Safety, Fun & Learning

#150 – Remembering Etta James

Sacha — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:32:37 +0000

It’s been about a week now since Etta James, one of the most talented and recognisible characters in the Rhythm and Blues scene of the 50′s and 60′s, passed away. She had a sound that blended Jazz, R&B and Rock & Roll and Gospel in equal parts with a voice that stands head and shoulders above her peers.

There’s been so much written about James, so to regurgitate it would do you and her no favours. Instead, Here are four of my favourite Etta James songs, spanning a good chunk of her career. They show how talented she was, as well as demonstrating the breadth of her influences.

To read a really good obituary, go to this website. To just listen to some songs, stay here.

Etta James – Something’s Got A Hold On Me [Buy]

Etta James – Tell Mama [Buy]

Etta James – Pushover [Buy]

Etta James – Hound Dog [Buy]

Filed under: Music Tagged: Blues, Etta James, Jazz, R&B, Rock & Roll

#149 – Tennis ‘Origins / Deep In The Woods’

Sacha — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:50:16 +0000

That’s the band Tennis. Not this (obviously!). They’ve been working on a new album called Young & Old which is a couple of weeks away from being released. Judging by the two songs on this page, we’ll have more of the same. So three and a half minute slices of fuzzy, pretty, sun-infused, piano/guitar pop songs with Alaina Moore’s delightful singing over the top.

Tennis – Deep In The Woods

If you like what you hear you can pre-order the album from ATP’s website. .

Filed under: Music Tagged: ATP, Chilled, Dreampop, Live, Tennis

#148 – Mr Fogg Told Me To

Sacha — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:47:48 +0000

Mr Fogg is good. Not only is his song ‘Stay Out Of The Sun’ superb, it’s got a great video (as seen above) and you can get it for free from his website. I asked him to choose a few songs that he likes to listen to and these are the ones he came up with. Listening to them gives you an insight into how Mr Fogg has come to sound the way he does. It’s enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable. So without further ado, here is Mr Fogg’s selection…

___

Ben Frost & Daniel Bjarnarson – Solaris

This is a new soundtrack to Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1972 film of the same name by two composers based at Valgeir Sigurdsson’s Greenhouse Studios in Reykjavik where I recorded both of my albums. I have to admit I haven’t seen the movie, but I was given a copy of the music towards the end of my last trip to Iceland and played it in my car while driving, lost down dirt tracks trying to find Pingvallatn without a map. The amazing scenery, combined with the intense atmosphere of the music and the driving wind and rain made it feel like I was embarking on some kind of epic doomed adventure – rather than trying to find one of Iceland’s best-known tourist destinations.

Hook And The Twin – We’re So Light [Buy]

This band have had more names than possibly any other musical act in history. I often wonder whether I am the only person alive who has followed them all the way from their first incarnation. Under about their 3rd or 4th guise they used to hold mysterious sounding “woods nights” where you had to write to a secret email address for a map and directions. I did this once and turned up at a large shed in the middle of nowhere to discover I was one of only 3 people who wasn’t a friend or family member of the band.

Smashing Pumpkins – Geek U.S.A. [Buy]

I found a box of old CDs I thought I had lost recently and one of them was Siamese Dream. I hadn’t listened to it for years and when this song came on I could hardly believe I ever used to listen to this kind of music. But it also struck me how far backwards mainstream rock music production has gone since this album came out. Dynamics like this would be outlawed on a big-budget record in 2012 because everything has to be as loud as possible.

Prolapse – Fob.com [Buy]

When I was at school I read a preview of a upcoming gig in the local music magazine that declared that “Prolapse are indisputably the best live band in the world”. It’s hard to argue with an endorsement like that, so I dutifully went along to the show and was pretty much convinced of the accuracy of that statement for about 24 hours. Sadly, the sheer energy and madness of the live show – or at least my memory of it – could never be matched on record.

Filed under: Music Tagged: Ben Frost, Daniel Bjarnarson, Electronic, Hook And The Twin, Iceland, Mr Fogg, Prolapse, Punk, Rock, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundtrack

#147 – What’s Up With Hot Chip?

