I honestly don't know why but I shunned both Sam Isaac and James Yuill for quite a long time last year. I guess I must have thought they were just another couple of crappy singer songwriters, artists I could hardly muster a care about let alone considering hating. Then I heard 'Sideways' and 'No Surprise', two absolutely fantastic songs covering a great distance on the male solo artist spectrum.
Sam Isaac uses the age old formula of soothing vocals and strumming guitar yet somehow transcends that to produce wonderfully captivating heartache pop (perfectly exhibited by the wondrous 'Sideways'). The kind of music that makes the masses get their lighters out and sway. Except that won't really happen anymore what with the smoking ban. He also does some pretty decent head nodding, foot tapping stuff too.
James Yuill, on the other hand, is about as far away from the traditional singer songwriter format that you can get, while still being relatively mainstream. His brand of folktronica echoes Mr Isaac's heartache pop ethos but with an understandably dancier vibe. Not to mention that he's on one of my favourite labels, Moshi Moshi.
And now to the point of this post - James Yuill has remixed the lead track from Sam Isaac's new EP, released on September 29th on Alcopop! Records. Transforming the synthy, poppy 'Sticker, Star & Tape' into a more a melodramatic offering, Yuill clearly stamps his mark on the track. And just because I'm being extra nice today, you can have a live version of 'No Surprise' from the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend this summer.
on Sunday, September 21, 2008
Over a year ago, my friend Craig (now of off-kilter beat combo Joy-Rides) told me excitedly about a new act he'd seen at North London venue Nambucca. I'm genuinely quite surprised more hasn't been said about London teenager Alessi. Despite signing a record deal with Virgin Records/EMI following a self released EP (or two), she seems destined to be known as a token folk act nomination in a future Mercury Music Prize nomination. Speaking of which, I was pretty surprised to discover that Elbow won this year's prize but then again, the nominee list hardly inspired me. But anyways, Alessi.
The obvious point of reference for Alessi's music is Joanna Newsom - they share similar fairy-tale, ethereal, child-like vocals and demeanour. Both have earthly, innocent (my cynical side would rather use the term 'naive') personalities, which I find a bit annoying but it no doubts shapes their respective musical outputs. So possibly an acquired taste but I'd say Alessi is the more accessible of the two while still sharing the same magic you feel with Joanna Newsom. In fact, you can get a more indepth view of Alessi via this handy YouTube vid:
Here's a recent BBC 6Music session, where Alessi also talked about her songwriting and working with Conor Oberst on her forthcoming album. Let's hope the album lives up to the early promise she's shown.
The obvious point of reference for Alessi's music is Joanna Newsom - they share similar fairy-tale, ethereal, child-like vocals and demeanour. Both have earthly, innocent (my cynical side would rather use the term 'naive') personalities, which I find a bit annoying but it no doubts shapes their respective musical outputs. So possibly an acquired taste but I'd say Alessi is the more accessible of the two while still sharing the same magic you feel with Joanna Newsom. In fact, you can get a more indepth view of Alessi via this handy YouTube vid:
Here's a recent BBC 6Music session, where Alessi also talked about her songwriting and working with Conor Oberst on her forthcoming album. Let's hope the album lives up to the early promise she's shown.
on Sunday, September 14, 2008
Fight Like Apes are a bit like Father Jack from cult tv show 'Father Ted' - outspoken, potty mouthed, Oirish and above all, awesome. Seriously, the chorus/refrain/whatever to one of their songs is "shit, shit, shit, shit, bang, bang". Classy.
Arguably another band spearheading the "fight pop" movement along with Dananananaykroyd and Johnny Foreigner, their mental concoction of scuzzy synth pop has not quite enraptured the masses like their aforementioned contemporaries despite actually being significantly poppier. Which is a shame.
Having fallen in love with them after hearing 'Jake Summers' prior to its release sometime last autumn, I finally managed to catch their ace hyperactive live set at Offset. In fact, Offset on the whole was ace but maybe I'll talk about that some other time. But any band responsible for a line like "You're like Kentucky Fried Chicken but without the taste" and references to wrestling moves deserves your attention quite frankly.
They popped into BBC 6Music studios for a quickie back in March with the internet's most hated radio DJ George Lamb. Hence yet another installment of my George Lamb versus music saga was waiting to be unleashed. And despite the fact I have quite clearly been brainwashed to love everything that Fight Like Apes do, I think this is a pretty thrilling session. 2 songs and eight minutes later, if you can't accept that Fight Like Apes are one of the most vibrant pop bands around then you're rubbish.
Fight Like Apes will be releasing their debut album, 'Fight Like Apes And The Mystery Of The Golden Medallion' (mouthful or what) on September 26th. Produced by John Goodmason, whose recent work includes Los Campesinos! and Sky Larkin as well as past efforts with Sleater-Kinney etc. You'll be able to stream the album from the 19th on entertainment.ie, which has set up its own dedicated Fight Like Apes mini-site.
p.s mega apologies for lack of posting. I've been flathunting, working from 7.30am-7.30pm most days, just come back from a wedding and still need to sort out my dissertation. I daren't look at my email inbox.
Arguably another band spearheading the "fight pop" movement along with Dananananaykroyd and Johnny Foreigner, their mental concoction of scuzzy synth pop has not quite enraptured the masses like their aforementioned contemporaries despite actually being significantly poppier. Which is a shame.
Having fallen in love with them after hearing 'Jake Summers' prior to its release sometime last autumn, I finally managed to catch their ace hyperactive live set at Offset. In fact, Offset on the whole was ace but maybe I'll talk about that some other time. But any band responsible for a line like "You're like Kentucky Fried Chicken but without the taste" and references to wrestling moves deserves your attention quite frankly.
They popped into BBC 6Music studios for a quickie back in March with the internet's most hated radio DJ George Lamb. Hence yet another installment of my George Lamb versus music saga was waiting to be unleashed. And despite the fact I have quite clearly been brainwashed to love everything that Fight Like Apes do, I think this is a pretty thrilling session. 2 songs and eight minutes later, if you can't accept that Fight Like Apes are one of the most vibrant pop bands around then you're rubbish.
FIGHT LIKE APES - I'M BEGINNING TO THINK YOU PREFER BEVERLY HILLS 90210 TO ME (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)//MIRROR
FIGHT LIKE APES - JAKE SUMMERS (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)//MIRROR
FIGHT LIKE APES - JAKE SUMMERS (BBC 6MUSIC SESSION)//MIRROR
Fight Like Apes will be releasing their debut album, 'Fight Like Apes And The Mystery Of The Golden Medallion' (mouthful or what) on September 26th. Produced by John Goodmason, whose recent work includes Los Campesinos! and Sky Larkin as well as past efforts with Sleater-Kinney etc. You'll be able to stream the album from the 19th on entertainment.ie, which has set up its own dedicated Fight Like Apes mini-site.
p.s mega apologies for lack of posting. I've been flathunting, working from 7.30am-7.30pm most days, just come back from a wedding and still need to sort out my dissertation. I daren't look at my email inbox.
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