Wouldn't it be cool, if I could let it go?

Sometimes its hard to live and sometimes its hard to love you

I keep pushing you away doing things so you won't stay with me

Ahahaaaaahhhaaaa

Ahahaaaaahhhaaaa

And wouldn't it be cool if I could let it go?

So the last time I mentioned The Kooks I was saying "September? What? I can't wait that long for a new album!"; but it seems they have done a Kasabian on us. And by that I mean they have released a single ahead of the album, it's not on the album but it's thrown out to the public as a bit of a tester and as an example of what is to be expected of the new album Junk of the Heart. Good thinking Batman. Although what happened to standing up tall, saying this is who we are, this is our sound.... like it or lump it? They have got a huge fan base from just a few years ago, have regularly played at Ibiza rocks and got a great reception - and if they're worried they can have my word that I regularly sing "And I am alllwaaysss where, I need to be. And I always thought I would end up with you even-tua-lly" to the best of mine and my lung's abilities in the shower! Happy? No I really wouldn't be.

Besides the marketing and the technicals of the album, I like what I here in new single "Saboteur". It's a little dark, it's edgier and more pumped up than what we last heard of them. But what else would you expect from a song about sabotage? I love it. Luke Pritchard attempts a bit of Piano, his voice as distinctive as ever and the band give it their all for the excitable crowd jumping around just at their presence! I said it before and I'll say it again, I'm very much looking forward to the album in September, the interviews the gigs and the tour! 

The Kooks were about when I was a teen, they were band blaring out of the little car stereo on the drive back from days at the beach with friends and the songs you thought you could perform on the Kareoke after 4 or 5 wines. Good to have the boys back on the radio, hopefully you'll be at next years Ibiza Rocks where want to be next summer!

So here it is!

Gracie, FiftysAtHeart xx

Bombay Bicycle Club get a "Shuffle" on with their new album...

Yes Bombay BC, Shuffle... But not too much

Good Morning Sir... Good Afternoon Madam... Can I get you something to drink? Can I get you the dessert Menu? Can I get you your 6th glass of pointless tap water? Can I mop your brow? No, waitress and slave aren't the same thing. Yes I'd love to watch you drink coffee after closing time rather than go home.

Oh how bitter I must sound, I do very much enjoy waitressing as a part-time leisure but boy do grumpy customers try to get you down some days! ha! So as I return home from the hustle and bustle of Leeds train station, sitting uncomfortably close to a large breasted woman and walking up my Avenue which seems to have lengthened since yesterday. I can sit down, have my PJ's on by 8pm and stare aimlessly into the mirror as I take my makeup off. Seriously, how nice are baths?

But one thing that has many a time accompanied my train home, my walk up the Avenue and played soothingly as I light 4 candles around my room and sit exfoliating, moisturising and all the usuals - is Bombay Bicycle Club's album "I had the blues but I shook them loose". The title of the album couldn't be more fitting for my feelings when I listen to them. It's played when I've needing cheering up after a long day, in the background when my boyfriend has given me a kiss or two and to a simple start to my day to get me in the mood for the day's activities! I absolutely love their music, the tone, the vibe I get from the album and guess what I'm going to joyfully tell you next? They're back! They --- are --- back!! With new single "shuffle" which is to be played on Zane Lowe's show on Wednesday night at 7.30pm, this makes me very excitable and anxious. I don't want them to change enough for me to notice too much, I know bands develop their sound but change? Please don't!

Looking forward to Wednesday! Will post the song on here as soon as I can get my typing fingers on it! But for now............ let's play a favourite, "Rinse me down" where I love the lyrics. "You turned your head, to mine instead.. Gave me the eyes, burning like mine"

Good night and God Bless then

Gracie, FiftysAtHeart xx

See you're jadin' me, dazin' me

The moment I heard this beat and felt the vibe shudder through to my little drum&bass core, I just knew ShyFx had something to do with it! The vocals are right up my street, its like someone has grabbed hold a reggae style voice, borrowed a little bit of skream and shaken it up with some brand new drum&bass beat and produced something that can inject a thousand watts of energy into the bodies of everyone listening. This is a song I can see us playing while we get ready at camp to go to the festival, one we here amongst a crowd of people bouncing in a dance tent at the early hours and even something to be played as plainly as on the train just to get you to work!

