Loyle Carner Inspires Crowd At Tate Britain Gig (Review)

Surrounded by old iconic artwork including ‘The Lady of Shalott’ by John William Waterhouse, UK Hip Hop artist Loyle Carner swaggered on stage alongside his co-producer Rebel Kleff to perform tracks from his EP “A Little Late” at Tate Britain's BP Loud event last Saturday.

Jokingly mentioning he was going to try and censor the lines “Of course I’m fucking sad, I miss my fucking Dad”, he opened with the first track off the EP, ‘BFG’. These lines were all it took for the audience to be opened up to the raw and heartfelt emotion that he gives through his music, after his Dad sadly passed away earlier this year.

With these real life problems involving love and loss being the key incentives behind the EP, it made the performance emotionally engaging and creatively inspiring. Showcasing these clever phrases, smooth guitar riffs and bop-along beats made it a crowd pleaser, interacting with the audience as he did so.

Clearly having a strong bond between him and his family, Carner showed this to be the driving force behind his song writing, giving thanks to his Mum in particular through out the set. There was no trace of the "bad boy" facade that often used to be associated with rappers, only the love for combining music and poetry.

Loyle Carner doing his thing on stage with iconic
paintings as a backdrop 

Unfortunately, there were a few technical problems during the performance but he carried on regardless, doing a few tracks and pieces of spoken word without a mic. He also gave a promo of the song "Baby Grey", which he had been asked to write in response to one of the Turner prize pieces.

My favourite tracks from the EP are 'October ft Kiko Bun' (I also recommend a watch of the animated music video for it) and the ode to his father, 'Cantona'.

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Temples - Move With The Season Single Review

On the 3rd of November, Temples released their single 'Move With The Season' from their debut album 'Sun Structures'. I must admit that I didn't know much about the album but after listening to this track, my first impressions have been that Temples are a '90s moody rock' driven band. However, Temples only formed back in 2012 by singer-guitarist James Bagshaw and bassist Thomas Walmsley, making their sound fashionably outdated. Even the artwork of their album has that sepia toned retro look, it reminds me of the iconic cover artwork for Pink Floyd's 'Animals'. It's clear that Temples have been influenced heavily by 60s/70s rock, especially the psychedelic phase. Bagshaw's hairstyle resembles that of an early Robert Plant and with use of instruments such as the sitar, the Beatles' 'Magical Mystery Tour' stage is also an obvious aspiration.

I found this particular track to provide the same ambience as bands like Oasis, The Verve and the Stone Roses. With the distant, harmonised vocals and heavy drum beats, its experimental as you get lost with the layering of sounds. Although a predominantly indie rock track, I liked the mix of different genres with James Bagshaw's distinct voice and the reverberative guitar riffs. With it's unconventional song structure and random sound effects, it is perfect listening for a temperamental teenager. Although it's refreshing to find a band that are using elements of older music to create a new sound in the present day, I didn't find anything particularly new or original about their sound. It's the type of band you would see and tap your feet to at a festival when you are waiting around for your favourite artist, and then forget the song 15 minutes later. Despite the fact  they're undoubtedly talented musicians and good song writers, I just didn't find it to be anything to go wild over.

Hannah Jolley

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JP Cooper - Colour Me In Gold Shed Sessions Review

This is a song which I came across unexpectedly as I scrolled through the subscriptions list of my Youtube channel. I've loved all three videos of JacksGap's series 'Shed Sessions', not just the music but the way they're filmed and the authenticity of the chosen location.

However, JP Cooper's 'Colour Me In Gold' struck me the most as it was so unexpected. I hadn't heard of him or his music before this and so when an angelic falsetto voice hit my ears it was a bit of surprise! Additionally, the structure of this song is soothing with a falling chord progression on the guitar and whilst Cooper does his thing with all the licks, tricks and flicks possible you can't go wrong.

I thought that the lyrics and meaning of the song was nicely unconventional for what love songs usually are, making an engaging change. Also, because his image and style isn't typical of a acoustic guitar playing singer/songwriter I found it all pleasantly refreshing.

