love, ire, then song

Foals - Total Life Forever

2010-05-10T17:17:00.006+01:00

When you say 'Oxford' to someone, you instantaneously think three things; Radiohead, universities and snobs. Soon, Foals will be one of the first things you think of. They're beginning to become one of the most influential bands of the last decade, and thanks to debut album 'Antidotes' sealing Foals as one of dance-punk-math-rock heroes, it was always going to be a hard task with the follow up album. What is it they call it? Oh yes, 'second album syndrome'. Luckily, Foals must have taken the jab for that particular illness... 'Total Life Forever' is a cracker.

Opening song 'Blue Blood' - and same goes with 'Alabaster' and '2 Trees' - gives you a whole new view on vocalist Yannis Phillapakis. His voice is vulnerable, heartbreaking, emotional and shaky - things we never really had the chance to hear before in any of the songs on 'Antidotes', suggesting that Foals have both grown up lyrically and musically.

When it comes to songs like 'Miami', 'Black Gold', 'This Orient' and 'Total Life Forever', however, you can see the old Foals peeking through, with the usual enormous catchy choruses and enough funk to make you stand up wherever you are and dance like there's no tomorrow...

'Spanish Sahara' is a completely different matter. It utterly mauls your mind, body and soul. The sluggish, almost silent start with Yannis' voice in it's purest form, then with a sprinkle of Jack Bevans tinkley drumming, added with a toss of gentle guitar; all of this leads up to a chemical reaction of a chorus... it erupts into your ears. And with appropriate lyrics like: "I'm the ghost in the back of your head", you can do nothing but agree. 'Spanish Sahara' is the stand out song of the album; prepare to be haunted.

Thank God for song 'Fugue'. It's the 49 second, well needed breather that comes half way through the album; 'What Remains' is like old Foals tune 'Tron' hit round the face by puberty; 'After Glow' is heartbreakingly vulnerable and contains the lyric: "you were better than whatever came before". 'Total Life Forever' on the whole is clearly better than whatever came before.

And so, the pure emotional intensity of this album makes it irresistible. Admittedly, you might not completely understand it upon first listening, but give it a chance and it just might be your album of 2010.

I'm ruining my blog with this rambling

2010-04-26T20:48:00.006+01:00

Upon sitting and watching the sunset this evening, a fag in hand and acoustic Ellie Goulding in my ear, I realised something. I realised that sometimes music is the perfect remedy. It serves you in many, many ways. One being that it effects your emotions in unimaginable ways.

Listening to Ellie's cover of the Midlake song 'Roscoe', the combination of the beautiful lyrics and the sweet, shaky, emotional tone of Ellie's voice made me start to feel sorry for myself -something I completely hate doing. It made me reminisce about things I thought I'd forgotten about; brought up what I thought were old, long gone emotions. Clearly not. At the back of the human mind there must be a filter; filtering out the things you want to forget, but you probably shouldn't. The things that made you beyond happy at the time, and now knowing that those feelings don't currently exist... it opens you up and makes you vulnerable again.

Me being the hard, independent, 'strong', fuck off person that I appear to be, music changes that completely. It can smack you round the face and make you have realisations, hit you deep at the core of your heart and tear it into pieces.

Sitting in a baggy ex-boyfriends shirt, smoking my 4th cig in 30 minutes, wielding a slightly broken heart and listening to Ellie Goulding can do strange things to the most stable of people.

Music; it has the weirdest ability to fuck you up for a few minutes.

Harlem; what hippies.

2010-04-21T18:55:00.008+01:00

Press play, close your eyes and listen to this. Then continue reading once you've done so...

...Whilst listening to this, did you feel like you'd been transported straight back to the 60's, rolling around in a grassy field sporting a home made tie-dye t-shirt and smokin' a joint? Yeah, same.

Ironically, this Austin trio's new album - available 4th June - is called 'Hippies.' One can only wonder why...

Harlem should brace themselves for obvious comparisons to bands such as Black Lips; the difference being that Harlem have the great ability to create a catchy, sing-a-long song.

Having not heard anything from this band since 2008 with their debut 'Free Drugs', it's great to know that this album will be available in time for it to be your summer 2010 anthem. Which it undoubtedly will be.

A pointless article about how feminine voices are back in fashion.

2010-03-05T00:09:00.002Z

Oh were the times when all that was on the stereos were the screeching - yet extremely appealing - voices of Prince and David Bowie. There's no denying that they had high voices; it's like they had helium continuously pumped into their voicebox as they sang. We loved it. They are now two of the biggest pop, ahem, kings of our time.

