M.I.A. - Born Free

M.I.A. returns with a new tune that not only solidifies her identity as the biggest, boldest act going but along with a video that continues her political commentary to boot.

Born Free as a tune is superb and fills me with immense anticipation for her new material being released later in the year. The video for the song it was pulled from YouTube within hours on publication and will cause undoubted outrage amongst the small-minded and easily led Daily Mail readers amongst us. For others, they will take it for what it was intended - Beautiful, sadistic, visceral and poignant. Everything that M.I.A. stands for.

As a film within itself, it is fantastic. The music simply makes this video stand out as THE must see event of 2010.

This video contains nudity and graphic violence. You have been warned.

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

It Only Takes One Night

After a weekend of hammering through records that have been sat in boxes untouched for 6 months and will not be seeing a shelf until I move in 3 weeks, I have been listening to recent albums I bought from a record shop in Brighton last weekend... The Dum Dum Girls featured on last years Rough Trade indie promo and I loved Jail La La when it came out in feb this year so I dived into their album 'I will Be' on the legendary sub pop label...




These 4 girls from LA have brought some energy back to indie - pop  and mixed the best parts of 60's girls groups and 70's garage rock. The album feels unpolished and that's the beauty of it. There are nods to Iggy Pop and they sit alongside the best Hole material and New Yorkers Vivian Girls (below) - For me Vivian Girls & The Dum Dum Girls have brought a sense of excitement back to indie music and its a bit of a 2 fingers up at the electro indie scene that seems have past its best.




Listen to The Dum Dum Girls below -stand out for me is It Only Takes One Night

Dum Dum Girls by BeRbEqUiM


And the brilliant Vivian Girls - Tell The World

Vivian Girls - Tell the World by jmbakero

Black Sands

I have to say when I heard Bonobo had a new record I wasn't too excited. I used to love Ninja Tune and anything that was put out by Bonobo was amazing. Take Flutter below - for me this is simply a great track that transports you off to Summer in a flash:


I was really disappointed with a Bonobo gig a couple of years ago and I had pretty much forgotten about them until now... Black Sands is a stunning album in digital single's track world where the value of albums doesn't seem to be important anymore. Its combines Brazilian beats, bosa nova bass-lines and dream like vocals to create a record that will lift your mood in an instant and remove you from that mundane bus journey home.

I haven't been as impressed on the first listen of an album for a while & ok it might not be everyones cup of Darjeeling but by god it deserves some attention. The full album minimix is below for a listen and download:

Bonobo 'Black Sands' Album Mini Mix by Ninja Tune

I am the ghost in the back of your head

Expectations for Foals new album 'Total Life Forever' are at an all time high after a first listen to new single Spanish Sahara. For me Foals are one a handful of forward thinking, progressive bands that have developed since their last offering and Spanish Sahara totally demos this. Yannis's vocals have come on along way - sounding in places similar to Guy Garvey.

This tune is epic, building and building and if this is anything to go by the album which has been 2 years in the making will be truely brilliant.
Soak this up...



Also have a go on this fantastic remix by Mount Kimble

Foals - Spanish Sahara (Mount Kimbie Remix)  by  fabric

Goldheart Assembly

There are some songs that need to be listened to on repeat and for me Goldheart Assembly have one in King Of Rome. I have spent pretty much all weekend listening to this band and although this song is about Rome - for me it will always remind me of Barcelona (where I had it on repeat).
 
This band from London have great vocal harmonies and superb sound. King Of Rome is taken from their new album Wolves and Thieves on Fierce Panda Records.

This tune will be stuck in your head for a while and for me sounds like Edward Sharpe's album of last year.

Got 40 minutes to kill?

Some people are afraid of the 'T' word but not here. Pull up a bean bag, slip off the clogs and have a listen to this deep, euphoric trance mix.

150310  by  psimonius

OK Go - This Too Shall Pass music video

I'm a big fan of music videos and always have a soft spot for bands who take advantage of the medium to flex their creative muscles. OK Go are the kings of inoffensive pop-rock jiggery and truly embrace the opportunity to do something entertaining with their films.

Following on from the cult classic 'Here It Goes Again', below is the video to their latest single 'This Too Shall Pass'. Well done boys!