Hercules and Love Affair member and solo artist in her own right, Kim Ann Foxman is on the brink of  releasing her debut EP, Creature. The EP is to be released on the 25th of January, ahead of Hercules and Love Affair’s Blue Songs‘ release date on the 31st. The EP is promising so far if songs like ‘What You Need’ and ‘Creature’ are anything to go on, which offer the intelligence and catchiness that Foxman contributes to Hercules and Love Affair.

The EP will be released on fellow H&LA member Andrew Butler’s label, Mr Intl.

A video has been released for the title track and reminds of Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ in its monochrome simplicity. Watch below:

I look comparatively rubbish in the above bits n bobs, but hey ho, loving it all. Wish I could say this is everything I’ve bought since I got back to Manchester, but c’mon, it’s a new year!

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Los Angeles, via a fair few places, quintet, GROUPLOVE are on the brink of releasing their debut single ‘Colours’ in the UK through none other than Chess Club on the 17th of February. GROUPLOVE are seemingly optimistic in the face of adversity, a quality reflected unnervingly upon ‘Colours’. Lyrics like “It really ain’t that bad” are screamed to listeners at points, and serve as a reminder that, no, whatever it may be to you or me, probably isn’t that bad at all. 

The song will be backed with the Captain Cuts remix, which puts a blurry spin on the original, adding a stomping beat for extra effect, also allowing the original’s words the freedom they deserve.

A video for the single has recently been revealed and gives a chilling edge to the atmosphere of ‘Colours’. Watch below:

If this assault on our senses wasn’t enough, GROUPLOVE are also bringing the giddy heights of their music to the UK this February to accompany the single release, giving us lucky sods five dates, London, as always, getting the lion’s share of the action. 

02/02 – NME Awards Show @ Shepherds Bush Empire -  London
03/02 – Hoxton Hall – London
05/02 – Start the Bus – Bristol
06/02 – Ruby Lounge – Manchester
08/02 – Nice n Sleazy – Glasgow

If you’d like to hear more, head over to GROUPLOVE’s myspace to hear their self-titled EP, which is currently on the player.

I’m very glad to be hearing from Lulu and the Lampshades again. Previous single ‘Feet to the Sky’ gave a distinctive signal as to the direction in which the London quartet would move next, and I’m happy to say four track EP, Cold Water is everything I hoped it might be.

Having built a stronger atmosphere around the vocal department, EP opener, ‘Cold Water’ gets this release off to a fantastic start. The song’s atmosphere remains light as air for its duration thanks to an excrutiatingly peppy ukelele and a trickling rhythm that glues all accompanying instruments together seamlessly. Louisa and Heloise provide the main body of the vocals for this EP, and if ‘Cold Water’ is anything to go by, which I presume it is, this collision of pipes is a master stroke.

If you know Lulu and the Lampshades, you’ll know ‘Cups’. Originally called ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’, the song’s main percussive input relies on the flipping and stomping of cups. Surrounding this, the quartet have scattered vocals of various layers, and as ‘Cups’ gains the slightly speedier pace of the second minute, these are joined by a denser percussion section that gives this unique track a real punch.

‘Demons’ does everything from chill to lilt throughout its duration and is possibly the strongest track of Cold Water. The song utilises a variety of entrancing arrangements and instruments that leave the listener straining to hear the song’s hidden depths and demands a second listen at the very least. In the lyrical department, it’s hard to decipher an atmosphere or mood the first time round, but lines such as “I’ll keep my demons underground if it keeps you smiling/You’ll never see through all this, a frown” allude to a covert defeatism.

Competing for EP highlight, ‘Moccasin Mile’ closes Cold Water with melodies similar to Sufjan Stevens (yes, it’s the flute), and rumbles along at a beautifully tempered speed, shedding a brilliant light on the sheer force that is Louisa and Heloise’s vocals. Similarly to previous songs, ‘Moccasin Mile’ gains strength towards its end, emphasised by the rising tension between the track’s vocal and instrumental components. As a reult, the listener can hear the end is nigh, a saddening thought indeed, but that repeat button is only a click away!

