Last month, everyone's favourite sexually ambiguous multi-instrumentalist Patrick Wolf unveiled the second single to be taken from his forthcoming album Lupercalia. The track, entitled The City, was premiered on the Steve Lamaq show and is the follow up to the superbly rousing post break-up soundtrack Time Of Your Life. The City is an equally stellar effort. I think it's the wailing sax solos that do it for me - if not them, then surely the upliftingly spirited vocals, both of which give a distinctly Springsteen-esque flavour to this otherwise bouncy pre pre-summer record. The City will released March 14th on vinyl and download.
Showing posts with label Pop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pop. Show all posts
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Patrick Wolf - The City
Monday, 24 January 2011
Ruby Frost - Interview
Having featured on the pages of this blog before, regular readers will be more than familiar with Ruby Frost, the diminutive New Zealand singer-songwriter who's destined to cook up a storm in 2011. Somewhere in her diary, she found the time for an obsessive blogger/fan (i.e. me) to interrogate her about all things Frost - here's the results:
Check The Availability: Ruby, Thanks for taking the time out of your no doubt busy schedule to answer a few questions. How are you? Where are you?
Ruby Frost: Thank you for having me! I'm doing well thank you, sitting in my New Zealand Bedroom next to 100 pieces of scrap paper and a blackboard covered in lists.
CTA: You came to my attention after playing CMJ in New York last year. By all accounts, you went down a storm. How did the gig come about?
RF: That gig was the most amazing prize! I won an MTV competition in New Zealand back in 2009, and part of the prize was a trip to New York to perform at CMJ 2010... But I had eight whole months to wait until going and the suspense almost killed me. I loved New York; the bike rides, the different cultures, the subway, the pizza, and the light-up dance floors where we could dance 'ironically'.
CTA: That wasn't your first time in the States, right? I believe there was an incident involving you, a gunman and a church during a previous trip there.
RF: I used to travel to America a lot with my parents' Gospel band from the age of 12 until about 16. And yeah, one day there was a gun scare in the mega-church we were visiting and I was stuck by myself in the foyer selling CDs while the service went on. It was terrifying, but it caused me to write a short story about the gunman's festering skin (terrible acne). That was the first time I ever did something under the Frost pseudonym.
CTA: There seems to be a lot of talent coming out of New Zealand these days. I'm thinking Ladyhawke, Brooke Fraser, Mt Eden Dubstep. Does the environment there lend itself to making great music?
RF: I think so. I think we're very isolated down here, and maybe we feel like outsiders from the 'rest of the world'. But I like that because it means you have a license to act like the misfit, and create anything you want. There's no massive industry over here that gives you set-in-stone standards.
CTA: Speaking of Mt. Eden Dubstep, how did you end up providing vocals for Oh That I Had? It's such a beautiful piece of music.
RF: They got in touch asking if they could remix one of my songs, and at the time I only had an old E.P. recorded. Oh That I Had was on the E.P., just vocals and piano. It's a very spiritual song so I was interested in how it would end up, but I really like it; it's beautiful.
CTA: How far off are we from hearing the full album? Have you decided on a name yet?
RF: The album should be coming out around July! And that's a prospect which makes me equally delighted and incredibly nervous. There's still a lot of work to be done so I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into it. I have one name idea but it's TOP SECRET. Sorry.
CTA: I understand the song writing process involved collaborating with some big name talent over in Australia. How do you find working creatively with other people?
RF: I thought I would hate it and went into my first session a little bit guarded. But I quickly realised co-writing is one of the most exciting things you can do - instead of labouring away alone, you get to do your favourite thing with the excitement of having to jet out ideas instantly and quickly. It's always a challenge but that's why I like it. I want to get away from that now though, having done a few sessions, and am going to lock myself away to write alone again. I think it's important to have both... they are different ways of using your brain.
CTA: You recently released the video to Moonlight. Fantastic stuff. having made the video, you must feel like a real popstar now, right?
RF: Haha, definitely not! It's exciting to finally have something out, but it just makes me want to work harder and write 1 million more songs and try to get it all down to a fine art. I guess it's all in the experimental stage. But I am enjoying this haphazard process!
