If Burial had a musical baby with The XX with the slight (and I do mean slight) soul of say James Blake you’d come up with a lovely duo called Alpines.
Boy/girl duos have pretty much been amazing this year from Wye Oak to The Kills to Big Deal.
See, sometimes a band can sound far too over-produced. That too much thought has gone into what they are doing, and because they have done this- they lose sight of who they really are. Thankfully Alpines are not like this. Their sound is so naturally euphoric and just overwhelms you with a sense of utter bliss. The vocals are like a warm blanket to cover you on these dark and dull days.
This is the perfect music to listen to whilst wandering around your town or city with just the flickering of the street lights to guide you. Stay on the pavement though. The music provides the soundtrack to getting lost. There is no problem with getting lost, it just makes you appreciate everything a little bit more. Alpines should be massive. Will they be? That’s up to the general public. If there was any justice, they would be. But we live in a country where utter bollocks dominates the airwaves. Well, at least bands like Alpines exist to soften the blow that greets us every time we put the radio on. I’m not going to give them a genre to fall into, that’s not my place. I doubt you could actually pin-point their sound. That’s probably why I love them so much.
It took me 12 seconds to fall in love with Sissy And The Blisters. How long will it take you? You’ll probably dislike them if you don’t like bands that wear black and sound like a ghoulish 60s garage rock band with a trickle of psychedelia whirling in and out of their sound.
Shall I say they sound like The Horrors? Nah, fuck that. They sound like…..SISSY AND THE BLISTERS! Just because they wear black and sound the way they do; doesn’t mean they are a rip off of The Horrors. It just means they are all influenced by a genre of music that was quite frankly- out of this world.
I love music that freaks me out. I love music that makes me feel I am going to have disturbing dreams that involve being chased by Vincent Price or stumbling into a desolate bar with Edgar Allan Poe propping it up by being in a drunken haze writing something excessively devilish. For some, this is beyond creepy. For me, it sounds like a perfect world. If it isn’t dark or menacing; I probably won;t reserve a piece of my heart for it. Same for people too. If you’re dressed in black and you like anything that others label as odd- I’ll probably think you’re the best thing in life.
So, one of my favourite artists; Blackbird Blackbird has a new track out Tear. It’s a euphoric piece of music that can make you feel the summer sun- even if it is horrifically cold and grim outside.
For the past few summers Blackbird Blackbird has provided the soundtrack. The music has this feeling that just makes you feel so peaceful and like you are floating on a bed of clouds. Tear is no exception, and you can grab yourself a FREE download of the track RIGHT HERE!
Expect an EP VERY VERY early next year from Blackbird Blackbird.
Memories can be painful or joyful. Theycan set you up for a fall, or they can make you feel something so incredible- you just can’t put it into words. Think of an artist you have dear memories associated with. Now imagine you have been told they have died.
Today, aged only 44 years old- Heavy D died. His song, Now That We Found Love was the ONE song I played in the car from the drive from France to Italy when I was 4 or 5 years old. I played it over and over in the car. I remember my mum buying it from Our Price before we all went on holiday, and it was the only song that was played. I associate the song with not only a family holiday- but with being utterly care free. When I play this song, I feel about 5 years old again in the back of the car singing and dancing to this song.
I’ve no idea what the cause of death was for Heavy’s death, but he was far too young. He had a distinctive voice within the rap community. He didn’t have to use violent lyrics to reach you. He was fun and just a pleasure to listen to. He was one of the first rappers I remember hearing. I guess it was him that got me into rap. I suppose Notorious B.I.G summed it up, “It was all a dream. I used to read Word Up! magazine. Salt ‘n’ Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine.”
Heavy D gave me memories that, for that part of my life- are really the only good ones I have. They are the only ones I can really look back on and smile. Thank you D. I hope that wherever you are, you’re at peace. You’re going to be missed.
“You can’t like Drake because you lke bands such as The Cure and The Smiths.” Oh really? SHIT SON! I didn’t realise I could only listen to one specific style of music. I honestly didn’t know that I could only listen to music that’s like The Cure or My Bloody Valentine. Fuck off.
It happens a lot. More times than it should. People are small minded- from judging someone on their clothes to the colour of their skin. It’s entirely awful. But, I don’t want to rant about the errors of the human race. I want to tell you about how fucking AMAZING Drake’s new stuff.
Anypne who knows me even a tiny bit will know I don’t like Rihanna at all. I’m sure she’s a lovely person, but musically I’m not really a fan. HOWEVER, she’s done a track with Drake on his new album and it samples my hero- Gil Scott-Heron. It is also produced by Jamie Smith (from The XX.) This is a KILLER track. Her vocals are beautiful on this track. If you’re chasing someone who seems to be put off anything to do with anyone in a romantic manner, play this song to them. It’ll get your point across better than you will. If it doesn’t work then, well- keep trying? I don’t know. Nobody likes a stalker do they. The thing is, this track is fucking out of this world. It should make you lose your mind; that’s if you still have it.
