TOW on 6 Music - Florence Joelle/ Nalle/ Chapter24/ Sleep Over

Every week TOW plays two songs for the brilliant Tom Robinson on his BBC 6 Music Introducing show... here are our picks from the last two shows:

Florence Joelle - When I Get Low I Get High


Not usually a fan of the fifties rockabilly pastiche (Imelda May et al) - Florence Joelle has come along and blown that little prejudice straight outta the water. The Paris-born singer now lives in London and it's her voice that smacks you around the head. It's utterly unique. Florence and her band The Kiss of Fire's treatment of this 1940's Chick Webb tune brings it smack bang into the present day and her own compositions are drenched in the American blues, but always stay true to her own inimitable sound -  you'll find more on her myspace page.

Nalle - Lily


TOW caught Two Wings live at Cafe Oto in Dalston last month, they were supporting probably the most chilled out talented couple from the US east coast: Arborea. Two Wing's lead singer Hannah Tuulikki is something to behold. Chatting to her afterwards, she revealed another project Nalle, which actually has a release out (Two Wings are in the studio now). So we took a copy home, put it on the stereo and let the experimental dreamy melodies and remarkable soundscapes float over us. Hanna's voice is fore-fronted beautifully on these tracks, sometimes warbling - at other times perfect. Imagine this voice fronting The Band, that's what we can expect from Two Wings - very very exciting.


Chapter 24 - Love



Chapter 24 are from Corby in the Midlands and make seriously punky tunes. Channeling the best of The Slits and The Clash from the punk fraternity and nodding towards Vampire Weekend with their spikey Afro-punk guitar riffs, their music is infectious, fresh and wholly danceable. Look out for their name on a festival bill near you in 2011.


Sleep Over - La Rose



'Witch House' - ring any bells? TOW is still getting our head around 'chill wave', it's all the same we're sure, but The Guardian's Tim Jonze has done a decent job of trying to get to the bottom of it here. Sleep Over make music that will, probably, put you to sleep - woozy, dreamy, vocals you can't quite make out (but it doesn't matter as you're half asleep) but also a spooky Twin Peaks-esque gorgeous lushness that we love!

Grass Widow interview at Upset The Rhythm

Grass Widow - Fried Egg

Grass Widow are Hannah, Raven and Lilian from San Francisco, they make fast-paced melodic rock which offsets their vocal harmonies brilliantly. TOW caught up with them on the eve of their first London show as part of Upset The Rhythm at The Old Blue Last in Shoreditch... TOW favourites Trash Kit and Bellies were supporting:
   Grass Widow interview at Upset The Rhythm by ruthbarnes

Grass Widow are on tour in the UK right now!

TOW on 6 Music: Aias/ Emily Jane White/ Sentel/ Von Burl

Every week TOW plays two songs for the brilliant Tom Robinson on his BBC 6 Music Introducing show... here are our picks from the last two shows:

Aias - Tu Manes

Aaaaaaa La Piscina! To the swimming pool! The name of Barcelona trio Aias' new album and it's as full of joy as the name suggests. Aias is Laia Aubia, Gaia Bihr, and Miriam Garcia and they make that kind of glorious lo-fi summery girl band racket (sung in Catalan) that can only make you smile and think of dosing in a puddle of sunshine on the living room carpet. Just in time for gloomy old Autumn then. Brilliant New York indie Captured Tracks is putting this out and we love it.

Emily Jane White - Victorian America

 

Listen to this track immediately!! Lyrically stunning, melodically perfect - is it possible? It seems Emily Jane White has achieved both. The new album, Victorian America, works beautifully as a whole too, she's been inspired by the trials and tribulations of women living in Victorian America - so you can imagine there's a whole heap of sufferin', sorrow and pain. There have been comparisons to Cat Power which is no bad thing, but White's got a whole other unique sound going on that certainly sets her apart.

