Category Archives: Uncategorized

Freedom in the form of a Mixtape.

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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.

Wes Eisold.

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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.

John Cooper Clarke.

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Ever since I can remember I have been surrounded by poetry. From my mum reading poems to me when I was younger to get me to sleep to being obsessed with it all through school, college and university. My love for words has always been at a level that most would call borderline obsessive. I love poetry that makes you take in every single detail, much like how I am with music. I love poetry that has feeling, romance, humour, charm, a hint of darkness- I just love poetry. There’s one poet in particular that I will always have as my favourite and will always be one of my biggest inspirations.

John Cooper Clarke, the Bard of Salford. The Punk Poet. One of the best things to have come out of the North of England. One of the best poets ever. His way with words stuck with me the very first time I encountered his work. Thing is, I can’t actually remember when it was. I know I was in secondary school, I just don’t know when exactly. Probably when I was 15, we’ll go with that. His words became a beacon of hope during my time in secondary school. If Hell was on Earth, it would’ve been there. Truly awful. John Cooper Clarke’s words will make you crack up whether you are hearing him read them or you read them yourself. His accent is such a powerful force, more on that in a sec.

I couldn’t pick a favourite, or maybe I could. If push came to shove or something, I’d probably pick Twat. It’s poem that you can easily associate with people you know. You know you can. I’m not ashamed that I can associate it with certain people. Then again, I dislike that because it’s such a bloody good poem- they really don’t deserve it. From a comical perspective, well, if it doesn’t make you laugh- what is with you? It’s sheer genius. The way he describes the person to be as useful as a used Smartie or as fun as someone dying at a birthday party is just bloody brilliant. The way he reads this, you can tell he’s thinking of someone. But who? There’s so many twats in the world, it’d be hard to pick out who it could be about. Some people are more twattish than others. This is the perfect poem to recite to someone who just fucks you off to high Heaven. I know most of this poem, I am ready!

His accent, his voice- so distinctive and clear. His wonderful Mancunian accent is partly what makes his poetry so moving. When a poet reads their work, you can feel and sense so much from their voice. The sincerity just comes through so clearly, and you connect to it in a way that makes you feel you are part of what they are saying. I’m just going to throw this out there, if ANYONE deserves to be the Poet Laureate. He is a National Treasure. He is a bloody genius; if you can’t see that then you are missing the voice. I absolutely adore his accent. I love Northern accents- I suppose I have to with having a family that are from Yorkshire (the other half is Italy.) I could easily just listen to his voice all day. I love hearing him sometimes on air with Radcliff and Maconie on 6Music- it’s like listening to the naughty kids at school. I’ve always said that I would love to sit in a pub with Mark E Smith (The Fall) and John Cooper Clarke. Not even to join in with the conversation, but to just hear what they were saying. I’m certain some pearls of wisdom would be shared. The charm and wit in the conversation would just be wonderful.

I chose Twat as one of my favourites, but there is another poem by John Cooper Clarke that I hold quite dear to me. This poem is on the opposite scale of Twat. I Wanna Be Yours is glorious and charming declaration of wanting to be someones and just liking them. I reckon I’m daft enough to recite this to someone whilst a bit drunk. If I do this to you, you should feel honoured- but I’d assume you’d pat me on the head and tell me to go away. I love the feeling of pure devotion that comes through in this poem. It really does make you think of someone, and all the things you want to say to them. Also, the things you would probably do in order for them to see that you’re fond of them. It’s just such a kind, sincere and gentle poem.

“I wanna be your raincoat,
for those frequent rainy days.
 I wanna be your dreamboat,
when you want to sail away.
Let me be your teddy bear,
take me with you anywhere.
I don’t care.
I wanna be yours.”

His words spoke to (and still do) to people who just want something non-pretentious and overbearing to relate to. I mean, it’s all well and good having poetry that paints the world in several shades of red, blues and greens- but sometimes you want something simple with an amazing level of humour that makes you see the world the way you already see it. It’s just good to have someone like John Cooper Clarke say it for you. The way he does it is utterly mind-blowing. He is such a creative force that has evidently inspired so many. If you read any of Alex Turner’s (Arctic Monkeys) lyrics, you will see such an influence of John Cooper Clarke in there. That Northern demeanor is so charismatic and warming, it just makes you want to sit in some run-down pub in a grey town surrounded by old Northerners talking about their lives. Laughing to yourself about the phrases they come out with and how they word it.

