The Blog Sound of 2012

I was honoured to be asked to take part in this new alternative (and in no way an insult to) to the BBC's Sound of poll where a group of UK music bloggers have got together and each, individually pick five artists they tip for good things in 2012, the fifteen that received the most votes find themselves on the long-list below.
Exactly the same procedure as the BBC Sound list which was released today (hence the reason for this alternative list being posted today) - head to the Beeb site here to view thier complete list.

The Blog Sound of 2012 Long List ( in no particular order):

Houdini Dax - Facebook
Houdini Dax - The Trend

Lianne La Havas - Facebook
Lianne La Havas - Forget

Theme Park - Facebook
Milk by Theme Park

French Wives - Facebook
Numbers by French Wives

The Good Natured - Facebook
Video Voyeur by The Good Natured

Alt J - Facebook
Breezeblocks (demo) by alt-j

The Jezabels - Facebook
The Jezabels - Endless Summer

Lucy Rose - Facebook
Lucy Rose - Scar by Lucy Rose

Bastille - Facebook
FLAWS by BASTILLE

Rachel Sermanni - Facebook
Breathe Easy by Rachel Sermanni

Friends - Facebook
Friends - Friend Crush

Meursault - Facebook
Meursault - blindfolds

Daughter - Facebook
Daughter - Love

Beth Jeans Houghton - Facebook
Beth Jeans Houghton - Dodecahedron

Outfit - Facebook
Killer by OUTFIT

A brief analysis leads to evidence of a skewed voted towards alternative / folk music, probably due to the tastes of the blogs which took part. Just two of the blog sound list are on the BBC sound list (Lianne La Havas & Friends). I'll not reveal my exact five nominations, two of my picks are on the long-list (all five naturally are in my own 'Tips for 2012' post to follow next week - I'm posting my favourite albums of the year this week). I've linked to my posts for the artists I've previously posted (seven of the acts).and included a sample of a each of the acts, some I'm aware of and some that I'm not (I'm honest enough to admit I'd not so much as heard of Houdini Dax before I received the email with the long list).

The good thing about music is the rich variation in taste and long may that continue, this little blog will continue to do what it has been doing and post about the music that I like. Check out all of the acts above and who knows you might just find your new favourite act. A top five and winner will be announced in due course, again to coincide with the BBC list.

The following UK blogs took part in The Blog Sound of 2012:

Breaking More Waves, God Is In the TV, Sweeping The Nation, The Von Pip Musical Express, The Recommender, Faded Glamour, Drunken Werewolf, Flying With Anna, Not Many Experts, Underclassed Idle Ideas, Sonic Masala, Mudkiss, The Pop Cop, The Ring Master, Both Bars On, Music From A Green Window, Dots And Dashes, The Daily Growl, And Everyone's A DJ, Kowolskiy, Just Music That I Like, Cruel Rhythm, The Blue Walrus, Music Fans Mic, Seventeen Seconds, Eaten By Monsters, Seven Sevens, Unpeeled, New Rave Brain Wave, Peenko, Music Liberation and Song By Toad

Exlovers #2 - Starlight Starlight

Facebook / www.exlovers.co.uk

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

Starlight Starlight by Exlovers

Chelsea Wolfe #5 - Sunstorm

Facebook / chelseawolfe.net/

Early yesterday the phenomenal Chelsea Wolfe shared a brand new song and video "Sunstorm" as a thank you to fans who quickly contributed $1,000 to a kickstarter scheme for a broken van, there are no details to the origin of the track, I'm not sure if it's a new/old track but it sees a serious departure to the murky. fuzzed up 'doom-folk' displayed on 'Ἀποκάλυψις' and reminds me somewhat of fellow blog favourites Terror Bird.

Based around skeletal key strokes it sees Chelsea duetting with herself on a track more raw and stripped down than anything that her current incarnation has produced before, the results though equally heartfelt and beautiful as Chelsea's strong voice and the repetitive melody tell a harrowing story of a friends suicide.

Chelsea Wolfe remain on tour in the US till the 12th (dates). If I keep repeating this it might happen; UK dates are promised in 2012.


CHELSEA WOLFE "SUNSTORM" from TERROREYES.TV on Vimeo.

 If you haven't already make sure you have this in your music library, a stunningly powerful version of Nick Cave's "I Let Love In" (and of course pick up Chelsea's two LP's; both incredible pieces of work):

Chelsea Wolfe - "I Let Love In (Nick Cave cover)"

Caitlin Rose #20 - New Daytrotter Session

Facebook / thecaitlinrose.com/

Anybody who has found themselves visiting my blog over the past 18 months will probably know of my unrequited love for all things Caitlin Rose, I saw her around a dozen times over the course of the past year, her album 'Own Side Now' was my number one album of 2010, I've listened to her music and obscene number of times and I've written about her on here more times than is probably healthy...

