Wicked Cool Bands #12

Love it will not betray you dismay or enslave you;
It will set you free.
You will be more like the man you were made to be.
- Sigh No More, Mumford & Sons

image from www.myspace.com/mumfordandsons

Every so often, a band will come to your attention and startle you. You will wonder how you have ever looked at your album collection without theirs in it, you will wonder who else you would play first thing in the morning and last thing and night and in the time inbetween. You will try to think of any other band who has affected you quite the same way in the past year, and falter.

Hello Mumford & Sons.

I won't claim the victory that this band was a self discovery, I was introduced to them a few months ago via a music loving boyfriend of mine, and until yesterday had only heard limited tracks on their myspace (which you can visit here) and their single release from their debut album, Little Lion Man which has been available via Spotify for a couple of months. This one track was one I played a lot, reveling in the folk glory that it is, and the wonderful lyrical talents of the band. Previously mentioned boyfriend managed to wangle the album prior to release by means that shall remain nameless (cough) and I have had to make do with a 5 track release on Spotify. Totally worth it though, since yesterday I've listened to it non stop and like a new love affair, am wondering what I ever did before this album (or the 5 tracks at least) were in my life!

The album is officially released today, 5th of October. Buy it, and get ready for some intensely brilliant lyrical genius and an album full of stonking folk tunes that will no doubt make you want to dance, stamp your feet and take on the world.

Wicked Cool Bands #11

"If you ask me of my fondest memory,
I'd say take my hand and I'll show you where I've been.
As we tread through leaves you'd listen while I speak,
this moment that we share is ours to keep."
- Through The Leaves, Kissy Sell Out

Kissy Sell Out: DJ, electro pioneer, remix king. Summer songs. Big tunes. Best played loud accompanied by sunshine. Listen to Through the Leaves, the best track (in my humble opinion) from their 2009 record, Youth and try not to give in to the desire to run to the nearest park and lie back and think of the summer that we should be having. You might want to take an umbrella for the rain.

Official site.
Myspace.

Wicked Cool Bands #10

"There's a spanner in the works you know,
you gotta step up your game to make to the top.
So go!"
- Something Good Can Work, Two Door Cinema Club


image from myspace.com/twodoorcinemaclub

I love any opportunity to have a dance. Music that makes you want to move and dance is a winner in my book, so to discover Two Door Cinema Club's music is a massive win in this dreary month of July. They only have 2 tracks on Spotify but that hasn't stopped me from playing them over and over again and dancing around my room whilst it poured down with rain outside! They hail from the great wondrous place that is Northern Ireland, specifically Bangor which I hear on great authority is one of the best places on earth. True or not, it certainly churns out some very talented musicians, Two Door included.

Fresh from a brilliant set at Glastonbury (which you can watch here) they continue the summer of festivals with V and Leeds. So if you're going to either of those, then I urge you to go see them.

They have Twitter, they have Myspace and they have great songs. What are you waiting for? Go dance.

Wicked Cool Bands #9

"My face blew up at such a casual sight,
this miracle is of ecstatic fright."
- Little Secrets, Passion Pit


image from myspace.com/passionpitjams

Think MGMT only loads better. Think soundtrack to your summer. Think music that makes you wanna go WHOOO. Passion Pit.

I'm gutted that they're doing a set at the Orange Rooms in Southampton tomorrow night and I'll probably be on a train. Hearing Little Secrets live would make my week perfect. So, there we go, recommendation number one is Little Secrets, a song that might make you don shades and run around outside praising the heat rather than complaining (like me) that you can't sleep and that it's too hot to do anything. Other awesome songs of theirs are Sleepy Head and The Reeling, both of which you can listen to at their Myspace and on Spotify.

So there we go, summer 2009, meet Passion Pit.

Wicked Cool Bands #8

image from myspace.com/jamesyuill

James Yuill is going to be the soundtrack to my summer. I am imagining lounging around on bright green grass with cider, big sunglasses and my favourite people with 'Turning Down Water For Air' blasting out of some kind of portable music device speakers. Signed to Moshi Moshi, the record label bringing us wicked music such as Friendly Fires, Dananananakroyd and Tilly and the Wall, James Yuill continues this trend of excellence.

When I first listened, I thought of The Postal Service, and I'm sure you will understand the comparison when you listen to such great songs as No Pins Allowed, No Surprise and The Ghost. Visit his Myspace, follow him on Twitter or go see his lovely Official Site!

Enjoy!

Wicked Cool Bands #6

"You may make my wells run dry,
but you can not make divinity lie."


image from Foy Vance official myspace page, link below

Foy Vance was mentioned to me a few months ago by a friend of mine who wanted me to go see him with her when I visited her. I, being me and having the memory of a goldfish with alzheimers forgot about this, and so a few weeks ago when a friend of mine was listening to some amazing music in his kitchen, I was delighted to hear it was Foy. His infusion of irish soul combined with the joyous sound of his voice was truly captivating, and I was suddenly counting down the days when I'd see him live.

This took place last Tuesday at the Glee Club in Birmingham, and without a doubt was one of the best musical experiences of my life. Foy Vance is amazing. His energy on stage is electrifying and the passion he has for what he does and the words he sings is immeasureable. His album is aptly titled 'Hope' which is a constant theme in his music, a CD filled with songs that make you realise what it is to be alive. My favourites include Be With Me and First of July but the whole of the Hope album is pure lovely genius. A treat of the evening was when he played Homebird, and invited one of our party on stage to sing with him! Amazing.

Here is a live session & here is his Myspace. He's on Spotify under Foy Vance and you can buy his stuff here at his offical site.

