Alex Roots Alex Roots Alex Roots!

What were you doing at 16?  If you were anything like me, you were panicking about which A-levels to take, sneaking into under-age pubs (of which Cambridge had a wide array), and listening to Pulp.  What you possibly weren't doing was surrounding yourself by a media-savvy array of agents, managers, label folk and songwriters, and making a determined assault on London's live scene; but then again, neither of us are Alex Roots...

Now I've been meaning to blog about this little lady for a while now, ever since we booked her to open for us at dancetillyoudie's 1st birthday party in Kilburn a couple of months ago and she attracted a hysteria akin to the start of 'A Hard Day's Night' (well....almost...) to be exact.  Why do I bring her to your attention, you ask?  Because she's a chuffing pop marvel, that's why!

Ploughing a furrow described by the Guardian as mid-way between Cyndi Lauper, Blondie, Katy Perry and Avril Lavigne, Alex and her co-writer (pop/RnB stalwart Ryan Laubscher) have crafted a selection of musical gems that seem sure to grace the Radio 1 playlist in the not too distant, from the faux thrash of 'Fake', to the Lauper-inspired 'Put Your Hands up' to the quite wonderful 'Dizzy from the Ride' (mother flippin's favourite), they are all belters.

(hat-tip to Sheena Beaston for the link to this megamix - you can also hear a couple of the tracks in full on her Good Groove artist page...)

Her debut album looks set to drop in the early part of 2009, released on the Good Groove imprint that brought Corinne Bailey Rae to the music-buying public.  It sounds like they have another hit on their hands...

Jx

Bo Pepper - I Haven't Got You Anything (This Christmas)

So Christmas rolls around, along with all the usual traditions.  You know what I'm talking about; Turkey for dinner, Shrek on the TV, The Queen's Speech, Mince pies and mulled wine, and the X Factor winner getting to Christmas Number 1.....

...but wait!  What light from yonder musical window breaks?  It can't actually be...no....a....half-decent Christmas song?!  Hallelujah!  

They go by the name of Bo Pepper, and Mother Flippin is a BIG fan having encountered them a number of times over the past year.  Fronted by the charming Dolly Pepper, they sound like the Strokes and look a lot better.  I mean they've even got idential twins in the band for God's sake, that's got to give them one up on El Tel in the Chrimberley music stakes, surely?!  So, I know where MY festive 79p iTunes purchase will be heading, and it won't be to Terry Wogan or Alexandra Burke*...Plus, if they get to the top spot, it might make Simon Cowell look like this...

and THAT's worth the money!

Jx

*of course I don't KNOW that she's going to win, but it would be a travesty if she didn't...

The Hours - See the Light (Calvin Harris Remix)

Track of the day today comes in the form of a Calvin Harris remix.  Now, I've always felt that Calvin sometimes puts a little more effort into the one-off remixes he does compared with his own output - 'Acceptable in the 80s' was all well and good, but 'Girls' anyone?!  Really?!  

You can't fault him when he's given a ready-made track to deal with, though, and his remix for returning Sheffield indie-kids The Hours (check out their 2007 album 'Narcissus Road', which is pretty belting) is typically excellent.  A little more down-tempo than previous efforts, this is a storming piece of bump'n'funk electro that is going straight to the front of my box.  Enjoy!

UPDATE:  I read from my helpful promotional blurb that there is a pretty intense video for the original of this doing the rounds.  It features Sienna Miller as...well...see for yourselves:

Jx

Track of the Week - Barefoot Confessor, He Doesn't Love You

Last week's track of the week was a Beatle's remix;  this week's is one that riffs splendidly on the Fab Four's track 'I Wanna Hold your Hand', Barefoot Confessor's brilliant 'He Doesn't Love You'.

The band are from West London, and have been raising high levels of industry interest since their conception a few months ago, being likened to everyone from The Smiths, Bruce Springsteen, McFly (?!) and The Libertines.  Recently tipped by both Glasswerk and Red Stripe, and appearing on any number of Google searches for new London acts, they're looking good success-wise, which is helped by the fact that they are absolutely belting.  Don't take my word for it, check this out...

Barefoot Confessor - He Doesn't Love You

Jx

Song of the Week - Long Blondes, Giddy Stratospheres

The Long Blondes have split up! 

Although this year has seen the release of the follow up to their debut effort 'Once and Never Again', the Erol Alkan-produced 'Couples', it has also seen their guitarist Dorian Cox suffer a stroke which led to a number of dates having to be cancelled over the summer.  In a statement on their myspace today, Dorian states that, given he doesn't know when/if he will be able to play the guitar again, the band have decided to call things to a halt.

Personally I loved The Long Blondes.  Their songs occasionally meandered a bit, but they could write a killer chorus!  As my friend Chris had it "just when you're starting to think 'oh, god, it's another lame Long Blondes track', the chorus comes along and you're grinning and jigging about like a total wazz"...In memory of...well that mental image if not the band themselves, this week's 'Song of the Week' is the song that introduced me to them, Giddy Stratospheres:

Song of the week - Crying Blood, V V Brown

I'm not going to lie, it's a pretty crappy day in London town this Monday am.  So for those bemoaning the end of the sun we had over the weekend, here's something to put a smile on your face.  Miss V V Brown with her debut single 'Crying Blood'.  It's been around for a while now, but it's a belter that never fails to do the business when I'm out DJing, and I've just found the video, so I'm posting it.

Lindi-hop-tastic!  There's also a killer remix of the track by Hannah Holland.  Check it out...