We’ve been strong supporters of Bastille (facebook/twitter) here on the Walrus since I first heard Dan Smith’s debut, FLAWS, last May and saw the band’s breathtaking live show. Since then, we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing their debut EP, Laura Palmer, featured their cover of City High’s What Would You Do on our TASTE Vol.1 mixtape, and put them forward as one of 2012′s bands to watch.
Now they are back with a free film-inspired mixtape (download) in Other People’s Heartache which includes reworkings of their own songs, covers of pop tracks from the likes of Lana Del Ray, and other delights such as a beautifully soothing acoustic version of Falling with samples from The Breakfast Club and featuring To Kill A King’s Ralph, whose Bloody Shirt Bastille previously remixed.
Every year the BBC makes up a list of what it thinks is “the definitive annual list of exciting new artists to watch out for” – as the list has been created by a number of industry “tastemakers”. They’ve been doing this for years, and I’ve been commenting at various points along the route.
This, ladies and gentleman, is a list and definitely worth a listen alongside the BBC’s own version.
Special thanks to Andy Von Pip for putting it together.
Bastille (facebook/twitter) have proved themselves time and time again as one of my favourite finds of the year, and with the release of their debut EP Laura Palmer imminent – things are only going to get better for Dan Smith’s musical vehicle.
The title track, Laura Palmer, has been up on the Bastille Soundcloud for a good while now but is everything we have come to expect and love from their output – soaring vocals, shimmering synth lines and 80s-influenced electronic beats. Overjoyed is more of a pop-ballad, layering Smith’s reverbed vocals over simple piano and stuttering drums – subtle and beautiful in its own way.
Most exciting on the record though is Get Home, which has Smith’s voice put through the vocoder and owes much of its roots to The Postal Service – a band that helped bring soft, heartfelt electro-pop to the masses. It is delicate and alluring, and everything Bastille stands for.
Bastille – Laura Palmer EP is due for release on 14th November on Believe Digital
Thinking of having a night in tonight and watching some Twin Peaks for the first time. I always hear good things about it. Anyone watched? 20 hours ago