I know of Maverick for his eerie vocals, and I can say that without this remix the original song is frightfully eerie. At first you're taken in by the instrumental, quite upbeat (not cheerful, don't be silly)....but that all changes. The voices slow down and you suddenly feel like you could be in a place with psychedelic colours and a room full of people smoking a bit of MaryJane and drinking cocktails in dark corners. That's what I pictured anyway! I loved it and wished I could be there just for a few seconds longer. Am I allowed to say this next bit though? I really don't want to... but I definitely felt a sense of AIR in the original... see what you think anyway. Wicked record.

I'm getting increasingly excited to see live acoustic sets, guitarists rock out and absolutely lose it on stage and the beautiful Julian Casablancas sing directly to me, yes....... it will happen, you just wait. But i'm also looking forward to the masses of people pulling themselves together after a long day at the beach, feeling a mess from the mosh pits and mustering up all of their energy to enjoy the dance/d&b tents til 4AM! Why the hell not?! 3 hours sleep was enough for me 2 years ago so i will be on it again. Beach hair and face paint wiped across my face or not, I want to be there for it all!

You want a bit of info on Maverick?

He's 20, shit he has accomplished more than me and I'm a year ahead of him. Fuck, i best release that hit single I've been hiding for the past 2 years. Seems about time? (I wish) He was born in Hackney, London born and Irish-bred. Returning to the capital to pursue his career in music - and that he did, with a wicked collaboration with Professor Green in single Jungle. Having been discovered by Plan B, thrown onto records with Chase & Status. And from what I heard of him last had supporting slots with Snoop D O Double G and Cee Lo Green. It's good to see he's holding onto his R&B routes but trying out a whole range of (for what of a cooler word) "Genre" darling!

Little tip from me, listen to "Look What I've Done", and if you didn't here it "Jungle" with Professor Green. Wicked tracks!

I'm loving it, and being released just 4 days ago I expect we'll here it again on Zane Lowe's Radio One show and in clubs/bars with very good taste!

FiftysAtHeart xx

Kissy never Sells out

16 bit mix, let's do it

It's difficult to breathe, it is difficult to move, it is difficult to speak. But it is easy to panic.

How can I concentrate on "Hopelessly Romantic" a gushy romance novel I was FORCED into reading by  my, well, hopelessly romantic friend, when I have the amazing Kissy Sell Out playing some of the best dubstep I have heard in a long time out of my little vintage radio?! It's not doable, so the book is down at 00.25AM and I'm getting up to date with his latest whereabouts/musical likes and dislikes. YES, I am aware I have to be up at 6.30am for a jog, then work til 6... but how can I go out in Leeds tomorrow night without knowing the latest on Kissy? Good argument Grace, Well Done. Thanks yeh. High-Five.

So, what ARE you up to Kissy you gorgeous man? Your album "Wild Romance" is out now? Wow it seems only yesterday I'd been reading of this being an up and coming thing! I was unaware of the date. I must apologize for not noticing as my vision has recently been obscured by library books and while I'd love to read NME and Radio One gossip, it just wasn't feasible. That has all changed now I tell you, back up North with prospects of visits to London to see my favouritist of friends, I am ready and raring to be thrown back into the madness of Dubstep/Electro/Grunge!

At Radio One, he's like a little gem they keep close to their heart and let him loose for a couple of hours when the sun it well and truly in. He's done over a hundred show and amongst all the times I have heard him play a set he shows off even more of those wonderful technical skills he has! I am always geekily eager to log on to the Radio One website after he's played a mind blowing mash-up of new talent and mixes of all the old records you forgot about. 

So as he's been back in the Studio, do we see an even deeper side to Kissy? Well it seems it. I've looked on his myspace page and the blog from quite a while ago gives a run down of some tracks he has produced and the whens and whys to his reasons for writing them. DEEP. But it's cool.

“I weave in a lot of classical music and I think had I not done the radio show I wouldn’t have known how to weave that in to a dance track. I’m so used to that, so what I wanted to was combine what I was doing already – writing my own music, and playing all my own instruments and composing it all – and mix that with the classical influence.” Kissy.

A lovely explanation really for his album YOUTH too..... I love the clash,no clash isn't the word, but you know what I mean - of musical genre. It's all in there and you can almost hear the effort of composition that has gone into his work. I love it. And so will you if you've not had chance to listen to his work.........So enough of my chat, get listening guys and girls. 

The album Wild Romance is out now, he's got a fixed spot on Radio One and you can catch up with him wherever is closest to you - he is EVERYWHERE at the moment. Wicked,have a good night. I must sleep to face this jog tomorrow. All for you Benicassim Body!! 

FiftysAtHeart xx

Massive Favourite, I must.

Junk of the Heart

"The bands 3rd album is out September 12th..........." 

Are we kidding? I can't wait that long for The Kooks new album, they've got tour dates coming out and everything. Ohhhhh FINE I will wait, maybe some Youtube addict will hunt down the track names of the new album posted on NME's website as they were announced today. Come on you music junkies, work with me! So what songs do I have to play with? Only one. From what I can gather they have slowed down their style (if you know what I mean) but let's have our fingers crossed that they haven't grown up and gone all mysterious like a certain Alex Turner has done of late! Alex, you know I've had a crush on you since i was a fresh faced youth going through the pop to indie change. But please give us a cheeky smile in Benicassim. How rude of me, I'm here to post about The Kooks. I'll send some fancying and lusting thoughts your way too Luke.

Acting casual? I think not

"It's not about your makeup or how you try to shake up to these paper dreams... You don't pull my strings, because I'm a better man moving onto better things"

I'm sure anyone who listened to The Kooks those few years ago will be able to remember when and where they used to play their first album. For me it was being passenger to many a long car journeys to the seaside, theme parks and it usually played in the background to those little gatherings you called bbqs where the food never appeared and you were left wasted with sunburn. "Seaside" always sent me to sleep, always... and as I play it now I can feeling myself drifting off - reaching for the Diet Coke as I write............


"Do you want to see the world? Do you want to see the world?"

Oh my days how much I love "Always where I need to be". I recently got caught by another driver, passionately singing in my best Kooks voice and playing drums on my steering wheel to the song. I care not. A raised eye brow followed by a cheeky smile is all I needed from the young lad! :)

Paper dreams honey, yeahhhhh

Back to the new album, Junk of the Heart, hosts a new bassist Pete Denton. Everyone in the band seems quite confident of themselves and even front man Luke Pritchard reckons what his band are producing at the moment could surpass Britpop. As he is big pals with Jamie T, Mystery Jets and The 747s, he's thinking if they all get together they could produce something quite brilliant. Bring on this exciting new musical movement I say! What I can take from the lyrics of the only song I can get my "ears?" on, Junk of the Heart (Happy) is that the lyrics are as romantic and Kooksy as ever. Look forward to listening to their album and hopefully they'll have timed it just right to play at the big festivals next year - just like old times ey!

Signing out, fighting the boredom of these four walls!
FiftysAtHeart xx

Oh my Ibiza craving days!

Jono Fernandez

We don't sleep when the sun goes down

We don't waste no precious time

All my friends, in the loop

Making up for teenage crime

Adrian Lux - Teenage Crime

Oh my days.

The perpetual emotion of happiness is what I felt when I heard this song, the beat gets all the way through to my Ibiza lusting bones! Sun, Sangria and a crowd all wearing Shades are the things that sprung to mind when I heard this amazing remix of one of my favourite all times bands, Groove Armada. When Groove got together with Will Young, I thought all my Christmases had come at once, but it must have just been the Eve...... this wicked remix has made my day and will accompany me to all summer events this year. Did I just say remix with no S'? Of course not, I can confidently say that DJ; Jono Fernandez has created enough remixes to last me the entire summer.

House and Electronica are the genres I would reluctantly attach to his music, only because I feel it has so much more depth to it. The Record Label associated with this producer/DJ is One Love, Munkee Musik - explaining to me (the new listener) as to why his SoundCloud mix was called the Munkee Mix! Durrrr.

Where is he based? Sydney, Australia

Where can you listen to his music? myspace.com/jonofernande

From what I have ready Jono is not a new producer, over the last decade he has released just under 30 singles and produced for one of the most respected dance labels Global Underground and Ministry of Sound. He has also remixed for Delphic (Lovelovelove), SIA and Jump Jump Dance Dance and about 20 more artists spinning out amazing records as quickly as he collaborates. His rare music is something I hope to find at Benicassim Festival this year with my lovely friends, who as ever have the energy of 5 year olds and are always up for running around the dance tents and staying out til the sun rises with me! Ohhhh 6 weeks cannot come quick enough!

Time for the bad news? I have searched and searched and this guy is not playing anywhere in UK area, typical! Although, would you if you could play worldwide in the clubs of your choice? Sheffield just doesn't seem so appealing now.... London maybe (# millionth i heart london comment!) 

I feel overexcited to just get this post over and done with just so you can listen get listening to the music you wills see as your eyes wander below of this babble i write. I am going to post the song History - Groove Armada remix on its own if you haven't got an hour and a half to listen through all of it right now, and have posted the Munkee Mix I have so lovingly talked of. Cool? Cool. Sit back and listen to these beauty's!

FiftysAtHeart signing out wishing I could carry my laptop with me as I go for a jog just to listen to the work of Mr Fernandez. Thanks for all your viewings and loving getting messages off you guys and girls, keep sending your band myspace pages and I NEED MORE HOUSE links too :) xxxx

http://soundcloud.com/jonofernandez/jono-fernandez-munkee-mix 

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, out run my gun.

Foster The People


Got shackles on my wings are tied
Beggin' makin' compromise
Fasten up that time to hide
Sometimes I want to disappear

What time are you up tomorrow? "Bright & Early" she says........... 9 o'clock watching 90210 in my PJ shirt and spending a whole 50 minutes to get ready just to see how beauty and the geek got together isn't exactly what I had in mind. But it will flipping do for a Friday! So I'm here, in my usual spot (until Tuesday), 3rd floor also known as the extra SILENT floor. NOTE: They do not appreciate it when you write A3 notes to your friends, run out to the lift area (in flip flops) or if you eat a KitKat - the foil wrapper really does make it louder guys. But for me it is the perfect spot to get some peace and quiet and read about business theories and the likes. OH what I would do to go back and do a degree in Journalism.

Getting here fairly early today has meant I can listen to "Foster The People" and daydream about the days after my exam. Kindly directed to this band by my friend Brandon I have managed to become an addict. An addict to the beautiful sound of this California band. Keyboards, guitars and wicked vocals means I would happily let the repeat button get stuck on this band for days.

Watching a quick interview with them online they said most of the band used to work as waitors/in a coffee shop........ooooo guess who is a waitress too, yours truly. I loved to hear that they were working somewhere just to fund their dream, knowing they weren't born out of Brit School or manufacturers by some big boss man at an LA studio with a big cigar surrounded with money is quite refreshing. They write their own music, the lead singer was first a music composer and they altogether seem like a pretty grounded band. They recently played at Coachella Festival (Take me there!!) and are playing in Amsterdam tonight, Belguim the next night and LA the following. Wow what a busy life you guys are having!

Now any of my regular readers will know I'm a sucker for anything chilled with a bit of an electronic edge. Cut Copy spring to mind, they for me are a similar sound in some respects but  Foster the People can definitely have to hold their own sound. This band are something new and contemporary, and are definitely one to watch........ Their album Torches isn't out just yet but you can pre-order it - DONE.

Favourite songs, well I'm going to have to say Pumped up Kicks, Houdini and Helena Beat. They are the only ones I can get the most access to at the minute. There are already some wicked remixes of Houdini so get searching in SoundCloud guys and girls. Not heard of them yet? Overly in love with their music already? Then listen below to just a few of their songs and keep and eye out for the release of their album "Torches"

FiftysAtHearts signing out on this beautiful sunny day. 
If you would like me to review or post about you band then get in touch with me on Facebook - "Grace Easter", Leeds. :)
xxx