Hannah Jolley

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Gregory Porter - Movin' Track Review

I was intrigued to listen to Gregory Porter when I heard the advert for his album on Spotify as his deep talking voice already had me convinced that his singing would be rich and smooth. I wasn't disappointed, Porter's voice has that soul behind it that really reminds me of Marvin Gaye, but the little riffs and licks also make it similar to Stevie Wonder.

This track Movin' has everything you could want or expect from a jazz song. The funky horn section, jazzy piano chord progressions and a classic saxaphone solo which sends shivers down your spine. But with the soul influence, it doesn't have the repetitive sound that can sometimes come with jazz music. It also serves a good purpose as background music in the evening or just generally in a situation where mellowness is needed.

Hannah Jolley



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Once - The Musical Review

A slightly different review this time, but it had such an impact on me so I had to review it and give it some more recognition. I went to see the musical 'Once', at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End last night and it's now up there with my favourite musicals!

It's an adaptation of the Irish independent, low budget film 'Once', which was released in 2007, written and directed by John Carney. I had enjoyed seeing the film a while ago so I knew a few of the songs already but I definitely found the broadway version much more resonating. This was because of the fact that the music is live and you are able to appreciate their talent much more in the flesh. It is set in Dublin, Ireland (I always love an Irish play/film, the whole culture does it for me!) and is about a man who lives and breathes music. However, he works in a hoover repair shop helping his father and it starts out with him busking, not earning much and singing in his despaired state of mind. He is just about to give up hope when a Czech girl notices him and changes his life around by making him more determined to pursue music and giving him faith that he is good enough to get a record deal.

The music is like no other musical as it isn't happy clappy with choreographed dance routines (don't get me wrong, I love that type of musical too) but it's music that people can really relate to and understand the positions that the character's are in. The soundtrack could easily be mistaken for an indie/folk acoustic album for people not familiar with it, and can be listened to at any time along with the rest of your music library. The acoustic guitar and piano are a combination which I always feels works so well, especially in the way they are played here with the Irish influence.

David Hunter, playing 'Guy'

I was already won over when the main character Guy started talking with his Irish accent and lingo, that was before he had even started singing! But the song 'Leave' at the start of the play exposes the audience to the heart felt and love driven theme that runs through out the music. David Hunter matched the character perfectly and not to mention his flawless voice which did Glen Hansard, who played Guy in the film justice to say the least! Along with the super talented musicians playing every instrument under the sun, (mandolin, piano, violin, cello, guitar, bass you name it!) and also the well timed comedic elements, it is the perfect recipe for a good theatre experience.

The voice's of David Hunter and Jill Winternitz (who plays Girl) blend and compliment each other with the angelic harmonies and honest emotion. My favourite songs are 'When Your Mind's Made Up', 'Falling Slowly', and 'Gold' (the acapella version especially gave me goosebumps). After falling in love with Guy, I'm now trying to accept the fact that he isn't real and isn't singing those songs about me!

Hannah Jolley

You can buy tickets to see Once here

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours Album Review

'Rumours' album cover,
 released February 4th 1977

I've been meaning to listen to this album for so long now as regretfully, I only knew a few of Fleetwood Mac's well known songs before, such as 'Everywhere' (admittedly, the cute pony advert made me like it even more) and 'Go Your Own Way'. I've heard it being classed as a 'must have' and iconic album from everyone I know who owns it. After researching it, I thought seeing as it sold 45 million copies world wide, and has the title of one of the best selling albums of all time, it was worth reviewing!

I was only a few tracks in, as I noticed how different each song is in terms of style, mood and genre. For example, the track 'Never Going Back Again' has a relaxed and acoustic style to it with the instruments being stripped to only Lindsey Buckingham's vocals and the guitar. The track after this, 'Don't Stop' (one of the singles from the album) couldn't be more contrasting. It has a clear pop/rock song structure to it, even with an electric guitar solo thrown in! I also found that it has elements of bluesy rock to it with the rhythm guitar part, which would make sense as Fleetwood Mac's earlier albums were predominantly blues orientated. It's definitely a song to add to your sing a long car playlist! Another track I was surprised with was 'You Make Loving Fun' (another single), as it has so many features of funk and dance music to it, with the organ/piano part and electronically driven bass line, it would make a great song at a party.