Sacha — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:24:45 +0000

It’s been a while since I’ve listened to them, largely because I don’t think there’s been much new stuff of theirs floating about. They are due a new album though, which is going to be released at some point this year. For now we’ve got a new song to listen to called ‘No Fit State’. It’s classic Hot Chip, with a four-on-the-floor beat, Alexis and Joe Goddard trading vocals and the synths sitting very nicely in the track thankyouplease.

Hot Chip – No Fit State

As well as finding time to make a new album, the guys from Hot Chip have been busy elsewhere. Joe Goddard has his project with Raf Rundell and their debut album Be Strong comes out on Monday on DFA. You can listed to it from start to finish on The Hype Machine at the moment though.

The 2 Bears – Work

Meanwhile, Al Doyle and Felix Martin have also got their own thing going on. Their band New Build have got a record coming out at the start of March on their own label. They’re also touring in March and you can get tickets and more info about that on their website. For now, listen to the album sampler below.

New Build Album Sampler

Filed under: Music Tagged: Al Doyle, Alternative, Electronic, Felix Martin, Hot Chip, Joe Goddard, New Build, Raf Rundell, The 2 Bears

#146 – Ben Leftwich’s ‘Pictures’ Gets Remixed

Sacha — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:33:32 +0000

I would not put myself on record as being a massive fan of Dubstep. But that’s probably not fair, as it’s not all ‘quiet bit, quiet bit, quiet bit, pause…… DROP’ (kind of like this). I suppose the following is probably a Dubstep remix, but I like it. It’s from the up-and-coming Benjamin Francis Leftwich, who has been making waves of late and who looks like making it big this year. I’ve heard a fair bit of his stuff, and on the strength of his original stuff he deserves too. And if he’s going to get more songs remixed like the one below, then surely the next logical step is superstardom. It’s laid back, soaring stuff from a quality Welsh producer called GZUS. I don’t know an awful lot about him, only that he’s also worth checking out, especially if you’re more of a dub-head than I am.

As well as this remix, Mr Leftwich is also gearing up for a new tour that will be taking him over to the States, so if you live that side of the pond and you like what you hear you’ll be able to see him soon. For more info on dates go to his website. Also, it’s a free track and you can download it from his Soundcloud. Just click on the title. If you’re interested in his album, Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm, then pick it up from here.

Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Pictures (GZUS Remix)

As this remix is so good, it makes sense to listen to a little more GZUS. This is his version of Ray J’s ‘One Wish’ (famously sampled by Burial) and it’s sick. The Two-Step vibe is absolutely awesome.

GZUS – Missing You [Mediafire Link]

Filed under: Music Tagged: Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Chilled, Dubstep, GZUS, Remix

#145 – Tourist

Sacha — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:32:24 +0000

The gentleman in the picture above is Tourist. In a previous life he was known as Little Loud, but that moniker is now dead. Which is a shame, because all of us here at the blog were fans. Luckily the name change hasn’t meant his new material is any less exciting. The material in question is a song called ‘Placid Acid’, which is going to be on an EP released on Make Mine in March. It starts off quiet and almost – so very nearly! – sounds like it’s about to drop into a garage influenced beat. That is just a teasing moment though, as the song slides into a laid-back, 80′s influenced synth driven groove that doesn’t go on long enough.

As I already mentioned, he’s got an EP out in March. Check back closer to the time and we’ll have the buy links up. For now, enjoy ‘Placid Acid’ and if you’re interested you can listen to some bits we posted from his previous life as Little Loud you can listen here.

Tourist – Placid Acid

Filed under: Music Tagged: Electronic, Little Loud, Make Mine, Tourist, Will Philips

#144 – Let’s Make Lemonade

Sacha — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:20:24 +0000

Today it’s the turn of Seattle-based, electro/soul duo Fly Moon Royalty to grace our pages. Although that could be me being a little big-headed… AdraBoo and Action Jackson have been making music together for about two years and they seem to have crafted something polished, delightfully pop-y and really, really listenable. The new album Fly Moon Royalty is out on February 6th on Sportn’ Life, a local label. Their sound is a mash of funk, soul and electro in the vein of Gnarles Barkley (an obvious comparison, but no less valid because of that), Janelle Monaé and, to my humble ear, a hint of Robyn.