John Cooper Clarke deserves a hell of a lot more respect and recognition. His work needs to be studied by anyone and everyone. His sharp tongue and his immense wit just draws you in. Once you’ve experienced this, you become a fan for life. That’s how it was for me when I was 15, it’s been nearly 10 years and my love for him and his work is still just as big and important as ever.


Age Of Consent.

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I don’t want to know everything about a band I love. For me, I just care about their music and what influences them. Not by other musicians but if they are influenced by their surroundings and background. That’s more interesting than reading a shitty magazine and seeing them fall out a taxi. But, everyone is different aren’t they.

I don’t know if anything I write about Age Of Consent will make any sense, I’ve just woke up from a 4 hour nap. Some call it a nap, some call it a full on sleep. I’ll go with nap.

Age Of Consent are going to probably make you very happy inside and out. They’re like Big Pink mixed with The Knife. I feel secure withy saying this because I am literally obsessed with The Knife and The Big Pink. The vocals on Columns sound like it cold easily be a track by The Big Pink. The music reminds me of Heartbeats by The Knife, that song has a special place in my heart and is reserved for a few things. Columns is this wonderful piece of electro that stuns you. 3 minutes just isn’t enough. Either push repeat a few times, or listen to their other track- The Beach. Or just alternate. Hell..just do all of it.

The Beach is brilliant. It’s this wonderful moern take on 80s electro pop. A lot are still stuck on bringing back the 80s, but are making such a mess of it. I’ve got my favourites of those who are doing it in a good way, and are making it enjoyable. Age Of Consent are a band that I can add to that very small list. The Beach is amazing. The drums are amazing. If they don’t make you want to flail your body around and just get lost in the music, then something could be wrong with you. Seek medical help; keep listening to Age Of Consent. It’ll sort you out in no time.

Scroobius Pip-Broken Promise.

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You don’t have to have known me years (I pity you if you do, I’m sorry) to know that lyrics are vital to me. For me, they’re just the most powerful part of a song. I don’t care much for key changes. I adore a drum that sounds so big it shatters my skull or a guitar riff that makes every part of me just tremble in a state of awe. It’s always going to be lyrics that blow my mind and leave me feeling something I struggle to put into words.

This is probably going to get personal, but I’m going to try my best to not go into too much detail. I don’t need you to know and you don’t need to know do you? No. Of course you don’t.

On Monday night, I saw Scroobius Pip. I was already aware that he’s a fantastic lyricist, but he did a song and…wow. This song just felt like someone had got inside of my mind and written everything I have been thinking and feeling since the start of the year. I’m not a great person. I mess up royally at times, no issues with admitting I’m wrong because I rarely know when I’m right. When he was stood right in front of me doing this song, something took over every single part of me. Something that I guess you can only get from a live show. Everyone has moments in their lives when something just clicks- one of my moments happened then.

This song made me realise that, as a person, you just cannot live your life in order to make others happy. You cannot please everyone. Fuck it. You’ve GOT to do things for you. You’ve got to keep good people around you, that make you feel of worth. You’ve got to be true to yourself in order to escape other peoples lies. I listen to this song, and it just makes me glad that I haven’t given up on what I want. This song gave me hope. This song made me realise that I’m not as bad as most make me out to be. This song has fast become one of the most important things I’ve EVER heard.

I find the honesty in Pip’s lyrics to be so inspirational, and sadly underrated. His way with words just makes me wish I had the guts and talent to do something with all the songs I’ve written. However, I don’t want to be painfully open with strangers. I’m content with my mum and two close friends knowing me inside out. I read the lyrics to Broken Promise, and I feel like writing them on walls or shouting it from a rooftop. It just pours out all the frustration I contain towards myself and others. It’s such a brutally accurate song that anyone can relate to.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t who you thought I was,
Fuck it– I’m sorry I wasn’t who I thought I was.
I said no matter what, I’d always be there, but that wasn’t honest,
Because I’m not.”

If you’ve never felt this way, you must be a robot. Heck..I reckon robots must feel something like this at some point. You must have been made to fee like shit by people you know all the time for not being the way the way you want them to be. Thing is, why should you be how they want you to be? If you do that, you’re living a lie. You’re not being true to yourself. I was ALWAYS raised with the strong belief that I should always be true to myself. My mum always put that moral to me, just always. It doesn’t matter what kind of person you turn out to be- just be you, and be honest. You can’t always be there for people. You can only hold another person together for so long before you fall apart yourself. It’s hard, but when you have a song like this- you start to feel less and less bad for not meeting expectations. I expect nothing from anyone, it means I don’t have to face that dreaded disappointment another person can give you, and it’s hard to shake off.

