Why is it that when I want to go to sleep, my brain doesn’t want to so I end up wide awake? This has been happening all too often recently and the last couple of days I’ve managed to sleep through my alarm, which is a radio alarm, and an hours worth of the today programme. I have managed to get up in time, but only because I realise that its later than I think when I check my watch and then have to sit up, put my glasses on find my phone and re-check the time because I can’t believe that I would sleep through an hours worth of John Humphries inquisitions. So I end up staying awake till 2 or 3, which then leaves me tired the next day. Argh, I’m going round in circles. I think today it may have been caused by that accidental nap I had whilst trying to read an article for early greek archaeology.

Alessi's Ark

Anyway, I’ve realised that two of my favourite female singers at the moment are my age I do believe. These are Laura Marling, a singer I have admired for a long time, I think since her first single turned up at my sixth form radio station. And the Alessi Laurent-Marke of Alessi’s Ark, who I’ve loved since hearing in the summer. This then makes me wish I was that good at music, I then get very jealous but then think, at least I can appretiate their lovely music. Anyway, Laura Marling has a fantastic new song out soon, well, three weeks time, 14th December, called Goodbye England (Covered in Snow), a christmas single none the less. It was Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record a couple of days ago, so you can hear it here. So this song, it is really lovely, I suppose that is the best way to describe it, it is very sentimental. The song drifts along with her light guitar and floaty backing strings and piano. And unless I am much mistaken, Marcus Mumford (of Mumford and Sons) does some backing vocals. The song gradually builds up, more layers are added for a sort of middle eight bit and then it drops down back to just Laura, It will be on her album, which she is releasing sometime next year, I’ve heard March, but that may change

Beans on Toast at Latitude 2007

Right then, I’ve found that a favourite artist of mine Beans on Toast, is releasing an album on Monday (30th November) He has a great wit in his lyrics, the first time I saw him was at Latitude a couple of years ago, he was standing on a chair, which actually is his album title, and said that everyone of his songs only had three chords in. He writes really good songs, comparable with Billy Bragg, he writes about contemporary issues and life experiences. His smoking induced gruff voice gives the songs some sort of integrity and worldlyness. You can buy his album here or listen to it here. The record has some great backing singers from the likes of the fantastic Frank Turner to Emmy the Great, he was supporting Frank on his recent tour around the UK.

Laura Marling

I found an MP3 of Made a Maid by Laura Marling! There are no tabs or lyrics for this song on the internet, so here are the lyrics, the MP3, and I’m working on the tab.

Made a Maid – Laura Marling

Marling also performed the song live in concert and on Radio 6 with the title Made by Maid.

They dance like sirens, hoping the sun would come out again
And I was born in the fog of that day
Can they hear a babe over all the faith,
Or have they forgot what it was that they made

Crawled out of the fog, found a river,
Found a log and floated away
Didn’t think I’d be coming back this way
But my feet are resolute;
Found their root and brought me back to its place

And on the hill where I was born,
There is no rose but just a thorn;
They cut it off each year and give it away

But can they hear a babe after all these days,
Or have they forgot what it was that they made

So left to wander blind, I find myself in cautious times,
And they say, “Love’s labor is never lost; labor on to this very day.”
So I walk into the fog, found a babe atop a log and all alone
Took him under, took him on,
Taught him everything about the world I’d come to know

And he blames me for every wrong ever he made
I am blamed for every wrong ever he made
Forgive me I am only a maid
Forgive me I am only a maid

But I can see a babe under all that blame
And I am forgot from the day I am laid

Ciao,
Hannah Goad.

First, I know this post is wayyyy overdue. CMJ ended three weeks ago, but I’ve spent those three weeks catching up on real life and uh, going to even more shows because I’m a freak, and writing a lot (for things slightly more important than my blog). The next couple of weeks are super slow on the show front though, and I’m really not complaining.

Anyway, I survived my first CMJ! Hooray! It was a crazy, crazy week, but ultimately a lot of fun and a great experience. I went in not having a badge, so I just planned ahead and got on lists for the non-free shows I wanted to go to…and then all of a sudden I found myself with a badge, but didn’t really end up needing it! My apartment was pretty much a hotel: Four friends stayed here for almost the whole week, and the fellow Michiganders in the awesome band Frontier Ruckus (five band members + two significant others) were here for three nights. One night we had I think 15 people sleeping here including my roommates and me. That is probably never happening again.

