Now, 2015 has been a pretty phenomenal year for new music - I'm sure I've still got a few albums to catch up on if I'm honest. However, there are some artists that I can't help but wish had released a record this year. There's always next year though!


DAUGHTER
It's been a couple of years since their debut If You Leave and I still listen to it on a very regular basis. Beginning to end, no matter the order, that record is stellar. Luckily, Daughter released a new single a couple of months ago here and if it's anything to go by, then their sophomore record out next year should have no problems making it onto my top albums of the year list - I just wish it'd come sooner, but suppose good things come to those who wait.

FRANK OCEAN
The king of procrastination himself. Frank had the whole world waiting for a new album this year around July and we're still all waiting - no news of a release date, time schedule, absolutely nothing. Channel Orange was a brilliant record and was maybe actually a little underrated as a whole piece but 3 years on - let's go Frank! I don't know when we'll get a second record but when we do, I'll be expecting very big things.

KANYE WEST
Speaking of procrastinators, here's another new record that I'd expected to hear around mid year and am still waiting (semi)patiently for. After the controversial Yeezus this new record was supposed to be a complete 180 and I was so ready for the differing views and undeniably brilliant tracks but instead we got a big bowl of nothing. Okay well, we got "All Day" but still - album in 2016 please.

RIHANNA
Continuing on the thread of artists who made us false promises this year, bad girl Rih Rih has been teasing us since the year began, with music videos, the absolute banger "Bitch Better Have My Money", album covers, and even album titles but still we've seen nothing. Still unsure of a release date at this point but with a tour already announced for next year, I'm sure we won't be waiting much longer.

THE NIGHT VI
To be honest, I've been waiting for this band to release an album since I first discovered them in 2013 here and last year seemed a little bit promising with new single releases and covers. We did get an EP this year to be fair so they didn't leave us with nothing but I just want a big breakout debut album that won't be able to hide under the radar. No signs of that happening anytime soon though so until then I guess I'll just keep listening to Maybe That's How I'm Feeling.

LAURA MVULA
Laura's been making new music ever since her debut record came out - we just haven't heard any of it yet. The only thing I'm worried about with her sophomore is that the same thing that happened to Alt-J and SBTRKT will happen. She was something so new and different when she debuted and now it might be too hard to keep a unique sound without overdoing it. Will just have to wait and see if she can prove this theory wrong.

HAIM
I feel like I haven't heard anything from Haim in the longest time! I know it's only been a couple of years but they blew up so quickly and had so many hits in such a short space of time that when they dropped off the scene to record new material, their absence was very noticeable. I wasn't their hugest fan but I liked what they were doing and a need them to come back and fill that Haim shaped hole in my life.

BALANCE AND COMPOSURE
After The Things We Think We're Missing in 2013 I've been waiting for any opportunity to see this band live. That record was some of the best pop rock I've heard in a while! Again, an album that return to frequently, so when rumours started coming up about them breaking up earlier this year I was pretty devastated. Thank God they later came out with a statement that they're not breaking up and they're actually recording new music - just wish it'd come out this year.

ARCANE ROOTS
Another cop out - they did release an EP earlier this year here and it was definitely good, but after the gold that was Blood & Chemistry I was hoping to get my hands on another musical masterpiece this year. Either way, now that the band are getting more and more recognition this might result in more music soon. I haven't heard anyone in the same space do it quite as well as them just yet.

CHARLOTTE OC
In fairness, I did only discover her last year but since discovering her music, she's blown up quite a bit and released quite a few new singles - only right for me to assume that a new album's on it's way right? Well I was mistaken. She did however (like most of the other artists on this list) release an EP earlier this year here - no signs of a debut record yet but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Well, well, well... Christmas sure has crept up quickly this year! For the past 3 years I've had the tradition of choosing my top 7 albums of the year in the week lead up to Christmas. However, traditions are indeed made to be broken!

This year instead of the "7 days of Christmas" , on Christmas Eve I'll post my list of 10 albums I would've liked to see happen this year, and on Christmas Day I'll post my top 10 albums that actually did come out this year. Who knows what records will make either of these lists?! 2015 has indeed been a monumental year for music.

Keep your eyes peeled...

It's safe to say that I've missed a few things since working in Australia so now that I have Cup Day off, I thought it'd be the perfect time to catch up on a few things...


NARCS NEW SINGLE "BLUE BAGS"
It's been a while since I heard anything from the Leeds boys but I'm glad to have them back - now all that's left is a debut album! Until then, I'll jam to this new tune here. It feels like every time I hear something new from NARCS it sounds completely different from the last. This wasn't at all what I'd expected when I saw that they released a new track and sadly I don't think it's better than what I'd imagined. Nonetheless, I'll keep listening out for something I love.


DJ SNAKE NEW SINGLE "MIDDLE (FEAT. BIPOLAR SUNSHINE)"
DJ Snake is really chucking out radio bangers left, right and centre. In most places around the world, summer's coming to an end and this is a perfect song for that end of summer/beginning of autumn feeling. It's been a long while since I heard anything from Bipolar Sunshine too so it's interesting to have him back in a featuring role. Sampha might have suited this feature better but still a strong track here.


