Music that saved (trumped) the Queen

So its time for the Queens Jubilee I see. 'God save the Queen!' the nation echoes, but while the general public rummage and rediscover their poshest frocks, I am struck down with an untimely illness. An illness that disables me from taking part in such a facade rippling throughout the otherwise ignored nooks and crannies of our country. Yes, unfortunately the bright colours in the flag that is so proudly littering around every window, the bunting choking every lamp post, and the eerily accurate masks people have chose, for some unknowable reason, to cover their own face in has caused me to spiral deep in to a Britannia depression. Why yes, I hear you bark, it is rather un- British of me, but, how can I put this, I'm just not really feeling it. I mean, I can't say I've ever really thought about the queen, except when I have to check if her face reflects through the notes at work, therefore, as grateful as I am for her patronage, I do not feel like I have a right to celebrate her jubilee to the extent in which other people are. Also, I do not think that my street, surrounded by students (If any at all, at this time of the year) will be roped in to celebrating

HOWEVER, I have the ultimate anecdote for those who understand my reluctance. I decided to grasp the few strands of willingness I possess for this holiday, and made a list of a few British musical heroes that fly the flag for the United Kingdom.


Sex Pistols




Formed in London in 1975, the Sex Pistols were a Punk-Rock band who were responsible for the creation of the Punk movement in the United Kingdom, and influencing many Punk and Alternative Rock acts in the future. Although their success lasted only two and a half years, this band had opened a new direction for many British civilians,their music a raw, angry and frustrated sweep of wet sweaty hair, channeled through animalistic growls, haunting shivers crawling down the spine of Steve Jones' guitar, and energetic punches from Glen Matlock/Sid Vicious' Bass. Most important of all, Johnny Rottens southern sneers are recognised world wide as the frontman of one of the most influencial bands of the music genre.

Coincidently, in a gentle nod to the jubilee, I will point out how this band attacked social conformity, and encouraged a rebellion against the hierarchy. In their only album Never Mind The Bollocks, heres the Sex Pistols they included the aptly named single God Save The Queen in which they released during Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee in 1977. Although the song reached number one in the NME charts, it remained only number " in the official charts. A main reason for this probably being the fact that this song claimed that 'She ain't No human being, and theres no future, in England's dreaming'.

However, Sex Pistols provided an outlet for many socially and economically frustrated citizens, and gave a voice for prisoners of social oppression everywhere. Hurrah!



The Beatles




I know my Grandfather would definately agree that this liverpudlian band is 'up there with the Queen' but does our dear Elizabeth II hold the record for most number-one hits on the Hot 100 chart with 20? No, I think you will find that this is all down to John, George, Paul and Ringo. Formed in 1960, this foursome became a commercial sensation, with teenage girls drooling over their pictures, and viciously scratching flesh of one another to catch the tiniest glimpse of these four heartthrobs. According to the Guinness Book of Records, The Beatles have estimated sales of over one billion units, and with these guys collecting 7 Grammy Awards, and being collectively included in Time magazines 100 most influential people of the 20th Century, it's hard to doubt their success.

The upbeat deliverances of Hello, Goodbye, All You Need is Love, and With a Little Help From My Friends s ell as many more, provide the soundtrack to a beautiful sunny day, and the nostalgically sour tasting twangs of , Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane this band truly offer a buffet of tasty dishes, ready to fulfill every desire your appetite desires. It is hard for anyone not to have heard of The Beatles, with their presence still echoing through societies music today, many musical idols of today continue to claim how they pined for their unrequited love with Yeterday, and, with their beautifully evoking lyrics, and ridiculous sense of humour it is unheard of to not fall in love with The Beatles.

Click here to see my favourite Beatles performance, with George Harrison sporting a rather wonderful moustache.



Pink Floyd




As you can probably tell in their chosen name, Pink Floyd flirted with Progressive, and Psychedelic Rock, and created some of the biggest performing masterpieces ever to be performed live (in my opinion). These four geniuses combined philosophically questionable lyrics, with their experimentation of sonics and acoustics, and placing a big fat elaborate cherry on top in their individual brand of live performance. Having sold over 250 million records worldwide this band has been added to the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in celebration of the outstanding musical journeys this band directs you to in their performances, heightening the bar for live acts everywhere. When you listen to Pink Floyd, you can almost feel yourself floating and bending in to thin air, dancing with the birds, as the cooling drops of rain massage your body along to the hypnotizing murmurings.


Formed in 1965 as mutual University students, with the original line up being that of Roger Waters, Richard Wright, and Syd Barrett, and previously playing around with names such as The Tea Set, and The Abdabs Barrett came up with the name Pink Foyd by combining the names of Pink Anderson, and Floyd Council in which he saw on Paul Oliver's sleeve note for Blind Boy Fuller's LP.

Queen





Its hard to believe that the band Queen was ever yet to be created, the destiny of these four members surely must have been decided when earth was created (however it was created). Time was just an alarm, waiting to come alive when Freddie Mercury became a fan of a band named Smile,and later, in his attempts to make the band more elaborate and entertaining live, he joined Brian May and Roger Taylor, with John Deacon later fulfilling the bands fate just before they shook the world with their thundering guitar licks and Mercury's harmonies of the four-octave range delivering lyrics that tackled issues including his own experiences and struggles with AIDS, and he basked in the glory of his audiences love for him, a statement chillingly ehoed in Kurt obain's suicide note, in which he staes how he envies Mercury for being capable of this.

Mercury was famous for catapulting the bad to stardom with his incredible stage presence, a famous image of him shows him punch the air in a celebratory stance whilst performing one of the bands songs, however Mercury claimed that "When I'm performing I'm an extrovert, yet inside I'm a completely different man." offering a more human insight in to the Rock God's personal struggles with his confidence.

When asked about the bands choice of name, Mercury explained that "I thought up the name Queen. It's just a name, but it's very regal obviously, and it sounds splendid. It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it." Not only highlighting Mercury's love of confusion his fans to whether he was gay, straight, or bisexual, but also leaving an essence of confusion postmortem, for fans to delegate even after his unfortunate death. He need not have bothered though, if he thought he was going to be forgotten he was wrong, Queen still remains a largely played band, with their songs jumping up everywhere and reminding everyone just how important this band is. Although the rest of Queen continue on with a variety of front men, there will never be one who fills such a wide void at the front of the stage.

