Jessie B

Just heard this on the radio (yes, I listen to the radio, Radio One infact), and I fell in love. It's bloody gorgeous and cool and makes the most of both vocalists' talent. I've never been that much of a fan of Katy B, or even Jessie Ware until I saw her at Beacons festival and then witnessed her exquisite performance on Jools Holland's Later, but this has changed things for me.

Enjoy.

Yeah, so, umm..

I was never Everything Everything's biggest fan when they broke on to the scene a while back. I remember the fuss over getting hold of one of their sold-out tickets in the Bodega, I remember Fearne Cotton and Zane Lowe's raving on about them, I remember they were/are a big deal to a lot of the hipsters I knew about town, mainly because they can be counted as Nottingham's very own cool-kid boast. However, I was never particularly taken with them - something about them, mainly the slightly high-pitched desperate vocal, put me off.
BUT having just heard this track, and subsequently checked out the video, there's something about the energy and vibrancy of Cough Cough that has caught my attention. Their forthcoming album's due out in January 2013 and if it's got anything similar to this then I reckon it'll be worth my while. Enjoy.

Who cares

Perfect summer vibe track.

Colour Fade

Worth a listen on this fine summers afternoon. Not listened to it all yet, but am intrigued and hopeful that it's worth my while. Something about the vocal reminds me of my beloved Bear Hands of Brooklyn. Particularly, Colour Fade's nice.

A Perfect Summer Wave

I've spent the entirety of this beautiful summers day listening to this gorgeously eclectic album while battling with a film essay. It's pretty much the only reason I've been keen to keep myself indoors all day scouring the internet for appropriate sources and critical insights without giving up.
Tesellate, Something Good, Ms and Bloodflood are my personal favourites, though as I've already made clear in previous posts, I'm a big alt-J fan. Enjoy.

Can't get to your heart

After a good week of listening to this every day (courtesy of the Old Maid's passing it on) I've decided I am totally in love with it, as I was with Castles In The Snow, a track whose lyrics are now tattooed on my back. Slick production aside, this is a real cracker. I cannot wait to request it on the dance floor of Rescue when the Old Maid returns!

Sweats

This kid might be sweaty as hell and have relatively questionable facial hair (and anyone who knows me knows that I rarely question a man's facial hair), but he's fucking cool.

I used to love you because you were mine.

ideology

chasing something that no longer exists

Paris, tu me manques

This track, written and performed by a Parisian darling friend of mine, has caused me to miss the city of love terribly. I must return there soon.

SCREAMS

Is it bad that this level of band-related mania makes total sense to me? I boody love One Direction.

Thinkin' back to the days when your love was all that mattered

New musical crush courtesy of KEXP radio.

Baby, I'm not going anywhere

The Old Maid sent me this last night and it's bloody lovely. Enjoy.

Stunning.

Old flames burn slow. 

Fact.

laced.up

the nikes on my feet keep my cypher complete

I'm 'a always love you forever

I am so excited about seeing this all happen in the flesh and mess that will be Thursday night. 

...Best birthday gift ever? 

I'll let you know kids, 

I'll let you know.

You are handsome

Here as some of HTGAOML's Loyal Minder's ultimate tricks and tips... 

Learn these ancient codes of love and go get 'em girls!

Loving memory

To love an image means finding without knowing it, a new metaphor for an old love, the love for a moth. As soon as one loves with all ones soul that reality is a memory.

- Gaston Bachelard

Naked

Towers

Both this song and its accompanying video are simply lovely. There are no other words. Enjoy.

Bon Iver - Towers (Official Music Video) from Bon Iver on Vimeo.

Sealion Woman

After reading an interesting interview/article about Fiest in UNCUT magazine this weekend, I've been continually brought back to one of my favourite ever Later Live with Jools Holland performances. Not only does the article follow up the critical responses to Fiest's most recent album, Metals (released in September 2011), it depicts the ever changing persona and career of one of Canada's finest musicians. The below performance is divine, and for me at least, tops the likes of James Blake, MGMT, Bloc Party, Lykke Li, Lissie and Bon Iver, all of whom I loved on Holland's show.

Enjoy kids, enjoy...

..

This Is My Home from Mark on Vimeo.

This is for Matilda

"So Matilda's strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone." 

