Islet with a side order of scrambled eggs and toast

One of my favourite gigs last year was Islet at Sneaky Petes in Edinburgh, relatively unknown they were one of those bands that you accidentally go to see and just fall in love with. I'm beyond rubbish at describing music so not going to even attempt to do so (which is why there's a couple of video links below!)

Anyhow these kind of new discovery gigs always lead to mad personal claims on bands, hoping that you never go into WHSmith to pick up your weekly trash gossip magazine only to see your new and exclusive band relationship staring back at you from NME or Q.


Three Members of the Islet crew being very sporting with their new found fan!

Islet from what I could gather from the few and far between snippets about them found on the Internet seemed to be the perfect band for this 'I found them first' line of thought. They are pretty much set against creating a Myspace or Facebook as a means of promoting the band making them ever so slightly inaccessible to a larger audience. Their lack of commitment to mega touring also helps to keep them just under the radar. They do however have one rather lovely website where you can print off a postcard in order to request delivery of the Isness. A smashing wee fanzine full of collages, scribblings and illustrations by the band. This kind of promotion is very much reflective of their unique and creative music. Which you can take a gander at in these vids.

However I have a sneaking suspicion that the days of Islet acting like some rare and elusive creature are numbered. When I sat down in front of the box to my breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast this morning what should appear on the screen but a tourism ad for Wales, with the Cardiff based bands music used as a backing track. Hell everyone is going to know about them now! Who doesn't pay the utmost attention to tourist ads about Wales!? And with a new LP out January 23rd there is no doubt going to be more attention centred around the band.

 For Islet fans this can really be a good thing and will no doubt encourage a few more gigs which would obviously be fantastic! So here's hoping the group manage to navigate the success which 2012 looks likely to hold while still playing it by the rules that made the band so endearing in the first place. 

Follow the band at.

http://isletislet.com/

For a great interview with the band.

http://www.thestoolpigeon.co.uk/features/interview-islet.html

Florence, The Little Kate Bush, Karl Lagerfish...and a Horror Bird.

Sing Florence! For the love of God sing!

                

I've never been a massive fan of Florence and the Machine. Don't get me wrong I bought her 2009 album Lungs and danced like a wild creature whenever her uplifting melodies were played on nights out but I would never call myself a fan. This of course all changed when my sister and I went to go and see her open the sale at Harrods. Against the anti fur protesters chants of "Shame on Harrods" my Florence crush was formed. In person Florence Welch is beautiful, sheer pre-raphaeliteness oozing out of every pour. As for her voice, well I had always suspected that the soaring vocals that came out of my stereo were given that good ol' serious polish and boast finish in the recording studio. Not at all, Flo's (yes it's Flo now) vocal cords were beautiful, varied and much more mature than Lungs had let on, yet I suppose that's a given now that a second album is out.

Having established my new found

Florence crush I was dying to see her and the machine live again. So the moment I was home I was on the net searching for future gigs, unfortunately the next one was the yet to come sold out Alexandra Palace gig surprisingly supported by The Horrors, which word on the grapevine, is going to be choke a block full of American Express card holders. I just hope these two day ahead of

everyone else sods appreciate the show.

          

By jove it's a Mumford

Whatever happened to those Mumford boys, no doubt they are holed up in some log cabin located in Marcus Mumfords back garden surrounded by banjo's and wash boards, working on mad dynamic ideas for a second album.
I saw Mumford and Sons when they first started out, at a gig in Aberdeen; it cost £5 to get in and they had Laura Marling at the door selling their tickets and merchandise...such gentlemen.
I accidentally upset one of them by chatting to him at the bar; firstly by commenting on his long leather jacket and finally enquiring if he was here to see the band to which he took umbrage proclaimed "I am the band" and flounced off in a swoosh of Matrix style leather.
The gig itself was really good well worth the £5.
No seriously they were very good.

Oh for the Love of Hannah and Landon

A very dear friend of mine a year ago or so introduced me to the wonderful world of Hannah and Landon, a whimsical couple who for the past few years have run a very successful blog. Residing in New York, Landon is a painter (not and decorator) with his wife Hannah, well I'm not entirely sure what she does but I think it has something to do with vintage clothing. Their website is frequently updated with the beautiful pair frolicking around in pretty lace garments, yes sometimes even Landon. The gruesome twosome let us into the goings on in their lives through posting images of Hannah in her ever desirable wardrobe, Hannah braiding her hair, Hannah plonked amongst some long grass hugging kittens.
 Now my lovely friend, who has the kindest of hearts and generally sees the good in people relishes this website, enjoying the fashion and bric a brac, whereas I in my usual bitterness....well it makes me want to throw up ever so slightly. I will admit this is purely down to jealousy, I wish I was someones muse and could spend my days rolling around in feathers having my picture taken in soft focus with a rather striking man on the other side of the lens. Actually is that not 70's porn?

                                                          The Always Beautiful Hannah.....

....and....er...Landon.

Anyway have a look yourselves and become addicted to the beautiful world of Hannah and Landon.
http://hannahandlandon.blogspot.com/p/about.html
Or check out Landon's art work, the Pastel Pollock that he is!
http://www.landonmetz.com/

So in dedication to my lovely friend here is a wee cartoon to crumple her heart and reaffirm my statues in the snide brat brigade. Enjoy.

...sorry dear one.