For some reason, my phone refused to let me subscribe to the Great Escape text service, and without adequate O2 coverage, I hadn't had a chance in hell to load the official festival app. In hindsight, either of these may have informed me that the entire Island Records showcase at the Loft featuring Lower Than Atlantis , King Charles (my main interest in this stage, after Tom's hilarious phone interview with the man ) and Tribes had been cancelled. But as I learned over this weekend, [...]
It's two weeks since our first date with Violet , the band fronted by model, Sloane, fashionista and celebrity daughter Pixie Geldof. This was, we should hasten to add, not an actual date where we went for a meal, traded stories about our travels, regaled each other with embarrassing tales about our lives and then went 'back for coffee' round Pixie's house, but a musical one in a London pub. Pixie sang, we watched, listened and were more than reasonably impressed. In fact we were impressed enough to feature her group as a new wave on the blog [...]
For over 1,200 days now, the Guardian's Paul Lester has been hunting down the hottest and fastest rising stars in music for his (aptly titled) New Band of the Day column, Such is the success of Lester's up-to-the-minute scribblings, the Guardian have started showcasing some of the fresh talent on offer. Tonight's show at Camden Barfly is the second New Band of the Day Live shows and features five names you'll surely hear more from later this year. The first name you may recognise from a certain family member. Opening tonight are the gloriously grungey [...]
If youre talking about exciting underground producers, two of the first names out of the hat should always be Igor Tchkotoua and Dan Duncan (aka Pig&Dan), since 1999 their distinctive mixture of influences has given them a sound that is both innovative and easily recognizable. Their Sonic Society label and relationship with Sven Vaths Cocoon family have led to global respect for this dynamic duo. Recently, they teamed up with English ex-pat Mark Reeve (and Maltas Dean Demanuele) to create a truly international melting pot of hip-swinging, groovy rhythms on Machines, which is a standout track on Bedrocks stellar Underground [...]
Sometimes, it is best to listen to new music point-blank, without any expectations, and that's exactly how you should listen to the track below. STREAM: Violet - Y.O.U. That was well lovely, wasn't it? It's languid, laidback, nostalgic and lovey dovey dream-pop, reminiscent of '90s Mazzy Star, and Beach House, for a more modern reference. It's appropriately springtime soundtrack for a lakeside picnic. I checked Violet out with no other information other than they're the latest signing to cool British indie label Luv Luv Luv, and I liked [...]
Let's get this out of the way right at the start shall we? A lot of people are going to come to Violet with preconceived ideas. For this is a band fronted by one Pixie Geldof, the model who has faced ad campaigns for Agent Provocateur, Diesel and Debenhams, the sister of party girl celebrity Peaches Geldof and daughter of rock musician turned feed-the-world hero Bob Geldof. But let's just for a moment imagine that you know nothing about Pixie and [...]
Nick Rosen has crafted an album displaying ample skill, but it simply doesn't stand out. Violet is an impressive work from a clearly accomplished musician working with his peers. It's an album full of spirited playing, casual improvisational feel, and soft atmospheres. All of the songs here are fine but only once or twice does it manage to latch onto something that's memorable. Fortunately, one of them is the gorgeous opening instrumental "Countryside Prelude" and the subsequent folk-inflected tune, "Count Your Tears". Paired together they show promise and pull the...
VIOLETNESS - THE COAL (SUN GLITTERS REMIX) Luxembourg beat maker, Sun Glitters does a outstanding remix of Violetness' track "The Coal". The remix is set for release on LebensStrasse Records in April, as part of Violetness's upcoming 12"/EP entitled 'Last Night In My Dreams, I Was Talking to You'.
Chicago's Vanessa Upson goes by the name of Violetness in her bedazzling solo project. Violetness is where Upson expresses her etherealized cries on a soothing, melodic layer of experimental pop. MTV Hive recently premiered Violetness' latest single "The Coal", while LebensStrasse Records released her first EP Last Night In My Dreams, I was Talking To You on March 16th. With three original songs on the EP, there are two remixes from Sun Glitters and Slow Magic . Today, we have the premiere of Sun Glitters' ambient take on "The Coal". Less vocals are mixed here [...]
Chicago's Vanessa Upson goes by the name of Violetness in her bedazzling solo project. Violetness is where Upson expresses her etherealized cries on a soothing, melodic layer of experimental pop. MTV Hive recently premiered Violetness' latest single "The Coal", while LebensStrasse Records released her first EP Last Night In My Dreams, I was Talking...
