My favourite twins (I don’t have a list of favourite twins, I just really love Say Lou Lou) have released the video to their new single, Julian.
Last night when I was on the long journey back from seeing Dirty Beaches, I listened to Julian on repeat. It made this lengthy tube journey less boring. I took in the dark sky that was fluttered with street lights. Everything seemed beautiful. This song is beautiful, and the video brings out the pain that is in the song and also the vulnerability in it. It’s a stunning love song. The video shows the song in a different light, but by no means does it take away the sentimental value of the song. It’s equally as gorgeous as the song.
My obsession with my favourite twins has catapulted. This is delayed. So very delayed. I think it’s because I am still hooked on Maybe You. Part of me didn’t want to let that song go. I didn’t want to love another song as much as I loved Maybe You, maybe I couldn’t.
Turns out I could. Turns out I can. And I do.
I’ll start with the B-side to Julian first. Fool Of Me features the insanely talented Chet Faker (listen to his music if you don’t know.) Fool of Me is incredibly haunting and so beautifully melancholic. It has such sadness to it that just causes your heart to ache and break; even if you feel perfectly fine. I think this is why I adore Say Lou Lou. They manage to make such beautiful music, but it contains so much sadness. I remember when I first heard Maybe You and it was the sheer delicate tones of the music that got me hooked. Fool Of Me has done exactly the same. Fool Of Me touches on the painful aspect of love, something that may or may not happen to us all. If it’s happening to you, then this song is going to rip you apart. Say Lou Lou’s vocals on this is just..I just wish there was a word to describe it. I don’t think there is a word good enough. The pleading the pours out in the lyrics is so gorgeously heart-breaking, you cannot help but feel some sort of attachment. Or maybe that’s because I am far too sentimental for my own good. The last-minute of the song feels like some kind of awakening; as if you were waiting for this moment. With their delicate voices and Chet’s handsome vocals, Fool Of Me is just divine. As sad as it is, it is easily one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard in a long time. The pain that is in the words that Say Lou Lou sing is enough to break the hardest of hearts. As you listen to the song, you realise that no one else but Chet could feature on this song. Sometimes the saddest of songs are the best ones.
The single, Julian is nothing like Fool Of Me. Julian is pure devotion to the one you love. Doing all you can to get the one person you love to you. Mending their heart and getting them across the border. That is true love. What I adore about Say Lou Lou is how they are so delicate with their music. The lyrics are full of care, and even when about pain- still full of love. It is like they could never be mad at anyone because they love them so much. I think we all strive to be like that, but I suppose at times it could be hard. I’m far too soft, so I wouldn’t know. All I know is that Say Lou Lou are the epitome of being in love. Their music just pours out love. Their music makes you feel like you are in love, even if you’re not. There is something about Say Lou Lou that makes them so sacred. Listening to them is a pure experience, but sacred at the same time. This is how I felt when I first heard Warpaint. Say Lou Lou have a dainty vibe about them; you must listen to them with the utmost care. Say Lou Lou will get you through any trails and trauma you may face. It is almost as if they fill you with reassurance. You may feel utterly dishevelled but they manage to make you feel alright.
Both songs have the capability to reduce the listener to tears for different reasons. Fool Of Me, because it reminds you of a pain you once felt. Julian, because it reminds you of the one you love and all you want to do is love and protect them for the rest of your life. Say Lou Lou are a stunning duo, and because they are twins they have a bond that is stronger than most. I’ve yet to see them live but I reckon they’d just leave you in awe; more than they do on record. I still stand by they are one of the best new bands around. I think I declared that when I heard Maybe You. I’m not easily swayed, so I am sticking with this.
I’m about to write about something I never in a billion years expected to happen. It is something however, I have always dreamt about. There are a handful of musicians I wish I could meet; just to shake hands with the ones who saved me. Who gave me hope and courage. We find strength in strange places. When we find it, we must cling onto it.
