TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 28/04/13 - Spectrals, Efterklang, OMD, Winterhours, Alice In Chains

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 28/04/13 - Spectrals, Efterklang, OMD, Winterhours, Alice In Chains

Alice In Chains Efterklang OMD Spectrals Tracks of the Week Winterhours

Five tracks that filled our windsocks this week!

Old Pa's Corner:-
OMD - 'Stay with Me' (2013)

 

Well if you even wanted a Souvenir of OMD, then this track from their new album English Electric (2013) fits this bill. The synths are there, the melody is there, but it is a quaver or two short of hitting the high spots of their very best album, 1981s  Architecture and Morality. I don't care, I just love it and will be humming this and will be listening to the full album. I can quite happily live in the past. For a little while anyway. 

Sfw:-

Efterklang - 'The Ghost' (2013)

This is a recent release by Efterklang which features on their 2012 album Piramida. This fantastic Danish trio evokes musical memories of folktronica and in particular, Steve Mason and when I first heard it, I instantly liked it.

Flycasual:-

Spectrals - 'Luck Is There To Be Pushed' (2011)

I was victim of a musical ambush this week, it was at Pret a Manger of all places (actually it hasn't been the first time they have ambushed me). So there I was, having a coffee break at work, when this magnificent song comes on over the speakers and completely decimates my 'tune platoon' (the boys in charge of the music dept in my brain of course). I had to find out who/what was responsible for this 'sonic assault' and used my Soundhound app on my phone. I have never heard Spectrals, or the song and I can't believe this gem passed me by. It's dreamy, lovely goodness by West Yorkshire singer/songwriter, Louie Jones, taken from his 2011 debut, Bad Penny. He has subsequently released a new single, 'Milky Way', which you can hear here.....and will be investigating further fo sho'!

Shell Hunter:-

Winterhours - 'Heart Of Gold' (2013)

I was glad to be told that perennial faves of mine, Winterhours (check out previous posts here), have a new single due out tomorrow. But this is no ordinary single! Do you miss those days when we used to buy singles and they used to feature individual artwork on the cover and you had something physical you could look at and hold?  Well their new single 'Heart Of Gold' released on the Saint November label, is the modern answer to the physical single and I love the idea. The picture above was created by Jess Holt inspired by the music and lyrics of Heart Of Gold and I think they got it bang on. When you order the A3 print, you get an immediate digital download of the single, genius! To me, the track is like a musical hug with fabulous harmonies and hints of Fleet Foxes. Order yours now here!

London Scouser:-

Alice In Chains - 'Stone' (2013)

 

In exactly one month from now I will be excitedly waking up and after making my morning black coffee I will be rocking out to the new album from my favourite band of the grunge era. 'The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here' is the second album released since their reemergence and I can't bloody wait !! I also think that Flycasual's son may well enjoy it as I know he's a fan of good rock and also dinosaurs.

As with their previous release 'Hollow' this track takes me back to the early 90's when they were in their prime. When they next release a greatest hits, I'm gonna demand they call it 'Awesome' cos anything else wouldn't do it justice.

Checkout previous Tracks of the week here

Listen & Subscribe to our 2013 Tracks of the Week Spotify Playlist

sfw Pada 07:45 6 Komentar

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 16-12-12 - Big Boi and Little Dragon, Tom Odell,Paul Banks, Winterhours

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 16-12-12 - Big Boi and Little Dragon, Tom Odell,Paul Banks, Winterhours

Big Boi Little Dragon Paul Banks Tom Odell Tracks of the Week Winterhours

Four tracks that were like 'Taste the Difference' brandy butter deep filled mince pies....I want another!

Flycasual:-

Big Boi - 'Mama Told Me' feat Little Dragon (live on Jimmy Fallon) (2012)

This is a great a track, smothered in 80's style funk all thanks to Big Boi's Southern Charm and Little Dragon's quirk. Sweden's Little Dragon are probably one of my favourite bands from the last few years. I don't really know what it is that would make me gladly share a sauna with them, maybe their style or lead singer Yukimi Nagano's voice, either way they push my buttons. So I was suitably excited when I read that they have contributed several tracks to Big Boi's 2nd solo album (3 if you include Speakerboxxxx, released as Outkast along side Andre 3000), 'Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumours', of which 'Mama Told Me' is the first single. However, I was disappointed when I found out that Little Dragon had been dropped from the album cut of this song, only to be replaced by Kelly Rowland. Apparently due to record company 'suits' disagreeing business terms, a real shame as this song is perfectly suited to their style. The original, as seen above is taken from the Jimmy Fallon show on Dec 9th, so they are still friends....you can't stop the music.

