Friday, January 29, 2010

Hot Chip: 'I Feel Better'

I'm obsessed with this song, I can't stop playing it loud and dance around in my office, loosing myself in the music. I'd love for a singer-songwriter to cover Hot Chip, their lyrics are always soooo sweet and romantic, I'm sure the result would be brilliant!

Anyway, it's Friday night so turn the volume up to 11, let yourself go and Just Dance



Have a nice weekend x

Thursday, January 28, 2010

All work and no play makes Sophie a dull blogger

Many apologies, work has been taking much of my time and I've neglected the blog a little bit. Another thing is that although I have a HUGE pile of CDs to go though I've only been listening to 2 albums this week. The fantastic 'One Life Stand' by Hot Chip and 'Hidden' By These New Puritans.

I already liked their first album eventhough it was pretty obtuse and hermetic, something in these kids' attitude got me interested. It was with great anticipation that I put their new CD on my player and boy was I in for a treat. I had to play it 3 times in a row to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I LOVE the way it makes me feel about music: it's so clever, so forward-thinking, so different and delivered with aplomb...I had goosebumps and felt like in a trance. It's quite rare nowadays for me to have such a physical response to music so I really wanted to share it with you.

'Hidden' is not to everybody's taste but those who unlock its doors will be pleasantly rewarded. From the shamanic drums to the brass sections the album twists and turns seamlessly into many musical territories... there is plenty to be surprised and enchanted by in these 11 tracks.

Here's the first track that was released at the end of 2009, just because it's epic and translates the mood of the album brilliantly.
These New Puritans 'We Want War'



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Monday, January 25, 2010

The Boy Who Trapped The Sun 'Home'

What's in a name...Looking at a list of new talents 'The Boy Who Trapped The Sun' kinda caught my eyes, it promised melancholy and poetry. And guess what, it delivers. I don't know yet what his real name is, but he hails from the Isle Of Lewis, in the North West of Scotland. Very cold indeed!

So onto his music then, it reminds me a little bit of a cross between Ed Harcourt and Gravenhurst. He plays all the instruments by himself and has an Ep out in March. The track title 'Home' is below



For more info and more tracks, head for his myspace

Friday, January 22, 2010

Eels 'The Beginning'

End Times, the new album by Eels is beautifully bleak. E wrote and produced the album on his own and it's one of his best efforts yet with lyrics as sharp as they're sad observations on the end of love affairs and aging...

See the album's opener "The Beginning" as a case in point



the rest of the album is on streaming there but go and buy the actual CD there are many more cold nights to go before the spring.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Black Box Recorder 'Child Psychology'

I'm so excited! Black Box Recorder are recording a new album. Hurrah!
Their first 2 albums England Made Me and Facts Of Life are sublime, they released a 3rd one 'Passionoia' in 2003 before going on a hyatus.

BBR are Luke Haines, John Moore and Sarah Nixey. Their pretty, slightly romantic melodies are in starch contrast with the bleak and sharp lyrics.

Child Psychology is one of my favourites tracks ever, the chorus being pure genius.I rememeber the first time I heard it at my friend Michelle's flat in London back in 98.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Joe Worricker

One of my highlights from Eurosonic has to be the voice of Joe Worricker. He is still very young, awkward and at his infancy in terms of career but WHAT.A.VOICE!

He has been signed by Rough Trade and is starting to sing live with just an acoustic guitar for support.
There are no youtube clips of his yet, but this one song which is very different from his own material but it will give you an idea of what he's capable of.



and check our his myspace for more info and music. You'll hear about him in the future, of that I'm sure!

Friday, January 15, 2010

until next week

Many apologies for the lack of updates this week. I'been away and am still in Groningen in Holland for Eurosonic.
We'll go back to normal on Monday but in the meantime here's Laura Marling's latest single 'Goodbye England' It will feature on her next album 'I Speak Because I Can ' which should be in the shops in the coming months. [March 22nd in the UK]
She worked with Ryan Adams and Elton John on this 2nd album.

