New Waves.. Purity Ring - Fineshrine

Purity Ring is a band best consumed in the dark where your only other companion, apart from the music, is the imagination. There is a music video for their new single, 'Fineshrine', and as eerily grotesque and fantastical as it is, it doesn't quite manage to do the music justice.

The band themselves, have quietly been taking indie cyberspace by storm, having only existed since 2010, their haunting delicately layered dubstep spread like wildfire. When it comes to Purity Ring, you should believe everything that you read - they are as interesting as every opinionated reviewer claims and unique enough to stand apart in a music scene awash with dubstep. For example, the lyric 'Cut open my sternum and pull my little ribs around you' may give you a good idea of what I'm getting at here!

In my opinion at least (not that it counts for much!) the hype is pretty justified. I highly suggest you also listen to their songs 'Berlispeak' and 'Lofticries' too.

Their debut album, Shrines, is available now, which I'll hopefully be getting my hands on (and reviewing!) in the near future!

http://www.facebook.com/purityringmusic
http://thepurityring.tumblr.com/
http://purityringsongs.com/

Rapid Review.. Ellie Goulding - 'Hanging On' feat. Tinie Tempah

Slightly late on the uptake (again!), this one managed to slip me by! As an Ellie Goulding fan, I'm a tad a shamed to say that I had absolutely no idea that she had a new song/single out.

'Hanging On', a cover of a song by Active Child, enters with a harp and Goulding's ethereal tones, before becoming slightly more electronic, reminding me somewhat of Patrick Wolf's signiature delicate blend of folk and synth, until a deep underlying bass enters and turns the gentle atmosphere on its head. This is especially reinforced by the time Tinie Tempah's contribution comes around. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a person who pans rap/hip hop/pop rap 100% of the time, but there's something predictable about rapper features, it's old game, and this song would have been perfect without his efforts. On the opposite note, the song is at its most ominous during Tinie Tempah's speak/rap, weaving into Goulding's voice which is, as always, is in tip top beautiful condition.

The song, talking about a painful deterioration of a relationship, is also clearly musically influenced by the dubstep sounds of her current boyfriend, Skrillex, whose signiature sound can be heard at times. This could easily have been quite a disaster, but with this fresher new electronic path, I really can't wait for Goulding's album to come out. Alongside fellow Brit and newcomer, Charli XCX, I really feel that she will be defining a female indie/electronic sound that has the potential to cross over to the charts.

The song is currently available as a FREE(!) download via a link on her Soundcloud.

'Anything Could Happen', the first single from her second album, is out 20th September.

Her album, Halcyon, will be released 8th October.

http://elliegoulding.com/
https://twitter.com/elliegoulding/
http://www.facebook.com/elliegoulding

Fashion Files.. Office Night Hawk Boots

I've had such a beautiful moment! I seriously don't know how the tears aren't streaming down my face! At last - after lusting so long! - I've finally found a pair of beautiful winklepickers!

A few months ago, I spent many an hour scouting out winklepicker boots on eBay, to no avail, I could never find a pair in my size. But alas, after reading a blog post by LLYMLRS (great fashion blog, this girl has epic style!) I discovered the Night Hawk Boots on Office's website. They. Are. PERFECT! The studding, the straps (this is beginning to sound a bit 50 Shades - oh, curse me for referencing that book on here!), even the heel is a nice size and slightly square, as I struggle to walk in heels too high due to an embarrassing lack of balance and a foot injury (duly caused by that embarrassing lack of balance...). They have a nice rock/punk edge and I can see myself living in them, as they'll easily go with day and night outfits, and will probably deal for autumn/winter weather too.

These boots are also available in red and white, but I'll be getting the black. Only downside is that they're £80 (!), but if it's one thing I'll invest in, it's a good pair of shoes. I don't even own that many, but I always think it's better to pay quality for shoes as it's carnage on your feet if it's not leather!

New album releases.. 30th July

30 July 2012
Artist	Title
Plan B	Ill Manors
Oberman Knocks	Beatcroff Slabs
Josh Osho	L.I.F.E
Kyla LA Grange	Ashes
Delilah	From The Roots Up
Lightships	Fear and Doubt EP
Conor Maynard	Contrast
The Antlers	Undersea EP
Nick Cave	Collectors Edition
Rick Ross	God Forgives, I Don't
Reel Big Fish	Candy Coated Fury
Blur	The Box

courtesy of NME.com

Very excited for the Delilah album! Hopefully, it'll land in my post soon and I'll be able to play the hell out of it!

Flashback Friday's.. The Maccabees - 'Can You Give It'

Not quite sure what made me choose this song as this week's Friday Flashback (apologies for the lack of features these past few weeks!), especially as I haven't been listening to The Maccabees much recently at all.

'Can You Give It' is the song the first alerted me to The Maccabees, albeit, unintentionally. I recall, circa 2009, this song being plastered over many an advert, as it is an undeniably uplifting song, as seen when played to a live crowd, as seen below at their performance of Glastonbury 2009.

I didn't realise that this was, in fact, The Maccabees, until I Youtube'd them following their release of Give It To the Wild in 2012, having been enraptured by a session performance of 'Child' on late night Channel 4. I must say, there's nothing as exciting as rediscovering a song that you'd deemed lost!

