Another three of the best

Being from South Africa, we've just entered into what i know will be an amazing summer (sorry USA), and with summer comes the excitement of the Christmas season. Exams are ending for university students, beach holidays are planned, parties are being thrown and pools are being used for the first time in months across the country. I just thought I'd add to all this excitement by throwing a few songs at you that'll get you into the mood for what will be a fantastic holiday (and maybe help the northern hemisphere through the cold)

Before I start, if you have Fifa 14, you should recognise some, if not all the songs here, as I found them when I got hold of the soundtrack. 

All the videos I have posted are not the actual music videos off YouTube, because I had to select videos that supported playback on mobile devices. I do not own the music or the videos displayed below.

Empire of the Sun

Empire of the sun is an Australian electronic duo formed in 2008, consisting of Nick Littlemore, and Luke Steele. Their first album that they released shortly after forming immediately became a success, going double platinum in Australia and Gold in the United States, and their second album was released this year in June 2013. 

The simple yet effective lyrics, coupled with the creative use of effects makes this song one that's guaranteed to lift the mood of the listener. 

Alive - 

The Guards

An equally uptempo, mood lifting song is 'I know it's you' by The Guards. The Guards are an American indie trio based in New York that have been performing together since 2010, and have just released their debut album titled 'In Guards We Trust' in 2013. They toured together for the first few years which is why there is such a gap between the formation of the band and their first album.

I know it's you - 

American Authors

The American Authors sound like a combination of South Africa's Desmond and the Tutus and Shortstraw, which makes this song even more awesome. The American Authors are also an Indie Rock band based in New York, and they have been performing together since 2006, when they formed in Boston after meeting at the Berklee College of Music.

Coupled with lyrics I'm sure a lot of people will relate to, 'Hit it' and it's spotless production will add it to the list of songs that'll lift your mood and have you singing along in a matter of minutes.

Hit it - 

I'll post more of the songs off the album that are also top class within the week. Until then, do yourself a favour and get hold of a copy of the soundtrack. These three songs don't even begin to do the rest of the album justice.

Post by - Neil Nelson

Twitter - @Neilnelson91

A few songs to improve your week

Approaching the middle of the week, it's always good to find something to push you through the remaining days until the weekend. These three songs have done exactly that for me. Two new, one old. Either way I can guarantee they will do for you what they've done for me.

THE LAST YEAR

The first song is a song called 'Sugar' by a relatively new band on the scene 'The Last Year'. I discovered this song when the band mentioned it to me on Twitter today, and I was immediately blown away by it. The alternative rock band from Baltimore in the US, has 4 members, with Niki Barr on the vocals, Scott Ensign on the bass, Scott Griffith on guitar, and BJ Kerwin. Infected with powerful melodies, they have just released their new EP, and every song on it has a unique sound, with very talented songwriting, coupled with near perfect instrumental composition. The last year officially formed in 2012, but prior to that they had been together for a while, touring together, mainly fro the US troops,, specifically with the Armed forces entertainment, and have performed in more than 34 countries. Now backed by a label, the band is just beginning their journey as a professional band. I'm expecting great things from them in the future!

The Last Year - Sugar:

COLDPLAY

Coldplay needs absolutely no introduction, but their latest release 'Atlas' is definitely worth mentioning. Featured on the new 'Hunger Games' movie soundtrack, the song has already received over 3 million views on Youtube since September 9. The sound of the song is definitely more of an 'older' coldplay sound, going back to their 'Rush of Blood to the Head' style, and in my opinion this is one of their best releases to date. It must have been played on my iPod a least 40 times already, and this is a song one will never get sick of. Amazing, truly.

Coldplay - Atlas

LANA DEL RAY

Finally, a song titled 'Blue Jeans' by Lana Del Ray, an artist who has recently become one of my definite favourite female artists. Another artist that need no introduction, but this song has really been stuck with me the past few days, so I thought I had to post it. The gorgeous 27 year old who has 9 years experience in the industry has released one studio album and an EP, and this is definitely the best song off the album titled 'Born to Die'. The entire album is brilliant, but this song is in a class of its own.

Lana Del Ray - Blue Jeans

Neil Nelon (@neilnelson91)

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin is an Indie-pop band with a name as original as their sound. From Springfield, Missouri, the band took their name from the first president of Russia, Boris Yeltsin. Currently signed to Polyvinyl Records, the band has been making music together since 1999, and have just recently released their new 10 track album 'Fly By Wire'. The band consists of three members, Will Knauer, Philip Dickey, and Jonathan James. 

