Tag Archives: BBC

SHIELDS – ‘Spires’ – Free download

Posted on by
4

SHIELDS © Mark Humphreys 2011

A couple of weeks ago I was watching a BBC programme on telly about Radio One interviewer Annie Nightingale as she followed The Police through their tour of the East back in 1980. As I watched Sting and co. do their thing, I remembered how damn good they and their songs were, before their stuff got so played to death, and so ingrained in the public conscience by decades of unrestrained radio play. Now when I hear their music it’s like elevator muzak – I know the tunes so well that I simply tune out. A pity, because they had some great songs.

But I digress (massively). Anyway, I was thinking that the time was probably ripe for a Police revival, in line with all things 80s and cyclical. And hey, what do you know – it’s already happening.

I can’t take any credit, however. That revival has been slowly fomenting away all by itself. For example, Newcastle band SHIELDS were honing their sound years before my flash of clarity. There is a definite stylistic influence from Mssrs. Sumner, Copeland and Summers in SHIELDS, but they sound fresh and good, something to sink your teeth into with a satisfying crunch. They’ve recently worked with star producer Adrian Bushby (U2, Muse, Foo Fighters, Two Door Cinema Club), who mixed their track ‘White Knuckle Tight Grip‘, as well as their upcoming single ‘Spires’:

SHIELDS are playing a number of gigs around the UK at the moment – check them out if you can. Their first single ‘Spires’ is released on 1 August 2011.

Bonus: Get a free download of the track ‘Spires’ via Track in the Box. Listen to more SHIELDS here.

Once upon a fairytale – Esben and the Witch

Posted on by
Reply

When I was little the local public radio station where I lived had a children’s fairy tale session on Sunday mornings. I’d lie in bed listening to the tales of Mollie Whuppie, Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Tom Thumb and Esben and the Witch, lost in a world of ogres, evil witches, clever kids, forced marriage, night slaughter, and cannibalism – just what a growing girl needs to prepare for the real world.

Brighton band Esben and the Witch have taken a leaf out of the big book of fairy tales and wandered further down the deserted, bleak road toward their melancholy fate. Gothic and funereal, with moments of drum-led euphoria and some good ol’ bloodthirsty battle lust, their debut album Violet Cries harks back to the days of Siouxsie and the Banshees but still manages to retain a sense of the negative space used so effectively by The xx – lush, yet isolated.

Nominated for the BBC’s influential Sounds of 2011 poll, Esben and the Witch are ones to watch if you like things dark, mysterious and mystical (and who doesn’t) – look out for their upcoming Zurich gig, where hopefully there are no boiling cauldrons or cannibalistic witches waiting in the wings.

‘Marching Song’ – ouch, that looks painful:

Esben and the Witch play @ Mascotte Tuesday 10. 05. 11. Tickets here.

Esben and the Witch’s debut album Violet Cries is out now on Matador.

Girl Most Likely To: Anna Calvi

Posted on by
2

She was included on the BBC’s Sound of 2011 list, was mentored by Brian Eno, toured with Grinderman and Interpol, and had her eponymous debut album produced by PJ Harvey‘s long-time producer, Rob Ellis. It’s safe to say that the buzz surrounding Anna Calvi is turning into a deafening hum.

Her vivid, gothic-inspired music is both elegant and spooky, her vocal strength and passion easily matched by her ferocious guitar playing. She draws clear influence from Nick Cave, PJ Harvey and earlier 80′s goth bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees, but she is resolutely individual. Word is that her live shows are brilliant and mesmerising – so don’t miss out when she hits Stall 6 in Zurich next week. If all else fails, catch her at the Paléo Festival in July (the same day as PJ Harvey!).

Here for your afternoon delectation is the video for her latest single ‘Blackout’, directed by Michael Baldwin:

Anna Calvi plays @ Stall 6, Zurich on 13.04.11, and at the Palèo Festival in Nyon on 21.07.11

Anna Calvi is out now on Domino

Yeasayer remix Florence and the Machine’s ‘Dog Days Are Over’

Posted on by
Reply

Florence and the Machine - still flying high on Lungs.

Yeasayer, one of my favourite bands of the past year, have remixed Florence and the Machine’s ‘Dog Days Are Over‘ – listen to it here. (via Pitchfork)

In further Florence news, the amazingly successful Lungs (the BBC in particular loooove Florence, using her music on all their promos) will be re-issued on 15th November 2010, with new artwork and sleeve notes, plus a bonus 10-track second disc:

1.Heavy In Your Arms (from Eclipse soundtrack)
2.You’ve Got The Dirtee Love (with Dizzee Rascal)
3.Hurricane Drunk (The Horrors Remix)
4.Strangeness & Charm (Live from Hammersmith Apollo)
5.Swimming (Live From Hammersmith Apollo)
6.Dog Days Are Over (Yeasayer Remix)
7.Drumming Song (acoustic live from The Roundhouse)
8.Girl With One Eye (acoustic live from The Roundhouse)
9.Hurricane Drunk (acoustic live from The Roundhouse)
10.Dog Days Are Over (acoustic live from The Roundhouse)
11.My Boy Builds Coffins (acoustic live from The Roundhouse)
12.Hospital Beds (acoustic live from The Roundhouse)

Death to BBC Radio 6

Posted on by
Reply

In its latest round of budget cuts the BBC has to decided to axe its popular music station 6 Music, in the name of ‘quality over quantity‘. Hmmm, that old chestnut. In doing so, the BBC has opened itself up to wide-spread condemnation and criticism. The words ‘national scandal’ have been uttered.  It’s hard to see how closing 6 Music will increase the quality of BBC broadcasting when it is an ‘…oasis in a sea of mainstream pap and double glazing, it has no commercial alternative‘. Why not axe some of the rubbish that is produced by the BBC tv channels (ie, Two Pints of Lager and  Packet of Crisps, Snog Marry Avoid).

Various Save 6 Music campaigns are under way.

Complain to the BBC or to the BBC Trust now!