So one of my biggest loves this year has been The Weeknd’s two mixtapes. I cannot wait for the third one. The Weeknd appears on Drake’s new album. Crew Love is just brilliant. The Weeknd is this underground guy who deserves to be so fucking huge. Seriously, he needs to be as huge a…someone that’s really huge. I’m lost for words right now. This album is so good. Best rap album of the year? Of course, no doubt about that. Drake and The Weeknd need to make an album together, but I honestly don’t think the world is ready for something like that. I don’t think they are ready for the Take Care album or anything The Weeknd does. I don’t care if you don’t like rap or Drake- you need to get this album when it comes out next week. Better than his other stuff? It’s just more grown, that’s all.
There’s production on the album from the likes of Just Blaze (his back catalogue is insanely impressive) and Noah Shebib. It’s honestly going to be one of THE biggest and best albums of the year. I don’t care what genre you favour, Drake needs a spot in your record collection. There’s too much good music out there for you to just limit yourself to one genre. Don’t be a small minded fool.
As I get older, I think I start to dislike people more. Or maybe, I pick up on certain traits they have and just cannot be bothered. When I get like this, I can only listen to one artist. This one artist has been summing up this…whatever it is…feeling I guess since I was 17/18. I’m nearly 25 so it’s safe to say that Jason Pierce is a huge part of my life. His words have got me through some shit. Not that I feel like shit now- but every so often you see something or hear something that makes you feel so disappointed, and I guess let down.
Jason Pierce is one of the most important musicians that this country has produced. He’s on the same level as The Jesus And Mary Chain, Chris Corner and My Bloody Valentine. Jason’s words fix that part of you that someone else has probably broke. He heals those wounds that another cannot fix- it has to be music. That’s all that can fix it.
You Lie, You Cheat will ALWAYS be one of my favourite. The angst that builds and builds in this song always gets to me. Most would probably choose songs such as Broken Heart or Hold On- but You Lie has that fury that just burns inside you. It just fucking pours out in a way that you cannot control. Do you want to control it? Could you? Songs In A&E is, for me, on the same level as Ladies And Gentlemen….I mean, you really cannot deny the sheer genius that record is. Everything Jason does is just perfection.
Hold On is easily one of THE most heartbreaking and painful songs ever created. The utter fragility and hurt that just pours out of this song could easly crush the hardest of hearts. If I hear it and I feel totally fine; it still breaks me. It is so powerful, it really isn’t for the emotionally unstable. That said, it does help with a break-up. Or if you want to cry and can’t seem to do so.
My uncle was the one who caused my love for Spiritualized, he’s the reason why I love a lot of bands I do. Jason’s lyrics are just as powerful as the actual music he creates. The music alone can break you, but calm you down. His voice is so breath-taking and relaxing. Even when bouts of angst and pain riddle it, it’s got this quality to it that just makes you feel at ease- and less alone.
There’s nothing I can say about Spiritualized that hasn’t already been said. You know how you have certain bands that, when you listen to them- you just think about stuff? By stuff, I mean anything and everything. That’s what Spiritualized does to me. His music has been like a crutch to me for so long, I honestly have no idea what I’d do without it. He’s one of the few musicians that just stun me with every listen and leave me lost for words. Or in this case, ramble like a massive idiot.
But anyway, Jason Pierce- you’re one of the few artists who made this uncomfortable 17/18 year old turn into a soon to be 25 year old who is actually okay with who they are now.
I’ll just get the shallow element of this out of the way before I mention the music. The Black Belles are basically my dream women. Dressed in complete black- always ready for a funeral. Black clothes, black make-up. They are ALL stunning. I don’t need to go on about their looks anymore, now it’s about the music.
You know when you hear something and it just amazes you that something like this exists? Pretty much how I feel about The Black Belles. They’re like…a scarier version of Dum Dum Girls. They have this brilliant 60s garage rock feel going on, but with something heavier mixed in. It is so creepy and so menacing- it’s probably why I love it.
Their record is out tomorrow, debut full length LP. It sounds like something that could easily be in a Vincent Price film. It is so fucking unbelievable. How can something like this, exist now? I guess when you’re on Jack White’s record label, you will more than likely produce one of the best albums of the year-right? Oh of course. The album feels like a dirty, blues record that has heavy garage rock tones to it. I guess they’ll get called Goths because they wear black, that’s not a bad thing. Better than being called a dickhead.
Hand on heart, this record shits on a lot of albums that have come out this year. This is a phenomenal debut album. I remember how I felt when I heard Strange House by The Horrors. That same feeling is alive and well when I listen to The Black Belles. It’s hard to put it into words, because I just want to ramble on like I always do. But I feel massively stupid because the band deserve more than an idiot like me go on and on writing sentences that make no sense at all.