Throughout the week I was doing daily write-ups and photos for Under the Radar’s Web site, and I also covered a panel for PompOnline.com (Web site for Pomp & Circumstance magazine) and did an interview for Heeb, which hasn’t run yet. So uh, I was pretty busy.

Stuff I wrote that week:

PRE-CMJ: The Syndicate/Rachael Ray’s The Feedback party + PHOTOS (The Union Line, Fanfarlo, White Denim [pictured])

DAY ONE: Sneak Attack day party/BrooklynVegan showcase + PHOTOS (Laura Marling, The Antlers, Love Language, Think About Life, Javelin, Walter Schreifels Band, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel [pictured])

DAY TWO: Mumford & Sons, Twenty Seven Media showcase, ABC News Amplified showcase + PHOTOS (Sleigh Bells, Phantogram [pictured], Mumford & Sons, Computer Perfection)

Life Lessons from Andrew W.K. (writeup about Andrew W.K.’s CMJ lecture/presentation)

DAY THREE: Quite Scientific Records showcase + PHOTOS (Lightning Love, Chris Bathgate, Frontier Ruckus [pictured])

DAY FOUR: self-titled magazine and Pop Mart Media showcase, Green Label Sound party + PHOTOS (Delorean, Holly Miranda [pictured], Cymbals Eat Guitars, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Amazing Baby, Chromeo)

DAY FIVE AAM Showcase/day party + PHOTOS (Dum Dum Girls [pictured], Headlights, the Dutchess and the Duke, Lightspeed Champion)

Artists I think you should check out NOW:

- Sleigh Bells: I know they hardly have any songs and have probably been a bit over-hyped… but whoa, Alexis Krauss (the singing and dancing half of the band, pictured above) is my new hero.

- Delorean: Freaking awesome dancey music from Spain. Would’ve liked to see a longer set and be in a setting where I didn’t have to take photos and notes because I would have much rather been dancing!

- Mumford & Sons: Gorgeous and fun British folk. Their debut LP is already out in the UK and they’re signed to Glassnote Records for the U.S. release.

- Laura Marling: I adore Laura Marling. She’s 19 years old and blows my mind. She was my No. 1 artist I was looking forward to seeing all week and did not disappoint (also British folk). So charming, such a beautiful voice, great lyrics, just love her. She has an album coming out sometime next year and I’m sooo excited to hear it.

- The Antlers: It honestly took me a little while to get into the Antlers, even though I’ve had their record, Hospice (Frenchkiss), forever, but seeing them live definitely helped that. “Bear” is absolutely one of my favorite songs of the year and live it was phenomenal.

A few others: Dum Dum Girls, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel, The Union Line

Whenever I see something that someone has created or thought of that is so cleaver or original I  can’t help but smile. Here are a few examples I’ve found lately; I hope they make you smile too.

Laura Marling, absolutely makes me smile and grin. Here are my two favorite songs.

Alas I Cannot Swim & Ghosts

All my photo friends pay attention!! How awesome are these cuff bracelets made out of recycled camera lens. These are made by  Re:Vision.

I love bread, and I love shoes. Obviously someone else does too.

These eatable shoes are made by Da Da Da.

Oui, je sais, je m’en veux aussi. Cela fait bien longtemps que je n’ai pas poster quelque chose de descend mais que voulez-vous la vie est plus compliqué que l’on ne croit (Oui, vous l’avez tous pensé, c’est de la m*rde). Bref, tout ça pour vous dire que même si je reviens à vous c’est un peu à poil que je me présente. Et oui, les coups de cœur sont rares ou/et vieux de quelques mois et/ou déjà connus de tous le monde mais ainsi soit-il, voici mon article de la honte.

1. Lou Barlow – Bulletproof (La Roux)
2. Datarock – Give It Up (Chateau Marmont Remix) ♥♥
3. Jeffrey Lewis & Laura Marling – Brain Damage (Eminem)
4. LCD Soundsystem – Bye Bye Bayou (Alan Vega)
5. Girls With Moustaches - Moonchild(Born to Weed) ♥♥♥♥
6. Robbie Williams - Do You Mind? ♥
7. Crookers – Candy Candy (Feat. Teki Latex & BIG-O)
8. Good Shoes – Wrong And Right
9. Arctic Monkeys – Balaclava
10. Fight Back The Heart Attack – Fight Back The Heart Attack ♥♥♥

About it.

