Sunday 27 September 2009

The XX - Crystallised

Despite being only 20, The XX are the band who everyone is talking about. They're the best new 'best new band' around and I suppose that means that we should have a listen to them. To be honest we had been put off this band before partly just because they have been so built up but also due to their use of a drum machine rather than a real drummer, nooooooooooooo!

However, despite all these reasons that I should dislike them, they're frustratingly good. I'm not sure if its the effortlessness in which they seem to be nonchalantly creating music which sounds like nothing else or the refreshingly clean sound of the guitars against the droning lyrics but there is something about The XX which makes them likeable.

Crystallised is their most recent single having been released on the 18th August, only a fortnight after their debut single. It features a fairly characteristically sharp, repetitive melody with Oliver and Romy's joint vocals slowly progressing over the top. Its very simple and stripped down music but it works and I think that everyone should at least give them a try. The XX are an exciting new band who have a truly unique sound. That's something which doesn't happen very often at the moment and perhaps why they've attracted so much attention. They're not the best band you'll ever hear but they're definitely original and worth a listen.

You can hear the single Crystallised HERE

Tuesday 8 September 2009

Speech Debelle


Well what do we know about the 2009 winner of the Mercury Prize? The answer. Not very much to be honest. Our first glimpse of her was in the little run up to the mercury prize announcement and we both thought she sounded good though neither thought she would win. She is reminiscent of Lady Sovereign but has a fantastic jazz band behind her. Yes, believe it or not she is what R&B should be! This is R&B before Kanye West decided he wanted as many gold chains as Mr T and a home that rivals the white house. Its a lovely mix of gritty south london lyrics and vocals with the background sound of a New Orleans Jazz Club.

Unfortunately we haven't heard the album yet though if we get a chance then I would love to write a review for here. Lets just wait and see if her popularity rockets like Elbow or if she fades back into obscurity like Antony and the Johnsons.

Mercury Prize Winner 2009 - Speech Debelle

For the second year winning we are announcing the Mercury Award winner as soon as it is announced.

And the winner for 2009 is Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy

More coming soon.

Saturday 5 September 2009

Barclaycard Mercury Prize

WOW I didnt realise it had been practically a year since we last posted. But the Mercury award is here again and due to be announced on tuesday. This years nominees are:

* Bat for Lashes – Two Suns
* Florence and the Machine – Lungs
* Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires
* Glasvegas – Glasvegas
* Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
* La Roux – La Roux
* Led Bib – Sensible Shoes
* Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew
* Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy
* Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men
* The Horrors – Primary Colours
* The Invisible – The Invisible

We're both hoping for a very deserving Natasha Khan to pick up the award after being piped to the post by Klaxons a few years ago. I however have a horrible feeling that La Roux will win. Not only is her music not good enough but when we saw her live (supporting Lily Allen) we were convinced that she was miming and thats just not right for a Mercury award winner!

However, if Kasabian win then I might just cry!

Are we alive?

Yes...

Though in severe risk of swine flu. I think i might invest in Strepsils with the amount we're getting through.

Anyway lots has changed since the last post on here, though we never did find the Glasvegas review that vanished and ended our blogging career. This year we have been to Download and Reading festival though the gigs have been very few and far between.

I'm going to try and start writting on this blog again, and if Pri feels like it then maybe both of us will.