ALBUM REVIEW: 24K MAGIC - BRUNO MARS

Wow Bruno, what an album you have here.

'24K MAGIC' has a brilliance not often found in the pop music charts today. What makes it so magical? Bruno hits a sweet balance between retro and modern.

Clean funky riffs and fun recording effects ooze Bruno's showmanship in some tracks and lean to a cool sexiness in others. The album is addictive, its simple but well-woven beats impossible not to groove to. It seems that Bruno has stuck to what makes his hits, HITS (think 'Uptown Funk', 'Treasure', etc.). Each track is injected with a hit of swag that bursts to a funky dance beat - creating a sound reminiscent of the likes of Prince and MJ. Bruno has crafted an album here with a consistent style but also individuality between tracks.

Top song: 'That's What I Like'
This is a TUNE. Backed by a bouncy and rich synth-infused bass line, Bruno sings of all that he can give his girl: "sex by the fire at night, silk sheets and diamonds all white, lucky for you, that's what I like, that's what I like". There's a certain romantic and playful decadence to this song that is simply luscious.

Special mention to: 'Calling All My Lovelies'
This is the classic R&B hit of a heartbroken player. "I got Alicia waitin', Aisha waitin', All the eesha's waitin' on me", but Bruno himself is waiting for one particular girl to pick up the phone. A featured recording of Halle Berry is suggestive of the influence of 90s pop nostalgia on this record.




'24K MAGIC' has to be my favourite of Bruno Mars' albums yet. It is far bolder in its flair than his previous record 'Unorthodox Jukebox' and far outshines 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans' - his debut album. Bruno commits to a unique sound and delivers it with colour and cheek, or rather 'Finesse'. From its first track '24K Magic' to its last 'Too Good To Say Goodbye', this record could be interpreted as a story of Bruno growing into and out of his rich bachelor life.

24K Magic won the Grammys for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical; Best R&B Album; and Album of the Year in January 2018.

Mellowing from explosive funky dance hits into a rich R&B sound, Bruno has produced an album with retro swag and a sound different from the work of most artists today. It is worth a listen.

ALBUM REVIEW: MAKING TIME - JAMIE WOON

A recent discovery, Jamie Woon seems to be hitting all my wants for study music so far.

His 2015 album Making Time is his best record, each track has its own steady pace, sophisticated beat and satisfying bursts of jazzy brass and guitar with his smooth vocal lines pulling everything together. This formula works very well in tracks like Message and Celebration. Other tracks radiate a more funky/R&B vibe (where he says his roots are), like 'Sharpness' which reminds me of a more mellow Jungle. The track Movement really identifies Woon as a new artist, testing the limits of blending electronic sounds and bass with the voice. This track and the bare vocal opening to Skin also remind me of James Blake, experimental though perhaps a bit more laid-back. Woon's voice is rather underrated in this album, personally I welcome the rare appearance of his simple, but effective, vocal tone - I'd be interested to see him explore this in future work.

One of the main attractions of this album for me is that each track has its own idea and own sound, something taken for granted but barely actually delivered in many albums I listen to today. More and more artists only care about the success of a few songs from an album for it to sell, but you can tell that Woon has put effort into giving each track its own musical value to make an overall more impressive album. I wouldn't say that the music is particularly striking or thought-provoking, Woon isn't necessarily a game-changer for new artists; however listening to him while studying  is a pleasure, he creates a good-sounding pace to work to with no surprises to come along and slap you out of focus, I appreciate the bursts of jazz/funk/electronic/R&B vibes he adds to keep each song fresh.

https://open.spotify.com/album/1piHywE1K1xbS3fTTVrdBC

12.01.16

BOWIE

So, there goes one of the most iconic, talented, proper musicians Britain has ever made. I have to admit that I did shed a tear at the news of Bowie's death this morning, he's always been one of my favourites. I have a poster with the lyrics to Heroes on my bedroom wall.

Recently, Bowie released a powerful music video for Lazarus. After hearing of today's sad news it prompted me to watch it again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JqH1M4Ya8 I think that this is a true display of Bowie's commitment to music, he can even turn his death into art.

However, I think that this is an opportunity to be grateful for all of the music he has given us over the years. He has inspired countless musicians, guiding the next generations of talent. Bowie truly captivated the world with his music and could take us anywhere in his mind. He really loved what he did, I mean, Blackstar was released only three days ago as his 'parting gift'. I am very proud knowing that Bowie didn't fade over time, from the start to the end, his music has grown into new and wonderful things. RIP Bowie, but your music will live on.