Together, this band has released 18 number 1 albums, 18 number 1 singles, and 10 number 1 DVD's, with an estmat of 300 million albums sold worldwide, a lifetime achievement award in 1990, and members of the Rock and Roll hall of Fame (2001) under their belt, this band, HAS to have trumped the Queen herself. It's in the name.

Spice Girls



Flying the Feminist friendly flag of girl power, (probably once seen barely covering Geri Halliwell's secret areas) this collective of five, sometimes four, beautiful women provided idols for pre-pubescent, pig tailed girls everywhere in the 1990's.

Once upon a time, father and son business team Bob and Chris Herbert decided that there was an opening in the market for a feisty flirtatious girl band, that provided an offering of anthems both inspiring and catchy like machines, and still looking good after hours of filming a music video in the freezing cold. Another reason being that the teenage customers of the 90's swallowed and consumed anything on the lines of East 17 and Take That, cleverly recognising that if there was an act that appealed not only to the confused lust of the girls dreaming of their definitive wedding to Peter Andre, but to the previously ignored audience of spotty boys, whose probable only other mode of entertainment is hiding his sisters Backstreet Boys CD until she cries. Yes, these guys set out to find five willing princesses to glitter in the spotlight of tean angst and create a new wave of feminine domination.

In a 1996 edition Top of The Pops magazine devised a separate image for each member of Spice Girls, and, in order to appeal to a wider audience (who were now kindly allowed to choose which female stereotype they felt more inclined towards), the band and their management adopted these images and channeled them in their outfits, their performances, and even their haircuts. Rolling Stone journalist David Sinclair claims that "Scary, Baby, Ginger, Posh and Sporty were the most widely recognised group of individuals since John, Paul, George, and Ringo" highlighting the bands success.

These females took over the world after signing with Virgin Records in 1995, due to several trust and control issues with Heart Management. Spice Girls, have sold over 75 million records world wide, with the majority of that number no doubt being classmates of mine, as a 90's child, there is no doubt in this bands success, the world welcomed this band with open arms, and they shot to musical hierarchy, mini skirts and all. Although they did not particularly spice up my life, I listen to their hyperactive renditions of love, boys and friendship, and in my unexpected knowledge of most of the lyrics I realise that they really have had an influence on even my life.


Take That




Middle aged mothers and their teenage daughters unite! These fellas have not only combined two generations of audiences, but they have also bagged 27 top 40 albums, 16 top 5 singles, and that is just in the United Kingdom, 11 of these reaching number 1, and 7 number one albums. They have also all aged very gracefully, especially lead vocalist Gary Barlow.

1989 saw Nigel Martin-Smith envision a British, all male vocal group, however his version of such was imagined as a teen band. In his search for said band, he found young singer-song writer Gary Barlow, and was so impressed with his talents, that he moulded his vision around Barlow's qualities. Manchester, and nearby cities were then visited in an audition process to find Barlow's future band mates, with a wish for men gifted particularly in Dancing and Singing. After the members of the band were decided, their first performance was on popular teen show The Hitman & Her in 1990 (quick fact here, and my very own claim to fame, is that my father was a dancer on this show, pink shorts and all). The next few months saw the band touring small venues such as clubs and bars, before they hit gold and released a cover of 1975 hit It only Takes a Minute Girl which peaked at 7 on the UK Singles Chart. Their first album Take That & Party was released in 1991, and included Barlow's very own first ballad A Million Love Songs.

Take That have had their fair share of drama, from the tantrums of Robbie Williams leading to him leaving the band, to their 1996 disbanding, where the hearts of fans everywhere broke tragically, only for the band to reunite in 2005 to cough up a fresh list of ballads celebrated in the media everywhere, from a Take That musical, to a Singstar game based on the bands songs.

So, to conclude my list of musical heroes, that have had an undeniable affect on England, if not the rest of the world too, I shall add that my list could probably harbour a handful of other acts, such as; Depeche Mode, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac(or half of them anyway), Ultravox(tickets to whom I begged for on my 18th birthday, Midge Ure still has it!), Eurythmics, and many more, I could go on forever...

There's only one Kid around here, I am not Kidding you

"I'm off on an adventure" is the first line of Kid Cudi's 2010 release "Mr Rager" from his second studio album "Man On The Moon II: The Legend of Mr Rager". This metaphorically sums up the widely celebrated work of the Alternative hip hop artist from Cleveland, Ohio. Kid Cudi, real name Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, sends you on an intergalactic journey, shooting you straight above the human limits, piercing the Earths atmosphere, and into a Dougie with the stars and planets.

Cudi has pulled many tricks from out of his finely attired sleeves, not only is he an alternative hip hop artist and singer-songwriter, but also a guitarist, Actor, and a part time rocker. So how did this guy get from being just another Ohio kid to what we know as THE Kid? The world first became aware of his outstanding talents after the release of his debut mixtape cleverly named "A Kid Named Cudi" in July 2008, a collaboration with New York street wear brand 10.Deep and made available as a free download. This mixtape proving the making of what we know now as such a refined artist, with he mixtape acquiring immediate attention from Kanye West and reulting in his signing to music label "GOOD Music" later that year.

Impressed with his work, Kanye requested Cudi's talents on his 2008 album "808's and Heartbreak" with Cudi's influence evident in the slow paced music tones, and the expression of the lyrics in songs such as "Paranoid" and "Heartless". The two artists also shared a mutual understanding of the limitless pain of losing a parent, and how they dealt with their bereavements with the aid of music to express this.

The amplified influence evidently recurring in Cudi's music is the untimely death of his father due to Cancer, when Cudi was only 11 years old. Songs such as "Mr Rager", "Man On The Moon" and "The Prayer" describes his fascination with death, and the feelings in which the experience of loss evokes. Cudi attacks themes such as loss, death, boredom, and frustration with a soothing background of slow melodic instrumental accents, and gospel like echoes, providing a dream like effect on the listener, and snatching them further away from reality.

As he himself has admitted, Cudi used the effect of an Opium to numb the pain of losing his father, and escaping the frustrations of day to day life, Cudi states that "This song is about someone who is fed up with reality, who looks for thrills and excitement by any means. It's just kind of how I was feeling at that point. I was just so angry. Doing coke revived me, and knowing I was so close to death every time intrigued me. I liked the thought of it." and subsequently explained the theory behind "Mr Rager", and how the image of "Mr Rager" explained his angry state of mind at the time in which he wrote the song.

