Recommendations: September 2013

Fortunately, September ended up being a month of way more gigs than I expected including the ever-improving Catfish and the Bottlemen at Manchester's Night/Day Cafe, vibrant, French singer-songwriter Melanie Pain at the Deaf Institute and a beautiful Laura Marling show at the Lowry - solo, and acoustic, she's different to how I've ever seen her before.



Nick Mulvey
There's so many folky singer-song writer types around nowadays, but Nick Mulvey, who supported Laura Marling on her UK tour last month, is truly something to do it. He's an exceptional guitarist, his lyrics are pure poetry and he puts on a great live show. "Cucurucu" my favourite of his, and he's definitely one to watch.

"Tiderays" - Volcano Choir
"Reprave", the second album from Justin Vernon's new project is completely beautiful, it's a lot more accessible and little less ambient and abstract than the first album (personally, I think this the new album is a lot more Bon Iver than the last). "Tiderays", the opening track, swells from the softest opening of dainty guitar riffs to a refrain bouncing with heart pounding percussion and piano. Utterly serene and perfect.

"The Artist Is Present"
A documentary about Marina Abramovic, one of the most famous performance artists in the world - I don't exactly know what I thought of this, and whether it inspired or upset me, but I know that it made me think a lot about human interaction and communication. "The Artist Is Present" is the name of one of Abramovic's most famous projects, during which she took a seat in the Museum of Modern Art in New York every day for several months, inviting visitors to sit across a table from her, for however long they wanted, and look into her eyes.

"Home Again" - Michael Kiwanuka
I finally picked up a physical copy of this 2012 album, and it's been one of my favourites for long train journeys recently, I think Michael Kiwanuka's one of the best R&B artists to emerge in a long time.

"Nothing Compares 2 U" (cover) - Capital Cities
I'm not even sure I really like this but it's a really interesting cover and definitely demands a listen, the use of horns is really interesting. Their track "Hair" is so much fun, as well.

Recommendations: August 2013

"Home" - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
This was released back in 2009 but it was still the song of the summer for me this year, partly due to the fact that my French family (who are always a couple of years behind in popular culture which is sort of lovely) have been playing it frequently. It's just incredibly happy and full of love, and a song I know I'll be listening to for a long time.


Princess Century
I had the joy of watching Austra drummer Maya Postepski's UK solo debut this month in Manchester, and whilst I'm not normally massively into electro stuff her live show is beautiful, she incorporates film into her set really nicely, and new album "Lossless" is really special.

"The Wire" - Haim
Haven't stopped going on about these three sisters from LA for weeks, and their new single is just stellar - -dirty- moans of guitar in the introduction, the -slow/anticipation- rhythm of it all and a . The video is hilarious, smart and brilliantly showcases all of the sass and style of Alana, Danielle and Este.

"The Civil Wars" - The Civil Wars
The Civil Wars latest album is a very personal and open admission and venture into the turmoil between members John Paul White and Joy Williams (they recorded it at a time they were barely speaking to each other, think "Rumours"), and possibly in there is an explanation for the hiatus they've just taken because of "irreconcilable differences". But a lot of the songs actually seem to come from a place of joy and not hate, specifically "Eavesdrop" and "From This Valley", though I love every song on this record. I'm really hoping these two will make music together some day.

"Bonfire Heart" - James Blunt
I've said this before and I'll probably say it again (albeit always a little sheepishly), I genuinely think that James Blunt is really good - some of the better mawkish ballads in his discography are really nice, and there's definitely some great cheesy feel-good singles that are fun to sing along with when you've had about six glasses of wine (ahem) . His new single "Bonfire Heart" is tiny bit folky, definitely catchy and the video is one you'll call out for being tacky and secretly it warms your heart a little bit.

"Dancing in the Dark" (cover) - Eddie Berman and Laura Marling
Not much to say about this Springsteen cover except it's very simple, and very beautiful. I'm not sure what makes it so captivating - the -word about guitar pattern-, or how heartbreakingly vulnerable Marling's falsetto sounds singing the words "I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face." 

Recommendations: April 2013

"Fools" - Lauren Acquillina
"Those hardest to love need it most." - a pop song that's beautiful, clean and refreshing, seventeen year old Lauren found fame through the BBC Introducing programme, was recently playlisted by Greg James and though she's being constantly compared to other female singer-songwriters, her sound is so special. Check out her EP, also titled "Fools".

