Charlotte OC - Satellite

Many artist's claim to be pop connoisseurs. Few master the art quite so well as Charlotte OC. Having neglected the blog over the past couple of days I've been rewarded on my return following a brief dive in to Soundcloud with a wonderful offering in the form of Satellite. Fragile to start, vulnerabilities laid bare, her latest single soon gathers form and its backdrop alights with a wonderful array of pulsating synths and boisterous vocals. The 28-year-old singer is set to release a new EP next year. This is its first cut, take a listen for yourselves below.



f: www.facebook.com/CharlotteOCOfficial

Luvia - Love Lust

Having hugely impressed with For You back in April, Brighton's Luvia returns with equal triumph to see out the year with her new single Love Lust. reigniting her sultry charm, through whispered vocals and a magnetising melody that stays with you long after its final notes have punctuated the air, comes another huge masterclass in pure pop brilliance. Luvia tells us that "Love Lust is a reflection of what it was like growing up for me but also a lot of people I know. Lots of feeling numb and having a lot to deal with and doing things to feel something or anything." Take a listen for yourselves below with the track's official video.





f: www.facebook.com/luviamads

Cyrus Reynolds - Foraker ft. S. Carey (Official Video)

Having long desired to visit Iceland, Cyrus Reynolds' new video to his recent single Foraker fills me with great envy. Shot by Ben Simon Rehn from above, the vastly impressive landscape is captured in striking detail through the changing seasons tying in seamlessly with the theme and inspiration for the song. Take a watch for yourselves below.



f: www.facebook.com/cyrusreynoldsmusic

Clean Cut Kid announce UK tour and album

Following on from their recent‘ 'Painkiller'’ EP – featuring lead single ‘Emily’, Clean Cut Kid return with news of a string of live dates in support of announcing their brand new second album PAINWAVE which will be out in Spring 2019. Speaking about the new album, Mike Halls (lead singer/guitar) said: "PAINWAVE is Clean Cut Kid reaching out to the listener and saying "ok lets talk about these things we're not meant to say out loud." It's the sum of everything we've experienced as people, produced with the sum of everything we've learned as musicians. An unpolished, uninterrupted tape-saturated 1970s journey through human vulnerability." Check out the full list of dates below for Clean Cut Kid's newly announced tour.

Wednesday 27th March – Hull Adelphi
Thursday 28th March – Manchester Gorilla
Saturday 30th March – Edinburgh Mash House
Sunday 31st March – Newcastle The Cluny
Tuesday 2nd April – Southampton Joiners
Wednesday 3rd April – London The Garage
Friday 5th April – Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach

Tickets for the tour are available here: http://cleancutkid.co.uk/tour/




f: www.facebook.com/cleancutkid

Skip Curtis - Wild Love

Released Friday, Welsh artist Skip Curtis (one third of Cardiff based outfit XY&O) unveiled his anthemic debut single Wild Love. Inspired by his desolate surroundings nestled in the Valley's, Curtis throws caution to the wind as he sets out to break the stereotype of his hometown. "I never wanted music to be a way of physically escaping the Valleys" he explains. "I love them. It was about escaping the stereotype. I was always trying to do something different; playing music and writing songs became my answer. They were and still are, my satisfaction." Take a listen below to the track's wholesome sound that explodes from its softly strummed intro, unearthing an aspiring songwriting talent in its wake. Wild Love is out now via Electric MVM.



f: www.facebook.com/skipcurtis

Margot - Coffee Stained Scars

Photo Credit: Ben Andrewes

Having hugely impressed back in April with their debut effort Desensitised, South London's Margot today return with their excellent new single Coffee Stained Scars. Masters in their art of dream-induced pop, the five piece deliver another hearty mix of spiralling guitar melodies and soulful vocal harmonies to pristine effect. "Coffee Stain Scars’ is a middle-aged man’s wet-traffic-ridden journey, and his partners anxiety regarding his mental fortitude." explains Alex "I’ve had experience with adults of that age stoically withholding information in regards to their mental health and I’ve seen how this can affect friends and family. It’s desperation, it’s unconditional love, and a hope that things can turn around." Take a listen for yourselves below.



