Cinnamon Chasers - Luv Deluxe

I've mentioned it before, but Bug is a brilliant event at the BFI Southbank every month which showcases the very best in music videos under the comedic gaze of Adam Buxton. This video for Cinnamon Chasers' 'Luv Deluxe' was my favourite from the November event.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8Y1MalRrDc[/youtube]

It's like (500) Days of Summer gone badly wrong, seen through the eyes of someone reading a 'choose your own adventure' book. The video is directed by 23 year old Saman Keshavarz and seems to be one of his first videos, having previously made a short film in 2006 called 'Drug of Choice'. The music comes from Russ Davies, known in this instance as Cinnamon Chasers and is a a gorgeously dreamy sound-scape of a melody that gradually feels more urgent. It also appears Russ is a little randomly the son of Kinks' founder Dave Davies which is a good pop fact. Best of all on Last.FM we have a high compatibility. It seems he likes Madonna, CSS, Ladytron, Little Boots and Roisin Murphy. Well done him.

On Paris

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSdeDJUxF-0[/youtube]

(Is there a bit remix / cover (whatever it is) in the world than the Aeroplane remix of Friendly Fires 'Paris'?)

I've been to Paris a couple of times most noticeably once to interview Daft Punk and then once to see them. The first of these was an 8 hour trip spent running round the capital trying to find the hotel basement we were meeting them and eating somewhere particularly gross. The second involved much more sight seeing but a disappointment in the hotel which I'd spent about 400 hours on trip advisor trying to choose.

The best part of that trip though was our night out in The Marais, Paris' gay village. We discovered that clubs in Paris have volume monitors with the maximum volume being extremely quiet, danced to Sophie Ellis Bextor's 'Catch Me' for the first time in a very odd house club, and went into the tiniest club we've ever found whereupon a gorgeous French boy called Guilleme became very attached to me because I was wearing a star of David and tried to get me to join some kind of French, jewish society.

I do think that I've never quite got Paris though. When I went last year with Tom & James it was better probably because we found nice food, but I think I'd pick everywhere over Paris. Maybe I just need to do the right things.

Anyway I'm writing this because last week I was asked to ponder what I would do with 1,000€ on a weekend in Paris thanks to a competition from Le Nouveau Paris. I do often think about just jumping on a train from Kings Cross as it's so handy but the £££ element of it is off-putting. I know if I was given money for free though I'd spend the first £10 on a Chicken Caesar Salad on the Eurostar. I know that sounds utterly ridiculous but it was amazing when I had one on the way out last time and when told they didn't have any on the return journey I actually nearly cried.

If I went again though, I'd make sure I took more time to explore and see things I'd like. I've never been up the Eiffel Tower or The Louvre. I'd return to the awesome Pompedieu Centre and drop into trendy cafe L'Autre that I clocked but didn't have time to drop into and then head over to the other side of the city to the Dalston-like vibes of the fun, but cramped Pop Inn. If I had the confidence I'd hire a Vespa on the Left Bank and whizz through the city on a bike, making like VV Brown with less good hair.

As far as accommodation goes, I've always got lots of amazing, weird hotels bookmarked on delicious. I'm not sure I will ever stay in any of them though, but one of the most fun sounding is Hotel Everland which was a art installation style pod hanging on the edge of the River Seine. It's been de-commissioned now though so instead I'd love to rock up to the ridiculously high end Angelina's in Paris is a famous tea salon, and my new love of afternoon tea (acquired at the Dorchester with Golda) can be compared to the Parisian style. Alain Ducasse's school of food has long been bookmarked on my computer and can you imagine how much fun it would be to be taught French cuisine. I'd feel like I was in Julie & Julia! Steak though has to be the big find and I'm yet to figure out the best steak in Paris. Le Relais de Venise didn't impress me much with their London branch, but there are lots more to try.

(written in an attempt to win a holiday to Paris)

I BLAME COCO UPDATE

From her website

10/10

I Blame Coco

I Blame Coco (dot coco dot coco dot com) is the daughter of Sting. She signed to Island Records around the same time as Tommy Sparks and VV Brown but save a few lo-fi reggae vibe-y tracks that have appeared on youtube, there's been little heard of her. I thought the project had perhaps been abandoned. That is, until XO's Middle Eight just found a clip of her new single 'Caesar' that's been popped on her myspace page.

Not only does is it suddenly make her sound like a pop star, but Robyn is featured on the chorus, and ooh isn't there something about that bassline that screams Teddybears. A quick google and yes it seems she's been working with Klas and Joakim Ahlund from Teddybears who made one of my favourite albums of the naughties. As XO says, it's also refreshing to hear a new female artist who, as much as I might love it, isn't bringing out a banging electro-pop ditty. I want something new for 2010 instead of a continuation. And if it's unpolished girls who hate wearing sequins, are a bit gruff and have some swagger about them - bring it on!

Consider my interest taken from not even worth a head-turn to manically excited (particularly thanks to this picture from her myspace).

Hollywood Infected Your Brain

Earlier in the year I thought Marina & The Diamonds had somehow been left after the Sound of 2009 poll. Secretly everyone was gently taking their time to make sure the Sound of 2010 poll had her at the top or at very least the top 5. In the ever confusing world of buzz singles, limited release, digital only, the video for her FIRST SINGLE PROPER (i.e. the first single on a major label) seems to have just hit the web.

 [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1VTcJfL7RE[/youtube]

Marina looks absolutely gorgeous but I'm hoping this isn't another case of 'loved by the critics (at first), written about to the point of boredom and then generally ignored by the public' a la Little Boots. The chorus of this is much poppier than anything else we've heard from Marina before and it includes these outstanding lines that will quite easily make Adrian explode:

'He said 'OH MY GOD, You look like Shakira
No, no you're Catherine Zeta
Actually my name's Marina'

It's like a 2010 answerback song to this that should be sent back in time ten (TEN!) years as a warning:

Britney Spears - Lucky
Uploaded by Annalise. - Videos of family and friends from around the world.

TWILIGHT NEW MOON REVIEW

Little Boots was quite good.

Whatever You Like

This gorgeous, breathy cover of TI's gently epic  'Whatever You Like' was featured on this week's 'controversial' US episode of Gossip Girl.



Sung by San Diego singer-songwriter Anya Marina, it's almost like a goofier version of something you might expect from Nouvelle Vague. She's also got a song on the new Twilight soundtrack. Zeitgeist her face off.

Wednesday Afternoon at the Movies

I might know a lot of random music trivia but ask me anything about film and I'm generally have a blank face. I'm a bit rubbish at going to the cinema and have never seen 'cold stone classics' like ET, The Godfather, Star Wars etc. This complete lack of knowledge was further compounded this week when The Times released their list of 100 Best Movies of the Noughties and I had seen precisely 25. It could be worse I guess.

I've been making a bit more of an effort in the last month taking in a few at the London Film Festival ('Cold Souls' - 4/10; 'Cracks' - 7/10; 'Kicks' 6/10; 'Capitalism a love affair' 6/10; 'Scouting Book for Boys' 8/10) and forcing myself to go and see the delightfully silly 'Julie & Julia', the weepy 'Up', the disappointing 'An Education, and the truly awful 'The Boys Are Back'. To add to this, after many years of wanting one, I've just bought myself a Cineworld Unlimited card. Next up, Jennifer's Body.

Anyway all this is leading up to me being delighted to find out that my very local independent cinema Rio, Dalston today showed my favourite film slightly inappropriately in their monthly golden oldies matinee slot. The film is 2004's (slightly romanticised) Cole Porter biopic 'De-Lovely'. I originally saw it in the cinema in Whitely's where I bawled my eyes out, and have since played the soundtrack endlessly - Sheryl Crow's 'Begin The Beguine', Vivien Green's 'Love For Sale' and Lara Fabian's contribution to the intense 'So In Love' are particularly special. Anyway I say inappropriately because I'm not sure a film with quite a substantial gay plot was the best thing to show the 70+. The actual 'gay action' is very tame - there are two kisses, but it was enough for the whole crowd to react in a shocked, loud jeering way. It was quite odd. The other noticeable moment was during John Barrowman's scene where the ladies behind me shouted really loudly 'THAT'S THAT BARRYMAN'. Amazing.

The film screening was absolutely full and free, even for me. Not only that but they provided everyone with free cakes and tea in the interval & it's all done without a sponsor - they just asked for donations at the end. I hardly see anyone who isn't 24 with a wonky fringe in Dalston but this is a great little get together for the older generation. Hurrah for the Rio.

So yes, see De-Lovely. Even if you don't really dig the film, you'll be introduced to Cole Porter's music and snork at the various pop star cameos. Mick Hucknall even gets to say a line.

This is my favourite scene. My tears started three minutes into the film today but this is the time when I absolutely cry so hard I could vomit. It's up there with Billie being sucked into the vortex.