However, my favourite track of the album has to be 'Dreams' (probably one of the most well known ones) mainly because of the beautiful and angelic vocal melodies (especially on the higher notes) sung by Stevie Nicks. I get a general warm feeling from this song, with the laid back electric guitar parts and the chorus being one of those that sticks with you. It'd be perfect for listening to whilst cruising along the motorway at night-time! It also makes me feel extremely inadequate knowing it was written by Stevie Nicks in 10 minutes...

Overall, I can surely say that this album is a versatile one, covering almost all genres of music! It's everything you could want from an album as you have feel good pop tracks such as 'Everywhere' and 'Don't Stop', to more solemn and quieter tracks such as 'Oh Daddy' and their cover of Eva Cassidy's 'Songbird', there's always a song to suit your mood. There are also blues and country elements in there with songs such as 'Second Hand News'. I now understand why 'Rumours' has sold so many copies, it definitely lives up to it's title and deserves all the praise it gets!

Hannah Jolley

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Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left Album Review

Album cover (released
September 1st 1969)

I've recently been trying to review music which I am unfamiliar with so I can (hopefully) get better at writing these! So, the place I turned to was my Dad's CD collection and he handed me a few to keep me busy, one of them being Nick Drake's 'Five Leaves Left'.

The overall feel I got from this album as I started listening was how mellow it was, with Drake's voice and the acoustic guitar parts intertwining with one another. The clear folk drive of this album is reflected with how the songs work around the intricate acoustic guitar and the vocal melodies being uncomplicated, balancing it out nicely. However, as the guitar tends to be repeated throughout most of the songs, it can feel like there is lack of progression and the songs begin to sound very similar, but that isn't always a bad thing as this album has a definite style which works well.

One of my favourite tracks from the album is 'Thoughts of Mary Jane', because of it's simplicity, basic structure and everything being completely stripped back to just his voice and guitar. Also, the general message and lyrical side to the song made my heart melt a little! There are a few tracks with strings included such as 'Fruit Tree', adding more depth to the sound, compared to other tracks which can sometimes seem a bit empty. These accompaniments work sweetly with both the guitar and vocals, reinforcing the laid back vibe. Another favourite is 'Three Hours', the guitar part for this is particularly well written and at 6 minutes long I'm surprised I didn't get bored at its repetitiveness but as it flows you soon get lost in it, being almost hypnotic. I also feel a sense of journey with this track, as though it would go well in a film where the characters jet off across the country in search of something!

After listening to this album a few times I grew to like it more and more, but I think it serves a great purpose as being easy listening background music, perhaps to help you sleep or whilst you're relaxing in a hot bath with a glass of wine after a long day!

Hannah Jolley

François & the Atlas Mountains - Piano Ombre Album Review

 

Compared to my last review, this one is for a band that aren't very well known, at least not in the UK, but after listening to the album 'Piano Ombre', I have high hopes for the future of François and the Atlas Mountains (the cool name had me intrigued from the start!) 

I discovered this band when my friends and I were at Benicassim Festival in Spain a few weeks ago, as a last minute option we went to the smaller stage before Lily Allen was headlining.. and what a great decision that was! Admittedly, I wasn't expecting much from a niche British/French band but I was so pleasantly surprised with their brilliant stage presence and the way their energy radiated onto the crowd. I was also confused as to why it was only us and about 10 other people watching them, and as much as us and the 10 other people were clearly having the time of our lives I couldn't help but notice how the band also recognised the lack of people there. However, what I loved was that they still put their all into the performance and interacted so well with us. The best part was seeing their synchronised dancing whilst playing the guitar and the lead singer's (François Marry) dancing and jumping around the stage as we all did the same in front of him. 

