Collaboration

Strange one tonight.

James Blake and Bon Iver

Since James Blake burst onto the scene early this year with limit to your love (remix of feists song) he has gone a little quiet until he collaborates with Bon Iver to produce Fall Boys Creek Choir, madness. I love these two the perfect combination of psychedelic, airy music with street dubstep sounds. Perfect, they have executed it wonderfully and I just listened on BBC Radio 1 but imagine a combination of this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOT2-OTebx0 (so, so, so fresh and new sounding, I love it, especially the bit where there's no music just his voice cutting through)

with this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo6lKQYVUBU

and this is what you get (apparently)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aqKA_2UUy4

Very classy. Sounds like they're using one of those wooden tube things you hit with a wooden beater in Primary school at 0.21 ahah. Glockenspiel? Maybe.

Guts for garters

James Vincent McMorrow- We don't eat

I am in love with this mans voice. So so so inspiring and beautiful. You can hear the emotion bursting through every word, it's almost painful to listen to but he saves it just in time to make it simply stunning. He sounds so chilled like he's sat alone somewhere singing for his own pleasure and to keep his own company. These are the types of people who make the world go round and keep my faith in humanity alive; they keep my faith that not everyone is a sell out and people still have morals. Charming man, he has hints of James Morrison but he's better in my opinion. I don't really like the increase in pace of this song it ruins the subtly of his voice but he regains it towards the end and rounds the song of wonderfully.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR3HRMO7nZg

Cool remix too which is on the vinyl ahah, that is the sign of a proper artist who appreciates others work http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItlJjXpHPKA

Dry the River-Night Owls

As Reading is this weekend and my excitement is building I thought I'd give a small band who don't fit with the traditional Reading sound a bit of a review. These guys are adorable and actually, in my opinion very good and I think they will be pretty big on the acoustic indie scene in the coming years. There is a real tenderness to their music which makes it sound very genuine. As they're relatively unknown I hope to be right at the front at 3pm on Friday at the Festival Republic Stage, may get a cheeky wink in there if I'm feeling up to it! Any way I love this song and they have a lovely sound and feeling to their songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drCPpaT-dTw

We are chained to the day

King Charles-Early thoughts of Final Days

This guy is quirky and fun. And he has wonderful hair and an interesting voice with which he attempts to rap and strangely succeeds in a strange way that shouldn't work but does. I love him and he's got wonderful lyrics which I try to listen to but they get a little mumbled in the music. Anyway he's different and speaks the straight forward truth with no gimics and fakery. He looks like some rock God then sings like he does, like a high class political activist, his pronunciation is wonderful. Like a charming and gentlemanly Itch (The King Blues) The video is strange and as some one has commented, can be a little awkward to watch but heyho.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGO-5egqDLM&feature=related

"Find me a rich man who doesn't want more!"

The thrill of the chase and all that.

Why is it whenever I discover a sick new band they split up/have split up. Thanks to Last FM I heard these guys about 3 months ago and proceeded to discover they had split up. Sad times. The main singer is now working on a new project (www.bearsdenmusic.co.uk) which is interesting. They remind me of a more vocally gifted Bright Eyes. I really do love their music and so I shall do two songs of theirs and another in this post, ooh spoiling myself.

Never love again-more upbeat and racy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53RmxAbRzQo

Let yourself love (I need to do this, more in the other blog soon) - calmer and deeper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs7DkxT0JZc&feature=related

"It's just another dream, just another nightmare. Except you forgot to close your eyes""

And now Mystery Jets. This song is how I feel right now. Young love is ridiculous I know but at the time it feels like the only thing in the world. Like you've never felt so happy but you know it's because you will never see that person again that is keeping the memory of them so happy? The chase and the feeling that you will never be satisfied and be with them is thrilling is a little distressing and it's this feeling we (I) really like, if painful at times. Like the anticipation of an event is better than the event itself and the feeling of chasing something you can't have is the best part. Sad but true, I'm always out for new experiences and not get stagnant and boring.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz-FoGp3p0s&ob=av2n

What a colourful day

Alan Pownall- Colourful Day

This is a glorious song as well. Could be overly up beat and cringe worthy but Pownall executes it perfectly, with his melancholy voice and depressed sound making the perfect soundtrack to my moping I love it. He sounds like a better Charlie Simpson, consider it for a minute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdPVDkYm7ug

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_g3pT8nac8

It's all in my mind now, but I can't help thinking why it's oh so quiet.

Curious

Give her right of way

Joshua Radin- Winter

This guy is wonderful. Except he cancelled on Goldcoast last year which is possibly the deepest thing you could do to such a lovely group of festival organisers. They booked him early before he got famous and then when he had a hit his management booked him for lots of gigs in America and he couldn't make Goldcoast, pretty lame if you ask me. But he has a gorgeous voice, it's very delicate and fits the song perfectly. Also the lyrics are something I can relate to quite well right now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHlf08yTPiU

Seth Lakeman- White Hare

Now this guy is on a par with the singer from Gaslight Anthem in the best, gruffest, most manly yet still soft and caring voice contest. They are both spectacular. He has a certain rustic manly rugged noise behind his endearing lyrics and caring country sound. Very peculiar. He also looks like he could knock me out in one punch which is always a positive ahah. Beautiful human being with a wonderful voice. Horriffic video though. Do not watch it, it may ruin it.

okay changed the link the video is still not nice! But apparently live he is amazing so I shall put that on my to do list. And the fact his name is Seth is just awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx-ZdSLaUOY

It's cold, fast and confusing

Siiick song today.

