Best Of April 2014

Hi all! I cannot believe it's May already! What a month it has been; record store day, serious album of the year contenders from Fear Of Men and EMA plus tantalizing new tracks from the likes of Swans, Lana Del Rey, Sharon Van Etten and Lykke Li (more on these later) and album release details from BANKS and Parquet Courts. And to top it all off Jessie Ware revealed that she has completed work on her upcoming follow up to Devotion! Here are my highlights of the month just gone:

Albums of the month

EMA - The Future’s Void 

Erika M. Anderson’s debut album under the moniker EMA; 2011’s Past Life Martyred Saints is one of my favourite albums of all time. Erika’s raw and brash vocals, honest and potent lyricism and heavy beats (inspired by her experience in the noise music scene) made it one of the most inventive debut albums I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. So naturally, I was apprehensive about it’s follow up, however after hearing the record I can gladly say it is absolutely breath-taking. Not only is it her most exciting release instrumentally but it is also her most accessible.

Full review here.

Fear of Men - Loom 

Bearing in mind the standard of the 5 tracks Brighton's Fear Of Men have put out since the beginning of the year, I was certain that Loom would be a special record...and I wasn't wrong. From the soaring melodies of tracks like “Waterfall” and “Decent” to the more delicate and ethereal moments such as “America” and “Atla”, Fear Of Men exhibit their diversity as well as their consistency on this stunning record. Due to the brevity of Jess Weiss’ lyrics and the masterful instrumentation, courtesy of Daniel Falvey and Michael Miles among others, every track on Loom is a show-stopper in its own right. I struggle to imagine another debut album released this year to even come close to what Fear Of Men have achieved with this record.

Full review here.

Smoke Fairies - Smoke Fairies

Obviously, eerie folk isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so Smoke Fairies will not appeal to everyone. But in my humble opinion, this record is pretty damn special. The only thing letting this album down is that certain tracks lack the bite that the better tracks possess, and this may not have been so apparent had the track list been slightly shorter. That aside, this is a wonderful effort from a duo who were on the verge of splitting around a year ago. The complex approach to melody and ambiance creates a bewitching atmosphere that clouds the listener’s mind, and this is all heightened by the excellent vocal performances. Now, whatever Smoke Fairies choose to do in the future, they can be proud of the spirit and passion that has made this record so enchanting.

Full review here.

Wye Oak - Shriek

After the gut-wrenching sense of tragedy which lingered throughout their last LP Civilian, it’s nice to see Wye Oak explore a lighter side of their sound. However, where ‘The Tower’ and ‘Shriek’ triumph, other tracks such as ‘Sick Talk’ and ‘Schools of Eyes’ fall slightly short. On both of these tracks the production is wonderful as always but the melodies and vocal deliveries lack the ‘oomph’ that the former tracks possess. This makes the album as a whole seem a little top-heavy. Though due to the sheer quality of the earlier tracks, this doesn't spoil the album as a whole and it is still an accomplished body of work.

Full review here.

Todd Terje - It’s Album Time 

Norwegian DJ and producer Todd Terje has been making huge waves across the world in more ways than one; not only has he put out a handful of well-received releases under his own name, most of which were released under his very own Olsen Records, but what you may not know is that he co-wrote Robbie William’s smash hit single ‘Candy’ (make of that what you will). He is undoubtedly extremely talented, and the evidence is clear, It’s Album Time, as well as being excellently titled, it a funky masterpiece with a huge curveball in the form of the standout ‘Johnny and Mary’.

TEEN - The Way and The Color

And the award for 'most improved band' goes to Brooklyn's TEEN; Following their disappointing debut album In Limbo in 2012, they have come leaps and bounds to release a psychedelic alt-R'n'B masterpiece. Though none of the albums 10 tracks reach the level of excellence that the hook-laden opener 'Rose 4 U' (which is one of my favourite tracks of the year so far) does, The Way and The Color is still an absolute belter none the less.

