FADED GLAMOUR

BBC iPlayer: Kidulthood

2009-11-07T00:11:00.004Z

[Watch (till 11.14pm, Saturday 7th Nov)]

Some claimed that 'Kidulthood' glamourised gun crime. It does anything but. In its treatments of underage sex, drugs and violence, the film demonstrates the powerful consequences that could result. 'Kidulthood' is a gritty tale of teenage desperation, capturing a traumatic day in the life of a group of 15 year old London kids.

Menhaj Huda's compelling direction, the brilliant soundtrack capturing the UK grime zeitgeist of the time and Noel Clarke's writing make 'Kidulthood' a must see for an insight on inner city turbulence.

The Sunshine Underground

2009-11-06T21:56:00.001Z

Back in 2006/7, The Sunshine Underground were banded amongst the "new rave" (eurgh) revolution when really they were simply disciples of The Rapture's dance-punk (slightly less eurgh but still a bit unsavoury) ethos.

After a decent album and many brilliant live performances, they disappeared for a while. This week sees The Sunshine Underground back with a new EP entitled 'Everything, Right Now', lead by the track embedded below, 'Coming To Save You'.

Earlier in the year, I was sent a track from studio sessions with FC Kahuna, which won't be on the album (due out Feb 2010) as it's "too different". While 'From The City To The Sea' may be too different, it's also fantastic and probably the sound that Klaxons are searching for while their second album remains in limbo.

It's a shame then that the band are eschewing that sound in favour of a more elementary approach. Indeed, the best track from the EP, 'Everything, Right Now (Sound Of Sirens)', with its incessant synth line and ethereal multi-layered vocals is closer to the vibe of the FC Kahuna collaboration.

THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND & FC KAHUNA - FROM THE CITY TO THE SEA

Anyway, for me it was always more about the energy of the live shows and the band will be doing some free intimate gigs over the next couple of weeks. More details here.

'Everything, Right Now' is available now at Pure Groove and the band go on tour across the UK in February 2010.

MySpace // Blog

Trailer: Salt

2009-11-05T02:50:00.003Z

Angelina Jolie is increasingly becoming the "go-to girl" for Hollywood action films. After Tom Cruise pulled out of 'Salt', the script was rewritten to situate Evelyn Salt, and not Edwin Salt, as the central character.

In recent years, Jolie has been seen in Wanted, the Tomb Raider films and Mr and Mrs Smith so it's no surprise to see her take a lead role in a big action blockbuster. 'Salt' sees Jolie outed as a Russian sleeper spy who must evade capture to prove her innocence. Basically, she's being Jason Bourne.

I'm not all that familiar with director Phillip Noyce's work but I'm always interested in whatever Liev Schreiber's involved in and a big shout out for Chiwetel Ejiofor appearing in a summer blockbuster.

Kurt Wimmer's involvement is what makes me tentative about this film. While Equilibrium was fantastic, he also made Ultraviolet, which I remember watching and thinking that it could well be one of the worst films ever. I think Brian Helgeland came onboard at a late stage to tweak Wimmer's script as well, and his track record is also inconsistent, although his work on LA Confidential far outweighs any failings.

For a teaser trailer, the film looks quite promising and has a strong portrayal of (far too thin) Jolie as a lead. The film drops on July 23rd 2010 in the USA, who knows when for the UK.

Nominated In The Record Of The Day Awards 2009

2009-11-03T12:51:00.004Z

Rather remarkably I was nominated not once, but twice, in the influential Record Of The Day's 2009 Awards list. Admittedly, that's because they made a mistake and added both 'Keep Hope Inside' and 'Faded Glamour' but still being nominated at all in the Best Blog category is pretty amazing.

I'm not above pity votes so bearing in mind that I'm up against blogging powerhouses like Pinglewood and 20 Jazz Funk Greats, help a brother out please. For more details and to vote, visit Record Of The Day. Also, send me an email if you do vote, I have some blogging ideas and you're probably the type of person who I'd like to involve.

Cheers.

Trailer: The Cup Of Tears

2009-11-03T01:04:00.006Z

Now, I was going to make this post about the new 'Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time' film but while that looks better than expected, it didn't particularly engage me in any real manner. Instead, I'm going to post about a trailer that is both breathtaking and utterly confusing at the same time.

