Review: Foxes Debut Album is Truly 'Glorious'

For pint size pop prodigy Louise Rose Allen more commonly known as Foxes, her debut album Glorious has been highly anticipated and rightly so. 

For those who have never heard of her, listen up: The Southampton songstress originally collaborated with Zedd for the chart topping hit Clarity which managed to win the coveted Grammy for Best Dance Recording this year. Making her own breakthrough with singles Youth, Beauty Queen and most recently Let Go for Tonight all of which appear on Glorious, they have received more than 10 million plays on Youtube alone. 

Beginning the album with the eerie and dub-heavy Talking to Ghosts, it progresses to soulful pop delight Holding Onto Heaven, a song with charming lullaby-esque undertones. "Don't be afraid to lead the way" Allen confidently sings in the ethereal White Coats before she slows the tempo right down in piano ballad Night Glo. 

Marina and the Diamonds fans will sink their teeth into Night Owls Early Birds, a song about letting the juvenescence be foolish. With a flawless lead in and a real indie pop feel, this track is one of the strongest in the collection. The epic Glorious is well-deserved as the title of the album, a song that urges the listener not to give up on what you want. Echo and Shaking Heads all convey that youthful are simply savouring their lives. 

Foxes really is an artist who can carry a song with her voice and few notes on the piano. Count the Saints incorporates that talent with subtle steel drums to produce a heart-wrenching song that will have you hitting repeat. Rusty and raw track Home brings the listener back down to the ground and the dark and twinkly In Her Arms combines infectious glockenspiel-esque sounds with dominant drums and impossibly soft vocals. 

The tonal variety to album is truly glorious. With a delicious range in tempos, Foxes' silky vocals often juxtapose the bass-heavy foundations of all 16 tracks. If none of that convinces you, just look at her cute face. 

I give this album ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

Glorious will be released on 9th May

BANKS Brings Dark and Mystifying Charm in New Video 'Brain'

I've always loved the ethereal charm newcomer BANKS brings to her music, and I was really excited to see the release of her new single Brain after the success of Waiting Game and This is What it Feels Like. With '90s dance influences intertwining with her silky easy-listening lyrics, BANKS has bags of promise. 

Providing us with the perfect chill out tune, the video to accompany Brain is shot in black and white and begins with the singer wearing a veil, inset into a circle which appears to be creating ripples. 

arty or what.

Rapid kaleidoscopic elements and mirrors are added to create stunning visuals, complimenting her haunting and engrossing vocals that will have you toe-tapping and hitting the repeat button in no time. 

"help me, help meee"

"I can see you struggling,boy don't hurt your brain"

The American beauty is currently touring the UK and will be playing at numerous festivals this summer, including Coachella, Lovebox and Longitude. 


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Watch the video below: 

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Album Review: Pharrell Celebrates Womankind in 'G I R L'

With Get Lucky, Blurred Lines and newest single Happy owning the number one spot, it really does seem that everything Pharrell Williams touches turns to gold. It is unsurprising that his second solo album since In My Mind back in 2006 has been so highly anticipated.

What was more staggering is Williams' attempt to re-place himself, leaving behind the lusty perversions of Blurred Lines to write an album filled with celebratory tracks about women. G I R L commences elegantly,consumed with stringed instruments before switching to synth with a pinch of  '70s groove in Marilyn Monroe.

Keeping it smooth and suave in Brand New, Pharrell joins forces with Justin Timberlake to create a toe-tappingly soulful and Jackson 5-esque tune that keeps you smiling.Funk begins to take over throughout the sultry songs Hunger and Gush. The ever-addictive Happy nestles itself in the middle of the album before Miley Cyrus makes a fleeting appearance in Come Get It Bae and French dance duo Daft Punk combine orchestral elements with smooth synthesizer snippets in Gust of Wind, a song that glorifies the feeling of falling in love.

Lost Queen diverts the listeners' journey through G I R L as it adopts remote African qualities with strong harmonious backing vocals and prominent drums. Williams challenges female stereotypes as he sings "I don't have a problem with multi-tasking, taking care of you is my number one passion". Half way through, the song fades to the faint and calming sound of crashing waves before the tempo is slowed and an R'n'B tone is adopted.

The album reaches it's peak in Know Who You Are, a track which combines reggae tones with soulful funk as Alicia Keys provides the perfect accompaniment. Finishing the album with It Girl's subtly sexy lyrics, Williams' softly sings "you my inspiration" as he sets the bar for an understated feminism that has been desperately needed in chart music of late.

I give the album: ★★★★