Hometown

Another album I've been wanting to get for some time, and I finally did purchase, is Andy Burrow's "Company".  On it is the most gorgeous song, "Hometown".  Actually, there are a few gorgeous songs on this album, which is I why I bought it.

Andy is previously from Razorlight, is part of the "Smith & Burrows" project that produced the best Christmas album of 2011.  I first heard "Hometown" on a live session on Jo Whiley's BBC2 show and they had guitar trouble so he was accompanied by a cello.  Breathtaking.

I couldn't find that version, but here's another live one.  What do you think?

Hometown - Andy Burrows

Getting on the Bowie Bandwagon...

Am I fan of Bowie?

I don't own a single thing he's done, but I grew up with his music and brothers who had his albums (back in the days of vinyl, even!).  I know Bowie's music.  I can sing and play Starman and Major Tom on the guitar.  I like Labyrinth.  I think his duet with Bing Cosby is one of the best Christmas duets... but I don't know if I'm a fan.  Not in the true sense of the word.

But when I saw on  twitter last night and heard he had a new single, the first in a decade, I had to go and check it out.  It's not bad.

What do you think?

Where Are We Now - David Bowie, on Vimeo

Song for a Sunday Evening

2012 had some fantastic female artists emerge from the UK...

Emile Sande, Ren Harvieu, Lianne La Havas ... and add to that Lucy Rose.  Lucy Rose has been around for a while, often singing vocals for the Bombay Bicycle Club.  She has put out her own album "Like I Used To", and this track "Middle of the Bed" comes from that.

Middle of the Road - Lucy Rose

Summery Funk

I first heard Lianne La Havas mid year ... her music definitely has a summery sound and this album came out in the northern hemisphere's summer.  I finally got around to getting a copy.

Her style is soulful, and full of funk.  Perfect for a hot summer's day or evening.

Here's "No Room for Doubt".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f845_v41YFo  Great video too - around Montmartre.

Holiday Sounds

My life is not complete without music - I'd rather have a stereo going than the TV.  Mind you that's not hard given that there's hardly anything worth watching on at the moment.

So anyway while on holiday I've been listening to Of Monsters And Men "My Head Is An Animal" which is a great rollicking album.  Although there is a definite icelandic bjork-inspired sound to them, they also fall into the current Mumford type folk/rock genre that is so popular.

Here's a link to Little Talks.

Little Talks

I have Ren Harvieu's "Through the Night" and it's fabulous.  She has a rich voice, that sometimes reminds me of k.d. lang.

While I live in New Zealand, I listen to radio on the internet a bit, and I heard this wonderful tune on Dermot O'Leary's radio show on BBC2.  I found it on sound cloud, and although Christmas is over, I had to paste a link - it is beautiful - and this cover of Joni Mitchell's "River" was recorded live on the show.

Ren Harvieu - River (Joni Mitchell cover)