**SPOILERS SPOILERS**

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBrQ9PChuh8[/youtube]

Hurts

I thought I'd written about Hurts ages ago but seemingly not. Nevertheless this video, now from April, remains ridiculous & amazing:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuwdw7KmGwA[/youtube]

They're a Manchester band signed to Sony whose members used to be part of the slightly blogged up Daggers. They seem to have kept their fondness of black & white photos, Richard Stannard, tidy hair and italo disco. The only other song I've heard 'Witnesses' is a bit more bouncy and guittary, but essentially both songs make you want to walk through the rain in Manchester. Your life would be in black & white and you'd be on your way to work in a factory with a frown on your face, pretending you're in a tragic music video, as Melanie Sykes walks past you dressed as a Scottish Widow. Sound of 2010 voters - this should be on your list!

The Decade In Music: 2000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47g9_THTGCg[/youtube]

With 10 weeks left until the change of the decade, people who enjoy making lists are beginning to crank out their favourite songs of the naughties and talk about their lives as if someone cares. Thank goodness we can finally put that the horrible 'naughties' term away, but what do we call the 2010s? The moody teens?

And so to 2000. In 2000, I turned 18 and started going out to clubs, spent a lot of nights in a then brilliant club called Heaven & Hell, and discovered much more music. I got disillusioned with my gradually crumbling school which eventually shut down as my year left, but not before somehow buggering us all up thanks to sacking various teachers midway through my exams (THANKS, STILL BITTER. MRS HOLDEN 4EVA). My best friends were girls called Joanne and Helen.  Joanne and I stay in touch but as we moved away Helen and I gradually lost touch but I really wish we hadn't. She was ace. I worked at Index which I LOVED and everyone always laughs at me for being so enthusiastic about it, but seriously a billion times better than sucky Argos. I was also a lot more quiet and geeky at school. Someone recently commented they were glad I had 'found myself' which is a bit weird, but I guess true.  This was caused probably by moving down away from the Northwest to the Midlands for uni but didn't really get to grips with it and found the change hard. The only thing that really kept me going was joining the student radio station and trying to infiltrate the social group there. Of course, doing student radio would go on to give me the most fun ever, some of my best friends (even if some, sadly, only for a short time), a love of all types of music and my career.

These are the songs that define that year to me. There's quite an obvious split between songs from the Blackpool clubbing experience, and uni tunes.

Listen to them on spotify or see the list after the jump:

Happiness!

Look at the state of this:



It doesn't always have to be shiny pop and a synth to get me interested in a new artist, but when you're emailed about a hundred of them every day it helps. In fact if you're a singer songwriter with authentic musician hair and a 'journey' I've probably dozed off before I've even got through the email. Hold up though, as this all goes out of the window for London boy Jonathan Jeremiah.

We're going to pretend he's called just Jeremiah because it's much more fun and well, there aren't enough pop stars out there named after prophets. Originally from North London, he's been on some kind of perfect for press release journey that's taken him from working every hour god sends, to travelling across America on a bus and convincing cool people like Bernard Butler ('cool') and The Roots to work with him. I don't really care though, as all I'm interested in is the way his new single 'Happiness' has the power to transport me straight to the bit of rocky beach outside Cafe Mambo and make me go all dreamy. And that's even before the soft waves and Late Night Tales vibes of the Quiet Village Remix kick in.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRG8ccr1TYM[/youtube]

Of course, it is nothing compared to this, one of the actual best songs in the world ever:

Stephen Gately: 1976-2009

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TejcZJSIy4[/youtube]

Growing up I was just the right age to be there in the heat of the Boyzone explosion. As it turns out I wasn't that keen, mainly because at that time I was obsessed with hatred when one person did all the vocals and the rest of the group never being allowed to sing. Finally when Stephen Gately was allowed to bust a groove 'No Matter What' happened, was perhaps Boyzone's biggest hit, went on to be one of the finest Andrew Lloyd Webber songs of the modern day, and is just an utterly brilliant pop song.

Hearing about the death of a famous person in 2009 has meant two things for me. First, you see the news break on twitter and aren't sure whether to believe it or not. With MJ I was in Ghetto Brighton with some friends when the first reports of a heart attack came through, then lots of refreshing later Colin & I sat on the prom eating fish and chips as the first reports of a death washed in via twitter with no reliable source. This time round the shocking news came in the early hours from NOTW Showbiz Editor Dan Wootton who called it 'the saddest story I have ever broken' (and plugged his link a little too much, but I get - it's his job!) On the other hand social media gives you almost too much access into the reaction of your friends or acquaintances. Seeing them make jokes about the death of a 33 year old moments after his death, just because they think he was in a 'comical boyband', leaves me with somewhat of a bad taste in my mouth.

Coming straight out of the glory days of pop that were the 1990s, I remember with a smile the numerous Smash Hits or Top Of The Pops magazine stories which back in the day tried to pair him up with Emma Bunton constantly - the two babies of the biggest group of the day. I can't claim to be a massive fan, but the only time I saw him live was wonderful. He performed at a big charity gala Rocky Horror show performance at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 2005 and managed to turn my least favourite Rocky song 'Once In A While' into something brilliant. Boyzone might not be your cup of tea, but there's no doubt Stephen was an excellent vocalist.

[Edit: Unfortunately the youtube video has a screengrab of Ronan looking a bit special]

Cheryl Cole '3 Words' kind of review

Earlier this week I made a complete meal of writing a proper Cheryl Cole '3 Words' review, but here are the random notes I made during my first few listens. This is not exactly award winning writing, it's just random thoughts I made while trying to figure out if it was amazing or rubbish. It was hard to disassociate my love for Cheryl's shiny hair in her new L'Oreal adverts from the music and just before writing it she annoyed me a bit by kicking Ethan and Duane out of X Factor. I'm so easily swayed. It's very girly, all about being in love and is pretty sad. There's no Xenomania, there's lots of Will.I.Am and it's far, far away from a Girls Aloud album.

1. Three Words: Strange guitar opening, sounds a bit like Foals, before the bass builds up . Bizzaro. Will.i.Am/Cheryl co-write and Will.i.Am is all over it - it's a duet! The three words are indeed 'I Love You'. Very brave opening track. "It wasn't complicated, wasn't pre-meditated, to you I'm dedicated." Anthem for Chuck & Blair.
2. Parachute: Awesome military drumming. Cheryl sounds sad. About a secret love 'I won't tell anyone your voice is my favourite sound'. Her love is the parachute that will catch her if she falls. Nice, strong 90s rnb chorus. Brilliant little pointing finger breakdown "I won't fall out of love."
3.Heaven: Another wibbly electro Will.I.Am song and he's on it again. Most annoying bit is Cheryl totally aping his accent and singing 'My heaven's with you' as 'My heaven wit you'. No need. Best bit - Will I Am sounds like he's telling Cheryl she's immature at one point.
4. Fight For This Love: Best song on the album. The drums on this are amazing now. SOLDIER.
5. Rain On Me: Madonna-ish, teeters along before you have some very odd synthesised oboe (?!) sounds and it blows off into a big midtempo dance chorus. Tears in my eyes while raving kind of affair. Not a will i am track so no idea who is singing along in the chorus. Co-written by Livvi Franc!
6. Make Me Cry: Nice 70s Chic type of bassline. "Are you trying to make me cry?" Fierce, talk to the hand. Cheryl says shit! Doesn't really go anywhere but pleasant.
7. Happy Hour: Ridiculous, yet adoreable analogies. Bad boy she needs a taste of, he's an addiction. Co-written by Priscilla Renae, originally a Rihanna demo. Nice layering up of vocals without any Nadine style warbelling. Type of song I think Cheryl would sing along to in the shower. Middle Eastern vibes - K-Ci & Jojo esque piano topline. "Some days I can be sweet and some I'm sour, but I can't help but drink you up cos you're my happy hour." 2nd best song.
8. Stand Up: The only upbeat song, only one that doesn't sound like Cheryl is the saddest person ever. Taio Cruz penned and he features on it during a rap where he bigs up his advance and his bloody Rokstar shades. Makes me want to crouch to my knees and then fascinatingly 'Stand Up' in some kind of never before considered dance routine.
9. Don't Talk About This Love: Cover of a Nikola Bedingfield song. CUT YOUR EARS OFF AWFUL.
10.Boy Like You: Opens with a sample of Fleetwood Mac 'Little Lies'. Random. Another Will.i.Am track. Clapping / electro drumbeat. It's a shoulder wiggler.
11.Heartbreaker: Identical to the single release, no Cheryl mix or anything. Is that FIVE Will.I.Am duets??\
12. Got To Be Real: Amaz-Oh no, this is Cheryl Lynn. Thanks iTunes!

Cheryl's Hair: 10/10 ; Album 7/10

Mr Discopop's heard it too.

Glee!

Buffy, Angel, Veronica Mars, Doctor Who, Gossip Girl, Pushing Daisies True Blood and now Glee. These are the shows that have / would make me cry actual tiny tears should they be cancelled.

