The Kings = History

So I haven't updated this in A WHILE (understatement) and what makes it even worse is I have been indulging in a lot of music oriented activities all 'summer'/the past few rainy months, such as the Great Escape, Lovebox, Field Day and the great Reading Festival - if it comes across as I'm boasting... well... that's cos I am.

One thing that gave me the biggest urge to come straight on here and moan is Kings of Leon's new single! What??? Is??? Going??? On??? They already made me very sad from watching their strop and abuse on the Reading Main Stage last summer, but to be fair it was slightly out of their hands seeing as they can't really be to blame from the curse of the mainstream... but I still loved them - just a little less, as I kept hold of the masterpiece that is Aha Shake Heartbreak in my memory of them plus some of Only By The Night is alright... But what is this!? If I was listening it to one of the ten times it's been played on radio one then I probably wouldn't have been so... disappointed. I saw it on good old nme.com and it is very... African Child with Russell Brand from Get Him To The Greek. Since when did they play with little children?! Surely that's for the old rock bands who need to revive their career and are easy to get to go to those type of places? And what's with the title Radioactive? (yes I have only listened to the song once and it is probably in the lyrics) Are they saving these deprived children from radioactivity? Is that why they're hanging out in a barn in the countryside? Very random. The music is promising, it sounds like a good tune until the weird gospel-y chorus.

A new direction I would not like to go down thanks. But they play to a different crowd now, and I'm sure they will like it. If not radio one will make them anyway.

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In other AMAZING news, apparently naked pics of Pete Doherty have leaked online. Best news I've heard in a while. Let's hope it doesn't go far though, might have a negative impact on his career. Oh wait.

Beautiful.

Two posts today, I'm so generous. Had to share this sweet acoustic song 'Flaws' by one of my favourite bands - Bombay Bicycle Club. It is beautiful and it's nice to hear them switch it up a bit by having a duet with a girl, similar to when Mystery Jets had folk singer Laura Marling on 'Young Love' - except this is much more sensitive and minus pop. Jack's ageless aged voice is given priority for once and it is clear to see now why they are releasing an acoustic album coupled with acoustic tour dates. Not so obvious however why Jack is doing a side electro project - I guess everyone needs an electro outlet. Delicate and charming, impossible not to pause to listen.

P.s. Talking of Mystery Jets, their new album Serotonin (out July 5th) is a wicked mixed bag and a must must listen if you can get hold of it. They still flirt between 80s synths and pop tunes but vary the vocals a bit, and the lyrics are still memorable and clever. This is their new one apparently 'Flash a Hungry Smile'...

Venison...

Wow. It's been a while... So basically this time last week (June 9th), I was lucky enough to have a friend with a laptop that was able to actually get on to the Dingwalls site, and get us a pair of tickets to The Strokes secret gig! They went on sale the night before at 9pm and I was lucky/geeky enough to find this out from helpful old xfm, so off we went... It was possibly better than I could have ever imagined, probably because I only had one night to burst with excitement before the gig and little time for heightened expectations, for a band which I thought I wasn't ever going to get the opportunity to see - let alone in a tiiiiny room for only a tenner.

I enjoyed the 'Venison' business, they actually performed under that name and all the merch had Venison on it, as well as the crowd chanting it to goad and support them - to which Julian responded by holding his hands up 'guilty'. Such a dude. The Camden venue only had 500 people in, who were mainly surprisingly young, and it was the hottest room I have ever been in - we are talking sweat rain here - and the crowd were unusually stubborn with letting people past, probably because it was the first gig The Strokes had played in FOUR YEARS. Yeah you heard. For ten English pounds. Yep.

It was so surreal, they appeared out of a tiny door onto one of the smallest stages I have ever seen a band perform on, completely understated with just black fabric as the backdrop. They launched into 'NYC Cops' which sent everyone understandably mental, and was perfect and effortless. Julian left on the leather jacket and sunnies the whole set, he must have been dying inside, but it definitely kept up the New York indie-cool appearance we have all recognised them for since 2001. Thankfully the set was loaded with classic songs - what I was looking forward to watching most, with crowd favourites clearly being 'Hard to Explain', 'Reptillia' and after much Venison chanting, the encore 'Juicebox' and 'Heart in a Cage' were very appreciated.

