Images copyright © Jo Cox. All rights reserved.

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Images copyright © Nuala Swan. All rights reserved.

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I eased myself in at midday with Chew Lips, watching them for the fourth time it would be fair to say this is a band I am quite familiar with. Instead of stalking I would prefer to think this behaviour typifies the festival’s ethos of nurturing a band with support and watching them develop. The electro indie trio delivered sparkles in dress and music and gave their followers and new fans a reason to buy their first reasonably respectable drink of the day. In short their debut album Unicorn should become as standard in your collection as Morning Glory.

The second venue, Nation of Shopkeepers, is a personal favourite of mine, and although I didn’t know Broken Hands I had never been disappointed by any acts that had played there. This band was no exception and delivered a musical message someway between Britpop and folk if that’s imaginable. Maybe a simpler vision would be of a heavy version of Pulp, yet with slightly funky sentiments and more subtly whingy anguish; any band that uses a tambourine as a core part of the set, and does it well, always goes up in my estimations.

In the same vane Adult Jazz also pioneered the growing phenomenon of replacing typical sounds like synths, drums and guitars with non electronic instruments. Although by the name these guys may sound like they are attempting to not only appreciate but revive Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, this band were actually supporting a trend of something I have decided to brand as ‘ambient electro orchestral music.’ This encompasses bands in the same talent pool as the Cinematic Orchestra, Bonobo, Portico Quartet and Little Dragon. Essentially using a trombone to accompany synths and lots of bass in a club under a railway bridge goes someway to painting an accurate auditory image.

One of the acts that I was most looking forward to was Ladyhawke, who delivered a seamless hour long set of 80’s vibes, yet still offering something to relate to no matter what era you are from – this was evident from the varied audience this brought to Leeds largest gig venue at prime time. There is something quite innocent yet equally intriguing about this beautiful blondie; the girl next door and aspiring politician rolled into one. The hook lines of My delirium, Back of the Van and Black, White and Blue were heard from various people joyfully stumbling the streets for the rest of the night.

Just before the final act of the night I managed to squeeze in a set by Alt-J, which was shoegazy similar to Being There who I had sat avidly watching cross-legged on the floor inches away from them earlier in the day. The frontman has the voice of Serj Tankian which works surprisingly well with sway worthy whispers, xylophone lines, harmonies and acoustic guitar lullabies. I highly recommend seeking out Alt-J’s tracks Matilda and Fitzpleasures as I now listen to them on my daily playlist of the moment.

Choosing the headline acts to see is always a tough choice, for me this lay between Dog is Dead or Lianne La Havas. Maybe it was the cider by that point that explained why I based this decision on the fact that someone who had been added to the line-up last minute represented an oman for success. That and the fact that I had seen Dog is Dead a few weeks before and am far to bias to their brilliance – especially as a fellow sax player.

This logic turned out to be flawless and Lianne and the band were a personal highlight and I honestly believe these musician have yet to grasp how mind blowing they actually are. Having been compared to a female Ben Howard, Lianne silenced the room with a beautiful hybrid of sweet folk and soul. I sat stunned on the balcony listening to powerful vocals supported by banging bass lines, encapsulating keyboard melodies and a personal favourite – double bass! As humble as it may be I predict massive things for this lovely lady in 2012 and beyond, hard hitting track Lost and Found having already received daytime airplay on national radio.

The night would not have been complete without the obligatory after party, even though I have spent more evenings than I can or would like to remember in Leeds infamous rock/indie/punk/alternative club Cockpit this one seemed unique. Celebrating a love of live music with people you have known all your life, your uni life or for five minutes is as gratifying as spending Christmas in Lapland. Although I slept well into the afternoon on the final weekend before end of my degree deadlines I still woke up half deaf with a head full of memories and a smile on my face. I was satisfied in a warm bed instead of a field high from the simplicity of small scale festival life and new and loved music.

Fixers’ sound is fairly close to Oxford contemporaries such as a Foals and Blessing Force, but the group also have clear similarly with the likes of Animal Collective and MGMT. Instrumentation therefore is as you might expect, typically over saturated with samples and synthesizers alongside the traditional guitar-bass-drums set-up. Like their contemporaries, the Fixers’ sound is also well produced, with good musicianship, alongside an array of panning and effects techniques.

This is a diverse album instrumentally, but synth does effectively rule Fixers’ sound. Unfortunately, at times many of these synth timbres are very laboured, and far too retrogressive. The tracks Alexandra and Swimmhaus Johannesberg are particularly guilty of this, at times sounding weirdly like Hurts (doing Pet Shop Boys doing Tears For Fears). There are better tracks available for the listener, however. Iron Deer Dream, the album’s lead single has a degree of conviction and presence with more noteworthy instrumentation and very catchy vocal harmonies. Unfortunately however, this track is probably the only item on We’ll Be the Moon that shows genuine brilliance and commercial viability.

