2000 Miles

Happy Without You

new patrick x

Nobody's running, well not after me...

I'm so stupid I only just noticed this song on the first Nerina Pallot album (it was hidden on the end of the last song on my copy...)

Bye Bye

Following the release of his second long player, 'Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You', at the start of the year, Lightspeed Champion, aka Dev Hynes, returns with a new EP called 'Bye Bye'.

It all kicks off with a cover version of The Beach Boys' 'Til I Die' in which Hynes puts his own stamp on the dreamy original. Continuing on that theme, the rest of the record was arranged by composer and producer Van Dyke Parks, who has worked with the The Beach Boys as well as the likes of The Byrds, Silverchair and Joanna Newsom.

The arrangement has an abundance of luscious instrumentation which, in the main, works well with Hynes' individualistic vocal and writing style. It's not perfect - sometimes Parks' contributions don't fully connect with Hynes' hecticness - but it's a welcome release nevertheless, and another insight into Lightspeed's untamed imagination, not to mention, for me at least, a great introduction to the original Beach Boys' track.

By meee, and taken from CMU

Someone like you

probably wont get sick of watching this ever.

Written On The Forehead

soooo ready for the new album

virginia moon

Howllll

Love Me Tender

why have I only just seen wild at heart. amazing.

Playing God

Tough to choose, but think this is my favourite track on the album ♥
Just going to give Hayley a call and see if she wants to swap wardrobes.

Heavy In Your Arms

If, like me, you've exhausted all of Florence And The Machine's existing material and have been waiting anxiously for a new song to crank up loud and sing along to at the top of your voice in the comfort of your own home (with or without hairbrush), then fear not fellow Florence sycophant, here it is. Included on this year's 'Twilight' movie soundtrack, 'Heavy In Your Arms' is the latest single from the Machine and a bonus track on the new 'Lungs' special edition release.

Produced by Paul Epworth, it's exactly what I want and need from a Flo song; a dreamy chantyness running throughout that's crushed by Florence's stern vocals and a prominent drum beat, especially so on the chorus. The loud, almost shouty, vocals towards the end bare an emotive tone, utilising the full power of Florence's voice and adding a darkness that makes this song perfect for the 'Twilight' theme.

All that said, 'Heavy In Your Arms' is almost a mix of 'Cosmic Love' and 'Rabbit Heart', or maybe 'Between Two Lungs' and 'Drumming Song'. That is to say, that while this is a welcome new Florence track, it does feel like an add on to 'Lungs' rather than a glimpse into the Machine's next chapter, ie it's much the same as what went before. So, while excited that I have something new to sing along to, 'Heavy In Your Arms' still leaves me wanting something even newer, a different kind of Flo.

By meee, and taken from CMU

Apply

delirious

Ooh na na, ooh na na...

My baby don't care for high-tone places

I have watched this an awful lot already today :/

Skinny Love

this is nice...

White Chalk

It's not until February... but got tickets to see PJ Harvey ♥

.....

everything seems SO impossible.

I have only just properly discovered Feist.



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gu1tarist?

my brother and his band are looking for a super talented guitarist so if you are one or know any then make yourself known, he/we are looking for yoooooooo.

www.myspace.com/russelldeanstone

CYOA! Part 5: London

Continuous happiness

Alexisonfire tickets arrived yesterday :)

Smooth

Boom

This is SOOO so so so bad. I love it.


Firework
Uploaded by yardie4lifever2. - See video of the biggest web video personalities.

violet

Ramona

Slow on life right now - forgot to check I had tickets sorted for Monday.

The Water

Haitian Holloween

It just gets better...

Hold Onto Your Friends

Laura Stevenson and the Cans

The Walkmen

Hmmm, Florence could basically cover anything and make it sound amazing, I think. Anyway, hearing this a while back got me into The Walkmen, pretty much like all of their past albums now - and enjoying their new stuff too.....

BMTH

The new Bring Me The Horizon album is sooo much better than I thought it was going to be. LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE. and just realised the girl singing on Crucify Me and Don't Go is Lights, awesome.

Marinaaaa

I love and hate M & The Diamonds. And now I love and hate M & The Diamonds even more after reading this cos I can completely relate to the duality of things - what I like and what I don't and what I believe in and what I don't believe in, so even liking Marina becomes a massive contradiction. I think.

