Friday's Forgotten classic - 20th August 2010

This week's classic is the debut album by Bristol duo Day One.  Phelim Byrne and Matthew Hardwidge got together in the late 90s, releasing 'Ordinary Man' in 2000 to critical acclaim, if not mainstream success.  Their ambient electronic indie trip-hop style is distinctive and refreshing even now.  The laidback storytelling of the  lyrics and in particular the title track provides a fragile, tender melancholy ode to love and longing.

Waiting for my break - Day One
I'm doing fine - Day One
Ordinary Man - Day One

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reading preview - sunday

After saturday, the come down is gonna be big, but as in past years Reading keeps it going all the way til the end. As with many recent years the Sunday turns out to be a dancing day....and this year will be no exception!

What finer way could there be to get the day started than with London ska-punks the King Blues on the main stage.  I've seen these guys so many times, and each and every time they get me moving, even when i thought i wasn't in the mood!  Their infectious zeal and punk spirit make them instant heroes!  not to mention Itch and his ukulele.  These Streets Are OURS!!!  

Moving into my usual sunday afternoon chillout zone, the Radio 1 tent, we have slow-burning North Wales three-piece The Joy Formidable.  When they first appeared on the scene in 2008 with debut single 'Austere', they were hotly tipped and promised much, it didn't really happen.  But now they back with a new single, 'Whirring', and the promise of an album this year.  I have to admit i didn't know a whole lot about them, but what i've now heard is ace!  They are followed by LA indie-folkers Local Natives, who are here off the back of there well received debut album, 'Gorilla Manor'.  Again this will be a voyage of discover for me, but one I'm looking forward to!

Let's hang the landlord - The King Blues
Headbutt - The King Blues
Whirring - The Joy Formidable
Airplanes - Local Natives

Now I'm really excited to see what twee-pop darlings Los Campesinos! have been up to recently.  The last time i saw them live was a couple of years ago at the Camden crawl (when they almost broke the floor/ceiling of the pub!!) and it is definitely something i've been missing!  Their twinkling xylophone and his'n'hers vocal charm make the Welsh eight-piece instantly loveable!!  I loved their first two albums, but have not yet got to grips with their latest offering, 'Romance is Boring', Reading will be a good place to start.

Following the Cardiff lads n lasses on the R1 stage are Mercury-nominated Wild Beasts.  These boys from Kendal crept onto the scene with the release of their debut album 'Limbo, Panto' in 2008, and followed that up with 'Two Dancers' which was released last year and has earned them a nomination for this year's Mercury prize.

Then at last the chance to hear the anthem of the summer, The Drums exploded into our consciousness with the brilliant 'Let's Go Surfing'.  And whilst their debut self-titled album did not quite live up to the first single, these boys from NYC should provide a summery set (hopefully the sort of atmosphere Vampire Weekend normally bring) and I will be really disappointed if there is not a whole load of crowd SURFING!!

My year in lists - Los Campesinos!
All your keyfabe friends - Los Campesinos!
We've still got the tast dancing on our tongues - Wild Beasts
Let's go surfing - The Drums

The evening then begins to gear up and its time to put on the dancing wellies for the arrival of electronic instrumentalists Metronomy.  The group, originally best known as remixers, produce cracking tunes of their own and their set in the dance tent should be a good warm up for the rest of the evening.  Over in the R1 tent, Kele from Bloc Party makes his maiden solo festival performance following the release of the brilliant debut 'The Boxer'.  As i mentioned before his solo style is slightly more beats oriented than BP and the debut single 'Tenderoni' was a stunner!

A slight departure from the electro comes in the shape of Seattle rockers Band of Horses.  Their warm Americana-tinged tunes could be likened to My Morning Jacket, with their indie-country dress sense and beautiful musical panoramas, these guys are almost the american version of Mumford & Sons.  I've been longing to see them since i first discovered their music a couple of years ago and they are one of my must-sees of the weekend!  Plus look at the AWESOME beards.....love it!!

