Sometimes a nice bout of insomnia (brought on by the smoke alarm testing itself an insane hours) pays off and you discover things. Beautiful things. Things that remind you slightly of Crystal Castles and Bat For Lashes. That thing, ladies and gentleman, goes by the name of Labyrinth Ear and my word are they good.
If you like 'Snow White', download the duos 'Oak EP' for free HERE. And proceed to listen to it on repeat throughout your Bank Holiday Monday. (I may or may not being doing that myself... Obviously...)
It would appear as though the traditional, troubadour, singer-wongwriter is making something of a comeback. For a while there, it seemed as though the likes Damien Rice and Newton Faulkner were holding down the fort all on their own but with the likes of Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling and Fleet Foxes making that more folksy, acoustic sound popular again, it seems to haved paved the way for some properly beautiful musicians to make their way into the UK charts. Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Ben Howard and now the gorgeous James Vincent McMorrow all have that quietly, ponderously beautiful sound down to an absolute tee and it would be a crying shame if none of these incredibly talented musicians did well this year. Give 'This Old Dark Machine' a listen. It might be the best thing you do today.
The newly blonde Marina Diamandis has made a phenomenal return with her new track, 'Radioactive'. With a much more techno, dance feel to the material from 'The Family Jewels', the new album and music videos are said by the woman herself to be like a movie. What do you make of it? I personally prefer this to the likes of 'Hollywood' and 'Shampain'...
Here are some tunes that I appear to have become obsessed with to the point where it may actually be bordering on unhealthy.
First up, the gorgeous 'I Would Do Anything For You' by the amazing Foster The People. Taken from the album 'Torches' (out now and a MUST BUY), this track - which is not to be confused with that popular Meatloaf tune - is a beautiful, upbeat tale of falling in love. Simple melody with simple lyrics, perhaps in some way to reflect how simple falling for someone can be. (Coincidentally, the next single to be released by Foster The People is 'Helena Beat'. I recommend you check out the video for that one. Insane).
Next is the ever-kooky Jamie Woon. As far as I'm concerned, 'Mirrorwriting' should have been nominated for the Mercury Prize (maybe next year, Jamie. I'll start the campaign) for being so completely different to anything I've heard in a long time. 'Spirits' is a stunning tune. His lyrics seem to be a poetic expression of something of a karmic/hippy sentiment. This appeals to me but it's certainly something of an acquired sound.
And finally, from someone who sadly wasn't nominated for a Mercury award to someone who was - ms Katy B. Say what you want about the girl, she's definitely got a good voice (if you ignore her 'funny accent'. I played this to some friends from New Zealand and they kept giggling) and 'Witches Brew' is an oddly addictive record. Maybe she's cast a spell over us with it...? All I know is that the rippling, almost glittering dubby (not a word but it is now) synths that seem to overtake this record are lovely. Plus men seem to be pretty enchanted with her.
When the sun comes out and the holidays are upon us and we're in that mood where we just can't set our minds to anything too serious or intense, you need a tune that is going to typify your mindset and mirror the good mood that the sunshine gives you. Hopefully this track will do just that. Easy to listen to, catchy and properly 'happy-sounding', 'Up Up Up' by Louisianans GIVERS is like sunshine in a song. If you fancy listening to these lot in an actual outdoor situation this summer, they're performing at a series of venues and festivals over the next couple of weeks, including the Summer Sundae Weekender and Field Day Festival. For more information, head to their MySpace page.
