Boxes: Silent Alarm EP

South-East London lad Boxes (a.k.a Carey Willets, former bassist for Athlete) has exploded a larger-than-life sound onto new EP, Silent Alarm.

The four track collection, a precursor to his forthcoming debut album, showcases multi-instrumental skills with punchy guitar, catchy synths and fun electro beats. The playful sheen to the title track inspires a feeling of innocent, sun-kissed satisfaction that heavily counteracts its mildly traumatising video.

Like a revved-up re-incarnation of The Dykeenies or an Owl City with less cringe and more guts, Boxes’ delicate melodies have an easy, disarming charm that will surprise even the most stubborn of sceptics. The acoustic "Don’t Look Down" proves that he need not rely merely upon artificial sounds, whilst the lazy Sunday vibe to "Throw Your Stones" exudes close to effortless cool.

Silent Alarm is released on 26th September via Bow Music.

Originally published by Palatinate: http://www.palatinate.org.uk/?p=15069

Straight off the Catwalk

Here, as promised, are some photographs from the catwalks at London Fashion Week. The first four images are from the collection by Spijkers en Spijkers. Inspired by the Persian queen with distinct 1930s elements, the graphic stars, tassles and fringing are colourfully exciting and eye-catching.

The following three images are from the collection by Kiki Kamanu, showcased at The Strand Palace Hotel. The Nigerian American designer presented a vibrant, opulent display of her cultural roots, complete with striking make-up.

Link to the rest of my London Fashion Week set: www.flickr/com/jessdenham

In Search of Pretty Things at London Fashion Week

Yesterday I visited Somerset House, the central location for London Fashion Week, where I was given access to the designer exhibitions with a photography pass. Below are some images from the collection exhibited by Ada Zanditon in collaboration with jewellery designer Luca Romanyi.

This necklace was created from recycled plastic and contains shredded ten pound notes that look like decaying leaves. Disappointingly, no money was wildly torn up for the sake of art as the notes had been discontinued. However, its creation happened to coincide with the credit crunch, giving it extra, if unintended cool points. The metallic glint of the money gives the piece an autumnal shine and fits perfectly with the AW11 trend for bronzes, silvers and golds.

The above necklace and its counterpart bracelet below were inspired by seahorses. The wood used is from Romanyi's father's furniture making company. Simple, bold and eye-catching with a fun tribal twist.

Catwalk photos coming soon....!

Marcus Foster: Nameless Path

Amidst a recent tidal wave of male singer-songwriters, Marcus Foster is remarkably far from ordinary. Described by Communion Records as "metaphorically dropped from a rambling Kerouac chapter", throughout his debut album he effectively balances raw passion with understated poise.

Displaying a soulful integrity that far surpasses his 24 years, Foster expresses a guileless yet unmistakeably masculine sensitivity on tracks such as "I Don’t Need to Know" and latest single "I Was Broken", whilst the dispersal of upbeat tracks amongst slower laments ensures that the album’s energy never once drops. 

Stand-out track "Shadows of the City" is a slick bluesy slice of urban sexiness, given edge by moments of almost primal intensity. Contained and composed with flashes of uninhibited vivacity, Foster presents a masterclass on the use of tension-building silence as trembling guitar forms a haunting support for his gravely vocals. Here is a record worthy of accolade, yet to be released but somehow already timeless. 

Nameless Path is released on 26^th September via Communion/Polydor Records.

Originally published by Palatinate: http://www.palatinate.org.uk/?p=15053

Scott Matthews: “I’ll be somewhere like Sainsbury’s and get an idea for a song, usually whilst looking at the fruit.”

Born and bred in the Black Country, accomplished singer-songwriter Scott Matthews has remained refreshingly modest in the face of international success. Speaking to Palatinate the very morning that his third album, What the Night Delivers, is released, his humble hopes and aspirations reflect an endearingly down-to-earth attitude. “I like to think that my songs will have their own place, that people will have their own journeys with the material like I have. All you can really ask is that they will have an effect on somebody. If there’s no-one to listen to your songs then it’s all a little bit pointless.”

Repeatedly compared to the likes of Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake, Matthews was keen for his music to sonically progress from previous records, Passing Stranger in 2006 and Elsewhere in 2009. Drawing on films, books and general life experiences for inspiration, his style encompasses an eclectic array of genres with evident bluesy folk overtones. Determined for his music to resist pigeon-holing, future plans involve the possible release of some experimental EPs. “I’d quite like to try some instrumental work at some point, or a full on blues record. Different directions are important, I don’t want to stagnate. I’d like to think that over the three records so far, you can see a broad spectrum of ideas.” Luckily, Matthews has proven himself as an artist capable enough to reflect his wide-ranging music taste in his own creative work.

Matthews was first encouraged to engage with music when his drummer father bought him a guitar for his seventh birthday. Music became “a natural process of self-exploration” and eventually he was offered the chance to record a track with San Remo Records. What started out as a hobby soon became a lifestyle that he desired to sustain. Winning an Ivor Novello for "Elusive" back in 2007 (Best Song Musically and Lyrically) was “a massive deal, but a little bit daunting”. With such a dazzling accolade came the pressure to better himself; fortunately Matthews had the drive and ambition to do just that.


Scott Matthews plays his Ivor Novello award-winning "Elusive".

Over the last few years, the emergence of a plethora of singer-songwriter, man with guitar types has made finding space on a teeming platform tricky. Matthews however, seems undeterred by competition, believing that “people know what they like” in an era with “a tendency to explore a lot more”. Upon being asked to whom in the modern music scene he would award an Ivor Novello, Matthews commended Bill Callahan, “a much underrated artist and a fantastic writer as well.” Unfortunately as Callahan is American, he would not qualify for nomination.

Playing live is integral to Matthews as he revels in the opportunity to interact and connect with an audience. “People still need to get a true sense of where an artist is coming from on a live front. It throws a different vibe over the songs; it’s easy to gloss over some things in the studio.” He has toured extensively over the last few years, with a host of UK shows planned for September and October. To date, Matthews has supported artists such as Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Foo Fighters and Rufus Wainwright but, just like winning his Ivor Novello, he confided in Palatinate that these shows proved inspiring, if a little overawing. “I did about five or six shows with Snow Patrol, just little old me and my guys making music that we considered hard to get across in the big arenas.”


"Obsession Never Sleeps" & "Ballerina Lake" from latest album, What the Night Delivers.

With his unmistakable talent, Matthews’ song-writing recipe is the holy grail for budding musicians. Preferring to add the lyrical ingredients last, he reveals, “I’ll make a CD of melodies for the car and drive around listening to that. I’ve always been one to get a really strong feeling from the music which I put together.” However, in his characteristically chilled-out manner, it is whilst supermarket shopping that inspiration often strikes. “I’ll be somewhere like Sainsbury’s and get an idea for a song, usually whilst looking at the fruit.” Yes, a whole new light has now been shed on why his lyrics are so notoriously intriguing and mysterious; they originate from the visual delights of apples and bananas.

When asked to give some advice for students looking to make a career in music, Matthews asserts that it is primarily self-belief that propelled him to where he is today. “Be true to yourself, it’s so easy to get influenced by people. You’ll be inspired by something initially, but then I think it’s all about finding yourself.” 

Perhaps it’s time to do the supermarket shopping for Mum this weekend after all.

Link to Palatinate: http://www.palatinate.org.uk/?p=14974