Thursday 30 July 2009

Madonna Celebration Single


Here's the cover sleeve for Madonna's upcoming single Celebration. Helen of Troy... does not like this. The font/text is effing dreadful, and the whole thing comes across as an underwhelming throwback to the hermazing Sex Book.

Also, the full track is now available for a listen on various sites across the interweb. Enjoy!

Friday 24 July 2009

Happy First Birthday Helen Of Troy...

Today is a very special day for Helen Of Troy as it marks our first bloggalicious birthday. 365 days and 89 posts ago, we set up as a one-stop shop for all your lady-music needs. Since then, we've made loads of lovely online friends all over the world who have not only pointed us in the direction of some pretty awesome artists, but also left us loads of lovely comments and feedback. We've loved exchanging ideas with y'all and hope you stick around to see what the next year brings.

Lyndsey & Marie-Claire
xxx

Saturday 18 July 2009

Helen Of Troy Does Countertop Dancing Heads To Leeds!




So after a longer than planned hiatus, Helen Of Troy Does Countertop Dancing is back y'all, and we've had a bit of a makeover! Our new monthly residency takes place across the Pennines in Leeds, and will see us play the very best lady-led electro-pop around, from pioneers like Peaches, Bjork and M.I.A. to newcomers thecocknbullkid, Fan Death and La Roux.


Launching on Saturday 25th July upstairs at the Library, Hyde Park, Leeds, Helen Of Troy Does Countertop Dancing will be the place to hear cutting edge electro cuts, fabulous remixes, unexpected cover versions, and a handful of fluffy electro-pop favourites, all with a female vocal. So if you're out and about in Leeds next Saturday, make sure you drop by and say hello!


Proceedings kick off at 9pm and we'll be kicking you out around 2am, prices are £3, or £2 w/flyer or NUS. HOTDCD will take place on the final Saturday of every month from thereon in.

Expect to hear the likes of...
M.I.A., Peaches, Yelle, Yo Majesty!, Thunderheist, Girls Aloud, Madonna, Rye Rye, Janelle Monae, Brazilian Girls, Amanda Blank, Micachu, