Pulp Disco

Fever Ray - When I Grow Up (Scuba's High Up Mix)

2010-01-09T09:29:00.001-08:00

Number One Enemy - Daisy Dares You

2010-01-09T09:23:00.001-08:00

2010-01-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

After circular arguments about the meaning of Owl City's 'Fireflies', so instead of seeming to care a BIT too much about these things, I will explain.
It's about 'Owl City's (see the nifty use of an apostrophe as a speech mark) trying to escape back to his innocence, hence the room full of toys in the video.

"I'd like to make myself believe
that planet Earth turns slowly"

Time goes too quickly, and poor 'city' is losing faith.

"Its hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep"

Kids don't like lie-ins, and constantly want to stay awake. Don't challenge my authority!!!

"To ten million fireflies
I'm weird 'cause i hate goodbyes
i got misty eyes as they said farewell
but ill know where several are
if my dreams get real bizarre
'cause i saved a few and i keep them in a jar"

Try to remember your childhood.

X

Sound of 2010 versus predictions

2010-01-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

1. Ellie Goulding
2. Marina & the Diamonds
3. Ebony Bones!
4. Pull in emergency
5. Gold Panda

<---PredictionsActual BBC list--->

1. Ellie Goulding
2. Marina & The Diamonds
3. Delphic
4. Hurts
5. The Drums

Accostic version of 'Hollywood'

2010-01-09T08:42:00.001-08:00

That cute little Shakira, Marina rhyme gets me every time.

Quitters Raga - Gold Panda

2010-01-09T08:40:00.001-08:00

Cryptic Dream

2009-12-13T11:49:00.001-08:00

Log Lady Train

2009-11-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

While google -ing a certain David Lynch heroine, i came upon this lovely little lady:

www.myspace.com/logladytrainmusic

Sound of 2010 in advance

2009-11-22T07:40:00.000-08:00

1. Ellie Goulding
2. Marina & the Diamonds
3. Ebony Bones!
4. Pull in emergency
5. Gold Panda

Wiley feat. Chew Fu - Take That

2009-11-22T04:24:00.001-08:00

whats with the lack of capitals?

2009-10-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

maybe it's jsut my obsessive tendancies, or does writing like this make anyone angry? oh, i forgot, it's just a way of making what you say seem detatched and mysterious...

Andy Warhol & Crazy Japanese Directors

2009-10-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

Back from the 'Pop Life' exhibition at the tate, and jesus I'm angry. Was Warhol so up his backside that he didn't realise that basing most of your work ON YOURSELF is just sad and concieted. Call it a parody, or a comment on a consumerist society it depresses me. Just becuase he inspired so much of what is important to art, dosen't mean I have to like him!

My day was rather redeemed however by Takashi Murakami's weird 'geek-culture' film starring Kirsten Dunst. In this 4 minute video,the lovely actress sports a dashing blue wig, and dances through the streets of Tokyo to the Vapour's 'Turning Japanese'. Apparently it is a deep documentry into the sexuality present in 'Otaku' culture, but let's face it, it's just cute.

Ellie Goulding - Under The Sheets

2009-10-24T07:16:00.001-07:00

YOU GOT THE LOVE!

2009-10-23T03:23:00.001-07:00

Florence + The Machine is no longer a prospect for a diva. This video shows she already is... I'm just so glad they decided to release it as a single. A perfect way to finish...
The Remix is interesting. I'm not sure if I like it or not!

Amy Winehouse Protege

2009-10-11T06:54:00.001-07:00

Whether or not Amy can provide moral and financial support for her god-daughter becomes very irrelevant after you've heard her voice:

A Bullletproof Heavy Cross

2009-09-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

This is much more than your average run of the mill mashup.

Boycott Corporate Manipulative Bullshit (BCMB)

2009-09-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

Flick through your television machine and you're pressented with an array of high budget, hackneyed colourful reality TV programmes. The X Factor is just one of these; all of these 'change your life forever shows' which manipulate vunerable people, be them poor, or young and insecure.

Perhaps the worst current contender is 'Grease: The School Musical' presenting us with 30 or so minors all given the chance to have 'a one in a lifetime opportunity' or some other soppy phrase. The poor children are put under so much pressure at such an early age and the result of this is broadcasted nationally.
'To go in to schools and have children perform (and crash) in front of TV cameras purely for entertainment is the lowest of the low.'

Going into schools invites a whole new cohort into a unhealthy obsession with fame.

So, I invite you to jon this in agreement to boycott this sort of television, not just for quality of viewing or whatever. And you have to fucking mean it as well. I'm just gonna skip the channel.

Uni-Qlo or H&M?

2009-09-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

Japanese Efficiency or Cheap Revolutionary?

Robbie Spencer's 'Dark Romanticism'

2009-09-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

The shockingly marvelous effects of taking vintage further than it was designed to go. WOW. Shot by CARLOTTA MANAIGO.

