Old friends. New tunes.

Oasis's big announcement may have just been a re-issue and re-release of Definitely Maybe to celebrate it's 20th Birthday, but some of my other old favourites are releasing some new material which (as much as I am a long time mega fan girl of Oasis) is much more exciting..

I still believe that Coldplay were at their best with Parachutes and A Rush of Blood to the Head, after those albums I kinda got a bit bored, some of the songs were pretty decent still, but their new release has me all a flutter again - it's called Midnight and it is so different from anything we have heard from them before, it comes from their latest album, which has been produced by Jon Hopkins and you can really hear his influence on this first beauty:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQeMxWjpr-Y

And then you've got some new stuff from an original brit-pop king, Mr Damon Alban; as he has some more solo stuff that he is sharing with us, it's fair to say there's no brit-pop sounds here, it's experimentally wonderful. Thank you Damon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9MMJgFKv24

London Grammar, 02 Academy, Birmingham, 16th February.

It was over a year ago I first stumbled across London Grammar on Youtube - it was actually a remix of their song 'Hey Now' - which, still sounds amazing. I downloaded their EP not long after and was even more impressed. Since then they've had quite a lot of success, most notably with their song Strong.

I tried to get tickets for a gig back in October but it had sold out, so I made sure I purchased early days for the tour this time round.

They were supported by Khushi and Say Lou Lou -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwS7o21DvHA

https://soundcloud.com/khushimusic/phantoms

both who were pretty good, particularly Khushi, who I'd not heard of at all before..

But as expected London Grammar really wowed, Hannah especially - her vocals were even more stunning live, particularly on tracks such as Metal and Dust and Strong. I think the whole crowd were truly mesmerised by her, every girl probably wishing they were her and every guy pretty much falling in love with her. I would totally recommend anyone giving them a try, if you're a fan of acts like The XX, then you'll probably love them too.

Check out one of my faves here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkeDBwsIaZw

White Fire:

Stripped back, simple and melancholic...

Sound good? listen to Angel Olsen - White Fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKIzxQftnx8 

RECORDS ON REPEAT

Spiritualized - Always forgetting with you

https://soundcloud.com/fatpossum/spiritualized-mississippi


Womans Hour - Her ghost

https://soundcloud.com/secretlycanadian/womans-hour-her-ghost

and


Woods - Moving to the left

https://soundcloud.com/woodsist/woods-moving-to-the-left/s-wjNli

#SpiceGirlsForever

Listen to this brilliant cover of "Say you'll be there":


https://soundcloud.com/momomoyouth/m-say-youll-be-there

Her

Sometimes a film can really have an impact on you. I probably don't watch enough films, I'm easily distracted, a daydreamer, so giving something my solid attention for a couple of hours, well, it's fairly rare. Anyway - the film Her - is one of the best films I've seen in a long while, it's funny, it's weird, it's a bit heartbreaking. I only watched it yesterday and want to watch it all over again. It's already been released in the US but makes it's UK debut this month. The film aside, the soundtrack is kinda gorgeous and wonderful too, so before you can see the film (which you MUST), have a listen here...

http://kottke.org/14/01/listen-to-the-soundtrack-for-her


Karen 0 - Moon Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU6KFnGF9M8

The Breeders - Off you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgOg4NGCYR8

Arcade Fire - Supersymmetry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7UFvwguCPU