NOW + 4EVA. ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI.

Architecture in Helsinki are back with their new album NOW + 4EVA and its better than EVA. They have easily been my favourite band since hearing 'Hold Music' and 'Heart it Races' back in '07 when I started to educate myself about good music. Since then, I have watched them evolve and perfect their sound. I even studied their music, and analysed their song 'The Owls Go' for my Year 12 Viva voce exam. 

Architecture in Helsinki are best at taking listeners into another world filled with rainbows and smiles, and their music just makes you so F#!*ing happy. I even bet that if you have never heard an Architecture song in your life, after one song, you will be bopping along and tapping your feet to the beat with a smile on your face.

NOW + 4EVA builds on the sound that Architecture played with in their last album 'Moment Bends', and polishes it with pop perfection. It definitely gives a nod to the 80's with its many synths, but it definitely feels RAD and not daggy. Architecture's lead singers Cam Bird and Kellie Sutherland share the vocals as usual, and it certainly keeps you guessing listening to the new songs.

The album is out on March 28 here in Australia and also in New Zealand. However, Oz and NZ people can go over to iTunes right now and stream the album in full. It is nothing short of amazing.

LISTEN HERE: https://itunes.apple.com/au/station/idra.844191519 

TRACKLIST:

1. In the Future

2. When You Walk In the Room

3. I Might Survive

4. Dream a Little Crazy

5. Boom (4EVA)

6. U Tell Me

7. Echo

8. Born To Convince You

9. 2 Time

10. April

11. Before Tomorrow

If you're from Melbourne, Architecture in Helsinki are also launching a concept store to coincide with the release of the new album. The store will be 'part gallery, part listening space, and part retail emporium' and located at Melbourne Central. The launch party will be held on Thursday March 27 from 6-8pm. The store will be open from March 28 up until April 6, so make sure if you are in Melbourne to check it out. It is a very interesting concept, and I can't wait to see the space.

Check out their new video for 'Dream a Little Crazy' below:

You can also find out more about Architecture in Helsinki here:
http://www.architectureinhelsinki.com/

https://soundcloud.com/aih

https://www.facebook.com/architectureinhelsinki

https://twitter.com/aihmusic

#FALLENFORARCHITECTURE

For BDK.

Sweden has a knack for churning out amazing artists; Robyn, The Knife, Lykke Li, plus a number of successful Dj's like Avicii, Alesso, Rebecca & Fiona and the powerhouse that was Swedish House Mafia, made up of Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso.

'For BDK' is the next Swedish act that is destined to break out on the world stage. The duo from Stockholm made up of Adele Kosman and Marcus Borrman formed in 2012 when they "met in a silly club with really poor music."

They describe their sound as 'drugbeat', and listening to their music definitely gives you the impression that it was born in the dark nightclubs of Stockholm.

Their new song 'What I Must Find' is combination of their older, heavy, drum and bass beats, with a new pop sensibility. You can easily sing along to the chorus, even when the lyrics come across as dark and complex. The video for 'What I Must Find' is visually stunning, so enjoy as the cold Swedish landscapes wash over you.

Check out 'What I Must Find' below:

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If you are in Australia, you can purchase What I Must Find here:
https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/what-i-must-find-single/id816496007

You can find out more about For BDK here:
https://www.facebook.com/ForBdk
https://twitter.com/ForBDK
http://www.youtube.com/user/ForBDK

And you can listen to more For BDK songs on Soundcloud or Spotify:
https://soundcloud.com/for-bdk
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ORnIh0wbtnq5pQ5qMabp3

#FallingforForBDK

FKA Twigs.

Meet my new found love, FKA Twigs - or 'Formerly Known As' Twigs.

I came across this little gem thanks to a link from The xx on Facebook, and I have listened/watched this video on repeat for the past two days.

The video has had over 130,000 at last count and it will only continue to gain more hits due to the incredible production of the song and with the clearly obvious WEIRD factor.