1. Alors, oui, je hais La Roux…Mais je viens de me rendre compte que c’est en fait sa voix qui m’herite car Bulletproof interprété par Lou Barlow, ça fout des frissons.
2. Rien que de voir “Datarock” ca me met en émoi puis, Chateau Marmont, ca relève du malaise…Le résultat est là, c’est du retravaillé, parfois un peu sur-haché mais ce rythme SMDien vous défoncerais une mouette. C’est du lourd.
3. Une petite reprise toute mignonnette très moldy peachesienne, ca vous débouche les narines en ce temps hivernale. C’est juste un petit plaisir à vous offrir lorsque  votre face commence à s’écraser contre la vitre d’un obscure train de banlieue…
4. Je ne vous cacherais pas que je préfère l’original, mais tout de même c’est un morceau bien agréable et quelques nouvelles des LCD Soundsystem, ça ne se refuse pas!
5. J’aime ces matins où on l’on retrouve dans sa boite mail des bijoux comme ça. Le genre de bijoux qui vous collent à la peau comme une sangsue. Allez là je peux vous le dire, c’est du TUBE.
6. Après analyse détaillée du dernier album de Robbie Williams, j’en arrive à la conclusion que ce n’est pas si terrible que ça. Bien sur, c’est pas énorme mais ca s’écoute plutôt bien. Puis, il y a cette chanson, déjà entendu, pas révolutionnaire, qui vous décoche le déhanché qu’il faut…Alors bon, on craque et on le met ici.
7. Clairement, les Crookers sont des blaireaux. Néanmoins, il y a des moments où j’aime les blaireaux…
8. OH OUI! Good Shoes en concert, la banane cloue mes zigomatiques à leur apogée. Du coup, je replonge et, merde, c’est trop bon.Ps : Under Control
9. OH OUI OH OUI! Demain le concert des Arctic Monkeys, je ne crois pas que je me sens. Ca y est extase. Balaclava, c’est LE bijoux de FWN!
10. J’hésitais à la mettre dans ma playlist, car c’est vraie qu’elle ne m’enthousiasmait pas plus que ça. Puis en y revenant, en l’écoutant sur un quai abandonné, dans ma chambre la nuit, dans un parc…elle commence à vivre et prendre forme. Finalement, je crois que j’en suis tombée amoureuse.

Pix : Alex Kapranos, juste pour le plaisir d’antan.

Crédit : Silvio Tanaka

Laura Marling’s gorgeous take on Ghosts:

Your Fears?

Wayne Rooney by Johnny Flynn vs. Rambling Man by Laura Marling

Except for the fact that Laura Marling is in open E and Flynn is in open D, the two are practically the same song!  Or at least, every time I hear one, I think of the other.

The same thing happens when I listen to Hold My Hand As I’m Lowered and Blackberry Stone [these songs aren't similar in a musical sense, but lyrically they seem related].

Also, whenever I hear “Never Say Never” by the Fray, I’m reminded of several other songs, though this is more of a stretch; the chorus sounds like “Be Like That” [3 Doors Down] and the beginning of the bridge corresponds to the bridge of “The Remedy” [Jason Mraz].

Ciao,
Hannah Goad.

“If I know better,
I don’t know better”

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Mr. Kitchenette and I are pretty addicted to Iron Chef. I know, I know… we’re old school. Nowadays everyone is watching Top Chef and don’t get me wrong – we love that show, too. But there’s something kind of awesome about Iron Chef… I think it’s that the Iron Chefs are established, and that they make dishes that the normal person at home would never even dream of making.

A few weeks ago, we watched “Battle Balsamic Vinegar.” I think they created this battle just for me, honestly… practically every dish I make has balsamic vinegar in it. I heart balsamic vinegar. Well, anyways, Bobby Flay - my favorite chef – made balsamic vinegar pasta dough. I KNOW. Where does he come up with this stuff?!

So the next morning, I was recanting my undying love for Bobby over Twitter, and Lan of Angry Asian Creations was all “I want that balsamic vinegar pasta dough,” and we agreed that someone needed to make it. So I made a valiant effort, and this is the result. Not exactly what Bobby made on IC, but to tell you the truth… I don’t really remember what he made exactly… (I know, I’m so ashamed!)

I made this using my Kitchenaid mixer to mix the dough, and then I used the mixer’s pasta roller attachment for the noodles. I try not to post recipes where you might need to buy a new kitchen tool, but… I really love my stand mixer and pasta maker, and I think every cook should get one if they can afford it. If you don’t have a mixer, then you better get to the store quickly! Just kidding. You can roll the dough by hand with just a rolling pin, but the noodles won’t be as thin. Katy over at Sugarlaws has excellent instructions for making the noodles by hand.

