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