Breaking More Waves Is 9 Years Old Today - Here's A Blog Post To Celebrate

9 years old today. 9 bloody years I’ve been doing this thing. This blog. This record of some of the stuff I’ve been listening to. 

It’s fascinating to look back over that time and see some of the artists that I’ve introduced. Some of them have gone on to be a huge creative and commercial success. Others, absolutely nothing. 

Here are a handful of examples. Look at the picture below. Recognise her? That’s Charli XCX back in 2009 when I first wrote about her. At the time she was flaunting a bunch of songs like Neon Fashion & Glowstix and Francheskaar and I concluded that although her music appealed to me I found it hard to see any long term appeal. 8 years on and she seems to be doing OK. Her first 2 albums proper ended up being some of my favourites of 2013 and 2015 respectively.

Here’s another one. Recognise them? No, me neither. But apparently, they were a band called Look Stranger! I featured them on the blog once and that was all. I can’t remember anything about what they sounded like now, even having re-read my original blog post. I never heard of them again.

And here’s one more. This was Skint & Demoralised. I named him as one to watch many years ago. His music never set the world alight (albeit listening back to it now I still really enjoy it) but years on Matt Abbott the singer cropped up on this TV advert (click here), showing that he was one to watch, just not in the way I originally thought.

What I’m trying to say with all of this is that in 9 years of music blogging what I’ve learnt is that anyone who tells you that they are a tastemaker and can predict the success of any artist is talking out of their arse*. Some acts make it, some don’t. Nobody has the perfect crystal ball. Every time someone tells you about how they were one of the first to discover a particular successful artist, ask them how many others they discovered that never went on to light up the world. By the law of averages, the more artists a site writes about, the more chance there is that some of them will go on to be massively commercially or artistically successful. 

All I can do, and all any blog worth their salt can do is bring you some new music and new artists I like. The rest is unknown.

Breaking More Waves is 9 years old today. Right now I’m celebrating that fact somewhere in a field in Somerset at Glastonbury Festival, probably with a cider / wine / gin and tonic in hand. Maybe all 3. 

I always said at some point the blog will end and when it does I’ll make a definite point about it. There will be no gradually fading away. But a big full stop. But not yet. I’ve got a little bit more fuel in the tank yet. Maybe not a lot, but it's not time for ending quite yet. 

Thanks for reading guys, without you it would be fairly pointless.

*Footnote. Some other things I've learnt whilst writing this blog are:

1. When times are bad (death / illness etc) music can be a salvation. In fact this blog has been a real help for me during those bad times - the last year in particular.

2. I also run a twitter account associated with the blog. Twitter is a very odd place - a weird bubble where people reinforce their own views with others like them and castigate those who do things differently to their world view - with little or no nuanced discussion. (How can you in 140 characters?). 

3. There's only so much you can say about music before you start repeating yourself. 

4. Musicians are weird and like to promote their art by sitting in the bath.

Ones To Watch - How Did We Do ?

It’s almost December. Which means it’s time for a look back as well as a look forward. Over the next month we’ll be blogging our way through our favourite ten albums of the year as well as listing ten artists that we believe could be ones to watch in 2010.

In a change from 2008 we’re going to start with a look forward. The reason being that last year just as we began publishing our list of Ones To Watch the BBC went and published their Sound of 2009 list earlier than normal. To our surprise six of the artists we had chosen were in the BBC’s long list of fifteen. So this year to avoid any criticism of just copying the BBC list we’re making sure our list appears early. Mind you this year we actually had a tiny influence over the BBC list as we were asked by the BBC to be one of the participating voters in their Sound of 2010 poll. We're not sure how many bloggers get asked to participate, we know of at least one other (a list of those who voted will appear on the BBC website soon) but we guess it's a bit of an honour, effectively being recognised as having some degree of expertise in new music. The three artists we voted for in the BBC poll feature in our own list of ten, but we'll leave you to see if you can guess which three we voted for.

Not that we expect all of our list to be the same as the BBC list, particularly as some artists such as Marina and the Diamonds, who we fully expect to be on the BBC list, don't qualify for our list (read next Mondays blog for our explanation of why).