I love the Dark baroque feel to this shoot.

Tavi

2009-09-18T07:44:00.000-07:00

She dosen't want me to write about her... So just take my word for it

http://tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com/

I'm Not Your Toy - La Roux

2009-09-06T03:06:00.000-07:00

It's great to finally see Elly smile, 3:03 :)

Unplugged

2009-09-06T02:43:00.001-07:00

Sometimes, the hair, the flair and the synths get in the way of Elly Jackson...

Cause Blue Skies are Coming, But I Know That It's Hard

2009-09-02T03:43:00.000-07:00

Noah and the Whale. Beautiful.

Not Fair (Far Too Loud Electro Radio Edit) - Lily Allen

2009-09-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

Laurie Unwin + CD Spinz

2009-09-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

Laurie Unwin , remember that name. While making ambient hip-hop sound way better than it's meant to be with his partner CD Spinz, they languish unsigned. What is this world coming too? His Demo track, Pirate distracts Drum n' Bass from the pantomime that is becoming (Thanks to the like of Pendulum) and offers a little more. 'Brain Freeze' is a highlight, starting off with a distant, misty feeling beep n' bass (Imagine Gorillaz smoking zoot with faithless), layering on CD's vocals and leading to grand crescendo of synths *I'm gonna fly away some day* and then fades back into the darkness.

'Raid' and a rework of Bonnie Tyler's 'Holding out for a hero' are the more fun of the records, utterly enjoyable.

Ghosts n' Stuff - deadmau5e ft. Rob Swire

2009-09-01T09:17:00.001-07:00

A Tribute to Miss. Winehouse

2009-08-28T05:18:00.000-07:00

In October 2006, a beehive bearing, diva gone wrong (with an uncanny resemblance to Janice from F.r.i.e.n.d.s) punched her way into the UK music scene reaching the Top 10 in no time. To those glued to Top 40 records, Amy appeared to have sprung out of nowhere to write one of the most recognisable songs of this decade. The Mark Ronson produced hit, 'Rehab' brought Motown-jazz back to the charts, later winning three Grammy Awards for Best Song, Best Record and Best Female Vocal Performance categories. WOW.

Her first album 'Frank' introduced the Diva, charting at 13 and having entered the Album Charts twice. With this secured success, the industry was ready for 'Back To Black', a dark-soul album with the same sentiment as the old album, but with a Mark Ronson big band feeling. With such favourite lines as, 'What kind of fuckery is this?/ You made me miss the Slick Rick gig.' that take your traditional good-girl divas *Celine Dion*, and punches them in the face. The track 'Back To Black' with it's funeral bells and violins is perhaps the most catchy and dramatic of her songs that depicts a dying relationship better than 'Foundations' *Kate Nash.*

"I asked my dad if he thought I needed to go. He said no, but I should give it a try. So I did, for just 15 minutes. I went in said 'hello' and explained that I drink because I am in love and have screwed up the relationship. Then I walked out."

This is where the substance-abuse comes in. Surely an opening track that states ''They tried to me me go to Rehab / I said No, No, No' must herald a future downfall? Coinciding with the release of her second album, Amy began a downward spiral into addiction. Barely a day went by in 2007 that didn't mention some new Amy-Scandal, she was hospitalized for overdoses on E, Ketamine, Cocaine and Alcohol and videos were posted of her supposedly smoking crack-cocaine. Her abusive relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil did not help and the two were photographed bruised and scarred in London. Amy punches Paparazzi. Amy's dad asks fans to boycott her album. Amy misses gigs. The tabloids were taking advantage again, and it was so readable. It seemed that perhaps Amy's wayward image went a lot further the heavy eyeliner and retro clothing.

But, believe it or not in January 2008, Amy Winehouse went to Rehab. Her husband was sent to jail for Physical assault and Amy took a holiday on the Island of St. Lucia, where she experienced an apparent 'holiday-love' with actor Josh Bowman and starts to look better and better, apparently coming off drugs and making a gradual recovery. It was the outcome that nobody expected, a recovery, eating out at the Prezzo resteraunt and leaving the resteraunt at 10:30 without misbehaving. She's been there, done that and recovered, and every good soul in the country sighed with relief when they heard about it.

Maybe it's time to ask, what makes us lap-up articles about such a bad role-model? Because Britain adores it. The introduction of such icons in the 60's produced National treasures such as Mick Jagger and James Dean. More contemporary youth treasures include the likes of Pete Doherty and of course, Winehouse. There is something so infuriating about someone with an extrodinary amount of talent, who in the words of many middle aged mothers, 'Throws it all away', and the youth love it. They don't want to be like her, but they want to channel her rebellious spirit and style. It's a bonus that she is one of her time's most iconic singers.

Admit it, that little bad side of you finds the mental image of Amy Winehouse appearing dancing topless in front of an audience of posh worrier mums very, very funny.

