VIDEO: James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream Live

This rather tasty live performance shows James Blake in reflective mood. Is he the new Phil Collins or sommat?

STREAM: The Leaf Library, 'Different Activities, Similar Diversions'

The Leaf Library are a London 5-piece with etheral boy/girl vocals, with.Ben Smith.(guitar) Gareth Jones (bass) Kate Gibson (vocals, keyboards), Lewis Young (drums) Matt Ashton (guitar). 


In their own words, their influences include "buildings, stationery and the weather", their dreamy harmonies and soporific guitar-organ melodies are slow burningly beautiful. 


They're nothing like the retread laddism of this years "great guitar band" Brother, or the dubstep dramas of Jamie Woon and James Blake. This is joyously fey groove-driven indie to remind you of sunnier days, even if it is gloomy January.


For your listening pleasure, then, a 9 track album here, and if you like it, please buy or share! 

Ones To Watch 2011: Janice Graham Band

I have no idea whether or not this lot will "make it", and they're certainly not in being hyped by the media. I just LIKE them. The mixture of influences is intoxicating, Arctic Monkeys meets Two Tone (yes, really interesting), with some great production values thrown in on some of their stuff. The single 'No Money Honey' /  'Sugar Me Tea'. Check this, I-and-I.

Red Tides : Housebound (Stream / Download)

As we all wake up from the thaw and extended hangover of new year, the pit of mid-January looms large before us. Before the first pay cheque, and long after the happy haze of a drunken Christmas hour, a song about being trapped at home seems appropriate. Check this from Manchester's Red Tides. And props to Joe from New Band A Day, who I met late last week, in connection with Electrocute Festival at the Castle Hotel in Manchester, which lead me to check out the NBAD blog and find this gem.

STREAM: British Sea Power 'Living Is Easy'

2011 sees the return of British Sea Power with their fifth album, 'Valhalla Dancehall'. The Brighton / Kendal band have a taster, Living Is Easy, available, so hear it is, for your listening pleasure!

Ones To Watch 2011 : Jamie Woon 'Night Air' (VIDEO)

Absolutely loving this atmospheric, soulful tune, 'Night Air'. Brit-school dubstepper Jamie Woon share a label with fellow hotly tipped solo artist James Blake, and has won comparisons as varied as Jeff Buckley and Stevie Wonder.

ONES TO WATCH 2011: RJ Productions - Fight For Love (1031) (VIDEO)

And so it begins! The glut of artists predicted to have great things happen for them in 2011 is a very long indeed, but if there's any justice, 25 year old Leicester based producer RJ Productions will amongst those to have a very healthy, successful year. He intially broke though with his second ever production, 526, in 2008, but this could be the year he hits the D n' B mainstream. Backed by Radio One, this is a recent release, 'Fight For Love (1031)'.

Caitlin Rose 'Own Side' Official HD Video (2011 names records)

One of my favourite songs of last year, from one of my favourite albums of last year, finally gets a release, with this lovely video. Well worth a few moments of your dark, cold January evening.....

Bangers

Chaps. Naming this blog took a good few...minutes. In that time, The title of Pump Up The Volume instantly got me thinking about all the classic late 80s / early 90s house and techno bangers I was into. Not that I was out clubbing or anything, but I could happily be found bouncing up and down to these in my front room on a Old Trafford Council Estate, or in the back of my mates' knackered, beaten up Alfa Romeo. Enjoy!

A New Blog

hi Everyone! Welcome to my new music blog. Pretty much the same as the old blog - 'The Mancunian', except, for various technical reasons, I have had to start here, and it seemed like a good opportunity for a good start.


I am a music journalist, based in Manchester, and I have been writing about music on and off for about 15 years. My very first concert as a music hack was back in 1995, as one of the small, pokey rooms in the corner of Manchester University Students' Union, when I went to review Gang Of Four for the university newspaper. 


Since then, I've worked at Carlton.com (which later became ITV.com), as an editor, and contributed to Flux Magazine, DEO.com (defunked online specialist dance publication), Flipside (a long gone mag not unlike Uncut, Word or Q), DXN and Bamboo (Both multicultural ethnic culture magazines) and of course, Manchester's wonderful City Life, where I spent a couple of years as a sub and contributor, variously.


In recent times, I have returned to the fold, writing for prolifically for God Is In The TV  and for Skiddle.com,  as well as contributing to Guardian.co.uk, Clash Magazine, The Line Of Best Fit, and Manchester Chimp. I'm on a mission to get re-established as a regular freelancer, and need all the the help I can get.


As part of my writing, I'll be posting music new and old, which I come across, and enjoy, as well as news, reviews, features and opinions, when I have the time and inclination. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!