Moby and Jake Bugg release new records (not together) (not quite sure how that collaboration would work out)

Moby's album Play is one of my most loved albums, 'Natural Blues', 'Porcelain' and 'Why does my heart feel so bad?' are some of my favourite songs, since then, I enjoyed 18, but after that, he did kinda fall off my radar & I just dipped in and out of his other albums...

But he's back, back again, this time with Innocents

And it's good, it's really good

Familiar melancholy melodies, and slow dance beats, that make it seem the perfect summer chill-out album (shame it's October eh?!) it all still sounds very Moby-esque but fresher and sharper, with some superb guest vocals.

My favourite so far:
6. The Last Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEFQZEYRNYk

AND
19 year old indie boy Jake Bugg, is due to release his second album 'Shangri La' in about a months time (18th November to be precise)

His first single 'What doesn't kill you' available from end of September, is a move away from the acoustic sound that was dominant on his debut (Mercury nominated) record. 

Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxjZbFpBpbE

To be honest, I'm not a fan of the videos intro where it's him just talking about 'stabbings and car parks' etc, it seems a bit try hard "cool" to me, but once the song starts, well, it is pretty cool - faced paced guitars, catchy lyrics; just makes me wanna dance. It's a winner. Well done JB.

Let's see what the rest of the album brings...!

Clouds and silver linings.

So, I have just spent an amazing few days in Budapest.. If you haven't been before I cannot recommend it highly enough. And the Szimpla Kert ruin pub is a MUST. One of the best bars I've probably ever been to - how can you not love a bar that has chairs made from old bath tubs and a table in a car?

Anyway, upon my return it was Glasto ticket sales time, but due to an overnight flight I was putting all my faith in my mother and brother to get my tickets ordered for me. They failed. Well, to be fair the website was a big let down. SO GUTTED, the first time I've actually planned properly to go and tickets sell out faster than ever AND now I've just read that Fleetwood Mac are probably gonna be the headline act. OUCH. Excuse me while I lock myself away and cry until , well, forever. (ok, maybe that's a tad dramatic, but only a tad)

I am still holding onto a tiny bit of hope for the April re-sale. PLEASE LET ME GO.

Anyway, while feeling sorry for myself in my no glasto ticket gloom, I've found some nice tracks -

Every cloud and all that....

Ben Khan - Eden
https://soundcloud.com/benkhan/eden
electro, synth, R n' B. Unique.

I loved 'Royals' & here's another impressive release from the young talented Lorde:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g03b4U_aPk

Connan Mockasin - I am the man that will find you
https://soundcloud.com/connanmockasin/connan-mockasin-im-the-man
weird, dreary high pitched vocals, a little bit like he's been sucking the helium outta a balloon for too long, but somehow it works. After all, weird is good.

Two songs that you need in your life right now.

I can't get enough of these two stunners:

Movement - Us

https://soundcloud.com/modularpeople/movement-us-1

Movement are a trio from Sydney, this is the first track of theirs I've ever heard, and instantly I loved it, it's a mix of 90s dance and r n' b beats with some dark lyrics. 

Darkside - Papertrails

https://soundcloud.com/daftside-2/paper-trails

This is a song from electronic producer Nicolas Jaar’s and guitarist Dave Harrington, has a downbeat sound featuring bluesy soul guitar and a husky soft vocal. BEAUTIFUL. (it deserves the caps lock).

wanna try summat new? course you do...

I spend hours, days, weeks, (you get the gist) researching new songs, new artists, I love that moment when you discover new stuff that makes you stop and literally say WOW. The proper 'WOW moment' happens occasionally, but, for now, here's some songs that have caught my attention.. they're worthy of a listen:

Fyfe - Solace

https://soundcloud.com/thisisfyfe/solace

J£ZUS Million - Memo

https://soundcloud.com/jezusmilli/memo-feat-yadi/s-ypz3s

Snakadaktal - Hung on tight

https://soundcloud.com/liberation-music-oz/snakadaktal-hung-on-tight-2

The Strypes - What a shame

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gQbnLCgLCU

The naked and famous - hearts like ours

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMSWS0B_9Tw

The Vaccines - Do you want a man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLUaWd8FPxk

Gent Mason - Eden

https://soundcloud.com/gentmason/eden/s-mFNls

V Festival 2013.

So festival season has been well a truly under way for months now and I have patiently been waiting for my live music dosage. I have felt distraught seeing peoples updates and photos about various music festivals from Glastonbury to Hideout, from Secret Garden to Unknown etc.

I would love nothing more than to take the whole of summer off work and attend a music festival every week - now that would make for the BEST summer ever. Unfortunately, I'm not rich and not able to just jet set around (how cruel life can be eh..) so I had to settle for just one festival ticket, and like an old holey jumper that you know is passed it's best, but you just can't throw away, my ticket ended up being one for V Festival.

...I have been attending V since the tender age of 15, crikey, I am old school.

These days, now, more than ever, V is seen as the most commercial and "pop" of the UK festivals, it is has kinda become the 'uncool' festival choice, viewed by many music lovers out there as the one to skip, and to be fair the line-up this year did seem a bit weak. Nonetheless, I was excited about the prospect of being with my pals in the sunshine, cider in hand, watching some live music. 

We started our music weekend with... 5ive, yep..5ive and it was amazing! As a kid, I unlike a lot of my friends, didn't have much interest in boy bands, I liked Oasis and Travis and stuff like The Rolling Stones (thank you parents) so except for my necessary dose of girl power from the wonderful Spice Girls - I wasn't too fussed about 'pop'. But, I did always have a soft spot for 5ive, the "bad boys" (LOL) of the pop world.

