This week I am mostly listening to...

Thinks I am listening to this week...

1. Ladyhawke. The eponymous album (I have ALWAYS wanted to write that) is fantastic. in particular the songs My Delerium and Paris Is Burning. Great powerhouse pop songs that sound just fantastic as I am labouring with the washing up (whilst the better half enjoys Hollyoaks). It has a bit of a 80's/90's vibe. There is a hint of the over-dubbed harmonies of Wilson Philips in there...Ok maybe not Wilson Philips, but certainly The Bangles. With a harder electro beat in there. Retro but very, very cool. Instantly heading into my top 20 songs list.* Intersting story behind the singer/songwriter/performer too.

2. Little Boots. Stuck on Repeat. Little Boots (actually just one girly called Victoria Hesketh) is just going to be so big this year. It is like Kylie meets Goldfrapp meets Gary Newman. But better. And certainly better than you might think it would sound. I heartily recommend you give it a listen, and is available out there on legal free downloads too.

3. Mazzy Star. Give You My Lovin'. Yeah, Ok. So maybe it could be classed as Country and Western music...but the lazy, lazy gorgeousness of Mazzy Star's voice just makes this the perfect accompanyment to a wet and cold afternoon. To make the day perfect you need to have a snoozy partner on your lap and a good stack of reading material. And the central heating on...and a Hot Choc and maybe a pile of snacks...

4. Hard-Fi. Can't Get Along Without You. I know, they want to be the Jam, but that doesn't mean they aren't any good. I just had to buy this CD recently. I had it on an MP3 from last year sometime, but somehow I lost it...and then there was this shop - we'll call it Zavvi - who are closing down loads of stores and selling off stuff with a good 20-30% discount. Ok, so I feel like one of those people in the middle ages who moved amongst the bodies left behind after a battle and take all the valuables off the dead and dying...but I just can't stop myself...

5. Natalie Merchant. Life is Sweet. I absolutely LOVE Natalie Merchant. She is huge in the US, but hardly heard of over here in the UK. And that is both a good and a bad thing. Good cos I can introduce her to people and people go, "how good is she"...and we have a good old chat about her and then they go and buy her stuff and they love her too and I feel like I have brought something good and pure and wonderful into their lives...but Bad cos it means than Nat hardly ever comes over here on tour and although she is my favourite artist I have not seen her live yet. Another nice thing is that (at the time of writing this blog) I am her only follower on Twitter. She hasn't tweeted yet, but I am there waiting for her. Stalking? Did I hear that mumbled from someone at the back. Nooooooooooooooooooooooo. Anyway, this song is just so lovely and is one of the triumvirate of power songs off of the superb album Ophelia. (Buy Ophelia. Just do it. No excuses...go and buy it.) The other two songs being Kind and Generous, and My Skin. I am sure that they will appear on these lists in the near future.



*Top 20 songs list? Who has a Top 20 songs list? Me that's who! Want to make something of it...? Do Ya? Well?