What an awful week for British music. The BRITS - our flagship awards show, the nearest thing we have to the Grammys since the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party ended - turned out to be as edgy and progressive as Nick Grimshaw. In fact, our first song of the week is a shining example of how we were shown up on our own turf. Regardez:
Taylor Swift - I Knew You Were Trouble (BRITs remix)
OK, so it's not a new song. But this is the definition of what a live performance should be, especially on TV. Don't churn out your hits note-perfect for us, but do what the ebullient Ms Swift has done with the help of a sexy costume change: take your original song and embellish it enough for it to sound fresh, new, and not like any other version of the song you've heard so far. Basically, it's amazing what a few more wa-wa-wa-womp dubstep breakdowns can do.
Performance from Taylor Swift on Vimeo.
Little Boots - Whatever Sets You Free
Meanwhile, in what is a merciful boon for British music, Little Boots has been chugging away with a more mature take on her thumping disco-pop. Whatever Sets You Free - a B-Side to Superstitious Heart - feels like Madge in her heyday, and a tasty little morsel to keep us hungry pups going.
Nataly Dawn - How I Knew Her
We loved Pomplamoose and their twee take on pop classics. Now lead singer Nataly Dawn has released her own batch of solo material, How I Knew Her. The title track (below) is a sterling example of Dawn's prowess as singer/songwriter, with chord changes and interludes that wouldn't seem amiss in a St Vincent album.
Lovelier Other - Hidden Shelters
On Lovelier Other's Facebook page, their description simply says 'Band". Very helpful. So, keeping in line with such brevity, all we'll say about Hidden Shelters is: great song.
The Hics - Cold Air
London-based band the Hics (formerly the Hiccups... jokes, but we'd probably have gotten away with it) have popped along with a sound not too dissimilar to fellow townspeople London Grammar. Cold Air comes across as just that: an icy slice of dream pop in the vein of Hey Now. Give us more.