One of the major things I want in life (save love, peace, a new Billie single, unlimited crispy aromatic duck) is to join a choir that sings pop songs. Earlier in the year I had singing lessons for the first time and now I feel a little bit more confident about singing in front of others. Though if you ask any of my Singstar pals I've felt confident in that for years. So pop choirs are you out there? I'm Jewish - so I didn't do choir at my CoE school and I don't want to start praising the lord or anything like that now, I just want straight down the line Girls Aloud, Abba, JLS, Mamas and Papas, Sean Kingston style nonsense with over the top harmonies and my name in lights. London - can you sort this out please? One exists in Barnes, but unless I move into Jack's, it seems an unlikely distance. It might as well be in Wigan.

Anyway, back to the seemingly random list of TV shows. Fox's Glee is yet another show to make me want to go back in time and redo high school but be in America. The notion of a glee club in US high schools seems to be a choir but with choreography who take part in country wide championships like a sport. This is where I want 15 year old me to be.

The show will be on E4 later this year, and is the first of the new US season shows to be picked up for a full 22 episode series with massive ratings and twitter trending insanely.

Here's an idea of what you should expect. It's quirky and often laugh out loud, I could bang out about how hot Matt Morrison is or blah blah blah but I don't want to spoil anything:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzWrnsASi3c[/youtube]

And in this week's episode Kristin Chenoweth guest starred. Olive Snook! The way she hits the chorus of 'Alone' is jawdropping. She also performed a brilliant version of 'Maybe This Time' but it's probably better to see that in context.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmj6Vdlteo8[/youtube]

If nothing else, it will make Helen ridiculously happy.

Being Erica

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zGkg-l-8tU[/youtube]

If you're a girl and like your comedy / dramas with a bit of time travel, then E4 at 10pm tonight is the place to be as Canada's 'Being Erica' hits our shores. I was lucky enough to catch the first series last year in Canada and while I'm surprised it's been picked up over here (hell, if Privileged can be…), it's well worth your time.

Erin Kapluk plays the brilliantly named Erica Strange, a down in the dumps late 20 something with no direction and no hope for where her life is going. Then the mysterious Doctor Tom enters her life and gives her the opportunity to go back into her history and change key decisions she now regrets. Cue bad outfits, 90s hair, and 'hilarious consequences'. Even if the plot is a bit clunky, Erin is so much fun to watch that you'll easily find yourself rooting for her. She both looks and has the comedy acting of Jennifer Aniston and I've often caught myself thinking it is in fact 'tragic Jen', plus there's Wonderfalls' very swoonable Tyson Leitso as eye candy. Series 2 has just started in Canada taking a darker twist, so it's well worth checking out, particularly as you can enjoy a double bill tonight. In reality I think about 9 people will watch it, but hey, cult hit. Come on you 9!

Boy Crisis

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no7fy9mDbpQ[/youtube]

Although they were knocking about in the UK a couple of months ago it seems, I've just got round to listening to self declared 'Brooklyn Buzz Band' Boy Crisis. Signed to B-Unique, they are Tal, Alex, Victor, Lee and Owen and if you love your synth pop could quite happily become your new favourite band.

Lots of people are comparing them to MGMT because they've come out of the same world, attending the same college and even being mainly introduced to each other by them. From the songs I've heard, I think there's a bit less messing about. Brilliant disco track "Dressed To Digress" packs together funk, pop and a breathless dirty vocal that draws images of a packed, sleazy nightclub or at least a soundtrack during a particularly sexy scene on Gossip Girl with the 'tiger looking for the tigress.' One for the Popstarz bag.

New single, 'The Fountain of Youth' (video above), comes out on Monday here in the UK just preceding their debut album " " (formerly called Tulipomania). It's a big bag of joy that opens with electronic flutes that'll put you in mind of Daft Punk's 'Veridis Quo', before a guitar snarl gives way to a seductive 80s beat. The video is ridiculously over the top and campy, with a very strange hot dog moment and a glorious boy band dance routine from the band clad in white tunic tops and tight gold leggings. This is a band who are enjoy dressing up and creating something a bit silly. Hurrah for that.

Daft Punk Hero

Despite having turned them musically into 2 Many DJs, how ace is this?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0r38l7oNCQ[/youtube]

Gives me another chance to plug my documentary about Daft Punk if you've not already heard it - it's here (will trade on this forever)

Introducing Dollface

This is Yulanda Lindsay aka Dollface aka today's obsession. First springing into the lives of pop bloggers via her part in 'girl group in development' The Silhouettes, the band have recently split leaving Dollface to set up her own label and go solo.

An alumni of the Brit School, she's moved away from The Silhouettes retro sound and moved towards electro-pop with demo standout 'Miss Jamaica' pulling together elements of Red One's production and her own fiesty throwdowns. Couple that with elements of Calvin Harris in the blissfully repetitive but undeniably soulful girl put downs of 'Who's Laughing Now' and we have ourselves a brand new popstar if these demos are anything to go by. Citing Grace Jones, Bowie, Rihanna and Daft Punk as references, this is a lady to keep our eyes on in 2010.

Have a listen over on her myspace.

Chelley - Took The Night

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g_RFWpm5dg[/youtube]

I've not DJ-ed much at Miss-Shapes recently but if I had then Chelley's 'Take The Night' would be totally filling the dancefloor. I don't really know its story other than it came out in Spring in America on Ultra Records and has recently been remixed with a verse from Mims. I've no idea if it's coming out in the UK properly but 1xtra have been playing it every so often.

Chelley is a 21 year old singer from Brooklyn who put together the song with Ricky Blaze. Fiesty and utterly unforgiving, it reminds me a lot of Avenue D's Do I Look Like A Slut. The other couple of tracks on her myspace don't sound that interesting but this song should be legendary.

Hockey - Song Away

Where Too Fake was quite an exciting debut single, the next single from Hockey is total run of the mill, could be Razorlight, could be Jet, 80s influenced indie. I just can't get enough of it though. There's something about 'Song Away' that fills me with utter bliss and the newly released video has made me feel even more so. It's like Michael Cera trying to romance Ugly Betty. I love the notion that 'tomorrow is just a song away' and am trying to hammer the face off this at Popstarz. It went straight on the Radio 2 A list as their song of the week, although is R1 is yet to pick it up. Love, love, love.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x19NZlo9Qr4[/youtube]

Jay Sean Rules America

When I was working on hit40uk, Jay Sean was one of the artists who always had a particularly noticeable fan base whenever we mentioned him on air. However, despite a #5 album and tune after quality tune, he never quite broke through to a mainstream audience as much as he should have done. If anything, he certainly paved the way for Taio Cruz.

Today I'm just looking through the Billboard chart and who should pop up but Jay, at a rather staggering #7 on the Hot 100. I remember at the MOBOs a couple of years ago he was excitedly running about having signed to Cash Money and I guess this is the outcome. It's his first UK single and labelmate Lil' Wayne is on board adding a bit of gravitas to the urban synths. Save for the opening chords of 'Tonight' though, it's missing Sean's trademark Asian hints. I'm very excited for him though, it's awesome and just a shame we didn't support our homegrown talent a little bit more. Maybe he'll blow up once he heads back here next year.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF_qI7KIuEs[/youtube]

Madonna in 60 seconds

This hurts the ears but amazes the eyes.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOGoX_cvwWs&[/youtube]

The Big Pink

First came The Klaxons, then Friendly Fires, and now The Big Pink. Well actually, according to other more knowledgeable people, first came Spiritualized, My Bloody Valentine, Jesus & Mary Chain and Happy Mondays, but I know bugger all about those bands.

They went unnoticed by me earlier in the year despite appearing on the BBC Sound of 2009 poll but it's probably only now that they're about to break through into popular consciousness. 'Too Young To Love' showcased their dreamy side, particularly on The Living Eye remix while 'Stop The World' was a big old fashioned indie song that's made just that bit more special with fuzzy electronics swooshing all over the bass. Now 'Dominos' is the track to break them, preceding their brilliantly named debut album 'A Brief History Of Love'. It's packed full of feedback and distortion but also a brilliant pop hook. Plus hot female drummers always earn a couple more points. You can download the track for free (FREE!) at their official site.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGnNlQ-KNv4[/youtube]

We Have Band

For the last couple of years I've been going to an event called Bug at London's National Film Theatre, or to give it it's new pointless name the BFI Southbank. Hosted by Adam Buxton, with whom I have since fallen in love, it's a look through the latest exciting music videos with some youtube banter in between. It's great, but the selection is always quite swayed to the trendy rather than anything very popular.

