Birdy - Fire Within

Recommended by Bex:

Birdy began her career doing covers, selling an album purely on her voice and some fantastic production. The fact that she co-wrote, or wrote, every song on Fire Within is testament to her writing skills.

Her voice is haunting, with a maturity beyond her 17 years. It's a production heavy album, and, while impressive that Birdy still shines through it all, the moments where it's just her voice and one other instrument are the most compelling.

DLS vs. SP - Repent Replenish Repeat

Friend Recommendation:

Dan le Sac and Scroobius Pip have combined their considerable individual talents and created an emotional and personal album unconstrained by big label management. There's nothing sanitised or overly produced here, so brace yourself.

Dan's music on its own is spontaneous and playful. However, Pip's spoken words create intimate images and a rare truth that is, at times, shocking but ultimately liberating. 'Stunner' was on YouTube back in August, but final track 'You Will See Me' blows it out of the park.

The music on offer is raw and pure. Perfect for repeat listens.

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

Friend Recommendation:

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac has taken on a life of its own. Selling over 30 million copies world-wide, it has assiduously worked its way into so many households since its release in February 1977, that it's become part of the sonic furniture.

Musically, there is little fuss, no mess and hardly any waste. If the age was about redundant excess, you are hard pushed to hear any of it on tunes like 'Don't Stop' or especially 'Dreams', which both benefit from incredibly sparing instrumentation – there is so much left out, it makes the tracks seem somehow busier by memory.

It became one of biggest records of all time, providing an antidote to the era while remaining entirely in step with its time. It led the group to make its thoroughly crazy yet quite beautiful follow-up, Tusk in 1979, bereft of the editing and economy that makes Rumours so special.

Charli XCX - True Romance

Recommended by Bex:

I admit to being underwhelmed by True Romance when it was, eventually, released. This was mainly because we had waited so long for a full LP - plus the majority of its material had featured elsewhere.

The album is undeniably cohesive, so all that polishing paid off. Having seen Charli live at the Academy Islington, I can also attest to her confident and engaging stage presence.

Alisha's Attic - Illumina

Recommended by Bex:

These London sisters will always be my favourite duo. Quirky and fun, their songs sound as punchy and observationally accurate as ever.

I highly recommend the Angeleyes fansite as a resource for new and returning fans alike. Seriously, everyone should listen to these two.

Paul McCartney - New

Recommended by Bex:

I had not listened to a McCartney album in full until New. Its release was supported by a live BBC performance, and it went on to appear in the Rolling Stone 50 Best Albums of 2013 in December.

I regularly change the music on my phone, but don't envisage removing this. Check it out if you like anything Beatles. Particularly 'Looking at Her', 'I Can Bet' and 'Queenie Eye', with accompanying music video.

Goldfrapp - Tales of Us

Recommended by Bex:

Translation of a Belgian review in Humo:

Alison Goldfrapp doesn't allow anyone to tell her what to do. Goldfrapp in itself is a bizarre triumph, but with their sixth album they achieve an unprecedented performance.

As follow up on album number four, Seventh Tree (my favourite so far) they now cast away all nylon, neon, plastic and synths on Tales of Us. What remains are ten moving songs, of which almost all have a woman's name as title, and which were inspired by a novel or movie character.

It seems like Alison Goldfrapp has thrown away all her shyness together with her glitter cape; never before was her voice - stripped of all effects - able to effect an almost physical reaction. That finale of 'Annabel' does it every time: sadness as a force of nature.

Liquid love is decanted in 'Jo', 'Drew', 'Alvar', 'Ulla' and especially the final song 'Clay', a song that Alison wrote after reading a letter from a soldier who had been in love with a companion / lover.

The album cuts deep, and then there's the short film project that Alison made, along with her companion Lisa Gunning. If that little boy in the video for 'Annabel' receives that dress as a gift: always tears.

The Saturdays - Living for the Weekend

Recommended by Bex:

Their latest release, including 'Disco Love' and tongue-in-cheek 'Gentleman'. The album as a whole grew on me after seeing them. The ladies (minus Frankie) lit up Bristol on a dreary November evening.

There was a short interview before the performance, conducted by regular presenter Mark Heyes. The concert itself was weighted to older tracks, with the exception of 'Disco Love' and 'What About Us'.