Cudi is known to sample 90's rock tunes with a mix of 80's like synth licks, exploring his varied musical influences, and envisioning his search for the perfect backdrop to his lyrics, he explains his wish to take listeners on a journey when he claims that "Man On The Moon II is dark by nature and instead of bringing you into my dreams like my first album, I'm bringing you into my reality, good and bad. It will explain more of who I am as well as pushing the envelope musically.". This journey is in fact vital, for after you have listened to Kid Cudi's music you can't help but feel as if you know him, his weaknesses for drugs, his hurt surrounding his fathers death, his musical influences, he lets you into his world, both while he is tripping on drugs tap dancing on the clouds, and when he is sober, contemplating his past addictions.

So what has this guy got in store for 2012? Not only is he working on his latest album "Man on the Moon III" expected this summer, but he has collaborated with his old buddy Kanye to create the debut studio album of GOOD Music "Cruel Summer". Lets not Kid ourselves, you are excited.

Get Some Fizz with Scru Fizzer

Bubbling under the simmering cesspit of the Underground Grime Scene is a weapon threatening to break down the weakened concrete of zombie like pigeon holed acts, and leading the army of pure raw British music. Scru Fizzer can carbonate the most neutral of water components with his words that fizz angrily at the back of his throat, ready to throw rhyming spits at anyone standing in the way of his domination of poetical strength and powerful accentuation of versus.

This West London producer and MC is so talented, that his incredibly fast flows, otherwise known as 'Skippy Flows', have caused confusion with fellow MC'ers and fans who have struggled to understand his words when he has performed. In retaliation, he released "Spit Slow" where he performed at a slower rate than usual, and of which was produced by Skeamz, was popular with listeners of Kiss 100 with DJ Logan Sama.

This guy not only identifies current problems of the British society, but he also expresses his lines with popular hits that incorporate his arguments, and is a nod to the fans of such singers he quotes, widening his fan base. A clever tactic, and also great to hear a bit of Drake after Ed Sheeran in the expressions of such a distinctive Grime act, he has also released an alternative production of "That's Not My Name" by Indie Pop band the "Ting Tings" showing the variety of flavour ScruFizz uses.

Scru Fizzer has featured on SB.TV, also known as SmokeyBarz, of which is a musical platform for popular Urban Acts, and is the gun that propels these prodigal bullets in to the enemy of a commercialised abyss, ready to destroy the neutralisation of music, and spray some life in to the music scene dominated by American Zombies. As warned by many current magazines, including Flavour, Avenue and many more, this guy is definitely someone to look out for, stealthily hiding beneath the shadows ready to sniper those fake electronically aided singers down, and open more doors for the truly proficient.

Having provided mix-tapes with Dizzee Rascall on tracks such as "Guts n Glory", and his collaborations with signed artists such as Marger and Kozzie, this guy is spreading like a rash, and you won't be wanting the treatment.

A picnic with The 2 Bears

If you go down to the woods today you sure are in for a surprise: two bears are having it large, and transforming the relaxed limbs of mother nature to the pulse raising dance floor of a disco so addictive Noah would have regretted erasing it from the architectural plans of his Arc, in sacrifice for food and water storage.

Formed in 2009, and storming the music world with spine bending remixes of new and popular singles, this twosome provides the perfect blend of beats so tasty that you cant resist another bite of the sandwich filled with hyper electronic twitches, spread just like butter over the upbeat harmonies, and flavoured with a cheeriness so camp it would make louie Spence sneer. This band uses ingredients from many musical genres, for example, Indietronica, Garage, Rave, and Alternative Dance maing it ultimately impossible to avoid dancing to. The taste is so zesty in your mouth it tingles in your jaw and sends melodic fluxes deep in to your veins, causing long convulses to transpire from your body in hasty kicks, and enabling your body to submit to the tunes, like a puppet hung vulnerably beneath their masters string. This band puppeteers your dance moves, and you have no choice but to go along with it.


With one half of this group, Joe Goddard, already enjoying success with one of my favourite electronic bands; Hot Chip, it is no surprise that when combining talents with club promoter and DJ Raf Rundell, he produces yet another masterpeice. With the golden hands in which only a true angel of music could deliver, it seams that all this guy touches tuns to Gold; Not forgetting Goddard's continued involvement in the Graoco-Roan party collective, and his co production of Little Boot's latest album. Goddard and Rundell saturated together in a mutual love for sultry seductress Sade, and have even covered her hit 'When Am I going To Make A Living?" in a bow to her influence.

With a theme tune adorned with gut shivering Synth licks, Red Riding Hood would no doubt be bouncing around the woods to, they had to come up with an image to suit their reassuringly upbeat music, so why come up with The 2 Bears? "I have been called a bear by many people over the years" claims Goddard "not because of my sexuality, but simply my physical appearance" amplifying Goddard's appearance of a cuddly bear, and accentuating the happiness this team evokes from their listeners, not only from the stress reducing fist pumps and air kicks the tunes ignite in your body, but the happiness that elopes all over you body from the beautifully husky whispers of Goddard and Rundell, and that is why you need to listen to the work of these guys.

Où est Daft Punk?

Two french lads decide to hook up and create sweet music together. Sounds pretty kinky, but in all seriousness what they have cultivated is only one of the most defiantly wonderful music duo's to storm the house music frontier in the 1990's and to remain a highly ranking phenomenon, haunting the Synth-pop world, and leaving fans everywhere begging for their songs to be played 'one more time'.



Inscribed on the lid of Tutankhamen's grave is the story behind the creation of Daft punk: A group of music loving robot-aliens decided that Earth needed shaking around a little, and in their bid to wake all those sleepy zombies up from their simmering frustrations of routine, hot coffee's and cold breezes, they sent two of their freshest 'technologic'-al geniuses to mix things up. Ok, that's not really true, and it's probably not the real reason why Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, and Thomas Bangalter bubble beneath the small surface of their leather outfits, and the mysteriously ominous helmets, but who cares, they make ruddy good music! If anything, it adds to the mystery hovering around the story of Daft Punk, an addiction in which you try tirelessly to feed with the music spawned from these superhuman masterpieces, in the hope that one day you might learn just how two average guys transformed overnight in to robots, emmiting electrifying currents in to the submissive ears of their followers, frothing at the mouth in their fixation of musical pleasure.

