Mike Garson Pays Live Tribute To David Bowie

A lot of artists are paying tributes to David Bowie. But this time is different.
Mike Garson is the most remarkable pianist in Bowie's career. He played in a lot of his albums, from the classic Aladdin Sane (where he created the most insane and cool piano solo ever during the album's title song) to one of my personal favourites Heathen. We can say that Garson was Bowie's piano man in the 70's and the 90's. He also did amazing live performances with the English musician, including heartbreaking versions of Life On Mars? and Wild Is The Wind.

On monday, there was a charity gig called "Celebrating David Bowie" in Los Angeles, USA, where artists like Seal, Ewan McGregor and Gary Oldman performed. Although, the highest point of the gig was when Mike Garson, who was also part of it, played the song Aladdin Sane, where he tried (and succeed) to replicate the original solo from the album version. After this song, Seal joined Garson and the pair performed Bring Me The Disco King from the 2003 Bowie's album Reality.

Quoting Billboard Magazine:
"The emotional core of the evening, though, came from longtime Bowie keyboardist Mike Garson, who nearly broke into tears explaining his year's-long kinship with the late legend whom he said slept directly across from him on the tour bus. After delivering what amounted to a eulogy, Garson played on "Aladdin Sane" -- including his famous avant-solo, for the first time in 20 years -- and stayed onstage for both an improvised ode to Bowie and a surprise appearance from crooner Seal, who sang the obscure, jazzy track "Bring Me The Disco Queen." Garson -- who popped in and out for the rest of the set -- seemed like he was having a going-away party for his friend."

Check the performance here:

Suede And The Press

When you are a big big fan of a band, you always feel that the band is being underrated by the press. In my view, Suede were always a little bit left outside of the music press, since Blur, Oasis or Pulp have overpassed them in therms of comercial success in the 90's. However, even if the popularity of the others bands were bigger, it isn't an excuse of why the press is not covering more Suede, when they are doing new and significant music, while they (the magazines) are still making boring articles about "the last time Liam and Noel chatted" or "What's the best Nirvana album?".
Actually, I think it is really disrespectful that NME or the other magazines, are not giving big headlines, or even news, about the current Suede tour and album. Of course they did a review of "Night Thoughts" (if they didn't it would have been some kind of tragedy, they have the obligation to review every significant album of the week), and almost all of the reviews are having a really, really positive view of the new album. So that should bring more news and more interest on the band by the part of the magazine. However I don't see any news from Suede apart from the album review.

Well, Night Thoughts was number 6 at the UK charts, it was the highest new entry of the charts, they are making a critically acclaimed Europeen tour, they are chatting about important issued like the death of Bowie, how a 90's band can still survive on the music business today, the passion of playing live, they are still debuting live old great songs, they are giving double concert sizes. Wouldn't any of these things be enough to have a link on some newspaper website first page, where they have like 50 daily different headlines? Well, NME preferes to cover that Damon Albarn is returning to Denmark, that Kanye West changed his album title, the deleted scenes of Mrs Doubtfire, or Johnny Deeps 20-years comments about Leonardo DiCaprio. Really, there something much more interesting and meaningful to talk about.

The press, specially NME, have their "wonder" kids, and they keep attached to them. Leaving apart other great bands. Suede were right when they wrote their new song, Outsiders, we (Suede fans) actually feel like outsiders, and the band also feel outside, and the rest of the world wants to try to keep them outside.

It's a pity really. In the Suede world is actually good to feel an outsider, a stranger, a beautiful one, but a little of recognition and publicity is always welcome also,

Primavera Sound Porto 2016 Line -Up

Today it was revealed the complete line-up of my city's main festival.
The festival will be from 9 to 11 of June and the ticket for the 3 days is 90€.

First, Primavera Sound in Porto is not only a festival it's also a great experience. Imagine watching to your favourite bands' concerts 5 minutes from the beach and sea, in a beautiful green park with 3 stages, foods, drinks, nice atmosphere and beautiful people. The only "almost bad" thing of it is that it doesn't have camping (but personally, I really don't need it).