Researching this young artist a bit more, I uncovered an EP that she released as just 'Twigs' back in December. Each of the 4 songs on the EP have an accompanying video which can be found on FKA Twigs YouTube account. Its worth checking it out!

The video in question that I was referring to earlier is for a new song called 'Water Me'.

It is the first offering from the Londoner after she signed to Young Turks, which also have The xx, SBTRKT and Sampha on their books.

'Water Me' is a haunting, low-fi electronic track that you can easily get lost in. Combined with the visually stunning video, the eyes of FKA Twigs draws you in, and the vulnerability in her voice is amplified by the visuals.

Check out 'Water Me' below:



EP 2 from FKA Twigs features four new songs, including 'Water Me' and is out on September 9.

You can find out more about FKA Twigs here:
http://wwwater.me/
http://twigsep1.com/
http://theyoungturks.co.uk/
http://twigstwigs.tumblr.com/
http://instagram.com/FKAtwigs
https://twitter.com/FKAtwigs

#FallingForFKATwigs

xo

Lorde.

Sixteen year old New Zealander, Lorde, has put the blogging community in a spin with her amazing voice and pop sensibility at such a young age.

Lorde is the pseudonym for Ella Yelich-O'Connor, and in a matter of months since the release of her debut EP, it was downloaded for free on her website 60,000 times before it was put on iTunes.

On Sunday her song 'Royals' debuted at number 1 on the RIANZ charts in New Zealand and her EP 'The Love Club' at number 2 respectively.

Lorde writes all of her own lyrics; I am cringing at myself writing this but it seems that in the age we live in, everyone always questions the authenticity of artists.

Authenticity verified; Lorde is the real deal. She was scouted by Universal at the tender age of 12, after seeing a video of her performance at her school talent show.

Lorde's music has been praised by the likes of Canadian  electronic musician, Grimes, who has blogger cred herself, and had a killer year in 2012.

She even attracted the attention of celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton. Like fellow Kiwi, Kimbra, he has praised Lorde's brand of pop, comparing her to the likes of Lily Allen and Marina and the Diamonds.

Easily the best two songs on the EP are 'Royals' and 'The Love Club' with their catchy melodies and hooks.

Lorde explained the meaning behind the lyrics of 'The Love Club' in an impromtu interview with New Zealand radio station, George FM. "It's basically about that group of friends that you meet and kind of fall into, and while your with them you can't imagine anything else."

"But you kind of get outside of it and realise that you have family and the friends you had when you were a kid, and maybe thats the best way to go."

"Its ultimately about those friends you have so much fun with, its kind of scary."

Keep an eye out for Lorde here in Australia; 'Royal's has just been added to Triple J's Hitlist, so expect to hear a lot more from this talented young lass.

Check out 'Royals' and 'The Love Club' below:





You can find out more about Lorde here:
http://lorde.co.nz/
https://soundcloud.com/lordemusic
https://www.facebook.com/lordemusic
https://twitter.com/lordemusic
http://lordemusic.tumblr.com/

#FallingForLorde

xo

Attracting Flies.

AlunaGeorge came to my attention last year when their song, 'You Know You Like It' featured in an episode of teen drama, Skins.
The combination of George Reid's dark beats and Aluna Francis' cutesy vocals produced a contrasting sound that left me begging for more.

Their first single peaked at number 50 on the UK charts and that is what got the ball rolling for the duo from London.

At the end of 2012, they were nominated for BBC's Sound of 2013, and placed second behind sisterly trio, Haim.

In 2013, AlunaGeorge have found more success, featuring on the Disclosure's single 'White Noise' which peaked at number two on the UK charts.

Their new single, 'Attracting Flies', is set to be released on March 10th in the UK. George's quirky production and Aluna's somewhat soulful vocals create a catchy alt-pop song that is set to do well in the charts.

With their debut album 'Body Music' set for release on July 1st, expect great things from AlunaGeorge for the rest of 2013.

Check out 'Attracting Flies' below:



Also, check out the video for Disclosure's song featuring AlunaGeorge, 'White Noise'.