My heart rate rapid - Metronomy
Tenderoni - Kele
The Funeral - Band of Horses
The Great Salt Lake - Band of Horses

Back to the dancing and this time its Oxford five-piece Foals.  These boys sprung to my attention with the addictive jitter-funk classic 'Hummer'.  They followed this up with brilliant debut album 'Antidotes' containing classics like 'Balloons' and 'Cassius'.  Just when we thought it couldn't get any better they turn up early this year with latest album 'Total Life Forever' which has earned them a Mercury nomination (i know it may seem like everyone seems to get nominated, but its just a sign of how awesome the festival is this year!) and with 'Spanish Sahara' and 'This Orient', they certain have raised their game even further!

Balloons - Foals
Spanish Sahara - Foals

The fun times should continue thanks to the electronic wizardry of Dr Daniel Snaith PhD AKA Caribou.  His eclectic sound incorporates electronic psychedelia, breakbeat drums and krautrock rhythms to produce a swirling, lush, musical landscape in which to loose yourself. 

Then we have one of the funnest, most rockinist bands in all of existence, We Are Scientists.  The (now) NYC boys are back again this year with another great album 'Barbara', including the brilliant (nearly) new single 'Nice Guys'.  The trio broke through to the mainstream in 2006 with the release of the classic 'With Love and Squalor'.  Hits like 'Noboby move, nobody get hurt', 'The Great Escape' and 'It's a Hit' cemented them as one of my favourite bands.

Odessa - Caribou
Nobody move, nobody get hurt - We Are Scientists
Nice Guys - We Are Scientists

Then comes the decision of which headliners to watch, and whilst it might be tempting to go see Blink-182 (only kidding!!) on the main stage, the only real choice is between British Sea Power and the Klaxons.  Brighton indie rockers BSP produce distinctive sweeping guitar pop, but personally i just have to see the return of the Klaxons.  I first saw the indie-rave pioneers at Reading in 2006 in the tiny Carling tent, the place was packed with a seething mass of sweat and glow sticks (and this was mid-afternoon).  They followed that up in 2007 with a brilliant R1 headline slot.  This followed the release of seminal album 'Myths of the Near Future', which would win the Mercury Prize that year.  Following a bit of a hiatus which included an album which will probably never see the light of day, the sci-fi punks have returned this year with the a new album, 'Surfing the Void', so I'm looking forward to an explosive, energetic and memorable festival-closing set!!

Waving Flags - British Sea Power
Echoes - The Klaxons
Atlantis to Interzone - The Klaxons

So that'll be it for the music for another year......now let the sunday night madness commence!!!

HURLEY!!!

Just a brief post and i know its a little behind the curve, but its so awesome that i just had to.  Weezer are back with a new album, 'Hurley', and yes it is named after the lovable Lost character of the same name (aka Jorge Garcia).  Dude!  And just take a look at the artwork......AMAZING!! The first single from the new album will be 'Memories'...

Memories - Weezer

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Friday's Forgotten Classic - 13th August 2010

For today's forgotten classics i've plumped for a trio of 00s london punk tunes.  All three failed to get any real exposure at the time, but all of which i love.

First up is a tune released in February 2006.  'To the Ramones' by Dustin's Bar Mitzvah, is a riotous tale of an acrimonious breakup.  The tune rollocks along with an underlying emotion that is hard not too love, the ultimate breakup tune?!?  The band never really made the impact they should have in the UK, although they did get some surprising success in Japan including a sell out tour!  The band split in 2007, playing their final show at the 100 club in London (which i was there to witness).

To the Ramones - Dustin's Bar Mitzvah

This next band Kill City were fronted by Lisa Moorish, most famous for fathering children with both Liam Gallagher and Pete Doherty!  I had never heard of her or her music when i walked into the Joiners in Southampton back in 2002 to see the Libertines (for the first time).  Kill City were the support, and the energy in the room that night had true shades of the punk of the Sex Pistols or the Clash, it was alive with nervous electricity.  'New York in my pocket' (from a 2002 EP) is a great example of this energy.  They returned a few years with a slightly cleaner more indie pop sound, but it was clear she still had an ear for a tune, just listen to perfect pop gem 'Just like Bruce Lee'.

