Dan Croll
I first heard Croll's music on XFM a couple of days ago and haven't stopped listening. Free download of "Can You Hear Me" available now.
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Outreach #1: Copenhagen
Visited Copenhagen recently and was excited to hear about the music that the people of the small city listen to. Here is a playlist of the top five scandi-bands/singers recommended by a Danish friend, have a listen:
1.
Balstyrko
2. Malk De Koijn
3. Choir of Young Believers
4. The Floor is Made of Lava
5. Oh Land
CIA
CIA
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Blood Harmony
Whilst watching Jools Holland a while ago, I came across a musical term that I had never heard before as he described the echoing sound of new band "The Staves". The phrase was "Blood Harmony".
The Jackson 5, the Isley Brothers, Oasis, Mumford & Sons, Kings of Leon; we've all heard the beauty and individuality of songs performed by siblings. This combination of related voices is rightly named a "Blood Harmony", describing the perfect tone captured when immediate family members sing together. It often sounds as if a single person is harmonising with their own voice, a deep blood magic that makes the tone effortless. Scientifically, genetics have proven that immediate family members share the same tone to their voice, as a result of a mix of the same nature and nurture, making the voices easy to blend into one another. I like the idea that only family members can achieve this level of harmony and the way in which the siblings have to rely on each other to get the perfect tone.
The first on my "Blood Harmony" playlist is up and coming sister act "Haim". The three siblings grew up playing covers in a band called "Rockinhaim" with their parents, but have since developed their own style. With influences from Fleetwood Mac, contemporary R'n'B bands like Destiny's Child and supporting the likes of Mumford & Sons, this L.A trio combine sounds of folk and R'n'B, mixing their softer voices with punchy beats to create a thrilling 80's vibe. With Alana, the youngest, on keyboard and percussion, Danielle on guitar and Este, the eldest, on bass, this band have a full set, and with lead vocals from all three sisters, the harmonies are interwoven between each other, creating an exciting, spoken pace. The band are signed to Polydor Records and often work with top urban producers to give the folky tunes a techno/hip-hop edge, inciting a dancing rhythm in us all. New listeners, try "Falling" or "Forever" and get ready to hear incredible blood harmonies.
The Staves Source: Google Images
The second is The Staves, a three-girl folk-rock band from the UK, who have been making music together since they were children. Emily, Jessica and Camilla Stavely-Taylor build up a calming influence through their music and whilst the comparisons to Haim are inevitable, there is definitely an English-rose style apparent through their defined accents and lyrics. With this band the blood harmonies really come into their own- their tones mix together cleanly, building the stories and dynamics of the songs. This is beautifully evident in their acapella song "Wisely & Slow", which only features any instruments, other than their voices, right at the end. The lyrics and strong and their voices are rich and echoing throughout the song, emphasising the musical bond between this family. With similarities to Joni Mitchell and Laura Marling and producing backing vocals for Tom Jones, the flawless sound of this three-piece band has already captured the hearts of many fans, bringing this quiet band into the spotlight.
" Heavy of heart, weary of soul."
Hudson Taylor Photo Source: Google Images
And finally, another new sibling duo are Hudson Taylor, consisting of Alfie and Harry Hudson-Taylor. Brothers from Dublin, these two have worked their way up from busking on the street to supporting the likes of Jake Bugg through their YouTube channel success. Their folky sounds and quirky, Irish tones are mesmerising, creating atmospheric songs with incredible energy through their performances. They are said to draw influences from their parent's record collection, with the likes of Simon & Garfunkel and Crosby, Stills & Nash inspiring their raw, intimate folk/pop mixture. I was recently lucky to see them sing with Gabrielle Aplin as a surprise addition to her tour at KOKO. In addition to incredible stage presence, their modesty, brotherly-banter and Irish charm bring out a unique combination of male vocals and gentle harmonies.
In my ears, the sounds created by these bewitching blood harmonies really bring new life and exciting rhythms to the folk genre, what do you think? Have you heard any other blood harmony groups?