Well, I admit I was expecting a little bit more from the line-up. I honestly was hoping for a double Suede concert just like what is going to happen in our twin brother Primavera Sound Barcelona. ~

Although we don't have Suede we have a lot of superb acts, which includes PJ Harvey, Brian Wilson, Savages, Sigur Rós, Beach House and Air between others.

This festival is becoming, or already is, the strongest Indie festival of Portugal.
But just look at the picture above to see the complete line-up and I hope to see you there at the festival!

Blackstar by David Bowie, Track by Track

Earlier this year, before knowing Bowie was dying and before listening to Blackstar whole album I made a review of the single Blackstar. After the news of his death, naturally the meaning of the song and of the album changed.

Bowie planned his death, planned his goodbye of music, he knew that this moment was coming so he release his last statement, a fantastic album. There's a lot to analyse of the incredible way David died, his death was a unique historical moment, that will, probably, never happen again. The impact of his death was enormous. I have a solid opinion about it which I'll write later, in another article.

Now, I want to analyse and review his farewell album "Blackstar" track by track

01 - Blackstar

This, and Lazarus, are the most important songs on the album. I think David here, assumes a position of a God (a Blackstar) and, not only predicts his death ("on the day of the execution", "something happened on the day he died") but also clears how he wants to be remembered. And I think he wants to be remembered as a Godlike figure, a Blackstar, something unpredictable and unknown. On the first part of the song, his voice is very solemn, dark and divinal, and then, the song goes through a different direction, almost angelical. It's amazing.

And, the song is so well structured, that, although it has 10 minutes, it's never too repetitive and boring, Those 10 minutes pass really quickly. Love the keyboards on the last verses. Perfect song to define an album and an artist.

02 - 'Tis A Pity She Was A Whore

Bowie released this song as a b-side to Sue back in 2014. Here the song is re-recorded and, although it maintains the same line as the original, the production is must better and clear. The songs is fast, cynical, diabolic. 

03 - Lazarus

Here, we say Bowie defining his death. He realizes his death and tells us that he's not OK but soon he will be free, just like he intends to be. Lazarus, the biblical figure, resurrected from the death. And this is very important, because Bowie, in a way, also came back to life. He's still here with his songs, with his legacy, just like Lazarus did, Bowie died and then came back to stay.

The melody of this song is very soft, peaceful and sad. Actually, after knowing about his death, listening to this song is something very turbulent specially if you see the video. You actually see Bowie dying and you see also his productive soul still working and creating, just like what happened. Artistically the combination of David's death, the song and the video is one of the most emotional moments (or even the most) ever in cultural terms. Fantastic, just a visionary like Bowie could have the courage to do something like this.

04 - Sue (Or A Season of Crime)

Maybe, the best surprise of the album. I was not a big fan of the original version of this song released in 2014. Too jazzy, too soft, disoriented, but here we listen to a brutal and aggressive song, very complete and strong. Much better than the 2014 version.

05 - Girl Loves Me

A nice and strange song. Bowie's voice during the chorus is perfection, and actually it is catchy (very dark catchy), you are singing it easily. Bowie sings in a fictional language during mos of the song. Again, a dark song (like most of the album) but actually very attractive and sexy.

06 - Dollar Days

The sweetest moment in Blackstar. A fantastic song  also about his mortality. "If I'll never see the English evergreens I'm running to", "Don't forget for just one second I'm forgetting you, I'm dying to". A lot of people were calling this album as a jazz album, which I disagree, but actually you have on this song the jazziest moment with the saxophone fantastic solo. This is the brightest song on the album, but still a little bit sad. 

07 - I Can't Give Everything Away

This is Bowie's goodbye. He knows he is passing away, and he is afraid of it, of letting behind everyone he loves. He's sad of leaving but also happy that he did everything he wanted to do with his life "This is all I ever meant, that's the message that I sent". The last verse when he re-sings "I know something's very wrong, the pulse returns for prodigal sons" is truly heartbreaking. Actually, I think we find Bowie on his most vulnerable emotional side. By now, he is everything in music, he is a God, an  alien, a Blackstar but he realises that he is also David Jones, a human being that feels loss and feels pain. Fantastic.

