Another ten tracks worth listening to today! Beverley Knight - I Can't Stand The Rain
It's not a huge departure from the original but Knight's soulful voice carries the record and the soulful, funky music adds to it. (6.5/10) Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie - Rockabye
Though it seems that Clean Bandit have really cut back their classical selling point this change of direction is good as this upbeat ode to single mums has plenty of catchy moments, with Anne-Marie's sweet vocals and Sean Paul's guest appearance makes for a great pop-dance record. (7.5/10) Deaf Havana - Trigger
'Trigger' is a light piece on indie-rock that will keep fans of the band happy and might win over a few others with its slick and quick sound. (6.5/10) JKAY - Danger
It's not the most original of dance tracks but it has enough energy and buzz in it to keep you listening. Nice work. (6/10) John Legend - Love Me Now
John Legend has pretty much already wrapped up the Wedding first dance market and he'll continue to win over waves of people with this new big ballsy pop-ballad with resonating lyrics. A great pop number. (8/10) Kenny Chesney feat. P!nk - Setting the World On Fire
P!nk has a good ear for strong duets and here she comes up trumps again with a country-influenced pop number where Chesney's verses and her choruses work well together. (7.5/10) Kings Of Leon - Waste A Moment
It doesn't boast a hook as such but there's something grabbing about its relentless driving force. A grower. (6/10) MNEK - Don't Stop Me Now
When it comes to covers you have to do something particularly special and though this isn't a million miles away from the original they try to do something different with the drum work and choral effects. It won't be for everyone, but personally I like it. (7.5/10) Robbie Williams - Love My Life
As you'd expect, Robbie follows a more poppy single with something slower and more emotional, and this ode to his children ticks those boxes on this great classic Robbie ballad (7.5/10) This Party - Money
'Money' is a great, catchy, radio-friendly pop song that you need to hear - a very promising breakthrough single. (7/10)
Another ten songs we recommend for you! Alicia Keys - Blended Family (What You Do For Love)
'Blended Family' is a funky little ballad with a bit more balls. Sounding something a little different for Keys, this is a neat little number. (6.5/10) Feeder - Eskimo
It's a slightly subdued number but there are enough indie hooks in this song that keep you entertained, with a strong chorus. (6.5/10) Franz Ferdinand - Demagogue
It's unusual for Franz Ferdinand to go political but here they are in a gritty, off-beat ode to Donald Trump. Though this protest song didn't hurt him, it's still a well observed, dark piece of musical satire. (7.5/10) Jamie Lawson - Don't Let Me Let You Go
His wobbly vocals always portray emotion and though this isn't a million miles away from his breakthrough hit, the emotive style and gentle feeling will keep his fans happy. (6.5/10) The Lumineers - Angela
'Angela' won't blow you away as a huge track but it's stripped-back acoustic vibe and heart-felt lyrics work well for it in a solid piece. (6/10) Olly Murs - Grow Up
It's a little like pop by numbers but if you like your popular music straight forward and radio friendly you'll enjoy this, though it's not exactly breaking huge ground. (6.5/10) Passenger - Anywhere
Passenger is an act who hits more than he misses and here he hits big time, with another great set of lyrics and a really catchy riff central to the record. (8/10) Rick Astley - Pray With Me
Whatever Rick Astley did when writing his latest album he needs to keep doing it as this is another excellent, catchy, memorable and well constructed pop number with gospel vibes injected into its production. Who's laughing now? (8/10) Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Crystallise
Taken from her latest album this is Ellis-Bextor on top form before lyrically and vocally. A beautiful, string-led touching ballad with hints of a little bit more. (7.5/10) They Called Him Zone - Sunset Beach
Sounding like a cross between The Stranglers' 'Ghost Town' and Babylon Zoo's 'Spaceman', this a dark and creepy number but the production, distinctive vocals and evocative style make this a great piece of work. (7.5/10)
Here are our thoughts on ten more brand new singles! A Day To Remember - Naivety
An upbeat, Blink 182-esque punk number with a central chorus that will get you singing and dancing along. (7/10) The Big Moon - Silent Movie Susie
With some rather slick and very listenable lead vocals, this slice of indie-pop is a great listen with a few pop hooks and vocal tricks to keep your buzzing. (6.5/10) DNCE - Body Moves
Though not quite as catchy as 'Cake By The Ocean', the pop-dance-funk is still present and correct here and it's almost as enjoyable - a great pop record (7/10)
Francis and the Lights - May I Have This Dance
'May I Have This Dance' is a gentle, electro-acoustic number that doesn't hit you with any huge hooks but pleases your ears with its slowly building vibe and feeling. (7/10)
The Japanese House - Face Like Thunder
'Face Like Thunder' is a great, emotional gentle track that will set your heart aflutter with the well layered vocals and general laid-back vibe. (7/10) Kideko & George Kwali feat. Nadia Rose and Sweetie Irie - Crank It
It may descend into a by-numbers dance-led chorus but the verses, headed up by Nadia Rose - who adds the character to this record like she did on 'Skwod' pack in the energy and tongue-in-cheek vibe. (6.5/10) Kygo feat. Julia Michaels - Carry Me
Though the song does descend into dance cliches, it's touching and emotional beats in the verses allow this song to hold its head above the water. (6/10) Neiked Feat. Dyo - Sexual
A song called 'Sexual' by an act that sounds like Naked suggests the content of the lyrics, as does the actual sleeve, but this is actually just a sexy, funky, dancy number that's one of the hookiest in this list, thanks in major to Dyo's great vocals. (7.5/10) PROSE - Further
Strong production and a foot-tapping indie-rock build-up make this a surprisingly catchy number with plenty of passion in its production. (7/10) Xander and the Peace Pirates - Fire
With a smattering of guitar-based hooks and a great central breakdown, this is quite an understated track but it'll get you with its strong production and lead vocals. (7/10)
Our regular look at new releases we're sent or find for your listening and viewing pleasure!