The Cup of Tears film trailer. Dir. Gary Shore from Gary Shore on Vimeo.

'The Cup Of Tears' may be stylistically reminiscent of South-East Asian cinema, reminding me more of Stephen Chow's bonkers pastiche film 'Kung Fu Hustle' than the likes of 'Crouching Tiger...' etc but it's actually directed by an Irishman. And apparently made in Ireland too.

This is Gary Shore's second feature film and he takes what appears to be a samurai revenge story and transposes it into a '300'/'Sin City'-esque cinematic backdrop. Except there's one bit of the trailer that's in space. A SAMURAI FILM IN SPACE?! The finished producT may very well be style over substance but that's ambition for you. The film drops sometime in 2010.

[via Twitchfilm.net]

Swim Until You Can't See Land

2009-11-01T23:58:00.001Z

Frightened Rabbit are probably one of my top 5 favourite bands. Over the course of their two studio albums, they've demonstrated the wonderful Scottish melancholy that sets in when it seemingly rains all the time. Or maybe that's just been my several unlucky experiences in Scotland.

A new album is on its way, preceded by the 'Swim Until You Can't See Land' single. The horns and string arrangements give the single a wonderful richness but I can't help feeling that it's a little tepid in comparison to Frightened Rabbit's previous output. It's a decent effort but I'm hoping there'll be a bit more bite to the album.

The signs aren't great, though. In a MySpace blog post, they describe the single as "summing up the record". In effect, I'm asking the band to be a bit more passionately miserable. Is that an oxymoron? Maybe I mean miserably passionate. Either way, fairly shameful on my part.

Perhaps of more pressing interest, the band are playing a secret gig at The Lexington in London on the 6th. Tickets are being sold online from 9am on Monday 2nd Nov. That's tomorrow folks. Set your alarms. If like me you are sadly preoccupied at that moment in time, you can imagine what it'd be like from this clip on the BBC2 Culture Show. I've ripped the mp3 below.

FRIGHTENED RABBIT - SWIM UNTIL YOU CAN'T SEE LAND (LIVE ON THE CULTURE SHOW)

'Swim Until You Can't See Land' is available to preorder now at FatCat Records prior to its 16th Nov release.

MySpace // Twitter

The Times They Are a-Changing

2009-11-01T11:11:00.000Z

In Michael Bay's 'Bad Boys 2', Martin Lawrence drops the unforgettable line SHIT JUST GOT REAL". It seems appropriate to recall that dialogue today as Faded Glamour v2.0 (Keep Hope Inside v54533.0) kicks off.

Over the course of the last two years or so, I've really developed a passion for film. As with music, I'm no practitioner. I have no real aspirations to become a film maker, a screen writer or anything like that. I just like films.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting some film bloggers. After that, I genuinely thought that this film blogging lark was something I could do. The following people have inspired me to get on with this: Peter and everyone at Slashfilm.com, the dudes on the Slashfilmcast, my good pal Katie at The Stories That Really Mattered, Alex at Firstshowing.net, Dennis and his menaces at ThinkHero and David at Heyuguys.co.uk. And obviously all the brilliant people involved in making films.

I will be writing a bit about film and maybe even TV, if I can be bothered. Largely, I won't bother with film news but I'll probably link to a couple of things. I'll drop some new trailers. Maybe I'll review films. Maybe I'll just moan. Regardless, it will be something different than what I've done for the last 3 and 1/2 years. The music posts will still appear.

And by way of showing you how both music and film can be intertwined to stunning effect, here are the opening credits from this year's 'Watchmen' film. A beautiful juxtaposition of Bob Dylan's 'The Times They Are a-Changing' and Zack Snyder's envisioning of the alternate future presented in the graphic novel.

In conclusion, Faded Glamour is now a music AND film blog. Do stick around, this is one of many new ideas I've got for the blog. The first step toward world domination. Indeed, the site's also undergone a facelift as well. So we're now on Faded Glamour v3.0 I guess.

Yeasayer New Material

2009-10-31T22:57:00.000Z

The wondrous Brooklynites Yeasayer have returned to give us a taster of what album two, 'Odd Blood' is going to sound like. And it's brilliant!