One of the videos last time round was for the suitably trendy We Have Band. Their single 'We Came Out' features the delightfully silly/scabby lyric 'We went out, and we got wasted! You went home and turkey basted!" sung over and over again by the yelping Dede. Colin covered them in Attitude a few months ago and we caught them live at Latitude (best festival ever) a few weeks ago. They are right on the edge of being fun DIY and so trendy they infuriate. On the whole though, their basslines are quirky and bouncy and the repetition of lyrics mean you can start singing along within about 20s of each track. Why oh why they decided to cover Pet Shop Boys' 'West End Girls' then is beyond me. Not only is it almost a straight cover but they've removed all the quirks and really zapped the energy levels.

Anyway here is the video for 'We Went Out':

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtGJ1lD23-U[/youtube]

The video involved the band lying still for two days in a studio while 4,816 separate stills were taken to create the face-painting effect - you can see all the individual pictures over on flickr.

Annie - Don't Stop

Courtesy of Popjustice here's the new gorgeous sleeve for the finally going to come out 2nd Annie album.



If you like Annie, the greatest piece of advice I can give you is to never, ever see her live. No matter how tempting it might seem - it will ruin everything.

Mr Abdul

Seriously, what's going on? After Mr Kadim comes Mr Abdul. Is this some strange kind of Stokey scam?

PAY AFTER POSITIVE RESULTS
WHY ARE YOU SUFFERING IN SILENCE WHEN YOU
CAN SEE MR ABDUL TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS

MR ABDUL

I am a Marabout with 37 years experience, born with this knowledge from God.
you suffering from problems that seem abnomal? Does everything in your life
always seem to go wrong? If so don't hesitate to call Mr. Abdul I will destroy all
your problems and make your life a success in all areas. I will protect you from
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Pay after positive results

An Education

I'm a bit rubbish at seeing films. I always think 'oooh, I'll see that' but more often than not come up with something more fun (i.e. sitting at home on the internet) to do than go to the cinema. Anyway the last film I got giddy about seeing was Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day with the gorgeous Amy Adams and knee trembling Lee Pace. Swoon your way through tearjerker 'If I Didn't Care. Ned! Pies!

Now only a year later, there's another film I'm quite into seeing. Well done me. I obviously have something for posh accents and London in bygone ages, as this time it's 'An Education'.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYkLgaQ27L8[/youtube]

The story is based around a relationship British journalist Lynn Barber had as a teenager with an older man. It's detailed in her new memoirs of the same name, but only takes up one chapter of the fascinating book. I had to read it very quickly last week at work to prepare an interview for her (an interview for the queen of interviewing!) and can hugely recommend as both an insight into the world of journalism and the very real tale of a girl growing up. The trailer seems to romanticise the relationship much more than the book does, but perhaps that's a trailer impression.

There are also two proper SCREAM (if you're a geek) castings in that trailer. I stared at Jenny (Lynn) for a while before realising she was modern day Doctor Who idol Sally Sparrow from 'Blink'. And who is that familiar voice saying 'Go to Oxford, no matter what - you'll break my heart'? It's a far from glamorous looking Adelle from Dollhouse. Plus how gorgeous does Beth Rowley look?

'An Education' is out in October. Make way for me, Mr Cinema

New Teddybears!

A few years ago a Swedish band called Teddybears released an album called 'Soft Machine' which absolutely won my heart. I think I first came across them Annie did guest vocals on their song 'Yours To Keep.' There was some very complex online discussion about this particular song over whose version was the best at Paolo & Neneh Cherry both had their own. Then along came Robyn's album and 'Cobrastyle' - a song which turned out to be theirs from several years ago. Klas Åhlund might be a name you're familiar with because he produced Robyn's album, wrote 'Piece of Me' for Britney, 'Speakerphone' for Kylie and was in The Caesars. In Sweden, he's best known for being a Teddybear.

Anyway all this led me to finally pick up a copy of Teddybears' first international album when I was in Montreal in 2007. It's their 5th album overall and pulls together lots of songs from the past onto one big American edition. Punk Rocker with Iggy Pop on vocals and the original 'Cobrastyle' fast became part of my DJ sets and the whole album soundtracked a hell of a lot of journeys. In fact it's only fault is that Elephant Man is the vocalist on the awesomely fun 'Are You Feeling It'.

Anyway this whole babble is to introduce the fact that Teddybears are back! Hooray! They've just released a free download of 'Get Mama A House', a song that started life as a advertising jingle. Hopefully this means a new album soon. Grab it here.

Popstarz Setlist 08/08/09

Last night I played:

Music Go Music - In The Shadows
Passion Pit - To Kingdom Come (Grum Mix)
Eliza Lumley - Street Spirit
Morningwood - Nth Degree
Cure - Love Song

Unexpected

Ali Campbell, British reggae's best loved voice, has joined forces with two of the world's most distinctive singers on this new single release. Blah blah blah. Shaggy lends his instantly recognizable voice to this fresh interpretation of Tom Jones' 1971 hit 'She's A Lady'.

Mini Viva - Left My Heart In Tokyo

Over the last couple of years, Xenomania have been touring the country looking for new talent to work with and develop into pop stars. Mini Viva are the first to give it a go, having signed to Geffen (Polydor) and now putting out their first single 'Left My Heart in Tokyo'. It's a brilliant buzz of disco pop which couples the best Xenomania rapping since 'strippers in the vicars in the back' with a gloriously funky bassline and some cheesy oriental sounds. Plus hold out there for the middle 8 and it's pummeling strings. Live they are a bundle of fun, and have a real instinctive quality to their performance - they know exactly what the other one is getting up to. I have no idea which is which, but the video is slightly odd because it sounds like only brown hair MV (Britt?) is singing for most of it. Maybe it's just been mixed oddly. Anyway because I always hate the Shaznay/Nadine of the band, I am instinctively drawn to curly MV who I am wildly guessing is Frankie as my favourite.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvjML3-66SA[/youtube]

I always talk in some kind of idiot manner about how it's really important your favourite pop star is either really aspirational (La Roux, Atomic Kitten) or stark raving bonkers (Gaga) and these pair really fit into the aspirational quality. I'm not entirely sure about their look (they are styled by the same person who does GA FYI)  - in places Britt (?!) looks a bit harsh and overdone, but Frankie just oozes your mad little sister who's jumped up on stage and is having a bit of a dance. They're just two regular girls from Newcastle & Liverpool who've been plucked out from obscurity and I know were I a teenager back home in Blackpool I'd be loving them.

Are You Bewitched?

Perhaps the windscreens of 'trendy Stoke Newington' is not the place to leave this. I am sure all the yummy mummies already have chart readers, life coaches and the like. In any case there are some bold claims in this brilliant advert. Copied as is:

MR KADIM - CLAIRVOYANT - easy terms (what??)

Mr Kadim is the solution for your problem solving, by serious and secrecy work. Quick and honest, I succeed where all others have failed. You will succeed your marriage, you will have a passionate love story, and did you split? You lover will come back to you. Do you want to fall in love? Do you want somebody to fall in love with you? I can do it. I will protect your job; bring back luck into your life; you will succeed your exams and tests. Are you bewitched, I will relieve you. My supernatural powers will solve your problems even from distance by telepathy and extrasensory perception. From clairvoyants' line of descent, my work is serious and you will notice the results after a week. Speaks French & English

Anyone want his number?

D-A-I-S-Y

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia6YLTP4ZY8[/youtube]

Nice bed.

Hooray for Torchwood

Hurrah. No more secrets about the word 'Dad', no more secret swoons at Doctor Rupesh, no more pondering Lois' fierceness, no more trying to remember how amazing Ianto & his sisters scene was, no more random muttering about the 456. After teasing you earlier in the year, Torchwood has finally aired and first reaction on twitter seems very positive. I can't wait to see the rest of the series!

So now the issue is off the shelves, here's my Torchwood piece for last month's Attitude. It was my first TV piece and the first thing I've had to write that's been over about 600 words since I left university. Lots of fun. See it after the bump

In No Particular Order : John Legend - Ordinary People

In the world of a nice, normal person - the question 'What's your favourite song?' is probably an easy one to answer. It's 'Viva La Vida' or 'Bohemian Rhapsody'; 'Whole Again' or 'Patience'. In my world, the question is an absolute nightmare. I go from having a new favourite song that lasts for about 12 minutes before I find something else I love even more. It could be old, new, anything - if it works then little else will make me as happy as a new favourite song. Anyway that's a bit of an incomprehensible little rant but the point is that I'm going to start every so often declaring a few of my favourite songs. Not only will this help me keep track of the music I claim to be obsessed with, but it might also mean the blog doesn't go left for weeks at a time. If I'm organised enough I might have a theme, but most of the time I think I'll just be banging out an amount of songs I love with no link, and that's exactly what I'm going to do now. Let's make it clear from the start though - these are in absolutely no particular order (although actually this one is possibly my favourite ever. Errrr).

