Tuesday 28 June 2011

viva brother


Brother have changed their name to Viva Brother to avoid legal action.
In other news, doesn't frontman Lee Newell bear an uncanny resemblance to La Roux?

I'm not sure who the more unfortunate is.

Sunday 26 June 2011

ben howard: the wolves


Perfect for a summery Sunday afternoon.
Waiting for sunsets and surfing in Newquay.

Friday 24 June 2011

foster the people: pumped up kicks


For those few moments in my English exam this morning where I had mental blocks,
thank you Foster The People for filling the time with this song going round and round in my head. And for that euphoric moment knowing my school life is officially over.

Thursday 23 June 2011

laura marling: a creature i don't know



Awaiting autumn for the album...

A balmy rose-tinted video, alongside Laura Marling's quite morose little song. It looks like Marling's grown out of her cutesy ways for good since Alas I Cannot Swim, and into this more mature, wiser, almost older-than-her-years style. Sombre and sophisticated, yes, but as enjoyable? Laura Marling's third album, of the same name, is due out 12th September. Another something to brighten up the end of the summer months.

Look out for more from Miss Marling on her website, here.

P.S. Go back and have a look at Bombay Bicycle Club: Shuffle to have a listen!

Tuesday 21 June 2011

hitten a brick wall


A poor play on words, please forgive me. Perhaps it is down to the up-coming demise of my short-lived English education, but I've only just realised how much I'm going to miss those lessons. Mainly the creative writing and the editorials, but nonetheless, a sad sad day awaits on Friday.

The First Day of Summer hasn't exactly been what I expected it to be - driving about (with my driving instructor - we're best buds, so I take him for a drive every now and then... ah, who am I kidding? I just haven't passed yet) in infrequent little spitting showers and bursts of sunlight. Then hayfever-y snivels all day and a quick trip into what I like to think is my true childhood home (as a village girl at heart, and as the backdrop for most of my dreams, bizarrely enough. The actual place where I live barely features compared).

I just feel a little mixed up with everything, and if I really am going to link in why I've placed Those Dancing Day's Hitten as the video above this blog, it's the sentiment of the poppy lyrics. "I wanna know what I'm thinking, what I'm feeling, what I want my life to be," is kinda the way I'm feeling right now. Exams have consumed my life! And this Friday, being spat back out into a life where I can leave the house (gasp!), with no true indication of where I will be living in four month's time, who I'll be with, and how I'll actually be surviving, the demise of not only English but my education, school, the place where I've spent almost half my life... it's a startling idea. I'll have my job, yes, and a few holidays, true, but the rest of the summer?

We'll have to wait and see.
World, I'd like you to meet my impulsive, carefree side.

the lovin' spoonful: daydream


Happy First Day of Summer!

lykke li: i follow rivers


One-woman powerhouse.

I can't say I'm completely in love with the branch of music that Lykke Li does so well, but I would be lying if I said this song isn't ghostly brilliance. Perhaps not an artist I will be buying in to, but showing my love for this song is no crime, is it?

Visit Lykke Li's website here, plus sign up to her mailing list here to download the fierce "Get Some" and beautifully dark and dangerous track, "Paris Blue", for free.

Saturday 18 June 2011

a rainy saturday afternoon


My daydream:
This, and a doorstop-sized piece of cake, and tea. In my pyjamas. Pretty please.

I made the most bitter-sweet discovery this week: I could go and see Slow Club, Emmy The Great, The Kooks, Cloud Control, Bombay Bicycle Club, Noah & The Whale, Lykke Li, Arctic Monkeys and Bon Iver all within the first two months of going to university. Orrrrr, I could spend my time and student loan on other, more trivial things, such as university. It's a toughie. I really don't want to have to choose!

I've got them all calendar-ed up anyway. Being the optimist, hoping my horoscope actually proves to be correct and I will find myself inundated with money in the next few months. My fingers are oh-so tightly crossed.

Before that though, crossing them even harder for this last week of exams. Wish me luck!
(I'll go back to revising now, I promise.)

Wednesday 15 June 2011

arcade fire: ready to start


P.S. My tickets to see these came through today! Fifteen days baby!

alana stewart: momma says


Regina Spektor's voice, reincarnated?

Just thought I'd pop on and post the video, after hearing it on Steve Lamacq's show during a whimsical pitta-bread sandwich, (at three o'clock in the afternoon - my second lunch today). My body might be out of sync but my mind is crammed full of revision, oh joy. Thank god for good music keeping me going. Even with this dizzy headache of mine, and strange twists in my stomach.

Go find out more about Alana Stewart at her myspace, here.

Monday 13 June 2011

lucy rose: middle of the bed


This song breaks a little bit of my heart, every time.