Find out more about AlunaGeorge here:
www.alunageorge.com
www.soundcloud.com/alunageorge
www.facebook.com/alunageorge
www.twitter.com/alunageorge

#FallingForAlunaGeorge

xo

In Our Heads.

Keeping with the tradition of releasing albums every two years, the boys from Hot Chip return with another quirky, yet deeply profound fifth album.

The band are well known for their catchy melodies, and electronic prowess, and 'In Our Heads' shows the bands progression into even more groundbreaking material, not only lyrically, but sonically. 

Listening to In Our Heads, you can tell that the side projects of various Hot Chip members has liberated them creatively, with influences from Joe Goddard's 'The 2 Bears', especially on the track 'These Chains'. It is what you would come to expect from a Hot Chip album, but with that something extra.

The beats are faced paced, but the overall speed varies throughout the album. One notable change in pace comes from the song 'Look At Where We Are', in which Alexis Turner's recognisable falsetto, sings about an obvious relationship, and reflecting on how far they have come. 'Look at where we are, remember where we started out..' could also not just be about love, but about how far the band has come, in terms of musical substance.

I caught myself having a little groove to the track 'Don't Deny Your Heart', where the infectious electronic beats and bongo drums would be able to get anyone's hips swinging. The numerous layers of sound just go to show how complicated Hot Chip's music is; the key change for the chorus works well, and transforms the song completely. Who doesn't love a good key change though?

'Flutes' slowly unravels during the course of it's seven minutes, kind of like a knitted scarf whose threads are coming undone. The progression of adding layer after layer culminates in a climax, and by then the back burners are on, and it simmers through the rest of the song. It's definitely a clear favourite from the album, and I can only imagine what aural pleasures will be experienced from hearing it live. And it mightn't be too long until we see the boys from Hot Chip in Australia again; they have expressed interest in coming back here to tour in late 2012-early 2013.

In Our Heads is definitely a combination of everything that Hot Chip have learnt since their formation in 2000, and it never fails to make you dance. The infectious pop melodies are ever present, and kudos must be given to their fearlessness in creating an album that again pushes boundaries for Hot Chip.

Check out the dizzy video of 'Flutes' below:



Also check out the very danceable 'Don't Deny Your Heart' below:



You can purchase Hot Chip's new album In Our Heads here:
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/in-our-heads/id516116769

Find out more about Hot Chip here:
http://hotchip.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/hotchip 
https://twitter.com/hot_chip  
http://soundcloud.com/hot_chip

I've also just started doing reviews for Radar Radio's website!
Check it out here: http://www.radarmusic.com.au/artists/reviews/

Young Rapunzel.

Azealia Banks has been making waves in the past 6 months.

Since the release of her debut single, '212 Feat. Lazy Jay', late in 2011, the song has become a hit in clubs with its techno beats and explicit lyrics.

Come 2012, and the song has reached the top 20 in the UK, she is the fashion world's new pin up girl, and has already performed at Coachella, one of, if not the biggest music festivals in the world.

She placed third in the BBC Sound of 2012, which showcases the "most promising new music for the year ahead". Previous winners of the coveted award include Adele, Jessie J and Ellie Goulding.

Azealia's vocals also featured on the Scissor Sisters new single, 'Shady Love', under the moniker 'Krystal Pepsy'.

Having graduated from the same high school as Nicki Minaj, of course there were going to be comparisons. But the 20 year old hailing from the streets of Harlem commented that “I don’t think Nicki necessarily opened the door for anyone else but herself.”

For me, I am captivated by Azealia's apparent ease of transitioning from rapping to singing with still that same, rude bitch attitude.

Other female MC's have already witnessed Azealia's attitude, having publicly dissed Australian born Iggy Azalea, and Kreayshawn via twitter. However, her raw talent proves that she can back this up and hold her own in the competitive rap world.

She confirmed that her new album will be named 'Broke With Expensive Taste', and is expected towards the latter end of 2012.

