FLY53 have crossed paths with 2013 NME Radar Winner The Child of Lov to bring an exclusive collaboration to the market. TCOL has been heating up the airwaves with his white hot new album featuring Damon Albarn and MF Doom amongst others, penned for release in April.
To celebrate FLY53 has teamed up with TCOL to provide his new single launch party with exclusive VIP tees on the night, as well as exclusive signed posters for the people that are lucky enough to attend. The single is entitled ‘FLY’ so we jumped aboard in a heartbeat.
If you didn’t get to the launch event we have released an exclusive, limited edition Graphic T-Shirt available to buy now at www.FLY53.com. These are strictly limited to 100 and will not be repeated again. They showcase the images we worked on with T.C.O.L. and his own logo, in our style. This is a chance to own a slice of history and not to be missed.
Posted on: April 10, 2013
American singer, songwriter, Ian MacKaye is best known for being the epically cool frontman of this amazing list of influential hardcore punk bands – ‘Minor Threat,’ ‘The Teen Idles,’ ‘Embrace,’ ‘Fugazi’ and ‘The Evens.’
On top of all that he is also co-founder and owner of Dischord Records an independent record label based in Washington and producer responsible for releases by the likes of Q and Not U, John Frusciante, 7 Seconds, Nation of Ulysses, Bikini Kill, Rites of Spring, Dag Nasty, and Rollins Band among others.
Quite a list but perhaps the most impressive part? He did it all without being off his face on smack, crack and dope. In fact the man coined the term ‘straight edge’ by promoting independent thinking and rejecting the stereotype so many of his contemporaries had fit (being found dead at 21, drugged up to their eyeballs, in a messed up hotel room in NYC).
Despite never intending to start a movement in quite the way he did, he showed upcoming musicians who idoloised his work that getting off their head was not the only way to get their kicks.
Posted on: March 18, 2013
After much deliberation this weeks legend list addition is troubled and shy English singer, songwriter Nick Drake with his gentle guitar melodies.
Despite in lifetime failing to to find the mammoth following he so deserved until after his death in 1974 he has been named one of the biggest influences and inspirations to the likes of Robert Smith, David Sylvian and Peter Buck.
Signing to Island records at the age of just 20 (whilst still a student at the University of Cambridge) Drake released his debut album and within three years had released three albums, Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter and Pink Moon. None of which sold more than 5,000 copies on initial release, but were later to be considered gems.
Suffering from acute depression Drake struggled to sing comfortably in front of a crowd and found social interaction awkward and uncomfortable. Eventually after years of refusing to be interviewed or perform live, he became a complete recluse, and took to hiding out in his parents house in Warwickshire.
On 25 November 1974, Drake died from an overdose of amitriptyline, a prescribed antidepressant; he was 26 years old. Whether his death was an accident or suicide has never been resolved.
But his music lives on, his back catalogue was released and he’s since been credited as one of the most influential, interesting and intellectual artists of our time.
Posted on: March 11, 2013
Randall William Rhoads aka Randy Rhoads was one of the greatest American heavy metal guitarists of our time.
A pioneer of his craft Randy spent the first half of his life, a devoted student of classical guitar and the second using what he’d learnt to change the face of heavy metal and play alongside the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot.
Sadly in 1982, when the world was still only just beginning to appreciated his musical talent a tragic plane accident cut his life short and the man that Ozzy called a ‘saint’ and an ‘angel’ was taken to a better place.
Despite only giving fans less than ten years worth of music with Quiet Riot and then with Osbourne, Rhoads’ impact has never slipped quietly out of his fan’s memories. He remains a major influence on neo-classical metal, inspiring and encouraging so many to get up and play.
Long may his legacy live on. He’ll always have a place in our record collection.
Posted on: February 25, 2013
American singer-songwriter, poet and artist Patti Smith earned herself a spot on our infamous Fly53 legends list by being radical, intellectual, cool as fuck and so punk she was punk before even punk was punk (try saying that after a beer or two).
Having had a massive influence on the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album ‘Horses’ she gained a mammoth following of devoted fans who couldn’t get enough of the of her unique style and oozing coolness.
Dubbed the ‘Godmother of Punk,’ Patti was in fact the first woman to fuse rock with poetry forming something pretty fucking special and changing the face of rock music as we know it.
Although we sit firmly in camp Patti, it’s safe to say she’s the epitome of musical Marmite. For dissenters, she has been a joyless dragon who has been living off her old reputation for generations (they’re wrong of course). For us she is a living legend, talented, fierce, dominant and individual. All hail Queen Patti.
Posted on: January 22, 2013
Responsibility for tantalising our ear buds this week came from a somewhat unexpected source (an old favourite of ours in fact) English alternative rock band from London, Suede. Formed back in 1989 and with a early line up which probably made you want to jiz your musical pants these guys hit the limelight with a bang.
Hailed the ”The Best New Band in Britain” in 1992 their self titled debut album went to the top of the charts, became the fastest-selling debut album in almost ten years, won a Mercury Music Prize and kick started the infamous Britpop era (on which so many of our key pieces take inspiration from).