John Legend - Ordinary People

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDMpkWiex60[/youtube]

Forget about the cheesed up radio edit, the album version of Ordinary People gets me every time. John Legend's voice sounds so warm and rich over simple, yet gorgeous piano. I'd love to have a romantic story to tell along this, but instead it will always remind me of working on Spoony's Weekend Breakfast show. We used to sneak it in as often as we could and just sit slightly asleep sipping on Starbucks Hot Chocolate going all dreamy to this song. Without wanting to start going off into some kind of therapy session - I've, as yet, never been in love.(Wah! My world is empty! Boo hoo! etc). But I love the throwing away of the ideal of 'fairy tale conclusions' and treating love as something that does just happen between regular people and that it'll face traumas and tribulations but will survive. One day when I finally bump into Robbie, I will be able to explore this.

I finally got to hear John performing this live last year at West London's brilliant Porchester Hall, and despite him sweating his way through an entire shirt, it was as goosebumpy as it is on record. It's so good it almost makes me feel a bit sick. Put that on your next press release.

Live Review: Paloma Faith @ ICA, London

After years of playing hostess at trendy London parties, now is the time for Paloma Faith to have a blast at going global. Gigs like tonight's are normally designed by record labels as a big celebration for your artist's debut hit topping the charts, packed full of media and smug music executives. Yet despite the decadent 'Stone Cold Sober' limping in at a disappointing 17 (even Paloma herself shouts "must try harder"), this is a show launched with big white balloons and packed full of character, colour and fun.

Of course, in a post-Winehouse age with no shortage of glammed-up soul sweethearts around, Paloma was never going to have it easy. It's unfortunate that the likes of 'Broken Doll' - a vintage-tinged smoky jazz bar number - were knocking about maybe even before 'Back To Black' hit the shelves, but were held from release due to a series of label delays.

Live, Paloma is everything you might expect from a former magician's assistant, clad in a retro corset and a towering head-dress, in front of a giant rag doll version of herself. Bonkers pop stars are the best kind, and as she teeters in high heels on tiny white chairs, talking in a delicate porcelain doll voice and singing the somewhat lacklustre next single 'New York', it's plain that demented is exactly where she's at.

While album title track 'Do You Want The Truth or Something More Beautiful' is an epic, cinematic ballad, one too many torch songs almost lose tonight's crowd. Fortunately the wild and frantic 'When We're Dancing' saves the day and allows Paloma to show off her footwork.

Fun and loud, Paloma is the perfect pop star-in-waiting. We only hope she's given the time to become one.

Originally published at Orange Music

Negotiate with Glove

I've had a few 'run-ins' with Rachel Stevens. The first was when I was doing work experience at a radio company in 2003. She was doing a series of ISDN (high tech interviews) with radio stations around the country from a base in London. I looked after the desk and at one point had to run out to get her a takeaway chicken salad from Pizza Express. Next, I worked at a music promotions company who were doing the digital PR for 'Come and Get It'. She came into the building to do interviews and signed me a couple of bits in including the above and a promo of the album which was sent out in a proper case and everything but with a black & pink sleeve. Finally, I reviewed her album for the BBC convincing them to make it album of the week across the BBC reviews system which made me very happy! It's quite interesting to look back at writing from 4 years ago, which seems quite a bit more stilted than it is these days.

Anyway here's the brilliant 'Negotiate With Love' that still sounds as bang on today as it did back then. It still irritiates me slightly that the lyric is 'Whatever happened to me?' rather than the much more heart tugging 'Whatever happened to we?'.

[dailymotion]http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/rachel+stevens+negotiate/video/x2v4qh_rachel-stevens-negotiate-with-love_music[/dailymotion]

Kudos to the brilliant XO London and MuuMuse for putting one of my favourite albums back in mind and Adem with an E for writing about it.

Morecambe - Lancashire's rock hotspot

Winner of week's strangest press release goes to Juliette Lewis who has somehow been roped into performing as part of the Get Loud in Libraries campaign. Last time this happened I think it was Mr Hudson involved pre autotune days when he was called ... & The Library. That kind of made sense. This time, they are sending Juliette to Morecambe Library.

For those non Lancashire people amongst you, I am not exaggerating when I say Morecambe is the bleakest place I've ever been. I quite like bleak places, I'm from Blackpool after all - but Morecambe takes it to a whole other level. There is no one there, everything is shut down and the only thing to do is stand next to a statue of Eric (not actually from) Morecambe.

I took my housemate as part of a Lancashire road trip last January. Here's what it looks like - click the pics to go large for full depression. Picture 3 nearly made me cry.

[gallery link="file" columns="2" orderby="title"]

Good Girls Go Bad

Is there anyone in the world who doesn't want to be Blair Waldorf? Here's Leighton's first proper release as a pop star teaming up with Cobra Starship for 'Good Girls Go Bad'. It's been knocking about for quite a while but the video has just come out today - I'm slightly concerned that she doesn't seem to have much rhythm but I'm hoping that's a youtube sync issue!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpOdAfs8jr0[/youtube]

Love the xoxo text message!

Review: La Roux - La Roux

Tipped in many polls at the start of 2009 as a contender for success, La Roux were possibly always thought of as the wild card in the bunch with many pitting the duo against the shinier Little Boots. Elly Jackson's magnificent quiff of red hair, and high pitched, cutting tones certainly aren't for everyone, but the retro styling of her and producer Ben Langmaid's music has quickly burrowed its way into the hearts of the nation.

While the magnetic Quicksand was first to tantalise our earbuds on limited release last year, it was instead the almost unpleasant-to-listen-to In For The Kill that swept these competitors out of the water, positioned her as the year's most exciting new talent and landed her a massive chart hit. That shrill vocal might mean the self titled debut album is not something you're likely to listen to all in one go in a high pressure situation, but it's one jam-packed with killer pop song after killer pop song.

The frantic Tigerlily is a good indication of what's ahead, as a strange synth harpsichord eventually gives way to a starring role from Elly's father in a Vincent Price-aping spooky spoken word interlude. With the whole album centered around the break up of a twisted love affair, Bulletproof, with its candy floss chorus, might initially sound happier, but as Elly snarls that she's, ''been there, done that, messed around'' proves anything but. That newly resolute persona continues strong with the minimal I'm Not Your Toy and the "early 90s decor" of Colourless Colour. While the pair might be denying a heavy 80s influence in interviews, their music is filied with allusions to the likes of Yazoo, Aneka and The Human League particularly on the euphoric chorus of monster tune Fascination and the delightfully bleak Reflections Are Protections.

Establishing themselves as one of our most exciting new pop acts, La Roux have mastered their debut. Never has something so tinny sounded so good.

Originally published at BBC Music.

VV Pumpkin

I've not really written much about faltering pop starlet VV Brown over here. I think I took against her from the start because she showed up 45 minutes late to an interview with my friend and didn't apologise. I showed up 55 minutes late (UNINTENTIONALLY) for an interview with the bloody amazing Raygun a few weeks ago so I now feel less angry towards her. I like her hair, I think she's gorgeous, I feel like she might chuck herself off a building though at any moment sometimes when reading her twitter which is a bit worrying, and I adore playing 'Crying Blood' each week at Popstarz. It's a proper classic pop song that should have been a brilliant one hit wonder if nothing else. As oppose to most of the pop blogosphere I think 'Shark in the Water' is an nice, adequate song but hardly something to be screaming about.

Now I'm highly unlikely to start banging off promo blogs for commercial things, but as part of a perhaps blooming fashion career, VV has designed some ponchos for Orange for use at Glastonbury. The photos are amazing, mainly because she looks like a pumpkin. This is all I need to be amused. Actual proper info over here.

[gallery]

Singing For My Supper

Over the last 10 weeks i've been indulging in a bit of singing lesson action. I like Singstar a bit too much so James sent me on a group course at City Academy. It's been quite fun, but our teacher has put together a really anti Talia set of songs. So he's been making us sing Angels, Mr Brightside, Wonderwall, Blame It On the Boogie, Faith etc. Maybe it's just because I am extremely overexposed to these songs but I was hoping for a bit of a mixture with some standards, bit of musical theatre etc rather than full on rock/pop else I would have picked the rock / pop course!

Also we have to sing over the CDs rather than with sheet music which is driving me slightly mental. This is probably bang on what the casual 'beginner' student wants for an after work course, but I think it's rubbish because you can't see how long the notes or meant to be or yadda yadda yadda. I probably need to find a little old lady with a piano.

Anyway the final two lessons have us doing our own choice of song. I only remembered this 20 minutes before the lesson started so went with Another Suitcase In Another Hall as I know all the words (obsessive listening in 1996) and No Doubt Don't Speak which I've always wanted to sing but decided in the car was way too hard. Next week I can do Another Suitcase again but wondered if anyone had any suggestions for something more exciting?

I am secretly hoping someone goes mental and shows up with 'Vision of Love'

Daisy Dares Your Face Off

In an attempt to infiltrate every single bit of pop music out there, I am now adding the title of digital plugger to my wares. Together with my friend Jude, with whom I worked at digital agency Outside Line many moons ago touting McFly and the forgotten brilliance of the Love Bites (best launch party ever), I have set up XOXO promotions. Yes I am a mega gossip girl fan but I think the name also helps pass forward the idea that we love pop music and we want others too also. In any case, we better be considered for Leighton Meester's forthcoming campaign. (n.b. our website is currently a holding page till it goes all fun & poppy!)