But before the gate opens, let’s have a quick recap of our Ones To Watch 2009 list and see how they fared.

#1 La Roux

We said “What sets her apart from a multitude of dance floor kids is a pop sensibility that knows how to deliver a half decent tune.”

In For The Kill became a genuine pop phenomenon, slowly climbing from number 11 to number 2 in the singles chart, whilst Bulletproof went one better. The eponymous debut album went to number 2 in the UK, 7 in Ireland and 8 in Canada.

#2 Little Boots

We said “Little Boots is exactly what we want our pop stars to be.”

Little Boots topped the BBC Sound of List but failed to capitalise on its exposure, finally releasing the very average New in Town in May which went top 20. The album Hands entered the charts at number 5 but quickly fell away, only re-entering the lower reaches of the Top 40 when the far superior Remedy was released as a single. The initial quirky charm that we heard on Stuck On Repeat and saw on her bedroom You Tube cover versions seemed somewhat diluted by the end of the year, but if her record company keep going with her we still think there is possible unfulfilled potential.

#3 Passion Pit

We said “They will bring a lot of smiles, and if there is any justice Sleepyhead will be one of the songs of next year in the UK.”

Sleepyhead was never released as a major label single in its own right in the UK, (there is no justice) and although the band didn‘t achieve commercial highs, their debut album Manners received much critical acclaim and charted at number 55. The band grew as a live act during the course of the year, playing bigger shows as the year progressed, plus there were several festival appearances including the main stage at Bestival.

#4 Giantess

We said “It’s very early days for this band but Breaking More Waves reckons their Myspace friend count will soon be on the way up.”

The band renamed themselves Yes Giantess, put out a white vinyl 7" single, supported Little Boots in the U.S and were picked to play on the NME Radar Tour in the UK in October. They’ve recently been recording with a number of big name producers including Pascal Gabriel (Ladyhawke, Dido, Little Boots, Kylie) in France and have had some major label interest. In November one of their number (Karl) announced he was to leave the band, his parting gift a superb downloadable mix tape. Yes Giantess continue into 2010. Their Myspace friend count has indeed risen significantly since we first wrote about the band and they have a bag of big tunes ready to go including that hooky as hell No Reason.

#5 White Lies

We said “Have potential to be a commercial success.”

The bands debut album went to number 1 in the UK and White Lies have played many big gigs and festivals including Glastonbury, T in the Park and Reading and Leeds. Personally for Breaking More Waves our opinion is that the album was too contrived and weakened by schoolboy lyrics.

#6 Skint and Demoralised

We said “No doubt many young lasses will fall for him.”

If they young ladies did fall for Skint and Demoralised they forgot to buy his records. The single Red Lipstick picked up some Radio 1 play but come October the record company had ditched plans to release a further single or the album that was ready to go. Matt Skint got his hair cut and started presenting football reviews on You Tube. In February our review of his poorly attended live show at Brighton Audio commented that it was only when he dropped the music and delivered an anti BNP poem without a microphone that he came into his own and that “Maybe this is where his future lies.”

#7 Alessi’s Ark

We said “Unlikely to find huge commercial pop success, but is certainly an act to be championed.”

As predicted Alessi didn’t find huge commercial pop success, but her album Notes From The Treehouse was an endearing and sweet record. At the time we described the record as having “A sense of music wonder and magic.”

#8 Florence And The Machine

We said “An exciting proposition.”

Florence exceeded our expectations, her album Lungs being a triumph musically and it attained significant commercial success, remaining at number 2 in the album charts for five weeks, held off the top spot only by Michael Jackson. Her live shows became more focussed and as a result got better and better, with her performances at Camp Bestival and Brighton Concorde being two of our favourite gigs of the year.

#9 Mumford and Sons

We said “Will warm you deep inside.”

Mumford and Sons profile grew slowly over the course of the year. They proved that the old fashioned virtues of playing great gigs and having good songs will deliver you a loyal fan base. The band signed to Island Records and the subsequent release of their debut album, Sigh No More, at the start of October, saw the band hit number 11 in the UK charts. Not bad for a folk / bluegrass act. Bellies were warmed.

