Today's Track - Fool's Gold: "Surprise Hotel"

Many on the interweb have been proclaiming 2009 to be the (USA) Summer of lurve. And, although it's the last month of Winter here in Australia, I sure have been enjoying the summer tunes from all over the globe, including those from jj, The Very Best, YACHT and many others. One of those many others is Fool's Gold, who offer up a ridiculously addictive high pitched guitar line on this song which, despite it clocking in at almost seven minutes, never seems to lose its effect. The effect? Strong desires for beach parties, beach bike rides, beach cricket, you get the message. I've never surfed in my life, but I'm craving for the board (or maybe that's just me craving for the next series of Blue Water High - so cheesy, so cool)
Oh, summer - only three months to go!

Today's Track - Blue Roses: "I Am Leaving"

There is a very homely quality about this song by Yorkshire's Laura Groves, who records under the name of Blue Roses, that makes it so likable. Her self-titled debut album was recorded all around her home country with friends, family and random cafe dwellers, in their bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms - simple studio locations, well matched to the uncluttered, never overdone music of hers. Her alluring vocals are backed up by a few layers of guitar, harmonies, synth, xylophone and what I think to be accordion, which, all here in moderation, form a narrative that may not be as sweet as the instrumentation but compelling nonetheless. Overall, this song's elevating and sweet, and I sure can't wait to get my hands on the album.