London Grammar - If You Wait

Recommended by Bex:

Perhaps it's no coincidence my favourite releases of 2013 so far have very similar titles, the other being Daughter's If You Leave.

London Grammar's debut album is all about restraint. Laid back, haunting and beautiful, the tracks seamlessly flow into one another with very little instrumentation and an emphasis on repetition and silence.

'Wasting My Young Years' and 'Metal & Dust' are standout tracks, with pulsing beats and haunting choruses that showcase Hannah Reid's distinctive vocals. Just don't expect the record to be building to a crescendo of heavier or more pop-focused electronica.

Audiences who are in a melancholy or introspective mood will no doubt connect deeply with the record, and everyone else can simply appreciate the beauty.

Kings of Leon - Mechanical Bull

Friend Recommendation:

Almost exactly a decade after their debut Youth & Young Manhood, Kings of Leon's sixth album arrives amid a rejuvenated sense of interest in the band. There is an energy here that wasn't present in the somewhat mellow Come Around Sundown.

It is less earnest, with clearer dynamics between dark and light in its varied rhythms. They go for moments of nuance (listen for strings on 'Comeback Story'), but the album's finest moment was recorded almost as an afterthought. 'Don't Matter', a relentless belter, sees the band get their Queens of the Stone Age on.

Mechanical Bull finds the Tennessee rockers recapturing the white-lightning-in-a-bottle spark that made their early stuff so fun.

Diana Vickers - Music to Make Boys Cry

Recommended by Bex:

Miranda Cooper's influence is obvious throughout the album. Vickers cites 80s Blondie as an influence for Music to Make Boys Cry, but the album sounds more like a homage to a decade or so of Cooper-helmed UK pop perfection. 'This is precisely how modern pop should be done.'

The album came out of nowhere for me, as I enjoyed her 2010 debut I thought I'd listen. Just wow. Lots of energy, 80s disco hooks and that same distinctive voice. Try if you like: La Roux, Paris, dancing.

Moloko - I Am Not a Doctor

Friend Recommendation:

Second album from the Sheffield-based duo. It contains the original version of one of my favourite songs ever: 'Sing It Back'. The track gained popularity with a Boris Dlugosch remix, reaching number 4 on the UK chart; a version of which appeared on Things to Make and Do.

The album did not receive the sales recognition it deserved, despite building on the formula that made their debut so compelling. The tracks are mostly experimental, such as 'The Flipside' and 'Knee Deepen'.

'Fun for Me' and 'Day for Night' (from Sweater) also shouldn't be missed.

The Beatles - Come Together

Recommended by Bex:

This post is an extended description of a compilation I lovingly created this week, to complement the hugely popular One. As the title suggests, the release only included number one singles, and as such omitted several gems and hit singles, most notably 'Please Please Me'.

I made several changes to the tracklist before settling on this. I added two tracks from Love: an alternative 'Eleanor Rigby' and a rather beautiful and extended 'Lucy'. Great/odd track 'Girl' was also a late addition.

A detailed track-by-track discussion follows:

COME TOGETHER: A COMPILATION 1963–1969

I Saw Her Standing There (From Please Please Me)
Written with John Lennon in Paul McCartney's Liverpool front room, 'I Saw Her Standing There' is the opening track on The Beatles' debut album. The pair shirked school and wrote it mostly on guitars.

Ticket to Ride (From Help!)
Ringo Starr's monumental drumming drives this ominous rocker of thwarted desire, heavy as you could get before heavy metal. Heralded by music press as a departure from the group's more familiar territory.

Twist and Shout (From Please Please Me)
The last song on the debut, in itself notable for 11 songs recorded in a mere 10 hours. George Harrison knew Lennon's voice would suffer from the performance, so he left it until last, with only 15 minutes of scheduled recording time remaining.

Please Please Me (From Please Please Me)
The single was released on 11 January 1963 during one of the worst winters in British history. On January 12 most of the population were snowed-in watching the Beatles perform on the TV show Thank Your Lucky Stars. Widely recognised as their first number one, it reached number two on what was to become the UK Singles Chart.