This is the first recipe I’m posting that is totally and completely from my brain only, so please let me know what you think!

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Balsamic Vinegar Pasta Dough

Serves 8 to 10

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Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups (830 ml) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) kosher salt
3 eggs
6 tbsp balsamic vinegar
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Directions:
Mix together flour, salt, eggs, and balsamic vinegar. If using a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together when you squeeze some in your fist. (You may need only a little water, or you may need a ton – it all depends on a variety of factors such as the humidity level in the air, the altitude you’re making this at, how old your flour is, whether you’re making this on the 3rd Saturday of the month, and whether God wants to smite you that day or not. You get the point. I needed about 1/2 cup of water, but you may only need a few tablespoons.)

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Working in batches, knead the dough for 2 minutes (per batch) on a Silpat or floured countertop. If the dough seperates when you try to knead it, add more water (a tablespoon at a time) to make it more pliable.  Pat the dough into flattened circles and let it rest for 20 minutes before proceeding to make the noodles.

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Attach the pasta roller attachment to the stand mixer. Starting in the “1″ setting (the thickest setting), feed the dough through the roller. Your first attempt probably won’t be pretty, but simply lay the pieces flat and press together, before sending the piece through the roller again.

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First pass through the rollers. What? This doesn’t look edible to you? Pffff.

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Once your dough comes out in one piece, fold into thirds, and pass through the rollers again before moving to the next setting.

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Pass the dough through the rollers at least twice, for every setting 2-5. You can continue to roll the dough out to settings 6,7, or 8, but setting 5 will get you very thin noodles that are perfect for sphaghetti or linguine.

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Since this recipe makes a shatload of pasta, I like to freeze the leftovers, and then use them later. As I feed the dough through the cutter to get noodles, I lay the noodles out on wax paper. I guess and put about 1 serving’s worth of pasta on each sheet, and I make sure to lay the noodles out flat so that they don’t get tangled. Dust with a little all-purpose flour, and stack the wax paper sheets. Then you can put all the sheets in a ziplock bag and stash in the freezer. Then, the next time you’re too tired to make anything for dinner, just whip out your pre-made fresh pasta noodles. It’s fun to live like kings, no?

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Balsamic Vinegar Pasta with Goat Cheese and Scallions

Serves 2

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Ingredients:
1/4 Balsamic Pasta Dough, recipe above
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, grated or finely minced
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 bunch scallions / green onions, green parts only, thinly sliced
4 oz goat cheese, seperated
salt and pepper

Directions:
Bring to boil a large stock pot full of water. Salt the water generously.

Heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Grate the garlic into the oil and butter, and add the crushed red pepper. Cook for approximately 2 minutes, or until the garlic is fragrant. Do not let the garlic or red pepper burn! (If it does burn, just start over! It will taste terrible – I know from experience.) Add 2 oz of the goat cheese, crumbling it with your fingers as you add it to the pan. Remove the pan from heat. Allow the goat cheese to melt into the butter and olive oil while you cook the pasta.

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Add the pasta noodles to the pan and cook for 2 minutes, or until the pasta is tender but not mushy. Remove the noodles and add to the sauce, and toss gently to coat the noodles with sauce.

Transfer noodles to plate. Crumble remaining 2 oz goat cheese over pasta, and garnish with scallions. Serve immediately.

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Now Playing in the Kitchenette:  Laura Marling / Ghosts  – Someone has a girl crush… I’ll give you a hint… it’s me.

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I was recently visited by my good friends from Athens who i used to play in band with before we moved to Scotland. When i was still in Athens my band and my friends band where probably the first acts to play English/American folk music and include instruments like glockspiel-banjo-ukelele etc and we were very proud of that. Anyway i m in a Glasgow based folk band and we had some gigs lined up last August and my friends from Athens played also and it was a great vibe. I remember them telling me that they saw this amazing band in London called Mumford and Sons but i didnt take much notice at the time, but they kept going on about how amazing they are so i had to go and check them out. I only listened to their music about 3 months ago(they ve been playing for at least a year or more as M&S). I fell in love with their music maybe because its exactly the style of music i play. They use a lot of banjos and traditional instuments but the music is not that traditional is sounds really poppy. I cant believe the amount of success and exposure they ve had over the past month! Everybody is talking about them, they are going to be massive which is obviously a good thing for them. However i was always the guy that liked to keep some bands to myself and not share my favourite underground bands with all the scene kids.But i wish them well!Finaly some good music getting out there!

ps(They used to be Laura marlings Back up band-and still  are..i think) respect!

