Thursday, 11 August 2011

Wednesday, 10 August 2011

Shufflin'


BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB returned last month with their exciting new single 'Shuffle' from their upcoming third album 'A Different Kind Of Fix'.

People didn't know which direction they'd take next since the first album 'I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose' was purely electric, pumping out tune after tune from popularly loved 'Always Like This' to my personal favourite 'What If'. Following up from their debut was 'Flaws', taken in the opposite direction being completely acoustic. Jack Steadman continued to still write beautiful lyrics and put together with the music, the tracks on there are so wonderful to listen to over and over again.

Where could they possibly go next? Electronic and dancey? Oh no no. 'Shuffle' may make you want to dance, but the only electronic element is the keyboard used mainly at the beginning and continuing in the background throughout. There's something so subtly summer-y and something so catchy about this track. The rhythms are upbeat and the melodies are exciting and vibrant. Lucy Rose provides a beautiful accompaniment to Jack Steadmans vocals, making 'Shuffle' sound even more marvelous. This is such a wonderful insight into where Bombay are heading with this album and what to look forward to when it comes out August 29th.

Feast your eyes and ears on this:


Monday, 1 August 2011

WEIRD things


LONE, recently known for his remix of Friendly Fires first single 'Live Those Days Tonight' from their new album Pala and his remix of Radiohead track 'Feral', has become a new favourite artist of mine. Hailing from Nottingham and having launched his own label 'Magic Wire', he consistantly creates a fresh post-hip hop, sun-kissed, chilled disco vibe like shown from his Echolocations EP and, my favourite album lately, Emerald Fantasy Tracks. I just can't get enough.

Even better when you find out about fresh new track 'All Those Weird Things'. Starting off as some crazy playful disco with some lush abstract melodies, Lone adds an average pulsating beat in the background, creating something vibrant and musically abstract with the conventions of a stereotypical beat driven dance track. Upbeat and uplifting, fresh and different. It has repetitive elements which are subtly catchy. A cowbell in the background starts off more new sounds that are being added as the song goes on. The beat momentarily leaves and a vocal sample comes in, something quite unexpected. Once the beat kicks back in, the song itself gets exciting, as if it's building up and it is. The melody fades out and just leaves the cowbell and beat to end the song which is something I most definitely adore about this since the melody it started with is the first thing to fade out.

LONE plays around with rich melodies and rhythms, making such an exciting, energetic and bubbly disco/dance track.






Lone "All those weird things" (clip)

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

BIG


So everyone who's anyone knows how crazily catching and marvelous FRIENDLY FIRES first track that leaked back in March from their eagarly anticipated album 'Pala' is. 'Live Those Days Tonight' is fresh and the Lone remix of it is even fresher. Such a strong track that brings in even more of a laidback disco feel to it sounding like the perfect remix of a perfect song to hear out and about.

You can listen to it on Hype Machine here:
Friendly Fires - Live Those Days Tonight (Lone Remix)

Sunday, 27 March 2011

double day post


THOSE DANCING DAYS. No wrong word to say about them. Their first album 'In Our Space Suits' was spectacular and their recently released follow up album 'Daydreams & Nightmares' is beyond that. I never knew there could be a band where every song on every album I adore. 'I know where you live pt 2' is definitely the strongest track on 'Daydreams & Nightmares', with some insanely speedy hi-hat and plenty of infectious drum beats throughout the song. Their singing in unison tops it off perfectly for me. Their second album is definitely my favourite of 2011 so far.
I long to be in a band like Those Dancing Days:

look look



Lovin' the seagulls on dodgem's. Want the keyboard Joseph Mount is playing. Well nice.

Friday, 25 March 2011

friendly obsession


I think I may be in love with FRIENDLY FIRES. They've gotten me into disco house, their live shows are the best I've ever witnessed and they put a cheesy smile on my face. They've influenced my life (extreme I know) and I think music would definitely not be the same without some friendly fresh summer vibes and some firey samba creeping about.