And Your Bird Can Sing (From Revolver)
Descending twin lead guitars drive us through Lennon’s snappy rejection of snobbery, about the most uplifting put down you could imagine.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps (From The Beatles aka The White Album)
Mystic George mournfully contemplates the power of his instrument, with magical Eric Clapton solo. A demo version of the song was recorded by The Beatles at Harrison's bungalow, featuring several lines that were later left out:

'I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping / While my guitar gently weeps / Problems you sow are the troubles you're reaping / Still my guitar gently weeps

I look at the trouble and hate that is raging / While my guitar gently weeps / As I'm sitting here, doing nothing but ageing / Still my guitar gently weeps'

Eleanor Rigby (From Revolver)
My current favourite Beatles track. Backed by a string quartet, McCartney's intense vignette of loneliness still resonates with melodic melancholy. For a time he settled on the name Miss Daisy Hawkins.

Any Time at All (From A Hard Day's Night)
The first song on side two of A Hard Day's Night, 'Any Time at All' was written by Lennon and recorded during the final session for the album.

The Beatles never got around to writing lyrics for the middle eight due to its late composition, but McCartney suggested a set of piano chords. The deadline for the album's final mixes meant it went on release in its unintended state.

Strawberry Fields Forever (From Magical Mystery Tour soundtrack)
Lennon's psychedelic wander through childhood memories ripples with shapeshifting technicolour sounds and rattling Ringo drums. In Anthology Lennon describes Strawberry Fields as 'psychoanalysis set to music'.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (From Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band)
Rolling Stone magazine described the song as 'Lennon's lavish daydream', and one of the classic songs of psychedelia as a whole. There are few other songs that so successfully evoke a dream world in both the sonic textures and words.

In My Life (From Rubber Soul)
Deceptively simple, elegantly melodic reflection on love and life, with baroque interlude via producer George Martin. Lennon considers it 'the first time I consciously put my literary part of myself into the lyric'.

Written mostly by Lennon, it started as a set of memories of Liverpool, and became a remembrance of friends and lovers of the past. Lennon regarded 'In My Life' particularly highly, citing it – along with 'Strawberry Fields Forever', 'I Am the Walrus' and 'Help! – as among his best.

Hey Bulldog (From Yellow Submarine soundtrack)
Surrealist belter with John and Paul ripping it up in mutual delight. It is their only recording process captured by a film crew, who were shooting a promotional film for Lady Madonna. Harrison said 'it was Neil Aspinall who found out that when you watched and listened to the original, we were recording Bulldog'.

Blackbird (From The Beatles aka The White Album)
Composed shortly after The Beatles' stay in Rishikesh, India. Beautiful acoustic playing and a simple metaphor of freedom: a McCartney solo gem to rival the more celebrated 'Yesterday'.

I Am the Walrus (From Magical Mystery Tour)
Epic nonsense revelling in the ripeness of the English language. The most ridiculous possibilities of recorded sound – and the sheer absurdity of the position they held as Sixties demi-Gods.

A Day in the Life (From Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band)
A journey into inner space, contrasting John's ethereal whimsy with Paul's brusquely melodic cheer and pitching all the way to orchestral apocalypse. The line 'I'd love to turn you on' was enough to get the song banned by the BBC.

All My Loving (From With the Beatles)
Though not released as a single, it drew considerable airplay. McCartney cites it as the first song where the lyrics were written first: 'I never wrote words first, it was always some kind of accompaniment. I've hardly ever done it since either'.

It Won't Be Long (From With the Beatles)
Kicking off the second UK album, it heavily featured the band's distinctive 'Yeah, yeah' signature established on 'She Loves You'.

The song was written mainly by Lennon, with help from McCartney. They were especially proud of the juxtaposition of 'be long' and 'belong', similar to the wordplay that influenced 'Please Please Me'.

Here Comes the Sun (From Abbey Road)
Recorded July-August 1969. In Anthology, George Harrison recalled it being written at the time when Apple was getting like school:

We had to go and be businessmen: 'Sign this' and 'Sign that'. Anyway, it seems as if winter in England goes on forever; by the time spring comes you really deserve it. So one day I decided I was going to sag off Apple and I went over to Eric Clapton's house.

The relief of not having to go and see all those dopey accountants was wonderful, and I walked around the garden with one of Eric’s acoustic guitars and wrote 'Here Comes the Sun'.