Regarded as a defining influence for the French House music scene, Daft Punk credit inspiration from bands such as The Beach Boys, Elton John, and The Rolling Stones, expressing a shared admiration for rock bands, and highlighting the importance of those growls, and licks of the guitar regularly evident in the duos music. When questioned about his passion for music Bangalter has expressed that "In Brian Wilson's music you could really feel the beauty— it was very spiritual. Like Bob Marley, too." Showing the intense effect intended to overpower your body in his music, which it certainly succeeds in doing.

When listening to Daft Punk I find myself submitting to my inner robot, and bending my cold steel arms in time with the excited punch of the symbol jumping around the copper tasting voices echoing the foreground of 'Harder, Better Faster' and striding with the overpowering thuds of my magnetic feet with each swing of the metal brushing against the elegantly confident riffs of 'Robot Rock'. With the help of this frog eating duo (and the assistance of the coma inducing visual effects) you are transported in to a fantasy world of fluorescent lights stretching over the atmosphere, and kissing your bare skin, cooling it from the hot sweat you have cultivated under the heat of mars, infatuated with the music tended to lovingly by the robot hands,and born from the speakers. It is hard to ever want to return back to Earth.

With many tributes to Daft Punk; From Coca-Cola bottles designed by Daft Punk themselves, and sold under the name of Daft Coke in France for a brief amount of time, to animated appearances of the robotic duo on Cartoon network, it is evident that these french fries have certainly worked up an appetite in their fans. So what I want to know is, where have they got to? Yeah, producing music for acts such as Pharell with his smooth-talking 'Hypnotize U', and the ultimate soundtrack for movie 'Tron: Legacy' may be all well and good, but our ears are twitching for more. Where art thou Daft Punk? Come back to Earth!

The Creation of Radicals

You have to give it to him, Tyler The Creator has managed to tick off most of the goals he set himself while still relishing the comforts of his Grandmothers couch; 'VMA's. Grammy's. Make a lot of money. Own my own label. Start a magazine. Meet Pharrell. I did five of them', and all at the tender age of 21, my jealous eyes are faded by the sheer bravery of the Los Angeles rapper, mortal name of Tyler Okonma. With slow piano keys driving the rebellious statements Tyler channels with his heavy repetition of profanities, and offensive descriptions relating to women, homosexuals,and polititics to name but a few.

When I first learnt about Tyler The Creator, I was warned that I would be covering my ears in disgust, angry at the statements he conjures in his rhyming, however, when I finally braced myself, and pressed play with teeth clenched, I did not see an arrogant young man with a drive to earn a death certificate. What I heard did indeed carry an overdose of swearwords and sexual descriptions, but the beauty underlying in his words is unrecognised, unloved, and ignored. I heard a guy who just wants to promote sincerity, who, like many other people his age, wants to challenge the system, and reclaim his individuality. In a world where bands are commercialized and rebranded into musical zombies by their music labels, I find Tyler The Creator a breath of fresh air, an idol for all those kids out there with no goals, no tools to release their creativity, and no sign of redemption. Yes Tyler sprinkles his spits with words that most people find offensive, but he does not smoke, or drink, and invest his energy into the whole image in which his music conveys, from the artwork of his releases, to the direction of the videos he records.



Unlike most rappers, Tyler has remained stationed in the streets he used to hang around when he was but a twinkle in Hip Hop's eyes, and has even set up shop in said area to anchor him back to the ground after the ego inflaming attention of growing fans everywhere. Not to mention the ever expanding pack of 'wolves' The Creator has earnt after dreaming up Alternative Hip Hop collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, otherwise known as OFWGKTA, containing rappers such as Domo Genesis, Hodgy Beats, and Mike G, and singer Frank Ocean. This collective has produced multiple releases recorded in their own homes, with all tracks available on their website for free, this group is fast becoming famous for both the content on their tracks, and the amount of talented acts that are involved, not forgetting the explosion of energetic beats and unforgettable lyrics that you can't help but get excited about.





Tyler is not afraid to express his weaknesses in his songs, it is what makes him unique, and reminds you that he is still but a human after his claims to be the reincarnation of the Devil in his songs. In his acclaimed single 'Yonkers' he tells his fans;

'F*ck the fame and all the hype, G
I just want to know if my father would ever like me
But I don't give a f*ck, so he's probably just like me'

Not only expressing his wish to get to know his father, who walked out on his family when he was younger, and the constant drive to impress him in his work, but his hatred and bitterness towards him.

So my advise to any offended listeners of this guy, is to forget about the profanities, forget the pornographic images he delights in describing, and remember that he is just another vulnerable human being, who has turned his hurt and insecurity into passion and drive towards his effortless skills of creating some beautifully evoking music that challenges your ideas of society. After all, he says it himself in 'Radicals'...

'Hey, don't do anything that I say in this song, okay? It's f*ckin' fiction'

In his work Tyler expresses his wish for kids everywhere to ignore the ideals of society, they feel they have to conform to. He is telling his fans not to live up to their parents dreams if it is not what they want, he is the voice of freedom for kids everywhere. As someone who is the same age as The Creator, I can taste his passion for freedom of expression, I can smell his peppery distaste for oppressive rules, and I can feel his fear for society. Most critics will view The Creators songs as a list of as many stomach wrenching descriptions as possible, but I see it as a constitutional rebellion, an inspiration for young people to stand up for what they believe in.

Don't judge this guy, he is an Alternative Hip Hop genius, and you will be hearing a lot more of him. He is more than Radical.

I saw a Ghostpoet

After a hard days scratching the back of your head in frustration, hours of watching the general public in confusion, plastic smile tattooed on your tired face, one needs to find the perfect solution to winding down into a sleepy state. A state where you can cast away all your displaced fears and worries for a while, relax, sit back and let life annoy someone else for a change. If it is a real outlet for your financial struggles, geographical itches, and other such niggles floating around your head, let Ghostpoet extract them and send them packing with his sleepy wisdom.