Such a shame that I missed her performance in Milton Keynes (possibly my fault, but the bouncer was a gentleman and let us watch the warm ups anyway). Middle of The Bed is the first single from Lucy Rose's upcoming album, available to download on 21st July (although physical copies will be at her gig in London on 5th July... I'll wait until she releases her tour dates to see her, I think). I can't wait, all the same.

Hop over to her website here to learn more.

Sunday 12 June 2011

those dancing days: i'll be yours


Be my best friends?

Slipping into my comfy old slippers and nodding along to this, wishing for some hot tomato soup. Possibly the next best thing to revision, considering the up-beat-i-ness is keeping me going. Shall promise to have a search around for some spare coins for their album, Daydreams & Nightmares, which you can buy here (a little electronic in places, but the Kate Nash / Pipettes sound is still there, making it a guilty pleasure of mine). Otherwise visit their rather nice website here. Have a happy Sunday!

Friday 10 June 2011

arctic monkeys: the hellcat spangled shalalala



Summer Soundtrack #1?

There's little I can say that hasn't already been said, but I can't get enough of this right now. Having slim-lined the music I listen to, it's nice to suddenly rediscover why you liked certain bands in the past, and the Arctic Monkeys have fallen into that category. Whatever People Say... has become one of those albums I rediscover every couple of months and have a great time listening through, but Favourite Worst Nightmare often wore a little thin, and with Humbug falling out of my shopping list completely (due to all the negative reviews, I have to admit - although as a reviewer I should really be taking note of others, shouldn't I?), I'm desperate to find the money to add this to the list of albums that are going to make my summer this year. Welcome back (into my life, anyway).

Visit the Arctic Monkey's website here.

slow club: two cousins


Again, perhaps a little eager on the uptake, but I just can't help myself. Slow Club's new album is just around the corner and they're going to let us take a peek by releasing the video of the first single from the album, Two Cousins, on 13th June. Pop over to their website next week and see!

P.S. I'll hopefully be able to post it here when it does come around, so keep your eyes peeled! It's an exclusive on their website, so click on over there now! (Don't worry about only being able to see a snippet of the video, enter your e-mail address and you'll get the goods. It took me a while to work out, I'll admit!) I've finally managed to post the video, although I'm sure all you eager lot have already watched it!
P.P.S. Tune in to Red Bull Studios at 7pm, 21st June to hear them play songs from the album too.

Tuesday 7 June 2011

bombay bicycle club: shuffle



Perhaps a little too early to say, but the Bombay boys are back with a new album, A Different Kind of Fix, and from it "Shuffle" will be their first single (due out 26th June). The album will be released 29th August, though those of you lucky people with festival tickets will hear it first (lucky me!) Visit their website here, and if you're eager enough, buy some tickets too...

emmy the great: paper forest (in the afterglow of creation)


Also billed as Paper Forest (In The Afterglow of Rapture).
This is the reason why I will be buying Emmy's album. And it really is a brilliant album.

Stream Emmy The Great's full album, Virtue, on the Guardian website here.
Then buy it when it's released on 13th June via her website, right here.

Monday 6 June 2011

Friday 3 June 2011

coldplay: every teardrop is a waterfall


A rather boring video, a rather incredible song.

I have a feeling I'm going to fall in love with Coldplay all over again. After the full-blown romance with  Viva La Vida, (perhaps a forgotten lover of mine now... I may go dust it off), this song, despite its more electronic-sounds, has just started my infatuation again.
Jumping around the sunny kitchen to this.

daughter: bbc radio 6 music session



Caught Daughter's live session on BBC Radio 6 Music today, and it really brought a smile to my face being able to hear the voice know who was behind the beautiful music. And what a voice. Playing "Landfill" and "Candles" live, I had to put down my cheese-on-toast and just listen.  You can hear the session here (although it will only be available until 7th June), or listen to the two above videos taken from Daughter's YouTube.

And then download her free four-track "Demos EP" here
And then buy her album "His Young Heart" on Bandcamp here
And then love.

belle and sebastian: the blues are still blue


It's a Belle & Sebastian kinda day.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

emmy the great: iris


For the "Princesses of Impermanence".

Okay so, this song/video/lovely lady has pinpointed my dilemma exactly. Sometimes it's better to appreciate all the little things than strive for tomorrow's gifts. (Enough of the wisdom already, I just know you're all sighing. Okay.) Such a cutesy song, a brilliant first single from Emmy's second album entitled "Virtue". I'm so so tempted to pre-order it, before it's release on the 13th June. Hmm. I think I can wait that long...

Visit her website here and have a gander.

P.S. Listen her album, Virtue, on the Guardian's website here.
Also accompanied by a guide to each song. Listen. Love.