New York in my pocket - Kill City
Just like Bruce Lee - Kill City

The last is arguably the most successful of the three and is more post-punk than anything else.  'London Bridge' by Dogs was released in 2004 as a double A-side with the excellent 'End of an Era', and whilst not tearing up the charts, did get some exposure when it featured on the soundtrack to the FIFA 2006 computer game.  The twinkling, spiralling intro gives way to guitars which romp along making this a classic!

London Bridge - Dogs

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reading preview - saturday

So after the NME/Radio 1 stage dominated friday, the main stage really hits back on saturday....and how!! Saturday has the potential to be an all-time classic.  A whole bunch of my favourite bands including the return of the Libertines, which (if they turn up) will make my year (and not just the festival)!!

First up on the main stage are The Walkmen.  The NY indie rockers burst on the scene in the post-Strokes glow and dazzled with some great tunes like 'Little House of Savages' and 'The Rat'.  They've been away a while (or at least off my radar) but are back with a new album, 'Lisbon', this year so it'll be interesting to see what they have in store. 

Next up on the big one are everyones favourite mackems, The Futureheads.  Their spiky incisive post-punk has made them one of my favourite bands over the last several years.  Their self-titled debut album was a cracker and they followed it up with two more top long-players.  In April they released their fourth album, 'The Chaos'.  My hounds of love are most definitely calling!!

Little House of Savages - The Walkmen
Hounds of love - The Futureheads
Walking Backwards - The Futureheads

It's the job of The Mystery Jets to follow Sunderland's finest, but the quirky Eel Pie Islanders certainly have the charm and the tunes.  Returning with their third album 'Serotonin', the Jets will be hoping the main stage performance can help boost they're loyal following.

Now its the turn of one of my festival must sees, the Gaslight Anthem.  The Springsteen-loving New Jersey boys were my main discovery of Reading last year and since then their 2008 album 'The '59 Sound' has become a personal favourite.  Their new album, 'American Slang', is described as a bit different by frontman Brian Fallon, but from the evidence of the first single its gonna be a winner!

If you fancy a bit of shelter from the sun/rain (delete as appropriate) or you just enjoy a bit of new rave electro-punk (or noise as some of my friends call it) then head into the Radio 1 tent for a some Hadouken!  These kids sprung onto the scene in the wake of bands like the Klaxons and returned around the turn of the year with their second album, 'For the Masses'.

Half in love with Elizabeth - The Mystery Jets
Great Expectations - Gaslight Anthem
American Slang - Gaslight Anthem
Crank it up - Hadouken!

Then comes that bit of the day when a break in the schedule appears and there's a chance to see the new/unheard-of/ignored bands.  Some promising new candidates here are the twee acoustic folk charm of Villagers, nominated for the Mercury Prize for their debut effort 'Becoming a Jackal', I blame Coco, the daughter of Sting, with her reggage-tinged pop or New York indie folk newcomer Darwin Deez.  Alternatively, there are a couple of bands who i've never fully explored, south Londoners The Maccabees and Portland indie rockers Modest Mouse.

Becoming a Jackal - Villagers
Selfmachine - I Blame Coco
Radar Detector - Darwin Deez
Float on - Modest Mouse
About Your Dress - The Maccabees

Next up is my hometown boy, Frank Turner in the R1 tent.  His folk-punk won me over at the festival 2 year back and last years show on the same stage blew me away.  His latest album, 'Poetry of the Deed', was released a week after, and it still sounds just as good one year on!  Can't wait to hear thousands of people singing "We're definitely going to hell, but we'll have all the best stories to tell."

Following Mr Turner on the main stage are indie scene darlings the Cribs.  The Wakefield lads returned this week with a surprise new single, 'Housewife', with a zombietacular video.  Their riotous shows are always a hit with the crowds and with hits like 'Men's Needs' and 'Hey Scenesters' in their locker its easy to see why!  

