There's something about the dark, twisted beauty of Indiana that I adore. The flip side of the hearts and flowers part of love, the complete and utter devotion - musically and lyrically - to how twisted and malevolent it can make you feel. How it can turn you to "beautiful psychosis". The unapologetic want for revenge.
Enjoy "Mess Around" and throw it at the last person who messed you up. Let them know that they owe you.
Lyrics Do you think you own me, just because I didn't tell? You didn't see me slowly rise again, regain my strength. You don't know what you started, you know I'm not what you have done. Never to be parted from my dirt; we are as one. And I'm haunted and reckless, feeling taunted and restless. It's a fire you started and I don't want to put it out. Don't you wanna mess around? I need you to notice I need you to gaze upon my beautiful psychosis I have found to bring you down. While your heart's still beating, I will not stop, I will not rest. Your suffering completes me: I'll take no more, I want no less. And I'm haunted and reckless, feeling taunted and restless. It's a fire you started and I don't want to put it out. Don't you wanna mess around? Show you all the ashes of my fire, of my fire... Don't you wanna mess around? Mess around...?
Mixing ethereal vocals with off-beat drums and a distinctly West Coast, surfer-summer guitar riff, GEMS (otherwise known as Clifford John Usher and Lindsay Pitts) have knocked it out of the park with their latest dreamy single "Medusa"; a single which, quite frankly, feels like the audio equivalent of flying. Forming in Washington D.C. in 2012, the duo already have 6 solid singles to their name with each offering a varying sound, making them very difficult to pigeon hole - which, in a world where we require our music to have a "label", to me seems strangely refreshing. "Medusa" is officially released on Nov. 12th and, if you're in and around New York and fancy catching them live, will be performing at the Brooklyn Bowl on October 16th and the Mercury Lounge in New York City on October 17th.
What is it about the younger generations that make them so geared towards success? Lorde - bornYelich-O'Connor - is only 16 but her talent was first spotted when she was just 12 years old and singing in a talent show. Since then she's had a number 1 in her homeland of New Zealand has even had to step in for Frank Ocean at an Australian music festival. "Tennis Court" really shows off this young woman's incredible style and talent and the retro-inspired, ethereal electro/alt-pop sound that's incredibly popular right now with the likes of MS MR, MO and London Grammar. Lorde's debut release "Pure Heroine" is out on the 30th of September.
Ben Khan would seem to be a mysterious, enigmatic and elusive character in music - that's right. I looked up some information to give you on the new music maestro but came up with nothing, save these few facts: - Judging by his Tumblr URL, he was (presumably) born in 1992, making him another sickeningly talented youth alongside the likes of Madeon and Flume. - Drive (Part 1) sounds like the bastard love child of a glorious Jai Paul, Jamie Woon and James Blake musical orgy.
(He also deserves more followers on Twitter for someone who Zane Lowe repped on Radio 1 but that really is just personal opinion).
SOUND THE "NEW MUSIC WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE WAITING FOR BECAUSE, TO BE HONEST, WE WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION" KLAXON - Zero 7 have released their first new material in 3 years. "On My Own", a 9 minute 10 minute second track of epic proportions, appears to have taken a leaf out of Daft Punk (and anybody else relevant right now)'s book and decided that some retro synths, funky basses and old school guitar riffs are, without a shadow of a doubt, the way forward. And have thrown in a little extra oriental flavour too, just for good measure. The single will be released on the 26th of August and will include the track "Don't Call It Love" as a b-side.
Ray Toro, that's bloody who. Ray Toro's done a thing. A fucking brilliant thing. A thing he wrote, produced, played all the instruments on, sang and mixed. BY HIMSELF.
I'll give you a moment for that to sink in - he did all of the things.
Did anybody know he was hiding quite this much musical talent? Because I certainly didn't. What an absolute, feelgood, inspiring belter.
Nobody likes Mondays. That's a fact. You begrudge it for not being the weekend and ruining the fun you had over the previous two days. You feel a little like stomping around the workplace like a moody teenager, offering surly shrugs and frowning faces to any colleague with the audacity to be in a good mood. So let's do all we can to make today a little more enjoyable and to save any kind of workplace spat potentially involving a stapler and Phil from accounts.
Fenech-Soler have very kindly provided the world with what I'm sure is going to be one of the tunes of the summer. The epitome of feelgood, sunshine vibes, "Magnetic" is just as drawing as the title would suggest. Turn it UP and wish the festival season would arrive a little sooner.
It starts with slick and dirty guitars with a nod to the 80s in the synths before cutting seamlessly to a bass-y breakdown before sliding with utter class to strings and horns. If this is what we can expect from "The Electric Lady", Monae's next release, it's going to be an absolute belter.
London-based three piece London Grammar have knocked it out of the park once again with their follow up to Hey Now and Metal & Dust. Wasting My Young Years is another beautifully melancholic track with astonishing vocals and perfect for a summer sunset. Gorgeous.
