Rudimental "Not Giving in" with fresh new sound

Thankfully, drum and bass is finally beginning to take it's long overdue position at the forefront of British music culture. But it's pioneering new artist's such as Hackney-based DJ group, Rudimental that really deliver this genre with a cutting-edge that's more than simply a heavy dance-beat. Earlier in the year their feel-good anthem "Feel the Love" featuring the unique vocals of John Newman stormed to number one, and their latest track "Not Giving In" has just as much promise.

It's another feel-good track, with a more motivational element to it this time. Rudimental are once again lent the utterly sensational vocals of John Newman on this track with Singer-Songwriter, Alex Clare, also featuring. Something about their music seems to strike a chord inside of you, whether it be the unique featuring vocals, the energetic beat or the charming trumpets. Starting slowly, with Newman describing "lost my heart and lost my soul", the trumpet comes into play to aid the rise to the chorus, which is joyous and backed by female, vocal backing. The song, lifts you, and unlike alot of tracks utilises the drum and bass elements intelligently, without overdoing it.

The video, is simply emotional. Set in a slum in the Phillipines. It follows a group of "street-rats" hustling, attempting to make the best of their situation. With one break-dancing and two robbing street-sellers for food, followed by a crazed-man pursuing them with a machetti. The ending is stirring, yet somehow manages to maintain the uplifting element.

With a debut-album set in their sights, early next year, this will not be the last we hear from the Hackney-quartet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9-Lwpgfd1E

I don't remember what I did Last Night...

...but tonight I'll do it again. Are the calls from lead vocalist of Clement Marfo and The Frontline, Kojo Williams, on the hip-hop/rock band's latest track, Last Night. Still immensely underrated despite the re-release of their inspirational anthem "Champion" in the Summer, the band tap into a market virtually un-entered previously. Combining the grimiest of grime in the form of passionate, former solo MC Clement Marfo with the distinct rock of the band, The Frontline, producing the seven-piece unfogettable tunes of Clement Marfo and The Frontline.

Their latest track has much more a party-feel than their previous motivational tracks such as Overtime and Champion yet is intended to galvanize the listener in much the same way! Marfo raps in a very bewildered yet fiery style, a hard-hitter who just wants to go out and have fun. The track, as is natural to CMTF has a very R&B feel with heavy synthesizers, most likely courtesy of Stacey Mansell the band's eye-candy. The chorus, is euphoric and simply unforgettable with Kojo singing, "I don't remember what I did last night, but tonight I'll do it again, ooohhh!" With their hard-working mentality displayed on previous tracks, their decision to put out a feel-good party-smash like this was well-timed to indicate they do have a fun side!

The video is quite simply mayhem (coincidentally the same name as their earlier hit featuring Kano) and certainly not one for the daytime 4music shows! With a whole host of Reality TV stars, partying their hearts out the video is likely to make you green with envy that you weren't invited to the chaotic brilliance! With hot girls doing questionable things, what more reason to check this video out?

With an explosive performance at this Summer's Reading Festival under their belts expect the band's captivating live-sets to attract bigger and bigger performances in the future!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0qH6HPDe_o

Eric Turner vs Avicii - Dancing in my Head (Tom Hangs Remix)

Chances are even if you have very narrow knowledge of chart-music over recent years, you will have heard Eric Turner at some stage. Beaming British Rapper Tinie Tempah to international stardom, thanks to Turner's infectiously catchy chorus on Tinie's 'Written in the Stars', Turner has certainly made his presence known in music today. iSHi, producer of countless British hip-hop hits such as 'Read all about it', 'Game Over' and many others, spotted the potential in the American Singer-Songwriter. Turner originally thought of himself as more of a band frontman, but iSHi firmly believed he was destined to become a Solo-Star and after lending his vocals to the likes of Tinchy Stryder, Lupe Fiasco and of course Tinie, Turner is now set for his debut studio-album.  but with Angels and Stars featuring Tinie Tempah and Lupe Fiasco failing to chart, let's see if he has more luck alongside the super-successful Swedish DJ, Avicii.

Entitled 'Dancing in my Head', bizarrely the main official-video version is a remix by Tom Hangs, but don't let this unknown element put you off, the track is utterly brilliant. Infusing the best of Avicii's DJ skills with a distinctive house-beat that quite simply makes you want to move, the track is at it's core a dance-track. But this really shows off the great depth of Eric Turner's voice that he can go from helping create some of the best hip-hop tracks of this decade to an infectious dance-song. The song is relatively simply describing a girl that he quite can't simply get out of his head and the track has that air of torment about it, Turner brings it together brilliantly. With the looks of Jesus, his voice is going to something special, and it is, reaching all the notes with complete ease.

The video is incredibly cheesy and looks like something that would have been classed as funny about 20 years ago. Really disappointing given the sheer quality of the song. It shows a guy seeing a girl across the bar at a club and since that moment not being able to escape the thought of her. At which point he goes into his basement to remove his brain! He is then followed around the city by his brain! It's comical and has a certain charm, but it's well below the standard of the song.

With Written in the Stars 2.0 released, expect more and more from this Boston-born singer.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMScU2bRORE

Naughty Boy with Wonder

Having paired up with the productive genius that is Shahid Khan, better known as Naughty Boy on virtually every major step of her singing career thus far, Emeli Sandé's  feature on Naughty Boy's debut-single, Wonder, seemed a natural course of action and what a debut it is...

You see although he is by title a DJ, that is something of an insult to the British Songwriter, Producer, Rapper and Musician, as that list demonstrates just the extent of his talents, talents expressed in this creative tune. It opens with a highly tuneful piano-melody, and as Sandé's soulful vocals take centre-stage a gentle drum-beat opens, it sounds simple, but it's pure and beautiful

Wonder, is undoubtedly crafted to allow Emeli Sandé's beautiful voice and the passionate lyrics to take centre-stage, but backed up with some masterful production with a drum-beat that builds and drops according to the part of the song, it really is quite something to behold. The tune, brings up feelings of adventure, "I can be the night, I'm not afraid of thunder, I am full of light, I am full of thunder." Yet it's joyous and celebratory, with a real uplfiting feel of someone with an appetite for life to go out discover, do and be more. 