And, finally, at the age of 25 I was about to see them inside the Arena tent. It was absolutely full - mainly of females in their 20s ! Maybe the fact it had began to rain outside helped, but either way the atmosphere was bouncing, every singly person was singing, dancing and cheering as they came out on stage with their version of Queen's classic 'We will rock you'. They sang and rapped hit after hit and you could tell they were having as much fun as the captured audience ( FYI - I totally fancy Scott and Abs, and Ritchie's arms alone deserve a special mention..) I never wanted their performance to end, it was THAT good, when, it did finish though (sigh), I thought I'd lost my voice - so much passionate 5ive singing has it's dangers after all.

Over the weekend I also caught moments of Laura Mvula, The Vaccines, Olly Murs (mainly for a quick perve of everyones favourite cheeky chappy), Deacon Blue, James and Paloma Faith - all who were pretty damn decent and all warrant a cheers!

Nevertheless, stand out acts included: Rudimental - the crowd went crazy at the Channel 4 stage to their set, which was brilliant, when 'Waiting all night' was being performed, every person was jumping about - holding hands - just having a good time, and after all, having fun is what it's all about right?!

Surprisingly,  I enjoyed Emelie Sande (she was one of the few people I was kinda bullied into seeing by my festival mates), it's not that I actually dislike her music, I can just take it or leave it, but live she was good, I did however, get more excited about seeing John Bishop at the side of the stage to be honest, but anyway..

Two Door Cinema Club smashed their set - perfect summer sunshine tunes and when I caught end of The Courteeners they were looking and sounding as good as ever, and let's face it 'Not 19 forever' and 'You overdid it doll' are perfect indie festival anthems. 

Back inside the Arena tent (I always think that at festivals like music venues in general, the smaller the venue the better) I saw Travis and MY GOD it was literally sensational, packed out, everybody chanting - hugging each other, dancing around, it was the best set of the weekend I reckon and when Fran Healey cried on stage thanking everyone, I almost shed a tear myself. 

Headline acts on Saturday - Kings of Leon were, as expected, incredible and well worthy of the lead spot on the main stage, having followed Stereophonics who didn't disappoint either, my indie heart was all a flutter.

And, finally Queen B... finished it all off as healiner on Sunday... half hour late (DIVA) she was worth the wait, if not for 'Single Ladies' alone but for the remix of 'Halo', which sampled some of Whitney's 'I will always love you', me and my girls cheesily sang it to each other. Girl Power lives on. 

What a weekend - music and sunshine makes me happy and content. Thanks V, you've been a loyal friend, but I think next year it is probably time to move on. HELLO GLASTO...x

Another brilliant single from Alex Turner and his gang.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6366dxFf-Os

The next single from the Arctic Monkeys forthcoming album is another helping of dirty moody indie guitars..

Beaut.

I just wish Alex would change his hair.

Variety is the spice of life. So, here's some spice:

These bands/artists are all fairly new, well, new to me at least, and with a mix of soul, dubstep, jazz, hip-hop and of course a good measure of indie, there's a lot of variety. feel the heat?

The Hics - Tangle

(Who are ya? Sam (vocals, electronics), Roxana (vocals), Jacob (drums), Geordan (guitar), Matt (Bass), David (sax).)

https://soundcloud.com/the-hics/tangle#t=0:01

Likely to LIKE: james blake, the xx

Pawws - Slow Love

(Who are ya? Lucy Taylor (voice, keyboards). from N London)

https://soundcloud.com/pawws/slow-love-1

Likely to LIKE: any beautiful female voice 

Nick Brewer - Ashamed

(Who are ya? An Essex Rapper)

https://soundcloud.com/itsnickbrewer/nick-brewer-x-the-confect

Likely to LIKE: Jamie T, Plan B, The Streets

Boho Dancer - Gemini

(Who are ya? A Danish trio, from.. well, Denmark)

https://soundcloud.com/boho-dancer/gemini

Likely to LIKE: folky pop

Az&Tor - Sit Back

(Who are ya? A Bristol twosome - Aisha Zoe and Rich Main)

https://soundcloud.com/madtechrecords/sets/kcmtdl014-az-tor-sit-back-1

Likely to LIKE: AlunaGeorge, MRMS)

Happy Sunny Friday !

this remix is sounding good in the sunshine...

(Tame Impala and Kayne)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsVERuZncaU&feature=youtu.be

and let's be honest, anything that makes use of Disney brings love.

Old Monkeys

Orchestra or some strings always make live performances that little more beautiful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74f3hXBn1K8

Arctic Monkeys - Mardy Bum (Glasto 2013)

Still sad I didn't get to go to Glastonbury. Next years dates are already in the diary!

Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party (And others..) have shiny new tracks.

Bloc Party - Ratchet.

Ratchet? W.T.F. A cool, catchy number. despite the strange song title.

https://soundcloud.com/blocparty/ratchet-1

Franz Ferdinand - Right Action

It feels like Franz Ferdinand arrived in 2004 and then had disappeared in a puff of indie smoke a year later. Back with a vengeance here though. Not as strong as the Arctic Monkeys newbie but definitely something that will make you remember them for good again. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZa-FHRmoGg

Scott and Charlene's Wedding - Lesbian Wife

Possibly the worst band name ever? Or so bad it becomes great? I can't make up my mind. Anyway these boys from Oz not only love a bit of Kylie & Jason, but guitars too..

http://vimeo.com/69010421

Money - Hold Me Forever

Truly elegant stuff from the northern lot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6lPO_rSGjY