‘Lemonade’ is a slice of summery pop that recalls the piano driven stylings of Aloe Blacc’s ‘I Need A Dollar’, while ‘Android Love’ is the song that reminds me of Robyn. Like I said, their debut is out in a week or two so if you like these two samples then be sure to look them up again and get down to see them live.

Fly Moon Royalty – Lemonade

Fly Moon Royalty – Android Love

Filed under: Music Tagged: Electro, Fly Moon Royalty, Gnarles Barkely, Pop, Seattle, Soul, Sportn' Life

Review: The Maccabees – Given To The Wild

Sacha — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:12:43 +0000

For me, the new Maccabees record was always going to be a big one. I’ve enjoyed their last two albums so much that I had high expectations of album number three. I remember reading reviews of Wall Of Arms describing how much the band had ‘grown up’ since Colour It In, which is probably true. So, have they done the same thing again and further refined their sound? And is it good?

Their is little doubt that the album retains some of that sincerity its predecessor had. Songs like ‘Child’, ‘Feel To Follow’ and ‘Forever I’ve Known’ are sombre, although they never cross into sentimentality in large part thanks to the engaging percussion that is, for me, so typical of the band. The album is ambitious: it sounds like it’s been written for bigger venues, with heavy reverb featuring on some of the vocals and guitars, as well as the occasional foray into ‘epic’ breakdowns and indulgences. ‘Glimmer’ is a pretty good example of this sound, and while it’s not normally something I would consider to be a great thing, I love that song. It’s one of the highlights of the album.

Orlando Weeks’ vocal have still got that fragile quality to them, something that Bombay Bicycle Club’s Jack Steadman also has. The two bands have been and will continue to be referred to in the same breath, so I won’t do that here. Not again, anyway.

‘Pelican’ is very much the ‘pop single’ from the album. It’s a nod to their old records, with the driving percussion and repetitive guitar riff that guarantees it will get played at Indie nights all over the country. But it hints at the new record throughout, with a little more electronic production filtering its way through, something you can’t miss on songs like ‘Went Away’ or ‘Go’. I like this merging of the traditional band and synths/pads to create a bigger sound. Another sign of them moving in this direction is the guest vocals of Catherine Pockson from Alpines on ‘Unknow’. She adds a lovely dynamic to the song and if you’re interested on hearing a little more of her then click on this link.

There are moments where the production looks like it’s about to go a little over the top but this is usually tempered by Weeks’ vocals. In case you doubted it, the band are still very capable of breaking into the big choruses that characterise previous favourites like ‘No Kind Words’ and ‘Love You Better’. This is now supplemented by some additional production that adds a little more scope to the songs but occasionally undermines the feel of the album.

*******/10

File next to: Bombay Bicycle Club, Good Shoes, Alpines, Foals

Listen to: Glimmer [Buy the album]

Filed under: Reviews Tagged: Alpines, Alternative, Catherine Pockson, Indie, The Maccabees

#143 – Errors Release Video For ‘Pleasure Palaces’

Sacha — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:23:20 +0000

There’s not an awful lot to be said about this one. The single ‘Pleasure Palaces’ is out on Monday, the album out the Monday after (the 30th) on Rock Action Records. They’ve also released some tour dates, starting in Newcastle on the 9th February and finishing up in Aberdeen on the 25th. For more news on that and where to get the tickets from head over here. And finally, you can pre-order the album on iTunes.

Filed under: Music Tagged: Electronic, Errors, Rachel McLean, Rock Action Records, Video

#142 – Maz Totterdell

Sacha — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:47:04 +0000

Maz Totterdell is incredible. I don’t normally start with such hyperbole, but it’s just the only way I can introduce this 15 year old Devonian. Yes, 15. When you listen to the song (or if you already have) you’ll realise why I’m highlighting her age, because she has got a voice and a sound that belies her years. The lyrics to her first single, ‘Counting My Fingers’, are sweet but not sickly, her voice is a revelation and the song is one of the best things I’ve heard in a long time. It’s got twee handclaps you’ll be joining in with and a chorus you’ll find yourself humming along to in no time. The single came out last Monday on Series 8 and Steve Lamacq on 6music has thrown his weight behind it. One listen and you’ll understand why. So do exactly that: listen to the song below and then go and buy it. The sample is a crappy quality, so do the song justice and spend 79p on this one.