"April" - Imaginary Friend
Imaginary Friend has been releasing tracks every Tuesday from his upcoming album "Fire Escape", due for release on the 14th of May. "April" continues that base of Jesse Epstein's blanket-soft voice, and minimal, acoustic instrumentals that we hear through his debut release "The Imaginary EP". It is lyrically that you can feel how he's matured.

"Riceboy Sleeps" - Jonsi and Alex
A truly unique sound, lyricless, emotional and ambient, this album swirls and dives about the head. Music to read, to walk, or to just close your eyes and breathe to.

"The Expats" - Chris Pavone
A novel in which an ex-CIA officer retires to Luxembourg with her husband, but is unable to commence a quiet life. If I'm honest, I thought there was a lot wrong with this book, only beginning with Americans who act like "Europe" is one country. But it's full of twists and turns, sometimes which you'll predict from the start and groan at and others you just don't see coming

"The Wasp Factory" - Ian Banks
Ian Banks sadly passed away recently, and "The Wasp Factory" has always been one of my favourites - the story of Frank, a lonely and violent teenager. It's just bizarre, revolting, dramatic, and with an extraordinarily unpredictable ending.

Camden Lock Market
Nothing revolutionary at all but I'd never been before a trip to London this month, and spent the most perfect Sunday morning there by myself. An Aladdin's cave of gorgeous vintage clothes, mismatched jewellery, old records, falafels and all that you can imagine.

Recommendations: March 2013

At the start of last month, I was in London for an event called Moxafrica, hosted by the Telegraph's Neil McCormick, to raise funds for tuberculosis solutions in third world countries. It brought together some incredible artists, some up and coming like Bo Bruce and Buckshot Soup, and others that have already expienced large scale success: David Gray, Gabriella Cilmi,  those you hear of and remember songs you loved. As well as it being a great cause, I got to hang out with friends I've met through Twitter and through this blog, which is strange and magical and makes me incredibly happy, because people are lying when they tell you the internet is a waste of time.

I spent St Patrick's Day losing all my dignity, an incredibly "mainstream" evening as my friend put it - appropriately enough, I went to hear Irish rock-pop balladeers The Script grace the MEN, a night of catchy love songs and happiness.

Other things I bought, heard, loved:

"Moranthology" - Caitlin Moran

This book is collection of  Times columnist Caitlin Moran's best work - she is "the first journalist to prove Lady Gaga isn't a man". Musings on music, travel, hair, and an incredible meeting with Paul McCartney, Caitlin is sassy, smart, hilarious and inspires me no end.

"The Next Day" - David Bowie
It's safe to say I'm going through a bit of a Bowie phrase. I lost my Labyrinth-watching virginity today, better late than ever, it is bizarre and insane and perfect. His new album "The Next Day" is a perfect continuation of his career. I love the sound of his voice now, the audible sense of his having aged, grizzly and soft, yet this album makes connections to his older work whilst still managing to be gorgeously refreshing and unobvious. Lyrically, it's a complete adventure. "The Stars Are Out Tonight" and "Dancing Out in Space" are personal favourites of mine.

Piccadilly Records, Manchester
I spend a lot of time in Manchester but had never been here until stumbling across it a few weeks ago, which was such an uplifting surprise after finding out that same day the main HMV over there is closing. This little shop seems untouched by the death of physical CD crisis, and it's run with so much love and care. Browsing through their shelves, each album has a little hand-written note with a description, an opinion. Chances are, they won't have what you came in looking for. And chances are, before you leave, something else will find you.

"There Will Come A Time" - Noah and the Whale
The first taste from Noah and the Whale's fourth studio album, to be released in May, shows a continuation from the less folk-driven and more American influences of 2011's "Last Night on Earth". A simple  chord progression, it is cheerfully refreshing and nostalgic, "There will come a time when you will need your friends, tonight." Check out their website for upcoming tour details.

The Magic Numbers

... played at the event in Islington I talked about, a band I used to listen to a lot when I was younger. They are two pairs of siblings, making rock-pop that is very much driven by voice and harmony, which transfers beautifully onto a live setting. "Morning's Eleven" is a great one of theirs if you haven't listened to them before.

Recommendations: February 2013

February, this year, was the month I saw the fantastic Bear's Den for the first time, in a tiny venue in Manchester. I also didn't really buy much new music this month (except for Julia Stone's "By The Horns", which I'm waiting for the right time to discuss because it's so perfect), but a lot of it was spent rediscovering old favourites.

