Pernas de Alicate, Mosca (DJ Ride)

Pernas de Alicate estão sempre a inovar - isso é, um facto.

As realidades da música e imagem misturam-se de forma graciosa e chamam à atenção por serem tão particulares.

A verdade é que já conhecemos Mosca, a música de apresentação do projeto e que nos transportou para o mundo dos Pernas.
Esta é uma nova versão da música pelas mãos de um dos DJ's e produtores mais conceituados da atualidade que dá uma nova realidade a Mosca.
Com fortes inspirações no hip-hop, DJ Ride transforma Mosca num verdadeiro hit para o Verão que ainda está para vir.

O video conta, novamente, com a colaboração de Alec Strang, com quem já tinham colaborado em Barba.

Sempre inovadores, Carlos BB e Sara Feio continuarão a surpreender!

Review: You Can't Win, Charlie Brown "Diffraction/Refraction" (2014)

Sabes aqueles discos que não consegues parar de ouvir?

Isso vai acontecer com Diffraction/Refraction, editado através da Pataca Discos.

You Can't Win, Charlie Brown
Diffraction/Refraction
Jan 20, 2014

O ano começou agora mas tenho a certeza que este segundo disco dos You Can't Win, Charlie Brown me vai acompanhar todo o ano como um dos melhores discos de 2014.

Eles não fazem as coisas por menos.

Diffraction/Refraction é poderoso, envolvente e com uma melodia suave que fica nas nossas mentes durante dias.
É um disco que se supera a si próprio, supera o Chromatic mas não foge aos YCWCB.
Ora... É um disco que precisa de ser ouvido e assimilado porque de cada vez vamos descobrir qualquer coisa nova, diferente, peculiar, um pormenor que não tínhamos ouvido antes.

É um disco que precisa de tempo. Não por ser mau mas por ser extraordinariamente único. Precisa de ser ouvido e assimilado.
Diffraction/Refraction é, acima de tudo, uma companhia, uma presença constante. Um daqueles discos que serve em qualquer ocasião porque se enquadra sempre.

As melodias suaves, os instrumentos intensificados numa e noutra altura, a envolvência das vozes tão estranhamente exóticas - como só os YCWCB, conseguem fazer.

Já era uma apaixonada pelos sons, pela particularidade e especificidade do trabalho dos YCWCB.
Depois de Diffraction/Refraction, posso dizer que me voltei a apaixonar.

Os YCWCB dão-nos uma outra perspectiva das coisas, são capazes de nos mudar e de nos criar uma aura especial. Eles envolvem cada pessoa, cada instrumento, cada melodia e transformam-nos.
É um disco promissor que mostra a qualidade infinita desta banda e da sua capacidade de mutação e transformação sem nunca perderem a sua alma.

Diffraction/Refraction sai dia 20 de janeiro.

2014 ASPIRATIONS // Nylo, Cocaine Hearts

Nylo is an R&B from Los Angeles.

With a very magical aura and a romantic voice, Nylo is an artist to keep an eye on.
Her strong beats softly involve with an hypnotising vocals and keeps us surrounded by this energetic and inspiring upbeat future.

Her genre is very personal, it's a very grown-up R&B with glimpses of pop, at some point, that really highlights her phenomenal voice and her extraordinary ear for production. Every thing is meticulously put in place, bringing an amazing feeling to her music.

Cocaine Hearts is a warning about addiction, bringing a new meaning for the mundane meaning to the expression "live fast, die young"

Check more about Nylo at Facebook, Website or Spotify

also listen: Blurred Lines (Robin Thicke's cover) and Fool Me Once.

Pernas de Alicate, Mosca

Pernas de Alicate are very peculiar.
Actually, they are considered to be more than just another project. They mix two strong components - sound and image - and it's controlled by Carlos BB - who owns the drums - and Sara Feio - who brings images to life.

Another interesting feature in this project is the amount of incredible artists who joined this lovely ride.
Carlos BB is the owner of a Recording studio named Black Sheep Studios and that inspired him to invite several and distinctive musicians to work in this project.
The process was simple: Carlos BB would work with people who's work he liked and appreciate it. Most of them, he never worked before. And leads to a different approach, with each musician being invited to play their part above the recorded beat from BB, starting from the bottom - the drums. And Sara would bring her skills and transcript the songs into images.

