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!!
Showing posts with label Rae Morris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rae Morris. Show all posts
Monday, 30 June 2014
Thursday, 1 May 2014
The Great Escape - Thursday Preview
It's May and you know what that means kiddiwinks, Summer is well and truly on its way and festival season begins now. We are exactly one week away from the start of The Great Escape (okay, there are some Alternative Escape events on Wednesday night, but the festival officially kicks off on Thursday) when thousands of us bloggers, artists and punters alike will be descending upon Brighton for three days of wonderful music, beer and weather (well, we can hope about the last one!).
I've been going to The Great Escape six years now (this will be my seventh) and over the last couple of years the festival has well and truly come into its own, an ever expanding volume of venues (although some 'new' venues turn out to be old ones renamed), acts and increasingly secret gigs. This year the number of bands playing is higher than ever (and that's before counting the Alternative Escape - always a place to find new talent in perhaps quieter rooms), this year's festival promising to be three days full of more music than you could ask for.
There are many, many treasures lurking within the line-up and that's where I'll try and go with my three preview posts (one for each day). I'm going to pick five acts I think you should see each day, the point of TGE in my opinion to discover something that might just become your new favourite act so for that reason whenever there is a clash between two acts I like (and there are many with the line-up being so good), I favour the 'newer' act.
I've given tips and information before but anyone reading this and heading to Brighton for the first time, be sure to use your head... If you do plan on going to one of the 'hyped' artist gigs, the advice is simple, get there early. If you plan on waltzing into the venue two minutes before stage time, you will be mistaken and you will spend the entire gig standing outside wishing you were somewhere else. In the last two years of The Great Escape I've not queued up for more than two minutes in total (and that was because the venue wasn't quite open yet).
The Great Escape is a vast, widespread festival (if you've never been, be warned that Concorde 2 is a LONG way along the front, don't leave five minutes to get there) with many treasures to be found (and to help stamp it in, don’t forget The Alternative Escape when you are investigating bands you want to see). Hopefully these tips will perhaps help you decide who you want to see... One thing for sure, with new and emerging bands playing in venues no bigger than your front-room, music festivals don't get much better (and you get a warm bed and shower to go home to as well!)…
Thursday at The Great Escape - Five Picks:
VENUE / DATE & TIME
8th May 2014 3:30pm - 4:00pm
The Night VI have been one of my favourite discoveries of 2014 so far, I couldn't make last weeks London show and as such this afternoon show will be the first time I get to see them live. Robin over at Breaking More Waves gave their show in Reading over last weekend glowing praise (we tend to bump into each other about a dozen times over the course of the weekend) and as such my anticipation level has increased even more.
With a beautiful EP already under their belt and the immaculate "Sienna" recently released there live performance promises to bring to life Sophie-Rose pristine vocals with smooth, widescreen instrumentation. It think it all promises to be the perfect start to your weekend.
VENUE / DATE & TIME
CONCORDE 2
8th May 2014 7:45pm - 8:15pm
8th May 2014 7:45pm - 8:15pm
The progression highlighted by Rae Morris (who I actually picked as an act to see in my TGE preview back in 2012) on her recent tracks "Skin" and "Do You Even Know?" is quite startling, bringing the Blackpool singer-songwriter out from the crowd of solo acts around at the moment with a haunting blend of intimate, emotive songs and a captivating vocal.
I'm not sure what her live performance will be like anymore. I'm hoping for a full band to back her plaintive piano ballads as well as goosebump moments aplenty and perhaps a rousing version of "Do You Even Know?" to climax the show. I think it's going to be worth finding out what happens...
VENUE / DATE & TIME
8th May 2014 8:30pm - 9:00pm
NEIGHBOURHOOD
9th May 2014 8:40pm - 9.05pm (An Alternative Escape Show)
NEIGHBOURHOOD
9th May 2014 8:40pm - 9.05pm (An Alternative Escape Show)
I've only had the pleasure of seeing Russian Red once previously, a wonderful show at Union Chapel in support of her second album a couple of years back. Her two shows at The Great Escape (and a couple of sold-out gigs at The Lexington earlier the same week) are the first shows back on these shores since...
Her third album Agent Cooper has recently been released (although not yet in the UK) and highlights a fuller, expansive sound which combines Lourdes' impeccable voice with a new soft pop-rock direction. The rich, bright and dynamic instrumentation helps to bring out the unique sweetness of her voice and the catchy choruses promise to sound even better in a live environment. I can't wait for this one.
VENUE / DATE & TIME
8th May 2014 9:00pm - 9:30pm
STICKY MIKE'S FROG BAR
9th May 2014 12.45PM - 1:15PM (An Alternative Escape show)
STICKY MIKE'S FROG BAR
9th May 2014 12.45PM - 1:15PM (An Alternative Escape show)
Hi again Wilsen. I posted about the Brooklyn trio just yesterday with "Go Try" so I'll keep this one short and sweet...