JAKE ISAAC NEW MUSIC VIDEO "HOME"
If I'm honest, I haven't really been following Jake Isaac intently this year but thank God I caught this track. What an absolute banger! I must say, Jake Isaac might be a little bit underrated. I don't hear his name uttered enough. Good track here - I'd say that it's time for me to start doing some research.


THE INTERNET NEW MUSIC VIDEO "GET AWAY"
I've been actively listening to The Internet's latest record since it was released in June earlier this year. This isn't even the best song on the record in my opinion and it's still made it's way to my top played list. Great album opener and although this video is more short than sweet, I still feel as great watching it as I do listening to the song. Check out the video here.


THE STONE ROSES ANNOUNCE 2016 TOUR DATES
After rumors year after year of Oasis reforming we have another old school juggernaut coming together for a couple of UK shows next year. Tickets to see The Stone Roses go on sale on the 6th of November and I can guarantee that these are going to fly. Grab one if you can because these going to be shows to remember!


KINS NEW SINGLE "MOST DEFINITELY"
Another band that I'm really waiting for a debut album from. Although, I am worried that as with Kins' EP, it'll get a little hard to listen to all the way through. Either way, it's the songs that make the record and this song is great. Kins have really come into their own now and the production on this song is awesome.


MØ NEW SINGLE "KAMIKAZE"
MØ seems to love a good Diplo collaboration. After their jam "XXX 88" in 2013, it's nice to hear them come together again, this time for something a little more different. I personally prefer "XXX 88" but I can see this track here being played heaps in the summer or just whenever the sun's out. I just love that MØ's finally getting the hype I said she deserved.


TONIGHT ALIVE NEW MUSIC VIDEO "HUMAN INTERACTION"
It's no secret how much I love Tonight Alive, so when I heard that they were releasing a new single you can say that I was a little bit excited. After two albums I thought I would've had TA somewhat pegged by now but this single actually caught me a little off guard. No doubt that this is a bit different from what they've done in the past, but I love it!! This track has been stuck in my head since I heard it and Jenna's vocals sound as strong as ever. Super stoked for the new record out on the 4th of March.


DRONES NEW SINGLE "FROM BIRTH TO GRAVE"
I heard about Drones on Punktastic a while back but haven't really been following them since then. When I saw this tweet about a new music video from them I thought I might as well check it out. Good choice. I love stumbling on a good track. I feel like they've still got some honing to do but they're solid. Have a listen to the pop punk tune here.


FOALS COVER FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE'S "WHAT KIND OF MAN"
The first thing I thought of when I saw that Foals were covering this track was "What Went Down". I think I was a bit too excited, because when they started off I was brought back down to earth. I didn't like the synths in the beginning, sounding very CHVRCHES-esque. However, when the guitars came in it picked up, and again when they mashed it up with "What Went Down". In the end though, it just wasn't enough for me - I think I just wanted more from that cover. Have a listen here.


KITE BASE NEW SINGLE "MIRACLE WAVES"
So... Savages' Ayşe Hassan and Blindness' Kendra Frost have formed a band. If you're not already as stoked as I was when I heard this, you probably need to go listen to both bands. After, you've done that and we're on the same page, have a listen here to what it sounds like when super talented bassists come together. Kite Base, my interest is piqued.


SAM SMITH NEW SINGLE "DROWNING SHADOWS"
Apparently this is Sam's "saddest song ever". All I could think during the first couple of minutes is how much it sounded like an old Whitney song that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It's going to grate on me until I figure out that track it sounds like but aside from that very good track. Although I agree that it's more of a bonus track than one for the main album; I'll definitely be listening to this one a few more times.

I'd been meaning to properly listen to Circa Survive for the longest time now and if it wasn't for the fact that I hadn't been to a show in so long and PVRIS were supporting; I probably wouldn't have made the clever decision to get a ticket.

After seeing PVRIS in Birmingham earlier this year here and now here in Melbourne, they've cemented their place as one of my favourite live bands this year. Whether they play a full set or just a couple songs, you're guaranteed a good time. Time and time again, they prove to me that they're one of the most exciting things in music of late. As always, singles "White Noise", "St Patrick" and "My House" stirred a huge crowd reaction. I don't know why I hadn't anticipated it but "Holy" got a reaction that was on par if not even more raucous  - great jam, but now I think I appreciate it even more. To top off the incredibly fun set, a crowd fan gifted the band with an adorable penguin teddy, Spencer. 

Now Circa Survive. For a band so reluctant to call it a "show", they sure knew how to put one on! Starting off the festivities with "Child of the Desert" is not what I expected after taking a crash course in Circa Survive before the gig. Either way, it perfectly set the tone.The crowd really moved as the band did - swayed when they had to sway, jumped when they had to jump - it was such a huge collective experience. As frontman Anthony appropriately stated, it was a "shared hallucination". Anthony all together was one of the most theatrical frontmen I've ever seen on stage. Super erratic but captivating to say the least. "Schema" was probably my favourite track of the night. When they came back on for their encore, the band switched instruments, starting off with an improv track called "Sex Dungeon" with some hilarious lyrics which Anthony swore PVRIS wrote. Then after the impromptu laughs, they ended perfectly with "Get Out" - what a strong setlist! The perfect way to start off my list of live shows in Melbourne!

