new listenings

I've been meaning to finish this post for sometime particularly since my laptop recently decided it had had enough and lost a lot of the new music I'd been listening to. So here they are, officially recorded: my current favourite picks.


Ben Howard.

 A little gem from Devon who, like Sheeran, is an up and coming singer-songwriter whose fame has been spread by word of mouth and a devoted fan base. He's been featured in an article in the Guardian in which my favourite blogger (miss flying with anna) was quoted so I feel there's no way I can't like him. Check him out at Grassroots or Greenman festival this summer, I'm going to try and see him on the 24th October at the Social.

WatchListenTell who I covered a while ago seem to like Mr Howard too. Yes it's the same song but it's pretty amazing how different it sounds. Have a listen to Empty Corridors too - it's an incredible live performance and one which I could only hope to see live.

Alela Diane.

Recently announced as the main support act for the Fleet Foxes July USA tour dates, Miss Diane is an American singer songwriter whose first solo public appearances were at the invitation of Miss Joanna Newsom. If Newsom invites you on stage, you know you're destined for great things. Her new album Alela Diane and Wild Divine is out now but I'm a big fan of her live performance with Alina Hardin which I've posted below.

Ed Sheeran.

A big up and coming star is Mr Sheeran. In fact, more than that, Sheeran is all the rage right now and has been for a while. You may known him for his well-coveraged song 'The A Team' but personally I love his version of Wayfaring Stranger, a well-known British spiritual/folk song originating in the early 18th century. Jamie Woon and Eva Cassidy also do great covers of this. He's playing at Bestival which I'm excited about - I'll definitely be getting myself along to see him.

Feeling sad that you haven't listened to any original Mumford and Sons for some time? Never fear. This is one of their new songs they are performing right now - Hopeless Wanderer.

Or check out anything by 'The Wedding Band' which is Mumford and Sons and Friends playing together. They released an EP available at a few gigs they played last year but if, like me, you were unsuccessful in getting hold of said EP youtube will have to do. It's great to listen to for that summertime country feel. Listen.

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home alone

and so today marked the first day of what will be an entire month of me living on my own. With my two medic housemates away enjoying their post-exam time off, i must find ways of entertaining myself when the evenings draw in and the rehearsals finish - oh dear, how full of self pity i sound.
anyway, this evening i stumbled across some documentaries by 'fred and nick' who have been following some of my favourite artists - i thought i would share them.

Mumford and Sons: Gentlemen of the Road.

(this is part 1 of 4)

 Laura Marling: A short film

 

and then Mumford and Sons plus Laura Marling (sensing a pattern here?!)

Goodbye India

 

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video of my day

Like song of my day...but with a video. Figures.

Watch this

Revival

After a little time away and a few blog-related chats I am back (with avengeance? tbc) and more focused on new things I'm listening to as opposed to the regular or at least reviving my old listening habits. I'm slightly conscious that my audience might have expanded to include more people than just myself. I will try not to let the pressure get to me.

First up: I'm a big fan of Animal Collective and am pretty excited for Panda Bear (Noah Benjamin Lennox)'s fourth solo album 'Toyboy' which comes out 18th April.  Check out the link below to hear a snippet.
The animal theme seems to be common place on my music radar at the moment, some old, some new: Grizzly Bear Knife,  Zebra by Beach House, one from Alessi's Ark new album coming out this month Wire and a small band you may have heard of who are mentioned at the end of this post.

Next: Benjamin Francis Leftwich. Reminds me a little of Josh Radin and super nice to listen to on a chilled summers day like today. He's just finished a tour with Noah and the Whale and is starting out again on the 1st June. 'More than Letters' is my favourite but as I can only find that on Spotify I'll play you what Youtube can provide me with.

On the subject of Noah and the Whale - a band which I'm always on the fence about, they have just released their new album. It's a pretty big jump away from their old stuff and as a result has sparked criticism from fans of their first album. As I was on the fence about that too some of this album is really growing on me. I'm enjoying Give it all Back and Life is Life. Title track:

I am still trying to get over the break-up of me and my Glastonbury 2011 ticket. It's still a raw and painful wound which I am hoping will slowly heal. Only to be opened up again when all my friends head to Worthy Farm at the end of June. I am particularly sad as Fleet Foxes are playing and that Mumford and Sons are returning - they were incredible last year. The winners of the Emerging Talent Contest were announced last week and Treetop Flyers were announced as the lucky lads who will get a slot on one of Glastonbury's famous stages. Ah John Peel stage, my summer won't be the same without you.

Finally, I took a small trip down memory lane this morning and came across a song I used to listen to almost obsessively. I can so vividly remember going to a gig of theirs in 2005 before they got really big - I still hold it as one of the best gigs I've ever been to. I think my love for them may be properly revived sometime in the not too distant future when their new album pops up...  I present to you, Arctic Monkeys.

ps If you fancy listening to them doing something a little different check out The Lovers - cover or Baby I'm Yours - cover.