I like to think it is fairly obvious that I am a huge fan of Patti Smith. She means as much to me as Morrissey and as Shirley Manson does, which is a lot- followed by a hell of a lot more. I’ve interviewed bands and I’ve remained somewhat “normal.” By that, I mean I managed to talk like a human rather than a blubbering baby. Since Friday night I have played out in my head what I’ve wanted to write down, then I realised that I simply cannot plan this. It has to come from the heart. It always does, because I honestly have no idea how to write any other way. If the things you do and say do not come from the heart- then don’t say or do them. Simple. Sort of.
I was one of the VERY lucky 125 people to have got a ticket to see Patti Smith and Tony Shanahan (thanks to my lovely girlfriend.) The concert was beautiful, and was held in The Old Schoolrooms- where the Brontës taught. When I was about 4 years old my mum took us all to Haworth to go round the museum and I remember being in awe of everything. When you walk around the village, you cannot help but be taken back by all of the history there. Everything about Haworth is gorgeous, but on Friday night it reached a different level of beauty.
The first song she did was dedicated to her sister Linda, who got Patti into the work of the Brontës. For her 65th birthday, Patti promised her sister that she would take her to Haworth. This alone just cements the idea that Patti is an incredibly caring and gentle human being. She played Dancing Barefoot (yes, I cried.) She played her tribute to Amy Winehouse; This Is The Girl which was nothing short of heartbreaking but comforting. I’ve not managed to listen to Amy’s music since she died, and it’s something which I may never be able to do. It gets frustrating, but This Is The Girl made me feel less silly for still being upset over a death of someone I never met. When she played Because The Night (which was released exactly 35 years to the day on Friday) everyone went a little bit crazy, as they also did to the inspiring People Have The Power. Pissing In A River was an incredible moment too. Everything was just stunning, who knew it was about to get even better.
At the end of the concert my mum saw that Tony Shanahan was on the stage packing up his guitar. She went over to ask if Patti would sign two books I brought with me. My battered copy of Just Kids (I’ve read it more times than I can remember) and a poetry book of hers, Auguries of Innocence. He said to wait, and he was sure she would. So we loitered for a bit. Saw people stand around being interviewed by the BBC, and friends discussing with each other the beauty of what they had just seen. About 10 minutes passed and Tony called out to my mum and I. He beckoned us, said Patti would sign the books. I walked behind my mum and as I type this the same rushing feeling is coming back. This still doesn’t feel real. I felt my body turn to jelly, I thought I was going to be sick. In fact, I was SURE I was going to be sick. I stood at the door, thinking I would just hand the books over and that was it.
I stood next to Patti, and she asked me my name. Her sister, my mum and Tony were the only ones in this small room. A room that held so much history, and was now the room that held the moment my whole life, my world changed. I’m not “cool.” I don’t believe in the idea of it, however if I did- and if I was cool, I just ruined that notion of myself by howling. Some strange noise came out of my mouth. I am comforted by this by being told that Shirley Manson had the same reaction when she met Patti. As I cried, Patti said in her soft voice “Don’t worry, it’s just emotion.” I was completely fine after then. I say “fine” but in my head I had no idea what was going on. I don’t think I still do, but that’s a different story altogether.
I wanted to say so much to her, but I think she’s been told it before by so many. I was sat next to the woman who is responsible for not just saving me, but for also giving me such love for words and music. Her words and music mean more to me than I can say. There’s no way I can actually get the words out. It has changed everything, in ways that go beyond description. They say you should never meet your idols, I stick two fingers up to that idea. As much as I wanted to hug her, I just shook her gentle hands and said thank you to her. But with that thank you, I meant much more. I wasn’t thanking her for just the photo I had taken with her or for her signing my books. I was thanking her for every single song she has ever written, every poem she has ever written. For everything she has done as it changed my life, for the better. I think Friday night changed my life for the better. In the poetry book she signed, it says “Have a beautiful life.” Well, as Patti told me to- I’m going to make sure I do. I have no job, no money- but I have that moment. I have that. I was taken to meet my role model; there’s no greater feeling than that. None at all.
As the tears fell, Patti’s sister, Linda was getting emotional too. It didn’t feel real, it still doesn’t. I keep looking at the photos, the books and my ticket. Every so often it hits me that I actually met Patti Smith, and when it does nothing else seems to matter. Like I said above, we must cling onto the strength we find. This is mine. Forever.
