Fleur De Lys

At the end of every year there are various polls predicting the best new bands for the following year, so Fleur-de-Lys Club decided to give you its ‘10 to watch in 2010’. They all have two things in common; firstly none have released a full length album in the UK, and secondly the Fleur-de-Lys Club predicts they will have a big year in 2010…

Lulu and The Lampshades – www.myspace.com/helouisamusic
Every new band poll includes a new female pop star (think Florence two years ago, La Roux last year and this year it seems to be Rox), well this poll includes a female band (sorry to drummer Dan!), and a very good band indeed. The band came to prominence with the viral success of their video ‘You Gonna Miss Me’, which includes singers Luisa (Lulu) and Helosie playing the ‘cups’ while singing in their kitchen. The band also has growing reputation for their live shows, with dancing lampshades and more cup bashing. There is however depth to Lulu and the Lampshades with their clever observational lyrics over catchy folk pop melodies.

Surfer Blood – www.myspace.com/surferblood
There is a growing wave of surf influenced rock pop from the US, led this year by the critically acclaimed ‘The Drums’. Kanine Records’ Surfer Blood will be next year’s big break through act as the hype and buzz begins to bubble around this band of young hip musicians from West Palm Beach, Florida. Surfer Blood were one of the hits from CMJ festival this year causing a frenzy among bloggers and ultimately leading to a plane ticket to the UK for the band in early Feb. Catch this wave before everyone else does.

Goldheart Assembly – www.myspace.com/goldheartassembly
Goldheart’s debut album is out early 2010 on Fierce Panda and is set to be a big summer record for the indie label. The band have been together for a relatively short period but have already played several major festivals, such as Glastonbury and Latitude, as well as their debut physical single ‘So Long St Christopher’ selling out in a day. The band play glorious folk pop choruses, are good looking and are excellent live so 2010 is shaping up to be a very big year for these young Londoners.

Gaggle – www.myspace.com/gagglespace
What can be said about Gaggle that’s not already been said? ‘Saucy’ (NME), ‘a most extraordinary band’ (Huw Stephens), ‘extremely exciting’ (Lauren Laverne). If you don’t know them by now Gaggle are a 20 strong all female choir who sing haunting multi part harmonies over contemporary grime influenced beats. Gaggle are certainly unique and with their fist single out on Transgressive Records in Jan and a guarantee for the summer festival circuit Gaggle will emerge as one of the big new names in 2010.

Frankie and The Heartstrings -www.myspace.com/frankietheheartstrings
The end of 2009 was a busy period for this bunch of young lads from Sunderland supporting Florence & The Machine and having a host of radio and press appearances. Frankie & The Heartstrings are hotly tipped for next year and listening to their catchy pop hooks that spans the musical decades it is easy to see why.

Stornoway – www.myspace.com/stornoway
Stornoway’s rise has been sharp and sudden over 2009 culminating in their inclusion on BBC’s sound of 2010 shortlist. A few outstanding festival appearances over the summer and a cleverly crafted album sampler led the band to a Jools Holland appearance in November, surely one of the most unknown bands ever to appear on the show. However, this will not be for long as Stornoway will surely follow the footsteps of Mumford & Sons and become the major breakthrough folk act of 2010.

Samuel and The Dragon – www.myspace.com/samuelandthedragon
No first single grabbed Fleur-de-Lys Club as much as Samuel & The Dragon’s debut ‘Diamonds on A Boat’, which is mesmerising lo fi pop at its best. Drawing inspirations from grime and dubstep and sounding like Antony & The Johnsons on horse tranquillizers this Moshi signed duo will be one of the most original breakthrough acts of 2010.

Darwin Deez – www.myspace.com/darwindeez
Every so often BBC 6 will push a US band and recent listeners to the station will no doubt be very aware of the debut single by Darwin Deez ‘Constellations’. This infectious indie pop single recently released on Lucky Number records in the UK points to Darwin Deez being the next New York band to break in the UK. Doubters will say they sound too similar to The Strokes, but with songs this good who cares.

Clock Opera -www.myspace.com/clockopera
Very rarely does a band excite Fleur-de-Lys as much as Clock Opera do. In reality it might be 2011 before this band fully breaks into the mainstream, as it is just a matter of time. Sitting somewhere between Animal Collective and Friendly Fires, Clock Opera have created a unique sound often described as ‘chop pop’. With a Pure Groove single release under their belt and a host of interesting remixes due in early 2010 watch as this band’s stock rises!