Joe Banfi
I saw him supporting Bear's Den in Manchester this month, he's recently signed to Communion and he has an incredible, instantly distinctive voice. Check out single "Nomads", as well as his gorgeous EP of the same title.

"O" - Damien Rice
You'll have heard of Damien Rice: a master of the love song, someone who played a large part in putting simple, clean, acoustic pop music back in the charts. I've loved this album the year that I've had it but the songs I appreciated most were always the hits, the singles - "Delicate" tugs at my heart strings, and both "The Blower's Daughter" and "Cannonball" are lovely. This second batch of listens, though, has brought me to pay attention to the lesser known tracks on the album, the ones that don't stand out straight away. "Amie" and "Cheers Darlin'" are these, and pay attention especially to "I Remember", a duet in two halves, the most serene and past-dwelling ballad that takes a dramatic turn of the wheel part way through.

"The Flying Club Cup" - Beirut
When I was fourteen, there was a time of several weeks, maybe months, where this record was pretty much all that I listened to. Every word, every note, every beat is dripping nostalgia, the accordian and horns giving it such a sense of place, ages it so very gracefully. It drifts in mood, from the bittersweet, memory-filled "A Sunday Smile" to darker "Cliquot" and songs like "The Penalty", a song that belongs on lonely, peaceful walks in the night.

"Peaches for Monsieur le Curé" - Joanne Harris
Joanne Harris' third sequel to her bestseller "Chocolat" is a tale of magic, and love, and food. Vianne returns to Lansequent, the town that she changed for the better and the town that drove her away, out of spite, with her daughters Rosette and Anouk. They find that again, the people of Lansequent are in need of a little magic, and also a little chocolate. A brilliant novel, exploring culture, kindness and humanity.

Autumn 2012 Playlist

I did one of these at Christmas last year, but I feel like Christmas definitely isn't the only time for music that's season-appropriate (it's still not okay for my dad to put "A Spaceman Came Travelling" on in September). Autumn seems like one of the saddest times of year to me, especially October time, with the sad return to real life after summer, approaching of the cold and still far away from Christmas. So, what better thing to do than wrap up by a bonfire or just go out on a long walk on your own, and listen to some really good sad music?

"The Suburbs" - Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire's album "The Suburbs" is all about the chains of middle-class, caged birds and teenage rebellion, this title track is also nostalgic and echoes love. A good back-to-school one. They're one of the best rock bands to emerge in the last couple of years.

"Panye's Bay" - Beirut

"Headstrong, today, I've been headstrong." Beirut are a great band. They're from Santa Fe and their music has always had an aged European feel to it, but their most recent album touches on home.

"Indian Summer" - Jonsi and Alex

Their music is like nothing I've heard before - I like listening to "Riceboy Sleeps" when reading because it's so subtle it doesn't interfere with your train of thought. At the same time, you can just shut your eyes and listen to these odd and beautiful falling sounds and have it completely hold your attention.

"Scar" - Lucy Rose

A folk singer, Lucy Rose's music is mostly acoustic but not afraid to rock out a bit and her new album "Like I Used To" is brilliant. "Remember how lovely we were?"  - "Scar" is soft and peaceful, a song about heartbreak. She supported Noah and the Whale earlier this year and is currently touring with Pete Roe I believe, so definitely go if you can.

"The Fire" - Imogen Heap

The crackling burning noise behind this gorgeous piano piece was recorded as Imogen threw a piece of wood that had been in the family home since childhood onto a bonfire. 

"Make It Gold" - Ohbijou

A Canadian band I was introduced to recently, this song just sounds like dreaming. It swirls and lifts around and between your ears, they remind me of Florence or Ellie Goulding a little. Beautiful strings and beautiful lyrics.

Albums for Summer

I've always been a lover of the album, having one piece of art, a physical CD to hold, where I get acquainted with and find things within every song, the knowing which next opening chord I'm about to hear in the seconds of silence between each track, picking out concepts that flow throughout a record and appreciating differences. I love reading the booklets inside an album. I know singles have their plus points, downloading from iTunes has its plus points (I feel guilty, I do it too, increasingly regularly) but I'll always treasure the concept of one, entire, physical CD and the talk of this being lost over the last few years scares me.

I think summer's possibly the best time of year for buying just a couple of entire records and getting your wear out of them, whether that's singing along with all your friends on a long car journey with the windows wound down or solitary bike rides and trips on the train.

Enough babble, here are some of my favourites at the moment.

