TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 23/06/13 - Dizraeli and the Small Gods, KINS, Jon Hopkins, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Beck

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 23/06/13 - Dizraeli and the Small Gods, KINS, Jon Hopkins, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Beck

Beck Dinosaur Pile-Up Dizraeli and the Small Gods Jon Hopkins King Cresote KINS Tracks of the Week

Five tracks that lifted the smog for us this week...

Old Pa's Corner:-
Jon Hopkins - Immunity (2013)

 

This is pretty awe inspiring stuff. I was please to find Jon Hopkins had recorded a new album and was even more delighted to find that he has paired up with King Cresote again on this simply brilliant track. It is one of those that could be on all day and you would not get bored. Excuse for me a second while I switch it back on for the 10th time. It is a slow burner, but stick with it and wait for the King's vocals, it is pure chicken skin.

Close your eyes, this one can take you places other song cannot reach..  This may well be a contender for my tracks of the year so far.

London Scouser:-

Dinosaur Pile-Up - Derail (2013)

Named after a scene in the King Kong remake from 2005, this band hail from Leeds. Their debut album was reminiscent of the debut by The Foo Fighters in that lead singer Matthew Bigland wrote, recorded and sung all of the tracks. Smarty-pants !!!
This track which sounds like it could be a Foo Fighters cover is off of their new album Nature Nurture and if this track is anything to go by then I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I'm trying to figure out who the voice reminds me of.... So far I'm stuck on Dave Edmunds.
The video is in a bizarre coincidence, similar to my choice from last week in that it features a violent female character. Eagle-eyed viewers may even recognise her (my only clue is that she was an X-Factor contestant who didn't like to wear shoes !!)

Sfw:-
KINS - 'Post Tropical Storm' (2013)

 KINS are a four piece Anglo-Aussie band based in Brighton which recently triggered one of my simple pleasures - the joy of making me stop what I am doing and get me thinking, "Who is this!".
Musically, they sound like Keaton Henson/The Villagers/The Foals, which is like having all my  favourite ingredients in one dish, and boy is it tasty!  You can Download this (for free) from Bandcamp here or Soundcloud here

Flycsual:-
Dizraeli and the Small Gods - 'Sailor' (2013)

Dizraeli and the Small Gods are a Bristolian (where else?) collective led by poet/rapper, Rowan Sawday (Dizraeli), which have taken the colourful task of marrying traditional English Folk music with Hip Hop. At first, on listening to the album Moving in the Dark, I was a bit cautious by the prospect of a Morris dancing Hip Hop troop but persistence paid off and I am glad I was proved wrong, swayed by Dizraeli's sharp storytelling talent as well as the Small Dogs' Folk harmonies and musicianship. And the whole concept works, no more so than the Hip Hop shanty that is 'Sailor', an atmospheric tale featuring fellow UK MC, Jam Baxter and vocalist Cate Ferris who provides the voice for the haunting and memorable chorus. It's some of the most uniquely British and innovative music I've heard in awhile. This ain't no gimmick y'all, I'm down with ye olde skool.
 

Shell Hunter:-
Beck - 'Defriended' (2013)



Beck is back...hooray! I read that he has 2 albums due out this year, an acoustic one and a new one to follow on from where Modern Guilt left off. Its about bloody time too Mr. Hansen! I instantly liked this new track, its like an electro slow dance! If you listen hard enough, you can hear the same bumbling bass that was in fantastic song from Midnight Vultures, Debra. Now that Ive had a taster, I want more. I always applauded Beck for his musical prowess, being a master of instruments, sampling and spanning all genres. He basically floats my boat full stop and to top it all off, he is the sort of totty you be safe bringing home to mum. I'm a bit miffed that I wasn't aware he was touring until it was too late. He's playing the Union Chapel in Islington on July 7th but it's showing as sold out! Gutted!

Subscribe to our 2013 Tracks of the Week Spotify Playlist

sfw Pada 10:01 5 Komentar

SHELL HUNTER'S Best of 2012

SHELL HUNTER'S Best of 2012

Alt-J Ben Howard Best of 2012 Dan Croll Hot Chip John Hopkins King Cresote Shell Hunter

Come on Team GB!!!

What can I say? It's been a pretty heavy year for me. With the usual ups and downs during the year came a new more responsible job, I turned 30, learned how to scuba dive and got my first (and last) tattoo! We had the most amazing summer surrounding the Olympics that made me feel patriotic for the first time in my life and the best thing is, I have a year's worth of great music to show for it all. Impossible a feat as it was to whittle it down to my TOP FIVE, here they are! Cue gospel like singing....aw aw awwwwww!

Alt-J - Tessellate

It all started with a low rumble, who was this Alt-J I had heard of but never listened to? I thought the name was gimmicky and they probably wouldn't be that good, but bloody hell how wrong was I?! I gave Tessellate a quick whirl and was instantly hooked, the quirky lyrics, gripping piano chime and little ticks and clicks made it so unique. It was also one of my favourite albums of the year and lo and behold a Mercury Music Album of the Year Winner! You can't say fairer than that, triangles are now my favourite shape!

Ben Howard - The Wolves

Okay, this was probably a re-release but I missed the boat the first time round. Sfw had pointed Ben Howard out before but singer songwriters were not really my bag. This song though, has real significance to me. The beginning of this year was a difficult time in my household and having to prove myself in a new role at work was extremely stressful. I used to hear this on the radio at work and sing a long, instantly feeling transported to somewhere calmer and I thought that the "wolves" referred to in the lyrics were all the things and people trying to get me down. I never get sick of hearing it, oooo oooo oooo oooo oooo!

Dan Croll - From Nowhere

2012 has been a real year of discovering new music and new artists. Reading about Dan Croll's story winning £5000 in a Musicians Songwriting Award competition in Uni and his ambition to use this money to record his debut album really inspired me. Who needs the X-Factor and a free ride? Hard work and great talent goes a long way and this song has got success written all over it. It's got a fantastic feel to it with it's electro sounds and instruments in the right balance for a perfect holiday song. I'll be watching out for more from Dan thats for sure!

Hot Chip - Motion Sickness

My favourite dance geeks were back this year with, for me, a very long awaited album. Although I also love Flutes and Night and Day, Motion Sickness has to be my favourite from it. I remember being so excited about listening to the album In Our Heads and worried that I may be disappointed. As soon as I heard this, which is the first track, I was relieved and instantly smitten! It also reminds me of going to see them at Heaven in London as it was the first track they played. A sighting of 2 of the band members whilst trying to find a pub was a bonus! Any bad memories from previous gigs, truly erased!

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - John Taylor's Month Away

You'll have to excuse the arty video, but at least it adds a little interest to the music! When I first listened to it on Old Pa's choice for Tracks of the Week, I thought, yeah its okay and its got some sea gulls in there. I later listened to our TOTW playlist whilst in my car and it came on again. I was absolutely banjaxed by it. I was hypnotised by the mantra of the 2 chords and gentle voice singing of these poor young sailors who "dream of woman they cannot afford and cannot have". I was literally in tears and find it very difficult not to cry when I hear it. The waves and when it fades away then comes back in is pure genius. A real surprise contender for me but the whole world should hear it.

Subscribe to Shell Hunter's Best Of 2012 Spotify Playlist below!

sfw Pada 21:00 5 Komentar