In the 70's and 80's, it was all about the deep, brooding voices of Ian Curtis and Dave Gahan and the like. Yes, there's no denying that they're two of the most influencial frontmen of those couple of decades. One of the more commercially succesful alt. bands of our time - Editors - have practically stolen the sound of Joy Division. As have Interpol... and obviously Dave Gahans Depeche Mode practically invented the synthy sounds that we hear of (too much, in my opinion) these days.

We've got Orlando Weeks of The Maccabees, Dougy Mandagi of Temper Trap, Hayden Thorpe of Wild Beasts and don't even get me started on the fabulous Everything Everything... they all have got ridiculous vocal abilities which lead me to thinking that they infact, have vaginas. Not that I'm criticising that fact, I embrace it with open arms.

That's all I have to say on the matter, really. A pointless article? Perhaps.

Foals - Spanish Sahara

2010-03-03T20:12:00.006Z

The Oxford lads are back with this cracker. Lead singer Yannis' voice starts you off, then gentle guitars and tingling cymbals start getting tangled into the song, making your heart race then BAM! Near silence again, and back to where we started, with Yannis' calming, lovely voice, then the gentle guitars.... all this leads into a corker of a chorus towards the end.

"I'm the fury in your head, I'm the fury in your bed, I'm the ghost in the back of your head"

Yannis, with a haunting voice like that, you're not lying, are you?

Much anticipated second album 'Total Life Forever' is out on May 10th, and the boys are giving away a free Mount Kimble remix of 'Spanish Sahara' via their website.

Maccabees @ The Regal, Oxford, 3/2/10

2010-02-04T20:58:00.009Z

It's a cold, extremely chilly night (as you more than likely gather) in Oxford, and despite this fact, inappropriately dressed indie kids flock to The Regal 3 hours before the doors open. Orlando Weeks teases, casually walking up and down the queue every 10 minutes, just to get a few "LOOK, IT'S ORLANDO"'s from screaming girls.

Upon meeting Orlando beforehand, he told me that he was extremely excited about support band Wilder, whom have just been Julian Casablancas' opening act on his most recent tour. As soon as they walk on stage, you get the feeling that they're nothing new - guy with nerd glasses, testicle-crunching skinny jeans and vintage boots up front, a messy looking rocker chick on drums, and a pigtailed(?) boy looking equally as cool on synth. Then ruining it all, just your average looking bassist. 80's synth-pop wannabe's, perhaps? For once, first impressions couldn't be more wrong. Set-opener 'TBT' launches with a tense, drum-infused intro in which you just want to hear more - much more. These timid Bristolians then introduce themselves, not very loudly, infact, as it causes the crowd to shout in time "SORRY WHAT WAS THAT? WE FUCKING LIKE YOU, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?" followed by Joe, lead singer, repeating himself with a pleased smile. 'Run Jack Run' ends the set, to a much appeased crowd.

The crowd being full of cool, hipster types, you don't really expect there to be much movement when The Maccabees open up their set with 'William Powers', just the odd head bopper and nod in satisfaction every now and then to eachother. Wrong - again. The crowd go fucking mental, and it's clear to see that Maccabees have some die hard fans upon them. It especially goes crazy when sing-a-long 'Precious Time' comes about, 6 songs into set. 500 people shouting 'LET'S. TAKE. OUR. PRECIOUS. TIME. ABOUT IT' is bound to give you tingles, and you can certainly tell it's affecting guitarist Felix White. He has a Cheshire cat grin on him pretty much throughout the whole set, the grin not just set on his face, but on everyone else's too. 'Young Lions', through to the almost operatic 'Can You Give It?' leaves everyone breathless, so it's perfectly timed for a bit of 'Toothpaste Kisses.' The singletons of the world generally hate this song live, especially as when you turn around and see a couple snogging each other's faces off, right in your face, it's bound to make you a bit depressed. Nevertheless, the soothing, acoustic, lovey dovey sing-a-long is well needed breather, but then it takes your breath away once more, through it being pure, raw and beautiful. Another fan's favourite 'First Love' straight after, then 'No Kind Words' up last, and the extremely unself-conscious Orlando starts tap dancing his way around the stage, and as it ends, pretty much tap dances straight off. Time for the annoying part of a gig - the encore. Turns out it was worth it this time though, as The Maccabees treat Oxford to something they've never done before to anybody else - a cover of Orange Juice's hit 'Rip It Up.' You know it's good when a cover version is a hundred times fucking better than the original. Last song of the night is 'Love You Better', and Orlando mysteriously eyes up a few of the crowd, a mischievous glint in his eye... shove, shove, shove in the crowd, and suddenly 2 lads are up on stage with the band, one nearly knocking poor Felix on to his arse. Bedlam occurs with security, one eyeing up the other, wondering who to blame for this mishap, and then the boys are positively rugby tackled onto the ground and off-stage, followed by supportive cheers from the crowd.

