The Great Wilderness #3 - Hexagon

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I'm a little late to this, hardly a surprise there. Costa Rica's The Great Wilderness released their latest single "Hexagon" earlier this month, the second track taken from their forthcoming debut LP and is currently available as a free download via Bandcamp. The album is said to follow on November 15th and is definitely one to look out for as this and earlier single, the title-track "In The Hour Of The Wolf" testify.

"Hexagon" starts as it means to continue with ominous percussion and swirling guitar echoes creating a compelling tapestry of the darkened world that's perfectly in keeping with today's date - Hallow's Eve - slowly and surely it builds in intensity around grizzly vocals and tour de force riffs to commanding peaks which shiver with mysterious power. That's what you call a statement of intent - I'm off to hide under my bed.

Warpaint #8 - Love Is To Die

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It seems like we've been waiting a long time for this one. New Warpaint. The last couple of years I've only featured the quartet to say 'go and see them here' or 'it was great'. Now finally, they are back, following 2010's The Fool with a new track "Love Is To Die", shared whilst I was up in North Wales for a wet and windy half-term break. I'm instantly propelled to join the masses writing about it...

It's the first track taken from their forthcoming second record, imaginatively titled Warpaint and it ties everything people have grown to love about the band with glimpses of a more electronic sound highlighted at a recent show at the End of the Road Festival (I'm also seeing the girls tonight in Brixton with Pins supporting - whooop!).

"Love Is To Die" entwines a misty, slowly built melody of glacial guitars, hypnotic bass and enthralling beats with Theresa's lead vocals and typically glorious backing harmonies. Swirling and drifting around the repeated chorus of "Love is to die, love is not to die, love is dance" it slowly but surely pulls you in with a subtle, mysterious charm and commands you to press repeat. I'm not the only one with extremely high hopes for the album and this is just the start needed to hit them.

Warpaint is released on Janaury 20th 2014 and if you order the double LP quickly it comes with a free signed poster - full details.

Basia Bulat #2 - It Can't Be You / Wires

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I didn't take French at school past GSCE (I did Spanish) so apart from the 'Bonjour' and the introductory 'Je m'appelle...' part I haven't the faintest idea what Basia Bulat is saying in the interview that accompanies (and in places overlaps with, much to my annoyance) an absolutely exquisite live version of one of my favourite tracks from her recent album Tall Tall Shadow "It Can't Be You".

It proves you don't need to be fancy to mesmerise, there's little here apart from a lovely Basia's beautiful, heart-stirring voice and intricate ukulele patterns and I'm left with goosebumps. I've also included an equally memorable session for La Blogotheque, which features two more tracks from the album "City With No Rivers" and "Wires", the latter is to be Basia's next single, here its delicate and stripped back and you can feel the intimacy and emotion within the track. Such a gorgeous video which makes me glad to be such a lover of music.

The album version of "Wires" bristles with life and a rich, rousing melody, where guitar, organ and an instrument I couldn't possibly name propel the track with a sense of freedom and fun - it's great to see musicians with a smile on their face and I think Basia has one on just about every video of hers I've seen - you can sense that enjoyment throughout here. I'll do my 25 favourite albums of the year posts some time in early December as per usual - I've not really thought too much about it yet - but saying that, here's an album obviously on the shortlist.

I missed Basia's gig in London last week - I hope she returns soon - I promise I won't make the same mistake again!

Hella Better Dancer #5 - Sleeptalking

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Writing this blog has led to some great life rewards for me over the years, promoting gigs with acts that I've written about and releasing records likewise with my little label Beautiful Strange. Today sees a new chapter written...

Hella Better Dancer were featured here first back in May 2011 before I'd seen the London quartet play live or had ever spoken to them, simply one of the organic finds that make writing a music blog so rewarding for a music addict like myself. Since, I've seen HBD play on a good few occasions, the band played at the first ever gig I promoted (and then returned for another gig), I bumped into Tilly and Soph about 20 times during this years Great Escape festival and now, the band are releasing their new, incredible, single "Sleeptalking" through my little label of love.

I'm not down with self-promotion too much, check out the archive of my HBD posts for the praise I gave the band before I had a vested interest to see I really bloody dig this band but I'm not lying when I say that Sleeptalking is their best release yet. Listen to that bass-line and the guitar riffs and the beats and the harmonies - yes - it is bloody great.

The track comes out digitally today (grab it via soundcloud below) and on a super limited vinyl release (of just 100 copies) on November 11th. Each copy comes with a risograph print of the lyrics and stickers of the artwork too. The flip side is a super sweet acoustic take of "Sleep".

If you'd like to (self promotion alert) you can pre-order one from the Beautiful Strange Bandcamp or the band too.

Tina Refsnes #2 - Alaska

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I first posted about Oslo based singer-songwriter Tina Refsnes back in May with her debut single "A Million Things". She returns with this absolutely beautiful new track called "Alaska" that will have you holding back the tears.

A simple, mournful lament accompanied by a live acoustic video that will bring out all manner of heartfelt emotion over its course. It sounds as human as any track I've heard in recent time as it aches and soothes with a pure, longing quality. The sort of track you'll be playing on repeat all afternoon whilst drinking a warming drink and reflecting on whatever it maybe.

I've also included a live version of the aforementioned "A Million Things" below, played by a river with nothing more than a lone acoustic, Tina's voice and the perfect backdrop for company. Her natural voice floats with loveliest, haunting sound and is just gorgeous. You can thank me (and Tina of course) for making your Sunday all the better after.

Natasha Miren - New Music "Introducing"

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My inbox has produced some gems this week and here's another, Natasha Miren, a London based singer songwriter who has just put two cracking tracks onto her Soundcloud. These are the first tracks from this solo incarnation but a quick Google search finds Natasha's previous project Erin K & Tash received such glowing endorsements as Guardian's 'new band of the day', I can definitely say I'm liking this new style more...

"Scarlet" immediately perked up my interest (as it should do yours too), a fresh guitar led pop beauty which shimmers around upbeat textures propelled by some lovely percussion with Natasha's glorious voice resonating above it all, soft and delicious, it can no nothing but make your day that little bit brighter. That's part of the reason that music is here after-all.

The other track available is "Overdose", a darker, more brooding track which starts with intricate guitar patterns soon hushed in the background with Natasha's devastating vocal delivery pushed firmly to the front of the mix. Soon piano, subtle beats and strings join in and the track becomes even more beautiful, reflective and intimate. The email promises 'there'll be lots more to come' - I can't wait.