Von Burl - Heartbeat

Von Burl thought she was going to end up playing as a backing musician in someone else's band. Happily for us, she thought: 'Stuff that!' and started writing and performing her own material. Heartbeat's the one Von sent TOW after a friend saw her live at The Slaughtered Lamb and insisted we check her out. Von Burl has also made the Just A Girl Long List, for a chance to play at this year's Ladyfest... more on that to come but for now check out the link and cast your vote!

Sentel - Widow

They're a boy and girl from Krakow, Poland, who make some serious dub-infused dance music. Thanks to Dana who curates the brilliant and very informative Women in Electronic Music page on Facebook/Last.FM for sending this one over. Dana runs a digital label in Warsaw, focused on "The best in bass music from our neck of the woods." Concrete Cut are releasing this single, which she calls 'post-dubstep'. Ah ha!

TOW on BBC 6 Music Introducing: Lower Dens, Shunda K, Kath Bloom & Roxanne De Bastion

Every week TOW plays two songs for the brilliant Tom Robinson on his BBC 6 Music Introducing show... here are our picks from the last two shows:

Lower Dens - Hospice Gates



Thanks to Tom Ravenscroft for suggesting I listen to Texan Jana Hunter a few years ago. She was one of the first artists to sign to Devendra Banhart's Gnomonsong label and now she's got a brand new band. Lower Dens released Twin Hand Movement on the same label last month and TOW is enjoying it immensely. It's all layered droney guitars and subtle pop hooks. For more tips from Tom check out his BBC 6 Music show. 

Shunda K - Here I Am To Save The World



Formerly one half and founder member of lesbian religious rappers Yo! Majesty, Shunda K is out on her own and making music on her own terms. Fresh from touring with Peaches and taking as much advice as possible from her too, the new material is laced with funky beats and of course, killer lyrics. Save us please Shunda K!

Kath Bloom - Finally



TOW is lucky enough to be plugged into one helluva new music network. George Gargan is one such promoter, going by the name of Damnably he also makes music as Former Utopia. George is the driving force behind the forthcoming John Peel tribute night in London, more details here and we are putting in Mary Epworth and the Jubilee Band! George introduced me to Kath Bloom and with one of those voices that could only imply a turbulent life, we've enjoyed every last heart wrenching but also often joyous second. Someone who 'should have been huge'. Seriously.

I couldn't find a video for Finally online, but you might recognise this one from Before Sunrise.

Roxanne De Bastion - One Morning



Again - that network we mentioned before. Roxanne emailed our inbox asking if we fancy playing her song and posting her new video online - well, yes we do! Turn this one up loud - when played in the studio at 6 Music, Tom's producer Tom Whalley put his head in his hands and said, 'I think this is one of the most perfect voices I've ever heard'. 'Nuff said.

TOW on 6 Music: Paper Dollhouse/You And Me Ensemble/Girls In Trouble/Skatan/Abigail Smith/Signe Tollefsen

Ok, ok - it's been a while! Hence six new artists for your listening pleasure today. Every week TOW plays two songs for the brilliant Tom Robinson on his BBC 6 Music Introducing show... here are our picks from the last three shows:

PAPER DOLLHOUSE - Daisies

                                                          Photo by Nina Bosnic

You've heard us rave about The Rayographs on the radio, now hear the first solo musings from their fabulous frontwoman Astrud Steehouder. Beautiful and often creepy tales from a forgotten time, written and recorded in either her bedroom or kitchen in the midnight hour. We love these simple tunes that are on her myspace and can't wait to get the songstress onto the show for a live session. Watch this space. PS: New material from The Rayographs due soon too - whoop!

THE YOU AND ME ENSEMBLE - Here Comes Everybody

Who are the mysterious You And Me Ensemble? Thanks to Chris Read for getting in touch with us (always makes our job a million times easier) and for sending over the debut album which is out now on Special Blend Records. Chris Read helped master some of uber cool duo Hot Chip's early stuff and Alexis Taylor rightly compares them to The Penguin Cafe Orchestra - it was on the tip of our tongue! The duo aren't trying to prove anything to anyone but themselves - that they can make beautiful, atmospheric and original music that transports you a million miles away... where you count the dust particles in the air as you stretch out on an old sofa and drift off back to sleep on a warm summer's afternoon.