“I wasn’t cursed with a dark side, I was just normal,
Average, regular, nothing special, I’m telling you.
Just being human makes you both God and the Devil’s clear replica.”

I’m not ashamed to admit to how much I can relate to this certain part of the song. People are quick to make you feel bad for the feelings to carry around with you. I’ve learnt that it’s okay to feel bad, it’s okay to be happy. There was a time this year where I hated myself so much. I hated everything about me and the person I was. But you’ve GOT to keep yourself close to things and people that give you worth. People are always quick to take and take from you. You need that equal balance. I also learnt a while back that, if you keep yourself surrounded by people who are always projecting how bad they feel onto you, and their insecurities- you start to feel low about yourself. We all have good days and we all have bad days. I can relate to this part so much. I’m nothing special at all. Far from it, I’m just another person on this planet who’s contributed nothing to the Universe.

“I’ve had my emotions crushed and maybe crushed a few along the way,
And at the time, I meant every single word I would say.
Every word of love, and every word of hate,
Every time I would adore, and every time I’d berate.
But time passes, and sometimes those emotions fade,
Making liars of both the threats and the promises made.”

We’ve all been hurt and we’ve all hurt people. I used to think that I could never hurt anyone. I know exactly who I’ve hurt and what I did to hurt them. Some I feel bad for, some I don’t. The ones I don’t-well, I’ve got my reasons. Not because of hate, I don’t hate anyone. I can’t physically hate someone. I know what it’s like to care for someone, but as time passes you stop caring. You stop feeling things you thought you felt. When you accept you don’t feel anything towards them, you’ve got to go. You’ve got to leave it behind. There is always strength in letting go and moving on. You have to find it in order to carry on. Time drags or you can let yourself go freely with it and do something.

“You’ve lost both that loving and that loathing feeling.
Turns out, hell does have a bottom.
And heaven, a ceiling.
Both love and hate become opaque in time’s wake.
A face that once summons rage now summons nothing.
Whether it’s emotions tethered, nerve endings severed,
Or just the outlook you acquire when you’re a little more weathered.”

The last verse is so powerful. So bloody powerful. It makes you feel so crippled and riddled with so much emotion that you don’t know what to do. There comes a point where you hit your lowest point, and you know that you are right there. You know that you cannot get any lower. You also know that there is a limit to your highs. There is a limit to all feelings. You can only feel so shit for so long. You can only be happy for so long. Feelings last, but they are not always consistent. You look at someone who used to make you angry, now you realise they’re not worthy of even your negative vibes. Even if you’ve sorted it all out or forgotten about them- they’re just not worth the hassle any more. Bad feelings aren’t worth it. You struggle to gain the good feelings in life, but that’s why it is important you treasure them and hold onto them.

“But is a lie really a lie if you mean it at the time?
How can a lie be a lie if you mean it?”

So true. So very,very true. We say things sometimes that we believe- but later on; we realise we don’t feel it anymore.

I’ll leave it there. I’m sorry for how long it is (doubt anyone read this silly thing anyway) but I’m not sorry for what I’ve said.

Be kind to others, and to yourself.

The Cure-4:13 Dream.

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I thought I’d finished my silly idea of writing about every studio album by The Cure. Turns out, as usual, I was wrong. This is the last one. I’ll try not to ramble, I can’t promise though. I don’t make promises. Nobody should. They’re like certain rules aren’t they- just made to be broken.

Everything I love about The Cure is pretty much summed up in the opening track to the album. Before I carry on, I do hope you have this record and you’re not one of these people who claim to be a HUGE FAN OF THE CURE! Yet you only have their Greatest Hits. Come on now. That’s like saying you love strawberries but the closest you’ve had to a strawberry is a nasty strawberry sweet from a pick ‘n’ mix.

