Splendour of Music

With Splendour in the Grass 2010 approaching I thought I'd be great to preview more of the acts who are playing. I wouldn't be difficult to post endlessly on the amount of quality acts performing but here are a few more of my personal favourites.

I'm not even going to bother talking about The Strokes, Grizzly Bear, Goldfrapp, LCD Soundsystem or Florence & The Machine because everyone else has already done it and done so far better than myself. What's more, shocking as it may seem, if I'm being truthful I'm not even a fan of Angus & Julia Stone, Temper Trap, Kate Nash, British India, Blue Juice, Frightened Rabbit or Delphic and I STILL have an embarrassingly high number of bands to blog about.

School of Seven Bells

I had Disconnect From Desire for quite a while before I got round to listening to it. Put it down as yet another failing of me as a blogger and human being. They provide a master class in delicately layered, incredibly rich tracks. This isn't to say Disconnect From Desire is some touchy feely emotional bullshit, there is definitely emotion on show but just enough that I can disconnect when needed an enjoy a deeply personal release on a far more superficial level. I love releases like this that are so dependent on the position of the listener. The harmonies are simply gorgeous and I cannot wait to see how their sound transfers into a live environment. I have a feeling that these gals + guy may be one of the biggest highlights of the festival.

Mp3: School of Seven Bells - Babelonia

Richard Ashcroft & The United Nations of Sound

United Nations of Sound should really be called United Sound of Ashcroft. This album is cliche, over the top, distinctively British, derivative and self indulgent. Honestly who calls a band RPA & The United Nations of Sound? Now I know, Richard Ashcroft does. The choruses are repetitive and grandiose, the lyrics drilled into your brain with greater success than any brainwashing seminar Scientology could organise. Oww and did I mention United Nations of Sound is absolutely fantastic. It is Richard Ashcroft trying to be nothing more or less than Richard Ashcroft, Verve fans... this isn't The Verve but maybe a slight tippin' of the hat in their direction. The first track is titled... wait for it... "Are You Ready". The kind of track that Portsmouth could have used for advertising during their (failed) FA Cup run. The strings, guitar solos, wankyness in tracks like "Born Again", "Royal Highness" & "Beatitudes" shouldn't work on me, no one should fall for this but I'm helpless. Ashcroft even unleashes a little of his Timbaland side at the start of "America".

I'm not sure if this is Richard Ashcroft's swipe at all of us but using every trick in the book, Ashcroft has happily and knowingly fooled me into loving this. All the Wembley Stadium Rock cues are there and ready to be unleashed on what will most probably be a slightly suspecting but helplessly receptive Splendour crowd!

Cloud Control

I was lucky enough to go and see Cloud Control open for Vampire Weekend at the Hordern Pavilion a little while ago. I never blogged about it and I'm a bit dirty of myself because it was a fantastic night out thanks to both acts. Obviously from Vampire Weekend I was expecting nothing short of a top show but Cloud Control surprised me. I really ought to get my hands on their album being a fan of all their previous releases too.

From the snapshot I got of their live set @ The Hordern, Splendour fans can expect a surprisingly polished set of music that translates exceptionally well into the live environment. All my fears vanished.

Side Show: 30th July 2010 w/ Magic Numbers @ Metro Theatre.

Mp3: Cloud Control - There's Nothing In The Water We Can't Fight

Sarah Seltmann

Formerly known as New Buffalo and a late addition to the Splendour in the Grass line up for 2010. We miss out on some Townsville indie and a british bitch shouting at us but we gain an absolutely gem. Sarah has that very typical hand clap, beautifully vocalised pop sound down pat, if it can translate live in the same way someone like Sia does, this is going to be a jumpy soundtrack to enjoying some sunshine.

Dream About Changing from Sally Seltmann on Vimeo.

Scissor Sister

I can hear the Big Day Out crowd sneering at me now, "Hey! Aren't they a bunch of poofs who tried to cover Pink Floyd" and then I can hear the know-it-allers scoffing "If I wanted Elton John impersonations I would of gone to see a Benfolds cover show". As a naive year 11 student I purchased their debut, blissfully unaware of what Scissor sisters meant. I have to admit I'm still a fan after learning the truth and I'm even willing to overlook their appearance on stage with Kylie... talk about gay. I think they have a great good-time, carefree vibe to them and I think they're going to really ham it up for the festival crowd. I'm going to be nice and drunk with dancing shoes ready by the time "I don't feeling like dancin" or "tits on the radio" gets played but I think I might leave the tiara at home with Chris.

WEBSITE: Splendour In The Grass