GIRLS IN TROUBLE - Secrets/ You're Always Watching

                                                                                         Photo by Anna Schori

After playing this track on Tom's show, he tweeted me saying 'Thank you for introducing me to Girls In Trouble!' Well I have to thank the brilliant Wears The Trousers editor Alan Pedder for telling Alicia to get in touch with us. It's fantastic being part of such a great network of people with excellent taste! Alicia Jo Rabins and Aaron Hartman are GiT, signed to brilliant New York Jewish indie Jdub Records and cite Nina Nastasia, Leonard Cohen, Emily Dickinson and Brigitte Fontaine amongst their influences. Alicia says the stories of the hardships experienced by women in the Old Testament have inspired her writing, which is ticking all our boxes!

SKATAN - Nobody

Taken from her debut album We Are Children With Different Titles, Nobody is the first single from Swedish singer-songwriter Skatan. Simone Andersson Wingfors was brought to our attention by the excellent Swedesplease blog, a constant source of great tunes from our Nordic brethren. Skatan joins that list with one of those voices that's not easily forgotten, sometimes sweet and sometimes broken. We love this.

ABIGAIL SMITH - Oh Sam

This song WILL get stuck in your head. Guaranteed. Abigail Smith howls and wails Oh Sam with such addictive energy and sounding not just a little like Kate Bush - which is no bad thing. She's a multi-instrumentalist, the results of which you will hear on her debut album Night Time Walking - she also has an eerie, beautiful voice to match. Oh Sam is the poppiest tune, where others really let the cello, viola and piano parts breathe. You can't buy it in the UK but it's available to purchase on her myspace.

SIGNE TOLLEFSEN - You, Me And The Brewers

                                                                                             Photo by Ro Halfhide

Signe Tollefsen is half-Dutch half-American, her music career took off after being discovered by an American producer whilst playing live in Amsterdam's Vondelpark. Recording tracks (including this one) at Linda Perry's studio in LA the result is sweet, sweet songwriting and a talent that should have her pounding on the door of the mainstream very soon. Tollefsen has been awarded all kinds of songwriting accolades in her homeland and supported the likes of Alela Diane and Ane Brun - now it's time to see her take centre stage.

TOW on BBC 6 Music Introducing: Forest City Lovers and Lazy Mary

Every week TOW is lucky enough to pick two songs for Tom Robinson's brilliant BBC 6 Music show, the spot goes out every Monday morning at around 2:30am


Forest City Lovers - Phodilus and Tyto

Like the Swedes, Canadians consistently provide us with fantastic indie pop groups. Most don't make it to these shores and Forest City Lovers are one such band that I hadn't come across - but it seems they have quite a following back home. From Toronto, the group centres around guitarist, singer and songwriter Kat Burns and they make gorgeous, melodic and often sorrowful pop tunes. The glockenspiel and banjo are fore-fronted so for fans of Sufjan Stevens get listenin'... Carriage is out now on Out Of This Spark records.


Lazy Mary - Hang Nail

There's not much around online about Lazy Mary, this pair from California who make fuzzed out raucous guitar noise. Melody Kohn and Kendall Brinkley, not yet 21, hail from Long Beach and have been together almost a year. According to their label boss Mike from Mountain Man Records: "They play mostly local gigs but toured the west coast of the United States this summer with Concrete Shiva (a Long Beach noise act). The tour included a stop at TITWRENCH in Denver, CO. Titrench is a festival celebrating female acts from all over the US. They're home from tour now and plan on continuing to write new songs and play more shows, and hopefully put out more records." Yippee! We love this band and The Girls Are are all over them too, let's get them over and get them on the radio!