This is a live version she gave to the BBC

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

First Aid Kit "Hard Believer"

Sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg launched their carreer in 2008 at the tender age of 15 and 18 yrs old respectively. They grew up ( well are still growing up) in a Stockholm suburb.
If there is a sweetness in the music they make it's also pallatably 'mature', sometimes freakingly so ( like when they sing about an old couple and his infidelities).
They shot to fame thanks to their cover of Fleet Foxes ' Tiger Mountain, then released a EP titled Drunken Trees and now in 2010, their first full album The Big Black And Blue will be released this month on Witchita.

Here's their latest single:




For their myspace: it's here

Monday, January 11, 2010

Alan Pownall "Take Me"

I owed it to you all to add a male singer. To be honest the jury's still out on Pownall as far as I'm concerned. At first listen I thought he was another Jason Mraz as his music is a little too middle of the road for me.

However I stuck with him, just because he's mate with all the cool kids from the London folk scene. Adele is the one who gave him his big break by inviting him to open for her after hearing what he does on his myspace page...and I'll admit that I'm starting to like him. Anyway, here's his latest song "Take Me" so you can make up your own mind




After many labels chased him up, he finaly signed for Mercury and he's currently writing his first album which should be out in the spring.
I'm pretty sure you'll hear him everywhere on the radio and TV so be prepared

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Warpaint "Elephants"

Thank you to @francoish for today's entry.
Warpaint is a quatuor from LA and a firm favourite amongst the trendy types over there. Their first album Equisite Corpse was produced by John Frusciante of RHCP fame.
The band is formed by 3 female singers ( 2 guitar players and a bassist) whilst the sole man in Warpaint sits behind he drums.
There's only 6 tracks on the album but they're amazingly well balanced and the prevailing atmosphere is very special indeed. Have a listen and a look:



They're currently recording a LP with producer Tom Biller ( he worked with Beck and The Liars) which should be released by Rough Trade later this year.

"Billie Holiday", is probably my favourite track of theirs, it reminds me a little bit of some early Cat Power, with maybe some drops of Coco Rosie and a bit of The Cure for good measure. Very pretty!






Thursday, January 7, 2010

Sophie Hunger

3rd day in row that I post a female singer. It got me thinking but there are so many of them at the moment and a lot are being pushed as 'hot tips' for 2010...I wonder why

Anyway, direction Switzerland today to meet Sophie Hunger [real name Émilie Jeanne-Sophie Welti Hunger]

This young lady plays the guitar and piano and she sings in her native Swiss dialect, German or English.
She has 2 albus to her name Sketeches On Sea (06) and Monday's Ghost (09)
. She is also playing at Eurosonic next week. I don't know much about her to be honest but I've liked everything I've heard from her. The press has generally written kindly about her

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Ellie Goulding 'Guns & Horses'

Another young lady destined to great things in 2010. Ellie Goulding is Welsh and 23 years old. She plays a poppy folktronica and her first album 'Lights' will be released in the Uk in March.

She has toured with Little Botts, sang on a Passion Pit remix and she has played live on Later With Jools Holland



She was also part of the BBC sound of 2010 list so be prepared to hear her sing through the next 12 months.She's playing at Eurosonic next week in Groningen, I'll try to check her live and will report back.

As always if you want to know more---> it's HERE

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Holly Miranda 'Sleep On Fire'

Miss Miranda has toured with the XX in Europe and is now traveling with Tegan & Sara [ A european tour is also planned]. Later this months she will open for Vampire Weekend in her home town of New York. Not bad and I'm pretty sure she'll soon headline her own shows. Her first album The Magician's Private Library will be out on XL recordings at the end of February.

It's difficult to find good quality footage at this stage but this acoustic version isn't bad and can give you an idea of the talent she has to offer. [ Having heard the album I can tell you it's brilliant!]



for more music and info check out her myspace

Here's to new exciting music in 2010!

Friday, January 1, 2010

2009 - Top tracks, part 2

Let's venture into the electro & rock worlds, just for today...

**Hot Chip: Take it In**





**AuroKratz: Always More**



**The Big Pink: Velvet**




** Yeah Yeah Yeah's: Heads Will Roll**