Tracks of the Week
Peace – Follow Baby
Despite what desperate music editors would have you believe, guitar music has never been dead. But unlike most living people, it could do with a short, sharp shock, and Peace are here to slap on the defibrillator and get that cholesterol clogged heart moving up a gear. Effortlessly cool, insidiously catchy and rakishly charming, Peace are here to make louche lads with guitars awesome again.
Their début album, ‘In Love’, is due out on March 25th and you can pre-order it direct from the band here. If you do (and you should), definitely go for the deluxe edition that includes B sides and previous single ‘Bloodshake’, which rocked my world for 2 solid months last year.
Young Romance - Break My Heart By Morning
I straight up adore indie-pop, and this single from London
loved up duo Young Romance ticks all the right boxes. It’s all jangly guitars, lovelorn lyrics and
a classic indie-pop drum beat, smothered in dark droopy bass and topped with a synth
breakdown, and it gets me all hot under the cardigan. They’re playing London Popfest tonight(!),
to which I am currently going solo. If
you like this, and aren't some sort of creepy internet murder-person, come
with.
Teleman - Christina
If you’re anything like me, you will at some point have lost
your mind and coherent control of your limbs on a cider soaked dancefloor to
this, from Pete and The Pirates. Intriguingly, three of the members have split
off and formed Teleman, who are rapidly building up quite a buzz with their début single Christina. It’s radically
different to any of Pete’s previous Pirate material, swapping the snakebite
fuelled stickiness of the indie disco for the prim and neat studio trappings of
Kraftwerk and the wonkiness of Metronomy.
It’s an almost infuriatingly simple song, where nothing much happens for
four minutes, and yet you find yourself reaching for the replay button time and
time again. I can only assume it's laced with some sort of sonic nicotine.
Keaton Henson - Lying To You
Singer/songwriters trade on their
ability to connect on a one to one level with their audience – there’s nothing
between you and them, apart from a hollow wooden shell and some metal
strings. For some artists this level of
intimacy and honesty has to be forced, but Keaton Henson appears to have no
choice in the matter.
Arguably the new poster boy for the beardy emotional recluse, his is a fascinating story, one that
appeals to anyone who’s ever been heartbroken and convinced of the artistic
merit of that pain. Except in his case what came out of it was a breath-taking début rather than a handful of try hard poems.
You can read more about him in the Guardian here, but before you do check out his latest single‘Lying To
You’, above, taken from his new album ‘Birthdays’.
He's also currently engaged in a nationwide tour of museums, which is awesome.
David Bowie - The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
David Bowie Bowie Bowie Bowie Tilda Swinton Bowie Bowie Bowie Tilda Swinton Bowie Bowie Bowie.
David Bowie Bowie Bowie Bowie Tilda Swinton Bowie Bowie Bowie Tilda Swinton Bowie Bowie Bowie.
David Bowie Bowie Bowie Bowie Tilda Swinton Bowie Bowie Bowie Tilda Swinton Bowie Bowie Bowie.
2013 is shaping up to be a cracking year for music, what with the imminent return of David Bowie, new albums from Daft Punk, The National, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and many, many more. Not only that, but the number of great albums that have already been released is ridiculous - we're only just reaching March, and we've already been treated to a host of gems, including:
David Bowie Bowie Bowie Bowie Tilda Swinton Bowie Bowie Bowie Tilda Swinton Bowie Bowie Bowie.
David Bowie Bowie Bowie Bowie Tilda Swinton Bowie Bowie Bowie Tilda Swinton Bowie Bowie Bowie.
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR (so far)
2013 is shaping up to be a cracking year for music, what with the imminent return of David Bowie, new albums from Daft Punk, The National, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and many, many more. Not only that, but the number of great albums that have already been released is ridiculous - we're only just reaching March, and we've already been treated to a host of gems, including:
Veronica Falls – Waiting for Something To Happen
I loved the graveyard gloom pop of their first album, and
whilst this follow up is a lot more upbeat, it’s still packed with their particular
brand of jangles, hooks and harmonies. A heady blend of nostalgia, idealism and romance, the album has pretty much been
on repeat for the past fortnight and I'm still obsessed with it. The whole thing is great, but Buried Alive, Waiting for Something to Happen and Teenage are particularly special, the latter being one of
the greatest pop songs ever written.
Fact.
Yo La Tengo – Fade
Yo La Tengo are one of those perennial ever-green bands that
seem to have been going for ever (since 1984 fact fans), and as such getting to know their voluminous back catalogue is quite a formidable task.
It is, however, a very worthwhile occupation, as they're just super good at music, and Fade is as good a place to start as any. Showcasing the incredible range and depth of YLT’s songwriting and musicianship, the album's got it all - squalling guitars and fuzz, sprightly pop ditties, heart rending ballads and operatic flourishes, all held together by some wonderful lyrics and a voice that I would marry, were such things possible.
It's very difficult to pick a track out for demonstration purposes as it really is an album you need to hear all together, so if you're in a hurry you can try opening track 'Ohm' above, or if you're doing some hardcore procrastinating/skiving, have a gander at the whole thing:
3=Car - L.H.F
Officially 'The Best Band From Warwick University Ever', the sadly short lived 3=Car have released their 2nd and final E.P, available from their bandcamp page here.