The  video is enchanting, yet not in a sombre way in the slightest, it's colourful and adventuresome bringing the beautifully bright, feel-good factor of the tune to life. Just as the lyrics are true, describing how at times life can be hard, the video is too, showing a forest that at times is perilous and uncertain yet on the whole vibrant, with coloured flares and pink grass (no drugs implied!) 

Both the tune and the video are fresh and upbeat and with a debut-album set to feature the likes of Tinie Tempah, Professor Green and of course the wonderful Emeli Sandé, Naughty Boy clearly means business.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kASjW_aPbQ

Icelandic Mountain Sound

Introducing the utterly spellbinding music of Icelandic, Indie six-piece, Of Monsters and Men. You will probably already be familiar with their debut-single Little Talks, a distinctly tuneful number that's both deep in thought but positive simultaneously. Their latest track, Mountain Sound, continues the theme of a catchy melody and heartfelt lyrics, and it's quite simply brilliant. 

The two vocalists, have exceptional chemistry in their music, their voices seem to compliment eachother just perfectly, but in a very natural way. Co-singer, Ragnar "Raggi" Þórhallsson, opens the track with his distinctive, edgy voice painting a vivid picture, describing running away from, "all the trouble", to somewhere new with only a "shadow" in pursuit, very clever wordplay. The chorus, is rejoiceful and uplifting with, co-singer, Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, taking the reigns, with Ragnar echoing vocals. It's a very sincere track, with a raw, natural edge only an Indie band can offer.

The video depicts the band, performing in a park In Iceland, where they're energy and passion for what they do really transpires to the thousands of people gathered to watch them. They dance joyfully, sing along to the song and it really captures of the whole care-free, starting afresh, upbeat concept of the song, which is running away and starting new. 

Much respect for this band and let's hope they can live up to the comparisons many are already drawing to them, of that of Arcade Fire and Mumford & Son's. Debut-album, My Head is an Animal, is out now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gEVaniPOmU

Sean Bones - Hit Me Up

From the album "Buzzards Boy" Sean Bones, latest offering introduces a wider market to what he is all about and the way his heart and soul is reflected in the music he makes. "Hit Me Up" is the title of this single and it really is something very unique, particularly for an American Artist.

The song has an incredibly nostalgic feel about it with the echo of Bones' voice reminiscent of the Swingin' 60's, arguably comparable to the voice of the late-great Bob Dylan. Bones pours passion and feeling into the track, but in a very relaxed way, or at least that's how it comes across. His voice is soulful and the tune's very natural rock 'n' roll edge, really sets it apart. Lyrically it is beautiful, describing a powerful love that can be fallen back on in times of hardship. This is accompanied with a full-bodied guitar, a melodic tune that repeats through the track as well as a gentle drum-beat.

The video, is very interesting in the textural format it's set out, it's almost a mixture of both dreams and memories and that's what makes it such a fascinating watch. Describing it as halluciogenic would be an understatement, with the the pool of water and bubbles throughout, arguably symbolic of the sinking and rising notion of love where you are almost unable to breathe. The video truly lends a magic to the tune, and displays the nostalgia in the song, visually, very successfully.

An indie talent at it's core, and the sort of track which will be popular with the pot-heads of the world, serving as the perfect accompaniment track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTNW5fNottU

Swedish House Mafia say "adjö"

Yes, sadly the electronic dance trio, who have revolutionised their genre and broken into virtually every country worldwide have announced their hiatus, bidding farewell or the Swedish "adjö" to their legions of loyal fans. Whilst charting well Worldwide with anthemic tunes like "Miami to Ibiza" and the infectious "Greyhound", it was their live performances that truly captivated fans. Any group of DJ's that can sell-out the Milton Keynes Bowl (June 2012) with the cheapest ticket at £50 is surely going to have something special about them.

The supergroup, have offered their fans closure with the release of their final single, "Don't you Worry Child" featuring the vocals of John Martin, befitting for the man who co-created arguably their greatest hit "Save the World" singing on that. It's a rousing tune, showing off the best of the bands DJ'ing capabilities with lyrics that inspire, "Don't you worry, don't worry child, see heavens got a plan for you!" The emotion from the group saying goodbye really emanates through the track.

The video, depicts the unreal euphoria of their live performances, with the group  first reflecting old footage of their live performances and the transition from then to now, with thousands of people flocking to see them. The excitement of their live show at the Milton Keynes Bowl, displayed in the video is tangible. That's what the group will want to remembered for no doubt, the sheer happiness they brought to people of all different backgrounds and ages through their shows.

The group are apparently tired, hence announcing splitting up, but fans shouldn't be too disheartened, I have no doubt they will grace the best Music Festivals again one day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y6smkh6c-0

One Republic with Feel Again...

Colorado Springs, Colorado, home to the United States Olympic Training Center, the prestigious Colorado College and one of the 21st Century's most influential pop-rock bands, One Republic. Their catchy melodies, tuneful instrumentals and heartfelt lyrics have set them apart, inspiring many. With two collosal albums under their belt, Dreaming Out Loud and Waking Up, the Colorado five-piece return with the lead-single from their third studio-album, entitled Feel Again.

One Republic's sound has always been slightly downbeat and emotional, it's truly what the band do best. Pouring the same emotion into this song, yet with a bright, positive edge the band have stayed true to their unique sound that sees them climb the charts faster than it takes the band to perform the tune! Lead-singer, Ryan Tedder's highly creative songwriting ability is used to full-effect in 'Feel Again', which in the opening verse describes the strenuous pain in overcoming losing an ex-lover, yet meeting a new lover it's brought him back to life and he's simply able to "Feel Again". A tuneful guitar accompaniment and an emphatic drum-beat contribute to the catchy chorus, but, as with all One Republic songs, it's Tedder's passionate voice that makes it.

The video was filmed in a forest near San Francisco, California, it opens with Tedder walking across a leafy ground before a picturesque San Francisco Bay Sunset. He picks up a glowing yellow ball which is symbolic of the new life that is being breathed into him after meeting this new person, he runs towards the light and basks in the glowing warmth that a new relationship brings. The video brings the song to life and adds to the uplifting nature of the tune.

