Return of the Real Deal

Sorry for the break there, I've been ridiculously busy taking part in One World Week, the largest student international festival in the world held at the University of Warwick...





Now I've just about caught up on my sleep there will be a nice bit coming about Miri Ben-Ari, who I saw performing as part of OWW, but first here is a little ditty that I really quite like, Bruises, by Chairlift. A little bit shamefully I got the name and artist from watching The Hills, but I'm convinced I've heard it somewhere else. Any ideas? Answers on a stamped addressed envelope please!

(PS - I know the picture is of an actual chairlift rather than of the band, but it's so cool I wanted to include it anyways!)

Update - I just twigged that the song is featured in the iPod nano advert. Bummer.

Florence and the Machine

You Got the Love
Recently featured on MTV's 'M is for Music' adverts, Florence's outstanding voice grabs you instantly on this extraordinary cover (the B side to her new single, Dog Days Are Over). It seems strange that Florence only allows her vocal talents to shine on her cover versions (see the breathtaking Hospital Beds for further reference) - you almost can't help but wonder if she's afraid that her voice will outshine her songwriting abilities. Or perhaps its only that by contrasting her voice against the either Candi Station of the Source or Cold War Kids' Nathan Willett that the sheer skill, power, and strangeness it of really comes to light. I'm really excited to see what new material Florence will give us in the new year - here's hoping she'll write a song that demonstrates her voice rather than looking to other peoples to do it for her.

The MTV advert that first brought this track to my attention is nowhere to be seen on youtube or anywhere else, but here is Florence and the Machine doing it live at Bestival this year (admittedly this live version is a bit patchier than the recorded one!)

How bloody cool is she?!

And perhaps further proof as to my cover version theory, I just stumbled across her doing Kelly Clarkson's Since You've Been Gone with Mark Ronson on youtube. That voice is nothing if not powerful.


Sorry for the week-long hiatus by the way - that was one of the weeks without internet that I mentioned earlier...

Seasonal treats coming soon!