Songs For // September

Goodness, I know it's late but I couldn't miss out this gem of a month for music. After returning from a month of no wifi and the same two playlists I had downloaded for the plane journey, I was ready to listen to some brand-spanking-new stuff from my faves and some completely new artists I had found through other people. Here are the tunes I have been listening to in September 2017:

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So many people told me to listen to Cigarettes After Sex and I now understand why, they're right up my street. With slow, sultry guitars and borderline whingey vocals, they create this atmospheric sound that is perfect for a late night bath or dare I say it; a little bit of fun. This album is sexy, hence the name of the band and teamed with angsty, relatable lyrics reflecting The 1975 and Lana Del Rey no wonder this band is all over my tumblr dash at the moment. Affection is a harsh message with a relaxing and almost hypnotising sound, my favourite lyrics are definitely: 'so what does it mean, if I tell you to go fuck yourself, or if I say that you're beautiful to me' oooof' mate. 

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Daughter's back! With an unusual and almost all instrumental album that is apparently a soundtrack to a game or something? I listened to this on the perfect day, lets just say I'd had one of those days and all I wanted was to be left alone in the bath. Then I realised this album had been released and I put it on and it took me somewhere else honestly, it was magical. I've always admired Daughter's composition, but they've upped it so much during the making of this album. You hear of albums that show an artist's growth and Music from Before the Storm is definitely that album for Daughter. Hole in the Earth is one of the few songs with actual lyrics and I fell in love with them. Daughter's lyrics are always so raw and honest and this song is no exception, I cried like a lil' babby'. 

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I have been a huge fan of Nina Nesbitt since the Noserings and Shoestrings-era. So when I heard she was making a comeback I was very excited. However when Moments I'm Missing came out, I felt it was a bit meh. And then I heard this song and had it stuck in my head for the rest of the day. Nina's always been good at chorus build ups and this one is such an ear worm, but in the best way. I'm very excited for the album release and might even go and see her live again for the 3rd time!

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Sam Smith's on a comeback and I am hypeddd! When I first heard this song it made the hairs on the back of my neck rise up and I felt all warm, that's what happens when I hear good vocals and only a few people can do that to me, Sam Smith's definitely one of them. To Good at Goodbyes is a tuuunee' and I've found myself belting it out all month long, the choir build up is bloody amazing as well, another album I'm very excited for the release of. 

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Alt-J's new album release was a long time ago now and I think I've already talked about it a little on here. But my first listen wasn't very positive, I found it too experimental and just too plain weird. I know Alt-J are known to be different but I think with added durge and mechanical noises Radiohead-style, it was just too much. But Em told me to give the album another go and after watching them perform Deadcrush at The Mercury Awards; I ran a bath (that seems to be the way I listen to new music these days) and listened to it all the way through again. I don't think it's perfect but a few more songs have definitely jumped out at me, like the very mellow-yet-creepy Pleader. Old Alt-J will always be my fave though. 

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I've always been a low-key Foo Fighters fan, but never really listened to any albums in order. I was that typical emo, teenage girl that would only listen to The Best of You on repeat. But then I watched this 6 minute, amazingly animated video about the making of Concrete and Gold and decided to give it a listen, I loved it and it was so different to the sound I was expecting. Don't get me wrong it's heavy in places, but also so, so catchy and poppy. Happy Ever After was the product of a collab' with Paul McCartney and you can totally tell. That famous jolly riff and tone could be deduced anywhere.

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My friend Jordan introduced me to this album and I'm so glad he did, although I should have listened to it in summer, those vibes would have been perfect for travelling. Nick Mulvey has always been another low-key favourite of mine, but this album has raised the game. It's so political and cultural, but also remains gentle and coy, the structure is simple, increased by the accompaniment of  many unusual instruments from around the world. We are Never Apart is a beautiful song about the effect on our environment and falling in love and the juxtaposition of the two, or that's how I see it anyway. If you need to seriously chill and be lifted up, this album is all you need. 

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Another new album I listened to in the bath this month was Visions of a Life. My musical opinion with the band Wolf Alice has always been a little rocky, the first time I heard them I didn't think they were for me and then I heard Silk on the T2 soundtrack and fell in love with the song. Then after listening to their first album all summer, I declared myself a fan. Don't Delete the Kisses is my favourite song from the new album, I think it accurately depicts the all encompassing feelings of a crush  in such a clever way and it builds so well. I also love Formidable Cool and Visions of A life is perfect for meditating to, I'm loving these almost-instrumental-albums at the moment. 