TOW on BBC 6 Music Introducing: The Lone Taxidermist & Botched Fairytale

Every week TOW is lucky enough to pick two songs for Tom Robinson's brilliant BBC 6 Music show, the spot goes out every Monday morning at around 2:30am


The Lone Taxidermist - Bijoux Boy

The Lone Taxidermist aka Natalie Sharp is a one woman howl-inducing music making machine. From Manchester but now based in London - TOW guesses that gothic psych electro may be the correct way to describe her, but in all honesty The Lone Taxidermist sits quite squarely in a league of her own. Bijoux Boy is our favourite, hear that on her myspace page, but this video is for Road Kill, another equally interesting and, well, howly tune. Big up to Skopjemusic for the video - check out more great indie videos from him here.


Botched Fairytale - The 06 Census

So very little is known about Botched Fairytale, except that Mariel McCormack and Marie O'Hara are from Longford in Ireland and, like The Lone Taxidermist, can equally sit in a category all their own. The two girls do everything themselves - recording, mixing, mastering, the lot. TOW has tried to put a finger on influences but can't quite pin it down. They seem like a band that Thom Yorke would fall immediately in love with - look out world, here come Botched Fairytale, with their woozey guitars, accordions and those haunting vocals that will keep you coming back for more. If you email them at botchedfairytale@gmail.com they'll personally post you a copy of their album. Lovely.

TOW on 6 Music Introducing: Marianne Lee & Patricia Panther

Every week TOW is lucky enough to pick two songs for Tom Robinson's brilliant BBC 6 Music show, the spot goes out every Monday morning at around 2:30am


Marianne Lee - Wilderness Years

Props to the fantastic The Girls Are blog for turning us onto Marianne Lee. Annette Barlow and her team of super lady music sleuths are bang on with this tip from Ireland. Little is known about Marianne but listen to the music and you'll hear the two influences she cites on her myspace, Kate Bush and Sandy Denny. We can hear all kinds of loveliness, a sound that might prick up the ear of Thom Yorke and imagery that harks back to the 'gothic midlands' of Ireland where she grew up. We want her over here in the UK - watch this space!


Patricia Panther - We Are Kids At Root

A true gem we uncovered whilst cruising on myspace - Patricia Panther (it is her real name - awesome) lives in the indie-boy-with-guitars heavy scene in Glasgow and says she finds it very hard to be taken seriously as a woman making electronic music without a man tweaking the knobs and buttons behind the scene. Patricia makes all the music herself, loops all the beats, presses all the pedals and the result is something unique and truly quirky. See We Are Kids At Root especially for proof of this, she recorded some kids in Ghana using her iPhone and mixed it up with goodness knows what to create a storming tune.

TOW on 6 Music Introducing: Brilliant Colours and Nico Teen

Every week TOW is lucky enough to pick two songs for Tom Robinson's brilliant BBC 6 Music show, the spot goes out every Monday morning at around 2:30am.


Pick 1 - Brilliant Colours - English Cities

Brilliant Colours are San Francisco-based three piece Michelle, Jess and Diane who make fuzzed out garage punk rock. Oh no, not more of that TOW hears you cry! This is truly worth putting on your stereo and turning up LOUD. Tuneful, clever and dirty - Tom Ravenscroft played them on 6 Music ages ago, we've just found them and love what we hear. Their single Walk Into The World/ Bad Vibes is out now on Make A Mess Records - we saw it in Rough Trade last week and felt sooo proud. Go and spend cash!

Pick 2 - Nico Teen - Hungry For Love

You gotta love someone whose myspace is /nicoteensillypoo. TOW thought we'd bring you the latest talent from the Israeli independent scene - Nico is signed to AK Duck/Uganda/ Something On The Road Records and was on a recent Wire Tapper compilation. Our ears immediately pricked up, not least because the song was the catchiest of the compilation - actually had lyrics, melody etc. We love The Wire magazine but sometimes it makes us feel like such musical philistines! Spooky lyrics, weird electronics... we love Nico Teen.