Alice Jemima - Dodged a Bullet
A quirky, subtle and smart song with a few dance influences, held together by the sweet vocals of Jemima and the repetition of the title. (6.5/10)
Cameron Sanderson - Change of Scenery
'Change of Scenery' is a catchy, fun semi-dance record with strong vocals and a driving rhythm that will win you over. (7/10)
Coucheron - Puzzled
'Puzzled' is a bouncy, dance number with hints of Daft Punk with a slightly poppier outlook. The chunky, synth-bass backing is great, as are the treated vocals, all combining into a crisp, enjoyable dance-pop track. (7/10)
Hooton Tennis Club - Katy-Anne Bellis
A bit of modern Britpop here with an unusual set-up but a fun indie vibe that works well; the band clearly are having fun and it comes across in the music. (5.5/10)
Leo Stannard - In My Blood
'In My Blood' is a smooth, atmospheric indie-pop number that doesn't hit you with anything huge but it's production, touching lyrics and gentle atmosphere work well. (6/10)
Marilyn - Love or Money
Sounding a little like a rip off of 'Night Nurse' and 'Uptown Top Ranking, this is still a nice, calm ska-influenced number that is the perfect soundtrack for sitting back and relaxing. (6/10)
Pretenders - Holy Commotion!
Though the current Pretenders may be just Chrissie Hynde now, if she can produce quirky and catchy electro-pop numbers like this still then we'll forgive her. A fun mix of their classic sound and something a bit fresher. (7/10)
Rizzle Kicks - Slurp!
'Slurp!' is a bit of a weird one and the first minute or so is questionable but when it gets to the hook of the chorus, the Avalanches-style production and the political name checks there's something about it that gels. (6.5/10)
Röyksopp feat. Susanne Sundfør - Never Ever
Royksopp can be usually relied upon to create something great, and 'Never Ever' with its catchy, fast-paced pop vibes, Daft Punk-esque rhythms and fun vocals from Sundfør ticks the boxes. (7.5/10)
Zedd - Ignite
'Ignite' is a positive, uplifting dance track that manages to avoid the tropes you'd expect from the genre into something perky and memorable. (7/10)
The Permanent Smilers release their debut LP, a 13-track eclectic album of various styles and song-lengths that will keep you guessing about what is coming next. The album opens with the track 'Identity Crisis' which gives the album its name, a ballsy, punky attitude-filled number that sounds like Paul Weller at his peak. Raw in its production this is a great kick-start to the album thanks to its quick pace and well deserving as the lead track. 'Uh-Oh' is a bit slower but echoes the Beatles at their trippiest best with a catchy chorus and recognisable production and shifts in style. 'You Know Where To Go' is back to the style of the first track with vibes of the Arctic Monkeys and there's plenty of energy over its four minutes. 'Elastic' is much more focussed on its sound rather than its lyrics and it works thanks to the layering of the different sounds and Richard Lemongrass's simple but evocative lyrics. 'Just No Good' is a bit rockier whilst 'It Doesn't Work Anymore' has a bit more punk atttitude again but still boasts that choral hook. 'Ghosts' is the slow swagger number on the album with a smooth, almost-jazz, feel, it's music suggesting an appropriately haunting style. 'Rebel' has an ominous build up into a track that fades a little into the background; whilst Voodoo switches back to the Beatles style of production and is much more fun as a listen. 'You Know Where To Go' is a perky interlude at sub-sixty-seconds as if they wanted to bridge with some guitar but is otherwise a little pointless; the clock-ticking that bookend 'Unforeseen' surround a neat little mid-tempo indie number; with 'See Through You' a little rockier and grittier. Closer 'Sleepyhead' takes childhood imagery and wraps it up in a stripped-back number that wraps the album up neatly. As the title would suggest the album struggles from cohesiveness in styles but it's never an album that grows tiresome and there's enough love flowing through the production to keep the listener happy. The best tracks are at the beginning, but it never shames itself. (7/10)
Rising
from the ashes of ‘The Lemongrowers’, the Permanent Smilers have released a new
album called ‘One Real Big Identity Crisis’. We spoke to frontman Richard about
the album ahead of its release.