Erase Me

Just Another Lonely Sunday....

Oooo on Saturday I went to see East 17, I mean Hurts. It was FUN, and it was the second time I've seen them. I definitely loved them more this time around. Not sure who the support band were, I think they may have been from Theo's previous band Daggers, but I wasn't really into it and thought the girl singing should have been the lead singer. Anyway, I love the Hurts album and loved watching them, I always feel like there's something slightly missing, I'm not sure what, but pop at it's finest definitely.

That's what you get

So, Friday I went to the rocksound presents tour at koko. wish I'd gone with more energy and that it didn't start at 6 and that it wasn't filled with reeeeally young people. but all the bands - lower than at atlantis, devil sold his soul, norma jean and architects - were real awesome, and I got told I look like I was born in '91 so it was a GOOD/RAD night all in all.

ps. I don't really like koko as a venue anymore, I like how it looks but it's just soo irritating the way you can go up and up and down and it's always soo packed!

anyway, ♥'ed the music:



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You can always make new friends

YEEEESSSSssss, new stuff.

Your Wish Is My Command

I hate it when real life interrupts my world. Tonight I have to do real life stuff, so obviously I'm distracting myself... and now I've entered Warpaint World, and now I'm stuck cos I keep finding bands/music I like and have thus far neglected. These in particular, Beach House are so so dreamy...



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Never Gonna Give You Up

Just listened to this and realised it's finally time to listen to The Black Keys, so late :/



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With each mistake I make

When is Flo going to do something new. I over-listened to her album ages ago, so now it either has to be real real old like this below ♥, or something new. I need something to obsess over please.

CYOA! Part 4 : Port-Au-Prince (Haitian Halloween)

Choose Your Own Vodou Adventure this Halloween!

On Saturday 30th October the Silver Bullet in Finsbury Park becomes the crossroad between the living and the deceased as Haitian priests, Vodou spirits and witch doctors gather for Baron Samedi’s Dance of the Dead!

Zombies! Gather one and all and let the chosen Houngans and Mambos send you into an intoxicating Halloween trance, safe in the knowledge that a fishing boat, a couple of Ox’s or dozen pigs will be winging their way to a community in Haiti - courtesy of your door money.

www.lambifund.org

It’s Choose Your Own Adventure’s Halloween special, come suitably spookily garbed!

DJ's

SlothBoogie
Sharkleberry Fin
Lou Madhu
Kevy Petting

www.slothboogie.com

Millionaire

sucker for covers

Let's start something, anything...

Has anyone got any of there 'go back in time' passes left? I used all three of mine... LET'S GO BACK TO THIS TIME!

Everytime everytime everytime everytime...

I love this album from start to finish.

lost in translation

immensity
of loneliness
in a blue sky
with clouds.
between crags
painted by peaceful
heart weeps.

I'll get along with you...

Young Americans

errr, WOW, can't stop watching this. wish I was Cher, or Bowie...

Let them follow you down

Undertow

I reeeeally want to see Warpaint live again/be in Warpaint.

Winter Is All Over You

I think I have Fall/Winter '10 covered.

Amo l'Italia

I now want to be lying on a sunbed next to a pool with this view foreverrrr, well maybe the deck chair could be removed - I wouldn't be too keen on looking at that forever, or that bit of my thigh actually. But anyway, Italy was beeeautiful and I've promised myself I will meet a handsome Italian guy and live there. Not yet though, I'm pretty busy for the next few months, maybe next year though, I'll pencil it in.

Whilst lying on the sunbed I listened to the new Katy Perry album, a lot, even though it's really rubbish and reminds me of a Pink album, awful. but I still couldn't stop listening to it, I hate it when that happens. I also listened to a lot of Charlotte Gainsbourg. I know she's French, and not Italian, but it seemed to go very well. yep.

Saviours

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and so on.

My hearts an open door...

Hmmm I didn't want The xx to win the Mercury Prize I wanted LAURA MARLING to win, and I didn't want Example to win the Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize I wanted HURTS to win. But we can't always get what we want can we. Sulk.

Watching the Mercury's did remind me how much I love watching CBR singing 'I'd Do It All Again' though, just so raw and beeautiful...

Lost and Low

September is so sober and so slow, and now I'm sick. but that means I'm not leaving the house, drinking tea, and listening to new Laura Marling...



