BBC's 2014 Longlist Of Breakthrough Stars
a lou lou of a band
Every year the BBC present the world with their picks of 2014’s breakthrough stars and every year they get one right and a couple rightish. And every year I read through em and have heard a couple of em before and never hear of most of em again. I know Chance The Rapper and Ella Eyre, and am glad to meet Chloe Howl and George Ezra.
BUT NOT THIS YEAR. This year I’m gonna be proactive. Where available on Spotify I will share with you, where necessary I will go where no man has gone before…
Banks – Sounds like monks chanting along to Lana and Lorde – C+
Chance The Rapper – I know this bloke because he is on the awesome James Blake track “Life Round Here”, I can see him doing some damage here except he sounds too English – B+
Chlöe Howl – OK, this makes two. “No Strings” by 17 year old Chloe is just completely awesome, funny, exciting… a great song, only available on the Kick ass 2 sountrack and enough to break her through. After a year of moldy old Lana Del Rey’s wannabe, this jumps out at you – A
Ella Eyre – I caught Ella singing with Rudimental at Central Park at what stands now as maybe the most important set I saw in 2013. She was terrific – A-
FKA twigs – Modern indie pop which means lots of wide of quiet and lots of snoozing – C+
George Ezra – Excellent singer songwriter, good sweet voice, strong songs – B
Jungle – Modern hip hop all seems to come out a massive attack haze of heavy dub – C
Kelela – Alternative r&b with more of a jazzy cha cha to it – C+
Luke Sital-Singh – Sweet kid, pleasant, lilting – C
MNEK – Modern EDM, obstreperous, smart groove, – B
Nick Mulvey – How many mopey young men can one 2014 picks
Royal Blood – Wow, a rock band, no really, their last album was called Thank You Seattle For Ruining My Band… And My Dreams – B=
Sam Smith – Soul shouter – B-
Sampha – Electronic singer songwriter, a little ho hum – C
Say Lou Lou – Fairly stunning Swedish Australian duo perform dreamy pop sounds – B-