On their first single Mosca, counts with Carlos BB (Riding Pânico, Men Eater) on drums, Miguel Nicolau (Memória de Peixe) on guitars, Alex Klimovitsky (Youthless) on vocals, Duarte Ornelas on keyboards and Xico Fernandes on percussion.

Mosca is different, strong and powerful. Such as Pernas de Alicate, bring a new and really fresh sonority reflecting one of music's most important message: UNION.

See original video here.

For further information about them, check their Facebook and Tumblr.

Review: Os Capitães da Areia in Cascais, Festas do Mar

Festas do Mar are a small festivities held in Cascais in order to promote the local tourism

Besides, many different activities during the day around the village, they also celebrate music, mostly Portuguese artists and counting, in some nights, with amazing firework shows above the Cascais Bay.

This year, this festivities are happening from August 16th to 25th.

Os Capitães da Areia were one of the confirmed bands to perform at Festas do Mar, on August 19th.
Personally, I'm a fan of Os Capitães da Areia so I had a huge expectation for this particular gig.
Fortunately, they surprised me.

Os Capitães da Areia at Festas do Mar

Os Capitães da Areia are a very particular band. They are young and somehow fresh, with easy-going lyrics and upbeat (not mentioning, really catchy) instrumentals and it is always exciting to see such young bands performing with such personality and capacity of entertaining an audience, not always easy to get.

Os Capitães da Areia at Festas do Mar

They did their job - they threw a party, celebrated the Portuguese music and particularly, Portugal (one of their favorite topics).

Forty minutes that flew mixed with a great sense of humour, energy and willing to give their best.
On a fun travel between their two records, O Verão Eterno d'Os Capitães da Areia and A Viagem dos Capitães da Areia abordo do Apolo 70, there was also a stop in new songs like É Tão Bom Fazer Splash.

Os Capitães da Areia at Festas do Mar

Their show ain't never boring... Sometimes I could listen to such different Portuguese references like GNR or Heróis do Mar and yet, they are able to be unique and innovative in their music and presentation.

Go check one of their shows. It's really worth it.

Photography by: Carolina Seabra

Alex D'Alva Teixeira, Homologação

Almost a year ago, we were presented to the new figure of the Portuguese music scene: Alex D'Alva Teixeira and his upbeat 3tempos.
In the summer, he released his debut EP Não é um projecto showing that he was coming to stay - for good!

Now, we are given Homologação, a cosmic kuduro that portraits what's coming with AD'AT first record.

Ben Monteiro, now one of the new members of D'Alva's world, said "We dedicated a lot of our time and effort into these songs, becoming impossible to see where does Alex end and where do I begin".
With Ben, Vitor Hugo Azevedo, Gonçalo de Almeida and Ricardo Ramos are now the musicians that follow Alex - the process was "natural, that came to leave a permanent mark in the songs that are coming".

This video is the perfect reflection of how natural their relation can be. Ben Monteiro is the director of this low-budged video - that was recorded with the challenge of using only a 10 € (a pair of lights, a chocolate and a coca-cola).

In a year, everything has changed, including Alex. About his own changes, he said "We've always assumed that we make Pop, in the most independent and different way, we expect that the people understand that our compromise is to produce good songs, independently of its category, and more than ever we have the perfect idea of where we want to go. We are D'Alva."

Dear Telephone, That Violin Lesson Sucks

Dear Telephone are a band created in 2010 and composed by Graciela Coelho (vocals), André Simão (vocals, bass and guitars), Paulo Araújo (sax and keyboards) and Pedro Oliveira (drums).

Their name comes from Peter Greenaway's 1976 short-film Dear Phone and represents their minimal sound, their "cheesy pocket dramas" and mostly their personality and difference.

The band's name is also a metaphor for "incommunication; in alignment with everyday life, it has both a cynical and dazzling look over popular culture" as available on their official biography.

They released their debut EP Birth of a Robot, through PAD, in March 2011.
This new EP is a fun ride through the poetry of the night and the colourful literary and cinematographic references that deeply influence their composition and music.

Their first album Taxi Ballad is going to be released next May 6th and the single in advance is That Violin Lesson Sucks.
This single is catchy, it takes you to an emotional journey.
With whispered voices, soft drums and sweet keyboards, this song puts you in a weird dream that you can't run away from but it doesn't mean that it makes you feel uncomfortable, actually it is really easy to embrace all the song's spirit and softness.

This is a really strong presentation song. It gives big prospects to the upcoming album.