The band has released a lot of music together, with numerous albums and EP's to their name, but their first commercially released album was titled 'Broom', and they released it independently in 2005. Since then the band has come a long way, touring all over the US, with bands such as Tokyo Police Club, and Two Door Cinema Club. 

SSLYBY has a very unusual, diverse sound, ranging from very vocal indie, to a slightly more pop focussed direction in their latest album, and it is very well worth all the praise it has received online already. There is a brilliant level of simplicity to their music, and this is what makes them so effectively brilliant, and under the songwriting direction of their lead singer Philip Dickey, they have released an album that should definitely be a part of any Indie fans collection. The song that first attracted me to this band is titled 'Harrison Ford', and is a perfect example of the quality of this band.

Unfortuantely, the only available link to the song is through their soundcloud page:

SSLYBY - Harrison Ford

Another fantastic song by the band is the first official single off their new album. The song is titled 'Nightwater Girlfriend' and is just as good an example of the bands talent.

(Unfortunately won't play on many mobile devices)

The band has placed teaser trailers to their new album on YouTube, and give a much better idea of the sound of their new album. If you're interested, their Youtube account link is: 

SSLYBY - YouTube Channel

As a band that is less known than t should be, in South Africa especially, these guys are definitely worth a listen, as difficult as their videos and songs are to find on the net. Easiest way to find out more about them is to visit their website :

SSLYBY - Official Site

Or on Facebook

SSLYBY - Facebook

Definitely worth the time.

London Grammar

London Grammar

It is very rare to stumble upon something as brilliant and inspiring as the music that this trio from London has recorded and released. I discovered them by chance when I came across their song 'Wasting my Young Years' on Youtube, and I was immediately entranced by what I could only describe as the best female vocals I have ever heard. Think Florence Welch (Florence + the Machine) meets Romy Madley Croft (The xx) , but more gentle, more pronounced, more moving.

The members of this art-rock trio are the absolutely beautiful vocalist Hannah Reid, drummer and keyboard player Dot Major, and guitarist Dan Rothman. I can't even put into words how powerful Hannah Reid's voice is. Her voice is truly magical, and coupled with her looks, she has quickly become one of my all time favourite female vocalists.

The group formed in 2009, but it is only recently that they have found major international success. After performing low-key events in bars and small venues, the trio released their debut single 'What Now' in December 2012, and the song, to date, has more than 800 000 views on YouTube. 

'Hey Now'

(link may not work on mobile devices, if so follow this link - London Grammar - Hey Now)

Since the release of Hey Now, the band has put together an EP, titled Metal & Dust, and are releasing their first full-length studio album titled 'If you wait' on September 9 2013. The single I heard, 'Wasting My Young Years', has been very well received globally, and placed on the UK singles chart.

It is honestly my favourite song of 2013 so far, and definitely on of my favourites of all time, and that is a big statement. The combination of the soft strings, the gentle reverbed keys, the simple, yet effective guitar, and the melancholic, meaningful vocals is unbelievably enchanting, and the vocals are both powerful and emotive. When I listen to the song, I am able to just close my eyes, and let the song transport me into a world where there is nothing but the music, which is incredibly difficult for an artist/song to do to for the listener.

'Wasting My Young Years'

(Mobile link - Wasting My Young Years)

Their latest single titled 'Strong' is equally as brilliant, with a slightly more uptempo beat, but carrying the same relaxed, melancholic style as Wasting My Young Years, carrying lyrics just as meaningful.

'Strong'

(Mobile link - Strong)

I have no doubt that this trio's album is going to be a massive success, and I can't wait to hear what more this band has to offer.

Neil Nelson (Twitter - @Neilnelson91)

Greg Laswell

39 year old Indie/Folk rock singer/songwriter Greg Laswell has been in the industry since 1998, not only as a multi-talented musician, but also as a recording engineer, and producer. He has released 5 studio albums to date, his latest being 'Landline', released early 2012.

The most interesting thing about his music is the way he manages to merge so many different genres and styles into all of his songs. Not one song sounds the same, and this is such a unique challenge, but he pulls it off remarkably well. He used to be a part of a very successful band, called 'Shillglen', and released one studio album with them. After that, he went solo, and hasn't looked back since.