I was one of the early adopters when I fell instantly smitten with "Dusk", the perfect introduction to the heartfelt, intoxicating songcraft that awaited within the debut LP Sirens, a stunning record that ebbs and flows with exquisite arrangements and devastating vocals. I'll be seeing Wilsen quite a few times next week and I can't bloody wait. Go and see her at one of her gigs too.
VENUE / DATE & TIME
8th May 2014 11:15pm - 12:00am
One of my two heartbreaking clashes of the weekend sees Arthur Beatrice play at exactly the same time as Alice Boman. I've pretty much decided (if I can, the Prince Albert is tiny) that I'll see Arthur Beatrice ahead of Alice Boman because I've seen Alice before and she has a London show planned for early June.
Arthur Beatrice's debut album Working Out has crept up on me gradually over the last month or so and after numerous repeated play it's now one of my favourite releases of the year so far, awash with slow burning rhythms, exotic guitars and the beautiful dual vocals of Orlando Leopard and Ella Gerardot.
From the sultry, smooth beauty of "Late" to the joyous and frankly mesmerising singles "Midland" and "Carter", it's an album that oozes with both style and substance and I am still wondering quite why I am so slow on the uptake with the quartet. I think this one could get busy so best get there early if you want to attend.
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
Rae Morris #4 - Do You Even Know?
Back in early January Blackpool's Rae Morris was responsible for one of the first, great tracks of 2014. "Skin" did exactly that, crawled into your body and mind and left you breathless and desperate for more.
Rae now returns with "Do You Even Know?" and for the first ten seconds you feel like you've been transported back to a mid 90's club as the track is propelled by a propulsive dance-floor beat. Rae's typically elegant, haunting vocals soon draw you out from that but despite the tracks lyrics being drenched in a cold sense of loneliness this is Rae's most upbeat track to date with sparkling pop arrangements highlighting a progression from the plaintive piano led tracks which first introduced Rae to the scene. I like it.
"Do You Even Know"?" is released May 6th - a digital pre-order is available now via iTunes.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Rae Morris #3 - Skin
Rae Morris is an artist that has been on my radar for a while now, my Introducing post on her was way back in June 2011 and that was followed by another blog in December of the same year, her captivating, majestic voice has never been in doubt and her way around a piano has brought many a crowd to silence. I've only seen Rae the once so far, way back in 2012 and I can recall the soothing, spine-tingling sensation of her music.
Since then there have been two similarly lovely EP's Grow and From Above and I really am not sure why I've not waffled on about them before, subtle, intimate and beautiful are just three of the words that can easily be used to describe them. After some impressive support slots and a guest vocal spot on the new Bombay Bicycle Club album 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. "Skin" can be downloaded for free via a trip to Rae's website now and doing so will be the best decision you've made today.
Friday, 27 April 2012
The Great Escape 2012 - Preview (Part Two) Friday
The second part of my preview of The Great Escape focuses on Friday, the second day of the festival. If you land and this page and are interested in reading Thursday's preview, you'll find it here. There are so many amazing acts playing at TGE this year that I could easily have picked over a dozen or so recommendations throughout Friday and even more if I included clashing acts, with half a foot in the real world I've limited myself to seven picks to give me some time to enjoy some sunlight, sleep and perhaps even a little food, I might end up catching more, who knows.. The full line-up can be found on The Great Escape website.
Martha - Facebook
Komedia (Downstairs), Friday 11th May 12.00
A new find for me, part of the reason TGE is as good as it is, is because it leads to the discovery of new talents (some you find before and some you come across ad-hoc through the festival). I've gone through the programmes from past years before and the amount of artists you didn't see because you had no idea who they were but now do and wished you'd been there is incredible, with that in mind I do try and spend some time (there are too many for all) listening to acts I've not heard of before and that was how I came across Guildford singer-songwriter Martha Paton. A few demos on soundcloud highlight a soft, tender voice backed by gentle acoustic guitar plucks, beautiful and enchanting, the perfect start to your musical day.
Emma Gatrill - Facebook
The Fishbowl, Friday 11th May 18.45
Another local pick, Emma Gatrill will be playing in the tiny Fishbowl pub near the Queen's Hotel (a tip after my friend made the mistake last year, don't order the Tiger beer!) and is another recent discovery but I find myself overwhelmingly charmed by her beautiful voice and soft, delicate song-craft. After performing with numerous Willkommen collective bands Emma's debut solo album will be released the week after the festival.
"Josephine" is bound to appeal to fans of Joanna Newsom et al, not just because of its harp based instrumentation, Emma's classical arrangements flutter and soar over a truly gorgeous folk lullaby, Emma's set promises to be early evening bliss.