Her song 'Bambi' featured in the Mugler Men's Fall/Winter 2012 show at Paris Fashion Week, and it's a banger. The song starts with Azealia speaking "Like, you know? [giggles]", followed by a heavy electro beat. In the verse Azealia's lyrics are spoken and she asks quite sultrily 'So, where are you from?' These spoken lyrics combined with the electro beat build the song to the climax, where Azealia then comes in with some heavy rapping and that is coupled with another heavy beat. The song is definitely one I want to hear playing in a club on a night out!

Azealia is performing at the sold out Splendour in the Grass festival in Byron Bay on the 29th of July.

Check out 'Bambi' below:



Also, check out BBC's interview of Azealia Banks for the BBC Sound of 2012.
What a cool bitch.



Unfortunately, you can not buy 212 from the Australian iTunes anymore.
You can however purchase the music video here:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/music-video/212-feat.-lazy-jay/id518344600

And you can find out more about Azealia Banks here:
http://azealiabanks.com
https://www.youtube.com/user/AzealiaBanks
http://www.facebook.com/azealiabanksmusic

#FallingForAzealiaBanks

xo

Studio Backpack Rap.

If you haven't yet heard of Speech Debelle, here's what you have missed out on.

In 2009, she won The Mercury Prize; one of the most prestigious music awards, for her debut album Speech Therapy - beating the likes of Kasabian, Florence and the Machine, and Friendly Fires. However, since winning the award, album sales of 'Speech Therapy' were not nearly as high as previous winners. Which is a shame really, because the album is truly amazing. Also a little fun fact to share: the album was mostly recorded in our city of Melbourne and produced by Wayne Lotek.

So after two years, Speech is set to release her sophomore album, namely, 'Freedom Of Speech'. After the riots in her hometown of London, Speech leaked a song from her album called 'Blaze Up A Fire' which features Roots Manuva and Realism. The song is mostly about political revolution but also "of the frustration of many young people who took part in the rioting and the consequent looting over London and areas of the UK." With the song, Speech has attempted to create "a voice of understanding," and "acknowledge there must be something wrong with us as a society." In the beginning of the song, I am mesmerised by the subtle piano, and then the heavy beats and electric guitars follow with Speech doing what she does best over the many layers of sound. A nice little taste from the new album.

On Friday, Speech released her first offical single from the new album, a track named 'Studio Backpack Rap', and with a name like that, you know that it is going to be fucking brilliant. Her lyrics are, as usual, catchy, creative, and witty. Speech describes the song as being "all about virtual instrumentation and an ode to Kwes the producer." She also recalls that in the recording process "he would take out his laptop and midi-USB keyboard and that would be it. We’d start working and I couldn’t believe what we could do with so little equipment.”

Speech again captures my attention with the lyrical content of her songs. One line that stood out when I first listened was "He rocking hard, neck breaking to the beat, head phones, head down, like a lesbian." Firstly, my ears pricked up when I heard the word Lesbian, as it is not often a word you would hear in a song, and especially as Speech put particular emphasis on the word. Personally, I don't think Speech is trying to offend; she is merely drawing on the general stereotype of a lesbian, and as she said herself "I thought it was funny...Lesbian's are great, get wid it folks looool."

In 'Studio Backpack Rap', Speech is effectively talking about the "high-tech, low-gloss DIY attitude which has relevance far beyond just creating music," and with these lyrics she has crafted a song that is funny, and one that will have you tapping along to the beat and trying to learn all of the words. A very strong comeback from an amazing artist; I cannot wait to hear more of the album.

Check out 'Studio Backpack Rap' below:




Also, check out 'Blaze Up A Fire Feat. Roots Manuva and Realism' below:

  BLAZE UP A FIRE by Speech Debelle (featuring Roots Manuva and Realism) by Speech Debelle

You can download 'Studio Backpack Rap' for free here:
bigdada.com/speechdebelle

You can also pre-order Speech's new album, 'Freedom of Speech' here:
http://ninjatune.net/release/speech-debelle/freedom-of-speech

And you can find out more about Speech Debelle here:
http://www.speechdebelle.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speech-Debelle/98757126739
http://twitter.com/speechdebelle

#FALLENFORSPEECH

xo

Vacation.