The album opens with Underneath The Stars. Obviously this is a song that you have to just lay underneath the stars and listen to. However as it’s bloody freezing out- just stay indoors with the lights off and listen to it. Create your own surroundings to listen to this, but make sure you take every single detail in. This song is so wonderfully haunting and so so painfully delicate. You quiver and tremble with every note, every symbal crash and every word that just trickles so flawlessly out of Robert Smith’s red lipstick stained mouth. You cling onto this as if your life depends on it. Fuck it, you cling onto every single word Robert Smith sings because it is your life. I listen to this album, this song in particular and all those years I’ve clinged onto The Cure are combined into this song. It just makes me realise that I can’t hold a band as dear to me as I do with The Cure. I suppose how I love The Cure is probably how a person loves another. I never claimed to be normal but hey- who is.

I’m not someone who spends their days thinking, “Oh why can’t someone love me. Why does no one want me.” I suppose there are people in the world that think that. I must say that The Cure are the only band that make me want to be in love. They make love feel like something that you cannot touch, something you cannot explain. There’s a song on this album that just defines what love is- what it’s like to want someone and to just be next to them. You don’t have to do anything, just sit with them and watch Countdown and drink a lot of tea. That’s ideal right? Damn right. The Cure are the band that are the reason behind a lot of things, for a lot of things. Their song, The Only One just, for me- defines love, lust- all that stuff. The Only One just defines every postive feeling about being with someone. It makes you want that. Even if you’re like me, and you never really think about it. It makes you think about it. It makes you dizzy and warm inside. Ity just fills you with such loving and gentle feelings. Is it The Cure at their best? No doubt.

4:13 Dream has been hailed as a masterpiece to being bland. Each to their own and all that, but seriousl; this is The Cure at their best. It was released nearly 4 years ago (a new album needs to happen) but it just sounds so instantly timeless. When I hit 40, this will be one of the albums by the band that I mention with fond memories and good words. I never thought I could love a record by The Cure as much as Seventeen Seconds and Faith, but I just love this record so much. Everything about it sums up why I have loved them since I was 8 years old. That’s a long time, obviously it isn’t as long as most- but I’ve grown up with this band. Their words got me through the horrendous teenage years and through the trying times of being an adult.

I’ve loved going through all their records and listening to them older but probably not wiser. I love how I still feel the same as I did when I was 8 years old. I had heard their music before then due to constantly being glued to MTV you know, when it still showed videos and YO! MTV Raps. I remember seeing the video to Close To Me and being in awe. Then when I turned 8 years old, my stepdad gave me a copy of Wild Mood Swings to listen to. It changed everything. When I listen to The Cure now, I go back to how felt the first time round. 4:13 Dream gives me the same feeling as all their records. That sense of wanting to feel something more than I do. That desire to just find something worthy of…well, I don’t know what. Maybe I’ll never get there, maybe I’ll find out. I have no idea. Robert Smith’s words have saved lives, fixed problems, eased the feeling of self-loathing, desperation and angst for so many; myself included. I’m not ashamed to say that The Cure saved a part of me that I didn’t think was worth saving, but something clicked. It’s all a blur now- but I know what songs played a part in it all.

4:13 Dream just shows that The Cure still have it. But let’s be real here, they never lost it.

Doll And The Kicks.

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I’m not happy, not happy at all. Heart-broken is an understatement. For the past 2 and a half years I have frequently mentioned Doll And The Kicks on my site. I’ve been a massive fan for so long, I just loved everything about them. They had this amazing raw vibe to their music that was lacking in so many artists. The band had been together around 7 years and were never signed. It was announced a few days ago that they had split up. I am now going to unapologetically rant about this.

What occurs every weekend on television for a few weeks this time of year? X-Factor. A show where people all over the country watch this utter bullshit. People are placed on a stage to prance around and sing OTHER PEOPLE’S SONGS and told if they are good or bad. They don’t work themselves stupid or play show after show for 7 years in order to just get signed. They just go on a television show where a bunch of fuckwits tell them if they are good or not. Don’t get me started on the twits of social networking sites who bang on about this over the weekend. Oh it’s unfair that so and so got kicked out? FUCK OFF. Unfair is working hard at something for 7 years, touring the world with one of the world’s greatest singers (Morrissey), self-funding your LPss/EPs because you don’t haver a record deal- then splitting up because you just can’t get signed. THAT IS FUCKING UNFAIR.

