Described as Casio-Pop I totally love this new single from Beautiful Word. Fronted by Emily Bryant from Kirrie Scotland and Brighton’s Megan Clifton, this is just the kind of tune to welcome in Spring days and the drawing out nights. There seems to me to be a real chemistry between the girls that abounds throughout the track. With the right exposure these girls could easily be soundtracking your Summer. It’s the kind of track to make you want to drop the top or open your windows wide and sing a long during a road trip.

May Not Be Love is available from Bandcamp HERE and also I-tunes

Website HERE

At times obscurely self indulgent and even beyond the comprehension of my mortal coil, Axel Loughrey’s follow up to 2012 longplayer Crayon Factory intrigues me. His ability to let you into the world of Axel through song is as forthright and open as the man himself. For me it’s an endearing trait there is no hidden agenda to Poet’s Road it’s a fascinating insight into one mans perceptions of working towards his goal.It’s observational genius at it’s best on ‘Your’e Kind Of Cute Though You Walk Funny’.

As with anything Axel Loughrey we veer wildly through an emotional rollercoaster of his disdain for people taking the industry dollar on Mallleable Boy to the quite beautiful Melancholy Soul. I described his album as reminding me of Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas, this e.p is more Fear and Loving in London .

What is apparent is his musical development since the ‘Love Thing E.P’, what direction Axel takes himself only Axel knows. But surely that’s the unpredictability that’s so sadly lacking in the Malleable Boy’s he so eloquently describes.

This drops digitally April 20th via Allsorted records

My inbox is brimming with artists I’m told are the real deal, I’m often left wondering if people actually listen with open ears ! Sometimes very rarely I hasten to add a real star of the future pop’s up in the mix of dross. Ollie Rudge aged just 18 from the midlands is the real deal, he has a songwriting maturity that belies his tender years. To set these lyrics out there for examination accompanied only by the most minimalist of guitar picking is an art form. Ollie cites his mums record collection as providing him with a real varied bag of influences from Motown to the jazz-funk of Jay kay. I personally find a vocal similarity to Finlay Quaye set musically somewhere in the region of Bon Iver, James Vincent McMorrow and hints of Ben Howard.

Those amongst you who are cynical to the current crop of Ed Sheeran wannabe’s out there should be excited just like I am that there is a young lad out there wanting to cut his own path. Just as the likes of Jamie Woon and James Blake have done, Ollie for me has that streak of rebelliousness in his music. Originality ,cutting lyrics delivered in a heartfelt manner are hard to find in these days of instant manufactured nonsense that spoon feeds the masses through commercial radio. Artists this talented come along very rarely and the name of Ollie Rudge should be spread far and wide by those of us who have a real love for music.

Ollie’s five track debut self released five track e.p drops 15th April via I-Tunes and is available now for pre order. He has already secured slot’s at Folk East, Latitude,Glastonbury & Secret Garden Party.

I-Tunes Preorder HERE

Facebook Page HERE

Images courtesy of ANDI SAPEY Many thanks

Having been asked to Judge the ETC in it’s inaugural year when bloggers compiled the long list in 2011 I was thrilled to be asked again this year by Sue Wheeler and her fabulous team. It was something I really missed last year due to the Olympics and Glastonbury hiatus. The very name Glastonbury is synonymous with the word Festival it’s the daddy of them all !! Make no mistake this is a competition of high stakes but run in an ethical and above all friendly fashion. Arriving on the night it was great yet again to see all the artists mingling and chatting encouraging each other. There is an almost surreal air about Pilton Working Mens Club perching on an incline overlooking the tree line of the festival. Musically minded local residents making up some of the crowd as well as some heavyweight music types.

In 2011 I felt there were maybe three acts who could win the final this year it was nowhere near as clear cut. The musical mix across the genres i’m sure made the judges decision a real hard one. The one thing that stood out above everything else on the night was just how tight all the acts were.

Bridie Jackson and The Arbour

Many consider the opening slot to be the hardest,however Bridie and the Girls silenced a chattering bar with fabulous harmonies and instrumentation. Cajon and a rather dark cello accompanied stunning vocals that echoed around the room heads nodded and the appreciation was universal.

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Lillian Todd Jones

Introduced as a fire dancer by the compere Lillian and her band delivered a competent set of songs. Her vocal shifts easily between a snarling grungy feel to a more soft tone on some of the more stripped back parts of the set. Although she was not one of my personal favourites I can see her having a big career in the future.