As a whole, a lot of music critics were defining Blackstar as a Jazz experimental album, that David choose it that way because he still wanted to take us to the unknown, like the place where he is now. I disagree, fist this is not a jazz album, it has jazz moments and jazz instruments but this is some kind of glam-rock. I would prefer to call it, this is a "Bowiesh" album, some kinds of modern Aladdin Sane. But also, this a album of a man that is facing dead, so it's way it is a very sad album. For me it's perfect this way, I always preferred sad music. Bowie's voice is still on top and his tone fits perfectly with the content of the album. Blackstar is an artistic testament of Bowie's capacities and is one of the best and most interesting albums of all time because of the brilliance and quality of the music but also because of everything that surrounds it.

Blackstar is one of the most important albums ever released, and we were here to see it. David was here too, and he still is. Just like Lazarus he resurrected and is eternal in this word with his music. 

Thank you.

Wonderful Life

Yesterday died the writer of one of the most remarkable songs of the 80's.
Colin Vearncombe, better know as Black, didn't survive to a car accident that occurred on the 10th of January.
Although most of his career didn't follow the huge success of the hit "Wonderful Life" he was very very active during the last 30 years.

Summer In Portugal

These last days some fantastic artists were confirmed to perform in Portugal this summer.

So, very quickly:
- Bruce Springsteen will be headlining Rock in Rio Lisboa.
- The french duo Air will be in my hometown Porto for NOS Primavera Sound.
- Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys will be here, probably also at the Primavera Sound but it's not official yet where he's going to play.
- Radiohead will play at NOS Alive festival.
- LCD Soundsystem were the first name for the mythical Paredes de Coura festival.

As the Barcelona and Porto Primavera Sound have usually very similar artists, I'm really expecting to see Suede here in the summer. They will play two times in Barcelone this year, a Night Thoughts section and a greatest hits one. It would be great also to see here PJ Harvey.

Looks like I'll spend some money in the summer.

Night Thoughts Is Released Today

Suede's new album, "Night Thoughts" is released today.

The album is surrounded by a totally new concept of their music.
All the music is accompanied by a film direct by Roger Sargent.
The album is available in normal CD package, Vinyl, and deluxe edition of CD+DVD with the movie included.
There are 4 full tracks already available on Suede's YouTube channel, the 2 single, Outsiders and Like Kids, plus 2 more tracks, Pale Snow and No Tomorrow. All of them are truly fantastic.
Night Thoughts is receiving very positive reviews, with time, Strange Sound will make its own.
Although it is still early to say, Night Thoughts has everything to become a modern legendary album for the band. Not only because of the new concept but also because Suede explored their more dramatic, melancholic and dark sound again. Their most epic and introspective work since Dog Man Star.
Some songs like Tightrope, I Don't Know How To Reach You or The Fur & The Feathers are among the ones with more potential to become truly legendary songs on Suede's catalogue.

Take a look at this amazing 20-minutes track by track preview.

Bowie's Blackstar Tops the UK, the USA and Portugal

David Bowie's new album, Blackstar topped a lot of countries.

For the first time in his career the album went straight to number 1 in the USA. His previous work, The Next Day was number 2 and his highest place there until then.

In the UK, it's not a big surprise that it went to number 1. Even before his death, everything was pointing that Blackstar would reach the top of the charts.

In Portugal, my home country, although it is not official, it will also be number 1. Last week I tried to buy it on a store in Porto, and not only Blackstar was sold out, but all Bowie discography in CD and Vinyl was sold out in FNAC.

Blackstar also topped a lot of other countries like Germany, Belgian, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, among others.

Lazarus, his goodbye single, was the video with more views on Youtube in a single day. Ever.

Obviously the sad news of his death contributed to these amazing records, but it is completely deserved. Not only Blackstar his a brilliant, amazing, incredible album, but the career of Bowie by itself deserves this kind of recognitions.

Bowie was, is and will be, the most important musician / artist of all time for me.
The Greatest, a Godlike Artist.

5 Fantastic Not-Famous Bowie Songs

David Bowie died early this week and a lot of people are sharing a lot of his songs around the internet, and that's great.

