My Brightest Diamond (Shara Worden) has returned to my attention with a new video, an artistic video for a new track entitled 'The Sea' I've tried embedding it below but not sure it's worked, so head here if not. It's a subtle, eerie wonder, using the natural soundscapes of the ocean and water and combining them effortlessly with rich instrumentation.
Sadly I don't think it's an introduction to a third album, more over a track that Shara has contributed to a forthcoming poetry album.
What first introduced me to My Brightest Diamond was a Prince cover, to take on the little man (for me at least, and especially the song which Shara picked - Joy In Repetition) you've got to get it absolutely spot on otherwise it's going to be horrendous, thankfully it is not that, it's absolutely superb, Shara's ethereal voice that sends tingles down your spine.
I was introduced to Planningtorock through a facebook post of Gazelle Twin a few weeks back, it simply said 'Kudos' and linked to the video to the song "Doorway". A quick listen was enough to perk up significant interest and, for me at least, was a fitting introduction as the two acts certainly hail from the same school of dark mythology.
Planningtorock corroborated on one of last years sounds of tracks "Colouring of Pigeons" by The Knife, the same mixtures of atmospheric, deeply creepy and sinister vibe is present on "Doorway".
An album 'W' is due on the New York Based label DFA this May.
I hope you are ready for a bit 90's pop nostalgia, enter my new pop band crush, Pris. Named after one of the replicants in Blade Runner (Daryl Hannah - automatic brownie points there) Pris are on a mission to bring back the pop-punk sound of Kenickie and Shampoo. Ahead of the mundane sounds of Bieber / Take That / Ga Ga and the other landfill pop nonsense we are subjected to? Yes please. Add the odd sparkle of Shirley Manson arrogance and a cockney twanged Debbie Harry vocal and you've just met Pris.
The lyrics are catchy and sharp, the bedroom walls layered with Smash Hits posters inspired "Blue-Tack Baby" has a less than subtle dig at The Klaxons mid way through its infectious, appealing bubblegum pop choruses - you'll be singing this to yourself on the tube / bus / school-yard / prison-cell - basically this song is going to ingrain itself in your head. Thank me later...
"Icon on a Motorbike" on face value is a doo-wop, sugar sweet 60's girl group track with it's "la, la, la, la, la, la" choruses centred around, like many of Pris's demo's, a spunky attitude, love (well infatuation and sex) and lipstick.
"True Romance" is the most 'indie' track, rifftastic guitars and another catchy singalong melody. Clearly still in their infancy but this quartet from London (bloke on drums un-pictured) might just be what the pop world needs right now.
I've already seen some objections, the band supported The Manics last year and a certain section of their on-line fan base weren't too accepting of Pris's support slot, you know the type of people, the sort who'd shoot their own Mother before listening to another bands cover of a Radiohead song. I'm pretty sure Pris would give them a two-fingered salute because let's face it, this a whole lot more fun than being a fucking miserable so-and-so, so from one miserable fucker to another, let's have some fucking fun for a change.
Hand-picked to support current popular darlings (?) Mumford & Sons on their Highlands tour Rachel Sermanni is a name you might not have heard of yet, but you soon will. I'm pretty sure that the NME will soon be scampering after her and proclaiming "the new Laura Marling".
The young Scottish singer-songwriter is yet to release a CD but is destined for big things if the quality of her first songs and live tracks are anything to go by, of course the increased support high profile supporters bring won't harm those chances.
Rachel's tender voice sings with the same vulnerability of more classical piers such as Joni Mitchell, she's gifted with a beautiful and slightly kooky voice and a graceful, mature writing ability. All this, yet still in her teenage years - damn these talented kids hey!.
Listen to "Song For A Fox" via the video below, It simply is breathtaking:
After those Mumford support she plays a whole host of gigs at SXSW - dates here.
Husband and Wife duo The Parlour Suite managed to inject some sunshine into the prolonged grey days of North London last week, their vintage yet pretty songs gave me a fuzzy and warm feeling even if its been nothing but rain, clouds and wind outside.
They released an EP called 'Welcome to the Garden Party' (available on iTunes) last year, an apt title as it'd be perfect coming out of your stereo whilst hosting a BBQ with friends. Containing four original songs and a rather splendid cover of Nancy Sinatra's (made famous by its use in Kill Bill) Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).
Inga Roberts might not have the Hollywood credentials of Zooey Deschanel but her charming, country-tinged vocal on the nostalgic 60's vibe of lead off track "The Goldenhand" is equally on par with anything on either She & Him album. Twee indie-pop soundscapes, a blissfully catchy innocence and mood raising vives in this candy-sweet love song, perfect for that party playlist. "Up From Underground" might not inject the same summery shine, but it's just as lovely and accessible.
The title track and "Worth Your Weight in Gold" see Joel on lead vocal, his voice is has a more soulful twang but set alongside Inga's compliments it nicely (a duet on the next release perhaps?), providing a mellow and wistful tunes combined with the perfectly tuneful guitars and a gorgeous serenading chorus of "Oooh's" to close this delightful debut EP.
The duo are currently in the studio recording another release and getting ready to tour the US Pacific coast in April. Dates on their site.
I'm probably the second to last person on Earth to have listened to Lykke Li (there is always someone else!) but with her playing a free in-store performance at Rough Trade East and me being in London at the same time we collided, I wasn't sure what I'd get, or why I hadn't listened to her music before, I think my assumption was she was a pop act that I'd care not much for like 90% of the artists that make their way to number one in the Hype Machine chart, I was wrong.
The low-key, stripped back and short but sweet set was overwhelmingly brilliant, a three piece backing band providing an acoustic guitar, woozy keyboards and tinpot percussion added to the heart-wrenching vulnerability in Lykke's powerful voice meant a thoroughly enjoyable 25 minute set, a wise chance encounter.
Six songs from the newly released 'Wounded Rhymes' were played, lyrically much heavier and bleaker than I expected, exhibiting an honest, bruised emotion that was touchingly beautiful. In "I Know Places" and "Sadness is a Blessing" we hear a heart-broken Lykke sing with sincere emotional tenderness of a victim of unrequited love to "Get Some" (which provided the biggest cheers and dances of the evening) where she is at her most provocative and aggressive with it's lyrics "Like a shotgun needs an outcome / I’m your prostitute, you’re gonna get some", easily the most up-tempo and lively number heard on the set.
The voyeuristic themed "I Follow Rivers" use of kettle drumming, hand-clapping and exotic flavours provides a standout among an set of them.
I've been listening to the CD all day, it's an outstanding album, aside from those mentioned on the live review an early highlight is the albums closure "Silent My Song" which has a 60's girl group, with a vocal reminiscent of Dusty Springfield, if you haven't given it a spin listen to a few samples below // buy here. Normally I'd have got the vinyl but it was £27.99 !!! Not a chance! The album though deserves a solid 8.5 / 10 - maybe increasing on further listens.
An insight to the intimate feeling of the gig can be seen in this wonderful video from TLOBF (we had records not dinosaur bones though!):
