Lopez Blogs

I'm very busy and important at work you know. Ok, well I'm not as busy this week and probably not all that important, but it's nice to big "oneself" up every now and again isn't it? Plus I'm proper pleased with myself today because I've finally mastered those crashing piano chords in Marit Larsen's If A Song Could Get Me You. I sound dead sexy and my fingers look all inviting! Anyway, besides the point. I'm pretty bad at responding to or acting upon the press release e-mails that somehow end up in my inbox. Sometimes they sit there for weeks before I open them which means I'm not particularly topical am I?! But when I do feel inclined to open some, I occassionally find something worth listening to. Here is a selection of the best I've received over the past few weeks...

THE PRESS RELEASE PLAY LIST:

Bananarama: Of course you know that Bananarama are releasing the best song ~ Love Don't Live Here ~ from their Viva album! And of course you know how it is an entirely massive disco epic that deserves a good few weeks in the top five. The video shows off the gently different but alluring swanky remix. And apparently one of my fave Rams songs (Every Shade of Blue) is getting a new version on the cd single. PLUS! The Runner is being remixed for the b-side. I've already got some ace dance moves (stolen from Elouise). I'll be the belle of the gaydisco ball...

Kameron Martinez ~ Kameron is a sassy little bugger isn't he? Not only does he have this weird eyewear fetish thing going on that makes me go a bit wobbly in the pantal area, but he has a fuzzy dirty electro pop ditty doing the rounds called Mr Manhater. There's a lot going on in the song - skeezy synths, hyper beats and a vocal that becomes more seductive as the song presses on. It's designed to enflame the senses and it would fit quite easily onto a sweaty dancefloor, men bumping carelessly into each other as they strut their funky stuff and get down with their bad selves. Surprisingly, the chorus is quite low-key melody wise, but it works well within the concept of the song and amidst the intoxicating rhythm is an addictive little ditty. Free download on his myspace page...

Performance ~ I have to say that one of the most eye catching email senders in PR is Andre from Work It Media. He has a rather distinctive way with words that I really like. He introduced me not only to the adorable Candle Thieves but also to Kiss In Cities which form 2/3rds of this band Performance. The band are fronted by Joe Stretch who has also written for the upcoming Hurts album and I feel I don't need to even write anything more to love them. Yet their rather wonderful single The Living is a pulsating and vibrant piece of pop that matches their rather bleak lyrics to a tune that soars. It's carefully crafted and apparently details the fractured relationships the band members sometime have. It's raw and honest, yet deliriously delicious while it's at it. Quintessentially British and proud of it too. Je t'adore.

Holestar ~ The name says it all doesn't it? Sometimes, pop needs someone to come along that is a bit larger than life and challenges your perceptions of what a popstar can be. Holestar is that woman and what a woman! She dresses up as a man, who dresses up as a woman! Emerging like a butterfly from the alternative London club scene with her debut single NyLon Woman, I just love how this gives the world an insight into the creative cabaret that exists on the London (and beyond) scene but is often overshadowed by more conventional fare. It's a sound of the underground pumping electro house ditty that resonates with feel good vibes and a throw your hands in the air atmosphere. What's particularly ace is that it never makes you feel like you are not cool enough to be part of the crew - it's more a grab the one you're with and party song. Bonza...

The Bang Bang Club ~ Good garden gnomes! Remember Protocol? I think I saw them live back in the very early days when I was thezapping. Well a bit of them are back, spruced up and now known as The Bang Bang Club which is actually quite a very good name for a band because it instantly makes their fans feel like they are part of something - and something a little bit naughty too. They have basically come out with a single called Chemistry which is rather splendid - it's drenched in synths, exciting beats and a blinding chorus that channels the best of the 80s synth-pop influences into something modern and brilliant. At time, it's reminiscent of the fun and passion the Scissor Sisters bring to their music Absolutely addictive, they are bloody gorgeous, they release the song on my birthday and good grief, like I need a new obsession in my life, but I have one. Bang bang. I'm there.

Don't forget to check me out on lovely Larry Flick tomorrow at 8am EST/1pm GMT!!