#10 Marina and the Diamonds

We said “This maverick cat has already ruffled a few feathers with her blogs on Myspace, which she has now removed declaring that she will never open her mouth again.”

Marina has released two critically acclaimed singles on the Neon Gold label and has now signed a major record deal with 679/Warners, releasing Mowgli's Road in November. An album is due for the early part of 2010. She back tracked on her promise of keeping her mouth shut and has a fully functioning, active, entertaining blog.

Now let's move on up.

It's almost time for this years Ones To Watch list. On the 30th November we shall explain our criteria for selection and rules of engagement. Then on the 1st December enjoy our musical advent calender as we reveal who our Ones To Watch are, each act hiding behind a different musical door on the countdown to Christmas. This will the be swiftly followed by our Top Ten albums of the year list and then, well, that's pretty much it till next year except for a few random articles that we have floating around that we haven't yet posted following our 'one blog a day' rule. Go !

Skint and Demoralised - Red Lipstick

Skint and Demoralised release their new single Red Lipstick this week. Last time we came across Matt Abbott and his band he was playing to a virtually empty basement in Brighton. It was, as the bands name suggests, a rather demoralising experience, even if the group tried their best. The release of Red Lipstick, which we originally previewed a demo video of here last December, finds the band on much chirpier ground. With an upbeat choppy guitar lick, a hint of the Lightning Seeds and an ounce or two of northern soul piano tossed in, Red Lipstick is a simple love song about a down to earth girl who doesn’t mind looking daft and likes “Red lipstick, fish and chips, orange juice and trips to the seaside.” It may lack the weightier punch of Matts deeper social and political lyrics that can be found elsewhere in his work, but the breezy music and spoken word vocal sound just right for English summertime. Let's get down to the beach.

And if this is all just too happy for you listen to the B Side That Week In October which is darker, downbeat and sounds like Arab Strap if they had come from Yorkshire rather than Scotland.

Matt has described himself as “A poet who occasionally sings,” and even takes his poetry to Twitter where he often posts in rhyme. “The financial effect of Glastonbury was absolutely obscene. Money to last to Wednesday ? Eleven pounds nineteen,” he recently posted after the mother of all festivals. With an album Love And Other Catastrophes now due for release on 5th October, you will be able to hear more of this rhyme set over sound effects as interludes between the more upbeat Motown meets indie guitar songs that are the core of the Skint and Demoralised sound. The group are beginning to push their wares out on display, with the single attracting some daytime exposure on Radio 1 as well as playing a number of UK Festivals this summer including Latitude and Bestival.

Skint and Demoralised @ Brighton Audio

One has to feel a little sorry for Matt Abbott aka Skint and Demoralised. Brighton Audio is less than a tenth full, with only about 30 people in attendance. On the drum kit are the words “Major highs, manic lows.” This must surely be one of the lows. However, the band don’t seem to think so. As he finishes the gig, with an undaunted charm Matt tells everyone he has had a considerably better time tonight than his other previous time in Brighton; but that was with football when his team got beaten 2-1.

Starting with a spoken word poem about Blackpool, Skint and Demoralised then launch into a set of skewered guitars and jaunty keyboards, creating cheery sounding indie pop with northern soul reference points. They play debut single The Thrill Of Thirty Seconds early in the set, a spirited tune about the adrenalin rush of young infatuation which is romantic and engaging. But with virtually every song from Red Lipstick to This Song Is Definitely Not About You following a similar formula of spoken word verses and flatly sung choruses, Skint and Demoralised fail to hold the attention. It’s a shame as Matt is a personable floppy fringed lad with a heart who flaunts confidence and humour, chatting to the audience about how he disagrees with being called a northern version of Scouting For Girls by a reviewer, and how getting beaten up in Wakefield is something he’s getting quite good at.

It’s only when Matt drops the music, and stands on a box centre stage without a microphone to deliver an anti racist poem against the British National Party, deconstructing the British way of life, that he truly comes into his own. Maybe this is where his future lies, rather than pop stardom. Unfortunately, Breaking More Waves prediction last year of Skint and Demoralised being one to watch seems just a little misplaced for now.