Komedia (Downstairs), Friday 11th May 12.00
A new find for me, part of the reason TGE is as good as it is, is because it leads to the discovery of new talents (some you find before and some you come across ad-hoc through the festival). I've gone through the programmes from past years before and the amount of artists you didn't see because you had no idea who they were but now do and wished you'd been there is incredible, with that in mind I do try and spend some time (there are too many for all) listening to acts I've not heard of before and that was how I came across Guildford singer-songwriter Martha Paton. A few demos on soundcloud highlight a soft, tender voice backed by gentle acoustic guitar plucks, beautiful and enchanting, the perfect start to your musical day.
Unitarian Church, Thursday 10th May 19.30
Latest Music Bar, Friday 11th May 15.00
Latest Music Bar, Friday 11th May 15.00
There are quite a few Brighton acts I'm recommending in this section, the first is Abi Wade, armed with a cello, a percussion box and a seriously powerful voice she creates mysterious, atmospheric and beautiful music that is stark, haunting and wholly captivating, combining her spacious instrumentation to powerful and ethereal effect. I can't think other artists similar to Abi, her style is unique, I think she'll be very much worth your time.
Queens Hotel, Friday 11th May 16.30
The Warren, Friday 11th May 21.15
Rae Morris, a young singer/songwriter with incredible hair and an even more incredible voice has been making waves in 2012 already, a sold out London show at the Slaughtered Lamb and support slots across the country with Noah & The Whale. Take a listen to her music and it's not hard to know why. She possesses a captivating vocal range and with a collection of self-penned songs that has you listening to her every word.
Rae is on her way towards the big time and a show in the basement of a hotel could be about the smallest venue she'll play ever be playing again.
Rae is on her way towards the big time and a show in the basement of a hotel could be about the smallest venue she'll play ever be playing again.
The Fishbowl, Friday 11th May 18.45
Another local pick, Emma Gatrill will be playing in the tiny Fishbowl pub near the Queen's Hotel (a tip after my friend made the mistake last year, don't order the Tiger beer!) and is another recent discovery but I find myself overwhelmingly charmed by her beautiful voice and soft, delicate song-craft. After performing with numerous Willkommen collective bands Emma's debut solo album will be released the week after the festival.
"Josephine" is bound to appeal to fans of Joanna Newsom et al, not just because of its harp based instrumentation, Emma's classical arrangements flutter and soar over a truly gorgeous folk lullaby, Emma's set promises to be early evening bliss.
Queens Hotel, Friday 11th May 21.30
I'm intrigued to see Fear of Men again, I've not seen them since last year and the Brighton/London quartet have had a bit of a make-over since then with two new members joining the ranks, their releases thus far have been nothing short of exceptional. 'Ritual Confessions' was one of the best debut 7" of last year (now sold-out so my opinion is not alone) and their demo tapes (similarly unavailable) were nothing short of wonderful.
"Doldrums" while only a demo, is just gorgeous, swirling guitars and precise drums give the platform for Jess's gorgeous vocals to make you go weak at the knees before a fuzzed-up stomping finale hints at the bands live bite. One not to miss.
I'm intrigued to see Fear of Men again, I've not seen them since last year and the Brighton/London quartet have had a bit of a make-over since then with two new members joining the ranks, their releases thus far have been nothing short of exceptional. 'Ritual Confessions' was one of the best debut 7" of last year (now sold-out so my opinion is not alone) and their demo tapes (similarly unavailable) were nothing short of wonderful.
"Doldrums" while only a demo, is just gorgeous, swirling guitars and precise drums give the platform for Jess's gorgeous vocals to make you go weak at the knees before a fuzzed-up stomping finale hints at the bands live bite. One not to miss.
Queens Hotel, Friday 11th May 22.30
I'm expecting this show to be rammed, the blogging frenzy that followed the release of their debut track 'Eleventh Hour' surely means the Manchester four-piece will be courting interest from numerous A&R guys, expect them to be towards the back of the gig, with us geeky, music addicts enjoy ourselves at the front. The following is what I wrote on my single review, it's why PINS are one of the must see acts of the weekend, a new band for a new music festival.
"The reason why I'm happy to wax lyrical about them off one three minute track is simple, it's a fucking great track that doesn't disappoint any of my sky high expectations. Right from the initial impact of dark, powerful hard-hitting drums and layered guitars whirring ferociously it stirs up something in you, the droning riff hypnotises and doesn't let go, the brooding vocals similarly coerce you, part sugary and part commanding, the video is similarly wonderful, the perfect backdrop for the girls blend of 90's influenced noise-pop and 60's psychedelia. PINS are here to be your new favourite band, they're certainly on my short-list already."
