Go Outside this Summer

Manhattan based Cults was formed by fellow students Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin at New York University last year. The indie-pop band soon garnered rave reviews with the release of a three-track EP entitled Cults 7”, through their Bandcamp page. One of the songs Go Outside was named Best New Music by Pitchfork. Certainly one of our summer faves of 2010.
June 7, a self-titled LP was released on Columbia Records, distributed in Europe by Lily Allen’s imprint In the Name Of. The album has been well received. An official video for Go Outside premiered July 13, directed by Isaiah Seret. Totally different to what is out there today, this track will surely be on our playlist again coming Holidays. The band can also be found on the latest Red Hot project Red Hot+Rio 2, in collaboration with Superhuman Happiness.

Robyn @ BBC 1 Live Lounge

Robyn stopped by Fearne Cotton earlier this week to perform Call Your Girlfriend and a Coldplay cover on BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge. She continuous to amaze. Listen to her version of Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall. Pure Pop class.

Amy: Forever 27

Amy Winehouse’s death will not have surprised anyone, still it came as a shock. Sad to lose such a promising talent so prematurely. A selection of tracks for a next album had already been recorded, so we should at least see a third album released in the near future. Shame there will be no more to follow. Meanwhile the brilliant collaboration with Mark Ronson Back To Black has reached #1 download status in many a country. The music is what we should remember her for.
Since the news of her untimely death broke,Twitter, Facebook and other platforms were flooded with messages of sympathy to pay respect. Among those reactions from close friend Kelly Osbourne, Carole King (whose song Will You Love Me Tomorrow Amy recorded), Tony Bennett (who will feature Amy on his upcoming second Duets album) and M.I.A., who posted a personal tribute on her soundcloud account. A dark but lyrically spot on creation. Take a listen here.

Prince @ Melkweg

Sunday night Prince showed up in Amsterdam for a last minute concert at the venue Melkweg, after his Oslo date was cancelled because of the recent tragic events in Norway. The show was only announced a couple of hours beforehand. The singer paid tribute to the late Amy Winehouse playing a cover, Love Is A Losing Game. Prince joined Cameroonian singer-songwriter Andy Allo in an acoustic take of the Mark Ronson production. Check below.
Prince played the same venue two nights in a row, before heading for a sold out Ahoy in Rotterdam tonight. After playing NSJ and Ghent, another triple treat. Seems the artist is comfortable playing this side of the ocean this summer.

Tribute: Amy Winehouse 1983 – 2011

First time in London for Selah Sue

July 17th Selah Sue played an intimate acoustic set at the iTunes Festival. 30 minutes of the girl, the guitar, a bottle of water, and oh that wonderful raspy Stevie Nicks-like voice. First time in the UK, first time in London. First of many, if the girl’s talent is anything to go by. She played some of her signature songs Raggamuffin, Explanations and Black Part Love. At the end of the gig Selah poured some songs into a Raggamedley. Talking bout a revolution! …Read ‘revelation’! View some clips here, and go check out her self-titled debut album on iTunes.

So In Love with Scott & Hamilton

Four weeks ago Jill Scott’s latest album The Light of the Sun: Words And Sounds, Vol. 4 debuted at no.1 on Billboard’s album chart, proving she’s still got the knack 11 years on from her first, Who Is?: Words And Sounds, Vol. 1.
One track in particular deserves a little more attention, one more post. The collaboration with Anthony Hamilton has been blogged extensively. Simply because So In Love is a gem. Two of R&B’s most Soulful put together can only result in pure chemistry. If old school is your thang, you will luv this one. Musically the track refers to Marvin Gaye, vocally the harmonies are spot on. A beautiful R&B sound you don’t come across too often anymore. One of those instant classics. Like a cool summer breeze, but one that will play on way into winter months.
A deserved top spot for Miss Scott, who looks stunning in the follow-up video to Shame (ft Eve). Summer is in full swing.

Devine new dEUS

This morning the new dEUS single Constant Now was added to radio playlists, taken from the band’s forthcoming album Keep You Close. In France and Germany the title track will be promoted as lead single, Constant Now as follow-up. A so called video clip for Keep You Close was uploaded on YouTube a few days ago, though this is not the official clip. Frontman Tom Barman will be directing the video for Constant Now next month. A signature dEUS track, this is a welcome return.

Keep You Close -the full album- will be released September 19th. The band picked only 9 songs from a large selection of recordings. Track listing below.

Keep You Close

The Final Blast

Dark Sets In

Twice

Ghosts

Constant Now

The End Of Romance

Second Nature

Easy

 

 

Rain Dance Maggie

With their new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, Red Hot Chili Peppers return with the long-awaited follow-up to 2006’s double disc Stadium Arcadium, scheduled for release August 30: I’m With You. The first single from the forthcoming album, The Adventure of Rain Dance Maggie, went into rotation today. Maggie supposedly symbolizes the universe. A number of other imaginary people turn up on the album. Damien Hirst signed for the album artwork. As yet there is no word on when the video clip for Rain Dance Maggie will premiere. Female rapper “Gucci Gucci” Kreayshawn would be directing the clip. Those who previewed the album claim other songs are far better suited to be promoted as singles. That can only mean the best is yet to come. Find the track listing below and see what you think of the first 45.

1. Monarchy of Roses
2. Factory of Faith
3. Brendan’s Death Song
4. Ethiopia
5. Annie Wants a Baby
6. Look Around
7. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
8. Did I Let You Know
9. Goodbye Hooray
10. Happiness Loves Company
11. Police Station
12. Even You, Brutus?
13. Meet Me at the Corner
14. Dance, Dance, Dance

Adele’s got me lost for words

The 5th edition of the iTunes Festival is well underway. The annual free music festival, held at London’s prime venue The Roundhouse for the 3rd consecutive year, already welcomed Manic Street Preachers, Glasvegas and Adele. The latter got green light to sing again just moments before her performance on Thursday night.

The first part of the concert was a little shaky still, was it due to the singer’s illness or her nerves. Have eg seen better live versions of Set Fire To The Rain. From the half hour mark on however, Adele’s voice reached perfection status. Every song was brought flawlessly. The ballads Take It All and a stripped down piano version of One And Only were nothing less but mesmerizing and breathtaking. Covers included Lovesong, If It Hadn’t Been For Love and an immaculate rendition of Bonnie Raitt’s I Can’t Make You Love Me. Scroll down to watch.

In a finale consisting of Rolling In The Deep and Someone Like You, in that particular order, Adele called in a little help from the crowd. Perfect ending to a magical night.

Most of this year’s performances can be watched entirely through the iTunes Store. Don’t miss out, if you can. Still to come, the lineup also includes White Lies, Noah and the Whale, Raphael Saadiq, Coldplay and Moby ao.