Setting up the company, Jude and I were keen, maybe in a fresh faced naive way, to only work on acts we actually love. I don't want to run round telling people something is amazing when it's blatantely not. I want to just carry on shouting about an amazing piece of pop I would do of my own accord. So to start us off in a brilliant way is new Jive signing Daisy Dares You. Daisy is scarily 15 and although I've not met her yet, I think I might feel like a bit of a granny with the mighty 12 years I have on her. She's from Essex and makes fun, bouncy, DIY sounding pop music. Everything is in very early demo stages at the moment, I don't even have snazzy photos to throw at people, but I'm very exciting to hear what she comes up with and be there from the start.

You can hear 4 demos on her myspace page - 'No 1 Enemy' is the one that first drew me in with it's unexpected cameo from J2K. 'Talk About The Weather' is perfectly fitting her age as she tells the tale of meeting a boy she fancies over an increasingly manic piano riff, while 'Next Few Minutes' takes a darker approached juxtaposing cute sounding vocals with a menacing 'tick tock'. Basically it is gagging for a Doctor / Rose bit of epic, heartbreak filled unofficial youtube action. Can someone make it happen?

Anyway to wet your appetite, here is a self titled track 'Daisy Dares You'. It's fun, it's bouncy and the more I listen to it, the more I jump around the kitchen while cooking.

Download Daisy Dares You - Daisy Dares You [MP3]

Le Kid - Mercy Mercy

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qw4BURBbfU[/youtube]

My google reader is so full up of blogs I want to read but I've been trying to move over to another RSS system so I make a conscious effort as I'm missing out on lots of amazing pop.

Le Kid is one such gem. Introduced by Don't Stop The Pop, it's one of those songs that your mates who used to go to Tenerife in the summer holidays would come back singing, and then it would go on to be a catchy UK chart botherer until gloomy November.

It's very upbeat and pop and has elements of Can't Speak French, Mambo No 5 and another song I can't quit place. It's the chorus though - can you get it? It's written by some massive Swedish pop gurus and the video contains some fabulous 'dry' synchronized swimming. As Popjustice put it, it's what would happen 'If Alphabeat weren't quite so obsessed with Shoreditch...'

'Telephone' over on their myspace is even better.

"soft tone low boobs baroque enthusiast"

I don't know how to write about this without being mean. It's shot in a mean way but actually what he says is quite sweet. It looks atrocious but quite impressive.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jp0drvIcC0[/youtube]

Only in Blackpool.

If He Were A Boy

Last night I went to see Beyonce live. I like Beyonce. I'm not mental on her, but I knew she'd be able to pull off a pretty good show.

OH MY GOD. I am not exaggerating when I say I might as well never go to a gig again. NOTHING is likely to beat last night. 35 songs, about 10 costume changes, flying, mad amazing dancing, an all female band, extravagant video bits. My favourite gig ever was Robbie at Knebworth but save the size of the queue to get out of the car park, it was nothing on Beyonce. And then there was this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS8vqgLTKvQ[/youtube]

When I was about 17/18 I was a massive George Michael fan. My best friend Joanne and I used to listen to Ladies and Gentlemen NON STOP at sixth form despite not actually knowing most of it when it came out. It soundtracked us learning to drive, doing our A Levels, everything. I saw him live a couple of years ago at the LIVE 25 tour but from right at the back of Wembley. This time we were realy close to the stage and it was the best surprise ever. Just before launching into 'If I Were A Boy', Beyonce did a little bit of the beautiful 'One More Try' which seemed really random and then a costume change later there he was. I seriously just stood open mouthed screaming for the entire song. Beyonce's almost 'Outside' outfit was perfect, the video screens made them look like they were in a properly 80s video and this should so be re-released as a duet.

10/10

Cicada - Roulette

I have a new obsession. Years ago I used to play the Cicada remix of Editors' Munich at Popstarz. It made the track epic and euphoric while still remaining dark. Then in November I was plugged a record by a band called Cicada. As I get so much music to listen to it didn't prick my interest and I ignored it, not associating the two. I think I thought why are they called such a stupid name when there is Cascada and for some mad reason that they sounded like a heavy metal band (?!?).

Finally I've got round to listening to them just ahead of the release of their second album and I've been entirely missing out on something that is so up my street that it could be made just to please me. Electronic music? Check. Scandinavian vocalist? Check. Robots? Check. It's a winner all round. The band are made up of Alex Payne, Aaron Gilbert and former Gus Gus singer Heidrun Bjornsdottir with Editors' frontman popping up on the somber 'Executive'. I've interviewed them for Londonist here if you want to know more...

Heidrun often sounds like one of Ladytron, particularly on new single 'Metropolis', but has the confident self-assured look of Nina Persson (not physically, just how she holds herself).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8yCNO0lUuo[/youtube]

Explosive and busting out with fun (just try and not waggle to 'Psycho Thrills', it's fast becoming one of my favourite albums of the year.

Download Cicada - Metropolis (The Twelves' B-LIVE Rio Mix)

MPHO - Box & Locks

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDfLBY6PJrQ[/youtube]

MPHO first popped into the music world as the vocalist on 2003's Booty La La by Bugz In The Attic. Since then she's been operating round London town as MPHO Skeef, showing up as backing vocalists for various pop stars and has finally signed to a major label with her debut album due later this year.

'Box N Locks' is her first single and it's an immediate assertion that this is an album full of in your face party pop. With lyrics about the assumption that just cos she's a 'brown girl' she'll be 'making urban music', we can't help but shed a tiny tear for Remi Nicole (where is she?) Back to MPHO - the video manages to look very glossy and US friendly despite using just a few cheaply set up shots. I love, love the line about Leeds and of course the song is based around one of my all time favourite songs 'Echo Beach'. I'm actually more familiar with the Dimestars version which I got off Anfunny's site a few years ago and have banged out at Popstarz ever since. Now Box N Locks looks set to join it in my must play tunes and I can't wait to hear the rest of her album 'Pop Art'.

Download MPHO - Album Minimix
Download Dimestars - Echo Beach

Review: Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D

Since the last Black Eyed Peas album four years ago, Fergie's surprised us all by becoming one of the world's most popular solo stars. Despite penning most of her album, Will.i.am had no such success with his own record, even if he managed to woo the UK by taking Queen Cheryl of Cole under his arm on Heartbreaker.

Now the pair are back with fellow BEP comrades Taboo and apl.de.ap for their fifth studio album. While Monkey Business was a fun party album, The E.N.D steps it up a gear and through the power of the mighty vocoder transforms the Peas into in your fave dancefloor creatures.

The dramatic Boom Boom Pow lays out the album's intentions perfectly and with its “You're so two thousand and LATE” snap gives us a brand new insult to throw out there. I Gotta Feeling practically screams it's producer David Guetta from the off and fellow anthems Missing You and Rock That Body continue pummeling us with wild basslines and vocal snarling.

When it's time to take a breath of fresh air from the all-night rave, Meet Me Halfway is there to show you what BEP doing a Coldplay song would sound like. Answer: very good. Fergie regains some of the softness she explored on Big Girls Don't Cry on gorgeous love song Alive, but you’re advised to give her attempt at a Jamaican accent on the instantly skip-able Electric City a miss.

Daring and constantly innovative, the Black Eyed Peas have taken the techno/RnB door opened by Kanye West and flung it open wide.

Originally written for BBC Music

Review: Daniel Merriweather - Love And War

With Robbie still out of action, and the charts being deluged by a wave of talented ladies, one thing we're really missing is a great male singer.  James Morrison and Paulo Nutini might have had successes with their debut albums, but as their popularity falters Daniel Merriweather is ready to step in bringing his Aussie charm to our shores.

Originally introduced to us as the vocalist on Mark Ronson's cover of Smiths classic 'Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before', Daniel teams up again with the ubiquitous Ronson for the whole of his debut album 'Love and War'.  Perfectly designed for a long, hot summer, it's a combination of the kind of classic old school soul we'd expect from anything Ronson lays his magical fingers on and contemporary blues featuring a variety of modern day stars such as Wale.

While debut single 'Change' might have wooed us all with it's hypnotic piano riff, even more popular follow-up 'Red' is where Merriweather bares his soul telling of a heartbreak, with vocals that drip with anguish. With his impassioned pleas, it's the perfect break-up song, if such a thing can exist, that belies his 26 years.

Heartbreak is a key theme here. Although 'Cigarettes' might sound jaunty on first listen, it's all about missing the smell of his lady on his clothes. Similarly the blisteringly brilliant 'Water And A Flame', featuring fellow husky voiced Ronson alumni Adele, is a duet basted in pain with tales of empty houses, busy dial tones and the long, sad ache of desertion.

