Archive for February, 2011

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Xavier Quijas Yxayotl – Mayan Ancestral Music: Healing Music for Mother Earth

By on Feb 28, 2011 in Albums, Reviews
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The latest in what Xavier Quijas Yxayotl has to offer the world, ‘Mayan Ancestral Music: Healing Music for Mother Earth’ is like taking a journey back to an ancient world long since forgotten by time. The album features the beautiful and enchanting Mayan flute and drums accompanied by natural sounds like the flow of a river creating an aura of peace, calm and tranquillity as suggested by the album title. It’s awe inspiring how through the means of a modern [...]

Two Spot Gobi – Guiding Star

By on Feb 28, 2011 in Reviews, Singles

Two Spot Gobi’s new single Guiding Star edges onto the scene with a gentle air of persuasion stirred through the mellifluously evocative track.

The track has an immediately fresh sound as it opens with a fast-moving, rhythmic cello part that moves erratically below the calm and seemingly effortless vocals. The song is fantastically structured as it successfully builds the atmosphere with the cello part driving the song creating a busy, harmonious sound that eventually dissolves into solo vocals accompanied by a [...]

Lauren Pritchard – Stuck

By on Feb 28, 2011 in Reviews, Singles

This week I was reacquainted with the smooth tones of American singer Lauren Pritchard who has produced a captivatingly sensuous sound with her latest release Stuck.

The ballad is saturated in the characteristically soulful vibe that we have come to expect from the singer. Her strong, confident voice effortlessly drives the tune, whilst the instrumentals remain slick and punchy.

Stuck is the opening track from Pritchard’s album Wasted In Jackson and is one of the stronger songs from this release. I could [...]

Different Frequencies – Littlehampton

By on Feb 28, 2011 in Reviews, Singles

Different Frequencies are an intriguing prospect. A collaboration, of sorts, between a DJ/producer – Rob Watson – and a singer/musician – Benjamin McCourt, this band are received ample support from radio DJs Rob Da Bank, Zane Lowe and Annie Nightingale (who all happen to be from the BBC).

The duo’s music is exotically varied; in the past they have covered reggae, ska, house and rock. Their new single ‘Littlehampton’ – released through Unpopular Records – fuses funk with pop and dance. [...]

Sam Kills Two – Pretty Ugly

By on Feb 28, 2011 in Albums, Reviews

A glass of red wine and a shimmer of a tear threads a melancholic homeward bound theme through these thirteen tracks of clouds Stills and Nash.  The album as a whole is in reality a careful canoodling and hushed multitude of honey suckled springtime snuck glances, which betray nothing more than the sensation, nay undercurrent of lost kisses and naive fumblings amongst alfalfa and cherry blossom.

This mourning heifer, heavily laden with the nostalgia of a dream made stronger by the [...]

Andy Whittle – Reflections of an Illusion

By on Feb 28, 2011 in Albums, Reviews

Dispelling the relentlessly upbeat folksiness country musicians sometimes seem prone to, Reflections of an Illusion actually falls much closer to the folk end of the spectrum. I’m probably biased but this was definitely the right move to make – Whittle’s voice is naturally suited to the kind of contemplative, understated tunes on offer here. That been said, Whittle isn’t the ‘lone acoustic guitarist’ type, instead opting to employ several other instruments, the piano the most noticeable of the bunch. This [...]

Exlovers – Blowing Kisses

By on Feb 28, 2011 in Reviews, Singles

Two tracks on offer here – Blowing Kisses and Motheaten Memories. Well, two in theory; in practice, there’s really very little difference between them at all. This isn’t entirely a bad thing – the sound is likeable enough: fast-paced indie pop/rock, and thankfully not on the sickly sweet side of things. It’d be wrong to dismiss it as another genre clone, as it really isn’t a bad single. But honestly I won’t be returning to it, mainly because I’ll probably [...]

