Blog: Eclectically Challenged

It’s rare to stumble across a band that successfully avoid comparisons in an era when album oriented rock is more difficult to find than eclecticism. As such this Norwegian four piece are a beautiful anomaly. In fact, their music is so atypical they’ve managed to remain firmly under the aural radar for most music loving Brits, meaning their third album, A Kiss Before You Go (arriving May 7th), is the first many on these islands will have heard from the group. Hence us taking the time to introduce the players. Anne Marit Bergheim, Marianne Sveen, Solveig [...]

Anyone who heard Benjamin Francis Leftwich 's recent live lounge will know that when he understands that a cover of a song works best when it's a unique interpretation and he has yet again demonstrated this by producing a version of The Beatles' Ticket To Ride . Let's be honest, doing justice to a Beatles classic is a lot more difficult than David Guetta's Titanium, especially when they are murdered all too often (usually by X Factor contestants), but luckily BFL has succeeded where so many others have failed. If you find yourself already as a fan you [...]

Like every other genre of music the blues has developed significantly since its inception. One trait will always be prominent within the canon though- the need for heartfelt sincerity. It’s the difference between those that can successfully bleed onto their guitar strings, and the people who can only hope to muster a feeble whine. In Ian Siegal’s case there’s little to deny the fact the award winning singer songwriter is as authentic as they come. Which is part of the reason he’s the first UK musician to be nominated for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year [...]

Toronto quartet Bravestation have put their new song Signs Of The Civilized up on Bandcamp as a free download and, in all honesty, it's not often that free music is quite this good. What particularly struck me about this track was Devin Wilson's vocals which at times sounds like it has come straight from the 80s, and at others is so beautifully melodic it becomes almost haunting. Add into the mix the multi-faceted and atmospheric music the band have created to accompany his voice and the result is close to musical perfection that is [...]

Guelph, Southwest Ontario. Known as the ‘Royal City’, this town of 120,000 people is perhaps the most fitting place on Earth in which to find Evan Abeele and Denis Nuvion. For starters this locality is rated in the Top 10 places to live in Canada-which is saying something considering the overwhelming cleanliness and natural beauty of said nation. Secondly, the residents are thought to be amongst the most educated in the country, and its streets are the safest. As for the two musicians, known together as Memoryhouse, they create a rich aural tapestry that references dream [...]

In my opinion Luv Luv Luv records are one of the most exciting labels around at the moment, having already been responsible for releases from buzz bands such as Spector and Theme Park. So it is hardly surprising that their latest release to land in my inbox is also particularly good. Spiriting comes from Surrey trio Mafia Lights and is a piece of music that will undoubtedly divide opinion, but listen carefully and you'll hear that not only is this unique, it's also been thoughtfully crafted. Carefully layered over the sci-fi style backing track there is [...]

It's been a while since I personally wrote an Introducing piece but luckily I have found a band that have prompted me to change that. Shinies are a 3 piece from Manchester who despite only forming in September 2011 already look to be incredibly promising. Having played their first live gigs at the beginning of the year and put their first home made demo online for the world to hear, they are now set to release double A Side Shola and Pillow Talk . Sonically, this is what I call 'Skins' music. With [...]

• SHINIES - Shola

London quintet Rocketeer will release their new single Cupid this coming Monday, 27th February. When I featured the band's track Leave Me last year I was struck by just how 'British' this band were, everything from their sound to their video and, in that respect this song is no different. In the video, especially, this shines through with the manor house setting and rather striking blazers but other parts of the song present a noticeable difference. It's still just as catchy but the whole thing is a bit more subdued, and where before there [...]

Last summer I found myself particularly enamored with Tom Williams and the Boat but since then have found myself not getting chance to spend the time listening to their music as I would like. When a timely reminder that their new single My Bones is released this coming Monday (27th February) it seemed like the perfect opportunity to point you in their direction. If you haven't come across their stuff before then expect yourself to be confronted with an incredibly infectious beat and melodies and an arguably more rounded sound than they have produced up until [...]

Last year I got quite excited by Wax by Theme Park as soon as I heard it, so it with great relish that I'm able to point you in the direction of their latest release, and the first on Transgressive Records, entitled Two Hours . I fully suspect that, like its predecessor, this is likely to find itself on the receiving end of a lot of love as their catchy electro-pop proves, to me at least, 100% irresistible. What makes it that much better as well is that lead-singer Miles Haughton's vocals and lyrics are [...]