Perhaps then, not the happiest of albums, but if you're missing a loved one, an absolutely essential listen.

Originally written for Orange Music

Popstarz Setlist 5/6/09

I was suffering from intense toothache while DJing on Friday (and must have drunk about a bottle and half of champagne, but more on that later) but it seems pain = a great DJ set. We've not played Scissor Sisters since leaving the Scala but hearing Comfortably Numb again was brilliant. Here's what I played.

VV Brown - Crying Blood
Noisettes - Never Forget You
Dimestars - Echo Beach
The Knife - Heartbeats
La Roux - Bulletproof
Gossip - Heavy Cross

ROBOT ROCK

We've come to the conclusion recently that if you want to make a brilliant pop song it should somehow involve the word 'robot' in the title. Seriously, take a moment and have a think - is there one song involving shiny little mechanical men that doesn't make you want to throw down your drink and pull shapes?

"I am sure there must be a bad song about robots," ponders Torbjørn Brundtland when we confront him with our theory. "In 1982 when the average man on the street realised they could afford a vocoder there must have been hundreds of terrible songs called 'Robotmuzik' or something like that - but you know I just can't think of one." Tall, long haired and with a strange look in his eye, Torbjørn is half of unlikely pop duo Royksopp. Together for the last 10 years, they've recently released their latest and arguably best album 'Junior' after a four year hiatus spent "getting addicted to opium and showering together in the snow".

It will come as no surprise then that their next single, heart-stoppingly entitled 'The Girl and the Robot' is their best yet. Pushing a spooky sounding cosmic choir together with agitating strings and an urgent throbbing bassline, it's a tale of a obsessive and tragic girl which needed a killer vocal.  "We'd had a crush on her voice since we were teenagers and it's been exciting to watch her grow and make some really interesting career choices." Of course he's talking about Robyn - Sweden's fiercest pop musician and all round bittersweet pop siren. "Still I'm dying with every step I take" made us wail in 'With Every Heartbeat' and do not even get us started on her faltering scarf moment in 'Be Mine' or you'll be here for hours listening to tales of woe about our one true love.

"I just love songs that make people dance but make them feel really sad while doing so," squeaks Robyn excitedly when pressed on the traumatic issues. "Ultravox's 'Dancing With Tears In My Eyes' sums it up perfectly!" Royksopp saw her love of all things melancholy and "hoped there was a slim chance she would come and work with two shabby guys from Norway". Spending time at their studio in Bergen, Torbjørn can't praise Robyn enough labelling her a 'role model' and a 'down to earth lovely person.'  Together they captured the thoughts of depressive singletons or crazy obsessives everywhere with cheerful lyrics like 'Fell asleep again in front of MTV', 'Rain starts falling & I just sit here by the phone' and the full on panic of brilliant opening line 'I go mental every time you go to work'. Weep.

Although 'The Girl and the Robot' is certainly 'Junior's most spectacular moment, 'Tricky Tricky' featuring Fever Ray / The Knife's beaked lady Karin comes close. Appearing on stage with the band at their recent UK date at London's Royal Festival Hall wearing an elaborate feathery headdress Grace Jones would kill for, her dark, gothic vocals are a world away from Robyn's bursting emotions but just as staggering. Heavy album closer 'It's What I Want' could pass quite happily as a Pet Shop Boys song while the euphoric 'This Must Be It' further strengthens the 'Sopp's regular collaborator Anneli Drecker as a voice not to be ignored. Long gone are the days when a Royksopp album could be thought of solely as the accompaniment to a middle class dinner party. While the retrospective sounding 'Happy Up Here' might trick you, Torbjørn emphasises that "Junior isn't a full on dancefloor album but it's certainly an invitation to party," cheekily adding, "don't listen to it every day though or you might go insane."

Written for Attitude #180 but postponed till a later date which means this exact copy won't ever really appear as it was written for the single release.

Hush Hush

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL2c-7ovdqU[/youtube]

Do you think the Pussycat Dolls thought they'd lost touch with their gay audience?

(watch it ALL the way through)

Beware the 456

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUMipXqC6Wo[/youtube]

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited to the screening of the first episode of the next Torchwood series. Entitled 'Children of Earth' it's a mini series that will be shown on BBC One at some undisclosed point this summer. As a massive fan of the modern day Whoniverse, it was exciting enough to see the show, never mind sit next to RTD in the orange juice and pastry lobby. I knew I was going to be interviewing lovely Welshman Gareth David Lloyd who plays Ianto the next day, but to make things even better we were taken into another room after the screening for roundtable sessions with John Barrowman, Gareth, Eve Myles and RTD himself. On a table with experience telly journalists all fighting to get their questions in it was quite an experience. Also watching a show with the cast and crew is a strange experience because they find random bits HILARIOUS.

My Torchwood piece (incidentally my first ever print TV article - exciting) will be on the shelves in Attitude out next week but here are some sneaky cuts that didn't make it into the finished edition

* 'I love his tongue in my mouth.'

* 'He's been my long time lover for years, that's why we've given him more lines.'

* 'I have to walk through the Tardis...'

* 'It's in John's contract that we all look at him with doe-y eyes'

* 'That person up there on the screen has changed my life.'

* 'There are a couple more snogging scenes, but most of our time is spent saving the world'

Review: Escala - Escala

After having been on our televisions now for many years, we're surely all familiar with that certain glazed eye expression Simon Cowell gets when he sees the word 'kerching' appear. Before Susan Boyle trotted along, the most excited we'd seen him get on the oft cringe-worthy Britain's Got Talent was when Escala, four pretty ladies playing a string quartet, powered their way through a classical adaptation of Wings classic 'Live & Let Die'. While Simon and Piers might have been quick to over-enthusiastically declare the girls 'totally original', fans of near identical pretty-ladies-playing-a-string-quartet, Bond, were quick to shout up all this was done about eight years ago, even down to some of the song choices such as 'Palladio' and 'KasHmir'.

Of course Bond weren't riding the Cowell money-wagon, and when Escala want to record the Led Zep classic they have the added unexpected bonus of Slash rocking up with his guitar. Let's make things clear - this is not a sweet classical album to sound track your middle class suburban dinner party. It's a pacey, sometimes frantic trip through classical styles that lends itself to a fast, angry walk around the block or a particularly strenuous afternoon in with the Wii fit with only Ennio Morricone's 'Chi Mai' and a toned down version of 'Adagio For Strings' leaving time for a breather.

Classical-o-phobe's shouldn't be scared away though. While the four members of the group might all be classically trained, Haydn and Mozart have been stored away for the future, with their debut concentrating on modern day composers such as Karl Jenkins and Craig Armstrong alongside pop songs like 'Feeling Good', 'Clubbed to Death' and amusingly Robert Miles' 'Children'. We might have heard it all before, but it still remains just as much refreshingly fun to listen to.

<i>Originally written for Orange Music</i>

Sur La Mer

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xgxkxqqUH0[/youtube]

A genius bit of marketing by the Visit Blackpool tourist board. It's so ludicrous that you just have to pass it on.

Surrounded by Cilla

Just thanks to flicking through catch up on Virgin last night I spotted that BBC Four had a whole night of awesome old light entertainment shows on last night surrounding the excellent Queens of British Pop series. The light entertainment variety show is something that doesn't really exist anymore, or at least didn't until the strangely awful Tonight's The Night appeared last week.

Back in the 60s though it was all the rage, and the popular thing seemed to be to turn chart topping singers into TV personalities. 'Cilla' was one of those shows and ran impressively from 1968 - 76. In the episode shown last night, you'll hear Cilla singing the McCartney written theme 'Step Inside Love', as well as performing with a bunch of dancing backing singers and duetting with Georgie Fame. Dusty sings a couple of solo tracks before Cilla joins her for a comedy duet and manages to crush her beehive into a hat. Dusty herself had a shorter 30 minute programme on the BBC in 1966. Watch it here and marvel at just how Jewish a young Tom Jones looks. I'm not sure there's a better voice in the world out there.

Two other shows were broadcast which I've not yet watched. The Sandie Shaw Supplement features 'Sandie Shaw performs music on the theme of transport and travel. She is filmed riding a horse on a Welsh beach, in a racing car, on a Marylebone station platform and in the studio, singing Route 66, Do you Know the Way to San Jose, Homeward Bound, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Girl Don't Come, Got to Go, Planes and Boats and Planes, Day Tripper and Ticket to Ride.' Skip forward then to 1979 for the strange concept of the Kate Bush Christmas Special. Recorded at Pebble Mill, Kate performs songs from her first two albums including a special guest starring from Peter Gabriel.

Watch them all here.