I have no idea if she will ever read this. If she does by some strange stroke of luck, then..well, just thank you. Again. And a massive thank you to Tony Shanahan for making this happen and to Linda Smith for taking the photo of Patti. I won’t re-read this because I will have so much more to add, but I think the photo of Patti and I shows how happy I was to be sat next to her.
“And in a while, You start a smile. The earth is wild, We’ve got no time.”
When something happens, I am fortunate enough to be one of those people who just let it go. My teenage years were made up of nagging thoughts that I was sure would haunt me forever; they thankfully leave in time. Those nagging thoughts were replaced with something else. They were replaced with just attempting to take it easy on myself. I have good days and bad days. My own worst critic. It’s alright. But something happened exactly two weeks ago at about 9pm. Something happened that just will not leave me alone. You know who is to blame? Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand. Beach House.
I’ve already written about seeing them two weeks ago in London. I can’t read it because I’ll want to add more and more. This is post-gig something or other. I need a word for it, but it isn’t happening. At first I thought it was just the gig in general that did something to me. Turns out it is one song in particular. One song which I didn’t expect to do anything to me. I was wrong, again. So bloody wrong.
I honestly thought Take Care or Myth would be the songs that would ruin me after the gig (during the gig, we don’t talk about it. They played them after each other. It was like they knew!!) Beach House opened with Wild. I’ve had a soft spot for this song, but over the past few weeks I have learnt that it is more important to me than any other song right now. I wish I knew why, but I think I need to let that go. I have to, because I will just sit and play it over and over trying to work it out. I’m pretty much doing that now as I type. Maybe I’ll get some answers after I’ve written this. Or the obvious will happen; I’ll stay frustrated with this thought and resign myself to the fact that Wild is a gorgeous song.
Victoria’s voice live is as perfect as it is on record. Her voice is equally as delicate and so perfect. People say perfection doesn’t exist, but I think you can make exceptions. Victoria’s voice is an exception. My girlfriend, who came with me to the gig, wasn’t really a Beach House fan- now she is. THANK YOU BEACH HOUSE! Anyway. Victoria’s voice on Wild for some reason holds something different to her voice on other songs. As she sings “Wild in our ways, go on pretending” towards the end of the song, it sounds like a plea. A plea to just cling onto youth and dreams. To cling onto whatever keeps you safe in your thoughts. The drums on this live were stunning. The felt like a gentle rumble within the soul and the way Alex plays the guitar just feels like you are watching the sun rise. Everything about this song is pure. It truly comes to life when you witness it live. I think two weeks ago I had some kind of epiphany but I really cannot work out what it was.
I remember when I bought Bloom when it came out last year. I just played New Year constantly. It was the song I really became obsessed with. Then I started to just playing the whole record over and over. I realised that every Beach House song has always summed up feelings that have no names. Maybe they do have names, but the way in which Beach House project it is much more beautiful. Part of me thought, maybe this feeling happened whilst witnessing Wild live was because I had the one I completely and utterly love next to me. Would I have felt this way if I went with a friend? Probably, because I did feel like it was just me and the band in the room. Sure I was aware that others were there, but that gig was one moment I wish I could relive for the rest of time.
Wild just evokes so much. I was walking home from the gym last night just playing it over and over. The sun was going down, and I was walking down this road that seemed to go on forever. When the drums kicked in, a car went past quite fast with its lights on full beam. It fitted perfectly with the song. Obviously the driver didn’t know I was listening to this song and probably didn’t even see me there. But when you wander around (I do this a lot) listening to music, you create scenes in your head. It didn’t feel like real life, and we all know that real life can be a drag at times. I felt like I was in a daze but at the same time- the full beam lights did something. As did the song.