The Real Damage - Frank Turner
The Road - Frank Turner
Men's Needs - The Cribs
Hey Scenesters - The Cribs

Then we have time for a bit of full-on electro-rave from Crystal Castles.  The Toronto experimentalists returned earlier this year with a second eponymous album and should always be good for a dance.  Then onto festival favourite, East London boy Dizzee Rascal.  The three time Mercury nominee (and one time winner) always brightens up a festival afternoon and he's got the tunes to get the party started.  But after all, he's just a rascal, dizzee rascal!

Air War - Crystal Castles
Jus a Rascal - Dizzee Rascal

.......What can i say?!?  I never thought i would see the day.  The boys in the band have been reunited and will once again grace the main stage.  The Libertines are my all-time favourite band and the passion and electricity they exuded in their live shows was unrivalled and must have been akin to the early days of punk.  The volatile chemistry between Pete and Carl was always on the edge and yet beautiful at the same time.  It has been a long time since i last had the privilege of seeing them live and Saturday 28th August 2010 cannot come too quickly.

What a Waster - The Libertines
Don't Look Back into the Sun - The Libertines
The Delaney - The Libertines

Onto the headliners and although it will be a near impossible act to follow what has gone before, there are two bands who are are in with a real shout.  The main stage will see the return of Arcade Fire to the festival for a third time.  The Montreal indie collective fronted by husband and wife duo, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, released their third album, 'The Suburbs', last week.  They have a great back catalogue to draw from and should put on a great show.

The alternative (and one i'm leaning towards at the moment) is in the Festival Republic tent where Downpatrick rockers Ash will surely have the place bursting at the seams with their plethora of classic tunes.  They released their last album 'Twilight of the Innocents' back in 2007 and have since been playing the old hits, including much from their classic album 1977.  Ash were one of the first bands i saw live and will always have a place in my heart.  Bring it on, let's get ready to Burn Baby Burn!!

Rebellion (Lies) - Arcade Fire
Angel Interceptor - Ash
Orpheus - Ash

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Friday's Forgotten classic - 6th August 2010

This week i'm going back to 2001 and an album that i still go back to time after time.  In my opinion this was Snow Patrol's best album!  'When it's all over we still have to clear up' is much rawer and more tender than their later albums.  They obviously made a name for themselves with the more recent stuff, but in the same way i always return to 'Parachutes' when i want to hear some Coldplay, i always return to 'When it's all over...'.  This album only reached number 129 in the UK and never really got the recognition it deserved at the time.  'An olive grove facing the sea' is still my favourite SP song, beautiful!!

Making Enemies - Snow Patrol
Black and Blue - Snow Patrol
An Olive Grove Facing the Sea - Snow Patrol

(Just realised that Mr Gary Lightbody has managed to get himself in my last two forgotten classic posts now, cheeky b@%?£*d!!)

reading preview - friday

So with Reading now less than a month away and the full lineup announced, its time to look ahead at the fun to come.  Who will i be watching, who will i be avoiding.....so these may turn into mammoth post, we shall see.  Hopefully there will also be bands i don't know, but will end up seeing and loving, that's always the way.

Following a nice friday morning cooked breakfast in town its over to the NME/Radio 1 stage to see Surfer Blood.  These guys got a mention in a recent post and what a way to start the festival.  They're swiftly followed on the R1 stage by New Young Pony Club.  The four-piece from London released their first album Fantastic Playroom (which i loved!)  in 2007 borrowing heavily from their new wave and post-punk influences.  They've returned this year with new album The Optimist.  Take a listen to first album highlight 'The Bomb' and new single 'The Chaos'.

Swim - Surfer Blood
The Bomb - New Young Pony Club
Chaos - New Young Pony Club

Then, if you're in the mood for something a bit heavier, how about heading over to the Festival Republic stage to see Leeds rockers Pulled Apart by Horses.  Or if you fancy something a bit more sunny (or you're just feeling lazy) you could stay and watch San Franciscans Girls on the R1 stage.  Whichever you chose, you must be back at the R1 stage right after for the set which is nailed on to be one of the highlights of the weekend.  So so excited about seeing Two Door Cinema Club, their album is ace and they have the sort of tunes which should be muchos fun live.....get ready to bounce!!

