Lucy Spraggan // Last Night (Beer Fear)

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

Oh dear! It would seem Miss Spraggan can put a foot wrong in our books. As we previously reported, some previous tracks are making their way to her ‘debut’ album, including what is now the infamous Last Night (Beer Fear)

Sadly, this isn’t the track that we fell in love with. This new version for us is just a tad too pop-ish for us and we think that this is what’s caused it to lose that cheeky edge that probably all of us fell in love with. Of course, there have been some lyric changes most likely for PC reasons now which makes it just a tad awkward when it comes to flow.

We think the old ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix' it’ rule applies with this track. Maybe we can just wake up the next morning and pretend that this didn’t happen….

Rating: 2/5

New Music Friday: Foxes

We’ve only just  came across this artist and we admit that it’s once again through the power of television advertising. Foxes’ song Youth is featured on the latest advert for department store Debenhams whilst at the same time, featuring on the latest track by Rudimental Right Here, Right Now. Either way, check below to hear the track Youth and check out the rest of the links to hear and find out more.

Official Site | Soundcloud

Sweetbox // #Zeitgeist21

Buy @ Amazon.com | Download @ Amazon.co.uk
Download @ iTunes | Download @ Official Store

Well, let’s be honest, a Sweetbox release wouldn’t be a Sweetbox release without there being a version with…well…variations! We are talking about the version were calling ‘international’.

In essence, all the tracks from the Japanese release (#Z21 – see review here) are present but the depending on where you decide to purchase this version of the album, will depend on the number of tracks. If you order the physical release from Amazon or download from Amazon/iTunes then you get 13 tracks (the 10 from #Z21 plus a new version of Everything’s Gonna Be Alright (known as EGBA), The ‘European’ version of My Understatement & the video edit of #Z21. But head over to the official store and you can also get the the versions of My Understatement that was on the Japanese release. So now we’ve explained the differences, allow us to simply review the additional tracks (minus the video edit of #Z21)

As we said, EGBA is a new version of the Sweetbox classic Everything’s Gonna Be Alright (Circa 1997/1998) and seems to have become a thing for each line up to record their version. With LogiQ on main vocals, this version of the track reminds us of a remix from 2008 released in Japan back in 2008 to promote the Complete Box Set (Q;Invidi) but he’s definitely put his own spin on the classic tune. As for the European version of My Understatement, well, essentially, it’s the same track just missing LogiQ’s section from it but it still works despite this, if not a little odd if you’re used to listening to the version found on the Japanese release.

If you’re not too sure about splashing for it yet, the good news is that the album is on Spotify (at least, here in the UK so hopefully others too!) The availability means that fans are able to get their hands on the latest release (almost) anywhere they are without having to wait for it to arrive though those with the Japanese album already may just go for the individual tracks that they are missing.

Rating: 5/5

Gabriella Cilmi // The Sting

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

2010 was the last time that we heard from the On A Mission singer before she seemed to drop off the face of world. But given a few years off, Gabriella Cilmi is back and her first single is also the title track of her forthcoming album, The Sting.

In a way we want to say forget what you knew about Cilmi from the days of the chart topping single Sweet About Me & her second album, Ten. This Cilmi has come into her own and still at the tender age of 21. Having left Island and having learnt her lessons, Cilmi has gone off and found a sound that fits her and in our opinion comes somewhere between the two albums. It has a tendency for some dark vibes but it doesn’t detract.

Given the influences that’s recently be listening to whilst bringing her third album to life, it will be interesting to see how much has changed. Still, we recommend a listen as a fan or for the casual listener, check it out and see what Cilmi has become.

Rating: 4/5

Jade Valerie & $pr!te // Ring The Alarm

Download @ ReverbNation

So, it’s been pretty quiet for Jade fans in recent years. And then collaborations start turning up. The most recent is called Ring The Alarm which has been done with Sprite Steban Demari a.k.a $pr!te.

Before we go any further, let us explain something: to the best of our knowledge this is a DEMO version of a track that was pitched for Britney Spears’ upcoming album.It didn’t make it. But someone idea was to release it anyway…and here’s where the problems begin. Yes it may have a feeling of something that Britney might have recorded, but it’s not something we’d expect to hear from Jade

We think this is a case of ‘should have stayed hidden or in clip form’. The asking price of $1.29 for a single track in our opinion, isn’t justified here. Fortunately. you can listen to the whole track for free first, and we do highly recommend that you do.