And so, this was the NME Awards Tour warm up gig for the boys, and in this cold snap where we're all wrapped up in scarves, gloves and clutching a hot water bottle 24/7, a cup of tea doesn't compare to being warmed up by The Maccabees. Nowhere near so.

My own personal tips for 2010! No, my opinion doesn't really matter, but yes, I'm entitled to give it.

2010-01-05T18:45:00.007Z

I feel like giving you all (6 followers and a few cool readers) my very own tips for 2010. It's gonna be a cracker, I reckon...

Local Natives

This five-piece American band are simply an urban version of Fleet Foxes, and are very much on their way to achieving the same success as the Fleet. The opening song to their debut album 'Gorilla Manor' is 'Wide Eyes', my personal favourite, although it confuses slightly. I simply cannot decide whether I want to revel in it's beauty and let it slowly drift me off to sleep, or whether I want to stand up and dance around the room and appreciate it's trippyness. I'd be quite happy doing either. The other stand out song that I care to mention is 'Camera Talk', a string-and-percussion happy number, with an extremely catchy chorus.

>LISTEN<

Everything Everything

I've been a fan of these since I heard them on Zane Lowe's show a few months ago, with their debut 'Photoshop Handsome'. Very much appreciated in the blogosphere and in the "Oh, look at me, I'm so indie and cool because I know this band that have totally fucking weirdo lyrics" world. Yes, incase you were wondering, they do have extremely er, odd lyrics; "Foxhound frolic on the abattoir floor, up in heaven it's symmetrical," is just an example. Yes, weird to say the least. But song 'MY KZ, UR BF' is so amazing that it makes my heart skip a beat nearly more than my own boyfriend did. Sad, yet true.

>LISTEN<

And now, for some quickies:

Frankie and the Heartstrings

Just read my previous blog on this band, sums them up. Watch the new video for 'Fragile' and listen to the plain grooooovy 'Hunger'

Fenech-Soler

Fabulous, synth savvy, indie-electro. 'Lies' - an anthemic indie floorfiller.

Two Door Cinema Club

Painfully cool Kitsuné signed band, with some epic choruses and catchy indie beats. Listen to either, or both, if you're feeling particularly awesome, tunes 'I Can Talk' and 'Undercover Martyn'

Delphic

Slightly controversial, yet I think, perfect electro-pop. Listen to new song 'Doubt'

The Drums

Anybody who knows anything about new music has heard of this Brooklyn based band. The Drums are what would've happened if The Cure ever took the surf-pop route. Watch the new video for 'I Felt Stupid'

The Cheek

Formerly known as the charmingly named Cheeky Cheeky and the Nosebleeds, these guys have certainly matured since then, and have risen with some gloriously deep tunes. Listen to 'Hung Up'

And that's about it. But keep your eyes peeled for the BBC Sound of 2010 shortlist, so far The Drums are in 5th, and Hurts in 4th. They always seem to predict the future painstakingly perfectly. Roll on 2010, it's set out to be a bloody good one.

No 'Doubt' that Delphic are brilliant.

2009-12-22T19:33:00.004Z

Delphic are currently splitting opinions. Whilst some think they are the next best indie-electro band since Klaxons, others are saying they're predictable, boring and wannabes.

Seeing as reviews are all about opinion, I'm going to give mine straight. I think they're bloody fantastic.

New single 'Doubt' is a slight progression from debut 'Counterpoint'. Annoying overlapping, monotonous voices start off the song, but as soon as the chorus kicks in, you're hooked. It's anthemic and extremely catchy. What else does a chorus have to do, other than that? The video ain't half bad, neither.

It sounds a lot more mature on the new single, and a bit more thought has gone into how it can become more commercial. Considering this band are on the BBC Sound of 2010 poll, I think next year is going to be a massive year for Delphic. They're touring, album out mid-January and this time next year, everyone is going to know about them.

