Records on Repeat

Whether it's a song about falling in love, falling out of love or losing love. Love songs can be the loveliest..



Jessica Prat - Back, Baby

https://soundcloud.com/drag-city/jessica-pratt-back-baby



Ben Howard - I forget where we were

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki5HBBEtfak



Natalie Prass - Why don't you believe in me

https://soundcloud.com/spacebomb/natalie-prass-why-dont-you-believe-in-me/

Gig review: Hundred Waters, Deaf Institute, Manchester 16/10./2014

The first song I heard of Hundred Waters was 'Down from the Rafters' when I was browsing on Pitchfork, and was taken aback by the instant impact it had - ghostly and sinister with the dark electronic sounds, haunting flute and the lead singers high echo-ey tones. 

I actually booked tickets to see them in Manchester (£8 bargain) at the Deaf Institute (great venue!) purely based on this one song I'd heard, a bit risky, 'cause you never know the rest of their album could have sounded like Jessie J. Thankfully it didn't.

I walked into the Deaf Institute, well a little early, the room actually only had roadies and bar staff about, I was a little surprised to find it quite as empty, however, by the time the support band Emprss came on stage about 10 people had finally made it. Emprss looked like the awkward alternative kids at school that never quite fitted in (giving themselves their own kind of coolness as a result) but not to be fooled by their image, the music was anything but awkward, downbeat electronic loveliness. I must check their EP out. 

Once Hundred Waters appeared the small room had almost filled, which was good for them - to be playing to a decent audience, and for me - the room was warmer and I could finally take my coat off. They opened with one of my now favourite tracks 'Murmurs' Nicole Miglis' vocals shone - from the gentle whispers to the amazing graceful high notes. As the gig went on everyone was mezmerised by the bands sound and particularly her vocals, you could glance round and see transfixed faces. One of the best moments came when Miglis sung 'Show me Love', it may be less than a minute and a half long, but it's a minute and 16 seconds of perfection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2Nh-gbEs5o

They're not a band you go to dance to, a band you go to mosh to, but they could be a band you fall in love to. 

Records On Repeat

Girl Power:

Jessie Ware - Kind of..Sometimes..Maybe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rvqJd6JBME#t=163


Rosie Lowe - Water Came Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzgCd32WH0#t=155


Rae Morris - Closer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBQQsqh6rL0

Gig Review: alt-J, O2 Apollo Manchester, 20/09/2014

I went away to Croatia and arrived back in the UK on the 16th of September and was back to work the following day, suffering from serious post holiday blues I was SO glad to have a gig to look forward to, especially as I was getting to see a band I loved but whom I'd never had the privilege of watching live before.

alt-J are one of those bands who's success and recognition happened very quickly, their 1st album release saw them awarded a Mercury Prize award and receive lots and lots of praise from music critics. And it deserved it "An awesome wave" was just that, awesome - new and fresh, it sounded so unique and one of my favourtite tracks of theirs is still 'Matilda'.


Their new album again has taken a new turn more bluesy and maybe more mature, it has similar sounds of some Black Keys stuff and hey they're pretty brilliant too. It also contains some brilliant collabs, including surprisingly Miley Cyrus on 'Hunger for the pine' it gives their songs a whole new dimension.

The gig itself was amazing, visually the lighting was powerful and glaring almost masking the view of the 3 piece and their touring bassist and sounding - was spot on. The crowd were buzzing and thankfully it wasn't just hoards of 15 yr old kids drunk off cider either (not that I'm dissing cider, I was there with my plastic cup in hand too)


Although the songs from the 2nd album 'This is all yours' were great for a gig - making you want to dance to the soul vibes, undoubtedly the best moment of the night came during the encore (which happened swiftly, well done boys I'm an impatient girl) when they performed 'Breezeblocks' probably their most well known from the 1st album, it sounded incredible and received the biggest cheers and waving of arms of the evening. High 5s all round.

RECORDS ON REPEAT

It's been a while, but Jamie T is back with a gentle lovely tune:

Jamie T - Don't you find

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tmoaFAT108#t=21

Piano and soft vocals. This is a bit Lennon 'Imagine-esque', which ain't a bad thing:

Tobias Jesso Jr - True Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baVveuLnoA4#t=328

Bluesy and melancholic (2 of my favourite things in a song):

She Keeps Bees - It is what it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg0-FzmZA4Y#t=29

Records on Repeat

So the film might not have had the greatest of reviews so far, but that aside the soundtrack is sounding very promising for Zach Baffs new film 'Wish you were here'

Bon Iver - Heavenly Father

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2CbQpo-8CE&feature=kp

Gorgeous lyrics, gentle synths




The Shins - So now what

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7-DjDF1MRM

Psychedelic dreamy indie




and moving away from soundtracks this is a real good'un too -



Perfume Genius - Queen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfJ9HX13Z8U

Dark and edgy pop

Get your funk on:

Jungle - Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvl91vYHiUI

and

Alt J - Left hand free

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkLcnqYm5Uo

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

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