If their last two albums are anything to go by, we can expect more hits from this album!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tMKO_9SD1Y

The Killers Battle Born

Four years since The Killers collosal album Day & Age truly breathed new-life into American rock-culture, the four-piece Las Vegas band return with a brand new album 'Battle Born'. Following lead-singer, Brandon Flowers reasonable solo-success many fans feared Day & Age would be The Killers finale as a band, yet Flowers stayed true to his roots, and thankfully so is their new sound on first-single, "Runaways" is fresh and spirited. 

Flowers distincitve, wailing vocals are as usual key to making the track stand-out from a competitive-crowd, but  lyrically the song has an edge. With Flowers' powerful voice the song plays over a teenage encounter of his capturing that spirited energy feeling that anything is possible of an adolescent. It's bright, yet fiery and serves as the perfect uplifting introduction to their brand-new album. Starting slowly with keys and bass accompanied by Flowers singing, the tune builds to the energetic chorus. "Let's take a chance baby we can't lose, Mean we're all just Runaways." He reminisces this time and realises as they grew older, their spirits parted and their passion departed, commanding vocally for that feeling to come back.

The video is electric with the band playing in the sky, the scene transforms at various points in the song when Flowers sings of "Looking at the Stars", a city skyline appears clearly having some significance to their relationship. The song is enough to paint a substantial story and the video shows that.

A dynamic return to the scene from the classic American rock band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMbyWSGYUgc

Plan B the narrator...

For anyone whose had the opportunity to see Plan B's ground-breaking film 'Ill Manors' or even watched the trailer, you will understand Drew portrays himself as 'The Narrator' of a gritting, moving inner-city story, a role he takes on with tenacity and ardent venom. Welcome to Plan B's latest ground-breaking, stirring track, softer to the ears yet just as emotionally intense.

Deepest Shame tells the tale of a lady owned by the devils of the night. Riddled with the theme of entrapment, the girl with such a bright future ahead of her as a young girl is "crashing like an aeroplane." She can't go back, can't make a new life for herself, can't do anything without the pain of street-life.

With a gentle drum-beat and rousing acoustics Drew's vocals take centre-stage and he doesn't fail to deliver. Singing every note with conviction and heart, matched with his exceptional wordplay capturing the girl's predicament he paints a heart-renderingly, dark image. The soulful, heartfelt element to Drew's voice really is what paints such a vivid image in this tune.

The video, interchanges between shots of Drew and snippets from 'Ill Manors', truly showing the girl's hellish lifestyle, a slave to wicked, gluttonous men  with nothing but cruel intentions. At first, it seems like she isn't so encaged in that life, but as the video progresses and the song progresses, it shows Plan B wasn't lying when singing. "There's no way back from here, on out, only one place left to go."

A stroke of genius from Forest-Gate's finest...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke7LGK3UhxA

Inside Delilah's Love

Paris-born Paloma Stoecker, better known as Delilah is truly a distinctive artist who apart from her debut-single Go, without question hasn't gained the recognition she deserves. Following touring with Drum and Bass Heavyweights Chase and Status and fellow Hackney-based Singer-Songwriter Maverick Sabre, Delilah has released her artistic debut-album entitled, From the Roots Up. Heavily influenced by the contemporary music scene yet with Delilah's beautiful vocals and wordplay it surely is a modern-day masterpiece. 

Fourth-single, Inside My Love, is simply stunning. Majestically primal, the lyrics show the raw-unadulterated pleasure of love-making on the human-side. She gives an insight into the feelings associated with both the physical and spiritual embrace of love. Delilah's distinctly heavenly vocals are really what give her music the edge it has however. They're pure, angelic and glowing. Pouring emotion into every word, every syllable the feelings within Inside My Love are almost palpable. Accompanied, by a bongo-beat to really capture the Primal nature of the song makes this something of a story. 

The video isn't needed to bring the song to life as her voice is already capable of that, but the foreplay between her and lover acquires the Spiritual love that she is trying to convey in the song. A real talent, engaging the listener more than most artists are capable of. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvkgnm8jcyY

The most respected member...P!

Grime and Dubstep, both well established genres in their own right, but now  it is clear to see that the Grime Scene is moving towards Dubstep as it evolves. If executed properly, these two genres combined create something devastatingly special. Welcome to the world of P Money, dubstep's new right-hand man. Already going in "HAM" on Magnetic Man's monstrous smash Anthemic and creating something truly distinctive with True Tiger in the form of Slang Like This, "KingPMoney" as he likes to be known has already succeeded in becoming a strong presence in the dubstep scene, but it's time for his solo material to really set the world alight.

Dubsteppin, released less than a month ago, really stays true to his grime roots whilst including a heavy beat that really shows off why P Money does have the dubstep-world in the palm of his hands. P's flow is pacey and purposeful and he really attacks the beat, explaining why his presence in the scene is an important one. What's probably most refreshing about P is that he doesn't rely on a feature or an autotune in the chorus. His distinctive hard-hitting style works just as well in the hook. "The most respected member! I make the vibe much better! Bouncing left, bouncing right, cos I'm the Dubstepper!" He undoubtedly does create an infectious vibe that simply makes you want to move and bounce your head with the beat.

The video depicts P at a Festival, really getting the crowd moving, backed by a couple of DJ's and quite simply that is how it should be. Rinse have a real talent in P Money and  his future lies in Dubstep, he has come under some criticism for supposedly abandoning the Grime in favour of the more lucrative Dubstep scene, but that quite simply is the way Grime is evolving. Expect this, "respected member!" to get bigger and bigger and bigger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzAX_dwbL8A

Olympics 2012 - Muse with Survival

The London Olympics have already, far more than anticipated, captivated the nation. With a spectacular opening-ceremony, quirky and typically British demonstrating the Industrial Revolution, Bond and the Queen and of course the unrivaled British export of music. So it's hardly surprising when lead-singer of Muse, Matt Bellamy was asked to compose the official London 2012 Anthem it was something him and fellow band mates were keen to grab with open-arms. 