Tweens - Tweens 

Cincinnati thrash punk newcomers Tweens have been firmly under my radar since I heard their demo for lead single ‘Be Mean’. Even in the studio recording, ‘Be Mean’ doesn't lose any of the energy or ram-shackle charm which made my first fall in love with the band. The entire album in fact is packed full of spirit and energy, even the heart wrenching ballad ‘Want U’ exhumes a Lana Del Rey-esque spirit. Easily most fun and enjoyable debut I've heard all year.

Full review here.

EP of the Month - Shunkan - Honey, Milk and Blood

As Much as I hate admitting that I've discovered an artist via the NME, that is exactly how I found out about New Zealand's Shunkan. Her reverb soaked shoegaze-y grunge-folk recalls the sound of Katie Crutchfield A.K.A Waxahatchee (whose last album I loved so much I named it my album of the year 2013). But it doesn't end here; it appears Marina Sakimoto is a girl after my own heart and on her impressive debut EP, she recalls Yuck on the track 'It's Not Your Fault' and even, wait for it, MY BLOODY VALENTINE on the track 'Hail'. I'm deadly serious. The eclectic range of sounds she explores on this release establishes her as one of 2014's most exciting prospects. I also feel it is a testament to a new artist when I am willing to investing in a cassette tape of theirs.



Honey, Milk and Blood is out now digitally, with a limited run of 50 (now sold out) cassettes being released on May 5. 

Songs of the month

Little Dragon - Paris 

Dark, sensual and deliciously sweet; some words to describe the latest cut from Little Dragons upcoming forth LP Nabuma Rubberband. So far we've been treated to 3 cuts from said record (and a B-side called Winners for those who purchased the record store day 12"). All these tracks have had a nocturnal quality which indicates that this could be their most dark and sonically interesting record they've released to date. This track even has a french spoken word bit - It doesn't get much sexier than that.  




Shunkan - Dust In Your Eyes

As I previously mentioned, I really like the new EP from Kiwi rising star Shunkan. This track in particular is spectacular, building from a subtle, straight forward guitar-led opening into a brash indie-rock beast. I don't know what they put in the water in New Zealand but whatever it is, it's churning out some exceptional young artists...



Lykke li - Gunshot

The third official cut from her stunning new album I Never Learn. Despite being a mere 33 minutes long, Li certainly makes ever second count on this record. 'Gunshot' (as the title suggests) sports the album's most explosive chorus, showing that despite Li's adamance to avoid the 'pop' tag with this record, her hook-crafting skills are as sharp as ever. 

*Bloody Youtube won't let me embed it*
 
Sharon Van Etten - Every Time The Sun Comes Up

It's fair to say that Sharon Van Etten has been a bit stingy with putting out singles from her upcoming forth LP Are We There, so far we've had the R'n'B tinged single 'Taking Chances' and now, the excellent 'Every Time The Sun Comes Up'. It's wonderful to see Sharon's confidence grow since her last LP, here she sings 'I wash your dishes but I shit in your bathroom' with enough prowess and enough snarl in her voice to pull it off with ease. 




Swans - Oxygen

Bearing in mind it took two years for me to warm to their last record The Seer, I am surprised that both cuts from Swans' latest album To Be Kind have clicked with me instantly. Slightly more unhinged than 'A Little God In Our Hands', 'Oxygen' sees Michael Gira really let loose over a lively 'post-punk'/funk-rock arrangement which has further wet my appetite for this new album.




BANKS - Goddess

Banks = Goddess. It's pretty simple. So far LA's Jillian Banks has put out 9 tracks and all of them have been pretty much perfect. 'Goddess' is no exception to this. She always manages to strike the perfect balance between raw and slick in her production and vulnerable and strong in her delivery. 'Goddess' proceeds her debut album of the same name which is set to drop in September(!).




tUnE-yArDs - Wait For A Minute

As tUnE-yArDs' new album Nikki Nack continues to grow on me,this track gets better and better. 'Wait For A Minute' is the album's most electronic sounding track, it is also one of the most stripped-backed instrumentally. Despite Merrill Garbus' usual penchant for heavy drum beats and vocal chants, on this track she favors a more R'n'B-tinged sound, which suits her androgynous vocals surprisingly well. 