Maz Totterdell – Counting My Fingers [Buy]

As well as this song you can hear more on her Facebook page. As an extra listen for now, here’s a song she recorded for a mixtape about six months ago. I’ll let you draw your own comparisons, but suffice to say she more than holds her own against her peers.

Maz Totterdell – Never Say Never [Buy]

Filed under: Music Tagged: 6music, Folk, Maz Totterdell, Pop, Series 8, Steve Lamacq

#141 – Nothing New, All Good

Sacha — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:37:43 +0000

It’s all in the title for today’s tidbits. It’s a Monday, which means there are some new albums out. Of particular note is the Tribes debut album Baby on Island Records. We wrote about them a while ago (here) and if you like them then go buy the album (here). I’ll be picking it up after work tomorrow, so if it’s up to much there will probably some words written up here.

As I said, though, today isn’t about new songs. Here are three ‘golden oldies’. One from 1967, one from 1970 and one from 1993. So, in chronological order, here they are.

Buffalo Springfield – For What It’s Worth [Buy]

A quiet, low key verse with one of the more famous choruses I can think of. In spite of being a song about not being allowed to party late (that’s true, by the way!), it’s become an iconic protest song. This is a must-have in your record collection.

The Kinks – This Time Tomorrow [Buy]

From their 1970 album Lola Versus Powerman And The Moneygoround, I know this song thanks to the Wes Anderson film The Darjeeling Limited. It’s the film that made me want to go to India, which I was lucky enough to do last summer with our very own Stig Baasvik. A great film, a superb song and it’s got memories of an incredible trip.

Naughty By Nature – Hip Hop Hooray [Buy]

This may not be Naughty By Nature’s most famous song (O.P.P probably takes that title) but it did get to #8 in the US Pop chart back in 1993. It’s easy to hear why, too. It’s got a groovy beat and an infectious chorus that you would want to hear at a house party. The song is about little more than them liking music and ladies, but there are any songs about more meaningful stuff that are nowhere near as good as this.

Filed under: Music Tagged: Buffalo Springfield, Hip Hop, Naughty By Nature, The Kinks, Wes Anderson

#140 – The Rapture Release Remix EP

Sacha — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:33:37 +0000

There was a time, long ago, when we used to put up some remixes on a Friday. In this spirit, here’s the new EP that The Rapture are releasing on the 17th January. It’s got versions of their song ‘Sail Away’ by Aeroplane, Cosmic Kids and Cut Copy. What with this being DFA, the remixes are very much of the ‘electronic’ variety and the whole EP will clock in at a little under 25 minutes, with the Aeroplane mix being fairly typical of his productions, which is to say soaring and epic and, most importantly, good. The Cosmic Kids remix is a stripped down version of the song, house-y and oddly reminiscent of Justin Timberlake’s ‘Lovestoned’ (not a bad thing I reckon). Finally Cut Copy’s mix is an epic eight minuter that’s classically ‘electro’ with a sunny wash. All are good, and there’s something for all fans of the DFA catalogue. More good news (if you live in the US) is that they’ve announced a few dates around the same time as their dates at Coachella, two of which have got Justice supporting. If you want to find out a little more about that then click here. Listen to the EP below the drop.

The Rapture – ‘Sail Away Remixes’

Filed under: Music Tagged: Aeroplane, Cosmic Kids, Cut Copy, DFA, Electronic, Justice, Remix, The Rapture

#139 – Woodkid

Sacha — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:50:58 +0000

If you are a fan of the multi-talented Frenchman Woodkid (Yoann Lemoine to his parents) then you may be interested in learning that he’s going to be playing a show at the top of the Eiffel Tower on the 24th of January. You may also be interested in learning that you could be there. All you have to do is send these guys an email explaining why you should be there and you could win return trips from London to Paris, plus a night’s accommodation and tickets to the show for two people. If you win you’ll also be able to pick a song for him to play. If you’re unsure as to whether you should go to the hassle of writing an email then listen to the songs below and let that make the decision for you. If you don’t win, you’ll be able to stream the show live from the Vice website.

