“A mixed grill”. The way to best describe the tastes of the residents of London whose eclectic outlook on music has helped shape and mould the city into what it is today. The hotch potch of clubs/venues that adorn the entertainment scene in the British capital showcase any type of genre of music you can think of. From the smoky tunes of jazz, to the uber-modern fresh beats of dubstep, the musical landscape of the city of London is ever changing, ever evolving. For those who are planning to travel to London, the musical history of the city is definitely something…
On the Road: Soundtracking Self Discovery in Search of Cultural Significance
Walter Salles’s much hyped (and critically dismissed) take on Jack Kerouac’s generation-defining beat novel, On the Road, hits cinemas this month. Despite taking five years to produce and featuring everyone’s favourite type-cast “trampire” Kirsten Stewart (who plays, you guessed it, Kirsten Stewart) this film has failed to resonate with the critics and received an incredibly flaccid score of 53% on Rotten Tomatoes (Spiderman 3 scored 63%, say no more).
Kick-Ass Spanish Festivals: Festival de Jazz de Girona
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Girona Jazz Festival? The topic of kick-ass Spanish festivals doesn’t exactly make a relatively small town jazz soirée top of mind. But summer’s over, kiddos. Here in Spain, it’s time to slow down the tempo, reflect on the mistakes made at Sonar or Primavera Sound and give something other than strong techno beats a chance to stir our beating hearts.
A Guide to Sweden’s Indie Pop Nightlife
I love Swedish indie pop. I’ve been hooked ever since my first year at university when a friend sat me down and made me listen to The Radio Dept’s debut album Lesser Matters. Everyone liked The Hives and The Cardigans’ radio-friendly hooks, but it was The Radio Dept that got me into alternative music that was fuzzy, electronic, introspective, and – most of all – heart-meltingly melodic.
K-Pop is to South Korea What the Beatles Were to Britain
Musicroom, the UK’s leading music retailer, comments on the startling rise of South Korea’s most successful cultural export. Psy’s internationally successful song, Gangnam Style, has got the whole world pretending to ride horses. Hopelessly likable and yet wickedly tongue-in-cheek, the music video features South Korean superstar Psy tearing up the dance floor with K-pop’s distinctive style of synchronised dance.