 

- Roald Dahl, Matilda

Your Oldest Fears

Roots

I was asked to watch this as part of my prep for a film seminar, it's darkly, hauntingly beautiful.
As is Root's music, for which this short film was made.

Babygirl, boomboom.

So many memories...

At night

At night I feast on dreams.
I feast on dreams at night.
At night I feast on dreams.
I feast on dreams at night.

And at night, 

at night I feast on screams.

I've been hit

Time for a bit of good old nostalgia. 
My love for We Are Scientists (especially Keith Murray) will never waiver, I adore them. And I love everything about this song, and always will.

Once upon a time, three whole years ago to be precise, I went to see Dylan Moran perform his What It Is show in Birmingham's Alexandre Theatre with a long since passed Valentine/Birthday Boy. We both loved the entire show, and I still remember this part as one of my favourites.


Enjoy, and Happy Valentines day y'all.

Be my Valentine

The Old Maid sent this to me, her Loyal Minder, this morning. Too much love in the cosmic space between my drafty kitchen and her cosy Budapest flat.
Have a happy day kids.

One Love

Just watched the first half of this. Such a treat. The rest is saved for tomorrow's Valentines night when I'm all on my lonesome. 
How the Loyal Minder loves her sexy children...

Legacies

I am so excited about this, words cannot even express.

I've been lookin', I've been searchin'

This song was the reason I fell back in love with Whitney Houston (overlooking her bizarre and somewhat worrying Xfactor performance way back when). I am saddened to know she's no longer going to be around to release such tremendous pop tunes and dazzle us with her fabulous outfits and hair-dos. Gutted.

Howling Forever

If any song deserves the honour of being HTGAOML's 1000th blog post, it is this one.
Especially as The Loyal Minder misses her Old Maid as much as she does. 
Turn it up loud, dancing wildly, head bang until it hurts, and remember those who matter most.

Pals Plus

I watched this the other night when having a girly evening in with The Mother, The Cat and a ton of really yummy curry. It was fucking hilarious, to say the least. I'm now even more madly in love with both of them.
The Mother and I are going to send it (the DVD, not The Cat or the curry) in a care package, along with some limited edition Butterscotch Vaseline, to The Little Sister at uni. Lucky mite.

Buda-f****ng-Best

So The Old Maid now lives in Budapest with her replacement Loyal Minder, as I'm still stuck in England battling with essays. To say I'm jealous doesn't even touch on it right now.

Anyway, after various reports back home filling me in on flats and uni, the Old Maid has informed me of quite how well received HTGAOML is in Hungary.

Thanks guys!

You don't know-oh-oh

I just can't help myself. One Direction make my life better. I watched the above numbers back four times last night, much to the disgust of my mother and the cat. I squealed, squawked, squirmed, shook and screamed - they're so fucking amazing, and I'm such a rampant fan girl that I cannot even put it in to words. Time to go flick through my OD calendar again and try to calm down...

I would still be on my feet

My love for this song has once again be rekindled. It takes me right back to Paris and Penny and Lainne's fateful night at La Cigalle where we met the beautiful-Elvis-Costello-playing-Sebastien, as well as Mr Blake himself. How this video, featuring the lovely Rebecca Hall, has evaded my attentions until today is beyond me, but I'll say this much - I fucking love it.

L-U-V, AHEM, NEVER?

She had to go and do it, didn't she? Ruin one of the most credible and fabulous music artists we have around today. Why M.I.A. decided to join in on this freakishly put together shambles will forever be beyond me (watch this space for the inevitable interview/press statement from the London-born-and-bred "super-star" and my attempts to unpick its meaning). A friend posted on facebook that "seeing M.I.A. dance around with pom poms  shouting L-U-V MADONNA was deeply, deeply unnerving" - to say the least, right?
Also, I don't really get why our decade spanning "super-star" Madge herself felt the need to presumably poke fun at her rampant baby obsession - is that a joke baby bump I can see? No doubt she looks incredible (at least until she takes her coat off and we are witnesses to those terrifying legs and that forever spread crotch) and it's a catchy, if infuriating, track - but to ruin first M.I.A. almost beyond repair, and then use Minaj to all the wrong purposes, is shameful and looks pretty pathetic in the long run. 
What a mess, what a mess, what a mess.

