You'll have herd of her. She's the one who everyone has heard of and she is going out with one of the dudes from Mumford & Sons (everyone's heard of them as well right?). She's also very good and doing music and singing at the same time which is pretty hard especially if you play the trombone. She doesn't. She plays the guitar and the heartstrings with her beautifully delicate yet haunting vocals. I'm not altogether sure where it is the heartstrings or whether its the soulstrings but she 'connects' with you somehow.
I'll play you the first song of hers that i fell in love with...HERE
PS. Check out the official video as well. IT's KERRRWALITY.
At face value she is a pretty elfin lady who sings sweetly while she and her band play folky musics. I like this. It took me a while to fall for her because (as usual) everyone was going nuts for her and a friend said he's met her and she was a bit of a madam. I have been able to put that in the passed now. She is part of a young musical folksplosion. See Noah and the Whale, Johnny Flynn, Mumford & Sons, Peggy Sue, Emmy the Great and Florence and the Machine (to name the first few who came into my head). There seems to be no direct epicentre at the moment, BUT and I am in no means definitive in this but, BUT Ms Marling has been around for longer than I can remember any of the others (except Emmy the Great but adding that caveat doesn't sound as good).
I missed her at Glasto because I knew I was seeing her in Hyde Park. I turned up so see Peggy Sue and they did what I hoped they would. Sung/belted deep and richly absorbing harmonies over simple guitar/percussion backing. I like them and First Aid Kit - they stand out on their own in what they do and how they do it. This is a good thing. You might have heard of Fleet Foxes so you MIIIGHT have heard of First Aid Kit's cover of Tiger Mountain Pleasant. I have played it on here before so if you were listening your life will be that bit better.
We managed to bag a deck chair each - the brother and I - and I mean my sibling. I'm not being all A.A. Gill-like and referring an African American friend in the descriptive participle. I was there with my brother of the same parents (I think I dug myself out of the hole I dug myself into). Ok, so forget who I was with BUT we were sitting down, we snoozed, we listened, we did SOME looking. It was a clear-ish night... Life was VERY good at that moment. Ms Marling came on and well, the pop from the crowd said it all. She has an exponentially growing fan-base all of whom ADORE the music is a figurehead for.
Forgive me for being thin on details about this one but I went, I listened and I enjoyed BUT I did not have my thinking cap on so because I was so happily wrapped up in what I was in the presence of. Maybe that's the moral to this fable? You can listen to her on the way into work and float away (in a Zeppelin I reckon) to what she has to say, you could share a poignant moment with another being while driving somewhere magical (like M&S) or you could be lieing in your garden, facing the sky dreaming of the greater good.
This lady (she is a lady not a girl) has matured nicely since her early slightly arrogant days into someone worthy of every dribble of praise she receives (mine included). I LOVE her collaboration(s) on WATER with Johnny Flynn they work wonderfully together
I wasn't sure how I felt about her bit about NEVER doing encores but everyone has their gimmicks. I felt half-cheated half-appreciative of explanation.
What is an encore if not just an extension to the set? It could be perceived as an egotistical act. I always saw it as a little bonus or gift for the fans. I will stick to the latter. It makes me happier.
First of all, please don't not read this because I hybridised two words to make a new word
I went to Rough Trade East the other day. Monday if we're insisting on specifics. Monday, 8th June 2010 (around 6:25pm) if you're a cock. I went on the Waterloo and City line to Bank and then walked the rest of the way. Now enough with the questions... If you want, email me and I will happily talk about tube routes and walking throughout London.
I bought Johnny Flynn's new album (two copies, one for me and one for a friend) along with Sleigh Bells - Treats, Surfer Blood - Astro Coast and Noah and the Whales - First Days of Spring. I was fortunate enough to be presented with two 'wristbands' which entitled me to return the following day (I came via the same route and arrived slightly later and met a friend on the way, and went for a drink at The Water Poet - awesome pub).
We wondered in to the venue - which, I would like to iterate, was a record shop, still with rows of records and stuff on the shelves... to the wonderful noise of Johnny Flynn and his guitar. Just that. Nothing else.
The standouts for me were The Wrote and The Writ... easily one of my favourites from his first album - A Larum - alongside Ghost of Donnaghue and Hong Kong Cemetry. If you want to read an excellent biog for this fine young man then go ----------->
"When he was a boy, Johnny Flynn used to poach trout. If this sounds like a scene from Roald Dahl's Danny The Champion Of The World, it's because Johnny Flynn's life would make for a great Dahl adventure.... Ever since discovering a copy of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan in a junk shop aged 13, he has known what he wants to do with his life: to take off on a path of discovery, and write poetic, lyrical songs that document the journey." - Rough Trade East
I shall now cite myself from my own notes (a trick I learned all those years when i had to write essays but wasn't so hot on the research). As usual I shall quote word for word and letter for letter.