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I'll endure the night

I was too lazy and uninterested to listen to Local Natives until the other day, but they are actually real GOOD. I think I'm a sucker for build-ups and repitition. I like this. 'and when I can feel with my sun hands, I promise not to lose her again'...

Want your bad romance

Thanks Reading for fueling my, in no way getting out of hand, Hayley Williams obsession.

Create Your Own Adventure

Splendid night at CYOA Montego Bay last night, went to bed dressed as a skeleton and my friend in a chef's hat after building a base... :/

Been listening to these lots today...

http://open.spotify.com/user/djanswer/playlist/4AoX1BzyZEVMPrSaaTV8Aw

http://sharemyplaylists.com/jamaica/

Thrice

Definitely my new favourite band, until Sunday.

Wrap me up

I made the best wrapping paper ever. so I was told.

Rumours forever

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

and just Stevie Nicks forever...

Treasure

Sophie's treasure map ♥

Take it to the bridge

Sophie's suicide map :/

CYOA! Part 3: Montego Bay

One week today...

It’s Carnival weekend! We’re choosing a Jamaican adventure!

Hurricane season is approaching and Pirates have overrun the waters off the Florida strait so we’re taking refuge in beautiful Montego Bay with the sweet (and not so sweet) sounds of reggae all night long!

Daddy Ad from the world famous Trojan Sound System will keep you dancing whilst Blackbeard’s ghost will be supplying complimentary gold rum that he acquired in a dangerous heist off the coast of New Providence.

IT’S CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!

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Daddy Ad (Trojan Sound System)
Sharkleberry Fin (Ska, Rockers, Dancehall)
Jam Ragga (Sing Ting)
Readers Wifes (X-Rated Rude Reggae)

FREE ENTRY

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Friday 27th August – Doors 9.30pm til 3am
Question Mark Bar – 129 Stoke Newington High Street N16 0PH

Big Chill 2010

This was my first time at the Big Chill fest, and I'd only heard great things about it - amazing setting, cool music, and a nice atmosphere - so I went with high expectations. Arriving late on Thursday evening we were greeted by a massive queue to get into the festival car park, which was frustrating to say the least after a three hour drive to get there. Once we'd got in and set up our tents though excitement kicked in and I was more than happy to see that it was a relatively tiny festival, with our tents being pitched pretty much right next to the arena - Yay!

Waking up on the Friday, the weather wasn't what I'd hoped it was going to be, but the scenery more than made up for it - we were literally surrounded by big green hills. The first band I got to see were actually my favourite of the whole weekend. Despite stupidly missing the beginning of the set, I arrived to see the majority of Mike Patton's Mondo Cane And The Heritage Orchestra. After seeing Faith No More at Download 2009, I was already aware of Patton's greatness, but this put him in a whole new light for me - which I guess is part of said greatness; that he can touch on such a range of genres and still be magic.

Later that evening it was time to watch main stage headliners Massive Attack. Not really knowing what to expect and not having the greatest knowledge of the band's catalogue, I was totally blown away by their performance. I was completely captured by their set which was filled with classics like 'Teardrops', 'Inertia Creeps' and 'Unfinished Sympathy' and a spectacular light show.

On Saturday, the first band I stumbled across were Husky Rescue. A band I'd heard of but had no idea what they sounded like, and I was pleasantly surprised, if not completely overwhelmed, by them. Next up I headed over to the main stage to catch the amazing Patrick Wolf. I'd actually forgotten he was playing so was a bit overexcited that I caught his performance.

Wearing a black and white jumpsuit, Patrick's performance was typically full of energy and really showed off just how talented he is, although I definitely think he deserved a larger crowd.

Later that evening were headliners Roots Manuva and MIA. For me, Roots Manuva was fun but more of a warm up for what was coming next; I've been a fan of MIA from the start although not a huge fan of her most recent work. However, I completely loved her performance and was reminded why I liked her so much. Unfortunately, her set got cut short after she invited a 'few' people up to dance on stage which in no time at all turned into a full on stage invasion of about 200 people, but for it's entertainment value I really didn't mind. Ending the night in one of the dance tents, my fellow festivalers and I danced solidly for about three hours to Mr Scruff's DJ set, proving that it wasn't just his tea that was good.

