Dermot O'Leary Saturday Sessions 2013

One of my joys of the internet is the way you can hear music from around the world on various podcasts, or broadcasts.  One I try never to miss is Dermot O'Leary's show on BBC2 which airs at 3pm on a Saturday UK time.  I usually listen to it on Sunday afternoons around the house.  In his show he has lots of guests and they do sessions.  These are acoustic and the artists play one of their own songs and also play a cover.  The range of choices of cover is an interesting thing - often tells you about the artists' inspirations.

So when the 2013 double disc came out of the most recent Saturday Sessions I had to order one (thank goodness for Amazon!).  5 days after its release date in the UK it turned up in my mailbox and I'm listening to it and enjoying it greatly.  It's been a busy week so I haven't had long enough to really hear the whole thing through more than once, but highlights are:-

Emeli Sande's -"Eleanor Rigby"
Dry the River's - "Homeward Bound"
The Do - "Sex on Fire"
Paloma Faith - "Into My Arms"
Maximo Park - "Heaven"
The Shins - "Simple Song"

The beauty of acoustic is it actually highlights the talent of the artist - there is no "remixing" or that horrid voice auto-tune.  It is real and raw.  Not on the disc but heard recently only a couple of weeks ago was NZ's own Gin Wigmore.  Her version of "Whatever Lola Wants" was a revelation. That girl has talent (and is fun!).

Richard Hawley

I've only really heard Richard Hawley's music in the last year.  I've picked him up on  a few live sessions on various BBC internet radio sessions, and I must admit, he's got class... and pedigree:-

For a while he was in British legend indie group Pulp (better known for  Jarvis Cocker leading the limelight) and he was also in The Longpigs (lesser known in the southern hemisphere .... although I bought "The Sun is Often Out" way back when it came out...!)

His solo work is great, and his most recent album "Standing at the Sky's Edge" has achieved quite critical acclaim, up for a Mercury Award.

I particularly like the acoustic version of "Leave Your Body Behind You".

Emeli

I think my favourite album of last year was Emeli Sande's "Our Version of Events".   It's often on high-rotate (old-skool lingo I know) on my iPod.  With the singles all released and the waiting time until album number 2 now under way,  I am absolutely loving this song that she co-wrote with Labrinth & Mike Posner ...

Here it is, "Beneath Your Beautiful" - Labrinth ft. Emeli Sande

Anika Boh & Hollie

Released just on the 1st Feb, I've been waiting for this album since seeing these three talented ladies in their acoustic tour at St Michaels, Christchurch.

I can't wait for the Winery Tour where they will perform alongside Fat Freddy's Drop and The Adults.  It promises to be a great day of New Zealand music.

Click on this Link to take you to their website where you can hear "Slipping Away" and "Be Mine"