"Wrote an the writ descended the group(not) crowd into a melacholic mesmerisation- emanated that feeling in your stomach that 'everything is good"
"Churlish may- no trumpets? Were they missed? Na. Fraid not"
"Surprisngly - been listening was the riches, most apitvating and self explanatory (if you were using his music and not common words to explain what Mr Flynn sounds like and epitomises."
I think that says it all really. Spend a little bit of time with this be it on your morning commute (it'll take the edge of things) or the evening commute (it'll add to the serenity of leaving work) or just listen to the wonderfully slow, rhapsodies that this boyishly handsome and similarly boy-ish humility. His comparability to his name sake (Johnny Cash) is well earned through the richness of his story telling and the dialect/vocabulary he chooses to use.
A few words on the crowd. Like I said before, it was more of a group or a gathering than it was a crowd. There was a warmth and a comfort in each others company. Maybe I am just being wanky BUT the silence was rare and golden; the complete stillness created by and pure concentration on the our protagonist for the hour was something i had not seen in a long time.
Johnny Flynn is one of those artist who get a special place in my audio anthology in my brain. I will pre-order ANYTHING he does and even buy the CD forever (as long as he doesn't get shit). So Been Listening IS COMING (you like how I did that?) on June 8th and so we are lucky enough to have a 5 track sampler to enjoy until then. HURRAH!
Kentucky Pill has a beautiful Phil Collins feel to it but DON'T let that put you off... Slightly more upbeat in feel that I was expecting, still ample use of strings (not fiddle. Strings). Continued usage of RICH (so easy to use this word in association with this man and the fruits of his loiny brain) harmonies makes me happy. Like the sunshine but more consistent and less likely to disappear everytime there is a public holiday.
The Water is JUST MAGICAL. The plink-plinking on the the plucked violins over slow, rolling and ebbing bowed arrangements basically refuses to let you ignore them. You got Johnny giving you sound of the woodland while Laura Marling offers a pixie-ish (give me another word for magic) ethereal balance that allows you to drift off to River Cottage and image the faery folk who live next to the brook living off Hugh's wild garlic. Lucky lucky fantasy people. I get the feeling that this is going to be highlight track. I'm EVEN more excited for the album now.
Churlish May - CHURLISH! TRUMPETS! *breaths deeply with a smile on face* ANY song that charts live and love directly against the Gregorian calendar is alright by me. This classic Johnny. Absolutely classic. Wonderfully dotted rhythm. Makes to want to upgrade from sawy to bob a little bit. AAAAAAAHAHAHAH love it. Summer's a-comin' people.
On the whole. Johnny is the UK's answer to many an American folk rock hero. Like everything done over here, there is less shouting and a'hollering, fewer people jumping on his bandwagon and probably will not have enough following from his target demographic to propel him to super-stardom as he might as the across-the-pond equivalent. He might not have a beard. He might not wear dungarees or marry Pamela Anderson but he is AWESOME. He can govern a mood. He will CAPTURE your curiosity. He WON'T fail you.
Go pick up his album at Rough Trade East and get a wristband for a mini gig in their store... But not before I get mine
There is growing scene in NYC at the moment spearheaded by the likes of ambeR Rubarth, Alex Wong, The Paper Raincoat, Alex Berger (look out for him in the London and the rest of the UK as he starts to promote his new studio album SnowGlobe - it is stunning... Did someone say Christmas Top 10), Vienna Teng and Ari Hest. If you even remotely like Johnny Flynn GO LISTEN TO THESE GUYS. Now. I'll give you my recommendations in a little bit fear not... just go have a look around yourself. These individuals and groups are what I would want any cross-Altantic pact to focus on. Blair and Bush got it wrong.
I wrote my first blog entry a few years back. It consisted of my favourite songs, albums, bands and thoughts of that year. (It's like a blog fossil). Have a read. I was going to see what I think of what I said back then, but through the 'rose' tinted spectacles of NOW...
It was originally sent at 10pm on 11th November 2008. I have copied this verbatim from the initial email I sent out.
Here it is: *cringes*
"
Here are some of my favourite bands that i have listened to am listning to alot. Mainly in the last two months. Except Postal Service.
Try some or all.
I would love to listen to musics with you sometime.
Johnny Flynn First person to open my eyes to folk. Love his voice.