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Port Isla

A band I know well and have championed over the last couple of years they have grown to be a real tour de force live. They have a certain self assured swagger that comes from playing lots of gigs. Money maybe able to buy you a record deal these days but you can’t buy stagecraft and last night Will and the boy’s had it in abundance. They must of been ones for the judges shortlist there brand of indie-folk works on so many levels.

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Rhys Lloyd Morgan

Hailing from Bridgend , Rhys and his stripped back set really worked for me, despite his prostrations that he really was not sure how he had made the final!! I would happily pay money to listen to his tales delivered in an almost Tom Waits style lyrically .

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Black Balloons

These Scottish reprobates were the only what you could describe as a guitar indie band. They had a full anthemic sound and in parts reminded me of Big Country soaring guitars and catchy songs lit up the crowd .Front man Muzzy was one of the more engaging characters of the evening at times singing through his fringe !!

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The Dancers

After such an impressive array of artists I was wondering what these French Brighton based indie posters could bring to the table. They were already one of the acts that I had earmarked as big contenders. To be brutally honest they totally smashed it lively ,energetic, infectious guitars alongside melodic synths. I’m sure they would of been crowd surfing to the back of the room had it been possible. These guy’s will for sure be all over your radio within a year they must of come within a cat’s whisker of winning !

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Isaiah Dreads

He may of been the youngest finalist at just 15 but he was certainly full of confidence, introducing himself on stage via rhyme. We were subjected to a machine gun set of grime. This boy will be a huge star and the crowd totally lapped it up. This kind of genre is way out of my musical comfort zone but he had me transfixed to the stage.

A Band Called Wanda

From over the water in Ireland these guy’s kind of delivered exactly what it said on the tin. Their brand of Irish folk was really well delivered and although not really my cup of tea I could see the appeal.

As with all competitions there can only be one winner having said that every act that made the bloggers longlist of 120 was a winner in my book. The eight finalists should be really proud to have made it through from 8,000 entries, they should all be equally proud of giving their all and providing a fabulous night of entertainment.

So after deliberating the judges picked a very shocked Bridie Jackson and The Arbour as the winners of the Emerging talent Contest 2013. The eight thousand had become one I look forward to seeing them at the festival well done Bridie !!

All images used are by Jason Bryant the official photographer at last night’s final once again congratulations and thanks for having us see you in 2014 !!

Glastonbury website

For the last couple of months I’ve been sitting on what is for me the most innovative and refreshing long-player since I first started blogging nearly six years ago ! People often ask me why I spend hours cooped up in an office checking through e-mails night after night,bands like this are exactly the reason it’s worthwhile.

The album kind of does exactly what it says on the tin, cleverly using archive material from the BFI studio canal and various American public information films. What J.Wilgoose esq alongside his drumming companion Wrigglesworth have done is deliver a simplistic yet layered complex wall of sound to accompany the sampled vocals. Although already well known for the amazing you tube video’s and live shows, the transference into an album that ebbs and flows throughout its eleven tracks has been achieved in masterful fashion. I have long extolled the virtues of these guys ‘The War Room e.p’ released last year only further heightened my affection. From that e.p only ‘Spitfire’ has made the album and rightly so it was our track of the year in 2012.

I fully expected the aforementioned ‘Spitfire’ to be the stand out track on the revolving disc, however it says something for the standard of the long player that it purely serves as an uplifting interlude sandwiched between the overture-esque opener ‘Inform Educate Entertain’ & Theme From PSB . This opening track actually serves as a kind of trailer sampling sections of what is to follow. I’m sure that there are some of you out there who are sceptical as to the merits of what the guy’s do. Though I’m pretty sure there were those who thought Kraftwerk didn’t make music of consequence in the 1970′s. The use of traditional instruments such as the banjo alongside the hi-tech wizardry only endears me more to PSB.

The pure artistry in weaving W.H Auden’s ‘Night Mail’ complete with John Grierson’s 1936 audio speeded up transforms it into a 21c masterpiece every bit as powerful as the Britten composed masterpiece . I guess also why PSB work so well for me is the historical angle behind the tracks, I had never watched that original footage till I researched the album. Much was the same for ‘Lit Up’ Thomas Woodrooffe (1899 – 1978 Naval Officer providing the spoken word in this instance. According to his account, he met some old naval friends and had a few for old times sake, only to attempt the broadcast later on. BBC pulled the live broadcast after a couple of minutes when it became clear just how drunk he was.