Girl (From Rubber Soul)
The last song recorded for Rubber Soul, 'Girl' was one of the most melancholy and complex of their earlier love songs. It explored the notion of the ideal woman, and touched upon John Lennon's feelings towards Christianity.

McCartney says his main memory is that 'John wanted to hear the breathing, wanted it to be very intimate, so George Martin put a special compressor on the voice, then John dubbed it'.

Thanks to The Beatles Bible, an excellent resource. Initially the compilation was made for my Dad, I hope that he enjoys it!

MKS - Flatline

Recommended by Bex:

This post is a cheat, since it is a single - but a good one.

Fans interacted with Mutya Keisha Siobhan (reformed Sugababes 1.0) while they debuted the sun-kissed 'Flatline' video last night.

Here's the lovely Keisha, who once waved to me on stage:

Hanson - Underneath

Recommended by Bex:

In light of the Hanson brother's latest release Anthem, I found myself listening back to their previous albums. The pop sensibility of Underneath rings loud and clear throughout, particularly on single 'Penny & Me'.

This album is a true masterpiece from real musicians who know how to keep their audience amazed. It is remarkable (and relatively unknown) how much musicianship and craft Hanson have created and how they have evolved from the top of the pop charts, to the top of the indie labels, to the their own label 3GC.

RATM - Rage Against the Machine

Friend Recommendation:

The debut from the rap/heavy metal outfit is one of my favourite albums of all time. When I bought it I may have been too young to understand the political lyrics, but Zack de la Rocha's angry vocals and the raw power from the rest of the band defined my music taste for a decade.

Thirteen years later I still enjoy putting this album on with the volume up, although now I can appreciate the lyrics.

AlunaGeorge - Body Music

Recommended by Bex:

Body Music is a collection of singles and possible singles, not a classically constructed album. About half the songs are old, some borderline paleolithic in internet-time. I had high expectations for BM, but the inclusion of such tracks, and in no particular order, took the lustre off.

Aluna Francis's chilly accented playground-taunt delivery has little of Aaliyah's pillowy grandeur, but she uses what she's got in some similar ways. The important thing about her conversational voice is the way it slides through the beats, finding understated emotional notes and projecting sidelong breezy charm.

It's probably easier to sound cool when you've got someone like George Reid, the duo's production half, putting the tracks together. Reid utilises different sounds, criss-crossing genres, to impeccable effect.

Be sure to watch the videos for:
You Know You Like It
Your Drums, Your Love
Attracting Flies

Ciara - Ciara

Recommended by Bex:

Ciara's latest release, following 2010s Basic Instinct, including 'I'm Out' with Nicki Minaj and 'Body Party' (both of which I happen to love).

I was disappointed that some of the singles were not on the official tracklist, but added 'Sorry', 'Got Me Good' and 'Sweat' to my album.

John Frusciante - The Will to Death

Friend Recommendation:

Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist develops a new idea for each album. For The Will to Death, the idea was to have very little backing vocals. In every way, the album is the opposite of Shadows.

He also released an accompanying essay titled The Creative Act:

'The Will to Death refers to the underlying, predominantly unintentional, organization in works by artists who love and are devoted to the creative force, but hate what they see of the life force and its ways.'

'In artistic symbolism, one comes close to death, and not only does he not die, but he lives more fully for having had the experience ... so the artists will is always aiming at something it never reaches.'

Cassie - RockaByeBaby

Recommended by Bex:

'I make music to Numb your brain'.

I am going through a big Cassie phase at present, having recently basked in the unofficial Cassie Trilogy. Other than the excellent fan-compiled mixtapes, this is her first material since the 2006 self-titled LP.

Alicia Keys - Songs in A Minor

Recommended by Bex:

I always come back to this album. I picked up the Collector's Edition on my way to a Goldfrapp concert. This edition has extensive liner notes, documentary and video footage, and previously unreleased tracks.