Treetop Flyers – www.myspace.com/treetopflyersband
Ok, so we are a little biased, having done 3 shows with the Treetop Flyers this year, but that’s because they are so flipping great. A comment from a top UK agent perfectly describes the sweet Americana songs of The Treetop Flyers, ‘they play music you want to listen to’. The Treetops will be a slow burner in 2010 but as more people discover the band after their hotly anticipated SXSW appearance they will surely follow the Fleet Foxes and have huge success on both sides of the pond.

Samuel & The Dragon

Here is the tracklist played by the DJ at the Fleur-de-Lys Club Christmas special. As you can see it was a very festive playlist, including the soon to be Christmas classic ‘Killing in the Name’ by Rage Against the Machine. Fleur-de-Lys Club supports the campaign to make Rage the Christmas number 1, so go out and download the single if you haven’t done so already.

Merry Christmas and Happy to New Year to you all!

1. ‘Chorus of Fools’ by The Crookes
2. ‘Come On! Let’s Boogey to The Elf Dance!’ by Sufjan Stevens
3. ‘Christmas Lullaby’ by Shane MacGowan & The Popes
4. ‘White Christmas’ by Bob Marley & The Wailers
5. ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ by Slow Club
6. ‘This Is Love’ by The Loose Salute
7. ‘Santa Claus is Back in Town’ by My Morning Jacket
8. ‘Lonely This Christmas’ by Lucky Soul
9. ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ by Jacob Miller
10. ‘All I want for Christmas’ by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
11. ‘I Wish It Was Christmas Today’ by Julian Casablancas
12. ‘Christmas All Over Again’ by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
13. ‘Cause for Alarm’ by The Heavy
14. ‘White Horse’ by Laid Back
15. ‘Stop The Cavalry’ by Jona Lewie
16. ‘White Christmas’ by Camille
17. ‘The Christmas Song’ by Jill Barber
18. ‘Christmas Feeling Ska’ by Toots & The Maytals
19. ‘Alouette’ by Clock Opera
20. ‘Last Christmas’ by Findlay Brown
21. ‘Fairytale of New York’ by The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
22. ‘Killing in the Name’ by Rage Against The Machine
23. ‘Jingle Belz (aka Jingle Bells) by Bootsy Collins
24. ‘Do You Wanna Touch Me? (Oh Yeah)’ by Gary Glitter (Jedward remix)

Here’s the playlist for music selected by the DJ at the Fleur-de-Lys Club last night at The Lexington. Another great selection of new and established artists, if we don’t mind so saying ourselves!

1. ‘Myrkfaelni’ by Blindfold
2. ‘House by The Sea’ by Tim & Sam’s Tim & The Sam Band
3. ‘Caroline No’ by Brian Wilson (Superimposers remix)
4. ‘Summer Light’ by The Cave Singers
5. ‘The General Specific’ by Band of Horses
6. ‘Until Tomorrow Then’ by Ed Harcourt
7. ‘Where Horses Roam’ by Look, Stranger!
8. ‘Old Days’ by Treetop Flyers
9. ‘Toothpaste Kisses’ by The Maccabees
10. ‘Love Your Crooked Neighbour’ by Melodica Melody & Me
11. ‘Lesson Number 7’ by Clock Opera
12. ‘Home’ by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
13. ‘Zorbing’ by Stornoway
14. ‘Diamond Ring’ by Bo Diddley
15. ‘Fire Water’ by Django Django
16. ‘No Atmosphere’ by The Bees
17. ‘Airplanes’ by Local Natives
18. ‘Tobasco Sole’ by Voluntary Butler Scheme
19. ‘Insistor’ by Tapes ‘n’ Tapes
20. ‘Patterns’ by Band of Skulls
21. ‘Two Weeks of Hip Hop’ by Dead Prez v Grizzly Bear
22. ‘A New Name’ by !!!
23. ‘Beach Queen’ by Suckers
24. ‘Sleepyhead’ by Passion Pit (Run Toto Run remix)
25. ‘Rain Dance’ by The Very Best feat M.I.A.
26. ‘Teardrops’ by The XX

Here is the playlist of tracks played last night at The Fleur-de-Lys Club at The Lexington. Big thank you to Colin MacIntyre, Loose Salute and Nat Jenkins for putting on a great show.

