We Must Go On

In my opinion there’s almost nothing better than some classic hip-hop and Pretty Lights aka Derek Vincent Smith’s latest work is absolutely bang on the money.
We Must Go On, released this week, is actually part of a really interesting project alongside his girlfriend who is a very talented visual designer.
In 2011 they travelled around the world touching down in cities in almost every continent and returned with some great footage which has just been released as an accompaniment to the song.
Speaking about the goal/mission of the video, their aim was explained.
1 – Create a visual accompaniment for the music that added depth and complexity to the emotions being channeled by the music and lyrics… Rather than tell a story, communicate a range of feelings and open ended ideas.
2 – Create a piece of art that speaks to the name “Pretty Lights” The name was originally intended to capture the essence of inspiration and speak to the nature of the artistic eye, so this video combines captivating imagery with beautiful lights in an organic and creative manner.
3- To accomplish the first two things in a way that captures the attention of the viewer and does not let go. The element of precise synchronicity combined with quickly and creatively edited shots brings the video and music together in a way that unites the two like never before. It truly is one piece of art.
Rainy Milo

Rainy Milo hasn’t got a massive amount of material online to put together a substantial profile piece, but the one song she’s got up on SoundCloud was strong enough to stand here on it’s own.
The London teenager is creating some lovely modern but old school soul sounds on a J Dilla-esque beat and sometimes less is more when it comes to a debut.
We’re definitely excited to hear from this lady.
Delilah
Perhaps not a mixtape in the strictest sense of the word, but rising star Delilah has released her ’2-4am mixtape’ of new tracks and its available to stream in full from her Soundcloud.
Stand out moments are Joe Goddard’s reworking of ’Love You So’ and ‘Closer’, and the dancehall-esque beat of ‘Lay By’. Delilah has such a smoky distinctive voice. Its great to hear her on a sultry late night tip
2-4am Mixtape
Clock Opera
I first heard Clock Opera back in 2010 when they released a lively upbeat single called ‘A Piece Of String’. Lead singer Guy Connelly’s slightly quavering vocals were just gorgeous and the mix of real instruments and samples gave them a unique twist to their indie rock sound. So I was pleased to hear that the band are due to release their debut LP ‘Ways To Forget’ in April 2012.
Clock Opera – A Piece Of String
Clock Opera – Belongings
The band use a combination of real instruments and samples, many of which are found sounds. The ‘Making of…’ video below really brings to life how Guy and the band weave these found sounds into melodies and beats. Its impressive stuff. If haunting tracks like ‘Belongings’ are anything to go by, the song writing is going to make for a brilliant album.
The Making of White Noise
XO Man & Friends

Back in December XO Man was joined by Mikill Pane, Master Shortie and Sincere for a simple but very effective video – acoustic guitar and vocals provided by Ed Sheeren.
Good bars, good video although a bit of movement on the cam would have been lovely.
In The Mix(tape) – Bag Raiders

Australian pair Bag Raiders have made a 2012 vow to commit to monthly mixes and if January’s is anything to go by, we’re incredibly excited.
This mix is definitely a tour de force of some serious bangers to emerge in the past couple of months and it begins with a massively sexy number from Nils Frahm and from there it just grows and grows into a monster of a mix including stuff from Hot Toddy, Maxeo Plex, Todd Terje and Homework.
The guys have never shied away from big and bold mixes and I just can’t wait to start the day on this one tomorrow!
Bag Raiders – Monthly Mix (January)
More – Nils Frahm
Baby I Got It – Miguel Campbell
I Can’t Sleep At Night – Daniel Bortz
U Got Me – Lee Foss
Tobago – Jonas Rathsman
Akabu – Life Is So Strange
Rock Me – Russ Yallop
Want You In My Soul (Hot Toddy dub) – Lovebirds
See Blind Through (Mic Newman remix) – Canyons
Love In Me (Maceo Plex remix) – Laura Jones
Mhm, Yeah Yeah – Lazaro Casanova
Home (Tim Green Remix) – M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade
Snooze 4 Love – Todd Terje
Nightwish – BS1
Space Ballad (TEED Remix) – Fur Coat
Better (Arto Mwambe Remix) – Viadrina
Hurting (Tensnake Dub Remix) – Friendly Fires
Get Together – Rene Amesz
Whipped Cream – Homework
Oh, Billie!

Jamie N Commons’ recent interview/Q&A on The 405 has inspired me to take on a new way of listening to music.
Speaking on the interview he said that he likes to put “brackets on his listening habits” which in tow helps him when writing music and by that he’d recently been focusing on blind artists like Ray Charles, Blind Willie Johnson and so on. I’m going to give it a go as it seems fun!
Billie Holiday is where I’ve decided to start and so the first ‘bracket’ is going to be female musicians in the 40s – it’s an obvious choice but nonetheless one of the most important.
We join Billie alongside some of the finest percussionists to have ever lived – Ben Webster, Lester Young, Gerry Mulligan, Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge – and it’s so clear to hear their own personal struggles and hardships through the music they play, but that emotion channeled through their music is absolutely awe-inspiring and makes you wonder, when looking at today’s music charts, where it all went so wrong.