"

Lana Del Rey, Heart Shaped-Box (Nirvana Cover)

Lana Del Rey is more than a youtube sensation.

At this point she has a "love-hate" relationship. But nowadays with 26 years old, Lana Del Rey has made a statement of herself proving how talented and good singer she is.

With a album released - Born To Die - on January 2012, she has released previously an album commonly referred as Nevada but with the name Lana Del Ray A.K.A. Lizzy Grant - through the label 5 Points Records on iTunes but shortly after it was removed because, according to Del Rey “I had signed to an independent label but they couldn’t fund the release of it.” 
She has now the rights of the record and plans to re-release it soon.

Along the way she has also released two EPs Kill Kill in 2008 and Lana Del Rey in 2012.

With huge hits like Video Games, Born To Die, Blue Jeans and her last National Anthem.

On late July, Lana Del Rey performed in Sidney one of the biggest Nirvana songs Heart-Shaped Box.
Heart-Shaped Box was the first single taken from In Utero, released in 1993 and really seems to be about Courtney Love - Kurt Cobain's wife.

Not imitating Cobain's vocals, Lana Del Rey did a great job interpreting the song on her own style giving this a more airy, cute, very similar to an epic anthem - at some point, almost sounding like a ballad.

Around the time, this cover was released, Courtney used Twitter to "explain" Lana Del Rey the song's meaning., quoting a part of the lyrics "Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb right back," to emphasize how the song was about her.
Those tweets were later deleted.

 

"She eyes me like a pisces when, I am weak

I've been locked inside your heart-shaped box for weeks

I've been drawn into your magnet tar pit trap

I wish I could leach your cancer when you turn black"

A longer version here.

Best Coast, Boyfriend

Best Coast are an American indie duo, formed by Bethany Cosentino (vocals and guitar) and Bobb Bruno (several instruments), somewhere in 2009.
On live performances, the band also counts with the drummer of Vivian Girls Ali Koehler.

They've released two studio records: Crazy For You in 2010 and The Only Place in 2012, both through the American label Mexican Summer and other local labels.

Bethany Cosentino featured a song with Kid Cudi and ROSTAM from Vampire Weekend, on a song All Summer for a Converse add, listen here.

Best Coast released in 2010, their debut album and had as single songs like When I'm With You and Our Deal.
Boyfriend was released has the second single, on October 2010 and was included on an NME's list being  #49 of the 150 tracks of the past 15 years.

On that online article, it's possible to read "classic songwriting tropes featuring an undercurrent of grunge, (...) ‘Boyfriend’ was part teenage longing and part womanly angst (“She’s prettier and skinnier, she got a college degree,”), (...) It was the timeless quality of the track that made it feel like it could have been made at any point during rock and roll’s 60-year history. "

The song's background is clearly about a girl who has a friend that she dreams to be her boyfriend but there's some other girl making it harder. It's so pure, so honest, so real. We can all relate with this story.
Who hasn't feel like this before?

"One day I'll make him mine

And we'll be together all the time

We'll sit and watch the sun rise

And gaze into each others eyes"



Sudoeste TMN 2012 Comment: I was lucky enough to see this band live. I went there without any kind of expectations and without realising I already knew their work. Nevertheless they did a solid show, interacting with the audience and clearly touched with the beautiful sunset. I'm curious about their future because they do have one.

Interview // With Os Capitães da Areia

This brightly talented young band gave us a very clarifying and nice interview where they reveal a bit more about their methods, their inspirations and opinions.

Created in 2009, the band is composed by Tiago, Vasco, Pedro and António.
You can know more about Os Capitães da Areia by visiting their Facebook page.
A very worth it interview...

FYMS: Hello! First of all, how are you?
Os Capitães da Areia:  Sleepy but very good, thank you!

FYMS: What’s the story behind the name “Os Capitães da Areia”?
OCA: Pedro was challenged to be Capitão Pedro and form a pop band with a pretty name. And that’s it. He searched the other members and became a “we”. Our only story that started in May 1^st 2009.

FYMS: You are described as “Beach, colourful and vertical stripes pants from Costa Nova create the imaginarium of the four boys from Lisbon”. Can you say that the “capitans” are your alter-egos? How did that idea came from?
OCA: That excerpt is part of a description made about not and not by us. Actually Os Capitães da Areia are Pedro, Tiago, António and Vasco. Those are our born-names. Not alter-egos. We are simply cute teenagers.