There's a possibility that this is a song I'm slightly late with picking up on but having just stumbled across it I feel it necessary to post. In all honesty I think it is one of the most stylish songs and videos I've seen in a while. The song itself is an 80s inspired infectious track which, to start with at least, sounds as though it should be on the soundtrack to a classic British gangster film, such is the broody nature of it. The video, then, manages to accentuate the sharpness of the song; all monochrome shots and dapper [...]

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and if like me you chose to ignore the day and listen to My Bloody Valentine on repeat good on you! What you may want to consider instead is purchasing Doe Paoro 's debut album Slow To Love, which is released on the same day. I like the record company's thinking there. You may presume that being released on Valentine's Day means it's a collection of love songs, well there is a romantic notion to them but with a bit of grit and truth bolstering up the track listing. Her fascinating vocal [...]

I don't know why but sometimes what I hear from a band really surprises me; there are times when I look at a name or a picture and expect, inexplicably, to hear something completely different to what comes out my speaker. Vultures by Senna is one of those occasions. For no apparent reason I anticipated hearing a full on rock band, not something I would have been adverse to, but instead found an infectious mid-tempo riff that has shades of old school rock 'n' roll which it's hard not to find yourself enjoying. It's one of [...]

If there's a band that knows the value of creating an amazing video it's OK Go . In the past few years it's an art form they have perfected in unique and interesting ways, with many having been adopted by others intent on producing their own versions, with sometimes less than successful results. It hardly comes as a surprise then that their latest offering Needing/Getting has earned itself a prolific spot on US TV in the run up to the Super Bowl (with a little help from the fact it has been created in association with Chevrolet). [...]

If, like me, you've been unfortunate enough to have to venture outside today then you're probably also looking for something to help warm you up slightly and while this won't quite hit the spot like a duvet and hot chocolate, I think Jack Robert Hardman 's Famous may help just a little bit. It's slower than his track Sorry To George which I featured last year but there's no denying it's just as effective. With nothing but an acoustic guitar and his beautifully melodic voice he has managed to create a song that is utterly [...]

Seasfire are a four piece from Bristol that I suspect are as new to me as they are to you; judging by the song that has been sent to me today though I hope that won't be the case for much longer. Falling is released 27th Feb and I hope it acts as an indication of what else is to come from them because it is beyond stunning. Their gentle electro sound will undoubtedly draw comparisons to James Blake but the fact that this is from a band makes it much more rounded and, dare I say [...]

This is one of the most unique bits of music that has arrived in my inbox for a while. Una will be released on March 5th and comes from Leicester 4 piece Silent Devices . What makes this song quite so special is the fact that it gets to halfway through before any vocals actually kick in giving you chance to appreciate every single member's talents as one by one each individual instrument joins in to create an intelligently layered piece which is utterly engaging before a single word has been sung. When the vocals do appear [...]

You'll all be familiar with the expression 'right time, right place' well Jodie Marie is the proof in the pudding. If the pudding was a saying and the saying was the one I've just mentioned. Anyway, on with the story. Jodie is from Narbeth in Pembrokeshire and being from such a small place all the locals knew of the sixteen year old with the gorgeous, caramel smooth voice. Most likely if she'd decided to up sticks and head onto the nation's favourite singing contest (a la Janet Devlin) the whole of Narbeth would have rallied [...]

After a prolonged absence brought about partly due to the arrival of a nephew and partly due to the death of my computer I am finally back up and running! By way of an apology I bring to you the new video from Exlovers for their track Starlight Starlight , which apart from being a fantastic song is also available for free if you head over to their website . If you've heard their music before you'll be unsurprised to learn that is probably the perfect song to help you reminisce about or long for summer, owing to [...]

As you can probably imagine working in a pub takes up a lot of time during December so I have, admittedly, been a bit lax with posting. In an attempt to rectify this though I thought I'd share with you something to get you completely and utterly in the festive spirit. Nottingham five-piece Dog Is Dead have produced a cover of The Waitresses' Christmas Wrapping which you can not only to listen to below but also download for free (think of it as an early present) by heading over here . If, like me, you're [...]