The French Revolution

The Golden Age - Woodkid

Yoann Lemoine is a man of many talents. Artist, producer, director, musician, singer, songwriter to name a few. Last year he emerged from behind the cameras of music videos for artists such as Katy Perry, Lana Del Rey and Drake, to release Iron, his first single. The ominous but enthralling introduction, a tidal wave of brass followed by almost tribal percussion heralds not only the start to an exceptional song, but an exceptional career. The song encapsulates everything Woodkid, Lemoine's alter-ego, is about. It is epic songwriting at its very best and blurs the line between songwriting and composing. Throughout The Golden Age, Woodkid's debut album, Lemoine utilises a full orchestra, from sweeping piano to heartwrenching strings to violent drums, its all there to be appreciated for what the Frenchman's first full length foray into the industry really is: Art.

The opening track which bears the same name as the album is a mournful eulogy for youth. Even in the first song of the record, Lemoine makes it clear that it is not just the music that he wants to use to capture your heart, but lyrics as well. None are as powerful as in the title song as the artist gives a tribute to the saddest part of anyone's life; growing up, “Did you ever feel / We're falling as we grow / No I would not believe / The light could ever go / But the Golden Age is over.” There is promise of adventure however, as the tempo is briefly raised with the staccato thrust of trumpets, “But boys are made to flee / And run away one day.”

The adventure begins immediately with the immersive and enthralling Run Boy Run. Lemoine's second single is a real achievement. It is awe-inspiring, especially when listened to the way Woodkid wants it to be listened to. Lemoine has stated in interviews before how important he believes music videos to be and it is easy to see his intentions with the video to The Golden Age's second song. It is an essential experience, not an optional bonus, unlike ninety nine percent of music videos nowadays. To say that his videos give life to his songs would be wrong, for his music is utterly exceptional. However, when accompanied, or partnered as I should say, by the vidoes he has created for them they cease to be just music and instead become an obsession. Run Boy Run serves as the perfect example. It is a music video that makes the heart flutter and deserves to be seen again and again (you can view it below). The three videos he has made so far are for Iron, Run Boy Run and I Love You. All three have to be seen to be believed. 

Out of the previously unheard songs on the album – Iron, Run Boy Run and I Love you have all been available before the album's release – Conquest of Spaces is the pick of the litter, but it is a close run contest. Each track is a heartfelt gift and each one is felt differently. Lemoine's melancholy but beautiful vocals are the only constant throughout as he leads you to feel each song individually, from the pure heroic shivers of Run Boy Run to the heartbreaking strings that introduce Shadows.

As far as debut albums go, they don't get much better than this. Made with feeling, our first full length installment of Woodkid is a tremendous achievement. There are no filler tracks, each has had real care and attention put into it. The Golden Age is an album that comes to life upon the very first listen. Lemoine was asked in an interview while he was touring in Russia about his album and how he wanted it to make people feel. He answered simply, “I want my music to make people feel like heroes when they listen to it.” At first it may sound pretentious and it may sound like a tall order, but he has achieved exactly that.

The XX - XX

London four-piece (three piece as of late 2009) The XX released their debut album XX on the 17^th of August 2009 through the label Young Turks, and if I were to describe the critical reception as ‘positive’, I would be guilty of a criminal understatement. In truth, this album has snowballed in popularity, and the band themselves of course with it. Tracks have been heard on TV soundtracks both in the UK and in the States, on such shows as 90210, Misfits, Grey’s Anatomy, and, somewhat strangely, on the BBC’s coverage of the 2010 General Election. XX has reached the point of “Universal acclaim” according to Metacritic, and it seems there is no letting off, as the downloads continue and the positive reviews keep appearing. Well, I can firmly say this: Believe the hype. This album is a fantastic first outing from Wandsworth’s Elliott School friends Romy Croft, Oliver Sim, Jamie Smith, and Baria Qureshi, the latter of which left the band in late 2009. It’s a sleek, hauntingly brilliant debut from a band hotly tipped for great things.

The first track, aptly named Intro leads the way as any good opening track should. This melodic instrumental has elements of each of the tracks that follow it, and it’s brought together beautifully in its finality, with war-esque bass drum hits and reverb soaked guitar work. Crystallised, the third track, is one of the picks of the litter and quite frankly, it is simply breathtaking. It epitomises everything that can be found on this album. It is clean echoed guitars, it is the eerie ambience that serves as the perfect background, and it is the at times almost angelic male and female vocals that fit perfectly over the top of each track. This isn’t just good, it’s hauntingly good.