The first time I witnessed Big Scary perform was back in 2009 at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne. They were supporting British India, and after the gig I just remember thinking, "I actually enjoyed that supporting band better." For a band with only two members, I was surprised by their 'big' sound.

The Melbourne duo, Tom Iansek and Jo Syme, have seen a steady rise in the music scene; from their early beginnings in 2008 with 'The Apple Song', to a four track EP, 'The Mini', where their song 'This Weight' did rounds on Triple J.
In 2010, Big Scary released four seasonal EP's; with it, culminating into a full length LP, namely, 'The Big Scary Four Seasons'. The album is an eclectic mix of sounds and emotions, from distorted guitar jams like 'Tuesday is Rent Day', acoustic tracks like 'Home' and even the melancholy piano of 'The Deep Freeze'.

This year sees Big Scary's release of 'Vacation', and what an amazing debut it is by the band. Tom's dreamy vocals throughout are really a stand out from the album; he hits his falsetto with apparent ease. From seeing them play live, I remember Jo being a ball of energy on the drums, and she has definitely brought this to the album..

Standouts include 'Mixtape', 'Gladiator', a new version of their old track 'Falling Away', and 'Bad Friends'. 'Bad Friends is an acoustic song that says "bad friends are looking for something new, bad friends aren't looking for you." In the song, Tom's vocals are softer and have a more vulnerable tone, which adds to the sombre message of the track. The acoustic picking definitely isn't perfect (their are a few twangs noticeable), but I think it again adds to the effect of the song. And if you have heard any of their older stuff, you'll understand that Big Scary's imperfection is what makes them such an interesting band to listen to.

Check out 'Bad Friends' below:



You can purchase 'Vacation' on iTunes here:
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/vacation/id466411464

Or if you a little short on coin, you can stream the album in full on Big Scary's Soundcloud:
http://soundcloud.com/bigscary

You can also find out more about Big Scary here:
http://www.bigscary.net/
http://www.facebook.com/bigscaryband
http://twitter.com/#!/bigscarymusic

#FALLENFORBIGSCARY

xo

Gotye is Making Mirrors.

Wally De Backer, or better known by his stage name, Gotye, is in my opinion, one of the best singer-songwriters to ever come out of this country.

His 2006 sophomore album 'Like Drawing Blood' has earnt him an ARIA award for best Independent release in 06, and for best male artist in 2007. The album re-entered the charts in 2011, having now being certified platinum and reaching as high as #13 on the ARIA albums chart.

The release of the single 'Somebody That I Used To Know' featuring none other than New Zealand beauty, Kimbra Johnson, has been a commercial success here in Australia.
The single is now at the #1 spot for the second week in a row.

And last Friday saw the release of his highly anticipated third album 'Making Mirrors'. It was recorded in a barn on his parents block of land on the Mornington Peninsula.

The album is an eclectic mix of acoustic instruments all performed and recorded by Gotye himself; the bass guitar was however performed by Gotye's old band mate, Lucas Taranto.

The first time I listened to the album, I lost myself in the melodies and layers of sound that Gotye is so good at creating...it really is worth a listen.

Probably my favourite song on the album is little number called 'Save Me'. It includes an acoustic auto-harp that has been recorded one note at a time, stored into a computer, and played back from a Midi keyboard. The overall effect combined with Gotye's elegant vocals is utterly beautiful.

Check out 'Save Me' below:




 Also if you're interested in the recording process of Gotye's new album check this video out:




You can purchase Making Mirrors on iTunes here:
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/making-mirrors/id449134521
Or the deluxe version:
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/making-mirrors-deluxe-version/id449901963

#FALLENFORGOTYE

xo

Holy Moses.