Overall Rating - 7.5/10


Here are some pictures from the night...

After coming back from a little break myself I thought it apt to start with a post about this absolute beauty...

ADELE - Hello

New tracks have been coming out of the woodwork this week. Dog Is Dead actually just released a new EP Fast Food and Jagwar Ma remixed Foals' "Mountain At My Gates". That's all just the tip of the iceberg though...

DIIV - Dopamine
DIIV have actually had this their live setlists since 2014, so I did have the privilege of catching it live at Field Day earlier this year here. In terms of the studio version, I feel like this is definitely a better live track - awesome summer, festival, surfer rock track. It's not a huge change from the tracks on their debut but I can't wait to hear this new record in full! I'm hoping for many more levels on this new DIIV record.



LOWER THAN ATLANTIS - Get Over It
Unlike Half Moon Run, I wasn't actually expecting anything new from LTA any time soon, but the boys are just too good to us! Mike Duce continues to be inspired and bang out new tunes, despite the band's hectic schedule only just starting to slow down (or so I thought).  I like this new one - a touch different to their other material, but still packs just as much of a punch...



NAUGHTY BOY - Runnin' (Lose It All)
Naughty Boy sure knows how to get a good feature artist. You must have big connections to get Beyonce on a track but he's done it, and done it well might I add. This is a big tune - sounds a lot like a Rudimental beat. I'm excited to see what Naughty Boy does with his new record. Maybe even Emeli Sande will come out of hiding.

This review's been a long time coming to be honest. I can't believe how long it's taken for me to listen to this in full! An album's first listen deserves full attention so finally, 2 weeks after release I got down to it. Here's my track by track...


1. What Went Down
Biggest song on the album! I don't actually think I'll change my opinion on that - this song is a juggernaut! The build on this is stellar. It's easy to compare this to "Inhaler" but it's a completely different  type of aggression fueling this. That grit-your-teeth-steel-yourself-confrontational type of anger in the bridge is nothing like the crowd-hyping-blood-boiling electricity in Inhaler. People will lose their minds to this - live or not.

2. Mountain At My Gates
This track chimes in so sweetly after that but in just as big a way. This is a belter - one for the thousands to sing. Very catchy hook. In short this song just felt confident. A safe but enjoyable track - I can't fault it.

3. Birch Tree
So this might be the most forgettable track on the album in my opinion. Still a solid track - radio-friendly, but nothing about it really jumped out at me. Nothing really held my attention throughout the track.

4. Give It All
Foals really show their undeniable versatility on this record. The way this track swells is almost soundtrack-like. The band's ability to paint a picture with their tracks has just grown and grown since Total Life Forever. Such a simple track but strikes a chord with Yannis' crooning and Walter's unmistakable "oohs" in the background.

5. Albatross
Next to "What Went Down" this is up there with my favourite songs on the record right now. The bass on this creeps up on you. It wasn't until around the 2 minute mark that my ears really pricked up. Everything just comes together so perfectly on this track - the synths mesh so well with the guitar.

6. Snake Oil
I'd seen videos of this performed live at their Rough Trade in-store before I listened to the record in full. The fact that I recognised the riff instantly after hearing maybe ten seconds of it live just says enough. This will definitely be one of the ones to stick in your head. I did expect the song to build up a little more urgency towards the end, so was shocked that it stayed pretty level. However, there is so much wiggle room for live performances on this song. I can already see the circle pits!

7. Night Swimmers
This song sounds like what it's called really. The guitar mimics ripples throughout. Again the bass though - Walter really kicks ass on this record! This track was a bit of a slow burner for me but by the end I was head nodding, air drumming and completely captured. Tune.

8. London Thunder
Three-quarters of the way through the album and I'm content. I feel like this might be the track that I return to the most on the album (out of the non-singles). I had to play this twice when I first heard it just so I could take in every last bit. Lyrically, conceptually - this song has an overwhelming presence, it just washes over you. 

9. Lonely Hunter
This instrumental is fantastic. Whilst I was listening to this I remember thinking "I'd love to hear a feature artist on this track" and then I realised that four albums in and Foals have never had a feature artist on any of their records. Foals have covered so many different sub genres throughout their career, touching rock to mainstream without the help of outside influence - big kudos.

10. A Knife In The Ocean
Here's where Jack shines most in my opinion - I love the drums on this. Strong ending (particularly instrumentally) to a consistent record. Although stepping away from a sound that has already been critically acclaimed is a risk in itself, this track did make me wish that Foals had risked a little more. Nothing on this record made my heart jump more than, or even as much as, the title track. There are no bad songs on this album but there could be more edges.


The last track didn't feel definitive; I expect something like a part two to this album - there's just so much more that Foals can do. It seems ridiculous to think it after they've given us so much but they've proven that they're a band that gives more every time and it's quality. I'm excited for what might be ahead.

Overall Rating - 7.5/10

With all of these new videos and singles, come some brand new videos. Here are just a few of the ones that've stuck in my memory over the past couple of months...