I punched a lion in the throat - Pulled apart by horses
Laura - Girls
Undercover Martyn - Two Door Cinema Club

On a bit of a comedown after TDCC, there's a bit of time to wonder and maybe discover some bands i don't know (or don't know so well).  Some possible candidates could be electro-pop duo The Big Pink who won the NME Philip Hall Radar award in 2009, New York experimental act Yeasayer, Manchester-based alternative dance band Delphic or an old festival favourite Adam Green (of Moldy Peaches fame).  Moldy Peaches were the first act i saw at Reading festival all the way back in 2001.

Dominos - The Big Pink
Ambling Alp - Yeasayer
Counterpoint - Delphic
Who's got the crack - Moldy Peaches

Then we have the first potential nightmare clash of the weekend!!  Third from the top on the main stage are fierce Scots rockers Biffy Clyro, whilst on the R1 stage are Mumford & Sons, one of my bands of the year.  Big dilemma, now hopefully the timings will be kind and i can get to see both.  Otherwise, there's a big decision to be made.........but how can i pick between the 'Mountains' and 'The Cave'!  Two bands nominated for the Mercury Prize this year for their brilliant albums, 'Only Revolutions' and 'Sigh No More', they really are two of my must see bands.  Please be kind scheduling gods!!

Mountains - Biffy Clyro
Machines - Biffy Clyro
           vs
Roll away your stone - Mumford & Sons
Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons

With the sounds of one of my festival highlights ringing in my ears, we have time for one more act before the headliners. But will it be french alt-rockers Phoenix (R1 stage) or Leeds indie boys Sunshine Underground (Festival Republic stage). Either would be good, probably see how energetic i'm feeling (or drunk!).

Run Run Run - Phoenix
Lisztomania - Phoenix
Put you in your place - Sunshine Underground
Spell it out - Sunshine Underground

Finally to the headliners.  On the main stage are Guns n Roses, who i will most definitely be avoiding!  Which leaves a couple of nice options, on the festival republic stage Marina and the Diamonds will be twinkling away with the her charming pop tunes.  Personally though i'll be over in the R1 tent getting down to LCD Soundsystem.  They played quite late on a couple of years ago and really got the party going, so headlining this year i'm expecting great things....glow sticks at the ready!!

I am not a robot - Marina and the Diamonds
Daft Punk is playing in my house - LCD Soundsystem
All my friends - LCD Soundsystem

Looks like a pretty good opening day in store, and that's only the warm up for the rest of the weekend!!

what a performance...

So normally I find a bunch of new music and then slowly get round to blogging about it over the next few days/weeks, but in this case i felt inspired to write a quick post straight away.

I came across a track by a band called Performance {formerly (We Are) Performance} from Manchester.  Seems like they've had a turbulent past, this bunch of school friends kept getting together and breaking apart, managing to release an album back in 2007.  And happily, they seem to have got it together again.  'Unconsoled' is an powerful indie-electro-pop tune, as one blog wrote, its sounds like someone mixed Pounding by Doves with some U2 and a hint of Brandon Flowers, and the result is fantastic!  Earlier this year they released 'The Living', an equally brilliant dance-inducing 3:37.  Get listening (and prepare to dance)!!!

Unconsoled - Performance
The Living - Performance

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Friday's Forgotten classic(s) - 30th July 2010

Another friday another classic, well two actually.  I was listening to an old chill out compilation i had made years ago and was thinking about which tracks i would add now.  These two tracks were the clear front runners......

the first was released in 1999 and made it to number 16 in the UK charts, but for me 'Windowlicker' by Aphex Twin is an absolute classic.  The smooth, distorted vocals blend perfectly with the laid back beats to give it a really chilled out feel!!  The video is a freaky masterpiece, where a parody of US gangsta rap videos turns weird as the main character is joined by women who's faces morph into his....  A classic though!!

Windowlicker - Aphex Twin

the second tune is a wonderful chillout masterpiece which never got the recognition it deserved.  'Fallen' by dance music DJ-come-producer Cut la Roc.  This track was one of two he produced with Gary Lightbody (of Snow Patrol fame) back in the year 2000.  Have a listen, i hope you love it as much as i do...