Cold Water drops on the 14th of February via Moshi Moshi records on digital-only format. For the vinyl lovers amongst you, a 7″ featuring ‘Cold Water’ and ‘Cups’ will be released on the same day. Catch Lulu and the Lampshades at a venue near you next month:

02.02.11 The Lexington, London
04.02.11 60 Million Postcards, Bournemouth
06.02.11 The Louisiana, Bristol
07.02.11 The Hope, Brighton
08.02.11 Night & Day, Manchester
09.02.11 Bodega, Nottingham
10.02.11 The Railway, Winchester

‘Own Side’, a jewel in the crown that is Caitlin Rose’s recent album, Own Side Now, now has its own video to coincide with the song’s release (as is customary these days) on the 21st of February. The song’s lilting melodies and solitary nature are captured perfectly within this succint video, and Caitlin is, as always, looking suitably/effortlessly/insanely cool. Watch the video below to see how a collar pop is really done!

There’s also another round of UK shows from Ms. Rose in March. If anything, Caitlin Rose is even better live than on record, you really do not want to miss out.   

Following a series of shows on the road with I Blame Coco in autumn last year, Kyla La Grange is seemingly gaining the traction everyone knew she could. If you haven’t caught wind of her astounding talent elsewhere, La Grange’s style is reminiscent of a stormy night, howling and inescapable, something displayed upon first single ‘Walk Through Walls’ perfectly. The single is due for release in early March, which seems worlds away (!), and will be backed with the equally spell-binding ‘Courage’, which takes a more vulnerable stance in terms of melody and lyricism.

If you head over to La Grange’s myspace, you can hear an additional track, ‘Vampire Smile’. Release-worthy and reflective of La Grange’s reputable talent for lyric-writing, the listener is whisked a million miles away from the current perception of vampires and into a unique point of view, accompanied minimally by ticking percussion and a guitar melody.

Live shows at SXSW have been confirmed and a UK tour is in the pipeline, presumedly to accompany the single. Having worked with, the now ubiquitous, Communion and Faithless’ Rollo Armstrong respectively, it’s clear La Grange is in good hands and has a glittering future ahead of her. Deservedly so indeed.

Listen to and download ’Walk Through Walls’ here.

Most were taken in Manchester only just figured out the exact location of the last one. In all fairness, this roll is from 2009. Visit my Flickr for a few more.

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So I made a compilation of 31 of my favourite songs of 2010. Go here to view and listen to the Spotify playlist*!

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*NB: Some albums aren’t on Spotify yet (The Wonder Show of the World, Wild Smile etc. etc.) and some won’t be there full stop seemingly (The Suburbs) so I couldn’t put them on. Woulda, shoulda, coulda!

Debuts

Small Black- New Chain

A debut that is easily one of my favourite albums of the year, New Chain is enough to make me dance in my sleep. Listen to ‘Search Party’, ‘Photojournalist’ or ‘Light Curse’ and you’ll catch my drift, which is 100% factual drift.

Twin Shadow- Forget

George Lewis Jr. What can one say? Not much more than “his producer was Chris Taylor” is needed in my book as far as Forget goes. Love. Love. Love.

Suckers- Wild Smile

Going on its four part harmonies and falsettos, Wild Smile could work on vocal strength alone. ‘Before Your Birthday Ends’ is worth particular note in this respect. Listen and love, listen and love.

Album covers

S. Carey- All We Grow

Crammed full of melodies akin to that of Sufjan Stevens, All We Grow is the perfect accompaniment to any lazy afternoon. The album’s artwork mirrors this in an idealistic photograph, which is surely the envy of any non-driving city dweller (i.e. me). For now however, the album’s gorgeous atmosphere is more than enough.