CHARLES DIXON - Milky Wave
The latest track from Charles Dixon is a big'un. This beat is fantastic! His debut album Cloud Walking Vol. 1 came out earlier this week (get it for FREE here) and simply from his singles you can see that he's always improving. The video features a female bodybuilder, a dwarf dressed as Tyrion Lannister, a fire breather and so much more in just the first shot of the video!! And it's all nicely put together with awesome edits. Get on the wave...

So one of the many new albums that I've been making my way through this month has been from the lovely Lianne La Havas. On first listen it felt like an album that I was returning to after a long while - soulful, reminiscent and classic. Although right now I haven't latched onto it in the same way I did her last, this record has so many layers to it - I know it'll take some time to fully appreciate it. Anyway, before this becomes an album review...

LIANNE LA HAVAS - Midnight

Some of these aren't such new discoveries, but as I've been away from the blog a while I thought it only right to back track and chat about the people who've caught my attention since I last posted. 


FALSE ADVERTISING
I got the heads up about this band via email and quickly had a listen to their promo material. I'm not so sure what I was expecting but within 30 seconds I was more than convinced. HUGE live show potential. Their debut self-titled record is actually set to drop on the 4th of September so get your hands on that and get down to a show, because even with similar bands like Wolf Alice and Yuck around blowing our minds right now, I think False Advertising will have a lot to bring to the table once this hits shelves! Particularly, check out their tracks "Dozer" and "Wasted Away".


B A D P L A C E S
This Bristol based collective have come about really under the radar. 100% home-grown - no Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or even Bandcamp... just a simple Soundcloud with minimal information on what they're about. Hate to be cliche - but their music certainly does the talking for them. On their debut EP These Aren't Hits, hip-hop influences really come through on the instrumentals with these influences carrying over to their debut album - Isolacious (released just 3 months later!!!). Especially love tracks like "Confessions" and "Pillow Talk" while both abundantly different - both display huge levels of versatility, making it impossible to pin Bad Places down in just one genre. Get your hands on their music for free on their soundcloud. I'd definitely say - watch this space.



HYENA
To this day I can't remember what drew me to this band, but whatever it was, thank God! For a while I was worried that music (especially rock/indie rock) was becoming far too bland and generic. Hyena, whilst not doing anything particularly groundbreaking, have finally given me something energetic and not just the standard 4 by 4, cookie cutter, indie, "woop woop" music we're becoming far too content with. Love their track "Mental Home" - Royal Blood/QOTSA beat with Interpol vocals - yes per-lease. I predict that big things are due for these guys.






BLOOD YOUTH
There's a lot of potential for this band. I don't feel like they're where they could be just yet, but with only a debut EP out - Inside My Head - they've got plenty of room to grow! They've got a lot of push behind them, already landing a support gig with Architects so I'm excited to see how much they improve between now and their debut album! Until then get the new EP in your ears (sweet track - "Failure"). Expect to see Rocksound and Kerrang mentioning these guys quite a bit in the months to come so keep an eye out.






WINTERS END
Last but not least, only right that I feature some new music that I've discovered since I've been in Australia. This duo might have come about at just the perfect time - with Haim sort of off the map and London Grammar too, there aren't many bands in the spotlight that sound like them (and I'm still waiting on The Night VI's record). I digress, Winters End have huge potential and the kind of sound that could fill arenas! Their single "Mayfair" is an anthem - thumping drums and soaring vocals, it's definitely not the kind of song you could just ignore. I really hope that this makes a mark over across the Atlantic.

I definitely owe an apology and a bit of an explanation! So sorry that I haven't posted in over a month - with exams going on the posts were slowing down, I wasn't really making it to shows and as part of my course at University I had to search for an internship. Which brings me to my reason for not posting - I'm currently working an internship in Australia!

I'll be here for 6 months so posts are going to be a little bit slower until I get back to the UK but I already have some shows lined up, a plethora of amazing albums (released and unreleased) and a surprising amount of new discoveries! Will attempt to get them out as quickly as possible so please bear with me.

If you like looking at pictures of cities and landscapes, feel free to take a look at my Instagram. I'll be updating while I'm away. Hope you're all having fun in the music world! Greetings from Oz...

Although I didn't manage to see as many artists as I did on Saturday, Sunday actually ended up being the most entertaining day in terms of music. Some of the best sets I've seen this whole year, let alone at Field Day....

EAGULLS
I actually think that I might have enjoyed them more here than I did when I caught their headline set here. It just felt a lot more relaxed, the crowd were definitely more responsive and the band really fed off this - absolutely killer set to start off the day.


DIIV
I've been psyched to see this band for ages now, I'm actually a little surprised that I hadn't seen them until now. Either way, they were awesome! Perfect for a summer morning. Their debut album Oshin sounded glorious live and their new songs from the upcoming album sounded just as strong. Of course when the bass riff to "Doused" rang out headbanging kicked into overdrive. I look forward to much more from this band.


MAC DEMARCO
The talk of the weekend! The most charming hillbilly in the world 100%. This felt like the most improvised set of the day. Most of the time it just felt like a jam session, it was so comfortable and personal. Obviously got a little bit rowdy towards the end, with hotdogs and footballs being thrown on stage and Mac being thrown off it - euphoric atmosphere.