Update! Singer-songwriter Essie Jain's Until The Light Of Morning

Essie Jain has one of those voices that grips you by the throat and demands attention. A couple of albums down the line now with the brilliant esoteric Leaf Label, she's turned her attention to the world of music for children. Releasing Until The Light Of Morning on her own label Light Of Morning records is just the first step she says, it could become an evil empire! Listen to the interview below. Also, details of her third studio album, look out - she's gone all hippy on us...

Here's a quote from her website, which is also where I stole that lovely image from:

'...my family and friends back home had started to have kids. It became apparent to me that they were always looking for new music to soothe their babies at nap and bedtime, and as a result of hearing the same CD for the hundredth time, they were quietly going crazy listening to songs that were working for their little ones, but certainly didn’t do it for them.

It was then I realised what my next project would be.'

Essie Jain May 2010 by ruthbarnes

Essie Jain in action:

TOW on 6 Music Introducing: WOOM and Marta Collica

Every week TOW is lucky enough to pick two songs for Tom Robinson's brilliant BBC 6 Music show, the spot goes out every Monday morning at around 2:30am.

Pick 1: WOOM - The Hunt
  
WOOM are Sara Magenheimer and Eben Portnoy who used to make music as Fertile Crescent - but after a hiatus in the Massachussets mountains, where they found a barn and channeled their inner music maker, they were reborn as WOOM. TOW urges you to check out their blog, they're giving away tunes there too. Muu's Way is out this summer on Ba Da Bing Records, a great label with which we are currently having a love affair. The album is very much the result of the duo's six year's together in many ways too. They sound like they are intuitively linked and the record rolls on beautifully with moments that can only be realised through their own DIY production - huge amounts of energy on one hand and then it pulls back to moments of pure quiet. We've chosen this video from youtube because, although rough, we feel it sums this band up nicely. Comparisons have already been thrown around to Tune-Yards, Animal Collective and Micachu and the Shapes.


Pick 2: Marta Collica - Future #1
little gods

marta collica | MySpace Music Videos
Marta Collica is a revelation. The Italian singer-songwriter is signed to one of our favourite labels out of Berlin, Solaris Empire, who've released her latest album About Anything. She's also known for her collaborative effort Sepiatone, with ex-Bad Seed, Australian songwriter Hugo Race. Race was recently playing live in London and requested a TOW favourite to support him, Madam, so he knows his female singer-songwriters. Collica is also a key member of the John Parish band and plays in London this summer with them - Parish produced part of this album in Bristol, he's another man who loves his great female voices (PJ Harvey, Goldfrapp, This Is The Kit, Maika Makovski). She's one of those artists who from their top friends on Myspace alone you discover a world of fantastic music...

TOW on 6 Music Introducing - Jane Weaver and Thick Shakes

Every week TOW is lucky enough to pick two songs for Tom Robinson's brilliant BBC 6 Music show, the spot goes out every Monday morning at around 2:30am.


Pick 1 - Jane Weaver - The Fallen By Watch Bird

                                
If like TOW you spent the nineties living in another country on the other side of the world, you'll often feel excluded from those nostalgic 'Where were you when... in Brit Pop' conversations. Sigh. Anyway we've tried our best to catch up so we sound like we know what's going on BUT even so the lovely Jane Weaver is brand new to us. Hailing from Liverpool Jane used to be in Brit Poppers Kill Laura, she's also played with Misty Dixon - but we're most interested in her latest solo material. Jane is keeping it real by running her own record label too, Bird Records, an offshoot of Twisted Nerve Records. Jane is a woman after our own heart as she specialises in contemporary female folk artists - huzzah! Keep an eye out for the compilation album Bearded Ladies - released jointly with the brilliant Finders Keepers label.

                                                                    
Pick 2 - Thick Shakes - Underwear

TOW received an email recently which read: "We've got a thing for you, if you like lo-fi garage/punk things. We're Lindsay, Tim and Matt: Thick Shakes, from Boston, MA, cranking out snarling, fuzzy, catchy pop tunes." Ok, you got us! We read on and discovered that there is a debut EP out called Ooh Mommy, released on cassette (so retro) on Austin-based Snugglehound Records (best record label name ever). Head to thickshakes.net for freebies. Thanks for the email Thickshakes, we love it!