Doll And The Kicks blew me away when I first saw them live in May 2009. Doll/Hannah performed a song that broke my broken heart even more so but also healed it slightly. I remember hearing If You Care live then and just being reduced to tears. It was too raw to listen to, it ripped right through me. I saw them support Morrissey again in October that year. I was lucky enough to meet the band both times. I had a conversation with Hannah the first time I met them, you could easily tell that this band were everything to her and how happy they were to be on tour with Morrissey. Imagine that! They have achieved more than most, it is just a shame it had to end.

DATK were easily one of the best band’s that has come out of this country. With all my heart I wanted them to get signed and blow people away with their music. They deserve to be heard by so many. They had this sound that was like no one else around. I remember how I felt when The Long Blondes split up. I was gutted. I cried, actual tears fell from my eyes as I found out they were no more.

It’s just a shame that untalented twats are handed out record deals and last about 2 years because nobody cares about them anymore. DATK were around for 7 years and had a solid fanbase. It’s not fair, nothing in life is. It’s about time that record companies stopped seeing pound signs and making gimmicks out of wankers and paid attention to the real, raw talent is around.

Oh and DATK are the only band to have ever covered Morrissey and not fucked it up. I think that alone proves how amazing and talented they are/were.

 

B.Dolan.

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Have you ever seen something or someone, and after witnessing it you realise your life has changed? Like, you’re just in total awe of what you have just seen. As someone who is occasionally riddled with self doubt and doesn’t see why I attempt to go for certain goals I have, I use music as a means to give myself that kick up the rear that I seem to need. A lot. Recently, I’ve been wanting to just chuck in the whole Music Writer thing I’ve been working my arse off over the past 5 years- you’d think I’d have gotten somewhere by now, but alas- I haven’t. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. So giving up was starting to become an option recently. Something inside of me was just starting to fade. I don’t think it was love of music, I think it was words. Words were starting to become a pain for me. I felt (and still do) that everything I wrote just sounded awful. I can only ever write from the heart, that’s all I’ve ever known. I used to get told off by teachers in lessons because I used to ramble on and put too much into essays. I think a lot and I love writing. I get mad at the world, then I get mad at the fact that I can’t change anything. I’m annoyed at how personal this has now become and I now feel like a massive idiot. My point is, I was ready to give up. Maybe I should. You’re probably reading this and thinking, “Just fucking give up. You’re shit.” That’s okay, that’s cool. Anyway, I witnessed something last night that just changed EVERYTHING.

I’m a huge Rap fan. I mean the good stuff that has meaning and heart such as Mos Def, Rakim, Talib Kweli, Jurassic 5 etc. Last night I saw a man on stage that just made me think “Fuck….I can’t give this up.” I love words too much to stop. If I don’t write, I get arsey and annoyed. If I’m not writing about something-I feel like I’m not being useful. It’s better to be useful than be used. I believe that, most should.

I was lucky enough to shake B.Dolan’s hand after the gig. There’s no doubt in my mind that last night I met two of the music industry’s most powerful artists- Scroobius Pip and B.Dolan. I got B.Dolan’s autograph, but it fell out of my pocket.If anyone finds it, keep it- it will be worth a lot one day. Soon. He also gave me someones packet of fags. I don’t smoke so I’ll give them to my best friend. See, always thinking about others. I wish I could’ve told B.Dolan what he did, he’s changed everything for me. His music just opened me up to what I have to do and what I need to do to get there. He won’t see this, but if he does- I just want him to know that it was more than an honour to shake your hand and meet you last night. You are truly one of the most inspirational artists around. For someone like you to play somewhere like Stoke, it was just unbelivable. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart- just thank you.

Ceremonials-track by track.

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I have no idea why I’m doing this. I think it’s because I’m bored and a bit ill. So, I’ll write it then probably delete it straight away because I’ll have written something more shite than usual. I probably shouldn’t be allowed access to anything I can write on because shit just pours out. on’t worry, I’ll quit soon. I think my days of wanting to be a Music Writer are slowly disppearing. Maybe. I don’t know.

It’s obvious Ceremonials is the best album of this year. Disagree and you probably wath X-Factor or some shit. It’s usually the case isn’t it. They have no talent. Florence does. A hell of a lot. Ceremonials is creepy and ghoulish (if that isn’t a word, I’ve now decided it is.) It’s darker than Lungs, a lot darker. Is it better? I cannot answer that. If I tried to, I’d probably have some kind of break-down and cry down the phone to my mum. She’d tell me to go for a walk. However I’m in no fit state to go for a walk because I am ill. It’s the flu or something, I’ll go out tomorrow and infect people with germs. Potter around a supermarket and cough over some soup tins. Stay classy.