Disc two of this edition features:

01 A Woman's Worth (Remix)
02 Juiciest
03 If I Was Your Woman (Original Funky Demo)
04 Ghettoman
05 Fallin' (Soundtrack Version)
06 Typewriter
07 Butterflyz (The Drumline Mix)
08 I Won't (Crazy World)
09 Girlfriend (KrucialKeys Sista Girl Mix)

Laura Marling - Once I Was an Eagle

Recommended by Bex:

Once I Was an Eagle was made over 10 days with just a cellist and producer Ethan Johns, on carefully-placed drums, piano, organ. Marling recorded her vocal and guitar parts in a single take each, and in one day, though it somehow sounds even more immediate.

As a lyricist, Laura favours a veiled sort of storytelling, her songs never not deeply felt but always more in the vein of short stories than memoir, and executed so supremely that sussing out the 'real' from the 'unreal' has always seemed beside the point.

At 23, the amount of time Marling had spent on this earth was once relevant because nobody in her peer group was making albums like this. With Eagle, it's because nobody of any age is making albums like this.

I look forward to seeing her - for the fifth time - this month as part of Secret Cinema. Based on a review by Pitchfork.

Marling is the one artist I can, personally, say surpasses herself with each release; considering her superb debut I find this astonishing.

Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid

Friend Recommendation:

Q Magazine: Elbow have hardly stepped out of their comfort zone here, but then their comfort zone has always been oddly unsettling. They're still burning: slowly, maybe, but stronger than ever.

The Guardian: Elbow sound beautifully understated rather than underwhelming, less underachieving than desperately undervalued.

Spin: Nicer than Pulp, less sappy than Coldplay, Elbow excel at meticulous orchestral pop that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Aaliyah - Ultimate

Recommended by Bex:

I'd all but decided this week's post (now postponed) when I watched Romeo Must Die, starring Jet Li and the late Aaliyah. I was holding back the tears by the end, and always find 'Miss You' an emotional listen.

Aaliyah is a musical loss that hit me hard. The albums sound fresher now than ever; one can't help but wonder what the R&B genre might have been today with her input.

I particularly recommend:
Hot Like Fire
Try Again
Back & Forth
Are You Feelin' Me
I Don't Wanna



R.I.P. Baby Girl, forever in our hearts.

Beyoncé - B'Day

Recommended by Bex:

I had the original release of this and, while good, something was amiss. Those of us familiar with Beyoncé will know: not only is she Queen B, she is also the Queen of album re-releases.

Modified Deluxe tracklist (with links):

01 Beautiful Liar
02 Irreplaceable
03 Green Light
04 Kitty Kat
05 Welcome to Hollywood
06 Upgrade U
07 Flaws and All
08 If
09 Get Me Bodied (Extended Mix)
10 Freakum Dress
11 Suga Mama
12 Deja Vu
13 Ring the Alarm
14 Resentment
15 Listen
16 World Wide Woman
17 Check on It
18 Back Up

Slipknot - Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)

Friend Recommendation:

Third studio album, following self-titled debut and the heavier Iowa - both great albums. Band members had promised a more experimental album prior to the release of Vol. 3.

For the first time in Slipknot's career, songs such as 'Circle' and 'Vermilion Pt. 2' were led by an acoustic rather than an electric guitar.

In Kerrang, drummer Jordison said, 'It's a bit more out there and a bit more spacey. It's almost as if Slayer was tapping on Radiohead'.

The Heavy - The House That Dirt Built

Friend Recommendation:

The title of The Heavy’s first album, 2007's Great Vengeance and Furious Fire, was the perfect trailer. The House That Dirt Built nicely builds the plot, opening up whole new musical storylines to explore.

By track five they've gone through soul, garage punk, a bit of James Brown funk, Hendrix and balls-out rock; by album’s end there's rockabilly, reggae and even a closing ballad. The most surprising thing, however, is how good they are at making it sound unified.

TEED - Prehistory

Friend Recommendation:

This week's post cheats slightly, in that it isn't an album.

Instead I recommend two EPs, Prehistory I & II, by Orlando Higginbottom who performs under the moniker Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.

Despite highly anticipating his debut, we found Trouble somewhat lacking. I think these EPs along with one or two additional songs – in particular 'Tapes & Money' - would have produced a much better album.

I would urge anyone to see TEED live, as he gives an excellent live performance. And he has dancing dinosaurs on stage with him.

Daughter - If You Leave

Recommended by Bex:

If you are not familiar with Elena Tonra, Igor Haefeli and Remi Aguilella, collectively known as Daughter, I encourage you remedy that today.