Originally published at shizazzle.com

Janelle Monae - Many Moons

2009-08-22T10:34:00.001-07:00

Apart from sounding suspiciously like the 'Mona The Vampire' theme tune, I think Janelle could be one of the most refreshing things since Febreze and her dancing... Wow. I'm already signed up to her fanclub. If Michael was still alive, he would be proud.

The Covers That if I could hear, I would die a happy man

2009-08-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

PLEASE!

In For The Kill - Estelle
Funhouse - La Roux
Fascination - Bloc Party
The Girl You lost to Cocaine - The Mystery Jets
9 to 5 - Daft Punk
Bulletproof - Lily Allen
Just Dance - Ida Maria
Dance Wiv Me - Little Boots and Jamie T
Cassius - CSS
Mykonos - The Magic Numbers
Standing In The Way Of Control - Basement Jaxx
Umbrella - Laura Marling
Little Secrets - Florence + The Machine

Another Elly.. Ellie Goulding

2009-08-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

I finally have a newcomer to watch, Ellie Goulding. Her name almost rhymes with Laura Marling and has about the same number of letters, but this girl sings Polly Scattergood landscapes with Laura Marling's blissfull voice with Passion Pit's synth sophistication. The combination is hardly a diva, actually a bit reminiscent of some of Avril Lavigne's downbeat songs, which can be a bit of a flannel dampener. Forgeting the flannel, her music is beautiful folksy electro, a pudding (desert to you americans) to Goldfrapp's 'Seventh Tree'. Try it;

However much I love Passion Pit, I never liked 'Sleepyhead'. It sort of reminded me of the voices that people hear in their heads just before they decide to massacre a school because 'They Don't Like Mondays.' Nice little Boomtown Rats homage there...
This rework with Starsmith is the business, and gives Ellie the upbeat sound she lacked a wee bit;

Drumming Song (Jackbeats remix)

2009-08-21T07:47:00.000-07:00

It seems like anything Jackbeatz touch at the moment turns to gold, this is another good example;

Wow....

In For The Kooks / Don't stop being bulletproof

2009-08-21T07:38:00.000-07:00

Amazing Mashup mix here, a little bit of the Roux and a wee bit of Kooks. It actually genuinely sounds amazing, could almost be a duet!

Oh and heard the next one on Annie Mac, this is going to be huge! The Jackbeats have been climbing over unsuspecting tracks this summer and this sounds really funky, but with a distinct innocent touch;

Mini Viva

2009-08-17T04:38:00.000-07:00

Disco smash? I'm a big fan of the Fred Falke remix, specifically for the lack of vocals in that version. I Love the overall composition of the song, especially the Japanese chorus intro, and I'm sure this'll be a hit. I was not at first a fan of the vocals, but I'm not going to lie, they've grown on me. There are times this week where I think I might not be able to get up in the morning if it wasn't for this song...

Drumming Song

2009-08-16T15:25:00.000-07:00

Florence's most dramatic single yet, Drumming Song is ready to be belted on to radio stations up and down the country, and actually gave me shivers when I heard it first. There is also something extraordinarily catchy about the repeated "Louder than cirens, louder than bells, sweeter than heaven, but harder than hell."

The video was filmed in Shoreditch church, and is not as exiting as her previous videos, but I respect it for toning down a wee bit!

This Summer's Theme Tunes

2009-07-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

Audacity Of Huge - Simian Mobile Disco

Remedy - Little Boots

Rabbit Heart - Florence + The Machine

Bulletproof - La Roux

Mercy Mercy - Le Kid

We Are Golden - Mika

I Go I Go I Go - The Wave Machines

One More Chance - Bloc Party

Get Shaky - Ian Carey

I Gotta Feelin - Black Eyed Peas

Raindrops -Basement Jaxx

Sticks 'n Stones - Jamie T

Popiholla - Chicane

The Show - Lenka

Le Kid

2009-07-30T11:27:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what would happened if Cyndi Lauper devoured Girls Aloud? Le Kid are the next lot on the acceptable-Europop scene, following in the footsteps of Alphabeat, Robyn and Abba (Do not diss Abba or you will be crucified.) There's no shortage of this genre, but to be fair, who cares!

'Mercy Mercy' might just be this years Fascination , and has made the infamously bad 'Can't Speak French' sound much better than it has any right to sound! The video is also pretty decent, and to me is a breath of fresh air from some this year's awful videos, bubblegum goodness!

What could wonky poppers do next?

2009-07-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

According to Wikipedia, 'Wonky Pop is a term used to describe a loose grouping of musical acts that play what the BBC calls "quirky, catchy and credible pop". '
There we go, I've summed it up by quoting someone else's words, so I can go and have a coffee now!