On the final day, I was faced with the decision of going to see Natty or Morcheeba. Choosing Natty, I'm sure I made the right decision. Playing a mainly chilled out set with a few upbeat tracks here and there, Natty put across his message of the importance of music.

Later that afternoon I caught Villagers' set on the Clash stage. Having missed them earlier in the year I couldn't wait to see them live. It was a perfect chilled out set for a Sunday afternoon, which was suitably followed by Fionn Regan and Newton Faulkner and rounded off with Bonobo.

Despite the atmosphere being a little more on the rowdy side than I had anticipated, the festival as a whole was a lot of fun - an amazing line-up, cool little touches like the cinema tent and outside DJ area, it ranged from chilled out to one big party. GS

reviewsblog.thecmuwebsite.com/post/Big-Chill-2010

Glassjaw

LOVE

Please come save me!

Tonight I'll be dancing to theeese :)

x

Big Chill

A real proper, written better than this, review coming soon (once I've woken up properly and got over the big chill blues), but for now here are my top three favourite music moments of an amazing weekend...

Favourite number 1 - Mike Patton's Mondo Cane
Playing with the Heritage Orchestra, this was by far the best thing I saw all weekend, even though I stupidly missed the beginning of the set. My Mike Patton obsessive friend Adam is now teaching me all things FNM, Fantomas, Peeping Tom etc etc. He is musically electric, it's true...



Favourite number 2 - Massive Attack
I was going to put Patrick Wolf as one of my faves, cos he is mega talented and I loved and always love his performance(s), but Massive Attack definitely blew me away, I'd never seen them live before and didn't think I'd like them as much as I did, but they were pretty spectacular...



Favourite 3 - MIA
Gangsterrrrr

It's a long, long, long, long way, way down...

Definitely did not listen to this album enough when it first came out...

♥

Sonisphere

RAAWWWWR, I missed Download this year so was more than ready for some metal action at Soni. After a ridiculous attempt to get on the m25 and work out my sat nav, Soph and I finally arrived at Knebworth; getting intoxicated within half an hour, hanging out with 'team metal' and convincing people we weren't on acid (we weren't) were definitely comedy highlights. Running away from wasps every ten minutes, sleeping in my car, and leaving early on the Sunday with a bad bad hangover definitely weren't...

My favourite music moments of the weekend were:

Favourite number 1 - GOOD CHARLOTTE
I'm not ashamed to admit this, their Good Morning Revival album was brilliant. Playing Keep Your Hands Off My Girl would have made me happier, but I still thought their set was ace.



Favourite number 2 - Corey Taylor
Didn't realise he had such an amazing voice - especially loved the Johnny Cash cover, and he even covered Chris Isaak's Wicked Game!



Favourite number 3 - Henry Rollins
Bit of a hero

Two + Two

I ♥ Natasha Khan

I thought I was over Paramore

but I'm not

25 minutes to go

RDS

Today's CMU Approved:

Russell Dean Stone is a London-based singer-songwriter who, after previously going it solo, has been working with a full band over the past year. Fresh out of the studio, the three-piece have been working on tracks 'Leather' and 'Summer Song' with producer and former Test Icicle Rory Bratwell, and not to mention a guest appearance from legendary Damned drummer Rat Scabies.

The band sits effortlessly next to acts like Bat For Lashes and Florence And The Machine, whilst taking inspiration from Bauhaus and Depeche Mode. The Russell Dean Stone sound is heavy in drama and heavily influenced by Kenneth Anger and William Burroughs. But whilst there are knowing references aplenty this is no mess, but a well executed vision. You can catch all of this over at their MySpace.

www.myspace.com/russelldeanstone

Émilie Simon

Ooh la la. I got to speak to Émilie Simon the other day, she was lovely and this is from her new album (I think I like Ballad Of The Big Machine better but I couldn't find a video for that)...

pow pow

I'll probably watch The Go-Getter over and over and over again...

UH HUH HER

Today I am reviving my love for PJ Harvey




I have no time for hate or love
Hey child, you're so full of woe
I have no time for hate or lying
Hey child, you're no child of mine

♥

I close my eyes and I see you dancing

Hop Farm '10
Ah, a non-metal, non-rock, non-rave festival, and my first camping festival of the year. Somehow that pitch seemed to fit perfectly with my recent "I'm always tired and not sure I can do festivals any more" thinking. Heading off from my hometown of Feltham (or Filthtown as I like to call it) I couldn't wait to get to the festival site and reeelax, lay in the sun and listen to some folky tunes. Despite it being easy peasy to get there and park up, it didn't get off to a good start. Firstly I locked my keys in the car as soon as I arrived, doh, and secondly I couldn't find Box Office 2 (who, I was told, would have my wristband) anywhere. Why didn't ANYONE know where Box Office 2 was?!

