Lopez Blogs

I am sort of having a fake birthday today :) My real birthday is tomorrow, but for the first time in years I will be working (hideola) so I may as well take full advantage of the bank holiday, royal wedding good mood afterglow & celebratory atmosphere in the world today and pretend that it is today. So I am. I've had some nice clothes, books, blu-rays and some Starbucks fruit toast. Now I am undertaking this quick blog while Darren makes his yumsicles lasagne. What a nice fella. Plus, some of my fave acts are releasing singles today so I get to luxuriate in spiffing new music. Read on, chums, read on...

The Feeling ~ Seven Years: I started this blog in 2006 and one of my first obsessions was The Feeling - 5 years later, that obsession hasn't waned. They are one step closer to releasing their much anticipated third album later this year and their comeback single, Set My World On Fire, is out today! I've already written about that extensively (here), as well as their ace Freemasons collaboration Searched Every Corner so am focusing on their excellent b-side. The Feeling have a history of putting entirely single-worthy tracks on the "flip" side of singles - Sun Is Shining is a great example as is their exquisite cover of She's Gone. They've backed SMWOF with the live favourite Seven Years and the studio version sounds every bit as amazing as the live track. Propelled by a persistent drum beat, it has all the hallmarks of a great Feeling tune - multi layered, sumptuous instrumentals, gloriously soaring chorus that is instantly memorable and tremendous harmonies from the rest of the band. It's all very good indeed, but make sure you pay particular attention to a smashing middle 8 that begins at about 2m18s. There are some haunting "whoos" over the drum riff, before Dan slows it all down for a few seconds to give an extra exhilaration to the final chorus. Magnifico. Can't wait for the album...


Gravitonas ft Roma Kenga ~ Everybody Dance: Gravitonas continue to be one of the most reliable, consistent, yet surprising new acts of the past 12 months. Not much more than a year has passed since they made us fly with their Kites (note: How'd Andreas get those trousers so tight?!) and since then we've the pop-opera-majesty of Religious (totally what Judas should have been aiming for Ms Gaga) and the devastatingly brilliant You Break Me Up. Pausing only presumably to catch their breath, they now present this blistering dance anthem. There's no part of this that can be dismissed as 'just another dance tune' as each element stands out yet blends together so perfectly. An Ibiza-ish trance beat leads the proceedings, but added into the pot are a hypnotically chiming synth couplet, sinister sounding strings that really make the lyrics "everybody dance... for your life" stand out in the throbbing, euphoric chorus, a distinctly eastern influenced middle 8 and of course perfect vocal delivery throughout. Stop searching right now because you've just found the dance anthem of the summer. Complex yet deliciously more-ish. TRIUMPH (ps, why does Andreas always look SO good in a tux?!).


Le Kid ~ America: It may seemingly be audacious for Le Kid to constantly claim each single is your new favourite song, but frankly they would be right. For an act to follow up Mercy Mercy with We Could Home Together and then the insanely bonkers & brillo Oh My God, well they have earned the right to recognise their amazingness. The next release from their upcoming debut (Oh Alright Then) is the timely America. It's somewhat more laid back than their previous songs, but don't be expecting a ballad at all. It is in fact a vivacious mid-tempo pop groover that just shines from start to finish. There is a warm and fuzzy quasi-disco beat, languid harmonies that are filled with yearning & emotion and a chorus that positively sparkles with energy & purpose. They clearly love all things pop and this is as instant a classic as Girls Aloud's Call The Shots or Pet Shop Boys' The Night I Fell In Love. Oh so dreamy and oh so essential. Now please tell me there's a photoshoot with Anton looking all Mad Men :)

Full video breakdowns of all these tunes coming whenever they are released :)