My Secret Friend

Here's the new video from sleazy synth band IAMX, My Secret Friend.

Chris Corner makes for an oddly attractive woman.




I love it, it's as dark and sensual as ever, but isn't as primal as some of their other stuff, which makes for a nice change. I think it's definitely a track that will grow on you over time, as the lack of urgency that seems to be present in most of their other work isn't really a factor here; this isn't exactly a track that grabs you by the hair and spins you around in circles until you vomit. Nevertheless, I think it's a great track to relax to, mayhaps whilst drinking cocktails of some sort in a swish French discotheque.



What do you think?

The Art of Silence

I apologise for my lack of substantial posts, a lot's been going on lately so my mind has been elsewhere. Truth be told, for the past month or so I've become musically apathetic. Now, for any normal music fan this might seem a little strange but nothing out of the ordinary: people go through music phases all the time, but for someone who has music practically coursing through her veins, this struck me as a little odd when I came to think about it.

I've been obsessed with music from as young as I can remember; my mother never ceases to bring up the embarrassing tale of when I was but 4 years old, sat in the car in traffic with my mum, Radiohead's Creep playing with the windows down. I'd only really just got past the stage of singing nursery rhymes but appeared to have fallen in love with this band, as I allegedly started singing 'You're so fuckin' special' at the top of my lungs. To me that was my first rockstar moment, to her it was completely and utterly cringeworthy, the looks she got from other drivers stuck in traffic were a picture to behold, so I'm told, I mean what innocent blonde haired blue eyed kid would be expected to be a fan of Thom Yorke's?

I was raised on a strict diet of The Smiths (hence my Morrissey addiction, see older posts for evidence), Placebo and the aforementioned Radiohead, and when music wasn't playing, there was always something else going on in the background, I can scarcely remember a time of silence in the past 17 years of my life at home. Everything was always so up tempo and loud that it's made me wonder why I've always needed something to block out the rest of the world.

So, a few Saturdays ago, with nothing to do, I logged on to the interweb as per usual, but instead of blasting some Pixies through my pathetic excuse for speakers or aurally attacking my neighbours with some Peaches, I just listened. I listened to the stillness of the house, the garden, the dog, everything- just to stoic and calm. Instead of being mortified of this sudden exposure to the world around me, I indulged in the quietness for the first time. Obviously I've been in silent conditions before, living in one of the most tested countries in Europe, but this was the first time I'd chosen to just sit and hear the silence, and I have to admit, it was a lot more powerful than anything Thom could have written.

So this is my weekly routine now. Instead of coming home from college and putting the first song I can find, playing it full throttle on my iTunes, I just sit and enjoy the nothingness.

I know this sounds very airy fairy and state of the obvious, but to me it was some kind of epiphany. In order to really enjoy music you have to be able to relish the silence that goes along with it. For if there was no silence, then the music wouldn't be half as fulfilling.

I'm taking a break from my blog, a mini hiatus if you will. What with college work and a thousand and one things to think about, I think I'll just enjoy the silence for a while.

Just because.

I'm Not a Robot

In a year awash with female singer-songwriters, it's difficult to tell the good from the bad. I'm sorry, but Duffy and Adele sound too similar to me to tantalise my ears much, and I'm still making my mind up about Lady Gaga (she has a couple of good tracks but I can't help but feel angry whenever I listen to her for too long), there's just so many of them about these days that it's hard to find something truly refreshing. Of course Florence and Emmy both do a great job at just that, but I've now found a cross between the two, and she goes under the pseudonym Marina and the Diamonds.

Marina and the Diamonds

Ok, so she's not exactly unique, but she manages to combine the quirky lyrical talent of Emmy the Great whilst still having a voice so powerful it could almost rival Florence's, not an easy thing to accomplish. She's still operating very much under the radar, with only one E.P. to her name, but has managed to bag herself a place on the NME Radar Tour alongside Golden Silvers and Local Natives.


If you're going to Reading then try and catch her playing Little John's Farm, she'll be definitely worth a watch.


Marina and the Diamonds' Crown Jewels E.P. is available on iTunes.
www.myspace.com/marinaandthediamonds




Marina and the Diamonds- I Am Not A Robot.MP3

Try This At Home

The newest track leaked by Frank Turner from his upcoming album Poetry for the Dead, set to be released on September 7th (the start of my final year of childhood education-eep!). I'm a huge fan of his stuff and this song fails to disappoint, as always. I'm so excited about this album that I've already pre-ordered it.


This track was performed at the prestigious SXSW earlier this year; it's one of his punkier anthems, I much prefer this to his other new one The Road (which, although equally good, isn't as memorable as Try This at Home, in my humble opinion). Enjoy.

The Wave Pictures

Heard these guys from my tent at Glastonbury this year and thought they were excellent. Should really have gone down to see them play the John Peel stage, but it was too early and the sun was out so I didn't want to jinx things. Still, it was the perfect background music to a lazy Sunday morning at camp.




The Wave Pictures make sunny Indie/Folk that definitely hints of the Beach Boys surfer genre, these guys definitely don't sound like they come from 2009. If you're in need of unconventional, mellow music to make you smile, check out We Dress Up Like Snowmen and We Never Motored West, which you can download below:

The Wave Pictures- We Never Motored West.MP3

Marmaduke Duke

Just found an interesting take on The Cure's Friday I'm in Love.' Not quite sure what to make of it, it's certainly taking it in a completely different direction, I'm just not sure where to.

Marmaduke Duke- Friday I'm in Love.MP3

I am definitely a purist when it comes to The Cure, so I don't think it has a patch on the original track, which was one of my favourites growing up. It's certainly not the worst thing I've ever heard though, I like the drum rolls though, gives it more of a military and slightly Bloc Party-esque vibe.


However, I am much more of a fan of Marmaduke Duke's new album. I quite enjoyed their debut but I love how much poppier their second outing is, definitely much easier on the ears than some of their previous stuff. I've been playing it on repeat all day today, and this song really sticks out to me as easily one of the best on the album. What I love more though is Jacknife Lee's Remix of the track, it's fat with a PH.