I expected to like this album a great deal – the group’s collective influences and contemporaries should equal an interesting album full of vibrant and exciting music. Regrettably however, We’ll Be the Moon left me a bit cold. Perhaps this reaction amounts to a degree of jadedness on my part – I have after all enjoyed previous artist’s forays into the enchanting realm that is psyche inspired post-pop. It must be said though that the curiosity of the genre – the intelligence, capability and creativity that radiated from music past is perhaps now becoming so typical that it no longer seems dazzling or impressive. In this context my negative reaction to We’ll Be the Moon makes perfect sense – what was interesting and dynamic in 2009 will not necessarily remain so three years later.

There in lies the only major problem with this album, and indeed it is a critic’s problem: We’ll Be the Moon is of a genre that was once very compelling, but is now becoming stagnant. This album is certainly pleasant to listen to, but it makes no attempts to move the direction of the genre forward, or add anything of further merit. It is ultimately an alt/indie/pop album that is going through the motions, albeit in a way that is outwardly fairly enjoyable.

fixerstheband.com

Go Fly A Kite begins with a pop-rock number and continues in the style that his fans have come to expect. Mean To Me opens with some heavy electric guitar chords and Kweller sings with an angst that perhaps would normally be found in younger performers starting out in the industry. One of the more polished tracks would have to be Jealous Girl. With an upbeat bridge into a tuneful chorus it reminded me of why I first fell for Kweller’s craftsmanship back in the days of Penny on the Train Track.

Full Circle is catchy with one of those repetitive choruses that refuse to leave your mind for a while after the track ends. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing – in fact the track is one of my highlights of the album. The drum-heavy introduction to Time Will Save The Day leads into another peak of the album. The tonality of Kweller’s vocals adds emotion to the track that repeats the song’s title for effect in the chorus before a rather abrupt ending.

The album ends on another high with You Can Count On Me. It’s a sweet track with the repeated use of the second person pronoun making you think that maybe, just maybe, Kweller is actually singing the song just for you. But then the album ends and reality hits once more. And you’re alone. So you start listening to another Ben Kweller album…

Is it an amazing album that will change your life? No. Is it a disappointing album? No. It’s simply an album that exhibits the undeniable talents of Kweller whilst rarely breaking away from what fans have come to expect from him. Go Fly A Kite is a quality, yet safe, album.

www.benkweller.com

Cambridge Folk Festival

The full  lineup for Cambridge Folk Festival’s Den stage for emerging talent has been revealed. Get yourself a ticket for this festival as it is one not to be missed with the likes of Jake Bugg, Liz Green and Karima Francis all playing. The festival will take place on the 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th of July.

The full line up for The Den is as follows:

Thursday

Dan Wilde

Fred’s House

Max Baillie & Sura Sussa

Friday

Adam Beattie & Brooke Sharkey

Chasing Owls

David Gibb & Elly Lucas

Jake Bugg

Land Shapes – No

Lee Mitchell

Liz Green

Nick Mulvey

Saturday

Charlene Soraia

Dear Winesburg

Eska

Gerard & the Watchmen

House of Hats

Jay Leighton

King Charles (acoustic)

Klak Tik

The Miserable Rich

The Half Sisters

Sunday

Annie Dressner

Karima Francis

Keston Cobblers’ Club

Lucy Kitt

Magic Lantern

Moulettes

Solarference

The Beguilers

Three Cane Whale

Tom Copson

Doherty Painting Sells for £35,000

A picture painted by Pete Doherty using Amy Winehouse’s blood has sold for £35,000. The estimate for the painting was set at £80,000 yet it failed to make this price.

Deschanel to Portray Lynn

Zooey Deschanel has taken on the role of Loretta Lynn in the Broadway production of the Coal Miner’s Daughter.

Williams Trades Tennis Rackets for Musical Tracks

Serena Williams is set to release her debut single. The Wimbledon winner turned rapper lyrics leave much to be desired, “I cook the track up like a frozen pizza, beats so crazy it might blow your speakers.” We would love to hear what you think of her musical debut so please leave a comment below.

Gospel Honour for Franklin

Aretha Franklin has been honoured by the Gospel Hall of Fame. The soul singer will be inducted later this year due to her outstanding contribution to gospel music.

Gabel Revealed He is Transgendered

Tom Gabel, the singer with Against Me! is set to go under gender reassignment surgery to become a woman. Gabel will remain married to his wife but will now be going under the name Laura Jane Grace.

CBGB’s Festival

The legendary New York club CBGB’s closed down in 2006. However, it has been revealed that there will be a CBGB’s festival which will take place in New York over the July 9^th weekend. Over 300 bands will play in 30 venues across New York. Whilst the original club has been closed for six years there is a possibility that the club will re-open in a different location in the city.

Live Announcements

The Audition

The Audition are touring throughout May.

