Another week of absences away from the blog and I've realised I'm not going to let it happen again. Everyone goes through periodic spouts of feeling a little uninspired, or a little like a lost cause which is definitely how I've been feeling over these past few months. But I think I forgot that I honestly just love to write and I think I should probably spend more time doing that here than on Word Documents that I'll never let anybody see! It's quite a lengthy playlist this week, mostly to make up for missing last week's. I'd love to know what you think of the track's or what your favourite song of the moment is :) As always, you can click the above picture (or here) for a full playlist.
Lights Out Words Gone - Bombay Bicycle Club: Out of the surprising spring of the Indian Summer on our ready-for-Autumn British selves this week I've found Bombay Bicycle Club's latest album 'A Different Kind Of Fix' has been perfect listening. Upbeat guitar riffs and Jack Steadman and Lucy Rose's crooning vocals of sweet lyrics provide a splendid soundtrack for a last Summer foray in the park. Plus it helps that this track = Glastonbury flashback. 'A Different Kind Of Fix' has become my definitive reflecting upon the Summer-gone album, with this track paving the way.
Endless Summer - The Jezabels: Lately I've found this track becoming one of my absolute favourites. Perhaps it's the apt title, the vintage sound, or the poignant lyrics? Or perhaps it's Hayley Mary's evocative voice, that makes you want to hit the road, with the roof down, and sing your little heart out. Born of a University of Sydney meeting The Jezabels are rising international stars, set to make the 2012 festival scene their own no doubt following the release of their debut album this September. 'Prisoner' is well worth a listen, reminiscent of Bombay Bicycle Club's Summery 'A Different Kind Of Fix' with a provocative, female vocalist akin to The Kills' Alison Mosshart. The Jezabels possess an intelligence, a complexity and a depth to them that is sure to make them popular amongst the hipsters, yet their backbeats, rising guitars and catchy lyrics are sure to make them possess a mainstream appeal too.
Scar - Lucy Rose: Lucy Rose is musically as British as her name suggests; producing delicate vocals, with sensitive and astute porcelain lyrics, acoustic guitars and a sound filled with British greenery. Currently touring with Bombay Bicycle Club, the pair have hijacked our Indian Summer making it their own, filling it with refined and resonant lyrics, guitar riffs and soaring vocals. Lucy Rose's music is pretty, poignant and precise and this debut single is also the perfect soundtrack to a final Summer day.
Benny And The Jetts - TV Girl: Fun, peppy and able to inject a whole plethora of retro music into one record TV Girl are a San Diego trio creating retrospective yet infinitely modern music. This single, taken from the EP of the same name, illustrates their on trend vintage feel, the strength of the short record being that nobody else is producing a sound quite like this anymore. And if that wasn't enough, the definition of TV Girl as "lo fi bubblegum pop for the children of chillwave" sells itself pretty well to me.
Heavy Stone - Kyla La Grange: Our generation's fascination with literature, cinema and TV programming glamourising the depiction of witches, vampires and the supernatural has paved the way for a new line of bewitching songstresses to proffer a dark-pop sound brimming with double entendre, spine-chilling vocals and a grungey kohl-eyed look. Folksy Kyla La Grange is at the heart of this movement, alongside the likes of Charli XCX, Emeli Sande and Lykke Li. With her stirring music, cinematic videos and gorgeous looks Kyla La Grange is sure to be a hit following her single launch in London next week.
Love - Daughter: Often a favourite to feature on Radio One's new music shows, from Rob da Bank to Huw Stephens, Daughter otherwise known as Elena Tonra has a delicately soaring voice. She produces atmospheric, moving music that leaves goosebumps in its wake. 'Love' is a track lifted from her forthcoming November released EP entitled 'Wild Youth,' it is a track filled with realistic scenarios and heartfelt emotions. Straddling the realism through the combination of sympathetic lyrics "Take your hands off him 'cos he's the only one I've ever loved" with a ghostly, otherworldly sound beautifully leaving you feeling simultaneously bereft and full of hope.