Skint and Demoralised - This Song Is Definitely Not About You

Skint and Demoralised release their second single This Song Is Definitely Not About You on the 2nd March 2009. Vocalist and so called street poet Matt Abbott, who since his debut single late last year has left the life of a teenager, recites another round of spoken word indie pop of the Topman / NME / boyband kind coming on like Just Jack and The Streets with chirpy guitars and organ sound. He forms a narrative that makes him out to be one of the sensitive lads, with his floppy hair and jangling guitars mashing up against lyrics about an inconsiderate selfish ex-friend. “And does friendship take the sidelines when it's served it's only purpose? Left loitering behind you; success has deemed it surplus,” he raps.

Whilst not quite on a par with debut single The Thrill Of Thirty Seconds it’s a catchy, albeit slight affair that soon gets under the skin. Time will tell if ultimately being under the skin soon becomes an annoying itch. Skint and Demoralised are out on their first headline tour this month. We’ll be catching them to see if our prediction of them being One to Watch in 2009 was a valid one, or if they are just a one trick pony.

Internet gossip suggests equal amounts of love and hate for Skint and Demoralised. Watch this video and decide for yourselves.

Skint and Demoralised - Ones To Watch 2009

Breaking More Waves sixth One To Watch for 2009 is Matt Abbott aka Skint and Demoralised. Matt is a man who claims that on his Christmas list this year he would quite like Sarah Harding, Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts, Kimberley Walsh and Nadine Coyle. C’mon Matt, all five of Girls Aloud is just a little greedy don’t you think ? And besides you are probably a little too young for them, after all, you are still a teenager. Breaking More Waves would still quite like Nicola, if she is going spare, but then we are certainly too old for the red haired miserable one.

Much championed by Steve Lamacq, who named Skint and Demoralised as his third favourite new act of this year, and blogged by Breaking More Waves at the time of release of his debut single The Thrill Of Thirty Seconds, which sold out almost immediately, you can catch him on tour early in 2009. His music is a chirpy poppy blend of jangling guitars indie disco drums and northern soul reference points not dissimilar to The Smiths with dry spoken word vocals delivered in a dry Yorkshire tone. Despite Matt's slightly long haired laddish look, his extract from a diary poems are sweet in their nature and no doubt many young lass will fall for him. An album Love and Other Catastrophe’s is due to follow.

Skint and Demoralised - New Waves @ Breaking More Waves

As the nights draw in Breaking More Waves huddles round the dwindling fire in the parlour, wondering if it is finally time to smash up the dining room table to create some more fuel to keep us warm in these dark, dark days. In the kitchen the cupboard is bare except for a lonely Pot Noodle, purchased in our affluent days as an ironic statement against Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food, which alas now looks delightfully edible. Yes, these are credit crunch times. And in such times a band with the name Skint and Demoralised should fit our mood perfectly.

Skint and Demoralised is front man and former performance poet Matt Abbott from Wakefield, and songwriter/producer Mini Dog from Sheffield. On the 17th November the duo release their debut single The Thrill Of Thirty Seconds, which is limited to 500 vinyl copies on indie label Another Music = Another Kitchen. The band however have a deal with a major label in the bag, and one has to wonder just how long it will be before the song is re-released for an attack on the charts.

The Thrill Of Thirty Seconds is a life affirming joyous pop song taken from their forthcoming long player Love And Other Catastrophes. The album was recorded in New York and will apparently feature Mike Skinner / Alex Turner type prose about lost / found love and let downs mixed with soulful, quirky pop tuneage with added instrumentation from session legends The Dap Kings, who were last heard playing on the last Amy Winehouse record. The single twitches with a spoken word verse, an irresistibly catchy chorus and loose jangling guitar that seem to have taken inspiration from The Housemartins, Johnny Marr and Jack Penate. It’s a song about the excitement and trembling anticipation of young love. “I‘ve never felt so scared, infatuated or excited, I felt just like a schoolboy and for some reason I liked it,” Matt sings and reminds us all of what those butterflies in your stomach can feel like. I suspect a few people will soon be having butterflies about Matt’s music. Here’s the video.