I’ve not written this for any reason. I don’t think there’s a reason to it. You don’t need to justify everything. However, I am none the wiser as to what Wild did to me 2 weeks ago and what it is still doing to me. Maybe it has given me some hope. I need it. Maybe it has given me some secret form of strength. I don’t know if I need that. Wants and needs are so very different, but sometimes they are exactly the same. Maybe the song is saying its okay to be a bit careless at times and to just carry on. We grow up in our own ways. We don’t need to say “Well, I am *insert age* and know it all.” You know nothing, that’s why you’re alive because you are learning as you go. Make all the mistakes you can and learn. You don’t need to broadcast to all what you have learnt. Keep it to yourself. I advise you to listen to Wild. If it makes you feel like it has made me feel, please let me know. Maybe you have a word for it. Or maybe you just “get it.” I don’t know.
I think Wild is just going to be one of those songs that I will treasure for the rest of my life, and when I hear it everything will be perfect and pure in my mind and soul.
Last year I wrote about an amazing band from Brighton called Birdeatsbaby. They had this brilliant cabaret feel to their music, something which I’d never really enjoyed before until then. More than likely because they had a dark vibe going on. It basically felt like Nick Cave at the circus, it was amazing. Now their lead singer has a solo record out, and it’s a lot darker and I think my ability to not be able to sleep means I’m going to ramble on more than usual. You take the good where you can.
Let’s just firstly appreciate that She Makes War feature on the song Raise The Bar. The guitar kicks in with haunting vocals and nothing else really seems to matter; it’s enough to melt your brain but you cannot help but listen to it intensely. It’s an intense song with a few dramatic build-ups and quiet moments that may spook you. It is bloody excellent.
The title track, Present Company is the perfect opener and just shows how strong her voice is. It also shows how deeply influenced by classical music Mishkin is. Her voice sounds so vulnerable over the piano, think Nick Cave singing Into My Arms. That kind of vulnerable. Then the drums kick in and she develops this attitude that is found in my idol, Patti Smith. A song that sounds so simple is made up of so much. I’ve had it on repeat, I should move onto the rest of the record. The drumming on this song is so furious, it is perfect.
My Body, A Bridge is incredibly chilling. It sounds so eerie and is just so beautifully sad. Some of the best songs ever written are sad. There are no other words to describe them, sad is the only word you can use. I’d probably cry if I wasn’t too tired (and I’m pretty sure I cried enough at Beach House on Tuesday to last a while!) Again, it is so simply composed but you know there is so so much more to it.
The constant vibe surrounding this record is dark. It is probably why I like it. I’m not really one for enjoying songs that are about sunshine and flowers. That isn’t for me. I want poetic words over haunting music. You pretty much get all that and more from Mishkin’s record. She sounds so fearless and in control of every element of this record. How many artists can you sense that from? Not many. She has that raw energy that is found in the likes of Shirley Manson and Courtney Love.
I love how cryptic most of the songs sound, especially on I Want This. Cryptic and slightly menacing, but you don’t really pay too much attention to that because of how strong yet delicate her voice sounds. And also, her piano playing skills are simply gorgeous. This is a person who truly believes in music, more importantly THEIR music, which is how it should be. It is nothing like Birdeatsbaby which is a good thing. Her solo record is a different side to her, but just as divine as the music she makes in Birdeatsbaby.
There can sometimes be beauty in heartache, Present Company demonstrates that in such a careful way with utter truth. Stitches is going to be the song that hits you right in the gut. It is phenomenal.
Present Company is out on the 1st May on Dead Round Eyes Records.
Yes I dislike covers, but only when they are done in a mundane fashion. If you’re going to take someone elses work, then please do something to change it slightly. Add something to it. I don’t know what, but blow people’s minds. You have the power to do so, so you should.
So, with my dislike for covers those that are familiar with the best day of the year, RECORD STORE DAY will be aware of some of the releases that are coming out. I’ve got my eyes (and hopefully hands) on The Horrors/Toys split release. Looks good. However, there’s one in particular that got my attention more than others.
Patti Smith is my ultimate idol, closely followed by Shirley Manson. Basically, I have a thing for women who aren’t afraid to speak up and use their voices for the greater good. Oh, and they also make insanely beautiful music. No days have gone by where I haven’t listened to Garbage or Patti Smith. I just have to. That’s all there is to it.