Torres - New Skin

It's good to have Torres back, after little over a year since her self-titled debut album was released, she is finally gaining momentum as she embarks on her new album campaign later on in the year. 'New Skin', which features The War On Drugs and Sharon Van Etten, is just a session version but is enough to ensure that I will be keeping a close ear out for her impending new album.




Lana Del Rey - West Coast

Despite being one of the biggest pop stars in the world right now, Lana Del Rey isn't afraid to be a little different from the norm. While her contemporaries move into more electronic sonic territory, Lana moves in the opposite direction and opts for guitar laced soundscapes (courtesy of The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach). The abrupt key change into a slow and seductive chorus make 'West Coast' something a little different from your average chart fodder, and a lot more exciting. 



Blessa - Unfurl

Following their glorious single 'Between Times', Sheffield bliss-poppers are releasing their debut EP Love Is An Evol Word in June. 'Unfurl' very much runs in the same vein as their earlier tracks, the highlight still being the gorgeous lead vocals. I'm sure their EP will further justify why I picked them as one of my ones to watch for 2014. 
 

Hannah Diamond - Attachment

After the sickly-sweet bubblegum pop of her debut single 'Pink and Blue' sent the blogosphere into a frenzy back in 2013, PC Music starlet Hannah Diamond slows things down on new track 'Attachment'. Her vocals remain as divisive as ever, but the production has definitely stepped up a notch. 



Fatima - Ridin' High

It's been a while since I've as excited about an up and coming soul singer as I am about Fatima. After a handful of releases, including the excellent 'La Neta', Fatima finally releases her debut album Yellow Memories next month. Whilst most soul music is very much focused on vocals with production being secondary, Fatima chooses the most interesting and fresh producers to take her sound up a notch. Expect colourful and eclectic soul tunes from her record when it drops on May 12th.




Petite Meller - Backpack

Have you ever wondered what a collaboration between MØ and Bridget Bardot would sound like? Well here you go; Petite Meller's Backpack recalls the danish songstress with her ample use of soaring horns and hip-hop beats whilst the distinctively continental energy she exhumes isn't too far from the sounds of the French starlet's 'Bubble Gum' period.




JUDE. - Crystals

I don't want to be that guy but this track really sounds like Lorde. So much so that 'Crystals', the debut track from JUDE would fit on the former's debut album Pure Heroine rather comfortably. That's not to say that this track isn't excellent in it's own right, I suggest you download this now, sit back and watch the music press latch onto this duo in the next few months.

Fear Of Men - Loom Review

The juxtaposition of dark lyrics with intricate melodies and ethereal vocals  is nothing new. From Cocteau Twins and Dirty Projectors to Daughter and Agnes Obel; this sub-genre of art pop/adult alternative/dream-rock has always been a sound that many bands and artists strive for. However, you would be foolish to assume that Fear of Men are just another band trying to emulate the quality that any of  above naturally achieve but ultimately fail. Loom is in fact a very special record from a very special band who use delicate soundscapes and barbed-wire lace pop hooks to create a debut album which is both accessible and heart-wrenching to the extent where you are engulfed by the concept of the record entirely. 



What initially wet my appetite for this release was the phenomenal buzz single 'Waterfall' which bursts out from the docile intro track 'Atlas' with its thundering drums and the euphoric harmonization of Jess Weiss' vocals. Beneath the track's sugar-coated exterior lies a venomous serpent in the form of Weiss' lyrics, 'I bit your cheek, the blood runs down your face', she sings. The running presentation of water as a destroyer is another poignant theme in the lyrics. On 'Tephra', one of the album's more uptempo tracks there is the line 'The waves are calling you, they'll take it all' while on the track 'Green Sea' Weiss 'bends beneath the water top, where you left me'. The concept of escapism is also explored on Loom, particularly on the wistful 'America' in which Weiss is 'free to dissolve' as she's 'drifting out of reach'. What makes the lyrics so skillful is that that, despite the abstract imagery, what Weiss is singing about is a lot more relatable that you may think; We can all relate to feelings of love, heartbreak and the loss of control. Fear Of Men avoid the pitfall of pretentiousness and over-ambition through their overt use of pop hooks, particularly on the standout track 'Decent' which, with it's playful melody and rumbling guitar-laced hooks recalls a more euphoric Blondie.  




