Today is the Mercury Music Awards and they are being hosted at @abbeyroadstudios @freshonthenet asked a question on his fabulous #nowplaying show on @bbc6music – what album in the past got nominated but never won? Naturally there are so many, but one I didn’t realise was nominated when looking for my favourite was Take That’s …
Single Review: “No Future” – The Great Leslie
The Great Leslie are back with a track that’s an absolute stomper! Big rock drums that swing on the toms, big vocals, big crunchy guitars… well what do you expect from the great Leslie? A lot and then some. This is a message with several layers – let’s start with the cover – a picture …
Single Review: “Money” – Ahmala
Well! This combines jazz, hip hop, neo soul, a touch of Motown and some gospel into this lovely track! There’s a flute to kick off proceedings over a bass that I’m suspecting is played live on the recording – it’s got some depth to it. Add to that a Rhodes piano and an upright piano, …
Single Review: “Dream On” – Aerosmith
I’m gutted to hear about Steven Tyler’s decision to retire. It’s epic. The vocals at the point that I’ve picked where he goes full on banshee wail gives me goosebumps! Admittedly the first time I heard this song was when Eminem sampled it for “Sing” but when I went back and listened to the original …
Single Review: “Love Love Love” – The Gulls
This is a fun acoustic number combining a bit of folk, and old fashioned rock n roll lyric wise! This track is about being in love with someone and it’s expressed in such a fun way, the chorus is catchy as hell, because they’re declaring that they’re in love love love love love. Love. My …
Song Review: “It’s Only You” – Mutual Blue
Mutual Blue are back with a bit of a summer banger of a song, and this has a bit of an indie rock party atmosphere to it, you could just imagine this going down a storm on the radio. For me it’s the count off at the beginning if I put my DJ head on …
Song Review: “Aseda” – MOGMusic X Edem Evangelist
This one is fresh and hot out of the kitchen, and it is so good! This is a Ghanaian worship song which translates to giving God thanks. Minister MOGMusic brings the heat with this half time track, which has a tight arrangement rhythm and vocal wise, there’s a choir on there and the drums and …
Single Review: “Hard Down Low” – Loa
This track is slow and based around piano and vocals, but very atmospheric. It’s very moody with no harmonies, as Rick Leigh’s piano playing and Genevieve Dawson’s vocals blend together effortlessly over a music arrangement that’s kept really simple. It’s a beauty of a track calling on folk influences, especially Celtic undertones. This song encourages …
Single Review: “Baby Blue” Dutch Criminal Record
This has such a psychedelic feel to it, especially thanks to the jangly guitars and the laid-back vocals. First this begins with a broken beat but all falls into place when the guitars, bass and synth come in. This has a poetic feel in the lyrics and this is evidenced by my favourite part of …
Single Review: “Scream” – Ben Chango
Well! This is a fabulous piece of punk rock isn’t it? It starts off with a melodic bass line that is higher up in the register – really good bass work by the way – before settling into the song properly – joined by sticks clicking together as well as a snare, kick and tom …