New music, and music news!

**for the original post on my wordpress go here**

Admittedly, its been a while since my last post, but during that time I’ve been launching my other project Unsigned Cardiff so please do give it a follow if you’re a fan of unsigned/independent music.

A lot has happened on my music radar this week, so I’ll start with some new songs:

Walk the Moon – Different Colors

Walk the Moon made their comeback in September with Shut Up + Dance, along with a new album announcement. Now, they’ve released a second song. Gloriously upbeat and insanely catchy, Different Colors strengthens the path Shut Up + Dance has set up – if you’re not excited for the release of Talking is Hard, then there is something wrong.

Charli XCX – Gold Coins

After pushing back the release of her second album, Sucker, Charli isn’t leaving her fans completely high and dry and is instead dripping the album to us slowly. It’s certainly a different direction to True Romance, less synth pop, but no less catchy.

Taylor Swift – Blank Space

So not as recently as the other tracks, but in Taylor’s most recent release she gets, well, a bit crazy – and everyone loves it. Taylor’s venture into pop music really suits her. Even crying mascara face suits her. Some people are just fortunate (and good musicians).

Now moving on to music news:

• Band Aid 30 got released in aid of ebola. It’s not terrible, but perhaps a new song should have been written. Some of the lyric swaps are questionable to say the least.
• Paramore announced they’ll be re-releasing Paramore as a deluxe album, which will include a collab with Joy Williams (Civil Wars). I was hoping for a new album, but I’ll happily take what I’m given…
• and finally, Muse are set to headline Download Fest. Bit weird – I expected to see them at somewhere like Reading and Leeds, but there you go

REVIEW: Walk the Moon, Temple - HMV Institute, 26/02/2013

   Face-paint fuelled show as Ohio indie rockers embark on their headline UK tour and hit up Birmingham.

   Following a rather positive reception from supporting fun. back in October last year, and the overall positive reception towards their self titled album, Walk the Moon showed they're far more than a support band at their sold out show in the Temple putting the quartet firmly on the musical map.

   Using the album's first track, Quesadilla, to open the show, Walk The Moon certainly began on an energetic note moving smoothly into Next in Line. Though mostly younger teens, there was never a still moment in the crowd - even slower number, Iscariot, invoked a synchronised swaying.

   The band also played one of their older songs, Me and All My Friends, which the crowd were only too happy to join in with, screaming 'come on over now' much to the band's joy. Further proving a strong, ever growing fan base was the audience participation with Tightrope - never has that venue seen so many raised jazz hands.

   The band ended on a seemingly unexpected encore, covering Bowie classic 'Let's Dance', a track enjoyed by all ages, including the parents that were accompanying their underaged children. Needless to say, if they didn't arrive as fans, they certainly left as them.

   After what can only be described as a buzzing gig, the only hope left for Walk the Moon is that their fan base continues growing and stays as strong as it already has become. Oh, and that they keep producing fantastic music that you can't help but dance to.



**Quick not - I thought this posted 2 months ago, but it only saved to drafts!!! Sorry for the HUGE delay - I'll double check next time!**