CTA: ...and finally, I have to ask, are there any plans to play some live shows outside of New Zealand any time soon? I'm thinking specifically (...and selfishly) that you might come and play in the U.K..
RF: Yes, we are looking into some ideas, but it is still early days. I would love to spend a couple of months in the U.K. and maybe also Sweden just to meet up with interesting people and try and collaborate and come up with new things. But who knows, nothing is set yet.
Ruby Frost - Pressure (Leno Lovecraft Remix)
Ruby's latest E.P. Moonlight was released to New Zealand fans today and is available via itunes. The 28th and 30th January will see Frost play Hamilton's Parachute Festival.
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Ruby Frost - Moonlight Video
Although Slough band Brother feature highly on my hypothetical list of ones to watch for 2011, it would be New Zealand Popsicle Ruby Frost who would top it. Whereas the former has been described as potentially "the most polarizing band of 2011", I believe Miss Frost will unite all peoples and bring about world peace with her utterly adorable looks and cool electro-infused pop hooks. Above is the promo vid - released yesterday - for Ruby's song Moonlight, directed by one Veronica Crockford-Pound.
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Florrie - Sunday Girl
Perfume adverts, a perennial bane of my life, seem to increase exponentially as we approach Christmas. Out of the over-the-top, faux artsy mire has come Nina Ricci's effort; an advert which I found was sound tracked by none other than British drummer-turned-pop-up-and-comer Florrie, performing a cover of Blondie's multilingual classic Sunday Girl. Very pleasant indeed.
Monday, 29 November 2010
Patrick Wolf - Time Of My Life
I don't normally give relationship advice, but what do you do when friend breaks up with his girlfriend? What you should do is play him Time Of My Life, by English multi-instrumentalist Patrick Wolf. The feature of all-to-many-a break up tune is the angry rant. Time Of My Life contains no such diatribe. Instead, Wolf's romantic croon consoles it's troubled listener - things will get better; they always do. And in the end, you'll be happy without them.
Time Of My Life will get a single release on 6th December via major label imprint Hideout Recordings. Expect an album to drop May next year.
Patrick Wolf - Time Of My Life
Saturday, 27 November 2010
Ruby Frost
Ruby Frost is the ice cold moniker of pint-sized New Zealand sing-songwriter Jane de Jong. I introduced you to her - briefly - earlier this month when I posted the Leno Lovecraft rework of her track Moonlight - a shimmering masterpiece. It's about time you got to know her better.As a youngster, Frost funnelled her creativity into the written word, putting to paper the time when a gunman burst into an American church she and her family choir where attending - the gun, it turned out, was a hockey stick. Now 22, Frost has turned to music as a way of expressing her creative bent.
It was this time last year she won New Zealand MTV's 42 Unheard competition, seeing off competition from 357 artists from across the country. I never watched the show, but, wearing her handmade sequinned bat-cape, I can imagine there was only ever going to be one winner. The competition won her a recording contract with major label Universal Music, who sent her on a song-writing jaunt to Australia. There, she hooked up with a slew of big name producers and now we're starting to hear glimpses of the electronic-infused direction Frost music is heading. A little less 80's than Marina and the Diamonds; a little more fun than Ellie Goulding, Frost nestles between the two. Her voice - appropriately - takes on the icey chill of Bjork, while her charismatic style brings to mind a cuter version of Kate Bush.
Out there is precious little of Frost's music. This could be a clear sign that label want's to get things right - but when you want to hear more, it's a damn pain. Nevertheless, we're told we can expect and album out sometime in 2011.
MP3: Ruby Frost - Goodnight DOWNLOAD
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Kids Of 88
I think it was during the Louis and the Nazis episode, when Louis Theroux meets pre-teen skinhead pop group Prussian Blue, that I learned the significance of the number 88 to the white power community. Translate the numbers to the alphabet and you get HH - or Heil Hitler. Now, as far as I'm concerned there can only be two reasons why a band would name themselves Kids Of 88. Either they're an enterprising electro group attempting to create a niche in the white supremacist market; or they are literally kids of 88 - 1988. I suspect it's the later.
