[Listen] Francis and The Lights - "If They Don't Come Tomorrow"

Seems like it's been a little quiet here in recent weeks, apologies for that, but how about some new music to make up for it? Francis And The Lights is a New York based producer and songwriter that has made some waves in the past but went quiet for a while. Well it appears he's been working hard at some new material that is sounding damn fine. He seems to have a knack for simplicity that reminds me of some James Blake stuff in a way. It's easy to see why he has Frank Ocean and The Weeknd as fans. Let's see if we can you to that list too? The track below is titled "If They Come Tomorrow" and the piano lick paired alongside a lighters in the air synth build and drum beat/click is just a treat for the ears. I for one am looking forward to hearing more. Less is more and all that.

The track is set to appear on an EP titled Like A Dream set for release on November 25th via Good Years.

[Watch] Arctic Monkeys - "R U Mine" & "Snap Out Of It" Live on Jools Holland

It's probably fair to say that Arctic Monkeys are the biggest UK band of the past 10 years? I open the floor for your take on it but seeing them go from tiny clubs in Sheffield up the road from where I grew up to them now, this very evening, headlining to 23,000 people at Manchester Arena 5 minutes from where I currently live as an adult, it's pretty crazy. The Sheffield boys done good were guests on last night's mid week episode of Later... with Jools Holland on which they played my (still) favourite track of the past few years "R U Mine" and album track "Snap Out Of It". Having come through the awkward stages of being thrust into the lime-light at a young age, the Yorkshire band seem to have blossomed into arena dominating live machines that deliver on point performances night-on-night. 

Their new album AM is out now and it's a treat of maturity and development from a band that once sang about getting pissed in local clubs and getting beaten up by bouncers. As an added hump-day bonus you can check out an acoustic performance of "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" that was uploaded yesterday over here.

[Watch] The 1975 - "Girls" (Official Video)

A lot can happen in a year and The 1975 have achieved a heck of a lot since this time last year; A number one album in the UK, festival slots around Europe, a couple of headline tours and numerous sold out shows announced for 2014. They've now gone and changed the usual black and white aesthetic we're used to in their videos! I mean, come on guys, calm down a bit. Just kidding. The visual for a personal favourite of mine from the album, "Girls", actually sees Matt complaining about the use of colour in the beginning but it also sees them having a laugh and having some scantily clad pretty girls dancing around, playing their instruments, so it's an easy enough watch. Matt actually said the video is "about a record label’s attempt at enforced conformity" which came about after people thinking they were doing this when the video for "Sex" was also a stylistic change. Basically this is all just a bit "tongue in cheek" and a bit of good fun. Jolly good.

The track itself is taken from the aforementioned self-titled number one album which is out now. I'm sure we're going to be seeing a lot more of these boys in the coming years and I'm sure 2013 is just the tip of the iceberg. If you're wanting to catch them on tour in the UK there's a handful of dates which haven't sold out so check out their official website here. US and Euro dates can be seen over there too.

[Watch] Troumaca - "The Grace" (Official Video)

Troumaca have just offered up a video for their track "The Grace" which features on their album of the same name. The clip is rather otherworldly featuring masks, girls, weird bubble headed people and a haze that fits how my head is feeling today. What you have to admire though is that these guys manage to marry together a host of different sounds from the gospel feel in the beginning, to the soaring vocal work throughout. Paired together with the feel good bass line it builds up and ends in a mixing pot of beats that just make you want to get up and dance. It's glorious and it's also perfect for a Friday. If you like what you see why not pick up a copy of their album over here. 

[Listen] SKATERS - "Deadbolt"

SKATERS humble from New York City and have been busy working away all summer in the UK and the US alike. If you were at Reading or Leeds Festival this summer I hope you caught these guys, cause they know how to party. Their new track "Deadbolt" is a fuzzy mess of energetic freedom. Kind of reminds me of Wavves a little and this is by no means a bad thing at all. It may be a little while until we get to enjoy the band's aptly named debut album, Manhattan, which is due on out next year on the 24th of February. If you like what you hear then high five yourself. Then do it again as they'll be on the road in the coming months playing shows on both sides of the Atlantic. Firstly with Palma Violets in the US before coming to the UK to play shows with Deep Vally. Make the jump to check the dates. 

Before that though, cast your mind to a dingy karaoke club where you may sing classic hits such as R Kelly's "Ignition" and you may be filled with images of regret. SKATERS manage to capture an essence of those clubs and karaoke with their lyrics video for "Deadbolt". It's nice to see a pretty nice Lyrics video as I'm not usually a fan. 