Os Capitães da Areia: Pedro, Tiago, António and Vasco

FYMS: Can we say that your personality is reflected on Os Capitães da Areia?
OCA: Totally. Os Capitães da Areia are the result of what the four of us are.

FYMS:A música feita em Portugal está a começar a ter maior destaque. O que acham disso? The music made in Portugal is starting to have more highlight?
OCA: The music in Portugal is not having a bigger highlight. Simply for a period (1998-2007) it almost seemed to be gone. Now it’s having the deserved highlight but, still, far from the 80’s. But this is the right path and this is the path that music in Portugal should stay in.

FYMS: Which is your biggest dream?
OCA: Conquer Portugal and the PALOP (Portuguese-speaking African countries).

FYMS: You write your songs. Where or how comes that inspiration to write?
OCA: Every day there’s people, moments and places that inspire us. Our songs hide stories that were very well lived.

FYMS: Your début álbum is “O Verão Eterno”, why that title?
OCA: Our first álbum is ‘O Verão Eterno d’Os Capitães da Areia’ because not only the summer deserves to be sung, deserves to be immortalized on a record. It was the best way to present ourselves as a band. 

FYMS: How it was working with someone like Manuel Fúria?
OCA: Manel led to our name, led the band, he challenged Pedro, he launched the first arrows. So working with Manel was a very extreme natural and genuine process. He was very important to our physical existences and our sound.  

FYMS: Recently we’ve read some comparations between Os Capitães and the old Heróis do Mar. How do you feel with this comparation?
OCA: We can only feel thrilled! But Heróis do Mar are more contemporary than old. We are in 2012 and they still are in front of us.

FYMS: Your songs seem to have some kind of classic influences. Can your songs be described as “modern odes”?
OCA: That is one of the most compelling findings that someone ever gave us. There’s no question that classic music is unconsciously present for being part of our childhood and still follow us on some evenings. Our songs are what people want them to be. So, for you, our songs can be modern odes. It’s perfect!

FYMS: Is there any particular artist you would like to collaborate with?
OCA: We would like to have Diblo Dibala’s solos on a future album.

FYMS: How do you describe your music?
OCA: Fun, relaxed, colorful, nostalgic, rhythmic and refined.

FYMS: Is there any ritual before going to a stage?
OCA: No.

FYMS: If you could choose any place to play, where would it be?
OCA: Marrocco, in a middle of a fair, at night.

FYMS: We read that in one of your first performances on FNAC stores, a fan appeared and surprised you. How is your relationship with your fans?
OCA: That was in 2010 but it was strange for being the first time and so unexpected. Ever since we’ve been confronted by good mood and curiosity. Really pleases us.

FYMS: Is there any particular story of any situation with your fans?
OCA: There are many particular stories, but we prefer to keep them particular to ourselves. Mostly we’ve been meeting incredible people, who live our concerts with intensity. That euphoria and joy passes to stage sometimes.

FYMS: Is there any hidden talent, besides music?
OCA: Shipbuilding.

FYMS:  Complete these sentences…
a)  One day…
OCA: We might have to buy new pants.
b)  The best thing that people can say about me…
OCA: is “you look like a Swedish prince”.

c) E a pior... And the worst…
OCA: You are as talented as Alcides is to get married.
d)  In ten years…
OCA: We will reach the end and sigh “we didn’t notice the time passing by.”

FYMS: What you tell to FYMS readers?
OCA: First of all we congratulate you for reaching the end of this interview and second we are really willing to give shows and make explosions of primary colors on stages! If you want to know more about us, follow us on www.facebook.com/capitaesdaareia.

OCA's newest single: Raparigas da Minha Idade

You can also read the Portuguese version here.

News - Gossip releases new album

Gossip's new album A Joyful Noise was released yesterday and it was produced by Brian Higgins, from Xenomania.

This is the fifth album of the american indie pop band formed in 1999 that succeeds the very successful, Music For Men.

Track listing:
1. Melody Emergency
2. Perfect World
3. Get a job
4. Move in the Right Direction
5. Casualties of war
6. Into the Wild
7. Get Lost
8. Involved
9. Horns
10. I Won't Play
11. Love in a Foreign Place

Let's hope this new album is as joyful as its title suggests.

In the beginning of March, Gossip released their first single Perfect World. Check it out here:

So I knew that it was

in the Picture perfect world

We can be more than before

I said it was

I made it stronger

Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out (cover by the Glee cast)

This is by far the song I'm expecting the most to hear this July when Florence comeback to Portugal, to play at Optimus Alive.