The visuals for this record are heavily influenced by volcanic eruptions and what they leave behind, the carbonized human and animal remains in their artwork being prime examples of the latter. However it is the imagery of  eruptions themselves which strike me as the most relevant to the record sonically speaking. The majority of tracks on Loom descend into a beautifully chaotic onslaught of brash noise and cinematic string arrangements, perhaps representing  pyroclastic flows as they engulf and suffocate you. This is best seen on the penultimate track 'Inside' which, after floating for 5 or so minutes on jittering drum beats and delicate vocal hooks descends into a frankly terrifying yet beautiful noise. This, the album's most cinematic moment is balanced by the brittle guitar hooks and vulnerable vocal styling on the closer 'Atla', which ends the album on a much welcomed positive note.




From the soaring melodies of tracks like 'Waterfall' and 'Decent' to the more delicate and ethereal  moments such as 'America' and 'Atla', Fear Of Men exhibit their diversity as well as their consistency on this stunning record. They manage to succeed where many of their contemporaries fall short; they are able to balance the light with the dark, the tame with the raucous and the vulnerable with the resilient. Due to the brevity of Weiss' lyrics and the masterful instrumentation, courtesy of Daniel Falvey and Michael Miles amongst others, every track on Loom is a show-stopper in it's own right. I struggle to imagine another debut album released this year to even come close to what Fear Of Men have achieved with this record.

9/10

Key Tracks: 'Waterfall', 'Green Sea', 'Tephra', 'Luna', 'Decent', 'Inside'

My Record Store Day 2014 Experience

After 4 years of following the event closely via social media, this year I decided to finally take the plunge and loose my 'record store day virginity'. This year I would go to Rough Trade East at a ridiculously early time of the morning, join a queue full of avid record lovers and all for the sake of buying some colourful wax in a pretty sleeve and that's exactly what I did (and it was bloody excellent.)

My original plan was to got to bed at 9/9:30 in order to get a good nights sleep. But instead, due to my intense excitement/nervousness I eventually nodded off at 0:30. So yeah that failed. After 4 hours sleep(!) I embarked on my journey. Following a 30-minute train journey from an (unsurprisingly) deserted Crystal Palace station, I arrived at Brick Lane and joined the queue, which to my surprise only had around 70-80 people when I arrived. However, the size nearly doubled within the next 30 minutes. Whilst queuing I struck up some record-based 'banter' with some of the people in front of me, which mainly consisted of 'What are you hoping to get?', 'what time did you wake up?' and 'when the bloody hell are they gonna open up?!'. Aside from this we discussed the event itself, most talk focusing on the question: 'If by 8am the queue is this huge, how big will it be at the same time next year?' 

These deep thoughts were firmly put on hold when the queue started to move and thoughts turned back to 'VINYL VINYL VINYL!'. With the glorious sun beating down on us, the entrance was so close I could practically taste the wax. After quickly working out a strategy with my friend, I made my way in. I wasted no time and went straight for the excellent Fear Of Men LP (which was my most anticipated release). I then took the advice of one of my queuing buddies and used my unfortunate height situation to my advantage by staying low and weaving through the crowds before surfacing briefly to pick up a record, like a cheetah in the Savanna stalking its prey. My strategy was clearly effective and I got everything on my list with the exception of the London Grammar 10" (which I couldn't find for the life of me) and the non-violent femmes compilation, which unfortunately sold out before I even got in. As I made my way to the counter, slightly disappointing with not getting those items, a very courteous curly-haired gentlemen (who may well be my guardian angel) informed me that there was in fact one London Grammar 10" left. So without even a second thought I pounced on the rack and just about beat 5 other hands to get the very last copy. Result.