On Tour With Palma Violets:

10/8      Philadelphia, Boot & Saddle

10/9      New York, Webster Hall

10/14    Seattle, Neumos

10/15    Vancouver, Biltmore Caberet

10/16    Portland, Crystal Ballroom

10/18    Berkley, UC Berkley/ ASUC Superb 10 Esheleman Hall #4500

10/19    Los Angeles, El Rey Theater

UK Tour with Deap Vally:

11/1       Brighton, Concorde2

11/2       Bristol, Trinity Centre

11/4       Nottingham, Rock City Basement

11/5       Manchester, Club Academy

11/7       Birmingham, Birmingham Academy 2

11/8       Leeds, The Wardrobe

11/10     Newcastle, The Warehouse

11/11     Edinburgh, Liquid Room

11/12     Glasgow, Oran Mor

11/14     London, Electric Ballroom

[Watch] Lulu James - "Sweetest Thing" (Official Video)

The soul filled northern wonder that is Lulu James is slowly but surely stomping her foot into the UK scene. We may of only had a handful of songs from her this year but everyone has been absolutely sublime. Her latest single, "Sweetest Thing", is due for release on November 3rd via RCA and she's just offered up the monochromatic visual for the track. A simple yet effective accompaniment sees Lulu performing the track in a slightly more understated fashion in comparison to her previous clips. It fits the song nicely though, as I feel this shows a bit more of a gentle and more affectionate side to her matching the love filled lyrics and a subtle delivery. Lulu is currently supporting Ellie Goulding on tour and will be part of Annie Mac's AMP tour in November. It's certainly looking like Lulu is set to take the world by storm in 2014 when she delivers her album.

[Watch] Breton - "Got Well Soon" (Official Video)

Just this past weekend as Liz and I were hanging out I half joked, "We should totally train up in the gym so that when Breton comes to town we are in tip top shape to dance super hard all night long at the show." 

That was prior to experiencing that which is the new Breton single, "Got Well Soon". 

Now I think we should have been training since the day the band first Vined a snippet from the studio around the beginning of the summer. I had a ballpark idea of how much I thought the band had matured and progressed in the year-ish that Team SKOA has been following the artist, but now I regret underestimating them like that. This first single is a compilation of the things that I have always celebrated about the band: it's dark, showcases a lot of depth and complexity, and is semi-gloomy yet electrifyingly bassy so there's no chance in hell that, at the bare minimum, your hips won't be swaying back and forth juuuuust a little once it hits your eardrums. On top of this solid initial offering from a musical standpoint, the accompanying video unveiled yesterday is yet another powerful visual that the band is well-known for. What they've managed to capture in under 5 minutes is so striking that I was invested immediately in the story and pretty much had my jaw on the floor by the time it ended. To date, I would say this is their best work overall.  

Per the song's premiere on BBC 6 Music yesterday on Mary Anne Hobbs' show, the album is slated for a February 2014 release and was recorded in Berlin. From what I can tell from the several videos and Vines that the band has teased throughout the past few months on top of this first single, it is going to be one doozy of a followup to their 2012 debut, Other People's Problems. 

The band will be heading out on a small string of dates starting next Wednesday (10/16) in support of Local Natives before playing a small handful of festival and North American gigs. Team SKOA will be training up for their Glasslands show on December 13th, so look for us there. We'll be the ones dancing the hardest, obviously. 

Enough yapping, check out "Got Well Soon" below: 

Breton Tour Dates

16/10 - Waterfront, Norwich, UK - w/ Local Natives
20/10 - Sage 2, Newcastle, UK - w/ Local Natives
21/10 - Arches, Glasgow, UK - w/ Local Natives
22/10 - Limelight, Belfast, UK - w/ Local Natives
24/10 - Olympia, Dublin, Ireland - w/ Local Natives
25/10 - Leadmill, Sheffield, UK - w/ Local Natives
26/10 - The Ritz, Manchester, UK - w/ Local Natives
27/10 - O2 Academy, Bristol, UK - w/ Local Natives
29/10 - University, Southampton, UK - w/ Local Natives
30/10 - Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands - w/ Local Natives
31/10 - AB Club, Brussels. Belgium - w/ Local Natives
12/11 - Zenith, Paris, France - w/ Foals
23/11 - Goodgod, Sydney, Australia
05/12 - The Lexington, London, UK
13/12 - Glasslands Gallery, Brooklyn, US
14/12 - Il Motore, Montreal, Canada

[Watch] Poliça - "Warrior Lord"

Poliça will soon be releasing their highly anticipated album Shulamith and in preparation of that they've offered up the clip for "Warrior Lord". I seriously couldn't listen to their last album Give You The Ghost and from what I'm hearing of this new one, it's certain to deliver a punch of gentle thought-provoking wisdom. If you're like me and can't get enough of Channy Leaneagh you're in luck as the band will be playing this week on Later... with Jools Holland. We'll post the clips from their performances in the week when they appear online but until then enjoy the new song and video below. 

Shulamith is set to be released on the 22nd of October.