Surprisingly 'Last Nite' wasn't recieved as excitingly as I had predicted, I thought it would be standard favourite, as it is probably their most famous song. But perhaps this just shows that the crowd was made up of true fans who know their other songs, or as it was last before the encore I thought people were actually dead and exhausted/melting - seriously I'm not exaggerating this heat, it was beyond tropical. Julian had warmed up a fair bit by this song as joked 'shit I forgot the words' before he launched into the hit, before he was getting friendly with the lucky/squashed lot at the front - high fiving them regularly and saying: "I like you guys", "What the fuck is going on at my feet?!" and with one girl "Wait.. I just saw you go to the toilet... have you washed your hands?!". Mainly a warm-up gig for their performance at Isle of Wight Festival on Saturday just gone, The Strokes definitely proved hardly any time had passed in the last four years, watching them perform was like listening to them again for the first time when I was thirteen - unique and clearly influential and well as being ridiculously and unimitatingly cool.

Funeral Party - not funeral music..

But most definitely party music. The LA band's EP all the way back from 2008 has to be rediscovered - or just discovered if you haven't yet, like me. Track 'NYC Move to the Sound of LA' is Zane Lowe's track of the week and is a fusion of indie/dance/pop, shouting and... cow bells. It even makes you feel like you are at a party by the end with all the talking and general crowd noise, or maybe just close to a party (reject), but either way it will definitely be heard lots this summer.

Call me Dave.

So I have literally just heard that cool kid David Cameron has said he likes The XX.

WHY OH WHY OH WHY!!

Why does he do this?! Please stop trying to ruin good music for me Dave, I agree it is working it's trick by getting him more attention (if possible) before Thursday, but it is also incredibly embarrassing and cringy x 100. I think he perhaps needs to realise that he is not cool, mainly because of his massive face and the fact he is a Conservative, so can he please stop tarring good bands - who have probably worked hard and do not need this association right now - with his daddy cool brush. Perhaps someone recommended them to him from their song Intro featuring on the BBC Election coverage advert...

That said, it did intrigue me to find out more bands he 'likes'.. In a similar way to when you can't help but watch Britains Got Talent. I have found something which is much worse than his like for The XX, he likes the lead singer of my favourite band of all time = Morrissey. However, I will actually give him maybe half a percent of credit because he humorously realises this is not good news for potentially the best lyricist of all time:

"I’m sure when Morrissey finds that he’s getting an endorsement from the leader of the Conservative Party, he will think ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’. But I’m a big fan, I’m afraid. Sorry about that.”

Moz replied with something fairly tame (for once), considering one of his solo records is called 'Margaret on the Guillotine': 'It’s difficult to make comment because you might hurt people’s feelings.” And apparently Dave also likes Johnny Marr's part time dabbling in Modest Mouse too. Of course.

I always thought he was ignorant when it came to music and real people, from back in the day when he randomly took a lyric from one of Lethal Bizzle's songs and linked it directly to influencing street/gun/knife crime. Because apparently young people are so hollow they will do whatever a song tells them to. But unsurprisingly this slander wasn't researched and Bizzle rightfully shot down Dave's comment, by saying he had actually worked with troubled youths trying to make it clear to them there is are alternatives to crime. I hate sweeping generalisations so this made me angry, hence my understandable anger towards his apparent fondness of good music...

Another sign that Dave isn't cool is the fact that even Keane thinks he's lame! Keane! Apparently he used their 'Everybody's Changing' song as background music on a manifesto VT and they weren't very happy about it. Frankly I think they should be happy they have at least one fan, even if he is a douche. Also, Dave admitted he loves Paul Weller's song 'Eton Rifles', which is ANTI-Etonian... errrr?!?! This has been done before, word on the 'dufus politicians' grape vine is that ex President Ronald Regan thought Brucie's 'Born in the USA' was a patriotic tribute, whereas it was actually anti-Vietnam. I think it is fairly obvious politicians need to do their research before name dropping/slandering!

I don't like that he likes good music. I don't like it at all. It makes me feel uncomfortable so I am going to pretend it's all terrible terrible a lie.

And the rest..

Top three! Here they are...

