My top 5 fan made music videos

Now we've all been in the situation when we listen to an album, fall in love with a certain song, but HOLD ON it's not a single. 'How has this happened? What record label is this? I must demand they release it!' The first time I experienced this was with Hard Fi's debut album, Stars of CCTV. Fast-forward 8 years and things have been improved, thanks to the fan-made music video. Some, as many artists would begrudingly admit, are better than the official ones themselves, here's my personal favourites. 


Bon Iver - Holocene
A beautiful track, matched with breathtaking Irish countryside. The film-maker for this had originally planned a story following a young couple, however this didn't go to plan. But the scenery is so stunning, it really allows the viewer to sit back and experience the delicate vocals of Justin Vernon. Admittedly, I have limited knowledge of film-making itself, but I was very fond of the way the creator of the video left in many of the sounds from the landscape, such as the wind flowing through the long grass. It sets as the perfect undertone to the smooth song.

Sparklehouse - Sad & Beautiful World
Pure melancholy. Shot in a small frame, deliberately I'm sure, the video expresses the insignificance of human life on the world. It does seem to be tinged with hope throughout however. Almost as if some sort of admiration for human endevaour and purpose, in spite of the obvious notion that in reality we don't have a lot of answers. Anyway, before I sound too much like an English teacher with all of this guess-work go check it out for yourself and you can draw your own conclusion.

Joy Division - Atmosphere
Those undecided on the deservedness of the cult-status of Joy Division need little more than take a listen to this unoffiicial release from 1979. The visualisations in the video are mesmerisingly artistic. It flickers from shot to shot, representing the drug culture in the late 70's, and the fast-changing times making it difficult for many to acclimatise. As with most Joy Division it's both dark and powerful, and this video sets it up a treat.

 Blink 182 - When I Was Young
A raw, powerful emotional song, which is pretty much what Blink do best - and the video mirrors this perfectly. Opening with the thought-provoking quote, 'Each day is a little life: every waking and rising a little birth, every fresh morning a little youth, every going to rest and sleep a little death.' The video captures American suburbia explored with youthful abandon, featuring a group of youngsters experiencing love, friendship, as well as some pretty badass skateboard stunts. Truly captivating stuff.

Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

The chords you may instantly recognise from the YouView TV and Radio ads. Months in the making the animation in this video is really astounding. Taking you through a little journey, with bunnies sipping tea, two men flying through the air staring adoringly at eachother, and everything in between! Quite how this awesome bit of cartoon fun was made I have no idea, but this interview with it's creator Gabe Askew should help you out.

Klaxons - Love Frequency album review

It's been a few years in the making for Greenwich University drop-out Jamie Reynolds and his bandmates, but third album offering from the inbetweeners of rock/electronic pop Klaxons, has almost been swept under the carpet, wrongly.

Love Frequency is less indie than previous records, more focused, it's a cleaner record that knows what it wants. Some would argue that's diffused the charm from the band, yet the sound has evolved. Lead-single There is no other time, is pure funk, and it's a whole lotta fun. They remain true to their Nu-wave origins, and with the help of Gorgon City, have created one of the tracks of the year in my opinion - and the rest of the album is well worth delving into.

Klaxons welcomed a host of producers on this creation, including James Murphy, Erol Alkan and Chemical Brother James Murphy, and it shows, it's well produced, experimental and direct, without risky, unecessary hooks. It's less chaotic than previous Myths of the Near Future or Surfing the Void, but similarly to when reviewing Jamie T's latest record, an artists sound has to evolve to remain credible, or it's simply a futile, repetitve artistic attempt.

Opening track, A new Reality, is a pill-popping, synthy track that sets up the record perfectly and pretty much encapsulates what the record is all about. Children of the Sun (no this isn't a Tinie Tempah mess), an understated track, without pretentions. It does feel experimental at times throughout as a record, which only leads you to feel Love Frequency is a gateway to more from the Klaxons.

