MGMT's New Song

My heart raced and my disco strings twanged when I heard MGMT were releasing new music. I've been waiting two solid years for this, and I'm still reeling from their unreal performance at Bestival last balmy summer. When I heard the latest offering however I was a little - if not A GREAT DEAL - underwhelmed. It's not that it's a terrible song, in fact - if they hadn't had so many incredible songs out previous to this it'd be perfectly fine.

The thing is, MGMT have always made me feel FREE, they provided the sound of summer hideaways in the woods and escapes with friends, glorious days spent talking rubbish in the park and having BBQ's at London Fields. Speaking to strangers and making new friends, looking at the sky and feeling happy to be young.

Their 2008 album 'Oracular Spectacular' provided the soundtrack to my very early 20's and I know I'm not the only one. I think what I'm trying to say is that their new one entitled 'Flash Delirium' just doesn't match up. I don't like to be rash, or make any harsh critical judgements - and normally I'm pretty open minded to change. I also know that bands HAVE to evolve. It's just that I'm not feeling the magic with this one.

They'll be playing Heaven in London soon anyhow, and I still want to go because I'm curious about what they've got up their neon sleeves. I'm also still a MASSIVE fan (don't get me wrong) I'm just a little surprised.

Yeasayer - Odd Blood

The very thing that gave Yeasayer the ultimate cool factor was that they weren’t ever trying to be cool. With bad clothes and even worse waist long hair Chris Keating, Ira Wolf Tuton and Anand Wilder were doing everything in their power to be the un-coolest things around. They failed though and are currently the hippest things going, and being friends with MGMT hasn’t dented their image in the slightest.

Odd Blood is the follow up to their 2007 album All Hour Cymbals and this time it’s more of an electro pop journey than the jangly folk inspired woodland walk of the last album. Odd Blood is an erratic romp through a mysterious world of shaky vocals and big tribal drums, the harmonies are in full force and the hooks are killer.

The haunting and psychedelic echoes of Madder Red allow the album an uplifting and epic beginning whilst the sure fire pop singles Ambling Alp and O.N.E are up there with Passion Pits catchy-yet-quirky bangers. Although wishy washy and limp moments come in the form of the opener The Children and the closing track Grizelda which both epically fall flat on their faces and are unfortunately placed and obvious fillers.

Shame really, because everything in between is impressive, in an un-cool kind of way of course.

French Horn Rebellion @ Barfly

Last week two brothers from Milwaukee landed on the Camden Barfly stage to lead a musical voyage. Armed with a French Horn, some Apple Macs, a couple of keyboards and a drummer they romped through a tight and punchy set of weird and wonderful electro and closed with Beaches and friends which is the most exciting track I've heard since Filthy Dukes brought out Tupac Robot.

Since their EP dropped they've had Nick Grimshaw and friends at Radio 1 foaming at the mouth (in a good way.) Now based in Brooklyn they're causing a real stir and NME, 6 Music and The Guardian to name a few are all talking about them. It was a unique experience to watch them writhe about on stage full of energy, David scaled the speakers and there was even a shoot out involving the drummer and a toy gun.

They've just finished their mini European tour and an album is set for release this year. From where I'm standing it looks like these guys are going to give music land a much needed adventure.

Check It www.myspace.com/frenchhornrebellion

BBC 6 Music

What a shame about the news we're all hearing about the closure of BBC 6 Music. The station I rely on to keep me updated with quality, cutting edge music whether it's new or old. I especially love Lauren Laverne and hope the bigguns at the top change their minds!

Sarah Leanne Palmer + Death Disco

I've spoken to her before on The Get Up and played some of her music - Sarah Leanne Palmer played at Monto Water Rats in Kings Cross last Wednesday. Her performances keep getting bigger and better, and so do the crowds. She'll be playing Smash and Grab soon as well as Death Disco. Speaking of Death Disco.......

I went for the first time last week! Every Wednesday evening at the Arts Club in the heady heights of Notting Hill, a disco goes by the name of Death. Contrary to its title, its not deadly or sinister at all. Rather a happy bunch congregate to lap up all things indie and fun. We got there just as the live bands were finishing, but were welcomed into the basement by the joyful sound of Ellie Goulding, Yeasayer and even a dash of Jay Z - spun lovingly by the friendly creature behind the decks. It was free too - which is always a bonus.

I'm off to see these fellas below on Tuesday so stay tuned for more tit bits!

Underground Rebel Bingo Club

No old people, no boring people, no office parties, no wankers....

Those are some of the rules that exist at the Underground Rebel Bingo Club. A place where the young and beautiful come together to play bingo and be wonderfully defiant.

It all began in a church hall basement. A drunken party that got out of hand and ended in secret bingo fuelled chaos. After being rumbled by the church warden they had to up sticks, so the underground operation has moved to secret hideaways all over the place.

This month it was held at Scala in Kings Cross. A bit of a dive if I'm honest, but it successfully housed the teaming masses for this extravaganza. It shook with the welcome sound of the electro, dub - step and some of the the hottest remixes of late (Jakwob's remix of Ellie Goulding's new one is a prime example.)

I couldn't believe how packed it was, I was expecting a dark and dusty back room of Scala - not the whole chuffin' place! But sure enough it was busting at the seams with avid players. Disguised as a European Summit, people were turned out in all manor of Europe-esque themes including mime artists, clowns (eh?) and there were a whole lot of beret's.

As the countdown began, the buzz of anticipation filled the vast and now sweaty room. With all eyes fixed on the stage, three 'European Union Officials' appeared to order that all the doors were locked and the windows bolted. Then in a flash they whipped off their costumes and were revealed to be two scantily clad girls and one cheesy presenter - not for a European Union Conference but for a dirty, dark and underground game of Bingo. The crowd went mental.

Huge toy panda bears were won, sexual innuendo's were said and a ridiculous night was had by all.

Ironically Underground Rebel Bingo Club seems to be no longer underground or in fact a secret. But it's concept is exciting, it's story is legendary and it's a shit hot party.

Check this mother out here www.rebelbingo.com

But SSSsshhhhh, don't tell anyone.

Pete Picked Me Up

Today I sat on the tube on my way back from a trip to the V&A museum for a spot of inspiration. I was listening to my ipod and feeling a little underwhelmed by the sticky and over crowded tube train so I desperately searched for a piece of music to pick me up.

I'm sure I'm not the only one in the world - but music has the ability to completely transform my state of mind, to offer an unparalleled sense of well being and the notion that any thing's possible.

The Libertines track What a Waster came on, and although the title doesn't give way to an image of triumph - the melody and sound of Pete's voice does. If you haven't heard any of The Libertines albums, I recommend putting the public image and scandal aside and giving it a whirl. I'd happily wake up to this song every morning.

When she wakes up in the morning

She writes down all her dreams

Reads like the book of revelations

Or the Beano or the unabridged Ulysses