Another shorter post for today and the second act who seemingly manage to crop up here with just about every track they've released thus far, 'Emily' is the second single taken from exlovers debut full-length 'Moth' (which itself comes out next week, June 18th via Young & Lost Club) and it's the perfect continuation of their wistful, 90's leaning, guitar driven, pure pop tunes (bit of a tongue twister that).
The enchanting "Emily" sees the London quintet's signatures continue, beautiful melodies inducing memories of gorgeous summers days past and dual vocal harmonies, softly whispered and as pretty-as-a-flower, a(nother) track that can do nothing but make you kick your feet back and smile. Warm and familiar, exlovers are like a long lost friend who you've re-encountered after years apart and don't want to lose touch with again, just lovely.
You can pre-order 'Moth' signed with a four track bonus acoustic CD from Recordstore now, the band have an album launch show at The Waiting Room (formerly The Drop) next Tuesday, June 19th - details.
At the moment I'm probably listening to more folk rooted music than I have ever before, of course that hasn't stopped me from forgetting my indie based past and this little number by London based quintet exlovers certainly hits the right note with me, "This Love Will Lead You On" is the lead single from their debut album 'Moth', (due in June via Young & Lost Club) and released as a single next Monday, April 23rd.
Softly whispered male/female harmonies combine with instantly pleasing guitar melodies, shimmering in sun-soaked beauty, punctuated by purposeful drums, "This Love Will Lead You On" is the sort of track that made the likes of Teenage Fanclub and Pains of Being Pure at Heart household names, they might not be treading too much new ground with the vein of glistening, summer's day indie-pop but exlovers are on the right path to follow suit.
Early this week we were treated to the first sample of the long-awaited debut album by London indie-poppers Exlovers, "Starlight Starlight" is a superb introduction for those late on the scene, beautifully dreamy and warm, where honey-sweet boy/girl vocal harmonies meet gorgeous shimmering guitars glued together by forthright drums that combine to create an immediate and charming noise.
The album 'Moth' is schedule for Spring 2012. The band headline a London show at XOYO on December 16th - tickets
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.
Because I'm slow on the uptake sometimes the many mails I get don't receive the attention they should until a lot later in the day, therefore I've missed out on exlovers until now. The London based quintet with Boy/girl vocals and shimmering guitars epitomise the perfect mould for a sugar sweet indie-pop band, a match made in heaven for any Teenage Fanclub / Pains of Being Pure at Heart fan.
Combining gorgeous melodies, jangly guitar work and perfect harmonies the glorious "Blowing Kisses" is the groups fourth single and was released at the end of last month, I'd give a buy link for the physical 7" but it's sold out, download from iTunes.
See "You Forget So Easily" for another perfect gem and get a free download of Chris Izaak's Wicked Game below, rather lovely it is too.