PATTI SMITH
Absolute legend. I felt nothing but honoured to be in her presence that day. I just remember saying "it's sad that nobody really sounds like this anymore". Killer set, and it just felt so effortless. It's definitely easy to tell when an artist has been performing for a while - seasoned but fresh. To top it all off, she played the entirety of Horses - yes!


SAVAGES 
Honestly, the best set that I have seen in 2015. I can say that with some confidence. Savages are like a myth. The intensity in the tent was palpable. They're like a band you'd tell people about and they wouldn't believe you. For them to be able to start off a set with "City's Full" already suggests the calibre of their tracks past, present and future. The whole experience just felt spiritual. This is not a band you want to sleep on - outstanding musicians. Also, Jehnny Beth is a marvel to behold - my goodness! 


RIDE 
I didn't really know too much about Ride before seeing them headline but it was a nice way to end a great weekend. Chilled out summer music. Although a lot of their songs sounded very familiar, I'm sure that I haven't heard anything by them before. Cool old/new discovery for me.

The first day was the hardest, simply because there were so many acts that I wanted to see and therefore, so many clashes. We spent most of the day stage hopping but managed to catch a lot of great sets...

TEI SHI
I'd heard the name Tei Shi floating about for a while now and I'm really glad that I went to check her out. I actually thought she was British, especially because her sound isn't one that you hear coming out of The States much these days. I loved her cover of Beyonce's "No Angel". Catching her live has made me excited to listen to a full body of work. I'll definitely be keeping an ear out for this songstress this year and after chatting to her, it's only made me like her more.


SPECTOR
I've known about Spector for a few years and I've never really thought that there was much unique about them and even watching their live set I didn't see or hear anything that really stuck out to me or hit me in the gut. However, they played an enjoyable summer set - songs that you can move to and shout along to. I'd never pay money to see them myself but I'm glad I caught their set.


FLOATING POINTS
After seeing him DJ with Mr Scruff last year here I knew we were in for some funky jams. I did actually get him confused with Catching Flies at first but the jazzy vibe soon brought me back on the right track. Non stop tunes, everyone was just in the perfect mood.


KINDNESS
Another name that I'd been seeing around for that longest while and I had the completely wrong idea about what he was going to sound like - I was expecting a Kurt Vile type sound. When he stepped on stage with his amazing band I was blown away by how soulful he was. Amazing vibes and beautiful songs! If you don't already know his stuff - get on it.


SHURA
After hearing Warpaint's remix of her song "2Shy" I was totally up for catching a live set of hers especially in a festival setting. Unfortunately, it wasn't the most memorable set of the weekend but she did her thing and I didn't realise how many fans she had! There was a much bigger crowd than I'd expected. Cool set - I'm interested to see her once there's more material in her arsenal.
 

CHET FAKER
I was super excited for this set which made it all the more stressful that it clashed with Django Django. I only managed to catch about 20 minute of the show before heading to the main stage. However, luckily we managed to squeeze our way into the jam packed tent close enough to hear him play "Drop The Game" - what a moment! Would love to see him again live asap.


DJANGO DJANGO
Finally!!! I have wanted to see this band live since hearing their debut record in 2013 here so even though it's two years on and I couldn't even catch the whole set, I'm just glad that I got to see them with my own eyes. It was nice to hear their new singles "Reflections" and "First Light" live, but they couldn't hold a candle to their older tracks. I just wish I could've stayed for the entire set.


FKA TWIGS
FKA Twigs, in the flesh... wow! Her album isn't actually the easiest to listen through beginning to end but live, I could've watched her all night. She really knows how to put on a show! I wanted to close my eyes and just feel the music but I just could not take my eyes off her - she was mesmerising. She had the whole crowd in the palms of her hands. The whole experience seemed surreal, all I can say is - believe the hype.


CARIBOU
The set that I was looking forward to the most and I didn't even get to see half of it. I was so upset. Bittersweet to be honest because I did catch "Odessa", "Your Love Will Set You Free", "Can't Do Without You" and "Sun", which were some of the biggest moments of the set but I just wish I'd been there from start to finish. "Sun" in particular is an encore that I'll remember for a lifetime. Perfect headline set.

J. Cole was touring the UK last month with his latest album 2014 Forest Hills Drive and I was lucky enough to catch him on the Birmingham leg of his tour...

Something that really took this show up in ratings was it's ridiculously talented and diverse supporting line up. First up was the Dreamville collective, consisting of Omen, Cozz and Bas.  I'd never actually heard of any of these rappers before the show but they're definitely a collective you'll want to have your eye on. Cozz especially caught my attention - great flow and stage presence. Even though they each only had time to perform about 3 or 4 songs each, I feel they could've held together a much longer set if granted one. Really interesting artists and each quite different from one another.

Next up - Pusha T. Now, Pusha T is one of those artists that you don't realise how many of their songs you actually know until you see them live. At first I was thinking "Man, I'm going to be the only one here who has no idea what songs he's playing" but I actually knew a lot more than I thought. Obviously when he played hits like "Move That Dope", "Mercy" and "Sweet Serenade" the crowd went OFF! The set went on for a little longer than I'd expected but the vibes were so elevated that we hardly noticed. Way to get the crowd ready for the main event...