Those hipsters among you that keep keep their pointy noses in the Music Press will be familiar with all the recent documentation of 'Woman's Triumph Over The Pop Genre' in 2009. The likes of Lady Gaga, La Roux, LadyHawke and Little Boots (Weirdly all of which begin with an 'L', coincidence? I think not!) run the Synth corner of this style, and it is not often you will read about one without the other. (Note; despite her chart success, lady gaga is just hitching a ride on the hype horse)

It is believed the term 'Wonky Pop' was first used about Mika way back in 2007, but it is not fair to say that he created the phenomenon. Goldfrapp and Madonna was doing it Wonky-like while the Katie 'Ting Tings' was learning to shout! Now there is a way of describing the music, acts are queuing up to join the party. Given how recent this term was coined, about 90% of these acts have not released their second album (Mika has only just clocked in with his new single) and we are left wondering what they could do next.

Of course, Wonkyness stretches over a wide surface. R&B from the likes of Kid Kudi, VV Brown's Soul influences, Florence's dreamer-rock and Passion Pit's art-electro. As music grows, artists are pressed to find a distinguishing feature and a sound that matches it.

Take La Roux, which translates from french to 'The Red-Haired' one. Paralells could be drawn between her and Blondie, not just the 80's theme, but The Hair Colour. Blondie's eye-catching peroxide and La Roux's redhead rendition of the classic Flock of Seagulls cut. Her looks, in the nicest way possible are androgynous, but this is something that so belongs 80's that she herself emulates. These are things that will be important throughout her career, if not central but he music is a different matter.

Her music has a recurring beat present in every song which gives a tinny effect and uses the same set of synths over her wailing vocals to provide a Sweet / Sour contrast. This is one of my undeniably favourite combinations in music history, but how will the Redhead keep it up for a second album? Madonna was known for reinventing herself with every album, going through a disco stage, hippie goddess, R&B, Urban Pop. The catch is that Madonna relied on new producers, whereas La Roux co-produces her own music with Ben Langmaid, who I assume is a close friend. Can he do anything else?

The Same applies to the other electronic acts, Little Boots and Passion Pit. Where next?

A question is raised, should artists feel they have to change their genre to survive? Strong influences to Wonky Pop were masters of reinventing themselves, David Bowie, Kylie, Madonna, so should this trait be a MUST for all the artists?

Please vote in the polls so I can compile information for a follow-on article :)

No more POISON!

2009-07-26T08:55:00.001-07:00

This song will most surely become the soundtrack to my summer. Lacking in Substance? BULLLLLLLSHIT!

Boom Boom... Pow?

2009-07-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

I'm actually really, REALLY starting to like the Black Eyed Peas again. Caught in the cliches and chart success, I forgot how pioneering the Pea's music is.
Boom Boom Pow feels a bit like a track from Gorilla'z 'Demon Days', not in terms of sound but in the way it captures a dead futuristic landscape. Where much of the Gorillaz material lacks catchyness, this doesn't fail.

Madonna's Disappointing New Single

2009-07-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

Again, I'm disappointed. Madonna used to be innovative in her sound, but this sounds like a rejected Britney B-Side...

Polly IsSheGood?

2009-07-17T13:15:00.000-07:00

Well I think so! Please Don't touch is playful in that kind of skipping child way, reminds me of Jesca Hoop meets Cassie from skins. I can see how her experimental vocals could be somewhat agitating, but hey it's a marmite situation. Worth a listen anyway, It's not deep, but fun. :)

Stuck on THE KILL

2009-07-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

Please note, sacrilege will ensue.

Oh, and because I promised myself I'd limit posts on these guys, I'm gonna include this too. It's a La Roux track I haven't heard before but it is subtley different from the others. The tinny drum isn't as defined:

More 'Hidden Tracks'

2009-07-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

Now I've discovered that a 'Hidden Track' isn't just my own little neologism, and is an actual phenomenon. I discovered a further two artists have used these, Little Boots with her 'Hands' and Laura Marling with 'Alas, I Cannot Swim'.
Obviously a part of musical fashion has surpassed me...

Rabbit Heart Meaning

2009-07-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

Apparently the lovely Florence + The Machine's 'Rabbit Heart' refers to her entry into the music industry.

"I must become a lion hearted girl,
Ready for a fight,
Before I make the final sacrifice"
She must be brave to survive life in the limelight?

"This is a gift, it comes with a price,
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?"
She has the gift of music, but it comes with a price.
Who in the industry can she trust?

"Midas is king and he holds me so tight"
Midas is a mythical king noted for his ability to turn all he touched to Gold, hence
"And turns me to gold in the sunlight"

This would fill a lot of blog space if I did it every week!

The Magic Numbers!

2009-07-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

The Magic Numbers are coming back apparently! I don't know anything more than this, but according to some newspaper picture I picked up at the Blur festival they are! There was a picture with all their happy smiling faces beaming at me, they honestly look like the happiest most honest group ever.
The set of siblings sat up give this band's sound a really close-knit feel, almost as if everyone was contributing! I think it was actually my dad who introduced them to me.......... *que tumbleweed*

I guess this band suits my dad though, because they too look as if they are still in a different, carefree era! Their debut cult album sound-tracked my 2005 summer, their close to perfect 'Love Me Like You' sounds like the sound equivalent of evening sunshine. Perhaps one of my favorite tracks of theirs is 'Hymn for her' , a hidden track starting at 7.17 on the track 'try', the last 3 minutes of which are a musical, glockenspiel-y epiphany.