Sandra Piller – Days Like These

By on Feb 28, 2011 in Albums, Reviews

Covering familiar ground – the space between country and folk – Days Like This is pretty standard stuff. A blend of melancholy love ballads, relentlessly upbeat, folksy meditations and fast-paced rock n roll dance tracks, this record does it all, perhaps a little too well; while I wouldn’t say it’s totally forgettable, Piller doesn’t do much to stand out from the crowd, sometimes coming across as a bit too eager to cling on to genre conventions. That being said, she’s [...]

Underground Railroad – Russian Doll

By on Feb 28, 2011 in Reviews, Singles

London-based French trio Underground Railroad introduce to next album ‘White Night Stand, with first single ‘Russian Doll’.

As singer Raphael Mura explains, ‘Russian Doll’ is about hate and attraction. Raphael used to give French tuition to a Russian aristocrat’s daughter. “I thought we became friends, but after a while I realised that there is often an invisible barrier between two people who, even though their differences might attract one another, are deep down the very opposite. This song is about her. Rock [...]

Nostalgia 77 – Simmerdown

By on Feb 28, 2011 in Reviews, Singles

Waiting for long-awaited fourth studio album ‘The Sleepwalking Society’, Ben Lamdin, aka Nostalgia 77, provides a taste of his class and skills with new single ‘Simmerdown’.

Forget the hip-hop beats and electronic atmospheres of his past works, ‘Simmersdown’ is three minutes of jazzy sunshine and swinging rhythms.

Ben Lamdin, after the success of his The White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’ cover, and the BBC Worldwide Award of 2006, comes back with a return to simplicity, chilled out tunes and reggae-influenced soul.

With the [...]

The Ultimate April Foals at The Martini Lounge

By on Feb 28, 2011 in News
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The Ultimate April Foals – Snappy O’Shea, Bee’s Knees and Em Brulée Join Millie Dollar for an Evening of Post National Glamour

Following sell out success at its February showcase, The Martini Lounge Burlesque Show returns to St Georges Hall on Saturday April 9th in celebration of April Fools.

Co-incidentally the April showcase takes place on the same day as the Grand National and we’re willing to bet that the Martini Lounge Troupe of feisty fillies will set [...]

Poly Styrene- Generation Indigo album

By on Feb 28, 2011 in News
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“At last! The X-ray Spex siren returns” Uncut

“Poly Styrene, leader of punk outsiders X-ray Spex, was the original riot Grrrl, inspiring a legion of female singers” Guardian Guide

“Poly, DayGlo heroine of playfully serious punk and icon to Beth Ditto among many others, makes an unexpected festive return” NME

“’Generation Indigo’ is her most commercial record yet but remains spiritually, socially, and environmentally concerned” Mojo

Tracklisting: 1. I Luv Ur Sneakers 2. Virtual Boyfriend, 3. Generation Indigo, 4. [...]

YOUNGER BROTHER TO RELEASE ‘SHINE’ SINGLE

By on Feb 28, 2011 in News
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Electronica, beat sensation, Younger Brother are set to release their glorious new single ‘Shine’ on April 4th through Twisted Records.

Taken from their soon to be released ‘Vaccine’ album, ‘Shine’ is a fireball of a single, which merges their pulsating trademark electronica sound with a melodious pop sensibility and highlights singer Ruu Campbell’s awesomely soulful voice and dispatches, you the listener into a new dimension.

‘Vaccine’ is the band’s third album which is set to [...]

Introducing: AlunaGeorge

By on Feb 28, 2011 in News
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It is not very often you come across an act that is so unique sounding yet, at the same time, instantly recognisable. An act that can traverse genres with such skill and dexterity like they have been doing it for years; fusing the current desire for wild electronic productions and a pop sensibility that everyone enjoys, meet AlunaGeorge.

Out of the ashes of previous projects, Aluna Francis and George Reid met through the [...]

Merc Announce Gibson Room Sessions

By on Feb 28, 2011 in News
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Merc Live @ The Gibson Guitar Studio.

Kick start your Thursday nights with the exciting new run of ‘Merc Live’ events at The Gibson Guitar Studio in Central London, even better with free admission!

The Merc six date gig run will kick off on the 10th Of March running every two weeks until the 19th May from 7-9pm. Bands will play one hour sets each, with a support band of their choice to get things [...]

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