12 hits wonder

Flora And Zephyr, 1875, detail, William-Adolphe Bouguereau


Delicate chords and seductive melodies, sleek composition and minimal production... The London duo Oh Wonder has a collection of enchanting, addictive love songs. They will release their first album (a collection of 12 songs) in September and will play at the ICA London on the 16th of September. Until then, they are releasing one track each month. I'm curious to see where this album is going to lead. I have the feeling that they will be heard quite a lot in a couple of months time... Until then, I'm inviting you to enjoy these tracks and perhaps go and see them at the ICA which will be intimate and cosy:

All night, afloat

"Michael A Grammar" is the title of a song from the band Broadcast.
It's also the name of a band itself but to avoid confusion with their pals London Grammar, I'm going to give you a bit more details about them.
Signed under the Mancunian label Melodic Records, it's the kind of band that I don't want to share with anyone, like when you choose a meal that has some strange ingredients in a restaurant but it turns out super tasty and you want to keep it all for yourself. Sometimes (but rarely) I discover a band and I feel like I won the lottery. Michael A Grammar is certainly a winning bet.
I discovered them last year with their debut album but haven't had a chance to see them live yet. Their sound is quite specific to a certain era (post-punk, shoe gaze, psychedelic...) but like a pasta bolognese recipe, Michael A Grammar has nailed an authentic sound and they do it with style.
The drum roll along with excited crescendo, upbeat snares. Sometimes, the guitar venture alone in a hazy, fuzzy and distorted world and the subtle bass settles everything together. The sound slowly unfolds like a smoke in a bright and airy room which gives a sense of plenitude.
Have a listen to the first track "Upside Down":

"Don't Wake Me" finishes up the album:
If you enjoyed this, I would recommend (in no particular order): Joy Division, the Stone Roses, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Tame Impala, My Bloody Valentine...

A palace, in the middle of a bucolic countryside field

The cold Winter is dragging, your hands are as dry as the corner of your feet and there's not much happening outside so you start observing the naked trees and counting the few plastic bags that are hanging above them.
They kinda look like lonely sails on skinny masts...
We're wanting for fun time gigs and outdoor festivals action aren't we? While we're waiting, let's just sit back, close our eyes and imagine that Spring is coming along with Palace.
This London based quatuor makes me want to lie on the fresh grass, while smelling blossoming flowers. Cheesy yeah, what's wrong with a bit of tenderness?
They released a beautiful EP called "Lost in the night" under Beatnik which is a collective that focuses on designing beautiful artworks for various bands/artists signed and managed under their own independent record label.
Palace, with their slow-tempo tracks, drifts me away when I feel overloaded. It's bluesy and has a delicate touch of folk.
Ocean Deep

Veins

Tirzah

I like the simple rhythm and the simple lyrics. It works quite well.

Kaytranada

Kaytranada is a prolific DJ and producer from Canada who mixes catchy R'n'B, electronic & hip hop beats with heavy basslines and drums samples for various DJs and musicians. Behind the decks, this 22 years old man has got an impressive ability to turn each song into something very sleek and special. I selected few ones that may tickle your feet and tempt you to go to his exclusive show at Village Underground, London, on the 28th of October:

REMIX - "Feel of love" - Tensnake:


PRODUCTION - "A wrote a song about you" - MNEK


PRODUCTION - "Wimme Nah" - Vic Mensa


PRODUCTION - "Charles Barkley" - The Celestics

Late night tales

Discover Ben's mysterious, trippy world.


Ben Khan is a musician, songwriter and producer based in London. He launched his first EP "1992" where hip hop and electronic beats meet some bluesy guitar riffs. Listen to "Savage" below.


In his videos, he creates a new storyline with existing images, scenes from various movies and ads that have been carefully selected in the aim to communicate a very specific moment in a song. The videos are striking, sometimes disturbing. They are evocative and at the same time ambiguous. They intrigue our mind and lead our imagination to something new which I find quite original and refreshing.

2014... The voice is back!

I've noticed few english singers popping up and going for an emphasis on vocals and melodies. Robyn Sherwell and Rosie Lowe amongst others bigger act like Banks or Jessie Ware...