(Note: 'In the field of recorded music, a hidden track (sometimes secret track or ghost track) is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener.' - Wikipedia)

Their second album, 'Those the Brokes' didn't achieve quite the same success that the previous reached the same sucess of the previous one in single sales, so I am imploring you to buy their new album and singles when it is finished. LOVE!

22 - Lily Allen

2009-07-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

Video for new single, improvement on the disappointing video for the last single, and a very clever idea. A mirror imposed juxtaposition between 22 lily and 30 lily.

Lungs - Florence + The Machine

2009-07-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

Florence and the Machine. Nu hippie goddess, magical weaver of spellbinding music.
Florence this year has been a 'watch' point for almost everyone this year, and it is not suprising given some of the outputs of this woman.

"Dog Days Are Over" - 4:12
"Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" - 3:52
"I'm Not Calling You a Liar" - 3:05
"Howl" - 3:34
"Kiss with a Fist" - 2:04
"Girl with One Eye" - 3:38
"Drumming Song" - 3:43
"Between Two Lungs" - 4:09
"Cosmic Love" - 4:15
"My Boy Builds Coffins" - 2:56
"Hurricane Drunk" - 3:13
"Blinding" - 4:40
"You've Got the Love" (Bonus Track) - 2:48
"Swimming" (iTunes Bonus Track) - 3:22

The album opens with a lutey dreamy, if not improvised-sounding calmer, that dives into a determined killer chorus, 'Dog Days Are Over' (Subtle name change.) It's a shame this track didn't climb higher on the UK charts, because it is perfectly deserving. It is reinforced by the instant classic, 'Rabbit Heart' , which is wonderfully layered and produced, 3.52 of a solid screamingly catchy song. 'I'm Not Calling You A Liar' and 'Drumming Song' are perhaps the closest we get to a low point in the album, at times you feel like saying, "OK dear, you've told me already, I get the message", but it is at least enjoyable on a background level.
'Howl' is one of my favourites of the new track, and contrasts with the previous by getting straight to the point. It's dramatic enough to be a fantasy film chase scene sountracker and it's chorus will soon be a singalong favourite. I'm thinking fifth single? Kiss With A Fist is to Lungs and White Light was to 'Demon Days', a minimal feel-good clanger to momentarily break the spell. Girl with One Eye feels so Bluesy and I genuinely think it'll become one of those classic songs that get passed down by cover after cover (points to Hallelujah and American Pie.) I get shivers whenever I hear that screaming 'CRY' towards the end.
'Drumming Song' is to be the next single and there is something beautifully catchy and fulfilling about the lyrics 'Louder than silence, Louder than bells, Sweeter than heaven and Harder than Hell.'
'Cosmic Love' has made it to number two in Ireland despite not being a single, and Hurricane Drunk is a Park-bench anthem. I have had the privileged experience of listening to much of florence's accoustic work on a friends (also called Florence weirdly) burned CD. I think the only thing that this album lacks are some more accousticy, less-produced songs (i.e. Girl With One Eye, kiss with a fist) because at a certain point in the album, it all seems too much to deal with!

A huge highlight is 'You've Got The Love', a cover of the Source's dance track. I love this, it dosen't just do justice to the original, it's better! I don't think it deserves to be just a cover!
To top it all off we have 'Swimming', which is an amazing finisher ... Like an epic Jefferson Airplane. There are some earlier more upbeat recordings as well which are worth a listen to.

BUY

Elly Unplugged

2009-06-28T04:03:00.001-07:00

Ebony Bones

2009-06-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

I have been fortune enough to have been brought up spending every Christmas in the warm confides of Antigua and every time I visit I observe how incredibly energetic and upbeat a-feeling atmosphere the Island gives off.

This energy is perfectly captured by a Miss Ebony Thomas (Ebony Bones), who I have had the recent pleasure of listening to. She writes, produces and records her own music in her bedroom, but is not to be mistaken with this years breed of 'bedroom-pop' campaigners. After Zane Lowe gave her single We Know All About U the position of "The Hottest Record In The World Today", Bones became the most played unsigned artist on Radio 1. What to call her genre? It simply cannot be categorized with such a demeaning title as 'Carnival Pop!

The first record I heard by this entirely new type of diva was 'The Muzik', a tinny but contrastingly fiery track. One of the track's themes is defiance, and those united by oppression. The song listens more like a sermon or a Battle speech than anything else, the video cleverly uniting people from all over the world through 'The Muzik'. It has this weird stirring effect in the depths of your soul, Wonderful!