Anyway, so I found it, got on site, set up camp, and headed into the arena - which was delightfully small. Wandering around the array of stalls in search for a drink and maybe some good old festival food, I stumbled across Liz And The Ligers playing the Bread & Roses stage. I hadn't heard of them before and couldn't work out if I liked them or not, but ultimately decided I did - they sounded like a band from the early 60s and not really like anyone around now, and Liz herself was rather intriguing, so that was a good accidental watch.

After buying a massive bag of fudge, and finding out that 'hot hot chocolate' meant spicy chocolate, I headed over to the Big Top tent to have a listen to my dad's recommendation, Peter Green & Friends. As a big Fleetwood fan I kind of knew I'd like this already, and I certainly did.

With so many distractions, it was the evening before I got to the main stage, just in time for Blondie, yay. How is Debbie Harry 65? She sounded and looked amazing. Pouring out hits 'Call Me', 'Maria', 'Heart Of Glass' and 'The Tide Is High', having Blondie on the bill may have looked ever so slightly out of place for Hop Farm, but it really worked.

I then caught some of Van Morrison's headline set, before running back to the Bread & Roses stage to watch The Ruskins - a local band for me and one I've seen several times. Performing with loads of energy, as usual, The Ruskins really shook up the stage - playing an unexpected old skool garage medley, and by the end of their set the crowd had doubled and were even singing along to 'Old Isleworth' and invading the stage for the final song.

Day two, another blisteringly hot day, started off at the well-placed campsite stage where I could eat brekkie. As we headed back into the arena we were just in time for the lovely Magic Numbers. Next up were two of my favourites, Johnny Flynn and Laura Marling. Whilst both played amazing sets and showed off their talent, I couldn't help feeling disappointed that they didn't use the opportunity to duet! Plus the sound from the main stage was definitely on the quiet side - with the sound from one of the funfair rides just a little too close for comfort.

Despite wanting to see Villagers and curious as to check out the Jim Jones Revue, mismatched stage times meant I completely missed them both, nooo. However, Seasick Steve definitely made up for it, with his raw performance and tales of homemade instruments.

The new poster boys of folk, Mumford & Sons, were up next on the main stage, and completely charmed the crowd, getting everyone up on their feet for their latest singles.

Following on was the legend that is Bob Dylan, sounding gruffer than I'd expected. Despite it being an amazing performance to watch, I only stuck around for the first half an hour, running off to the Big Top tent hoping that I hadn't missed my favourite of favourites, Devendra Banhart. I was greeted with the sounds of Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (yep the stage times were still all muddled). A nice surprise though, as they were completely different from any other bands I'd watched that weekend, all playing brass instruments with some hip-hopping over the top. The crowd went wild.

Finally taking to the stage, an hour late I hasten to add, Devendra was the perfect finale to the festival. Playing his new stuff and slightly jazzed up older material, he was incredible and adorable to watch, especially with his random cover of Taylor Dane's 'Tell It To My Heart' - "Tell it to my heart, tell me I'm the only one..."

Choisis Ta Propre Aventure!

All aboard the metaphorical Eurostar! CYOA is back at Stoke Newington’s Question Mark Bar on Friday 9th July to embark on a new adventure into another musical metropolis.

This time we’re off to the ancient city of Paris to experience the belle époque and meet the green fairy who will be giving out complimentary Absinthe in the l’heure verte (9.30-10.30)

Once suitably intoxicated dance feverishly late into the night with a colourful Parisian soundtrack courtesy of…

CYOA! Residents
Oui! Ya! Si! (Departure Lounge Music)
DJ Answer (Haute House)
Forgive Me Lord For I Have Synth (French Disco)

+ Very Special Guests
Reader’s Wifes (Duckie / Gay Shame)
Blonde Ambition (Electro Pop)

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Friday 9th July – Doors 9.30pm til 3am
Question Mark Bar
129 Stoke Newington High St. N16 0PH

CYOA

Caitlin Rose

Having been born and raised in Nashville, it's hardly surprising 22-year old singer-songwriter Caitlin Rose's music is country through and through. Reminiscent of the greats, Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline, Caitlin belts out songs about heartbreak, teenage pregnancy and the like with her heartfelt country twang.

