Open up a beer... and play a video game?

Lana Del Rey - Video Games

When I read that Lana Del Rey (AKA Lizzy Grant) described herself as the “Gangsta Nancy Sinatra” my face contorted like a child whose been served a plate full of greens for dinner. It’s the sort of hyperbole that pisses me off because more often than not the music won’t live up to its sales pitch. This is not one of those times.

In fact ‘Video Games’ is nothing short of a seductive delight. Where Del Rey’s voice is a powerfully complex instrument, sounding satisfyingly gravelly and oozing with sexuality. Capable of twisting lyrics like “Heaven is a place on earth with you” and making them sound romantic, depressing and sarcastic all at once.

When she sings “go play your video game” or “this is my idea of fun” you're forced to make your own mind up as to whether she’s expressing genuine affection towards her subject or delivering a scathing remark to an emotionally unavailable lover. It’s compelling stuff.

So despite my ongoing reservations about the sound bytes she uses to sell her music, I’m going to have to grudgingly accept that just this once, someone has actually managed to live up to their own hype.

Top noch stuff, you’ve really gone that extra mile

The Chap - Well Done You

For the last five years I’ve spent the majority of my time staring vacantly at computer screens whilst writing user guides for software systems. Spending my energies desperately trying to stay awake through conversations that are as recycled as the air in the offices which house them. I was exhausted. I needed a change.

So last year when I was approaching my thirtieth birthday I took stock of my life. What did I want? Did I really want to spend another half decade talking about business processes and instructing employees when to “Press Save”? Faced with that sort of question the decision was easy. Ten months later I’ve left my job, moved 200 miles north and am about to begin studying for a degree in Music Journalism. For the first time in a decade, I’m excited about what each day might hold. Not just waiting for the weekend.

Before I can really jump into my new life I felt it was necessary to address the one which I’m leaving behind and that’s where “Well Done You” by UK satirical act The Chap comes in. Taken from their 2010 album “Well Done Europe” it perfectly encapsulates what office life is like. At the core of the song is it’s methodical pacing mirroring the repetitive nature of life in office world, where days bleed into one long chore and are soundtracked by monotone voices full of back handed compliments and feigned enthusiasm.

I may have only moved 200 miles away, but it already feels like a world apart.

Do you know what's best for me?

It's fair to say that the event's over the past few nights have left me stunned, the video footage of the nihilistic mob mindlessly looting London's boroughs has left me feeling uneasy and slightly sick. I'm not going to open a debate about what the causes of such event are, I'll only end up with insomnia.

Instead I'm going to share with you a song by Liars called Here Comes All The People, which I think perfectly encapsulates whats been happening over the last three nights.

I hope any of my readers / listeners in London are all safe this evening.

  

 Lyrics -

(We should start a fire)
Numbers falling into piles
Watching all the ones drip
Into the divide

All the even numbers falling into piles
Watching all the ones drip
Into the divide

What's the color? What's the time?
What's the number? What'd you find?
Every yellow object sorted into piles
Do you know what's best for me?
You do when we see
The moon eclipse the morning sun
You have a life to see
A way to be known

Fire, you should start a fire
We should start a fire
We should start a fire
You should start it first
Life possession could be fun
Counting victims one by one
Life possession could be fun
Counting victims one by one
We can count them one through eight
Skipping two, four, six and ten
Lose your conscience or your mind
Though we're not afraid to die
Make our fortune sailing seas
Be the breath blowing the breeze
Life possession could be fun
Counting victims one by one
Counting victims one by one

I wish that every time he touched me left a mark

EMA - Marked

In May this year South Dakota’s Erika M. Anderson (EMA) released her first LP Past Life Martyred Saints. A difficult record to listen to, its theme’s of abuse, alienation, obsession and sorrow will be too much for some to endure. However those that persevere will be richly rewarded as the record is both discomforting and achingly beautiful.

‘Marked’ is my favourite song from the album which apparently “came out fully formed in one take” Sonically the song is a fairly sparse affair, where no sound is superfluous or wasted and every layer has been added with the most deliberate purpose. The track opens with a plodding acoustic guitar that’s heavy on string shifting squeaks and where Anderson’s voice rasps amongst the notes. This simplicity forms a backdrop against which the lyrics paint a disturbing picture.