This isn't any ordinary rapper from the bustling streets of London, he self produced his first album, and stresses that his music is 'not about the technical side of it, making sure everything’s perfect in that respect; it’s about the feeling of it, the emotion.'(2011). This is evident in Ghostpoet's music, otherwise known as Obaro Ejimiwe, he provides an anthem for those with stinging eyes to shut their heavy eyelids, lower those clenching shoulders and ease themselves into his hauntingly familiar expressions of modern day troubles for the typical human being.



The haunting beats whistling and swimming beneath his soothing voice, taste like fresh hope. Ejimiwe's abiity to evaporate all cares with his slow rhyming is repeated throughout his music, his voice becomes the emblem of relaxation, an addiction striving for a constant fix of the haunting keys, and his refreshing accent, especially for a Northerner like myself.

Ghostpoet flies the flag for many UK artists fighting to gain recognition within an industry still dominated by gargling Americans drooling for stardom. This guy reminds us that we have exciting talent on our shores that should not be overlooked in favour of a miming dancer. Ghostpoet represents the raw talent expressing topics that enter our own heads on a daily basis, for example, paying those bills, wishing a bad day away, and dwelling on our personal failures. Far from a ghost, Ghostpoet proves that his lyrically tasty focus on every day qualities provide a recognition that is gaining him fans everywhere, and all with a mesmerising soundtrack.




If you haven't heard from Ghostpoet yet, you really need to grab a listen. Just take a seat, get comfy, and let Ghostpoet handle the rest. His debut album 'Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam.' will be your new auditory bible for the perfect anecdote after a days work. And this is not all, his highly anticipated second album is due any time this year.

Fit for a Prince

Have you ever had the overpowering urge for chocolate? I mean that unavoidable tingle screaming for the milky cocoa melting in your mouth? That feeling of intense satisfaction filling you up and enticing a warm smile stretching over your face, the velvety liquid dancing around your mouth voluptuously releasing endorphin's into your body. An immediate rush of delight drifting through your mood. Your legs shake at the unforgettable taste bathing in your mouth, and your attention focused on every inch of the party of tastes pirouetting around your tongue. This sound familiar? Well it should, if you have ever had the pleasure of listening to Prince, he has middle aged women everywhere quivering like a chocoholic getting their fix of the desired truffle.

Introducing a man who has single-handedly seduced thousands of women at just the riff of his patent purple guitar. Who would have thought that a man wearing heels, and eyeliner would produce such a flutter rippling through armies of females at his mercy?



Born Prince Rogers Nelson on 7th June 1958, to a pianist father and a Jazz singing mother. His mother of whom chose the name because she wanted him to do everything she asked of him. Little did she know it would be the name echoing from the reddened lips of adoring female fans everywhere in a matter of years. Prince wrote his first song aged 7 on his fathers piano, just highlighting his budding flare for music at such a young age.

To date, Prince has sold over 80 million copies of his releases worldwide, has won seven Grammy awards, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. Prince has even introduced a new breed of sound into the music industry in his musical reign, thus being that of the 'Minneapolis sound', a delicious desert containing ingredients such as funk, rock, pop, R & B and New Wave, that has opened the door for many artists to experiment and succeed with.



Prince is known for his androgynous behaviour, showing traits both masculine and effeminate to create the perfect blend of beauty and sexual freedom, highlighted in the sensual growls of his guitar purring along to his high screams, or his deep soulful murmurings. This guy had virginal roses blushing and humping posters of him sprawled over their bedroom walls, clad in hardly anything but makeup. He is the definition of lust for many men and women everywhere.

As a child I used to watch Prince strut around the stage in his stiletto's, and lavender suits in amazed intrigue, listening to my mother whisper her unconditional love for him. Now I have inherited that love, for the powerful message of passion, rage, and frustration his music resonates. The perfume of sexuality pulses around his albums still, and will linger for years to come. From the seductively heartbreaking vocal dips of 'The Beautiful Ones' to the skin tickling teasing's of 'kiss', you can almost feel the moisture of his lips on your skin, Prince's voice crawls into your bones and tickles the back of your neck. Prince provides fans of all ages with an endless list of sweat inducing guitar solo's, romantic cries of affection and frustration, and air punching drum kicks that remain timeless.

Following controversy surrounding copyright issues, Prince changed his stage name to a symbol that fans could not pronounce, combining the symbols of both a male and female, dubbed The Love Symbol. Not only showing Prince's focus on love, passion and lust, but his wish to ensure no pronunciation categorized him as an artist, and his work.e only wishes to be known as a symbol of love, that is pretty amazing, no?

As someone who delights in mysteriousness and intrigue, this only stimulates my interest in Prince, or any other names he may call himself, it is what any artist should aspire to be, undefinable, individual, and evermore beautiful.

Soley A Dream

Outside the sky is alight with the glow of the sun stretching out among the blue landscape, your skin tingles in delight at the reassuring warmth eloping from the big yellow ball, everything glitters in the backdrop of beauty highlighted by the angelic rays. The grass beneath your toes tickles your bare skin playfully, your lips still sticky from the refreshing ice lolly you have just finished, everything seams better in the sunshine, All your worries evaporate in the heat and float away into the distance. What will you be listening to when all this happens? Why, Soley of course.




This Icelandic songstress echoes sounds of Swedish singer song writer Lykke Li, however, Soley stands her own ground with the natural instrumentals, and melodies containing notes not dissimilar to the playful chantings of a xylophone in a children's song, ensuring the songs upbeat hummings.

The harmonies Soley instills into her music is reminiscent of children's folk songs, injecting the playful colours of youth, and energy within the slow keys of the piano. The piano is a key force within Soley's work, creating a doorway to another realm with the dreamy tiptoes of the high notes in 'About Your Funeral', 'Pretty Face', and 'I'll Drown', and the heavy thuds of sleepy stretches within 'Read Your Book'. The world in which the earthy combination of sound and lyrics of Soley's work summons you into a sleep like state, reflecting the heavy warmth creeping up on you under the gentle rays of the sun. In her own words, Soley explains how 'All of the lyrics are like this. Dreamy, surrealistic and in their own world — so analyzing the lyrics is for the listeners to make up their own world!'. So close your eyes, breathe in the fresh air, and inhabit the earthy tones within your bones, stretch, and relax your body, tickled by Soley's soft voice. Find your escape, find your own world, enhanced by the confused mutterings within 'Smashed Birds, and take advantage of a temporary loss of sanity. Find your parallel world, and let Soley take you there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ClhKpPBzr4&feature=related

Del-icious

According to Lana Del Rey and her debut album, we were Born To Die, grim thought, but this album is definately something to listen to before your expiration date is due. This delicious mix of blonde curled licks, sassy red nail varnished mutterings, and the eloquent warmth of gentle whiskey tasting whisperings. Lana Del Rey is reminiscient of the original American sex symbol; before Megan Fox and Kim Kardashian were even a star in their parents eyes, I'm talking about Marilyn Monroe stuff here.


