Patience seems to be a rare thing these days. We zoom around our daily lives, demanding everything be done now. The same can be said about music. Songs that slowly build up to a drop have been sacrificed for short, snappy pop tunes that have a decent beat but poor lyrical content.
However, this may be slowly changing. This year, the XX (amongst others) have proved that mainstream success doesn’t have to be loud, fast paced and in your face. Music can be slow and melodic and graced with soft vocals.
James Blake continues this trend with his debut single, ‘Limit to Your Love’. Originally a Feist song, James Blake has reworked it completely, creating a song which isn’t afraid to embrace silence. Blake’s vocals dip in and out of the song, making the listener wonder what is going on. Blake also mixes the piano with a Dub beat, creating a sound that my friend has coined as ‘Soulful Dubstep’.
Runner up for the Critic’s Choice for the Brit Awards (behind Jessie J) and championed by Radio One’s music glutton Zane Lowe, 2011 looks like a big year for James Blake. His self titled debut album will be released on the 7th February 2011.
I first heard Ben Drew, aka Plan B, through an old battered Nokia phone, standing at the bottom of the P.E stairs, listening to Charmaine, taken from Plan B’s debut rap album Who Needs Actions When You Got Words. It’s four years later and Plan B is almost unrecognisable on his second album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks. Here, Plan B has opted to sing instead of rap, and his music is now reminiscent of Motown records of yesteryear. This has bought the twenty-six year old massive success this year, with his second album debuting at number one. Prayin’ is the third single to be taken off the album, and the video is a continuation of the story that started off with the first single, Stay Too Long. Cameos in the video come in the form of Huey Morgan of the Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Kenrick Sandy of Boy Blue Entertainment. Prayin’ is available to download from iTunes now.
A Music Moment….
Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine has had an amazing year. Her debut album, ‘Lungs’ has been critically acclaimed, gone platinum and was also nominated for the 2009 Mercury Prize (which went to Speech Debelle…I haven’t heard of her either). She burst into the mainstream with last summer’s hit, You’ve Got The Love (a Candi Station cover), which she then performed at the 2010 Brit awards with Dizzee Rascal. Florence + the Machine have sold out in every venue they have performed in, and it’s easy to see why. I went to see her this week, and she was amazing. Energetic and lively, she emerged from a giant disco ball and didn’t stop moving. She created an atmosphere that was electric and everyone in the audience felt the buzz. I was often lost in the melody provided by her live band and choir. I thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle.
‘Cosmic Love’ is the last song to be taken off ‘Lungs’ and it is released on July 4 in the UK.
It’s a new year so it is time for some brand new artists. First up is twenty-three year old Ellie Goulding from Herefordshire. After I initially ignored her first single, Under the Sheets, her second single, Starry Eyed grabbed my attention. Her voice sounds like she should be making folk music; however, when mixed with dance/electro beats the result is quite stunning. Starry Eyed is released in the UK on February 22nd, and her debut album, Lights is out on March 1st.
Next is twenty-four year old Marina Lambrini (LOL) Diamandis aka Marina and the Diamonds. The half Welsh half Greek songstress was second in the BBC’s Sound of 2010, only beaten by the above Ellie Goulding. Her first promotional single from her debut album, The Family Jewels, Hollywood, is full of clever lyrics about the American Dream. She has often been compared to Florence + the Machine, but the only thing they really have in common is the ‘and the’ in their respective titles. Hollywood is out now in the UK, and The Family Jewels is out on February 22nd (again, in the UK).
Lastly is twenty-one year old Swede Erik Hassle. After establishing a successful career in native Sweden, he’s now trying to conquer Britian. He’s already toured with Mika (erugh), Little Boots (meh), and Florence + the Machine (yay!). Even though I find him a bit creepy looking, and he looks like La Roux’s twin brother (don’t tell me you can’t see it), his debut single, Hurtful is a solid pop single. His debut EP, Pieces is also out now.
Even though this song was released in August, it has only just caught the attention of the masses, due to its use in the promotion of a film and certain TV programmes. ‘Sweet Disposition’ is by Australian band The Temper Trap and it channels memories of my summer (click here, and don’t ask questions), which is nice as the temperature plummets and I dig out my winter coat.
All I know about this girl is that she’s white and American. However, it’s the beat of this song that reminds me of parties pre Funky House, when R&B and Hip-Hop were played and people who can reallydance showed their prowess.
‘Outta Here’ is out now in the UK
‘Kiss of Life’ is by Mercury nominated British band Friendly Fires. The video is awash with colour, unlike London at the moment with its grey skies. This slice of friendly pop will get you moving along with it, although perhaps not like Ed Macfarlane’s awkward moves as displayed in the video. However I do give him A+ for effort. ‘Kiss of Life’ is released August 31st in the UK.
I’ve been hearing Jazmine Sullivan’s name floating around for a while now, but it is this track that has made me sit up and pay some attention. ‘Dream Big’ is taken from her debut album ‘Fearless’, which (I think) is out now. This song is an uplifting, catchy R&B song that can inspire even the idlest person to get up and do something productive.
Expect this song to be quoted in various Live Messenger screen names/ Facebook status’s/ Twitter updates. I already have.
Oh and listen to ‘Bust Your Windows’ on her MySpace. Tune.
P.S: One of Jazmine’s inspirations. This song is TEN YEARS OLD. Can you believe it? Click.
I used to have this long, rambling rant about this song and Janelle Monae. But I realised that it doesn’t need it. Click play on the video and also check out a live performance of Sincerely, Jane.
Now that we know his name, Daniel Merriweather has decided to make an album. Mark Ronson’s protégé (Daniel’s vocals were heard on Mark Ronson’s rendition of ‘Stop Me’, released in 2007) has decided to release this as his debut single. While ‘Change’ isn’t the best song ever, it is pleasant on the ear due to Merriweather’s soulful vocals, and Wale provides a decent set of rhyming. ‘Change’ is out now in the UK, and his debut album, ‘Love and War’ will be out soon.