TOW on 6 Music Introducing - Tifa and Picastro

Every week TOW is lucky enough to pick two songs for Tom Robinson's brilliant BBC 6 Music show, the spot goes out every Monday morning at around 2:30am. Here are our picks for the this week: 

Pick 1 - Tifa - Rock Me So (Fyah Wyah Riddim 2010)

Tifa hails from Kingston, Jamaica and is part of the ever-expanding, ever-impressive Ward 21 crew. They are a label and collective of musicians, producers and general hip 'n happening dancehall types who are most definitely in charge. Influenced by all the right kinds of artists including Earth, Wind & Fire, Patti Labelle and Aretha Franklin - Tifa now spits, sings, huffs and puffs and TOW loves the way she pants her way through the 'fyah, fyah, fyah' riff in this tune. All power to Tifa, the latest in a long list of dancehall talent, see our earlier entry about Timberlee.

Pick 2 - Picastro - Twilight Parting

Picastro call themselves a 'sleep rock' band, whatever that is we love it. They're from Toronto and have been around for over ten years now. The perfect antithesis to loud, abrassive rock music - this band, led by vocalist Liz Hysen, have released a gorgeous album in 2010, Become Secret, and we can't get enough of it. Mr Arcade Fire, Owen Pallett, himself has been a previous member of the band - but it all hangs together around Liz's sad, sad vocals. Not to make it sound too depressing or anything, but a great record for a red wine-soaked rainy afternoon of navel-gazing.

TOW on 6 Music Introducing - Warpaint and Kellarissa

Every week TOW is lucky enough to pick two songs for Tom Robinson's brilliant BBC 6 Music show, the spot goes out every Monday morning at around 2:30am. Here are our picks for the this week: 


Pick 1 - Warpaint - Billie Holliday  

TOW loves a band that spells out words in songs, especially when the word is 'Billie Holliday', who the band call the most 'bad ass singer who ever existed'. Warpaint are four girls who make experimental art rock - the Los Angeles natives call it psychedelic, mellow dramatic, popular song and oddly - ghettotech. But actually yes we agree! Jenny, Emily, Theresa and Stella have got some celeb friends too, like Heath Ledger (RIP), Billy Zane (what a legend!), Josh Klinghoffer (new RHCP's guitarist) and John Frusciante (former RHCP guitarist). Frusciante also mixed their fantastic Exquisite Corpse EP for Manimal Vinyl. They're signed to Rough Trade now and play the Great Escape Festival in Brighton next weekend, get to it! 


Pick 2 - Kellarissa - Tiny things



Ok so you can't SEE much in this video but you get the jist of Kellarissa's rather smashingly unique sound and gorgeous voice. Head to her myspace and listen to Tiny Things, that's our favourite. You may remember we blogged about Fanshaw a few weeks back, well Kellarissa is from the same stable - Mint Records in Vancouver. Larissa Loyva does everything herself usually using a synthesiser and vocal loops, LOTS of reverb and says she 'asks eternal questions' disguised as pop songs. If only this stuff would make it to the charts! It would boggle their tiny minds (evil cackle...) Flamingo is Kellarissa's debut album, head to Mint Records to buy it.                                                                           

TOW on 6 Music Introducing - Akiko Kiyama and Drunk Granny

Every week TOW is lucky enough to pick two songs for Tom Robinson's brilliant BBC 6 Music show, the spot goes out every Monday morning at around 2:30am. Here are our picks for the this week: 


Pick 1 - Akiko Kiyama - Flesh Got Spirit

Akiko Kiyama is from Japan, and although she makes fantastic minimalist techno she was classically educated as a young girl. At the age of 14 she discovered drum 'n bass and the rest is history. She now lives in Berlin, as you'd expect - and sent me new tracks recently, one of which I played for Tom. Richie Hawtin is a fan of her spacey techno and it's the details you have to listen out for. Click on her link above to listen to tracks on her myspace page.