Is it me or does Rey resemble an early Monroe (pictured above)? She certainly has a thing for classy women, as she refers to herself as a 'self styled gangsta Nancy Sinatra'.


Rey breathes her classy essence effortlessly with the romantic and capturing strikes of the violin and patriotic beats of drums sending your body into a march of adoration. Beautiful lyrics and tasty metaphors adorn each song on this album with Lana's Contralto hummings stretch to the back of your ears and whistle down your chest.

With the sleepy harps serenading you in Video Games, catchy verses in Off to the Races and vocal ranges screaming for stadiums in Born To Die, this album leaves the listener feeling sophisticated, infatuated and itching for more of Rey's butter kissed voice to spread all over their current mood. Dark, gothic monotones haunt the undertones of Rey's lyrics, telling tales of heartbreak, death and alcoholism, but in a sarcastically sweet way in which only Rey succeeds in.

It is interesting to note the wide binaries of Lana Del Rey's influences, for example; Kurt cobain, Britney Spears, and Elvis Presley are all completely different sounds to one another, but this only intensifies the world in which Rey inhabits. Listen to this album, and you will be transported in to a world where the gentle 'Rey's' kiss you hard on the smooth skin, the seducing presence of perfume lingers on the edge of your nose teasing you in to the blue rippling water, and the irresistible mystery of Carmen is only an inch away... this album is a dark paradise to be indulged in.

The only way is Depeche Mode

Close your eyes, feel the sweet taste of need on the tips of your tongue, the sweat pulsating on your forehead like a helpless vessel, your body a slave to the melodic sounds of eloping echoes deep into your eardrums in the darkness of your room. You lose all touch of yourself in the sensual glow of your candles, just dancing, dancing like a snake hypnotized by the notes of the flute. The song finishes, and silence screams like the bite of coldness at your skin in a breaze alien in the warmth. You need to replay the song, you need to hear his voice again, that growl like mustard on your lips, the gentle stroke of the synths easing you in to your demonic state like an alcoholic and their vodka, those spine shivering piano keys throbbing in your ears. This is Depeche mode, and this is a drug.

Nothing can replace the teeth clenching feeling of musical pleasure once you have heard the baritone purrs of Dave Gahan, the musical notes lulling you in to a daydream is courtesy of the musical God that is Martin Gore, the brains behind many of Depeche Modes biggest hits, and, if you are as passionate about synths as I am, just one listen of this bands songs will leave you in want of filling every possible silence with the reassuring licks of 'Enjoy the silence' 'Never let me down' or 'Black celebration'. Take a swim into the dark world of Depeche Mode with songs such as 'Blasphemous Rumours' where the dose of synthesisers is almost too much to handle, and the beat of those drums punching your chest into involuntary fluxes. Gahan's mutterings adding to the gothic element of a beautifully evoking song. If you are as enthusiastic about Dave Gahan's unique dance moves as I am, you will also be left salivating at the video for this record (he also has leather pants on!).

In a society that owes many of its (barely pleasurable) covers, with over 100 million singles and albums sold worldwide, in my opinion Depeche Mode is still kept dusty on the shelf, forgotten and ignored in a world so fast and in haste that they have forgotten the honey like aftertaste of good music. With 'pop music' in this time and age consisting of the moans of hunky but barely talented Jason Derulo, and his latest heartbreak and the chauvinistic mutterings of a sleazy looking Pitbull leaving me ashamed and self hating after listening, similar to the rush of guilt in which the pubescent teenage boy feels after scouring the latest babe magazine with tissue in hand.

Formed in 1980, blessing us for thirty years and counting, Depeche Mode have had forty eight songs in the UK singles chart, and twelve top ten albums in the UK charts, two of which debuted at number one. Who would have thought that a handful of Essex lads would be so succesful? Ignore this mind numbing stereotype of the ideological Essex zombie, put on a pedestal by ITV, this just shows that Essex is not a one string instrument. Crowned by Q magazine as 'The most popular electronic band the world has ever known' and crowned in my own heart as one of the most emotionally engaging synth bands to have truly created every song to fit with my own mood, I have yet to find a negative aspect to any of Mode's songs, and I believe I never will.

Already weakened by the gentle brushes of synths, the strokes and scratches of the guitar riffs serenade me into a comatic state of euphoria, with the sumptuous voice of Gahan kissing my ears,Depeche Mode strips me of my stresses, and covers me with a warm blanket of that honey aftertaste I was telling you about. Good music.

So lets not forget a band that has influenced many big bands of today, for example; The Pet Shop Boys, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, The Bravery, and many more, touching on the lives of everyone who listens, with their captivating provocativeness and leaving your ears ringing in submissive addiction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGSKrC7dGcY&ob=av2e

Get some new Earphones

Upon reading the current issue of NME, and listening to some of the new bands 2011 has to look forward to, I got far too excited, and decided to practice my dream job, and analyse some musical proteges that will be put into focus in the upcoming months.