With a bunch of new goodies (including the excellent 12" from Little Dragon and the Tame Impala Live Versions LP) in tow, I headed towards the stage where the first instore of the day was about to start, the first band I had the pleasure of seeing was a London folk-rock duo called The Rails.Though I had heard about them briefly beforehand, I didn't really know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised with how brilliant they were. Their tight harmonies, intricate guitar playing, strong chemistry and bubbly onstage banter made their set the highlight of my day. I would seriously recommend checking out their debut album Fair Warning when it's released in May. If that wasn't enough, they also played Rough Trade NYC on the very same day. So extra brownie points for them.

After yet more waiting around (I had gotten used to it by this point), it was finally time for TOY's set. A considerably larger crowd had gathered by this point, mainly consisting of 16-24 with 'vintage' clothing and questionable haircuts. This one certainly felt more like a gig. At this point in time my lack of sleep had come back to bite me and I was beginning to drift off. Luckily I was standing right by the speakers which nearly melted my face off when the band started playing. The highlight of their set was the last track they played 'Join The Dots'; the title track of their last album certainly ensured that they went out with a bang. As fun as it was being physically moved across the floor by the vibrations of the speakers whilst awkwardly bobbing my head (out of sync with the beat I might add) in an effort to not look totally out of place, I definitely preferred The Rails. 

As much as I wanted to see East India Youth, standing constantly for 6 hours was beginning to take it's toll and (unlike R.Kelly) whilst my mind was telling me yes, from body it was a resounding no. So I headed off for the markets where I bought a hot dog the size of by lower arm and gazed in awe at my purchases.

In spite of all my prior fears and concerns, Record Store Day was a success (well it was for my anyway). Not only did I manage to get the majority of records I was hoping to buy and watch two of the 3 acts I wanted to see, but I also got to speak to some like-minded vinyl enthusiasts. This reassured me that despite all the negative criticism the event has been receiving of late, one cannot deny that the event has further spread the message that vinyl is back and is better than ever. However, this is as much an issue as it is a positive; how much bigger can the event possibly get before the concept is lost completely and it becomes impossible to get anything unless you camp at 2 in the morning? Not long, unfortunately. 

I feel the best way to end this post would be with the line which was proudly written across the shop front at Rough Trade: 'A record is for life, not just for record store day. Amen. 

Side note: You can see me looking very happy albeit slightly stoned (I wasn't, by the way) on The Guardian Website here: http://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2014/apr/20/record-store-day-rough-trade-east-vinyl?CMP=twt_gu

EMA - The Future's Void album review

Erika M. Anderson A.K.A EMA's debut album Past Life Martyred Saints was a modern classic in my opinion. All throughout it's nine tracks there was a strong sense of sonic identity and immense attention to detail; every sound and every effect had a purpose. She embraced her past experience in the noise music scene (as the front woman of Gowns) by incorporating harsh beats and brash effects on her vocals whilst still retaining a keen ear for melody and even pop sensibility at times, specifically on the standout track 'Milkman'. Her audaciousness wasn't just limited to the sound itself though, the lyrics were also extremely personal and honest, particularly on the track 'California' which reads like a poem which confronts prejudice and rebels against conformism ( the lyric 'Fuck California, you made me boring', being most prominent). On the follow-up she signed with indie giant City Slang and has created an album which is equally powerful, yet is also her most accessible and accomplished work to date.

Perhaps the best opening track of 2014 so far; 'Satellites' is best described as a apocalyptic battle-cry, the pounding drums alongside Erika's blood curdling roars set the tone for the album perfectly. Like on her debut, she utilizes her noise roots to create theatrical stompers like 'Cthulu' and 'Neuromancer'. The Future's Void is dominated by themes such as Surveillance, society's obsession with social media, technology and human vulnerability; big topics which are tackled in a big way. Cthulu's progressive vocal chants come to an explosive climax with arresting synth beats and soaring guitars. 'Makin a livin off taking selfies off takin selfies, is that the way that you want to be?', she chants on the menacing 'Neuromancer', backed by an intense tribal instrumentation. Penultimate track 'Solace' is also a standout, Erika's soft vocal delivery juxtaposes a throbbing synth baseline, the  vocal break down at the end of this track acts as one of the albums more uplifting moments.