But not so fast, an appearance from the lovely Jhene Aiko first. Jhene is a goddess. Such a big presence, the crowd lost their minds when the lights dimmed for her set. I was a little confused when she stepped on stage and just sat down straight away but luckily she popped back up after the first song. Her voice is just as heavenly live as it is on record, to be honest, it's even more mesmerising in person. "The Worst" just felt surreal. It was like my mind was swelling for the entire performance. It's hard to believe that it was just a support performance. It really put into perspective just how good/big J. Cole really is.

Speaking of which, the main event - J. Cole. What a crowd pleaser! Not only did he play 2014 Forest Hills Drive in it's entirety, but he even played some of his biggest hits from Born Sinner and his mixtape - The Warm Up. His setlist could not have possibly been any better. Everyone's excitement levels were on a high, the crowd was frenetic. Album highlights "Wet Dreamz", "Tale Of 2 Citiez", "G.O.M.D." and of course "No Role Modelz" were even bigger moments live. Three albums in and you could just feel from the energy that J. Cole has secured a fan base that will stick around and memorise his lyrics for many years to come. It also helps that he has an endearing personality - his anecdotes and tales of growing up made him more relatable and put the icing on the cake. New and old fans alike; this show resonated with everyone in the audience and I know that we all went home feeling amazing. Brilliant night!

Overall Rating - 9/10


Here are some pictures from the show... 

How beautiful indeed! I've always thought of Florence as a masterful songwriter but this record is musically and lyrically brilliant. I was expecting a lot after a 4 year wait and it did not disappoint. To be honest, I liked it so much that I'm going to review the bonus tracks too...


1. Ship To Wreck - This was the second single from the album so to be honest by the time the record was released I'd already overplayed this track quite a bit. Nonetheless, it's a brilliantly written song. As often, heavy imagery, metaphor and obviously Florence's effortlessly ethereal voice.

2. What Kind Of Man - I've already written a lot about this single here but now that I've heard it in the context of the record, I maintain that it isn't the best song on the album but that is definitely just because FATM are that good! This song is just a quality piece amongst diamonds.

3. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful - Speaking of which - probably my current favourite on the album. This soaring, expanse-filling, captivating song is just all of my views on Florence rolled into one song. It has so many levels to it. I feel like it would've been a great album finisher but either way, whatever the track placement - it shines. The instruments take the lime-light on this song though, each part is so perfectly crafted. If the last couple of minutes don't make your mind swell; stop hearing and listen.

4. Queen Of Peace - Another stand out track in my opinion. Goodness, THE INSTRUMENTS ON THIS ALBUM ARE ON TOP FORM! This is a bit of an old school shout out, I totally hear some J Lo "Waiting For Tonight" and a liiiittle bit of Fleetwood. BIG tune! Definitely one that'll get you out of your seat and that chorus will be stuck in your head for some time.

5. Various Storms & Saints - The build in this song is so immersive, the first time I listened I didn't even realise it had happened until basically the end of the track. A welcome switch in the vibe of the album. This will receive various plays.

6. Delilah - Another upbeat jump in the album. The vocal range on this track, my goodness!! Florence is truly a marvel to behold.

7. Long & Lost - Yes! I'd been waiting for a haunting, ominous type of track. Again, the instrumental is like honey to my ears and actually the backing-vocals really caught my attention in this song. Barely there throughout but when they appeared they were inescapable.

8. Caught - To be honest, when I heard the "ooh ooh ooh's" in the beginning I wasn't sure that I was going to like this song but it definitely grows on you. The chorus is a big part of this track's enhancement in my opinion. Lyrically though, stellar.

9. Third Eye - Continuing with the "oohs", except this time I was really feeling it. The song just feels bigger, more anthemic. Definitely one that I can just imagine being majestic in arenas and festivals. Beautiful, beautiful song.

10.  St Jude - Even though I'd heard this song before the album was released, for some reason it felt renewed in the context of the album. It just sounded clearer to me. I don't even know how to say this without sounding mad but the song sounded crisp. Stand out track for sure.

11. Mother - The guitars! The harmonies! The bass! THIS SONG! To be honest, this entire record. As far as huge choruses go, this album is full of them. The electronics at the end of this song just added to the 101 levels already demonstrated. This album is probably the most musically diverse out of the three in my opinion and this track was a brilliant note to end on.

12. Hiding (Bonus Track) - This had me bopping my head within the first 30 seconds, with barely enough time to realise that the actual album was over. Again Florence demonstrates her vocal acrobatics - great song.

13. Make Up Your Mind (Bonus Track) - Another great song! I thought that I would be able to at least say "ah I can see why this didn't make the final cut" but I honestly can't. Both bonus tracks reach the high standards of a final cut. This just leads me to again reiterate - Florence + The Machine are just that good!!!! Also, humungous shout out for her demo "Which Witch" because WOW!


This album has just cemented the fact that Florence has a voice with many, many stories to tell. I just hope she continues to take us along for the ride. I don't see this falling from the top of my "albums of 2015" list for a while.

