Birdy Review – 29/10/2016

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It is no surprise that I have always been an avid fan of Birdy – from the first time I heard her cover of Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love” I have always been in awe of her delicate yet powerful vocals; and it always blows my mind when I think that she is my age and has already achieved more than I probably ever will in my entire lifetime. So when I was given tickets to go and review her in Edinburgh at the Corn Exchange I absolutely leapt at the chance. We arrived just in time for the opening of her set, having unfortunately missed support act Dan Owen. What struck me initially was the demographic of the audience: both pensioners and young fans joined in unison to watch her perform, and it really is the mark of respect when people make the effort to go and watch somebody who is forty years their junior. Her set itself was stunning: decked in a beautiful jewelled mesh dress she swapped between piano and guitar, effortlessly entertaining the crowd (inside which was her brother, watching her live for the first time). Whilst the purpose of the tour was to promote her most recent album “Beautiful Lies”, she made sure to incorporate some of the older hits her fans had grown to love; and it was especially touching to watch her perform “Let It Go” with Dan Owen, who did a fantastic job of belting out Rhodes’ sections. It truly was an exceptional performance – one that she could justifiably boast about for years to come: but when I went backstage it was incredibly endearing to discover how modest she and her instrumentalists were. In fact they seemed truly humbled; and doesn’t that just say it all?

Song of the Day – Plage Isolée

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The track “Plage Isolée” is brought to us from French duo Polo and Pan – who formed after their own careers as Polocorp and Peter Pan. With such a diverse range of influences it is near impossible to comprehensively or universally describe their music as a particular category, although each song in their eclectic mix is bound by an upbeat and versatile sense of surrealism – which would be as well suited to a pop-up bar as it would to a gallery opening.

Song of the Day – Girlfriend

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When Nao began studying vocal jazz at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, I don’t imagine her ten year plan included reaching the levels of success she has done so quickly. Having spent some time familiarising herself with the art of performance by singing back-up (most notably for Kwabs), she decided to take the plunge and go solo in 2014. The leap of faith paid off; landing her MOBO and Brit nominations amongst a wealth of festival appearances. Her single “Girlfriend” excellently showcases the “wonky funk” she and her exquisite synths are known for.

Song of the Day – Rising Water

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I will always remember watching James Vincent McMorrow at a gig in Barcelona last year. English was sparse amongst the audience but he had an astonishing ability to communicate with his Spanish anyway, using his performance to move some people to tears. Whilst he is probably best known for his track “Higher Love”, it is fair to say the rest of his repertoire is secretive to all but his biggest admirers, but nevertheless they were as emotive and calming as you would expect. I first heard his latest single “Rising Water” on vinyl, and accidentally played it at 33RPM rather than the 45RPM it needed, and even though it was much lower and slower, it was still fantastic. Now is that not the definition of versatility?

guitarleaves Remix – We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off

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It’s very possible that you’ve already heard Ella Eyre’s cover of the 1980s classic, due to the endless success the young performer has been having. But when we heard the remix produced by Whipped Cream, there was a unanimous decision to feature it on the blog. Balancing a simple instrumental with strategically arranged percussion a completely new feel has been created, and what’s nice is that unlike many other remixes, the single’s integrity has been preserved. It’s recognisable yet fresh. Have a listen below:

Album Review – A Dream Outside

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Having supported the likes of Circa Waves and alt-J it would appear that Gengahr have already been recognised for their unique and hauntingly smooth style. Available on June 15th 2015, their debut album “A Dream Outside” captures perfectly the essence of the band – with each of the eleven records advertising the range of musical talent they can portray whilst maintaining a delicate fluidity throughout. No note is out of place on the LP, a feat only possible due to the fact that the band has discovered their musical identity, something becoming increasingly unheard of with a few emerging artists. It’s so refreshing to listen to an album that takes you on a mildly psychedelic journey, and for me that’s where the true gem of Gengahr’s music is situated. From the well-recognised “She’s A Witch” to the newer “Trampoline”, every aspect has been carefully considered. When I saw them as a support band, having no knowledge of their music beforehand, I was made to feel like a lifetime fan and found myself singing along. The band seems familiar, and I’m sure in a few months they will be even more so due to a developed popularity.

Circa Waves Review – 10/04/2015

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When I was asked to go and see Circa Waves at the Leadmill in Sheffield, I wasn’t jumping in joy. Of course I knew the likes of “T-Shirt Weather” and “Young Chasers” (you know, I had actually stepped outside in the last year), but past that point the connoisseur in me lacked. But, a gig was a gig, and regardless I naturally agreed. Now it’s one of the nicest feelings when the reality of something exceeds your expectations, and that’s exactly what happened. With faultless support from Gengahr and another band whose name I seem to have forgotten along with the entire of Google doing the same… the night seemed to explode when the main band took to the stage. A full house started frantically head banging and screaming, and the energy seemed to be contagious. Within seconds I had been ripped apart from the group I arrived with, and made friends with a load of strangers in the darkest depths of a mosh pit. With excellent lighting and professional musicians the night seemed to disappear in a matter of seconds. It didn’t matter that I didn’t know the words – it turns out I did recognise many of the tunes, and even if I had sung, it would have been drowned out by the shaking of the drums. I left having lost at least three stone in sweat and with a few videos that are shaking too much to watch, but it was a truly unforgettable night and I would urge anyone to go and see them on their upcoming UK tour.

Song of the Day – Future Visions

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With over 2 million views it wouldn’t be surprising if you’ve already heard of Leeds-based producer Favela from his record “Gong”, despite his anonymity whilst completing his dissertation. But today we heard some exciting news – June 29th will bring his debut EP. Entitled “Future Visions” and spanning just three songs it seems to have a robotic etherealness to it. If the lead single is anything to go by you can expect disjointed melodies and abstract synths that combine to form a tone rich in futuristic emotion – and if that’s not clever we don’t know what is.

Song of the Day – Give It Up

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p6sybxzfur4te9hya6trWhilst Jimmy Napes has only just begun to emerge from the producing side of the music to the performing side, there is no chance you could be immune to his work. Having worked with everyone ranging from Alicia Keys to Clean Bandit, forging the bond between Disclosure and Sam Smith, and co-writing “Stay With Me”, there is no doubt that he knows his stuff. Today we bring you “Give It Up” taken from his debut EP as a recording artist. Available in March of this year we predict bluesy electronic tones and syncopated beats – and if his multiple Grammys are anything to go by we don’t think you’d regret buying it.

Song of the Day – These Are The Days

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From the voice that brought you “Unmissable” by Gorgon City today we hear from the young but oh-so-talented Zak Abel. Sporting a wonderfully bluesy beat and style of performance, Zak manages to project a sense of nostalgia  into his work. Save for the breath of modern influence weaving through, his rich voice and vintage instrumental could easily lead you to believe that a hidden vinyl has recently been discovered. In terms of new music, it seems that Zak prefers a life away from the spotlight and so apart from a few collaborations, it’s wuncertain what will happen – we think maybe more work combining forces with the equally-talented Joker, who has had a strong contribution to Zak’s latest EP. You can catch him across the country at various festivals this Summer.