However there is more to The Future's Void than just industrial folk-rock epics, like on her debut there is a fair share of intimate, reflective moments like the stunning track '3Jane', which sports one of the album's lightest instrumentals. The song's real strength is in it's lyrics, it references a 'modern disease', the symptoms of which include being paranoid about how you're being perceived online and disassociation from reality through your internet self.  This sentiment is particularly poignant bearing in mind that we all suffer from this 'disease' to some extent. 'Smoulder' does exactly what it says on the tin, the throbbing baseline oozes out of your speakers like lava, gradually consuming you entirely - it's utterly entrancing. The tracks 'So Blonde' and 'When She Comes' are the least synth-laden tracks on the record, both mostly guitar led. Arguably, this is Erika's best format as it exhibits her knack for melody and subtle pop hooks. Hopefully she'll explore this side to her sound further in her future work.

Despite every track on The Future's Void being excellent in it's own way, there is certainly a divide in tone; one part consists of pounding, theatrical epics such as 'Satellites', 'Cthulu' and 'Solace' and the other of intimate and vulnerable tracks like '3Jane', 'Smolder' and the closing track 'Dead Celebrity'. And then there are two anomalies; 'So Blonde' stands alone as a perfect slice of grunge-pop and 'When She Comes' presents a subtle melody which proves to be an unexpected ear worm. What is clear is that EMA has comes leaps and bounds since her debut. She has maintained her rawness (like her debut The Future's Void was completely home-recorded), yet has created a record which is richer and more innovative than I could have ever imagined. If Past Life Martyred Saints was her breakthrough from the underground, The Future's Void should propel her into the stratosphere.

9.3/10

Best Tracks: So Blonde, 3Jane, Cthulu, When She Comes, Solace

Best of March 2014

I touched upon this a little bit in my last 'Best of' post but to reiterate, in comparison to February, March was never going be that great. Because of SXSW, this month was more about album (and gig) announcements, with the likes of Swans, Lykke Li, White Lung and tUnE-yArDs announcing new albums and the one and only KATE FUCKING BUSH announcing a new 22 date tour (which incidentally sold out on 15 minutes). While it was quiet on the album front, there were however so very good songs released. Most excitingly, this month we finally got the record store day release list!

Here are my highlights of the month just gone:

Albums of the month



1. Mac Demarco - Salad Days
It's been 2 years since the Canadian crooner released his critically acclaimed album 2 and he has not disappointed in the slightest. Like Mac's previous material, Salad Days is light and uplifting, yet, the added psychedelia injects some extra darkness into the mix (see 'Chamber of Reflection'). This is easily Mac's most textured and impressive output to date.



Read my full review on Earbuddy here.

2. Real Estate - Atlas
Melody, hooks, reverb, sun drenched guitars; Atlas, the third full length from New Jersey's Real Estate has it all. From the swooning chorus of 'Talking Backwards' to the immense ascending chord sequence of 'Primitive', there's plenty stoner-rock fun to be had here.



3. Frankie Cosmos - Zentropy
The debut album from Frankie Cosmos is an understated affair; at only 20 minutes it is very short, but still very sweet. Despite it's length it still manages to fit plenty of hooks ('Buses') and charming anecdotes ('Sad'). I see no reason why, with the right collaborators, Cosmos cannot become an indie-pop heavyweight in the future.

Read my full review on Earbuddy here.



4. MØ - No Mythologies To Follow
Although I was slightly disappointed at first listen, after listening again today I was pleasantly surprised at how much this album has grown on me. Songs like the explosive opener 'Fire Rides' and the masterful 'Red In The Grey' are amongst the best pop songs I've heard so far this year.




5. Lyla Foy - Mirrors In The Sky 
The debut album from subtle electropop chanteuse Lyla Foy is a stripped back and modest record. There are some excellent moments still, 'Easy' and 'Feather Tongue' show that Foy can write a mean hook when she wants to. 

Read my full review here.