So freakin' classy.

Hjálmar are my new favourite thing.
Wow.

There is nothing more, Sir, than to love and be loved

This has to be one of the best book-to-screen adaptations I've ever seen. I spent the majority of last night crying over it, and it's not left my head for a minute today. Too, too painfully lovely. And beautifully shot and played. Watch the first part here, and the second here.

Also, I'm madly, irreparably in love with Eddie Redmayne. And Clemence Poesy.

You've got to try a little harder

You're the come back kid.

What the Feral Child said to me, part one

Momentary pleasures are so 2011.

And she needs you

Heard this earlier on Zane Lowe and still reckon I prefer Fitzpleasure, as previously blogged, enjoy kids, enjoy...

Forlorn

Dear dear me, the Loyal Minder no longer has her Old Maid close at hand to care for, encourage, scold, and clean up around. The words forlorn, heartbroken and dazed all come to mind. 





Bonne chance a Budapest Old Maid of all mine own!

The Old Maid Is Leaving Soon

... Too soon.

I don't mind doin' it for the kids...

My my, I totally forgot how amazingly well Robbie Williams could rap. And Kylie, oh Kylie...

Cry on my own shoulder

A few weeks ago I saw these girls playing at The Free Love Club in Birmingham's Island Bar and was blown away. Worth making it out to see them live, it's an entirely unique and wholly captivating experience. Perfect.

"You're so l0-fi baby" "No, I'm just way cooler than you" - 15 Commandments for an Adequate Night on the Tiles - THE LAST ONE (no tears please)

1) Never ever dance to the Cribs.
2) Spanx all the way.
3) Ensure you have a totalitarian dictatorship over the DJ.
4) Less is more (in every sense).
5) Kiss as many children as possible.
6) Help the sisters no matter what.
7) Cry on the bar man.
8) Never mix wine colours.
9) Do not cry.
10) Shading collar bones is not a crime.
11) 2006 is a dirty word.
12) As is "lo-fi".
13) Always dry thighs.
14) A maximum of 20% of the night can be spent in the toilets. 
15) Bros before hoes.

Shapeless

This track has been in my head all day long.

Grimey

Just came across this on Pitchfork and am blown away. It's just so sweet, subtle and lovely. Enjoy.

This war is almost won

So here's Josh Record for The Mahogany Sessions - there is something about the tone of his voice and the way his lyrics lilt out of his mouth that I simply adore.

I hear what they say

So it looks like Brooklyn-based Frankie Rose is batting aboiut once again with a forthcoming album, titled Interstellar, out soon. Enjoy... (Le Chev's remix of "Know Me" is particularly good).

That was love, and it's an ache I still remember

So this is pretty similar to Gotye's original version, but I like it all the same. Also, they're generally a lot more attractive to look at.

I'm serious

It's enough

It's too much



The XX seem to be taking it a lot more slowly with this demo, Open Eyes, which is apparently from their forthcoming album which is expected to be released later this year. It's just incredibly sensual music, well paced and expertly layered - not that I expect anything less from the likes of one of my favourite all time live acts. Enjoy.

Crack Yr Skull

Get down there on Friday, kids. It's going to be a big night.

Pleasurefitz

Next big thing I reckon. Alt-J are supporting Ghostpoet, Big Deal and Wild Beasts over the next few months. Get down there and check them out, reckon they're going to be an incredible experience when witnessed live.

Fuck off Birdy

This is entirely shit and has ruined one of my favourite songs of all time. Birdy doesn't even have that "beautiful" a voice, I don't care that she's only fifteen, it ain't all that.
I am highly disappointed - she's now inflicted her average "just nice" self upon Phoenix, as well as Bon Iver. She can fuck right off.

Dirt

Flowers for the one you love

Flowers for the lost at sea.

Go for a ride

" It's 2-4-1, that means we can kiss children, right??!" - 15 Commandments for an Adequate Night on the Tiles

1) NO recycling.
2) Challenge 21 - Must ID all potential targets who aesthetically or mentally appear to be under 21 years of age. 
3) Don't waste a second of the night on banal conversation, even if in pursuit of a cigarette.
4) Never light one's own cigarette.
5) Kiss the bar man.
6) Remember to use the flash.
7) No thumbs on the lens.
8) Must spend a minimum of 56% of the night dancing to a carefully selected and requested playlist.
9) Never, under any circumstances give your real name.
10) Never, under any circumstances propose threesomes to formerly fat gentlemen.
11) Loyal Minders wear black.
12) Old Maids wear beige.
13) Harass the DJ until he cries, or just flirt with him outrageously until he cries.
14) Gun fingers are not a crime.
15) If you're sick on someone's shoes, own up.