SFW:-
Tom Odell - 'Can't Pretend' (2012)

Tom Odell is one to watch in 2013.  He's been included on the BBC Sound of 2013 long list.  Its not quite the Mercury Prize, but previous winners will often become household names - Winners include Adele, Jessie J, Ellie Goulding and Michael Kiwanuka. The male singer-songwriter genre is very crowded house at the moment, but as a fan of this a genre, I'd happily build an extension.

Old Pa's Corner:-
Paul Banks - The Base (2012)

 

Paul Banks the voice from Interpol has a solo album out called simply Banks. This track reminds me in bits of Genesis but I can't remember the song. Nevertheless this is a nice taster from that the album. Paul has such a distintive voice. Time to get these Interpol albums out I think. 'Hey Rosemary'

Shell Hunter:-
Winterhours - 'Ocean Heart' (2013)

It's great to know that there is already going to be some killer tunes out in 2013. When I saw this video for the new Winterhours track 'Ocean Heart' due for release on 7th Jan next year (see their official site here www.winterhours.co.uk), it really struck a chord with me! I recently went to Brighton with my other half and we did all the traditional fun things you should do by the seaside, the open top bus tour, playing on the arcades on the pier and a few drinks followed by another few drinks. Whilst I wish it ended up with us romantically sharing a swig or two from a bottle of wine watching the sunset from the pebble beach like in the video, it was more us stumbling out of a chav infested Wetherspoons pub. Sigh, will we never learn? That asides, I love this track and get all the best elements from it similar to other faves of mine such as Dry The River and The Doves. I really hope 'Ocean Heart' launches these guys into the big time because after seeing them live at an intimate venue The Boileroom in Guildford last year, I know they've got a lot to offer. Check out our 30 Second Interview after that gig with the band here!

sfw Pada 07:11 2 Komentar

30 SECOND INTERVIEW: Winterhours

30 SECOND INTERVIEW: Winterhours

30 Second Interview Winterhours

Winterhours @ The Boileroom, Guildford April 20th 2012

Fellow Blogger, Sfw devised a set of short questions to ask, should we find ourselves in the position to chat to a band or artist, a good idea...much better than throwing a pair of pants on stage or shouting out I love you!

On Friday 20th April, Shell Hunter, London Scouser and I had the pleasure to see our band of the moment, Clock Opera, at the Boileroom in Guildford, supported by Winterhours and Mr Fogg. The intimate venue, passionate crowd and Red Stripe all adding to the atmosphere in what was a memorable night. We were pleasantly surprised by a powerful live performance from Winchester four piece, Winterhours, with song 'The Ghost' a particular highlight. I felt they had a an old school 70's rock feel to their playing style but mixed in with a myriad of modern sounds such as Bon Iver, Kings of Leon and Pearl Jam (all good in my book). A performance which prompted us to buy their CD single and firmly establish themselves on our radar....(don't you love it when this happens?)

Winterhours were also kind enough to allow me the time to 'interview' them whilst they were milling around having a post gig pint. I hastily wrote the answers on the back of their CD so please excuse any inaccuracies. Thanks guys!

1) What music are you listening to at the moment:-
My Morning Jacket - Circuital
Wild Beasts - Smother
and pretty much anything by Pearl Jam

2) What album could you not live without?
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

3) Who would you most like to work with?
Alison Kraus, Pearl Jam

4) What's your favourite place on earth and why?
Tarifa, Spain

(I hope I heard correctly. Though I forgot to ask why but do I really need to? Having been to Andalusia, I'd say sun, sea, surf, wine, food, scenery, music are all good enough reasons....)

5) Crisps or chocolate?
Crisps, all answered correctly even getting a bonus point for choosing Salt n' Vinegar

6) Small club or arena?
Obviously it would be amazing to play in an arena to all your fans and perhaps an obvious way to measure success but playing in a smaller venue is a lot more intimate, something which is lost in a larger venue.

7) CD or download?
CD, to have and to hold and to even smell. Music is far more tangible in this way and the artwork is also appreciated which would be otherwise non existent as a download.

8) If you had to cover a song, what would you choose?
Killing Moon - Echo and the Bunnymen. Which I believe they have already recorded, we'll look forward to hearing that.....

Thanks again Winterhours for your time!!






Winterhours' blog here and 'like' them on their Facebook page....

sfw Pada 04:11 Komentar