Only If For A Night: FUCK ME WHAT AN AMAZING OPENER TO AN ALBUM. I think I cried when I heard it for the first time. It’s just this outrageously brilliant song that, when you read the lyrics you see just how awfully sad it is. If I’m not mistake (which I probably could be) it seems to be about her dead Grandma. When you look at the lyrics, you really do see just how much of a poet Florence really is. It’s all well and good when a singer can make you leap up in the air with joy from a song, but for them to paint images in your mind the way Florence does- it’s a massive talent to have. The imagery she creates on this song (and on the record in general) is much more grander and mysterious than on Lungs. It’s just a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to a loved one, and shows the comfort you can have in death knowing that the person is okay on the other side.

Shake It Out: I’m still unsure about how I feel about this song. I feel I should love it, but I don’t know. I mean, I love every track but I guess if I had to pick one I wasn’t a huge fan of- I’d pick this one. However, I love the lyrics. Maybe it feels to anthemic to me. I don’t hate it or anything, but you know what I mean, right? No? Oh….okay then. I love that she does write bloody good songs when hung-over. I’ve only been hung-over once and I just wanted to sit in a dark room and cry. I adore the line, “And I am done with my graceless heart.” YES! Just fucking YES to that bloody wonderful line. It’s so bollocking (real word, shush) true. It’s unreal.

What The Water Gave Me: I love how the guitar sounds creeky throughout the voices and the HARP!!! Always the harp. I want to be able to play the harp, and do it by candle-light. Just because really. I have no reasons why. Anyway. This song is so motherfriggin’ euphoric. It makes you want to slap someone around out of utter joy. It just makes you want to stand in a lot of water..maybe a bath? A bath would be the safest option, I can’t swim so a bath would be my best bet. It makes you want to frolick about in some water and sing this song so loudly you turn blue and fall over. Or, you could be sensible and play it loudly in your home with no water around and just scream a lot. You can turn blue if you want to, that’s your decision. Spin yourself around a few times and sing “SO LAY ME DOWWWWWWWWN!” It’s just a bloody good song that makes your soul feel like all the bad vibes have gone away. Although, it’s about drowning isn’t it? I can’t swim and this song should give me the fear. Instead, it just makes me so happy. It does something to my head and heart. Like, I want to grab someone and shake them and sing this right in their face. I think this is why I don’t have many friends….

Never Let Me Go: For some reason, the chorus to this just makes me cry. A lot. It could be because I am ill and I want a hug. But this is so beautiful. Her voice is so powerful on this one, as usual. I adore this so much. “I’m not giving up, I’m just giving in.” Hello story of my life! This is quite an emotionallystrong song. You know, a lot of people assume giving up and/or giving in is a sign of weakness. I personally don’t think it is. It takes a hell of a lot of strength to give yourself over to something or even someone. If anything, it’s a quality that should be admired and not frowned upon. I think I’ll reserve a bit of emotional attachment for this song.

Breaking Down: I love how Florence sings on this one. It’s like a gentle whisper in your ear, like providing comfort to you if you feel like you are breaking down. I love how this song can really make you feel so creeped out, that you can sense some demon approaching you- causing you to feel like you are about to lose your shit. It makes you feel like you are in a whirlwind of torment with Florence. You can sense yourself just falling deeper and deeper. It’s such a beautiful song, and because it’s so beautiful; it will touch you in so many ways. You feel like she has made this song for YOU, so you feel less alone when you’re about to fall apart. If this was on Lungs I probably would’ve had a mild seizure!

Lover To Lover: Anytime I have spoken about this song, I have said how it has such a Motown feel to it. Mainly reference to I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. There is something so wonderfully soulful about this record. It just oozes despair and fury- but there is so much romanticism in the pain of all of this. If you can make feeling like this feel quite romantic, then well, that’s what you want. It takes the fear out of being alone or being a nervous wreck. I love how big her voice sounds. I love the quiet followed by the massive notes she holds. It feels like a massive euphoric moment- similar to the one in What The Water Gave Me. This is the song that you can lose all sensibilty in, you just have. Totally emerse yourself in this record. You don’t need to be saved, just lose yourself. It’s the only way.