After signing up with Sony records, this Auckland city duo released their debut LP Sugarpills to much fanfare in their native New Zealand. Now, on the back of an appearance at CMJ and a mini-tour with fellow kiwi's The Naked And Famous, their new wave dance-rock sound is deservedly gaining attention outside their homeland. Check out Feed The Birds, a track that comes complete with wailing guitar and In The Air Tonight style drum fills.
MP3: Kids Of 88 - Feed The Birds DOWNLOAD
While I'm covering New Zealand music, I hit on a singer who goes by the name Ruby Frost. She won some big MTV competition last year, but hasn't yet achieved breakthrough status. Judging by this gem of a remix, Ruby is definitely one to keep an eye on..
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Beady Eye - Bring The Light
Inspirational, pioneering, revolutionary, and ground-breaking - are not words I'd use to describe the first offering from Beady Eye; the band who've risen from the ashes of the now defunct Oasis, minus Noel. The track, entitled Bring The Light, was released as a free download via the band's website yesterday and is described as being "proper rock'n'roll" by frontman Liam Gallagher. It isn't. It more like a Status Quo record, minus the fun. Having said that, it's not quite as bad as some commenters have suggested. The problem is its mediocrity, which for a record that's obviously meant to stick it to brother and former bandmate Noel, is very worrying indeed. I hear rumours that Bring The Light will not be featuring on Beady Eye's forthcoming album. Given the songs lukewarm reception, that's probably a wise move. Better luck next time chaps.
Friday, 5 November 2010
Dancing With The DJ (Chiddy Bang Remix)
The ever wonderful Neon Gold Records blog has just unveiled an exclusive Chiddy Bang remix of The Knocks latest release Dancing With The DJ. I've not been overly enamoured with The Bangs previous work, but this, I like. From what I can gather, the remix is a precursor to The Knocks debut London show at XOYO this coming Wednesday. In support will be label mate, Spark, with Chiddy Bang man Xaphoon Jones on turntable duties. If you're in the vicinity, head on down. It's free!
MP3: The Knocks - Dancing With The DJ (Chiddy Bang Remix) DOWNLOAD
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Kori Pop
Kori Pop took her name from...hang on a sec, that's actually her real name? Yep, you could say this girl was almost destined for a role at the performing end of the music business. And so it is that Pop has released her début album From The Outskirts, a wonderfully mellow collection of songs that brings to mind sounds as legendary as Carole King, Nick Drake, Laura Nyro and Cat Power. The album is headed by the single Nowhere Near My Heart, a song with subtle mass appeal that wouldn't sound out of place on the Juno soundtrack.
To accompany the single, Pop and her comrades have cobbled together a pretty cute music video, featuring puppets she fashioned from magazine cut outs and bits around the house. If this music thing doesn't take off, then a career on Blue Peter surely beckons.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Cut Copy - New Album
Cut/Copy (has that '/' always been there?) are turning up the hype up for their hotly anticipated follow up to their seminal album In Ghost Colours, sending out press releases to all and sundry. So, what do we have? Well, we have a name; Zonoscope (cool), an album cover (cool), and a U.K. release date; 7th February 2011 (er, not so cool). The danger with whipping up such a frenzy about something so far away (s'cuse the pun) is that, much like Christmas which appears to start in late September, when it finally arrives, it can often struggle to live up to expectation created in one's mind. That said, I have full confidence the boys can deliver the 'goods', so-to-speak. What else can you expect from an album described as "Cut Copy boiled down to [its] purest form, a suite of futuristic visions built upon primal rhythm tracks". What could possibly go wrong, eh?
If you didn't already catch it, here's the free MP3 the band released early this year.
Monday, 1 November 2010
Kiss Off
With the dismissal of Belle Amie on X Factor last night you'd think the concept of a popular girl group was becoming something of an oxymoron. Undeterred, Kiss Off have thrown their hat into the ring, releasing the video to their upcoming single Misfit. Formally Dollie Mix, Kiss Off pedal a brash, confident brand of party pop, singing "I've got curves in all the right places/and my boobs and bum look amazing", with accompanying hand movements. Steady on! Basically, this is what Katy Perry would sound like if she was a band. Go see.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
The Knocks - Dancing With The DJ
Following the release of their whistling based breakthrough track Make It Better, New York duo The Knocks hit me an email announcing the upcoming release of their third single Dancing With The DJ.
