Friday 22 March 2013

Florence - Which way will she go?




It would seem that after hearing this, a cover of Green Days 'Hitchin' a ride' that Florence may have redeemed her self (ish) for collaborating with Calvin Harris (the mark in any artist's career that they have sold out) As a huge fan of Florence, particularly in the early days where climbing the lighting rigs at Reading festival and jumping into pools fully clothed was the typical wild antics Florence got into, I wish this side of Florence would come out more often. What it does manage to highlight however, is the diversity in material that iconic voice can sing along too, going from glimpses of soul to punk. 

With the global success Florence has achieved after scoring two number 1 albums, and being welcomed into the states by a growing devoted fan base, it seems to me that Florence has now got the chance to go in whatever direction she wants now she has such a strong fan base firmly established. Dev Hynes (known to most as Lightspeed Champion) helped Florence break into the music world, and furthermore helped cultivate a more raw pop/punk sound that fans like myself, first fell in love with. Don't get me wrong, I admire the alternative Fleetwood Mac-like sound that she followed with Ceremonials, who couldn't? It's huge. I just feel like this is a sign that Florence should return back to her South London/Camden routes. I could go on forever justifying why Florence should go in this direction with the third album, but this cover of Green Day does exactly that. Florence fan or not, i'm sure most of you will enjoy. 




Tuesday 5 March 2013

Babyshambles - Death or Glory?





Of course, it's not quite as momentous as the fantasy of a reunion of The Libertines but a band that has the blessing of Pete Doherty's aptitude for sophisticated yet brutal songwriting is always worth paying attention too. With Pete Doherty removing himself from the tabloid spotlight, focusing on writing and of course (we all hope) attempting to rehabilitate himself, fans are thirsty for some new material whether it's under the name of Babyshambles or The Libertines. It was revealed earlier this year that Doherty was working on new material that could potentially appear on a Babyshambles third record, however these hopes were recently undermined by Pete declaring that 'the future is uncertain' over disputes with management. Babyshambles are more than capable of progressing and continuing to establish themselves as a great British indie rock group, particularly when you look at how much progress in both sound and style was made between 'Down in Albion' and 'Shotter's Nation'. The band went from a shambolic, debauched punk sound with glimpses of immense lyrical talent to developing a more mature and sophisticated 60s sound likening them to The Kinks yet still managing to retain their British punk roots. There is no doubt that there is more than enough potential for a third album to deliver something nothing short of genius with the helping creative mind of Mr Doherty, but is the timing right for Babyshambles? Or should their legacy be left behind remaining intact. It's clear that the stability of the band is dubious, but let's be honest there is definitely a huge gap in the music industry waiting for Babyshambles to return. 


Reunion or not. Here is why Babyshambles made such a lasting impression - The record speaks for itself.  









Sunday 3 March 2013

Keaton Henson - Infectious, mysterious, and a recluse.





It never ceases to amaze me how much love and attention Keaton Henson has received over the past year or so, in spite of him repelling all media attention and any prospects of a full UK tour, but I guess that's what makes this great talent all the more endearing to the fellow music lovers out there. I, like most of his fans first encountered Keaton Henson through the first release of his debut single 'You Don't Know How Lucky You Are' which was greeted by the huge appraisal of Zane Lowe, and thus spread all over You Tube resulting in nearly 250,000 views. For an artist who refuses to do interviews, and only does the occasional one-off show in London, this in itself is something of a great achievement. I think what makes you fall in love with Keaton Henson, is his heartbreaking and introvert lyrics which exert an overwhelming sense of melancholy, guilt and nostalgia of past romances that most, if not all listeners can immediately relate too. Each song written on his debut album 'Dear' seems like it came from the pages of his diary, and with it being such a personal record it ironically manages to be applicable to the experiences of love that the listener has endured also. He manages to cultivate a sound that seems so powerful, yet at the same time delicate and mournful. He seems to pause throughout hard hitting, emotive lyrics in order to make the listener linger and reflect, making it the perfect soundtrack for some one going through heart break or loss.

In contrast to this delicate and fragile sound that Keaton Henson incorporates throughout his work, there are outbursts of a more lively sound, filled with distorted guitars and heavy drums which brings in the themes of anger, despair and outrage particularly in 'Kronos' in his second album 'Birthdays'. This magnifies how Keaton Henson is more than capable of just churning out mournful ballads, more over, it pushes the boundaries of what first seems like a folk inspired album. He manages to create something completely original and different from artists like Ben Howard, through his more intellectual and personal lyrics sang through such a delicate voice, which at times sounds like he is verging breaking point just recording the album in the walls within a studio in East London. It's extremely refreshing to see an artist like Keaton Henson possessing such talent for songwriting maintaining a humble perspective, and yet refusing to do press interviews and further more it breeds curiosity from the world of music.  It's clear that he writes with genuine intent and  passion for music, and is more than content with just recording his experiences for listeners to continue to enjoy.

If you haven't heard Keaton Henson and you're a fan of artists such as Bon Iver, then here's 'You Don't Know How Lucky You Are'  I guarantee his sound will become infectious and addictive for you, particularly if you're going through a rough time. Enjoy.