Lopez Blogs

Once upon a time (in the west), I was ever so ever so taken with new indie band on the block, Hard-Fi. Their tune Tied Up Too Tight was a blistering modern rock tune (that reminds me, whatever happened to Jag who sang Lover in Handcuffs) and their live shows had an energy and slightly dangerous vibe about them that was strangely alluring. The critics and public fell in love with them though deserted them a little bit during album number two. They've had some time off, regrouped and are now back with the lead off single from their upcoming third album. Some of you may think that it's not the sort of tune or act I would normally feature on here, but there is something really earthy, organic and compulsive about Good For Nothing. It's a different direction from what we've heard from the gang before, with a definite tip of the hat to the Rolling Stones and some ska influences in there too. It sounds like it will be best played in sweaty live venues with beer spilled over you and people pogo-ing around to the chanting chorus. It takes a few listens but once you've let the atmosphere soak in you realise it's a worthy return and I'm excited to hear the album...

Top 21 songs of the week:


21 ~ Andrea Lewis, She
20 ~ Lady Gaga, Born This Way
19 ~ Same Difference, Best Mistake
18 ~ Rochella Danishei, Never Been Kissed
17 ~ Kylie, Put Your Hands Up
16 ~ Take That, Happy Now
15 ~ Shayne Ward, Close to Close
14 ~ Joe McElderry, Fire with Fire
13 ~ Le Kid, America (NE)
12 ~ Scissor Sisters, Sex and Violence
11 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Starlight
10 ~ Lady Gaga, Judas
09 ~ Brandon Flowers, Was It Something I Said?
08 ~ Westlife, I Will Reach You
07 ~ Eric Saade, Popular
06 ~ Elouise, Born This Way
05 ~ The Feeling, Set My World On Fire (VID)
04 ~ Nerina Pallot, Put Your Hands Up
03 ~ Maroon 5, Is There Anybody Out There?
02 ~ Sara Ramirez, The Story
01 ~ Gravitonas ft Roma Kenga, Everybody Dance (NE/1 WEEK)

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 :)

Do you know what we celebrate today? One year since debut single of Gravitonas "Kites" has seen the light!
Gravitonas has become essential part of life and music interests for many Swedish pop-fans during last year. 10 amazing songs, 2 singles+upcoming "Everybody Dance" and 2 EPs, how much more can Gravitonas give us? I'm sure a lot and everything's just starting.
Let's celebrate this day with Gravitonas' performance of "You Break Me Up" at Bingolotto that they've done earlier this year but it has leaked on youtube only now.
By the way guys have just shot million dollar video for "Everybody Dance" in Moscow and due to Alexander it's gonna be really scandalous work that we'll be able to watch this June. You can check some photos from shooting video here.

Not so long ago I told you about brand new single of Gravitonas and Roma Kenga "Everybody Dance" - result of international collaboration recorded both Moscow and Stockholm studios this winter via Skype communication! As it was announced first country to get release of new single will be Russia and the rest of the world later. Single includes three versions of the song - produced by Roma (we've heard this one before), by Gravitonas and by Adam Rickfors (radio, club and dub version). Now we can check Gravitonas' and Adam Rickfors' (radio and club) versions right here.
Comparing with Kenga's Gravitonas' version is more calm, poppier and disco-version with dramatic tune wrapped in dance-sound reminding BWO-stuff a bit, still very radio-friendly and pack of goodies for Swedish pop-fans. Adam Rickfors' version is massive club-mix with incredibly anthemic start turning to complete club-massacre that we undoubtfully love!
Alexander has also revealed that initially colaboration was planned with Morandi, it hasn't happened but obviously what have come out of their work with Roma really deserves to be proud of and shooting of video of forthcoming hit will be done in Moscow in late April.

One of massive pop-discoveries of last year Gravitonas is ready to hit new markets and keep conquering hearts of new listeners, now trying to break through to East European audience guys have recorded brand new song with Russian popular artist Roma Kenga working as DJ befre and making big career of pop-artist in Russia last few years.
Future hit that they've recorded is called "Everybody Dance", it's dark electro-pop song with strong party spirit sounding on one hand quite recognizable with electro-filtered vocals and melancholic manner of singing but on the other hand it's something completely new, more commercial and melodically different leaving feeling of renewed project's sound and atmosphere. You can check the song yourself coming here and clicking over player's widget.

Big news for all fans of Alexander Bard. Alexander is going to be involved in next season of Swedish Idol as jury-member replacing Andreas Carlsson who decided to leave but still Anders and Laila Bagge together with Alexander and Pelle Lidell are on board. Does it mean that Alexander is aimed to hunt for some young talents for creating some new exciting music project? However it's gonna be really interesting to follow this Idol-track. Three seasons in a row we had jury giving standing ovations to winners with strong rock-voices but without proper commercial uniqueness to successfully move further after Idol so now we have a chance this situation will change.
Talking about current Alexander's project - Gravitonas, we've got fresh remix video for Video Violence Remix for single "Religious" and though this mix wasn't our fave in a pack, now we like it much more.

Hurrah! It is only 35 days until Christmas and therefore I feel totally legitimised to undertake some Christmas magic and start doing a whole host of Christmas lists to take us up until the big day! I know you are just as excited about this as I am and cannot wait to join in the festive spirit! Deck your halls! Roast your chestnuts! Get those lips puckered for the mistletoe!! I always like something as brilliantly deliriously amazing as Mean Girls doing Jingle Bell Rock (above) to kick off my Christmas Crazy so you all enjoy that while I compose my first list of essential festive feel gooders to persuade you over to my way of thinking! Oh! And read the comments for how to contribute to the online Christmas Card this year. It's going to be a doozy!

