Calvin Harris and Kelis - Bounce Music Video

THIS IS GOING TO BE TRACK OF THE SUMMER.
Calvin Harris does this well, the timely release of Ready for the Weekend had the same effect. This is the new video for Calvin Harris's newest track, Bounce featuring Kelis. Annie Mac played it on her Radio 1 show the other day, I reck it'll be storming up the charts in the coming weeks.
I REALLY recognise the actor in the video, but I can't place him. Looks quite like Matt Smith I thought.

Brother covering Katy B, Katy on a Mission

Brother seem to be living their lives by the rule of 'all PR is good PR' but prove that they do have talent in this Katy B cover:

Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down 'cause I've Moved Your Chair

So this is the new Arctic Monkeys, Don't Sit Down 'cause I've Moved Your Chair. Personally I've found, much like Kanye, the Arctic Monkeys have moved in out of being cool and not so cool. They're definitely on the money here. Everything seems to remind me of The Doors recently, but there is a definite melodic drone to Alex Turner's lyrical madness that requites itself to Riders on the Storm and L.A. Woman in general.
Put some aviators on, add a little barely American swag and "wear your shellsuit on Bonfire Night" then we're all good. Bloody love it. Point proven by the fact I've been listening to it on repeat all day.



http://www.arcticmonkeys.com/

Ulterior Black City Black Rain - New Music Video

This has been in my head for ages and the video for Ulterior's Black City Black Rain has been unveiled today. It's meant to represent London as they see it (apparently pretty gloomy). Directed by the Turrell Brothers.

David's Lyre - Tear them Down

It's been a good bank holiday, still a full day of debauchery to go. Need some good background music today. Below is the official video for David's Lyre Tear Them Down and then after that is David's Lyre playing English Roses for The Mahogany Blog.

The Wanted

Who doesn't love a bit of manufactured modern-day boyband action? Check out my March prediction. The Wanted were named Number One this week. Here's their excuse for the hotspot.

Slow Club, Yeah So

Just up my alley. An alley full of simple melodies with nice lyrics and a song with a lovely story. Tastefully straight forward.

I Blame Coco - Coco Sumner - Quicker and Self Machine

I hope this is the next song that Coco Sumner releases after Self Machine (out on 12 July). It's called Quicker and I think I like even more. There are only three videos that I can find on Youtube and they are quite poor quality. One is below, here is a link to MTV Live sessions which is really good but I can't embed it. I'd recommend over the video below.



Her album, The Constant is released some time in August I think.

Labrinth Transmission #2

Now this isn't usually my cuppa soup but this video is absolutely brilliant. Labrinth collaborated with Tiny Tempah for their song Frisky and I'm sure will end up somewhere on the charts if he isn't already.

This Music Business and some wellies.

“2010, bang smack in the midst of political and financial uncertainty, and yet, Glastonbury sells out in 24 hours.” James Wilkinson – Figaro Digital Magazine (I read it for work ok - and yes, I’m still a geek).

It’s a good point though. I’ve talked before about how the great British public are spending selectively on their fashion choices and I think these two issues are roughly in the same ball park. Or at least in adjacent ball parks. Without repeating myself too much, there hundreds of studies producing thousands of results about how people are investing in their fashion pieces. There is less holiday time on offer because everyone wants to make a good impression on their job that they’ve clung onto through the recession by the skin of their teeth and no one can afford to go away anyway. A long weekend at a festival is the way forward.

Popularity of festivals seems particularly rife this year. Last year it really took off and lots of people who hadn’t been before discovered that when you go to a festival, normal rules of society don’t apply. This is the quintessential point that is making these same people return to them and what is attracting even more people. Society doesn’t apply. Where in the real world do you live in a tent, walk round with facepaint without seeming weird, where loo roll is worth its weight in gold and where you give out free hugs to anyone who takes your fancy? This wouldn’t deserve a first glance let alone a second at Reading or Glastonbury. People take their children and scrawl their phone numbers across their limbs; you wouldn’t do that in many other crowded places, would you?
So why wouldn’t everyone to get in on the action? The answer is that they do and we’ll all be out in force this summer – limited edition Hunter wellies and all.

Bringing my nicely onto my promise from yesterday. The Girl’s Ultimate Guide to Festivaling. Now I bought these babies a few weeks ago and thought they haven’t seen much action outside in the mud yet, I have wandered round my flat in them on numerous occasions. Well, I wasn’t going to let them sit there and stare £125 in my face. Wellies is an obvious one for festivals – never make the mistake of thinking that wellies are ugly and you’re just going to take some Converse or just a pair a flip flops. It will be a mistake and it will most definitely rain if you neglect to take wellies. Another snobbish point to make – fair enough to try and find some more original looking wellies, but the days of those ones with the roses and stretched skulls are well and truly over. They’re pretty gross and everyone knows they come from the garden centre.

Spark, I Blame Coco, Marina & the Diamonds, Pearl & the Puppets - Branded Music

I must be going through a music phase at the moment. Next on my list of tunes to obsess about is Spark. She’s an eighteen year old East Londoner who prides herself on red lipstick and Elnett. Reminds me a lot of La Roux except Jess Morgan (aka Spark) is probably from Hackney Wick instead of Brixton (I make no secret of being a South London snob). In any case, that’s massively unimportant, I downloaded her free single ‘Shut Out the Moon’ (click here to do the same) which I do like but I think my favourite is ‘Scream’ which can be heard on her MySpace.



I find this trend of (especially female) artists labelling themselves as a band quite compelling. I don’t really understand what they get out of it. It seems to be a bit of a British thing too. Thinking about it the ones I can think of off the top of my head are all my favourite ‘bands’ of the moment; Marina and the Diamonds, I Blame Coco, Spark, Pearl and the Puppets.
What is it about? Does it give these girls a name to hide behind? They are all young and it could be a form of protection. I doubt it though. It can’t be an accidental trend. I think all these talented people come up with a name to create more of a brand for themselves. The producers have seen an opportunity and seized it. A brand sells more than a name, they can make it a catchier name and the brand can evolve into more aspects than just an eighteen year old girl. The brand is the collective noun for the set, the style, the genre of music and turns into adjective for describing all it involves.



Look at the term Gaga an enormous household name, it’s become a cliché to say, ‘that’s very Gaga’. It’s the same idea as these young British female artists, not just creating a name for yourself but creating a brand that producers hope will catch on.

Having said all that, very stupidly, the name of my blog has only just occurred to me in context with this. Why did I choose to name it Heather Loves Jelly? Because I hoped in the future it could have the option of being something more than just another blog. But I haven’t decided what yet. Watch this space ( ).

Kafka on the Shore

This is my friend Biu and his latest musical venture and it is truly brilliant. Enjoy.



Please download his album here. ITS FREE!!

Kassidy

I have been going through the artists that I haven't heard of who are performing at the festivals I'm going to this year. Weirdly enough I'd just looked these guys up yesterday because they were in the Times Culture magazine.



I bet they'll be massive after a full summer of festivaling. I like them a lot - a bit Kings of Leon but more Scottish. I don't think they take themselves too seriously - I'd be upset if they did and really their whole image is amusing. Jesus lookalike x2 plus slightly Axel Rose inspired skinny jean and headband carrier plus lovely blonde chap who, in my very humble opinion, can'y quite get away with the Kurt Cobain hair. But high five to the music chaps - I'm super excited to see them at Latitude.

Oh and here's a link where if you sign up for their newsletter, you get a free download.