While, We Know All About You manages a funky, but very intimidating emulation of a 1984 world. Ebony Bones could possibly be something COMPLETELY NEW on to the pop culture scene.

Remember this? The CSS video competition

2009-06-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

MEMORIES!

My article about Fleet Foxes reminded me of SubPop Record's weird knack of finding talent before anyone else. CSS sprung to mind, I looked up a few of their videos for a memory moment and low and behold I remembered the video contest for their single 'Alcohol'.
For those of you who were not familiar with this, the band and QOOB, whether or not it was out of sheer laziness started a competition to create the singles promo-video.
The winner was a Jared Eberhardt, who triumphed with his stop frame 'bunny' representation of the band.

Creepy or no? Anyway, this contest sparked so many original videos, I thought it was worth remembering;

Subpop Strikes Again

2009-06-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

Fleet Foxes are my late discovery, having heard their names so many times before, but only just latched on to them.
This 5 piece band appeals to me not only because of their truly lovely melodies, but also reminding me of the joy I had listening to 'The Magic Numbers' debut in 2005[?]
Have a listen,

Yes, truly, deeply Lovely

The Synthpop Arguement

2009-06-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

It seems that the main, if not only thing I seem to be writing about anymore is the emergence of synth pop female stars, and it is true that the 'emergence' has been drastically over-hyped.
So I was delighted to read an amusing review in the Guardian by Alex Miller that muses;

' Wouldn't it be great if Florence had a cock? Or La Roux had foreskin? Or Little Boots had huge balls? Then maybe we wouldn't have to suffer under the weight of endless editorials about the "re-emergence of women in pop". '

Almost perfectly on time, I received a comment from an anonymous user referencing the following article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2009/may/26/little-boots-la-roux

The article reads,

'Little Boots and La Roux don't speak for synth pop : For all their intelligence, Little Boots and La Roux look and sound like polished pop stars. And they are not forging openings for stranger, more interesting electronic music.'

The main points made are true, these two artists lack 'the abrasive edge, the awkwardness' of their more underground counterparts, (indicates to 'Fever Ray' , The Knife spin off.) It implies that artists such as these are preventing their colleagues from making appearance.

Hang on, I swear the whole point of this genre was that you don't have to be edgy of 'awkward' to be important in music. This is the centrepoint of the movement, creating music that appeals to the public is not a boundary, mainstream music is not necessarily created for a mainstream audience. 'Mainstream' is not a genre, it is just music that happens to allure to the majority of people. 'Abrasive' music is however specifically created to appeal to the sort of people who wrote this article.

I quote Little Boots herself, "There's room in popular culture to do things that are creative and not exactly straightforward, Just because something has got the possibility to appeal to a mainstream audience doesn't mean you've got to be bland." She never pretented to be anything but a ditzy pop-princess.

People have got to stop this anti-hype mechanism; the theory that all music that is pushing the boundaries, but still popular should have been created pre-naughties. This just isn't realistic, attention can only be good for the scene! That sort of view belongs to the 'landfill indie' which this 'Little / Roux' genre is campaigning against.

Critisising these artists for not being underground enough? We might as well critisize Britney for not having a guitar or Madonna for not sounding raw enough!

La Roux Straight To The Number One Spot

2009-06-27T09:56:00.000-07:00

This is the time where I can gloat about how La Roux has triumphed once again. Bulletproof is possibly even catchier than her last single and once again, the zinc remix is PERFECT!

There is also a slightly more diverse remix, with a thumping baseline, (that however much I love La Roux, she lacks) :
http://hypem.com/track/849036/La+Roux-Bulletproof+(iamxl+remix)

Something's Wrong

2009-05-23T04:05:00.001-07:00

We've so much amazing music at the dawn of the new year... But you only have take a look at the current iTunes top 10 to realise there is obviously something wrong...

1. Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
(The black eyed peas, quite frankly BORING comeback with Fergie's cringe attempt at vocals)

3. Kiss Me through the phone - Soulja Boy Tellem (NO! WHY?!)

4. Number 1 - Tinchy Stryder
(Responsible for keeping la roux from the Number 1 spot, and is blatantly an attempt to rival Bittersweet Symphony, and even sounds pretty much the same!)

8. Tiny Dancer - Ironik
(This could just lose all of Elton John's credibility!)

WHAT IS HAPPENING?!

Alex Roots....Has been scouted

2009-05-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

Kelly Klarkson headbanging chorus... and Cyndi Lauper creepy backing vocals? Toyah and lene levich?
I hate it, and it's not what I should like...
BUT I LOVE IT!

Jamie T - Sticks and Stones

2009-05-22T16:07:00.000-07:00

The cheeky little bugger is back with a new single that at first listen sounds as raw as his original work and just as musically pleasing! It even feels a bit 'Just Jack'-y at times (in a good way though!)
It dosen't quite measure up to the anthem factor of sheila, but after a few listens, it might become just as fun!