Building around the "Stick up for yourself son, never mind what anyone else has done" refrain, it's pretty much what Passion Pit would sound like if they covered Prince. An amazingly dynamic psychedelic pop extravaganza. The new album can't come soon enough, quite frankly.

YEASAYER - AMBLING ALP

'Odd Blood' will drop in February 2010. In the meantime check out the ltd ed deals (including t-shirts and 12" vinyls) that Yeasayer are doing for the 'Ambling Alp' release here.

Website // MySpace

4 Or 5 Magicians

2009-10-27T23:55:00.002Z

Is it any coincidence that on the same day that the free London Lite newspaper called 4 Or 5 Magicians an "emo band" they're also closing down?*

I guess they can be a bit whiny but musically, it's more like a Best Of for early 90s American indie rock. And if anything Dan Ormsby is a lyrical hero. "I wasted my youth playing cricket, pinned all my hopes on a lottery ticket" opines Mr Ormsby on 'Forever On The Edge', one of the gems from the debut album out this week.

The self-deprecating album title of 'Empty Derivative Pop Songs' is another reason why 4 Or 5 Magicians are better than your band. Maybe not cleverer (potentially minor commercial suicide) but better. Impressive use of alphabet spaghetti on the album artwork though. The band gave away album track 'Nice Little Earner' recently and I've upped the mp3 below.

4 OR 5 MAGICIANS - NICE LITTLE EARNER

Buy 'Empty Derivative Pop Songs' from Smalltown America.

Website // MySpace // Twitter

* sorry, if you lost yr job. The Evening Standard is actually worse.

Field Music return

2009-10-25T23:55:00.000Z

While we sadly waved goodbye to The Rakes, a new dawn approaches. The return of Field Music. While the North East may be more famous for producing Maximo Park and The Futureheads in recent years, some say it's actually Field Music that should be attracting the plaudits.

Admittedly, that's a relatively small group for the time being and may even be smaller than in years gone by following a brief sabbatical by the band from 2007 or so onward. Since then, different members have been part of different projects, most notably School Of Language and The Week That Was. But now they're back and ready to follow up their last album, 'Tones Of Town', which Drowned In Sound gave 10/10. TEN OUT OF TEN! It's not a ten for me but an enjoyable romp nonetheless.

To whet prospective appetites, the band are giving away a couple of new songs before their new DOUBLE album (that's right, a gazillion tracks) drops in February. Maybe forgetting the quality not quantity rule but obviously eager to get the songs out there.

FIELD MUSIC - EACH TIME IS A NEW TIME

Download the other track, 'Measure' on the Field Music website, where their November tour dates are also listed.

Website // MySpace

Tubelord

2009-10-19T00:22:00.001+01:00

Following up recent single 'Propeller', Kingstonians Tubelord dropped their debut album 'Our First American Friends' this week. And taking a leaf out of Roald Dahl's book, they're running a "golden ticket" comp.

If you're one of ten lucky people to find a "golden ticket" in your CD, then you can go to five Tubelord headline gigs of your own choosing. And they're pretty ace live too, if their recent Offset Festival performance was anything to go by. The album is similarly ace, a math-pop-post-hardcore-screamy-dreamy odyssey.

'Our First American Friends' can be had with any of the following thrown in - a ticket to their upcoming London gig/a t-shirt/an acoustic album. But all those deals are ending very soon so get on this at the speed of surround sound.

Check out a session version of 'Feed Me A Box Of Words' below (sadly left off the album) and have a bonus slice of that acoustic album I mentioned above, which actually sounds pretty amazing.

TUBELORD - FEED ME A BOX OF WORDS (BBC RADIO 1 SESSION)
TUBELORD - NIGHT OF THE PENCILS (ACOUSTIC)

Tubelord are currently touring the UK. 'Our First American Friends' is free to listen at we7.com and can be purchased for a bargaintastic price at Banquet Records.

Website // MySpace // Twitter

The Drums EP

2009-10-17T14:58:00.000+01:00

Summer 2009 saw everyone in the blogging world get carried away with American duo (/quartet/possibly sextet, if you count the backing singers) The Drums. Even Boy George thinks they're great. And understandably so, The Drums have somehow made the quest for pop perfection a credible, exciting proposition.