CHRISTMAS GOES POP, VOLUME ONE:

• Glee ~ Deck The Rooftop: One of the two saving graces on the Glee christmas album (the other makes a different list)is this medley of Deck The Halls and Up On The Rooftop - all set to a backing track that owes quite a lot to Beyonce's Single Ladies! It's perky, it's joyous, it's fun, it's catchy, it's like a sumptuously filled marks and spencers mince pie (not one of the cheap ones from Asda). Absolutely essential...Sue The Grinch airs when I'm in Florida too (Dec 7th). Amazes.
• Bananarama ~ Baby It's Christmas (above): I was lucky enough to give you a preview of what this sounds like a little while back and played it on Larry Flick's Morning Jolt yesterday. It's a hi-NRG, big beat, solid dance floor filler that is equal part tears on the dancefloor as it is hopeless optimism. A chorus that is more giving than Santa's sack, it beautifully complements the Viva era Bananarama and proves that they still have a knack of churning out absolutely brilliant tunes. So baby, just stop stop pulling my heartstrings...
• A*Teens ~ I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday: The turn of the new millenium saw a whole host of poptastic acts like A*Teens taking on festive faves with a whole new disco spin to them. The Swedish four piece give this Wizzard classic a dancefloor dressing down that will keep your candy canes spinning until new years... PS Christ on a trampoline, have you seen Dhani lately (scroll down! Thanks Scandipop!)
• Fast Food Rockers ~ I Love Christmas: It's all sorts of a travesty that the FFR didn't somehow manage to break out of their food themed debut. There is something deliciously melted cheesy about this song with it's snowy video and warming message. It should absolutely be my anthem.
• Girls Aloud ~ I Wanna Kiss You So: Bish bash bosh, whooo! You give me something that i never get from santa claus!! What else is there to say?! I always use this song to seduce Darren :)
• Kimberley Locke ~ We Need A Little Christmas: Mame the film is grossly underrated. This song from Mame is criminally overlooked. And Kimberley's definitive version of it from her entirely delightful Christmas album should be played loud and proud as you start to welcome those festive revellers who have come around to help you pop up your eco-sustainable Christmas tree. So good I can never listen once.
• Kylie ~ Santa Baby: There are many naughty, saucy, slutty and downright disgraceful versions of this track. Kylie manages to of course ooze the right amount of sex appeal while balancing it with a charmingly innocent and naive sounding vocal - almost like she doesn't know how foxy she is being. And seeing as this is circa the gold hot pants era, that's quite the achievement. Brava diva kylie, brava.
• Play ~ As Long As There's Christmas: Take the song from one of fave Disney spin offs ever (Beauty and the Beast: An Enchanted Christmas), give it a shuffling disco-swe-pop beat and I'm in jingle bell heaven. It's one of those ridiculously optimistic christmas singles that just makes you feel a little bit better knowing it exists. Or is that just me?
• Steps ~ Merry Christmas Everyone: Hurrah! Steps do Christmas! Well they did about 8 years ago, but it's still a giddy little treat. Essentially exactly the same as A*Teens did with I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday but with the Slade classic. The middle 8 manages to sound positively filthy somehow. What on earth were people getting upto under the mistletoe?!
• S Club Juniors ~ Sleigh Ride: I love Sleigh Ride and you can't really top the Debbie Gibson version from the early 90s, but this is just so enthusiastic and jolly that it makes want you to pop on bobble hat, scarf and those mittens that have the string that goes down your coat sleeves so you don't lose them! Roast those chestnuts!!
• S Club ~ Perfect Christmas: And finish off with one of the most beautiful yearning ballads that those slightly more mature S Clubbers did. Wasted as a b-side but I somehow manage to use the lyrics in Darren's Christmas card every single bloody year. He must be sick of it by now but the tradition will continue this year... Poor lad :P

Many more Christmas lists coming soon! And here's this week's festive top ten NEW Christmas songs... 10) Annie Lennox, Universal Child 09) Indigo Girls, I Feel The Christmas Spirit 08) Lady Antebellum, All I Want For Christmas Is You 07) Pink Martini, A Snowglobe Christmas 06) Wilson Phillips, Warm Loving Christmastime 05) The Puppini Sisters, Step Into Christmas 04) Sarah Dawn Finer, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 03) Mans Zelmerlow, December 02) Mariah Carey, Oh Santa 01) Bananarama, Baby It's Christmas (2 weeks)

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Robbie Williams, Heart & I
20 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag
19 ~ Joe McElderry, Wake Me Up
18 ~ Darin, Drowning
17 ~ Eric Saade, Break of Dawn
16 ~ Kylie, Better Than Today
15 ~ Ola, Riot
14 ~ A1, In Love & I Hate It
13 ~ McFly, Shine A Light
12 ~ Shayne Ward, Gotta Be Somebody
11 ~ Daniel Boys, To Make You Feel My Love (NE)
10 ~ Le Kid, We Should Go Home Together (VID)
09 ~ Westlife, Safe
08 ~ EMD, What Is Love
07 ~ JLS, Love You More
06 ~ P!nk, Raise Your Glass
05 ~ Deborah Gibson, I Love You
04 ~ Andrea Lewis & Simon Curtis, Talk To Me
03 ~ Elouise, You'll Never Walk Alone (NE)
02 ~ Take That, The Flood
01 ~ Gravitonas, You Break Me Up (3 weeks)

Gravitonas have been one of the most thrilling new acts to emerge this year. They haven't hidden behind flashy gimmicks or musical trends - they've just continued to put out quality singles and EPs that are lyrically insightful (often devastatingly so) matched with visually arresting videos. They are now back with their second EP (Coliseum) and third single (You Break Me Up). After playing them almost non-stop for a day now, I'm here to give you my initial thoughts on this release. (for more thoughts on Gravitonas, read about Kites here, Religious video and their debut EP here)...

• You Break Me Up ~ I honestly thought that nothing could top the awe inspiring Religious. This epic piece of musical creation will definitely be one of my top pop tunes of 2010 and continues to resonate with me today. You Break Me Up is a different, more sombre creature but no less enticing and is still dripping with musical genius. If I were a boyband, I would be begging my management to get me a song like this. The song is an elegant ballad that wisely begins with a focus on Andreas' haunting vocal, which I could easily listen to all day. Lyrically, it's a brutally honest depiction of a fractured relationship, the type where it's as joyous as it is painful. The subdued lyrics are matched by a glorious backing track - a militant drum beat, soaring strings and a delicate but prominent guitar riff. Every element of the tune has been lovingly crafted together to create a sonic listening experience that complements everything within the tune. The middle 8 is somehow gutwrenchingly emotional - there aren't many times a guitar solo can do that to me, but coming out of the sometimes gloomy, sometimes optimistic lyrics it just adds to the overall feeling imbued within the tune. An astonishingly effective piece of work.
• Dry Your Eyes ~ no, not a cover of The Streets "classic" - this is a string laden dance number. Dance with an organic, tribal feeling to it - and thematically, it actually flows well as a pep talk to the protaganist of the You Break Me Up number. It's actually quite inspirational - a kind way of saying, oh get over it, you are better than this; now move on and achieve greatness. Once again a fine vocal from Andreas and he and Alexander can sit down and give me this sort of pep talk any old time. The strings are lush in this. It takes me back to my school days and wanting to finger a violin all over again (my parents made me take clarinet instead!)
• Not Gonna Be Dancing ~ what a magnificent intro this has. Very dramatic. Instantly, my mind went to BWO's We Should Be Dancing, Scissor Sisters' I Don't Feel Like Dancing and Same Difference's If You Can't Dance. This is a swirling rave infused number that still manages to weave the rock elements of Gravitonas' mission statement into the mix. There are strings, beats, guitar and pounding drums with a euphoric middle 8. I'm praying that there will be some remixes of this at some point in the future. Also want to see this performed live (well every track) as can only imagine what an amazing performance it has to go with it. Definitely strong enough to be a single, and continuing the somewhat downbeat theme of the EP. Actually, this track is almost like a gothic fairytale single; everything about it is a nightmare (in a good way) - the singer doesn't want to dance without his lady/fella yet is trapped in this darkened instrumental that almost forces one to get up and shimmy. Very clever indeed. Almost a juxtaposition of lyric to music and again, one that works incredibly well.
• Youth Is Wasted On The Young ~ love the title. Alone, this makes it epic. Built around a synth beat, it deals with one of life's great travesties - youth is celebrated, yet often youth don't have the resources to deal with it. Then as we get older, we are trapped in lives we didn't always plan and don't have the energy/know how of how to change life. Clever little bonmots in the lyrics make this extra special "you can tell your Dr Jekyl, he's been hiding Mr Hyde"... A fine end to a downbeat EP that still manages to make you feel grand, only for the fact that you are listening to some of the finest pop creations this year.

