Gig: Then Thickens

I've been to the Night and Day Cafe in Manchester before but only for a quick drink, not for a gig. It's a nice little venue, perfect for live music. I'm not a fan of massive venues, ones where you can't actually see the band at all and spend most of your time just staring at the screens instead, kinda wondering whether maybe it would have been better to save yourself the 50 quid ticket price and watch it on tele instead? Except with festivals of course, I love a festival.

Anyway, back to this gig: Then Thickens - a six piece band from Lancashire, Chorley to be precise were headlining the evening (13th March), the 1st band  Bete (https://soundcloud.com/beteband) on sounded a bit like what I imagine California feels like - the lead singer sounding almost identical to Caleb from Kings of Leon - and that's all a good thing - bringing a bit of sunshine to a foggy Manchester, the second band though, well they were pretty forgettable, there was nothing wrong with them but nothing that made you wanna listen either.

Then Thickens were a different level though, well rehearsed, smooth, great vocals. My favourite has to be 'Tiny Legs' which is their latest track, it's just one of those songs that instantly draws you in. Mega catchy. I'll be adding it to my playlist, popping it onto my Ipod and not even skipping it when it appears on shuffle. Plus it features Joe Gilgun (Woody off of This is England) in the video. So thumbs up.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ySalXvHEJc

RECORDS ON REPEAT

Time to get mellow...

Mac DeMarco - Brother
https://soundcloud.com/capturedtracks/brother

Lykke Li - Love Me Like I’m Not Made Of Stone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7iLERCEznI

and

Hundred Waters - Down from the rafters
https://soundcloud.com/hundredwaters/down-from-the-rafters

x

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

RECORDS ON REPEAT

Dominated by female vocals this week, yes! - well done girls...

Kyla La Grange - Cut Your Teeth
https://soundcloud.com/kylalagrange/cut-your-teeth

lovely soft vocals, 90s beats, mellow dance

Broods - Never Gonna Change
https://soundcloud.com/broods/never-gonna-change

moody, melancholy lyrics but placed over a dance beat, with hip-hop drums

Courtney Barnett - Avant Gardener
https://soundcloud.com/courtney-barnett-milk/courtney-barnett-avant

This sounds a bit female Bob Dylan-esque or Velvet Underground. That's a good thing, obviously. 

Hello Sunday morning.

This is one of the most gorgeous songs I've heard in a while and the perfect soundtrack to a bright sunny winter morning.

"Oh, to stare into the void 
And see a friendly face 
And find meaning in a word 
In a moment of rare grace..."


Mutual Benefit - Advanced Falconry
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlQlokP7IjQ