The hype generating 'Let's Go Surfing' was a bodacious statement of intent and this week's 'Summertime' EP (out on the forever brilliant Moshi Moshi label) follows through, with its wonderful mix of new wave, post punk and Shangri La-esque stylings. Finally, a buzz band that delivers. Sexy time.

THE DRUMS - LET'S GO SURFING (XFM XPOSURE SESSION)
THE DRUMS - MAKE YOU MINE (XFM XPOSURE SESSION)

Buy the 'Summertime' EP by The Drums from Moshi Moshi. They're also playing a handful of tourdates around the UK this month.

Website // MySpace

Kids Love Lies

2009-10-15T22:22:00.005+01:00

1, 2, 3, 4 summers ago....wait, that's wrong. Last summer at the brilliant Offset Festival, I had the pleasure of catching south London post punk power poppers Kids Love Lies. They've been busy since then.

This week sees the release of their second single proper, 'Under The Bed', following up the riotous 'Count In My Head', complete with ace video. At its heart, 'Under The Bed' is a tender ballad. But slapped all over it is their usual feverish brand of spiky pop, taking on the frenzied nature of Fight Like Apes and the early anthemic infection of The Maccabees.

With any luck, Kids Love Lies will be part of the new wave of edgy pop to dominate the British music scene. A band seeping with passion and a suitably enigmatic frontwoman to match. And suitably foxy. An NME cover surely awaits. First, the NME. Then the world.

KIDS LOVE LIES - UNDER THE BED (BBC INTRODUCING SESSION)
KIDS LOVE LIES - CHIMERA (BBC INTRODUCING SESSION)
KIDS LOVE LIES - HEX (BBC INTRODUCING SESSION)
KIDS LOVE LIES - COUNT IN MY HEAD (BBC INTRODUCING SESSION)

Buy 'Under The Bed' from Cherryade Records here or iTunes.

MySpace // Twitter

Mumford And Sons Album

2009-10-11T23:58:00.002+01:00

Earlier this year I mentioned Mumford & Sons as one of my tips for 2009, uploading a BBC Radio 1 session to boot (which has seemingly been recycled by a gazillion other blogs). This past week saw the release of their debut album, 'Sigh No More' which has just charted at #11 on the UK album chart. Not bad for Laura Marling's old backing band.

"Their epic country sound can be both mellow and intense, a majestic cacophony emboldened by Marcus Mumford's rich vocals"

The album continues along a similarly triumphant theme, a powerful collection of emotional taut songs. A band that truly fulfilled their early promise without compromise. Listen for free at we7.com and have a free download of the recently re-recorded 'Sister', courtesy of Music Glue.

MUMFORD & SONS - SISTER (NEW VERSION)

Buy 'Sigh No More' at Amazon in ltd ed digipack or on iTunes etc.

Website // MySpace

Fanfarlo Debut Album

2009-10-04T23:58:00.002+01:00

The past week saw indie/folk/twee/all of the above Londoners Fanfarlo finally release their debut album, 'Reservoir' on physical formats. It had been available to download since around July, leading some commentators to suggest that it should be nominated for the 2009 Mercury Music Prize.

Aside from the fact that I'm fairly sure it wouldn't qualify for the Mercury due to not having been physically released, I have to concede that I was a little disappointed with 'Reservoir'. Sure, it hit all the expected notes - combining moments of melancholy with times of vibrant euphoria and generally, the overwhelming sense of musical accomplishment. But it had something missing. Perhaps that something is the brilliant 'Sand And Ice', left off the album for unknown reasons. The more I think about it though, the album feels a bit too long rather than having something overtly lacking. And there was me thinking "too much Fanfarlo" wasn't possible.

Do I regret having such high expectations for what remains a fantastic band? Not at all. Maybe I'll tweak the tracklisting and chop a couple of songs off and make it into the irresistable album I had hoped for. Judge for yourselves with the album streamed above (courtesy of clashmusic.com) and from the BBC 6Music radio session below.