In the space of a few short years, Megan Washington has gone from musicial obscurity, to an ARIA award winner.

Another artist to garner the attention of youth radio station Triple J, Megan and her band Washington went on to perform at the 2009 Big Day Out, having won Triple J's Unearthed competition. Since then, she released a string of successful EP's and last year saw the release of her debut studio album, 'I Believe You Liar', which went to #3 in Australia.

Three songs from 'I Believe You Liar' made it into Triple J's Hottest 100 countdown, with 'Sunday Best' coming in at #20.

August 2011, sees the release of Washington's new song, 'Holy Moses', and on the first listen, Megan again branches out with her musical style.
The kazoo is notable in the introduction (it even gets a solo!), and the floor drums give the song a very tribal feel; especially combined with the visuals from the music video.

For me, I just love her voice. I could basically listen to any song of hers even it the overall song was not very good.

Check out 'Holy Moses' below:



You can buy 'Holy Moses' on iTunes here:
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/holy-moses/id452520943?i=452520944&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

And if you want to find out more about Megan Washington:

http://www.washingtonmusic.com.au
http://www.facebook.com/washingtonmusic
http://www.myspace.com/meganwashington
http://www.twitter.com/washingtonx
http://www.youtube.com/onepeachtwopeach

#FALLENFORMEGANWASHINGTON

xo

Beat Of My Drum.

If you are a keen follower of Pop music, then this one is for you.
Now don't get me wrong, there is alot of music that is just utter rubbish out there in the Top 40; and personally, the only thing that makes me like a pop song from the beginning is, if it has a catchy beat.

And here is no exception, with the release of Nicola Robert's single 'Beat Of My Drum'; notably, her first solo effort after being apart of the British girl band, Girls Aloud.

If you have a vague idea of who Girls Aloud are, then you might know they are probably one of the most successful girls bands to come out of Britain; well apart from the Spice Girls.
And with over 20 singles reaching the Top 10 in Britain, including four #1's, the singers have established themselves as credible pop stars with actual real, un-autotuned voices.

So, the first time I heard 'Beat of My Drum', there were definately some 'what the hell is this?!' type moments. But after listening to the song a few more times, I cannot get the song out of my head. Even with it being the second song in as many months sampling Major Lazer's 'Pon De Floor', the beat differs to that of Beyonce's 'Run The World', which makes the beat a major part of the song.

The chant like chorus of 'L.O.V.E' is the main thing that gets you in this song; but the marching band beat in the bridge is just as amazing.

Check out 'Beat of My Drum' below:



You can find also out more about Nicola Roberts here:
http://www.nicolarobertsmusic.com/
http://www.facebook.com/nicolarobertsmusic
http://twitter.com/#!/nicolaroberts
http://www.myspace.com/nicolarobertsmusic

#FallingForNicolaRoberts

xo

Cosmo, The new Vogue.

You might have already heard of Cosmo Jarvis from his first single 'Gay Pirates'; a tale of the forbidden love of two men on a pirates ship. The song was in high rotation on Triple J earlier this year, and lyrically, it is a ground breaking song that is a statement to the struggles of homosexuals in society and cultural life.

In Cosmo's newest offering, 'Sure As Hell Not Jesus', he again pushes the boundaries with the lyrical meaning of the song. According to Cosmo, the song is about "sexual abuse scandals that have involved the followers and preachers of the Catholic faith and its leaders' frequent insidious dealings with them". The video pokes fun at priests who seem to get away with their misconduct, and justify their actions "through the use the faith of their victims and victims' families".

Musically, the song is again catchy with its melodies, and Cosmo's voice is a dream to listen to.

For listeners, it hits a nerve; and through humour, it effectively purveys what struggles are felt by victims and their families.

At only 21 years old, I'm excited to see what Cosmo Jarvis can come up with next.

