#30 An Easter treat!

Sod the eggs. All I want for Easter is new Queens Of The Stone Age? Well, someone was listening. Premiered at Lollapalooza Brasil last night is something of a masterpiece under the name of ‘My God Is The Sun’. We all started to get a bit excited when the original team from ‘Songs From The Deaf’ got back together, but with some added friends in the form of Trent Reznor and Alex Turner this new QOTSA record will be little short of genuis.

 

Still not sure what to make of the return of Depeche Mode. Distinctive Depeche vocals in a Trent Reznor/ Thom Yorke shell here. Not sure if we’re looking at a triumphant comeback or something like a wild card. Worth the first few listen throughs to decide mind you.

Wavves are back in the spotlight today with the title track from their album ‘Afraid Of Heights’. New wave grunge – elements of Weezer, San Diego and Nathan Williams and friends stamp of uniqueness on it. Lyrically we’re reminiscing to the 90’s alt. scene and musically it’s beautiful to welcome this style of sound back to the forefront.

 

‘The Chronicles of Marnia’ isn’t a bad name at all for singer / songwriter Marnia Stern. And when I say singer/ songwriter I just mean she can sing and write songs. Not just play a guitar and sing on a stool. We’re into album number 4 with Marnia, but she still offers a complexity and lyrical prowess that some bands shun this far into their careers. ‘East Side Glory’ or ‘Hell Yes’ sitting up there for picks off the album.

 

The first time I heard When Saints Go Machine I was in my infancy as a music picker. I knew it was great, I knew it sounded different to anything I’d heard before, but I couldn’t sell it to someone with as much assurity as I can today. Copenhagen has many things to offer, but a combination of hip hop, electro-indie, strings and haunting vocals in one bought of 3 minutes is not one I would have suspected.

 

To me Majical Cloudz is for electro-indie what Patrick Wolf is for folk. A fountain of talent and admirable skill in the art of song-writing and performance. Canadian writer Devon Welsh’s work is just as much as an aural artform as a performance and making instruments sound right together. I’m steadily looking forward to the album this track is hosted called ‘Impersonator’ which drops May 21st.

And of course! Can’t leave you a post on an Easter Sunday without Death Metal Vicar. Because remember kids…it’s all about Easter man.

For your weekly alternative music fix and updates from the scene why not check out my weekly radio show ‘Alive And Amplified’ right here on the blog? Posting every Thursday evening 7pm. Or on playback whenever you like!

Elise x

#29 A healthy new wave of music is coming through.

Big smiles all around! The winter drought is over. Yay!

Cue the new / B-side Rustie track making nice vibes down the ears. Free download too if you like your trap infused dance music. Sounding amazing on a good set of speakers. Sub woofers ahoy!

Seems like someone’s put the heavy filter on Sigor Ros and it’s sounding fab (darling). Oh yes – cinematic, epic. Gorgeous! I still can’t be arsed to find out what the lyrics mean, but this is a 7 minute piece of music to sit back and absorb. Sounding great in headphones on the commute or on a nice soundsystem of an evening. I’m interested to hear more of these guys now. The initial fad has died and they’ve reinvented themselves slightly. Very nice.

I remember first playing ‘Default’ by Django Django. Bloody loved it! Very 6 music fair dos, but it sounded great. Exciting and with their trademark sound. I love the imagery this type of music conjures. Mexican hats, horse riding, car chases, smoking over-sized cigars, Tarentino…the list goes on. All very cool for day dreams.

I’m waiting for Shlohmo to do something wrong in his work. Teaming up with Jeremih and writing ‘Bo Peep’ hasn’t been bad, so it just continues his upward trend as a rad dance / electro producer from LA. Another one! Love this track 🙂

In the same way I got goosebumps listening to Deptford Goth for the first time, Dems are beautifully atmospheric and vocally brilliant. If this summer time ever arrives, I can imagine evenings in the park being filled with tracks like this for a soundtrack. And as a Londoner…bit proud that they come from round me way obvs.

Now, Raffertie is one to watch. Covering Mariah Carey in a weird dance / EDM style. I wasn’t sure what to make of it first time, but it’s one of those songs you need to hear and decide for yourself.

https://soundcloud.com/raffertie/build-me-up

And one last note for Kent indie / electro band Team Morale and how good their latest offering to the BBC Uploader is. Hopefully they’ll be posting it on their soundcloud soon, but you’ve got 73 other tracks to keep you company in the meantime ranging from riff driven hooks to chill out ambient beats.

For tunes like this and more from the alternative music scene why not check out my weekly radio show right here on the blog. Alive And Amplified is uploaded every Thursday at 7pm with the best in alt. music from around the globe, brand new music requiring your feedback and Rock Revival tracks (any excuse to rock out). Check it out if you want to hear some tunes / what I sound like 🙂

Elise x