You Break Me Up ~ video overview:

• It's possible that this is a continuation of Religious. Alexander is a priest again and at the end of that clip, Andreas was reborn through his baptism in a rather cold looking sea. This clip starts off with a funeral - Andreas as it turns out :( No one that beautiful should die so young!
• The funeral procession - and the sad nature of it - is offset by it being surrounded by tweeting birds and some lovely outdoor nature. Clever use of imagery - life mixed with death. Andreas looks a bit wobbly in the coffin, but has a singalong anyway, much like Darin after he'd been murdered in Lovekiller...
• The coffin carriers (surely there is a better name for them than this?!) manage to get the coffin over a dodgy looking brick wall and then start dressing appropriately for the ceremony. It's all robes and incense.
• Nighttime falls and a grave is dug for Andreas. Shots of the full moon and dirt being thrown on the coffin, mixed with the masked nature of those at the ceremony give it a distinctly eerie feel. The camera pans down to about, ooo, i should think six feet under...
• From about 2m to about 2m25, you get Andreas singing from his coffin, with roots already penetrating his early grave. I know I shouldn't really be focusing on this, but he has a really amazing pair of boots on. If anyone wants to send me a pair of boots like this, you should absolutely feel free and receive karmic reward...
• The middle 8 flits between nighttime tribalistic banging of the drums and daytime guitar solo, with the guitarist wearing a very flowing cape a la Madonna in Frozen.
• In porn, the scene at 2m55 is often called the money shot. This isn't porn however, just glorious imagery - as Andreas decomposes, roots become flowers bringing new life and a Christlike Andreas is reborn, bathed in light. Massive symbolism here, and I'm convinced this is linked to the end of Religious...
• Various natural elements rise around Andreas, like a halo of life while Alexander looks on. It's unclear whether this is their combined doing or just the rebirth of Andreas but it's rather marvelous.
• At the end the chanting of Alexander seems to have bought Andreas back to life. YAY! Is there nothing this man can't do? He's like Willow in the season six premiere of Buffy! Another glorious video. I'm so smitten with Gravitonas :)

Tomorrow ~ EMD! Same Difference! Ed Drewett! Then X-Factor this weekend!

"The Coliseum EP" from Gravitonas is out and it turned to be even more amazing than previous "The Hypnosis EP" of the band, very concentrated and strong work.
Lead single "You Break Me Up" is the first ballad-single of the project - anthemic pop-rock ballad with the greatest instrumental you've ever heard from Gravitonas, you can find it sounding a bit final soundtrack-way and it would be soundtrack of really high level.
New instrumental movement from electronic music of "The Hypnosis" to live beats, guitars and massive strings keeps going on "Dry Your Eyes", it's more dynamic track but still thoughtful and with dramatic vocal part.
"Not Gonna Be Dancing" starts in pop-rock verse but growing with wild dance beat in chorus, stylistically it's like older brother of "Shameless" - more amateur and dark.
Final track "Youth Is Wasted On The Young" is probably the most BWOesque track of Gravitonas with dark synth melodic verses and dramatic choruses acompanied by Kites beat.
You can already check all the tracks below and I recommend you to do it right away!

UPDATE: It hasn't take a lot of time for "You Break Me Up" video to flow out. The darkest work of Gravitonas showing funeral of Andreas burried by Alexander himself but growing up with plants through the ground and coming back to life again. Deep idea and touching video, another piece of pop-art from Alexander Bard.

Second single "Religious" of new Alexander Bard's project Gravitonas is released and as always Alexander provides whole pack for fans promoting new piece of his music so we get video and single full of the most different mixes for all tastes and dancefloors.
Video for "Religious" turned be great Gravitonas' mystic style continuation of "Kites" but just like the song the video is more positive and meditative than "Kites", though it's still filled with grotesque characters, weird scenes and you can see Alexander and Andreas as psychologist and patient, priest and baptized in Gravitonas religion, visitors of dancing forest people in bizarre costumes, pictures which can remind you some Fever Ray's videos. It turns to be one of the most beautiful atmospherical videos of the year and undoubtfully another bright highlight of Gravitonas.
You should also check remixes from Dada Life, Soundfactory, Video Violence, Adam Rickfors and Anders Nyman, our favorite is the first one, really massive dancefloor killer with electro twist and brilliant buzzing baseline.
Few weeeks ago Gravitonas released their first EP with 4 new songs and in interview to FizzyPop Alexander has told about his plans to release another one and third video before release of album that will be presented not before the end of this year, talking about his previous project BWO Alexander hasn't any plans for comeback considering Gravitonas as his Present that he's totally into right now. You can find many other interesting facts and plans in this interesting interview so don't hesitate to check it!

Gravitonas certainly won me over with Kites, but i've become a full time disciple thanks to their gorgeous new single "Religious" (read my EP review here)... And just like the brillo video to Kites, they have excelled themselves once again with a visual treat that you get the full rundown to below (plus a little chat with the charming fellas after)...

