Park), Exlovers (Oxlyers in West), Deep Cut (BBC Introducing), Those Dancing Days (The Park) and Emily and the Woods (Acoustic). See you there.

Guillemots - I Must Be A Lover

http://www.guillemots.com / Facebook

I'm actually surprised I've never given Guillemots a post of their own, I've mentioned Fyfe's solo album a couple of times and I picked Guillemots as one of my bands to see at The Great Escape 2011 (I never actually made it to see them, instead I saw EMA play to about 50 people) but this is the first time I've covered just them, sorry for the delay!

Their debut EP 'From The Cliffs' blew me away back in early 2006, I first saw them play KCLSU in March that year (supported by the incredible Misty's Big Adventure) and proceeded to see them six or seven times leading up to Glastonbury 07, I was in love. They followed the EP (if you've not got it, get it - "Over the Stairs", "Cats Eyes", "Who Left The Lights Off, Baby?", "My Chosen One" - all excellent) with a breathtaking first album 'Through The Windowpane'.

It was simply stunning, most obviously perhaps with tracks carried over from the EP, the joyous "Trains to Brazil" and "Made Up Lovesong #43". The latter must be one of the most beautiful songs of the last ten years. The album was more than the sum of those two parts though, with excellent numbers such as the title track, "We're Here" and the albums epic closure "São Paulo", which at eleven minutes long is an emotional journey well worth taking.

From that same era were two utterly wonderful demo's, I'm not sure what's become of them, they're worth tracking down because they are two of my favourite Guillemots tracks, the aching beauty of "Cold Cool Moon" and "Sea Out", one of the most spine-tingling piano ballads you are ever likely to hear. Also from their prolific early period check out "By The Water" with Aristazabal on vocals and "The Rising Tide", both from the 'Of the Night EP'.

All that made it quite a surprise that I never connected with the follow-up 'Red'. "Kriss Kross", "Falling Out Of Reach" and a few over tracks aside, I just found it too eclectic for my tastes, the band are exceptional musicians as ever, but I don't know, I just didn't get it.

Anyway, that's enough reminiscing, the reason for this post is to tell you that I am back in love with the band. Their third album 'Walk The River' (buy) is wonderful, if predominately washed in a melancholic gloom (though if you scanned the tracks I've picked as favourites, that seems to be my favourite!). The openers really pull you in, "Walk The River", "Vermillion" and in particular "I Don't Feel Amazing Now", which is their most sumptuous ballad since that first album. "The Basket" is great too, fuzzy guitars mean it's a departure from those openers and it's a direction I'm all for.

What prompted this lesson through my history of Guillemots releases was not to prepare you for an exam, but to tell you that they are soon to release their excellent new single "I Must Be A Lover" (out 3rd July), you can watch / listen below. Do that, it's definitely the track that lets the most sunshine in from the album and is as captivating a pop song as you'll hear this year, climaxing with a joyous, uplifting chorus.

Here's the video, Fyfe is wearing a nice(?) suit and has had a haircut too (perhaps the John Lewis money has come through?!), check out the back steps at the end too:


Guillemots - I Must Be A Lover (single edit) by Guillemots
Trains to Brazil by Guillemots
Kriss Kross by Guillemots

The Great Escape 2011 - Bands to Watch (Part Two)

If you missed Part One it's here. This is the second part of bands that I think are well worth your time seeing at The Great Escape 2011, after the last part being non US acts, these are all UK based, Rule Britannia and all that (or am I a bit late for the flag waving now 'The Wedding' is over?!) ...

Can we have weather like in the picture please, running between venues in the rain isn't that much fun. In alphabetical order:

Alpines

         Audio (Alternative Escape), Friday 13th May 23:00
         The Loft, Saturday 14th May 23:30

Here's a band I'm looking forward to seeing for the first time, London based duo Alpines whose self-penned genre 'Night Pop' has been rapidly gaining them more followers (and a record deal), with tracks such as the glacial "Ice & Arrows" and "Empire" where brooding, ambient and enormous synth beats sweep away with infinite ease and beauty it's really easy to see why. Three Edited - Two chances to see them which always helps with the clashes too.

