This track was all over the underground during the summer. Loud, pumped and driving that 45 King track headlong into the next generation, I've been searching for Sway's Mercedes Benz for months. I blitzed Blogdom, the YouTube, even 'record shops.' I searched everywhere. They did an awesome job of hiding it. But whaddaya know, now it's on Spotify. It's now got an official release. And it's here. A bit late, but first time round, this was the soundtrack to the summer.
Atlas Sound produce the kind of squelchy blissed-out tunes best supped at about 4am. So laid back it’s almost horizontal it’s hard to imagine watching the solo project of Deerhunter's lead singer live and managing to staying awake. But at the right time and the right place tunes like Attic Lights and especially the dreamy The Light That Failed leave you as putty in their hands and a bit like that bloke in the picture. Too chilled to type anym
Yeah so it sounds like Sesame Street Pin Ball Song, so what. The Phenomenal Handclap Band smash it with 15-20.
What time is it? I mean, like now. It may be a bit early for this. Unless it's so early it's still the night before. And if that's the case what the hell are you doing here? Get to bed and definitely don't listen to this, whatever you do; it'll do you no end of damage.
While you weren't looking, the Horrors got good. Over-hyped and distinctly underwhelming, the first incarnation of these Iowa funsters probably left you questioning your distinguished musical taste or despairing at the salivating media surrounding the band. And I'd have joined you in that beery debate.
I'd heard this song less than once when I excitedly twunted something along the lines of, 'Has Ian Brown just released the single of the year?' In the sobriety of a tenth or seventeenth listen I'll say it's Top 5. If you've not heard it hold your bladder as you wag your tail like an excited puppy to 'Stellify'.
Six weeks ago I vowed never to return to the venue I found myself standing outside on Saturday night. The last time I was at Wembley Stadium - to see U2 - it was a truly lack-luster experience. Sat too far away in 'fan club ticket seats' I said, never again. So imagine my surprise to be back beneath the scaffold arch. Adamant that we got standing tickets, or nothing, we struck a deal with the devil's helpers outside and found our way in. Inside Wembley felt strangely intimate: whether it was the stage, the crowd, the lighting, the sound, the screens; come to think of it, it was probably all of the above; I could feel a conversion coming on. But I wasn't expecting a second one. Jay-Z tore up the stage with the best hip-hop sound I've heard. Oh yeah, and I've heard hip-hop. Ahem. 99 Problems... yeah, yeah, naturally amazing. But it was a track from his new album, The Blueprint 3 which totally blew me. 'Empire State Of Mind' was accompanied by an epic back drop of the Manhattan sky-line. And the epic vocal of Bridget Kelly, in place of Alicia Keys. Jesus wept, she can sing. Moved by hippety hop. Who'd have thunk. And to top that, at the end of the gig, Mr Z started to thank the audience individually. Like Les Dennis and Dustin Gee used to do. Sweet.