If you want music that is going to make you feel like you are in a creepy horror film- you need The Black Belles. If you (like myself) think girls that wear black make-up and dress all in black are amazing- then you need this band. If you want to hear something that you’ve never heard before, and you want to be shook up a wee bit- then you really do need to invest yourself in The Black Belles.
It’s dark, eerie and will freak you out. You need this, trust me.
More often than not, I seem to find a band or singer that just becomes the best thing in the world. I seem to have dragged myself away from the new albums by Uh Huh Her and Summer Camp, and found a new love. As soon as I’ve written this I’ll clearly go back to annoying my neighbours by playing certain songs over and over; and loudly.
I know NOTHING about We Are Trees apart from two things; they are amazing and I think they are unsigned. If I’ve got the latter wrong, accept my mistake. We all make them. This is tame compared to what I usually do.
I have no idea how many of them are in the band. I don’t know names or where they are from. I don’t want to know. I just want to listen to their music all the time and forget real life. I Don’t Believe in Love is beautiful. For the cynics amongst us, you’ll probably love this song. Then again, you don’t have to be a cynic to appreciate this wonderful song.
If you love bands such as Widowspeak, Beach House, Seapony- you will love We Are Trees. If they haven’t been signed yet, then they bloody deserve to be.
Remember remember the 5th November, as it is one week before my birthday!
We are informed at this time of year to have Bonfires and set off fireworks because of Guy Fawkes. We are told he’s a bad fellow. Truth be told, he wasn’t. He like most of us, wanted freedom. James I was the King at the time of Guy’s plot to blow up Parliament in 1605. All Guy wanted was freedom. I could go on and on about this but I’ll just offend some uneducated fool so basically I’m going to give you some songs that are about freedom. If you’re not free inside, can you be free on the outside; and vice versa? I obviously don’t condone people blowing shit up or any form of violence- but I fully understand the fury and rage someone feels when they want to be heard. Yet no one listens. Anyway, have some songs.
Originally I was going to write about Cold Cave and how much I adore them. Then I realised, my love for Cold Cave is all down to my respect and admiration of Wes Eisold. I started to write about Cold Cave, and the opening paragraph would probably offend various people, so to do anything for a quiet life and to be no part of other people’s bitching and self-projection I’ve deleted it. Basically if you were someone who ONLY listens to folk or acoustic music and enjoys watching someone look like they are in pain as they sing the same song for an hour, using the same chords- you would’ve been offended. I can’t remember exactly what I wrote, but I stand by it. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy acoustic based music- but only stuff from the 50s to the 70s. Anything after that is utterly dire. You think Laura Marling is the one? Check yo’self FOOL. Go listen to Woody Guthrie or Townes Van Zandt.
Rant over, for now. I shall begin.
My love for Wes started when I watched a video of American Nightmare (or Give Up The Ghost, up to you)on the internet. I was in awe of Wes instantly. He words resonated with me so much. American Nightmare became such an important band to me, I just had to find out all I could about Wes and his lyrics.
As much as I love American Nightmare and Some Girls, I really cannot deny that my love for Cold Cave is greater than all the other bands Wes has been associated with. Cold Cave mix that dark 80s goth/electro sound with some painfully honest and dark lyrics. Wes is a poet and author, so it is honestly no surprise that he lyrics are going to be out of this world. I remember when I first heard their debut album in full, Love Comes Close and I was just enthralled- completely and utterly in what I was hearing. How could someone just say exactly how I feel in a way so poetic and just stunning to the very core? Youth And Lust is just the definition of wanting to drive at night, taking in the city lights and letting your mind just go with the song. But you know, focus on the road!
Wes’ words just do something to my soul- much like Morrissey and Bob Dylan. Wes is so underrated, he’s just so bloody magnificent. I know I’m possibly borderline obsessed with all he does, but regardless of where you start with the bands he has been in. Whether you start from Cold Cave and go backwards- or with American Nightmare onwards; you just become so taken in with what he writes and his voice.
The title track, Love Comes Close, personally is a favourite. I love every single thing about this track. The lyrics in particular are so accurate. “Love comes close, but chooses to spare me.” It’s just so true, without getting to personal and whatnot; I can relate to this song more than most on the record. It’s just brutally honest and dark disguised over this wonderful synth/electro vibe.
Wes Eisold is one of my inspirations/idols. Not because he makes this wonderful music that owns my heart and soul, but because there is no denying how much of a genius he is. If you read or watch any interviews he has done, you can see just how intelligent and particular he is about the music he creates. Every project he has taken on is different from previous. He’s not a one-trick pony at all. His words have got me through a lot- good and bad. So Wes, I know you won’t ever see this- but you changed my life. Thank you.
Oh and American Nightmare are doing some reunion shows- I hope they bring it to the UK.
Beat In My Bones. 