• Pause as soon as the video comes on the screen... it's a rather lovely shot of Andreas Ohrn looking all serene and like some sort of southern gentleman. Gosh, he's a handsome chappy isn't he?
• He seems to be the patient to Alexander's therapist role - a role that the latter visually suits very well with his enquiring eyes and sucking on a pipe. That wallpaper is just ghastly though!
• Alexander seems to be contemplating every word as Andreas emotes the lyrics. It seems that he is singing to his therapist when he says "i used to be hollow/then you came along"...
• As the beat kicks in, the scene alternates between a windy outdoors, and the horribly wallpapered indoors, which is enough to make anyone need psychiatric help. Alexander's pipe gets greatly engorged, which surely must be some sort of sexual metaphor?!
• Oh! love that the window has a heavenly glow subtly shining through it. Tres bon.
• Outdoors and walking to the sea, there is pink clad shaman figure holding an awful lot of pink balloons. It looks pretty nippy out there...
• At 1m40s onwards, there is some brilliant gothic imagery with Andreas standing clad in a rather amazing coat, standing atop some rocks with the sea crashing behind him. It's video art, and reminiscent of Madonna's Frozen, but without the creepy crows...
• Alexander has taken on a priest type role in this scene - interestingly, his chair is much further away from the couch than when he was in his therapist role. Some sort of commentary on how far religion is removed from understanding the problems of the (un)common man? Or am I getting too deep?!
• Priest Alexander is flanked by two non-pink shaman. One has an ace hat/headgear made out of washing up gloves - and not your cheap as chips yellow ones either. I have found my halloween costume!
• The exhilarating second chorus sees the colourful shaman troop through the woods (followed by our beloved Gravitonas duo) like some sort of spiritual Priscilla Queen of the Desert quest. Pause at 2m41s and more video art appears - the shaman posse standing in front of the misty woods is somehow both creepy and glorious all at the same time. Much like most modern religions...
• Alexander and Andreas approach them, like some sort of celestial Watson and Holmes. Pause at 2m57s for the most terrified eyes I've seen in a while. It's beautifully shot and instantly conveys the uncertainty and terror of our next steps that we all sometimes feel in life...
• As Andreas sings the last "religious" of the middle 8, he looks positively possessed and the video continues to focus on his dominating presence while an animalistic freedom of movement takes place around him. Astonishing.
• As Alexander releases an electronic "aah" at 3m40s, it's a glorious moment and you can almost smell the incense and ferocity of the woodland scene. Love. It.
• The video ends with Gravitonas walking almost hand in hand into the sea for the cleansing kiss of baptism. Such an amazing video...

A quick chat with Gravitonas...


- Not to fawn too early on, but Religious actually makes me weak at the knees each time I listen to it. It's pop communion! And a bit like Army of Lovers "Crucified" has been resurrected for a whole new audience. Where/how did the song originate?

Andreas: We wanted to make a sequel to the first single "Kites". Like a Kites 2.0. One day when I came to the studio Alexander and co-producer/writer Henrik Wikström showed me a couple of new ideas and one of them was the embryo of "Religious". Even though it wasn't much in the draft yet, except the chords and a melody line, it really knocked me of my feet. Me and Alexander started writing the lyrics right away and we began recording vocals in the next couple of days. Gravitonas' guitarist Ben Smith filled in with guitars, we brought in a choir, strings, beats and the production kept growing and growing, Finally, Religious, the brother of Kites, was born!

Alexander: Not that we are afraid of writing more traditional tunes too, but the refreshing thing with "Kites" and "Religious" is that we have skipped the old verse-bridge-chorus-structure and gone for a structure of just a strong melodic line with huge instrumental bits thrown in. It's a lot more dance or even hip-hop than traditional rock or pop. And it means the production is more important than ever since we are all producers ourselves in Gravitonas. "Kites" has now spent four months in the Top 10 of the Swedish dance chart. That's exactly where we wanted to be at at this stage. New music always begins on the dance floor!

- "The Brother of Kites" could be an amazing Gravitonas tribute band name :) Now, the piano at the beginning of the tune is just heavenly (ok, I'm done with the religious references now) and paired with the vocal is quite a powerful opening. It's orgasmic as a crescendoing piece of pop majesty, but it also makes me want to hear some stripped back acoustic songs from you. Is that a possibility?

Andreas: We like machines so you won't here anything completely acoustic from Gravitonas at this point. Maybe on a stage but not on a record. Some of our songs are stripped down, at least parts of the songs, but somehow most of them always end up with loud and sweaty climaxes.

Alexander: I agree. I just want the whole "Unplugged paradigm" to die. I'm much more interested in exploring soulful music with electronics than with acoustics. Sure, we have recorded acoustic versions of a couple of songs too and will perform them too eventually, if only to prove that we CAN do it, since this seems to concern the many unsecure music journos out there. But it's not where our heart is at. Gravitonas is a lot closer to Bjork than people may have realized. We agree with her notion of a "nordica" music style: A very Scandinavian ambition to combine soul and machines. Gravitonas, Robyn, Royksopp, The Sound Of Arrows, and Miike Snow, that's all "nordica" to me. And it all started with Bjork's magnificent records in the 1990s; this is Scandinavian contemporary pop that has broken the predictable but overdone links to Abba och the Cheiron production house. And it likes to be huge!

- I love the thought of loud and sweaty climaxes that like to be huge! That sounds very pleasing indeed! And not just a new single, but a whole flipping EP! Amazes. Is this a unique release or will some of the songs end up on the album?

Andreas: We love the EP format. Instead of releasing one album a year you can release three EP's plus an album every year. I don't want to reveal so much about the album but there will be a second EP and a third video before the album release.

Alexander: Everybody uses Spotify in Sweden now. Everybody!!! The old formats single and album are dead. The future of music is playlists, and you either have playlists with a favorite artist or with a favorite genre. So the EP is perfect for this new environment. Sure, there will be a Gravitonas debut album before the end of the year, but it should be viewed more as a collection of EP tracks with some additional bonus, rather than a big bounce the way albums used to be regarded. But expect lots of releases from Gravitonas, often centered around the EP format which suits us, and apparently music bloggers and fans, perfectly. Hey, Robyn is doing the same thing!

- How's the video/remixes shaping up (note - though it's been released since I had this chat!)?

Andreas: The video premieres within the next couple of days and the Religious single is released the 25th of August. I just saw the final version of the video and it totally blew me away. The director Josef Andersson and the video crew have done a brilliant job. We had a blast shooting the video, chasing shadowy sexy creatures in the woods in the middle of the night and getting baptized in the sea. I love this job. The Religious remixes are 12 little pieces of art. It's an honor to work with such talented people as Dada Life, Soundfactory, Adam Rickfors etc. And I love the fact that we’re releasing a single that has the length of an album with its 12 tracks. Again.