The amount of television shows and movies that have used songs by him is astonishing, having songs featured on series such as House, Grey's Anatomy, Vampire Diaries and CSI but to name a few. This song of his has been featured on Danika, Numb3rs, Canterbury's Law, Grey's Anatomy, and CSI:

Greg Laswell - What A Day

(link -What a day)

Accompanying his perfect voice, is a stream of incredibly talented musicians, with some of the best piano, and guitar work I have heard in a long time. What else is very clear is the attention to detail that went into the production of his songs. The best example of this is a song off his album 'Landline' titled 'Another Life to Lose'

Greg Laswell - Another Life to Lose

(link - Another Life to Live)

He has also collaborated with a number of very well known artists on his latest album, such as Sia, Sara Bareilles, and Elizabeth Ziman. Collaborations don't often work out as well as these few have. It seems anything that Greg touches turns into gold.

Greg Laswell feat. Sara Bareilles - Come Back Down

(Link - Come Back Down)

Greg Laswell feat. Sia -  Dragging You Around

It would be possible to write about Greg and his incredible music for hours, but i think his music speaks for itself.

I'll leave you with my favourite song off the album

Greg Laswell - I Might Drop By:

(Link - I Might Drop By)

Post By:

Neil Nelson (Twitter - @Neilnelson91)

Weekly Three (28 June)

I've missed out the last couple of weeks, but in the time i haven't been posting I've discovered some incredible music that I'll be posting about very soon!


This week I've decided to discuss not three, but four songs (you'll see why later).

Hi Ho Silver Oh

The first song for the week is by a very interesting band, covering a famous song by a very well known artist. Hi Ho Silver Oh covered the song 'Time to Move On' originally by Tom Petty. Hi Ho Silver Oh isn't a very well known band yet, for reasons that I don't understand. They're a perfect example of how less is more, and the simplicity behind their music is so effective and classy, that it really leaves an impact on the listener. They should really be acknowledged more for the genius behind their music. They come from Los Angeles, and that is where they spend most of their time performing.
It is a five member band, with a few albums and EP's behind their name. This song also features a multi-talneted woman named Leslie Stevens, who is an award winning actress, singer, dancer and model who has been involved in many broadway productions, and television and film appearances, including but not limited to True Bloods, The O.C, and Revenge. Her voice really compliments the emotion behind the song. It is a lot less of a rock hit like the version of Tom Petty's was, and more of a slow emotional ballad. It was featured in an episode of the series Californication, which oddly enough is how I discovered it.

Hi Ho Silver Oh - Time To Move On:

(link - Time to move on)

The next song, well two songs, are first by a band named Great Northern, and the other by the very well known female singer/songwriter Sia. The reason I'm combining these two songs is because they have the exact same musical structure and sound, but are both very different in their own right. (Hence why there are 4 songs in this post rather than three). Firstly, 

Great Northern

Yet another band from Los Angeles, Great Northern is comprised of lead singer Rachel Stolte, guitarist/vocalist Solon Bixler, who used to be a member of 30 Seconds to Mars, and drummer Davey Latter. They have released two studio albums since the band started in 2005, and are currently working on their third. The song is titled 'Driveway, off their second studio album, titled 'Remind Me Where the Light Is'.

Great Northern - Driveway:

(link - Driveway)

The next song by Sia is titled 'Breathe Me.

Sia

Known as 'Sia', Sia Furler is a singer/songwriter who needs no introduction to most people. Known for her songs 'Titanium' with David Guetta, and 'Wild Ones' with rapper Flo Rida. Her solo work out shadows both of these songs, even though they were massive international successes. The 37 year old has five studio albums to her name, and was nominated for a Grammy Award with her song 'Wild Ones'. This song comes off her album titled 'Colour the Small One'.

Sia - Breathe Me:

(link - Breathe Me)

I think it's impossible not to acknowledge the similarities in these two songs, and choosing a favourite is difficult, but you decide for yourself.

The final song for the night is by an artist named:

Beth Hart.

With a face almost as beautiful as her music, Beth Hart is yet again another artist from Los Angeles (purely coincidental that three of the four artists tonight are from there). She is incredibly gifted musician, with the ability to play the piano, cello, bass, guitar and the drums. Performing since as early as 1993, she has released 8 studio albums, and one live album. She has also released two albums collaborating with Joe Bonamassa. The song is titled 'My California'. It is the title track of her album 'My California' released in 2010.

