I've been dragooned into it.

Polly Scattergood.

This week's iTunes freebie, she had a gig with THE Laura Marling at the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen last night and there's been some steady buzz about her for a while, BUT I just don't really get it. So why am I even bothering to write about her? It might be peer pressure or a maybe I think it's "a grower" and I'll like her soon enough. Because who says that you have to immediately like a song or artist? Isn't that such a superficial take on music? Polly was called "the 21st century's Kate Bush" by Rob Da Bank. I guess because her music is the same sort of ethereal synth pop with quirky lyrics that Kate Bush did wonderfully.
All the same, feel free to sample these: Polly Scattergood - Please Don't Touch

Polly Scattergood - Nitrogen Pink (y.s.i.)

Polly Scattergood - Other Too Endless (y.s.i.) iTunes one.

Definitely a grower.

I swear he's an albino.

say what? Reg Vermue (a.k.a. Gentleman Reg) is very pale.

He comes from Canada and looks like he came from the mountains with his snow beardy going with some white 'brows and blue blue eyes. However, apparently he is not. Bum-out! 

ANYWAY. His third album, Jet Black, is a little gem. The skittish vocals that accompany a solid bob-your-head rhythm make his songs real catchy-like. 

Enjoy Gentleman Reg - How We Exit Sebble, you silly fox.

.x.

best cure for a headache = jazz.

I'm sure you don't believe me. I wouldn't ordinarily but I had a headache, went to a jazz club and it disappeared and didn't even return once I'd left. I walked home snapping my fingers and jerking my body to inaudible beats.

I'd gone to the 606 club on Lots Rd, Chelsea. You buzz to get in, receive a mild interrogation as to your intentions (member/non member etc), go down some stairs into a dingy basement with low lights. 80s throwback heaven. Even if you weren't the biggest fan of jazz at the beginning, the sheer mess of beats and complexity of sounds is so attractive that the desire to tap your foot becomes unavoidable. 

Miles Davis - Love for Sale

p.s. The "cool" bloke above took me...

I'm a little obsessed.

Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.

Marina and the Diamonds - Obsessions (Body Language Remix)

Marina and the Diamonds - Mowgli's Road

Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.Marina and the Diamonds.

Cloverlover.

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR A SPECTACULAR UNDERGROUND TALENT. POSTS TO COME UP IN A FEW DAYS.

.x.

but for now, put up with her ugly sister...Sour Grapes.

p.s. Disclaimer act: If Flora personally tries to kill me for sticking this up then please testify to its greatness...?!

A good one-two.

Flora. Sunday Walk '09.

The Depreciation Guild.

Sounds like M83, looks like the drummer from The Pains of Being Pure At Heart (because one half of them is) and tastes like shoegaze wonder music.

The Depreciation Guild - Darklooming

The Traditionist.

It's almost that slow jingly Juno pop music that sprouted into popularity a year or two back, but it's a little bit more and it's that little bit more that makes this different and good.

The Traditionist - I Know My Ocean

I Know My Ocean is more melodic, but you'll see what I mean...

The Rest.

The Rest is a band from Ontario, Canada, whose songs are softly reminiscent of all the beautiful songs you know with an uplifting vocalist and a strong collection of instruments that all complement each other. The result is happy, sad and powerful music.

Adam Bentley	Vocals, Guitar, Organ
Jordan Mitchell	Multi-Instrumentalist / Electronics
Dwayne Brydon	Guitar
Anna Jarvis	Cello
Matt Buzanko	Bass
Blake Bowman	Drums
Steve T. Jones	Guitar

So in order to encapsulate this sound they did this..."We drove away from our select cities, A.D.D. distractions, relationships, and most importantly any escape from making music. We brought food, clothes, alcohol, and a van full of instruments. We woke to a lake, a forest, two cozy buildings, and a room full of instruments. We wrote and made noise until the sunset, beat on drums while howling at the moon (alcohol), and fell asleep aware and anxious to repeat the day before."

These are my two favourite songs : The Rest - Walk On Water(Auspicious Beginnings) & The Rest - Everyone All At Once

The Wild Mercury Sound.

I think even if one measly (you're not measly, you're actually my favourite in the whole world) person reads my blog and listens to this band then I think that will be my good deed for the day done and dusted. 

So, The Wild Mercury Sound. They were the band that were on Annie Mac and Grimmy's Radio 1 show last Sunday. They were on for about 3 minutes but the more exposure the better! Anyway. I digged up these tracks for your pleasure, please listen and enjoy. The Wild Mercury Sound - Primrose Beauty. 

 and The Wild Mercury Sound - Tale of Two Towns. 

They've said they'll be playing at Barfly over Easter sometime so look out for that...

.x.

Remix this buttface.

The Norwegian Electronic duo, Röyksopp, announced the title of their new album "Junior" last month and this is the catchy remix of the first release "Happy Up Here". Röyksopp - Happy Up Here (Boys Noize Remix)

Flying Lotus (great name for a DJ) is from California and this remix of Kanye's "Love Lockdown" is stripped down to the bare vocals and some clean beats placed on top. Kanye West - Love Lockdown (Flying Lotus Remix)

New Peter Bjorn & John album coming soon and this song just quite simply rocks my socks off... PB&J - Lay It Down (Chateau Marmont Remix)

Adele has won a lot of awards over the past year for quite a dull album, this song spices it up a little. Adele - Hometown Glory (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix)

I have a guilty pleasure in Lady GaGa and her appearance on the Pet Shop Boys' BRIT Awards performance warmed me inside a little. This track has warmed it even further: Lady GaGa - Eh Eh (Pet Shop Boys Remix)

La Roux is set for a big year and this slightly dubstep remix is soo listenable! La Roux - In for the Kill (Skream Remix)