Friendly Fires were one of the bands of 2009. Stars of the NME Tour that featured White Lies and Florence + The Machine, the groups debut album was a delight, and even picked up a Mercury nomination along the way. Today, they announced the release of their second studio-album, ‘Pala’. 'Live Those Days Tonight' is the first single taken from the album. The track received its first play on Zane Lowe's show on BBC Radio 1 on 22 March 2011.
The track sees the band take their disco-punk origins and taking them to the next level. This is the type of track you’d definitely hear at a club or party. I am really into this track and can not wait to get tickets to see them live, and especially the album too!
You can really see this song being played alongside 'Paris', 'Jump In The Pool' and 'Skeleton Boy' in the live sets, yes I am probably excited to say the least that a local band to me has made yet another great track (Morning Parade for example...).
Benjamin Francis Leftwich is an artist from York that specialises in playing acoustic gems, he has just under 4,000 followers on facebook and has played with some high profile artists such as Noah & The Whale, he is releasing an acoustic version of his song 'Pictures' on youtube to gain further fans, the original version is available to stream at the bottom of the post.
'Pictures' is the lead track from Benjamin's eagerly anticipated follow-up EP which was released on March 7th through Dirty Hit, and like his debut is produced by Ian Grimble (Mumford Sons, Manic Street Preachers, Siouxsie The Banshees). The EP melds Benjamin’s flair for delicate and beautiful songwriting as it glides from the deft finger-picking on 'Pictures' into the refined elegance of 'Sophie'. On 'See You Soon', Leftwich’s hope strewn lyrics are offset by delicate melodies and as the EP finishes with 'The Boat', we are left with a lingering reminder of an understated talent.
'Pictures' has been made Hottest Record in the World on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show and was also added to the Radio 1 'In New Music We Trust' Playlist.
Benjamin has just returned from Dublin, the final date of his UK tour and will be heading out to support Noah and the Whale on the following dates: Wednesday 30th March – Deaf Institue, Manchester w/ Noah & The Whale Thursday 31st March – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds w/ Noah & The Whale Saturday 2nd April – Stereo, Glasgow w/ Noah & The Whale Sunday 3rd April – Whelans, Dublin w/ Noah & The Whale Monday 4th April – Thekla, Bristol w/ Noah & The Whale.
Belong: This is one of the most upbeat songs I have heard in a while, the distorted guitar in the intro is just a briliant idea, soft vocals too are a treat to the ear! The sweet melodies drizzled on top of this song makes it for me, reminds me a bit of 90's Indie-Rock, but not in a bad way. But towards the end of the song the vocals get out played by the guitars, you can just about hear it. But none the less a brilliant song Out of 10: 8/10
I Wanna Go All The Way: The b-side is equally as good with the vocals a bit more apparent, a song about sex, but sounds more like a love song for the 21st century. With a good riff and thick bass flowing through the song it feels bigger than the A-Side of the single. And any song with hand-claps is a good one for me, I can imagine this live to be a good spectacle. Out of 10: 8/10
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong / I Wanna Go All The Way Out of 10: 8/10
The City: 'The City' is a song like that, a really fun young-love anthem. And Patrick Wolf absolutely sells it, whooping his way to eternal love like they're the only things keeping him alive. Wolf can bury his black capes deep in his closet now; he's not going to need them anymore. Finger-clicks, tinkly piano, floating riffs and some saxophone combine with his vocals to create a love song to bop along to! Let's hope for him and us both that he stays found for a good while yet. Out of 10: 8/10
Sing: The b-side to the single and in my opinion, just as good, his album is along the same lines as this whole single release! Just powerful, love it! 7/10
'Sun In The Island' is the first single from Nottingham five piece Swimming's forthcoming album and is the first release on EVR records. Swimming are singer john sampson, his brother Peter Sampson and three old friends (Andrew Wright, Jonthathon Spittlehouse, Blake Pearson), brought together by a love of electronic music and sonic exploration that has turned swimming into a unique prospect in 2011 - a band with loud guitars, floating synths and a genuine talent for writing great songs.
Sun In The Island: This starts off with a glorious synth and a cracking riff, this is a electro-pop song which combines synths and beats into John's falsetto vocals, and explodes into a anthemic chorus of guitars and soaring melodies. Out of 10: 9/10
Team Jetstream (Pre Flight Remix): Yes this may be a remix for a b-side bit it is an equally exhilarating affair - rich and elegantly soulful yet pulsating with rumbling d'n'b rhythms. This is how remixes are suppose to be done, just breathtaking! Out of 10: 7/10