I made a playlist dedicated to all of my favourite Bowie music:
https://open.spotify.com/user/livviehall/playlist/0iC1j5LI0nlxTreD1RxXJm

PATIENCE, DEAR

So recently I've been stuck in a bit of a musical rut. Am I allowed to admit that? I just can't seem to find any music to satisfy my tastes and I'm trying to find something that can be played alongside my studying without distracting me too much or boring me more than my work.

I tend to find that the upbeat, indie/alternative, rock tracks I used to listen to obsessively aren't quite cutting it anymore, I want something more stimulating than a simple strophic song with the same chords, same riff, same tired voice and uninspired lyrics. There are times for songs like those and I just think that while studying they won't do.

Then again, the more complex, whirring, heartfelt singer/songwriters (the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, Keaton Henson, etc.) are a bit too intense and after an hour or so they put me in an odd 4am state of mind where I feel like I need to drop everything I'm doing and fall asleep in a forest or something.

Anyway, I am determined not to settle for anything less than wonderful to talk about on this blog, so I assure you that my search will continue and the next you will hear from me will be a sincerely worthwhile recommendation. Thanks for sticking around, looks like we are all learning a lesson of patience so far this January.

09.01.16

SUMMER PLAYLISTS

I think summer brings some of the best music of the year. There's no patience for the likes of Bon Iver or the moody Smiths songs that we delve into while sipping hot cocoa in the colder months.

With lighter days come lighter workloads and a new urge to get out and soak up the sun. This means dragging the drum beats and guitar riffs out from last summer and into the speakers. I love the necessity of upbeat music on summer mornings to get us up and going. Then the band tracks that force you into dancing, no matter where you end up - the beach or even the zoo. Next you find yourself sat, exhausted but never with a bigger grin on your face, waiting for the sunset that comes in all its golden glory to the sounds of warm vocals and acoustic strings.

So this summer, I'm promising to provide you with plentiful music for every occasion. Below I've listed my favourites so far...

Upbeat, happy, -turn up the volume- playlists:
http://8tracks.com/livvie-hall/just-jump-in
http://8tracks.com/livvie-hall/rise-and-shine
http://8tracks.com/michelletao/sun-soaked-skin
http://8tracks.com/joannekim/spontaneous-summer-road-trip
http://8tracks.com/livvie-hall/good-morning-sunshine
http://8tracks.com/cassieso/don-t-worry-be-happy

Acoustic playlists for chilling with good views (ideally sun-bathing or star-gazing):
http://8tracks.com/livvie-hall/dreaming-of-the-seaside
http://8tracks.com/livvie-hall/collecting-shells
http://8tracks.com/lovepoemms/long-road-trips
http://8tracks.com/ginamv/calm-your-mind

Fun, -dare you not to sing along- oldies playlists:
http://8tracks.com/livvie-hall/songs-my-dad-likes
http://8tracks.com/raelovesyou/sing-along-motherfucker
http://8tracks.com/vampireweekends/i-found-this-dog-s-itunes-library
http://8tracks.com/lulaay/tonterias

Holiday playlists to transport you to a busy Italian plaza or French café:
http://8tracks.com/olivia224/la-vita-italiana
http://8tracks.com/regain/c-est-l-amour/edit
http://8tracks.com/noumoun/latino-flavor

Playlists ideal for sunsets and chilled nights in:
http://8tracks.com/livvie-hall/good-night-sunshine
http://8tracks.com/livvie-hall/street-lights-and-late-nights
http://8tracks.com/cambrica/almost-blue

I also made a ridiculously long Spotify playlist with all the music you'd ever need for a Summer road trip: https://play.spotify.com/user/livviehall/playlist/6ifE12nR7LG1Uk6vpXZYEx

I hope I've stocked you up with enough music to last the summer now, I'll be back with some top tracks and albums soon.

30.07.15

ARTIST REVIEW: JACK GARRATT

It looks like Jack Garratt is going to have an exciting year following the release of his single 'Worry'. With endorsement from the likes of Zane Lowe, this humble guy from a little village in Buckinghamshire is headed for things he'd never expected.

The idea of a one-man band is often thought of as more of a circus act than something that would book out Wembley. However, since the success of Ed Sheeran (with his loop station) one-man bands are really making it. Jack Garratt is a perfect example of this. Usually seen on stage drumstick in hand, fingers on the keyboard, guitar round neck and singing, he manages to create as much sound as a rock band - which is pretty impressive. Audiences no longer expect a stage full of dancing band members, nowadays an empty stage with a guy, a guitar, and a heck load of wires is far more effective.