Listen to it >here<

I'd eat Late of the Pier's 'Blueberry' muffin.

2009-12-09T18:38:00.005Z

Late of the Pier are finally back! Aren't we all glad to have them around again? Don't all shout at once, kids...

'Blueberry', at first, seems typical LOTP style; overlapped instrumental craziness. There's a certain Big Pink feel to the first 36 seconds, to be precise... Then the voice of Sam Eastgate is introduced. Both beautiful and haunting, it's not too often we get to hear his voice so untouched and angelic without the sound of absolute insanity overpowering. There's going to be plenty of David Bowie comparisons, that's for sure.

Synth heavy and really quite appealing, this will no doubt become an indie anthem rather soon.

If this song really were a foodstuff in the form of a blueberry, I'd happily suckle it dry.

Listen to it >here<

Zane Lowe - bit of a hero, I'd say

2009-12-08T12:56:00.003Z

Not only has this New Zealand born DJ opened my ears to beautiful music over the past year or so through his Radio 1 show, but he also presents what is, in my eyes, the best, and most entertaining, music programme on TV - Gonzo.

I am happy to spread my passion for men in music, as seen before with Frank Turner and the like, but it's almost too hard for me to express my feelings for Zane. Wow, I sound like a fucking pervert, but seriously, he's a big influence on me.

It's great how he isn't a one genre man... he spreads the word of all. From British hip-hop to house, from dubstep to the best in new alternative music, there's no doubting he's a rather respected figure in music. Most DJ's nowadays stick to one genre - Huw Stevens and his indie, Annie Mac and her dance... I understand that's the way it is, but I reckon we need more open-minded DJ's like Zane.

And just to top it all off, once upon a time he saved Ryan Jarmans life at the NME awards all the way back in 2006. Imagine life without The Cribs in it? Nah, me either. If Zane hadn't of raised the alarm that Ryan was lying in a corridor bleeding like a fuckwit, that would of meant I wouldn't of met Ryan himself earlier this year, and wow, that'd be an utter travesty.

BBC Radio has got some great shows. I reckon most people think of BBC Radio as a 'mainstream pop with the occasional bit of indie-wankerness' type of radio station, but switch over to BBC 6 Music's Steve Lamacq show on at about 4 or 5 in the evening, and feel your ears melt in a flurry of orgasmic music, and of course, Zane Lowe's show at 7 on Radio 1.

I am now bored of my own BBC related rambling, therefore will end this with blog with a full stop. As you do.

BBC Sound of 2010

2009-12-07T21:40:00.003Z

Once again, it's time.

Last year, Little Boots was the winner. Boy, she's done rather bloody well this year, hasn't she? It seems the bigwigs that decide the longlist for the BBC Sound of 2010 are mighty fine talent spotters. Fortunately, I'm feeling pretty musically intelligent right now for knowing (and loving) half of the bands on the list. You can see the full longlist >here<, but I'll just have a quick ramble about a few of the bands...

First up, The Drums. Well, they're probably the only band about at the moment that is truly living up to the hype. NME really shags the arse off of them. As do I. Their 'Summertime!' EP suggests that we have a 21st century Cure on our hands...

Delphic - electronic rock at it's best. Single 'Counterpoint' is really rather orgasmic. Friendly Fires-esque loveliness with high appeal.

Two Door Cinema Club - I'm a really big fan of these at the moment. Touring with The Wombats last year, they bring a new, refreshing twist to the currently dead indie-pop scene. Listen to new single 'I Can Talk'.

And now, Ellie Goulding. Whether you recognize the name or not, I can guarantee that you've heard her debut 'Under the Sheets' at some point recently - electro-pop with an unbearably catchy chorus. Precisely as my Dad said - it's as if Bjork and Kate Bush had a baby. It seems the BBC said exactly the same thing. Wise man.

Everything Everything in my eyes, are so fresh that they can't possibly fit into a genre. 'Photoshop Handsome' is lyrical nonsense, yet awfully hypnotizing. A bit of a fucking corker, I'd say.

Then there's Stornoway - close to my heart because they too are from my native Oxford. Recently appearing on Later with Jools Holland, it's clear to see that folk is coming back into fashion, with Mumford & Sons in the picture aswell...

Last but not least, Marina & the Diamonds. Marina's voicebox and face both being beautiful is rather annoying for me, yet there's no denying she and her band are gonna be big next year. Obviously, I suppose, as they've been on the NME Radar tour this year, and now their being on this list. To round off this band very quickly, Marina & the Diamonds create dreamy pop.