1) Four undeniably stunning, and sexy band members, VIVA BROTHER may purr like a cat upon sight, but when handed a few guitars, a drum kit, and a microphone, this band roars like the loudest lion that has been food depraved for as long as he can remember. Possibly 2011's latest addition to 'the kings of the jungle', you can almost taste the steel of the stadiums, lager, and the denim in the air when you listen to VIVA BROTHER play one of their songs, reminiscient of an early Blur, their debut single 'Darling Buds of may' showcases the rough and ready sound that elequantly rolls of lead singer Lee Newell tongue like he was licking an ice cream cornetto on a hot summers day. Fierce he may be, bluntly he may talk, he has the rock star swagger, the rebbelious 'i dont give a fuck attitude', but something tells me this guy lives and breathes his music, a passion that both inspires him, but also affects his no bullshit judgement to many of todays big names. According to Newell, Florence of Florence and the Machine is 'boring old warbling bollocks. She looks like a bloke in a wig.' A roughness that can only add to the sexy allure of that hard attitude of which the husky, growling guitar riff hums throughout their songs, including 'time machine' which evidently shows the effect Oasis had on these four brains of seductive tostestarone. This band, can only be big, they know it, I know it, NME knows it, its time he people heard something that defines an era in music of which as of late is lacking, forget all this fancy prancy pop nonsense, this band has balls, and thesefour men are going to rub these balls in the faces of everyone, thats how big they are going to be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGk0byL8P-0&feature=related

2)I know i have just forementioned this theme of this emotionally flaky pop malarchy, but as the title suggests, get some new earphones, because you are not going to believe your ears. As Justin Young, lead singer of The Vaccines slurs 'we are a pop band and we want to be a pop band' however, there are no repeats of the bands names, or talks of how she loved him and he mysteriously and surprisingly broke her heart, it is just gritty, straight to the point lyrics carefully placed with a soft surf tune, and a minutely heavy bass guitar that sometimes bubbles to the surface and melts the blood in your veins. In their one of The Vaccines single's, Young asks 'what did you expect from post break up sex?' a question that makes the average young woman feel ridiculously female for sitting crying over how her boyfriend left her for someone else, and subsequently wipes her tears away with the sleave of a new woman, a woman who has finally found solace in pop, rather than be made to feel even more suicidal by the pathetic screams of a man's needy and squeesky voice recalling his own heartbreak. Get over the old pop, and make way for the new, no more pussys, this ones for the almost indies, this ones for the surfers, this ones for the folk, and most importantly, this ones for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGk0byL8P-0&feature=related

3) Love the Foals? Spend you mornings shaving your impeccable mustache to Vampire weekend? or how about brushing your teeth to Yeasayer? Well get some more love in your heart, there is a brother band for maths music fans everywhere, just waiting to jump into your heads and cause many new sensations, you never even dreamt of before. This milkshake of fast guitar whips, soft drum kicks, spine tinglingly spikey voice ranges fulfills the hunger for an energetic start to anything. Theres something about WU LYF that mystifies the mind, one minute you feel like you could completely stay in your bed all day and just listen to this band, not even wanting to wash, or eat, just feeding off the energy and optimism these songs provide you, and other times, you want to throw some tye died playsuit on and gayly skip to your nearest tree and make love to it. The whispers of the tunes this band bless us with, completely reflect every mood that could possibly enter your head. The mystery behind this band is also a very seductive element, they hold you back from reality, and therefore entice you into their dreamy world, you want to feel like you are flying? Sit back, close your eyes, and flick 'Lucifer Calling' on, it is a dream.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGk0byL8P-0&feature=related

4) Born from the same womb of such children as Nick Cave and the Bad seeds, and The Raconteurs, Anna Calvi could inspire the weakest of Roman to his battle ground, with the fleurescent voice of velvet, and drum kicks that would entice the bravery out of a rock, theres something about Calvi, that is almost ghostly, the kicks of 'Moulinette' punches your chest harder than Mohammed Ali could ever. Anna Calvi may look like one of Robert Palmers ladies parading around in 'Addicted to Love', but she can sure as hell beat their asses whipping that guitar into shape she holds so close to her, listening to her guitar in I'll Be Your Man, makes you want to eat your earphones it is that delicious. Watch this space, theres a new female artist in town, and she is taking no prisoners.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVZ4sdoqF6s&feature=related

5) James Blake. Even his name, sends slow, tingling shudders crawling down your spine. You know, you just know you are hearing something when you listen to this guy. He leaves you wanting more, hungry, and hell does he fead you. His soulful voice echoes from the back of your retina right down to the metatarsals in your toes. His songs just completely breathe in all the emotions you are feeling when you listen, and absorb them, its almost like a musical embrace, if there ever was one. Blake completely embezzled all lifes most powerful feelings into his album of the same name as his own, these feelings shoot back into his bloodstream when he listens to them, as he says how 'I have this intense gush of emotion', sealing the approval of all ladies out there that will no doubt be repeating the incident of a fan crying at how beautiful his songs were at a recent gig. Seriously. Intensly mysterious and emotional this guy may be, but hell, theres a lot of emotion to share. Its hard to believe that Blake created this album on his own, in a dark isolated room, just highlighting how connected he is to his own feelings, and entrancing the listener with his melodies, this one will be on the walls of many tean girls, pining after something to connect with, in the midst of their sexual awakening, where sex, drugs, and rock and roll is but a mere lifestyle, and this guy is watching over it all. James Blake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOT2-OTebx0

6) Mellow melodies, and soothing whispers, loud guitars, and cute little indie soundtracks to the summer. YUCK are a sweet little band from a sweet little place called Muswell Hill. Their album, out February 21st promises tracks such as 'rubber' with Max Bloom's guitar constantly growling at the listener while Daniel Blumberg whispers solemly into your ears, certainly something to wash away those January blues, and inhale the new air of 2011. A modern day The Cure but in their own right, 'The Base of a dream is empty' promises that this album will be constantly played in stores such as Urban Outfitters, and Topshop, who truly acknowledge that optimistic indie whisk that encourages the customers that because this song is cool, they are cool, and therefore should buy some of this stores cool stuff. However, this album is a jewel, and everyone should have a copy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpyWQqz7TJk&NR=1

7) You are in your early teens, boys still make you nervous, you cringe as the boy whos sitting next to you grips your hand with his sweaty fingers, he licks his lips, you take a deep breath, you know its coming, you look into his eyes, and you grin, because youve pictured this a million times in your head, you close your eyes as he brings his pubescent face towards yours, you pannic because youre lips have just gone dry, but in that moment, this intense feeling of elation magically reaches from inside, and you are having your first kiss. And whats playing when you do so? Chapel club somehow take you back to when you first tried everything, like when Archie slaps his victims in RocknRolla, these little beauties take you back to childhood, like a warbling baby, tears filling your eyes, your lips fluttering, and you realise just how old you are. The gin and Tonic of today, 'All The Eastern Girls' Lewis Bowman's London accent skates over the brilliant relationship of instruments that stregnthen the romantic musk that hovers around any Chapel Club song. Want a bit of romantic nostalgia? Get to the nearest music store and buy this hot album, it will amaze you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7NjFG_LBUs

