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…
Posted on: January 4, 2013
Having spent the day yesterday digging a deep dark hole to climb into (Yeah the 2 day hangover was that bad) today we’re back in the game and as luck would have it, right in time to bring you lot the best and worst of this weeks new releases.
Our favourite track of the week has come from Kendrick Lamar, who had already sparked our excitement late last year with the release of his second studio album, ‘Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.’
The album served as a narrative to his life and gave us on an honest and playful insight into life growing up in Compton, California – all the way from a teenage Kendrick borrowing his mother’s van (to visit a girl named Sherane) to experiencing the Compton gang lifestyle with his friends and the struggles of witnessing the death of a friend in a shoot-out.
This track, ‘Backseat Freestyle’ is one of the best, it’s got a massive ego, a heavy beat and a “dick as big as the Eiffel Tower.” With it Lamar is bold, confident (rapping about himself and Martin Luther Kind in the same breath) and certainly not shy to come forward and tell the world, ‘I’m here and fucking ready.’
It’s completely convincing and we’d even go as far to say it’s as exciting as Dre’s 2001 which won us over more than a decade ago now. Could we be witnessing the passing of the royal Hip-hop baton?
Worst of the week goes to this little bundle of joy….Aware we’re risking breaking the hearts of many pre pubescent young ladies when we say this (we’re willing to chance that, for some reason we get the feeling they’re not our biggest demographic) One Direction’s new track ‘Fuck You,’ wait no ‘Kiss You,’ is a steaming pile of shit.
Interestingly enough despite One Direction mania seemingly taking over the world, scratch beneath the surface (as we did this morning) and you’ll find there’s an equally (ok maybe not equally but pretty big) following of fans ‘gone wrong’ if you will, who hate their generic, overdone, unoriginal music. We particularly enjoyed the ‘I Hate One Direction’ facebook page which has been spamming hateful comments since their birth on Cheese Factor back in 2010… commitment to a cause – shows character.
Anyway back to what we came to do – apologies in advance, cover your ears…
Posted on: January 2, 2013
North London born rock band the Kinks are pretty easy to catagorise as one of the most recognised, important and influential rock groups…well, ever.
Having put the band together back in 1964 brothers Ray and Dave Davies were the only two who remained members throughout the group’s 32-year run. Original members Pete Quaife and Mick Avory were replaced by John Dalton in 1969 and Bob Henrit in 1984, respectively. Dalton was in turn replaced by Jim Rodford and Nicky Hopkins accompanied the band during studio sessions in the mid-1960s.
Miraciously despite all the comings and goings their music never suffered. Influenced by a wide range of genres, including rhythm and blues, folk and country their first massive hit “You Really Got Me” in 1964 took on the world charts and won. Following it’s massive success the ears of the planet were well and truely opened and the guys had a string of uber successful albums including ‘Face to Face,’ ‘Something Else,’ ‘The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society,’ ‘Arthur,’ ‘Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneyground,’ ‘Misfits,’ ‘Low Budget’ and ‘Muswell Hillbillies,’ as well as a list of hit singles to rival the biggest artists of the time.
With nine top 40 albums , seventeen top 20 singles, four albums certified gold by the RIAA, an Ivor Novello Award for ”Outstanding Service to British Music” and a place in the Rock and Roll hall of fame it’s safe to say these guys were pretty close to world domination before their break up in 1996. The reason? a good old fashioned bit of sibling rivary (or “creative tension” as it was so conservatively put to the world).
Heres a reminder of why we love them so much and why they’re well and truly deserving of a spot on our Fly53 legends list. All hail.
Posted on: December 17, 2012
It’s here, our long awaited, eagerly anticipated, shit hot (if we do say so ourselves) Fly53 Fanzine #13 has arrived. Hot off the printing press and ready to pick up in store RIGHT NOW this is not one to be missed.
Including all exclusive interviews with the likes of Django Django, Maximo Park, Andy Burrows, Dhani Harrison and thenewnotwo, Citizens, Alberta Cross and many more it’s fair to say it’s not all been blood sweat and tears, we’ve had a pretty good time making it too(shhh don’t tell the boss). As if more interviews than we thought physically possible wasn’t enough, we’ve also squeezed everything you need to know about our (until now, top secret) upcoming collaboration with none Arturo Vega, the creative director The Ramones (Yeah, we know it’s going to be BIG).
Again partnered with the gents over at Artrocker Magazine Zine #13 sheds light on all the latest and greatest from the music together we love, not only the big names but also the talented newcomers who have been gracing our office radios over the last 3 months.
2012 has been a big year for us and 2013 is set to be even bigger, with new collaborations on the cards, new and even more edgy collections to be released and more events and hook ups than you can shake a stick at. Three words. Keep it locked.
Get comfy, read all about it and pass it on. Fly53 – Outfitters for the resistance.
Can’t get to a Fly53 retailer? Never fear a digital copy will be available right here, christmas eve.
Posted on: December 14, 2012
We’ve been hooking up and swaping clothes for beats with this guy since back in 2006 when he stared making a massive name for himself as a host and MC in both drum & bass and dubstep circles.
Regularly working alongside DJ Die, Skream, Benga, Redlight, Pinch and Kutz at their own request, as well as frequent sets at the UK’s top club nights including Fabric, Detonate, Bedlam and Run, Dread’s is now a household name, and if you’re throwing a party it’s more than likely he’s gunna be on your ‘to call’ list.
This week we caught up with the man himself after playing at the Redbull Culture Clash, held in Wembley Arena and featuring all the hottest names in music right now including the likes of Disclosure, Rudimental, Redlight, Ms Dynamite and Katy B but to name a few.
If you missed this one, don’t run home crying to your mum you can catch Dread at the dates below.
29 Nov O2 Academy – Glasgow
30th Nov Warehouse Project – Manchester
1st Dec O2 Academy – Bournemouth
6th Dec Subzero – Colchester
7th Dec Fabric – London
8th Dec Talk – Southend
14th Dec – Smack – Lemington Spa
21st Dec – Death of Planet Earth DOPE – Kent
31st Dec- Chibuku – Liverpool
31st – Warehouse Project – Manchester
31st – Urban Nerds – London
A big thank-you to Justin De Souza for providing the amazing photography for this article Check out more photos from the night over on www.freshtodeath.com link.