Rhythm of life is a bit more aggressive, a pacey track that'll have you feet-stomping in a muddy tent in the Summer. I think it sums too what I find endearing about the record. It's that they've rejected obvious melodies in favour of creating a sound that's uncompeted in the industry, that I admire. Again, Liquid Light, is somewhat psycadellic, and you sense coupled with their colourful artwork, in terms of live sets, something pretty special flourishes for fans.  Atom to Atom another daring track, that almost sounds like a remix of itself, propels you into the heart of a warehouse rave with it's undeniable references.

Whilst band-members have indicated their touring this year will be their last headline shows, remains to be seen, I don't feel this befitting closure to a band that I think have just proved they have more to offer. This a dynamic record, creating a world of colourful imagery, with dark undertones. You may need to give it a few listens, but the rewards are eye-opening and exciting.

BBC Music sound of 2015 - hot prospects

It's that time again, where the BBC announce 15 fresh acts for us to get excited about.

As the picture shows they do seem to get cooler every year, with this years shortlist looking like the kids you always wanted to be friends with at school.

As anyone who's aware of this prize, the act awarded the acclaim has a lot to live up to with previous winners including Adele and last years winner, Sam Smith.

Here's my personal favourites, but for the full list check out at the link at the bottom of the article.

Rae Morris - A singer I first came across during repeated listens of Clean Bandit's debut-album, which featured Morris on the song Up Again, leading me to impulsively check out her solo stuff.

She's got a very melodic voice, that seems to glide through her songs,the best of which being Grow. She also covered one-hit wonder East 17's, Stay Another Day for the Live Lounge because who doesn't want to hear some classic 90's throwback? The rousing track, Don't go, is also well worth a listen.



Wolf Alice - These indie-rockers have been announced as one of the support acts for Alt-J at the O2 in January, not a bad venue to get your sound out eh!

Having grown in popularity through Soundcloud, I'm pretty excited about this band, and biggest-single, Bros, is one you will want to hear pumped out at a tent at a Summer festival. Helps having a bit of eye-candy up front too!


James Bay - Having already bagged a Brit award for critics choice there was no way I could ignore Hertfordshire's finest new acoustic singer-songwriter. Let it go is such an infectious song, and his style is so pure.

Bay was spotted playing an open-mic night in Brighton, where he was studying and it's been quick success from there. Having already been likened to Ben Howard and Passenger, he'll be the favourite to win this acclaim too.



Years & Years - With frontman, Olly Alexander, already having moderate fame from playing Jacob in Skins, this synth-pop group were always gonna be cool.

They have an immensely creative sound, coupled with some pretty unique artwork! Some are comparing them to fellow electronic bands, Clean Bandit and Disclosure. If they can match their success I'm sure the lads would be pretty delighted!


Check out the other 11 names in the hat here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ebh6v2

5 reasons to go to Download next year

It's just 28 weeks, and a day until Donington Park's Download Festival 2015, with the first set of acts announced a few days ago. And if you all you can picture is a muddy field, full of beer-bellied bikers, let me change that view by giving 5 reasons to rock at the DL. 

• KISS - Gene Simmons and co will Don (see what I did there!) their famous costumes and paint, and bang out 'God gave Rock n Roll to you' and more legendary hits.
• Muse and Marilyn Manson in one day, surely not! - Yep, you read that right, shock-rocker Marilyn Manson whose famous for some rather lewd on-stage acts, and theatrical performances will be playing early on the Saturday evening. Muse meanwhile didn't play any major dates in Summer 2014, and are marking a return to the festival circuit with a new album. Gonna be one hell of a Saturday night Download.
• Unlike Reading/Leeds and other rock originated festivals, it hasn't been overtaken with swathes of irritating 16 and 17 year olds. Now don't get me wrong any music festival should be a place of acceptance and happiness, but when it's comprised solely of 16-19 year olds that only results in fake moshpits, high-pitched screaming, and very few interesting people at all!
• If you're a Rock/Metal fan, which to be honest you probably are if you've read this far, DL remains one of the few festivals to be untouched by other genres. Since Dagenham MC Devlin played Reading & Leeds, it all changed for then on in. 
• Download is quite simply, 5 nights of boozing, fun and great people. Having attended in 2012, with little interest in metal at all, I was completely turned by a fantastic atmosphere, and some amazingly friendly, fun characters in the crowd.