3. Ok Go – This Too Shall Pass

I could literally have put most of their videos in here, they are a band which are known for their innovative and normally simple videos, usually revolving around some sort of dance routine. This one is vastly more complicated, but it pays off as it is pretty spectacular. Only a few weeks old, it has already created a massive buzz, sweeping around the internet, and getting the song as much coverage as possible. The song, to be honest, is probably not as good as the video, but watching it definitely makes the song grow on you. It begins with a tiny truck, which is pushed to topple over dominoes leading to cars smashing and bowling balls flying around, culminating in paint being sprayed in the bands faces, to the cheers of a patient audience watching from above. Apparently all filmed in one take, it is an absolute must see video, which will you will definitely end up watching more than twice.

2. Foo Fighters – Everlong

This band are another who have perfected their music videos, they like to be the centre of them too, playing the characters be it male or female. This video sees singer Dave Grohl as the boyfriend/husband of the ‘female’ drummer Taylor Hawkins, trying to fight off two baddies who seem relentless. The video goes between dream world and reality; it’s highly imaginative with some of the best bits being Grohl’s massive hand - which inflates when he gets angry, and the giant phone. Plus the end where they all seem to spontaneously strip so they end up being the band and finish by playing out the song. The running time of the video is longer than the original version of the song, so just for the video, the final chorus is followed by a brief interlude consisting of the last few seconds of the song played backwards, then followed by a repeat of the chorus. An extra cheeky fact for fans: although Taylor Hawkins appears in the video as the drummer, Dave Grohl actually plays the drum track on the original album recording, as Hawkins had not yet joined the band.

1. Bob Dylan – Subterranean Homesick Blues

No it’s not Thriller. Timeless and effortless, the 1967 video has to be my top video of all time. It is so simple, comical, awkward and iconic that it leaves an impression even today with all the special effects and costumes. Dylan standing shiftily holding pieces of card with some of the lyrics written on doesn’t make for painful and boring viewing, the song even seems to pass quickly, and it’s funny to watch him slip up, when you feel they have so many takes to make the video it was definitely avoidable. But that’s what creates the character, and emphasises his cool rebellion, looking away from the camera and walking off just before the end. It is a song that is so influential even influencers since than have found it strikingly hard to measure to; John Lennon reportedly found the song so “captivating” that he didn’t know if he would be able to write a song that could “compete” with it. Now if that isn’t a reason for the video to be at number one I don’t know what is.

Let's just refresh your memory...

Top ten music videos - Avenue 61

So here's a little sumin' sumin' I've just written for Avenue61.co.uk... A list of my top ten music videos. It was pretty hard to actually think of some amazing ones in the first place, because I swear you always forget them until you see them again! But think I've got a pretty good list, wouldn't go as far to say it's my definitive list, because there will almost definitely be some I have missed out by mistake.. But hey it's a start!

Here is ten to seven... (I miss Top of the Pops)

10. The Maccabees – Can You Give It

One of my favourite bands, this may have slightly influenced their place in my top ten; this is their best video to date. The commentary at the beginning is one of the best bits, closely followed by watching tens of village folks chase a roll of cheese down a hill. Very imaginative, satirical yet based on a true event, Can You Give It is the perfect soundtrack to the country setting and... cheese factory.

9. Pendulum – Slam

The most entertaining fitness video ever. The drum and bass band which have recently exploded into the mainstream, really like to go alternative with this video. Watching someone exercise themselves to skinny is now a common sight on the billions of TV shows around at the minute, but watching a man flaunt his, ahem, ‘curves’ to an innocent public is not something you can catch at 9pm on channel four. We love to watch things that make us cringe, but what makes this video watchable and humorous is the progression from ‘supersize’ to ‘superskinny’. An inspiration? Not so sure that’s the intention.

8. Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce – Telephone

Yes I know, many will find it sacrilege that Gaga is in the same group as Bob Dylan and Blur, but truth is I think she has surpassed many people’s expectations with this video. Getting some major extra cool points for nicking Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Pussy Wagon’ and clearly taking pointers from his films. Ridiculous yet amazing costumes, my favourite perhaps being the cigarette sunglasses, it is nice to see her share the limelight and wardrobe with another modern day icon – Beyonce. It is hard not to watch any part of the epic ten minute video, not just for the outfits and slow seductive language “You’ve been a very, very, bad, bad girl gaga”, but also for the crazy Japanese like interlude in the kitchen. That is very Tarantino and potentially the part I find most enjoyable, as it’s not only random it also crazily makes sense. Pretty much like everything she does then.

