Be my distraction

Shyness, let it go, never have to be alone. Yeh, shyness.

Thieves like us are a Swedish-American band yet they call Paris their home. They met over banana sandwiches, a few packets of Seabrook crisps and some Sunny D..... Well, that's not exactly what I read but an interview said they met over a picnic; and that sounds like a cracking picnic basket to me doesn't it you? No? OK I'll eat on my own! 

Now if you've read my blogs posts before you'll know I like a bit of New Order, well a lot of New Order! So when I saw this band name I immediately thought they had got their band name from a single they released way back in '84. The band said it had a little relevance to their name but from what I've read of their outlook on music, they aren't one for taking from others, they create their own sound and take individual taste as an interpretation rather than an opinion. They claim their first album was all over the place, moving from Berlin to London to New York. The chaos of their nomadic lifestyle can be seen to be reflected in their music and in their music videos at that. Restless bodies equalled a restless beat, something you might these days take as less "Restless" and more "electronic" and quite tragically hip! The latest album, Again and Again, is completely different. First of all they say they actually remember recording ALL the songs, so more structure, more vision and stability. The band claim "Again and Again" was the album they wanted to make all along.

Days they go slow

The nights they go fast

It's only some time 

'Til we get together

The method is clear

So, the music. Electronic, disco, quite a french sound? If that makes sense. I just think that it is beautifully noticeable that they have all brought their own culture and background to the band. And I love it. I don't mind a couple of brothers from Manchester getting together and creating a few classic anthems too, but I lust after sounds like this. Lock me in a room with people that can make something good out of drums and a keyboard and I'll sit there with my banana sandwiches and sunny d in my element!

Hold on a second, I've just read that they were discovered by the amazing Kitsune! I should know this, working at Urban Outfitters where you have Kitsune albums and Soulwax music imprinted on our minds after an 8 hour shift!

"Shyness" - A beautifully relaxed and mellow sound. I listened to the lyrics over and over and took the song as saying that even though you might not be able to talk about your feelings, your heart might be beating about it loud enough for someone to hear. The lyrics "Shyness, let it go, never have to be alone" sound wicked alongside the restless beat of the song. Oh and PLEASE watch the video I've posted below with the song. The kids are ridiculously cool and, like a mini movie, you get a real feel for the meaning of the song!

"Drugs in my body" - There isn't much more than I can say than, WOW. It's like their quite pessimistic view on love and romance has been turned on its head by an electronic beat that makes their pessimism sound upbeat. Tres Bien my little thieves!

So there isn't much more to say than listen and enjoy! :) xx

Gabriel you've gone too far.

It was quite awake in night and I can hear my heart beat 

Hopes it cradles me and rocks my bones to sleep

Joe Goddard - Gabriel

With a soothing and quite gospel start to this song you feel sucked into the silence, its as if her soft voice and the steady drums is getting you ready for the ever so current house beat that is to follow. The haunting vocal refrain that we begin with slowly unravels into this smooth main vocal and bass line that gives of that sort of energy that when you hear it you feel like its latched onto your chest and given your lungs a ton of oxygen. The sort of feeling I think every person living in Britain needs with our rainy summers and dreary Monday mornings. Not only is a wicked bass line a necessity to be blasting through your earphones for a little Wednesdaymorninghalfwaytheretotheweekend moments. But its a necessity on a night out, especially for those awkward people like myself that aren't cool enough to body pop, do back flips or break dance on a Saturday night out!

So who is the genius creator of such a song? His name is Joe Goddard, sounds familiar doesn't it? Yes well he's a bear. As in one of The 2 Bears. No don't worry he's not going anywhere, he's just branching off a little and Gabriel is just a taster of what is to become of Joe Goddard. 

If you like eery, he does eery. Tracks like "Gabriel" and "All I Know" make sure you are all set for being an eery/odd/moody barsteward for the day! Want something thats a little more back to the basics? Then "Jump" gives you a completely old school and retro house beat with just enough vocals to bring you back from the verge of being "Well into house n that" and wearing those ever so lovely tank tops, sunglasses inside and pouting so much for pictures that that is now just how you look. Nightmare much?! I used to be slightly scared of being into house but not anymore, with producers like these guys giving you remixes of Metronomy and Lykki Li I really don't mind.
So all I can say is listen and enjoy. I'm keeping a very close I on Joe Goddard and his music... AND his beard. Yeh that's right! x