How would you describe your
debut album?
It’s
a real mixture of songs and influences. You’ve got a little bit of jazz on
there, a little bit of pop, indie, alternative, all sorts of things. It’s one
identity crisis of an album!
What it was like recording
it?
It
was a lot of fun. There are just three of us essentially: a drummer, a bass
player and I do a little bit of a lot of things. We also get in a trumpeter and
I write the songs, and take them to these guys, and we work on them together,
taking them to a little studio in South Norfolk and hopefully get a good
result.
What’s it like working on
such different instruments?
I
enjoy doing it. I usually write on guitar and then the songs tend to develop a
life of their own, as they’re in different genres and have different feelings
to them. When I get into writing a song it becomes apparent where the song is
going and as a band we can take it where it needs to be.
Do you have an instruments
that you really like playing, or would like to play?
Something
that I tried playing when I was at school was the tuba and that was a
nightmare! Consequently I’ve only really managed to get a tune out of something
with strings on it, piano and keyboards being the exception to that.
‘Identity Crisis’ is the
lead single from the record. How would you describe it?
It’s
probably the most punky song on the album. As I said there’s a little bit of
all sorts of things going on, on the album, but ‘Identity Crisis’ has a little
bit more attitude than most.
The album artwork has a circus
themed; what was the reason behind that?
It’s
to reflect the idea of [variety]; in a circus you have all the acts like a
strongman and a clown. On the cover of the CD we have an elephant riding a
unicycle, and it’s just to reflect the different sounds and the different
things going on on the album.
Does your band name ‘The
Permanent Smilers’ come from clowns then?
No,
it was actually a song I wrote about twenty years ago when I was in a band
called The Lemongrowers. After the song I had a long break from music but when
I got back into it I thought – The Permanent Smilers – that will fit as a band
name.
You’ve also worked on videos
such as the distinctive animation of ‘Spider Song’. How did that come about?
They
were done when I was living up in the North of England, in Rochdale. I was
doing a little bit of music up there and I got to know a guy up there who lived
in Hebden Bridge who was into graphics, video and animation. I was lucky enough
to persuade him to do a couple of videos for us.
Do you also have any live
plans for the music?
Not
at the moment. I tend to not play live, least because a lot of the music on the
album is very much layered up, with 20-30 tracks per song and plenty of
percussion, with many several keyboards, guitars and trumpets. To do the songs
justice I’d need to get 10 or 20 people on stage and that’s not really
realistic! It’s possible that I could do something acoustic or a 3-piece, but
at the moment to get it to reflect the album, or sound anything like it does on
the album, would be a tall order.
Do you have any big
ambitions for 2017?
We’ve
got an EP which I’ve been working on under a different name – Seven 2 Five –
which is effectively the same people who are behind ‘The Permanent Smilers’ but
we also have Claire Hirst working on that, who was David Bowie’s saxophonist,
so we’re really lucky to get her on board, and appreciated that. In regards to
2017 I think I’ll be starting on another album which I’m looking forward to. I
always like recording and writing!
And finally would you ever
consider recording a Christmas song and what’s your favourite pop festive song?
I’d
always consider it. I have written something, but whether it’s actually available
at the moment or in the pipeline, but there’s a song called ‘Mojo’, which I
wrote, that’s a Christmas song which may or may not be about this year. In
terms of what I listen to I really like ‘Stop the Cavalry’ – that’s my
favourite Christmas song by quite some way.
Grassy chines, the balloon ride in the park, and the crazy golf: three great things you can enjoy in Bournemouth, and we can now add a fourth to the list - Lee Rasdall-Dove. His four-track EP is out now all with a strong folk-feel with catchy stripped-back rhythms. 'Cynthia' is a touching, multi-layered love song that has shades of Ed Sheeran meets the eighties. 'Pure' starts off lighter before switching into an off-beat style piece and then into something with a more soaring chorus.
'Little Brick Wall' is a little funkier with a slight ska-vibe that offers something a little fresher whilst the titular closer has a strong guitar opener and some quick-delivered lyrics that build up the rhythm into something that releases in the neat, energy-packed chorus. 'Head in the Clouds' is a simple, stripped back release with four strong ideas for songs well delivered. (7/10)