7. Weezer - Buddy Holly

Many people think the past decades are much more interesting than now, which may be Weezers thoughts when they decided to go back to the days of TV show ‘Happy Days’. It is remarkable how they manage to get old footage of the show to make it look like they are in the same room in 1994, they even get ‘the Fonze’ to make a dance appearance. They also manage to get in some banter with Al, and get their own ‘to be continued’. Pretty darn cool.

6. Mystery Jets – Half In Love With Elizabeth

A video which slightly takes the piss out of the title of the song, but still manages to take itself seriously enough to justify being the actual music video for the song. The highlight is perhaps the boyfriend playing basketball with... the Queen? Also when the girlfriend finds the cupboard stashed with patriotic Monarchy memorabilia. They seem to reconcile at the end, but not sure it would be wise to stay with someone who is so obsessed with a granny.

5. Radiohead – Just

A regular in the lists of top videos, but I couldn’t really justify leaving it out. What does he say that makes everyone lie on the street?! One of the best things about this video is the lasting impression it leaves on the viewers and the debates it creates surrounding it. It doesn’t draw attention away from the now - classic song either.

4. Blur – Coffee and TV

Another top video regular, but clearly justifiably. I defy anyone not to feel sympathy towards the cute little milk carton trying to make its way in the world. It is especially sweet when he meets a hot girl milk carton but then has to witness her get squashed. It also cleverly entwines the band into the main story as most good videos do, by having the guitarist Graham Coxon as ‘missing’ on the side. Something which has yet to be equalled of exceeded by another mainstream band, a memorable and breakthrough video.

Girls FM - Happy Birthday

Ok so I've been pretty bad at keeping this updated.. and the posts have been a little short.. but I had to post this song as it not only has a random name (the band and song) but it is the perfect soundtrack to this amazing sunny weather! For some reason it makes me feel like I should be in some sort of VW campervan in a field wearing flares and chilling out. Don't know why.

OK Go! Another amazing video..

By now everyone must have seen the wicked video for OK Go 'This Too Shall Pass' with the whole domino effects assault course thing started off by a toy truck and ending with OK Go having paint squirted into their face etc etc. Very cool/time consuming. But I am confused, there is also an alternative wickedly cool video for this song in proper OK Go style, have people also seen this?!

This time they are a marching band (with a guest appearance from the Notre Dame marching band) with this sound also being a large part of the music, particular highlight is the camouflage people popping up to join in... - oh and also the signs and singing along to the chorus..

EMI have removed the embed function on all the videos for the song on YouTube so I just have the link instead

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

Darwin Deez..

Don't know if this is a new song or re-release whatever, but I like it. I like the video too, very cute, kind of Napoleony. Makes me miss the beach though, but then that doesn't take a lot..

Weird mental bald man...

So the new Hot Chip video is weird!

Some sort of JLS parody with a loony bald man who shoots white lasers from his eyes at the 'JLS' but really he just wants to be topless in the boy band. Then some fat floating head comes along and kills everyone with his red lasers, including the real Hot Chip. The video for 'I Feel Better' is pretty different and good to catch people's attention I guess, something which the song probably wouldn't do on it's own.. it is quite bland. Similar to previous single 'One Life Stand', their new sound is obviously more mature/dull/chilled out than their debut.

Hot Chip - I Feel Better

Hot Chip | MySpace Music Videos

Over 13,00 views already..

The amazing Florence..

Ok, so as most people who know me err.. know, I have some sort of massive issue with artists who I like getting really popular/over played/just generally COMMERCIAL. Call me selfish - because I guess I am, but it really gets on my nerves, not just because people who don't really have much of a taste in music (i.e. Radio 1 day listeners) suddenly are like 'ohhh I love them' - no you don't you know one ridiculously overplayed song, but also because of the repercussions this has on said artists music.

For example.... the amazing Florence and the Machine. I have loved her since... well since I saw the Dog Days are Over video when I was in my second year at Uni - pretty much two years ago yea? She was imaginative, creative and her hair and clothes were all very cool. My third year house mates will remember my minor anger at her winning the Brits Critics Choice Award last year, but of course I was happy for her because she is so good and all, and at least more people who have good music taste (like those house mates) became aware of her I suppose. But then the commercialism started.. I just found it stupid that her first big single as a well known artist was 'You've Got The Love' because she had so many good songs that she had actually written on her album, and would have shown her as an actual all round talent - writing her own songs and all. And yes that song is a good cover, but you release a cover if you haven't actually got enough talent to write your own stuff/get recognition from your own songs.