I Can Feel You - Delilah: Sounding at her best when resonating through a cinematic sound system Delilah's sensuous and stylised vocals are one of the best things to ever be produced from a Chase & Status track. Delilah has a voice that could make a grocery list sound electric. Demonstrating her skill through the Radio One favourite 'Go,' this is a more laid bare track, illustrating her vocal range and jazz influenced smoothness taken from the 'Go' EP.
Lift Off - Jay Z, Kanye West & Beyonce: When you present arguably three of biggest names in music today in one record you expect big things. Perhaps this is why at first play many people feel a sense of disappointment, expecting something bigger and better. And really, without Beyonce this record would be a rather mundane affair. Yet, with her vibrant vocals the record evolves, and becomes a catchy affair, begging for a solid remix - as the success of the last 30 seconds of the song illustrate.
Heaven - Emeli Sande: Mentioned on this blog a few months back I've been following Emeli Sande's musical progress with a keen eye, pleased to see the successful reception of 'Heaven' on Radio One and then this appraised 'made for the water cooler' debut on Jools Holland that saw Sande trending on Twitter and prompted much discussion amongst her peers. It's probably a performance that's jumpstarted her career tenfold but with her gorgeously sumptuous yet raw vocals showcased fully in this acoustic performance all success is clearly well deserved.
The Sea - Exitmusic: New York city duo Aleksa Palladino and Devon Church are responsible for creating rousingly haunting dreampop music, that spans epic proportions with its range from soft beats to rising almost-creepy vocals. It is intelligent, creative music that possesses the power to tap into your emotions, capable of making you feel a hundred different things just in one track. In some respects it is reminiscent of Welch's new album 'Ceremonials' or Radiohead's 'The King Of Limbs.' Or a more sophisticated sound for fans of James Blake and Bon Iver.
I Dreamt We Were Bank Robbers - Black Diamond Bay: Six piece British band Black Diamond Bay's music possesses that instantaneous cool factor, with their music an amalgamation of Massive Attack, Daft Punk and Goldfraap influences that has taken Radio One by storm following their appearance on the playlist through BBC Introducing. This is vintage slo-mo funk, a soundtrack for city living, their music instantly sounds familiar, yet with a modernistic twist. Their Facebook page labels them 'unsigned' which is sure to change soon, as their moody and mystical infectious low-fi beats appear to have resonated with DJs and listeners alike.
I - Nicola Roberts: 'I' sees Nicola Roberts combine her sugary sweet vocals with cool band of the Summer Metronomy in a lyrically controversial showcase of a darker, deeper and more diverse of this one time Girls Aloud member. There is a sense of release and freedom within the song paralleled by soaring vocals; as she appears to speak from the heart stating "I hope you like my new direction." Within 'I' Nicola Roberts multi-faceted persona is revealed, whilst a Kate Bush-esque mood is established.
212 - Azealia Banks: When you have the likes of Nick Grimshaw, Lily Allen, Annie Mac supporting you its quite evidential you're doing something right. With this rapped over sample track 19 year old Harlem born Azealia Banks has become somewhat of a phenomenon. With her Youtube hits well on their way to amassing six digits and her (much edited) appearances on Radio One occurring almost nightly. The bouncing electro beats, the black and white stylised video, the rap about cunnilingus (yes, but it works) and the Disney sweater all just scream a juxtaposition of jumbled street cred, talent, audacity and above all perfection. And its almost impossible not to watch enchanting Azealia and want to be her.
A Real Hero - College Ft Electric Youth: Drive, starring Carey Mulligan and Ryan Gosling, has instantaneously prevailed itself to be one of the coolest films of all time. Only aided by a stunning soundtrack, mostly composed by former Red Hot Chili Pepper's drummer Cliff Martinez. Tapping into our generations John Hughes bolstered penchant for effortlessly cool 80s culture, 'A Real Hero' makes you want to grab Gosling's jacket (YOU NEED TO SEE THE JACKET) and drive off into the sunset immediately.
Shake It Out - Florence And The Machine (The Weeknd Remix): As soon as it was announced The Weeknd would be providing the official remixes for Florence And The Machine's latest wonderful single, released yesterday, I was really excited to hear the end result. Together, they are two of the most original, creative and captivating artists of our time, and undoubtedly the remix showcases this beautifully.