The Phantom Band- The Wants

Scottish lads after my own heart, The Phantom Band combine rustic vocals with off-kilter blips and beeps here. As far as artwork’s concerned, The Phantom Band are pretty original. The Wants‘ cover is completely different to its predecessor’s and reflects the album’s divided nature.

Broken Social Scene- Forgiveness Rock Record

A patchwork of vibrant melodies, Forgiveness Rock Record displays its coat of many colours in more ways than one. With artwork reminiscent to that of Person Pitch, Broken Social Scene have done it again across all boards.

Defending champions

Arcade Fire- The Suburbs

Three albums on and not one jot of interest has been lost in Camp Machin as far as Arcade Fire are concerned.

The National- High Violet

High Violet is a record full of electric, bristling songs bursting at the seams with a very unique energy. Just when I think The National have hit their stride, they add another layer to the cake that is their career and leave their followers dumbstruck in the process. Hear hear!

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy & the Cairo Gang- The Wonder Show of the World

Sombre and seemingly calculating at times, The Wonder Show of the World adds another well-earnt feather to Will Oldham’s cap. Highlights include ‘Someone Coming Through’ (can’t describe that song well enough) and ‘The Sounds Are Always Begging’ amongst others, the album’s flavoursome duration melting cohesively elsewhere.

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 If you’d like to see my top ten albums, go here right now.

In case you were wondering, which I doubt, I had a lovely New Year’s Eve (and Day) with Moss n Schofields drinking Budweiser and considering wine alongside some party snacks, cake and chat. Going out is a bit of a stretch these days.

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In the way of music, like most years, 2010′s been brilliant. Not only have there been some great releases, be they single, EP or album, but you and I can look forward to 2011 with expectations of sonic standard that are sure to be met! An albums of 2010 list, or general muddle through, is to follow, but for now, head over to Aesthetic Octopus and swot up on our Top Ten Songs and Top Ten Albums of 2010 lists! Gigs have also been my way of getting out of my cocoon of a room, providing me with a distraction from the everyday grind and a fairly good tune or two (slight understatement) to boot. This year, Yeasayer, The Black Keys, The Agitator, Boy & Bear, Small Black, and Phosphorescent have impressed. Next year I’m looking forward to witnessing the musical athleticism of Twin Shadow, Tennis OR Metronomy (that’ll be a toughie!), Jamie Woon and Efterklang plus many, many more in January and February alone. Small Black’s ‘Photojournalist’ is a definite jam of the year, enjoy…

My continuing appreciative war on Literature reached new heights. Curveballs were thrown, recommendations were gathered and taken out from Glasgow University’s mammoth library and Nick Hornby once again danced an imaginary charleston dance of victory in my head out of amazingness. As is customary for my Christmas breaks, I have a toppling collection of books I need to read before January including the remainder of “London Calling: A Countercultural History of London”, “Ulysses”, “The Driver’s Seat”, amongst others. This year has also seen my introduction to Colum McCann, who I would advise you to search out right away. His collection of short stories, “Fishing the Sloe-Black River” is spell-binding in short. I’m currently awaiting the delivery of “Let the Great World Spin”, which I am hoping is as good as I’ve heard. I’m hoping 2011will not see me returning the question “Have you read ________?” with “No…” as often as it feels has been the case this year, I do love those conversations filled with recommendations, but I love replying with an affirmative “Yes” even more to said question.

I haven’t had the chance to do many art gallery visits, but Dorothy Bohm’s exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery this Summer was unforgettable. Once I’m back in Glasgow, the book, “A World Observed”, that was released alongside the event is being whisked straight to my door, believe me. In terms of films, I very much enjoyed Joann Sfar’s biopic of Gainsbourg, cleverly entitled, Gainsbourg.

Hopefully not spending NYE at home, but at Schofield towers, this year, so until 2011, I shall love you and leave you. The New Year shall bring you a retrospective, but mild, listomania. Happy NYE smooching, I’m off to look at my favourite Birthday/Christmas present again!

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