Flashback Friday.. Florence and the Machine - 'Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)

Not completely random! This post was written yesterday whilst I was watching Reading Festival 2012 highlights, and I caught Florence's set. She really is a true artist, her singing is so powerful and effortless and her songs so heartfelt and emotional. And she completely embodies the music around her, as if channeling spirits at a seance! Catch her set whilst it's still on the BBC website.

Anyway, the first song that I ever heard by Florence was 'Rabbit Heart', and it was magical, the pop-folkiness of it and her huge belting voice had me bought from the get go! Her first album, Lungs was phenominal and so is Ceremonials. I can't sell it better to you than to just get you to listen to it! And Florence's career is going from strength to strength due to the Calvin Harris remix of 'Spectrum (Say My Name)', which went to the top of the UK singles chart.

http://florenceandthemachine.net/
http://www.facebook.com/florenceandthemachine
https://twitter.com/flo_tweet

Rapid Review.. Charli XCX - HEARTBREAKS AND EARTHQUAKES Mixtape

As you should all know (or soon shall!) I love Charli XCX! In fact, I <3 her! She is a cool, quirky, pop powerhouse, and she is going to be big, be it in indie cyberspace or above the water.

She released her mixtape HEARTBREAKS AND EARTHQUAKES approximately a month ago now, and whilst I've been listening to it non-stop and have been planning to review it, I just never really got around to it.

But I shall now! The mixtape is split into arcs named after famous and cult films (namely Beyond the Black Rainbow, The Craft, Kill Bill, Cruel Intentions, American Beauty), incorporating soundbites to show the transitions. Similarly, the arcs shift between moods, altering between sultry seductress, self hate and love, largely discussing relationships and doubts.

Charli has a penchant for spoken word/semi-rapping segments, and this gets a lot of air time here, similarly to when used on 'Stay Away'. But the balance is right, it works and makes the songs more interesting (Charli recently stated in an interview that she used to have pipedreams of being a rapper in her early days, so it is most likely channelled here!). 

Apart from that, the mixtape contains samples and remixes of Blood Orange, Blood Diamonds, Drake, Rudimental, plus others, as well as a very short remix of her recent (US)/ soon to be (UK) single, 'You're The One' by Odd Future's The Internet and Mike G.

So anyway, apart from the delay, a very good mixtape to whet our appetites for the album later in the year!

Enjoy :)

http://charlixcxmusic.com/

http://www.facebook.com/charlixcxmusic

http://soundcloud.com/charlixcx

New Waves.. Charli XCX - 'You're The One'

You're The One

New song by up and coming UK pop starlet, Charli XCX!

I seriously love this girl! She writes catchy songs that veer between slightly moody ('Stay Away') to channeling young love in 'Valentine' and a retro '80's feel in 'Nuclear Seasons'.

'You're the One' contains elements of all of the aforementioned tracks; slightly throbbing, haunting yet still very catchy, you'll no doubt be humming it for days. This is sophisticated electro-pop and this girl has a talented way with words. I look forward to every song I hear from her!

Her US EP is released 12th June!
Unconfirmed release date for UK as of yet.

https://www.facebook.com/charlixcxmusic
https://twitter.com/#!/charli_xcx
http://charlixcxmusic.com/

Wonder Woman of the Week.. Robyn

A day late this week, apologies! 

I've been listening to a lot of Robyn lately. Her music is so catchy and fun to listen to!

From 1997 until 2005, she was a well known Swedish pop star in her native country, with moderate successes in the US and UK with English song 'Show Me Love' charting well in in both countries.

Upon receiving a negative reaction from her label in Sweden upon showing them her song 'Who's That Girl?', Robyn decided to start her own record label, Konichiwa Records, allowing her to have full creative control of her music, which deviated to a more electro-pop sound. Her self-titled album was a success both in Sweden and in the US and UK, churning out hit songs such as 'With Every Heartbeat', and allowing her to support Madonna on tour in 2008.

In 2010, Robyn released the Body Talk series, releasing first Body Talk Pt. 1 in June, then Body Talk Pt. 2 in September, followed by Body Talk, acting as a compilation album of the previous two, as well as having five new songs.

The success of Body Talk led to opportunities supporting Katy Perry in 2011 and Coldplay in 2012, allowing her music to reach wider audiences.

To me, Robyn is the best of both mainstream and indie sentiments. Most people probably know a Robyn song or two, without actually knowing that it's Robyn. She maintains her own credibility as an artist, writing her own material and even performing without backing dancers whilst also being successful commercially worldwide. By starting Konichiwa Records, she regained control of her own career, and has also collaborated with renowned artists, singers and rappers such as Swedish electro duo, The Knife, Bassment Jaxx, Britney Spears and Snoop Dogg.

Here's a selection of songs!

http://www.robyn.com/
http://www.facebook.com/robyn
https://twitter.com/#!/robynkonichiwa

'Dancing On My Own'

'Be Mine'

'With Every Heartbeat'