Jack Garratt's rock/electronic sound has developed to be soulful through his years of experience and passion. He started writing at 12, his first song got him into the finals of the Great Britain Junior Eurovision Contest. He uploaded his music to BBC Introducing at 17 with his song 'Worry' and explained his musicality (he plays several instruments from guitar, bass, drums and piano to the trombone, African percussion and the mandolin) and commitment to writing and playing. This landed him their support from the start and a spot to perform at the Reading and Leeds Festival last year.

Jack's music is predominantly made of rock/electronic sounds, it is hard to classify him into a genre, he likes to dip his toes from alt-rock to late night R&B to moody-electronic and so on... Jack could typically be compared to Jeff Buckley in some tracks, and the likes of James Blake and Oh Wonder in others. However he does set himself apart with the intense contrasts between his soulful voice as it wavers in falsetto against pacey drum beats and clashing electronic sounds from guitar and keyboard. Each track has a different style but surges to the same intensity. The music he produces reflects how he challenges himself and the boundaries of music. I know you'd think that his experimental tendencies could result in some 'iffy' moments, though somehow he manages to balance out just the right amount of interesting ideas to keep me listening to and liking every song.

I think that Jack Garratt is definitely worth a listen, he seems to be so invested in his music and it really is beautiful to hear him progress from track to track. I'd love to hear more about his influences. I'm also very interested to see when it all blows up into something amazing for him.

SPOTIFY - https://play.spotify.com/artist/1Zp054Jc86WVKCxKEqZGOA

ALBUM REVIEW: DARK EYES - HALF MOON RUN

So here we go, my first review on this blog!

One of the main reasons why I love this album, Dark Eyes, is because of the variation between each track as they explore the indie folk and alt-rock genres. This isn't one of those albums that repeats the same sound and style for every song. Is it just me, or do those types of albums become laborious to listen to? You almost have to make an effort to differentiate each track. But this album plays with different paces, rhythms, melodies and even instruments to explore different sounds and moods.

Half Moon Run have had a great response to their music so far, especially since their release of this debut album in 2012. They've opened for artists such as Of Monsters and Men, City and Colour, and Mumford & Sons. The first I'd heard of  the Canadian band, was through their song 'Full Circle' (oddly enough, the first listed on their album) a few years ago. I really liked the tone of the song, and how the band uses different vocal lines to create thick harmonies, alongside the delicately moving guitar melodies. Everything seems to fit together as it builds from an acoustic sound to something much more full with added electric guitar parts and pacey drum beats. The lyrics also transform this, they are well-written and seem to have feeling behind them, which is so important in making music sound real. I think that it gives a great opening to the album, and shows a more raw side to the band, which lets you feel a connection with their other tracks too.

 

Another stand out track of their album is 'Call me in the Afternoon'. I think this must be their hit song, as it has a pretty cool music video. More upbeat than the first track, this song has a great drum rhythm - definitely reflecting an alt-rock sound with it's contrasting light and heavy beats. There's much more of a tune to this track, and I love how they've played with the notes and percussion rhythms to accentuate certain words.

'No More Losing the War' is a very emotive track. The lyrics tell a beautifully haunting story with subtle dark phrases giving off a great atmosphere. Definitely worth taking the time to listen to properly. More importantly, who's Karen? Devon Portielje (singer), delves deeply into his emotions to deliver such intensity. This is a skill that progresses into other songs such as 'Need It' and 'Unofferable' which thrive on the sensitivity in his voice.

One of my favourite tracks on this album has to be '21 Gun Salute'. This song brings more of an electronic/house sound, which along with the fast-pace percussion and guitar lines makes a full sound. The lyrics are simple and sung in long phrases, so it doesn't dominate but adds a clean melody on top of the other sounds. This song is amazing to listen to when driving at night - it's so smooth yet complex, and enhances the night time atmosphere.

This band has developed a very noteworthy set of sounds from folk to alt-rock. I'd say that they land on a spectrum between Fleet Foxes and Alt-J. Their music isn't just constructed on hollow chord sequences, it's built on something deeper and this is how they can create an atmosphere through their sound. Definitely worth a listen.

SPOTIFY - https://play.spotify.com/album/1h0JzrOSEyEldBJOBMj9Ge