So So Gay
By the time this article was written, there were only 57 days until Christmas! Bugger. This basically means that if you’re a major record label, the next two and a bit months are your release-scheduling bitch. Indies, release at your peril for fear of being swallowed up by leviathans such as Pixie Lott’s album and other stocking fillers. But fighting the good fight to bring you undeservedly (and in some cases deservedly) ignored music gossip, So So Gay is once again here for a monthly round-up. Enjoy…
You’ll be positively baying to hear:
We were treated enough by Patrick Wolf’s brilliant album, Lupercalia earlier this year, but that’s not all up his sleeve. The Wolfy One is releasing a new EP called Brumalia at the end of November. Named after a Roman Midwinter holiday, the songs promise to be as richly composed as his recent return-to-form material, unrushed and released for the sake of it as opposed to expectation. And if you have a look at the cover art, there’s further trivia. ‘The artwork for the EP was shot by Patti Smith’ explains Patrick. ‘These are two photos Patti took of me on Cooden Beach on a freezing windy Winter day earlier this year the day after I played harp and viola for her at the De La Warr Pavilion. To me the photos sum up the bleakness and melancholy of England in the winter months, which was something that inspired the choice of songs on this EP’. Exciting stuff. Save your pennies for the EP’s release on November 28.
An Obstetrician is Never Disappointed:
For fans of Sophie Ellis-Bextor, you’ll be pleased to hear that she’s popped out a new single, a cover of Arcade Fire’s ‘Lies (Rebellion)’ as part of the Samaritans charity Songs to Save a Life compilation, which you can get your hands on here. However, you might be less pleased to hear that in a few months’ time, she’ll be popping out something else – another baby. The latest addition to the Ellis-Bextor-Jones clan is due out in the spring. Hopefully this won’t mean you’ll be waiting another four years for her next release – but in case you are, we recommend having a delve into her discography. She’s released four brilliant, underrated albums which are worth exploring, there’s much more to Britain’s true Queen of Pop than ‘Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)’ and ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’.
A prize release:
SSG’s favourite rock chick, Wolfette, has unveiled her latest single, ‘Trophy Girl’, due out on 5 December. And much like its predecessors, it’s another snarly anthem of independence. We first heard it a couple of months ago when she was mulling over between it and another song for release and called upon our opinion. We liked it a lot! A video should be out soon, but you can listen to it in full here:
Hit or Swiss?
People tell us to shut up about Same Difference – but, frankly, why should we? In this time of economic doom and gloom, when the fibres of society itself are under threat of splitting, we could all do with a bit of cheese. And not nostalgic, slightly stale cheese (sorry, Steps!). Same Difference’s second album, The Rest is History, released earlier this year, is certified pop goodness – well worth swallowing your pride and seeking out. If we’ve succeeded in even mildly converting you from thinking they’re nothing more than ‘incestuous flops’, then pay attention: Same Difference are trying to perform at Eurovision 2012. For Switzerland. Still with us? That’s right, SD have recorded a song called ‘Music’ which they’re hoping will be successful in representing the land of Toblerone and cuckoo clocks in Baku next year. Will they be successful? Who know? But you can listen to the song here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSxpAIKRiPU
And finally…
The new Will Young video is basically; Will Young + dog = lovely.
