RadioHead

Now, i've been promised by NME a "New" Radiohead song, and i couldn't help but feel a little short-changed upon hearing it's merely a remix. Oh but what a remix, it's certainly whetted my intrigue and i'm afraid to say opened a can of worms...

Now, I'm going to refresh your mind as to what the original Bloom sounds like (before the bells and tassles got sown onto it.)

Filled with delicious harmonies, textual melodies and some new-fangled, enigmatic lyricism, "Bloom" seemed to have somewhat reinvented the wheel, finding adjectives such as "artistic" and "deep" thrown at it. This in itself could be a topic. Initially a tad disorientating, this track grew on me, building on the foundations the band had already laid. By not being bound to a specific sound and style, the song shines on its own terms; It sounds free from self imposed constraints or orthodoxy in any form.
     Okay, so it doesn't reach the dizzying heights such their earlier anthoms did -what with "Bloom" being more of an instrumental than a conventional drum/guitar/vocal track- few records do. However, beneath the stuttering, jittering beats and electronic trickery, lurk some classic Radiohead-esque in that they constantly reinvent the face of their music. I think it's slightly exaggerated to say that it's a Brilliant record, but it's certainly interesting. It's one of those tunes you listen to when you're tired or contemplative, as it just kind of zones in and out and ends without you noticing, almost as though it had always been playing...then never had been... Trippy.

                                                                                *

THEN they give it to someone called JAMIExx... If the somewhat psychedelic format of Bloom is hard to swallow, then this will stick in your windpipe.
You can listen to it here:

http://hypetrak.com/2012/01/radiohead-bloom-jamie-xx-remix-3/

This where i become slightly unstuck. I don't really do dance remixes. 'm listening to this and yeah, it retaines it's chilled out stoner vibe, but there is an aftertaste of rhythm and an edgy beat mixed in with it... It's not the kind of thing i'd imagine myself to dance along to, and -despite the fact i've listened to it a hundred times(as you do when writing a blog)-my mind seems to erase itself of the track's melody when it ends, like a ghost just walking out of a room. Nevertheless, it's different, and i like anything that breaks rules, which this track does in abundance- no real lyrics, no memorable melody, no driving force of DnB, and yet Jamie and Radiohead have managed to blur the lines between Band and Synth machine to create this weird techo/rock love child.
But is it right to pervert genres in this way? I suppose, regardless as to whether Radiohead are typically a rock band or not, "Bloom" was an artistic experimentation, a new box of paint if you will, so by warping the borders between rock, techno and dance, the spirit of maverick investigation is kept alive.
    It depends what you want to get from your music, i doubt my words will influence you much: if you're into the heart-thumping dubstep (which i happen to adore lately) or catchy anthems offered by punk/pop, then you're probably not going to have much of an epiphany, but if you ache for something a little out of the ordinary, then both the origional and the remix offer welcome zest to an increasingly boring musical environment.

Midnight Mixtape

I've just got in, I've only had a little to drink and i'm currently eating strawberries. WHAT better time known to man than to compile a mixtape of songs i've been attached to for the past couple of weeks for you my lovely followers?  Just for fun :) 

Vampire Weekend

"Punk"

Whatever, it's old, but that riff earned it the honor of being my ringtone. Therefore it's first in my list.

The Rapture

"Echo"

Yes, sorry, I'm one of those people that got this off Misfits, but it takes nothing away from the fact that it's a tune.

Cansei De Ser Sexy

"Art Bitch"

Obscene lyrics that border insanity, but this song swaggers with narcissism and sarcasm. "I sell my paintings to the men i eat" Sexyyy

The Horrors. 

"You think I'm lonely"

This is odd but brilliant. I think his voice sounds like the Julian from The Strokes, but after he's had a line. 

Dresden Dolls

"Girl Anachronism"

Sticking to theme of crazy songs that shouldn't work but just do. "I might join this century but only on a rare occasion" This is one of my most favourite bands/songs/lyrics/everything/ever.

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The Vaccines

"Norgaard"

 We all love a bit of indie pop Damn it! Catchier than the flu. I literally refused to play this song whilst compiling this mixtape because i didn't want an ear worm whilst trying to sift through my ipod aha

The Black Keys

"I got a love that keeps me waiting."

I always have this song on repeat when i'm driving back from work, it's sing-along friendly and harks back to a bit of traditional rock.

Incubus

"Anna Molly"

Again, one that's old. Again, i don't care because it's such a good song. "'I picture your face in the back of my eyes" I also adore clever word-play. Anomoly?

Bombay Bicycle Club.

"Ivy&Gold"

It's the best one on the album, an album which is, in all fairness, good, but a bit same-y. However, i've pissed myself off singing it so many times, so it has to be in my list.

Regina Spektor

"Hotel Song"

Her voice is amazing and this song is just cute (:

(At this point i would like to say that I'm not sure of the appropriate mixtape length before it becomes a drag. So 10's a nice round number, let's stick with that)

2012

Predicted New * of 2012.

Okay, screw everything else, if there is one track you have to listen to TODAY it's this one;

A truly transcendental song is one that is a combination of lyrical wit, emotional connection, and experimental musicality. This track is a concocction of all of the above, and what we have as a result is, in my humble opinion, the definition superb. 

Although actual singing talent isn't always essential (see Conor Oberst) Lana's sultry and seductive voice, sublime lyrics, and not to mention that lipstick, make the vertebrae of the backbone that holds the track together.

However, Lana Del Rey may disappoint, because she does not plumb the depths of real indie pop or jazz, but it's the very fact that you can't pin her down to a genre that makes her intriguing: She doesn't ride on the wave of someone else's success my imitating their style, and this is one of the most unique sounds I've encountered in a while.

Gems such as "Keep making me laugh, let's go get high/ I wanna kiss you hard in the pouring rain/ you like your girls insane" make the entire song glitter whilst it chokes you. Yeah, I know, there is a hell of a lot of that kind of thing about at the moment, but the simple fact is, Lana is just amazing at it. The words haunt you long after you've listened to the song. So it's nearly 5 minutes long. It's not long enough, it's constantly on repeat. Plus the video is nothing short of a dramatic opera, the ending of which is just a little unsettling, but adds to the beautiful artistic flair of it all.

Some say it takes a few listens to "get" -i am usually one of these people who like to mull over what's going into my brain before i fully accept it, but surprisingly, this was not the case this time. I can understand the opinion that it can be a little "flat", but it never falls into the snare of becoming a drone, as it has the powerful orchestraic support and the hook of the chorus.

In short, i adore this track.

It's not out 'till end of Jan, but i heartily suggest you pre-order it from itunes HERE