Obviously, the most shared ones are the big hits, the most successful ones. I did the same. To remember his talent on Facebook I shared the song "Heroes" one of my favourites and a song that means a lot to me.

However, it is a pity to limit the Bowie legacy to his most famous songs, so, I'll share 5 fantastic not worldwide famous David Bowie songs from different parts of his life.

01 - Lady Stardust (from Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars 1972)

I wanted to put here Rock n´Roll suicide but, although it wasn't a single, it is also a signature song for him.

I choose Lady Stardust because lately I'm playing a lot this song. Some time ago I was a much bigger fan of Moonage Daydream or Star or Five Years, but there's sometimes on the melody that makes me sing it with great passion. The song is not about Ziggy's wife (or maybe it is) but about Marc Nolan. Bowie was a big fan.

02 - Lady Grinning Soul (from Aladdin Sane 1973)

Bowie chose this song for is compilation iSelect which featured his personal favourite songs while trying to avoid most of his greatest hits.

It is the end song of his classic album Aladdin Sane and a song that resumes very well his sound at the time. Very complexed, very dramatic with the remarkable Mike Garson on the piano. A true classic.

03 - Neuköln (from "Heroes" 1977)

Bowie, specially during his Berlin years did a couple of very interesting and very dark instrumental tracks. The most famous one is probably Warszawa, but my personal favourite is Neuköln. It is so dark, so evil that brings a really creepy atmosphere. It's fantastic and the Saxophone (played by him) is what guides the melodramatic tune of the songs. Incredible.

04 - If I'm Dreaming My Life (from "hours..." 1999)

Fantastic songs from the 90's. It's a pure Pop/Rock song with heavy electric guitar and nice solos, but what really makes the song is the ending coda. So good, so perfect, so Bowie.

05 - Heathen (The Rays) (from Heathen 2002)

One of my favourite Bowie songs from one of my favourite albums. THe lyrics are so beautiful and the way the song goes from up and downs is so intense. Bowie's vocal is at his best really. The drum and the keyboards also contribute to a great song. Fantastic, one of those songs I'll keep with me forever.

David Bowie Passed Away

This is the saddest day for music ever.
The legendary David Bowie died at 69, following a 18-month fight with cancer.
This is so sad, so sad, actually I never felt this sad by the death of someone that I actually don't know.
I can say without any doubt that, Bowie is the most influential artist of all time. No one can ever be compared with him, he was high above anyone else, since he was young until the day of his dead.

Bowie released in last album "Blackstar" last friday and, magically, he released also a farewell song, Lazarus, that is a statement about his own death. What a vision.

Listening to Lazarus now is a strange experience... Really sad one, but also amazing one.

Almost all of my favourite artists sent some words about him.

Personally, some of his songs really mean a lot to me. If I would choose two songs, I can say that "Heroes" was some kind of a Shield song for a very special relationship I had and "Where Are We Now?" was the most uplifting experience I had. I was travelling to Slovakia on the next day that it was released, I bought The Times, that had a big article about him and I was in London airport for hours, listening to the song on repeat.

David Bowie, you will be forever with us.

David Bowie, The Blackstar

Can an artist be more interesting than David Bowie? Really difficult to answer, and, for me, the correct answer is no.
We all know who Bowie is and what he did (and still does) to music, and how many times his identity changed. Through all the changes, only one thing never changed:the high quality of Bowie's music.

And again, with 68 years old, after the most extraordinary come back of all music history, he releases a great single. It's not his best work (for me) but, he remains very powerfully interesting.
It's not a catchy song, it's not a typical single (it's a 10 minutes track) but it is fantastic.

Blackstar is a mix of different sounds, different instruments and a it is a really dark tune, which completes the lyrics and the melody very well. It's a little bit insane too and has a very peaceful and calm part, something like the moment when you leave the darkness behind, to embrace the heaven, but then you fall again to the dark side.
Oh well, it's fantastic, sounds like something that came from a God, or a superior soul.
Actually, I think that this "title" is the one that fits better to Bowie. Dylan is a legend, Lennon was a revolutionary, McCartney the successful, Hendrix the genious, Elvis the king, and Bowie the God.