When rappers try something new

In the collaborative, genre-crossing music world that now exists, rappers are often the first to take the plunge into sampling, and featuring on a style out of their traditional comfort-zone. No better to show this, than one of my favourite MC's, Wretch 32.

The aptly named Blur, which featured on Fifa 13, exposure any artist would crave. With its rock-melody, and name-dropping of the likes of Oasis, Blur (naturally) and The Stone Roses, it was something of a pivotal move for UK rap. Notable as the hook itself isn't overly memorable, leading Wretch to take the foothold.

With the release of album number 4 for Wretch next year, he's tried something different once again, with social-media sensation (thanks to pals Ed Sheeran and Example), the Wilkinson produced 6 Words. Admittedly, a large portion of its success is down to the DnB workings. As with most drum n bass tracks, the lyrics are few, and repeated. But that it puts more pressure on the vocalist, for something lasting. That's hard for most singers, let alone a rapper. But you find yourself singing along to his, "I found my treasure in you" - fair play to Wretch.

Now let's look at This Is New Africa (TINA) pioneer Fuse ODG. Now before I continue I must say I am a big fan of his. Antenna in particular, is one of the most infectious songs released over the last couple of years. However, Fuse's Live Lounge cover of Waves originally by Mr Probz, didn't quite go the same way. Vocally laughable, and if you see the video, there's a point about halfway in where the bongo player actually breaks out laughing.

Now okay, this may not be a wholly fair comparison, given Wretch's track was pre-worked in a studio. But despite that, it still felt natural. I will also add, he not long ago covered Ed Sheeran's number 1, Thinking out Loudi  the Live Lounge creating a whole new funk-style to it - and whilst it did receive mixed reviews, personally I loved it.

Ultimately, my advice to rappers, if they're going to try something new, be it a cover, or an original - the three most important things would be: there has to be a noticeable new dimension to what you're doing, in the sense that it has to ambitious. Professor Green's done this on a number of occassions enabling him to stay relevant. Second, while it's a new style it still has to sound natural. Thirdly, play to your strengths - if you can't sing, you can't sing, it's as simple as that. But that doesn't mean you can't alter your flow.

Lost and now Found, Jamie T's back with a new album

Following the creation of a 2012 Facebook group entitled, 'Where is Jamie T?' The new godfather of hiatuses, South-West Londoner Jamie Treays is back with a brand, spankin' new album, 'Carry on the Grudge'.

His 2-litre bottle of Strongbow and a house party style of rap is long gone, and replaced with a mature boyish swagger. The first track on the album, Limits Lie, is much cleaner, smoother instrumentally than his earlier stuff, and an emotionally raw way to kick off the album.

In his time off, Jamie T's, clearly had to a lot of time to experiment, one of his key influences being 80's music, and Peter, a moody track definitely has that kinda vibe to it.

His come-back single Don't you Find, is a sombre, bassy affair, and a love song! You can just see this in a tent at a music festival - the album's had some criticism for having a different style to stuff Jamie's put out before, but I mean he's 28 now, probably has a mortgage and his music shows he's grown up a bit.

Carry on the Grudge is a bit The Clash, a bit Kid British. None more so than Zombie, probably the most lyrically poignant track, "I'm a sad sad post teen, caught up in the love machine, no dream, come clean, walking like a zombie." A lethal hook, that's pretty darn catchy. He's not totally ditched his boyish raps, but ironically, the song's about not knowing what to do now his teenage bravado is behind him, adjusting to adult life.

Love is only a heartbeat away, another stand out track from the album, warm bath and kettle chips listening as I'd like to describe it. Very charming, with a folky kind of guitar riff. A song you'd almost expect to find on an Ed Sheeran album.

