Ceol nua! *

"One is a DJ, one is what one plays..."

As we live in hope that there might be at least some sunshine over this long weekend (as opposed to looming grey skies and blustery winds), it's time, methinks, for a little selection of some of the "newer" music that has caught my ear of late:

Let's open with something fairly low-key and jolly - a very welcome new choon from probably the only boy-band that has actually progressed to assume the "national treasure(s)" mantle...

Take That - You're A Superstar

Speaking of sunshine - this sublimely summery number from Reigate's most notable export since Dame Margot Fonteyn, Disclosure, really lifts the spirits [especially so for me, as it is a mere four weeks to go before we are back in Spain!]:

Disclosure - The Sun Comes Up Tremendous

Who else but the fantabulosa Mr Bill McClintock would ever have thought that 90s boy-band NSYNC and death-metallers Slipknot would ever fit together? But they do!

SYNCknot - Bye Bye Bye to The Devil In I [NSYNC - Bye Bye Bye vs Slipknot - The Devil in I Bill McClintock mash-up]

House favourite eccentrics - beloved here at Dolores Delargo Towers, and over at Hexenhausli DeVice - Haute & Freddy are back, and as completely fruitloop as ever...

Haute & Freddy - Showgirl At Heart

Multi-award-winner Raye is certainly more Lily Allen than Kate Bush - but her new release (a very surprising collaboration with Oscar-winning film music composer - everything from The Lion King to the recent Dune remake - Hans Zimmer) is quite the work of art. It took a few watches/listens, but I love this!

RAYE feat. Hans Zimmer - Click Clack Symphony

Even the mighty Raye, however, isn't top of this list. Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson (CMAT)'s lyrics in the opening verse are rather scathing...

I was at the
Jamie Oliver petrol station
I needed deli but god I hate him
That man should not have his face on posters

...which makes it even more remarkable that the fat-tongued Mockney git makes a personal appearance in the video! Regardless - it's utterly, utterly brilliant!

CMAT - The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station

As ever, dear reader, let me know your thoughts...

[* ceol nua = "new music" in Irish Gaelic]

Ecco nuova musica! Può darsi...

A very mild, pseudo-Spring-like weekend is upon us, despite the fact that the sun barely rises over the houses over the back from the extensive gardens here at Dolores Delargo Towers at this time of year. We may be tempted outside to tackle some of the inevitable tasks that need to be done (in the quest to "banish death" from the garden in preparation for new growth to come)! [I did make a start yesterday, chopping back the old flowering stems of the Verbena bonariensis and Salvia ulignosa - both of which throw out over 5 to 6ft of growth every year, but once the flowers are dead, look ugly. Browned fern fronds are next on my radar.]

Meanwhile, how about another selection of some of the "newer" music that has caught my ear of late..?

Let's open with a number that's not new at all - in fact it was released in 1967! - but it appeared on the lovely Rylan's show on Radio 2, as he was in conversation with two of the stars of Strictly Come Dancing [where it has apparently been a regular dance choice; I dunno, I never watched the show in my life]. Having never (knowingly) heard it before, here it is! A slice of irrestistibly catchy cha-cha-cha:

Pete Rodriguez - I Like It Like That

Back to the present...

Our Glorious Leader Queen Madge has - out of the blue - released a cover of the song that made Patty Pravo [see here and here] a massive star in Italy (in support of a marketing campaign for D&G, it appears). Quite a departure for her, but beautifully done!

Madonna - La Bambola [for DOLCE & GABBANA - the one]

I only very recently stumbled across this one - and I rather like it!

Slayyyter - Dance...

A jolly enough number, from an ex-girlband member (Little Mix), with a rather odd video - what more do we need?

JADE - Church

Yay! Another new choon from our favourite eccentrics du jour! Pain? What pain?

Haute & Freddy - Dance The Pain Away

And finally, saving the best to last, it's another cracker from the eternally-sexy Mika!

MIKA - Immortal Love

Hello!

As ever, dear reader, let me know your thoughts...

Bang, bang, bang

It's a sunny, blustery, chilly autumnal day here in London - a bit of a change, after a burst of "Indian Summer" temperatures on Friday, and a mild (if showery) day yesterday - and Madam Arcati and I are off to the cinema to wallow in sumptuous grandeur courtesy of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale this afternoon.

Meanwhile, I think a collection of some of the "newer" choons that have caught my ear of late is in order:

First up - the ever-wonderful Mael brothers show absolutely no sign of stopping their consistently brilliant musical output [fifty-one years' worth and counting!] - and their new one (featuring performer Self-Esteem, in the video at least) is as superb as ever:

Sparks - Porcupine

Cranking the party up a notch, a couple of bangers - starting with a bit of a kinky one...

Die Sexual - Desire

...followed by the return of an old club fave:

ARTBAT & Benny Benassi - Feel The Bass

How about a mash-up? Yes please! Metallica never sounded so good:

Rick James, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne - For You and I the Crazy Baby Bell Tolls [Bill McClintock mash-up]

Here's what happens when two fave bands collide:

Saint Etienne x Confidence Man - Brand New Me

And, finally, the current house faves de jour!

Haute & Freddy - Freaks

As ever dear reader, I'd love to know your thoughts...

Niet elke dag is er zonneschijn *

Still coming down to earth from our fab trip to Amsterdam, and today the weather has been "up and down like a whore's drawers" again, so although I managed to do a bit of pottering in the extensive gardens here at Dolores Delargo Towers, it now looks like a real storm is coming in, so that's that.

Time for a little selection of "newer" music that has caught my ear, methinks...

Let's open with something from an old fave group [who have sadly announced that they are calling it quits after 35 years together] - with a rather (ahem) appealing video:

Saint Etienne - Take Me To The Pilot

Speaking of "old faves", here's a man who knows what he wants!

Bright Light Bright Light - Boys Etc.

Another video that rather caught my eye... [Song's not bad, either.]

GIO X - KISS

Now for something completely different - it's one of our [recently featured] Dutch Patron Saints, with a completely new face!

Gerard Joling - Twee Motten

Another jolly one we "collected" on holiday in Amsterdam - with what else but a video dedicated to pizza(?):

Thomas Julian - Tutto Bene

From the ridiculous... to the utterly bonkers! I love this [somewhat reminiscent of Cyndi Lauper, which is no bad thing in my book]:

Haute & Freddy - Shy Girl

And, saving the best to last - this!

Confidence Man & JADE - Gossip

As ever, let me know your thoughts, dear reader...

[* Niet elke dag is er zonneschijn = "Not every day there is sunshine"; part of the lyrics to "Tutto Bene" above]