- What most people have picked up on is the fact that fans and critics alike get to hear and purchase your work at the same time, even before radio play. Maroon 5 have recently copied this with their latest couple of singles. Do you see this as a trend that will grow or was it just something you were passionate about? I mean, the internet is riddled with "hear this 60 second clip of a song" or see our video preview snippet - did you want to purposely avoid that?

Andreas: I really hope this is a trend that will grow and I think more bands and artists will follow. There's no point in being old school and give the songs in advance to reviewers, radio stations etc and then let the fans wait for a couple weeks. Fuck it. Everyone gets the song at the same time. Doesn't matter if you want to download it on iTunes or stream it on Spotify or whatever.

Alexander: The internet democratizes everything. And we love that. We are not only totally devoted about our music but we truly enjoy interacting with fans. We are social monsters as much as we are musicians. We hope this will be appreciated too. Our record labels were very uncomfortable about these demands of ours, this fans-first policy, but the fans really appreciate our uncompromising attitude. And now is the time for artists and fans to take over and relegate record labels to the role they should have: To serve us, not to manipulate us!

- You've both been involved in other projects outside of Gravitonas - is this the absolute focus for the time being? Alexander - if you write a song that you think "hmmm, that's really a BWO song" would you look to have the group back together or rework it so it suits Gravitonas?

Andreas: Gravitonas is the absolute focus. We’re all songwriters and producers in this project so if we wright a song that for some reason doesn’t fit Gravitonas we'll find another artist for it.

Alexander: Totally! Me, Andreas and Henrik will definitely write for and produce other artists, Universal regard us as much as a major future production team as a band, but BWO will not reunite while Gravitonas is going on. Each project has its time. To me, BWO was the perfect radio-friendly 00s pop band. But Gravitonas is for a new scene, a new decade, with new conditions, new means of production, distribution, and performance. I'm very comfortable doing Gravitonas at the moment, thank you!


- That's good to hear :) Andreas you recently did quite a pleasing fashion shoot that gave me the "cosmic horn" :P A) is fashion something you quite like/are interested in and B) are you ready to take over from the genetically engineered Mans Zelmerlow as Sweden's sexiest fella?! (though Alexander, if you bring the ball gag around, I'm sure we could have fun too!!!)

Andreas: A: I’m getting more and more interested in fashion and it was a pleasure modelling at the Julia Koistinen Fashion Show. B: After walking the runway in tights and army boots I already see myself as the sexiest man alive : )

Alexander: I love narcissism! That's why I love working with Andreas. ;-) As for myself, my ambition is to be the Vivienne Westwood of pop. All I can say is: You ain't seen nothing yet. Gerontophilia (google it) needs a new ambassador, I'm happy to accept the role. I will die on a dance floor, you bet!

- I googled it. I am sure you will be a brilliant ambassador, Alexander! Naturally the group attracted international interest from fans of Alexander's previous work, and I loved your interview on Larry Flick's Morning Jolt... do you have plans to market your music internationally or just hope it takes off? Will you be tracking Larry down now you have a new single out?!

Andreas: We have BIG plans but I don't know how much I can say about that right now so I pass the question to Alexander. We'd love to do another interview with Mr. Flick. Last time we even talked about visiting the Morning Jolt studio. That would be lot's of fun.

Alexander: "Religious" is set up as the first single in North America. Expect a push to start in early October. As for plans for other parts of the world, we go with the flow and let the fans decide where to promote first. But since the album is not due until the end of the year, there is no rush as yet to set the exact plans. But do expect a lot more fashion shows, haha!

- Why do you think BWO were never as massive as they should have been in England? And why do you think Gravitonas should be?

Alexander: Well, you not only need great records. You need luck with timing too. Especially if you are non-Anglo-Saxon artist. BWO was signed to EMI globally but unfortunately this happened just when EMI was breaking up and going down the drain. Every time we were ready to go internationally, the people we were set to work with either had just left the company or were forced to leave. Still, BWO was a huge success in the territories where we went outside of EMI, such as Eastern Europe and East Asia, and the last album "Big Science" was an altogether independent release (all main EMI Sweden acts like BWO, Mando Diao, and The Ark had left the company by then). But from the business side of things, the 00s were a nightmare in the music industry. The streaming revolution is the big u-turn. The 10s look much more hopeful for new music and creativity!

- When you are not being Gravitonas what do you do in your down time, or is it really just all about the music?!

Andreas: As I mentioned before the members of Gravitonas are songwriters and music producers so for me it’s pretty much about music and performance in some form all the time. Just the way I like it.

Alexander: Same for me. I have put aside just about everything else I used to do. Making music has never been more exciting than now and with Gravitonas. The future is so bright that I really really need those Chanel shades right now, haha.

- How's the Oracle getting on in twitter land? And how are you embracing all these new types of online media?

Andreas: Right now the Oracle is searching for pearls in the shallow waters off Sri Lanka. She's pretty pissed off that we didn't bring her to yesterday's "Guldknappen" fashion gala so I think she'll keep the twitter posts short for a day or two. There are many good tools online for fans and artists to communicate with each other. After the release of our first single "Kites" we already had about 1,000 fans from 40 different countries on our Facebook page and tons of traffic on our website gravitonas.net. It makes it easy for us to communicate with our fans. Soon we'll also throw in some online remix competitions, just for fans.

Alexander: I believe The Oracle is very determined to remain the only female in the Gravitonas family, haha. She's that kind of bitch.

- I'm thinking of visiting Sweden next year but I've never been before. Should I start learning the language and where are the best places to visit that aren't necessarily on the usual tourist track?

Andreas: No need to learn the language, everyone speaks English here! You should swim naked across a Swedish lake in the midnight sun. And when you're in the middle just turn around and watch the sky for a while.

Alexander: There are two things to know that most visitors are unaware of. The first is that all the best parties in Sweden are after-parties ("efterfest" in Swedish). You go to a club and stay there until closing time at say 4 or 5 in the morning. But the real fun starts when you leave the club and go to somebody's house for the after-party. Then there are after-after-parties, then there are after-after-after-parties. Why else do you think Scandinavians live in huge mansions and often have several of them? The second thing you should know is that people always own a ranch or at least a cottage in the country woods. And a lot of partying is going on there, far away from peeping neighbors and the police. You get the picture! Oh, and if you're gay, forget about gay clubs. All clubs in Sweden are mixed and there are no gay ghettos in Stockholm. Being gay stopped being an issue here decades ago. Nobody cares so we all intermingle and have no idea of who we are going to end up in bed with. Or with what gender for that matter.