Most are familiar with Patti’s cover of Bruce Springsteen’s Because The Night. Probably the best love song of all time? Oh go on then. Some have covered it and butchered it. There was a truly awful dance version of it some time ago. I wanted to do a Van Gogh; it was that bad. Then you have some who cover it and bring back the beauty and purity in it. They nail it. They bring it back to perfection.
Record Store Day sees the release of Garbage and Marissa Paternoster’s (Screaming Females. Listen to them. They are a brilliant rock band) cover of Because The Night. The live clips I have seen are out of this world. But my favourite has to be from Garbage’s show in New York at Terminal 5 from this Friday just gone.
Marissa is THE best guitarist around right now. No doubt about it. She has such a distinctive voice that goes so well with Shirley’s. You can see why both bands have come together to do this release. They just work so well together. One can only hope they do more.
When your hero covers a song by one of your heroes and makes it just as beautiful, it makes you proud. Makes you proud to not just a music lover, but proud to love both bands. Everything about their cover is all kinds of wonderful. The way Shirl and Marissa look at each whilst singing this is gorgeous. You can see how Shirl has taken Marissa under her wig, and in time will probably be just as empowering as her. She’s probably already there to be honest.
Anyway, go to your local record store on Record Store Day (20th April) and buy this. Buy some others too. Support your local record store, always.
Today was abysmal, but has been made a hell of a lot better by my FAVOURITE band putting up a demo.
I think anyone who has the un/fortunate experience of talking to me about music will ALWAYS have my love for Dum Dum Girls expressed. For me, they’re not just a band. You see, Dee Dee’s words have provided a crutch for me since 2009. I Will Be blew me away, Only In Dreams got me through hell. And their two EPs and countless b-sides have provided me with more than enough to get through dreary and dark days, like today. I haven’t wanted to write in a while, but the new Dum Dum Girls demo has given me a slight hint of inspiration.
Wish You Well may just be a demo, but no part of me wants Dee Dee to change any of it. It has a haunting and vulnerable vibe to it that makes you fall even more in love with Dum Dum Girls. Dee Dee has the power and strength that is found in the likes of Patti Smith and Shirley Manson; two women which I regard as the ultimate role models. Dee Dee will no doubt be regarded as highly as these two amongst fans of the Dum Dum Girls.
Wish You Well has been described by Dee Dee as a “demo lullaby” and to be honest, there is no better description. I could happily have this on repeat until my eyes became heavy and I could no longer battle sleep. From an entirely selfish point of view, this song is what I need right now. It’s more than enough to pull through. Her delicate words are married together with Sammy Nikdel’s echoing and ethereal guitar playing.
Dum Dum Girls have no set sound, but they always ALWAYS do one thing to me and that is heal. There aren’t many bands or singers that can do this in such a careful and thoughtful manner. I just adore the band and Dee Dee’s way with words. It isn’t just music; it is poetry. They aren’t just a band; they are a way of escaping the cold (even in a metaphorical sense.)
Regardless of how this song turns out, with it just being a demo for now, it is divine. A simple piece of heaven and I really cannot wait for record number three. Dee Dee, thank you. Just..thank you.
You can listen to the demo here: https://soundcloud.com/wearedumdumgirls
I’ve resigned myself to the fact (and it isn’t a bad thing at all) that the only solid source of comfort I have is probably found in a song by The Long Wives. I’ve honestly never found a singer who releases so much music as frequently as she does, and I am so thankful for that. It seems she releases something when I am in need of feeling something other than I do; her dark and vulnerable words do something that nothing else has done.
With its glorious religious imagery and vengeful words, Break You In is enough to shatter a tough heart and weaken the strongest of minds. When she sings, “I’ve served my time”I can feel all my frustrations pour out into this song, Maybe 9.30am is far too early to have these deep feelings, but they are there. And maybe some of them have to come out.
What I love about Brandy’s music is that I do not relate it to anyone but myself. I’m not a selfish person, but this is as selfish as I get to be honest. I can relate to every single word she has sung and written down; they remind me of nobody but myself. No other band or singer has ever done that. I usually listen to a song and I can associate it with something or someone. Thankfully with Brandy’s music, I just direct it to myself. Maybe it’s self-indulgent, or maybe it is much-needed. I’m going with the latter.