Little Boots vs. La roux

2009-05-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

2009 heralds new steps for electro-indie, perhaps even further in progress from Nu Rave two or so years ago. This is an all out battle against the retro acts; The Wombats and Hooisers of this world, the dreadful offspring of a genre which has been done to death.

Leading this army into the sunset are the two lovely ladies of this years music movement are the likes of Little Boots and La Roux. Little Boots' hypnotic, almost epic sounding spacepop first made it on to the table last sumer, posting her jimjam videos on her youtube channel. The first I heard of her was September's mention of her in Mixmag's 'Introducing section.'

In interviews, she stated "I want to change people thinking that because it's a poppy thing that a record label's pressed a button on the giant songmaking computer and this popped out at the end."

Intereting! A few jumbled records became available and an iTunes EP was released. Her first REAL single, 'New in Town' is due for release this month.

La Roux had no such build up, and her wionderfully (if anything) shrill voice first penetrated my cranium after a single giveaway by the lovely NME! It was love. Much of her music is reminiscent of what I imagined would happen if Prince decided to swallow Depeche Mode.

Oh! And the hair! By Jesus, I've seen her live, and I really don't know how it manages to stay up!

However the Boots' sound is so deep, some tracks even resemble soundtracks from a children's fantrasy film, something very new sounding. She has something which La Roux lacks; track variation. Her sound ranges from deep club aimed sounds, the Hot Chip produced 'Stuck on Repeat', with a repettitive baseline that does exactly what it says on the tin, and Greg Kurstin produced 'New in Town' has a traditionally cheesy pop chorus, but her sound prevails and pulls it off perfectly.

Jowever, La Roux delivers a much more upbeat sound than Boots, energy which is perfectly presented for the dancefloor. Her album is full of those agonisingly catchy hooks that makes you want to hurt yourself when you're not listening to them. Despite thier similarities, the 'When Doves Cry'-esque 'In For the Kill' and 'Quicksand'. In 'Bulletproof' La Roux briefly dumps the high voice andseems almost angry . AND IT'S WONDERFUL.

You can't pit these two artist against each other. Yes, they're both birds with keyboards, but their sounds are so non-interchangable, it's not worth it.

Space Disco and Futurepop.

La Roux (Again...)

2009-05-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

As I consider how many times I should allow myself to reference La Roux in one blog, I also cannot resist mentioning her new single which I had the privilege of viewing live. It was immense, and so is this soon to be chart topping single!

New In Town - Video!

2009-05-01T11:17:00.000-07:00

I like to feel that I've been with Little Boots right from the beginning (I know that's not true, but it helps me sleep at night) mag article, I even feel like I know her personally (it's not stalking... YET!) I can hardly contain my exitement when I announce how far the Boots has travelled, when I present you with her new video single. It may be tramps dancing around with trolleys, but hey, Little Boots' unique style makes it look close to glamour!

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=56329368

Bonkers - Dizzie Rascal Video

2009-04-28T07:42:00.000-07:00

The video for Dizzie Rascal's 'Bonkers' has just been released to the public,
give it a watch, here
(It's not ON youtube yet!) GRR!

It dosent tickle my fancy, rather more reminding me of the old Comfort softner adverts, but the song is worth it!

Ami Underground

2009-04-20T08:53:00.001-07:00

Ami is part of a group of sketchers known as the 'Urban Sketchers', and takes his subject from public places and people around him. His website is worth taking a look at:

http://amiunderground.blogspot.com/

New In Town - Little Boots

2009-04-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

New In Town

The 'Bedroom Pop' electronic seamstress attracted a lot of hype in January this year after she appeared in the Upcoming section of Mixmag (Last Summer) and then the NME Radar section.
Her tinny but almost magical sound emerged after she quit her last band, Dead Disco in need of creating her own individual sound,
'I got tired of looking bored in front of brick walls'.

A mention is worth giving to a number one spot on the BBC sound of 2009 (Won by ADELE the previous year.) A VERY long time passed since the hype. An iTunes EP was released, but did not reach a wide audience.

On her first 'Proper' record, she collaborates with Greg Kurstin (Lily Allen, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Kylie) , who is renowned for his electronic pop-perfectionist feel, but also for "The artist has let down the fans" records. This record by no means is the same. Boots delivers one of those killer chorus songs which you know for an instant will be a number *And I'm waiting for praise when it does*!
The problem is, Little Boots is (and I know this is a cliched thing to say) out to sell. The techno dreamy synth is still there, but is predictable and somewhat "I know what will come next"-y...

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even from early on, the artist has claimed,
"I wanted to make a pop record. I don’t care about being cool or edgy. I wanna reach people and I wanna make music that people have fun to and have a good time."
Well, that sounds familiar. That's exactly what's happening, Little Boots is too clever to stay underground. In this post I give the thumbs up to Little Boots for braving the mainstream scene,
and the finger to those indie scenesters and critics who are too cool for any one's worth.

