249. PYLO – Enemies
Posted: September 6, 2013 Filed under: #hotfor2013, rock | Tags: #hotfor2013, a song a day, enemies, guitar, kings of leon, pylo, rock, strings Leave a comment
Bath residents Pylo, having come together in 2012, have enjoyed a surge of popularity on the back of a set of strong singles. “Enemies” is a stand out number, employing surging strings and guitars in the style of a modern day Kings Of Leon (the singer’s warble is frankly, quite similar too). They manage to employ a strong line in epicality and I won’t be the only one looking forward to more from the quintet.
Pylo, not leaning against a pylon
211. Disclosure feat Sam Smith – Latch (Acoustic Version)
Posted: July 30, 2013 Filed under: #hotfor2013, acoustic | Tags: a song a day, acoustic, beautiful, disclosure, emotive, latch, sam smith, strings, tear-jerking Leave a commentI know what you’re thinking (I have no idea what you’re thinking) – you already featured this, right? Not the acoustic version. This is tear-jerkingly, heart-string stuff – I personally didn’t think Sam Smith had it in him, but what do I know as it turns out. Emotive strings, downplayed vocals (still some falsetto but acceptable amounts) and what feels a real connection with the track, if you don’t have this in your life, you’re a poorer person.
Live action shot
147. Bonobo feat Grey Reverend – First Fires
Posted: May 27, 2013 Filed under: electronica, trip hop | Tags: a song a day, bonobo, chart, electronica, first fires, grey reverend, ninja tune, simon green, strings, success, trip hop Leave a comment
5 albums in and Simon Green, aka Bonobo is finally seeing some commercial success. New album “The North Borders” peaked at #29 on its April release on Ninja Tune and is a swirling, deep work full of texture and soul, but as accessible as he is likely to go. With the trend in pop music moving towards the morbid and glitchy (thanks, The Weeknd), it definitely has favoured the likes of Bonobo and his style.
“First Fires” is laden with emotive strings like any properly good trip hop tune, Grey Reverend husking lyrics:
Honestly, I can’t believe it’s burning again
Like the first fires
Run from fences, you don’t have to pretend
First fires
Well worth a deep Sunday night listen on the whole album.
Wistful Bonobo
137. Led Zeppelin – Kashmir
Posted: May 17, 2013 Filed under: rock, Uncategorized | Tags: a song a day, album, d12, jimmy page, kashmir, led zeppelin, puff daddy, robert plant, rock, sampled, strings Leave a comment
Led Zep at their finest, this well sampled track (most famously by D12 and Puff Daddy) shows Jimmy Page and Robert Plant at their writing best. A relentless trudging beat, epic string build and orchestral break all characterise one of the Zep’s biggest hits. This came on their 6th studio album – creating one of their most iconic tracks, something that would prove a feat in the modern day for any artist.
Lots of Zep
121. Rudimental feat Becky Hill – Powerless
Posted: May 1, 2013 Filed under: #hotfor2013, d&b, electronica | Tags: #hotfor2013, 3rd core, a song a day, becky hill, d&b, epic, mindless & broken, MJ cole, powerless, rudimental, soulful, strings, synths Leave a comment
Another week, another Rudimental track – it’s fair to say it’s my most anticipated album of the year. “Powerless” is a gorgeous, string led, D&B-esque track that evokes memories of MJ Cole’s remix of 3rd Core’s “Mindless & Broken”. Soulful vocals, plunging strings…the adjectives could roll on forever, to be honest. A great find on a great album, now out on Warners.
Home is where the start is
104. Samuel Barber – Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
Posted: April 14, 2013 Filed under: classical | Tags: 1936, a song a day, Adagio, classical, sad classical music, Samuel barber, strings, tiesto Leave a comment
As sampled by Tiesto, the original is a beautifully lush and morbid piece, first composed in 1936. It’s often been used in times of tragedy and has even been voted the saddest piece of classical music ever by BBC Radio 4 listeners. Either way, it’s a good chance to disappear for 10 mins into a pair of headphones.
92. Madonna – Frozen
Posted: April 2, 2013 Filed under: electronica, trip hop | Tags: 1998, a song a day, electronica, frozen, madonna, ray of light, strings, trip hop, warner bros, william orbit Leave a comment
Madonna, as one of the world’s most enduring pop stars, hasn’t half made some shit in recent years. However the Ray of Light album represented Madonna at her edgy best – ground breaking ideas, utilising the 1998 sound du jour of trip hop to create a breathy, ambient and mournful anthem. Stretching over 6 minutes long (most pop songs range around the 3:30 mark), plunging strings characterise William Orbit (as producer) at his finest.
Frozen in places
A Song A Day 2013 