Jamie recently performed Zombie, and Rabbit Hole on Later with Jools Holland. Rabbit Hole being the weaker of the 2 performances, with Jamie looking like he'd just necked a few pints, but nonetheless it is a great track and one you can really dance to.

Admittedly, his first album, Panic Prevention, was probably his best work, but continuing with that teenage-style now just wouldn't be organic. What I particularly like about Carry on the Grudge is that it's a bit darker, showing the guy's had some personal demons to overcome, and they've been a key influence on his sound.

The 1975 know where The City is

Having been a band for 10 years, something lead-singer Matt Healy rarely fails to mention in a show, two dates (with this being the last of those) at the spectacular Alexandra Palace in north-London were something of closure for the alternative group, The 1975, for now.

To perform at such a unique venue with it's grand exterior, and festival-like foyer, you've not only got to have a great back-catalogue of tracks, something The 1975 have in abundance despite only having released one album. But you've got to have a certain artistic style, that can create an atmosphere to fill the large floor-space It's the bands pulsating live set that does that, and does it well.

Set against their Chanel inspired white, portait backdrop (below), the Manchester originators step out with percussion-fuelled single The City, befitting, to a venue, with views right across the capital. The band then intertwine this household-known track, into Milk, a lesser-known song, about cocaine, that has an anthemic feel to it, with it's almost EDM like chorus.

The audience is on average teenagers, naturally with a lot of younger, female fans, but a sizeable hardcore of mid-to-late 20's males. After a bit of chatter with the crowd, from Healy in his distinct, slowed, yet artistic way of talking, the band then go into M.O.N.E.Y, and So Far (It's Alright), it was at this point, you begin to feel Healy's vocals have improved immensely. This could only lead me to believe he's ditched the chain-smoking, but enough about that, this isn't a tabloid newspaper. 

Matty then introduces their, "newest member of the band", a saxophonist, who provides soulful accompianient for She Way Out and Talk. After an instrumental interlude, by way of An Ecounter, the band deliver songs of more recent acclaim, the very catchy, Radio 1 friendly, Heart Out, as well as Settle Down and Pressure.

It is clear to anyone whose not already witnessed a broad array of The 1975's music prior to the gig, what a wide range of styles and influences the band incorporate in to their sound. Reflecting on this, I recall an interview, with Matty, where he explains this is why they opted to release numerous EP's before their debut-album, because it is such an audacious body of work.

Slower tracks, such as Me, and the beautiful fallingforyou (yes, all one word!) Then give a more serene feel to the concert. Songs that were no doubt suited to the grand, spacious arena at 'Ally Pally'. You, one of my personal favourites, A classic, despite not including it in their album, it is inconspicuous, with many deeper messages, thought-provoking stuff and to me exactly what the music industry needed, and why The 1975 have been welcomed with such open arms.

After another interlude, by way of HNSCC, something you feel is very authentic, and real. Giving you a moment to breathe, and absorb the moment, the band then move in to Menswear. An extremely, powerful track which really stood out as a highlight for me. Esepcially because they played the whole moody intro, lasting of about 2 minutes, before the poignant vocals, something they hadn't done in previous shows.

As some sort of monster-encore, The 1975 had left all their most commercial songs to the end. Testament to how far they've come as a band, having kept their crowd well and truly captivated for well over an hour to do that.

The relentlessly catchy Girls, no doubt got the younger-fans going, which was then followed by the more subdued Robbers, a song that I will confess took a while to grow on me. But it does infuriate me when people describe them as pop, yes their popular, and have a number of memorable melodies, and catchy riffs. But that's down to them as a band honing their craft for so long, and creating an utterly avant-garde sound. Listen to me get defensive, eh!

Ending the night, with Chocolate, and then the absolutely electric Sex, where all of a sudden there'd been a lot more space created to dance, which was handy, and their template rectangles turning red. The band waved farewell to the UK for now. Retreating to create something new, for us hopefully to get excited about.

When that does happen, I urge you to make every effort to go see this band live.