With the colossal amounts of rain in the UK lately, complete with grey skies and bitter cold nights already, this playlist kind of reflects the weather, with songs more suited for nights cuddled up in front of the fire than out in the blaring sun. I'm getting super excited for seeing Adele and going to Bestival this week and waving a final hurrah to a mixed bag of a Summer. Just browsing through Topshop's site gets me excited for Autumn now - leather, knitwear, navy and cranberry! Lovely! As always you can click the picture above to go to a full playlist.
What The Water Gave Me - Florence And The Machine: In true Florence Welch style she's emerged out out of balmy festival season with a even more theatrical, pounding whimsical eerie lullaby of a record than the tremendous Lungs conjured. Ushering out the Summer and welcoming in night-time at 4PM can often be a tad depressing, but with a forthcoming album on the 7th November and a triumphant, cinematic tune Florence is alighting Winter, her flaming red hair in tow. Her vocals are as inspiring, intuitive and individual as ever, demonstrating the extent to which her talent has only developed and matured. Whilst her references to a handful of histories greatest women such as Frida Kahlo and Virginia Woolf within the record alludes to her intelligence and inspiration for the album whilst emphasising her own position as a modern equal to these counterparts. Now a seasoned festival performer and tourer, in 'What The Water Gave Me' Florence has created a stadium anthem, that will have lighters waving and crowds roaring in no time.
Fall Creek Choir - James Blake & Bon Iver: Rather like James Blake and Bon Iver themselves this collaboration emerged out of nowhere, appearing on Zane Lowe's show just last week. Also, rather like James Blake and Bon Iver themselves within seconds the record became a internet phenomenon, seized upon by hipsters and indie kids and spreading like wildfire. It's a beautifully discordantly haunting piece of music, but it's also exactly what you would expect from Bon Iver and James Blake - and that can be taken both as a compliment or a criticism. Subtly arresting, with an air of mystery and intrigue, this SXSW baby (the collaboration emerged after a "chance meeting" between the pair at the festival) is one for nights in sheltering from the cold.
Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division Cover) - Kerry Leatham: Offering up a beautiful cover of one of my favourite records, Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' Kerry Leatham showcases a sweet sensibility and dreamy vocals. Stumbling across her via Youtube, and with a fairly low profile, through her Facebook page I was instantaneously endeared to her with her biography reading "Little bit of a daydreamer, little bit shy, little bit of a red wine lover, little bit awkward, not that great at conversation sometimes so stories through songs work really well." Kerry is currently in the studio and with comparisons to artists such Dry The River and Laurel Collective and influences reading "life, loss, love, booze" I'm really interested to hear the result.
Get On The Road - Tired Pony: When I think of Fall approaching I immediately think of Tired Pony, they're one of my favourite snuggled up with a blanket, book and beverage bands. A starry supergroup amalgamating the talents of band members of REM and Snow Patrol, I find what shines through most on Tired Pony's records is the beauty of Gary Lightbody's lyrics - "The fire, the wine, the bed and you / In this crimson light I find the truth." Homely, gorgeous and moving this song with Zooey Deschanel is so real, so emotional and so lovely you can't help but fall in love with it. It's very Snow Patrol; think 'Set Fire To The Third Bar.'
Love On Top - Beyonce: After THAT VMA performance how could I not include this?! This has really been Beyonce's year; Glastonbury, turning 30, a pregnancy and a massively selling album. Jay Z is a lucky man! I really fell in love with Beyonce this year and her live performances continue to wow me. This song could verge on being all too saccharine sickly sweet, but with impeccable vocals emphasising not just her talent but the extent to which she means every word. Plus, that Jay Z and Kanye moment after the bump reveal - AHHHH!
If I Had A Gun - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds: Despite a rather dubious band name Noel Gallagher's recent musical efforts are gorgeous. Sticking true to that gritty Manchester sound Oasis did so well whilst breathing in new life this is a cleaner, more refreshed effort alleviated from his brother Liam. With an October album release scheduled I can see Noel becoming a firm Autumnal sound, as 'If I Had A Gun' mixes just the right amount of angst with commercialism.
Liiines - Ghostpoet: Following a must hear Radio One 'In Session' with Ghospoet this week I've thrown myself into his gorgeous album 'Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam' all over again. Mercury Prize nominated the singers soft throaty vocals over sparse and simple beats amalgamate stunningly. Synonymous with his peers James Blake, Bon Iver and Koreless, Ghostpoet is embodying modern music. Appearing very level-headed in interviews, often rapping about foods and once upon a time working for an insurance company, Obaro Ejimiwe is an interesting, multi-faceted fun character, as his album name alludes to.
Someone Like You (Adele Cover) - Woodkid: Allegedly French Yoann Lemoine was bored last night and came up with this magical cover of the famous tearjerker 'Someone Like You.' It's a beautiful effort, with his endearing twang conjuring up a emotionally heartfelt rendition, breathing life into a much overplayed song. As many Youtube frequenters have stated, "I wish I could do this when bored."