Noah & The Whale : The First Days of Spring (album review)

Released 31 Aug 09

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I would love to get my hands on the Blue Flowers time machine… those guys seemed right on the money, and to be honest I’m a little suspicious. For those who don’t know, the George pub in Chiswick, West London once played host to a one-a-month-hungover-sunday type event where for a few quid you could sip your hair of the dog and watch a few bands play… the early stomping ground of such luminaries as Jamie T, Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons, Noah & the Whale and countless others. 

So, it’s great to see how far Noah have come since those early rough shows featuring Laura Marling as humble backing vocalist, dreaming her little dreams and plotting her future. In my opinion Noah’s first album was a hit and miss affair, some radio-friendly folk pop unconvincingly sat among wandering ballads. Since then it’s been turmoil in the nu-folk world… Charlie (Noah front man) and Laura Marling are no longer together. Laura and Marcus (Mumford) are. 

The First Days Of Spring charts the emotional turmoil of the relationship, from those first heady days of young love (First Days Of Spring) through the agony of separation, sadness (I Have Nothing), desperation (My Broken Heart), and eventually acceptance (My Door Is Always Open). Charlie’s lyrics are sometimes cliched and simplistic but always heartfelt, you don’t need to be a poet to write meaning. Musically, the album is leaps and bounds past the debut… full, lush orchestra, acoustic sparkling through timeless chord changes providing a sweet backdrop to a cracked and broken voice. More akin to Sigur Ros & Fanfarlo in places. Having seen the band battle through a set at Koko recently on borrowed equipment (their trailer was stolen days before) and against a disrespectful and noisy crowd, I am excited to see the developments… more electric, more edge but still that sweetness which few bands are able to pull off. All in all this album has some beautiful and tender moments, a journey which will help mend a troubled heart.

Get the album from Amazon and iTunes

Download: TheFirstDaysOfSpring.mp3

Yesterday was the first day of the CMJ music festival here in New York. I picked up my badge near Washington Square park, but skipped the press meet and greet to finish my shopping and errands. After a quick dinner, I ran over to the Music Hall of Williamsburg. It was my first time attending a show there. The venue is small, but impressive. The crowd was at capacity, but there was still room to move with out being smothered.

Around 9:30, Laura Marling took the stage. I wondered how Laura and her guitar (alone with just a cello player accompanying her) would be loud enough to hear over the crowd. But Laura’s voice is clear and powerful, and the audience was amused by her quiet small talk. She seemed a bit shy, but very excited to be in Williamsburg, which she said is one of her favorite places on Earth.

Laura’s set was short, but sweet. She played a lot of new material, which I wasn’t familiar with, mixed in with songs from her first album “Alas I Cannot Swim” (like “Ghosts”, My Manic and I”), and a few outtakes (like “No Hope in the Air” and “Blackberry Stone”). I’d been waiting what seemed like months for Laura to come to the US. After her short set last night, I’m very sorry I missed the chance to get tickets for her sold out show at the Public Theater this Friday.

I wasn’t familiar with The Antlers before seeing them last night. But I can understand why they have a growing following. Their live show is fast, and intense for a 3 person band, and had the audience captivated. I only caught half of the show, due to not feeling very well and wanting to get home before my train stopped running. But I can definitely see The Antlers, on many “CMJ bands to watch” lists becoming even more popular in the future.

The Antlers.

Read the L magazine’s review of the entire show here. The author compares Laura to Joni Mitchell, which I couldn’t agree with more!

The Antlers

done

It was my first time seeing each of these bands and The Antlers set clearly stood above the rest (10/20).  The band (composed of guitar, keys/synth and drums) was able to balance their delicate lyrics and soft piano with wailing guitar fuzz, thick synth and booming drums.  It all worked beautifully, particularly on tracks like “Kettering.” Their best song of the night (and set closer) “Two” sounded like a big arena rock number only to be toned down to a falsetto-acapella vocal.  It didn’t hurt that the sound in the room was crystal clear all night long.  Do yourself a favor and get to an Antlers show before the week is over (Sound Fix records today, 10/21, at 6 pm or The Delancey tomorrow, 10/22, at 10 pm).  If you can’t make that happen, then see them headline Bowery Ballroom on 12/15, tix. Stream “Sylvia” below.