"THE IMAGINARY EP" - IMAGINARY FRIEND
The first thing I need to admit about Jesse Epstein's music is that I usually like a song to hit me, hard, and this doesn't do that particularly. What it is is sweet, and soft, and fits summer perfectly. This record features guest vocalist Kina Grannis' delicate harmonies which suit the style of this music so well. It's playful, clean, acoustic pop music, and Imaginary Friend's lyrics offer comfort and reassurance, in songs like "We'll Be Okay" and "In My Sight", and can be more thoughtful and exploratory, such as "Chasing Ghosts". I don't think this is anything industry shaping, but it's honest, forward and really pretty.

"SCIENCE AND FAITH" - THE SCRIPT
The Script are in an awkward place, with music that's a little too "indie" for the "mainstream" and vice versa. I recently re-approached their music, I was a fan in 2008, when their debut album "The Script" came out. A three piece sort-of rock band from Dublin, what I admire about Danny O'Donoghue, Mark Sheehan and Glen Power is that although what I guess they're known for doing best is a really kick-ass break-up song everything they do is an experiment. There's talk about whether their next release "#3" this autumn is going to be too commercial (the single that's avaliable to hear at the moment is a collaboration with Will.I.Am) but I'm not worried about this, this is just another step in a lot of different directions that they're willing to take.
"Science and Faith" in my opinion is better than their first album, though lyrically both are based around love, exploring it and, often, losing it. It has so much atmosphere, particularly "You Won't Feel A Thing" which really impresses me. The lead singer has a great voice, the guitarist isn't afraid to attempt rapping (see "This Is Love") and songs like "For The First Time" and "If You Ever Come Back" are the sort you can't help but sing along with, the kind I imagine audiences fill venues with along with the band. It finishes with, "Exit Wounds", which draws in the chant:
"Loose your clothes,
And show your scars,
That's who you are."

"THE HEAD AND THE HEART" - THE HEAD AND THE HEART
There's a song at the end of "The Head and the Heart" called "Heaven Go Easy On Me" and I don't want to say it's changed my life, but it's certainly been there at a lot of shaping moments. But most of all I think of it as a song that I listen to on landing planes when I'm coming home, and this has happened three times now. The words of this one really get to me.
The Head and the Heart are full of spirit, originality and, well, heart, and their music is completely beautiful. "Cats and Dogs" and "Couer d'Alene" are an energetic opening medley, "Ghosts" as playful and lively but in a minor key and the softer songs like "Down in the Valley" and the infamous "Rivers and Roads" are lovely, and haunting. Their music and their brilliant lyrics linger in your thoughts long after the song is over. Perfect for long drives.

Recommendations: February and March

"THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER" - Stephen Chbosky
I'm definitely not the first to write about how brilliant this book is, and I'm coming rather late to the party but I can't go without mentioning it. Sometimes you read a book at just the right time: "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" just sums up all of the weird events that occur during the "growing up" period, and doing things for the first time. Also one of the smaller plots related to a situation I've found myself in, and Charlie reminds me of one of my friends to a ridiculous amount of detail. It was just really close to hope.
And I love that line: "We were infinite."

"POST OFFICE" - Charles Bukowski
It took me the first few chapters to get used to the narrator's voice in this novel, because Bukowski's writing style is so unusual, as well as him using a certain amount of what I guess was jargon, but all of that's a good thing and once I did this novel was really good and like nothing I've read before. I ended up liking Henry Chinaski in a twisted kind of way, despite how unkind and lazy and for want of a better word, pathetic he is - I think there's maybe a little bit of him in all of us. A great summation of the "white trash" culture, from a point of view I haven't come across much before.

WHITTARD'S TEA: DREAMTIME
I think I've expressed my love for ridiculously sweet instant tea drinks before. Apricot and honey flavour. Perfect if you have a cold. www.whittards.com. I believe they deliver.

PENGUINS
It was actually from a Laura Marling concert the other night that I learnt that here you can watch penguins at a zoo in California via live webcam. I don't really think I need to explain why this is amazing.

PETE ROE
If you hear from me anywhere else on the internet you probably know this, but I went to see Laura Marling last week... possibly three times. I'm broke but it was brilliant and worth it, and one of the guys who opened for her was Mr Pete Roe, who also plays piano and guitar in her band later on in the set. He's a really great guitarist, by the third night, I could sing along with several of his songs. I think this one below is my favourite of his.



I don't think he's released any music yet, but I'm sure it won't be long.

