Warpaint live at HMV Forum, Kentish Town

Two things stand out from Warpaint’s gig in Kentish Town last night: they can play- they can really play and they are cool, achingly cool. This four girl group from LA have such a command over their instruments and vocals that they could play a rendition of a nursery rhyme in their own unique style and it would sound amazing. The ease and often nonchalant attitude with which they play have you hanging off their every chord and lyric.

Warpaint are not a new band, they have been around since 2004 but the fact they haven’t rushed through album after album in the last 6 years means that each and every track on their debut EP “Exquisite Corpse” and album “The Fool” is a superbly crafted gem with thought provoking lyrics and tight harmonies. They are finally breaking the music scene over here and for this I am extremely thankful – they are what has been missing from my music collection.

Last night they treated the audience to an hour and a half of tracks from the EP and album. I once heard their music described as experimental art house rock which doesn’t immediately conjure up images of an audience going wild but the way they control the stage and excite you as a listener meant that we weren’t standing still for long. When they played their track “Undertow” and the audience sang along – it cemented Warpaint as a band that wouldn’t be out of place filling bigger venues in the near future.

The set started with relatively unknown track Jubilee and moved on to the upbeat Bees, Undertow, Composure through to haunting tracks Majesty and Set Your Arms Down. The main set finished on Beetles which concluded with an epic outro that provided a platform for the band to show off their talents. As a group they just fit together so well and spur each other on, creating an energy that charges the whole room.

Each member of the band was able to showcase their talents at various points. Jenny Lee Lindberg’s bass playing shines through on every track as she drives each song with ease and experience. Emily Kokal’s pitch perfect vocals shone through particularly when she took to the stage on her own during the encore and sang the spine tingling “Baby”. A particular highlight for me was the extended version of “Elephants”, again during the encore, which showcased Theresa Wayman’s outstanding guitar prowess and proved what a force drummer Stella Mogwaza is – no one wanted the set to end.

My only disappointment was that they didn’t have time to play every single song but this is because I am a self confessed fanatic. However I can’t imagine that there were many dissatisfied audience members last night – not if the atmosphere, crowd appreciation and woman dancing next to me were anything to go by.

Warpaint are playing the festival circuit this summer and if you get a chance to see them play then do it. You won’t be disappointed.

Setlist:
Jubilee
Stars
Bees
Undertow
Composure
Majesty
Warpaint
Set Your Arms Down
Beetles

Encore:
Baby
Elephants

Warpaint Elephants Live on Jools Holland


Undertow video:

Single of the week: Toddla T - "Take It Back"

It's not often that I get excited about a dance record - I find a lot of this kind of music repetitive and uninspiring but when I do hear the occasional gem I get VERY excited and this track is just that. Take it Back is the latest offering from DJ and producer Toddla T who has teamed up with 90s popstar Shola Ama (remember her?!) to bring us a catchy summer dance treat.  I don't know if it's Ama's influence but this has a definite 90's dance music vibe to it - and it really works. Think Olive, Baby D, Robin S meets David Guetta but with Toddla T's own unique style.

The opening beats immediately inspire me to kick back and press repeat. The vocals are strong, the beats are catchy, the production tight and I will be surprised if this isn't part of the summer 2011 soundtrack - it really should be.

See for yourself here:

Fleet Foxes "Helplessness Blues"

Last week I bought the new Fleet Foxes Album - the eagerly anticipated follow up to their 2008 self titled debut. I absolutely LOVED their first album. I bought it on a whim after seeing an advert for it on TV and it became a firm favourite for tube and car journey's, dinner parties, background music, chilling out in my room music...

I was not disappointed when I popped their second album in to my cd player. As with the first one, it took a few listens but by the third play I was hooked. I was therefore astounded to read such varied reviews, many verging on the negative. So here is my take:

Helplessness Blues is a 12 track delight. The opening bars of track one 'Montezuma' set the tone for the rest of the album. This is a sweet and melodic tune and leads nicely in to a succession of harmonic, melodic beauty's with my highlights being Sim Sala Bim, The Cascades  and The Shrine/An Argument. The catchy Bedouin Dress in parts wouldn't be out of place on a Simon and Garfunkel album. Lorelai is a beautiful tune that really showcases their harmonic style. Towards the end of the album it mellows out even further, finishing on Grown Ocean which really makes you feel warm inside, as does most of this album to be honest.

This is perfect summers day music, in fact it's perfect in Autumn, Winter, Spring...well you get the idea, it's just, well, perfect.

Here is the audio for Helplessness Blues:



And just because I love it, White Winter Hymnal from their debut album:

Uh Her who?

A few months ago I was having dinner at a friends house and suddenly became aware of the background music. I asked who it was - "oh it's this band called Uh Huh Her - it's got that funny one off the L word in it". At this point I had not seen the programme (although I was swiftly lent the box sets) so I went home and googled the band and found a video to their song "Not a Love Song" - a beautifully crafted electro pop gem which was more than enough to reel me in to the charms of this US band. A bit more internet research led me to discover their 2007 album and their original ep and I have followed their career avidly ever since - a lucky move as I didn't have to wait long for them to come bouncing back on the scene this year with a new EP and promise of an LP in the summer. They are currently touring round America much to my impatience and I am eagerly awaiting some UK dates.

Their first album Common Reaction is a mix of addictive sing along tracks. Particular highlights for me are Explode - a moody guitar number, Dreamer - more of a ballad and Say So - an upbeat dancey number. Their new EP Black and Blue which is a taster for their long awaited second album is much darker but just as easy on the ear. The title track sounds good played really loud and the guitar riff on I've Had Enough is epic.

I imagine most of their UK following are L word fanatics who have followed the career of Leisha Hailey the bass and keyboard player very closely. Camilla Grey, vocals and keyboard/guitar is no stranger to the music scene, having been in another band and played keyboards for American Idol winner Adam Lambert on his recent tour. Together they create excellent electro pop records that wouldn't be out of place on a playlist for BBC 6 Music.  I would absolutely love to see them break the music scene over here.

Check them out below:

For newcomers to the charms of Uh Huh Her this is "Not a Love Song" from their first album Common Reaction: 




Their latest video "Black and Blue" from the current EP of the same name, highlights their shift to a heavier sound but still retaining that anthemic sound found on the first album.