You can check HERE the review of this song and the album Cerimonials.

Everyone knows this song, so why am I talking about it?

I've just watched what I can consider - and I hope you too - a brilliant cover of this song, by the Glee cast.

What do you think about this version?

All of his questions, such a mournful sound

Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground

So I like to keep my issues drawn

But it's always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out

Gotye + Kimbra, Somebody That I Used To Know

Gotye is the artistic name for the Belgian-Australian Wouter "Wally" De Backer.

His career has started somewhere in 2001 and has released three independent studio albums - Boardface (2003), Like Drawing Blood (2007) and Making Mirrors (2011).

He is also known for songs like Hearts A Mess and Eyes Wide Open.

He also belongs to an Australian band The Basics that is currently on a hiatus until 2014 so they can dedicate to other projects outside the band.

Gotye is constantly compared to Sting, Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel due the obvious vocal similarities.

In July 2011 Gotye released a single Somebody That I Used To Know, the second of Making Mirrors released in the same year. The song features the New Zealand singer Kimbra.

Somebody That I Used To Know was written by Gotye himself and reflects "multiple past relationships". In an interview Gotye said the song was "definitely drawn from various experiences I've had in relationships breaking up, and in the parts of the more reflective parts of the song, in the aftermath and the memory of those different relationships and what they were and how they broke up and what's going on in everyone's minds. Yeah, so it's an amalgam of different feelings but not completely made up as such."

To Rolling Stone Australia, he revealed the chorus was directly related to one ex-girlfriend, explaining "It wasn't a nasty break-up, but it was messy in the sense that we hurt each other more than we needed to because it wasn’t a clean break... We both realised we had to move on and we haven’t seen each other since."

"But you didn't have to cut me off 

Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing 

And I don't even need your love 

But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough"

Jenny And Johnny, Big Wave

Jenny And Johnny is composed by Jenny Lewis and Johnathan "Johnny" Rice.

The duo started to work together in Los Angeles in 2005, after being introduced by Conor Oberst.
Jenny and Johnny began writing songs different from their previous works. These new songs created a completely new sound bringing the need to record them.

Jenny And Johnny are usually compared with bands like She & Him. 

Working with several friends like Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes) and Pierre de Reeder (Rilo Kiley) they've recorded an indie-pop album I'm Having Fun Now, creating a bunch of love, sensitive and kind songs creating a contrast with anxiety and bitterness, released in 2010.

Big Wave fits perfectly thematic of the album. The song sounds to be about someone who is spiraling into darkness, a direct consequence of an irresponsible life choices.

"I can't sleep these days 

and my blues they won't go away 

so there are these little pills I've been takin'"

Review: Florence + The Machine, Ceremonials

Florence + The Machine is a band created in 2007 by Florence Welch in collaboration with other musicians: Robert Ackroyd (guitars, backing vocals), Chris Hayden (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Isabella Summers (keyboards, backing vocals), Mark Saunders (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Tom Monger (harp).

The band's name is a tribute to Welch's teenage collaboration with Isabella "Machine" Summers - who performed for a while as Florence Robot/Isa Machine.
According to Florence "The name 'Florence And The Machine' started off as a private joke that got out of hand. I made music with my friend, Isabella Machine to which I was Florence Robot. When I was about an hour away from my first gig, I still didn't have a name, so I thought 'Okay, I'll be Florence Robot/Isa Machine'".

Their style is usually described as "dark, robust and romantic" due to their peculiar way of creating music, innovating constantly from song to song and evolution as a band.

Ceremonials is the band's second album released in October 2011 by Island Records, the main producer was Paul Epworth.
Initially the album was idealized to be recorded in the US but ended up being recorded in the Abbey Road Studios in London.
The album is being very well received by critics, with huge comparisons with artists like Kate Bush.
To NME, Florence said "(Ceremonials) is a more joyous album'" and according to her the album is about how she matured over the last years.

Ceremonials counts with 12 tracks and 9 more on the deluxe version, making a total of 55:58 on the standard version. What The Water Gave Me, Shake It Out, No Light, No Light and Never Let Me Go have already been release as singles.