For when Anderson sing’s “Don’t you know that I would never hurt you? You are such a pretty thing” it sounds as if she’s recalling a promise made to her rather than by her. Something that becomes clearer when she starts to repeat “I wish that every time he touched me left a mark” Allowing her listeners a few moments to question. What do those two statements mean in context of each other? What happened to her? The answers your imagination come back with are universally abhorrent. So much so that when the warming organ washes in and disperses these dark thoughts it comes as a palpable relief.

The skill EMA displays in leading you along these paths of emotion is subtle and will take multiple listens to fully appreciate, but once you do the song becomes something truly extraordinary.

EMA’s Past Life Martyred Saints is available to buy now from 7 digital and all good record shops

Marked by editradio

Waiting for a Car, Waiting for a ride in the dark

M83 - Midnight City

M83 are finally back! It's been three years since the French electro outfit led by Anthony Gonzalez their last album and from the sound of ‘Midnight City’ not one-second of that time has been wasted.

For those of you who’ve never heard anything by the band before, they’re music is hugely influenced by the popular culture of the 80’s. Indeed it’s very difficult to listen to any of the band’s records without the sounds evoking some part of that decade. Whether it’s John Hughes inspired sugar sweet pop sound of Saturdays = Youth or the colossal industrial soundscapes found on the Blade Runner inspired Before The Dawn Heals Us you’ll be left in no doubt as to the era that serves as inspiration for their music.

On 'Midnight City' we find M83 melding and refining the sounds of the two aforementioned albums with the carefully crafted haze found on Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts. Delivering a sweet hit of hazy warmth of synth driven dream pop delivered on a scale grander than you’ll find on most of their contemporaries recordings.

The new 2xLP called 'Hurry Up, We're Dreaming' (party inspired by the Smashing Pumpkins Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness) is released on October 18th by Mute.

You can download the the track for free by heading over to M83's website and providing your email address.

Midnight City by M83

Acoustic Underground #1 - By Ben Adsett

Acoustic Underground #1

[edit] radio is proud to present the first Acoustic Underground mixtapes put together by Cheltenham's Ben Adsett. Presenter of Wolverhampton radio station KicFM's Hear No Musical Evil, Ben offers up 30 minutes of some of the best acoustic acts from around the UK.


Tracklisting

Liam O'Kane - Run Away Boy (recorded live at Kic FM's trailer)
Mike Scott - Back To The Drawing Board (recorded live at Kic FM's trailer)
Mike Only - Happiness (taken from the Fly EP)
Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun - Wishing Well (Free Download)
Ben Childs - Poisoned Paradise (recorded live at Kic FM's trailer)
Shankland - Train-wreck (taken from the Shankland EP free download)
Boat To Row - Autumn Glow (Free Download)
Midnight Mile - Men With No Hearts (Taken from Silence Brings The Morning EP)
Shoes and Socks Off - Vice Magazine Has A Lot To Answer For (Taken from 'From the muddy banks of Melitzer')
Lost On Campus feat Sam Little - I Need You (N*Dubz Cover) (Taken from Pandy Cane Singles Club)

Download

The Hope Will Shine Through You - by Kevin Lawson

Balam Acab - Oh Why?

Last October I wrote an article about Balam Acab’s (aka Alec Koone) introverted track ‘Regret Making Mistakes’. The stand out track from his See Bird’s EP, it’s a mesmerizing tale of self recrimination that showed that this young producer is a rising talent. One capable of distilling such emotionally wrought material to its sonic essence.

‘Oh Why’ is the lead single from his follow up record and full length debut entitled WANDER/WONDER. It’s another shining example of his ability to transfer the subtle nature of introverted thought into song. The track opens in a haze of fuzz and simple pianos as the softly sung words  “Oh Why?” repeat over and again for just long enough for the listener to add their own context to the question before the delicate verse takes over.

The track builds steadily as a burdened beat kicks in over muffled voices and the addition of layer on layer promises a cathartic release. But instead the track cuts back to hazy repetition of its opening. Leaving the listener still searching for their own answers to that same question, one I'm sure we've all asked ourselves from time to time.

WANDER/WONDER will be available August 29 via Tri Angle Records.