Thursday 22 November 2012

HAIM...

Girl crush - Haim the band are three sisters from LA who have thoroughly succeeded in combining the best of folk and R&B. The very best of the 80s nostalgia of Baywatch and Cyndi Lauper with the best of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks. In fact it was a The Guardian who described them as 'think Steve Nicks produced by Dallas Austin or The Staves in a tussle with TLC' - everything about them ticks the box for me.  

They've been on tour here for the last month and they're supporting Florence in a few weeks at London's 02 Arena - they are set for big things - "Forever" is their debut EP. Watch it here:


Friday 19 October 2012

LIGHTS ON ITS DARK OUTSIDE...

Slightly mirroring the mood of today.. its a Friday afternoon but tonight is all about curling up inside by the fire ready for the weekend ahead, mostly hibernating. King Krule will take you home to the comfort and warmth of the weekend in your car with the lights on because its dark outside at 5.30.

Archy Marshall is 17 years old, fresh out of Brit school and is brilliant - his music is described as new wave or darkwave and inspired by many. Compared with the likes of Morrissey or Edwyn Collins his voice is so distinctive. This particular song is a favourite of mine but all of his music varies in style and impact and influence, yet every one is as strong as the next - 

Here is 'The Noose of Jah City':



Wednesday 10 October 2012

LOST IN THE LIGHT...

It would be a nice feeling if it was so hot and sunny that we got lost in the light. Bahamas, aka Afie Jurvanen, has a melancholic way of making you feel both lifted and saddened at the same time. It almost makes you feel like the lights streaming through the windows by the beach in the bahamas and it doesn't get much better than that but your still finding it hard to get out of bed. This man is not from the Bahamas though, he is from  Ontario, and finnish- Canadian. Try it and see. I like it and am sure as the rest of the USA do too it will be coming our way soon.

Lost in the Light - BAHAMAS: 




Thursday 27 September 2012

THE BUSY TWIST...

AFRICAN INFLUENCED BASS MUSIC. Too good for a Thursday afternoon at your desk but it will be a perfect start to your weekend. THE BUSY TWIST is made up of two very talented 21 year old producers Ollie Williams and Gabriel Benn, based in London the two have created unison between the vibrancy and energy of African musical culture with all the good bits from the UK dance scene

Established in 2009 on their first trip to Ghana this duo were instantly caught up in the vibrant energy and array of musical talent - since then they have built strong relationships with musicians in Ghana who they continue to work with. They have this quote across all their platforms and I think it sums it all up:

'The colour of poverty is vibrant in Ghana. Constant movement the rush of work towards the next piece of bread, creates not the downbeaten environment that is so often portrayed of a less economically developed country, but a vivid picture of energy' (Tuesday Born) 

Turn it up - it will make you happy. 'Friday Night':

Tuesday 25 September 2012

JAMAICA JAMAICA...

If anyone can bring heat to this cold snap its Tanya Stephens. I think the only person who's come close to her in the last 5 years is one of my new favourites Azealia Banks.

Tanya's influential reggae emerged in the 1990's - from Jamaica, kingston - home of heat and sun - she moved later to Sweden where she signed to warner music Sweden before moving back again to Jamaica to release the critically acclaimed 'Gangsta Blues' album in 2004. 

Her label Tarantula has since released 3 of her records and this year we are due another - get ready for punchy reggae all through the winter, until then this will warm you up. 

'Its a Pity':

Thursday 20 September 2012

BACK TO IT...

Winter is looming, coats are back on and after arriving from the heat of sailing in Turkey the only thing to do is wrap up and put on some music that brings you back to warmth and wine and sails and the azur sea. 

Returning to old favourites usually does the trick but in this case a really good cover of an old favourite has done it. 

Boy & Bear from Sydney have worked out the choral harmony thing - much like Alt-J from last weeks post - seems to be a theme for now. Touring with the likes of Angus & Julia Stone and Laura Marling the band have increasingly become favourites amongst the 'drivey indie folk'. Their debut album 'Moonfire' has already reached platinum in the AIRA charts and is definitely worth a purchase, it will help the seasonal change! 

Have a listen; here is their cover of 'Fall at Your Feet'(Crowded House): 


Monday 20 August 2012

HEAT...

This music deserves to be listened to on a boat in the heat while drinking some cold wine .. Monday morning blues made me feel like it was time for a proper holiday and this almost makes you feel like you are on one just listening to it. 