Rating 1/5

Lucy Spraggan // Mountains

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

We remember why we like Ms Spraggan! The follow up to her ‘debut’ single comes in the form of Mountains.

Listening to it, we’re sort of reminded about her track Tea & Toast (previously released, removed and soon to be re-released with other tracks from her original self-released album on her new one, Join The Club…confused?). We love Lucy’s ability to tell a story through a song and this is no different and while Lighthouse was that upbeat little number, this is more a somber sort of feeling, but yet leaves you feeling positive.

We’ve got a prediction that this too just might be a bit of a tear jerker. Recommend a listen whether a fan or not.

Rating 4/5

David Correy // The World Is Ours (Feat. Monobloco)

Check Out On Spotify | Official Lyric Video

There’s nothing like getting started early when there’s to be a worldwide event happening next year. Ask Coca Cola who have just released the first ‘anthem’ to the World Cup next year in Brazil.

We admit, we don’t know much about either artist on this release (although we know Correy appeared on the last season of X Factor in the US). The track has a great samba rhythm going through it (well, it is Brazil that we’re heading to!) but it’s a great little feel good number bound to get the party started (we wouldn’t be surprised if this turned up in Zumba classes!). And of course it features the familiar Coca Cola ohhhhh (or woah depending how you interpret it)

We’re looking forward to when this does get released as it will certainly be on our to purchase list

Rating: 5/5

Sweetbox // #Z21

Buy @ CDJapan | Buy @ YesAsia
Download @ iTunes Japan

It’s been a couple of years since the last release of a Sweetbox album (2011’s Diamond Veil) but the group is back with a new line up, and for the first time in the group’s history, there are two members and one of them is Japanese. #Z21 is the 9th studio album overall, but is the first outing for Japanese singer Miho Fukuhara & Antiguan LogiQ Pryce.

#Z21 (#Zeitgeist21) opens the album in style. Sampling Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra (now probably infamously associated with the film 2001: A Space Odyssey) it’s a dancey little number yet feels an appropriate introduction to our two new members. Nothing Can Keep Me From You (Ain't No Mountain) might seem familiar but the verses have been given a unique twist from LogiQ in that the only section that remains is the chorus. All 4 Love (Skyfall) opens with a great little guitar piece and give us almost a feeling of Italian & mafia.

Every Rose opens with a beautiful a capella of the chorus before we brought into what sounds like a dark track but there is ultimately a message of hope lying behind it. With an opening of Debussy’s Clare De Lune, Beautiful is another little dance number. Life Is Good (featuring Iriebox; Irie means good or cool)is a bright and upbeat track and could be seen as a sequel to the Adagio track Life is Cool with a great Caribbean feel. Alone is a haunting beautiful track featuring vocals from Justin D. Nation (or as some might recognise him, Justin ‘Jus Bus’ Nation) and is a song we think that everyone can relate to at some point in their life.

Aase's Death is an interesting track sampling the Grieg track of the same name and features Miho reading a Japanese poem over the track but again, is a dancy little number, even if it does remind us of the Cirque Du Soleil. Carol Of The Bells is yet another well known track but again has a modern day twist to it brought by LogiQ whilst My Understatement has a bit of Destiny’s Child sort of vibe to it. The final track, Justified, comes across as a nice little acoustic number featuring Miho on vocals and some guitars & a little percussion and is a brilliant way to round off the album but is a great little sunshine track on it’s own. 

Whilst maybe not as obvious as with previous releases, the classical sampling is still here and whilst we’ve seen people claiming this new album isn’t Sweetbox, it’s worth remembering that back when the group first came into existence, there was more of a dance vibe going on. But as with any group, there will be those who have their preferred front person, and that’s fine. Back to this album and overall, we feel the album as a whole has something from the past 8 but at the same time there is something new here. We’ve come to expect the unexpected from this group and learn not to take titles that we think we recognise at face value. All we ask is that fans give the new line up a listen and look forward to what’s to come next.

Rating: 5/5

James Blunt // Bonfire Heart

Pre-order @ iTunes

It’s been 3 years since we heard anything from Mr Blunt, and of course at one point there was rumours about retiring…well, obviously that’s not happening just yet seeing as his new album, Moon Landing is due soon but is preceded by the single Bonfire Heart

Opening with some lovely finger picking on a guitar, we’re finding it hard to match it to anything he’s done before…maybe somewhere between Stay The Night and Carry You Home. It does feel a bit subdued and probably won’t have any effect on the charts, but we think that there is a loveable quality about the track.

Will be interesting to hear what Moon Landing has to offer.

Rating: 4/5