8) One of the main reasons why Mark Ronsons made it back in the charts, is his new 'band' The Business INTL, one part of this is the woman jointly behind MDNR, her high pitched milkyvoice, teamed with her and bandmate Peter Wade's love of synths ensures that their songs are upbeat and finger licking good. This is one album to encourage, pop this on in the gym and youll be at your ideal weight in no time, the catchy tunes in 'C.L.U.B' will keep you on the rowing machine right up until the gym closes. Stick 'I Go Away' on in your classroom, and your balding midlife-crisis-doomed teacher will be bopping his wrinkly head to Wade's synth-etic dream, get it? Either way, get this album, and i bet you cant get it out of your head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89VHhFyHBPk

9) Spanning from Baltimore, Maryland, and currently based in New York City, Animal Collective is one band I just HAD to fit on this list, out of my own reference. Dream-like songs that tame your bad moods and send them to sleep somewhere, this band is on the midway period between Friendly Fires, and Guillemots. If this band was a complete person, it would probably have attention dephicit disorder it is that energetic, and yet mellowing. 'Bluish' sends you climbing to the highest mountain, and looking down at all those beautiful lights spreading out across the landscape, 'The Softest Voice' is the rush of cold air that kisses your face as you hit the horizon, changing your outlook on life forever. The forming of the band is as beautiful as the music they make, created from childhood friendships, it cements the total precision the bandmates have with one another, completely comfortable, enough to change the formation of the band depending on the song, they are free with each other as the music is free to the listener. The hippy-like aura this band posesses reflects from their love of LSD in their early teens, and from there, as they realised how much it positively affected their sound. Take this album with caution, because it could blow the socks off of a person who is not fully prepared for what they are handling, so buckle up, take a gulp, maybe a cheeky shot of vodka, turn some pretty lights on, shut yourself away from the world, and et voila, you are a 21st century hippy thanks to Animal Collective.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zol2MJf6XNE

Greetings

I was sat in my room in my Uni halls, the end of my first year looming, and I realised, for the first time in a long time, that I actually had nothing to do. I was even sick of Facebook. So I decided to make a Blog, just to pass some time, and see how it goes.

I thought I'd start by explaining my love for music. Fresh, rogue-esque music. In particular, new young bands, you know, those ones that you don't have to fight to get to the front of the crowd to see them, and then after they have played their set they actually mingle with the crowd and you can chat with them. Theres something really magic about that, I mean, most of the bands you meet, you know they are going to be the next generation of epic bands, that will most likely be headlining within the next few years at some festival in the middle of Scotland. The energy from these gigs are spectacular, you can actually sit down with your friends when these bands are constantly in the news, and say, I had a conversation with them about how horrible Mayonnaise is. Its beyond bizzare. Ever since I was little I wanted to be a rockstar, and, even though I may have an Ok voice, my lack of enthusiasm about laying my synthesiser in which I begged my parents to buy me one christmas does not seem to be doing me any favours. Therefore these bands, they give me hope, and they give me that energy to believe that I can make it. However, for now I've got all these wonderful bands to see!

I thought I'd share with you some important moments in my life that have really been magic. I went to see my first gig in Blackpool. On the way to a family holiday my Aunt once offered to take me to my first gig, which she had perceived as some lame band that provided the world with nothing but cheese that would make ears bleed, but I wont name names. In my disgust at the offer, I told her I would never let her take me to a gig, unless it was The Killers, my favourite band at the time, however she was astonished..

This Aunt proceeded to buy me tickets to a One off Radio 1 gig by Zane Lowe, with The Killers, and I have never been more grateful. Stood there outside the Empress Ballroom excitedly looking into the building hoping to catch a glimpse of the band, I knew this was something I was made for. I was always passionate about music, and that buzz I felt waiting in the freezing cold for at least an hour, on the pier of Blackpool, I decided My future career would involve gigs. Whilst waiting to be let in this building, I got talking to a woman who had seen The Killers 8 times already, and she had been PAID to see them, and write about them for a music column. It felt like fate. This was what I wanted to do, if my silly dreams of being a Rockstar fell through.

A few years later, I was at a Foals gig, it was amazing, I'd never seen such amazing energy on the stage, and Yannis Philipakkis blew me away, I couldnt stop staring at him, he was just so electric onstage! The thing that annoys me with bands is that when they get to a certain popularity, they become commercialised, they have to write songs that fill arena's full of fans, provide showstopping stunts, and make sure everyone goes away happy. But I believe this just ruins the whole effect of music, and live bands, its not about the stage shows, the dancing, and the lighting. Everybody has paid good money, to see this band sing their songs, the songs that they have spent months slaving over, and basically putting blood, sweat, tears and probably a whole lot of alcohol, if not drugs in. Heck, we are only human. As I stood there hypnotised by Yannis, I realised that there are bands out there that refuse to be commercialised, that are rebels to the people in the music business that crack the wip on these musical genuises, and ruin the music for everyone. This is something I thought The Killers would never do, and then Sam's Town arrived, and furthemore Day and Age, and it broke my heart to lose interest in them, as I'd been their fan from the start.

Recently a friend and I received free tickets to see Sketches, Lone Wolfe, and Everything Everything at a Topman CTRL gig at a local social club. From the moment I walked in the place the atmosphere fulfilled the energy that I love so much, the relaxed, "I play music for fun, not money" atmosphere, and I loved it. It made me realise that there are companies out there that feel the same as I do, that they believe the fans should be allowed to speak to the bands they love so much, and spend money consuming the cd's they make, and the artwork they produce, that makes these bands so popular. I think its time people started spreading a wider word, that bands should ALWAYS make more time for their fans, unless they want to risk losing them. I am writing this from experience, as five years ago, I was a full on Killers fan, you name it, you bet I had it, I even had a magazine cover that had Brandon Flowers on it in the corner, that had to be shipped over from New York, Five years on, I switch the radio station at even a mention of them. Lets not have this happen to other bands and fans out there!! Lets stregnthen this bond between fans and bands!! I bet we would encourage a hell of a lot more new artists to come out of the woodwork.