No Light, No Light: Menacing, dark frightening- a stroke of utter genius. One of my many favourites on the records. The verses are absolutely incredible. If you’ve never had your heart broken, then you’re a lucky sod. If you’d like to experience that overwhelming and painful feeling- then listen to this song. This song will make you feel as if you have hurt the person that you loved with all that you possible had. You feel like you have to get to them somehow to make it all right, but then you see them- they look at you. They give you this look that just reeks of disgust; you’re dead to them. Nothing you do or say can salvage what you once had. Then you have to carry on without them. It kills you, or so you think. Everything is dark and bleak; no point in anything. It’s a horrible feeling to experience, however when you get through it- you become a cautious and careful person. You’re more aware and thoughtful with what you say and do. “Would you leave me, if I told you what I’ve done? Would you leave me, if I told you what I’ve become?” It’s hard to accept you can be loved when you feel so terrible inside, but it goes. Eventually. This song is so big, and it feels so personal- you feel like you are intruding as you listen to it. It’s such a beautiful song that will break your wee heart.

Seven Devils: THIS IS THE ONE!!!! This is my favourite off the record, seriously. It’s out of the world. I remember when I heard Blinding and it just left me feeling like, I was possessed by something. I don’t know. This is like the darker version of it. I love how it sounds like Florence is staring at you singing this through gritted teeth in the chorus to try and freak you out. This song is extremely dark, twisted and scary. It has a wonderful haunting and corrupting vibe to it. It makes you think of all the bad you have done, and devils are fast approaching you- take you away or to take you on. Who knows. It has such a big sound to it, but it doesn’t have that positive feel to it. It is so heavy. The whole album is very heay but this song is in a completely different level. It makes you feel all the good has been drained out of you, and what is now left of you are devilish qualities that you cannot control. You cannot do anything about it. The lyrics are so morbid. It feels like an Edgar Allan Poe tale;“I’ll be dead before the day is done.” So dark, and the way she sings it is so menacing and eerie. All these reasons and more are why it’s such a strong song.

Heartlines: What I adore about Heartlines is that it feels like a ritualistic chant all the way through. The drums in the intro and throughout just have this amazing tribal feel. Most of the tracks on Ceremonials feel very Church-like. Very grand, very delicate. Heartlines feels so so different. It is such a positive song, it’s like the Ceremonials version of Dog Days- that massive build up that makes you believe that you’re going to be alright. Heartlines is a lifeline. Seriously. It’s like a reassurance that everything is going to be alright. If you feel like shit, play this motherfriggin’ song. It will make you feel like you can take anything and anyone on. You feel like Florence is right next to you guiding you through all your troubles making sure you get to the place you need to be. It makes you want to throw your limbs about in a mental fashion. It makes you want to do some kind of tribal/stomping dance routine around a camp fire. It is such a big song that oozes positive vibes. I just love it so much. You just want to yell “JUST KEEP FOLLOWING THE HEARTLINES ON YOUR HAND!!!!” with Flo all the way through. Just have that line echoe in your head every time you face something challenging, and you’ll be okay.

Spectrum: There are so many things that I love about Florence. One being she can make a loving subject seem really dark and demonic. I adore the way she sings, “Say my name” on this track. It is so spooky in a way. It also feels like she is trying to possess you. Is that a bad thing? Oh hell no it isn’t. It’s like, she’s showing you that side of love and relationships that’s very rarely expressed in songs. Like, you’ll take each other over in a way that nothing has done before. Dragging up bodies? Awesome. I don’t know, maybe I’ve got it all wrong. I probably have- but it’s just my take on it. There’s a lot of possession creeping around in this track and it’s just brilliant.

All This And Heaven Too: This track, lyrically shows how amazing Flo is. She’s a poet, I will keep saying it until someone actually listens to me. SHE’S A POET. The lyrics to this song are beautiful. It’s just a gorgeous song that makes you feel less alone with not understanding things around you. Life, as a rule, can be quite a confusing thing and daunting at times. I guess that is why so many of us use music to get through- or why so many of use various forms of art to help others understand. The most interesting people are those who are creative with their minds- film makers, musicians, writers. Creative people make the world a better place. We all play a part. All This And Heaven Too is just a magnificent song. My favourite part is this:“Words, poor language. Doesn’t deserve such treatment. And all my stumbling phases never amounted, to anything worth this feeling.” Sometimes words aren’t enough, sometimes they cannot explain anything at all.