Survival, is the title of this stadium-anthem, befitting for the world's most momentous competition by a worldwide monstrous band in Muse.  Bellamy, describes the track as expressing, "a sense of conviction and determination to win." and it certainly succeeds in that. It's a rousing tune that begins with stirring strings capturing the roller-coaster of emotions that go hand-in-hand with Sport and particularly the Olympics. 


Once the song truly erupts with the explosive guitar-riffs and Bellamy's commanding feels, it really has quite a dark sound. But in a way  that captures the raw hard-work and 'never say die' attitude needed for a successful Olympian. Bellamy almost chants the vocals in a cult-like way, which are simple but unforgettable. "Yes I am prepared, to stay alive, I won’t forgive, the vengeance is mine, and I won’t give in, because I choose to thrive, I’m gonna win." It wouldn't be hard to imagine a Olympian sitting down in the dressing-room listening to this just prior to entering the battle-scene to really reinstate their desire and that is probably what the song was designed for. 


Bellamy and the rest of the band brought the song to the key 2012 Olympic personnel, who "said they'd love to use it as the official tune." and it really only takes a listen to understand their enthusiasm and as to why they were chosen to carry the torch, as shown below. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66molzUEkWI

World beginning to Feel the Love for D 'n' B

Drum and Bass has been rippling its distinct basslines and heavy drumbeats to chart-success for a few years and recently through the likes of DJ Fresh, Flux Pavillion and now Rudimental creating Monster hits as a genre it really has come a long way. Climbing to Number One in the UK just a couple of months ago are Hackney-based quartet Rudimental with their anthemic tune 'Feel the Love'.

The song features the soulful vocals of singer, John Newman, and really is a breath of fresh-air in the way it truly stays faithful to it's genre with the Drum and Bass aspects of the tune the centre-piece of the song, rather than , as many artists are beginning to rely, the vocals. It has all the ingredients to be this years Summer-Smash alongside DJ Fresh's 'The Power' most notably. Yet the song has considerable depth and meaning to it and the structure of it, with the incorporation  of a trumpet-solo gives it a compelling edge, that other Summery tunes designed purely for the 'feel-good factor' don't. But it doesn't create this atmosphere through the lyrics, which are spirited and repetitive, it quite simply creates a mood designed to galvanize the listener.

The video is atmospheric and rejunivating, set in small-town America with several young people as the beat builds they begin to ride around on horses, a sign of human-spirit and freedom and the power and momentum that it's capable of achieving.

Undoubtedly-unorthodox, yet utterly Brilliant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oABEGc8Dus0

Some Nights are Fun

It may come as a surprise that the New York band Fun have actually been together making music for quite a number of years, but only with their latest album Some Nights have they truly found their niche and really soared to success. Their first vigorous single, We are Young which featured Janelle Monae achieved many number one spots worldwide including the US and UK and they've followed it up with another stonking tune Some Nights. 

Sadly, it does feature a little autotune towards the end, which seems nothing short of futile given that lead singer Nate Ruess has a distinctive voice capable of reaching high notes. But don't let that put you off, like 'We are Young' it's uniquely special. 

The song is about a man, confused with his identity, he sings "Oh who am I? mmm...mmm..." The video uses an American War Scene to capture the underlying meaning of the song. It is as if he is in a battle with himself, wondering why he left his parents or changed his style. But the song remains uplifting, it begins with a chorus of singing chanting the hook and is soon joined by a military-like drum-beat. 

They are a quirky band, but in a way that appeals to the masses and I fully expect their album to deliver many more a memorable melody and infectious chorus. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQkBeOisNM0

Lonsdale Boys Club to bring back pop-rock

It wasn't long ago we saw bands like Muse, The Kaiser Chiefs and The Arctic Monkey's dominate the charts here and abroad with their irresistibly vivacious tunes packed with exciting guitar-riffs and catchy vocals, the charts seem to be lacking in this to a certain extent nowadays. It seems that the new pop-rock band, Lonsdale Boys Club have taken inspiration from home-grown bands like these as well as virtually all forms of rock in British history from Brit-Pop to The Beatles, mixed in with an ounce of disco/funk. They are the true definition of pop-rock.

Music of the last couple of years has seemed to express a new vibrant, upbeat energy and Lonsdale Boys Club have captured this with ease. They are quite simply fun, fun to listen to in their new tune 'Light Me Up' and fun to watch perform. Lead-singer Chris Weaver's vocals have echoes of The Kooks lead-singer Luke Pritchard if he actually opened his mouth properly and pronounced his words when he sung. Yet Weaver's vocals are lively and boisterous, which are perfectly suited to this sing-a-long anthem.

The tune essentially revolves around the concept that regardless of circumstance, everyone has the ability to let go, loose their inhibitions and quite simply light up our lives by having fun! The gentle drum-beat and charming guitar-riff blends brilliantly with Weaver's vocals to produce this almighty tune. It's astonishing really that this has failed to make it big, given it having all the attributes for a chart-success.

Expect to hear more and more from these London lads!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01ULPsE0geY

Devlin - London City Part II

Dagenham's finest "angry young-man" is back and getting ready to take the charts by storm. With the very recent release of his unstoppable grit-hit "Watchtower" featuring the inspiring Ed Sheeran he has picked up where he left out in Bud, Sweat and Bears with a new single, "London City Part II."

There seems no artist more befitting to pay tribute through rap to London in the Olympic year than Devlin. Whilst he does have a permanent expression of rage, he seems to have a soft-centre and more importantly compared to the likes of Tinie Tempah, fame hasn't forced him to lose touch with the working man.

The track is a little heavier than the first part, released over a year ago, the guitar riff's echo those in "Fight Music" by D12, with Eminem of course one of Devlin's key inspirations. He raps with purpose, pace and power. "LON DON you can tell by the way that its spelt this place is a long gone out for its self with the streets of manic grid lock traffic." It acknowledges, London is by no means a perfect city, but the rollercoaster ride of living in arguably the most important city in the world is almost beautiful. Devlin raps, "I've worked all over the capital North, South, East, West If you like the city's my wife." The perfect example of a city that makes dreams come true, in a less romantic way than Paris or New York!


