Blog: Love Machine

Good afternoon dear readers…. It's been a while, we've missed you. We've missed playing amazing pop music at high volume even more though. And we are delighted to announce that we're rectifying this, by relaunching a bigger & better, and most importantly FREE-ER Love Machine for you all! After the massive success of our Nicola Roberts single launch party there last June, we have made the full-time move to HOXTON SQUARE BAR AND KITCHEN , where we'll be hosting the LAST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH , starting on FRIDAY [...]

So, Whitney. The show is over. What can we add to the reams of tributes from fellow stars, the deep and thoughtful analysis of her contribution to music and the sad story of her decline? It is this. 1. We have never had a Love Machine where we didn't play I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and we never will. 2. Even her last album where she'd fallen apart a bit contained Million Dollar Bill, which was better than most artists' career output. [...]

Just before Christmas, when Scissor Sisters announced that they had a new single and a new album all ready to go in 2012 and the single is called 'Shady Love' featuring Azealia Banks and would be getting its first play on January 2nd (ie. today) we were practically shivering with anticipation - new Scissor Sisters material is always an event. We were somewhat perplexed then, when this track hit our eardrums an hour or so ago. Shady Love (Clean) by Scissor Sisters Official [...]

Lana Del Rey is basically everywhere right now, so we're jumping on the bandwagon and honouring her success the only way we do best - with a Love Machine Screencap Review… The video opens on this scene of Lana hugging a man with lots of tattoos in front of an American flag. Very patriotic. We then see Lana sitting apathetically on a throne in some fancy church palace thing with her pet tigers… …before the scene [...]

The X Factor final takes place this weekend, and even though this series has probably been the worst in X Factor history, the final 3 are all quite good. The following are more like our demands, to be honest, as the British public is quite literally un-fucking-predictable when it comes to a vote - how the HELL did we end up with Matt Cardle as last year's winner for sobbing aloud? - but if events happen to work out in the way we want, we'll claim WE CALLED IT until the end of time. [...]

Diana Vickers is back with a new song called 'Music To Make The Boys Cry' which we're told you can have as a free download if you sign up to her mailing list. Worth the effort? If you can get past Diana's "quirky" (read: damn irritating) vocal then yes, it's worth the effort. It's a charming little pop number co-written by Donkeyboy with whimsical lyrics and sweet 80s synths. Chorus could have done with a bit of a boost though. We don't like 'Music To Make The Boys Cry' as much as we really quite liked [...]

Is there anything Cheryl Cole can't do (or won't put her name to?) This week saw the launch of her very first shoe collection for Stylist Pick and while most of us would rather she released a new album and everyone crosses their fingers for that Girls Aloud reunion, it looks like that as with everything Cheryl touches - The X Factor USA excepted - her first foray into fashion will turn to gold. We know these sidelines are considered almost rites of passage for popstars of a certain calibre, but when should they have just stuck to [...]

In part one of our REAL Sound Of 2012 we looked at already established and establishing artists, but in part two, we're all about the newbies. These acts are the ones we're supporting in 2012 and hoping they'll go all the way to the top. BUBBLING UNDER OH MY! Alex and Jade have been on the pop radar for the better part of the year, but they are yet to make their big splash which is why we've categorised them [...]

The BBC Sound Of longlist was released yesterday and it's the usual mix of obvious up and coming stars, will-they / won't they make it acts and people you've never heard of. Thing is, rarely are these nominees the actual Sound Of an entire year - I mean, in 2011 we couldn't move for Pitbull & Ne-Yo or LMFAO and they didn't make any Sound Of lists. We've decided to predict the REAL Sound Of 2012, based on what will probably be unavoidable in shops, on the radio and come the first Friday of every month at Club Love Machine. [...]

Shocking scenes of plagiarism.

How many Christmas parties this year will be offering you the opportunity to find yourself under the mistletoe with Cheryl Cole? Probably only ones thrown by Ms. Cole herself. And that's why the Love Machine Xmas party last Friday was awesome - we give you what no one else can: Click-through to see the photos from the night and tag yourself if you were there. If you missed out, don't worry, we'll be back again in the New Year to bring you the same kind of fun. Just [...]

There seems to be a mad rush of biggish releases this week, presumably as artists push to chart before the X Factor cinch the #1. Are any of these releases any good? We're about to tell you. Do you remember Lloyd Daniels from a few series of X Factor ago? No, neither do we really. Other than the rumours he was dating Danyl Johnson (also from a few series of X Factor ago) he has been largely off the radar. We had no idea he was still interested in music, especially as at the time of his exit [...]

That's our advice to anyone thinking of giving up almost 14 minutes of their life to watch Lady Gaga's new video for 'Marry The Night'. Don't waste your time. Just like the song itself nothing happens until the climax when it ALL GOES OFF. We're a little disappointed that the epic dance scene was ruined a bit by editing in other clips, but all in all, we like the franticness.

From 9pm Concrete will turned in to a pop grotto of Christmas cheer for the Love Machine Xmas Party, and you can find out all the details here . If you're not signed up to our mailer ( why not? ) you'll have missed our exclusive Xmas Megamix. This is a shame for you, but because we're not total Grinches, we've compiled this list of tunes that you can expect to hear if you come down to jingle all the way with us tonight. 1. Mariah Carey - 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' [...]

Do you remember the b-side to Girls Aloud's 'The Loving Kind'? A slice of creamy electro paradise sung primarily by Kimberley and Nicola, it was released only on the collectable vinyl which understandably riled fans a little bit because who has the means to play vinyls nowadays? It eventually made its way onto a CD as part of the limited-edition-but-not-really Girls Aloud complete singles boxset, and is considered somewhat of a treasure. To entice people who have already purchased a copy of Nicola Roberts' album Cinderella's Eyes into also parting with £1.99 to support the third single 'Yo-Yo', [...]

Mariah Carey - 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'

Nicola Roberts is releasing 'Yo-Yo' as the third single from her album Cinderella's Eyes, and just like we did for 'Beat Of My Drum' we've broken it all down for you through a series of screencaps and added some ~funny captions. Enjoy! The video opens with a man doing some very nifty yo-yo tricks. The only yo-yo trick we know is "walk the dog". Nicola is trying on different outfits for us to judge, we presume. 8/10. [...]

So… Kelly Rowland's album didn't sell too good, and Beyoncé is NOT happy about it. We couldn't count you all the hilarious moments, but when Rihanna pops up to say that she can only talk to Kelly overseas is a highlight.

It's a slow week for new releases - we're not particularly enamoured with anything due to hit the charts on Sunday, and besides, Rihanna will probably be #1 again anyway. With that said, if you've got 99p there are worse songs you could spend it on than The X Factor Finalists 2011 (featuring JLS & One Direction) and their cover of 'Wishing On A Star' - a song that proves to be so brilliant, not even that motley crew could balls it up. True, the JLS & One Direction "feature" (all of the last 20 seconds [...]

Lady Gaga - 'The Edge Of Glory' from A Very Gaga Thanksgiving