Jonathan Hatchman (@JonHatchman) picks out the sounds and stories that have been making headlines over the last seven days… and presents them all as a handy playlist
Awards season is approaching, and as February draws closer, The Brit Awards nominations were announced last night (15 January) ahead of next month’s ceremony. Unsurprisingly, one of the country’s biggest breakthrough successes of recent years Sam Smith tops the pile for most nominations received. Expected to clean up at this year’s event, Smith has been nominated for the awards of Best Album, Best Male Solo Artist, and Breakthrough Act, while his huge hit Stay With Me has been nominated as the Best Single and Best Music Video of the year. Other nominees across the award categories include George Ezra, FKA Twigs, Ed Sheeran and more.
In more awards ceremony news, tying in with the Grammys a special concert honouring Stevie Wonder and his classic album Songs In The Key Of Life is set to take place in Los Angeles on 10 February, featuring performances from the likes of Ed Sheeran, Janelle Monae, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Usher and more. Each artist will pick and perform one track from the album to celebration the 25-time Grammy winner’s career.
Noel Gallagher has sparked a feud with Ed Sheeran this week, attacking the singer-songwriter’s upcoming three-night stint at Wembley Stadium in typical stle. He’s also strongly hinted that he will be appearing as a part of this year’s as-of-yet unannounced Glastonbury line-up. Oh and he’s released the video for new single Ballad Of The Mighty I, taken from new album Chasing Yesterday, out 2 March. Lead guitar on the song comes courtesy of none other than iconic guitarist Johnny Marr.
Having recently announced their return with a new album Glitterbug, their first since 2011’s This Modern Glitch, as well as announcing a twogigs (the first of which took place at London’s Old Blue Last, last night, and the second will take place tonight at Liverpool’s Magnet), The Wombats have revealed the music video for their comeback single Greek Tragedy. Starring Skins actress April Pearson, the video features the death of all three band members. Don’t call it a come back…
Also returning, with new music promised very soon, are The Vaccines who have announced plans to play a tiny show at Brighton’s Concorde 2 on Monday night, which will be followed by a currently unannounced ‘secret’ London show, the following night. Expect to hear a selection of old and new songs, including a preview of the band’s third album that they’re currently working on, following 2012’s Come Of Age and March 2013’s Melody Calling EP which embraced a more progressive musical direction for the band. Here’s a reminder.
Pick Of The Week
London-based trio Yak have been rounding up a wave of high praise surrounding their local live shows, of late, and now that they’ve finally unveiled their debut single Hungry Heart, the band’s sudden blast of renown seems justifiable. Conveying the rawness of their fervour of the band’s live show, Hungry Heart is a short, sharp burst of barbed rock, featuring a noisy collaboration of a harsh bass line and drum beat, teamed with a warped electric guitar and snarled vocals. Providing a final piece that’s not too dissimilar to The Vaccines’ earliest recordings, while upholding a hard punk aesthetic that’s in a similar vein to Fugazi and Minor Threat.