Listen, unless your too-cool... Looking at you Gareth Grundy from The Observer

La Roux - In for the Kill

2009-04-16T12:09:00.000-07:00

La roux has finally released an official single, the quirky In For The Kill almost rivals the previous, Quicksand in terms of infectious catchyness. The video (which rather rudely cannot be embedded) has been aptly dubbed by Radio 1 as,'Top gear meets Blade Runner'. Have a look!

*Now #2 on the Download charts

The remix isn't half bad either:

Bonkers New Single - DIZZIE RASCAL

2009-04-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

Those of you who were lucky enough to live through the seventies (Well... That's an opinion point) are likely to be distracted when looking back on the era by the colors, the music, the culture and Gary Glitter. One thing you will probably have to be reminded of is the strange vocabulary that developed;

Bam!
To the max
Physce
Boo-yah
Bone Jacked

But my personal favorite is the emergence of the word "Bonkers", and I have Dizzie Rascal to thank for the comeback this word is scheduled to make.
Dizzie Rascal is the reason that hip-hop still survives. His most recent album, Maths + English , and collaborations with Calvin Harris and others (The lovely Lily Allen, and Joe Lean) further secured Dizzie as a successful mainstream artist. His Last single, Dance Wiv Me is widely accepted as one of the theme tunes to last summer

In His latest single, he teams up with Armand Van Helden to deliver a sound that is about as close to musical nirvana as possible with a catchy synth driven chorus,
"Some people think I'm bonkers but I just think I'm free/ And I'm just livin my life there's nothing crazy about meeeee."
Some have branded recent efforts as lacking in the substance and humour he once transmitted, and dubbing 'Bonkers' as just simply a 'Dance Wiv Me' afterthought.
It is true, the single is repetitive, and is not as lyrically dependant as for instance, 'Fix Up, Look Sharp'.

Like Kanye West's, The Rascal is simply experimenting with his sound and 'Bonkers' is a happy accident, perhaps the penicillin discovery in Grime.
I had to look long and far to find you a bootleg of this song, but it has been acheived (see below) and I will not rest till it is released.

O.A.S.U.M asks, What's your personal opinion? Dancey Dizzie or Grime Dizzie?
Comments would be lovely!

Its 2020, and the only Venue 02 haven't sponsored yet...

2009-04-04T11:22:00.000-07:00

Lindsay Lohan (Cough, Cough Glenn Close) floats onto Lily Allen's Stage

2009-04-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

I never thought I would mention Lindsay Lohan on this blog at all, let alone the third post! During Lily's performance at the Wiltern venue in L.A, the jobless star meandered onto Lily's stage during a cover of Britney's 'Womanizer', and attempted to recreate a slightly doped down scene from Fatal Attraction behind her. Presumably, Missus Lindsay is either promoting a new career with an odd publicity strategy, or happened to crave attention at the time. Once again, Lohan reminds us of how desperately she needs to buckle down, find some work and stop trying to boil people's rabbits.

Following Up On The Kylie Jokes...

2009-04-01T07:47:00.001-07:00

So Human

2009-04-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

Lady Sovereign made her career as the little white midget in the ever-developing grime scene. Despite being 5", she delivered a lippy, frank and loud sound, and it was lapped up by London's underground Scene. As her popularity rose, Lady reached a #6 in the UK charts with a little thanks to the Ordinary Boys, on the record 9 to 5, and made history, becoming the first UK female to be signed to the Def Jam label.

When a myspace bulletin confirmed that a second album was due for future release, the obvious question was would Lady Sovereign abandon her Garage roots and try to appeal to a more mainstream market? After falling out with her label at a US concert, then proclaiming her hate of America to audiences, and herself, great things were not expected.

Well, a lot has happened since 2006! Since the Klaxons and CSS rode in on their robotic horses in 2007, bearing the new rave phenomenon, every artist wanted to add an 'Electric Feel' to their song (Pardon the blatant MGMT reference.) But when Kylie tried her very best to move into the electronic scene (shown posing with robots in her video for 'WOW') we were all waiting for somebody to tell us it was all a sick joke!

Lady Sovereign hasn't exactly avoided the new rave cliche. Her new single "So Human" has been rejected by critics, her sacrilegious sampling of The Cure's 'Close to Me' has caused somewhat of an uproar, and is not exactly modest! The difference is that all the critics are close to over 50, and are exactly the people that are preventing music from moving on! The track is upbeat, and is just as grittily wonderful as previous efforts (Random, Love Me Or Hate Me etc...) And her sharp (if not shrill) voice works perfectly with the unsingable hook of the original song. The record deals with Bad days and getting up off the ground, and faithfully references the Cure with the line, "I've waited hours for this, I've made myself so sick", capturing the desperate feel. Sovereign has showed she has matured, but in her own non-cliched way. So, I hope and dearly believe that this track will become a rising track of the Summer 2009!

Watch The Video (And while you're positive, try not to look at the frankly hideous puffer jacket)