Beth Hart - My California

(link -My California)

Post By:

Neil Nelson - (Twitter : @Neilnelson91)

Something a little different

I know I usually only review bands and songs but I discovered what is probably one of the most unique sounding 'instruments' today, and I thought it was something I definitely needed to share with everyone.

(I put instrument in inverted comma's because the makers do not like the term attached to it)

The 'instrument' is called a 'Hang'. It was developed in the year 2000, so it is relatively new when it comes to the wide world of instruments. It's construction is very interesting, and many years of research and tests went into it's development.

The name 'Hang' is comes from the German word for hand, because that is how you play the instrument, by lightly tapping your fingers on the top of it, and all the different areas around it (called tone fields) produce different notes. The sound is caused by resonation within the instrument.

After watching videos on youtube about it, it's clear that the most talented 'Hang musician' out there is a man called Daniel Waples. With a look and style that compliments the coolness of the instrument perfectly, he handles the Hang with a level of skill that must have taken years to master.

As short as this post is, it's definitely worth having a listen to a few of his videos.

There's another group of Hang musicians that are also incredibly talented, called 'Hang Massive'

Hang Massive - Once Again

They have a lot more videos up on YouTube, and they have links to their site where you can download their music for free.  

Unusual, but it's something truly amazing.

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors

Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors

I discovered this very, very special band on YouTube, with their song 'Live forever' coupled to a video tribute to some of the NBA legends of our time . Drew Holcomb is yet again a very special talent born and bred in Memphis, Tennessee in The United States. He is an alternative rock singer songwriter who is now based in East Nashville, and has been an active performer since 2005. The rest of the group consists of his wife, Ellie Holcomb on vocals and guitar, Nathan Dugger on guitar and keys, and Rich Brinsfield on Bass.

Drew Holcomb draws a lot of the inspiration for his music from personal experiences, such as the unfortunate loss of his younger brother when he was only 17 years old, and the magical connection and love that he and his wife, Ellie, share. When talking about his new album he had this to say about his inspirations;

-  "Everyone has all these different ingredients; our geography, our family, our interests, the places we have been and the places we long to see. The loves we have found and the loves we have lost. Each of us has a story, and it's the only one we can tell."

The band has just released it's sixth studio album titled 'Good Light', and it was released in February of 2013, shortly after the birth of his first daughter. He had more than 40 songs to work with when writing the album, and play with before deciding on the final 12 that are on the album, just another example of how talented he is as a songwriter and musician.

One of my favourite songs by the band is off a previous album, titled 'Chasing Someday'. The song is called 'Weight of the World.

(may not play on mobile devices)

The song I referred to at the beginning of this post, 'Live Forever' is just as emotional, and powerful.

With vocals that can best be described as a combination of Justin Furstenfeld from Blue October, and Mumford and sons singer Marcus Mumford, Drew Holcomb is definitely one of my favourite discoveries to date. The fact that he has such an accomplished band behind him just accentuates his enormous amount of talent. They have such a range of styles, from slow acoustic ballads, to uptempo alternative rock, and even a couple of songs with a heavy country influence.

I just can't believe it's taken this long for their music to become a part of my life, and I hope after reading this post, and watching the videos, they make as much of an impact on you as they did on me.

I'll leave you with these, first their title track from their latest album, 'Good Light', and my personal favourite off the album, titled 'Tennessee'

Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors - Good Light

(may not play on mobile devices)

Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors - Tennessee

By:

Neil Nelson

(Twitter - @Neilnelson91)

Weekly 3 (07 June 2013)

This week I've decided to do something slightly different than I usually do, but with the same result. I'm going to be reviewing three songs I've discovered in series that I've watched, and a song from Baz Luhrmann's Great Gatsby.



Song One - From: Boston Legal

Eric Lindell - Give it Time

Anyone who has watched Boston Legal will know what I mean when I say it is possibly the greatest, and funniest series there is about the in's and out's of a professional law firm. The only series I've seen that could possibly be considered a rival to it is 'Suits', but nothing will ever beat the clever and witty humour of Denny Crane and Alan Shore. This song stuck out for me because of it's combination of relaxed vocals, on top of a talented ensemble of blues instrumental work, and the song also features the best harmonica solo I've heard to date. Eric Lindell, a 44 year old singer from San Mateo, California, whose career began when he was 15 years old has had many of his songs featured on a variety of Television series, but 'Give it Time' is most certainly the best of the songs he has to offer. Featuring some clever encouraging lyrics, it's easy to see why this is one of my favourites.