26^th May – Slam Dunk Festival, Leeds University (Sold Out)

27^th May – Slam Dunk Festival, Herts Uni, Hatfield

28^th May – Slam Dunk Wales, Cardiff Uni

29^th May – The Cellar, Southampton

30^th May – The Hydrant, Brighton

1^st June – Facedown, The Scala, London

First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit have announced a headlining tour for November. They will also playing throughout June.

21^st June – Brixton Academy, London (with Jack White – Sold Out)

22^nd June – Hammersmith, London (with Jack White – Sold Out)

13^th July – Latitude Festival

31^st August – 2^nd September – End of the Road Festival

7^th September – Bestival

20^th November – Shepherds Bush Empire, London

22^nd November – Ritz, Manchester

24^th November – QMU, Glasgow

27^th November – Academy, Bristol

Fun.

Tickets for Fun.’s October tour are available via www.gigsandtours.com.

2^nd October – o2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London

4^th October – HMV Institute, Birmingham

6^th October – Academy, Dublin

7^th October – Academy 2, Manchester

8^th October – o2 ABC, Glasgow

Lost Prophets

Tickets for Lost Prophets upcoming tour can be purchased via www.gigsandtours.com.

1^st November – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton (0870 320 7000)

2^nd November – 53 Degrees, Preston (01772 893 000)

3^rd November – o2 Academy, Sheffield (0844 477 2000)

5^th November – HMV Picture House, Edinburgh (0844 499 9990)

6^th November – Ironworks, Inverness (0844 499 9990)

8^th November – o2 Apollo, Manchester (0844 477 7677)

9^th November – Guildhall, Portsmouth (023 92824 355)

12^th November – UEA, Norwich (01603 508 050)

13^th November – Engine Shed, Lincoln (0844 888 8766)

14^th November – Newport Centre, Newport (01633 656 757)

Officers

Check out Officers on their tour.

22^nd May – o2 Academy, Leicester

23^rd May – o2 ABC, Glasgow

24^th May – o2 Academy, Newcastle

25^th May – o2 Academy, Sheffield

28^th May – o2 Academy, Bournemouth

29^th May – o2 Academy, Bristol

30^th May – Junction, Cambridge

31^st May – HMV Institute, Birmingham

1^st June – The Forum, London

2^nd June – Coal Exchange, Cardiff

3^rd June – Dome, Brighton

Smoke Fairies

Smoke Fairies will be playing extensively throughout September and October.

28^th May – Tabernacle, London (£12)

14^th July – Latitude Festival, Southwold

18^th September – Buffalo Bar, Cardiff (£8.50)

19^th September – Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth (£8.50)

20^th September – The Haunt, Brighton (£8)

22^nd September – Arts Centre, Norwich (£8)

23^rd September – Academy, Oxford (£9)

24^th September – The Fleece, Bristol (£8)

26^th September – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham (£9)

27^th September – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds (£9)

28^th September – Trades Club, Hebden Bridge (£9)

30^th September – Cluny, Newcastle (£8)

1^st October – Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh (£9)

2^nd October – Oran Mor, Glasgow (£9)

3^rd October – Duchess, York (£8)

5^th October – Deaf Institute, Manchester (£8)

6^th October – Engine Shed, Lincoln (£9)

7^th October – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (£9)

8^th October – Portland Arms, Cambridge (£9)

The Walkmen

Check out the Walkmen on their tour dates.

12^th June – Village Underground, London (Sold Out)

19^th August – Green Man Festival, Powys

27^th October – Institute, Birmingham (£15)

28^th October – ABC, Glasgow (£15)

29^th October – Vicar Street, Dublin

30^th October – Ritz, Manchester (£15)

1^st November – Forum, London (£17.50)

Zico Chain

Zico Chain will be touring towards the end of the year.

21^st September – o2 Academy 2, Birmingham (www.ticketweb.co.uk)

22^nd September – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (www.alt-tickets.co.uk)

23^rd September – Cathouse, Glasgow (www.triplegmusic.com)

24^th September – Academy 3, Manchester (www.livenation.co.uk)

26^th September – o2 Academy 2, Newcastle (www.ticketweb.co.uk)

27^th September – Cockpit, Leeds (www.lunatickets.co.uk)

28^th September – o2 Academy, Islington, London (www.livenation.co.uk)

30^th September – Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth (www.ticketmaster.co.uk)

1^st October – Fleece, Bristol (www.ticketweb.co.uk)

Released This Week

Through The Night – Ren Harvieu

Not Your Kind Of People – Garbage

Shape Shifter – Santana

Rize Of The Fenix – Tenacious D

A Joyful Noise – Gossip

The Only Place – Best Coast

Instinct – Niki & the Dove

Unpatterns – Simian Mobile Disco

Storm & Grace – Lisa Marie Presley

We Are Young – Fun.