Live Review: Newton Faulkner supported by Sam Brookes

Hello there, and welcome to my second gig review of the week! I have quite the jam packed schedule at the moment in terms of live music, with Bastille and Bombay Bicycle Club still to come next month! Excited. 

I actually saw Newton Faulkner back in October 2012, also at the 02 Academy in Newcastle; my cousin Mathew is a huge fan, so when the tour for his new album 'Studio Zoo' were released, I was expecting a text saying that we had tickets! I'm not strictly a massive fan of Newton's...I have all the albums and do listen to them now and then, but would never have gone to see him live if Mathew hadn't wanted to. However, saying that, he is definitely one of the best acts I've ever seen live, and thanks to 02 Priority, we got to be in the front row for the second time!

If you're familiar with Newton's music, you will know that he pushes the boundaries of what is possible when playing the guitar, and uses his incredible technical ability to create sounds and melodies that you can barely believe are coming from just one man! He uses the guitar as both a percussion and string instrument, providing booming rhythm and basslines from thudding the guitar in various places, and even changes the tuning of strings during some songs! The mind boggles. I think I prefer seeing him live because that's the only way you can witness the full impact of the genius of his guitar playing and effortless vocals, as well as his endearing and witty personality (I love the fact he makes cups of tea between songs!).

Also, in a rare occasion, Newton had some people accompanying him on stage! There was Beth Porter on the cello, support act Sam Brookes on guitar, bass and backing vocals (more on him later), and brother Toby Faulkner on vocals too. They didn't join in with every song, but having a group feel to certain numbers really lifted the whole show and, in my opinion, improved it from last year. 

There was a mix of tracks from each of Newton's 4 albums, with most being from his newest one, 'Studio Zoo', but also the big numbers he's probably most well known for such as 'Dream Catch Me', 'Teardrop', 'Clouds' and 'Write It On Your Skin', which was my personal highlight of the night! He always drops some unexpected covers in there too, and, not to spoil it for anyone seeing him soon, his rendition of a certain Justin Timberlake tune is both brilliant and hilarious. 

As previously mentioned, the support act was Sam Brookes, who definitely deserves a mention. When he walked on stage and started with a beautiful love song (the name of which I'm not sure of!), you could hear a pin drop as everyone in the venue was enchanted by his dreamy vocals and Newton-esque guitar playing. We even met him after the show to buy his album 'Kairos' and get our tickets signed! Support acts are really bringing it lately!

Sam Brookes

A brilliant performance all round, and someone I would definitely recommend seeing live!

Are you a fan of Newton Faulkner or Sam Brookes?

Thanks for reading!

Sophie.

The 1975: Gig and Album Review

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Hello there!

I've actually been meaning to write a review of The 1975's self titled debut album for a while now, but after booking tickets to see them live I thought I'd wait to include my thoughts from the gig too!

The 1975 first came onto my radar last summer, when their big singles 'Chocolate' and 'Sex' seemed inescapable! It felt like they shot to stardom overnight, especially when their album was released back in September and went straight to number 1 in the UK album chart. 

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This album was like nothing I have ever heard before; a little bit 80s (saxophone solo, anyone?), a little bit the indie of the 90s, and the rest melancholy electronica (XX-ish), the 1975 use a mix of sounds and influence to create something that is, to me, thoroughly new. From the dubstep beat of 'The City' all the way to the beautiful yet warped piano ballad 'Is There Somebody Who Can Watch You', this album fits perfectly together to make something that I just cannot stop listening to. 

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My favourite of the bunch is most definitely 'Talk!'; it's a cacophony of off-beat drums, atmospheric sound effects, wandering bassline and high pitched guitar strums, with lead singer Matt Healy's dreamy but angsty voice and relatable lyrics over the top. Just so cool. A close second is 'Heart Out', with a middle 8 to die for and the most cliche yet totally necessary saxophone solo I've heard in a while. My other personal highlights of the album are 'Settle Down', 'Sex' and 'Pressure', but to be honest, it's all pretty darn good.

On to the gig!

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I managed to get tickets to their sell-out show at the 02 Academy in Newcastle, Matt Healy's home town! And in homage to that, the lead singer wore the Toon Army black and white stripes (this caused some booing, which was immediately quashed!). The sound balance was all wrong at first and you couldn't hear the vocals at all, which got me in a panic! But it got sorted pretty quickly, and the show was a cracking one, playing most of the album as well as earlier tunes from their EPs. I wasn't sure what to expect of the band live, but they absolutely brought the songs to life, taking them from fairly easy listening to a really stage-worthy sound. 

The 1975 are big on visuals too, and that had a huge impact on the show; they've created a whole aesthetic around the band, with black and white imagery, grungy androgynous style and old school lighting that really brought the feel of the gig together. 

(There was also one support act that I feel I just have to mention; I'd never heard of Wolf Alice before Monday, but I'm definitely their newest fan! I recommend you all listen to them. Immediately.)

Here's a final gratuitous image of the rather beautiful Matt Healy.

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Probably the coolest guy in music right now.

Are you a fan of The 1975?

Thanks for reading!

Sophie.

Music Review // Jessie Ware 'Devotion'

Jessie Ware's debut studio album 'Devotion' was released last summer, so I'm a little late (as per usual) to love this. I downloaded it a while ago, but only just got round to giving it a proper listen... and BOY am I glad I did!

I have quite a varied taste in music, but wasn't sure I'd be a huge fan of Jessie Ware. However, I was wrong. 