1. Only If For A Night (4:59) The opening track starts with a sweet classic piano and the strong Florence voice. At some point the songs sounds like an epic rebellion, with a beautiful chorus and strong back instrumental. Honestly a very beautiful way to start an album, promising an exciting discover through this work. The song has this double way of being a Florence song and sounds so epic, so huge, so overwhelming.
   
   "Then I heard your voice as clear as day,
   And you told me I should concentrate,
   It was all so strange,
   And so surreal,
   That a ghost should be so practical."
   
   
2. Shake It Out (4:38) The song is joyful, strong and huge. Released as the official first single of Ceremonials and has been very well received for being a pop song with gospel elements including organs, bells and tambourines. Vocally speaking, Florence was compared with artists like Annie Lennox due to the incredible vocals.
   About this song, Florence described to MTV News Shake It Out as "... magic one. I feel weird because I'm always talking about how I'm writing songs when I'm hung over most of the songs weren't but 'Shake It Out' was. Like 'Cosmic Love' (it was) written when you're not feeling too great. It became the ultimate hangover cure, and then it became about something bigger. Like trying to get rid of 'hangover ghouls'."
   Actually Shake It Out reminds me of Cosmic Love, musically speaking, and for good reasons. The song is really strong, full of rhythm mixing happy and sad feelings, turning to this iconic song.
   
   
   
   "And our love's pastured such a mournful sound
   Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground
   So I like to keep my issues strong
   But it's always darkest before the dawn"
   
   
3. What The Water Gave Me (5:33) The song was named after Florence saw a Frida Kahlo's paiting and inspired by the English writer Virginia Woolf.
   Described as a art rock and indie pop being notably followed by harps and guitars. Once again Florence shows all her powerful vocals on this song, turning everything to a dramatic, enthusiastic poetry.
   About the song, Florence once said "It's a song for the water, because in music and art what I'm really interested in are the things that are overwhelming. The ocean seems to me to be nature's great overwhelmer. When I was writing this song I was thinking a lot about all those people who've lost their lives in vain attempts to save their loved ones from drowning. It's about water in all forms and all bodies. It's about a lot of things; Virginia Woolf creeps into it, and of course Frida Kahlo, whose painfully beautiful painting gave me the title."
   This song is one of my favorite, it has everything. It's strong, beautiful, simple but so complex at the same time.
   
   
   "'Cause they took your loved ones
   But returned them in exchange for you
   But would you have it any other way?
   Would you have it any other way?
   You could have had it any other way"
   
   
4. Never Let Me Go (4:31) The third single from the record, with the video released on youtube on March 7.
   Sounds very classy, very fancy at some point. Sounding like Florence + The Machine but in another level, the band exceeded themselves once again. The highlight of this song is absolutely the instrumental - it's gorgeous, it's huge, it's so.. surreal!
   The song sounds so nice, the chorus turn to something even bigger than imagined.
   
   
   
   "And the arms of the ocean are carrying me
   And all this devotion was rushing over me
   And the crushes of heaven, for a sinner like me
   But the arms of the ocean delivered me"


5. Breaking Down (3:49) This is one of the songs that really don't sound like a characteristic Florence's song. It's a mystery at the beginning, a thrill to discover how will the song develop along the way... And it's exciting! A whispered voice, an epic chorus from one of those old classic bands.
   I really love the violins, they put the song on some other special level. It's . This song had everything to be something average but they changed it, they magically turned things around and turned into something really big.
   This song may not ever be a single but I really hope that people have the chance to know them and be excited to listen it the way that I do.
   
   "I can see is coming from the edge of the room
   Creeping in the streetlight
   Holding my hand in the pear grove
   Can you see it coming now?"


6. Lover To Lover (4:03) I hope I'm not the only one but the piano's intro of this song just blows my mind. Sounds somewhere between Queen and Elton John, really like the good 70's and 80's songs.
   Once again, as we can listen along Ceremonials Florence exceeds herself from song to song.
   At some point, Lover To Lover really seems one of those songs that should belong to some movie soundtrack. It's catchy, full of energy, exciting, stays with you for hours... This song has everything, it's incredible how powerfully romantic but at the same time so destructive the song can sound.
   That might be a Florence + The Machine moto: mix feelings on the same song - and thankfully they do!
   
