Now that I'm spending almost every waking second either doing, thinking about doing or avoiding doing shorthand, my time is regretfully being sapped away in stacks of flimsy A4 sheets tattooed with illegible scribbles.
Normally I savour hours spent trawling the web for new musical gems, idly flicking through the deepest recesses of HypeMachine or following a string of music blogs, or even checking out other people's carefully compiled Spotify playlists, but current time constraints (and the realisation that real, non humanities university courses man up for more than three hours a week), mean that I'm still listening to Gyptian from my June playlist.
My Masters course offers the opportunity to choose a specialism and in the hope of getting actual timetabled study time to indulge my melodic vice, I've got all wriggly limbs crossed in the hope that some Admin elf will choose yours truly for a programme which would span reviews, interviews and all things musically orientated in the journalism monde.
As I wait in hope for selection, take a look below at a brilliant example of a "back-stage" media platform from the delicious Phoenix. This YouTube-based expose of the Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix record began yesterday and will be continuing for the the next two weeks at the rate of nine episodes. So far both the French fancies and their producer Phillip Zdar have painstakingly taken us through the making of both ebuillent Lisztomania and the joyful 1901 in lip-smackingly velvety French with a passion for their music-making which seeps from the screen.
The viewer is guided through their rickety studio, through the complexities of the Phoneix song writing - Lisztomania is the hybrid of no less than FIVE songs - their writer's block, the bit that sounds like a "pirate attack"....Check out the Phoenix-narrated Lisztomania video below.
Head straight to http://wearephoenix.com/journal/ for the daily updates!
This Chiddy Bang choon (produced by phitty Pharrell) is shamelessly ripped from the "most popular" bit of HypeMachine but no less amazing for it.
© Miranda Thompson 2010.
DISCLAIMER: The video links hosted on my blog are not being presented as my own. If you believe that the copyright in your work has been violated through this post, please contact me through the blog
Showing posts with label Phoenix. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phoenix. Show all posts
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Sunday, 21 March 2010
So sentimental
On a trawl through the beauteous pages of the Guardian’s music section online, up popped a cheeky interview with French rock gods Phoenix,who are not only enjoying a blaze of success with their latest album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix AND as a well deserved Grammy, but are also apparently providing musical inspiration to under-tens across the world. They referenced this adorable video as “something that would bring a tear to the eye of a Nazi Officer.”
Je suis complètement d’accord.
Apparently also tweeted by Kylie (her opinion’s got to count for something), this YouTube bounty features a gaggle of elementary school children singing their little hearts out to Phoenix’s Lisztomania with more emphatic hand gestures and soaring melodies than all of Mariah Carey’s greatest hits. I wouldn’t say I’m normally in the habit of publishing the latest YouTube phenomenon but this is one deserved exception.
It’s a double whammy - I’m currently also loving this Holy Ghost! Loves Paris remix siphoned off an always fabulous Kitsuné remix compilation (number 2, fyi). Throbbing bass and dancing synths give it an almost Friendly Fires feel.
Read the rest of the interview here AND get 8 live tracks performed by Phoenix in Sydney completely free!! There’s nowt like a freebie.
On a completely, completely different note, I don’t think you could get any further from Phoenix and small school children than this next track.
Featuring all of the Young Money lot (aka my dream crew), and the immortal lyrics “Call me Mr Flintstone, I can make your bedrock”, it is SUCH a terrible song that it went right round the back of the scale of awfulness and bounced back out at amazing. Currently dominating that elusive half an hour in the Exeter clubs where they put on Rihanna, then Iyaz, followed by JLS, it’s also got Drake in it, which immediately makes it immense in my book. With a banterous video depicting a day-in-the-life of Young Money, crammed with strategically placed hotties, red phone boxes and the yummy Lloyd hiding behind a fridge, it’s as catchy as lice in a nursery. Just try and stop yourself jiggling about like a fool.
© Miranda Thompson 2010
DISCLAIMER: The video links hosted on my blog are not being presented as my own. If you believe that the copyright in your work has been violated through this post, please contact me through the blog
Je suis complètement d’accord.
Apparently also tweeted by Kylie (her opinion’s got to count for something), this YouTube bounty features a gaggle of elementary school children singing their little hearts out to Phoenix’s Lisztomania with more emphatic hand gestures and soaring melodies than all of Mariah Carey’s greatest hits. I wouldn’t say I’m normally in the habit of publishing the latest YouTube phenomenon but this is one deserved exception.
It’s a double whammy - I’m currently also loving this Holy Ghost! Loves Paris remix siphoned off an always fabulous Kitsuné remix compilation (number 2, fyi). Throbbing bass and dancing synths give it an almost Friendly Fires feel.