The video fits the crazy part of the song very well.
In two days we will have the new album.

New Year Resolutions

Some people need a wish to start the new year, other to make 2 or 3 goals to achieve a healthier life.
I was listening to some Manic Street Preachers songs this January and was thinking that "Everything Must Go" is probably one of the best songs to start a new year.
Just let the previous year go, let everything go, and let the new year flow naturally, without keeping you stuck to yesterday's problems.

"I look to the future it makes me cry but it seems too real to tell you why, freed from the century with nothing but memory, memory. And I just hope that you can forgive us but everything must go"

Happy New Year!

10 Not-Famous Great Songs For The Morning

Listening to music while going to work or to school is something vital, but, as you agree, there are some songs that lift your spirit up more than others, so, let's say happy songs for the morning, to help you to face the terrible day that is coming.
There are a lot of great examples, famous happy pop songs, but I picked 10 non-famous songs to be a different selection.
And, what I mean for "not-famous songs", are songs that are not hit singles or worldwide success.
So, take a quick listen to these songs that lift me up in the morning:

1 - Suede - Sound Of The Streets
Well, I am a fanatic, so I had to start with Suede. So, for a sunny morning, when you are walking in the streets of your own city, nothing better than incorporate Sadie, a girl that knows the sound of the streets of London. Amazing b-side from the Coming Up era with one of the best Oakes' solos ever.


2 - Johnny Marr - The Crack Up
Found this one recently. A song from Marr's debut solo album, The Messenger. Something typical for the ex-Smiths musician, fast guitar riffs, and a "bad-ass" way of singing the chorus, something like if you were walking with long steps without giving a shit to anybody else around you.


3- The Horrors - Primary Colors
This is the song that gives the title of their second LP, the first to be acclaimed worldwide.  Fast song, with a fantastic guitar intro. When I start to listen to it I just want to move my arms all around like a monkey. Simply great!


4 - Patrick Duff - Wake Up Richard
This song was my alarm clock for a long time. So happy, simple and pure. The first lines of the song are "Wake up Richard, it's your birthday, let's go dancing, there's a place I know where the bright lights are always shinning we'll go flying over Tokyo". Isn't that amazing? Just live your life happy and be free!


5 - George Harrison - If Not For You
George's version of Bob Dylan's track is so sunny and beautiful that just brings peaceful and lovely thoughts to your mind. A classic!


6 - John Lennon - Crippled Inside
The most upbeated song from the "Imagine" album. The intro and the slide guitar really gives a joyful feeling to the entire song. Also, the piano solo is incredibly funny.


7 - The Whip - Keep Or Delete
The opening track of their second album, this is more a electronic song, and the most different from this list. What really gives me energy in this song is the way it grows and grows during the 4 minutes. As it flows, it gets more and more intense and complexed.


8 - Violent Femmes - Dance Motherfucker Dance
Well, I guess the titles says it all. Pure energy.


9 - Morrissey - America Is Not The World
Although this could be a sad song, I think that the way Morrissey sings it, almost without interruptions, and the connection with the acoustic and electric guitar, really makes it a sunny song, with good vibrations. One of my favourite Moz's songs


10 - Devendra Banhart - Carmensita
Ok, this is the only song on the list that is actually a single, but I think is not a worldwide hit, as Devendra Banhart is not a very very popular artist (unfortunately). But, listening to this song, it is so funny, positive, free and sunny that it had so be here. Pure happiness! And you can even find Natalie Portman on the video

Cat Empire Live At Hard Club

Last Friday I went to see The Cat Empire live at Hard Club in Porto.
The Hard Club is some kind of a small alternative place where you can find at the same time great concerts as well as "all night long" parties. So, it was the perfect place to see a band like the Australian one.
The atmosphere was great, it wasn't full but it was with enough people.
And the band really made a connection with the crowd (as they always do). They played all their famous songs, some of the new album and gave a lot of outstanding improvisation moments. Really, the time when the 3 wind instruments were competing was just just just incredible.
Best moments for me were How To Explain, Brighter Than Gold, Still Young, The Chariot and obviously, the mythical Wine Song. I made a fault, and went to see the setlist of their last concerts, which didn't include The Wine Song, so, I really wasn't expecting it, which was even greater when they played it.
The concert was long, intense and incredible enjoyable, you could stay the 2 hours just dancing and dancing. They do really look (and probably are) a bunch of really nice and happy guys that are enjoying each moment as we are.
I just bought the ticket on the same afternoon of the concert, and I wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't go. Won't miss them next time and it's one of those concert that, even if you don't know the band very well, you'll enjoy it to death! If you doubt my words go and check a live performance of them on YouTube!