I could go on in this fashion and dissect all the tracks for you, however that will spoil your pleasure when you purchase this exquisite piece of social commentary. Dropping on May 6th via Test Card Recordings it is a must buy for any music aficionado.

Be warned track three Theme From PSB , will sit in your head in subliminally. Many times recently I’ve garnered strange looks as I walk down the street uttering Public-Service-Public-Service-Public- Service- Public -Service -Broadcasting.

‘People have asked me why my album reviews are always positive it’s quite simple I don’t review anything I don’t like to me it’s a futile exercise and often hurtful especially to new artists who have worked hard on something they believe in.’

Having run out of superlatives and got that off my chest, this body of work is head and shoulders above anything else released so far in 2013 and scores 10/10 !!

I look forward to the Norwich date at Open tickets HERE

LIVE TRANSMISSIONS

THE HIGHLANDS TOUR

30 April – An Tobar, Mull
1 May – Sal Mor Ostaig, Skye
2 May – Ironworks, Inverness
3 May – Woodlands Centre, Stornoway
4 May – The Arch Inn, Ullapool
5 May – Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore

INFORM – EDUCATE – ENTERTAIN ALBUM TOUR – MAY

7 May – The Caves, Edinburgh
8 May – ABC2, Glasgow
9 May – The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
10 May – The Cluny, Newcastle
11 May – Westgarth Social Club, Middlesbrough
13 May – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
14 May – Sound Control, Manchester
15 May – The Kazimier, Liverpool
16 May – The Leadmill, Sheffield
17 May – Bodega Social, Nottingham
18 May – HMV Institute Temple, Birmingham
20 May – Roxx, Southampton
21 May – The Haunt, Brighton
22 May – Village Underground, London
23 May – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
24 May – The Fleece, Bristol
25 May – OPEN, Norwich
28 May – The Stiff Kitten, Belfast
30 May – Cyprus Avenue, Cork
31 May – The Button Factory, Dublin

http://publicservicebroadcasting.net/

Twitter @PSB_HQ

Sometimes you come across a new artist via the strangest of sources, I stumbled upon the prodigious talent of Anassa whilst looking through my twitter feed. At the tender age of only just thirteen she only picked up a microphone in a serious manner literally a couple months ago. Having already caught the attention of boy band lawson who who have tweeted her cover version of ‘A New dawn’. As good as that cover is, it was this reworking of Swedish House Mafia’s ‘Don’t You Worry Child’ that has had me raving to anyone who will listen today. Showing vocal maturity way beyond her tender age this clever cover is as good as anything you will hear coming from Madia Vale by established artists for the BBC in a live lounge session. So I must thank one Mr Robbie Savage for introducing me to Anassa of whom I’m more than certain we will be hearing a great deal more from in the coming years !!

https://twitter.com/anassaoneill

I am kind of getting into the habit of doing a videophile once a week I know , I know it’s lazy blogging but the visuals are great right ? So this week’s first offering is from the duo in the image above.

On April 15, indie label Paracadute will release PYYRAMIDS’ full-length debut, Brightest Darkest Day. The band – helmed by Tim Nordwind from indie rock band OK Go and Drea Smith of the electro-pop outfit He Say/She Say – will preview material from the forthcoming album at SXSW. They will celebrate the album’s release with an East Coast run followed by a couple of UK dates at The Shacklewell Arms 17th April & Koko on the 19th. I have a promo of the album and it’s ace !! (review to come very soon )

Website HERE

Dark Horses are a welcome to be featured anytime here at Play Pause Rewind towers they are certainly one of my current buzz bands !!

Ahead of their tour, Dark Horses have released a video for previous single ‘Alone’. Directed by Pierre Angelique, this ‘music film’ is an intimate tour through a photographer’s studio and features a rather scantily-clad woman creating a path through a forest of blown-up prints.

The band have this to say on the video: “There is only one real antidote to the anguish engendered in humanity by it’s awareness of death: Erotic joy.”

website with tour details HERE

Finally I want to share this stunning video for the latest single by Paloma Faith. I have had a soft spot for Paloma ever since I bumped into her at a Louise and the Pins gig in Camden Wheelbarrow. It was refreshing to see an established star turn out for a friends free gig with no airs or graces. Lets not let that draw us away from the fact that this is both a stunning track and video.

