Music Monday #2

I've been mixing a little of the old with the new in the last couple of weeks. This playlist kind of reflects the kind of stuff I usually find myself either singing at the top of my lungs to, or having on in the background while doing other things.


1. Up Up Up - GIVERS
Love the way this starts and GIVERS' album 'In Light' is one that I can't get enough of, it just feels really summery to me, something that's definitely needed now that the weather is better but still can't quite make up it's mind. 'In Light' is my go-to album when at work at the moment.

2. First Love - The Maccabees
'Colour It In' is the album that made me fall so hard for The Maccabees, and as The Maccabees are my full-on favourite band, it makes sense that it's an album I often tend to pick songs from whatever the situation. 'First Love' is easily in my top songs of theirs, and the video is both sad and happy, one of the best combinations. Sometimes sharing favourite things is a little awkward though isn't it, but I'd love to think you'd grow to love them, even if it's not as much as I do.

3. Let Her Go - Passenger
I haven't actually listened to the radio in a while, but last time I did, 'Let Her Go' was Greg James' 'big thing' and I was instantly hooked when I heard it. Passenger's other songs on 'All the Little Lights' are great too, but it's still that song that sticks out for me, there's a reason why it's a hit – I'd also recommend that you check out his earlier album 'Flight of the Crow' on Spotify, it's compiled of such beautiful duets.

4. 5 Years Time - Noah and the Whale
It's been a big time of reflection lately and this song really makes me think about how things move quickly. With Noah and the Whale's new album coming out recently I've been looking back on them and remembering how much I used to really like them. I think I might have forgotten about them because they were so sad before being too happy, 'Peaceful the World Lays Me Down' is a great album though and not just for uplifting twee songs like '5 Years Time' either.

5. Never Fade Away - Spector
It's a shame the only time I've managed to see these guys live was at Reading last year, it was dampened a little by the fact that they were congratulating those (incredibly young) people who had just got their GCSE results but I listened to their album non-stop for a week once we got home. 'Enjoy it While it Lasts' really is a brilliant album, definitely the one right now for getting pumped in the morning and singing along.

What have you been listening to recently? Be sure to follow me on Last.fm ♥.

Getting and getting.

This photo sure makes me look small, I'm pretty sure I'm not actually that small.
Although I've passed the age of getting presents from every person I've ever met, I felt truly spoilt on my birthday this year. I got so many surprises as well as so many things I wanted. I know some people don't think of their birthday as a big deal and generally I suppose I don't go as crazy as some other people I know, but I like to feel spoilt and get nice things, it's not like it's my birthday every day.

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These light switch faces were a secret gift from my best friend sent with my birthday card, she's so thoughtful. I first spotted these in the window of Maiden back in November, now I have two classy light switches in the kitchen, they've been already become a hidden talking point. My prized gift was my Nikon One, I hope to take it on a few adventures this weekend but it still feels like I'm cheating on my D90, I guess I'll just have to alternate. Also pictured are my new kitchen knives, not the most glamourous of gifts, but probably the most needed.Note the kind birthday card from aforementioned best friend.


Gift from Moon: This was a surprise and something I wanted, it's from Tesco of all places, but I love it, and it already goes with my kitty cushions. I've been loving Cath Kidston's soldier designs and this comes very close and the rest of it is my favourite color ♥.


Gift from Moon: This pin is from Cath Kidston and compliments my new cushion so well.


Gift from Moon: Sadly I don't have this anymore as it was a bit big and no longer in stock when we sent it back. It's from Cath Kidston too, I genuinely wish I could have kept it but at the size it was it was kind of unflattering and a shame to waste such a nice dress, I loved the alternative take on polka dots.


Gifts from Moon: Moon and I are sometimes weirdly in sync, I happened to be browsing 'Drive' posters just a few weeks before and this beaut landed in my lap, all the way from America in a pretty frame. It's one of our favourite films, definitely has potential to easily become a classic. He also picked me up a vinyl of Wall of Arms by The Maccabbees as they're my favourite band and it's my favourite album - we do have a lot of vinyl for people who don't have a record player but this is a perfect piece of artwork and I love the scale.


Gift from my sister: This is actually my third name necklace, I've not had the best luck and they always seem to break on me. Hopefully this one won't, I love how huge it is.




This was a jokey gift from my Gran filled with cat toys for Doll, it's quite a useful tin though and appropriate.

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The weekend after my birthday we headed 'home' home to Dorking, and after a trip to Brighton, we spent the Sunday morning at our favourite car boot in Rusper, we hardly ever go away empty handed as was the case this time.