But because she is so good I let that one go..and obviously it brought around the amazing XX remix so that was worth it. However the latest revelation has been the last straw! (maybe..) Seriously though, the Dog Days are over video did not need remaking! Perhaps it is a slightly sore point as it was the video I discovered her (well rediscovered I guess after the Kick With a Fist weird video). But it encompasses the song so well, the lose beats of the drum making you want to throw yourself around in freedom and baggy clothes - just like she does in the magical forest with lots of glitter and other friendly like minded people/clowns...

However, this new version '2010 version' is completely the opposite of all this. It is trying to be too fashion forward and the white background is too cold and clinical for such a free and happy song. It is clearly more about appearance than the actual music and the values it is trying to emit. Which is sad! But I guess that's the music biz.

I still love her though. But she's pushing it.

NME AWARDS!!!

So.... pretty much what I wished for through my teenage years, I got tickets to the NME AWARDS! Exciting yea?? Well. Firstly things which you build up are rarely as amazing as you expect, don't get me wrong it was very very exciting and cool to see it all in action, but a very stressful night. It started off badly as my housemate/ex housemate (don't like to admit it), who I took with me, and I got back to mine very late, so we were running late and there were major issues with lifts which ended up in us missing trains. Which ended up in us sitting on the tube with faces like smacked arses as the tickets said "strictly no entry after 8:15" and we were still on our way at 8:25. We legged it to Brixton Academy from the tube station to find it all magically lit up with massive lights beaming into the sky - exciting - and a bright red carpet leading in with lots of press types. Luckily the security guards didn't seem bothered at all and ushered us in, thank the lord! We didn't get to walk down the red carpet though.. Instead we were directed straight upstairs then to the back of the balcony to the sound of the magnificent Maccabees playing 'Can You Give It'.

We literally got there as the awards started. And we were currently watching them from the furthest possible point in the Academy. However, after we went out to the bar (and apparently missed the first award - Muse getting Best British Band, not thoroughly deserved or current enough in my opinion), we went back into the balcony a different way and got seats (it was all seated, not with tables with free alcohol on though) two rows from the front which was way better!

I am very bad at telling stories, they get ridiculously detailed and drawn out, so I shall do my best to skim over the rest... Jarvis Cocker was fairly disappointing as the host. He was way past his entertaining and devilish bum flashing Brits days = rubbish. This is not what we want for an NME Awards host! We want Russell Brand pissing off old overplayed 'stars' (Bob Geldof) and causing lots of controversy, he was the best host/is the best generally. Jarvis may have had a few jokes in there, but I didn't notice, and I'm not sure anyone else did either.

The performances were all really good, especially Biffy Clyro with the beautiful 'Many of Horror' - shame they had to get man voice Marina from Marina and the Diamonds in on it, but you could hardly hear her which was good! Even more annoyingly, Lily Allen was the 'treat' in The Big Pink's 'Dominoes/You're so vain'. I don't think Lily Allen could ever be referred to as a treat, more like a punishment. You could hardly hear her either though thank god.

- Also, apparently she decided she was quitting music AGAIN, to pursue a career in fashion or something less important. But guess what, she's changed her mind to support Jay Z on tour. Wo£££nde£££r wh£££y -

Anyhow, there weren't a lot of celeb's spotted, and my pictures are very blurry, but it was a good experience overall. Kind of felt like a weird gig where people kept interrupting with random drunk musicians/actors/models presenting awards. Because it wasn't live it sort of felt like a dress rehearsal, like it wasn't really real or happening. But I guess that's show business for you, fake and maybe a bit dull.

P.s. Kasabian were also very very good live! The best were probably them, Biffy, Maccabees, The Specials and Paul Weller. Think that was everyone actually.. The Big Pink weren't bad either. Guess it's a good thing if the music stood out more than the awards, seeing as that is what the awards were about.. Might stick to watching them it on TV from now on, unless Russell presents it again of course.

P.p.s Very happy that Bombay Bicycle Club won Best New Band, was a tough category there were loads of great bands in there - think I voted for The XX. Also it was weird to see Paramore win Best International Band or something, and then get massively booed as they showed the video of them accepting it. Think I voted for them. I swear that band can't catch a break.