Her voice always does something overwhelming and incredible to me, as if it is some kind of catharsis. It is a release of sorts, and quite frankly, a much-needed one. Break You In shows just how strong Brandy’s voice is. They was she sings certain words just posses such strength and determination, there’s no way you couldn’t relate to her words. The fury and passion in her words and music just shows she is more than a singer. She’s a poet, a storyteller with words that come strictly from the heart. As awfully clichéd as it is, she is real. She has a raw talent and posses delicate words that make you feel at ease. I’ve never felt at home anywhere, ever. But her words are like home. Comforting and safe yet brutally honest.
To compare this song or any of her music to someone else would be a foolish mistake, and maybe I’ve done that before but songs like this just cement how rare Brandy is. I’d say we need more singers/bands like her, but I don’t want that. I’m just happy one person is making music as honest and as ethereal as this.
You can listen to Break You In here: https://soundcloud.com/thelongwives/break-you-in-the-long-wives
As I get older, I lose more. I think my mind is the next thing to go. I’m not clinging onto my youth. I will always look younger than I am. I don’t see any harm in this. At least I can pay full fare on the bus when I use it. £1.20 for a 20 minute journey? Piss off. I’m going to walk. And if it rains? Then I just stay indoors. If you cannot enjoy being on your own, nobody else is going to want your company. Having said that, I like being on my own and will never understand why someone would want to spend 2 minutes with me. I don’t mind when strangers sit next to me on the bus. I prefer pensioners because they have cool stories. People my age or younger? I always think they’re going to punch me. But people over here are quite silly so maybe they’d trip up and punch themselves. That’d be alright.
It’s important to have something to lean on isn’t it. To make us feel less vile. I don’t use people in this way. People come and go. I’ve lost more than I’ve gained, but I don’t have attachment issues. Far from it. I’m alright with everything. If you want to go, then go. If you want to stay, bring your own teabags, I’ll give you a cup. I have my good side. It’s overlooked. You see, I never go to a person when something is wrong. Maybe I should, but it doesn’t work for me. You see, nothing is wrong right now (wouldn’t tell you if there was I know) but last night I did that thing where I play one of my favourite songs ever until a sense of calm took over. I’m doing it again now.
Malibu by Hole is the song that I play religiously when I just wish I was somewhere else. Away from everyone else. I always need space. I cannot be around people for too long. Maybe because I get bored, maybe because I just like being quiet. Maybe there are so many reasons and they don’t need to be shared. You see, with this song, it gives me much-needed hope. I have so much love and respect for Courtney Love. More than I can put into words. She’s delicate but has this way of putting the most ugly feelings possible into words that make YOU feel okay with possessing them. When a singer/band can unleash the ugly feelings you have and show them to the world in a way you only wish you could, that’s when you know you have found something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
The opening verse has the power to make me bawl like a baby and also make me feel invincible all at once. Sometimes one feeling exceeds the other. I just think : “Crash and burn, all the stars explode tonight. How’d you get so desperate? How’d you stay alive?”Is such a beautiful yet painful thing to hear. The longing and desperation in her voice to understand the pain of the person she’s singing it to is overwhelming. I write a lot, and I can only wish and hope I write something as captivating as that verse. One day, maybe I will. I have no idea.
Another thing I utterly adore about this song is the way Courtney’s powerful voice is mixed so gorgeously with Melissa Auf Der Maur’s delicate voice, you really hear it in the chorus but my favourite is when you hear her sing with Courtney, “Don’t lay down and die.”Goosebumps every single time.