London is real, genuine people, concoction of cultures and background and Devlin embodies that. The video is shot using a reversing camera, with a gritty-grey artistic tinge, passing through the streets with Devlin rapping in front. Scenes of hard-working men and women are thrown in at various points and that's the key message he wants to get across it seems. Those people make the city so great; real, hard-working people and he is one of them. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMI8efVEYeM&feature=relmfu

Passion Pit Take A Walk to new album

Electropop has always been a slightly confusing genre, but one of those that seems to be all-encompassing, captivating fans of all different kinds of music. Passion Pit are the perfect example of this. They're uplifting sound so fresh and unique that every time you hear their music it feels like opening a portal to a new dimension. Following the phenomenal success of their 2009 album 'Manners', which featured on such platforms as FIFA 10 and the third series of Gossip Girl, the band have announced the release of their third-studio album, 'Gossamer'.

Take a Walk, the first single from their new album, is an exhilarating adventure into electropop, the chorus features a beautifully catchy riff similar to those of MGMT, another major force in the genre. A foot-stomping drum-beat and a melodic synth that brings together this exciting piece of music, with the very American vocals of lead-singer, Michael Angelakos.

The song is about an immigrant who scrapes enough money together to pursue the American dream, but they become lazy and forget their roots. The greed and selfishness of their children, and their accounts become overdrawn following some bad investments. Despite this, the song still has an positive feel, with the continued repetition of 'Take a Walk' describing a man, despite the pressures of his everyday and family life is still able to see the beauty of the world.

The video, depicts a camera quite literally bouncing around an American city, showing the turbulence of city-life in a vibrant, unorthodox way reflecting the fun-factor of Passion Pit's music...

Be sure to check it out and let's hope the rest of Gossamer lives up to this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZX6Q-Bj_xg

There is Only Love for Ben Howard

It's already started that the UK is producing a new breed of young, singer-songwriters with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Maverick Sabre already charting phenomenal success. Someone you may not be so familiar with is the Devon born 25 year old Ben Howard, the name Ben seemingly having good luck in this genre with the very talented Benjamin Francis Leftwich already making himself known.

However Howard's rising popularity has nothing to do with luck, his passionate, distinctive vocals always manage to convey the heartfelt message that are within his lyrics, all of which shown in his latest single "Only Love". It's a beautifully, natural, unspoiled tune, with an acoustic instrumental that gets more emphatic as the song progresses. It's natural essence is perfect for it's simple message, a girl who he is deeply, deeply in love with to the extent that she is like a part of him, he is incapable to function without her as he sings, "Give me Shelter, or Show me heart". The video is of a deep in thought Ben, riding through an American City on a bike, perhaps showing the natural but sublime relationship he is a part of. 

It's easy-listening at it's finest, I predict a big future for this guy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWlKZ6C7cDY&ob=av2e

R.I.P. to the girl you used to see...

21 year old Albanian-British blonde-bombshell Rita Ora needs little introduction for some, having already conquered the UK charts with DJ Fresh in the form of the feel-good anthem Hot Right Now, as well as video cameo's such as in Drake's collosal hit Over she simply cannot stop rising in popularity. After being signed to Jay Z's Roc Nation, ironic really given her uncanny resemblance to Rihanna, who Jay of course managed for many years. 

Her electrifying debut-single, R.I.P. features grime legend, Tinie Tempah, with lyrics written by Drake and production by Drum and Bass kings Chase and Status, the track has hit written all over it. While these contributions have  helped in making this energetic tune the ground-breaking, floor-shaking hit  it is, it's Rita's seductive vocals and her contemporary yet unorthodox style that truly sets this track apart. With lyrics like "Nothing on, I strut around, I do it big, I shut it down, I wonder if you'll be able to handle me" the tune screams attitude. The drum and bass production by Chase and Status is however undoudbtedly a stand  out feature of the track and they incorporate a cut of their remixed hit Heartbeat, which elevates the track to it's dazzling hook. 

The video is equally expressively explosive as the song, but seems to act more as an introduction to Rita and her style. Set in a hangar-type building, with a break-dancer and a car half-incarcrated in the ground, with Rita strutting around looking undeniably gorgeous in her various outfits. 

Go and check it out! I predict big things for this young talent...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1l9WST5lXM

Why I Love You...

Sampling a sample which in itself is a sample, Jay Z's and Kanye West's trackl Why I Love You, featuring the scintilating vocals of Mr Hudson is a ground-breaking tune. With the smash-hit Otis, released last year, which has almost become a cult-classic, it would seem hard to top that but Why I Love You, arguably  manages just that.

It has an immensely powerful chorus, with Hudson singing the first line, with it then repeated in autotune, high-pitch giving it a stronger, compelling sound, it is undoubtedly very catchy. West raps no more than a few words, on this track, with his production the verses are left to Jay who pours limitless emotion into them. Describing the betrayals he has been subjected to, but then his strength in overcoming them, "So the love is gone, Til blood is drawn, So we no longer wear the same uniform." The production is stirring and powerful, acting as the perfect accompaniment for the full-blooded passion of the track.

The track is certainly lacking in Kanye as this sort of track would suit him probably more than Jay, still an almighty-anthem, be sure to check it out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEwwuLWeDJM

Benjamin Francis Leftwich taking Pictures

English, acoustic, singer-songwriter Benjamin Francis Leftwich is quite the talent. Still lurking largely in the underground, his raw folk sound with his highly distinctive voice has the potential of following in the footsteps of similar artists, such as Ed Sheeran and Joshua Radin.

Pictures from his debut studio album: Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm is a stirring piece of music. Combining repetitively melodic acoustic-guitar chords with Leftwich's effortless vocals the sound created is alluring.

Both the song and video use a considerable amount of imagery, with a snake and a flame-spinner as two of the features, with the video set in an unconventional, resplendent house. It has Leftwich playing the guitar surrounded by these bizarre elements that paint a picture. The song, tells the tale of the unexpectedness of life, and through all the pandemonium that occurs daily, we are still no closer to finding answers and meaning behind it, "You/ve been around and you've seen the way things work, but you need a compass to get around your house." Depicting how no matter how well you think you know what goes on, the pure chaos of life will catch up with you, and nothing is certain and dependable apart from friends and family, with Leftwich singing as the chorus, "Take a picture of them, take a picture of them..."