Overall Rating - 9/10

As we're about to head into June, full summer territory, it's probably time we all picked up some fresh, new summer albums and updated our iTunes. Here are some of the records that you can look forward to over the next seven days...




JAMIE XX - IN COLOUR
Every single track that I've heard from this album so far has impressed me, and I have no doubt that the rest of the album will follow suit. To be honest, the album has been streaming online in full since the 26th but I didn't want to ruin that first listen experience on the actual release date (the 1st of June). This is the perfect album to have just in time for summer!








SLAVES - ARE YOU SATISFIED?
I feel like this album should already be out. This band is really making moves right now. Their music is both enjoyable and thought provoking and just overall a great time. This is definitely an album that I'm going to have to see live! These punks from Kent are giving me all of the right energy with their latest singles, so I look forward to listening to the full product out on the 1st of June.






FLORENCE + THE MACHINE - HOW BIG, HOW BLUE, HOW BEAUTIFUL
It feels like I have been waiting for this album since birth. Everything that Florence puts out just seems to touch me. Each single I've heard from this upcoming record has been different but equally as captivating and invigorating - I just need this album in my life, the wait has been too long! Start your month off on the right note on the 1st of June.



 

MAJOR LAZER - PEACE IS THE MISSION
Here's another record that will rack up the plays during summer. Major Lazer will have us all covered for tunes to party to over the next few months and if this record is anywhere near as good as his last, it'll be an essential to get your hands on and to be honest, you're probably going to want to see this live. If you don't already know, get to know on the 1st of June.







GIRLPOOL - BEFORE THE WORLD WAS BIG
This band has really been picking up steam this year and what a great time to because now they're putting out their debut album.  I really like their acoustic, harmonic sound - I'm really expecting this album to sound like a film soundtrack. Definitely one for those long summer commutes. Even though it's been done before, they have a really refreshing sound. Check out their debut on the 1st of June.







FOUR YEAR STRONG - FOUR YEAR STRONG
Hooray for pop punk!! I've liked Four Year Strong's material for quite a while but I've never actually gotten round to listening to an entire album of theirs in full so it will be a first for me on the 2nd of June. Pure Noise Records always manage to put out gold so I just hope that this time round will be no different.







SOAK - BEFORE WE FORGOT HOW TO DREAM
Here is another new name that I can't seem to escape from. I recently listened to a cover that SOAK did of St. Vincent's "Digital Witness". Now as much as I respect and appreciate St. Vincent, I really don't like that song all too much so I obviously wasn't really feeling this cover. But I'm leaving it to this debut record out on the 2nd of June  to skew my views on SOAK. 

Charles Dixon is an alternative hip hop artist from Watford. A friend of mine gave me the heads up and told me to have a listen to his work and I love what Charles is doing. Have a listen to the first track I ever heard of his...



As well as his experimental take on hip hop, over soulful and diverse beats, I love that he's bringing in fellow creatives in and around Watford to feature on his tracks. He's in the process of releasing his debut mixtape Cloud Walking Vol. 1 which he has self-mastered and produced. If this is just a taste of what's to come from simply the first mixtape, then I'm very excited to see how his work develops as time goes on and he releases more. 

Just from looking at Charles' presence on social media, you can tell that there is a hardworking nature behind him. Also, judging by the amount of feature artists and collaborators that he's working with, this debut should be full of a wide range of influences, keeping the listener engaged and interested throughout. I'm buzzing to hear the finished product out this summer. In the mean time check out his track "Walk With Me" and keep up with his releases and live dates on Twitter, Soundcloud and Instagram. 

It's been a while since I gave you guys some musical goodies free of charge to get involved with so here you go...





KINS - It feels like an age since I've heard a new Kins song. I actually wrote about their debut EP in my first ever FMF post here and now, after a spectacular album, here we are with the first track from their upcoming second EP Cyclical. Have a listen to the new single "Young" here and pre-order the EP on iTunes here. It comes out on the 6th of July.






EGO ELLA MAY - So the songstress has released another EP and of course, being the generous artist that she is, we also get to receive the Zero EP for free. Some neo-soulful, easy listening vibes to get your hands on before the hectic summer tunes season comes out in full force. Download the new EP for free here.








TAMARA RENEE - Speaking of neo-soul, we have another free EP to download, laden with neo-soul and touched with influences from jazz, hip hop and electronica. Ultra Violet is a very interesting and diverse listen, definitely check it out if you're feeling the Ego Ella May EP above. New discovery for me too so join me and download the EP for free here.






MAJOR LAZER & DJ SNAKE - I wrote about "Lean On (feat. MØ)" a while ago here and ‪Tiësto and MOTi have gone and given us a sweet, summer, clubbing remix of it to sink our teeth into. Here comes the season of EDM and indie pop. Get your fix of the prior with this awesome remix here.







RATBOYS - This band was a very pleasant surprise for me. I didn't realise how much I judged a band by their name until I heard this band. When I heard the name Ratboys I figured possibly a male punk rock group along the lines of Iceage. I was shocked to hear a female lead over a post-country beat. Awesome band, and probably my favourite discovery of the week. Have a listen to "Collected" here and download it for free.




Have a look at what free downloads I was listening to the last time I posted a FMF here... You might find something you like.

