Peace // In Love

So I haven't written anything about bands for a while so I thought I'd share a new band I've fallen for recently.

Peace are a four-piece Indie band from Worcester, England.

If indie music is your thing, I would quite confidently bet money on you enjoying this band just as much as I do.

They have those staple blunt, melancholic vocals you'd associate with an indie band, which they've coupled with psychedelic guitar riffs and disco-rock drum beats. I almost feel like they could be a bizarre love child between a slight glam-rock and indie band.

Their music has quite an eclectic mix. They move flawlessly between classic hard-hitting indie anthems (such as Bloodshake and the Foals-esque Wraith) and slower, softer ballads with songs such as Float Forever and California Daze so I feel as if their recently released album 'In Love' has something for any indie music fan.

They could easily be on their way to becoming the next big thing in the indie-music scene - or at least I think they should be - and a festival essential.

They're currently touring around the UK and as I've said, their debut album is available to buy, or stream on Spotify, as well as their EP 'EP Delicious'.

Become infatuated.

Bloc Party // Four

Waking up this morning, it seemed like every other day: I'd get up, make myself a cup of tea and retire back to my bed for an hour or so of mind-numbing daytime television.

All while downstairs in the kitchen, I had August 20th marked down with 'BLOC PARTY ALBUM!'. I was counting down the days. Soon I would have the long-awaited album in my hands.

I was aware there had been various leaks surfacing on the internet, as well as the band themselves streaming the album on their website, but I had vowed to keep away from it until I could have a solid copy to listen to.

So there I was, in bed, when my brother bursts through my door with a parcel in his hands. I was slightly confused... I hadn't been expecting anything. Then he says those words that make my heart beat faster: "It feels like a CD".

Could it be?!

I grabbed it off of him and ripped it open and there, in all it's glory, were those 4 concentric circles in red, blue, yellow and green. I had it. I was finally holding Four. I couldn't help but just hug it and savor it for a few minutes. It may sound like an over-reaction but every Bloc Party fan has been waiting three years for this moment to arrive.

I had no idea what to expect from it as I placed the CD into my laptop. I had heard people say it was a lot heavier than the previous albums and it had been highly praised. From what I had heard from 'Octopus' and 'Day Four' I was sure it would be something incredible but all I knew at that moment was that I had to turn up the volume and just let the music take hold of me.

Straight in with the first song 'So He Begins To Lie' and it seemed everyone was right, it was much heavier but this wasn't anything I would be complaining about, instead, I was reveling in it.
Their use of guitar has become much heavier and they have a more apparent rock sound, moving away slightly from their previous mellow indie image.

However, they don't leave it behind completely.
Songs such as 'Day Four', 'Real Talk', 'Truth' and 'The Healing' take them back to their Silent Alarm roots with that 'This Modern Love' sound.

I noticed as I was listening to it that they seem to split the different genres up, with heavier songs being broken up by a chilled out, mellow song placed in between. It is pretty refreshing to have something softer in between so you don't feel, perhaps, bombarded with this brand new sound from them.

As well as that, Kele splits up the songs with his own version of an interlude: odd little anecdotes and musings. They provide the listener with a laugh as well as an insight into the band's personality, showing that they're much more than just the music.

I can safely say that Four was worth the three years of waiting and avoiding all the material online. I love this new sound from them, albeit I'm slightly bias being a rock fan, and if anybody hasn't been much of a Bloc Party fan from their previous albums then I'd definitely recommend that they give this a listen.
I have no other words to describe it other than simply: incredible.

Bloc Party are back!

Music Recommendation // Dog Is Dead

Bored of listening to the same old bands and songs?
Well, it's that time again!

I'm here to provide you with something new to please your ears.

I'd previously heard Dog Is Dead whilst surfing through the music channels one evening as I lay on the couch with the boredom washing over me and they were brought back to my attention today as I tuned into Fearne Cotton's Radio 1 show today.

They're a five-piece band from Nottingham, England and describe their music as 'indie pop'.
If you want a better idea of what they sound like before deciding to listen to them, then think of Noah and The Whale, with a slightly more indie twist at times.. and there, you have Dog Is Dead.
Like the sound of that? Well you should.

I currently have their selection of songs from Spotify playing as I write this post and they almost sound familiar because they are so Noah and The Whale-esque.
Their music has also appeared in Skins so you may recognise them from that.

At the moment they have three EPs available: 'Dog Is Dead', 'Your Childhood' and 'Confessions' but have yet to release their debut album.
These EPs still provide us with enough material to get a feel for the band and to get us more excited about the awaited album.

As I stated, their music is also available on Spotify if you want to have a listen before purchasing anything.

If you're currently feeling stressed then I think this will be the perfect band to chill out to, especially if the sun is shining.
Dog Is Dead are an essential to have on your Summer 2012 playlist.

Music Recommendation // Edelweiss

Are you a fan of Foals and Two Door Cinema Club?

Have you ever been listening to either and thought, "Wouldn't it be great if I could take the vocals of Foals and the rhythm of Two Door Cinema Club and create a brand new ultimate band?"

Well, fear not, my music fanatic!
Your prayers have been answered.

Edelweiss, a new band from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania have emerged to meet all your indie music needs!
I came across the band, consisting of Thomas Vitale (vocals/bass), Niko Porlier (vocals/guitar), Tony Young (guitar) and Coby Porlier (drums), on a regular new music search and was instantly stopped in my tracks.
As a fan of Foals and Two Door Cinema Club, I immediately linked them together and fell in love.

At first, I was puzzled by the name, obviously creating some German connotations.
Do not be tricked by the hard exterior of the band's name because under that shell, there's plenty of soft marshmallow indie goodness. Almost like a good old Tunnock's Tea Cake.

Surely, that image should be enough for you to go ahead and give them a listen.
Don't be deprived of discovering this musical magic.
Two downloads are available on their Purevolume website ('(NO)' and 'Fiasco') so go forth and download them and let them make their way up to your top 25 played songs on your iTunes!

You can thank me later.