Brendan Campbell. Dont know much about him but he's kinda like folk meets acoustic reggae - only got a few of his songs but i lve them and i am too scared to buy more incase they arent as good
Fleet Foxes Harkness almost to PET SOUNDS - Beachboys. Really pretty laid bak musics ) i even bought the CD cos te album rtwork is great
Listen to SWAY, he a rapper dude but SAY it TWICE is one of my favourite moern hip hop tracks.
LAURA MARLING has SUCH pretty voice. So easy to melt into your thoughts while listening to her. my favourite is New Romantic
NOWon a slightly different note
I ADORE KINGS OF LEON and their last two albyus especially - Bause of the times is one of my favouriets.
And Cajun Dance Party
Crystal Castles Super funky electro - Lots of lovely Blip Blop noises
POSTAL SERVICE one of my favourite bands of last year (GIVE UP is thieir only alub i thitknk but some of the remixes of their songs are great
NEUTRAL MILK HOTEL introduced to m by BERGE. really good (semi-old apparentl clt following) indie band
LUDIVICO ENAUDI is BEEEUATIFUL modern classical musics. buy ANYTHING look at myspace of his.
MIA Sri Lanka rude gal elctro hip hop-sih in parts
SNTOGOLD similar genre to MIA
KANYE's new album isnt bad from the songs i heard... dont hate me for saying that
ADELE's album - 19 is BRILLIANT one of the nicest surpriswes of this year for me.Saw her live she was goooo
MGMT - first got turned onto the becuase radiohead were talkingabout them. They are nothing like radiohead. One of the best bands of this year again. Very happy-hippy-electro. NICE.
"
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO:
From what I can glean, I wrote this in the dark, maybe drunk, maybe other, I know my computer at the time had a slightly temperamental keyboard as well. QUite a random selection as well.
Slow club - they have/had one of the prettiest songs i know. It was a one-listen-love-it song: Lets fall back in love (love this live version... makes me happy(er). Enjoy them. Let them make YOU happy. So basically I still love this song but they are not part of my daily life.
Johnny Flynn on the other hand is still part of my daily life whilst still being the brother of Jerome Flynn (apparently) but you can't hold that against him. I love his voice. I adore the richness of the noises he makes. First Ablum A Larum is so easy to listen to and even easier to play whilst having a superb conversation (that is not meant in a bad way). There will be moment where everyone just stops and listens. BEAUTIFUL.
The Wrote and the Writ is a massive fave and archetypal Flynn track. Lilting. Jaunty. Smooth. Intelligent. New album - Kentucky Pill I think is due out in a few weeks and he is performing at Rough Trade East not too long after! I'll be there. Johnny Flynn - The Wrote And The Writ by The Green Bird Heard
Brendan Campbell - a bit of a phase. Don't get me wrong, worth a listen but I haven't gone back to him much. Always a pleasure when he pops up. Yard of Blond Girls is a treat
Fleet Foxes - WHERE TO START? Pretty much my favourite find of the last few years. I know few people who feel differently. A dear tattoo-ed, mathcore loving, devil worshipping friend of mine melts at their mention.
SWAY - Say it Twice - Don't get me wrong. Love UK Grime (and ting) BUT i was never enamoured by Sway. Like his britishness. He's no Bizzle (if you ask me). This is a genius track. Live. Might not be polished, but I am a SUCKER for live music and he got style.
Laura Marling - I just want to reiterate what i said above but add a few little bits like (i am going to see her in Hyde Park WOOOOOO and I Speak Because I Can is IN-CREDIBLE. Go sort yourself out. Go see her. NOW. Seriously. Now please
Kings of Leon - We've all heard of them and probably heard them as well. I still say that Because of the Times is the GREATEST album I have ever heard off the first listen and easily the best coupled with that caveat. It is also central to one of my favourite memories of my life, my times in Bristol and a dear dear friend. So. Thanks for that. Thought I'd add my favourite opening track of an album into that mixer at my first ever Glastonbury. Bliss. Sheer, unadulterated BLISS. [SPLURGE]
Cajun Dance Party - somehow, ended up being my album of that year, I still listen to them every now and then. I think the The Hill, The View, The Lights is awesome. A product of the UCS band factory that just exsponged Bombay Bicycle Club. I saw them live not too long after and their lead singer was a P-R-I-C-K. I fell out of love with them quickly despite the plethora of blip-blop and beautiful male vs female vocal intertwineyness. Well worth a listen. Big in Japan. EXACTLY!