Fallen - Cut la Roc

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get cape. wear cape. fly

So you may know i like musicians with a conscience, and one guy who certainly has one is Sam Duckworth AKA Get cape. Wear cape. Fly.  I first saw Sam back in 2006 playing at 93 Feet East, just him, his guitar and his laptop.  I remember being captivated by his sound and that his songs really meant something.  (in a side note, the support that night was the hilarious Example who is at last getting some of the recognition he deserves!)  Anyway, four years on and Sam's about to release his third album (13th Sept, this time self-titled).  If this album is anywhere near as good as his previous efforts its going to be one of the albums of the year! 

The initial probes seem promising with first single 'Collapsing cities' (video below) seeing Sam team up with drum'n'bass man, Shy FX.  When i heard this i was expecting something much heavier, but to be honest its in a pretty similar vein to some of his early stuff, but i'm not complaining......cos its great!!  Another early feeler, album track 'Morning Light', which was released as a free download, provides more encouragement.  Here are also a couple of tracks which will be B-sides when 'Collapsing Cities' is released next week.  The first is a brilliant cover of said single and the other is a brilliant version of the Justice hit, D.A.N.C.E.  Enjoy!!

Morning light - Get cape. Wear cape. Fly
Collapsing Cities (Jakwob remix) - Get cape. Wear cape. Fly
D.A.N.C.E. - Get cape. Wear cape. Fly (Justice cover)

to the beach

Sticking with sunny beach-pop, here are another 3 bands with some pretty sweet tunes...and they all have beach-style names :-)

First up are Beach Fossils.  They're jangly, lo-fi sound is similar to the Cults, Guards and the Drums.  Coming from Brooklyn, they released their debut 7" last year and followed that up with their self-titled debut album in May this year.  Here are a couple of tracks, 'Time' from the EP and 'Daydream' from the LP.

Daydream - Beach Fossils
Time - Beach Fossils

So from the beach to the Wavves.  This lo-fi noise-pop act is based around Nathan Williams and hail from sunny San Diego.  They are now on their third album, 'King of the Beach', which is a lot of fun!  Last year Nathan had an interesting time at the Primavera Sound festival having a drink and drugs fueled breakdown onstage, followed by the cancellation of his European tour.  But he's back with a bang.....see what you think.

King of the Beach - Wavves
Green Eyes - Wavves

Finally, we have something slightly more rocky (but not much), Surfer Blood.  These boys from West Palm Beach, Florida released their ace debut single 'Swim' last year and got quite a bit of attention, now they are back with debut long-player 'Astro Coast'.  Take a listen to the tracks here, i'm sure you'll enjoy!

Swim - Surfer Blood
Take it easy - Surfer Blood

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getting down from the trees

So I've just listened to the Polock album and its a winner!  If you're one of the many people loving the Two Door Cinema Club album at the moment, then you'll love this.  'Getting Down From The Trees' is a bright and breezy, happy summer album.  I'd recommend you all have a listen.  Below is the opener 'High on life' to whet you appetite, and an acoustic version of 'Fireworks' they recorded for the Transforma sessions at a festival in Vigo, lovely!

High on life - Polock

Friday's Forgotten Classic - 23rd July 2010

The second classic is another brilliant song from a few years back that never got the recognition it deserved.  Battle made epic, spatious post-punk.  There finest hour was single Tendency, which peaked at number 37 in the UK charts.  But the driving beat and epic guitars deserve so much more, Joy Division would have been proud of this!!

Tendency - Battle

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OK Go.....video genius'

This is a post which is well behind the times, but i just couldn't resist paying tribute to OK Go for making some of my favourite videos. Now I know there are many bands who make brilliant videos, but OK Go are one who certainly have a certain love for it!! Below are three of their videos: 'Get over it' from their debut album, which was just a hint of what was too come, the now classic 'Here it goes again' treadmill video and one of their recent singles, 'End Love' which is promoed by a fantastic time-lapse video. That must have been quite an effort!!! What will they think of next??

best coast and .......