1. ‘Black Tables’ by Other Lives
2. ‘The Velvet Ladder’ by Topanga Canyon 3
3. ‘Everyday’ by Vetiver
4. ‘Feet To The Sky’ by Lulu and Lampshades
5. ‘Lazarus’ by Peggy Sue
6. ‘Man Named Truth’ by Monsters of Folk
7. ‘Basic Space’ by The XX
8. ‘Little Lion Man’ by Mumford & Sons
9. ‘Is it All Worth It?’ by Treetop Flyers
10. ‘It’s Just Me’ by Maria Byrne
11. ‘Sleeping in Her Clothes’ by Look, Stranger!
12. ‘March of The Dawn’ by the Mummers
13. ‘Let’s Go Surfing’ by The Drums
14. ‘I Heard it Through the Grapvine’ by The Slits
15. ‘Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out’ by Mayer Hawthorne & The Country
16. ‘Something’ by The Beatles (Leisure Society Cover)
17. ‘Baby’ by Devendra Banhart
18. ‘Airplanes’ by Local Natives
19. ‘Horchata’ by Vampire Weekend
20. ‘Please Venus’ by Golden Silvers
21. ‘Sold’ by Dan Mangan
22. ‘Warm Heart of Africa’ by The Very Best feat. Ezra Koenig
23. ‘You’ve Got The Love’ by Florence & The Machine (The XX remix)
24. ‘The Rose’ by The Laughing Light of Plenty
25. ‘Jealous of Roses’ by Bibio
26. ‘Dere Mewn’ by Colorama

Below is the playlist as played by the DJ last night at The Fleur-de-Lys Club in The Lexington. From now on, after every Fleur-de-Lys Club the playlists will be posted on this blog. The Fleur-de-Lys feels very passionately about the music played at the night and hopes to introduce you to new exciting bands. As you will see the playlist consists of new and established acts.

1. ‘Leap’ by The Cave Singers
2. ‘Egon Horsford’ by Connan Mockasin
3. ‘To Ohio’ by The Low Anthem
4. ‘The Mountain Song’ by Treetop Flyers
5. ‘The Beautiful Young Crew’ by Lawrence Arabia
6. ‘Old Man Chicago’ by Alberta Cross
7. ‘Fires’ by Band of Skulls
8. ‘Man Made’ by Clock Opera
9. ‘Fire Water’ by Django Django
10. ‘Tropicalia’ by Beck
11. ‘Trading Things In’ by Voluntary Butler Scheme
12. ‘Sweet Disposition’ by The Temper Trap
13. ‘Happy I don’t Count’ by Loose Salute
14. ‘Crystalised’ by The XX
15. ‘Lets Go Surfing’ by The Drums
16. ‘True Romance (No 9 Blues)’ by Golden Silvers
17. ‘3am Spanish’ by Hockey
18. ‘London Girl’ by The Invisible
19. ‘Velvet’ by The Big Pink
20. ‘No Pins Allowed’ by James Yuill
21. ‘Whirring’ by The Joy Formidable
22. ‘Satisfied’ by Esser
23. ‘Testimony’ by The Phenomenal Handclap Band
24. ‘Rainbow Kraut’ by The John Steel Singers
25. ‘Me, Myself and I’ by Buster Shuffle

An apology must be made for the lack of recent posts from the Fleur-de-Lys Club. The Fleur-de-Lys has been on a festival tour so far this summer, having been at Glastonbury, Latitude, Wakestock, Secret Garden Party, Metropolis and Lovebox. More detailed reports and highlights will come soon. There have been many great performances so far including Rodrigo Y Gabriela, The XX, Local Natives and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

There have also been two Fleur-de-Lys Clubs since the last post, with special thanks to all the bands who have played The Lexington. The June date saw Connan Mockasin headline supported by Tim & Sam’s Tim & The Sam Band with Tim & Sam and Mathew Sawyer & The Ghosts. The July Fleur-de-Lys Club guested Goldheart Assemby, Band of Skulls and King Charles.

The Fleur-de-Lys hopes you are all enjoying the summer (or winter if you’re down under) and watch this space for further posts sooon…

FDL x

For many of us, myself especially, a big test for a song is how long it can remain on my iPod, before being removed because it becomes boring. Every so often a new band comes along that remains on the shuffle for a noticeably long period. For over a year now, there has been one new UK band that has withstood the test of ‘iPod time’. This band is ‘Django Django’, a Scottish four piece who now reside in East London. It was when I heard the band featured on Nemone’s 6 music show that kicked me into action and write this blog.