I could quite happily pick this song apart and tell you why I love each line. Certain lines stand out more than others, such as; “Get well soon. Please don’t go any higher. How are you so burnt when you’re barely on fire?”Sometimes you have enough before you even start, this puts this across so lovingly and beautifully. It’s the kind of song that part of you thinks, if someone was going to offer words of hope- they’d point you towards this song. I probably would, but I’m too kind for my own good. Or when someone truly knows you and loves you, it’s like they are singing “And I knew the darkest secret of your heart.”with Courtney. It’s just such a powerful song, and I don’t think Courtney has ever been given the credit she deserves with her song-writing skills. I firmly believe she is one of the most underrated frontwomen and song-writers ever. She just offers something others seem to lack right now. She’s always been a wild force, but isn’t afraid to show her frail side. Her frail side is the side that just makes you fall so hopelessly in love with her. Her angsty songs are why you also fall in love with her. Her vulnerability, her passion and the quiet storms she builds up in her music is just beyond anything else.
For me, if it wasn’t for this song certain things would be unbearable. It allows you to feel not okay, and it just soothes you. Of course I can listen to Warpaint and have my soul swayed and feel alright. But this song does what no other song will ever do, and I really cannot put it into words. It’s not that I can’t; I just don’t want to get that personal. I know this song is their most “commercially successful” song, but I don’t care. It’s a fucking lifeline.
There is so much comfort in this song, and every time I listen to it a piece of hope is placed back inside of me. It’s a reminder to not go too far with whatever may be eating at me. You can block the world off, and the only thing to truly get through is music.There always comes a time where asking someone you’re friends with or whatever for help/advice just doesn’t work. They cannot keep you here or something like that; no one can. I’ve never relied on anyone because it never works out. I just use this song. For always. I doubt there will ever come a time where this song just doesn’t give me what I need. The words, Courtney’s voice; just everything. It’s like a mantra. It keeps a hopeless case going.
FEATHERS are the most blissed-out band I ever did hear. I’ve heard a lot of bands that are similar to them before, and I know I throw my love about for some bands around all too freely (I just love music) but with Feathers; it is genuine. It’s always genuine. Yet there is something about Feathers that is just so perfect, it’s hard to believe a band like this exist. I don’t know where to place my joy right now. Being shown a band like Feathers or the delight at the lineup of this year’s Primavera Sound festival…THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN AND NICK CAVE ON THE SAME LINEUP. Fuck you if you’re not getting excited over that. I’m far too excited about it; but I know I won’t be going. So my excitement as ever, is null and void. In my head and heart; I will be there. Imagine if they toured together. I’m going to have a hernia if I carry on thinking about that. So, FEATHERS.
Feathers are as delicate as their name. Their sounds gently flow in and out of your ears. I’ve only heard 3 songs but I know they’re going to be incredible. They have a song (which is their debut single) called Land Of The Innocent. It’d fit perfectly in some dystopian film. It has a highly haunting vibe to it, but it leaves you immersed in awe. I’ve had it on repeat for a while now. I don’t think I know what the stop button is right now. The vocals are simply perfect. The purity that comes through makes you wish you could sing. Makes you wish you could be as fascinating as this band. All you can do is take in their music, and act as if it was written for you.
Feathers have that relaxed feel that Warpaint have; except Feathers have synths. Synths can be overbearing and just crap at times. Feathers use them wisely. Much like the likes of Cold Cave do. There’s a hidden darkness here which is married into the synths. Female Cold Cave? Why not. Why bloody not. There is something about Feathers that just sends you into another universe. One full of hidden pieces of heaven that is sacred to you, and only known by you. These glorious sounds are enough to cheer up the most grumpy souls (ie:ME!) Their music elevates the soul, purifies the mind and makes the body want to flail around like a careless drunken dancer. Just let them take you over, because I doubt any other band will this year.
They have a song called Soft which sounds nothing like Land Of The Innocent. This one has more of a German electro feel to it with a hint of the New Romantics era. I think I have found my ideal band of the year. I’m utterly blown away by how brilliant a band can be, with not even a single/record out yet. Their debut record is out this year, thankfully. I doubt I could wait. I’d probably fall victim to some form of madness, a desperate bout of insanity because I craved a record. It’ll happen one day (it’s actually happened as I wait for the new Warpaint record, I need it NOW.)
Feathers are nothing short of divine. I know nothing about them but I do know I have fallen hopelessly in love with their music. Thank goodness a band like this exist.
Beat In My Bones. 