I spent a lot of yesterday watching the videos on her YouTube channel, and by the end of the afternoon had a real urge to hang out with Rose, preferably at a barn dance or hoe-down, and swaying along in a really cool (uncool) way to her songs 'Learnin' To Ride' and 'For The Rabbits', both from her debut album 'Own Side Now'.

That debut isn't out until the beginning of August, although she has just re-released her 'Dead Flowers EP', which, as the title suggests, includes a marvellous cover of The Rolling Stones' song 'Dead Flowers'. Meanwhile...

Alan MX

Alan MX successfully enters the realm of skittish electronica with his experimental use of electro beats and pop vocals, combining Thom Yorke's melodic sensibilities with some thumping Peaches-style breaks.

On his debut album 'Warpsichord', the aptly-named title track samples jittering strings, beats and lyrics that play on the subtle nuances of love and relationships in the 21st century, whilst 'The Captain America Video' delivers light-hearted pop with an almost pounding disco beat. The rest of the album continues to combine elements of electronica, dance and pop; remaining unique, lively yet dark.

For those of you who are partial to a bit of Bjork, PJ Harvey or Beck - and I don't know many who aren't - Alan MX's debut is out now on Small Town America, and you can catch some of this on his MySpace too.

www.myspace.com/alanmx

I went looking for yoo-ooo-oooo...

So, I went to Patti's Serpentine Session last night, second time I've seen her this year, wowzers. It almost feels not real watching her live, very surreal, she is just so effin cool and charmingly funny - (ok I know I sound like a sycophant, but I promise you I'm really not, not like the rest of the crowd who insisted on shouting out 'I love you Patti', cringe). Anyway, I digress. She pretty much did a 'greatest hits' set (which was totally fine by me), including a cover of Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day', and dedicated 'Pissing In A River' to the Gulf Of Mexico...

X

dry the river

Today's CMU Approved...

I've been meaning to mention these guys ever since I saw them a few weeks back supporting Johnny Flynn at the Electric Ballroom. I wasn't paying much attention when they first arrived on stage, me and my brother were putting most of our energy into finding a good spot to watch JF.

But once they started playing, their music - full of sweet lyrics and even sweeter melodies - made me stop and listen. Counting Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and Paul Simon as influences, the melodies are fattened out with a build up of harmonies and delivered conspicuously by frontman Peter Liddle. I remember particularly liking his hand movemements...

The London alt-country quintet have only been together since last year and have already supported Port O'Brien, as well as Johnny Flynn, and released two EPs - 'The Chambers & The Valves' and 'Bible Belt' - both self-released and available to buy via the band's MySpace page. They've got plenty of upcoming gigs over the summer including festival appearances at Standon Calling and Big Chill, so there are lots of chances to check them out.

www.myspace.com/drytherivermusic

Just Because...

Dallas day

Ages ago (last week) my wishes came true and Dallas Green played London. Despite not getting to stalk him afterwards and getting him to sign my ticket and Soph getting an actual real hug,... it was incredible. His voice is so sincere and gentle yet powerful and I love it. The crowd, however, I didn't love, they were so chatty and loud, and younger than me. And, it would have been awesome if he had played a bit of Alexisonfire, Boiled Frogs, but he didn't. It was still rather great though, especially this on the encore...

Flaws

Villagers - Becoming A Jackal

I like the lovely lovely Villagers even more now after reading this...

Q1 How did you start out making music?
My mother took me to the cinema when I was four years old. 'An American Tale' was the name of the film. I'll never forget it. I sang the music from it for at least two years afterwards. "Somewhere out there, beneath the pale moonlight, someone is thinking of you and loving you tonight..." I've been trying to reach this level on enchantment ever since. But things keep getting in the way. So I focus my attention on these 'things' instead.

Villagers' CMU SSQ

Lissie

Having already seen Lissie play less than a week earlier at The Great Escape, my expectations were certainly high; she'd covered a Kid Cudi song and pulled it off amazingly, and was joined on stage by Ellie Goulding for 'Everywhere I Go'. What was going to beat that?! Well, expectations may have been high, but my second jaunt seeing Lissie was, nonetheless, far from disappointing.

