secret fireworks

In addition to the free downloads hosted every week on Secret Fireworks, every month we will have a special feature on music, past and present, from all over the world. I want to keep things nice and legal at the minute, so no direct downloads are available. However, we will be using the wonderful, wonderful Spotify service for the time being. As a consequence of this, the music collection is limited, but Spotify are expanding their music collection daily so this might be a temporary thing. Anyway, this month, we've got Department of Eagles, Patrick Wolf, Belle and Sebastian, The Divine Comedy and Ida Maria as well as a number of other superb artists.



Download March's Secret Fireworks Playlist

A Fond Farewell- Elliott Smith

A gorgeous song as always from Elliott, just highlighting the desperate decline of a soul as his "companion" leaves. It's such a pretty guitar part as well.

Becoming More Like Alfie- The Divine Comedy

Neil Hannon: he's a very witty man. This song is full of clever comments and snide remarks as well as an awesome trumpet part. Due to it being the Divine Comedy, a great melody comes as standard.

Bixby Canyon Bridge- Death Cab For Cutie

The opener to Narrow Stairs, Death Cab kick things off with a darker sound and a more rocking feel, with Ben Gibbard making a tribute to the legendary Jack Kerouac.

Faster- Manic Street Preachers

I barely understand a single lyric of this song, but it's face paced and dark. Considering the upcoming release of the new Manics album Journal for Plagued Lovers is based upon the lyrics of Richey Edwards, it's a nice reflection of the past Manics.

Holy Pictures-David Holmes

My favourite song off The Holy Pictures, the title track is a deep shoegazetastic anthem full of hooks and mystery.

I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked- Ida Maria

Great bassline and great vocals. Witty lyrics and such a ridiculously catchy song.

Keep Yourself Warm- Frightened Rabbit

Scott Hutchinson is the most exciting voice I've heard in recent times, and this track demonstrates why. An amazing talent. Frighened Rabbit, on the whole, were the most impressive live band I saw in 2008, and this track is simply incredible live.

No One Does It Like You- Department Of Eagles

Ominous, creepy and pretty at the same time. A song laden with hooks and layer upon layer of instrumental excellence.

Sealion- Feist

Completely reinvented the old American folk song and shows off the talents of Feist perfectly.

So Far Around The Bend- The National

The second best track on the Dark Was The Night compilation (Sleepless, by the Decemberists, is the best in my opinion) is possibly the most poptastic song released by the National. It's catchy as hell: listen to it at your peril.

The Magic Position- Patrick Wolf

Such a simple song, such a wonderful single.

Your Cover's Blown- Belle and Sebastian

This is less of a long and more of a symphony- about four different tracks within one. Funky bassline, witty lyrics and Stuart's wonderful vocals as per usual. And that wonderful section of the song where it just goes a little haywire? Amazing.

I restarted Secret Fireworks three weeks ago today, and decided to make a bit more effort into regular updates. I wasn't really expecting more than 10 visitors within a month, and that was the best case scenario- it was always going to be just a bit of fun. However, over the last twelve days 70 people have visited SF, which is pretty staggering, and I just want to say thank you to everyone who has. I'd write the articles anyway, but knowing someone on the off chance might be reading them makes it all the more worthwhile, so cheers!

Part of the increase in traffic has been due to the wonderful efforts of Chris from Wired Up, a Northern Irish music blog aggregator, that SF features in. He's put hours of work into his wee project and his own blog is superb. Check it out in the blog list at the side: a number of much more talented writers are featured on the site and I'd advise you to check it out.

I've chanced my arm and a couple of wonderful opportunities have come my way. Over the next two weeks we'll have interviews from not only The Jane Bradfords (woo), Heliopause (woohoo) and The Lowly Knights (woohoo!) but an exclusive (for the time being, at least) download of an acoustic Heliopause EP and many more surprises. Keep reading, keep subscribing, and thank you so far.

Patrick

Well, it’s not so much an album, but more of a sampler. In the next few days I’ll have my first interview with the wonderful Jane Bradfords, and in honour of that I’m choosing the lads for this week’s free download.

I first saw The Jane Bradfords as the support act to The National in Mandela Hall, and I was pleasantly surprised- a fresh, talented band that combine electro and a little rock into a neat little package.



The highlight of their set was “The Evening Angels Gather Here”: the closest to an anthem we’ll probably get from the JBs. The song gets a bit of time to get going but when it does, it’s great- be it the simple, wonderful guitar instrumental or the unique vocals of Declan Gallen, it’s a hit. “Starlight, starbright, the evening angels gather here” is one of the more memorable lines from local music in the past few years.

The next track, About Our Love, is a bit of a departure from the typical Bradfords song but the essential qualities remain- there’s a lovely repetitive guitar part, the occasional synth and Deci’s vocals, possibly paying homage to Matt Berninger from the National? Make up your own mind on that. I love the acoustic sessions because sometimes the lyrics are difficult to hear or understand, a terrible shame considering the lyrics are more perceptive and memorable than your typical band.

The track Ninety Nine is the more well known track by the lads- it would slot seamlessly into any indie disco. With a strong electro beat pulsating constantly and a harsher sound it’s a great track. I love the whole electro movement in Northern Ireland (such as Kowalski and Two Door Cinema Club) and Deci and the lads have got a great talent for a catchy hook and a decent melody. It’s wonderful live as well.

Finally, the last track is October Eleven from the eponymous debut album. It’s by far my favourite track from it: great guitar parts, some wonderful hooks and those memorable lyrics once again from the Jane Bradfords. “So beautiful I’d break a million hearts to be with you” is just one of many excellent lyrics within this song.

The Jane Bradfords are stalwarts of the local scene, and long may it continue. Their unique sound has gained support from Queen's Radio to, well, Qatar, and if their recent Valentine's Day session is anything to go by we're in for a great 2009. Check out the lovely video for The Evening Angels Gather Here below.

Keep reading in the next few days to read the interview along with another couple of nice surprises....

About Our Love (right click, save as)

The Evening Angels Gather Here (right click, save as)

Ninety Nine (right click, save as)

October Eleven (right click, save as)

MySpace

Labels: the jane bradfords