Leave My Body: THIS ONE!!! Holy hell. This is THE ONE. I’ve said that already but shush. I like to declare my love a lot, but only if I mean it. Leave My Body gives me the same feeling as Seven Devils. It has that exquisite deviant vibe surrounding it. It’s so harsh and cruel- I love how she makes going mental within to be extremely romantic. It’s such a gripping song. You don’t want it to let you go, you can’t let it happen. As it drags you down, whatever it is- you’ll have this song ringing in your ears. The drums- OH MY LORD! The drums are amazing. It’s amazing how such a dark song can have such a magical and almost religious feel to it. By religious, I mean it has that wonderful Gospel feel to it. You could imagine it being sung in a Church, if it was religious of course. It’s just such a stunning song. If this doesn’t make you lose your mind, then you’ve gone about listening to this record the wrong way. It again, feels like a outer body experience. When you listen to it- you really do feel like you are leaving your body. But where are you going? Are you still there? Don’t let it end. “And I don’t want your heart it leaves me cold.” Why take another’s heart when it will more than likely harm you? This is the perfect end to the album, but it leaves you wanting more. Is album number 3 ready? 😉

So there you have it. Me stupidly pouring out well over 2000 words about this year’s best album and one of the most highly anticipated releases. If you don’t buy it, you are well and truly missing out on a record that will probably change a lot of things for you. If you want your soul to be saved ,i you want to just feel something, if you want to be in some kind of euphoric state and constantly feeling like you are in a trance because you have been possessed in a pleasurable way by a piece of music; then trust me, you need Ceremonials. Thing is, you probably know this and me writing this article is probably the daftest thing I’ve done.

Dum Dum Girls-Coming Down.

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Only In Dreams is an amazing album, and with every album you find one song that you always have on repeat. You love the album a hell of a lot, but there is always one song that you favour a bit more than most. This one song is one you have to ALWAYS play. If you go a day without hearing, your day just seems a bit pointless. Maybe not that extreme, but I have no idea. Whatever works I guess.

Most of their songs are about 3 minutes long and have this brilliant garage rock feel to it. However, on their new record Dum Dum Girls have a song that lasts over 6 minutes- and it still doesn’t feel long enough. Coming Down is one of the best songs I’ve heard in a long time. There’s something about it that just breaks you, but at the same time makes you feel like you’re not where you are. Basically, think of someone who just annoys you or has broken a bit of your trust. You want to leave them behind, but something stops you from doing so. Listen to this song, it’ll pretty much help you realise a lot of people are a waste of time. You’ll meet more people that will fuck you over rather than appreciate the good in you. Personal experience, but I think I’m right.

There’s a point in this, about 3 and a half minutes in where Dee Dee hits this note. It just hits you- not in the heart but right in the pit of your gut. You feel it so much. When she hits that note, it is such a euphoric moment. The build up to that part is so grand and beautiful. The sleepy guitar at the start of the song just builds and builds until this point, and when she hits that note you have some kind of epiphany. It’s almost like the fog in your mind clears and you see things differently. From that point on in the song, you just let it take you.

The lyrics are beautiful. So beautiful. What I adore about Dum Dum Girls is that they (like a lot of a bands I love) don’t use ridiculous phrases or use pretentious sounding words to make a point; to make you feel the song. The bluntness of honesty and hurt and angst at times makes it so easy to connect with. A true band/singer can make the listener connect in such simple ways rather than having to create grand imagery to gain your attention. The way Dee Dee sings, “I think I’m coming down” is so precious, you want to catch her or something. I don’t know. You just feel like you are coming down too. From what? That’s entirely up to you.

After she hits that note, there’s a verse that just…it just means a hell of a lot: “You abuse the ones who love you. You abuse the ones who won’t. If you ever had a real heart, I don’t think you’d know where to start.” It just covers me in goose bumps. You can easily pin-point this lyric to someone you know, probably someone who doesn’t actually deserve to be associated with such a beautiful song.

I could quite happily just have this song on a loop for a long long time. I’ve got the time. It’s just such a chilling and heartbreaking song. If they had songs that lasted as long as this; I think my love for them would just be out of control. Although it does shy away from that garage rock/lo-fi vibe they have in their music, it has such a 60s girl group influence- like the big drums (Wall Of Sound style.) It’s just a perfet song to shut the world off, create your own place in your mind and escape to. It’s pretty much 6 and a half minutes of bliss.