Little Boots 1st Video

Here's the just released video for 'New In Town'.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XaDSbGLXRE[/youtube]

It's not really what I was expecting and I'm not sure it really works. Why are there homeless people dancing? Why's she not in a lot of the shots etc? I did see her at the Camden Crawl yesterday though and it made me think she is ace again. It's easy, because of the world in which 'we' live, to suddenly turn on her, but to most people she's a brand new proposition and that needs to be remembered by a lot of media people banging on about her (myself included).

I do however how no explanation for why this is the 1st single, no matter how much it's grown on me, and not the much more awesome 'Mathematics'.

Miss-Shapes Setlist 23/4/09

Pink - Please Don't Leave me
No Doubt - Stand and Deliver
Tilly & The Wall - Pot Kettle Black
Metric - Dead Disco
Veronicas - Untouchable
Royksopp - The Girl & The Robot
Annie - Anthonio

Pixielicious

Earlier today I went to see gorgeous new popstar Pixie Lott play four songs in a studio in North West London to a bunch of journalists. Events like this are always (I assume!) intimidating to the popstar because industry people NEVER SHUT UP at gigs, particularly when listening to something they don't know. The only time I've seen that happen was when a vaguely journo heavy crowd watched the Scissor Sisters debut 'I Don't Feel Like Dancing' at Popstarz. Normally the popstar is on a brightly lit stage and the industry peeps stand at the back mumbling. This time we were all sat in a bright daylight lit room, perfect silence watching, even whooping Pixie on. Intense, intense, intense and probably the reason her eyes were fixed firmly above us all.

While her old artwork was girly and young, Pixie's suddenly been transformed into a gorgeous, long legged, sleek haired beauty. Somehow the video for debut single 'Mama Do' doesn't really do her justice, although the song is a brilliant updating of a song you might expect the girls in jail in Chicago to sing. The highlight though of today's show was soulful ballad 'Cry Me Out'. Live she just nailed it, packed full of emotion, both her and the audience were nearly in tears at the end. Jennifer Hudson eat your heart out.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GRV5_yXlHw[/youtube]

(I find myself troubled writing about someone born in 1991.)

Important Record Label Meeting Minutes

Xena: I've totted up the accounts and the last Feeling album made us ... £12.

Lex: WHAT? But it was amazing.

X: I know, but some fool decided to take the advice of a radio DJ and release 'Without You' as the 2nd single. Everything went wrong from there.

L: I suppose Dan's Hitler moustache didn't help either. What do we do?

X: Well, I've had an important pop scientist working in the lab. He's created two decent looking chaps. The girls will like them, and Mika's given them some special glitzy classes. We've given them The Feeling imprint and but swapped 5% of it to Same Difference's. It's even made one of them look a bit like the smiley boy.

L: Sounds good Xena. Are they ready to face the public?

X: Well we've got this song. It's called '15 Minutes' and it's all about those sneaky 15 mins of fame. The journalists are going to love the hilarity of it all. I'll be honest, the chorus isn't great, but the verse is so good no one will notice. I call them The Yeah You's.

L: A plan my dear. Let's give them a shiny video that TV will love. It'll distract from the chorus.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupJ7MmIr9k[/youtube]

Song: 2/5
Video : 4/5

(TEN THOUSAND POINTS FOR USE OF TRACY ANN OBERMAN)

Tiga says 'Ciao!'

"I had a great idea for the artwork," smiles Tiga saucily, "It was going to be like a clock - the minute hand was the shaft of the penis and the balls made up the hour hand. Sadly it got left on the cutting room floor.' It certainly might have made stocking the CD in HMV a bit difficult.

Initially turning our heads back in 2001 with a gorgeously dark cover of Corey Hart's Sunglasses At Night, Tiga's 2nd album 'Ciao' sees him taking a deliberately more serious approach. While his debut 'Sexor' was quite a heavy club record, 'Ciao's aim is to be a "proper album you can listen to anywhere, without skipping any tracks." Produced mainly by Soulwax over in Belgium, a country Tiga describes as 'steak, fries and a huge amount of sauce', it's an electronic album peppered with hits you can still dance to in a club ('Mind Dimension'), rave out to while driving (the seriously epic 'Love Don't Dance Here Anymore') or simply waggle your arse to while you're doing the hoovering ('Sex O'Clock' - 6.09 apparently). Mission accomplished.

Having worked with Jake Shears previously on their silly cover of Nelly's 'Hot in Herre' and Tiga's last shot at chart success 'You Gonna Want Me', the glittery one was happy to be back in session on the heavy 'Gentle Giant.' "I love being in a studio with Jake because he's got so much energy that he'll go crazy and try something in 20 different ways just to see how it sounds. I've known him for years and it's made me very proud to see how well he's done." Also involved on the track was LCD's James Murphy - 'the greatest producer in the world'. "I found him quite intimidating to work with," Tiga confides. 'He's just so cool, with the whole punk and disco thing going on! Not of cool as me of course, but he was great fun. He makes you really argue for your point if you want to do a bassline a certain way. It made me stop being so lazy."

The first single from the album is the deliciously silly 'Shoes'. Sounding musically like something Peaches might trot out, with a stomach flipping bass and chatty vocals, Tiga demands for you to 'take off your shoes'. Could we have found this diminutive Canadian's secret fetish? "Oh no! I love shoes, but not like that," he squeals. "I like gloves more! You feel strong when you wear gloves, particularly leather ones. I'm not a very big man, but gloves make me feel big and strapping, like I can break things!" Dressed quite plainly save for the biggest, brightest red trainers we've ever seen, Tiga knowingly tells us, "Shoes are an indication of what type of man you are though. I can tell almost everything from a man's shoes."

Sexuality is always something Tiga's played with but despite not being gay, the scene has had a big influence on his music. "Montreal (his hometown) is a very gay city. When I started DJing it was in gay clubs, and most of my friends were gay. They had the best names. The first club was called 'K-O-X' and there was a regular warehouse party called 'Sterile Cowboys'. It didn't mean much to me at the time..." There was nothing though that could prepare him for the time in Denmark when a man bit his left ass cheek and 'held on like a dog'. "It wasn't the least bit a turn on,' Tiga asserts. "I was wearing jeans but he actually broke the skin so I was bleeding. Yet he claimed he was a fan!'.

Written originally for Attitude Magazine's 15th Birthday Issue

The Worst Album of All Time

In a list of things the world needs, an Eoghan Quigg album full of covers is not one of them. Despite making it all the way to the final of X Factor thanks to the little girl and grannies brigade, a win for Eoghan would have been another nail in the pop coffin of doom that already contains the dusty remains of David Sneddon, Steve Brookstein and Leon Jackson. If Leon, an X Factor winner, has just been dropped from his record label, along with runners up Same Difference, are we really supposed to believe Eoghan's debut offer us any more than a quick buck making exercise for a record label? Look him up 10 months down the line and we're pretty sure you'll find him back working hard at school with a Saturday job at Argos. A fine way to mess with a 16 year old's head.

Of course, we were never going to expect a masterpiece from Eoghan and you probably think we'd slag it off whatever he released. The thing is though, as Popjustice quite rightly states, even the most obsessive, deluded fan, will have some difficulty sticking up for this album. It sounds so cheap, so unlovingly put together that we are aghast that someone managed to A&R and release this without actually wanting to kill themselves

The main problem with Eoghan on the show (save the inexplicable hair, the face, the Diana love, the obsession from Louis etc) was the way his vocals were accompanied by so many backing singers that his voice frequently got lost, and this problem is repeated on the album most notably on High School Musical's 'We're All In This Together'. Taking the songs Eoghan covered on TV as a starting point you can expect to hear his strange choice of Abba's 'Does Your Mother Know', Michael Jackson's 'Ben' (surely the 2nd worst Jacko song after Ebony & Ivory?) and a wilting, joyless version of Take That masterpiece 'Never Forget'. Add to the mix a little known Jonas Brothers song which Eoghan has made sound so much like Westlife, Louis' ears will be perking up with a marathon speed, and the addition of a smattering of Robbie, McFly and Buble and you'll have a fair idea of the sound. It was speculated that Eoghan really found his place on the show when covering his 'favourite band' Busted with 'Year 3000'. Indeed this is really the only track on the album where Eoghan sounds like he's vaguely interested and giving it a smidge, and we really do mean a smidge of personality, so he must have been delighted for Busted craftsman James Bourne to offer up original song '28,000 Friends' for the album. Fittingly though, an ode to online friends, it's a cast off that wouldn't even have made a Son of Dork B-side.

It's safe to say 2009 is not Eoghan's year. There was a time when the runners up album would be as exciting as the winner's. While some might think Rhydian's album did exactly that last year (I've not heard it so I have no idea), let's all take a moment to remember the very first runner up - Gareth Gates - and probably one of the best sugary pop songs of the decade.

Some of this was originally written for Orange Music

Miss-Shapes Setlist : 2/4/09

Here's what I played last night:

Tiga - Luxury
Client - Zerox Machine
Northern State - Better Already
CSS - Move
Black Kids - Look At You
Tilly & The Wall - Beat Control