Performing to a packed out audience at the Queens Head in Islington, it was somewhat special seeing her in such a small venue, compared to Brighton's large concert hall The Dome. Up close and definitely more personal, with plenty of interaction from the crowd, you could really see her band in action, which was great to watch, especially Lewis Keller who carried out the task of both bass and drums simultaneously.

She struggled slightly, nearly losing her voice here and there, presumably down to lots of recent gigging, but that kind of added to the raw country tones of her vocals; and the delicateness of her voice on the slower more soulful songs still shone through.

Lissie at The Queens Head in London on 18 May

The Ruskins - Old Isleworth

Returning with their second single, indie three-piece The Ruskins continue to deliver their eclectic mix of modern ska-infused, Irish-flavoured, country rock.

Whilst still playing frenetically with an upbeat tempo, 'Old Isleworth' takes on a more earnest tone than debut single 'Slow Down Jessica'; moving from the topic of a slightly too intense love interest, to reminiscing about the good days in their hometown of Isleworth and how it's now changed, presumably for the worse.

To illustrate their tales of "possible threats" and community support officers, The Ruskins worked with young aspiring director Andy Little on the video for the song, filming scenes around the Worton Estate in Isleworth itself, and including cameos from the likes of 'Skins' and 'Shameless' stars Kaya Scodelario and Elliott Titensor, who they now count amongst their fans.

So, not a massive departure from their previous offering, but with, at its heart, catchy sensibilities, an edgy video and support from Xfm's John Kennedy, this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Physical release: 5 May
Press contact: SiZe Records IH

caught up in the stars

♥

Choose Your Own Great Escape

Soo, it was over a whole week ago now that the CMU team headed down to the seaside to the Great Escape, and I think I'm only just recovering. It was muchos fun and I got to see some ace bands, eat yummy cupcakes, go to conferences and meet up with some loverly friendly faces. And, I discovered that I am definitely NOT old and definitely did NOT fall asleep standing up watching bands...

Amongst Hurts, Dam Mantle, Here We Go Magic and Wild Beasts, here are the bands that I watched and loved a little a bit:

Favourite number 1 - WARPAINT



Favourite number 2 - LISSIE



Favourite number 3 - ACTIVE CHILD



and and and some bands I wanted to see but sadly missed due to busyness/lazyness - Throats, Sleigh Bells, Wolf Gang and Car Is On Fire (just cos I like the name).

I Will Remain

Today's CMU Approved...

Matthew & The Atlas, led by Matthew Hegarty, are one of those bands I've only just got round to listening to, despite hearing lovely things about them for a while now, and having been ordered by friends to check them out on more than one occasion. They deliver a spine-tingling take on modern folk, with Matthew's vocals coming across grainy and raw, yet tender, drawing similarities to Ray Lamontagne, and helped along by the delicate backing vocals of Lindsay West.

After support slots with Mumford & Sons at the start of the year, the band have just released their debut EP 'To The North'. Lead track 'I Will Remain' shows off the more upbeat folky side to the band with its hand-claps and banjo, while 'Veins Of Your History' shows a more stripped down, tender side to their music. The band have lots of gigs lined up over the next month, including a performance at The Great Escape, so plenty of opportunities to see them in action.

www.myspace.com/matthewandtheatlas

obsessed

♥

I Am IN Love

saw Bombay Bicycle Club last night and LOVED IT, they really are amazing live and new stuff sounded pretty awesome too, ahhh.



I am ready to owe you any thing....

make a little room for me tonight

Surely I'm not the only one who's started to miss the Mystery Jets, I mean, 'Twenty One' was released two years ago now. But the good news is album number three is almost ready for release. Entitled, 'Serotonin', the recording of the album saw the band collaborate with producer Chris Thomas (Pulp, Sex Pistols, John Cale), and the finished product is set for a summer release, on 5 Jul via Rough Trade.

The guys are getting in a new release mood already, with a free download of 'Flash A Hungry Smile', the first track to be taken from the new album, available on their website right now. Although I'm not too fond of the artwork, which features a little too much chewed up food for my liking, the track shows the band at their quintessentially English indie-pop best, full of synths and catchy pop-ness.www.mysteryjets.com

Let England Shake

new pj harvey :) can't wait for more more more