So, I've been following The Swellers since 2010 and have not been able to see them once since until late last month at their last ever UK show in Brighton. It's so bittersweet to even be writing this. After waiting all that time just to see them live and it's at their farewell show! Well better late than never I suppose.

The first of the three support acts was a local band from Brighton called River Jumpers. A four-piece of homegrown pop punk goodness. I really enjoyed their set. The sound wasn't great but you could hear the potential of the tracks nonetheless and I particularly liked their single "All Our Histories". I'll definitely be keeping an ear out for these guys.

Second in line was three-piece US punk band The Gamits. I hadn't heard of them before and to be honest it was hard enough to track down their Facebook page but I'm glad I did because they were interesting. Face paced and engaging tracks. I'd advise checking out their bandcamp for some of their jams because if you like pop punk they should be up your street. Cool band, cool guys.

Finally, supporting was Only Rivals. I actually caught Only Rivals supporting on the Pop Punk's Not Dead Tour a while back and so was looking forward to watching them smash it again. Unfortunately I had to step out during their set and so did not catch the entire thing but I have no doubts that they impressed. If you haven't already, give these guys a listen - hardworking and entertaining band.

To be honest, even as I'm writing this now, I slightly can't believe that I got to see The Swellers live. It was all so surreal, and fast paced. Everything just happened and before I knew it the show was over. They opened up with the first song I ever heard of theirs - "Runaways" and from that moment onwards, I was just elated. Killer tune and of course even better live. When you've imagined a song live so many times in your own head it's nice to actually see what it looks like in real life. There were a couple of songs that they played that I was less familiar with but for the most part, they played a setlist jam packed with favourites. I do wish that the crowd was more into it or maybe just a little bit more expressive. It was their last ever show and I was expecting a party vibe. At one point Nick even said that the crowd seemed full of people in "the industry" that were a bit "too cool" to get hyped up but then I suppose there's only so much that you can ask of less than 100 people. This didn't phase me too much though, I was just standing at the stage, overwhelmed. Some favourites that they played were "Do You Feel Better Yet?", "Got Social", "2009" and "Ups And Downsizing" and the fact that they ended with "Running Out Of Places To Go" and "The Best I Ever Had" just sealed off that chapter perfectly. I am going to miss this band sorely but at least they've left us with lots of classic albums to listen to in their absence. Very special farewell show for me. Swellers... thank you.

Overall Rating - 8/10


Here are some pictures from the night....

Okay, I actually wasn't going to write about this new video because in the past I have either disliked or been indifferent to all the music that Taylor Swift puts out. I don't really like any of her material but I can't "hate" so to speak because she does what she sets out to do - make catchy radio jams. However, when I saw how many awesome cameos this video had in it I thought I had better check it out...

TAYLOR SWIFT - BAD BLOOD (FEAT. KENDRICK LAMAR)

It feels like forever that I've been waiting for new material from Lianne, so when I heard this single (in fact the opening track on the record) last month I was ecstatic. Going by that you can guess how I felt when she dropped the video for the single a few hours ago...

LIANNE LA HAVAS - UNSTOPPABLE

On the 18th of April I went to O2 Academy 3 in Birmingham to catch PVRIS' sold out headline show. I wrote about them as a new discovery a couple of years ago here and now they're finally and deservedly blowing up.

First up on the bill was Twin Wild. I'd not heard of this band before the night but I've remembered the name every day since. They really caught my attention. The lead singer's vocals were great and their sons were very catchy. Although I did feel at the time that their set had been the perfect length for them, I would love to see them again live at their own headline show.

Next, Light You Up. I've been keeping up with this band for just over a year now and in that time their fame has just gone from zero to one hundred, just like PVRIS to be honest. I didn't really know what to expect in terms of their live stage presence, all I had to go by was their behaviour in the "All We've Ever Known" video. They absolutely killed it though! Tom is just pure energy! Even from before the set started, Tom was getting juiced up during sound-check. The perfect set to get the crowd ready for the main event.When Tom jumped into the crowd and started singing with and talking to the fans, I'm sure that they gained some new fans in that moment.

Finally, after some unexpected but enjoyable tunes during the interval, PVRIS. That electricity you feel when a band that you love steps on stage. That will never get old. But I swear, that electricity was x100 when Lynn came on - she has a crazy amount of presence. Playing such a small venue off the back of their debut album, I was hoping that they'd play the album in it's entirety. When they started off with "Smoke" followed by "St. Patrick", I must admit that I was hopeful. Even though they didn't play "Let Them In" I was far too caught up in the euphoria to even let it phase me. Everything just sounded so much better live than I'd imagined. The crowd's voices covering the sound of the band even at times! Especially during the album singles - "My House" was frenetic. Everybody knew it was coming but nobody was ready. That is such a huge hit!! As musicians each of them are very multi-talented, well as expected I suppose - it's hard for a three piece band to make such a huge sound, but they did it! And did it very well. Everyone was buzzing after the show - Lynn even tweeting "Birmingham! We all just unanimously agreed that tonight may have been our favorite show ever. Thank you so much!!!" Big show, if you haven't already checked PVRIS out, don't waste any more time.

Overall Rating - 7.5/10


Here are some pictures from the night...