   "And i've been taking chances
   I've been setting myself up for the force
   And i've been keeping secrets
   From my heart and from my soul
   Going from road to road
   Back to back
   Lover to lover and black to red
   But i believe, i believe"
   


7. No Light, No Light (4:35) One of my favorites of the record and the second released single.
   This is a clear Florence song - strong instruments, epic vocals, genuine combination, exciting composition. No Light, No Light is one of the highlights of the entire album, it's absolutely "a revelation", they are a solid group and that reflexes on their songs and composition. They know absolutely what they are doing.
   After listening this, I just feel free, the need of running away and shout! It reminds me of another Florence + The Machine's song Heavy In Your Arms.
   The song was written by Florence Welch and Isabella Summers - and with this I have one request... Do it more often! The combination is genious!
   
   
   "Through the crowd I was crying out
   And in your place there were a thousand other faces
   I was disappearing in plain sight
   Heaven help me, I need to make it right"


8. Seven Devils (5:03) On this song it's obvious the gospel component. All the instruments sound very iconic, very respectful even the vocals are harder, more dramatic on this track.
   Probably the hardest song to enjoy on the album, either you like it or not - there's no middle term on this one due it's dark and troublesome feeling. The lyrics reflect that so well . But it's exciting to see how versatile they are.
   
   "Seven devils all around you
   Seven devils in your house
   See I was dead when I woke up this morning
   I'll be dead before the day is done
   Before the day is done"


9. Heartlines (5:02) This song is EVERYTHING. My honestly favorite song from Ceremonials.
   Sounds like Florence + The Machine, feels like Florence + The Machine and it's an absolutely Florence + The Machine song.
   It's exciting, it's strong, has rhythm, has an epic flow, it's inspirational, it's unique.
   One of those songs that really take all my breath away.
   
   "On the sea, on the sea and land over land.
   Creeping and crawling like the sea over sand.
   Still I follow heartlines on your hand.
   This fantasy, this fallacy, this tumbling stone.
   Echoes of a city that's long overgrown.
   Your heart is the only place that I call home,
   I cannot be returned, you can?"


10. Spectrum (5:12) I imagine perfectly this song on a live performance.
    I hate to repeat myself but Florence and her band only do amazing song and once again this song is very good.
    Spectrum is overwhelming, exceeds all the expectations. The variations along the song are powerful, are catchy and give such enthusiastic rhythm.
    How can such young artists write such explosive songs?
    
    "Say my name
    As every colour illuminates
    We are shining
    And we will never be afraid again"


11. All This And Heaven Too (4:06) The lyrics are very interesting and complemented by an extraordinaire instruments - highlight for the simple drums and backing vocals.
    It sounds almost like a superstitious song but mysterious at some point, probably to the idea given through the way the instruments are played. The more I listen to it, the more I like it!
    
    "But with all my education,
    I can't seem to commend it,
    And the words are all escaping me,
    And coming back all damaged,
    And I would put them back in poetry,
    If I only knew how,
    I can't seem to understand it"


12. Leave My Body (4:35) Weird sounds and guitars, those are the first things you listen on this song. Starting softly and growing as long as the song continues, catches your attention for the powerful drums complemented by a beautiful and fast piano contrasting with the slow and epic vocals - from Florence and backing vocalists.
    I would personally chose this song to be somewhere in the middle but the choice is smart, it gets stuck in your head. You would like to end the album with a powerful song so people can remember it. And the way it ends, like a shout under water it's absolutely stunning. The song is amazing and so so beautiful!
    
    "Said I'm gonna leave my body
    Moving up to higher ground
    I'm gonna lose my mind
    But history keeps pulling me
    Pulling me down"

Conclusion: The album is VERY very good. It's exciting to see such talented people all together performing and creating such beautiful music. Ceremonials ain't one of those obvious pop albums where it's easy to like for being so predictable. Ceremonials it's the opposite, you love the album for being so different, so unexpected, so strong and powerful. It's overwhelming! People usually say the first album is easy but the second is where you really prove what you are... And with this amazing second album? Florence + The Machine are here to stay and to grace us with their incredible talent.

Rating: 4.5/5

News // Lana Del Rey re-releases Blue Jeans

The new sensation Lana Del Rey made a new video for her already known single Blue Jeans, belonging to her debut album Born To Die.

This new video was directed by Yoann Lemoine, who previously worked with Katy Perry, Moby and Yelle and also brings back the actor Bradley Soileau - a previous work with Del Rey can be seen on Born To Die video here.

Fun. + Janelle Monáe, We Are Young

Fun. is an American indie pop band created in 2008 by Nate Ruess (after the break-up of The Format) inviting Andrew Dost from Anathalo and Jack Antonoff from Steel Train.