Andreya Triana

This isn't normally my type of music, but I really enjoyed Andreya's sound. It is chillout music at it's best, music you can truely relax to and slip into your comfort zone, without wanting to sound like a massive hippy - if you seriously listen and take a moment, it's that soul reaching type that gets to your bones. Good stuff then..

Chill out starlet Andreya Triana is another lucky musician to be hand picked by the BBC as part of their ‘Introducing’ series. With a much more laid back/horizontal sound than the general pop and electro music around, Andreya certainly has a niche she can bounce straight into, noticeably. The Brighton soulstress has been on the underground radar the past few years, singing on tracks such as ‘Tea Leaf Dancers’ by electro hip hop Flying Lotus and ‘Hold On’ for, more famous, DJ Mr Scruff’s album. She performed a five song set on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury last year, which supports “unsigned, undiscovered and under the radar musicians,” some of which go onto great commercial success, like The Ting Tings -unfortunately.

On her MySpace Andreya describes herself as “Andreya likes to sing, laugh, dance about, dream, strum her guitar and write songs using preferably good quality stationary...” this horizontal attitude easily translates to her music. Song ‘The Keeper’ is full of her staple chill out beats, reminiscent of chill out kings Zero 7, with the difference of intertwining xylophone melodies. The vocals are mainly echoes, one mass voice which is a harmony in itself. Different wooden instruments are also evident, the sound which conjures up images of relaxing cultural music from a nearby tent on a hot day at a festival, lying on the grass dreaming into the cloudless sky.

My favourite is more or a solo affair than the echoes in ‘The Keeper’, ‘Lost Where I Belong’ really showcases Andreya’s beautifully soothing and impressively wide ranged vocals. Her deep voice is further reflected in the deep lyrics, “searching deep within my soul” showing this is music made to get to your core rhythm of the body – songs in tune with it and simple relaxation. The song has basic beats but luckily the vocals make it more interesting and more attractive to listen to. The first three quarters of the song are peace embodied, however after this graduates into a much more produced sound with the inevitable strings, but this does show maturity and avoids it becoming another naive and overdone chill out record. This single is out on 5th April, hopefully after some much deserved publicising and press time.

Andreya’s debut album ‘Lost Where I Belong’ is out 23rd August and has been produced by “superproducer supremo extraordinaire” Bonobo at Ninja Tune Records, with some tracks written with “crazy skills and talents” Fink. Andreya is touring the big USA all through April but will be back on home soil in May to play Leeds University before embarking on a mini tour through Europe.

Hip Route - Wishing Pool

So a bit belated, but here is another article I wrote for Avenue 61. Hip Route have a proper West Country/pop/folky urban type sound going on, think Jason Mraz and such like. They are quite good, not too much my thing though, I like things a little bit more original.. but they are still a nice easy listen!

West Country three piece Hip Route are a refreshing pop/soul/blues/acoustic mix of most genres, with yet a comfortable sound that makes for easy listening. Having played with Jason Mraz and Newton Faulkner is understandable as they all sound as though they are from the same musical acoustic family, whether it was intentional or not, they definitely sound like influences or cousins. They notable write on their MySpace that their influences include rappers Jurassic 5, pop star Jack Johnson and soul legend Bob Marley, all which are evident from the band’s melodic tunes and gruffly yet buttery vocals.

It is clear from their songs that Hip Route live to play music and play music about their life, it seems relaxed yet confident. They don’t appear to strive for the limelight and fame unlike most other new bands at the moment, they want to chill out and want you to chill out with them. This laid back attitude also seems to apply to their commitment to the band, as most of them have solo projects and appearances going on. Yet these breaks don’t affect the loyalty and productiveness of the band, whereas it would to any other high profile band. They have a self released debut album ‘Working on Hope’ which reinforces their message of peace and general tranquillity, which they say is “selling well” and has received many positive reviews.