This month Django Django self release their debut 4 track EP, which contains 3 of the tracks that have been rotating on my iPod for nearly a year. From start to finish this is psychedelic art pop at its brilliant best. Mixing live instrumentation with electronic sounds this bedroom produced EP has depth, originality and is wholesomely rough around the edges. First track ‘Storm’ has a foot tapping kick drum that leads in an infectious hook that will have you stomping around like it’s your favourite Clash record. ‘Default’ has a more electronica led melody that grabs you in from the first note. This track has a real driving rhythm that means it’s not only a great pop tune but also a club banger. Django Django succeeds on both ‘Default’ and ‘Firewater’ to create great contemporary indie dance floor records. Django Django provide the answer to combat the US stronghold in this subgenre, post the James Murphy revolution.

Django Django's 'Voodoo' inspired artwork

Django Django met at art school in Edinburgh, although are far from being the super trendy or fashionista act as you may expect. I have had the pleasure of meeting these guys and they are very unassuming characters that just play darn good music. The MySpace page contains a catalogue of great records illustrating the diverse influences on these musically well educated guys. The band also DJ and run regular parties called ‘Bad to the Bone’ where they mix anything from 50’s rock n roll to early 90’s Lab Cab hip hop. Django Django have their own unique style that has evolved from the post millennium musical melting pot.

I recommend everybody to go out and get the Django Django EP as I can guarantee it will be very difficult to remove it from the Mp3 player once uploaded. The band has a few festival slots this summer including Latitude, so do check them out if you get a chance. The live show is developing and it won’t be long before Django Django are in hot demand across the land like Firewater to the Belly!

Django Django – Default

www.myspace.com/djangotime

I have spent the past few days at the annual music event ‘The Great Escape’ in Brighton. In the same format as the Camden Crawl and South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, the music industry descends to the Sussex coast along with over 300 new bands looking to make it to the big time. Although much of the time is spent, networking (aka chatting bollocks), queuing, and walking large distances through wet windy Brighton, I did manage to see some great live bands. As with all festivals, there was so much good stuff I missed, so this a summary of the Fleur-de-Lys experience at The Great Escape 2009.

The highlight performance from the first day, Thursday, was undoubtedly Black Lips. I missed them at Glastonbury last year so wasn’t going to pass the opportunity to see the Atlanta four piece perform in the intimate venue ‘Audio’. Black Lips had clearly missed sound check causing a considerable delay to the start of the set, which began to work the crowd into a frenzy of expectance. Then when the band finally kicked off the rowdy mob went bonkers prevented only from moshing onto the stage by two large bouncers desperately keeping the barrier upright. The band’s energy on stage was electrifying, especially during ‘Oh Katrina’ and ‘I’ll be with you’ that cross surf rock guitars with gypsy punk creating this strange mix of Dick Dale and Gogol Bordello. The band are famed for their crazed antics on stage, and apart from a few wild hats and smashed beer cans on the heads this was fairly mild mannered although the festival organisers did have to prise the band off the stage as they went over curfew with the excellent ‘Bad Kids’. Black Lips are a must see this summer so hopefully they’ll make it back to the UK again soon.

I was also very impressed with Lost Valentinos from Sydney, Australia. They had been a late replacement for The Big Pink who I had been hoping to see, but satisfied me more than enough with their rock tinged electro pop. I managed to catch up with the band who were all very happy to be over in Europe and after this engaging performance this won’t be the last time we’ll see them on our shores.

My new discovery of the first day was DM Stith, a soft voiced American folkster who’s a wonderful storyteller using his unique inspiring vocal range as his guide. Need music to listen to when you want to reflect on life solemnly, DM’s your man.

The Aussie band Lost Valentinos

On Friday I was blessed to see the excellent John Steel Singers and Hey Rosetta! both being definite highlights of the festival. However, as they are playing Fleur-de-Lys Club this Wednesday, I will save my review for after the Lexington show. Another band I enjoyed immensely was Django Django who are destined for big things. When Nemone played their track ‘Storm’ on her BBC 6 Wednesday show I realised it was about time I wrote a blog about them before everyone does. I have been a big fan of the band for some time, and by the looks of the big crowd at Brighton’s Audio many others are to, so look out for the forthcoming blog on one of the rare few exciting new ‘British’ bands.

Thursday evening was spent at the Brighton Corn Exchange watching Mumford and Sons followed by Metronomy. I was sceptical if Mumford and Son’s foot-stomping British bluegrass could work on a big stage… it can! Marcus Mumford’s voice will resonate through any venue, backed by piano, guitar, double bass and of course the banjo! The beautiful ‘White Blank Page’ was one of my favourite tracks of 2008 and so it’s no surprise there’s currently a scramble from all labels to sign this band.