- I love that - intermingling sounds my sort of scene! Finally do swing by if you are in England. I make a lovely cup of tea :)

Andreas: Thanks Paul! Hopefully we'll come to England soon. You bring the tea. We bring the vodka.

Alexander: Tea sounds great, but maybe we can spice the tea with some gin?

Good grief, i think i love them even more now :) Next up - it's time. to face. the music. (Week 3!)

It's been quite a lovely week away in the tranquil remote rural prettiness of (uh) Uckfield. Sure, the internet connection has been quite ghastly so I haven't quite managed to do some of the almost pre-prepared blogs I had planned on (Gravitonas and Darin, your time is coming!). And sure, the tranquil calm of a Pimms & lemonade on the verandah overlooking a gorgeous woodland meadow has been interrupted by a fox pouncing on the pheasants (not cocks as I erroneously identified the pretty little flockers on twitter) and creating hideous carnage. And yeah, watching The Blair Witch Project literally in the middle of nowhere with the trees outside creating weird shadows inside probably wasn't the greatest idea in the world. But all in all, it's been quite a heavenly week. My mind often goes to weird places when I'm in the wilderness and I sort of decided that a brilliant Comic Relief single for 2011 would be the reformation of Bananarama with Lanananeenanoonoo on the song embedded above. How festive and fabulous would that be? Can someone please PLEASE make this happen?! For now though, because I am totally out of the pop music loop, why not check out my fave songs of the week (yes, I'm devastated at the rumours that a #2 smash on my chart for Same Difference isn't parlaying into the same success in the top 40 UK charts :/ Though yay for the news at Scandipop) and you can tell me what i've missed (or just read this post at PosterGirl)....



Top 21 Songs of the week

21 ~ Brandon Flowers, Crossfire
20 ~ Kylie, All The Lovers
19 ~ Same Difference, Shine On Forever
18 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, Love Me Cos You Want To
17 ~ Bright Light x2, Love Part II
16 ~ Alesha Dixon, Drummer Boy
15 ~ Maroon 5, Misery
14 ~ Mcfly, Party Girl
13 ~ Amy Meredith, Lying
12 ~ Ace of Base, All For You
11 ~ Elouise, Winner Takes It All (NE)
10 ~ Kelly Rowland, Shake Them Haters Off
09 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Not Giving Up On Love
08 ~ Eric Saade, Masquerade
07 ~ Scissor Sisters, Any Which Way
06 ~ Maroon 5, Give A Little More
05 ~ Kylie, Get Outta My Way (VID ABOVE)
04 ~ DeeDee, Balls
03 ~ Darin, Lovekiller
02 ~ Robbie Williams, Shame
01 ~ Gravitonas, Religious (2 weeks)

New large portion of music from Gravitonas is oficially delivered and we're immediately checking what new group's EP "The Hypnosis" is made of!
First track of EP is "Religious" that's gonna be released as the second single of Gravitonas and I would call it light brother of previously released single "Kites" that sounds more mystical and dark. "Religious" is gently starting with touching piano-part full of "My Immortal" sadness constantly growing with a dance beat flashing out with choruses based on choir singing "religious", track is on the same meditative frequency as "Kites" but prefers to charm listener in its own way. After religious meditation "Realm Of The Senses" is more directly appealing, life asserting track that wakes you up with a hard beat and infectious chorus. "Shameless" presented before at Love Stockholm 2010 was expected to be great track but even more - it turned to be the greatest track of EP in my opinion, powerful gutar-based rock-choruses with ecstatic culmination mark completely new side of Alexander Bard's music obviously influenced by rock-roots of Andreas. "Live Wire" sounds quite different from all the rest of EP, it's rhytmic joyfull pop-song with Tarantino-guitar, vibratto-filtered Andreas vocal and alien-computerized "taram-tam-tam" catchy chorus, leaving proper taste to be eager to listen all the rest of tracks of forthcoming Gravitonas' album that's gonna be released very soon!

Proper EPs are brilliant. Not these cobbled together ones of a few old album tracks and some new songs like The Saturdays (which actually could have been a not too bad 5 track EP itself, rather than a mini rehash album). No, I'm talking about proper 4-5 track EPs like in days of yore - remember Abba-esque by Erasure? Something magnifico like that. Then like buses, or a really decent cupcake topping at starbucks, you wait ages for one then two brilliant ones turn up at once! And here, although both brilliant in different ways, they are...

Gravitonas ~ The Hypnosis EP:

Gravitonas established themselves firmly in the consciousness of discerning pop pickers everywhere with their glorious single Kites. It was an instantly soaring single that grew to epic proportions with each carefully constructed note progression. Good news: lead off single from the EP, Religious, is even better. It starts it's life as a celestial piece of piano/vocal that then resurrects the percolating beat and effusive choir of Kites. It's pop majesty on the same heavenly plane of existence as Madonna's Like A Prayer or Simon Curtis' Pop Messiah. The lyrics cleverly work in references to worship and belief, and the hook of "when i'm back on the dancefloor, I'm religious" is a work of genius. The song grows, breathes and evolves into such a frenzy of ecstasy that it is very hard not to drop to your knees and pray. Definitely a contender for single of the year. That on it's own would be more than enough to convert the most heathen of pop disciples, but there's more! Amazing! Realm of the Senses puts them firmly into a slightly harder edged BWO dance territory - it's vaguely reminiscent of Right Here Right Now with a gloriously whispered middle 8 that is all sorts of seductive. It's a wonderfully affirmative feel good tune that balances the history of Alexander Bard alongside his new musical vision. Aces. Shameless is the song that the duo have performed a few times this summer and is a rollicking slice of music that emerges from it's pop chrysallis verses into a slamming rocking chorus that is as massive as say, Alice Cooper's Poison. Guitars work incredibly well in the Gravitonas universe and the fuzziness works well against the beautifully sweet delivery of the middle 8. And there is a key change so it's win win all the way through. The EP closes with Live Wire, a darkly entertaining look at the loose morals of the clubbing circuit delivered over a thrusting beat and relentless guitar. It's possibly what McFly would have done had they not gone the other direction with Party Girl and is a wonderfully off kilter way to finish the EP. A sterling piece of work that really deserves a wide audience to fully appreciate it's genius. Bring on the video already :) (Check out Scandipop's guide here)...