Heart Skipped a Beat is the fifth track on the album, and is on a par with Crystallised. Heartbreaking vocals “Sometimes, I still need you” are delicately laced on top of a simplistic yet brilliant backing track. The synthed drums used by the band themselves are more noticeable in these four minutes of magic, as the beat for the first part stops and is replaced by something faster and with a little more life in it, only to be relayed under exactly what you had just heard for the first minute of the track. Despite seeming pointless in description, actually reflects what The XX and their first album are about. They’re showing off. They underline the versatility of their song writing and themselves as artists in each brilliantly written track on this brilliantly made album.

XX is as perfect a debut album as you’ll find at the moment. The then four-piece London band have created a record that encapsulates them as a band, and it has been raved about and raved about and then some, with songs that can break your heart and sew it up again. These are songs to keep you warm in winter and keep you cool in summer. There is no smoke without fire, and the fire in this case is an astounding debut from a band that are showing they have what it takes to really make it big, keep an ear out, you will be hearing more from The XX soon.

It's Been A While.

'Sunshine EP' is the first release by Peterborough based two-piece The Candle Thieves, and I am not the first person nor will I be the last to say it will undoubtedly add to their snowballing popularity. 'The Sunshine Song', the recent single, kicks off the EP brilliantly. As a track, it encapsulates perfectly exactly what the duo are about and what they do best. Scott McEwan enters the song coupled with his acoustic guitar after several bars of synthesized beats with the words "I would buy you a rainbow...", heralding the start of one of the most upbeat and feel-good songs to grace your eardrums. After listening to the song once or twice, you're left with a sweet taste in your mouth, pondering young love, daisy chains and hot summer days. The music video for this track can also be found on the band's Myspace page.

'My Love Will Clap It's Hands For You' chimes in as the second track of the EP. More downbeat than the previous track, this serves more as a warning as Scott McEwan sings it so perfectly "If love is all you have, don't let it go". This sweet and charming track, lasting just over three minutes, rings of the serene naivety that the band seem to instill into everything they do.

'The State That I'm In' should be a sing-along already for those who are already fans of The Candle Thieves. This track was once upon a time given away as a freebie after signing up to the band's mailing list. A showcase that Scott and The Glock can tip the scales from the feel-good serenity of the previous two tracks, this track dawdles by with all of the haunting solemnity of disillusionment and young heartbreak. "I don't fit into this life", Scott McEwan sings as the track reaches its conclusion, accompanied by chilling xylophones and a simplistic yet fitting drum beat.

The final track of the EP, 'Lonely Lonely Lonely', is an absolute gem. The angelic harmony of slowly strummed acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, and keyboard is matched perfectly with The Glock's soothing voice. This slow and moving ballad becomes more of a lullaby at times, but one that will leave you sleeping in shock nonetheless, as it truly is a stunningly written and performed song. A breathtaking song to leave people either speechless or teary-eyed, it bows out as beautifully as it came in, with The Glock asking himself, "How long can I keep this up for?".

These four songs are a perfect way for two very talented musicians to herald their entrance into the music industry. The first half of the EP shows just what you'd expect from a band such as The Candle Thieves, by which I mean jovial, feel-good pop, dripping from head-to-toe with the blissful exuberance of youth and young love. The second half is a solemn but hauntingly beautiful affair, with two excellently written ballads to break your heart.

Expect big things...

'The Sunshine EP' comes out on Monday 14th via Alcopop Records (although it has been available digitally since the 10th). For more information on The Candle Thieves, head to their Myspace page.

An Introduction To: The Candle Thieves

Free Download: Sharks And Bears MP3

If you haven’t heard of The Candle Thieves, I offer both my condolences and some advice: visit their MySpace page, turn up the volume, and be blown away by the two songs streamed there. These two tracks alone are so representative of the band and what they do best, it’s somewhat surprising that the two band members (Scott McEwan and Glockenshiels) don’t climb out of the speakers with their multitude of instruments and inflatable sharks and whisk you away to the Edible Garden room of Willy Wonka’s factory.

The Peterborough duo describe themselves as “a guilty pleasure for deep thinkers”, an ambiguous title that is nonetheless perfectly suited to the unique and uplifting pop music that they play. By all means, download “Sharks and Bears” from the link I’ve posted above, and just try to disagree. It is hard not to be impressed by the talent showcased.

Live, it is a very similar story. Accompanied by a cuddly bear and an inflatable shark, songs such as ‘We’re All Gonna Die (Have Fun)’ and ‘Sharks and Bears’ are the highlights, leaving you bopping your head and humming the chorus and hooks all the way home. ‘Stars’ is particularly special, as Scott leaves the stage, moves into the centre of the audience and performs acoustically, eventually to be backed by ‘The Glock’ some time into the song, firstly with harmonica and then on keyboard. There is a video of this here on YouTube, which is actually taken about two metres away from me, witnessing The Candle Thieves for the very first time. They stole the show rather than candles that night, leaving Sam Isaac’s set later on seeming more like a cool-down act than the headliner.