Songs of the month



1. Kyla la Grange - The Knife
I've been 'bigging up' Watford singer-songwriter-come-full-on-pop-goddess Kyla La Grange for a while now and she is yet to put a foot wrong in my eyes. The steel drum-heavy banger 'The Knife' could quite possibly be her best offering to date. Her new album Cut Your Teeth, due on 2nd June (my birthday, just sayin') is a strong contender for album of the year.



2. Fear of Men - Luna
Following the melodic eargasm of recent single 'Alta/Waterfall', Brighton's Fear On Men give us yet another delectable taster of their up-and-coming debut album Loom (as recently featured on my exciting record store day releases post) in the form of 'Luna'. The song is a no nonsense 'straight into the chorus' kind of affair, just how I like it.



3. tUnE-yArDs - Water Fountain
After the immense 'megamix' tUnE-yArDs' forthcoming third album Nikki Nack, I was worried they'd loose the ram-shackle charm which first made me fall so deeply in love with them and their weirdness. How wrong was I? 'Water Fountain' is yet another totally-bonkers yet totally-brilliant slice of 'prazz & jop' goodness. Oh Merril, how I've missed thee.




4. Wye Oak - Glory
Following the wonderfully tame single 'The Tower', 'Glory' is a much more upbeat and instant number. The funky-as-hell production and shimmering chorus make it easily their best song yet.



5. Lykke Li - No Rest For The Wicked
From the prior buzz single 'Love Me Like I'm Not Made Of Stone', I was worried that Lykke Li might have gone too far to ensure that people stopped labeling her as a 'pop star', abandoning her epic hook-crafting skills in the process. Whilst 'No Rest For The Wicked' is hardly another 'I Follow Rivers'-level banger, the chorus still hits as hard as ever and it is still impossible to get out of my head.



6. EMA - 3jane
EMA rules. Nuff said. 




7. Just Friends - Don't Tell Me
There are a lot of things I am thankful to Steven Spielberg for; Jaws, E.T., Gremlins, The Goonies, Back To The Future but most of all, finding the time to make his daughter, Sasha, because without her, this incredible banger would not exist (plus she's great on twitter).



8. Honeyblood - Killer Bangs
Although I am pissed off that Honeyblood's debut album has now been delayed two months to July(!!!), the duo managed to keep me sweet with yet another vicious grunge-pop tune in the form of the excellently titled 'Killer Bangs'.




9. Swans - A Little God In Our Hands
Veteran rock experimentalists Swans have never been my cup of tea, but for some reason, I REALLY love this track. Maybe it's because St Vincent features on it or maybe I'm just in love with their new album artwork, either way it is very enjoyable indeed. 



10. Allie x - Prime
And finally, a bit of pop from up-and-coming pop star Allie X. Following her excellent debut single track 'Catch', 'Prime' is a flashy and audacious slice of electropop which explodes into one hell of a crescendo. WARNING: this is EXTREMELY addictive.

10 Most exciting Record Store Day releases

It's that time of year again; the most important day of any 21st century record collector's calendar, it's record store day!

Now I must admit, though I've been closely following the antics of record store day for years, I am still technically a 'record store day virgin'. But this is set to change this year, I am planning on going all out this year and I shall brave the immense queues of salivating hipsters (and the occasional Directioner and Katycat). Rough Trade East is the Mecca of Independent record shops; whilst it has one of the largest selections it is also the busiest on the day. But it's a risk I'm willing to take. 

(Like me) You may feel overwhelmed by the humongous list of releases this year (the largest yet I believe) so I've made it a bit easier for you, here are my top 10 picks for this year:

Disclosure - Apollo 12"
The Lawrence brothers have sure come a long way since the introducing feature I wrote on them back in May last year. Even I didn't anticipate their runaway success; they have released a platinum debut album which spawned 4 global hit singles, received 4 Brit nominations and even a Grammy nomination. The duo will release a limited edition 12" of the critically acclaimed, previously digital-only non-album single 'Apollo'. It is one of my favourite tracks of theirs and let's face it, I have no change of getting my hands on it.

Fear Of Men - Loom Ltd LP
Brighton based dream folk trio Fear Of Men will release a deluxe edition of their highly anticipated debut album for record store day. Judging by their early singles plus 'Waterfall' and 'Luna' (both of which have featured prominently on my 'Best Of' features this year), this could be one of the year's best debuts. This is probably my most anticipated release and I will fight for it (literally). 

