The Music Note

Last week, Bryan Ferry appeared on Later... with Jools Holland to perform 'Loop De Li', the first track to be lifted from upcoming album Avonmore . Though it lacks the immediate impact of previous lead single 'You Can Dance' (from 2010's Olympia ), 'Loop De Li' embodies the classic sound that is reminiscent of Ferry's 1994 album, Mamouna . Subtle beats, smooth sax and timeless vocals culminate to a track that shines further with each listen.    

Red Sails' penchant for infectious grooves and tight harmonies are perfectly captured in these acoustic sessions, recorded earlier in the year. A re-working of 'She Had It All' demonstrates the band's strong musicianship for effortless hooks and slick instrumentation, while new song 'Warzones' sets an atmospheric tone that is enhanced by spacious keys and haunting vocal harmonies. Both videos have been beautifully shot, though the fine acoustic surroundings of Liverpool's Nordic Church lends a further warmth to the latter track.

Eight months after his last UK tour, John Mayer returned to London a few weeks ago, for a one-off date at the O2 Arena. Much like last year's October shows, this gig once again centred around Mayer's 2012  Born And Raised  album, along with current release, Paradise Valley . Upon entering the O2, I was curious as to how this gig would compare to the previous year's strong, but not overly spontaneous set - especially when considering the relatively short space of time that has passed since those last UK shows. Mayer opened the set with 'Queen Of California', followed by the instantly recognisable grooves of 'I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You)' - a welcome nod to the Continuum album, refreshingly early on in the performance. These initial songs noticeably got the crowd invested in the music, all the while setting the pace for a gig that touched upon the majority of Mayer's back catalogue, including some much-yearned for early material ...

In my previous post, I raved about the infectiously unique sounds of The Bedroom Hour, and their  Themes EP - an album which I have been listening to non-stop since I first downloaded it from iTunes at the beginning of the year. Last week, I was fortunate enough to attend the band's gig at Paradise - a charming and characteristic venue in Kensal Green. On arrival, I was taken aback by the luxe decor, spacious rooms, and overall thriving atmosphere of the place. This aside, I was primarily there for the live music, and The Bedroom Hour certainly did not disappoint, delivering an eclectic set that featured both material from  Themes  and new tracks from their upcoming album. The band took to the stage at around 8:00pm for a thirty-minute slot, which though brief in length, was more than compensated by the sheer energy and tight musicianship that was evident throughout the impressive seven-track set. Both songs played from Themes - 'Heart Will Haunt' and 'Shadow Bo...

The Bedroom Hour are a band I initially discovered through recommendation from fellow bloggers, in addition to the general enthusiasm and excitement that surrounds their music on Twitter and the various other social media platforms. Upon hearing their songs 'Nocturnal' and 'Heart Will Haunt', I was instantly drawn to the impressive vocal range demonstrated by frontman Stuart Drummond, along with the lush synths, dominant bass and other instrumentation that contribute to the overall solid production of their music. To say that both tracks left me eager to find out more about this West London based five-piece, and to hear further material, is a major understatement. The Bedroom Hour's music is unique in that it is anthemic, yet structurally spacious, a quality that was evident in last year's Themes  EP. Though all six tracks are consistently strong, upon the first few listens of the EP, 'Midnight Game' stood out as an early favourite. Lyrics like ...

I've been meaning to compile one of these lists for a while now. A selection of songs that were my personal favourites throughout 2013, all of which feature regularly on my day to day playlists, yet still sound as fresh and innovative as the moment I first heard them. In the near two years that I have been writing this blog, I have been fortunate enough to have discovered some fantastic music from both emerging and established bands, many of which are unsigned or on independent labels. The list below features a selection of these tracks, along with key songs from more mainstream and universally recognised bands - all in all, a delightfully random mix of good songs. 'Ain't Messin 'Round' - Gary Clark Jr. On 'Ain't Messin 'Round', bright horns and momentous grooves offset perfectly against Gary Clark Jr.'s soulfully raw vocals. A furiously addictive guitar solo provides further edge to the whole structural arrangement. The track may well be the ...