 

Continuing the sunshine pop theme, here are another two great bands very much in a similar mold as Cults or the Drums.  Best Coast are a California band based around front woman Bethany Cosentino, inspired by her longing for the west coast while at college in NY.  So more sunny songs about beaches and boys!

Boyfriend - Best Coast
Crazy for you - Best Coast

Now comes a bit of mystery.......why is the next band not huge?!?  I actually next to nothing about Guards, but their debut ep (which is available as a free download) and its BRILLIANT!!  They even have a tune featuring the wonderful Cults.  So here's a plan:

listen --> fall in love --> download ep --> never look back :-)

Resolution of one - Guards
Sail it slow - Guards (featuring Cults)

This is making for a great summer of music :-)
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mercury music prize 2010 nominations announced

The Mercury music prize is an annual award for the best album in British music.  Now in its 19th year, the award is one of the most important in the UK.  The nominations are normally quite diverse with pop, rock, indie, folk, hip-hop, jazz and even modern-classical acts on show.
 
The nominees for the 2010 mercury music prize have been announced (with links for Spotify users):

• Biffy Clyro - 'Only Revolutions'
• Corinne Bailey Rae - 'The Sea'
• Dizzee Rascal - 'Tongue n' Cheek'
• Kit Downes Trio - 'Golden'
• Foals - 'Total Life Forever'
• I am Kloot - 'Sky at Night'
• Laura Marling - 'I Speak Because I Can'
• Mumford & Sons - 'Sigh No More'
• Paul Weller - 'Wake Up The Nation'
• Villagers - 'Becoming A Jackal'
• Wild Beasts - 'Two Dancers'
• The XX - 'XX'

Of the nominees, three have been nominated previously; Paul Weller all the way back in 1994 (Wild Wood), Laura Marling in 2008 (Alas, I cannot swim) and Dizzee Rascal who won the prize in 2003 with his debut, 'Boy in da corner', and followed that up with another nomination in 2008 (Maths + English).

I have to confess I don't know most of the albums on the list (although I hope to remedy that).  But my current favourite would be Mumford & Sons, although all would probably be worthy victors!  The winner will be announced at a ceremony on 7th September.  The winning act will collect the £20k prize, although the prestige of winning and the associated album sales are the real treasure!!

Kitsuné Maison

So far I've talked about bands and events, so I thought it was about time I gave a mention to a particular cool label. Kitsuné Maison, created in Paris in 2002, is a boutique fashion label and an electronic music label.  Their clothes are pretty cool (well they are french!), but the music is just brilliant!! 

The music label has an impressive catalogue having released over 80 singles and EPs by electronic artists including The Teenagers, La Roux, Simian Mobile Disco, Chew Lips, Heartsrevolution, Étienne de Crécy, Two Door Cinema Club and Delphic.  They've also released three full studio albums by Autokratz, Digitalism and Two Door Cinema Club.  If this wasn't impressive enough, they also produce some excellent compilations!!  They have recently released number 9 (see the trailer for the compilation and their next season clothes below).  The only one I know well is number 6 which I love :-)  Here are some of the highlights:

Want U - Lo-Fi-Fink
Superheroes - You Love Her Coz She's Dead
Ultraviolence - Heartsrevolution

the countdown to reading begins

So today is just 6 weeks until Reading Festival 2010!!  My favourite weekend of the year!  and this year will be extra special as it will make a decade of Reading for me :-)  Over the next 6 weeks I'll introduce the bands I'm looking forward to seeing this August bank holiday weekend, as well as reminisce about the years past!

In case any of you don't know, Reading Festival is the best music festival in the world (second to glastonbury if i'm honest).    The world's oldest popular music festival first started as the National Jazz Festival in 1961, before moving to Reading in 1971, by which time it had moved over to rock music.  It has gone from strength to strength ever since!

So the lineup this year is excellent (as usual) and as often happens the real fun is to be had away from the headliners (who this year aren't amazing).  The obvious stand-out name for me is the return of the Libertines, my favourite ever band, but i'll try to also give you a run down of the other must see acts.