A unique, chilling sound, check it out!

RH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6N3jUDKzq0

Plan B with some ill Manors

Guitar-playing, singing, award-winning ex-prisoner Plan B has had a turbulent life to say the least. Following a stint in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Plan B worked on and produced the 'Defamation of Strickland Banks', the singers debut, mainstream album, which with huge singles like 'She Said' and 'Prayin' saw him win countless awards and universal praise from the likes of Elton John and, well, pretty much everyone. It was a canny, fresh foretelling of his life surrounding his prison sentence, which saw Plan B dressed smartly in a suit, something listeners of his earlier album, 'Who needs actions when you have words?' would have never predicted give the gritty-rap and near-the-knuckle themes. 

Never allowing himself to be the slightest bit foreseeable, Plan B's latest release 'ill Manors' is without a doubt a controversial one. Self-created, self-directed, self-produced, Plan B really has crafted his vision from every angle and it really is the stunning raucous video that makes this song It's a complete u-turn from 'The Defamation...' he' back to being a bad-boy lad from East-London. The video is set in a London Estate that sees Plan B surrounded by vivacious residents of the area or Chav's as some people would describe them, with a casually-dressed Plan B. Packed with footage of the London Riots and starring an moving-image of David Cameron, with Plan B rapping "I've had it with you politicians, you bloody rich kids never listen." As well as featuring the footage of John Prescott fighting a member of the public who threw an egg at him. As well as 

The song itself serves as the perfect accompaniment to the gritty video, it's a cacophonous tune that's just as jagged and hard-hitting as the video. It opens with menacing-sounding strings, with the video miming playing them at the start of the video, with Plan B's sharp rapping to the strings with a beat that gets heavier for the chorus. The lyrics don't promote violence, they just criticise the system and demonstrate the result of its failings. "Give us free money and we don’t pay any tax, NHS healthcare, yes please many thanks, People get stabbed round here there’s many shanks..." The chorus has echoes of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall", it's an anthemic hook, "Oi! I said Oi! What you looking at you little rich boy!" It's not particularly catchy, but it's undoubtedly memorable. 

With two brilliant remixes by The Prodigy and Funtcase, give the 'ill Manors' project some views...it's a rough masterpiece. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8GvLKTsTuI&ob=av3n

Let Me Go, cries a Maverick

Tenaciously intertwining the unorthodox combination of folk with R&B, Hackney Born Irish/English singer-songwriter Maverick Sabre has had some year! Initially, grabbing our attention with the magnificent tunes, Sometimes and Look What I've Done, Maverick's first-single from his Lonely Are the Brave album is really something special.

With his dinstinctive, eerie vocals, accompanied by a stand-out beat the tune managed to reach number 16 in the UK download charts. It starts off slow with a gentle beat, and seems an almost typical break-up song, until it takes a sudden u-turn with a spell-binding drop and use of trumpets, a trend re-entering chart-music as is also used by Rizzle Kicks. "Let Me Go, you let me down, when I'm with you, I'm broken now." It is a heartfelt tune, but the chorus gives a positive edge backed by the melodic, pitchy vocals of a female singer. It's seems his message is as if the break-up will set him free, "With you, I won't be a better man."

The video echoes this, which begins in the Nevada desert, and as he drives through the alluring Las Vegas strip he is being released, and can begin to enjoy freedom once again without restraint. On the whole, it is a feel-good song and the video gives an excited-boost.

Check it out, a bright talent, with an even brighter future ahead of him...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVMWgmQA4Ig&ob=av2e

Ed Sheeran Drunk

No, this is not an exclusive celebrity scandal, even if Ed's latest grime tracks and remixes have introduced us to his not so angelic side, it is in fact the title of his new single, and it's another melancholic one. Don't let that put you off though, the fact is the Suffolk Strummer, Ed Sheeran is just outstanding at writing and singing songs about heartbreak!

It's a beautifully heartfelt tune, showing off Sheeran's pitch-perfect voice with just the guitar as backing. Essentially, it's about how he turns to alcohol to console himself, although the "Drunk" could also be metaphorical for his disheveled state of mind after a break-up.

The video is adversely sublime, with a talking cat as the star, yes...a cat! A depressed Ed, drowns his sorrows in beer cans joined by the cat, a loyal companion, who in a bar fights off a photographer and helps pull a couple of hotties! Faced by the wall of pictures of his ex, it is ultimately a somber video, given a humourous boost with the feature of the cat.

Give it a watch, if you haven't already, the inspiring, ginger doesn't disappoint...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2fOum_KWQU

R U Mine?

Just several months after releasing their latest album, Suck it and See, the ever innovatory, captivating Arctic Monkey's, still with unstoppable momentum are churning out more hits. Their most recent single, R U Mine? having only been released on Youtube 3 weeks ago, already attained a whopping 2.2 million views. With an introduction by the former Sex Pistols guitarist and current KROQ DJ Steve Jones, and the fact that it's in black and white, it would seem nostalgic, vintage, but it's simply just fun and zany.


It's good to know that Alex Turner hasn't forgotten his roots, and the unrefined, rough-around-the-edges feel to the music, with it's electrifying riffs and accentuated lyrics is just as prevalent as when the band started out. The video, is energetic, lively and the starring lads, Alex Turner, whom according to second-top Youtube viewers comment, "pushes the limits of my heterosexuality " and the drummer, Matt Helders don't take themselves too seriously, playing air-guitar and messing around.


Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQH8ZTgna3Q&ob=av3e

Must be the Feeling

Dubstep ambassadors Nero have had a staggeringly, successful couple of years. Their debut, concept-album entitled Welcome to Reality, which reached number one in the UK albums charts, boasts a remarkable seven massive single, including the cacophonous Me & You, the high-pitched yet highly memorable Crush on You and the infectiously catchy, Promises. Their music and visuals undoubtedly dividing opinion, with some describing it as "crass and predictable" and others as inventive, animated anthems.