As soon as we got home I had to put her on the shelf, she sat there for a good 5 minutes.
We have far too many books and DVDs and it's been annoying me from the moment we unpacked them that they had to sit on just one shelving unit together, so we picked up this for just £5 and it doubles nicely as a side-table. We couldn't resist this vintage 1930s Thermos for £3, we're thinking to give it dual use as both a vase and as a plain ornament.


Before


After/Now.



So satisfying to see all my books in one place.



For Reading, although the weather ended up not really permitting it and I was covered in a jumper nearly all the time, a few of us decided Hawaiian shirts would be a good idea. I got these from 'To Be Worn Again' in Sydney Street for £5 each, a bargain, and I'm looking for any excuse to fit them into my everyday outfits.


I yammered on about these after my first visit to Porta in Brighton. It's a tiny person necklace, it was in the sale and just £14, I had to have it after searching everywhere with no joy.

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Have you received any nice gifts lately or bought yourself anything nice?

The Maccabees, Alexandra Palace.

'Hi, how are you? What do you do? What do you listen to? Where do you go?
Are you with them? Are you with us? Who are your friends?'

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So I kind of think, unless that person was right at the front, looking at other people's gig photos can tend to be a bit unfun, but I just to had to post about The Maccabees at Alexandra Palace on Friday night because they were simply incredible. I thought that the only thing that could have improved upon their performance when I saw them last time would have been being in the crowd rather than being made to sit down, because they were pretty perfect, but no, they raised the bar yet again, with this being easily the best I've ever seen them live.

I can barely put into words how incredible they were, I was basically borderline hysterical for about 80% of the gig. They played an even better put together set with the perfect combination of new and old, even with the jumping chino-wankers on board the 'banter bus', it was awesome. I may or may not (but actually basically did), have nearly cried at the end of their last song.

We were caught in some terrible traffic on the way there, but managed to arrive at the venue with enough time to catch the second half of Baxter Dury.
Alexandra Palace is a beautiful venue, in a wonderful setting overlooking all of London. The light set-up also added to the electric atmosphere and I might go as far to say it was almost Coldplay-esque. You can take a look at some more official photos on The Maccabees' Tumblr. I'd definitely say my favourite moment was their Motown version of 'About Your Dress' so many 'shoo waps', it was an awesome mid-point and a perfect sideline to make up for the fact that Orlando messed up a tiny bit of Latchmere. Click through to the best video I could find, which is surprising because there were far too many people not living in the moment and videoing the entire thing.


I'd love to pop up to Alexandra Palace on a warm day, it'd be so nice to hang out and bring a picnic.





The second headliner was British Sea Power, who we saw a few years ago at Guilfest. They were as good as I can remember but I must say that I don't know much about them. They certainly know how to get the party going though and their last song really lifted the room, how could it not?
They had a bear!


British Sea Power's Bear.






Despite the horrid traffic at the beginning of the evening, it was pretty great to not have to worry about public transport at the end of the night, and parking was pretty decent anyway.
Due to becoming an old woman, it was lovely to experience such a well-organised venue, with plenty of room despite being packed and enough doors to get out quickly at the end. It was such a great gig, I can't wait to see the guys again soon.

Tuesday Tabs #15

Time to de-clutter my tabs bar once more, a much more productive way to wait for paint to dry.

Currently I think I need at least a 28 hour day, that would be good, I can't seem to fit everything in. Doll is settling in almost too well, and although she was being - weirdly - affectionate when I returned from an interview this afternoon, I didn't appreciate her loud wailing outside our bedroom door at 5 o'clock this morning, so our visitors are probably in for a treat when they stay at the weekend...

I'm not sure how much I want to talk about job hunting today, I'll just say it's steady and leave it at that. I can't get any more fed up with it than I am already. Let's just get started, shall we?

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Due to all the stress, I kind of failed April's Photo A Day challenge, so I'm going to try and start again with this months, again from Fat Mum Slim. I might only post it once a week though rather than every day. I didn't like how cluttered it made my blog look if I posted something else. #ocd

(via It's Nice That)

I don't know what Ikea think they're playing at by being this awesome but how good is this? Following the previous week's announcement about their new TV units, I was already pleasantly surprised, but this is too up my street. Ikea are doing all kinds of exciting things at the moment and KNÄPPA is one of them, would love to know when it will be released so I can try one out.