They've released an album Aim and Ignite in 2009 which was mostly well received by critics.
From that album we can recognize songs like Walking The Dog or All The Pretty Girls.

Their new album is going to be released tomorrow under the name Some Nights.
After signing with a new label - Fueled by Ramen - fun. began the work for Some Nights being really influenced by Kanye West and other hip-hop artists. With this album they created an interesting mix of indie pop, rock and hip-hop.
Some Nights was inspired by "how personalities can change on any given night".
Adam Knott from Sputnikmusic wrote about the album that "The energy and personality which flood out of every melody give this album its own stamp of authority".

The first single taken from Some Nights is We Are Young which features Janelle Monáe.
This song was covered by Glee on the episode Hold On to Sixteen.

"Now I know that I'm not all that you got

I guess that I I just thought maybe we could find a ways to fall apart

But are friends in back

So let's raise a cup

Cause I found someone to carry me home"

themed week // Islands, This Is Not A Song

Islands are a indie rock band created in 2005 in Canada but nowadays based in California.

They've released three albums - Return To The Sea (2006), Arm's Way (2008), Vapours (2009) and on February 14, 2012 they are going to release their fourth album A Sleep & A Forgetting.

The current members of the band are Evan and Geordie Gordon, Aaron Harris and Nicholas "Nick" Thorburn (also known as Nick Diamonds).

About the album the basis are themes related with pain and heartbreak and Nick Diamonds said "This album is far more personal than any I’ve made before,” adding “I left New York after the end of a relationship and came to Los Angeles. There was a piano where I was staying and that’s where I wrote these songs. This record deals with loss, with memory and forgetting and with dreaming. I started writing it on Valentine’s Day and it’s coming out on Valentine’s Day.”

The process was inspired by such different artists like The Temptations, June Tabor or Roy Orbison.
For the band's new album it's expected a very "sonic textures and irresistible melodies that have come to define Islands"

The album was announced through the Anti-records blog here.

The first song taken from A Sleep & A Forgetting is This Is Not A Song.

"In upper atmosphere my head comes loose,

And in the free fall I can feel the blues,

I hate to watch you go, oh,

Nick, if you ever learn, it never shows,

If this is just a song,

Then why do I find it so hard to move on,

Feels a crime to be crying for this long."

Themed Week for February launched "the most recent singles taken from albums to be released between February and March." Let me know what you thought about it!

themed week // Miike Snow, Paddling Out

Tonight's themed week choice are the Swedish indie pop Miike Snow who are releasing their new record next March, 26 2012.

Happy To You was recorded between Stockholm and New York and all the process was shared with fans on Facebook and Twitter.
First there were rumors their song Devil's Work would be the first single taken from their second album but on January 19, Paddling Out was debut on Radio 1, in the United Kingdom.

One of the members of Miike Snow, Pontus Winnberg said in an interview:
"Before this album, we were an idea. This time we were a band. And this time, we had paid our dues we'd toured in 27 countries for 18 months. When we came in to make ‘Happy To You’, we came in as a unit, and emotionally for us that makes a huge difference. And hopefully you can hear it."

"The west, the warm, the sunny south
I see it's full of ancients
For call the space between the crave
That sound of road to me too"

Os Capitães da Areia, Dezassete Anos

Os Capitães da Areia are composed by four guys - Capitão Pedro (vocals), Capitão Tiago (guitars), Capitão Vasco (bass) and Capitão António (percussion and digital drums).

They were created on May 2009, on the release date of Os Golpes debut album.

The band is labeled by Amor Fúria, created by Manuel Fúria who supports with enthusiasm their future and talent.
They've played on the Optimus Alive 2011, passing on other known Portuguese clubs like Musicbox, Santiago Alquimista and Maxime.

They've contributed with Capitão Bomba on Novos Talentos Fnac 2010 and later releasing a song Bailamos no teu Microondas on the Optimus Discos compilation Depósito de Inúteis.

Their debut album O Verão Eterno was released last December, check it here. Full of synthesizers, funny guitars, drums (some with electrical sound) and with obvious references to the 80's music, they say their sound is to "dance, love and dream".

The first single is Dezassete Anos (translated as Seventeen Years).

"Para sempre dezassete anos

Para sempre o meu par

Nessa pista infinita

O refrão não vai parar"

They are one of the biggest Portuguese promises for this year, for sure.