This album is a beautiful collection of hypnotic, dreamy love songs, and Jessie is a totally unique artist. Her gorgeously deep, rich vocals bring the emotional lyrics to life perfectly, and underpins all the elements of the album. There's a distinct 80's vibe in terms of the style of backing vocals, drum beats and synth melodies, especially in the songs 'Running' and 'Imagine It Was Us'. This nostalgic style is combined with the sparse, haunting sound of minimalistic modern electronica; think The XX or AlunaGeorge. I also LOVE the use of the string section, in particular the cello, in the song 'Night Light'. 

'Devotion' is a gorgeous album, easy to listen to and get lost in, with songs full of feeling and intensity. 

Rating: 4/5

Favourites: 'Wildest Moments', 'Running' (the Disclosure remix to this is also incredible!), 'Still Love Me', 'Something Inside'

Albums I'm Loving // Bastille, Paramore, Lumineers, 30STM

A little music post for you all today! :)
Here's the albums I can't get enough of recently.

Bastille - Bad Blood

I'll be honest, I was kinda late to jump on the Bastille bandwagon. I first heard of them when they won a competition on Radio 1, and they have had huge success with the release of this debut album. 'Bad Blood' is a brilliant album, and Bastille have created a signature sound of booming drum beats and almost tribal male harmonies. I wasn't blown away on first listen, but after a couple of times, it has grown to be one of my favourites! I'm actually hoping to see Bastille later this year too (see dates here).

Favourites: Laura Palmer, Flaws, Icarus, Pompeii (absolute anthem!).

Paramore

I am a long time fan of Paramore, ever since their first album All We Know Is Falling, and have seen them live twice. They are one of my all time favourite bands, so I was seriously excited for the new album! It's no secret Paramore have been through some personal ups and downs, with some members leaving, but this self-titled album is a great expression of that and how the band are moving on. It's a lot more varied than the previous albums, with some classic pop-rock sounds, as well some more electronics and a lot more instrumental work. Hayley's voice is incredible as always, and this is a brilliant example of musical storytelling. 

Favourites: Now (so punk, love it), Future, Last Hope, I'm Not Angry Anymore (Interlude).

The Lumineers

You may know The Lumineers by their song 'Ho Hey', which was featured on an advert and proceeded to become everyone's favourite song, including mine. I then dug a little deeper and checked out their album. This is a truly beautiful album, with a folksy, indie sound and gorgeous melodies and lyrics. Every song is good'un, and I cannot get them out of my head! They remind me of Mumford & Sons, but a more gentler version, lovely.

Favourites: Slow It Down (the haunting tones and chords sound just like Jeff Buckley, insanely gorgeous), Big Parade, Dead Sea, Submarines.

30 Seconds to Mars - Love Lust Faith + Dreams

Last, but not least, the freaking incredible 30 Seconds to Mars, another of my ultimate favourite bands. Their new album is split into the four sections of the name, and is full of the hugely epic tunes that we would expect of them. I'll admit, I kinda prefer the previous two albums, but this one is still repeating on my playlist! It's operatic, orchestral, dramatic, emotional...basically, I love it! The beautiful Jared Leto has amazing vocals, and soon I'll be witnessing them live at the Newcastle Metro Arena! I booked tickets this week to see them in November, supported by my other favourites You Me At Six. Check out the other tour dates here.

Favourites: Conquistador, Up In The Air, The Race, Depuis Le Debut

So there you are, the albums that are the soundtrack to my days at the moment.

Are you a fan of these bands? What's on your current playlist?

PS: If you like what you're reading, pleeease follow me on bloglovin here, as soon Google Reader will be no more! 

Music Review: Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

"Now my life is sweet like cinnamon,
  like a fucking dream I'm living in.

Baby love me cause I'm playing on the radio."

-'Radio'

I was a bit slow to catch on to Lana Del Rey. I'd heard about the single 'Video Games', but never really listened to it until a few weeks ago. I listened to the album in full around 2 weeks ago, and I pretty much haven't listened to anything else since.

"Blue jeans,
  white shirt,
  walked into the room
  you know you made my eyes burn." 

-'Blue Jeans'

Because I'd heard such good things about the album, I went in to the first listen almost expecting to love it, and I did. It isn't the sort of thing I might normally listen to, but that's partly because it's not really like anything I've ever heard before. To put it in a genre is impossible; it's part hip-hop, part orchestral, part indie... to be honest, I'm not even sure how to describe it!

Lana's vocals seem to have a split personality; one side is a seductively low, melancholy drawl, and the other is a sugary falsetto, with plenty in between. The whole album has a very dark, ominous feel to it, almost uncomfortable at times, with the off-beat, poetic lyrics often adding a sense of irony or sarcasm. Listen, and you're automatically transported to downtown New York City, images of red lipstick and bright lights running through your head.


"Red, white, blues in the sky,
  summer's in the air and baby,
  heaven's in your eyes."

-'National Anthem'

I love this album. It's interesting, beautiful, emotional. I can see why it might not be everyone's thing, but it's definitely mine. Some of the songs in the middle of the track list do start to sound a bit same-y and are weaker than the rest, but they all add to the story and dynamic of the album.

"Choose your last words,
  this is the last time.
  Cause you and I...

  we were born to die."

-'Born To Die'


Favourites:
'Off to the Races'
'Blue Jeans'
'Summertime Sadness'
'Lolita'

Rating: 4/5

Enjoy,

Sophie.