'Give it time

Time that we're livin'

It's easy to give in

But it won't do no good

Give it time

And things will get better

A change in the weather

It just might do you good'

(Youtube Link - Eric Lindell - Give it time)

Song 2 - From:  Friday Night Lights

J.J Cale - Crazy Mama

Friday Night Lights is most certainly one of the best series there is when it comes to sports drama, and the portrayal of the personal lives of people involved in professional sports, on and off the field. Alongside the powerful storyline, there is an equally strong collection of music, and the episodes have constantly introduced viewers to new and exciting artists, and songs. Country/Blues is the main genre of music in the series, as the series is based in a town in Texas, and this song fits right into that category. It may not be the usual style of music that most of you listen to, but don't knock it before you try it. The song features great guitar work, featuring the signature blues 'Wah-Wah' sound that J.J Cale is famous for, and his laid-back vocals draw the listener right into the song. J.J Cale is a 74 year old, Grammy Award winning artist from Oklahoma City with an amazing amount of successful studio albums to his name. He is still writing and performing songs today, even in his later years, with his latest studio album being released in 2009. Crazy Mama is his most successful song, and it reached number 22 on the US Billboard top 100 list in 1972.

(Link - J.J Cale - Crazy Mama)

Song 3 - From: The Great Gatsby

The xx - Together

Baz Luhrmann's incredible movie depiction of the book 'The Great Gatsby' has been enjoyed by millions worldwide, whether they had seen the original movie with Robert Redford, or read the book that the movies are based on by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Aside from the incredible cinematography and film design in the movie, the soundtrack is what made the film truly great. Featuring a multitude of well known artists, with the likes as JAY Z, Florence and the Machine, Will,I,Am and Emeli Sandé performing on the official soundtrack album from the movie. The song that stuck out the most in the film though was 'Together' by The xx, as it was used at the end of the film, and it's dark lyrics were the perfect compliment to the way the film ends. To not spoil the movie for anyone who hasn't seen it, take my word for it, when you do watch the film you will see exactly what I mean. The xx are an indie band from England that formed in 2005. They have recorded two studio albums, but 'Together' is the first single they released in 2013. It was written especially for the film.

(Link - The xx - Together)

By: Neil Nelson 

Twitter - @neilnelson91

Jesse Ruben

Sometimes you stumble onto something brilliant when you least expect to. This happened to me while just having browse through Soundcloud this evening. I discovered a man with an amount of talent that is very uncommon. With a playing style that I'd call a combination of John Mayer and Passenger, and with a voice that is both emotional and moving, Jesse Ruben is one of the most talented singer/songwriter's I've heard this year, and deserves an enormous amount of recognition and respect.

Jesse is a 25 year old, Philadelphia born soulful pop-rock singer/songwriter who is now located in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from the Berklee College of music in Boston, and immediately after his graduation began gigging and working on the process of recording an album. He funded the recording for his debut album himself, which in its own right is a major accomplishment. Not only did he fund the album himself, he also sold more than 5000 copies of the album 'Aiming for Honesty' by himself too. He has just finished working on another album, that he has titled 'The ones that Matter', and has released a few Ep's, including the one in the Soundcloud link I've posted at the bottom of this post.

He constantly receives messages from fans thanking him for the messages in his songs, giving solace to many people, repaired broken bonds, and created connections. Having listened to his songs I can see exactly why they would be doing so. It will be impossible for someone to listen to his songs, and not relate them to some or other event in their lifetime, or draw similarities to the messages from their own lives.

Do yourself a favour, and have a look at this fantastic artist. I feel he is going to be a very, very successful artist in the near future, and i truly hope you enjoy his music as much as i do.