∆'s name, pronounced 'Alt-J' is used on a mac keyboard to achieve the Greek letter "Delta". It is explained by Gwil Sainsbury (the bassist) as 'the mathematical equation used to show change'. 

I think that in itself is enough to describe how different and inspiring this band are. Their debut album 'An Awesome Wave' is a perfect combination of Hot Chip and Everything Everything; nostalgia and good vibes. They are touring this Autumn - definitely worth ah trip to see. My Favourite song off the album today is MS. 

Here we go:


Thursday 5 July 2012

SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER TIME...

A little late of the mark but this was meant for 4 weeks ago when summer arrived... and then it left again. Now we've seen a tiny glimpse today im clinging onto it for the weekend..

The train pulled up in Norwich last night on my weekly commute and the sun was still up and I was hit with a wave of warm summer air as I walked down the platform. It was lush. Instantly relieved from London's sweat. These early summer days - particularly after weeks of rain, feel so good. Hours until the end of the working week and a weekend of sunshine ahead needs a good playlist - obviously each to their own but think my owns pretty good. It starts with a bit of nostalgic early summer R & B: 


                             










Tuesday 22 May 2012

SNAKADAKTAL...

Welcome sun.. for a moment we thought you were not going to come at all this summer. Its arrived and with it will come a wave of summer hits - and hopefully a wave of heat too - Snakadaktal are an australian band, from Melbourne, very young, very beautiful and very fresh - just in time for summer. They have yet to grace the UK with their presence but have toured Oz with The Jezabels and will tour nationally this year solo too.. hopefully 2013 will bring them our way but until then the suns out here, enjoy.. 


'Air' by Snakadaktal:



Friday 11 May 2012

FLYING OVERSEAS..

Only option at the moment is to leave the country - or plan to, or dream to plan to. Apt as this song is for that purpose there are other reasons for playing Theophilus London on loop. Born on the island of Trinidad, raised in Brooklyn, Theophilus has been making waves since early 2011. He is a very good mixture of the best of Michael Jackson and Prince and his album 'Timez are wierd These Days' will help you slip into spring even if its a little late this year AND the single 'Flying Overseas' will bring you to a hazy summers day where its just too hot to be worried about anything. Love him and his shirt. 

Flying overseas:






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Friday 4 May 2012

CHANGE OF SCENERY...

Dirty Rap. Felt like a change of scenery and this song did it. I love her, she's playing at The Waterfront in October and tickets are booked.


Treading new footsteps into the year with clear influences from the best of the late 90s R&B artists Aaliyah and Destiny's Child; Azealia Banks, formerly known as 'Miss Banks' is hot news and the sound of 2012 - she's 20, from Harlem and everywhere right now - cant wait for the tour, the album and more to come..


Friday night dirty weekend opener '212' FT LAZY JAY

Friday 27 April 2012

ESCAPISM...

This is. 

Not much to say other than this music brings beautiful escapism to wherever you want to go on a windswept, slightly drizzly day - highly acclaimed for many reasons, which you will discover very quickly after buying the album 'Diamond Mine'. King Creosote and Jon Hopkins were introduced to me by a very lovely person, who knew it would be just my thing - ive got to share it, its too good to keep to myself. 

Here is 'Bats In The Attic' 

Friday 20 April 2012

HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN...

But when your tucked up inside on one of these cold raining April showers/sort of still winter days, sitting at your desk or on a bus somewhere its actually quite nice and quite refreshing I think, almost cleansing. 




It helps if you are listening to some really good music - nothing beats a little Annie Lennox - or a lot. Annie is a pop culture icon - on top of this she is also a political activist and  philanthropist. She is truly talented and her voice is quite possibly one of the most amazing pop voices to grace our ears. 'Walking on Broken Glass' on the album 'Diva' is without a doubt a desert island disk for me but for today pull your sleeves down over your hands and snuggle into your office seat to finish off the week's work and plug this into your ears - it will make you feel nostalgic, relaxed and happy. 



Saturday 14 April 2012

PASSED ME BY...

Until 6music played this lovely ladies voice to me the other day I am embarrassed to say she has passed me by. Beth Jeans Houghton and The Hooves of Destiny created a twisting and turning journey of tribal vocals and soulful uplifting tunes. "Atlas" is a summer opener - crank it up, roll down the roof and drive around some country roads - you'll get it.


I love this; Beth Jeans Houghton was born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1990. She wishes she’d been born in 1956, making glam rock in her 20s, bowing out of the ‘80s entirely to raise children, keeping her head down in the ‘90s and returning to the music world in the 2000s, but that’s a different matter.

Here we go: