St. Vincent - Digital Witness

So catchy I can't help myself I have been listening to this on repeat all day!

Fantastic job by St. Vincent!

Maiday - Wish You'd Met Me First

Beautiful Songwriting over sick beats...What more could you ask for?

This fantastic song is by songwriter Rachel  Moulden or Maiday  who I think should sing her own songs more often :)

Honne - The Night

Chilled out electromusic is so relaxing...

Honne is one of my favorite musicians of the moment

Can't wait for more music from this duo!

The Sidekicks - Summer Brings You Closer To Satan

Doesn't this song just make you want to dance?

It's such a chill summery song :)

Natalie Prass by Natalie Prass

Natalie Prass has stepped out of the shadows after back up singing for too many artist with her self entitled debut album Natalie Prass. Her jazz tinged soul-pop album really shows off Natalie's strange and wonderful voice. A voice that really deserves to be the main attraction for once. The Nashville singer has quite delicate vocals, which you would think would be drowned out by the strong, brass sounding backing track that is all over this album, but surprisingly there is just enough contrast to make it work.

The whole album is full of wonderful contrast like in the lyrics in songs like Bird of Prey and Violently are dark and a little bit twisted but Natalie sings them in a lighter than air, graceful fashion that creates a melancholic masterpiece. The album is also just a little bit retro, taking from artists like Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick but with a less heavy vocals.

In this case Natalie's soft voice has worked in her favor but it leaves room to wonder if some of the songs would have a better delivery if only she could truly belt the lyrics out. Even with her limits Natalie seems to perform vocal acrobatics throughout the album with her clear crystal like voice which more than makes up for the lack of weight.

Album Review: Tetsuo & Youth - Lupe Fiasco

Lupe Fiasco became really popular back in 2006 when his debut album Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor came out and only got more popular after that. His fame probably peaked in 2010 when the album Lasers was released with hit single The Show Goes On peaking at number 9 on the US charts. After that Lupe Fiasco went quiet for a good few years before releasing this album.

In Tetsuo & Youth Lupe has left behind the more radio friendly songs like in The Show Goes On and has gone back to what he is really good at his fantastic Lyricism. Dropping from fame has allowed him freedom to write and rap whatever he wants to. For example in Mural Lupe raps for a solid 9 minutes with no hook or repetition.

The album is definitely not perfect and there are a few songs that could have been better but as a whole the album is remarkable. As always Lupe's superb lyrics set this album apart from the rest. In one of the more traditionally structured songs Deliver his lyricism really shines through.

"The ghetto was a physical manifestation/

Of hate in a place where ethnicity determines your placement/

A place that defines your station/

Remind you n****s your place is in the basement/

White people in the attic/

N****s selling dope, White people is the addicts/

White folks act like they ain't show us how to traffic"

Lupe fashions these outstanding lyrics with his eloquent style and rhythm. The deeper meaning in his song is hard to catch sometimes but every time you listen to the songs there seems to another layer. This album is by far the best collection of music that Lupe Fiasco has come out with in a very long time.

Top Ten Bands and Musicians to look for in 2015

2015 has just begun and already amazing new music is being released and I thought I'd share my top ten musicians to watch out for this year. Enjoy...

The Record Company

The Record company are a blues/rock/roots group based out of LA with a new take on traditional roots music. They seem like a mix of John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters jumped up to 10. I dare you to try listing to their music and not sing along and dance.  This group is certainly one to watch in 2015.

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Jon Connor

Jon Connor has been writing lyrics and making mixtapes since he was 10 years old and even  founded his own record label at 14 and the experience shows. Now at the age of 29 his hip hop and rap music is undoubtedly some of the best around. In late 2013 he was signed by Dr.Dre I think that Jon Connors is just too good to go unnoticed and will only get better as the year goes on.

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Foals

The indie alt rock band from Oxford England have a unique sound that results in a huge range of awesome music from feel good summery vibes in "My Number", Edgy indie rock in "Inhaler" to quiet chilled out and reflective in "Spanish Sahara" . The band have been talking about releasing a new album and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for what they come out with next.

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Marika Hackman

Marika Hackman is an up and coming indie folk artist from Hampshire in England and her melancholy songwriting and winding melodies are absolutely addicting so I will be interested to see what Hackman will come out with next.

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Years and Years

This Trio from London are part of a new genre of electro pop and are one of Europe's best artists going into 2015. Bassist Mikey Goldsworthy, synth player Emre Turkman, and lead singer Olly Alexander come together to create an alt dance masterpeice with clear flawless vocals and solid beats.

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Dorothy

Dorothy is something strikingly different than  the indie pop that is everywhere today. Their music is refreshing and instantly classic. Comprising of vocalist Dorothy Martin, Drummer Zac Morris, guitarist Mark Jackson and bassist Eliot Lorango they are back to basics, classic rock band.

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BØRNS

This Michigan native has created a chilled out, dreamy collection of music that makes you want to smile and immediately transports you to summer. Just listen and relax...

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Honne

Andy and James created Honne when they met at university and where both inspired by classic soul and complex synths. They started jamming and after a couple weeks and a lot of trial and error Honne came to be. Their slow soulful songs are perfect to wind down to after a long day. Hopefully we will be seeing more and more of this duo in 2015.

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Maudlin Strangers

Maudlin Strangers is a one man band. The one man being Jake Hays who records this music out of his bedroom in California. His cool electro synth style and rough vocals make for a slick record. 

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Amber Run

This five person band out of Nottingham has created quite the stir in the music world with their surprisingly fast rise to fame. The band released single after single throughout 2014 and into 2015 creating a growing and enthusiastic fan base as they went. Right now they are on tour all around England but hopefully they will be back to write more fantastic music soon.

Album Review: 2014 Forest Hills Drive - J.Cole

Jermaine Lamarr Cole,  better known as his stage name, J.Cole released this fantastic album in early December last year. This album is one of the best hip hop/rap albums to come out in 2014. Superb lyricism and easy beats let J.Cole tell a story through his music in a way completely unique to him. Like the name of the album suggests, being named after the address of J.Cole's childhood home in Fayetteville , North Carolina, he talks a lot about growing up. His raps are more thought out and some how more human than some of the more popular rappers today. He talks about his mum struggling to keep his house - "Apparently", losing his virginity -"Wet Dreamz", moving to a new city and even getting mugged - "A Tale of 2 Citiez". After finishing the album you feel as if you know his life and him as a person a little more. This Album is all about growth and reflection and J.Cole pulled it off flawlessly.