The sounds of Bon Iver

Every time I listen to Bon Iver's music a deep 'halo' of nostalgia and melancholy surrounds me.

Their music has always had a strange effect on me that puts me into a strange mood of feeling some kind of longing but also makes me feel so peaceful inside and gives me a nice sense of hope and light.

'Bon Iver', his latest album released on the 20th of june, wasn't the exception and I think this time the effect was deeper and now I can't stop listening to what I consider now as Masterpiece.

Why? It seems that every single song of the album was cleverly thought as not only the lyrics go beyond their words but also because the blend of a broad range of instruments fuses with the nostalgic Justin Vernon's voice, leader of the band.

From lush horns, violins, saxophones to strange sounds and whispers, Bon Iver's second cut is an outstanding album full of diversity and what you can really call an eclectic indie album.

His first single, Calgary, talks about a mourning love that seems to reflect what an impossible love means

Songs like Lisbon, OH, Hinnom, Tx and Minnesota, WI have the name of different american cities in which Bon Iver dedicates their compositions.

The album, which is the third album from the american based band, also includes the uplifting Towers and the nostalgic Wash.

'Bon Iver/ It came after the acclaimed For Emma, Forever Ago, released in 2008 in which the lead single 'Skinny love' make an incredible breakthrough in the United Kingdom. Even new talents like Birdy made their own piano version.

At the end, Bon Iver's music can make you feel either happy or sad, I guess this depends on the way you see things, for me...both feelings arise within myself.

The acoustic world of Benjamin

It was one of those days when I was desperate to find new music, talented artists, different songs to inspire me and allow me to discover something fascinating and unique.

All of a sudden I was browsing through Amazon when I just bumped into a singer called Benjamin Francis Leftwich...the name sounded a bit too long, but when I started to listen to the music clips of his songs I was captivated.

There were so many things that kept my attention about him... the sound of a sweet acoustic guitar, a soft and charming male voice and melancholic but deep lyrics, everything was magic and worked out for me so from that moment on I am just in love with his music.

But who is this mysterious songwriter/singer?

First of all, the most amazing thing is that he is only 21 years old! He is originally from York, UK and apparently he is just starting his career in music as he has only released a couple of EP compiling 8 compositions, including my favourite song, Pictures, that seems to be his second single and that also has released a music video.

A combination of acoustic indie pop music might defined his style but beyond this, his voice is one of the most special things from his music, just listening to the way he delivers each composition is like entered in an endless and fantastic dream.

He might be like the acoustic version of James Blake and seems to be the latest version of irish based Damien Rice or might have been influenced by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly's music.

In his music, Benjamin seems to reflect either personal experiences or stories related to old lovers as the monosyllabic titles like Sophia, Pictures and Maps.

Atlas, his first ever released song, shows the melancholic side of Benjamin as he describes how attach he feels about a special place that reminds him of a past lover.

Other worth listening compositions are See You Soon and The Boat.

Single Review: 'Rolling in the deep' by Adele

At the beginning she was 'Chasing Pavements' and had a 'Hometown Glory', but now, she has decided to Roll deeper and deeper.

She was Leona Lewis' classmate and probably once was a Spice Girls fan, but the new year brought Adele into the UK charts again with 'Rolling in the Deep', that for some reason has a familiar but contemporary sound.

Nostalgic but catchy and stylish, 'Rolling in the Deep', lead single of her new album '21', shows a more sentimental side from the londoner who was the first ever singer to receive The Critics Choice Award at the Brits in 2008.

With her new single, acclaimed Adele keeps showing her success by keeping a more up-beating with the help of her best friend: her unique combination of contemporary jazz, blues, roots, pop and even some country?!

It has been no more than a week and her album is already clinging to top the charts and probably the single will make it to the number one if Bruno Mars 'Grenade' slip off to the the second position where Adele has been for the past two weeks.

And I reckon this is just the beginning for her re-emerging success...

The Streets: redefining the future of urban music

It is undeniable, Urban Music it's the nation's favourite at the moment.

Hip/hop, Rap and R&B are massive at the moment and the charts are 'over-flooded' by its presence...Jessie J, Bruno Mars, Diddy, Willow, Tinie Tempah, Rihanna...the list can continue.

Amongst of all them, The Streets is trying to gain presence again with his new album Computers and Blues, which is an example of a more futuristic urban sound.

It's been almost a decade since Mike Skinner AKA The Streets hit the charts with Has it come to this? and now in 2011 with his fifth album studio, Skinner is aiming to cling on to the top of the charts again.

Computers and Blues reflects what the music in the future might sound, specially urban and electronic music and also shows a Skinner playing along with the all time beloved music, jazz and blues that blends with Rap, Hip-Hop, Garage, Electronic and a witty range of sounds and backing vocals.

The first single Going through hell, just released at the beginning of february, is an example of an innovative and catchy electro-urban song which features Rob Harvey from the alternatives' Leeds based The Music.

Skinner's new single might be the return to the UK charts since, Heaven for the Weather, from his fourth studio album Everything is Borrowed in 2008.

The Streets is planning to take the album on tour around the UK in february and march.