The Antlers – Sylvia

Laura Marling

I got there in time to see Laura Marling who played acoustic guitar and was accompanied by a cellist.  She was adorable and her folk songs brought Joanna Newsom & Gillian Welch to mind, high praise in my book. Her voice and lyrics are stunning, so much so, that I closed the doors at the back of the room myself so she didn’t have to compete with merch/bar noise.  Yeah, you’re welcome.

Laura Marling – My Manic and I

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel followed with a set of Rocky Mountain music from a big band including a fiddle player, stand-up bassist, piano/xylaphonist, drummer, hollow-body guitarist and the band leader/vocalist on acoustic guitar. They won the crowd over with their warm sound and stellar songs.  Made me think a little of Bon Iver without the falsetto.  Also a little M. Ward vibe without the rasp.  They play 2 gigs on Friday, 10/23, Piano’s at 3:30 p and Bowery at 6 p. Gonna have to hustle with all that gear.  Go see them, they’re impossible not to like.

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel – My Hanging Surrender

Fanfarlo

The Antlers were next and then Fanfarlo closed the night.  A good number of people left after The Antlers set.  Clearly, Fanfarlo is made up of talented (young) musicians, but I could not get past how similar their sound was to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.  I don’t know why I was comparing bands to other artists all night, but it didn’t bother me until this last one.  The singer sounds almost exactly like Alec Ounsworth and the song structures are strikingly similar, so it kind of felt like a retread, nothing new, and I got bored.  I don’t think it helped that they had to follow the mind-blowing set that the Antlers delivered either. Regardless, the crowd that stayed seemed to appreciate their sing-songy folk complete with boy/girl vocals, varied instrumentation and a few numbers that had some heels kicked up on the floor.  Overall, a great show curated by BrooklynVegan.

Fanfarlo – The Walls are Coming Down

Pictures after the jump…

Nathanial Rateliff and the Wheel

The Antlers

Fanfarlo

So last night, I headed over to the Music Hall of Williamsburg for the Brooklyn Vegan showcase where I caught the better part of five acts. I had been most anticipating The Antlers and Fanfarlo. Especially after having listened to Fanfarlo’s debut album Reservoir extensively in a short period of time. But it was actually the middle act that I was most taken by – British singer/songwriter Laura Marling.

I had briefly seen Marling before in a collaborative video with Jeffrey Lewis, and I remember being taken by her voice and angelic demeanor, so I was delighted to see her walk on stage. Marling’s set was simple. She didn’t drag her cello from London – just her guitar. But her voice is absolutely gorgeous and the lyrics to her songs are picturesque and intriguing. She revealed that she has been working on her new album for the past eight months, and she played a number of new songs. From what I can tell, her sophomore album will not be a disappointment. Keep your eye on this deceptively young singer.

Here is a video of the track “Ghosts.”

enjoy.

I’m loving the background to this…it is done so nicely♥

love…

ria♥

Laura Marling – New Romantic

I know I said I loved you
but I’m thinking I was wrong,
I’m the first to admit that I’m still pretty young,
and I never meant to hurt you
when I wrote you ten love songs
About a guy that I could never get
’cause his girlfriend was pretty fit
and everyone who knew her loved her so.
And I made you leave her for me
and now I’m feeling pretty mean,
but my mind has fucked me over more times
than any man could ever know.

The track came out a bit ago, but I still predict that song will get more famous pretty soon here, rather than less so. Even though it is the likelier in my opinion for regular radio airplay, it seems the label has put more time in to marketing the next tune here, “My Manic and I.”

Laura Marling – My Manic and I

Oh, the gods that he believes never fail to amaze me.
He believes in the love of his god of all things, but I find him wrapped up in all manner of sins;
the drugs that deceive him and the girls that believe him.
I can’t control you, I don’t know you well, but these are the reasons I think that you’re ill.
I can’t control you, I don’t know you well, but these are the reasons I think that you’re ill.

Here is the very creative video for the track.

I realized these Music Moment posts tend to run really long because I like music way too much, and can’t bear to only give you half the story on someone I think is really special, so click here to keep reading about marvelous and devilishly witty little pixie Laura Marling, hear more streaming mp3s and see more adorable pictures.
Laura Marling – Candlelight

I have a fear of rejection
But you won’t see it in my projection
Arrogance is my biggest fault
But it’s the thing I hate most of all
But maybe I’m just crazy and grew up too fast

I don’t care what anyone says. This song is about the awkwardness of the first time staying super-late/early at someone’s place (possibly even first time for anything period). You know, you try to front like this is totally normal behavior and you are not just as jumpy and nervous as hell, like as if it doesn’t always feel completely terrifying the first time things heat up with someone semingly no matter how old you get.