Crystal Castles - Like Cajun Dance Party, but for adults. Sweaty, jumpy-aroundy, sparkly adults. Alice is a liability in the best possible way. A friends speaks of a time that she so desperately wanted to crowd surf against the wishes of the security peoples that she used a fire extinguisher to get her way. I doth my cap to her. And she's hot. And their music is on the freaking darker side of flourescent. Imagine eating what you thought was popping candy and it turn out to be loads of little mines. In you braaaaaaaiiiiiiinnnnn. There you go.
Postal Service - *INSTA-CREAM* Ok. I am seriously at a loss as you where to start. So i will start, expand and finish quickly. Find them listen to them. *INSTA-CREAM* I will probably write my autobiography based around explaining how awesome they are. They epitomise the kind of music I wish I could make. Just. Go. Listen. To. Them.*INSTA-CREAM*
Such Great *INSTA-CREAM* Heights Still fills me full of a sickeningly euphoric feeling (listen with both headphones in turned up to JUST above to loud)*INSTA-CREAM*
Sorry I couldn't find a prettier way of doing this
Ludovico Enaudi - I have a difficult situation on my hands. I am not massively well versed in contemporary classical music (apart from Concerto for Beatbox - Shlomo again) so I am not sure where to start here. Rarely have I been so empowered with so much emotion evoked in such a short space of time - roughly 25 minutes of listening initially. This man has a deft touch, and erotically clever ability to form a theme, not deviate to far from it whilst still keeping every minute unique and captivating. No matter where you are, you will be swept away. Pianos. Vocals. (Recently) combining a full orchestra. Melody in abundance. Beautiful. Enchanting. Ambiguous...Worthy.
M.I.A. - Everyone's heard Paper Planes - if you haven't WAKE UP and go listen to it. It is AWESOME. Overplayed but awesome. Also fairly true to what this freaky Sri Lankan chick is all about. Think chucky South Asian beats mixed a touch of danchall with North West london raaaahhuuuuugal twang and you got the sound. Add a shizload of bright colours, high-tops and imagination and you got something that I would challenge you to stay still while listening to.
I was first turned onto Bucky Done Gone - CHECK IT. cool video.
Sorry it had to be done - sorry Ginger (capital intentional) people
Kanye - can go fudge himself. BUT. I cant help but not dislike him. Don't hate me. I think i already said that. Just listen to 808s and Heartbreak. I liked it. That is all.
Adele - Easily one of my favourites to come out of the soulful, good-voiced, throwback female vocalists. Winehouse, yeah she's aright. Adele. KERRRwality. I don't buy CDs often. Who does? I ended up buying 5 copies of this and gave one to each member of my family and then I had to replace a copy I gave to a friend who would not give it back (even after she'd ripped it). I hear a new album is on it's way this year. I CANNOT WAIT. I will be pre-ordering it I think and I look forward to writing about it. You got a Dusty Springfield-esque voice, crystal clear, precise tone. Lyrically there are some really nice twists and turns plus the odd turn of phrase that hits you square in the chest. If you know what heartbreak feels like then this is empathy, sympathy and something else ending in pathy bottle and then smeared on your iPod. I do not think i have ever started listening to this and not ended up listening to the whole thing through.
Have a listen to Melt my hear to Stone - this one cuts me deep - never give your heart to someone if they are going to disgard it...
Hometown Glory is a bit of a two-fingers-up-to-you-motherfucking motherfucker. Its a stand up and be counted, come-and-have-a-go BELTER. Everyone needs one of these in their life for those times when you are infinitely downtrodden and feeling RUHUHUBISH.
I'm going to go off and listen to the album..... NOW
MGMT - I'm getting tired now so I might be less enthusiastic that when I started. Here goes.
SPARKLE SPARKLE. JANGLE JANGLE. DINGLE DONGLE BLIP BLOP BLIP BLOP. WORDS WORDS WORDS WORDS WORDS.
I loved this for a long time. It became my stalwart recommendation to everyone and since joined in annuls by Vampire Weekend, Mumford & sons etc.
Any band that consists of a Ben Goldwasser and an Andrew VanWyngarden will clearly either be sh!t or extraordinary. We luckily got the latter of the two. You'lla probably heard Kids. You know the one... doo-doo-doo-doo da. da. da. da. That one.
My main criticism of these guys (and it is wavering a little bit) is that they are not good live. It's not that they are uninspiring but more that they aren't very good. They turn all glam rocky which I love but this is slightly lacking in the glam bit. I am purposely avoiding describing the music so I will try and be really hirsute and sum them up in a catchy sentence (this may fail)...
You got the more electro-side of glam-rock and you got some fancy pants evocative/scathing lyrics all that wrapped up in a brightly coloured turbo-hippy contemporary psychadelic bundle...
Listened to their latest - Flash Delirium. Was all that impressive if you ask me.