(via The Dainty Squid)

Make A Run For It Skirt, $188.99, Modcloth
I have too many printed animal items of clothing, but this skirt is perfect, and the colour is lovely, definitely in need of more orange in my wardrobe.


Wombat Hug Brooch, $AUS35, Made By White
Wombats are wicked, easily my favourite Australian animal and I don't actually have that many brooches, let alone any wooden ones.


Interview with The Maccabees for Swiss TV Show 'POPBAR'. They say some good things, like how it's silly to cover The Beatles.


How many great movies are coming out in the next few months?! I'm a big one for trying to avoid full-trailers if possible, especially if I've already heard good press about a film or know who's going to be in it. However, I'm a little obsessed by this viral trailer for Ridley Scott's Prometheus, everyone needs to at least watch this trailer, but the film itself, judging from it's official trailer, just looks generally epic.


'LOL I'm just kitten' t-shirt, $28, Burger and Friends


Hand screen-printed Dala horse, Seventy Tree
Ever so slightly gutted that this piece is now no longer available. ;(


Rob Ryan's Bells vase, £35, John Lewis
I'm obsessed with Rob Ryan's 'Bells' series at the moment, it just makes me feel so warm because the words are so beautifully put. I'm also lusting after the plates, but as I wouldn't want to eat off of them and have no where to display them, I'm mainly eyeing up this vase, especially since seeing it on display in the local John Lewis, perf. ♥

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Link Love: ♥

Camera Bag Round-up from A Beautiful Mess — I'm currently waiting on a new bag, but a huge, and I mean huge part of me wishes I had the will-power to save up for a great-quality, pretty camera bag like the ones talked about here. It's a really strong well-rounded overview too, talking a bit more about what else is on offer other than Jo Totes. Don't get me wrong, I adore Jo Totes, I'd just never considered there were other similar brands.

Perfectly-timed Animal Pictures

Per Johansen's Mæt (Full) — Wonderfully, grotesque still life images from Danish photographer Per Johansen.

Make a teddybear from a sock — This is a super-cute craft idea, definitely on my to-do list once I get the never-ending list of everything else out of the way.

Create Your Own Fabric Patterns — Amazing!

It Looks Hard But Isn't: 15 Dishes to Impress Your Guests — Don't think I'm quite ready to impress people with my cooking just yet, but living in your own (non-student) home does bring about a certain notion of 'entertaining' rather than the more manageable 'drinking'. I like cooking anyway, so if nothing else these are some good ideas to test out on Moon at least.

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Currently listening: 'Call Me Maybe' - Carly Rae Jepsen
Currently watching: HBO's 'Girls' (Lena Dunham ♥)

'Young Colossus' - Young Colossus.

Young Colossus is a six track side-track EP, put together by Orlando Weeks, compiled in a book with illustrations by Robert Hunter with additional vocals from Alessi Laurent-Marks from Alessi's Ark.

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I was really willing this to be good, because I rarely make the leap and and buy physical copies of music, firstly because I don't have the space and secondly because nothing much happens to it once I've put it on to my computer anyway. However, Young Colossus' book-form had great appeal and there are some really neat pictures on the inside that complement the theme of the EP basically perfectly.


I'll be honest and say I was unsure about it once I was two tracks in, but I'm currently on my third listen and I'm getting around that. This EP is much more about story-telling and linking back to the visuals than any previous track from The Maccabees that I've heard. In fact, it's almost nothing like The Maccabees, with Orlando weeks' recognisable vocal only really being heard on a few occasions throughout. Effects have been added though so although he's hiding, he's still very much present, not only in the vocals but particularly in the form of the lyrics and composition.

I'm really enjoying this little EP, and it's a genuine treat for both my eyes and ears, which is what I hoped it would be. Despite it being quite 'un-Maccabees' I don't think it's one to turn your nose up at as a Maccabees fan and with a limited edition of just 1,500 copies, it's something to be snapped up fast. It also smells amazing, there's some serious paper going on, if you're into that sort of thing. I think my favourite track is 'Monsters Dance' because it's a bit odd, closely followed by 'Sound of Young Lost and Found' because it's so dainty and eerie.

I thought this was a neat touch. On the back of the envelope the EP came in was a 'Young Colossus' stamp. It must be Orlando's new thing because during The Maccabees' January and February tour, stamps dedicated to each tour date appeared, sometimes directly relating to the destination, sometimes relating to something/someone from there.

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What I think of NME is neither here nor there, but they've put together a nice little piece with slightly more information which you can have a look at here.
The Young Colossus website
Follow Young Colossus on Twitter