Read the rest of the interview here AND get 8 live tracks performed by Phoenix in Sydney completely free!! There’s nowt like a freebie.
On a completely, completely different note, I don’t think you could get any further from Phoenix and small school children than this next track.
Featuring all of the Young Money lot (aka my dream crew), and the immortal lyrics “Call me Mr Flintstone, I can make your bedrock”, it is SUCH a terrible song that it went right round the back of the scale of awfulness and bounced back out at amazing. Currently dominating that elusive half an hour in the Exeter clubs where they put on Rihanna, then Iyaz, followed by JLS, it’s also got Drake in it, which immediately makes it immense in my book. With a banterous video depicting a day-in-the-life of Young Money, crammed with strategically placed hotties, red phone boxes and the yummy Lloyd hiding behind a fridge, it’s as catchy as lice in a nursery. Just try and stop yourself jiggling about like a fool.
© Miranda Thompson 2010
DISCLAIMER: The video links hosted on my blog are not being presented as my own. If you believe that the copyright in your work has been violated through this post, please contact me through the blog
Thursday, 11 March 2010
She spoke words that would melt in your hand, she spoke words of wisdom
You know the sinking feeling you get when it’s the end of your birthday or you’re back on the bus to the airport post holiday? I can’t seem to shake a slight sense of pessimism. My Bristol gig-going has stumbled to a halt and it’s time to stop burying my head in the sand and pretend like 10,000 words are going to write themselves. However, a bright ray of light was provided this morning by the visit of our Royal Monarch Elizabeth II and her hunk of a hubby, Prince Philip, who briefly shook Exeter out of its sleepy Thursday morning stupor in a flurry of gleaming Range Rovers and royal waves.
Our sovereign. God save the Queen.
It’s been a solid week. Four completely different acts crammed in over the space of 6 days; from the lushness of Passion Pit, to dirrrty remixes of Tinie Tempah by Utah Saints (swiftly moving on from the disappointment of Scratch Perverts), via mini mosh and MC-ing with Hadouken and signed off with a flourish in the form of new obsession, Two Door Cinema Club.
TDCC (for typing’s sake) are hotter than a hot dog being served up in blazing August heat; the 3 baby faced Bangor lads were snapped up by crème de la crème French label Kitsuné and have just released their debut album Tourist History to much critical acclaim and much spotify rotation. Their delicious blend of gleeful electropop featuring skittering guitar melodies and angelic vocals makes their music oh so moreish. I couldn’t bloody wait for them to take to the stage at the Thekla on Tuesday night.
First off, however, the buzzing crowd were treated to The Citadels, a London based group and slight Arcade Fire soundalikes who aren’t afraid of veering into “kooky” territory. I very much appreciated the keyboardist’s beautiful marine sequinned jacket.
Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/citadelsmusic
Now onto the good stuff. What can I say? Time flew by in a whirl of energy and vibrance eked out from frantically strung guitars, inciting mosh pit mayhem. Lead singer Alex Trimble’s delicate voice hung in the air as the guitarist and bassist kept up a thunderous melody of song; with the latter literally bounding off the walls as the other performed some adorable Busted-esque hops in his shadowy corner.
Glorious or what?
A-dorable
The album is an absolute treat and they sound a thousand times better live; test your tastebuds with the arching, slightly mournful This Is The Life.
Or….the carousing Come Back Home.
I got a serious case of “Man on Stage” syndrome. It happens to the best of us. And in this case the lucky recipient was none other than said boy band impersonator, guitarist Sam who charmed the socks off me with his slightly weak on stage banter and much twiddling of his knobs (lolz). Syndrome unabated I marched straight up to him post gig and a slightly one sided conversation ensued, following the classic opener “you dance like you’re in Busted.” I managed to get onto the subject of festivals and although he wasn’t at liberty to reveal any more than the fact they would be playing at Oxegen and T in the Park festivals, I can probably exclusively reveal that they will definitely NOT be playing Beach Break Live. Actually, this is 100 per cent for sure. Sam hadn’t even heard of it.
Our mate Sam with two of his adoring fans, Oli and Woz
In other news, they will also be participating in what must be my dream spring 2010 line up; a French tour supporting the gods that are Phoenix which takes a pitstop in my old Alpine stomping ground of Grenoble. Obviously I took the opportunity to liberally inform the poor sod of all the local tourist must-visits, including the grottiest Erasmus populated bar known to man, London Pub. Speaking of Phoenix, this song was played in that half an hour aural equivalent to no man’s land in the awkward space between support act and main band; words cannot describe to you my joy on hearing this, a song I’ve been trying to put a name to for years. You’ll probably recognise it from the Scar-Jo fest that was Lost in Translation; a warming, adorable ditty that demands to be put on repeat.