The delightful imagination of Emma

Winner of 'Must be the Music' releases solo album

For her, everything is simple, the feeling is natural so all she needs to do is pick up a guitar and set words to the music she is singing using that 'folky' voice and inspiring her fans with deep meaningful lyrics.

Hailing from Edinburgh, Scotland, Emma's Gillespie AKA as Emma's Imagination has just released her first solo album 'Stand Still' which shows how powerful, talented and passionate a singer can be coming from ordinary people.

In September 2010, she won Sky One's Music Show 'Must be the Music' not only by conquering judges, Dizzee Rascal, Jamie Cullum and Sharleen Spiteri but also by becoming the favourite of more than 10 thousands fans all over the country who voted for her to win the show.

Now, just after 4 months of this, Emma's Imagination has become a reality for the british music industry with innovative and touching songs, some of them melancholic, others more cheerful and upbeat and a performance that probably will remind us of Dido, Amy Macdonald or even the female version of Damien Rice.

Despite all of this there is one thing to remain: the talent, the music is there, it is alive in each of the 10 compositions that 'Stand Still' collects, a deep and musical journey through all sorts of emotions and feelings.

The album includes two covers, 'Drive' by Bic Runga and 'Falling slowly' from the film 'Once' that won best song a couple of years ago at the Academy Awards and it was produced by the acclaimed Martin Terefe -who once took James Morrison and K.T. Tunstall to success.

It also includes, the melancholic 'Focus' and the upbeat 'This Day' both compositions that she previously sang in the competition and that already crashed in the top ten UK charts last year.

Emma's favourite topics are love, relationships, the joy of life... she remind us the view that a 27 year old girl has about love and life.

The is not better place to listen to Emma's Imagination that in a place where you feel more comfortable, might be your own room, a cosy living room and why not? with someone special.

As Emma would say, her songs are delicate and might come from a very deep and special place that only she knows: her imagination.

Grammy 2011 nominations

Lady Antebellum, Eminem and Lady Gaga lead the nominations

Country music and Hip-Hop/Rap seem to be the strong genres for the 2011 Grammy Awards as artists like Lady Antebellum and Eminem are leading the top categories of the competition.

Unlike last, year when pop/rock was the main link between the nominees -

eg. Adele, Coldplay and Jason Mraz- this year RnB and Country seem to be most popular genre in the 2011 Grammy Awards.

This year the american sensation Lady Antebellum, which blends contemporary country and pop, has been the most nominated act, including , record, album and song of the year with 'Need you now', who has topped the american charts since its release in 2010.

Along with them, the american rapper Eminem -featuring Rihanna in most of his nominated songs- has been nominated in at least 5 categories, including record, song and album of the year.

The contentious Lady Gaga and Kate Perry also leads the nominations with Album of the Year and Best Female Pop Performance.

The Arcade Fire, Muse and Kings of Leon are the top acts in the Alternative/Rock categories, the three of them with the chance of taking home a Grammy.

For New Breakthrough category, which Adele won the previous year, Justin Bieber, Florence and the Machine and Mumford and Sons seem to be the most likely acts to get the award.

Country singer, Miranda Lambert, has also been nominated for top categories thanks to the album Revolution and the single 'The house that built me".

The ceremony will be taking place on the 13th of february and will include performances by ustin Bieber, B.o.B, Lady Antebellum, and Bruno Mars.

For the whole list of nominees click on http://www.grammy.com/nominees

Nominees for Record of the Year

B.O.B feat. Bruno Mars 'Nothing on you'

Eminem feat Rihanna 'Love the way you lie'

Cee Lo 'Forget you'

Jay Z feat. Alicia Keys 'Empire State of Mind'

Lady Antebellum 'Need you now'

I Am Love review

At the end, is all about Love

It is not the first time that happens to me, but this time was special, different, captivating.

I decided to watch the foreign film 'I Am Love', my attention was caught by only looking at the ad in the tube stations in London and also the trailer online was kinda interesting.

A few days later as I was watching the movie and listening to its music, my interest for getting not only the movie but the soundtrack started to grow and grow...then the last 10 minutes of the movie I was almost shivering, feeling the goose bumps all over my body and the orchestra playing a song called 'Harmonielehre Part III. Meister Eckhart and Quackie' was the last bit I needed to want the movie and the soundtrack in my personal collection.

Now Im in my room listening to the soundtrack and I can stop saying how marvelous it is, how powerful and touching is each of the compositions by the american composer John Adams, who also has a strong background in classical compositions and conducting orchestras and symphonies.

More than 60 minutes of music in just nine songs is all you need to feel the movie passing by in your mind as you listen to each song. Most of the compositions are original from Adams, although there are some excerpts taken from classic time operas.

Each composition fits perfectly in each of the movie scenes and the main character, played by Academy Award Nominee, Tilda Swinton. In fact, I believe every song, describes what Swinton feels and plays in the film.

But the most outstanding achievement is that different orchestras and symphonies from all over the world, such as the San Francisco Symphony and the Orchestra of the Opera de Lyon, contributed to the soundtrack, released in june 2010.

No wonder this movie has been nominated for Best Foreign Movie for the Golden Globe Awards and the upcoming BAFTA.

And I think at the end is all about love, love for passion, for music and sounds: a great combination of a great story, stunning perfomances and a delightful score...this is I Am Love.