The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer, but here at Fourculture we don’t stop for no season as we strive to bring you the four artists you need to know about with me, Mark Sharpley. And this week’s contenders are…
ROYAL BLOOD
Brighton’s own Royal Blood are first up this week with their debut album simply titled, Royal Blood. Solely comprising of Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher, they have met with a very generous reception from critics and musical peers alike. So much so that Matt Helders, drummer for the Arctic Monkeys, wore their t-shirt at Glastonbury this year and gave them even more exposure. But don’t judge them on other people’s dress sense, let the music do the talking and it’s damn good music too. The album is out now and is available on the Warner Brothers Music label, and this is the single, “Figure It Out”. www.royalbloodband.com | Get the music on iTunes
INTERPOL
One of New York’s finest return this week in the shape of Interpol with the release of their fifth album, El Pintor. The name of the album is taken from the Spanish translation for ‘The Painter’, but the more eagle eyed amongst us will see it’s an anagram of Interpol as well. It’s also the first album without original bassist, Carlos D, with singer Paul Banks taking over those duties. Recorded in New York, it has a very back to basics feel too. Welcome back, fellas. Available on the Matador/Soft Limits labels, this is the single, “All The Rage Back Home”.
www.interpolnyc.com | Get the music on iTunes
KAREN O
Better known for her singing duties with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Karen O brings us her first solo album, Crush Songs. As well as her regular band activities, Karen has also dabbled in movie soundtracks as well, with recordings for films such as Jackass 3D, I’m Not There and most notably, a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song”, alongside Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, for the soundtrack for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. And she is also recognised for her fashion sense too, featuring on many a magazine’s top 100 list every year for some form of award. Available on the Cult Records label, this is a track from the album entitled, “Day Go By”. www.yeahyeahyeahs.com | Get the music on iTunes
ROBERT PLANT
And finally this week, it’s a man who practically everyone on the planet knows. Yes, it’s Robert Plant and the release of his tenth solo album, Lullaby……And The Ceaseless Roar. Year after year, the rumours of Led Zeppelin getting back together keep coming along, but 2014’s Glastonbury Festival saw Plant and his band, The Sensational Space Shifters, get massive praise for a great set, with the main remark being, “He’s still got it”. And as a little treat for you, the video will be from that set too. Available on the NoneSuch/Warner Brothers labels, this is the Glastonbury performance of, “Little Maggie”. www.robertplant.warnerreprise.com | Get the music on iTunes
And that is your lot for this week! Join us again for the relentless search of the four artists you need to know about. Keep on keeping on.
— Mark Sharpley
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