FANFARLO - COMETS (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)
FANFARLO - DROWNING MEN (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)
FANFARLO - FIRE ESCAPE (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)
FANFARLO - HAROLD T WILKINS (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)

'Reservoir' is available in various packages at fanfarlo.com, where you can also find details of their current UK tour.

Website // MySpace

Blue Roses Session

2009-10-01T19:58:00.001+01:00

Once upon a time Blue Roses was Laura Groves. Not that Blue Roses isn't Laura Groves anymore. Laura Groves was simply Laura Groves back then. Back when Blue Roses was just Laura Groves, I put the wonderfully magical 'Does Anyone Love Me Now?' on one of my podcasts (remember them?!).

Since then, she signed to XL, put out an eponymous debut album and one of her music videos was quite remarkably featured on Kanye West's blog a few days ago. Sadly, no-one has used the "IM'MA LET YOU FINISH BUT BEYONCE HAD ONE OF THE BEST VIDEOS OF ALL TIME" line in the comments. Missed opportunity.

With Blue Roses, Alessi's Ark and Theoretical Girl each producing solid debut albums and pushing forward the UK folk "scene" in 2009 with their differing avant garde ways, it will be interesting to see which direction each artist will turn to next. With Laura recently stepping into the studio with the superb Grammatics, her next move seems promising.

BLUE ROSES - DOUBTFUL COMFORTS (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)
BLUE ROSES - I AM LEAVING (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)
BLUE ROSES - GREATEST THOUGHTS

Blue Roses is touring with Wild Beasts across the UK at the moment and her debut album is £8.49 at Piccadillyrecords.com or on iTunes etc.

MySpace // Website // Twitter

DARTZ 2005-2009

2009-09-29T23:55:00.000+01:00

"DARTZ were a Math rock group from Middlesbrough...." begins the obituary on DARTZ's (old?) website, before proceeding to explain what DARTZ, Middlesbrough and math rock are all about. I won't bother regurgitating the information - mainly because they have, with what appears to be judicious copy and pasting of Wikipedia. What I will say though is that DARTZ were good, and at times great. See brilliant singles 'Once, Twice, Again!' and St. Petersburg' for evidence.

I sadly missed their final gig in Kingston the other night but I trust it was a fitting farewell for an underappreciated band. They lost an exclamation mark along the way and are survived by a debut album, 'This Is My Ship', released on Xtra Mile.

DARTZ - THE END, MOVING ON

"Don't forget us". We won't. Goodbye DARTZ.

MySpace // Last.fm

Baddies

2009-09-26T20:57:00.002+01:00

One of the most amazing singles last year came from Southend's Baddies, a hotbed for recent musical talent including These New Puritans and The Horrors. The single 'Battleships' was touted as The Futureheads meets Queens Of The Stone Age, a thrilling 134 second rollercoaster ride. I immediately pegged them as ones to keep an eye on in 2009.

A year or so on, Baddies are about to release their debut album, 'Do The Job'. It's already out digitally (on the cheap as well, only a fiver here) but comes out in physical form from the 28th. That's this Monday for those too lazy to consult a calendar. They're also heading out on a pretty substantial tour, headlining dates in the UK and across Europe over the next couple of months. Not bad going.

Early reviews have compared the album to The Hives and Talking Heads, along with aforementioned Futureheads/QOTSA nods. And one extremely favourable review even mentioned Spandau Ballet. Make of that what you will.

BADDIES - HOLLER FOR MY HOLIDAY (BBC RADIO 1 BIG WEEKEND 2009)
BADDIES - BATTLESHIPS (BBC RADIO 1 BIG WEEKEND 2009)

Preorder 'Do The Job' on CD at Play and check tour details here.

MySpace // Website // Twitter

Sky Larkin Freebies

2009-09-25T23:51:00.000+01:00

Leeds trio Sky Larkin are giving away a couple of new recordings, which they've been keeping up their sleeve. Speaking of sleeves, the artwork is pretty swish. There's a twisted simplicity to it.

My first thoughts on the new tracks were "WOAH". Of course, that was more to do with the fact that the mp3s were 10+mb each. Pesky 320kbps bitrate. The second thought was that "yeah, these are pretty good".