Jon Taylor's Month Away - King Creosote & Jon Hopkins: If I had my way, this would be the Mercury Prize winner. Unfortunately I think its chances are slim, as commercial hits like Tinie Tempah, Katy B and Adele are currently dominating polls. A truly spectacular album, brewing with a rare emotion and realism in todays modern music industry, it possesses an endearing, loveable quality. With the songs reaching into your heart and proffering a warm embrace. A strange duo, the pairs divergences are their strength, juxtaposing talents and straddling modern approaches with traditionalism, as demonstrated by the incorporation of everyday background noise offset by arresting vocals.
Holocene - Bon Iver: This playlist appears to be becoming a slight ode to Bon Iver (rather paralleling Bon Iver's recent odes to Iceland); but with a video as sumptuous and stirring as the music itself this track was hard not to include. Through this video Bon Iver demonstrates the extent to which, whilst creating subtle, quiet, creeping music Justin Vernon's melodic records hold their own against sweeping panoramas and the breadth of the world. The song is able to possess a lullaby feel, restrained to a single nursery yet also seems perfectly fitting in the sparse, expansive Icelandic lands. It is both homely and lonely. Intrepid and powerful. New and old. It is simply stunning work.
The Shadows - Peter & Kerry: A collaborative effort between the aformentioned Kerry Leatham (this girls gonna be big) and Peter Lyons with a cutesy stylised indie sound, that's so easy on the ears. 'The Shadows' and their brilliant cover of 'Teardrops' are clearily heavily folk inspired, begging for comparisons to other successful duos such as She & Him or Angus & Julia Stone in. Peter and Kerry's efforts in the six track EP 'Clothes, Friends, Photos' result in casual yet charming easy listening. Easily lending itself to soundtracking nights chilling with friends, possibly because the record was apparently created over plenty of 'pitta and hummus' (sounds perfect). The range of instruments; from glockenspiel to banjo aids a natural sound, that evolves and matures with each listen. It's all very pretty.
Panic Cord - Gabrielle Aplin: Gabrielle Aplin has found success by the now oxymoronic traditionally modern format: amass Youtube fame, find yourself involved with BBC introducing, gain Radio One airplay and watch the Facebook fans grow. Describing herself as creating "ghosty pop/folk with hints of choirs and twinkly things" Gabrielle Aplin's candied vocals, on-point lyrics and catchy vocals instantaneously parallel the analogous Ed Sheeran. 'Panic Cord' hits all the formats of chart success immaculately despite being a self teaching herself singing, piano and guitar. She's clearly destined for great things.
Shuffle - Bombay Bicycle Club: Anybody who doesn't own a copy of 'A Different Kind Of Fix Yet' should invest in a copy immediately; it is the perfect accompaniment for a retrospective reflection on Summer, as Bombay Bicycle Club's video for this track alludes to, featuring an amalgamation of their own personally filmed holiday videos. 'Shuffle,' 'Still' and 'Lights Out, Words Gone' are my favourite tracks off the album, a full review of which is probably imminent on here. 'Shuffle' is an enigmatic, vibrant record that emphasises Bombay Bicycle Club's strengths - creating enthused tracks, infiltrating Summer sounds to soundtrack memories and moments. For fans of 'Always Like This' this is the one.
Let It Go - Koreless & Sampha: Koreless is quite simply a musical genius, whose production levels, daring and musical knowledge far eclipse many of the more seasoned producers within the industry. Whilst Sampha is everywhere right now following appearances on that much fawned over SBTRKT album. The pairing were inevitably going to produce a beautiful track, with hopes of them fronting the underground dance movement. Approaching tracks in a method akin to Jamie xx the production is evolutionary eclecticism, forward-thinking and oh so good.
Lonely Star - The Weeknd: One of the most discussed musicians of the moment The Weeknd is an unstoppable tour de force. Recently issuing yet another free EP entitled 'Thursday' his music is fresh, sexy and skilled. I really can't get enough of him and am longing for a Lana Del Rey collaboration! Splitting critics on whether 'Thursday' lives up to the anticipatory hype that 'House Of Balloons' inflated, I believe this is a more sophisticated, exploratory record, requiring multiple digestions and time to develop. The Weeknd's music is often sparse and busy synonymously, like a fully stocked but deserted supermarket, when you listen to his music or stroll the aisles you still need to take in time to hear or see everything that's laid out in front of you.
Audio, Video, Disco - Justice: Justice are always one step ahead of everybody musically, which may be why their music often leaves many unsatisfied on first listen, yet by the fourth or fifth time you're in love. Their tracks are stealthy, audacious, sophisticated and creative; kind of like a stereotypical French man. Dropped during a Busy P set, seized upon by keen Justice fans and leaked to the world I often dislike hearing album tracks out of context, taking pleasure in the whole ritualistic buy the album, leaf through the art and lyrics whilst listening, however when it's Justice I just can't help myself. I've seen them live a fair few times now and they never disappoint in creating a diverse, historic and interesting set and atmosphere. Their full album cannot come soon enough.