Their latest single, Must be The Feeling, continues with the 80s-inspired, electro-pop feel to their album, which is a remix to Carmen's, Time to Move. In actual fact, the two songs do sound very similar, but with Nero's compelling guitar and energetic synths, they have with a doubt taken the tune to another level.

Nero's music in itself is capable of transporting the listener to another reality, but no expense has been saved with their music video's. Each abstract, inventive creations, Must be The Feeling's video is like a high-budget, modern blockbuster. It stars the members of Nero, driving through a futuristic city, pestering it along on their ride, as the signs are transformed into Nero, related associations and the CCTV cameras focus in on them. A pursuit suddenly ignites, with mysterious beings in gas-masks riding modern motorbikes chasing Nero's car. As the two verge collision they seem to fuse together, with the third member of Nero revealing himself on the bike. It features many messages and subliminal s, naturally stirring the generic "illuminati" debate.

One thing is certain about Must be The Feeling and Nero's music and visuals in it's entirity, it must be experienced at full-volume, in full-screen, with the lights down...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld50mfW-BCM

Future discovered in Lab...

Simon Cowell. Yes he may have given the world countless, tedious series of The X Factor, American Idol etc. but finally it seems he's made a good move signing a very bright promise to his label Syco, in the form of Super-Producer and  genre-crossing singer extraordinaire, Labrinth. Needing little introduction really Labrinth has already risen to fame and chart-success producing and featuring on Tinie Tempah's 2010 smash-hits, Pass Out and Frisky, as well as the summer-hit Let the Sun Shine and party-anthem Earthquake, with Tinie returning the favour as a feature.

I for one am very excited about Hackney-born Labrinth, who at just 22, yes, that's 22 has accomplised so much. After Earthquake being repeatedly played, well, pretty much everywhere, it really felt to me we had seen but of a fraction of what this guy is capable of and his latest single Last Time really proved me right. With a video directed by Collin Tilley (Look at Me Now, Invincible etc.) who seems the only director receiving a visible credit on any music video, the song and video are titilatingly brilliant. A little boy, sullenly sitting in his room, is taken away (willingly!) by some sort of Alien species and shown a wondrous world and the excitement it brings, as is the theme of the song. The song is brilliant and very unique, Labrinth's perspective of the world  is one of lively adventure and it really shows in his music.

Not only has Lab got exceptional talents in producing and singing but on the stage he puts on a MEGA performance.  Leaving fans with an unforgettable show, he works the crowd to perfection, plays instruments and is vocally brilliant.

An astounding talent and there are few artists more deserving of their success than Labrinth and with his first album on the way, entitled Electronic Earth which has musically and visually a very futuristic feel, expect bigger and bigger things for this artist...

Last Time music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLoN2q5nig

Born to Die

Bland, generic artists with overstated autotune and little character...who wants that? Thankfully, it seems the new decade is progressing away from artists like these further and further. It's 2012 and let me welcome you to the beautifully quirky music of Lana Del Ray and the first thing to realise about her: she is well and truly 100% unique. Her sadcore, downbeat, deep voice is in all honesty a style you would never have predicted to attribute commercial appeal. But it's intoxicating.

Born to Die, is her second major single and already gained a comprehensive 25 million youtube views. It has a slow-stringed backing, but is deeply captivating. Her beautiful soprano voice is seductive, "Come take a walk on the wild side, let me kiss you hard in the pouring rain..." It is gloomy, and somberly describes how in life nothing lasts, but it does stress the power and importance of love, that love in it's purest, passionate form can persist and grow.

Lana is undoubtedly an artist to divide opinion, it's an unusual sound initially, although her gorgeous appearance helps, made even more attractive by her sultriness, in the video for Born to Die. When you click on a Youtube video, you don't really expect such an Indie style on a song, but it's stimulating. It seems music is really beginning to progress to the stage where unconventional styles are being embraced on a mass scale.

Check out it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bag1gUxuU0g

Dreamers make it big

Rizzle Kicks are a unique pair, hailing from the not so gritty streets of Brighton as a hip-hop duo they reside in a niche market. For one they're not boastful, something Jordan "Rizzle" Stephens makes clear on this track Dreamers, "It seems like rapping like you're dumb as (woo! ) That's how you get paid, Well, I'm not on that, I'm different, I love rap I'm living", they're fun, entertaining and their lyrics are almost bantering. These boys have chilled but impulsive bravado. "Hey, it's that kid with a British accent..." Visionaries that don't take themselves too seriously, it's refreshing...

The beat on Dreamers isn't explosive or even particularly memorable, but it does have a dreamy feel to it and corresponds with the honest, and adversely motivational feel to the tune. Let's face it, most rap artists have released at least one track about their transition to success, this is has more of a lackadaisical, fun element to it...the rapping coupled with Harley's engaging voice means the track will surely do well...

The tracks also been appropriately featured on a Playstation Vita advert, Rizzle Kicks making gaming cool again! Hey, I guess gaming fulfills dreams, in a way...watch that here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IMvDDJHjds

This is something UK artists, seem to do extremely well, find and create individuality about themselves and their music and use it, check this track out, TEAM UK!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P7BFjtIUjg

Example's Never Had a Day

This is one of the Fulham/Hammersmith based singer, Example's, lesser known tunes, given that it was not released as a single. Distinct from his usual dubstep, hard-hitting, chart-topping power anthems. The beat is just as alluring as his other hits off of his Playing with the Shadow's album, which debuted at number one in the UK album charts. Despite the beat being commanding it is melancholic which is synonymous with the song, about a break-up Example experienced, described by Example as "moody" and about a "destructive relationship" where he felt the need to save this person from self-destruction! 


The verses involve slow-rap which Example's pours emotion into, "I gotta get out of this habit we're in, the weekend comes and we're at it again", he feels trapped in a cycle of hurt and misery, deeply remorseful it turned out this way, "I said you'll always be my girl, be my world..." The chorus is very catchy and the beat speeds up, creating an uplifting feel to the tune, perhaps Example didn't want to bring the mood of the album down with a song too sombre. It has an almost lackadaisical feel to it in the way that Example sings/raps and the literal, casual lyrics "I'm Mr Potato sore in the head, You, me, Zombie Fred, I feel like Shaun of the Dead", flippancy and almost humour, Example doesn't wish to take the deadly serious approach. But it is heart-rendering all the same and reminds us all of trouble in relationships...

