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.
The 2 Bears (St Etienne Remix)
It’s absolutely freezing outside but regardless, I’m going to embark on a long cycle tomorrow and I’ve deliberately not listened to the new album from The 2 Bears as it’s going to act as my musical lucozade during my sweaty cardio adventure.
I’ve enjoyed everything that the duo have released thus far so it’s definitely not going to disappoint and as well as the album this amazing remix by St Etienne is available as a free download!
Of the many official remixes out there, this may just be my favourite…
Follow through to the SoundCloud page for the download link.
Errors
Good news if you like your pop music with a new-wave electro slant. Electro-post-rock outfit Errors have returned with their third studio album ‘Have Some Faith In Magic’ and its a noisy and exciting affair.
The video below for new single ‘Pleasure Palaces’ is a bit of an 8-bit assault on the eyes, but the band’s sound more than makes up for it. Waves of 80′s inspired synth, and hints of post-punk experimentalism, Error’s have now started to incorporate vocals into their music and it sounds great.
Errors – Pleasure Palaces
Errors – Magna Encarta
‘Have Some Faith In Magic’ is out today and you can stream the full album here. You can also catch the band live at one of the below dates this February.
9th Feb – Newcastle, The Cluny
10th Feb – Manchester, Islington Mill
11th Feb – Liverpool, Kazimer
12th Feb – Birmingham, The Rainbow
13th Feb – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
14th Feb – Bristol, The Fleece
15th Feb – Brighton, The Haunt
16th Feb – London, XOYO
17th Feb – Leeds, Cockpit 2
18th Feb – Dublin, Grand Social
24th Feb – Dundee, Doghouse
25th Feb – Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree
New Jamie N Commons
In the run up to his first formal headline tour, Jamie N Commons has released a full length preview of his next single and it’s another confirmation of how powerful and evocative his music is.
With a similar big band feel to The Preacher, this song has a bigger soul punch to it whilst the gritty Americana remains.
Watch Jamie perform The Preacher on our Mahogany Session channel here.
ASTRO!
Definitely one of the coolest music videos that I’ve seen in a long, long while
It’s unofficial and courtesy of WhiskyArt on YouTube but the song by Chilean outfit Astro makes me want get down to my speedos and into the pool!
[LISTEN] Azari & III
Azari & III – Reckless (Cottam Deep End Remix)
Remixes By Dems
We’ve downloaded, listened, streamed, mixed and watched an almost unhealthy amount of music since the year began but like a greedy over-eater, we’ve kept some special space reserved for new material coming from electronic three-piece Dems and yesterday our appetites were rewarded with a couple of remixes and whilst an original EP is on it’s way, we’ll keep our teeth sunk into these.
Both are complete reinventions – firstly a spine-chilling remix of the folky Jonnie Commons and secondly a reworking of teenage South London popstar A.M.E.
[LISTEN] Feist (SertOne Refix)
Feist – Caught a Long Wind (SertOne Refix)