Beans on Toast-Things to do before you're thirty

Since Beans on Toast supported Frank Turner on a tour in 2008/2009? I've been fascinated by him. In the way in which Frank Turner shouts his political views at you in a wonderful yet imposing way Beans on Toast almost wafts them towards you, allowing you to pluck them out of the air should you wish to listen or even agree. He just seems really relaxed in what he does and the undiscovered, dirty life seems to suit him well. I imagine he's the sort of person who just drifts through life making lots of friends and blagging sofa spaces off them to sleep on. He's the guy who at school you thought "how on earth will he make it through life?" but he's the annoying one who does nothing and still has a better life than you...git. But yeah he's wonderful and his melodic wanderings are lovely to listen to and great to relax to. It's almost political music for people who couldn't give a toss about anything. Like me.

Unfortunately it's not on youtube (boo) but it is on soundcloud I think so seriously listen, it's not that hard to listen to in all honesty you could have it on in the background whilst doing the crossword but you may get distracted, apologies.

http://soundcloud.com/stayloose/15-beans-on-toast-things-to-do-before-youre-thirty

Radio XFM

The Temper Trap-Sweet Disposition

Heard this in the car today on the radio and decided it was a very strange and interesting song. It's odd in that it has appealed to so many people despite the fact it is not an especially pop sounding song but also in the way in which it progresses. Not only in pitch and notes from an alarmingly high noise to a mellow more tuneful sound but in the way the tempo develops and the drum beat drops and becomes more prominent. Bit of a breakthrough for pop music here, the lyrics are also wonderfully complex and meaningful if you think about them, yet also universal and not difficult to relate to. Really a feat of music, congratulations Temper Trap. Now hurry up and produce us some more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN7HQrgakZU

Sunday Song

Sunday 14th August

Gay for Johnny Depp- Shh, put the shiv to my throat

How interesting. These guys have got a very strange sound that is not worthy of a Sunday listening session but I like it. When I'm angry I will listen to them again. They emit very odd noises in a kind of charming sequence haha not good for 6.30 on a Sunday though so today I shall do two songs.

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

Gomez- Bubblegum years

This as Sam Duckworth has reminded me is a wonderful Sunday song. So relaxing and peaceful. I can envisage myself on a beach in the evening with a fire and the sun going down behind a rock with the person I love (...) or a group of friends. Or simply driving in the rapidly vanishing light to an unknown destination with no cares. Ahh so lovely, what a chilled voice singing some complex lyrics in such a relaxed way. What are bubblegum years?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyl0zbCSN80

And I'm already f*****g wasted

Alright August isn't a great month, too many holidays. (Not that I'm complaining)

However Saturday 13th August

Stromae/Vato Gonzalez-Alors on danse

Strange song this one. The original is amazing in French as the sound carries through and the rhythm rather than the lyrics which is strange for me. But the English version is just hilarious. The original is about genuine issues (well I say genuine mainly moaning about work but yeah genuine) and the English one, rather appropriately as it was played so much in Malia, is about waking up in the morning still drunk/savagely hungover. Such a fun song and just a laugh really. His voice is also very blunt and so half hearted that you can't help but like it I think. Reminds me of such incredible nights and I keep remembering more and more and laughing to myself about it!

Vato Gonzalez cover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNItq8xTy88

Stromae original http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHoT4N43jK8

Saxobeat

Mr Saxobeat-Alexandra Stan

This song must have been played about 15 times a night in Malia. Such a club anthem and not much else. According to one of my friends it's "such a classic summer song...."whatever but I do quite like it. Her voice is interesting a little deeper than a lot of female pop artists. Very very very easy to dance to and even I could do it, with a little intoxicating help. She's also very hot which makes me think I look like her when I'm dancing to this song....haha I wish! And the video is a little demeaning but I like to think it show's the way mens sexuality blurs their logic and the effect women can have over ignorant men. Quite empowering if you look at it that way....I also like the voice of whoever does the "mm yeah" I think it's a guy. Anyway OO AH MALIA!

What have we have become?

Sunday 7th August

I'm allowing the days I was on holiday. Too long. However here is a song for today. I have been all pop songed out from Malia and from hearing the same song at least 10 times a night so I've found some mellow kind of stuff to recover to.

Cary Brothers-Alien

Literally just found this so it won't be an in depth review but there are some quite clever lyrical references amoungst the obvious bland references about breaking peoples hearts and not meaning to. This is very very easy to listen to and exactly what I need right now. The lyrics are pretty basic and simple and the beat is slow and unchallenging. It's making me feel pretty chilled actually. There is some variation around 3 minutes actually it gets a little quicker, snazzy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is4MRv3ACWc