Snap, Crackle (Fizzy) Pop: Weekly catch up April 18th 2010

Don't. Blink. (ooo spooky yet potentially brilliant Doctor Who reference) because if you do the weekend will be over before you even blooming well know it. And it very nearly is. It's Sunday evening as I quickly type this up - the weekend was very pleasant indeed, but is now drawing to yet another of it's inevitable conclusions. Luckily, as the sunny days begin to tentatively poke their head like a little baby crowning (?!), there are three very lovely songs that will make you Sunday evening a whole lot nicer. And all three should be played in this order, with a nice glass of wine. Or some raspberry swirl cheesecake...

1. Lovestoned ~ Rising Girl: I'm very behind indeed on Lovestoned but have decided to throw myself into their music with a vicious vengence - particularly since their rather glorious melodifestivalen entry, Thursdays. Rising Girl was indeed their first single last year in Sweden and is a gently bubbling, reggae tinged slice of sunshine. Sure it has shades of Jason Mraz's I'm Yours, but that can only be a good thing and the unimposing chorus sways along so nicely that it soon hooks into your head for dear life. Thursdays is like Ace of Base never went away but decided to mix their sound with a bit of Dolly Parton's Those Are The Days, and brand new single (I Know Nothing) is possibly their most radio friendly track yet, complete with some aces dance mixes. A debut album is coming, and I'm very excited indeedio...More soon!
2. The Living Sisters ~ Double Knots: While the world and his pet budgie await the release of the third Scissor Sisters album, I've been busy enjoying myself with another group of Sisters, this time a trio of female singer/songwriters. They have put together an album of perfect, laid back, thoughtful, essential, heavenly pop tunes that sound just ever so ethereal and delightful on a Sunday afternoon. Double Knots has gorgeous harmonies, lushly layered over a subtle but giving melody. It's a song that is both timeless in it's delivery and memorable for it's sheer stark brilliance. There is an air of The Puppini Sisters (or what they would have been if they had continued) about them and the music floats around your consciousness and makes you feel quite marvelous, whatever the lyrical subject matter it deals with. An album review soon no doubt...
3. Aston Band ~ Confide In Me (Kylie cover): Based on the introduction alone, it seems that the Kylie classic would be ideal for a classical cover version. Australian band Aston have done so much more than just using the dramatic opening strings, they've added an absolutely crucial piano riff to it and build and pause the tension in the song through volume, delivery, crescendo and urgency. It works incredibly well and builds to an almost frenzied climax with all the instruments complementing each other perfectly. Quite an astonishingly rewarding piece of work. Oh, and because i ALWAYS notice these things, the guitar player dude is indeed quite the looker :) Plus it's Mr Steve Anderson approved...

Top 21 Songs of the Week:

21 ~ Diana Vickers, Once
20 ~ Kimberley Locke, Strobelight (NE)
19 ~ Mika, Kick Ass
18 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Yes Man
17 ~ Music Go Music, Light of Love (Vid)
16 ~ Elouise, Fireman of my Dreams
15 ~ The Candle Thieves, We're All Gonna Die
14 ~ Sergey Lazarev, Alarm
13 ~ Darin, You're Out Of My Life
12 ~ Alcazar, Headlines
11 ~ The Pipettes, Stop The Music
10 ~ Maria Mena, All This Time (NE)
09 ~ Neo, Human Frontier
08 ~ Ola, Unstoppable
07 ~ Mariah Carey, 100%
06 ~ Eric Saade, Manboy
05 ~ DeeDee, Endure
04 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, On A Mission
03 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bittersweet
02 ~ Simon Curtis, Super Psycho Love
01 ~ Adam Tyler, Friction (2 Weeks)