Yann Tiersen – Skyline

Yann Tiersen - Skyline

By Steve McGillivray

My experience of French musicians pretty much stops at Charlotte Gainsbourg, and a couple of hip-hop acts, MC Solaar and Suprême NTM. Yann Tiersen is a new artist on me, so it was without any preconceived notions I set about his latest album. In doing a little research before listening I did learn a few things about M. Tiersen. Skyline represents his seventh studio album, but this disguises a quite prolific career so far. There have also been three live albums, three soundtracks (including Amélie and Good Bye Lenin!), three collaborative works and too many contributions to list – all since 1995. Described as minimalist and avant-garde, with Joy Division and The Stooges amongst his influences, that’s more than enough to get me interested. … Continue Reading

Video: Breton ‘Edward The Confessor’

Breton

Visual experimentalists Breton have released a powerful and emotive short film for their forthcoming debut single ‘Edward The Confessor’, due for release on 21st November 2011.

The track’s lyrics are based on a field recording of a conversation taking place between two unknown men, the subject matter of which is immigration and the frustration of surviving in a foreign country. It’s a similar frustration that’s echoed in the young faces of the disaffected youths featured in photographer and film-maker Niall O’Brien’s recent ‘Anger’ exhibition – four kids on a council estate in London, shot at 1000 frames per second and capturing anger in its most undiluted form. … Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth! With Late Night Tuff Guy and Daphni, Cadillac and Trophy Wife

Late Night Tuff Guy

By Stef Siepel

The weekly froth! A weekly take on six tracks, most of which have recently popped up somewhere in the blogosphere. Bit of a mixed bag with a slight leaning towards house, disco, and remixes, but generally just anything that for some reason tickled the writer’s fancy.

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Interview: Ben Howard

Ben Howard Every Kingdom

By Charlotte Gay

The singer-songwriter Ben Howard has been surfing since he was 11, but his intricate guitar sound is more John Martyn than Jack Johnson. Aged only 24, Howard has secured himself a strong fanbase mainly by word of mouth (although BBC Radio 1, 6 Music and Radio 2 have now come on board in a big way). There is something about his guitar sound that recalls Nick Drake’s complex tunings, while every so often you expect his gently gruff tones to start warbling Martyn’s Bless the Weather. This Devonian musician caught up with our very own Charlotte Gay to exchange a few words before performing at The Old Firestation in Bournemouth.

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Urusen Single Exclusive

Urusen One Day In June

Urusen are a fresh and original five-piece, recently highlighted as ‘British breakthrough talent’ (Music Week) and ‘one to watch’ (Metro newspaper).

Their roots are firmly bedded in the longstanding musical partnership of cousins Peter Beatty and Ben Please, from Somerset. After producing a debut album as a duo, the band grew into a five-piece whilst creating their latest album ‘One Day In June’. It began with home-made roots in one of the world’s tiniest (and more curious) studios in the cousins’ childhood home town of Bath and ended in Peter Gabriel’s legendary Real World Studios.

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The Weekly Froth! With JKriv and Lou Teti, Colin Stetson and King Krule

JKriv

By Stef Siepel

The weekly froth! A weekly take on six tracks, most of which have recently popped up somewhere in the blogosphere. Bit of a mixed bag with a slight leaning towards house, disco, and remixes, but generally just anything that for some reason tickled the writer’s fancy.

Track of the week: ‘Elisco’ by JKriv & Lou Teti

JKriv, let me tell ya, I don’t know anything about him except that he makes killer music. Earlier this year he released an awesome slice of disco with Adeline called ‘Another Night’, which is an amazing track. This too, it is just flawless. Same heart aching theme with this lovely disco aesthetic on there, this swaying late at night vibe it’s got to it. “I like the way you love better”, she sings, indicating that at the moment there’s some fighting going on and the main persona is yearning for that time when they were getting it on instead of getting on each other. If you can’t see all these lovelorn creatures dancing to this around 3am then I don’t know what will bring that image in your head. There’s a great flow and a consistent feel to it, and keeping ‘Another Night’ in mind JKriv is really hitting some home runs in the yearning disco department. … Continue Reading

Introducing LiTTLE FiX

Little Fix was born out of a desire to offer just that to the world – an escape from the daily grind to an alternative reality where freedom and liberty are key. Whatever those words mean to you, whatever you need; your own little fix.

Like a young Roberta Flack, the Afro-crowned Leeds singer Rhianna Kenny has a soulful yet truculent and raw voice, one that is a rarity in today’s pop star cut out market. Having worked with Faithless, Roison Murphy and Ian Brown, her voice, like her hair, can easily flout luscious untamed moments, but is exquisite in its sheer artistry. Deliciously fibrous and organic, her voice envelops whatever is around her and would find it easy to break out of any harness. … Continue Reading

I Swim With Sharks ‘Just Be Good’

In an overcrowded scene where getting noticed is everything, Yorkshire upstarts I Swim With Sharks have delivered a powerful statement of intent with effortlessly catchy new single ‘Just be Good’. Replete with an infectious pop-nous yet retaining a developed indie sensibility which will please the most hardened muso, the fast-rising trio are sure to add many new fans to their already burgeoning fanbase with ‘Just be Good’. And you can listen to the single exclusively here!

Just Be Good from I Swim With Sharks on Vimeo.

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Sophie Barker ‘A Forest/Say Goodbye’: Listen Now!

Sophie Barker, the voice behind Zero 7, follows up her solo album Seagull released earlier this year with new double AA side single ‘A Forest’ (a rework of the classic original by The Cure) and ‘Say Goodbye’. And you can exclusively listen to them both below.

Sophie says herself: ‘I felt that the two songs revealed perspective of love from two ends of the spectrum. The sweet, sad but light ‘Say Goodbye’ voice to the deeper more edgy sharp sound of the voice in ‘A Forest’ expressing two very parts of the same woman of the same soul both dealing with their fears, hopes, illusions and trying to find some peace once out of the emotional darkness. A cathartic dualistic musical relay!’

Sophie Barker – A Forest by Cannonball_PR

Volunteer for London Jazz Festival – 11th – 20th November

Interested in jazz music? Want to learn more about how a production company works? Want some hands on experience in Production, Communications and/or Development? Want to work with the likes of Ornette Coleman, MOBO winners Kairos 4tet, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Ben l’Oncle, Nik Bartsch and Stefano Bollani to name just a very small few?  Well then, this is the job for you!

The London Jazz Festival, in association with BBC Radio 3, is seeking volunteers to work with music production company Serious on the delivery of this year’s Festival. London Jazz Festival is London’s biggest city-wide music festival and bring together established stars and emerging talent, reflecting the traditions of jazz and illustrating its breadth and depth. LJF’s programme is made up of premieres, commissions, one-off collaborations, talks, family events, workshops and a fantastic Jazz for Free series. There are 280 concerts in over 50 venues taking the Festival to venues right across London.

Continue reading to find out more…

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