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This track popped up on one of my recommended playlists on Spotify and I can't believe it had gone under my radar. As we already know I am a huge fan of Harry Style's solo music and when I heard this simple, bluesy song about what I think is fancying someone who loves girls; I was immediately drawn to the tune. Because he's using Blues chords it does sound like many other songs but that's what happens when you keep things so simple, his vocals differentiate it though and the harmony and cut-back sound is so tasty mm gimme' more. 

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Seems as we've been talking a lot about baths I would definitely recommend you listening to this playlist in the bath, it's pretty chill. 

What have you been listening to this September?

     

Songs For // June

I always knew June would be a great month music wise because; 1) Lorde's new album was due to be released and 2) I was going to Parklife festival and would therefor find some more music to put under my belt. The inevitable happened and most of the songs on this months playlist are from Lorde. The new album is everything I wanted it to be, but it still managed to surprise me, taking her music style down a different path with full orchestras and even a choir?! But this isn't just a Lorde appreciation post, I have also picked up a few more tunes for this month, some relatively old that I discovered at Parklife and some new, shall we crack on:

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And so we kick the month of with Lorde's 3rd single release before the album even came into fruition. I immediately was drawn to this song, it has very similar vibes to a lot of the songs on Pure Heroin and the same theme about extisential teenagers needing to escape their everyday lives. It's basically what I wrote my dissertation about and therefor I feel very connected to this song and the story it tells. A great sneak peek into what I knew would be an amazing album!

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Lorde wasn't the only one that released an album this month. Good ol' Alt J are back and sadder than ever. I wasn't actually a huge fan of this album altogether but I did like a few songs like In Cold Blood that is just classic Alt J. The others are a little meh. And really, bloody sad, I hope they're okay. 

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This month whilst at Parklife I got to see Japanese House live and they were wonderful. They played this song and then released it a few days later, the chorus is so catchy and I just love the way it builds up to a crescendo. I'm also in love with her effects pedal and her harmonies and her double denim. 

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I also got to see Rat Boy while I was at Parklife and he was so good live. Outspoken, political and hilarious. He played this song and the crowd just went crazy, it's so catchy with huge Sex Pistols vibes but the lyrics are so thoughtful and reflective of our time in politics now. I also loved the part at his gig when he said 'who thinks Theresa May's a cunt' yes, yes Rat Boy, we all do hun'. 

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I am currently living with Declan Mckenna's self proclaimed No.1 fan and although I had heard of him and have a few songs on a playlist here and there, I didn't realise his music is so different now compared to a few years ago. I love this new single, the lyrics are clever and thoughtful and I especially love the weird techno breakdown at the end of the song. I think this song will always remind me of June 2017 and you know it's a special song when it's capable of doing that. 

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 I first heard this song randomly on a friend's playlist late at night. I immediately Shazamed it and added it to the playlist. I love the mellow style of this artist and his voice is so powerful but pure and whimsical at the same time. He really reminds me of George Ogilivie and I think this song is the perfect accompaniment to a chill out with friends or a nice bath or just when you're lying in bed feeling thoughtful. 

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Oh look, three more Lorde songs, what a bloody surprise! After listening to Melodrama the whole way through three times, I picked out the songs that had the most effect on me. Supercut was one because once again the lyrics are incredibly relatable and it's just an absolute tune. The Louvre hit me like a tonne of bricks and I still dream about writing a chorus thread as catchy and tuneful as that one day, I also love the lyircs 'BROADCAST THE BOOM BOOM BOOM AND MAKE EM ALL DANCE TO IT' and I feel like they have to be typed in capitals, they just have to. I also love the end to the song when the guitar kicks in and this part especially has such a 90's blockbuster influence. I'm pretty sure it's taken from something else that is really familiar but I can't for the life of me remember what it is, I just think it fits perfectly with the style of the song. And lastly we have Writer in the Dark which made me crumble and shed many a tear. Once again the lyrics are relatable and so, so beautiful; about creative people and how they deal with break ups, how relationships have a lasting effect on someone and how you can use those feelings to make endless amounts of art, ouch my heart.

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So there we are a very Lorde heavy month. But she is one of my favourites. I will definitely be purchasing this album on vinyl sometime soon and will be listening to it for the rest of this month and probably well into July. Also I feel like the rest of the songs on this playlist have a very summery vibe and I have enjoyed listening to them all through June. 

What have you been listening to this June?