As soon as I got home I researched them and had this album 'Piano Ombre' on repeat, I recognised a similarity between Alt-J and them, almost like a French Alt-J. Each song falls into a different genre or has elements of different genres infused within it but they are predominantly driven by Indie-Pop/Rock. This might just be because I saw them in Summer but I feel that this album definitely has a summery sound to it, especially with one of my favourite tracks 'Summer of a Heart' (listen below). The inclusion of trumpets, electronic sound effects and African style rhythms also gives it more reason to be listened to in the warmth of the sun. My two other favourite songs are La Vérité and The Way to The Forest, for some reason I feel a sense of nostalgia with this album as if each song could remind you of happy memory from when you were younger. That's why I find this album so easy to listen to and overall a feel good album which you can rely on to cheer you up with a good head nod and singalong (by singalong I mean that I replace the French words with odd sounds in an attempt to speak French).

The slower tracks are still pleasing for the ears as Francois' smooth voice and French lingo run like melted chocolate with the flow of the catchy piano riff and strings, for example 'La Fille Aux Cheveux de Soie'. However, if you're not paying too much attention when listening to the album and using it as background music, each song can tend to run into one another and lack individuality but this doesn't effect it from being an enjoyable album that in my opinion needs more recognition.

Hannah Jolley

Coldplay: Ghost Stories Album Review

On the 16th of May 2014, Coldplay finally graced the shop shelves again with the release of their 6th studio album, Ghost Stories. As a long term Coldplay fan, I was looking forward to hearing fresh material of theirs and like most of their albums, this one was more heartfelt than ever, following the confirmation of Chris Martin's split from Gwyneth Paltrow.

The clear message of the album is about having the capacity to love and as Chris says in the Zane Lowe interview (which I highly recommend watching) "you've got to open yourself up to love and if you really do, of course it will be painful at times, but then it will be great at some point." Coldplay have this wonderful ability to tie in words and music so smoothly and this is heard as each song progresses into one another. Without sounding too cliche, the album tells a story with each song being a different chapter of Chris' emotional state and in a way I felt honoured to be listening to something which exposed such true and raw emotion.

The opening track 'Always In My Head' starts the album off with dreamy synths before the first line of Chris' smooth vocals, I felt as though this set the mood of the album as the message of the songs always revolve back to this feeling of reflectiveness. As much as I love the mellowness of this song, there is a good mix on the album of the upbeat feel good songs compared to the stripped back, softer songs. One of the singles from this album is Magic, with a catchy bass line, it has great rhythm and the electronic elements included were really refreshing to hear as it wasn't typical of Coldplay's style. Probably my favourite track of the album is Ink, which also has this catchy melody with a classic pop beat but what makes it my favourite above Magic is the atmospheric stabs and shimmers with the powerful chorus.

As much as these up tempo songs are beautiful to listen to in the light of the sun, when you properly listen to the lyrics it reminds you of the underlying sadness of the album. You're reminded of this in the more hypnotic songs such as True Love, Another's Arms and Midnight, which stripped back vocals and synths have an immersive effect. I also found this with the pulse that runs throughout the track 'Oceans', it reminds me of the sea's tide washing in and out to shore. This is perfect to listen to at night time, especially with headphones so you can become completely lost in the song, that's the best feeling for me, being able to lose yourself in the music.

What I saw as the climax of the album though, is the single 'A Sky Full Of Stars'. They collaborated with Swedish producer Avicii for this, explaining the dance fuelled piano and anthem chorus, but they kept it Coldplay with the sentimental lyrics and guitar riffs. I feel like this track is the final release of all emotion from Chris Martin and my favourite thing is seeing him dancing when they perform it live, (it genuinely makes me smile like the cheshire cat). To top the album off is the last song, 'O'. It's hard to explain how simply beautiful this track is, but for me what makes it so special is the faultless vocals, and Chris' daughter Apple and son Moses singing at the end in the sound scape. My favourite line "fly on right through, maybe one day I can fly with you" with the compelling piano is the icing on the cake and makes it for me, one of the best songs on the album. 

Overall, I find Ghost Stories hard to fault as I think Coldplay are so faultless already with their chemistry as a  band and also as individual musicians. But I truly think this is possibly their best album to date and even if you're not a Coldplay fan I would give it a listen so you can at least appreciate the craftsmanship that was needed to create it. 

Hannah Jolley

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