I'm expecting this show to be rammed, the blogging frenzy that followed the release of their debut track 'Eleventh Hour' surely means the Manchester four-piece will be courting interest from numerous A&R guys, expect them to be towards the back of the gig, with us geeky, music addicts enjoy ourselves at the front. The following is what I wrote on my single review, it's why PINS are one of the must see acts of the weekend, a new band for a new music festival.
"The reason why I'm happy to wax lyrical about them off one three minute track is simple, it's a fucking great track that doesn't disappoint any of my sky high expectations. Right from the initial impact of dark, powerful hard-hitting drums and layered guitars whirring ferociously it stirs up something in you, the droning riff hypnotises and doesn't let go, the brooding vocals similarly coerce you, part sugary and part commanding, the video is similarly wonderful, the perfect backdrop for the girls blend of 90's influenced noise-pop and 60's psychedelia. PINS are here to be your new favourite band, they're certainly on my short-list already."
Riki Tiks, Friday 11th May / Saturday 12th May 01.30(am) (Alt Escape)
In what will definitely be my final call of the evening (I'm almost 30 and can't hack late nights anymore), I'll be taking a trip to a venue I've never been to before, Riki Tiks to see south-coast dark electro duo Curxes (and Labyrinth Ear before them with any luck), it will be the first time and I'm going with high expectations, because let's not beat around the bush here, the initial tracks they've shared with planet Earth have been nothing short of awesome.
"Haunted Gold" bites hard, real hard, with monstrous, industrial pop rhythms and pounding metallic beats its twisted terminator guitar is like a futuristic tale of the apocalypse whilst Roberta's commanding vocals cause their own thunderstorm. Likely to send an adrenaline bolt through those, like me, who are nearing the time for their beds, Curxes will be worth staying up for.
In what will definitely be my final call of the evening (I'm almost 30 and can't hack late nights anymore), I'll be taking a trip to a venue I've never been to before, Riki Tiks to see south-coast dark electro duo Curxes (and Labyrinth Ear before them with any luck), it will be the first time and I'm going with high expectations, because let's not beat around the bush here, the initial tracks they've shared with planet Earth have been nothing short of awesome.
"Haunted Gold" bites hard, real hard, with monstrous, industrial pop rhythms and pounding metallic beats its twisted terminator guitar is like a futuristic tale of the apocalypse whilst Roberta's commanding vocals cause their own thunderstorm. Likely to send an adrenaline bolt through those, like me, who are nearing the time for their beds, Curxes will be worth staying up for.
Sunday, 11 December 2011
Rae Morris #2 - A hat-trick of videos
Tomorrow sees the start of my tips for 2012, I came up with a list of quite a few acts and had to pick fifteen from it, so there were a few sacrifices, one of them was the truly stunning Rae Morris, I'm surprised it was as long ago as June when I last talked about her, it means two of these three videos are a little old now but give more than enough insight to the talent of this incredible young new artist.
There aren't many words that can properly describe the solo piano versions of "Day One" and "Wait a While" you can find below, they are absolutely gorgeous, Rae's raw, powerful voice cascades over her majestic key strokes, self-penned songs that are set to turn audiences to stunned silence up and down the country.
Rae has two London shows planned for the new year, firstly one I've already got a ticket to as it features three artists that certainly feature in the 'ones to watch in 2012' category and each have already been featured here (Lianne La Havas and The Staves), tickets for that are available here (thought I doubt they will be for too long) and Rae also headlines the wonderful Slaughtered Lamb on 7th March - tickets
Rae Morris - Wait a while
Day One by raemorrismusic
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Rae Morris - New Music "Introducing"
It's incredible how much music I discover by simply listening to artists that are on the same bill as those I like for shows I can't even get to, an artist I've been in love with since late last year Daughter (whose wonderful 'His Young Heart' EP is long overdue a posting) is playing a gig tonight at Proud Camden.
I've parental duties every Wednesday so can't be in attendance but on the same bill was a young lady I'd heard by name but not listened to, her name was Rae Morris.
If you are like me and you start seeing a name a few times, you feel the need to listen to their music straight away, so that's what I did via her soundcloud page... and let me tell right now, it's utterly stunning.
"Did I Ever" and "Wait A While" are both warm and delicate piano ballads. Subtle, minimalist instrumentation lets Rae's voice immediately strike you, it's just incredible. A captivating range and a song-craft that has you listening to every word, quickly showing her to be a talented singer-songwriter who's, to coin an aged old phrase, mature beyond her years.
Rae is 18 from Blackpool and tonight is in fact her first ever London show (a quick glance at her Facebook tell me anyway)... It won't be the last.
Perhaps too radio friendly for some of you here but when I hear a voice as beautiful as this I can't help but fall for it and if these two tracks are anything to go by, she'll be the soundtrack to many evenings such as this.
Listen:
Rae Morris - Did I Ever
Rae Morris - Wait A While
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