Listen Up! Slack Jaw, Sylvan Esso

Wow. It’s been a long time since I posted here, but today I discovered this song, by a band I’ve long loved and whose latest album I should have listened to by now.

I thought it would be a great place to share it.

Keaton Henson

Two blogs in one week! This never happens. Keaton Henson is an artist I can’t stop listening to, his old stuff, his new stuff – all of the stuff. It’s beautiful and I’m obsessed with it in the best way. The way I am with people like Angel Olsen and Sufjan Stevens. The way I used to be with albums on my walkman that I’d have on over and over. It makes you feel.

I first heard ‘Alright’, about someone left behind when their love is on tour and anxiety. It’s incredibly real and heartbreaking.

I also discovered he does all this cool art, I found the above on the internet.

Listen Up! Julia Jacklin

It’s been a while since I heard an album I really wanted to blog about. Julia Jacklin’s Don’t Let the Kids Win is worth it. It’s like a more uplifting, cowboy boot heeled sister to Angel Olsen. Lovely.

Monumental

Last night I went to see Godspeed You! Black Emperor collaborate with a dance company at the Edinburgh International Festival. I love the band and have wanted to see them live for a long time, there’s is the kind of music that moves you. The dancers stood on blocks and threw themselves around – rapidly, beautifully, uncomfortably. It was the kind of moment that makes you so grateful people defy instincts of convention and make art. It made me feel alive.

If you are anywhere near Edinburgh today I can’t recommend seeing it highly enough. Otherwise Godspeed.

Listen up! O Paon

I found this music. It is pretty.

Why I still love Frightened Rabbit

I’m sitting on the bus listening to the (relatively new) Frightened Rabbit album, thinking about how I much I love this band. It’s not that they produce the best music I’ve ever heard, or even that they are my favourite band to come out of Scotland, it’s that I’ve grown with them. When I couldn’t find my way I needed the early, miserable tunes.  They made me feel like it was normal to be lost. When I was sad I needed the joyousness of their anthems. I understood the songs about disillusionment, about being hurt, about the emptiness of one night stands. And I loved them. They made me feel like it was ok. We need more of that in the world.

Now, this new album, it’s still full of it all: all the hurt, all the hope. There will always be glimmers of happiness and there will always be moments of struggle. This band embraces it, reflects the essential imperfections. And all of us just keep on keeping on.

Some songs…

Listen up! Cocteau Twins

This weekend I took a road trip to the Isle of Arran for my friend’s birthday. We listened to this Cocteau Twins song in the car, driving over glorious, undulating Scottish country roads (see Instagram feed!). I love it. Sure I’m late to the party (my friend Paula got in to them reading Iain Banks’ the Crow Road) but sometimes music finds you at the right time.

Minor Victories

I know right? I’ve been away from this blog forever. It’s something I’d like to change but who knows what will happen.

Anyhow I’ve been listening to so much amazing new music lately, including this track from Minor Victories, a group made up of members of Slowdive, Editors, Mogwai and Hand Held Cine Club. It’s sublime.

Listen Up! Country Folk

The Weather Station are a band I became aware of, well about five minutes ago. I really like them. It might be fuelled by the fact that I am obssessed with Nashville. Like really. It’s that kind of country ballad, guitars on the veranda, type of loveliness.

Terror Pigeon

I think Terror Pigeon isn’t the best name for a band, however this song made Monday morning a lot less awful.