The Night VI #4 - Wonderlust

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The last time I caught up with the London based sextet The Night VI it was to post a gorgeous, enchanting acoustic version of their soulful track "Sienna", they return with new single "Wonderlust", their third release, a driving, polished 80's power-pop anthem in waiting which will immediately have you bopping your head along in approval amongst its punchy rhythms and sprightly synths, there's even room for an emphatic guitar solo half-way through.

Yet again, the production is flawless, crisp and clear throughout it only adds to the smooth flow of the song, full of electricity and energy, its a joy from start to finish.

The Night VI have quickly put together a group of tracks capable of sending shivers up your spine or making you smile with pleasure every time you hear them, they deserve to be one of 2014's break-out acts.

The band play a show I cannot make :( next Wednesday, June 18th at London's Oslo - details.

The Cadbury Sisters #2 - Fire

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Earlier this week saw the release of the second track from the forthcoming Close by Bristol trio The Cadbury Sisters, due out next week via Fear of Fiction "Fire" is the closing song from the five track EP and bookends the previously released "Milk", a track it perhaps surpasses it in terms of soul searching intimacy and slow-release emotion.

It was the last track played when I saw the band at The Great Escape last month, building gradually from a beautiful, sparse opening with a ringing guitar the sole accompaniment to the sister's blissfully pure voices before exploding amongst a cacophony of fuzzed-up noise that sounds like an expressive release of anger a the tracks subject before closing on the leading line of "all I ask is patience"...

If you are reading this and in need of something to do tonight, you couldn't do much worse than heading to The Islington to see the girls live... At worst you can listen to "Fire" below:

Lisa Alma - Oh Darling, Let’s Be Adventurers

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This song. Instant love. Honestly it goes straight into my top five tracks of the year. Thanks to Ja Ja Ja Music for the introduction to Lisa Alma, a Danish electro/dream pop artist who released her EP Oh Darling, Let’s Be Adventurers back in February via Ikaros.

The song, "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.

The rest of the EP is likewise intoxicating, "Oh Darling" purrs like the softer side of Metric's Synthetica LP, a fragile but sparkling melody full of catchy hooks, rhythmic beats and crystal clean production with "When I Knew" fluttering in equally heavenly plains, an effortless marriage of dream-inducing synths, soul vocals and melancholy, you've possibly got the idea already but I'm spellbound.

Oh Darling, Let’s Be Adventurers is available now via iTunes and with it comes the discovery of an album released last year... Christmas has come six months early.

Aldous Harding #2 - Hunter

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Aldous Harding is a New Zealand singer-songwriter whom I 'introduced' here a couple of months back after a recommendation came to me from fellow Kiwi's French For Rabbits (who I've since had the pleasure of meeting and seeing live). Yet besides a blossoming reputation in her native country you'd probably be forgiven for not having heard Aldous (real name Hannah) before, however in the infamous words of Lemar, if there's any justice, that will surely soon change (and I'm here to do my small part)...

"Hunter" is taken from Aldous' self-titled debut album (which is available to download / purchase now via Lyttleton Records - a decision you will not regret) and now comes backed with a rather fittingly chilly, brooding video. The track is the sumptuous feast of rich musical landscape and fragile, haunting vocals from the get-go, Aldous blends a style not dissimilar from Joanna Newsom with touches of Joni Mitchell, with subtle, weaving melody and intriguing lyrics full of lovely imagery and extraordinary beauty carrying off to places warm and brilliant. It's just a shame you have to get on with your real life after. Listen below and share with your friends, here's a talent that can't stay hidden for long.

Polly Scattergood - Miss You

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Something I continually mention here is that there is more music available than I, as one person, can ever listen to, Polly Scattergood is one such example of an artist I should have heard sooner... Although I was aware of her name from a release a good few years ago, her second album Arrows was released at the end of 2013 and I subsequently missed that altogether too.

I come to Ms Scattergood mid-way through 2014 thanks to the video to her track "Miss You" which I pressed play on by chance after watching another video on a well known video site. The song wasn't at all what I was expecting (I was expecting electro-pop, which from a listen to some more tracks the album certainly could be, a glossy, dance-floor ready sheen is certainly in evidence on recent single "Subsquently Yours"). I'm going to focus on "Miss You" now though (and do some further investigation after)...

"Miss You" is a plaintive piano led ballad that is simply devastating, a wordy, deeply intimate track delivered by a voice that is seemingly teetering on the verge of tears, I can imagine it was difficult to record both track and the video, delivered with piercing wide-eyed stares and brooding intensity. The result, however, makes it all worth while, a shiver inducing beauty.

Arrows is out now.

Acre Tarn - New Music "Introducing"

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Manchester based duo Acre Tarn (nope, no idea) arrive with the their debut track, the Fever Ray inspired "This Once".

A carefully measured combination of dark, minimalist synth-pop and slow, breathy vocals which morphs from slow, seduction to distorted highs, hypnotic beats, siren like beauty and a propulsive heart-beat. It's what all electronic music should aspire to (in my opinion of course).

Acre Tarn make their live debut next week supporting Alpines in their hometown of choice, I'll be looking out for reviews with interest.