For fans of Portishead / Massive Attack / Bat For Lashes



Daughter

         Latest Music Bar (Alternative Escape), Friday 13th May 21:00
         The Fishbowl, Saturday 14th May 14:30
         Life, Saturday 14th May 20:45

Daughter first caught my eye in November last year with a stunning four track demo EP, one of its highlights "Run" went on to sweep the internet and enlist an army of fans and industry praise alike, since she's released a new EP 'His Young Heart' and gained even more. See "Landfill" for a perfect example of her hauntingly soft voice and emotionally bare song-craft. Daughter is a folk artist in a time when there are a mass of folk musicians but Elena manages to stand above most of the thanks to her incredible lyrically honesty, which are equally despairing and heart-warming.  Make sure you catch her in Brighton.

For fans of Laura Marling / Emmy The Great / Alessi's Ark



Echo Lake

       Green Door Store, Thursday 12th May 23:30
       Horatios, Friday 13th May 21:15

I've seen London shoegaze group Echo Lake a couple of times now and they were really quite exceptional on both occasions, dense and dynamic with layers of shimmering noise, chiming guitars and a hazy (sometimes indistinguishable) vocal. Since I first posted the band in January they've released (and sold-out of the physical version) a superb EP 'Young Silence', one of the highlights is the opener "Sunday Evening", absolutely lush, hypnotic, stunning. If you are yet to see Echo Lake live and decide to take a chance then you'll be richly rewarded.

For fans of My Bloody Valentine / Cocteau Twins / Warpaint



Fear of Men

       Shipwrights Yard, Saturday 14th May 12:15
       Green Door Store, Saturday 14th May 19:10

It'd be wrong not to see at least a few Brighton based bands at a Brighton based music festival and first up we have newly formed indie fuzz-pop band Fear of Men, I described the four-piece at the end of March as 'Shimmery and jangly guitar riffs combining blissfully with catchy melodies and beautiful, ethereal vocals' - sounds perfect for a Saturday lunch-time outside gig at Shipwright Yard then, with the sun out of course, see you there.

For fans of Warpaint / Best Coast



Guillemots

         Komedia (upstairs), Saturday 14th May 22:15

I saw Guillemots about six times on their first album 'Through The Windowpane', it was a stunning debut. The follow up 'Red' had it's moments notably "Kriss Kross" and "Falling Out of Reach" but was perhaps a little bit too experimental and eccentric for its own good, after a short break for Fyfe to release a solo album the band are back with their third album 'Walk The River' which for me is a real return to form. More sparse than 'Red' and captivating for it, it twinkles and shines which melodic grace, an expansive beauty and I'm looking forward to seeing the band live again for the first time since 2008.

For fans of Guillemots (as one of the biggest bands on the billing I don't think I need to compare them).



The Joy Formidable

        Hectors House, Thursday 12th May 22:30

This will be my hat-trick of seeing The Joy Formidable at The Great Escape (I've seen them a few times in-between) and probably the last ever time they play such a small show, Hectors' House is friggin' tiny so be warned, if you want to see this show as much as I do, get there early or you will miss it. I don't need to ramble on about TJF much, if you've read this blog for any length of time you'll already know my thoughts, the band are recently back from an extensive eight week US tour - let's show them we missed them. Can't wait.

For fans of The Joy Formidable (surely they are big enough to avoid comparison by know - I do keep reading Pixies although I'm not sure I see much there myself).



Lanterns on The Lake

         Queens Hotel, Saturday 14th May 15.15
         Komedia (upstairs), Saturday 14th May 20.15

I've still only seen Lanterns on the Lake once, and I missed the opening couple of tracks even then, that was at the Slaughtered Lamb last September or so, what I heard was more than enough to wet my appetite and I've been religiously on the hunt for new information since (although not much has been made public since they signed to Bella Union late last year). The band have been tucked away putting the finishing touches to their debut album which is due later this year, if it's anything like their EP's expect some of the most spellbinding and dreamy music you'll hear this year. Lush instrumentations alongside Hazel's delicate, beautiful voice. There's an added intensity to that live show, looking forward to seeing them again.