News has slowed down recently as Caitlin moves towards the end of touring the debut record (though US dates for Feb have recently been announced and can be found here) but yesterday a wonderful new session recording turned up courtesy (again) of the wonderful folks at Daytrotter (and of course Caitlin and band - now incredibly tight and polished as a settled unit), you can download the complete session at now.

Starting with an stomping version of "Shanghai Cigarettes" and a slowed down "For The Rabbits" this is Caitlin's second session for Daytrotter, (her first was way back in 2010 and can be downloaded here) though what gets me most excited is to me a new track, alongside her cover of "Young Blood" which she's been playing for about a year now is a track entitled "I Was Cruel", a beautiful, aching ballad which highlights her exceptional talent and vocal range, I don't know if it's a cover or a new track, I think the latter because Google turned up a blank, but hearing her singing a new song makes my heart go a-flutter all over again, her voice just brings me goosebumps. Listen below:

Caitlin Rose - I Was Cruel (daytrotter session)

 Here's a video of "Spare Me" / brief interview, which again is new to me. Check out Jeremy's Slash impressions. Ha!:
Caitlin Rose - "Spare Me" - Le Loft Rooftop from DUKE STREET on Vimeo.

Embers - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook /embersembers.bandcamp.com/

Embers are a newly formed four piece from Manchester who create ambitious, cinematic indie-rock that is every bit as beautiful as it is melodic and dramatic. They shared three of their early demos via the usual methods last month and it's fair to say they display more than enough 'wow factor' to work bloggers (and A&R guys no doubt) like myself into quite the stupor.

Some quarters hate the use of the word epic yet I'm certainly using it here, the stunningly 'epic' "Days Turn into Weeks" starts patiently, with a strong piano melody (which repeats throughout) and fuzzy static and then gradually, steadily builds up with rumbling drums and layered sounds to grandiose crescendos of sweeping orchestration and soaring choruses, the very definition of epic, expansive brilliance if you ask me.

"Tunnel Vision" is even bigger, a fiery monster that's darker, more brooding and relentless, it sees colossal drum crashes, piercing fuzz and screeching guitars combine to create an intense wall of sound; utterly incredible stuff (and still only in demo form).

If Embers create and EP /album that follows the path of these tracks you can only envisage a future to match the scale of their songs, Robin at Breaking More Waves sums it up perfectly "Someone put this lot in a massive studio and give them the production and recording weight they deserve please".

I don't know if they've have been any live shows yet, I'm intrigued to hear one for sure, it will be interesting to see how the four boys manage to transfer the energy and weight of their recordings into a dark, dingy bar room somewhere (though perhaps arenas await).

Listen / Download below:

Tunnel Vision by e m b e r s
Days Turn Into Weeks by e m b e r s

Big Wave - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook / wearebigwave.bandcamp.com/

So, it's December again, it seems like yesterday when we were putting away our Christmas trees and throwing away leftover turkey dinners and now here we are on the run in to doing it all again. Though, of course if you've been listening to the advert makers you're probably sick of it already; seemingly starting before Halloween these days (or increasingly the music industry, the She & Him Christmas album was released in October!).

There were two options today (I start my tips for 2012 / top albums next week), I post Christmas songs or I post songs that make me think or summer, I've gone for the latter, although it's hardly been a bitter winter (yet) what better to cheer you up then some brand spanking new (and utterly gorgeous) tracks from an act who coincidently aren't too dissimilar in sound from the aforementioned She & Him.

Big Wave are a newly formed five piece from Torquay, famous for being the setting of Fawlty Towers and err the Babbacombe Model Village (me neither) and have clearly been enjoying their time in the baking English sunshine. "Wild Strawberries", the first track the band recorded is genuinely wonderful, an uplifting slice of dreamy indie pop, portraying all the ups and downs of young love over three minutes of sugar-sweet, doo-wop vocals, understated and accomplished guitars and rat a tat drums, pure and unadulterated pop that's a throwback to charming, playful tunes of the 50's and 60's.

"Another Year or Two" is similarly pretty as a flower, with effortless and whimsical melodies that are laid-back and provide nothing but a blissful, enjoyable listen. Want to keep St. Nick at bay a little longer? Well then Mr Scrooge, take a gander at this:

Wild Strawberries by wearebigwave
Another Year Or Two by wearebigwave


Big Wave - Another Year or Two from Big Wave on Vimeo.