I admire every artist on the 4AD label. Out of the many great bands signed, I would cite Cocteau Twins as the most prolific and ethereal. When I saw them, Elena reminded me of a more articulate Elizabeth Fraser (not that I don't love her made-up words).

They performed in March at a small concert in Rise Records, whose mailing list I highly recommend. The band then took the time to meet fans and sign items. Increasingly acclaimed and thoughtful trio.

Little Dragon - Little Dragon

Recommended by Bex:

This is one of my all-time favourite releases. It also verifies something I refer to as debut theory, where the first album is usually the best.

I heard 'Twice' for the first time in my car and ordered the album the next day. I had the pleasure of meeting the band at a gig in March 2009. They were very friendly, signed a flyer for the event, and seemed flattered to have a fanbase.

SBTRKT - SBTRKT

Friend Recommendation:

SBTRKT (pronounced 'subtract') is the project of DJ Aaron Jerome. The name refers to Jerome's desire to remove himself from the process and let the music do the talking.

Having released singles and EPs since 2009, collaborating with the likes of Sampha and Jessie Ware (who I saw perform live in March), this is his first full length album with this project.

Out with the Old

... and in with the New!

This blog began as a little insight into my world, whereby I would recommend a new track each week. As with most new ventures, it started with the best of intensions but became difficult to maintain.

While it retains the Track of the Week address, the extra 'W' in the URL standing for Web-based, the site now mostly discusses full albums.

INTRODUCING INTRICACIES OF SOUND

My friends and I often make recommendations to one another, this being the idea behind the blog. Where possible, I will recommend four albums each month, the most loved/significant of which will carry descriptions while the others can speak (play?) for themselves.

One problem I had with the old posts was linking to third party sites, whose links would often change or be removed. For this reason, the aim is to provide solid musical recommendations with as few frills as possible.

A little on myself: I love music, art and skydiving. I work as a lecturer and researcher. Hopefully I'll enjoy looking back on this.
-- Bex

FAREWELL, MY FIRST BLOG

Before we start here is a brief summary of the previous posts, as I can't bear to disregard them altogether:

May 2012
Crystal Castles – Suffocation (Health Remix)
Elsiane – Mend (to Fix, to Repair)
Elsiane's debut album, Hybrid, may be as close to perfection as any artist can hope to achieve. The album doesn't have a standout track; it simply is standout from start, to glimmering interval 'In a Crisis...', to finish.
Nitin Sawhney – Tides
Norah Jones – Say Goodbye

April 2012
Alicia Keys – Diary
Soap&Skin - Marche Funèbre (Yrasor)
Incredible, dark, mesmerising performance in London this week. This was the track I longed to hear and the stand-out of the evening, along with Anja's vocals on 'Voyage Voyage'.
Katy Perry – Wide Awake
The Saturdays – 30 Days (DubRocca Remix)

March 2012
Melanie C – Stupid Game
Brilliant live; mixed with 'Tainted Love' on The Sea Tour, Islington. I left the show even more in love with 'Think About It', remix and original.
Laura Marling – The Muse
Norah Jones – Happy Pills
Laura Marling – I Was Just a Card
The wonderful Laura Marling performed in Leeds this week. I was there, and the first through the venue door.

February 2012
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Tapes & Money
Their music swings between overt musicality and dance. Their live show has toured internationally, featuring bizarre instruments, glitter cannons and, of course, dancing dinosaurs. I can't wait to see him live.
St. Vincent – Cheerleader
Another great from the 4AD label; album review here.
Coeur de Pirate - Place de la République
Lights – Banner

January 2012
Anna Calvi – No More Words
Sugababes – Overload
Their debut single, in celebration of the news the original Sugababes have reformed and are working on new material.
Korn – Get Up
Lana Del Rey – Video Games

December 2011
Crystal Castles – Love and Caring
Goldfrapp - Cologne Cerrone Houdini
A beautiful track, with a title I understand thanks to this post.
Fenech-Soler – Lies
Laura Marling - Goodbye England (Covered in Snow)