They've finally dropped a track-listing and a release date for new album 'Pala' which sports a wonderful multi-coloured parrot on, with it, of course, relating to the 1962 book 'Island' by Aldous Huxley, which feature parrots that give uplifting messages like 'live for the here and now'. Of course I heard this in an interview with Ed that I happened to read, but it sounds like a thrilling novel. This longly anticipated album is out May 16th with it already up for pre-order for the eager beavers out there. It consists of 11 songs with super summer vibes I can imagine:

1. Live Those Days Tonight
2. Blue Cassette
3. Running Away
4. Hawaiian Air
5. Hurting
6. Pala
7. Show Me Lights
8. True Love
9. Pull Me Back To Earth
10. Chimes
11. Helpless

Their new single 'Live Those Days Tonight' has already had first play on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show as 'hottest single in the world right now' and got many loyal fans (who remember Friendly Fires do exist after a year or two out of the lime-light) to sit there, glued to the radio, filled with such excitement and curiosity. It starts. The opening brings in a faint piano followed by those quiet but recognisable samba tambourines in the background (that are also featured in previous single from back in 2009, 'Kiss Of Life'). It then just jumps straight into what we've all been waiting for. Those sweet, subtly romantic lyrics that Ed Macfarlane always seems to succeed at writing. This time telling 'don't hold back' and basically saying live in the moment and 'live those days tonight'. The guitar, melodies and rhythms together create such a kick, such a sensation running through to your hips that you just cannot resist moving about. Friendly Fires have definitely matured, you can tell that in the music and the lyrics. The vocals are strong and work perfectly together with the song itself. Everything about this 5 minute track makes me want more, makes me want Pala right now.

When Friendly Fires are back, we know summer's here.

Wednesday, 2 March 2011

GLASTONBURY 2011


Glastonbury have announced 14 new acts to the line-up which will join U2, Beyonce and Coldplay on the weekend of 24-26th June.

- Anna Calvi
- BB King
- Big Boi
- The Chemical Brothers
- Crystal Castles
- Friendly Fires
- Fleet Foxes
- Gruff Rhys
- James Blake
- Janelle Monae
- Mumford & Sons
- Primal Scream
- Warpaint

Laura Marling was mysteriously removed, however hopefully it still means she's playing. Fingers crossed anyways.

All I have to say really is; BRING ON JUNE.

Thursday, 20 January 2011

HYPEHYPEgoodHYPE

So my wonderful friend Ayesha made this animated gif for me and it's perhaps the best thing I have ever set eyes on. So you should take a gander of it in motion and peruse around her tumblr, you're bound to find numerous amounts of treats:
Graffiti Lips Tumblr.
...and her blog too? Yeah, why not. It's good, so good that I wish I could eat her reviews for breakfast. Trust:
Graffiti Lips Blog.

good hype over.

Sunday, 16 January 2011

albums galore


2010 threw some good tracks at me, a good handful of albums but 2011, I want more and I know I'll get more this year. From what I've heard around ze internet and thanks to NME it seems like there will be so much more than a handful to listen to; maybe even 2 handfuls, or 3! It sounds like pretty much most of the interesting bands are coming back this year. I look forward to so many of these:

- White Lies
- Funeral Party
- Frankie & The Heartstrings
- The Vaccines
- Wild Beasts
- Bombay Bicycle Club
- Those Dancing Days
- Friendly Fires
- The Maccabees
- Lykke Li
- The Horrors
- The Strokes
- Arctic Monkeys
- The Chapman Family
- Metronomy


I hope they'll leave me hanging on, wanting more and not wanting to just turn it off. My faith in the music industry hasn't completely gone after an average year for albums in 2010.

Saturday, 8 January 2011

KAbeeeeeedies

2

5 reasons to listen to The Kabeedies:
1. They never fail to put a big grin on your face and bring out the inner youngster in you.
2. They could have you pulling shapes you never knew you could.
3. Perhaps the loveliest bunch of people you'll ever meet.
4. You can't tell me you're not completely hooked after listening, cause you will be.
5. They might just brighten up your day.
6. If they didnt, then you're lying.

You won't be disappointed, promise;
http://www.myspace.com/thekabeedies

Saturday, 1 January 2011

new

This new years resolution will not be broken, not at all. It's not so much of a new years resolution, not on the lines of cutting back or doing more. So 2011, let's grow my hair long again; long and red like Florence & The Machine: