a Jigsaw lançam "No True Magic"

Há algum tempo que não falávamos de A Jigsaw mas por bons motivos.
A banda esteve em preparação do seu novo trabalho No True Magic.

Este trabalho baseia-se na expressão “willing suspension of disbelief”, do poeta e filósofo Samuel Taylor Coleridge que, na literatura, permite ao leitor a suspensão do julgamento da não-aceitação de uma determinada narrativa.
No entanto, os A Jigsaw vão recorrer a ela para encarar a mortalidade, a justificação da manutenção das nossas crenças aliviadas por essa inevitabilidade, fazendo uma comparação com a magia, quando o processo do truque é explicado deixa de ser magia para se tornar ilusionismo.
Até ao fim todos nós acreditamos na promessa de milagres – ou no milagre da imortalidade e No True Magic vai focar-se na aceitação dos termos da nossa mortalidade.

Nunca fugindo das suas raízes folk e blues, baseando-se na literatura e num disco com um conceito, neste caso “a imortalidade”.

No entanto, este disco conta com algumas novidades como, por exemplo, a cantora norte-americana Carla Torgerson que partilha assim a música Black Jewelled Moon.

Review: Daft Punk "Random Access Memories" (2013)

Daft Punk are THE pinnacle of the electronic music "around the world", agreeing with the name of one of their songs.

These mysterious and iconic band composed by the sophisticated French duo Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter are, finally, back!
After a (quite-long) hiatus - if you don't recall Daft Punk's last album was Human After All, released in 2005 and without counting with an adventurous trip through the soundtrack world with Tron: Legacy in 2010 - the band returns with Random Access Memories, which is, for sure, the most expected album of the year, or in Randall Roberts from LA Times words: "(...) no doubt be one of the most polarizing records of the year(...)".

The first thing that is extremely exciting with Daft Punk's Random Access Memories is the way they chose to announce and promote this record, following a gradual and exquisite promotional marketing - using resources like billboards, television adversiting, small teasers and a web series, that we would find somehow outdated but it worked for Daft Punk.
Daft Punk are old school, they don't really care about what people expect from them and they surely like to emphasize that.

"Doing it right, everybody will be dancing 
and we're feeling it right, everybody will be dancing 
and be doing right, everybody will be dancing 
and you're feeling all right, everybody will be dancing tonight"
from Doin' Right (feat. Panda Bear)

Random Access Memories, or RAM, shows that Daft Punk continues to be the masters of electronic, using more natural elements, bringing an unconventional and characteristic sound like powerful guitar lines, strong upbeat drums and surprisingly some wind instruments, like clarinets - just to mention some elements that are present on this record.
This "human" side contrasts with the "robotic" life that they tried to bright during the last years, especially with their "masks", performances and their synthesized voices.

This album is peculiar because it pays a beautiful tribute to the late 70's and early 80's of the music scene, particularly the sound from the North American artists, bringing up the sound and spirit of those times.
Another curiosity about RAM is the process of recording which involved, mostly, live instruments with live musicians, limiting the electronics to drum machines, modular synthesizers and vintage vocoders.

The amount of collaborations for this record is really unique, counting with Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, Panda Bear, Julian Casablancas, Giorgio Moroder, Todd Edwards, just to name a few.

One of my favorite things about this record is its consistency along more than 70 minutes. We can experience so many different sensations along the way.
From a melodramatic (in the best possible meaning of this word), and cheesy, The Game of Love, to the curious Within or even the lead single, and probably the most animated song from the record, Get Lucky, we can feel a lot of emotions through out the record and that's really exciting - sometimes we get the most festive version of Daft Punk and, at some point, we are having a melodic memory. That's how talented Daft Punk are!
Without losing their sound and electronic spirit, they show how further and different the electronic music can be and that's the most exciting thing we can get from this RAM.

There are songs that have really blown my mind, thanks to their timeless transcendence like Lose Yourself To Dance with Pharrell Williams, with a touch of bugginess and freedom or Touch by the hands (and vocals) of the legendary singer-songwriter Paul Williams.

The transitions from track to track are just delicious - we can listen to elements of the following song but we only realise it when it ends because we get so caught up and lost in each song's memories.

Must-listen songs: Get Lucky, The Game of Love, Instant Crush and Doin' Right.

Concluding, whatever you think you know about electronic music - Daft Punk will break it. Random Access Memories re-designed, re-created their vision and explored a new perspective, mixing both past and future, creating a really involving, spiritual, vivid and most of all, a Daft Punk vision. With an innovating sound, a record with flaws ( but by flaws I mean a state of imperfection that brings a beautiful and constant aura to the entire RAM idea). And the idea in Daft Punk's Fragments of Time, couldn't be more clear than this:"I'll just keep playing back, this fragments of time".
Mostly and genuinely epic.

The robots are back for good, gladly!

Interview // With Anarchicks

Anarchicks get together in 2001 to make a revolution and os composed by Pris, aka Playgirl (vocals, bass and synth), Helena aka Synthetique Red (bass, synth and also sings), Catarina aka Katari (drummer) and Ana aka JD (guitar and bass).

With a self-produced EP Look What You Made Me Do and an album Really?!, released through the independent label Chifre, two of the punk rock girls from Anarchicks gave us an interview where they talk about their music, the hard part of being a girl rock band and plans for their future.
Check our previous about them here.

Check the interview below:

[Special thanks to Anarchicks, especially to Helena and Catarina for their time, joy and kindness, to Raquel Lains for everything and to Jorge Antunes]

Anarchicks - Restraining Order

Anarchicks get together in 2001 to make a revolution. The magic formula?! Four girls. They are:

• Pris, aka Playgirl (vocals, bass and synth), founder of the electronic project Press Play, played bass and synth in U-Clic and is currently parto f the Ilplaygirl project;
• Helena aka Synthetique Red who plays the bass, synth and also sings. She was the founder of Mediatic Slaves, and was also bassist/keyboardist of different projects and is currently part of After101 (a music electronic project);
• Catarina aka Katari, the drummer. Played in Act of Anger and Living Dead Act. Recently, collaborated with JESUS K & the sicksicksicks and is nowadays drummer and vocalist of CASAL VENTOSO.
• Ana aka JD, in guitar and bass, she was the founder member (as a drummer) of Random Notes, a Funk project, guitarist in Too Much To Touch and currently plays in a tribute band to The Beatles, Oh! Darling, as guitarrist and keyboardist.

Look What You Made Me Do was recorded by them and it was their very first EP. You can hear it here: http://chifre.org/project/anarchicks/ .

Restraining Order is the first music to be released as the first single of their first album – Really?! - to be released in the end of January by Chifre, an independent editor. It was recorded by Blacksheepstudios by Makoto Wagyu (Paus, If Lucy Fell) and Fábio Jevelim (Riding Pânico), and mixed by Pedro Chamorra (Voxels).

The single is available for free download in their page: http://chifre.org/anarchicks-restraining-order .

Following is a video of their live performance in Seixal:

From the Pop, Punk, Funk and a bit of Kuduro and Disco, these girls explore a bit of everything.

So far, the Anarchicks have 2 confirmed shows to take place at Vodafone Mexefest, in the 7th and 8th of December, in Vodafone Bus!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnarChicks

Friendly Fires, Live Those Days Tonight

Friendly Fires are an English trio from Hertfordshire, created in 2006 and composed by Ed Macfarlane, Jack Savidge and Edd Gibson.

They have two studio albums released Friendly Fires in 2008 and Pala in 2011 and Kompakt, Carl Craig and Prince as their biggest influences.

More details about the band here.

Pala was released on May 16th 2011, its name came from Aldous Huxley's final novel Island, telling the story of a journalist shipwrecked on an fiction Island, Pala, creating a utopian society.
The album's cover was chosen amoung the private collection of the Norwegian fashion photographer Sølve Sundsbø.

Live Those Days Tonight is the debut single was  first played on Zane Lowe's show on BBC Radio 1 on March 22, 2011. The single was later released on May 16, the same date has Pala's release.

The elements of this song are really funky, with a catchy samba rhythm mixed with synthesizered sounds and a bit of 80's pop. The combination might sound confusing but Friendly Fires really know how to make it work and incredibly well. I dare to compare Ed Mac's voice with Jamiroquai at some point turning everything more exciting.
Live Those Days Tonight is absolutely fresh and it will always surprise, you are always able to discover something new which is great!

"Face the ghost the keeps me on the ground
Take the best of what they talk about
In the cold outside we're waiting
To embrace the nights and pull it close
I'm gonna feel the love you had"

Modjo, Lady

Modjo was a French house/pop duo composed by the producer Romain Tranchart and the singer Yann Destagnol - also known as Yann Destal.

The members met each other in 1998. The first big result of their recording sessions was the hit Lady (Hear Me Tonight) that got very known in 2000. The song is really influenced by heavy pop and disco and features a sample from Chic's Soup For One.
Other successful songs were Chillin', What I Mean and No More Tears.

The duo has just release a self-titled album in September 2001.

After the release of No More Tears in 2002, the band decided to pursuit solo career.

They name Daft Punk, DJ Sneak and Ian Pooley has influences.

"Lady

I just feel like

I won't get you

Out of my mind

I feel loved

For the first time

And I know that it's true

I can tell by the look in your eyes"

Friendly Fires, Hurting

Friendly Fires are an English band, formed by Ed Macfarlane, Jack Savidge and Edd Gibson.

The band's name comes from a track taken from the English post-punk band Section 25's album Always Now, released in 1981.

Known for songs like Hawaiian Air, Paris and Blue Cassette, they are inspired by "lush shoegaze melodies" and "classic pop songwriting" naming as main inspiration Kompakt, Carl Craig and Prince.

Currently signed by XL Recordings, they've released 2 studio albums - Friendly Fires (2008) and Pala (2011) and three EPs - Photobooth (2006), Cross The Line (2007) and The Remix EP (2007).

Pala was released on May 16 2011 and charted at number 6 on the UK Albums Charts. The album names comes from Aldous Huxley novel Island - telling the story of a journalist shipwrecked on an fiction Island, Pala.
Hurting is the last released single from the album, confirmed on October 10, 2011.

"I can feel in my body
Standin' tall I make the moves

With the sun kissing my face
There's no way that I can lose"

David Guetta (ft Usher) - Without You

Everyone that usually goes to discos knows this song. It's the recent single by the French DJ, David Guetta featuring Usher.

The song was released as the 3th single from David Guetta's fifth studio album, Nothing But The Beat, last month.

It was written by Usher, Taio Cruz, Rico Love, Guetta, Giorgio Tuinfort, Frédéric Riesterer, and it was produced by Guetta, Tuinfort, Riesterer and Black Raw.

Guetta said in an interview for MTV: "Some of the record is a proper ballad, and then it goes to that crazy dance beat. It's perfect for him, because he's famous for his ballads. And he's also now famous for those big club records that he comes with. He's an amazing dancer, so I felt like he was the artist that I needed." - answering the question why he chose Usher for this song.

Insteresting fact: The music video was filmed at the end of July in Portugal, I believe it was at Sudoest TMN (one of the most known summer festivals in Portugal). The video shows cuts of different parties in Thailand, the United States, Brazil and South Africa, etc.


I recogn that this is not the type of music I usually hear or like. But I went for the very first time to a disco this weekend and the DJ played this song (it was the only one I liked to be sincere).
Since that time the song is in my head ALL THE TIME. Mainly because of the rithm, but also because of the lyrics. They may be cliché but they represent the truth.

I can't quit now, this can't be right

I can't take one more sleepless night

Without you

Without you

I won't soar, I won't climb

If you're not here, I'm paralyzed

Without you

Without you

I can't look, I'm so blind

I lost my heart, I lost my mind

Without you

Without you

1 per week - Queen live @ Wembley Stadium, London , in 1986

This week Freddie Mercury would have been 65 years old. Therefore the choice for the band/artist to share with you wasn't difficult.
Considered by many one of the best male singers the industry of music has ever seen, although he always said he had none vocal training.

We are the champions was on of many songs Freddie wrote and has become an anthem for sporting victories.

And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand
Kicked in my face
But I've come through
And we mean I to go on and on and on and on
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting
'Till the end

He was definitely a champion

A.

Freddie Mercury, Living On My Own

Farrokh Bulsara, parsi born in Zanzibar, is better known for Freddie Mercury, the eternal Queen singer known for one of the most amazing and recognisable voices this world has ever seen.

In November 1991, the world received the news that this amazing performer had died of AIDS - disease confirmed by Freddie a day before his death, November 23.

Besides his successful career in the british band Queen, Freddie also had his solo career where for 2 different times Before Freddie's death - Mr. Bad Guy (1984), Barcelona (1988) album recorded with the opera singer Montserrat Caballé, which was Freddie's musical dream to singer with her and After Freddie's death - The Freddie Mercury Album (1992) and The Great Pretender (1992).

The song Living On My Own appears on three albums released the first Mr. Bad Guy released in 1984, then in 1992 on The Freddie Mercury Album released as a mix and on The Great Pretender released with the original version of the song.

The better known version is the mix released in 1993 by the No More Brothers.
Living On My Own video is a footage of Freddie Mercury's 39th birthday in 1985 in Munich.

"sometimes I feel nobody gives me no warning
find my head is always up in the clouds in a dream world
It's not easy living on my own"

themed week // Justin Timberlake, What Goes Around... Comes Around

Justin Timberlake started on Mickey Mouse Club where he hosted with the also known Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera but his fame increase when he took part of the boys band N'Sync.

Justin published two records Justified in 2002 with songs like Cry Me A River or Rock Your Body, and FutureSex/LoveSounds in 2006, where What Goes Around... Comes Around is taken from.

First the idea for FutureSex/LoveSounds was to be a double album where the first CD "FutureSex" would be all about songs for the dancefloor and the second part "LoveSounds" would be all about romantic songs, soon the idea was erased and was all compiled into one CD.

What Goes Around... Comes Around is a very deep song, it's a song about an unforgivable betrayal from a ex-girlfriend. Unlike the similar song "Cry Me A River", this song is not about his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears but rumors say it's about Timberlake's friend Trace Ayala.
The song has two parts "What Goes Around..." it's the part where Justin regrets how badly his ex-girlfriend hurt him and "Goes Around" is about how karma surprised his ex-girlfriend, because now her new boyfriend is treating her the way she treated Justin on the first part of the song.

"Is this the way it's really going down?

Is this how we say goodbye?

Should've known better when you came around

That you were gonna make me cry

It's breaking my heart to watch you run around"

Justin Timberlake, Sexy Back

Yeah!
I really like Justin Timberlake but I never remember to talk about him.

He has this energy, this flow that I really enjoy. His voice is so damn sexy it sticks to our mind like glue and he is such an amazing vivant, actor but for sure much better singer!

This is one of my favorite Justin's song, everytime I start to listen the beat I just wanna dance like hell.
It's good to kill energy, so sexy and exploding.
And the video? Really really sexy folks!

Justin is very worth it, I really like his style.

Do you want to be happy? Feel your best energy on the row? 
"I'M BRINGING THE SEXY BACK"


"I'm bringing sexy back (yeah)
The other boys don't know how to act (yeah)
I think you're special, what's behind your back? (yeah)
So turn around and I'll pick up the slack (yeah)"

With all my love and positive energy,

P x