The Candle Thieves ~ Happiness Blues EP:

I adore Scott and Glock. They are very lovely pop people indeed who drape the sunniest of sunshine melodies with melancholy, real life lyrics and still manage to make you feel like you are having a great time. Which I do, everytime I listen to their fine debut album - Sunshine and other Misfortunes. The EP is bolstered by their new single from this album The Sunshine Song (above), which I have previously described as "Pushing Daisies the pop song ~ a cheerful bright song on the surface with a peppy melody yet laced with undertones of sadness at the downside of love." The hook practically screams ice creams and lolly pops, so summery is it in it's execution and demands to be sung in shorts and flip flops - "We can't stay young forever/but we can stay young for the rest of our days". It's a musical delight. Following on from this are some new tracks - Annabelle's Song begins with the most elegant of piano refrains that practically floats with it's prettiness. A plainative vocal performance compliments this ethereal melodic kiss. It is of course tinged with sadness, not just in the lyrics but in the music too and it's so beautifully delivered that you are drawn into the world created and sway along with the unfolding story. Paper Aeroplanes begins with a hand clap beat and frankly you can't go far wrong once you've started that way. It's a fragile build up that mirrors the fragility of the song title before a more assertive beat kicks in and the song takes on an engaging, persistant tempo matched with breathy vocals. There's a simplicity about the song but you also get the impression that every single note, every single hand clap and each doo-da-doo vocal inflection has been carefully placed into the mix for maximum effect. Finally, there is Balloon #2 ~a tale of wishful longing that everyone can relate to. Who hasn't wished to be invisible or be able to fly to find out more, to see the world through different eyes? That's the concept of Balloon #2 and like the fragility of the previous tune and the elegance of Annabelle's Song, there is a delicacy here that is both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring. Scott and Glock know just how much to pour into each song without breaking the hold they have over the listener. A genuinely delightful piece of work that makes a fine addition to their album :) You can buy the EP from Peterborough's finest export since 1/5th of JLS on Sept 13th 2010 :)

Michaela de la Cour doesn't need special presentation being one of Swedish music legends. Sure you know this blonde Army Of Lovers pop-queen breathing glamour and extravagance. After a long silence Michaela has started her comeback in 2009 with brand new pop-rock track "Back on Earth", self-ironic and sexual video and absolutely amazing mix from Adam Rickfors. How pleasant it was to get recently another new track from Michaela and this time it's amazing club track with filtered robo-vocals (in a manner of "Back on Earth") in electro-sound verses and refrain turning to a huge club-delight anthem. You can check sample of this track on Michaela's myspace as well.
UPD: In 2 days we've got the title "HomoSapien", full version of the song and the video and it's not less lovely in a full pack!

Talking about other Army of Lovers news. New project of Alexander Bard - Gravitonas announced few days ago that its first album is scheduled for September but already on August 18 we'll get "The Hypnosis EP" containing four tracks and new maxi-single "Religious" on August 25. Hope another new track "Shameless" I've been talking about little earlier will also be on this EP.

Hooray for hump day Wednesday I say. Of course, once again England will be obsessed today with watching the World Cup, but at least that longest day malarky is over with and Govan is up for eviction on Big Brother so there are little silver linings to the white fluffy clouds floating by. If you haven't checked out the first summer songs post, you should probably do so now. Done it? Super, let's move on to some more lovely tunes to brighten your day (ps, I'm still utterly obsessed with the new Maroon 5 track. Bliss!

Scissor Sisters - All The Lovers: From the moment the insanely gorgeous Kylie single hit the airwaves, it became the effortlessly breezy soundtrack for the long summer months. Somewhere between the Scissor Sister penned "I Believe In You" and criminally not number one amaze tune "The One", it floated in the ether and became one of my favourite tracks of the year. The Scissters performed the magnifico number yesterday on Live Lounge and a) made live lounge interesting again & b) managed to give the number a little twist (although a straightforward rendering would have been fine). It's somewhere in between their fire with fire sound and a Jason Mraz version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow/Rainbow Connection with a decidedly appealing country twist. Everything about it worked delightfully and I can't wait wait wait to see what their live shows bring this week. Essential listening and viewing.


Gravitonas ~ Shameless: Super! The 'Tone are back. Sort of. They are still plugging away with their glorious Kites single (that just seems to get better and more euphoric with each listen) but they have also been performing a new song 'Shameless' at some live dates in Sweden. And very marvelous it is too. It's electro tinged pop with a full rocking chorus that reminds me ever so slightly of Alice Cooper's brillo Poison. What I really like about this project is that it is brimming with pop sensibilities and the other influences are seamlessly weaved in to create a sonic, engaging listening experience. That hook is aces too; "i'm shameless/fast and furious/i'm shameless/get on board/i'm shameless" all delivered with a devil may care sneer... Andreas is a totally dynamic front man and yet charming and polite (from what I gather) in his contact with blogs and radio. Their album is going to be immensicles...

Sam Taylor ~ It's A Mistake (Ricardo Autobhan remix): One of my biggest hopes for Samuel of the Taylor is that he will record a balls to the wall pulsating disco classic. Something utterly dancey yet completely riddled with camposity and pop majesty. That, my friends, would be bleeding brilliant. In the meantime, the current tune from Sammy (see review here; poptrash love here; dluv luv here; fabtastic approval here) continues to reveal hidden depths with each listen and I frankly do enjoy a song that keeps giving. Well now there is a perfectly beat-tastic dance remix of the aforementioned ballad which transforms it like a butterfly into something totally foottapping and groove ridden. Remember when Toni Braxton utterly reswizzled Unbreak My Heart into a dancefloor classic? Well you are absolutely on the right lines. Gives the song a new dimension. Aces - proper dance tune now please Sammy!!

Still to come: Christophe Willem, Moto Boy, The Like & The Pipettes!!

Fantastic celebration of live Swedish music called LOVE Stockholm 2010 is unfortunately over leaving to us loads of impressions and memories of some amazing performances and great gigs but yesterday audience in Kungsträdgården still could enjoy the rest of them.
You could see Ola Svensson performing his huge Spring hit "Unstoppable", Caroline af Ugglas with her choir, Linda Sundblad with new single "Making Out" (one of undoubtfully best pieces of her last album), Eagle-Eye Cherry with his biggest international hit "Save Tonight" recently covered by E.M.D., Thomas di Leva with his old song "Vi har bara varandra", Anna Maria Espinosa performing her own song "A Little Moonlight" and duet together with Niklas Strömstedt - his "En Kvinna Och En Man" (most amazing part of this performance was King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf dancing near the stage) and some foreign guests like Jasmine Kara and Carpark North.