For fans of Sigur Ros / Bon Iver / Beach House

Lungs Quicken by Lanterns on the Lake

Let's Buy Happiness

          Prince Albert, Friday 13th May 21.15
          Queens Hotel, Saturday 14th May 14.30

Another one of my hopes for 2011, Let's Buy Happiness are a band I first saw at 2010's Great Escape and have been mentioned here numerous times since, not unsurprisingly given the quality of their music. From their debut EP 'Not Hot Ashes' through to their two singles 'Six Wolves' and 'Fast Fast' the Newcastle group have been quite to set a blueprint for their sound, glacial indie-pop with tight percussion, shimmering textural guitars and above all the distinctive ethereal (and totally bloody gorgeous) vocal of Sarah Hall. I last saw them in London a few months ago and they had some brilliant new songs too, can't wait to hear them again.

For fans of The Shins / That National / Death Cab for Cutie



Rachel Sermanni

        Green Door Store, Friday 13th May 13:45
        Prince Albert, Friday 13th May 20:30

Scotland's finest folk young singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni has about five times the number of fans on facebook than when I featured her in March, a sign of the impending rise on the folk scene, it's not dfficult to see where when you listen to her songs either. "Eggshells" and "Song For a Fox" are both beautiful tracks, Rachel has a slightly kooky voice and her graceful, mature writing ability belie her young age.

For fans of Laura Marling / Joni Mitchell



Ramona

          Fitzherberts, Saturday 14th May 12:30
          The Loft, Saturday 14th May 23:30

My second home-town group are Ramona who were picking up quite a lot of press towards the bag end of last year thanks to a sparkling double A-Side single 'How Long / Steve McQueen', it went quiet at the start of 2011 as the group recorded some new material in New York but now slowly but surely the PR machine is starting up again with a new version of potential smash hit "Tell That Girl" and even an acoustic cover of David Bowie, Ramona blend indie-pop with a spark of punk spirit, "Steve McQueen" an anthem in waiting.

For fans of Blondie / Pretenders / Texas (well they are managed by Sharleen Spiteri)



Still Corners

           Audio, Friday 13th May 20:45

Still Corners have been quietly getting signed (to Sub Pop no less) and recording the  follow-up to the lush psychedelic dream-pop of "Don't Fall In Love" and shimmering gorgeousness of "I Wish". I tend to draw similarities between Still Corners and Lanterns on the Lake and that's the case with their live show as well, I've seen SC's three times now and they've not failed to impress me, Tessa's dreamy, ethereal vocals are beautiful but the star for me is Leon, he's one brilliant guitar player and the live arena gives him chance to expand on his sound somewhat, they are playing a Drowned in Sound night, it's going to be busy, get there early.

For fans of The Shins / Beach House



2:54

          Horatios, Saturday 14th May 21:15

I've seen 2:54 three times now and they are getting better and better as a live act, they've been picking up some considerable press along the way including the nme (whose stage they play on at TGE), the dirty, grungy sounds of the moody single "On a Wire" sum up what you can expect from them, distorted, ominous and hypnotic guitars with Colette's seductive vocal. Romy xx is a big fan and it's not diffficult to see why.

For fans of Mudhoney / Blood Red Shoes




Now there's about twenty acts (a few more) that I recommend seeing at The Great Escape, wish me luck in seeing as many of them as I can, I might need a few day off afterwards!

Fyfe Dangerfield

BUY
Fyfe Dangerfield, lead singer of the Guillemots released his debut solo CD this weekend, it's probably the first good CD of the 2010, that I've heard anyway.

The fantastic single She Needs Me really put me in a good mood about this and overall it doesn't dissapoint. More reflective and down-tempo than recent Guillemots material - more like their debut EP's - which for me is a good thing, although saying that, maybe another power-pop esque She Needs Me wouldn't have gone a miss.

My other favourites on first few listens are Livewire, a lovely ballad about a failure, as well Barricades.
If you are quick (like me) you can buy a limited double CD / Vinyl edition that comes signed and has TEN bonus tracks not available anywhere else - that's a bit crazy right! Anyway, I've included one of these tracks for you to listen to below - some of these bonus tracks should have found their way onto the release in my opinion. Give it a listen, enjoy and then buy the album, or the deluxe if you are early and lucky enough. Link above.

I saw Fyfe at Scala, London last night, it was a fine evening, he was clearly getting to grips with the songs still himself. It was even more stripped than on the record live, with the exception of a girls aloud cover, call the shots! Anyway enough rambling...

Video to She Needs Me: