Albums we’ve loved

Veronica Falls – Veronica Falls
Almost exactly 18 months ago we interviewed a little known band called Veronica Falls in which they talk of their distaste for ‘labels’, ‘scenes’, ‘genres ‘, ‘tweeness’ and pretty much anyone or anything that tried to define or pigeon-hole them. Fair enough. They also talk about their plan for an album…and well, basically a lack of one. Fast forward 18 months and they’re headlining stages at Field Day, touring across Europe and the US and recording their debut album twice, scrapping one and re-recording the finally released version in 3 days. Who knows what that original version sounded like, but however bad they thought the original recording was, nothing can hide the sheer quality and variation in their song writing . From the perfect pop song clout of Stephen, the melodic roundabout of The Fountain, to the shadowy punch of Bad Feeling and the anthemic Come On Over, each track on this album delivers. There’s a layered craft to each and every song, from the harmonised vocals to the interweaving guitars, that makes this a truly brilliant album. Just don’t mention cardigans to them.

Elzhi – Elmatic
Here is an example of a clever concept that evolved into something far greater. A tribute to Nas’ seminal 1994 album Illmatic, Elzhi moves the scene from an oft-romanticised New York to a gritty Detroit, where shots go off at the funniest hours (Detroit State of Mind). El’s stark imagery cleverly references Nas’ phrasing but stripped of any glamorisation of project life, calling the hood a glasshouse the devil throws stones through. However, there is light amidst the shade. Memory Lane cheekily reminisces about being back in junior high ‘with your report card/Trying to make a B out of the letter F,’ and One Love is a touching tribute to ‘El’s girl who cooked me hot meals/Helped me when I got bills.’ Best of all, Will Sessions’ lush arrangements root the tracks in the rhythm and blues of Detroit’s own Funk Brothers, meaning that more than a simple tribute, Elmatic is one of the finest hip hop albums of the decade so far.

Grouplove – Never Trust A Happy Song
The sounds of a summer, toes wriggling in grass, beers bubbles cracking on the tongue, cheap wine at the side of bonfires, a moment of drunken epiphany shared with friends. The equivalent of a sherbet fountain – all fizz, fun and fiasco – but with the reality hit of liquorice that stops it all from being too saccharin and suggests these guys actually mean it. Never Trust A Happy Song They Say – with the euphoria evident in this trip of an album, this is contender for most dishonest album of the year. Love it.
Other long players that have  rocked It’s All Happening’s world this year include:
Summer Camp – Welcome To Condale
Elbow – build a rocket boys!
Feist – Metals
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
Radiohead – The King of Limbs
The Streets – Cyberspace and Reds
Tom Waits – Bad as Me
Big K.R.I.T. – Return of 4Eva
James Blake – James Blake
Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Kate Bush – 50 Words for Snow
Death Cab for Cutie – Codes and Keys
The Weekend – House of Balloons
Wild Beasts – Smother
Pete and the Pirates – One Thousand Pictures
Lanterns on the Lake – Gracious Tide, Take Me Home
Metronomy – The English Rivieria
Deer Tracks – The Archer
Art Brut – Brilliant Tragic

Tracks of the year

Bos Angeles – Beach Slalom
It may be all over in 2 minutes and 35 seconds, but this simple and youthful tale of a break-up stirs memories of teenage love and regret that had us hooked from the first listen. From the simple 2 note intro to the frenetic ending it encapsulates everything we love about discovering new bands. There’s nothing showy or over-thought, the recording sounds live and unpolished, and it seems to achieve everything it sets out to do with minimal fuss. The guitar part nods to Johnny Marr, the bassline’s got Peter Hook all over it and the hushed almost spoken vocals drift solemnly over proceedings, portraying a real sense of introspection and apology to what is ultimately a post-punk salvo of a track. They may never write anything as good as this again (we obviously hope they do), but Beach Slalom is as close to a genuine and honest guitar pop song as we could find in 2011 and we love it.
Bos Angeles – Beach Slalom 
Evans the Death – I’m So Unclean
Favourite lyrics of the year on this thrashy and reflective tale of heartbreak… “When I’m watching the shopping channel, I will think of you; When I’m making a sandwich, I will think of you; When I’m trying to get to sleep, I will think of you”.
I’m So Unclean by Evans the Death
Big Deal – Talk
Has the anguish and torture of being unable to articulate basic words of lust and longing ever been so perfectly articulated? A seething bass line, wiltingly cutting delivery, hollow haze and the killer line dished up with such nonchalance, ‘all I wanna do is talk, but seeing you fucks me up,’
Talk by Big Deal
Slow Club – If We’re Still Alive
A soft drum that taps like a heartbeat in angst, the chiming organ teardrops, forlorn yearning of Rebecca’s vocal, building layers reminiscent of 50s girl groups, the killer electric riff followed by an almost calypso beat, a bridge that curls and kisses its way in, all viewed through the eyes of two hopeless romantics. Perfect.
Slow Club – If We’re Still Alive

The live stage – our favourite gigs

Pulp – Take your pick. Brixton Academy, Reading Festival, Isle of Wight. All three were very special. He writhes , he poses, he grooves, and makes us all feel us all wanna be Common People.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuVSWe8RkJc]
Pete and the Pirates at Buffalo Bar, 22 Nov – Fist time we’d seen PATP in several years, and we’d forgotten how much we love them. Intimate venue, great tunes.
We Were Promised Jetpacks at XOYO, 12 Oct – What a gig. WWPJ debut album was a job to behold, but their second album released earlier in 2011 is probably my album of the year. They did not disappoint at XOYO (personal highlight being during their biggest hit Quiet Little Voices, when lead singer Adm was hit by a bottle of beer so instead of singing ‘we’re young again’ he creatively changed the words to ‘you’re a c**t’ whilst pointing at the perpetrator. Priceless. With support coming from the wonderful cheeky chaps and chappess that are Let’s Buy Happiness, this was an all-round great gig.

2.54 at Corsica Studios, 9 Nov – The night that it felt like everything came together for 2.54.

1. Summersun – Ross & The Wrongens
2. Age Anti Age – The ID
3. Annika’s Song – Fievelwill
4. Tired of Being a Man – Killing Fields Of Ontario
5. Rocket Science – Cinemawave
6. Steal His Heart – Emily & The Woods
7. Aphrodite – Edit/Select
8. Plastic – Alphabet Backwards
9. Apes With Rollerskates – All Too Animal
10. Lion’s Throat – Barely Modern
11. Postcards To Strangers – Moustache Of Insanity
12. Soul and Substance – Peter Darling
13. In The Quiet – The Rifle Volunteer
14. Modern Hipster – Tracey’s Love
15. Truth Or Dare – ABI
16. Wired – Freak Static
17. Bonfires – Gunning For Tamar
18. Panic Don’t Panic – Secret Rivals
19. Joy – The Volitains
20. Heard It All Before – The Switch
21. She’s A Queen – Deadwax
22. Inuitses – Quadrilles
23. Rich and Famous – Lawrence Bray
24. Dancers In A Painting – Sugardrum
25. Burger Van Song – Rachel Sermanni
26. Taxi For Mr. Griffin – End Of Level Baddie

Reviewed by Francesca Baker

Alphabet Backwards are releasing their final EP. This is brilliant. Because next summer they will be releasing their debut album. That’s at least ten tracks of pure endorphin ruffling pop. Can’t wait. But until then, to get us through the winter gloom the Oxford band have released their British Explorer EP. Both the title and vigour of Big Top seem a proclamation of intent, a rollicking shimmer of bright colours and lollipops, the bouncing melody that is so much part of Alphabet Backwards’ sound. Bright and breezy guitars unite with 80s keyboard synths on the spirited Tonight which, asthe best story telling songs do, make you wish you’d been there. We praised the ‘beautifully disjointed dynamic between James and Steph’s vocals, abrupt cymbals and yearning finish’ of Taller last week, and stand by it as a brilliant closer to the EP. Despite the general gleeful intensity, James’ lyrics hint at a slight note of strain , a little tart twist to the sugar sweet, and this connection to reality suggests a longevity for the band beyond many pop outfits.  Sounding almost like the next stage of maturity, it’s an exciting cliffhanger to leave us on, whetting the appetite for the next stage of Alphabet Backwards.

Reviewed by Francesca Baker

Taller, taken from Alphabet Backwards forthcoming EP British Explorer is perfectly packaged Alphabet Backwards pop. More sparce instrumentation than some, the beautifully disjointed dynamic between James and Steph’s vocals, abrupt cymbals and yearning finish all perfectly capture a song James describes as being about ‘seeing an ex-girlfriend on the street with her new boyfriend, feeling belittled about it and wondering if she still misses you, prefers you to the new boyfriend and wants you back’. With some great lyrical attempts at rationality ‘yeah, he’s get some cute points’ combined with simple frustrations at being able to express yourself ‘do you ever…ohhh’ this is a summery sounding tune with a slight winter chill. (Note the crisp leaves coming through the letter box in the video below) Alphabet Backwards are growing up, and it sounds good.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sHbgSQ81hU]

Kittiwake Records

Oxford five piece alphabet backwards have all that is required to become a mainstream success: bundles of energy, good looks and most importantly fantastic ‘pop’ tunes.  The self titled debut mini-album received some great reviews, but not the radio airplay or commercial sales that it deserved. Now, alphabet backwards are back with ‘The Superhero EP’ (to be released on November 22^nd), and the timing couldn’t be better, as their fun, summer songs are sure to brighten up the darkest of winter nights. EP opener ‘Collide’ starts with the beautiful voice of lead singer James Hitchman easing us in to the joyous blend of drums, guitars, synths and co-vocalist Steph Ward. ‘Blink of an eye’ and ‘Yesterday in June’ take a similar format, although the latter is a slightly more chilled affair; probably to let you recover from the inevitable dancing that would have occurred during the prior two songs.
The Superhero EP continues from where the mini album left off, using the same successful formula of clever lyrics and melodies that make you grin like a Cheshire cat whilst dancing like you are seven (if you can’t remember: bouncing around the room, waving your arms in any direction they care to flail, having OD’d on blue Smarties). With all the doom and gloom in the press about budget cuts and double dips, alphabet backwards are exactly the type of release that the nation needs. They may not exactly be the answer to our fiscal problems that Mr Cameron was looking for, but at least they are guaranteed to put smiles on our faces. Which is what matters.