Woodkid – Iron [Buy]

Woodkid – Someone Like You (Adele Cover)

Filed under: Music Tagged: French Music, Noisey, VBN, Woodkid

#138 – ‘Somebody I Used To Know’

Sacha — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:26:00 +0000

Have you seen this yet?! I remember seeing that somebody had covered Gotye’s original the other day and thinking to myself ‘better check that out’, before not doing so. I remembered to today and am I glad I did. Not only does the singing do the song justice (although it does take two people to match Gotye’s range!) but the performance is out of this world awesome. Enough words now. Watch the video and below the drop find the link to buy the cover version. Thank you Walk Off The Earth and Sarah Blackwood, you have made my day.

Walk Off The Earth – Somebody I Used To Know [Buy]

If you want to find out more about Walk Off The Earth or Sarah Blackwood’s band The Creepshow, then click on their hyperlinked names.

Filed under: Music Tagged: Canadian, Gotye, Sarah Blackwood, Walk Off The Earth

#137 – They Might Be Giants ‘When Will You Die?’

Sacha — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:50:38 +0000

So They Might Be Giants are going on tour. In the US though. Lucky you, unlucky for those of us living the wrong side of the Atlantic. It all kicks off in California on January 27th and they’ll be having their wrap party on the 10th March in New York at Terminal 5. If you get ticket, you should go. Every live video I’ve ever seen, review I’ve read and generally most things I hear about their shows are awesome. They are one of those bands who seem to be having a good time while playing, as opposed to some that just seem grumpy the whole time. This song, in spite of it’s slightly morbid title, has all the hallmarks of a late 90′s ska-punk band with the witty lyrics, and a bouncy bassline. The video is also pretty entertaining. If you can, go see them. If you can’t, then you’ll have to sate TMBG fix with some YouTube video. It could be worse though. They could not be in your life!

Filed under: Music Tagged: Indie, Live, Monster Trucks, Terminal 5, They Might Be Giants

#136 – Freedom Fry Release Video For ‘Tallest Dreams’

Sacha — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:49:03 +0000

Here’s a band called Freedom Fry, an American boy and a French girl who met, well, who met. The music is surprisingly (refreshingly, even) hard to put into a category. Marie Seyrat’s vocals are as smooth as Parisian espresso, warm and luxurious but you get a hint of something very alluring… that’s probably down to the slight French accent. The instrumentation is really well put together, using a combination of electronic sounds and live instruments to great effect. The single ‘Tallest Dreams’ has just had a video made, although the song has been out since August of last year. You can pick it up from iTunes on this link. I’d recommend spending a few quid of your hard-earned money on it, but if you want to listen to some more songs then go ahead. They have one other song up on their Soundcloud, so it’s posted here too. If that’s not enough for you, then, I don’t know what it.

Freedom Fry – Stop Stop Stop [Buy]

Filed under: Music Tagged: Alternative, Bruce Driscoll, Chillout, Freedom Fry, French Music, Marie Seyrat, New York

#135 – Lucy Rose ‘Red Face’

Sacha — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:59:03 +0000

Hello all. As many of you may know, and perhaps many may not, there is a wonderful talent out there by the name of Lucy Rose. She first caught my ear doing backing vocals on Bombay Bicycle Club’s A Different Kind Of Fix (although she apparently helped a little on Flaws too) and I was intrigued. Having heard the radio DJ say her name, I promptly forgot it until this popped up on my Twitter feed. It’s just come out and it’s a wonderful pop record. If you’re a fan of Laura Marling, Feist and others of that ilk then you will most definitely like it, although Lucy Rose brings something new to the table. Whereas Marling is often praised for sounding wise beyond her years, Rose seems perfectly happy to enjoy being young.