So for all who know me, it will be little surprise that I'd pick Frank Turner as a must see.  The singer-songwriter from my hometown, Winchester, plays acoustic (almost folky) indie with a punk attitude!  I was first introduced to Frank's music at Reading two years ago, when a friend of a friend took us along to see him in the Lock up stage.  Before the set was even finished i was sold.  The lyrics, the music, the energy and the togetherness with the crowd won me over!!  Lyrics that make you think, inspire and comfort.  Here are the recent single 'Try this at home' and one of the most sad-yet-uplifting songs ever, 'Long love the queen', which was written about a friend who died of cancer, the chorus gets me every time!!

Try this at home - Frank Turner
Long live the Queen - Frank Turner

And here's a video of Frank from Reading last year.  Playing to a packed NME/Radio1 tent he blew everyone away and the crowd sing-along to set closer 'The ballad of me and my friends' was my personal festival highllight!!

Another must see for me is a band i saw at the festival last year, although at that point i hadn't heard any of their stuff before.  The Gaslight Anthem from New Jersey, sound a little like Springsteen for the 21st century (the Boss is a fan).  They exploded onto the music scene last year and have their third album out this year.  They should be epic!!

The '59 Sound - Gaslight Anthem
Miles Davis & the Cool - Gaslight Anthem

So who else is coming to Reading this year??  its gonna be fun!!

Friday's Forgotten Classic - 16th July 2010

So hopefully this will be the first in a regular feature of forgotten classic tunes. They may be great songs which were loved at the time, but have been forgotten since, or maybe ones which never got the recognition they deserved (as with this first one).

The first (which is the inspiration for this segment) is one of my favourite ever songs. Most people who know me will have heard this song, and most (i hope) have loved every second of it!! It also wins the prize for best title :-)

'You are the generation who bought more shoes and you get what you deserve' by Liverpool-based duo Johnny Boy, is (in my opinion) the perfect pop song!  Released back in august 2004, it reached only number 50 in the charts, but this wall of sound epic deserved so much more!  The beautiful melodies, jangling guitars and rising crescendos are combined with a message to make you think.  A true classic and i dare anyone to say otherwise!!

You are the generation... - Johnny Boy

grande musique

This time a trio of acts with a french connection. Two are french, but sing in english, the other is a canadian singing in french.

The Dodoz are a young act from Toulouse. They formed in the mid-00's but started to get noticed in the last couple of years and released their excellent debut album last year. Their raw indie-rock sound and cute female vocals combine with particularly brilliantly consequences on stand-out single 'Bet'.

Bet - the Dodoz

Next up is a lovely canadian singer-songwriter.  Coming from Quebec, Coeur de Pirate (or pirate heart), charms with her simple-yet-beautiful pop gems.  Sadly i understand little as languages were always a challenge, but you don't need to understand a word to be touched by her sweet voice and the twinkling melodies.

Comme des enfants - Coeur de Pirate
Corbeau - Coeur de Pirate

The last act are one you may well know already.  Nouvelle Vague cover punk, new wave and post-punk classics in a bossa nova style.  They are unique!  could they come from anywhere other than france?

Love will tear us apart - Nouvelle vague
Ever fallen in love - Nouvelle vague

s'amuses!

Sunshine pop!!

The first of these bands is spanish and what better way to celebrate a great spanish sporting summer than by listening to Polock's killer summer anthem, 'Fireworks'.  I must confess that I've struggled to find out much about these guys, but i don't care, this song is great!

Fireworks - Polock

Next are a band who are causing a buzz on the indie blogs across the pond in the US of A, Cults.  The New York duo seem to be turning out twinkling, joyous pop gems for fun.  Their lo-fi, 60's inspired music is set to make them one of the hottest bands of 2010!!

Oh my god - Cults
Go outside - Cults
Most wanted - Cults

Finally, a band very much in the same vein as cults, Tennis are a husband and wife duo who started writing songs whilst on a sailing trip.  Their sound is delightful throw-back, hand-clapping retro-pop.  If we get much more of this brilliant music we'll have to come up with a name for this growing scene....

Marathon - Tennis

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