Chilli Bites

These are fucking amazing. 

Tearing up

I'm tearing up, across the page.
I can see you see it, across my face.
I'm tearing up, through this age.
You know you can see me, see my cage.


I'm tearing up, across the page.
We all can see it, upon your face.
I'm tearing up, out the cage.
You're in here with me, in my age.

Used to know

I remember being entirely enchanted by this track months ago and only just rediscovered it as Edith Bowman played it on the radio. Gorgeous.

Hanna

I just watched this with my parents. It's now one of my favourite films. 
Entirely mesmerizing cast, entirely captivating story. 
Go on, watch it.

Steamed

Alyssa Monks' work is simply stunning. And it makes me want to spend all day in the shower.

Islands

City High

I'm experiencing some hard-hitting flashbacks to singing this obsessively every break time for at least a year with my un-madeup school friends. Bastille know how to twist the shit out of childhood memories...

Shameless

Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, ultimate. Date night is set for The Old Maid and her Loyal Minder...

Reckless Abandon

This is the best version of this track I've ever come across. Everything about it is wonderfully lovely and sweet. 

Sleepy Head

Perfect thing to wake up from a nap from. And they're having so much fun making these noises. I've fallen in love all over again.

Cosmic

That harp is just too fucking lovely not to post this.

Tweetin', #2

So HTGAOML now has its very own twitter. Read me. Follow me. 
Boom.

Star Girl

"Did you see her?"
That was the first thing Kevin said to me on the first day of school, eleventh grade. We were waiting for the bell to ring.
"See who?" I said.
"Hah!" He craned his neck, scanning the mob. He had witnessed something remarkable; it showed on his face. He grinned, still scanning. "You'll know."

- Jerry Spinelli, Star Girl, p. 9

Oh, Lady

Dave and Will are the Old Maid and her Loyal Minder's heroes. Thanks for the fags boys.

The Old Maid's Collective Collection of Other's Words

Most Favourite:
Floodlights
Silhouette
Aloof
Melancholic
Beam
Emerald
Serendipity
Lunar
Cushion
Moustache
Road Kill




Least Favourite:
Squirt
Moist
Banter
Burp
Maggot
Prune
Froth
Jiggle
Squid

When the sky would ring like bronze

The drive home was uneventful. I left the car is Stover's drive-way. The rear seat was covered with blood. There was blood on the steering wheel, more blood on the dashboard and door handles. The scientific study of cultural behaviour and development of man. Anthropology.
I went upstairs and watched the kids a while. All asleep, fumbling through their dreams, eyes rapidly moving beneath closed lids. I got into bed next to Babette, fully dressed except for my shoes, somehow knowing she wouldn't think it strange. But my mind kept racing, I couldn't sleep. After a while I went down to the kitchen to sit with a cup of coffee, feel the pain in my wrist, the heightened pulse.
There was nothing to do but wait for the next sunset, when the sky would ring like bronze.

- Don DeLillo; White Noise; pp. 320-321

Landscape of Pain

In the landscape of pain, only three responses of real interest are possible; violent action, the probe of "ideas", and the transcendence of sudden, arbitrary, romantic love.

- Susan Sontag (political activist); Words of Love

Don't stop

This is too good to be true. So uplifting it's almost tear-worthy.

It's like a spell, once you pop you just can't stop

Rainbow
Drops are
Amazing.

Confession

So twitter tells me that Will.i.am and Justin Bieber are soon going to be collaborating. Is it a terrible thing to confess that I'm somewhat excited?

One day, I hope to make you smile again.

Midnight's City

Too good not to.

You are the hole in my head

You are the space in my bed.



I know I probably shouldn't admit this, "sellout" and all, but I think I quite like this track...

Dreamin'

God, today I want so much to just fuck off to America and be the French-speaking mess that is Penny Lainne for the rest of my whisky-soaked days.