Lucy Rose – Red Face [Buy from iTunes]

As well as her new single, this is an opportunity to put up an older one and one of its remixes. The song is ‘Middle Of The Bed’ and the remix is by BBC’s Jack Steadman. He’s been making waves as a solo artist alongside the band and this remix is a pretty good example of the sound he seems to have been working on. (He released the song under the name ‘Cheating’, and that’s how I know it, so that’s why it’s got a different name to the original below.) I also believe – although it’s possible I’m wrong – that he produced the song. Anyway, as well as the new single you get to listen to two other tracks. It’ll be ten minutes well spent.

Lucy Rose – Middle Of The Bed [Buy]

Jack Steadmand – Cheating [Buy]

Filed under: Music Tagged: Alternative, Bombay Bicycle Club, Female Vocalist, Folk, Jack Steadman, Lucy Rose, Pop

#134 – New Belleruche Single ‘Stormbird’

Sacha — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:38:45 +0000

I was tottering about on the internet today and all of a sudden this song appeared on my Soundcloud. I’m a big fan of Belleruche (I wrote this a little while ago) and thoroughly enjoyed their last album 270 Stories. They’re signed to Tru Thoughts, a really hard-working Brighton based label who’s artists rarely disappoint. This new single is a precursor to Belleruche’s fourth studio album, called Rollerchain and it’s due out at the start of March. The press release explains that the band are leaning towards a more bass heavy, darker sound which on first listening seems fairly accurate. It does have a cracking guitar riff though and the way they change the tempo, with the breakdown that gets faster and faster to the end of the song is exciting and compelling. If you’re already a fan then this might take a few listens as it is a bit different, but it’s good. If you’re not a fan yet then listen to this a few times and you’ll be on your way.

Belleruche – Stormbird

Filed under: Music Tagged: Belleruche, Electronic, Funk, Tru Thoughts

Music For Horses no. 24

Sacha — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:36:41 +0000

Todays Music For Horses songs are very good. Not that they usually aren’t, but I reckon these are up there with the best. One is new and one is old. Let’s get it started with the new song. I was sent this a couple of days ago and I’ve been listening to it a lot. It’s got a Radiohead feel to it, with a delicate vocal over the top of a distorted electronic trip-hop influenced instrumental. It’s sophisticated, grown up and really good. And you can download it for free from his website for a limited time. Just click on the song title below.

Mr Fogg – Stay Out Of The Sun

The second dose of chilled music today comes thanks to Darkstar. Their debut album came out about 18 months ago, although this song is actually from 2009. I got to know them through a bunch of mixes (one particularly good one for FACT Magazine) and the fractured sound is one I enjoy an awful lot. This song is a fine example of why I like the sound.

Darkstar – Aidy’s Girl Is A Computer [Buy]

Filed under: Music For Horses Tagged: Darkstar, Electronic, Mr Fogg

#133 – Regal Safari’s ‘Lake’

Sacha — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:25:03 +0000

Regal Safari - R G L S F R

Regal Safari are a Brighton-based trio who make pretty, atmospheric electronic music. The song ‘Lake’ starts with a slow build before a garage-influenced handclap beat comes in and vocals that recall what Burial does, distorting, twisting and generally fiddling so that they don’t have a meaning but instead give the track a mood.

Egyptian Hip Hop, the Mancunian alt-poppers, have taken it upon themselves to remix the song and I reckon they’ve done a pretty good job. The song has taken on a ‘Math-y’ element, with the sample pushing the track forward the whole time. The vocal sample has been changed, although it’s still noises, not words. If I’m to be completely honest, I prefer the remixed version. Regal Safari’s original is lacking something for me, although some of the other songs on the 2011 EP R G L S F R are really good (I particularly like ‘Light’ and ‘Only’). The released it in July of last year and you can pick it up for a fiver from their Bandcamp page.

Regal Safari – Lake [Buy]

Regal Safari – Lake (Egyptian Hip Hop Remix)

Filed under: Music Tagged: Brighton, Egyptian Hip Hop, Electronic, Manchester, Regal Safari, Remix