Man Edinburgh's being a little tease at the moment. It's cold, but the sun is out, and from the safe confines of my office it's all too easy to look out the window and think that Spring really is in the air. Of course, once you go outside such myths are dispelled, but there's nevertheless something immensely cheering about bright sunshine, even if it's cold. In fact, probably especially if it's cold. This week's podcast is relatively poppy, actually. Some awkward stuff in there I suppose, but for the most part it's possibly a [...]
Hey, what's that splashing at your feet? Oh, it's the BBC Sound Of 2012 list, causing a plop in the music blogging cess-pool: ripples which will finally propel one of the hapless artists one the list to CHART SUCCESS next year. Last year, the 180 or so 'tastemakers' who compile the list (i.e. bloggers who have read enough PR email to see which way the wind is blowing) selected a list that finally coughed forth Jessie J as its Big Tip For The Future. You can decide the value of the list on the [...]
I am becoming more and more confident in talking on the radio. I am slowly developing my voice - my on-air personality. There is still room for improvement; namely in the transition from Stuarto's show to mine, but I'll get there eventually. Last Friday's show was centered around indie-folk again, with plenty of psychedelic folk, orchestral folk, and folk-pop as well. As started last week, two songs will be featured at bottom. "Notorious Lightning" by Destroyer off Your Blues "Shanty for the Arethusa" [...]
London's finest breath of fresh air has returned to us once again. And on his third outing, The Nearest Door , the lovely Robin Grey gets even more personal than we have heard in the past. He has many a tale and lament to tell and confess. With his distinctively English vocals, and beautiful interpretations of earth, sea, and love, this folk hero soars to his greatest heights even succeeding beyond his sophomore release Strangers With Shoes . Which I will admit, seemed to be impossible. [...]
Before we get into this week's Round Up Sunday , we would just like to mention that Music Liberation has been picked by FHM as one of their favourite music blogs, as you can see by that lovely badge on the right hand side. You can check out their article and the other blogs mentioned here . We are also on the lookout for new writers to join our team, so if you're interested then please pop [...]
When do the clocks go forward again? It feels like it should be soon, because the bite's gone out of the cold, and you can see green shoots here and there on some of the plants, but I guess it'll be a while yet, unfortunately. Still, it's actually light out when I leave work these days, which is a positive sign. The post-Christmas gig lull seems to be slowly coming to an end as well, which is good news. It's actually a rather busy week this week, with the funs spread pretty evenly, instead of all clumping together [...]
![Robin Grey: Strangers With Shoes [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/2327912_lg.jpg)
Robin Grey is working his way up from being a “hidden treasure of the European underground” with his breakthrough sophomore release, Strangers With Shoes . The wonder of Stoke Newington has compiled some beautiful and obviously poetic-based tracks for the troubadours and sun chasers of the world to use to feel whole again. Grey has always been a splendid storyteller, but he’s outdone even himself this time around. It’s only fair to mention for first time listeners that Robin pulled “I Love Leonard Cohen” and “Shakes And [...]
The genre of Folk is a grey area of music for me, with numerous factors affecting my levels of receptiveness at any given point in time. For example I'm much more likely to enjoy folk during the Winter months, in front of the fire, thinking of family and friends, compared to the Summer when its nice and hot, and I want to put on some uplifting Drum and Bass. That being said there is a small list of Folk artists (namely The Swell Season , Laura Marling , Mumford And Sons ) who make my ipod playlist [...]
The genre of Folk is a grey area of music for me, with numerous factors affecting my levels of receptiveness at any given point in time. For example I'm much more likely to enjoy folk during the Winter months, in front of the fire, thinking of family and friends, compared to the Summer when its nice and hot, and I want to put on some uplifting Drum and Bass. That being said there is a small list of Folk artists (namely The Swell Season , Laura Marling , Mumford And Sons ) who make my ipod playlist [...]
I had been so busy preparing my birthday tribute to David Bowie that it slipped my mind that the Chameleon of Pop used to get his birthday cards on the same day as the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Yesterday marked the 75th anniversary of Elvis Presley's birth in Tupelo, Mississippi. Like Bowie, Elvis was also an actor, although the films he appeared in were merely vehicles for his star status and internationally-recognised persona. And, like Bowie, Elvis was a huge influence on the development of popular music. Of course, his music wasn't as innovative or original as [...]