That's not all who is on the list. Giggs, a hurrendously flat-voiced grime artist from South London with no apparent idea as to what music is; Devlin, who is just such a bad R&B/Rapper that I can't be bothered to even waste time typing about him; Joy Orbison, a future dance producing hero; but now I do not feel obliged to comment on any of the other people on this list as I haven't yet checked them out. I should probably go do that now...

Frankie & The Heartstrings - a revolution is coming, I can feel it in my ears.

2009-11-26T19:08:00.000Z

The retro-pop revival is absolutely on the way... the movement headed by Sunderland newcomers Frankie & The Heartstrings. The fact that Pete Gofton's (guitarist) sister is a certain Lauren Laverne, (indie type who mainly presents teen music programmes on T4 for the musically under-privalidged) has probably helped them on their way to the mini-stardom they're nearly at. Having recently supported The Drums, and about to support Florence + The Machine on their tour next month, it seems that they should soon finally be getting the recognition they deserve.

F&THS are about to release their debut on December 7th via Rough Trade. The two track single contains 'Hunger', an irresistible head-bopping sing-a-long that makes you want to pull down your trousers and do a little dance, and 'Fragile', a soothing XX/Black Lips-esque beauty. Also, random tune 'Possibilities' is available to download here.

In Frankie & The Heartstrings own words, "it's about time." It really is. It's about time to bring some life and soul back into the drained indie party.

misery makes me creative.

2009-11-24T21:53:00.000Z

So I'm feeling quite unwanted in the world. Who do I turn to? My Dad, friends, boyfriend, some randomer off the internet? Nope. Mister Fucking Music, that's who. Mainly in the form of Frank Turner, as per usual.

As said before in the last post, Frank Turner defines my life. His lyrics are like poetry to my ears. When I went to go see him at Oxford O2 Academy in October, I've actually never felt so united with the human kind before. Normally, I'm a miserable bitch who doesn't particularly like people, but at that particular moment, whilst Frank was trawling through the classics (and future classics), the feeling of unity I felt was truly overwhelming. All through the night I had some sexy, indie, pissed-out-of-his-face kinda guy holding my hand, looking into my eyes and singing every single lyric. Every single one. What sort of an artist has literally everyone in the crowd praying to him?

Because Frank Turner isn't exactly your mainstream artist, it means you don't get indie-wankers coming to his gig just because he's 'cool' or whatever. (I'm referring to most of the twats that went to the Passion Pit gig, you know you only knew a couple of songs; 'Sleepyhead' and 'The Reeling'). Fans don't just relate to the one or two songs... because his lyrics are actually true to life, meaningful and poetic in every way, shape and form, this means that he has TRUE fans. I may be young, but I'm not naive when it comes to music. I know it's hard for a band/artist to form an army of loyal troopers. But he's only gone and bloody done it.

Frank Turner, not only are you my hero, but you are a fucking God to so many people.

music isn't such a confusing concept.

2009-10-08T20:44:00.001+01:00

Okay so, first of all... I'm hoping this'll get rather politically correct and annoying after a few posts. But I'm cool with that. After all, scandal is the first step on the ladder to stardom, right?

Music; now that's a tricky subject to tackle. Or at least, that's what most people make of it. The way I, and most people my age look at music is a way to express ourselves. Be it the dirty chavs on the back of the bus pumping out Chipmunk from their brand new (and quite possibly stolen) phone, or the 'creative' and serene indie/punk wannabees who sit in fields every weekend getting pissed out of their faces to the sweet sound of The Maccabees. Either way, music defines what genre a teen is in. It causes stereotypes and withdraws emotion.

All people want is for them to be able to understand where a song that they're listening to is coming from. They want to have their own perceptions on the lyrics... Whenever I've split up with a boyfriend, I cuddle up to my moose teddy and listening to Frank Turner. Now, any Frank Turner fan knows the power he has over us. It's ridiculous. I listened to 'Substitute', and with lyrics such as, "music, well it's my substitute for love," it all made sense then. That's exactly what my substitute for love is. Music. Cheesy, but who gives a shiznik?

But that's all a song really has to do isn't it? Get through to the people? Bands and artists simply have to make people relate to their music in a way they never thought possible? So why has music got to have to be so tricky? It doesn't. That's all it has to do... connect.