Friday, 20 June 2014

Records on Repeat

Jessie Ware - Tough Love


Her 2012 album Devotion was one of my favourite releases that year and now she's back and sounding possibly even better:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okC1XE0jX2U


Alt-J - Hunger of the pine


When you've won a Mercury prize expectations are gonna be pretty high, this newbie does not disappoint. It also samples Miley Cyrus, Yep, Miley...


https://m.soundcloud.com/alt-j/hunger-of-the-pine


Fyfe - For you


I loved his previous single 'Solace' and this is a good 2nd release:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCto5tBw37Y

Monday, 2 June 2014

Gig Review: Mutual Benefit, Deaf Institute - Manchester

I discovered Mutual Benefit on the Pitchfork website... trendy.

When I heard their song 'Advanced Falconry' I was kinda blown away. It is one of the most beautiful songs, ever, literally, ever.

Their EP Loves Crushing Diamond is well worth a listen. Especially for Advanced Falconry and Golden Wake.

I went to see them at the Deaf Institute in Manchester in May, a really quaint intimate venue it was ideal for a band like them.

Not only is their sound gentle and endearing so are the band themselves. Saying things like "we're much cooler over in the UK, in the US we just play house parties" and "can we film you booing us, we thought it would be funny".

It's a long time since I sat at a gig, but sitting, watching them, in awe of the beauty of their sound made for the perfect evening. It's a mixture of folk, classical and alternative -

YOU MUST LISTEN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws5euaAoCag

Gig Review: Embrace, Manchester Academy

10 years ago, I was stood at the front of the Channel 4 stage at V festival patiently waiting to watch Jet. Unfortunately, Jet did not arrive on stage and were last minute replaced by Embrace. I was gutted. I'd never heard of Embrace before.

Watching them that day though made me an instant fan. At 16 I loved anything "indie" sounding and witnessing them perform some sound indie was perfect for me. This was just as they were about to release what turned out to be their comeback album, "Out of Nothing".

After that I saw them at V, I saw them a few times all in one year, I couldn't get enough.

But since then, I'll admit I've neglected them a little. But, they themselves had been away from the music world for a good while too...

A few months ago I read they were touring again about to release a new album for 2014, so I was straight in there buying a ticket (any chance to hold onto those teenage years) for the Manchester Academy show.

It was a brilliant gig. Classic tunes like "Save Me", "Come back to what you know" and "Ashes" were the stand out moments, but the latest stuff sounded strong too. Danny was milking the whole come back thing a bit much "we promise we will never leave you again for 8 years"

Shut up Danny and sing Gravity.

I still love him and his slightly out of tune voice though.

For nostalgia reasons it was one of the best gigs I've been to. I was jumping about like an irritating 16 year old again cider in hand.

And, like they say.. come back to what you know, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDjOdcvXr5Q