Robin Grey has been featured a couple of times before on Song, by Toad, largely because there's just something I like about his voice, both in the sense of his singing voice and also in terms of the way he expresses himself as a writer. There's something of the pub open mic night act about him in a sense, and I can easily picture him fetching up at a nice boozer London, with his guitar case and a scarf and that wee hat of his, to play a few songs and have a pint or two. I may [...]
![Robin Grey [Feature Artist]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1864744_lg.jpg)
After last years wonderful EP release, I Love Leonard Cohen , the time has come for London's Robin Grey to go all out and show why he is truly one of the greatest hidden treasures in the European underground. Hard at work on his sophomore full length release due this fall (follow up to 2007's Rocket ), this man seems to be at his best. The transformation of his character is more than impressive. It would certainly not be premature to say that he is at the top of [...]
Tomorrow night, BBC Four have a Leonard Cohen night from 9.00pm until just before midnight. First up is Leonard Cohen Live in London , a hour of live music from 2008 that features ten songs including Suzanne and Hallelujah. That's followed by Songs From a Life , a documentary featuring interviews and live footage that was recorded in 1973. The night's final programme is What Leonard Cohen Did For Me , a look back at his career that includes interviews with a number of performers who have been influenced by his music [...]
this compilation is about free-music! ...not only the newest tracks, simply just those, who i enjoied most in the last 10 month of maintaining the lemonjohn-blog . i decided to inlcude only tracks which can be described with the genres: indie-pop-rock-folk, because there‘s currently a really big net-scene about free-electronic music, but it seems to be nearly forgotten that there are lots of amazing artists in those genres who also give their music away for free. (not saying that the electronic-music-scene hasn‘t brought some real musical-diamonds to my [...]
In the silence of my lonely room I think of youDay and night, night and dayI'm not stoppingI'm still in your blood(and I) don't want your contemporary anatomy(because)You are just Like an avalancheAnd if you don't love me, would you...
Written by Ron Trembath Here is an artist that seems to revel in acoustic sweetness. London's Robin Grey ( MySpace ) invites you into his coffee shop friendly world on his latest release. I Love Leonard Cohen is a four-track EP so splendid Mr. Cohen himself should be more than honored to have such a talented fan. Anyone looking for a fun-filled depressive state, look no further. Grey reminisces of greater times on the title track "I Love Leonard Cohen". This [...]
Over the holidays I wasn't just traveling and enjoying wacky Christmas music, oh no! I was also corresponding with a wonderful folk musician, Robin Grey . You might have noticed that I listed him on my favorite 15 albums of 2008 . I'm still swooning from his beautiful voice. And he's been gracious enough to grant me an exclusive interview via email. Tart: The most obvious question: have you got to meet your hero, Leonard Cohen!? Robin: Nope, not yet - I must confess [...]
10 tracks of gently experimental nu-folk inspired by the timeless work of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Ani Difranco amongst many others. "Bluesy and folky... it’s a really bloody good album." Song By Toad "Grey is one of those wonderful talents that could recite the phone directory on record and you’d still be enthralled." Another Form Of Relief "Very english... a great voice and a distinctive sound which is enhanced further by his excellent backing group." Backstage Pass "Exceptionally talented... a [...]
Here's my year end list... of my faves, and it's just that dear readers. You'll find an eclectic mix here, what else should you expect from a musical dilettante? It reflects my love of three major genres; indie/pop, folk, punk/industrial. All of them are on heavy rotation here at chez Tart and please do go out and support these artists! I have many, many bloggers to thank for turning me on to these fine artists, you all know who you are, xoxoxo! Meursault Pissing on Bonfires/Kissing with [...]
pic by RaQua So, last week Guns n' Roses (AKA Axl Rose) finally released their album Chinese Democracy . It took 12 years to make, and apparently cost 13 million dollars, 14 studios, around 218 musicians, a few US presidents, several wars, an unconfirmed number of nervous breakdowns, the safe passing of Y2K, and Lord only knows how many Domino's deliveries. It was also the week The Lucksmiths released their new album First [...]
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