Bowie's Back Again!

The legendary David Bowie will return with a new album called "Blackstar".
The album will be launched on the 8 of January, the same day of his 69th anniversary, and will contain 7 tracks separated in 45 minutes.
The lead single will have the name title as the album and will be released on the 19 of November. According with The Times, it's a 10-minute song.
More news to follow soon!
There's a preview available here!

Berlin

Another post of a "new" not world-wide famous artist.
Mark Fernyhough is a musician and photographer, who passed the last years in the company of great artists. One of them, was Suede, he was the support act of them in some shows.
And you can understand why, his tunes are very "Suedey" for sure.
Take a listen to Mark's fantastic debut single Berlin.
Really curious to listen something more of him.

Agent "Orange" Side Grinder

I discovered a new band (for me) through a fantastic Portuguese local radio program called "Sem Regras" (Withouth Rules). Actually, I did discovered 3 amazing bands on only one broadcast, which was incredible.

One of them was Agent Side Grinder, a Swedish electro/industrial band.

Their new single "This Is Us" was passing and I enjoyed it so much that later I listened to their whole new album "Alkimia".

The album consists of 8 great songs, most of them with more or less the same direction and, by coincidence, the song that guided me to them, is the one that is less fitted to the album in my opinion. 

"This Is Us" is a pop/rock electric single, that kinda reminds me of Joy Division or Bauhaus. The song is great, with a wonderful and catchy chorus and amazing keyboard riffs, maybe my favourite.

However, when I listened to the other songs, another band came to my mind, one of my all-time favourite acts, Depeche Mode. I know it's unfair to compare bands, but this case was special, because the English band really looks like a older brother of the Swede.

Kristoffer Grip's (the singer) voice has a very similar tone to Dave Gahan from the 80's and the instrumental section also has a big connection. Some keyboard riffs could easily fit in some of DM's songs from A Broken Frame or Construction Time Again. Also, Agent Side Grinder use a lot of sound samples. Take a close listen to "Giant Falls" (that middle section) and "For The Young" and, if you are a Mode's fan, you'll understand what I'm saying. Basically, imagine that Depeche Mode had frozen in the 80's, before their turned more guitar-orientated (so, before Violator), and they would unfroze today in the XXI century. I think they would be similar to ASG.

I don't you to keep the idea that Agent Side Grinder is a copy of Depeche Mode or too much 80's oriented, they are not, and I can't really say that, because I only know their new album. To reduce a great album to a Gore/Gahan article would be truly unfair (but that's my bad, I'm a big big DM fan). And, I can admit, they do have a much powerful and cooler bass on their recording.

Alkimia is a short and powerful record, dark and mystic, that can keep your attention with its variety of sounds and good quality song-writing. Take a listen to them, I'm sure you'll enjoy. Personal favourites are "Into The Wild", "This Is Us" and "For The Young".

Also, the video for "This Is Us" is beautiful.

Suede To Release Their Best Yet?

Suede are going to release their brand new album "Night Thoughts" on the 22 of January.
The album will be accompanied by a full film directed by Roger Sargent.
As we can see, it will be an innovative release, something that Suede have never done in the past.
The first single Outsiders is already available on iTunes and can be listen on YouTube.

Until now, I listened, and re-listened to 6 songs: Outsiders (studio version), I Don't Know How To Reach You, Can't Giver Her What She Wants, Tightrope, What I'm Trying To Tell You and Pale Snow (all of them live)

These songs are creating in me, very high expectations, so high that I'm starting to think that Suede can be in the process of releasing their best album so far!
My favourite album is Coming Up, and then we have the "fans-favourite" Dog Man Star but, I think that, for what we saw, Night Thoughts has the potential to overcome them.
Bloodsports was a perfect come back, but as Brett Anderson said, it was a little bit squeezed into 10 three-minute songs, not giving them the space to explore deeper the songs. This space may have emerged now.