With spring finally taking a hold on the weather, causing temperatures to rise and the sun to - at long last - make an appearance, now seems as good a time as any to break out the feel good, turn-it-up summer-sounding, electronic dance tunes. Sons of Amsterdam, Televisor's release"Starlight" is ridiculously infectious and is guaranteed to make you want to smile and maybe bust a questionable move or two. If you're into the likes of Daft Punk and Madeon, this is definitely one for you and is available to buy now through Monstercat records.
As beautiful as the Basildon-born band's newest release is in it's original, slower form, this remix from masters of house Freemasons gives it the sort of kick up the bum that does this track a bit of justice.
Following on from their 2012 release Valtari, the Icelandic trio have wasted no time in getting their next record Kveikur out and into the public domain. Set for release on June 17th in the UK (and a day later for US fans), the album will include nine tracks with the lead (and somewhat dark, heavy and grime-y) single Brennisteinn already being streamed via YouTube.
Set for release on the 20th May, 'LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS' is the 4th studio album to come from the L.A. rockers. The album, co-produced by frontman Jared Leto and Steve Lillywhite who has also produced for the likes of Peter Gabriel, Morrissey and Beady Eye, will feature 12 tracks, including the lead single "Up In The Air" which, earlier this month, was sent into space from Cape Canaveral to the International Space Station and is available to download from today.
TRACKLISTING: 1. Birth 2. Conquistador 3. Up In The Air 4. City Of Angels 5. The Race 6. End Of All Days 7. Pyres Of Varanasi 8. Bright Lights 9. Do Or Die 10. Convergence 11. Northern Lights 12. Depuis Le Debut The album artwork itself comes from Damien Hirst's Colour Chart series and is called 'Isonicotinic Acid Ethyl Ester'. Another piece from the artist will be appearing on the CD itself.
I can't tell you why I had this on a loop most of last night but I couldn't leave it alone. I couldn't stop listening to it. I think repetitive listening might become a problem today, too. The sample of the vintage disco/soul vocal from Antony White's "I Can't Turn You Loose" shouldn't work with an electronic, 'off' dub beat but 21-year-old Flume has definitely managed it. There's a lot to be said for young, "bedroom" producers in this field of music - Harley Streten (as I'm sure his mother still calls him when she's on the war path) was only 13 when he began playing with music, taking samples and "chipmunked" vocals with his products being played on his native Australian radio networks soon after. (Taken from his self-titled EP, available through the Future Classic website)
This year is going to be a massive one for solo females and bands featuring a strong, unique vocal from a woman. On a list already comprising of the likes Daughter, London Grammar, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (who made a massive comeback with Sacrilege) and Laura Mvula, Paper Aeroplanes add their heart-wrenching, emotionally poetic folk sound with their latest single "Little Letters". Taken from their new album of the same name set for release on the 13th of May, the Welsh duo Sarah Howells and Richard Llewellyn's newest track is a thing of sorrowful beauty. Tour dates in Europe in support of Tom Luneburger are available, as are tickets for their own UK tour on their website.
She's back! The British folk singer Laura Marling has announced the name of her new album and fourth studio release as Once I Was An Eagle and is expected to be released in Europe on the 27th May. As if that wasn't enough, the Hampshire born musician has also been generous enough to give us all the album tracklisting and a free stream of one of the new tracks, "Where Can I Go?" which has almost a gospel, 'deep south' vibe. 1. Take The Night Off 2. I Was An Eagle 3. You Know 4. Breathe 5. Master Hunter 6. Little Love Caster 7. Devil’s Resting Place 8. Interlude 9. Undine 10. Where Can I Go? 11. Once 12. Pray For Me 13. When Were You Happy? (And How Long Has That Been) 14. Love Be Brave 15. Little Bird 16. Saved These Words
I know the cloud and rain has returned once again but don't let the weather be an excuse to get you down. Inject a little sunshine into your day with the sound-hug that is Shout Out Louds.
There seems to be a wealth of musical talent coming from the Nordic set of late, oftentimes folk-y, indie pop sounds with something of an electronic twist, starting with the likes of Bjork and Royksopp and latterly the likes of Of Monsters And Men, Niki and the Dove, Be The Bear and Philco Fiction.
With high notes reminiscent of La Roux's Elly Jackson, London-based Bebe Black's "Deathwish" seems to tell the tale of the tragedy of loving someone and how destructive it can be. It's like dark, disco/dance; as enigmatic as the woman herself (and by that I mean there are few details about her knocking about online). Keep your ears open for more information and tracks and maybe follow her on Twitter and conduct some Sherlock-esque deductions of you own...
Today is one of those days. You know the one I mean, right? The air is still cold, the mist might still be hanging around but the sun's shining and there's a promise of spring palpable in everything. It's the kind of day that makes you feel like smiling for no reason other than the fact that it's no longer a hideous, rainy day in England.
You need some music to accompany this good mood - an aural contributor to the spring in your step. I give you the latest offering from Manchester-born alt-rockers The 1975.
After causing quite a stir with "Sex" and giving standard radio play a much needed guitar revival, this jaunty, upbeat and dare I say "funky" follow up is perfect for A Day Of Doing Things; to be driving around in the sunshine, windows down and stereo up (presumably why they've entitled their March 4th release "Music For Cars" - serving suggestion.)