‘The Sunshine EP’ comes out on the 14^th of September, and if, like myself, you’re counting the days, you could always have your very own gig in your garden. As a twist on the ‘Live in Your Living Room Tour' that the band did last year, this Summer they are taking bookings to perform in the gardens of, well, whoever wants them to really. You can find all the details for both the EP and the ‘Live in Your Garden Tour’ on their MySpace (the latter being in their blog), but the boys are only taking bookings up until September 10^th, so be quick. I will also be reviewing the EP closer to the release date.

In ‘We’re All Gonna Die (Have Fun)’ Scott sings “I think you’ll probably live beyond the end of the week, you got enough time left so come and spend it with me”. I say you should do exactly the same. Visit them on MySpace, and just take some time soaking up catchy songs, two talented musicians, and an inflatable shark and cuddly bear...

The Candle Thieves’ MySpace Page.

Dan Black - ((Un))

This, the debut album from ex-The Servants frontman Dan Black, has been long awaited to say the least. Ever since his first single after being signed to Polydor Records in 2008, "Alone", a mass of Electronica fans and Synth lovers have been lying in wait. "Yours" then came a short time later, merely to tease those already in love with Black's sound, and to goad those unfamiliar with him into his ever-increasing fan base.

The album begins with the song "Symphonies", an electro-orchestra backed ballad. This song is everything one could expect from Black after hearing "Yours" or "Alone", and is a great yet unexpectedly gloomy start to the album, the chorus bringing about the lyrics “Gimme gimme symphonies, Gimme more than the life I see”.

The second track on the album follows the gloomy premise of the first. "U + Me =" is backed by solemn and relaxing tones, overlaid perfectly by Black's unique voice, which at times becomes almost hymnal. The huge increase in audio power at the onset of the chorus is enough to shock the system, and occasionally gains too much dominance, dwarfing the angelic vocals.

"Alone" brings a change to the proceedings, moving away from the doom and gloom of the first three songs, and kicking off with a funky combination of slap bass and synthetic beats. This shift in tone is repeated again in "Yours", which begins also with a funky hook right from the onset. The high pitched vocals almost screaming when the song reaches the chorus, "I don't wanna be yours no more".

"Pump my Pumps" is nothing but a showcase of Dan Black’s talent. The song kicks off with a haunting duo of tone and processed beats. As Black's voice starts the first verse, “Follow the lover, into the waves”, its hard not to be taken aback already. This track is the most dancefloor worthy of the album, something the artist no doubt intended, considering the lyrics of the chorus “I just pump my pumps, pumpin’ on the floor”. This and "Wonder" are without a doubt the picks of the album and show electro-pop songwriting at its very best. "Wonder" begins life more orchestral and more haunting than any of the tracks before it, with reverb on full, it gives this song an impression like a strobe light in a graveyard. The chorus is a different story, heralded in by acoustic guitar, and the lyrics “But have you noticed, summer comes and disappears”.

The final four songs however, move away from the brilliance of the first eight, and move into what unfortunately seems like filler track territory. By the time "I Love Life" emerges, it becomes very hard not to switch the volume down and turn on the TV. Whether it's because the artist himself has ran out of steam and substance, or the listener has just grown bored of the gloomy synth and high pitched voice, this really is the downfall of what would be an almost flawless and pragmatic debut for Dan Black.

Visit Dan Black's Website here.

'Bang Bang' by Lady Sovereign

Bang Bang by Lady Sovereign

This song, taken from London born MC Lady Sovereign's second studio album "Jigsaw" (released April 2009) kicks off with the sort of Electro/Drum & Bass hook that you would expect to hear topping the charts from La Roux or Ladyhawke. However the premise is soon proved to be misguided as the female artist opens the first verse by rapping the lyrics, “Oi, oi, oi, poloi”, a world away from the ethereal vocals of La Roux or Ladyhawke.

The chorus soon enters the fray, heralded by the trashy but nonetheless catchy lyrics, “I got that bang bang sound... So come on crank it loud”.

The rest of the song follows suit, by which I mean often cringeworthingly “wannabe gangster” lyrics, laid over the top of a simplistic electro backing.

Oddly enough however, as much as everything about this song screams council estates, teenage pregnancies and knife crime, it is hard not to be taken by the overall article. After the first play of the chorus, the contagious tune is scratched firmly into the mind, enough so that I defy even the most anti-chav not to sing along.

If you are a fan of the likes of La Roux, Ladyhawke or 3Oh!3, then this certainly is an artist for you to look out for, as this song especially sounds like “In For The Kill” skipping school singing lessons, drinking cheap cider and being fingered against a bin. Unfortunately for her, Louise Harman (Lady Sovereign) will never be perceived as being quite as “Ghetto” as she wants to be, but if she’s making catchy pop songs like this, then who really cares?