My favourite TV scene ever

And what sucks, is that even though this always has me in stitches, it'll never be as funny without you

There are only two films released this year that have really grabbed me, the upcoming Edgar Wright film which looks brilliant, if not a little predictable.

The other however is only released in certain Canadian cities at the moment and though international distributors are being hunted for, as of now there's been no luck.

It's a cheesy story line and looks an incredibly stereotypical film but the fact that it's based around taking a girl to a Broken Social Scene show before she disappears from your life forever?

AWESOME.

Trailer below

Eargasm - Sæglópur (Enigma Remix)

Ok so remixing Sigur Ros must be one of the toughest gigs out there no?

How do you turn something so ethereal into something beat driven, whilst retaining that unique atmosphere that seemingly only Sigur Ros can create?

THIS IS HOW

Sigur Ros - Sæglópur (ENIGMA Remix) RE-UPLOAD! by EnigmaDubz

This is beautiful, if someone made an albums worth of music that sounded like this, I'd buy everyone of you a copy, it'd be so bloody good

Introducing: Niva - Ghost In My Head

I've been sitting on Niva for a few weeks now, trying to comprehend how to write about him.

Described primarily as "chillwave", this tends to put him in a similar class to Beach House or The XX which after listening to his material, he clearly is not. Niva retains a much more solid base to his songs, diverting from the "cover everything in reverb to create atmosphere" school of production and instead using instruments and melodies, the old-fashioned and best way to write a song.

This is not to say he doesn't use his fair share of reverb, as best demonstrated on my Track of 2010 (too early for that?maybe not) Ghost In My Head.

After playing Ghost in My Head to someone recently, it was described as quintessentially me, which makes me actually quite proud. And it's true, the song has everything that I love about a good chillout track, a twinkly melody to compliment the verse vocal, all round excellent production with a strong beat and a bit of call and response in the chorus. To top it all off, there's a chopped up vocal sample which anyone whose read this blog before will know I adore.

I think what makes me love the track the most however is that it's really very simple and is just an excellent song. Good songwriting rarely gets credit, especially on the world wide web where everybody can hype any track, despite it's standard because "he produced it in his bedroom and it sounds massive".

Ghost In My Head is a great pop song, verse chorus verse chorus end, 2:30 minutes of brilliance. True, there are little touches that you don't even realise, such as the words "Like a ghost in my head" in the chorus smothered in reverb making them sound...well ghostly.

There are also plenty of clicks and whirrs hidden deep in the mix to add unnoticed texture and that attention to detail, that craft of adding to a song without the listener even realising, is truly a talent.

To top things off, Niva has announced that upcoming EP Feverish Dreams, due later this year, will be released on ultra-cool london label Something In Construction.

I can 100% guarantee that I'll still be listening to these songs when that EP arrives at the rate that I am now.

Niva - Ghost In My Head by NIVA

Feverish Dreams preview

Perfect SU Fodder

It's days like today

When I'm exhausted, crushed and alone that I miss you the most

Mumford revival

Full sets are now available from last Weekend's ridiculously hot Bonnaroo festival, setting a festival in Tennessee in June sounds like more of an Army stamina test than a festival but they certainly ram the line up with good enough artists to keep you there.

Currently listening to Mumford and Sons accomplished set, the first time I've listened to Mumford in months and was struck once again by the beauty of White Blank Page. It's two years now since I first mentioned that track on here and their meteoric rise since has been nothing short of deserved.

White Blank Page will always rise above the rest of Mumford's material but if I'd discovered them when perhaps there was more material then maybe I wouldn't have become so attached.

Still, the change in tempo for the chorus is inspired, fully exploiting that sickening feeling

"Tell me now, where was my fault,

In loving you with my whole heart"

Mumford are one of those bands that I've been lucky enough to watch from the beginning as they spearheaded "folk"'s unlikely charge to the fore and though it's no coincidence that they've become as successful as they have, I still find their album to be just a little formulaic by the end.

But anyway, that's picking holes in a near-flawless album.

Listen to the performances from Bonnaroo here, including sets from LCD Soundsystem, The XX, She & Him and The Dead Weather.

Make sure that if you do listen to the Mumford and Sons set, listen to Roll Away Your Stone at 58minutes, brilliant stuff

Halfway there...

So, 2010 seems to have been an eventful year all around so far, some good, some terrible and some mediocre events happening. If I think of all the things I've done this year, all the places I've been and people I've met, it's been an exceptionally busy 6 months with no sign of slowing down.

Festival season is ahead, lots of gigs booked and my eventual return to London and Brixton.

2010 has also been an equally busy year music-wise (something I predicted after 09's blowout of relative nothingness) with each month providing at least 2 great new albums and some excellent tracks to accompany. January ironically was probably the monster month with Vampire Weekend and Four Tet arriving within days of each other but the year has been consistent, a feat I don't expect to continue but am content with nonetheless.

Here is my Spotify playlist, one track from each band that has really done something to impress me this year. Because it's Spotify, I can't put everything on that I want to but if there's anything else that has blown you away in 2010, add away.

Most notable omittance as it's not on Spotify: Scuba - So You Think You're Special/ Niva - Ghost In My Head

Most excited about hearing in next 6 months: Mount Kimbie - Crooks & Lovers

I might not be the one it's true

But I'm trying don't you know…

Stay where you are

Bodyrock

I've always said you should just dance however the hell the music makes you feel and not care what anyone else thinks of you.

Someone that thinks you look like an idiot dancing is missing the point entirely about connecting with music in an aural way and that the reactions should be spontaneous and carefree, not prescribed.

That's why I love every single one of these crazy bastards.

GSH - I'm New Here

Gil Scott-Heron's 2010 album I'm New Here is undoubtedly one of the standout and most forward-thinking albums of this year, slightly ironic as Scott-Heron is 61 and has been around the musical block a few times.

The perfect match of 1st time producer, seasoned lyricist and a wisdom and life story, I'm New Here is truly an inspirational record heightened by his deep and intelligent lyrics and interludes.

The album-titled single is a cover of Smog's 2005 song though this is more a reinterpretation with GSH rephrasing all the lyrics and changing the guitar and vocal melody.

The song comes across as more plausible when sung by GSH, despite Smog's equally prolific career. Perhaps it is better placed in the context of the album or it may come down to the simple fact that I heard this version first, but I feel the track has more gravitas and wisdom when performed by GSH.

Check out the wonderful video, a complete contrast to previous single Me and The Devil and it's terrifying video.