Check out 'Sure As Hell Not Jesus' below:




You can purchase the 'Sure As Hell Not Jesus' 4 track EP on iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/album/sure-as-hell-not-jesus-ep/id431589297


And find out more about Cosmo Jarvis' music here:
http://cosmojarvis.com/
http://www.facebook.com/cosmojarvis
http://twitter.com/#!/CosmoJarvis
http://www.myspace.com/CosmoJarvis

#FallingForCosmoJarvis

xo

My Head Is A Jungle.

Emma Louise is another new amazing talent on the Australian music scene.
After putting her song 'Jungle' up on Triple J Unearthed, it has garnered generous airplay by the radio station, and has received kudos from Triple J's music director, Richard Kingsmill.

However, this is not the first breakthrough for Emma. Back in 2008, she was awarded the Best Adult Contemporary song in the New Artists to Radio Competition (NA2R).

Emma has now scored a support in sold out Boy & Bear Autumn 2011 national tour, appearing alongside Jinja Safari. The tour is now coming to a close, with one more show in Sydney tonight, and finishing in Emma's hometown, Brisbane, tomorrow night.

Her debut EP 'Full Hearts and Empty Rooms' is also now available to purchase on iTunes and BandCamp.

With its release today, you can check out the music video for 'Jungle' below:

You can purchase Emma Louise's music here:
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/full-hearts-and-empty-rooms-ep/id431785951?uo=4
http://emmalouise.bandcamp.com/album/full-hearts-empty-rooms


#FallingForEmmaLouise

xo

Gone Wylde.

Jacob Wylde is an aspiring young musician who I recently discovered on Triple J's Unearthed site; you never know what you will come across on Unearthed, and that's why the site is so amazing.

Jacob is only 14 years old, and originates from Perth. Last year, Jacob won the Western Australian Music Industry Association (WAM) song of the year for the under 14's category, and his prize was a day in a recording studio.

His song 'My Soul' is currently #3 on the Unearthed Roots charts, and has even been reviewed by Triple J's 'Roots 'N All' presenter, Sarah Howells.

The song starts with the acoustic guitar, and when Jacob's vocals come in, they are easily recognised as vocal cords of a teenager that have recently 'broken'. However it adds to the vulnerable quality and theme of the song. The percussion is simple; mainly handclaps, bass drum and tambourine; but the overall tone is effective.

Check out the studio version of 'My Soul' below:



And also check out Jacob performing 'My Soul' live, below:

You can download 'My Soul' for free here:
http://www.triplejunearthed.com/JacobWylde
And find out more about Jacob Wylde here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jacob-Wylde-Music/203866972978588


#FallingForJacobWylde

xo

Tomorrow: McMorrow.

James Vincent McMorrow is an artist that I was only introduced to the other day, from one of my best friends.

On closer inspection, J. V. McMorrow could be said to be the Irish equivalent to Bon Iver; McMorrow wrote and self recorded his debut record 'Early in the Morning' for 5 months in an isolated house by the sea. Iver having done the same thing with his debut 'For Emma, Forever Ago', but in an isolated cabin in Wisconsin.
McMorrow's voice is also similar to Bon Iver; beautiful falsetto is heard throughout his music...they resemble each other with that beard!

But having heavily comparing McMorrow to Iver, above; his music is amazing in his own right. Artists are so heavily compared to other artists way too much by fans, like they are copying them. What utter bullshit.
Music is to the interpretation by each individual, and everyone is different. Similarities cannot be said to be plagiarising another artist.

But getting back to McMorrow, a song that stood out is 'We Don't Eat'. Beginning with James' fragile, yet beautiful falsetto, and then a slow beat comes in, featuring subtle tambourine. The song is simple, yet layers are added throughout the song perfectly.

It is a song that brings sad emotions to the surface, a testament to the quality of McMorrow's voice and his song writing.

Check out 'We Don't Eat' below:

Download Early in the Morning from iTunes: http://bit.ly/jvmm-earlyinthemorning

You can also find out more about James Vincent McMorrow here:
http://www.jamesvmcmorrow.com/
http://www.facebook.com/jamesvincentmcmorrow
http://soundcloud.com/jvmcmorrow
http://www.myspace.com/jamesvmcmorrow

#FallingForJVMcMorrow

xo

Perfect Pala.

