Eurovision 2011

I arrived from Dusseldorf last night after going to Germany to watch the Eurovision Song Contest. It was absolutely amazing- I don’t care who thinks it’s rubbish, when you’re in that arena surrounded by tens of thousands of screaming fans, all from different parts of the world, staring at a massive, mind blowingly huge and complex stage with a screen the size of an office block, you know you’re in the middle of a good thing.

Azerbaijan won the night, which was shocking and a bit sad as there’s no way they will outdo what the Germans did for this year’s show.

The UK were great, and even though the sound was a bit off, Sweden or Denmark should have won. More pics on my Flickr.

 

New Music: Lovelle

20-year-old Londoner Lovelle is set to become one of the hottest new names in British music this summer with the release of her debut single ‘Uh-Oh’. Combining elements of pop, soul, grime, and bashment to create a sound that’s edgy, yet laden with hooks, Uh-Oh (released June 20 on De Wallen Records) is already building a huge buzz at specialist radio, with Lovelle supporters including the likes of Trevor Nelson on1Xtra. The track also features a quick-fire rap from the UK’s bashment queen, Lady Chann. ‘Uh-Oh’ has been selected to soundtrack MAX Factor’s newest high profile TV ad campaign. Directed by legendary director Jake Nava (whose other directing credits include Beyonce’s ‘Crazy In Love’, ‘Single Ladies’ and Kanye West’s ‘Monster’), Lovelle’s single was personally selected by Jake as the soundtrack to the ad, which he directs, after a friend played him the track. Nava was so impressed with Lovelle’s debut offering that he even agreed to produce the video for Uh-Oh (which his brother, Orson Nava, has directed). Not bad for a girl from a South-East London council estate who is currently balancing her fledgling musical career with holding down a day job at New Look! Check out here.

Free Download: Ten tracks by Ungdomskulen

Norwegian trio Ungdomskulen are back with ten free tracks – part of a new campaign they’re calling GIMME TEN, the band are releasing 10 one-minute tracks for free, every Monday and Friday, until June 3rd. From June 6th the tracks will be available as a vinyl mini LP. Each track has a video to accompany it, courtesy of Berlin based arts collective Blank Blank. Watch it all unfold here

New Music: Lilla Sällskapet

A little lesson in Swedish… ‘Snart’ which is the title to this lovely track you hear above, means ‘Soon’. ‘Lilla Sällskapet’, the act that are responsible for it, means ‘small society’- although I could be wrong- I’m still very new to the language. You don’t need to speak Swedish to enjoy it though. It’s the kind of music that lifts you up and takes you somewhere lush. Check out here.

Live: Friendly Fires at Heaven London

Right, I’ll say this now and I’ll keep saying it- this is THE band to watch live. I honestly can’t compare their gigs to anyone else’s out there. The music is awesome, the lights are insane and the crowd is gorgeous to look at.

Playing a mix of tunes from their first album along with some stuff from their new one (Pala– which sounded just as good as the original tracks), I shuffled my feet as much as I could while carrying a massive bag on my shoulders from work.

Please go see Friendly Fires, your life will be so much better. And try to dance like the singer cos it’s just so painfully cool. The only down sides were the fact that they came on too early (8:30) and that it was on a Monday- this is the kind of gig you’d want to get crazy with on a weekend.

No pictures in the world could show you how amazing tonight was but I’ve tried in my own pathetic little way in Flickr here.

Free Download: AlunaGeorge ‘Analyser’ (Last Japan’s Buy Me A Spaceship and Fly Remix)

I’ve blogged about AlunaGeorge on here before, I really think they’re ones to watch. Fusing the current desire for wild electronic productions and a pop sensibility that everyone enjoys.

MP3: AlunaGeorge – Analyser (Last Japan’s Buy Me A Spaceship and Fly Remix)

Free Download: NewVillager ‘Lighthouse’ (Punches Remix)

I love this remix – if it doesn’t pick you up when you listen to it then you’d need to be having a pretty bad day! Over the past year, NewVillager has made rumblings around the internet with catchy pop hooks, intimate live shows, and visually mind-bending videos. It’s with much excitement that they announce the release of their official self-titled debut coming June 21 on IAMSOUND.

MP3: NewVillager – Lighthouse (Punches Remix)

New Brookes Brothers tracks to shake you out of first-day-back-at-work blues

Taken from the forthcoming debut LP and due to be released on the same day, the undisputed, all-conquering drum & bass duo Brookes Brothers release a double-A single ‘In Your Eyes’ / ‘The Big Blue’.

The Brookes dial down the BPM’s for some future-dubstep manoeuvres for ‘In Your Eyes’, featuring the beautiful vocals of 70’s reggae supremo Jonny Osbourne. ‘The Big Blue’ sees the Brookes deliver the most turbo-charged, grin-inducing, wall-of-sound production ever to come out of their studio. The single and album will be released through Breakbeat Kaos on June 6th.