Pick 2 - Drunk Granny - Our Song of the Lady Sasquatch

We love Drunk Granny on TOW! Debi and Sam are two rockers who make short, punchy, queer punk songs and they just get better. They've recently worked with Annie Gardiner from The Hysterical Injury (another awesome Bristol band fronted by another fabulous singer) and that will be out later in the year. This track is inspired by a Canadian artist Allysen Mitchell who makes the most incredible Sasquatch puppets! More here

TOW on 6 Music Introducing - Lady Chann and Lady Leshurr

Every week TOW is lucky enough to pick two songs for Tom Robinson's brilliant BBC 6 Music show, the spot goes out every Monday morning at around 2:30am. Here are our picks for the this week: 

Lady Chann - Sticky Situation

This week it's all about the fantastic female talent that's coming through in UK dancehall. TOW is not an authority on the genre at all, but we sure know a good tune when we hear one. It's all about Lady Chann - real name Channelle Williams, from North London. She raps like nothing we've ever wrapped our ears around before, short sharp staccatto bursts of energy and vitality. At the same time we're not sure what she's on about half the time too, but we trust it's all good. Sticky Situation is out on Girls Music, Toddla T's label and he's remixed it too, which you can download at RCRDLBL.com for free. If the upcoming album sounds anything like this speeding bullet of a tune then we predict massive things for this Lady - already being called the UK's Queen of Dancehall. Lady Chann also features in the Youtube video below, for more on that keep reading.

Lady Leshurr - Forever Female

Why do we love Tim Westwood so much? The man is a total dude, and we love this video of his 'Ladies Night' featuring the brilliant Lady Chann in session and Lady Leshurr. She's a young MC from Birmingham whose baby-ish rapping style is underpinned by some clever lyrics and rhymes. Leshurr's mixtape is available to download for free at her MySpace and we love Forever Female, anyone who raps about Peri chicken from Nandos can't go wrong in our books. She cites Eminem as her biggest influence, but also listens to classical and jazz - she dances and is super cute. Follow her on Twitter too if you like, she Tweets ALL the time, and it's usually pretty entertaining. Look out world, here comes Lady Leshurr, a small but VERY impressive lady with some serious attitude.

TOW on 6 Music Introducing: Emily Arin, Fanshaw, Maika Makovski, Mursego

Every week TOW is lucky enough to pick two songs for Tom Robinson's brilliant BBC 6 Music show, the spot goes out every Monday morning at around 2:30am. Here are our picks for the past two weeks:
Pick 1 - Emily Arin - Hidden Flame

When I contacted Emily Arin online, she fired a quick email back to me straight away with some MP3's attached and said, 'I'm off to tend bar now, will be in touch soon!'. Considering that she lives in the small village of Montour Falls in Schuyler County, New York (she's originally from LA) I so badly wanted to be in that little bar in that little village. Imagining it's dark wood panelling and red chequered table cloths, the hockey on the TV, like something out of one of my favourite 90's tv series Northern Exposure. 


Emily is currently recording her debut album with Espers’ Greg Weeks and she is giving away her Slipstream EP free now. Infact sign up to her mailing list at emilyarin.com and you get a free download. It's all about the giveaways! She says her influences range from Hank Williams and Memphis Minnie to Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, Caetano Veloso, Tom Waits, Sybille Baier and Gillian Welch. 


Pick 2 - Fanshaw - Diana





Fanshaw is the musical persona of Olivia Fetherstonhaugh *you say it 'Fanshaw' I didn't know this, you'll hear Tom breaking the news to me as I tried to get my mouth around her surname.* Olivia resides in British Columbia and her album Dark Eyes is out now on Mint Records, a fine independent record label based in Vancouver.