Sitting in his bedroom scared as hell
Listening to The Libertines on the vinyl player on his shelf
Getting nervous as I leave his door
Drinking quite a lot and then drinking quite a lot more
But maybe I’m just crazy and grew up too fast

See what I mean? Has to be about that. Who has not been there? Is there a point where that wears off? I’m genuinely curious. Like if you bang so many people can it be that there is no longer awkwardness when it looks like you’re about to sail in to sexytimes waters? Does it ever get to where you do it so much with virtual strangers that it becomes de rigeur and you don’t get all tongue-tied and stomach-churny? I’m not much of a one for the spontaneous hook-up so I don’t know. I’m for real! I have no idea! Fill me in.

Laura Marling – I Know You

Everybody knows that you’re a posh girl,
Cos when it comes to cockney’s you’re down on your knees.

But that is neither here nor there, just a point of curiosity. The really good lines are, “Everybody knows you’re fucking intelligent, so why do you feel the need to please?” —I and about every other lady of brains that I know needs to think about this— and “Where did the indie in individual go?,” which question we must all ask ourselves as MTV and fashion co-opt every grain of uniqueness and self-expression from our upcoming generations, in whose texting little be-tatted hands the future of humanity rests, so let’s work on making sure they put substance before style (I do not believe that anyone is unreachable). Besides the lovely amazing lyrics, the vocals on this and the whole little bit of soul type thing that is happening with it is awesome and very Carole King (“I Feel the Earth Move”) or Roberta Flack (“Killing Me Softly”). Like it bunches!

Here you may buy some of her merchandise, including a keyring ashtray that if someone wants to get for me I would not say no. Meanwhile, her album, Alas, I Cannot Swim is actually pretty special because, disheartened that people digitally procured music these days and forewent the tangible pleasures of the physical LP, she designed this Songbox thingy that is really cool. She’s quite the gal, I really dig her! I played her for Special K and as she was commenting on it, I thought, “they remind me of each other…” (that reminds me, Special K totally was nominated for Homecoming Queen squeeeeeeeee!) and they do: something about their sweet resistance to the powerful beating waves of modern pop culture. Anyway, I look forward to more good shit from Laura Marling, and the fact that she was born in 1990 gives me genuine and real hope for the future. Eskimo kisses, kiddo! Endin’ it on a high note!

Bath’s Moles Club is regarded as the ‘stepping stone’ venue for bands climbing the musical ladder, The Smiths and Blur being two of the British giants that crash-tested early material on West Country audiences here. Mumford and Sons, having already grasped some of the notoriety available from the new quirk acoustic scene, were bound to play this cauldron of a club.

Due to Bath’s admirable transport system, I arrived an hour and a half late to the gig meaning I missed support slots from The Good Gods and Pete Roe, but was quickly informed by surrounding gig goers that they amply satisfied an eager audience.

Final support act Shoreline’s set was inspired experiment. ‘Daybreak’, sounding like the opening credits to some trendy art house flick, was a particular success. Their set continued with more filmic landscapes during which temporary audience member Marcus Mumford bobbed gleefully along to the music with girlfriend Laura Marling by his side.

Mumford and Sons took charge of the night with a string of upbeat hoe down tunes which livened up the enthusiastic but physically static crowd. Marcus Mumford retained the kind of relaxed charisma that seemed to spur the set on anytime he mumbled anything from that beautiful folky mouth of his. Tightly smashing their way through new single ‘Little Lion Man’, Mumford and Sons sustained a level of exhilaration for the rest of their performance that was admirable even whilst enduring small technical difficulty on stage.

Finishing their set to rapturous applause from songs such ‘Roll Away Your Stone’ and ‘White Blank Page’, the band came back on for the obvious encore that saw them laying out more crowd pleasing goodness. A good night for Mumford and Sons and a great night for Bath’s acoustic scene.

By guest writer Sam Taylor of Adelaide’s Cape

PROS: can mend a broken heart | more mature sound

CONS: depressing | boring | emotionally draining

Noah and the Whale’s second album The First Days of Spring, which came out October 6th, was not “fun fun fun” to listen to.  The album was written about the lead singer Charlie Fink’s recent split from girlfriend Laura Marling, who also used to be in the band. The band lacks variety without a female voice to offset the deepness of Fink’s sound.

