Tuesday 17 May 2011

Ed Sheeran gets remixed!

Here are the True Tiger and Koan Sound remixes of Ed Sheeran's 'The A Team'. The original itself is incredibly beautiful but the two mixes really add something else to it. 

True Tiger adds a level of energy to it...

Whereas Koan Sound slows it down and really blisses it out...

They're all available for download in the usual places, so get to it!

(The A Team has also been playlisted on Radio 1, hooray! Hopefully other stations will cotton on to this fella and add this to their playlists too.)

Monday 16 May 2011

MOPP - Dream About You (Song of the Day)

SONG OF THE DAY
DREAM ABOUT YOU - MOPP


I will concede that this song has been out for about a year now but it's an absolute beauty. MOPP are a Scottish electronic, pop-rock group who have been pootling along for a while now, releasing Dream About You in October of last year. They recently got onto the BBC Radio 1 'Introducing' list at the start of the year and had their track 'A Day Needs More Love' played out on the station, as well as having the opportunity to play at this year's Big Weekend in Carlisle on the Outdoor Stage. With this boost from the BBC, who are often brilliant at giving a stepping stone to newer artists, these talented Scots will go far. If not, it'll be an absolute shame.

Thursday 12 May 2011

Lonsdale Boys Club - Light Me Up (Song of the Day)

Looking for an upbeat, feel-good, pop rock, 80s synth-ed tune that has an air of the Hard-Fi of 2005 and Calvin Harris (I'll admit that is something of a obscure and very precise brief but go with me here)? Well the Lonsdale Boys Club might have just answered this call with their brilliant track 'Light Me Up'.


The three piece hailing from Lonsdale Road in London have also remixed for the likes of The Wombats, Gorillaz and Phoenix, which should give you more of an idea of their sound.



"Light Me Up" is released on May 15th so look out for it and download it. Then play it very loudly in your car as you drive around in the sunshine. It's perfect for that sort of carry on! 
For more information, head to their WEBSITE where there's also a link to some free downloads.

Saturday 7 May 2011

This week's new singles reviewed by Josh Groban

I've got something of a busy day happening today so I doubt I'll have time to do one of these myself, plus it amused me - so have a read of what American "popera" sensation Josh Groban had to say about the new releases this week in 'The Guardian' today. >> Clicky click! What I will do is link to the videos so we can all have a listen.


Wild Beasts 
Albatross (Domino)

This should be played after a long day at work, where you light the fireplace up in your living room, crack open a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and enjoy the song on your lonesome. The half-acoustic/half-electronic feel gives it a really haunting vibe and Hayden Thorpe's voice is beautiful here. My ears always perk up when I hear a unique male voice in the musical sea of homogenous rock singing nowadays and this reminds me of a more focused Antony Hegarty. Three cheers for vibrato! I shall be hunting for more from these beasts.



Blue 
I Can (Blueworld UK)

Whoa! Girls (and a few select gentlemen), have you heard the news? Yes, it's true: Blue are BACK. All rise, people! To be honest, I didn't really know they were gone because I live in America but hey – what a comeback, right? Big drums, Usher-makin'-love-in-the-club styled synths. I'm sure I'll be hearing this song a lot while I'm exploring the London nightlife, which, incidentally, is exactly how I met Lee Ryan a few years back. Nice guy. Although I think he owes me a pint.


Plain White T's 
Boomerang (Island)

I was stoked to hear a new song from the Plain White T's, even though I was just thinking about how many of them I've been wearing recently. (The tees that is, not the actual band.) Still, this peppy number about the angst of running hot and cold in a relationship has a super-catchy chorus and I especially like how it ends with a wee vintage piano. No doubt, it will be pumping from my iPod while I pay a visit to Topman to buy a collection of printed black tank tops.


Jay Sean ft Lil Wayne 
Hit The Lights (Universal-Island)

This is sure to be a club SUPER HIT. Which means the only time I'll hear it is on YouTube. But I'm a sucker for a sly Weezy cameo: I was honoured to stand next to him during last year's Haiti Benefit recording of We Are The World. (Think that sounds odd? Listen to the final mix – it is!) This collaboration with Jay Sean seems a much more solid fit – even though everytime I hear someone say "hit the lights!", I can never tell if they mean on or off. I should find out before I get myself into an awkward social party foul.


Beady Eye 
Millionaire (Beady Eye)

From what I understand, Beady Eye is basically Oasis minus Noel. I also understand from listening to this new track that the boys haven't lost their knack for interesting, strummy chord changes. Nor have they waylaid that ability to pen those grand, inspiring ... but ultimately esoteric lyrics. I mean, why stop at loving someone like a millionaire? I look forward to the day, if and when I find love, when I can look her in the eye and say: "Baby, I love you like a kabazillionaire." Oh well, anyhoo – great song

Tuesday 3 May 2011

And So I Watch You From Afar - Search Party Animal [Song of the Day - May 3rd, '11)





How about a nice, heavy, musical interlude to get your off your arse and in the mood to take on the world after the Bank Holiday?


The band is And So I Watch You From Afar and are as far removed from anything else that has come out of Ireland in a long time. I do warn that if you're still suffering with the results of a long weekend of excess, this is not the song for you.






The band are currently touring with their new album 'Gangs' (out NOW) which the single 'Search:Party:Animal' is taken from. Tickets are still available for their shows, so for more information, visit their MySpace page HERE or get following them on TWITTER.

Monday 2 May 2011

THE COMPUTERS - MUSIC IS DEAD [Song of the Day, 2nd May, '11]

THE COMPUTERS - MUSIC IS DEAD




Well I would sincerely hope not, The Computers. Though I suspect if you listened to this particularly rowdy track from the punk-inspired, Exeter four piece loud enough, you could say goodbye to your eardrums. The look of the band an the feel of the video seems a complete contrast to the vocals and sound of the music but it's a marriage that works incredibly well.




Taken from their upcoming album This Is The Computers (due for release on May 16th), Music Is Dead is available TODAY so if you like it enough then feel free to download it from Amazon and Play.
Alternately, if you'd like to get your hands on a limited edition vinyl of the single, click here and go nuts.


For more information about their upcoming shows, visit the bands's website or hit up their MySpace.