If you've never listened to The Maccabees, I can't reccommend them highly enough! Although I do suggest that you consider Give It To the Wild and their previous albums separately, as even though Give It To the Wild seems an almost natural and inevitable progression for the band, the sounds are markedly different.

Give It To the Wild is out now.

'Can You Give It' live at Glastonbury 2009

New Waves.. Bloc Party - 'Octopus'

Bloc Party ended their hiatus by debuting their new single, 'Octopus', the first since their 2008 third album, 'Intimacy'.

'Octopus' is a typical Bloc Party song, jangling guitars, beeps and a rapid rhythm section, a Bloc Party somewhat removed from the experimenting of 'Intimacy' and perhaps sounding nearer to the sound of their earlier songs of debut Silent Alarm than the efforts following said first album.

However, despite the catchiness, something feels a tad underwhelming. Perhaps a punchier, more hard hitting song would have been more fitting for a comeback single. Despite this, I'm still looking forward to the release of their imaginatively titled fourth album, Four ;)

'Octopus' is available to download now.
Four will be released 20th June.

http://blocparty.com/
http://www.facebook.com/blocpartyofficial
https://twitter.com/BlocParty/

New album releases .. 25th July

23 July 2012
Artist	Title
Passion Pit	Gossamer
The Gaslight Anthem	Handwritten
Huw M	Gathering Dusk
David Ward	The Arrival
Golden Retriever	Occupied With The Unspoken
Purity Ring	Shrines
Of Monsters & Men	My Head Is An Animal
Kimbra	Vows
Luke Ritchie	The Water's Edge
Herve	Pick Me Up, Sort Me Out, Calm Me Down
Frankie Rose	Know Me EP
Lucy Rose	Lines
Micachu & The Shapes	Never
Fang Island	Major
Keaton Henson	Lucky EP

courtesy of NME.com

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New Waves.. No Doubt - 'Settle Down'

Slightly late on the ball, I admit, even after counting down the days, I still only manage to post this a week later!

But...

Finally! After teasing us all with pics and video clips for what feels like aeons, No Doubt FINALLY reveal their comeback single, 'Settle Down'!'

No Doubt are nothing if not catchy, and this is signature No Doubt, channeling their ska roots blended with catchy reggae beats, 'Settle Down' is a pleasing return and shows promise for their upcoming sixth album, Push and Shove. 


Even though it connects on first listen (for me anyway!) it's somewhat of a grower, taking a few more rounds to really sink in. Stefani has a knack for vocal hooks, and the chorus 'Get, get, get in line and settle down!' rotates in the brain and will leave you humming and grooving away to yourself for hours.

On a different note, Stefani has somehow defied time and looks not a day older than the last No Doubt video for 'Running', made back in 2003! Consider me amazed and wishing that I get hit by such a kind age stick!

'Settle Down' is out now.
Push and Shove will be released 25th September.

http://www.nodoubt.com/settledown/
https://twitter.com/nodoubt/

Busy busy, I'm knackered!

A few Sunday's ago, I found myself sinking into a quagmire of sand in a crowd of hysterical teens, graced by the occasional stench of weed and ducking from view from a swinging boon and camera. Yes, that's right people, I somehow found myself on T4 on the Beach.

'How!?' I hear you cry! Well, feeling somewhat obliged to accompany my bessie, I found myself watching The Wanted (alright), Tulisa and Dappy (not), Lawson, Stooshe (both surprisingly good) and Marina and the Diamonds (oh, Marina! <3). Not my typical event I will admit, although I also confess to knowing all the words to 'Too Many Man' by Boy Better Know (guilty pleasure, love it!).

Anyway, for just over a month now, I've been working in a hinge factory where my Mom works, full time, and whilst I'm now bringing in the wonga, I'm pretty knackered from early starts. Ironically, I've seen more of people recently than I did when I was unemployed, going out for meals, cinema, drives, but hey - I can afford it now :) Even though I am pretty tired, it feels nice to be contributing towards my keep and giving my Mom some money back too, and no matter how much I moan that the work is boring (it is), I realise that I'm  lucky to have a job at all :)

Also, I apologise for the lack of action on here recently, but I've genuinely felt too tired to think. Shorter posts for the time being perhaps, or at least until I return to uni :)

Flashback Friday's.. Bloc Party - 'The Prayer'

This week's honour of Friday Flashback goes to 'The Prayer' by British indie band, Bloc Party!

They burst onto radars back in 2005 with their critically acclaimed debut album, Silent Alarm, which spawned hit songs such as 'So Here We Are', 'Banquet', 'Two More Years' and 'Helicopter'. 'The Prayer', however, is taken from their second album A Weekend in the City, and sees Bloc Party broadening their sound. 'The Prayer' is funky and addictive with a swooping synthesised chorus, the song documenting nightclub environments and the drug use that takes place there.

'The Prayer' may not be one of the most well known Bloc Party songs - those seem to reside on the first album - but it is certainly one of the most fun and unique!

Recently, Bloc Party have reformed and are currently making their fourth album, imaginatively entitled Four ;)

http://www.blocparty.com/
http://www.facebook.com/blocpartyofficial