This, her debut, has *only* taken 5 years to complete and is really quite breath-taking. Apparently she can take up to a year to write one song, easily done agrees Tom R - wadda I know?!


'Diana' is captivating - we especially love the *ha ha ha* Laurie Anderson-esque breathiness.


Pick 3 - Maika Makovski - Game of Doses


                                             


Andalucian/ Macedonian Maika Makovski played live for TOW a few week's ago - and we had a ball. Such a lovely, warm and funny person - with a blues rockers voice on her that'll send shivers up your spine. Her third album Maika Makovski caught the attention of super-producer John Parish (PJ Harvey) is set to launch her into the stratosphere (she's HUGE in her homeland, Spain). After playing for us she headed out to SXSW, where according to her Facebook updates she had a fine time. Scroll down this blog and listen again to her playing live - FAB.


Pick 4 - Mursego - Subir Arriba Baixar Abaixo





Mursego is Maite Arroitajauregi and this track will blow you away. Have you heard anyone attack a cello like this? Really very awesome. Mursego means 'bat' in Portuguese and she's told me she makes music with "a hoop, pedal loop station, chiflo, Chinese subjects of gossip, flute of piston, pandereta, ukelele, keyboard with lights of colors, autoharpa, rhymes, palms, improvisation and voice." Thanks Google translator!


She says she is preparing her new album which will include subjects of "speech of Finland, red blood cells, the beach in summer, a war of vampires in old Europe and of a stroll by the snow." Lovely! We can't wait.

Listen again to Mishaped Pearls in session!

This week The Other Woman was joined by Mishaped Pearls - the brainchild of rocker Ged Flood and his classically trained soprano partner Manuela Schuette. The 7-piece band play a rolling folk soundscape complete with piano, cello, violin, double bass and acoustic guitars aplenty, all providing the back drop for Manuela's jaw-droppingly awesome voice.

Also new music from the likes of Summer Camp, Lady Leshurr, Essie Jain and Akiko Kiyama.


  TOW Mishaped Pearls 310310 MP3 by ruthbarnes

Ged Flood directs Marty, Sean and Helen in rehearsal

 Vocalist Manuella Schuette in action, with Carolina, Marty and Sean in the background

Playlist:

*Summer Camp - Ghost Train (Moshi Moshi)

*Akiko Kiyama - Treppen (Lick My Deck)

*Allysen Callery - Vincenzo Part II (Allysen Callery)

*Black Tambourine - For Ex-lovers only (Slumberland)

*Essie Jain - Falling Asleep (n/a)

*Lucky Soul - White Russian Doll (Ruffa Lane)

*Lady Leshurr - Successful (n/a)

*Sarah Blasko - All I Want (Dew Process)

*Mishaped Pearls LIVE - Benedizione

*Mishaped Pearls LIVE - Bel Aubepin

*Chrome Hoof - Crystalline (Southern)

Listen again to Upset The Rhythm special!

This week we were joined by Chris Tipton from the brilliant Upset The Rhythm. A label and tour promoter extraordinaire, keeping the DIY spirit alive and playing some fantastic 'femme-tastic' tunes.

   The Other Woman 24th March 2010  by  ruthbarnes

Playlist:

*Nina Nastasia - Cry, Cry, Baby (Fat Cat Records)

*Lady Chann - Sticky Situation (Toddla T remix)

*Sharon Van Etten - It's Not You (Language of Stone/ Infinite Best)

*White Hinterland - My Love (Dead Oceans)

*Trash Kit - Natascha (Upset The Rhythm)

                    Me with trash Kit's debut album - their album launch is on 24th April.

*Kit - Golden (UTR)

*Softboiled Eggies - Glassy Eyes (UTR)

*Grass Widow - Celebrate the Mundane (Make A Mess)

*Former Ghosts - The Bull and The Ram (UTR)

*Foot Village - TAKE (UTR)

*Plug - Fresh Pleasures (UTR)

*Peggy Sue - Clockwork (Wichita)

*Laura Victoria - Your Song Is Sweeter (Cherry Red)