Song ‘Wishing Pool’ refers to the money issues in day to day life, but with little regret and putting money as a low priority. It opens with an acoustic, sweet, head nodding guitar melody setting good “vibes” as they would say. Then the drums kick in creating a Jack Johnson/Jason Mraz setting, however what differs from them is lead singer Jim’s vocals. His gruffly voice is miles away from the generic pop singer drabble, leaning the sound towards the Blues category and keeping the attention of the listener/watcher. This unique quality is perhaps why he also has success as a solo artist; Jim has been on a solo tour throughout January and is releasing his own material this year. ‘Wishing Pool’ is a song about lacking money but clearly not lacking faith and hope, like the title of their album, evident with lines like “My pockets are empty... put my last penny in a wishing pool” and “All the money you’ve been throwing at me/wouldn’t make me smile/just makes my happiness bleed”.

A genuinely warm hearted band with honest intentions in their music; simply playing to any audience anywhere. With West Country guitar twangs seeping through their music, at the moment they are sticking to their roots and you can catch singer Jim in Bournemouth, Poole, Exeter and Bristol throughout February.

Done for now!

There we go, all of my articles so far are up on here... well all the good ones! Here is the beautiful song Tinashe sings with this magical instrument. Mesmerising..

Tinashe - Miss You

FINALLY! To keep everything up to date, this is my latest article for Avenue61, February 2010. This boy/man is very very good and his music is definitely different to what's around at the moment, perhaps because of the African influences. But I really hope he gets heard more this year, his tunes are so sweet and the bells make it easy and extremely pleasant to listen too. I'm going to post a video after this which everyone must watch! The instrument he uses is amazing, and the lyrics are charming and tropical.

The beginning of a new year in the music industry always leads to endless predictions of ‘next big things’ for the year ahead, some with more backing than others... such as Ellie Goulding with constant airplay and The Brits Critics’ Choice award. And here is another who should be taken just as much notice of – Tinashé a singer-songwriter from Zimbabwe who grew up in Hackney, where he said he was supposed to “become a doctor/lawyer and wire money back home via Western Union, that didn't go so well... I blame/thank MJ”.

He quickly transformed his Zimbabwe accent into one more ‘Eastenders’-esque in order to “avoid bullying over my African accent”, leading to him now being able to slip between the two, a talent which luckily hasn’t translated over onto his music. Tinashé’s genre has been described as Urban Pop but its more specialised than that, he uses sweet melodies and childlike bells to create a sound which leads the listener to visualise peace and tropical images – in other words, paradise. His sound is pop, but also acoustic and there are clear African influences on the vocals: “a-woo-a-yea-eh” on the track “Zambezi”.


Tinashé has been around in the music industry for a good while, firstly signing with Sony, and now Virgin, where his new single “Mayday” is out March 1st, ahead of his album. The single includes the song “Miss You”, an upbeat tingling tune reliant on the glorious bells and standard background beats. The melody is simple and the same the whole way through yet ever present as the backbone of the song and immediately catches the attention of the listener. A straightforward love song, with naive values about such strong emotions “losing my mind and losing my brain/really doesn’t matter it’ll be alright/but tonight just hold my hand”. He sings about desperation to see his loved one and loyalty to them, “in my head I’m going crazy in my heart I know I’ll wait for you/all I’m really trying to say/is boy I miss you” all making for a sugary yet less commercial and more unique sound, perhaps because of the African influence. To realise the extent of Tinashé’s talents the ‘Mbira’ version of “Zambezi” is a must to listen too, it is captivating while being so simple at the same time.

The twenty-five year old has already been picked up by HMV as their “Next Big Thing” alongside Ellie Goulding and Erik Hassle, where they will all be performing on February 10th at Relentless Garage in London. He also was also part of Q Magazine’s sessions, supporting fellow one-to-watch Marina and the Diamonds in January. Clearly part of the new cool crowd for 2010, get there before the mainstream does.

Example - Won't Go Quietly

I remember this name vaguely when Lily Allen first came out (unfortunately..) as he was her Ex-Boyfriend or something and was slightly bitter about some of her lyrics? Maybe.. But he has definitely made his name now, in a much more positive and musical related way than her anyway. This is a really good catchy electro pop tune, I am very partial to a dose of electro pop. Plus I think I remember him from DJing at a We Are Your Friends club night In Bournemouth - one of my favourite nights out ever, anywhere! January 2009...

Elliot John Gleave, in other words E.G, in other words Example, has rapped his way towards the mainstream with new Electro pop single “Won’t Go Quietly”. He came close with “Watch The Sun Come Up” which had radio success and reached the majority of Radio One listeners, but his new one is set to be bigger.