Live Dates
January 25th – The Finsbury, London
February 15th – Off The Cuff, London

f: www.facebook.com/margotzeko

Live Review: Courteeners | O2 Academy Bristol | Tue 27th November 2018

Few bands can sell-out a full run tour without a new release to promote. Not to mention in record time and most with an increase to venue size since their last trip on the road. Then again, few bands are on the same level of Courteeners. With each announcement, ticket's become scarcer than ever as demand outstrips supply in the fight to be amongst the rowdy crowds, teenagers and adults alike, all experiencing the best night of their lives. There's no denying the Courteeners have one of the most loyal fan bases around, displayed so evidently up and down the country as they pack out their shows - fans screaming back each and every word in idolising fashion. Documenting the latter years to my teenage youth in immaculate detail, Liam Fray's songwriting speaks in no way any other band could. From the partying and heartbreaks to all the late nights and early mornings. This band have been here for the generation of my youth and it's clear to see how much they mean to the people in the room.

As the lights cut at 9pm sharp the band emerged to the anthemic Are You in Love With a Notion?. It's not long before the pints started flying. "I want you to lose yourselves tonight but can you please not aim them this way" Liam pleaded, their sound technician's job description now covering spillages on stage and ensuring their instruments remained dry.

10 years old and still as fresh as ever, Cavorting needed no introduction as the crowd's excitement toppled throughout the intimately packed venue, bodies crashing in to one another. Rattling through songs from their 2016 album 'Mapping The Rendezvous' and 2014's 'Concrete Love', The 17th, No One Will Ever Replace Us and Summer all got airplay, with the band still finding time to muscle in some of their older material. Track’s such as Lose Control that have become an almost iconic song for the Mancunian trio, in a live setting takes no prisoners, its chorus charging through the sweat soaked audience. There's even time for a Fray acoustic encore with Please Don't and Smiths Disco taking the electrifying noise to an all time high.

Whilst touring a new record, a lot of pressure gets placed on a band to perform. It's the first time fans hear the new songs they've been listening to for the last few months live. It must be even more nerve racking to debut unreleased material. There's no uncertainty here though as Hanging Off Your Cloud's chiming keys and emotive lyrics show there's plenty more fuel left on their fire. Better Man alongside Heavy Jacket also get their live debut on this tour. Two track's that show they aren't ones to rest on their laurels as they take a departure to their sound, the latter's spacious swelling and siren effects adding to its crunching beat. 

Crowning the evening off in style it wouldn't be a true Courteeners party without Not Nineteen Forever back to back with What Took You So Long for a triumphant finale. It's safe to say by this point not a single soul was left standing still as the place rightfully erupted in to song and dance. Whether it's 20,000 plus in Castlefield Bowl (still my all time favourite show) or the thousand or so fans packed in to this small sweaty room - the deafening roar from both choruses is something everyone should experience at least once in their lives. Will I ever tire of this band? At 35 shows in and a 10 year following to boot, it's highly unlikely when they're on this roll. 

f: www.facebook.com/thecourteeners

Daithi - Orange (feat Sinead White)

Irish producer Daithi returned last week unveiling the official video to his latest single, Orange. With the help of director Lochlainn McKenna and staring Aoife Spratt (Locus Of Control, Trampoline) & Diarmuid Noyes (Blood, Killing Bono) the clip beautifully captures the early stages of falling in to and out of love, documented between a disintegrating modern-age romance. If anything, it reminds us of just how fragile it can be as we fall trap to the cycle of complacency and routine. Soundtracked by swirling synth pad textures and a pulsating electronic beat the track, whilst ultimately uplifting, delivers a sombre and emotive twist. "We wanted to make a story that could translate across the world, a story that would be relatable to anyone who has ever been in a relationship, anywhere" explains McKenna."Their relationship spans over 3 years with 50 scenes, all shot in one day. With over 80 costume changes, it was an absolute Trojan effort from our tiny crew". Take a watch/listen for yourselves below.



f: www.facebook.com/daithimusic