'Smarts' carries the same sort of dynamism that characterised their debut album, 'The Golden Spike', which dropped in February this year. In fact, it was recorded with John Goodmanson, producer of that album and thus expresses a similarly unhinged sound which I felt made the tracks seem overly messy. He does a grand job however on the acoustic recording of 'Matador', capturing the enchanting essence of its folk transformation.

SKY LARKIN - SMARTS

'Smarts' is downloadable above, 'Matador' can be got on the Sky Larkin website.

Website // MySpace // Twitter

Pavement Reform So Here's A Cover

2009-09-16T23:13:00.004+01:00

Understandably, the initial report on Brooklyn Vegan that seminal indie rock band Pavement were reforming for NYC gigs in 2010 was met with scepticism. Then KABOOM! Pitchfork confirmed the rumours. To an extent. Good enough for most so good enough for me.

Having said all that, I find myself in a similar state of mind as to when Pixies reformed for live performances and another stab at music. As a casual fan, I wasn't really fussed enough to pay 40 quid or whatever to see the band. Likewise, Pavement's return doesn't have me bouncing off the walls. Nonetheless, I appreciate their influence and am taking the opportunity to quickly mention a band that were inspired by Pavement (and Pixies and Sonic Youth, Fugazi etc). That band being Kill Kenada.

Back in 2004, it really seemed like Kill Kenada would establish themselves as one of the major "alternative" bands of the time. Alas, an album didn't appear until late 2005 and the buzz had died down long before. It actually depresses me a bit writing about the band, knowing that they should have been so much more successful and popular. I'm not even sure they're still going.

One day I'll get around to sharing all my thoughts on Kill Kenada. Until that day comes, I leave you with a live radio session version of Pavement's 'Grounded', which Kill Kenada recorded for Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1 in 2003(?).

KILL KENADA - GROUNDED (PAVEMENT COVER)

MySpace // Forum

Johnny Foreigner: A Confessional

2009-09-14T01:29:00.004+01:00

While today has been relatively triumphant - culminating in my text appearing on the BBC US Open tennis coverage - I let the team down yesterday. I was meant to go to a free Johnny Foreigner show in London, which was being recorded for the DVD to accompany forthcoming album, 'Grace And The Bigger Picture'. I didn't quite make it. Blame a hangover and lack of (available/not busy) friends. Here ends the confessional.

Johnny Foreigner - Criminals from LEFT EYE BLIND on Vimeo.

At around the same time that JoFo were playing that free show, the video to their new single ('Criminals') popped up on the interweb. It's embedded above. Not quite as catchy-shouty as free download single 'Feels Like Summer', the first glimpse of 'Grace And The....' but much of the same otherwise. All the special Johnny Foreigner ingredients are there - boy-girl vocal interplay, crashing drums, chugging bass, frenzied guitar lines and with that occasional splash of gang vocals. But the video's a bit gash. Maybe that's just me though.

JOHNNY FOREIGNER - FEELS LIKE SUMMER

Anyways, after debut album 'Waited Up 'Til It Was Light' lived up to expectations, I suspect that the forthcoming LP shall be similarly great. Here's hoping. And sorry again for possibly stealing someone's place at the free show then not coming. Bad times, I know.

'Criminals' is out on October 12th, followed by 'Grace And The Bigger Picture' on Oct 26th. While all that's happening, there's also a UK tour with Tellison and Japanese Voyeurs.

Website // MySpace

Pavilion

2009-09-02T23:51:00.000+01:00

Been hearing a bit of positive chat about 'Ignore The Ignorant', the new album from The Cribs, and their first with ex-Smiths (and I guess, ex-Modest Mouse now) bloke Johnny Marr. Haven't had a chance to listen to it yet myself but head on over to we7.com and fill your boots with the "exclusive" stream. I hate that word.

It seems somewhat relevant ("Don't You Want To Be Relevant?") that today's featured band share a hometown with The Cribs. And more to the point, had their debut single produced by Cribs member Ryan Jarman. The band in question being Wakefield's Pavilion and that single being 'Spoils Of War', voted #25 in John Earls' list of top 50 singles in 2008 on Channel 4 teletext.