Southern Electric - MJ Cole & Scruffizzer: Given first play on Mistajam's Radio One show this forthcoming MJ Cole & Scruffizzer single combines the talents of two of the hottest underground artists of the moment that is fittingly apt for the rise of garage that seems to be sweeping across the British music industry.
Warning Call - DJ Shadow & Tom Vek: Prominent American DJ and producer DJ Shadow's latest album 'The Less You Know, The Better,' was released today, seeing DJ Shadow collaborating with a number of his peers, Tom Vek included. It's a grower of a record, made all the more stirring after seeing DJ Shadow and Tom Vek merge talents on stage together at Bestival. DJ Shadow provides a fast, beat driven, heavier and darker sound for Tom Vek's growling swagger vibes to thrive against.
I Might - Wilco: Speaking of swagger, this is something Wilco has in bucket loads in their new LP 'I Might' only emphasised by its positive critical reviews in publications such as The Times and The Guardian. The record has a retro, rock infused feel, reminiscent of musics greatest: with Youtube commenters attributing the band to the likes of Bowie to Ferry to Lennon. Wilco's guitar, drum beats and simplistic lyrics make really sunny day lazy listening.
When Angels Sing - Donae'o (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix): Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs returns again, with another rousing and beautiful interpretative remix, bolstering his own re-released single 'Garden' and Donaeo's forthcoming album. This is a stunning track, made all the more effective through its simplicity, maintaining Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs signature playful electronic sound. It sets the tone perfectly for Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs album.
We Found Love - Rihanna Ft Calvin Harris: Whilst I have to agree with many Radio One DJ's that Rihanna's back catalogue contains a inconsistent mismatch of hit and misses; Calvin Harris creative and dance influenced past musical creations have all been golden. Thus, this collaboration was an interesting one, that fails to disappoint, instantly addictive through its equally catchy beats and lyrics it is a track that will possess both mainstream appeal, and through mixes find itself on the dancefloors from Miami to Ibiza (probably with a cheeky play at the forthcoming Amsterdam Dance Event). Calvin Harris' Vegas residency has undoubtedly provided him with a 'big room' mindset, paralleling the likes of David Guetta and Swedish House Mafia, that this record undoubtedly represents.
Locked - Four Tet: After finally getting round to listening to the Four Tet Fabriclive album following a number of strong recommendations I have fallen completely in loved with the chilled, atmospheric vibe of the themed album. In a recent BBC Interview Kieran Hebden describes the album being more of a personification of Fabric and a homage to the club itself than about himself as a DJ, emphasised by the utilisation of live sounds sampled from the club including chattering crowds and cavernous echoes. The result is a more chilled, relaxed vibe with subtle nods to the intrinsic club's musical roots such as garage, grime and dubstep made along the way. This track appears as a resounding encore, out of the still of the finishing moments of the album, much like an after party emerges from the bright morning upon leaving the Farringdon club.
Ultra Thizz - Rustie: A Youtube commenter has describe d this Rustie track as sounding "like a plane made out of MDMA crystals smashing into the sun" whilst below that another commentator states "shut down Bestival, when Jackmaster and Oneman dropped this" and neither is wrong. The former demonstrating the frenzied beauty and complexity of the track, the latter the power it posses. Taken from Rustie's recently leaked and now out for release album 'Glass Swords' this is a chaotic, complex and cool tune, made for festival and club drops and soundtracking hazy night out memories.
I Still Love You - Switch: Championed by the likes of Annie Mac, Brodinski, Nick Grimshaw and Mistajam; Switch's latest record is a beautiful track that would be just at home soundtracking a sunny barbecue as it would in a grimy East London club. The track possesses a smooth groove, an effortless cool factor and a garage vibe, made all the more perfect by its origins, with Switch and vocalist Andrea Martin producing the record in a kitchen, in one take. It is a glistening, beaming track and with Switch announcing he now has enough material to release a record a week until Christmas, it bodes well for future tracks, with this being a dance classic in the making.