The single, Outsiders, is brilliant, the chorus is so beautiful, reminds me of glorious Coming Up days, we have a solo, a instrumental outro, Brett's voice is ageing very well and his falsetto sounds like it was 20 years ago.
What's I'm Trying To Tell You is in the same style as Outsiders, great fast rock track, with an amazing guitar riff during the verses.
Pale Snow is very introspective, Can't Giver Her What She Wants is very dramatic (which is great) and Tightrope sounds brilliant, although I'm expecting a much more complex and full studio version in contrast with the acoustic performances that it had live.

And then, the main song that is creating in me this feeling is I Don't Know How To Reach You. I was lucky enough to be part of the audience when it was first played.
The performance of it during the Glastonbury Festival is enormous. The lyrics are beautiful, the guitar riff after the chorus is magical, the melody is dramatic and emotional and there's an ending coda on the end of the song with powerful guitars and screams. And I'm hoping that the studio version will be even better.

I can't wait for the release of the album, until then, I'll listen this tracks and wait for the concert on London's Roundhouse in November which I'll be attending!

A Song From Norway

Susanne Sundfør first cough my attention when she provided the vocals for a song by Röyksopp called "Running To The Sea" (and they also played together Ice Machine by Depeche Mode, maybe that was, in fact, the reason why I saw them together in first place). The song is great, with a melancholic dance vibe. Susanne's voice is spectacular, something really attracts me to her voice, obviously she sings very good, but there's something in her timbre quite spectacular, maybe it's the way she flies very easily from the low to the high tones.

So, I started to search a little bit about her. Her first singles didn't entered to my head so easily as Running To The Sea did (although her single "White Foxes" is a great great moment) but, I recently listened to the album "Ten Love Songs", released this year. And it is fantastic!
Her vocals are really amazing, what a voice really, and her pop / electronic songs really flow easily into your mind. Personal favourites for now are "Accelerate" and "Memorial" (a ten minutes epic song) but the rest of the songs are very good. I would describe "Slowly" as a lost song from the early catalogue of Depeche Mode, adapted to 2015.

Well, I wouldn't say it is a revolutionary record, something that you really need to listen right now, but it is, without any doubt, a very fresh and modern record. Lyrically is normal, simple, as the album's title says they are love poems. But again, I really like her voice.
It has a really good connection with 80's electronic music and today's pop and rock music.

And she is from Norway! Sometimes I get a little bit upset about British media, always the same artists, always Blur, Oasis and the mega famous american popstars, so it's great to open the horizons a little bit and try music from other European countries.

Luminous

Lately I was listening to the new, or last, Horrors' album.
I'm a fan of them, Primary Colours and Skying are amazing pieces of art.
Although, now, I'm not a big big fan of Luminous. I like the sound, very futuristic and personal but, in my view they lost something from the previous ones.
Faris Badwan's voice is not that as raspy as it used to be, now it's a lot more "sweeter", more poppy, and that's a big disadvantage, because part of the band's identity was his voice and his way of singing.
The synthesisers are awesome as always but the guitar is lacking a little bit, the riffs, you can't find things like "Do You Remember" here.
The best moment of Luminous is the lead single, "I See You". It's a great track. "So Now You Know" is also a great moment, "Jealous Sun" is super interesting and "Change Your Mind" it's a nice ballad. But I can't find a big connection with "Frist Day Of Spring", "In And Out Of Sight" or "Mine And Yours". Compare this album's final track "Sleepwalk" with "Ocean's Burning" from Skying and you'll see why I'm telling this.
I had the same problem with the previous albums, it took time for me to really enjoying them, so, maybe I'll change opinion soon but, I don't think it is as good as the expectation created.
Anyway, The Horrors are amazing and Luminous is great, but not as great as I expected.
Great bands always give you great expectations.