So to sum up, this has probably been one of my more heartfelt 'Wicked Cool Bands' posts, but I can't not be excited about this man. Besides the fact that he is an incredibly talented musician (and moved me to tears on more than one ocassion on Tuesday!) he also seems like a bloody nice man. And you can't go wrong with that.

Wicked Cool Bands #5

My beloved, oh my sweet, all the gifts you have given me,
The patience and the peace cherry blossoms and the candy,
I am yours, I am yours for as long as you will have me.
- Love Letter to Japan, The Bird & The Bee

image from The Bird & The Bee Myspace page

You might think that the best cover version of The Bee Gees classic How Deep Is Your Love is by Take That. You'd be wrong. Because The Bird & The Bee's version is way better.

The beautiful Inara George is the bird, and producer Greg Kurstin is the bee. This indie/alternative duo are from Los Angeles, and make lovely music about love and life. Inara sings lead vocals for the project, described as jazz/electro by their Myspace page. Kurstin has worked with many artists including Lily Allen, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Beck so it's a real mixture of ideas that his production brings to the project.

I've mostly been listening to their self titled 2007 album, however they have just released album number 2, Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future, which I'm really excited to listen to properly. I love them, and you might too so get on Spotify, their official website or their Last.fm and listen to Again & Again, Love Letter to Japan or that previously mentioned Bee Gees cover. Lovely!

Wicked Cool Bands #4

"Come sweep aside those old scars,
& lets forget those film stars."
- Nothing True, The Game Needed Me

Blogspot, Myspace, Facebook, Internet... World. Please welcome The Game Needed Me. Describing their music as 'pushing anthemic choruses and the softest of lullabies, rising from a bed of driving rhythms, catchy guitar riffs and the occasional piano harmony' this band hailing from Cheltenham have clearly defined their sound in the demos shown on their Myspace. The tracks demonstrate that their comparisons with bands like Minus The Bear aren't far off, but I'd say that one of the attractive qualities about them is that they have a distinctive homegrown British sound about them. Never a bad thing. But I won't give you a run down of the tracks, because you can make your own mind up! Rob Kimber, backing vocalist and self professed 'promoter/manager' is clearly passionate about this project and thus has given me a free mp3 to pass on to all you lovely people. This, and the fact that he hails from the mighty Weymouth makes him an absolute winner. So enjoy the track, and if you listen, make sure you add them on Myspace, become a fan on Facebook or visit their Last.fm and let them know what you think.

I'm sure that what starts as a University project will move on to massive things.

The Tooth Diaries mp3.

Enjoy!

Wicked Cool Bands #3

"Well, diamonds they fade
And flowers they bloom
And I'm telling you
These feelings won't go away
They've been knockin' me sideways"
-Sideways, Citizen Cope

image from google images

You've probably heard the song Sideways by Citizen Cope on some sort of media outlet in the last 5 years. The song has been featured in films (Ghost Town) and TV shows (Scrubs, One Tree Hill) at that point at the end when all the emotions come to the forefront and you see all the characters pondering their existence and running their hands through their hair all pent up. You know the bit.

Anyway, described by his official website as "an intensely powerful lyricist", Citizen Cope is one man (real name Clarence Greenwood) who emenates class in his music. It's a blend of jazz and blues, mixed with funk at times, and his voice is really unique. I have been listening to him alot recently after getting a couple of his albums some time last year, and I think he's wicked. I'd suggest you listen to Sideways, fall in love with it, then get your groove on to Contact or Let The Drummer Kick.

Wicked Cool Bands #2

"You cut me out in little stars
and place me in the sky.
I lose my sense of time."
- Kaleidoscope, Kate Havnevik

Kate Havnevik is a Norwegian solo artist along the same lines as Imogen Heap (okay so this is Wicked Cool Bands but she still counts thnx). Her comparisons to Imogen arise mainly because she's great as is Imogen, but mostly because she too has worked with Guy Sigsworth on her debut album Melankton. Guy Sigsworth is well known for working with Imogen in the electronica/pop outfit Frou Frou, in which he produced and Imogen Heap sang. Noteably their most famous song is 'Let Go' which was used in a very poignant and lovely moment in the Zach Braff directed film Garden State. They sadly only released one album entitled 'Details', but Guy continues to produce music for such wonderful musicians such as Kate and even massive artists like Madonna and Bjork have had him involved in their writing and music making process.

I was introduced to Kate by two of my old housemates, both massive fans of Imogen's work. What struck me about Kate is that she has a really haunting voice similar to Imogen's which sort of lingers, all whispy and breathy. It's beautiful, and although lyrically her songs are quite simplistic, if you like the sound of her then listen to her album Melankton now. Right now.

Wicked Cool Bands #1

"We are made of love,
And every fracture caused by the lack of it."
- 'Needle & Thread' Sleeping At Last

image from google images

Sleeping At Last are really really great. I heard about them when I was at the beginning of my final year at University from my old and lovely housemate Zoe, and spent alot of time in a fair amount of awe of how beautiful they are. Describing their sound is quite hard mainly because I'm rubbish at describing music styles, but it's quite ambient... but not in a really boring way. If that sparkling review hasn't put you off, and you have good taste and like super awesome lyrics, then you might like them. Visit their myspace and have a listen to Needle & Thread. Then buy their albums and revel in the lovely-ness.

Today I've mainly listened to Kanye West classics, watched Summer Heights High (amazing), drank tea and been excited about the fact that I'm going to see Sigur Ros on Friday thanks to Bethan. How wonderful. Hope your day has been a bit more productive than mine, and that you are happy and great.