You Win or You Die

Since I'm fairly obsessed with Game of Thrones I love the opening title theme. The hype surrounding the epic HBO series continues to gain pace picking up obsessive followers along the way. If you have yet to watch it, then what have you been doing? Season 1 and 2 already aired on TV and Season 1 is out now on home video. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels, the first of which is titled A Game of Thrones. An outstanding work of television, truly exceptional.

The strong and powerful theme demands respect, composed by Ramin Djawadi 

War is coming…!

Caught up in a Rapture

Seven minute disco-punk from The Rapture courtesy of a compete overhaul from Ashley Beedle, Colleen Cosmo Murphy and Yam Who. Originally appearing on the NYC bands 4th album In the Grace of Your Love released last year. This DarkStarr Diskotek remix shapes the original into a house monster with cowbells and ESG style baseline in a future retro diskotek. Cool and catchy hooks that will have your head nodding and feet tapping all day long.

Official Rapture website click here

A Cool Français Cocktail

Heard this while sitting in a café in Bordeaux, it's a cool laid-back lounge version of an old eighties song by Etienne Daho. This new version of Le Grand Sommeil (The Big Sleep) recorded with Etienne Daho by Ginger Ale for his tribute album Tombés Pour Daho which also features a variety of French artistes - Sébastien Tellier, Benjamin Biolay Feat. Elli Medeiros, Avril and Ready Made FC. 

Etienne's original version featured on his second 1984 LP La Notte La Notte... Ginger Ales lead singer, Angèle David-Guillou's seductive voice is wonderful and the cool baseline transforms the song sounding way better than the original. TRÈS BIEN!

Whoa!

Totally love this track the the brilliant TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS (TEED) debut album out now.

Feet don't fail me now!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

But it on iTunes here

Electro-pop masters return

Don't Deny Your Heart is my current choice cut from Hot Chip's latest LP In Our Heads. Surely a future single, its got chart success written all over it. A quick little groover with a merry-go-round of key changes, lifting you up higher with every turn. Bouncing bongos and funky guitars add to feel good summer vibe.

Don't deny your heart, get the album now.

But it on iTunes now - click here

One of SOLAAR's best

Getting my French Hip-Hop on today - Originally a single in 1993 Mc Solaar samples Bonnie and Clyde, the emphatic Serge Gainsborg's duet with  Brigitte Bardot. Gainsbourg released the original tune on two albums in 1968: Gainsbourg's album Initials B.B., and Gainsbourg and Bardot's album Bonnie and Clyde. 

MC Solaar is adapted from his old graffiti tags SOAR and SOLAAR which he used to spray on the walls of his local housing estate.

Following the success of his eponymous debut - Qui Sème le Vent Récolte le Tempoin in his native France, Solaar shot to prominence on the back of his second album that Nouveau Western is taken from - Prose Combat was Solaar's breakthrough, spreading further afield gaining fans across Europe, Africa and and state side. This still sounds good, if a little retro. Serge, I'm sure would have been well into it.

Hello darkness my old friend!

French electro-popper Monsieur Lobster's Simon & Garfunkel cover, broadcasted in french TV show Paris dernière and released on Beatrice Ardisson compilation La musique de Paris Dernière (2009).

Wrong, but strangely charming.

Buy on iTunes NOW

Nothin' but blue skies from now on

In the mood for a bit of old Willie Nelson tonight, full-on country music is not always my first go to sound but this tune from Willie really brings out his soulful side and never fails to put a smile on your face. Let's hope we get a few more blue skies this summer.

The song, written by Irving Berlin was composed in 1926 as a last-minute addition to the Rodgers and Hart musical Betsy and performed by Belle Baker. Since then a list as long as your arm of artists have performed and recorded it from Frank Sinatra (1941) and Dinah Washington (1954), Willie covered it on his 1978 album of standards, Stardust. Groove Armada (1999), under the title Inside My Mind (Blue Skies), Mercury Rev (2001) and Caetano Veloso (2004).

Blue skies smilin' at me, Nothin' but blue skies do I see

Bluebirds singin' a song, Nothin' but blue skies from now on

Blissed-out supernova

Absolute stunning track from collaborating electronic masters, the elusive Burial and Four Tet. First materialising back in March every other blog going was posting up this track. I resisted back then as it was well covered, but since then the well crafted piece has rarely been off my headphones.

The track is the third time the pair have collaborated following their 2009 12in Moth/Wolf Club and last year's split 12in with Thom Yorke, Ego/Mirror.

Nova is a beautifully compelling tune with subtle washes of warm fluid sounds. Late night listening don't get any dreamier, I'm utterly immersed in its charm and tranquility.

The parents do not understand us

Les parents ne nous comprennent pas! Picked up this soundtrack while on my travels around France, in a quirky little music shop in Bordeaux. I haven't seen the film that it soundtracks, it's called Le bal des actrices [2009] (The Ball of the Actresses) a French film directed by Maïwenn. A film about a director that, while shooting a documentary about all kinds of actresses, falls for one of them. Linh-Dan Pham plays herself, born in 1974 she is a French actress of Vietnamese descent. As it turns out she's not a bad singer either with her cute Vietnamese ascent singing in French. The rest of the soundtrack is pretty good too!

Buy it on iTunes

Spark up the fireworks!

Following up The band's 2009 debut, Post-Nothing Japandroids new set of songs are blistering uplifting! The appropriately titled Celebration Rock is certainly worth celebrating. The Nights of Wine and Roses kicks off the album in fine style. Highly Recommended

Get the full story on the band at japandroids.com

Avant-pop 

Great new tune and lead single from Matthew Dear's forthcoming LP Beams, the followup to 2010's Black City.

Her Fantasy is classic Dear and an outstanding single to preview the new LP with. Bring it on!

Drones over BKLYN

Loving this tune from EL-P, taken off new album Cancer 4 Cure. Sounds fresh and old-skool at the same time. Drones over BKLYN bashes up organ synths and big bad beats. 

But it on iTunes click here.

The earth is but a dayglo reflection

Bobby Womack, a legend in his own right has worked with an amazing variety of musicians during a long career, opening for Sam Cooke back in the day he's also played with Ray Charles, Jackie Wilson, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Sly Stone to name a few. More recently with Damon Albarn's Gorillaz superband. Following that he's now released The Bravest Man in the Universe, his first album of original songs in 18 years collaborating with Damon Albarn and Richard Russell (who resurrected Gil Scott-Heron's career with the amazing I'm New Here, his last album before his untimely death).

Dayglo Reflection rather unexpectedly throws in Lana Del Ray into the mix with superb results and certainly one of Damon’s best melodies since his Blur heyday. It has a real raw edge to it, Lana's emotional swoon complimenting nicely Womack's raspy croon. Good Album Recommended.

Impressions de voyage

Avec son nouvel album Les passagers, Berry nous donne rendez-vous pour un voyage en première classe.

Elise Pottier AKA Berry's second album is all about traveling with the one you love. I spent last week driving around France with this on repeat (together with Sebastian Tellier's excellent new album - My God is Blue) and it's a beautify crafted album of folky songs and french pop with a Gainsbourg-esque arrangements holding it all together. This, the title track is my current favourite. Following her excellent debut Mademoiselle this is the perfect follow-up, recommended.

Like this? Try: Francoise Hardy, Jane Burkin, Olivia Ruiz