November 2011
Nicola Roberts – Beat of My Drum (Instrumental)
Britney Spears – And Then We Kiss
Original version of the track, available only as a remix for six years!
The Ting Tings - Silence (Bag Raiders Remix)
Marilyn Manson – Sweet Dreams

October 2011
Nicola Roberts – I (Live)
Björk – Thunderbolt
Katy Perry – The One That Got Away
Katy Perry was brilliant live. The same week, she performed an acoustic rendition of this track on The X Factor (in Sheffield the chorus of Adele's 'Someone Like You' was added).
Rihanna – We Found Love
This narrowly won over Britney's 'Criminal' because its video challenged my perception of the track. The video could have been blissful and loved up, instead we had a hard-hitting, gritty accompaniment.

September 2011
Laura Marling – Sophia
Iamamiwhoami – t
Swedish music project, headlined by singer-songwriter Jonna Lee, I stumbled upon. Several of their song titles are a series of numbers that spell out words when indexed into the alphabet. I, for one, am intrigued!
Ayria – Blue Alice
Ellie Goulding - Under the Sheets (Jakwob Remix)

August 2011
Björk – Crystalline
'Biophilia is an interdisciplinary exploration of the universe and its physical forces-particularly those where music, nature, and technology meet - inspired by these relationships between musical structures and natural phenomena, from the atomic to the cosmic.'
Thievery Corporation – Language Symbolique
Melanie C – Think About It
Feist - How Come You Never Go There

July 2011
Kings of Leon – Use Somebody (Franx & Aura Remix)
I discovered this soon after their dubstep remix of Katy Perry's 'E.T.', creative and original duo.
Waldeck – Morning Light
Lights – Everybody Breaks a Glass
Twitter: 'Me & a nice fine tip marker present to you this wicked lyric video for my new track'. Lights again demonstrating incredible artistry, a must-watch!
Amy Winehouse – You Know I’m No Good
For Amy: a lost soul with talent beyond her years.

June 2011
Lights – I Owe You One
Britney Spears – Till the World Ends (Remix)
This track reminds me of a fond visit to Alton Towers.
The Good Natured – Skeleton
An English synthpop band consisting of Sarah McIntosh, her brother Hamish on bass, and George Hinton (with whom Sarah became acquainted at University) on drums.
EMA – Milkman

May 2011
Christina Aguilera – Tough Lover
I recently watched and, to my own surprise, loved the film Burlesque. Christina's vocals in this particular scene are just breathtaking.
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Garden
Picture Me Broken – Dearest (I'm So Sorry)
The Veronicas – Untouched (Acoustic)

April 2011
Everything Everything – My Kz, Ur Bf
Katy Perry – California Gurls
Katy B – Katy On a Mission
I acquired this lady's album a few days ago and it is amazing. Another two significant reasons for the choice: crazy dancing to this song while on holiday in California, and I see her live next weekend.
Sexy Sushi – Sex Appeal

March 2011
Britney Spears – Rock Boy
I am eagerly awaiting the release of Femme Fatale. In the meantime I've been listening to demos and bonus tracks, this being one of the strongest from the Circus era.
Britney Spears – Trouble
Foo Fighters – All My Life
Phantogram – Mouthful of Diamonds
Opening track from the electronic duo's refreshing (and curiously titled) debut release, Eyelid Movies. Discovered by chance on Last.fm.

February 2011
Magnetic Man – I Need Air
This week's track for two reasons: 1) I am seeing them live as part of the NME Awards tour, alongside Alice Glass (currently on crutches), 2) The track came on the radio on my way home from skydiving.
Dido – Honestly OK
Crystal Castles – Atlantis to Interzone
Victoria Beckham – Bittersweet
This choice may be unexpected, but I am on a shameless Spice Girls kick this week. Today my nostalgia peaked when I acquired a signed photograph of the girls from the '2 Become 1' photo shoot.

January 2011
Agnes Obel – Riverside
Crystal Castles – Baptism (Story of Isaac Remix)
I'm not usually a fan of CC remixes, mostly because I like their material completely unedited. This remix is a welcome exception.
PJ Harvey – My Beautiful Leah
The xx – Hot Like Fire
I've known of this Aaliyah cover for a while, but really fell for it recently. If you listen to it on headphones (preferably curled up in bed) the intro is amazing, as is the whole track.