JACK STEADMAN

Odd thing liking one member of a band more than the collective themselves, but here we find ourselves, in this totally freakish situation. The band that Jack is a quarter of is that Bombay Bicycle Club. There is nothing that can be said negatively against this obviously extremely talented British band, and with their next album out soon, and the murmurs that have been coming out of the camps that get such privileges of hearing big releases before normal boring people are allowed to get their mortal palms on it, they will probably cement themselves as one of the UK's brightest. There just hasn't been that special 'connection'.

But Steadman makes the birds sing and the moon shine with layers and samples and drums and all things holy. His remixes add, never taking away from the originals own features and characteristics. Take his most recent release, the remix of his own bands single 'Shuffle', in a kind of incest next level move he kind of makes that OK taking the original, which is perfectly good, and making it perfectly awesome. Because he sets a challenge, straight at the start of the song, with that looped piano, ripped straight out of the heart of the original, he dares us not to shake and move, he dares us not to like the synth and the change to the original, the samples that rebound off the drums and piano so beautifully. It must be frustrating for him knowing that he has made a song with BBC only to make it that much more brilliant so subtly and easily.

This is just building on previous work for Jack, with the remix of the year thus far, that just happened to come at the start of the year, with his magical touch gracing another talented group' David's Lyre', whose EP was rather grand. But that's another story for another day because, for now, the focus is on Jack.

Bombay Bicycle Club - Shuffle (Jack Steadman Remix) by Bombay Bicycle Club

CLOCK OPERA

Clock Opera are a fairly established 'new' band, meaning that they have had a large amount of love (deservedly) from their three previous singles, but haven't yet released a actual album yet. Signing an album deal with a highly established label, Moshi Moshi, and having previous success with, and it will be said forever and ever, the highly cool Kitsune label they are very well set up to be very good on a larger scale. The tracks that are among the favourites from the four-piece are a few months old, 'Belongings' and 'Piece of String'. They have a new single out which kick started the cogs in the brain to write this post but that's for later. These two tracks are quite simply stunning, experimental and, to be frank, gorgeous. Both start off with a layer, a foundation for the song to progress upon. With 'Piece of String' we have a glitchy synth upon which string instruments are added and added until, bam, we hit the crescendo and suddenly nothing else matters anymore. It is all so bitter sweet with the lyrics contrasting so starkly with the jangle of the strings. This is paralleled with 'Belongings', in which the piano loops are stuck together, added slowly while the lead croons about losing love until three minutes in things get serious and singing along in a terrible manner becomes completely necessary. Then the synth picks it all up again before dropping you back down. Anthems.

Chill. So after all that excitement comes the third release. And you will never guess what? It kills all over again, with all that bass and a maze of lyrics. This time we see a different side to Clock Opera, slightly more harsh but still with a sweet edge. Slightly less introspective and with more of a clean dance edge. And you will not be able to be get this out of your head, all over again.


FROM NEON GOLD >> PIECE OF STRING DOWNLOAD


Belongings by clockopera


Clock Opera - Lesson No. 7 (Full Version) by clockopera

LOOSE TALK COSTS LIVES

Anticipation is a cruel mistress, knowing that you have something to look forward to yet not being to get your greedy mitts upon that gold, kind of literally seeing as Loose Talk Cost Lives new 4 song EP is called 'Wax and Gold'. Like a drip drip dripping leak in the ceiling we have been slowly introduced to the band and their evolution. They started life with a couple of raw demos, slowly building to a single in the form of 'Some Nice Flowers/Wreck Ashore, all catchy indie goodness. But with 'Wax and Gold' they step it up all over again, taking all the elements that made previous efforts so easy on them ears and then deciding to throw into that summer day mixture a dose of Mojito and Pina Coloda. All you can think of when listening is one of two things a) moving to the Amazon and dancing around in a tribal manner or b) getting your salsa on, it depends on you entirely on what past time you want to take up during the 16 minutes of brain washing but the urge and desire will be there. However three of the song titles on the EP will have to be googled beforehand to know what the hell they mean, unless you are lucky enough to have a degree in biology, the dictionary or Mexican death festivals/Spanish skulls.

Kicking off proceedings is 'Seraphim' which has the beach vibes to it, late night gushings on the rocks and chilled cocktails with friends. It seems the safest song on show, them trying to show intent but saving the best experiences for later on before it leads smoothly into 'Hemlock'. Then the feelings of moving to Brazil really hit you, things start to get tapped and legs start to bounce, you literally can't help but get swept away in the funk. The third song 'Calavera' is the best on the EP coming at you hard with the best lyrics, "blindly reach for love in lamplight",and them funky funky brass instruments, all the cogs click together. The last song on 'Wax and Gold' finishes in the same vein as the way it started, again taking that brass and using it to maximum effect, just under the layers of the high-pitch flick of guitar adding to a chorus which dreams are made of.

So while the looters loot, you can say you did too by getting the EP for nothing (though supporting them would be that little bit more moral). Take me to the favelas baby.