Jesse Ruben - Unbreakable:

(If the video doesn't load click the link - Jesse Ruben - Unbreakable )


Jesse Ruben - We Can

(Link - Jesse Ruben - We can )

The link to his EP 'Thoughts I've never had before part 2' on Soundcloud - 'Thought's I've never had before'
And my favourite song by him - Jesse Ruben - The lives of others


Find him on Facebook - JesseRubenmusic
On twitter - @jesseruben



Post by Neil Nelson
(Twitter : @neilnelson91 )

Thirty Seconds to Mars - Love Lust Faith + Dreams

'Love Lust Faith + Dreams' is the latest offering from the alternative rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. It is their fourth studio album since their formation in 1998, and was released in May of 2013. After the release of the album, the band crossed over the 10 million albums sales worldwide mark.

Since their formation in 1998, the band has seen a few members come and go but its founding members, brothers Jared and Shannon Leto, have remained constant in the writing, recording and production of the songs. Matt Wachter (now of Angels and Airwaves) was a member up until 2007, until he was replaced by Tomo Milličević, who is currently the bands bassist. The band has often been joined on tours by a variety of other artists, adding an extra guitarist or keyboard player here and there, but the three main members are the ones who were the driving force behind the recording of the bands two most recent albums, 'This is War' in 2009, and the newest 'Love Lust Faith + Dreams'.

The similarities between the two albums are evident, but are both are very separate albums in their own right. The songwriting process for the new album began late in 2011, and by the time the band went into studio early in 2012, they had more than 50 songs to work with before deciding on the final 12 they have placed on the album. Since the release of their highly successful album in 2005 titled 'A Beautiful Lie' they have made a drastic change with regards to the approach they have to their music, and focus less on the alternative rock influence, and more on the experimental and progressive styles of rock that influenced the bands formation.

'Love Lust Faith + Dreams' focuses heavily on the themes mentioned in the title of the album, and the lyrics are a lot darker and meaningful than the have been on any of the bands previous albums. The album is split into four parts, symbolising the split between 'Love' 'Lust' 'Faith' and 'Dreams'. There is also a much heavier orchestral and electronic influence to the album than the previous ones, with most of the themes being introduced by a light electronic orchestral intro. I personally preferred the alternative side of the band when it comes to comparing the albums 'A Beautiful Lie' and the progressive 'This Means War', but with this new album they have done an incredible job transitioning the two genres. Jared Leto's voice is more powerful and emphatic on the album than he ever has been before, and with the bands overall creative and talented musical input, they have released something truly fantastic.

The first single released off the album titled 'Up in the Air' has been very well received, getting massive amounts amounts of airplay on radio stations world-wide. Interestingly enough it was the first commercial copy of music sent to space. Up In the Air is just a taste of how brilliant the album is, and is definitely a good reason to purchase and have a listen to the rest of the album.

Personally I think this album is the best offering by the band up till now, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of 30 Seconds to Mars, and even to those who haven't really decided yet.

My personal favourite song off the album is titled City of Angels, and it is probably my favourite song the band has ever recorded.

30 Seconds to Mars- City of Angels

(If YouTube video doesn't load, click link in the title)

Weekly Three (31 May 2013)

Its been a crazy week, haven't even had time to think let alone post. To make up for it I'm going to throw in an extra song or two today. After all, one can never be too busy for good music.



The first of the songs for this week is by a band called Smoke and Jackal. Even though this song is a little older (Released in August 2012) I thought it was definitely worth a mention. Smoke and Jackal is a band consisting of Jared Followill, guitarist of the Kings of Leon, and Nick Brown from 'Mona'. The fact that it includes Jared is what made me the most excited about this song. Kings of Leon has always been a band whose music affects me on a very personal level, and it's been so long since they've released anything due to the bands hiatus so this finding this song was a great discovery. The press naturally assumed that because Jared embarked on this side project, that Kings of Leon had broken up. Thankfully he squashed these questions and statements, stating that the Kings would be working on a sixth studio album soon.
So song number one for today is:

'No Tell' by Smoke and Jackal.