Twitter also provided this wee delight for me earlier; an adorable cover of the I Can Talk video made by consummate professionals.
Compare and contrast with the original:
There's nowt much more to say than that I'm bursting for festival season like a small child needs the toilet, and when I’ve finally got enough pennies they’re all going straight towards a precious Beach Break Ticket with a line up that looks set to rock the Welsh coastline to its rocky core; including the likes of the elusive Ellie Goulding and Chase and Status
See you down the front.
© Miranda Thompson 2010
DISCLAIMER: The video links hosted on my blog are not being presented as my own. If you believe that the copyright in your work has been violated through this post, please contact me through the blog
Our sovereign. God save the Queen.
It’s been a solid week. Four completely different acts crammed in over the space of 6 days; from the lushness of Passion Pit, to dirrrty remixes of Tinie Tempah by Utah Saints (swiftly moving on from the disappointment of Scratch Perverts), via mini mosh and MC-ing with Hadouken and signed off with a flourish in the form of new obsession, Two Door Cinema Club.
TDCC (for typing’s sake) are hotter than a hot dog being served up in blazing August heat; the 3 baby faced Bangor lads were snapped up by crème de la crème French label Kitsuné and have just released their debut album Tourist History to much critical acclaim and much spotify rotation. Their delicious blend of gleeful electropop featuring skittering guitar melodies and angelic vocals makes their music oh so moreish. I couldn’t bloody wait for them to take to the stage at the Thekla on Tuesday night.
First off, however, the buzzing crowd were treated to The Citadels, a London based group and slight Arcade Fire soundalikes who aren’t afraid of veering into “kooky” territory. I very much appreciated the keyboardist’s beautiful marine sequinned jacket.
Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/citadelsmusic
Now onto the good stuff. What can I say? Time flew by in a whirl of energy and vibrance eked out from frantically strung guitars, inciting mosh pit mayhem. Lead singer Alex Trimble’s delicate voice hung in the air as the guitarist and bassist kept up a thunderous melody of song; with the latter literally bounding off the walls as the other performed some adorable Busted-esque hops in his shadowy corner.
Glorious or what?
A-dorable
The album is an absolute treat and they sound a thousand times better live; test your tastebuds with the arching, slightly mournful This Is The Life.
Or….the carousing Come Back Home.
I got a serious case of “Man on Stage” syndrome. It happens to the best of us. And in this case the lucky recipient was none other than said boy band impersonator, guitarist Sam who charmed the socks off me with his slightly weak on stage banter and much twiddling of his knobs (lolz). Syndrome unabated I marched straight up to him post gig and a slightly one sided conversation ensued, following the classic opener “you dance like you’re in Busted.” I managed to get onto the subject of festivals and although he wasn’t at liberty to reveal any more than the fact they would be playing at Oxegen and T in the Park festivals, I can probably exclusively reveal that they will definitely NOT be playing Beach Break Live. Actually, this is 100 per cent for sure. Sam hadn’t even heard of it.
Our mate Sam with two of his adoring fans, Oli and Woz
In other news, they will also be participating in what must be my dream spring 2010 line up; a French tour supporting the gods that are Phoenix which takes a pitstop in my old Alpine stomping ground of Grenoble. Obviously I took the opportunity to liberally inform the poor sod of all the local tourist must-visits, including the grottiest Erasmus populated bar known to man, London Pub. Speaking of Phoenix, this song was played in that half an hour aural equivalent to no man’s land in the awkward space between support act and main band; words cannot describe to you my joy on hearing this, a song I’ve been trying to put a name to for years. You’ll probably recognise it from the Scar-Jo fest that was Lost in Translation; a warming, adorable ditty that demands to be put on repeat.
Twitter also provided this wee delight for me earlier; an adorable cover of the I Can Talk video made by consummate professionals.
Compare and contrast with the original:
There's nowt much more to say than that I'm bursting for festival season like a small child needs the toilet, and when I’ve finally got enough pennies they’re all going straight towards a precious Beach Break Ticket with a line up that looks set to rock the Welsh coastline to its rocky core; including the likes of the elusive Ellie Goulding and Chase and Status
See you down the front.
© Miranda Thompson 2010
DISCLAIMER: The video links hosted on my blog are not being presented as my own. If you believe that the copyright in your work has been violated through this post, please contact me through the blog
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)