Violet is band fronted by Pixie Geldof, and Pixie Geldof is easy to dislike. She's in the papers a lot getting drunk all over town, she has a mildly silly name, she's the spoilt daughter using her celebrity dad's fame, etc etc x100. But you know what? I think this, from her debut double-A side, is pretty ace. In particular I like the unhurried constancy of it: a pretty lounge sound that just plods on and on gracefully, charmingly, thoughtfully. It's perfect for lazy afternoons reading the papers with your girlfriend, or to soundtrack the nightbus journey home after a great evening out. (via This Is [...]
Pixie Geldof es tal vez más conocida por ser la hija de Bob Geldof, cantante, activista y actor protagonista de The Wall de Pink Floyd, que por su banda Violet . Y es normal, aunque llevar el apellido de su padre ha hecho que el mundo de la música mire a un proyecto bastante interesante que verá su primer sencillo dentro de unos meses. El 7 de mayo se pone a la venta "Y.O.U." , un sencillo que hace las veces de debut para Violet, la banda de Pixie Geldof, y [...]
"The Coal" is the first track to be unveiled off the upcoming debut by Violetness aka Vanessa Upson, a Peruvian-American artist whose outré electronic pop draws on traditions of tribal music to come up with a sound that sometimes evokes the work of other mysticism-infused female artists such as Prince Rama or also Bat For Lashes. It's a finely arranged, sophisticated pop tune that shows more than enough promise to leave us longing for more. Last Night in My Dreams, I Was Talking to You will be released March 16 on Portugal's [...]
Local psych-riffers Apteka are releasing their new LP, Gargoyle Days , at the Empty Bottle tonight, and we've got the epic debut single from the record available for your listening pleasure. Last month, Apteka opened at Jane's Addiction's two-night stint at the Metro, and it's easy to hear why based on this new single, "Striking Violet." After beginning with a cacophony of jet engine riffage, the drums lay down a heavy-but-bouncy groove over over a dark and spacey guitar line. The song eventually builds to a powerful arena-rock [...]
All Hands Electric is releasing this excellent 73 single (on vinyl and digital formats) by The Gang Violets - it is out today. Their blend of psychedelic Americana effortlessly shifts from sunshine-pop to space-rock, while making more than a few country, folk, and blues detours along the way. Black Clouds rises up like a campfire despite moody lyrics, and is impossible to forget with its hook laden cadences, elated group vocals, whispery calls, gospel swagger, and swooning closure. The vinyl is limited to 200 copies - order here . Download Gang [...]
This one's got me baffled. Madeon has only released a 1:44 teaser of his new track "Icarus", yet producers are already putting out 6 minute remixes. I can't tell if Violet Green just looped the teaser and added some extra drums and synths on top of it; but it sounds outrageously similar to the 1:44 original. Who knows, we'll figure it out when Madeon releases the full length version. Shout out to B-Rob for the look. Download: Madeon - Icarus (Violet Green Remix) Tweet
At a tender age of 17, french electronic producing prodigy Madeon has etched his place in the industry and is destined for greatness. He recently posted a teaser of an upcoming release entitled, Icarus, which has the kids tripping over their shoelaces. The feedback from the trollers out on the intrawebs are saying its a blend between Wolfgang Gartner / Deadmau5 / Daft Punk / Justice. The following below is a remix by Violet Green, although it does retain much of the original teaser. I'll let you be the judge. On the flipside, if your in [...]
The wonderful Leadmill in Sheffield held a massively loud gig with 3 strong Sheffield acts (and an Australian act that making quite a few waves). First on the line-up for the night was The Hope Explosion . Three guitars, one drum kit and a lot of musical ideas and dynamics were offered to a very attentive crowd. Proggy, but never overbearing nor taxing. The sound of the band is always expansive, full of powerful licks that never go for virtuoso-like chest-thumping and more into blue-tinted feelings. Playing tracks from their new EP, they got great [...]
All Mankind will release their debut album 'Simple Desire' through SO Recordings on 24th October. The album will be preceded by their second single "Can You Hear Me", released on 10th October. All Mankind - Can You Hear Me? video: 'Simple Desire' was produced by Mike Crossey ( Arctic Monkeys , Razorlight, Foals) and was recorded at the Motor Museum Studio in Liverpool. All Mankind (their name was inspired by a line from a Pearl Jam song) are a hook- [...]
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