on Saturday, October 28, 2006















Does what it says on the tin. 6 and half minutes of Girls Aloudness featuring all the classics - Love Machine, Biology, Wake Me Up, Sound Of The Underground, The Show etc. There are bits of their rubbish songs too but it's ace anyway!

Girls Aloud - Megamix

The Girls Aloud Megamix comes from the 'Something Kinda Ooooh' single, which you can buy from iTunes [link]
on Thursday, October 26, 2006
One of DARTZ!'s songs proclaims that "DARTZ! is good. For your brain.", very much a true story. Formerly known as Darts, this trio hail from the North East and are just bloody great. Time seems to be on their side too, forming in early 2005 with two of the three members only just completing their A levels this summer.

A Futureheads comparison is almost inevitable what with the slight geographical and musical closeness of the two bands but DARTZ! are much more than just an angular tribute band. Q And Not U and The Dismemberment Plan are often mentioned in their reviews but with influences such as Bjork and Dilinger Escape Plan, expect the unexpected. And considering I have no idea what the hell they're singing about, you can feel some At The Drive-In stylings.

'Once, Twice, Again!'is one of the best pop songs ever. It's compellingly vibrant without a sign of pretension in sight - this is just hypnotic, pulsating pop. First, your head starts nodding, then your foot starts tapping and before you know it, you're out there making a prat of yourself on the dancefloor. It's all worth it for DARTZ! though.

DARTZ! - Once, Twice, Again!

Pringles might have come up with the slogan "once you pop, you just can't stop" and DARTZ! seem to agree with new single 'St.Petersburg' being another slice of dazzling pop genius. Lasting a miserly two and a bit minutes, they manage to cram in some despair, a nice little breakdown that mentions Japanese cars and from then on, a chaotically energetic last minute of jagged pop. This is also the first taste of their forthcoming album entitled 'This Is My Ship' out early next year. Can't wait!

You can find a video for St.Petersburg and listen to DARTZ! tracks on their MySpace [link]
on Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Apologies for the rather lengthy absence, I've been pratting around under the guise of a student for the last couple of weeks. In the meantime, I was voted 23rd best UK music blog in the BT Digital Music Awards 2006 [link], which I'm very chuffed about - if you voted then you're a legend and thank you very much!
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Mr Nic Nell joins the ranks of the already remarkably strong singer-songwriter scene that the UK has to offer (Jamie T, Kid Harpoon, Jack PeƱate, Emmy The Great etc). His style is reminiscent of Jeremy Warmsley (particularly vocally) but Nell jokingly describes his music as "Regina Spektor partying with the Mars Volta on the yacht from that Duran Duran video". So it doesn't come as a complete surprise that the track I'm posting here, 'Poor Little Rich Boy' shares its name with a Regina Spektor song.

'Poor Little Rich Boy' reflects the story of a gentleman on the trail of a well sought after lady. Not that this is your usual ditty about love. The verses gallop, the chorus sooths, the song is as bewitching as it is feral. Nell's vocal loops add an almost operatic intensity to an already chaotic track. And his majestic voice just tops it all off. Even the vocal showboating at the end can be forgiven for this is utterly magical.

Nic Nell - Poor Little Rich Boy

You can catch Senor Nell playing teeny weeny London venues over the next month or so, see his MySpace [link] for more details and more downloadable tracks.

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