For those who don’t know, Metronomy is essentially one-man Devon maestro Joseph Mount, who has turned from quirky hipster to a world touring popular artist. At The Great Escape Joseph was backed by a make shift band following the recent departure of live compatriot Gabriel Stebbing. Although the performance was a little shabby on the edges, the new live set up with drums and bass bodes well for an exciting live summer for Metronomy as they promote the 2008 release ‘Nights Out’.

I kicked off Saturday with a performance by Alan Pownall, and artist who I have been listening to a lot on MySpace. His warm gentle soulful pop tunes were performed by his four piece band well, without being spectacular. Mr Pownall is clearly a very good singer and songwriter so the future looks bright all the same. I then stayed at the same venue, Digital, for New York hipsters Telepathe. The venue suddenly filled with anticipation for the girl duo that have an ever growing reputation as New York’s freshest electro dance act. Again, the live performance didn’t blow me away, but at least they both sang live vocals over their very listenable beats, which is more than just pressing play as done by many of their contemporary dance piers.

Having caught the end of a secret acoustic show from Ben Kweller and been disappointed by Soft Pack, a name that dually described their performance, I returned to Brighton’s Audio for the much hyped Hockey. I can now see why so much attention is building for this Portland four piece as they performed songs from their forthcoming debut ‘Mind Chaos’ with style and swagger. Bringing a white boy funk element to their indie soul, coupled with lead singer Ben Grubin’s commanding stage presence and stirring vocals, Hockey were my performance of the weekend. The penultimate song and debut single ‘Too Fake’ had the audience in raptures with the chorus ringing out loud from the adoring fans. Hockey not only fills the post LCD void but will create their own subgenre within the indie music stratosphere. The band are booked to play T in the Park, Oxygen and Bestival festivals and I strongly recommend you go and see them live, you won’t regret it.

Hockey

So Hockey reigned supreme for me at this years Great Escape, and as for the music conference, not an awful lot was learnt. The record industry is still in such dire straits, some would say deservedly so, but without the power, influence and indeed the money from the labels, we would not get to see great foreign bands, such as Hockey and Black Lips grace the UK. For me, there is nothing better than great live music and long may this continue.

Black Lips – www.myspace.com/theblacklips

Lost Valentinos – www.myspace.com/lostvalentinos

DM Stith – www.myspace.com/dmstith

Django Django – www.myspace.com/djangotime

Mumford and Sons – www.myspace.com/mumfordandsons

Metronomy – www.myspace.com/metronomy

Alan Pownall – www.myspace.com/alanpownall

Telepathe – www.myspace.com/telepathe

Hockey – www.myspace.com/hockey

How often do you make preconceptions of a band based on their name? I made this error by thinking Vampire Weekend was a heavy rock band when presented with their album some two years, how wrong was I! Thankfully I avoid making these mistakes anymore, otherwise I might never have discovered the gem of a record by ‘Floating Action’.

It will come as no surprise to fans of Seth Kauffman’s previous work that his new project ‘Floating Action’ has further raised his already high bar. The self titled album is released now by Park the Van records, the label us who brought us the excellent Dr Dog and The Spinto Band, definite highlights of 2008. The Floating Action record is an excellent modern perception of a classic old sound, with some describing it as ‘North Carolinian Lo Fi Funk’. The tracks are elegantly arranged with Kauffman’s sweet, although sometimes raw, vocals sitting over catchy soulful guitar led melodies. There is definitely a nostalgic charm that runs through the album, epitomised in the heartfelt ‘Don’t stop Loving Me Now’ and ‘Could You Save Me’. Comparisons are drawn to the Little Joy album or to the mellower side of The Bees.

As I delve deeper into my research I discover that Floating Action is the work of Seth and Seth only. Remarkably Mr Kauffman, played, recorded and mixed every part of the record, which is a shock as on first listen you picture a group of laid back suburban folk, improvising mellow songs together while up in their mountain cabin retreat. The compositions sound so accomplished, so maybe there is something to be said about not distracting the cook, when the cook is this good! Floating Action may not capture the imagination of the public as much as ‘wilderness-wanderer Bon Iver’ but one can easily imagine Kauffman locked away in his own log cabin creating this masterpiece. Many of the songs have a deep darker sentiment showcasing Kauffman as a tortured soul and an introverted genius similar to Mark Everett (Eels) or state compatriot Ben Folds.

Don’t Stop Loving Me Now by Floating Action

www.myspace.com/floatingaction