It's a sublime tune, very unique and well underrated. It's probably testament to the sheer high quality of Playing in the Shadow's that this wasn't released as a single. Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8RvJowQPec

The Brits 2012...

Last night saw the return of The Brit Awards at the O2 with a very nervous (initially) James Cordern hosting. There were 8 performances in total, with Blur closing the show with a spectacular11-minute compilation of a few of their hits, Damon Albarn still just as rowdy and energetic as before, a beautiful, uncomplicated performance of Lego House from Ed Sheeran and an effortlessly stunning performance of the chart-topping, worldwide smash-hit Rolling in The Deep by Adele. Others included a weak, uninteresting performance from Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Bruno Mars delighting performing Just The Way You Are and Coldplay opening the show with a vibrant performance their new single Charlie Brown, as well as performances from Olly Murs who was joined by the fun enigmatic Rizzle Kicks and a dirty (surprisingly not in that way!) performance from Rihanna.

Here are the winners and losers:

British Male Solo Artist: Won by Ed Sheeran over James Blake
                                                                                    James Morrison
                                                                                    Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
                                                                                    Professor Green
Agree - Thoroughly deserved Ed has captivated a generation of music-lovers from young to old, with his unique spin on modern music, a charming singer-songwriter with an outstanding voice and lyrics to match, unafraid to venture into genres where perhaps an artist like him would rarely be seen, for example the grime-inspired You Need Me, I Don't Need You.

British Female Solo Artist:  Won by Adele over Florence & the Machine
                                                                               Jessie J
                                                                               Kate Bush
                                                                               Laura Marling

Agree - The others are all very talented artists each with stunning voices and plenty of heart and soul but it really would be difficult to make a case against any of them toppling the mighty Adele. With such sincere, heartfelt songs as Rolling in the Deep and Set Fire to The rain matched by her beautiful voice hitting every note with absolute perfection it is well earnt.

British Breakthrough Act: Won by Ed Sheeran over Anna Calvi
                                                                               Emeli Sande
                                                                              Jessie J
                                                                              The Vaccines

Agree- Narrowly deserved over Emeli Sande, whom Sheeran even praised in his subsequent ITV 2 interview, Maverick Sabre should have been nominated in this category however.

British Group: Won by Coldplay over Arctic Monkey's
                                                              Chase and Status
                                                              Elbow
                                                              Kasabian

Agree- Although a very unfair voting system, as winner decided through listeners of Radio 2...oh of course songs like Blind Faith (Chase and Status) and Days are Forgotten (Kasabian) are played regularly on Radio 2...not.

British Single: Won by One Direction: What Makes You Beautiful over
                                                                                    Adele - Someone Like You
                                                                                    Ed Sheeran - The A Team
                                                                Example - Changed the Way you Kissed Me
                                                                                    Jessie J ft B.O.B - Price tag
                                                                                    JLS ft Dev - She Makes Me Wanna
                                                                Military Wives/Gareth Malone - Wherever You Are
                                                                Olly Murs ft Rizzle Kicks - Heart Skips a Beat
                                                                                    Pixie Lott - All About Tonight
                                                                                    The Wanted - Glad You Came
                                                         
Disagree- Absolute disgrace and really illustrates the power one group of people (teenage girls with no taste in music) can have when voting, especially given that it was won against not only  artists that don't rely on looks and auto-tune, but truly gifted songwriters such as Adele, Example and Ed Sheeran and worldwide hits accomplished with all types of people, such as Jessie J's Price Tag.

International Group: Won by Foo Fighters over Fleet Foxes

                                                                        Jay Z/Kanye West

                                                                        Lady Antebellum

                                                                        Maroon 5

Agree- Brilliant band, with a fiery stage presence, incredible work-ethic that has seen them produce hit after hit and a die-hard following.

British Album of the Year: Won by Adele - 21 over Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
                                                                                    Ed Sheeran - +
                                                                            Florence & the Machine - Ceremonials
                                                                            PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

Disagree - As talented an artist is Adele is, when looking at her work as a whole it is fairly homogeneous, sombre love songs, mainly about heartbreak. Whereas, Ed Sheeran's +, for example, is not only diverse ranging from songs like Drunk and Lego House to You Need Me...ground-breaking, masterful, words that also spring to mind with Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto. Coldplay return with yet another epic album, that's arguably their best to date. Completely detached from their previous style, much more modernised and with such phenomenally brilliant tunes as Paradise, Hurts like Heaven and Every Teardrop is a Waterfall, deserved to win this catgeory.

 International Male Solo Artist: Won by Bruno Mars over Aloe Blacc
                                                                                                Bon Iver
                                                                                                David Guetta
                                                                                                Ryan Adams

Agree - Charming, fresh, charismatic...and that's just the music! Astounding songwriter with an effortlessly fantastic voice, captured an entire generation and performed brilliantly on the night. Yes to Mr Mars.

International Female Solo Artist: Won by Rihanna over Beyonce
                                                                                    Bjork
                                                                                    Feist
                                                                                    Lady Gaga

Agree - Just a year after releasing her Loud album which sold a staggering (at least in this ilegal-download age) 207,000 copies in it's first week Rihanna released Talk that Talk with two top-ten tracks already. Possibly the most remakrable thing about Rihanna, is her age at just 24 she has accomplished so much and it seems Beyonce in particular is struggling to keep up with her, probably to Jay Z's disappointment, given his split commitments with the two...managing one and marrying the other! We Found Love is a phenomenal tune and Rihanna sounds simply heavenly on it, this award is deserved just for that.

International Breakthrough Act: Won by Lana Del Rey over Aloe Blacc
                                                                                                    Bon Iver
                                                                                                    Foster the People
                                                                                                    Nicki Minaj

Agree - Lana is an acquired taste to say the least, I didn't 'get' her initially, given her contralto vocal range which is very unorthodox, but she's individual, audacious, passionate and absolutely gorgeous, in a very natural way. Give her some time and you will see what all the fuss is about.