Pavilion - Spoils Of War

Must admit I was less of a fan of 'Spoils Of War', finding it hard to look past an obvious comparison to that hit by The Last Shadow Puppets. Still, it's not bad and I quite like the video (embedded above). Also, The Guardian compared them to The Hoosiers so anything I say is bound to be a bit more complimentary. And indeed, the track I'm posting is pretty sodding great.

'Clarity' is The Postal Service meets Weezer with a quintessential British summertime twist. Although melodically uplifting, its lyrics examine relationship issues. Maybe it's not all jolly good fun in Wakey? Regardless, this is a pop classic. Seeing as their first single sold out, I'm hoping 'Clarity' will be single number two for Pavilion on the brilliant Alcopop label. I'd buy about 3 copies myself.

PAVILION - CLARITY

MySpace

The XX Release Album. Crowd Goes Wild.

2009-08-24T00:56:00.002+01:00

With Twitter proving to be a contemporary barometer of consumer opinion, it appears that The XX have been strongly received both critically and commercially. Indeed, it seems quite remarkable that a minimalist dubtronica album has managed to breach the UK Top 40 albums chart.

The blog buzz is also generating thick and fast, with the likes of Said The Gramophone, The Daily Growl, Pinglewood and Gorilla vs Bear all chiming in with their vociferous support for The XX. In some senses, I find that (pleasantly) surprising. For once, it appears I was ahead of the curve, talking up The XX on one of my podcasts in May last year. Back then, there were plenty of sweet murmurings about The XX but I could never have predicted that the band would be so in vogue. Why the popularity?

Is it the minimalism? The beats? The constrastingly soulful vocals? The R&B influences? Or perhaps their melancholy strikes a resonant chord with the gloomy economic climate that we're all suffering from? Whichever way you look at it, the debut album from The XX is a flickering beacon of despondence, from which we must celebrate the coming of age of one of Britain's finest young bands.

Download the BBC Radio 1 session recorded for Steve Lamacq's show from April, which I presume is pretty unavailable now. Consider it also a tribute to Lamacq's show, which is sadly soon to disappear.

THE XX - CRYSTALISED (BBC RADIO 1 SESSION)
THE XX - STARS (BBC RADIO 1 SESSION)

Listen in full to the eponymously titled debut album by The XX at we7.com then buy at Rough Trade or on iTunes.

Website // MySpace

My Old Pair Of Good Shoes

2009-08-20T01:21:00.005+01:00

At one time it seemed like Morden's finest off-kilter indie pop combo Good Shoes may well break the mainstream, especially the period following their debut single 'Small Town Girl' on the tastemaking label, Young & Lost Club. The buzz built up following the release of a clutch of brilliant singles on their newly found home at Brille Records but despite a favourable critical response to their debut LP, the band never really kicked on.

This month has seen their official return, with a free sample of their new material ('The Way My Heart Beats') and a nationwide tour announced. In some respects, they've almost gone backwards. Certainly, the venues they've chosen reflect their early career more than their 2007 peak. But best to fill out those small venues than play to half empty ones. Bassist Joel Cox also departed the band to form his eerily experimental solo outfit Lime Headed Dog, establishing him as the male version of Micachu.

Strangely, 'The Way My Heart Beats' is somewhat reminiscent of Lime Headed Dog, particularly in terms of its ramshackle production and habitual agitation. Less immediate than their earlier material but still along the same old lines. A return to form? No. They never dipped in the first place.

GOOD SHOES - THE WAY MY HEART BEATS
LIME HEADED DOG - I DON'T WANT TO BE MURDERED

Tour dates from Good Shoes available at their MySpace. Lime Headed Dog's debut album is on sale at Pure Groove.

Teething Problems

2009-08-12T20:50:00.004+01:00

On a scale of one to useless, I am pretty useless. I think I successfully managed to ruin both my existing RSS feeds so let's start afresh. Here's the York notes for this blog.

- Keep Hope Inside recently changed its name to Faded Glamour
- Although it's at the same address, you can now also reach it at fadedglamour.co.uk
- In terms of content and ethos, not much has changed
- The new RSS feed is http://feeds.feedburner.com/fadedglamourblog, please do subscribe
- New Twitter address is /saamFG

Sorry for being useless, Saam FG x