Records on Repeat

Happy Monday:

Mansion Air - Hold me down
https://soundcloud.com/mansions-2/hold-me-down-revier

Sharon Van Etten - Your love is killing me 
https://soundcloud.com/jagjaguwar/sharon-van-etten-your-love-is-killing-me

AND

La Roux - Let me down gently 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOTEx7p-IkM

X

Records on Repeat

Roysksopp/Robyn - Do it again 

Catchy electro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIG7PVa8SS8#t=18


Tearjerker - You can

If you like the likes of Explosions in the Sky, this will probably bring a smile to your face

https://soundcloud.com/sqemusic/you-can


De Lux - It works all the time

80s disco vibes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATcxZYqE50E

Records on Repeat

hey hey, summer feels like it's on it's way:

Chet Faker - Talk is cheap

Soulful voice and dance beats
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP_-P_BS6KY&feature=youtu.be

Ought - Habit

Sounding a bit VO - grungey and melancholy

https://soundcloud.com/constellation-records/ought-habit

and I love this cover of The Lemonheads

Courtney Barnett - Bein' around
https://soundcloud.com/courtney-barnett-milk/bein-around

Gig: Wild Beasts, The Albert Hall, 26th March

I like Manchester, I like live music, so a gig in that city worked out pretty well.

Wild Beasts are one of those bands that you hear the songs of and like but never really delve any deeper, well, that's how they've been for me. Over the last couple of albums I've listened to a couple of songs here and there and really liked them but for some reason never given the albums a chance in full. For this reason, I was kinda worried about going to the gig, I'm the gig goer that wants to be a mega fan and know the words to every song, the one who can feel a bit smug "yes I know every lyric", but instead I was thinking I was going to be one of those audience members miming along pretending to know (argh)

But it turns out I knew more songs than expected - PHEW - especially from their latest album: Present Tense.

If you haven't been to it before, the Albert Hall is an amazing venue, not only does it have a nice bit of character and charm that a lot of big modern venues seem to miss out on, but the stage is raised, meaning even when you get that 6ft 10 guy standing directly in front of you, you can still see the band, well at least some of them, which is a a nice little bonus.

I hadn't really gone to this gig with any expectations, I was looking forward to it, because there's nothing more I enjoy than live music, but I didn't think I would be as impressed or amazed as I ended up being. Wild Beasts were utterly incredible, not only musically and vocally, but the whole performance, from the lighting to the atmosphere.

Stand out songs included old faves like: all the kings men and lions share but also new faves like: mecca and pregnant pause. This band deserves more success and praise than they are yet to receive.

Here's some samples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5epi6woDTSg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFxN_DawtOw  - if they're good enough for Joolsy...!

I hope I see them live again soon.

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