Paloma’s asked me to ask if the video director, Si Allen, could be credited in any posts. She was introduced to him by the director of the ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ video, Anthony Saul, who’s been working with her since her early days as a singer. (She’s very loyal!)

All thing Paloma HERE

First of all I would like to put it in the public domain that for me this is the most important talent contest in the UK. I guess that I should justify such a bold statement , my main reasoning is that bloggers pick the long list with no hidden agenda apart from a love of music. I’m honoured to have been part of process since it’s inception in this format. The fact that the 120 acts that made the bloggers longlist were so strong is testament that the faith placed in us by the daddy of all festivals, is justified !!

It really is a painstaking job to listen to the list of 200 artists as a judge and pick just three to put forward to those around the table at Worthy farm !! One can only imagine how hard it is to pick the eight lucky finalists remembering that over 8,000 entered in just a week !! I think it’s best left to Emily Eavis to sum up their thoughts !!

Said Emily Eavis: “This year the standard was particularly high and we had a real struggle to cut it down to only 8 finalists, but we are extremely happy with the finalists and have had them on repeat here in the farmhouse for the last few days. We look forward to the live finals next month. Thank you to everyone who entered – and to our amazing panel of blogger judges for narrowing down the thousands of entrants to such a great long list.”

So onto the the final April 6th at Pilton working men’s club this invite only night will live long in the memory of all the acts I’m sure.Personally I’m really stoked to be asked to attend again ,although you could cut the atmosphere with a knife last time it was a really friendly affair. There is a real diversity to the line up and I’m sure it’s going to be a difficult decision for the panel !!

I’m not even going to speculate on the outcome beyond saying that I will be nailing my colours firmly to the Port Isla mast. I’m so pleased they have made the final they would certainly of been in my top 3, had they been on my playlist. They are a band local to me that I have supported via the site,radio and they played a storming gig last summer for me.

I can’t finish this post without mentioning our three choices which although not making the final cut, I hope will take away positivity from making the top 120. I would also like to assure them and the other three acts that formed my top six, that as a site which takes pride in supporting new artists we will continue to follow and support them all we can !! So the message I guess is to stay in touch !!

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news/emerging-talent-competition-finalists-announced The Finalists !!

http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news/2013-emerging-talent-competition-longlist-announced Thought the longlist was well worth including here as well

The Finalist’s on a nice little neat playlist below well done to them all !!

Time is tight tonight so here is a quick videophile of some tracks that have been getting me in the groove the last few days !!

Loving this new track by Context MC right out of my genre but good music is good music right !!

All things Context MC HERE

Franko Fraize is another guy I have a lot of time for big talent in my book. This video dropped a couple of days ago for his new single he will be my studio guest on Future Radio April 4th 8-10pm.

All things Franko Fraize HERE

Herve have dropped this video for Gold directed by Tim Kelly the track is lifted from ‘The Art of Disappearing’ released today via Cheap Thrills. I’m currently checking out the album to review it’s pretty ace !!

Check out more HERE

Fake Major – Little Researcher from Comets And Cartwheels on Vimeo.

Here is the brand new video for their track ‘Little Researcher’. There is something instantly endearing about this track, it may draw comparisons with Belle & Sebastian, but for me, it has more guts, it is its own beast and it is infinitely pleasing. The cinematography in the video is excellent. All I can really do is recommend highly, and that I hope is recommendation enough.

Previously playing in their original band, Endor, David McGinty (Who’s vocals featured on four tracks of Snow Patrol’s, 2006 album, Eyes Open) and Richard Fergusan return with their latest project, launched on February 8th. Having prepared for the launch by supporting Washington Irving in Glasgow, and Frightened Rabbit in Edinburgh, the duo are looking forward to a busy schedule of live shows as they build up to releasing their debut EP.

Although Fake Major’s list of band members is only two names strong, their music sounds like anything but the work of a simple four-armed singer songwriter.

Richard Ferguson and David McGinty have been successfully producing well-crafted pop music throughout their youth, and now with their new project, Fake Major, they present their writing in its most instinctive form.

On record, the band explore their ideas whilst ignoring the need to perfectly recreate the sounds on stage, making for elaborately arranged and dynamic compositions. Live, these same songs are stripped down, not into acoustic versions, but refined, articulate performances built around the delicate blend of the band’s dual vocals.

The truest version of Fake Major exists somewhere between the record and the venue, to fully appreciate the often opposing factors with which the band play, you’d better form a relationship with both experiences.

Steve

Fake Major – Facebook

Fake Major – Twitter