Friendly Fires new offering 'Pala' is a wonderous collection of dance pop music that is infectious to anyone listening.

Pala, the follow up to Friendly Fire's 2008 self titled debut, shows a more polished sound, with the ever present beat Friendly Fires are known for, but mixed with almost euphoric synths for total emotional connection.

Laying on my bed listening to this album, put me in a trance, as Pala whisked me away to a dream world of amazing shit.

A track that stands out, titled 'Blue Cassette', starts with a whiny off-key synth that is more profound in the chorus; combined with Ed Macfarlane's dreamy falsetto breezing easily of the top of the numerous layers of sound. The beat is infectious, and the lyrics 'As I hear your voice, it sets my heart on fire', will be stuck in your head all day.

Check out Blue Cassette below:

'Pala' is out now on iTunes and can be found in your local record store.

Check out the boys from Herfortshire here:
http://www.wearefriendlyfires.com/
http://www.facebook.com/FriendlyFires
http://www.myspace.com/friendlyfires

#FALLENFORFRIENDLYFIRES

xo

Not Just Talk.

Strange Talk, a Melbourne based four piece, had a whirlwind 2010.
Their first song 'Climbing Walls' was a hit on Triple J and earned them a DJ set at Parklife.

2011 sees the release of Strange Talk's self titled debut EP, and it is quite the beauty.

The EP contains four songs; Climbing Walls, the song that got them noticed, 'Eskimo Boy', 'We Can Pretend' and 'Is It Real?'

'Eskimo Boy' has been released as their new single, and this was surprising as 'We Can Pretend' seemed like a better option.
However, Eskimo Boy is still amazing.

The song starts with an amazing little synth, accompanied by the hard hitting drums, and then Stephen Docker comes in with his very distinctive vocals. Vocals that I think set Strange Talk apart from the other up and coming bands, as they are very noticeable, and easily remembered.

The repetitive chorus of 'like a jigsaw, like a jigsaw' works quite well, and all in all, the song is very good.

Check out 'Eskimo Boy' below:

And why you are here, you might as well check out their song 'We Can Pretend'.
You wont regret listening, I promise.

 We Can Pretend by Strange Talk

The Strange Talk EP is now out and can be purchased here:
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/strange-talk-ep/id425263190
or
CD and vinyl: http://neongoldrecords.blogspot.com/2011/04/gold025-strange-talk.html

#FallingForStrangeTalk

xo

Mad Madeon Mix.

Madeon has become an instant hit overnight.

The 16 year old French producer has probably mixed one of my favourite songs for this year so far!

Remixing Yelle's song 'Que Veux Tu', Madeon has created a song that has its own soul and thumping beat, and with that he has marked his own style, that will only be seen more of in the coming years.

For a teenager of such talent, personally, I cant wait to see what this kid can come up with next.

Have a listen to Madeon's remix of Yelle's Que Veux Tu below :

 Yelle - Que Veux Tu (Madeon Remix) by Madeon 

 Check out the rest of Madeon's remixes on his soundcloud site: http://soundcloud.com/madeon

#FallingForMadeon

xo

Gender Bender.

Okay, so when it comes to all these gender bending gay boys giving music a go, I can be quite critical on the subject. They usually just get into music for the hell of it, mixing their trashy autotuned voices with trashy lyrics. But you know what, the second single by Lucas Brenton is the fucking shit.

'Riders of the Night' has a thumping beat, and catchy lyrics that you wont be able to get out of your head. For now its my guilty pleasure, and I cannot stop listening to it. The song has already made it to #46 on the Australian iTunes Dance Charts, and #27 in New Zealand.

A fine job by one of our own androgynous Aussie boys, giving Jeffree Star and Chris Crocker a run for their money. Kudos to you Lucas, and much luck on your future successes.

Check out 'Riders of the Night' below:

#FallingForLucasB

xo