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Sorry for forgetting Wednesday again. I won't make promises but we'll see what happens next week...
Aside from that, I hope all's well your end and I'll be back soon.

Lizzie x

Recommendations: 2 (Maida Vale Edition!)

Pretending people care... in September. There's kind of a Maida Vale trip theme to this one - a place I ate that day, the book I read waiting in the street, and the CD that reasoned it all.

Place: Hummingbird Bakery, Notting Hill



My mum bought us the Hummingbird Bakery recipie book about two years ago I think - from it we've made brownies, cupcakes, pies, and always meant to go. When my dad and I were in Notting Hill the other week, we saw a girl who worked there in a Hummingbird Bakery sweater and chased after her when I realised how close we were. I had Hummingbird brownie, which was rather wonderful, but surprisingly my dad's Black Bottom cupcake - chocolate, with cheese and buttery icing on top - was probably more delicious. A small place, a lovely atmousphere, they give you your food in cute boxes with handles. If you're ever nearby, go. Or if you're not nearby, plan a pilgramage before you die.

Book: "The Radleys" - Matt Haig
In a world of "Twilight" and "Marked" and things like that, it's definitely reassuring that a novel like this exists. Whilst it definitely isn't a spoof, "The Radleys" is a book that's hilarious as well as being able to be taken seriously. Making you think to be concerned about the neighborus, this is the story of Helen and Peter Radley's realisation that it's time to tell their teenage offspring the reason they feel ill without eating meat, why they have trouble sleeping, why they can't go outside without coating themselves in Factor 30.

Album: "A Creature I Don't Know" - Laura Marling
Because, how could I not?
I'll review this in more detail, one day. But every so often you buy a record and fall in love with it. And by that I don't mean like it a lot. I mean every song is fantastic, you get to know the order better than your friends' birthdays and most of the time it stays with you for ever. This has been one of those.
From "The Muse", which introduces the new liveliness and odd enigma of this album, to the concluding thought of "Flicker and Fail" it's a wonderful arrangement of guitar and mandolin and strings, melodic surprises and lyrics that tell tales way beyond the expected maturity of a twenty-one year old.

Recommendations: 1

I have to write today's post in the daytime, which I almost never do and this has made me sort of force myself to think of a solid thing to write about instead of chattering on like I do usually. Then I started thinking about how much of my blog I spend telling you "listen to this", "buy this", "read this".
For someone that loves music and books and film, it's hard not to do that a lot so instead of giving up completley I'm going to try instead to condense it all into one post every so often. I stole the idea of a recommendations section from this.

So the idea is, I write, say, one of these a month (though that will speed up and slow down, we know how bad I am at sticking to things). I will also try to "recommend" one thing from each area, but there'll probably be more or less of those depending on how I'm feeling.

LIZZIE'S RECOMMENDATIONS (August 2011)

Song: "Maria" - Dizraeli
This came up on my tumblr dashboard yesterday. I'm normally quite quick to be judgemental about music with spoken lyrics, but this is sort of brilliant, at the same time completley heartbreaking. A story.

Food: Lily O'Brien's chocolate
My mother buys us these whenever something bad happens. Things of deliciousness which I think started out being made my an Irish woman in her kitchen. When I was twelve I sent them a complaint letter because a label was wrong, they sent a box of toffee to my house. Happiness.*

Book: "Five People You Meet in Heaven" - Mitch Albom
An old man passes away and goes through the first stage of "Heaven"; his life is explained to him by five people that played a role in it, not necessarily the ones closest to him. A wonderful novel about people and how we relate to each other, about guilt and most importantly about forgiveness.

Film: "Beckie0 in Technicolor"
I was thinking of choosing Enduring Love, or another, y'know, full length film. But Beckie0, a Youtuber, is extrodinary and a brilliant filmmaker. I think it's fair for this to count just as much.

Album: "The Head and the Heart" - The Head and the Heart
Since I was talking about them a few weeks ago, I bought their record and it's brilliant - I might even go as far as to say that at the gig, they were better than Death Cab For Cutie, who they were supporting. That is saying something.

I was going to do a TV show as well, and when I couldn't think of anything I decided I'd make one of my friends who are coming round do it instead, but we'll probably just eat nachos and talk about how much we missed each other.

I'll see you soon! (I'm not going to say I'll see you next Wednesday, because I go back to school then and I don't even want to think about it.)

baiiiiiiiiiii. <3

* * *

*Don't even be surprised that there's a food section.