Their follow up Dog Man Star (1994) was considered a masterpiece by music critics worldwide and the hits just kept on coming. Third album ‘Coming Up,’ two years later became their biggest selling album, charting at #1 and producing five (yes five) top ten singles.
Number four ‘Head Music,’ (1999) was equally successful and it was all going so well until ‘A New Morning’ hit the shelves. An addiction to crack and heroine reared it’s ugly head and saw Anderson become a shadow of his former self, arguments followed and the collapse of Nude Records together ultimately led to the groups demise.
But, after much speculation Suede are back! (And in style we might add). The euphoric ‘Barriers’ is a triumphant comeback. A mixture of pounding bass, hooking guitar synths,
A mix of hooky guitars and pounding bass that recalls the Manics (and more than a little bit like U2), nicely-obscure lyrics that reference Greil Marcus (“Aniseed kisses and lipstick traces”) and Brett Anderson’s classic soaring vocals…. We like it, and think you will too.
Another favourite of the week came from Mikky Ekko, ok so the track is a little slower than we’d usually go for but as far as breakthroughs go teaming up with Rihanna (for power ballad ‘Stay’) is pretty fucking epic. We have to say it’s refreshing to see someone sitting in the R&B genre who can a) sing and b) songwrite (Haha back handed compliments are the best). Enjoy
Our prestigious worst release of the week award goes to this musical disaster:
Controversial we know (he was a pretty big deal for some way back…well whenever it was) but we’re guna’ go ahead and say it SEXY is most definitely not back. Just saying.
Posted on: January 16, 2013
Rounding off what can only be described as an epic year of musical domination for this man DJ Duke Dumont hit us with this little beauty (his best track to date perhaps).
‘Need U (100%)’, which features the vocals of 18-year old new kid on the block A*M*E, is not even officially released yet but is already causing a stir when it comes to pricking the ears of the musical elite. The sort of track that really genunely gets your blood rushing and tells every part of your body to get ready to fucking party…
Mark our words this track is going to be a big deal in early 2013 and like it or lump it you’re going to be dancing to it in a club in the not to distant future.
Ironically the future is not what springs to mind when listening to this track, the juddery, ambient beats fused with lyrics with attitude recalls some of the best of the ’90s club classics (Womack Womack, Robin S and Bobby Brown esk if you will).
Check it out:
Posted on: January 10, 2013
When it comes to choosing our favourite releases of the week it’s not usually too difficult. A combination of artists who we love, who are credible, new or interesting or hot or all three…you get the idea.
But every now and again, right out of the blue, we get hit with a mighty golden nugget of information that, well, changes things. Much in the same way that the deaths of musical greats like Winehouse, Whitney, and MJ sent (what seemed to be the world) into a musical montage of their life’s work this news had a similar effect, and once we started there was no stopping us…
One of our long time hero’s, David fucking Bowie is back (after what we can only assume to be ten years of living under a big fat musical rock) with a brand new album. (Moment to digest)
Entitled ‘The Next Day’, the album has been produced by his longtime friend and collaborator Tony Visconti and will be released in the UK on the 11th of March this year.
To mark the announcement, it’s first single was released yesterday on the day of his 66th birthday (January 8, 2013) G.
Don’t say we never treat you:
Another beauty of the week is Josh Kumra and his second solo single ‘Waiting For You.’ After already coming onto our radar back in 2011 when he co-wrote and provided vocals for Tottenham-born rapper Wretch 32′s highest charting single to date, “Don’t Go,” which reached number one in the official UK charts, Josh is going it alone and is kinda’ a big deal. Just saying.
With his solo album coming out in February this year and numerous gig dates in the pipeline expectations are high and this single doesn’t disappoint. His classic soul voice mixed with modern production is unique, captivating and remnant of Jamie Woon’s album ‘Wayfaring Stranger,’ from way back in 2007 (Where did he disappear too?).
When it comes to shit filling the radio waves this week this guy clears up. Fugative – OTT shows not even a speck of anything interesting, creative or unique. With lyrics like, “Hear the bass boom and the car go zoom” amongst others (and believe us they get worse) it’s hardly surprising we think the guys a wanker.
Don’t all rush to buy it at once.
Posted on: January 9, 2013
When it comes to distractions our office is pretty easily led. A good band come on, some new music we’re into gets played for the first time, or best of all someone brings something tasty in – and we’re off (You get the idea).
It’s probably best we don’t reveal on here exactly how many hours we’ve spent this week deciding where best to go see these guys on their upcoming tour. But one way or another it’s happening.
Swim Deep’s name has been floating around for a while now, especially since being signed by RCA late last year. It was a statement that pricked up the ears of the serious music lovers of the world highlighting them as not just another group of guys who spend their days kind of floating around and dreaming of making it in the music biz.
Ironically floating around is exactly what spring to mind when it comes to describing their style. They make songs that take us to a warm summers day at a festival, getting high we people we like… they sound like summer.
About to embark on a tour of the UK (which is selling fast), a debut album on the horizon and having already supported Spector and Splashh in October last year we predict big things from these guys. They are here to shake things up and bring something new to the table and we like it.
As ever don’t take our word for it, take a look for yourselves…