Pitched somewhere between Calvin Harris, Mark Ronson and The Ting Tings, Dancing With The DJ will surely propel the band into pop notoriety. That said, it's a little sad to be listening to a track that got 'summer' scrawled all over it's forehead in neon marker pen, when British Summer Time officially ended last night. Irony upon ironies.
The single, which features Julia Tepper on vocal hook duties, is set for released on 28th November and will be backed up Thinking About You on the b-side. Both tracks are being offered, to you, for free no less, simply by visiting the bands Facebook page and hitting the like button.
MP3: The Knocks - Dancing With The DJ DOWNLOAD
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Lissie
Lissie? Urgh. For me, it's a name that conjures up an image of some English Sloanie flashing a bit of Daddies bonus pay about the place and wangling a record deal in the process. The truth is far more appealing.
For one, she's not from England, hailing instead from the American Midwest. More importantly however, it's clear she's a grafter. Having opened for Lenny Kravitz way back in early '08, it's only now, nearly three years down the line, that she's released her debut album Catching a Tiger, getting the worldwide recognition she deserves with her powerful brand of husky voiced folk rock.
Having toured America extensively, Lissie will be playing dates throughout the U.K. and Europe right through November/December. For now, satisfy yourself with her fine cover of Metallica power-ballad classic Nothing Else Matters...and yes, that guy is playing the bass and precussion at the same time.
Friday, 8 October 2010
Make It Better Video
Production duo B-Roc and Jpat, known collectively as The Knocks, have released an official music video to accompany their fantastic whistle-athon single Make It Better, released earlier this year on the supreme Neon Gold Records label. I have literally no idea what the concept behind the video is, though it does appear to advocate gun violence against teachers, children, and fitness nerds; none of which I support...and nor should you.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Milke
Milke definitely win the award for best Myspace header thingy-ma-gig. But that's a side issue, for this "impeccably coiffured" British based, Australian born duo, made up of Ra Khahn and Andrew Friendly, have achieved something so few accomplish in managing to seamlessly synthesize indie, electro and pop without a hint of cheese or pretense. Single, Love Get Out Of My Way, due out on 17TH March, is delivered as a taster of Milke's debut album, set for release sometime later this year.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
New Phoenix Track
It's funny, I've never really been that in to Phoenix. Odd, considering the bands pedigree; fulfilling the role of backing group for Air, not to mention the fact the bands guitarist, Larent Brancowitz, played with short lived retrospective super group, Darlin', which featured both members of Daft Punk!
Phoenix's new track, 1901, released in anticipation of the bands fourth studio album sometime in May, may require that I do something about my relative ignorance of the band's back catalogue. 1901 is a pleasure to listen to. A masterpiece of French indie-rock. The chunky keyboard buzz intro, the whirling synths and jangly guitar hook, make it (for me) this years Time To Pretend.
.
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Hometown Glory (CCC Remix)
Here's the story behind the track (how very VH1):
"After meeting her at Heathrow Airport (we were on the same flight to NY. She was in first class and CCC was in no class) (That was supposed to be funny, so please Laugh!) it was LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! During the flight, her album, '19' was included in the 'on board entertainment. How cool is that!?!?!? You fly from London to NY and your album is available to all the passengers. Perfect time to show off. Very very cool!!! Anyway, 'Hometown glory' is simply amazing, and this is CCC's hommage to her beautiful voice."
So there you have it. Destiny? Fate? Luck? Whatever it was, s'nice when things come together, innit?
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Between The Bars
MP3: Mutual Appreciation Society - Between The Bars DOWNLOAD
MP3: Grant Buell -Between The Bars DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Vitamin String Quartet - Between The Bars DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Vitamin String Quartet - Between The Bars DOWNLOAD
Monday, 16 February 2009
No. 25
MP3: Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy (Paul Epworth Version) DOWNLOAD
MP3: East 17 - It's Alright DOWNLOADMP3: Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning (Alex Metric Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Mike Keneally -Sisters (Steve Vai Cover) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Vitamin String Quartet - Viva La Vida (Coldplay Cover) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Don Henley - Dirty Laundry DOWNLOAD
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