LISA MITCHELL 3

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Lisa Mitchell – Clean White Love

Radio-hugging gem from Melbourne-based folk pop singer’s debut, helped a lot by a song writing partner Crispin Hunt (Longpig)

On: Wonder, Sony LP

From one of the most influential albums of this decade, sublime emoting from a girl with fake boobs and real attitude.

On: Back to Black, Island LP

The album got its name from the song Between Two Lungs, which is where Florence Welch found her voice and her sound. Before that she didn’t have a faith in herself as a musician.
It won year’s Critic’s Choice Brit Award and Florence became one of the most eminent singers of this decade in a blink of an eye.
Welch is dramatically posing on the fornt of the album with the fake lungs hanging on her neck, which doesn’t look too rockn’ roll, rather a bit ridiculous. Inside is not perfect either, but some of the tracks are quite interesting, creative and with enough imagination. Although not a chef d’oeuvre, the album is a must have for any music lover - at least to check out where British Music is heading to.
While writing the songs, Welch has been strongly influenced by Kate Bush, which can be told from the record. There are hints of PJ Harvey, Siouxsie Sioux and Bjork in the album as well.
It’s obvious that everything’s about love in there. When Welch was writing the album, she was heartbroken and that’s what helped her a lot. She said: “Being heartbroken is so incredible. Nothing matters, nothing means anything. You see world with complete clarity: that pain, that longing, that yearning.”
The best title there is Dog Days Are Over. In some three minutes Welch managed to fit everything into it – from ukuleles to intense silent pauses. The song evokes so much emotions that becomes a bit scary as well: “the horses are coming, so you better run, run fast for your mother, fast for your father, run for you children, your sisters and brothers”. Lyrics are captivating and the song is just midblowing, brilliant.
But nothing else is this good on the album. There are more or less interesting songs like Bjorkish Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) and I’m Not Calling You A Liar, where Florence shows off her titanic vocals, taking the highest notes possible.
Overall, this is a brave and bold record from a very talented musicia who’s like a bridge in the music wonderland, taking us to the next level.

Marina & The Diamonds NME Radio takeover interview

Originally uploaded by TopmanUK

Marina and The Diamonds is just one preson, rather than a musical collective from the 50s. Half Welsh, half Greek singer is not your typical pop performer. Her distorted, lyrically surreal pop is a lot like Bat For Lashes meeting The Dresden Dolls and having a baby. Working mainly with the fromer Sneaker Pimp Liam Howe who has worked with the bands like Radiohead, her debut album is due in February, titled The Family Jewels.

Admitting that she’s a bit scared of failure because she’s very sensitive when people critisize her, she’s still determined to go on and fight for fame. She says: “I really want to be pop, because I want to be relevant and I want lots of people to listen to my songs.”

We’re not scared for her. Her single Mowgli’s Road is already out and loved. Shrieking like Kate Bush, but not losing the elegance of Regina Spector, this girl puts Little Boots and the likes to shame. Catchy tune with toe tapping percussion with amazing vocals and pure pop chorus will make you adore it.

kim gordon

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Kim Gordon, best known as a rock icon from Sonic Youth, has crossed over into the fashion world. Urban Outfitters will definitely have more costumers cuing behind the doors, but was it a right thing for a bass goddess to do?

There’s a weird tendency taking over the world – music idols, which had always been about attitude (attitude that made the bands big and the songs epic), are becoming as mainstream and “poppsy” as possible.

It is honestly scary that Johnny Rotten is spotted on TV saying: “Do I buy Country Life because it’s British? No I buy it because it’s great butter”, while Iggy Pop, the king of punk is now performing a role of car insurance salesman, advertising Swiftcover Company.

Kim Gordon is one of them too – fashion line is not the only cliché and “Britney Spearsish” thing she’s done. We could close our eyes and try not to think about this one. But what was the fact of appearing in a most mainstream show Gossip Girl and even saying a little pathetic line there (oh my God, now she’s an actress too)? – pure humiliation and nothing more.

You can’t help yourself, but stop for a moment and grieve for these poor musicians who are dying from starvation and have no choice but to refuse all the ideals they have fought for during the decades, but is that the motive? It is not very believable that they are in lack of money or fame. The problem is in not knowing when to stop, always wanting more and not caring where this extra comes from. In the 21st century musicians have definitely lost their selves, their dignity
to corporate greed.

Rock and attitude come hand in hand (as do attitude and women). Now, as attitude is burning out, it seems that rock is already standing on the brink of emptiness, struggling for life.
You can only wonder how long it has left to stand.

Read more about Kim Gordon and Sonic Youth in “70 Minutes of Spunk Prawl and White Noise” in Cherry Lips magazine

The act was led by three Nouvelle Vague vocalists. Nadeah Miranda (LoveGods) was mesmerizing on stage, leaving the audience breathless with her thrilling voice and mind-blowing moves. Angel-sounding Melanie Pain and bohemian Parisian Sophie Delila were not a bit worse.

The new album songs sounded as powerful as the old ones on stage. A Bossa Nova style God Save The Queen (Sex Pistols) emitted no less irony than the original version, while The Road to Nowhere (The Talking Heads) made the whole audience chant along with the band.

After the finale, the group reappeared to perform on stage three more times. Public could not refrain from asking for more, which is quite explicable – as a matter or fact, Nouvelle Vague is not Hole or PJ Harvey and it would be impossible to help yourself from appreciating this kind of performance from a band of this level.

read more about Nouvelle Vague in Cherry Lips magazine

Punk’s most ramshackle and beguiling (almost all) girl group. Reggae pacingm faux-cute vocals and a singing chorus. Daft and delightful.

On: Cut, Island LP