Julia Holter - Don't Make Me Over/Hello Stranger 7"
(Stupidly) I left Julia Holter's Loud City Song of my favourite albums of 2013 list. It is one of the best avant-guarde/experimental dream pop albums I've had the pleasure of listening to. Julia will release an exclusive 7" of her version of Dionne Warwick's 'Don't Make Me Over' with the stunning 'Hello Stranger' as a B-side. 

The Julie Ruin - Brightside/In The Picture
Bikini Kill legend Kathleen Hanna will released an exclusive 7" with her band The Julie Ruin, who released the fantastic Run Fast last year. No fancy vinyl unfortunately but we'll forgive her that.

Liars - MESS ON A MISSION
I'll be honest with you, the main reason why I want this so badly is because it is a clear, string-embedded 12" (yes, I'm that shallow). That aside, the song itself is brilliant too but alas, I haven't got a hope in hell of getting my hands on this.  

London Grammar - Hey Now (Bonobo remix) / Hey Now (Zero 7 remix) 10"
Ah, yet another delicious piece of wax which I haven't got a hope in hell of purchasing. 'Hey Now' was London Grammar's breakthrough single and rightly so, it's pretty wonderful. This 10" consists of two remixes and traditionally, remixes of their songs are pretty epic so I'm sure these'll be no exception. 

Mazzy Star - I'm Less Here
Folk veterans Mazzy Star will release an exclusive transparent blue 7" for the event. I don't know much about it but the artwork is pretty so that's a good start. 

MØ - Say You Will Be There (Spice Girls Cover) 7"
Danish pop chanteuse has kept it no secret that she is a huge fan of the Spice Girls. I personally detest them, but hey, this cover makes them (somewhat) bearable. 

Wye Oak - Shriek
Maryland duo Wye Oak will release the synth-heavy follow up to the critically their acclaimed 2011 album Civilian on orange vinyl for record store day this year. Hopefully I can get my hands on this on the day so I don't have to pay the absurd shipping fees from City Slang. I'm sure It'll be worth it though either way.

Various Artists - Non-Violent Femmes
Any compilation which features Speedy Ortiz, Joanna Gruesome, Bleeding Rainbow and Frankie Rose's Beverly is bound to be epic. Plus it's on hot pink vinyl, which kinda defeats the purpose but whatever. 

I will be jumping for joy if I manage to get any of these, may the scramble begin! 

Lyla Foy - Mirrors In The Sky Review

London singer/songwriter Lyla Foy has been slowly preparing for the release of her debut album for a couple of years now, previously performing and releasing music under the moniker WALL. After the pleasant response to her 2012 single 'Easy', it was the release of the wonderful 'Feather Tongue' which made people take notice of her, some even hailing her as 'the new Kate Bush'. Whilst I don't feel that she's quite there yet, with Mirrors In The Sky, Lyla goes to show that when it comes to fluttering indie-pop, less is definitely more.

'Easy' is the album's most prominent 'pop moment'; the pulsating drum beats and the euphoric chorus also make it Foy's most accessible track yet. 'Euphoric' is word I would use to sum up this album as a whole. The light synths, hazy guitar licks and Foy's smoky vocals are wistful and often dream-like. This doesn't always work in her favor though; neither the instrumentation nor the vocals are ever bold enough to really grab me and make this album as great as it could be. There are still some lovely songs on here despite this, such as 'Feather Tongue' with it's throbbing synth-led melody and fluttering chorus, the breathy hook of 'Only Human' and the swooning 'No Secrets'.

Lyla Foy has made an album which is true to her sound and her vision and for that I commend her. Although her production may be a little too subdued at times, there is plenty to love here. At it's most mesmerizing, Mirrors In The Sky recalls early Kate Bush. The potential is defiantly there, it's whether she is willing to scaling the Wuthering heights to fulfill it. 

7.3/10

Key Tracks: 'Easy', 'Feather Tongue', 'Only Human', 'No Secrets'