The next song I feel deserves a mention this week is one of the strangest mash-ups of genres I've ever heard, by a group called C2C. They're a french DJ group, with four members. They've been in the business for nearly 15 years, but have only released one album, that they released in 2012. Clearly it worked for them though, as it went platinum. The song I've chosen from them today is off that album, and it is titled 'Down The Road'

C2C - Down The Road

Next, a song from a group that has been around for 20 years now, and has just released their newest full length studio album. Daft Punk needs no introduction, as it is a name that nearly every person on this earth knows, and knows to be the pioneers of electronic and house music over the turn of the century. They have released 4 studio albums, the latest being 'Random Access Memories' that was released on the 17 May 2013, and pays tribute to the dance music scene of the 1970's-80's. The album features collaborations with other well known artists, including Pharell Williams, in the song that people are probably familiar with off the album titled 'Get Lucky', and Paul Williams, in the third song I have decided to pos today, titled 'Touch'. The song has a very strange intro, but the song in itself is a brilliant example of how two artists from completely different musical scenes, genres, and eras can come together to make magic happen. Paul Williams, for interests sake, was 72 when they recorded this song.

Daft Punk-'Touch'

The last song/artist I'm going to speak about today, is South Africans very own, and my personal favourite local artist, Jeremy Loops (save the best for last right?) The reason for this is that he is on the verge of releasing his new EP, today in fact (31 May 2013), titled 'Tiding You Over'. Jeremy Loops is the most talented musician i have ever personally had the privilege of seeing live. For those who don't know the name, he is a 28 year old loop-pedal artist, from Cape Town, South Africa. If you who don't know what a 'loop pedal' artist is, it's when an artist records a range of different instruments, one after another, layering them together live, using a specialised 'loop' pedal. How one man can do this so effectively is beyond me, and the talent required to manage it is something I could only wish to have.
He has just returned from a highly successful tour to the UK and America. Occasionally, along with his loops, he has a few session musicians alongside him, namely M.O.Lecko, who adds a sense of lyrical genius with his crowd-pumping rap, and Jamie Faull who adds a slight jazz influence with his saxophone. All in all, Jeremy as both an artist, and a person, represents just how powerful the South African music scene can, and will be. Here are two of his songs, firstly one of his live collaborations with Jamie Faull, and secondly a song that will you a taste of just how good his loops can be.

Jeremy Loops - 'Howling at the Moon'

Jeremy Loops - Power

Weekly 3 - (20-26 May)

So I've decided that I'm going to keep my ear close to the ground, and make a list of the best and newest songs that I've heard during the week, and select my 3 favourites and introduce everyone else to them too. Even if the songs have been around for a little while, I've obviously just been slow, but a lot of people may not have had the opportunity to hear them yet either.

This week I've gone for a fairly mixed set of songs, starting with a band that I feel may one day rival Fall Out boy, a shaggy-haired Australian, and possibly one of the greatest bands of our current generation.

WHAT NOW

1. What Now is a band, that started in Ballito, South Africa.. Having grown up in this sunny seaside town, it was all sand, surf and sea for Tyron Layley, Ryan Morris and Adam Jenkins. In 2001 the 3 guys decided to leave the surf behind and start a band, playing at local skate parks and small events around the town. Unfortunately in 2005 they realised that they weren't getting enough out of the South African music scene and left for colder climates. 12 years later, they're based in London, with a new direction, and have just released their second full length studio album 'Move Like a Sinner'. 
The first song for this week is the title single from this album.
What Now - Move Like a Sinner

                                                             MATT CORBY

2. I owe the discovery of this next artist/song to a friend of mine who posted a link to this song on his Facebook page.  Matt Corby is a 22 year old Australian blues/folk Singer/Songwriter, whose career was jump-started when he was only 16 years old. This was due to the fact that he was the runner up in Australian Idols in 2007. Usually no one hears about anyone but the winner of any version of the Idols franchise, but rarely some very rare talent is discovered. My favourite example of a non-winning success story is that of Chris Daughtry, who is now a multi-award winning artist, but the discovery of Matt Corby might drop Chris down on my list. Matt has recorded four studio albums, his most successful being his fourth, titled  'Into the Flame' that went 5x platinum in Australia. The song that I was introduced to this week is titled 'Resolution' and it is his first single since the release of that album, and my second song for the week.
 Matt Corby - Resolution

                                                                     Biffy Clyro
3. Lastly, we come to a song that I'm very excited about, as it is the new single from one of my favourite bands of all time, Biffy Clyro. Biffy Clyro is a Scottish band that formed in 1995, and has released many successful studio albums, and have been nominated and won many awards since their formation. This single title 'Biblical' is the first off their newest album, titled 'Opposites' , and the reason I'm so excited about it is that it is the first offering by the band since their release of the album 'Only Revolutions' in 2009.
So finally, the third song for the week :
Biffy Clyro - Biblical