Where their first album was full of energy and uplifting spirits of The First Days of Spring leaves listeners depressed. With lyrics like “I’ve been looking for hope these days/ but loves not finding me/ but now my hearts been broken there is nothing you can do/ I’m impenetrable to pain” from “My Broken Heart”, this album is perfect for those mending a broken heart. But for those of us just trying to find an album reminiscent of the first, this album is not up to par.

The First Days of Spring is more musically advanced than their former album Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down, with a more grown up sound with more sophisticated guitar riffs and more unique composition of sounds. But Fink’s voice does not sound as strong as it once did, and it was more difficult to get through the entire album in one sitting. When hearing a song from this album one at a time it sounds good, but when listening to the entire album it is too emotional draining to enjoy. The singles that especially work are “Blue Skies” with its catchy melody and mildly upbeat pace and “The First Days of Spring” which anyone getting over a broken heart could relate to.

However, one can still hear ruminants of the old Noah and the Whale sound on tracks such as “Love of An Orchestra”, which is a small bright spot amongst the depressing drones of the songs. This song starts with a chorus feel and then breaks into a keyboard solo, which makes it very uplifting.

The First Days of Spring is out now on Vertigo Records (UK) and Cherrytree Records (US).

(2 out of 5 beards)

Track Listing:

01. The First Days of Spring
02. Our Window
03. I Have Nothing
04. My Broken Heart
05. Instrumental I
06. Love of an Orchestra
07. Instrumental II
08. Stranger
09. Blue Skies
10. Slow Glass
11. My Door Is Always Open

eg pressar andletet ditt inn mot brystet
stryk deg gjennom håret

voggar deg medan eg hysjar
stille i øyret ditt

berre kinnskjegget ditt mot kinnet
det går ikkje over, det er ikkje fint

vi seier ingenting
fortel inga historie

seier ikkje ho er daud
ikkje ho er levande

er dette ein eventyrende
er dette ein milepåle

er graset grønt nok
med raude kjøttfulle kroppar

i det eg kyssar kinnet ditt, bit
oppslukt av ein einaste tanke, ja

The Wellingtons – Mockery
Haunting and enchanting, this Brighton pair have created a melodic work of art. Using only a cello and vocals as a backing track, The Wellingtons manage to charm any listener with their romanticism.

Their sound is reminiscent of Cat Power, dark and brooding but with all the folk-pop magic of Laura Marling. It’s refreshing for a new band to not make a lot of noise, keep it simple and capture listeners’ imagination – these girls are well worth a listen.

Listen if you like: Laura Marling, Cat Power, Bat for Lashes.
Also Listen To: Dumbstruck, Sanded Yesterdays.

Like a very large game of tug of war, the UK music scene over the last couple of years has been pulled back and forth between two very different genres that are both proving to be as strong as the other. At one end: the synth-tastic revival led by artists such as Hot Chip and MGMT.  And at the other: new folk, with acts like Fleet Foxes, Joanna Newsom and Bon Iver holding their own against the invasion of gadget pop.

Taking one for the folkies in 2008 and earning a Mercury Music Prize nomination along the way was Laura Marling’s album, Alas I Cannot Swim. Eloquently conjuring up her own magical world with each track, Marling, white-blonde and fairy-like, wanders through it as the kingdom’s troubadour. And if this was a Disney production, probably followed by an entourage of songbirds and forest-dwellers.

A lot has been made of Laura Marling’s young age [she turned nineteen last February] and her song-writing ability. But perhaps teenage introspection together with a youthful lack of self-consciousness is what makes Alas I Cannot Swim and its gloomy optimism so inspired. Each song is an intimate anecdote that by beautifully leaving stark reality behind invokes a place where boyfriends are ‘lovers’ who don’t send texts but throw pebbles at your window during the night and take their hats off to greet you.

The standout track on the album, My Manic and I, is accompanied by a video as enchanting as the music, where Marling appears as an angst-filled Alice in Wonderland-esque figure amongst an animated paper puppet show. What starts in the manner of a simple ditty grows and echoes as it progresses, perfectly showcasing Marling’s sombre lyrics.  Seemingly a tale of a girl wrapped up in a despondent love affair with a man who seeks glory in his depression. It’s lyrics like ‘He wants to die where nobody can see him but the beauty of his death will carry on, so I don’t believe him’, in response to her lover’s wish to drown in a lake in Geneva that highlight a surprising insight for someone who’s not yet seen her twenties.

Hopefully not just another quick fix for the music industry, Laura Marling’s debut album is a release that could promise us, as an audience the chance to grow older and wiser with a talented songwriter, if the big chiefs in charge allow her to do so too.

[Originally reviewed for Avenue 61]