It's a tremendous bit of work - short, but never narrow, packing an entire album's worth of ideas into its three tracks. Bookended by L.H.F #1 and #2, it opens with what sounds like a call to prayer in the End Days, echoing vocals and pounding drums heralding the end of all things, only for it to veer sharply into early era Foals - all wiry, jerky guitars and complicated rhythms And then we're back again, barraged by squalling guitars and frenetic drums - it's all terribly confusing, but all the more brilliant for it.
A bit of an oldie this one, but by far and away my most listened to remix. The song was brilliant to start with, one of my favourites from arguably the best Radiohead album, In Rainbows (invective filled rebuttals may be sent to the usual address). In a flash of genius, The Twelves have added a dance beat and cowbells, the only things Radiohead are normally missing. The result is sheer crossover brilliance, and one that makes me really yearn for the days when every good indie dance track had cowbell...
That about wraps it up for this week/fortnight - any comments and suggestions can be sent to growyoung1@gmail.com, and yes, we do accept gifts.
Have a wonderful week or two,
Alex
Foals – Holy Fire
To be honest, whilst I have listened to the above tracks and albums often and intently, the real answer to the question ‘what have you been listening to recently?’ is Foals, Foals and more Foals.
To be honest, whilst I have listened to the above tracks and albums often and intently, the real answer to the question ‘what have you been listening to recently?’ is Foals, Foals and more Foals.
The reason is that their new album Holy Fire is really,
awfully, terribly good. Whilst perhaps
not as breathlessly exciting and frenetic as Antidotes, nor as great a
stylistic leap forward as Total Life Forever, it does represent a refined,
ultra sharp Foals at the top of their game.
Lead singles Inhaler and My Number are as brilliant as ever, and they're swiftly followed by warm heart of the record, the 5 song run from Bad Habit to Milk and Black Spiders. It's Foals at their most open, accessible, and downright fun, with each chorus sounding bigger and more euphoric. You've then got the balls to the wall rock chaos of Providence to deal with, rounded off by the minimalistic atmospherics of Stepson and Moon. They're all brilliant in their own way, and it all gels together to make a truly great album.
In many ways it's an album that needs to be heard live, blasted out of speakers 60 foot high and backed by a chorus of 10,000 people in a field, but turning your headphones up loud enough and recruiting your fellow commuters works almost just as well.
A surefire album of the year contender, and it's only just gone March.
In many ways it's an album that needs to be heard live, blasted out of speakers 60 foot high and backed by a chorus of 10,000 people in a field, but turning your headphones up loud enough and recruiting your fellow commuters works almost just as well.
A surefire album of the year contender, and it's only just gone March.
E.P Of The Year (so far)
3=Car - L.H.F
Officially 'The Best Band From Warwick University Ever', the sadly short lived 3=Car have released their 2nd and final E.P, available from their bandcamp page here.
It's a tremendous bit of work - short, but never narrow, packing an entire album's worth of ideas into its three tracks. Bookended by L.H.F #1 and #2, it opens with what sounds like a call to prayer in the End Days, echoing vocals and pounding drums heralding the end of all things, only for it to veer sharply into early era Foals - all wiry, jerky guitars and complicated rhythms And then we're back again, barraged by squalling guitars and frenetic drums - it's all terribly confusing, but all the more brilliant for it.
Second track, The Human Abstract, is a much calmer affair (at least to begin with) until the swirling guitars kick in and drag you into the inescapably catchy chorus. It carries all the drive and lust of Wild Beasts, but as seen through the fractured lens of Radiohead, and it's a heady and addictive mix.
Drums are the driving force behind L.H.F #2, clattering and rolling underneath the increasingly complex guitars and keyboard lines, that ebb and flow and interweave effortlessly, creating an intoxicating and breathlessly exciting noise until it all finally gives way with one last smash. It's loud, complex and brilliant.
Ultimately, it's the sound of 4 very talented lads having fun making some excellent noise, and if only they were less concerned with their 'degrees' and 'careers' we might get a bit more out of them.
The whole thing is available to download for free(!), but any donation you feel like giving goes straight to the Against Malaria Foundation, so you can pick up some great music and help save a life in doing so.
R-r-r-r-Remixes Of The Week
And finally, I'll leave you with three excellent remixes, that pull off the rare trick of adapting an already brilliant track without ruining what made it special, by adding a little twist of their own. A little bit like a slice of lime in a G+T, or a dash of bitters in a whisky and ginger. Anyone else thirsty?
Foals – My Number (Trophy Wife) Remix
Mhmm, more delicious Foals goodness - Trophy Wife have gone and made an already summery tune even more suitable for lens flare filled montages, and now all we need is some sunshine.
Chvrches – The Mother We Share (Miaoux Miaoux Remix)
Chvrches have been riding a wave of hype ever since The Mother We Share hit the web last last year, and quite rightly. Their driving synth pop is 80s inspired brilliance, but this remix lifts it up a notch, transforming it into a huge feel-good anthem, suitable for long lazy drives and girls flouncing about in summer dresses that are only just long enough.
Radiohead - Reckoner (The Twelves Remix)
A bit of an oldie this one, but by far and away my most listened to remix. The song was brilliant to start with, one of my favourites from arguably the best Radiohead album, In Rainbows (invective filled rebuttals may be sent to the usual address). In a flash of genius, The Twelves have added a dance beat and cowbells, the only things Radiohead are normally missing. The result is sheer crossover brilliance, and one that makes me really yearn for the days when every good indie dance track had cowbell...
That about wraps it up for this week/fortnight - any comments and suggestions can be sent to growyoung1@gmail.com, and yes, we do accept gifts.
Have a wonderful week or two,
Alex
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