Example was interested in rapping due to his Hip-Hop influences from Wu-Tang Clan and Snoop Dogg’s albums, but the actual rapping didn’t happen until he was 15 where at a house party he “completely destroyed a useless w**k*r and a fight broke out so [he] sprinted home”. But his talent wasn’t all kept behind doors for long, in 1992 Example won the Royal Mail Poet of the Year, after which Garage MCing to make money whilst studying at Royal Holloway University.

Not one to settle for the post graduation downer, Example took himself off to Australia to discover himself, and where he “did lots of landscape gardening, met a loads of idiots with mullets, grew [his] hair and learnt to surf on [his] last day in the country”. After which he released a few songs on his own label “All The Chats”, in the UK, and managed to catch the attention of Zane Lowe, Pete Tong, and most noteably: Mike Skinner (The Streets) who signed him to his label “The Beats” in 2006. He released his first album “What We Made” in 2007 before the demise of the label and his experimentation with Electro Dance music.

This experimentation in late 2008 is evident on his new album “Won’t Go Quietly”, which in his blogs he describes as “Dysfunctional Electro pop” – which seems to be popular as “Watch The Sun Come Up” charted at 19. Last year was an exciting year for Example, releasing the free mix tape “The Credit Munch” in February, supporting Calvin Harris on his UK and headlining his own Wonky Pop tour with Flamboyant Bella .

New single “Won’t Go Quietly” opens with a soft echo, building up to the punchy kicking bass. Then enters the keyboards pausing to emphasise the big 80s beats, a combination which makes you immediately move to the beat. Example has clear and cheeky vocals “but I love the drama/I’m in the dark place/but I loved the karma/sutra” and the catchy “I should be thinking it over/instead I’m calling her over” - this is a tune which can’t fail to get you dancing, a sure fire chart smash. Example is set to support Tinchy Stryder on his tour early this year, but more importantly you can catch him at the aptly and correctly titled “HMV Next Big Thing” gig in Relentless Garage, London on February 13th.

Rachel Furner - Follow Me

This young lady seems like another singer songwriter who deserves success, although there are a lot of them around at the minute which could mean the public have had enough... or can't get enough... From December 2009:

Latest teen Brit singer songwriter sensation Rachel Furner has been ‘singing since she could talk’ and has had her music glorified on fellow pop star Pixie Lott’s show. Playing the piano herself as well as writing her own lyrics, her sound is reminiscent of American stars Nerina Pallot and such like, with vocals slightly colloquial similar to Kate Nash – minus the mockney.

Rachel has been writing her own songs since she was eleven years old, and playing the piano from the age of six, a talent perhaps realised from the encouragement of music in her household. She grew up living next door to a room which was used as a recording studio by her father, who would record and play music at all hours. Rachel often fell asleep to his favourite records such as Kate Bush or Stevie Wonder. This diversity of music being drummed into her young mind every night did not help inspire her in any direction, as she says on her MySpace her inspirations are “everything :)”.

Being signed to major label Mercury/Universal doesn’t seemed to have affected her music in a negative way, Follow Me is traditional to singer songwriter form with thankfully little production – just the piano and percussion. This makes for a refreshing listen, especially when comparing to other pop music currently in the charts, i.e. the transfusion of electro/dance/pop or rapping reusing segments of old songs. Rachel’s music shows that there is nothing wrong with a voice and an instrument instead of all the industry fuss placed on top with fancy synths and dance moves.

Follow Me starts slow, introducing the piano which at points even threatens to overtake the vocals, then starts to speed up midway through the chorus with catchy “do do do’s” which capture the listeners attention for sure even if they weren’t glued to the lyrics before. Rachel cleverly and interestingly writes with reference to aspects tinted with magic, “secrets”, but put in a teenage social context, “judging”: “In this secret place no more eyes watching how we behave/no more judging or running, turning to hide”. There are remnants of the girly voice wobbles where you can really hear Rachel’s vocal range, which is impressive. As sugary and heartwarming as Follow Me is, it manages to get away with slightly sinister lyrics: “follow me to the railway line” - which could be considered worryingly menacing, except that it was followed with singalong “do do do’s”, therefore making it ok.

Rachel Furner seems to have a bright future ahead of her, signed to a major label, a celebrity fan in Pixie Lott, and already having played to a sold out venue ‘YoYo’. Her new year looks likely to be a successful one.