CIA
Sunday, 26 May 2013
Summer Stampede 2013
Booked tickets to Summer Stampede 2013 today- so exciting! Five of my favourite bands are playing, and I am looking forward to hearing music from "Bear's Den".
Will post a review of the event afterwards!
CIA
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
Playlist #1
1) "Sleep Alone"- Beacon- Two Door Cinema Club
2) "Red Face"- Like I Used To- Lucy Rose
3) "Thinking About You"- Frank Ocean
4) "Two Fingers" - Jake Bugg
5) "Drop Of Smoke"- Hudson Taylor
6) "Diamonds" - Every Kingdom- Ben Howard
7) "Who Knows, Who Cares"- Local Natives
8) "Wisely and Slow"- The Staves
9) "Drunk in the Morning"- Lukas Graham
10) "This Love"- Maroon 5
Bit of a strange mixof genres, new songs, old songs, upbeat & slow, but on this cold January day, this is what I am listening to. Enjoy!
CIA
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Other People's Heartache
I thought I'd start my music blog with a beautiful christmas/new years present from one of my favourite bands of the moment. Retreating to the old-school style of mix-tapes, electronic/alternative band Bastille have released their second edition of a complilation of covers and reworkings of classics into their own unique style. Entitled "Other People's Heartache", the album refers to the stories of other musicians, transcribed into Bastille's musical language with electronic additions and quirky spoken quotes from iconic films, which add an eerie and exciting quality.
The South-London band is comprised of four band members: Dan Smith, Chris Wood, Will Farquarson and Kyle Simmons and is named after the French "Bastille Day"; the day Smith was born. Before their popularity, Bastille released a double a-side single "Flaws" with "Icarus" on the b-side through an independent record label, before being signed to Virgin Records in December 2011. "Flaws" was the first song that I heard and the beautiful combination of electronic rhythms and hauntingly-honest lyrics captured my attention immediately. The song is very relatable, defining the strange sensation of the jealousy we all suffer for those who seem entirely confident in their lives, with an underlying theme that there may be more to their lives than we can see on a shallow level.
With Virgin Records, the band debuted with a release of the EP "Laura Palmer", and various tracks online. From these starting points, the band gained a lot of popularity, moving from a small, defined audience to a more mainstream crowd and they went on to perform at numerous festivals such as Glastonbury in 2011. Their success has gone on, with the release of "Overjoyed" as a single and video on YouTube and "Bad Blood" later in 2012 and they have been named "New Band of the Day" by the Guardian, amongst many other titles. Their catchy yet dark song style has also caught the attention of popular television series', "Made In Chelsea" and "Vampire Diaries".
My first major live experience of their music was at Reading Festival 2012, where they played an incredible set, combining an alternative style with a dance beat; the powerful lyrics and dark ambience inciting a rhythm within the whole audience. Since, I have been to see them at a smaller venue, supporting electronic band "Swiss Lips" ,which again caught the attention of many new followers, and Bastille have had an abundance of other performances with their October 2012 tour and future promises of supporting the likes of Emeli Sande and Two Door Cinema Club. on their world tour.
Their first release of the mixtape series "Other People's Heartache 1" was a nostalgic, combination of songs from many eras, reaching out to a wider audience. With songs such as "Love Don't Live Here" originally performed by Rose Royce, I steered the music taste of my dad to enjoy their sound, and pieces like "What Would You Do?" turned the stereotypically R&B/hiphop genre upside down with additions of spoken phrases and echoing harmonies. This clever, witty response and remake of a whole range of songs has luckily been repeated with "Other People's Heartache 2", subjecting us to a new set of intelligent and beautifully-composed melodies with spoken excerpts from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Home Alone", featuring the talents of other musicians such as Ella & Erika, F*U*G*Z and the newly-famous Gabrielle Aplin.
And so without further ado, let me introduce you to the link to these fascinating covers; a feast for your ears.
Enjoy!
CIA
P.S for new Bastille fans, start with "Pompeii", "Flaws" and "Overjoyed" for a taste of their original music.
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
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