Caroline Af Ugglas - Vi Bär Upp Varandra
Anna Maria Espinosa - A Little Moonlight
Carpark North - Just Human
Jasmine Kara framför - In the basement
Di Leva - Vi har Bara Varandra

You should also check another recent concert in Kungsträdgården with Style performing their last single "LoveKiller" and classic hit "Vill Ha Dej", Broken Door with both their songs "Angel" and "Sunday Morning", Orup and the most interesting performance of Gravitonas. It was the first live performance of this utterly exciting new project of Alexander Bard with debut single "Kites" currently climbing dance charts of Sweden and new song "Shameless" that showed new side of the project. Initially Alexander announced the project as electro-rock band, however "Kites" turned to be more in synth-pop direction and "Shameless" definitely shows better what he meant, it's a catchy and full of drive pop-rock song with nicely developed rhythmic verses containing light synth-keys on background reminding some beautiful moments in music of BWO and guitar-driven catchy chorus that gets stuck in your head immediately. This is the level of quality that made previous Alexander's projects icons in Swedish music and that's gonna make Gravitonas continue this trend in a very close future.

I've been very neglectful of blogging this week mainly due to some personal stuff going on! Those who follow me on twitter will know what i'm going on about - and i'll probably give an update in the weekly catch up blog due tomorrow! In the meantime and inbetween time, I'll dive straight into the review of two of the summer's big singles which received premieres/leakage at some point yesterday (next Friday - Kylie!! YAY!)...

Scissor Sisters ~ Fire with Fire: This is very different to the immensicles that is Invisible Light, but after a few listens it is equally as pleasing and amazing. It starts off with a lovely, warm piano riff and Jake's voice comes in sounding delightfully natural and organic. It's essentially a great pop song that has no gimmicks, just keeps building over a strong vocal and persuasive melody until it crescendoes into a soaring epic tune by the time the second chorus kicks in. The lyrics are incredibly uplifting and positive (they progress from remembering they were once number one to realising they are free to be number one if they want to be) and it's all rather wonderful. At times, I thought I was listening to the solo Brandon Flowers single, but the complete package is definitely very Scissor Sisters, and perhaps their pure pop take on the likes of Sex On Fire. This is going to sound very magnificent indeed live. Be sure to check out the much more dark corner of a club sounding Stuart Price remix (courtesy of arjanwrites) of the still intense and still excellent Invisible Light also...

JLS ~ The Club Is Alive: Oh. The much discussed new JLS single has leaked/premiered (I'm not sure which, but hey, I live in a confused post election Britain!) and after a few listens, I do like it. There are some very clever parts of it that work quite well for me. It is certainly what a modern boyband should sound like - part pop, part gimmick and part club. The "Sound of Music" sample is done in the same way that Sugababes worked I'm Too Sexy into their Get Sexy tune, though they could have been a bit more inventive in the way it was done (some wailing operatic nuns wouldn't have gone amiss). The biggest problem is the use of "shawty" and the vocodered to the point of roboticness in the tune. It loses some of the charm that elevated Beat Again and Everybody in Love. Ultimately, it is a catchy tune, it will be lapped up by the fans and it will probably elevate them to the next level of stardom. I just hope their voices shine through a little more on the album...

FYI

• Donkeyboy have just released a rather marvelous remix package of their second single, the elegant and incredible Sometimes. The best is probably the Jason Nevins radio edit which makes it more of a thumping pop pumper than before without losing any of that lovely melody...
• Gravitonas have 77 minutes of remixes on the download package of the soaring (ha!) Kites... My fave (though I haven't persevered with them all yet) is definitely the Soundfactory radio edit which places that heavenly choir in the mix much earlier on. I was introduced (via email) to Andreas (the singer) and given the opportunity to interview them. I'm not very good at these sort of things so any questions would be marvy!

Back tomorrow with The Feeling! Simon Curtis! Same Difference! And the charts...

I do adore the outrageous pop empressario known as Alexander Bard. He has had his finger well and truly in the pie of many brilliant pop groups including Army of Lovers, Vacuum and most recently BWO (the artists formerly known as Bodies Without Organs). The latter group I think was one of the defining pop groups AND pop statements of the first decade of the new millenium. The music was always infernally catchy, mostly impressively creative and the videos always visually arresting. What more could a boy want, other than perhaps the UK recognising them for the pop genuis they are. Sigh. Anyway, Alexander has moved onto a new group for the time being called Gravitonas. They are different to BWO but equally pleasing based on the first single. Do read on for more...

Gravitonas ~ Kites: When I first heard that Alexander was setting up a new rock band, I was a little bit hesitant to say the least. I certainly needn't have worried. Kites isn't a rock song in the traditional sense, although it does have stadium sized concert qualities to it - it would absolutely sound immense blasting out across a field at a summer festival. What you have here is a song that instantly grabs you with it's viva-la-vida-meets-untouchable vibe and an ably delivered engaging vocal by Andreas. It gently builds into a solid electronic trance anthem with a glorious chorus, that is both memorable and soaring. Amidst the electronica is some lovely piano work, a pleasing and pleasant guitar riff, and some wonderful sounding strings. It could all get a bit kitchen-sinky but it's strung together magnificently and works ever so well. There's even a choir added on at the end, which is a little bit Right Here Right Now meets Robbie's Bodies, but overall does work within the confines of the song. And the luscious key change of course is brilliant. So yes, I adore and hope to hear much much more from the latest Bard project in the coming months...

Best Bits:

• 31 seconds ~ the guitar riff kicks in, joining the pretty piano plinkings that dominate the first half minute...
• 1m16 seconds ~ the strings join the mix and it's all a little bit glorious really...
• 1m30 - 1m35 seconds ~ there is a brief pause, then everything that has been building up to this point all blends together for a rather euphoric second verse. Aces...
• Im50 seconds ~ It goes proper full on pop-rave, a bit like Girls Aloud's Untouchable...
• 3m25 seconds ~ the choir starts "ooo"ing in the background. It's a nice subtle addition at first, but builds up...
• 3m38 seconds ~ ... for a few seconds until they sing the final line "the kites won't make you fly". Indeed

Best Bard:

• Army of Lovers ~ Crucified: Imagine the bonkers drama of Erasure's uh Drama mixed with the high camp of Ms Minogue's Better The Devil You Know and mixed with Like A Prayer and you aren't even half way to experiencing the epic sound of AoL greatest tune. Still sounds utterly fresh and magnificent to this day...
• Vacuum ~ I Breathe: Their first single is also their most pleasing; a delicious piece of electro synth that was years ahead of it's time and could easily be covered today and sound completely relevant.
• BWO ~ Chariots of Fire: Everything that BWO epitomised is in this perfect slice of summery pop. Immense chorus, clever lyrics, great video - they were at the peak of their game when they released this gem...

Tomorrow(ish): Kimberley Locke!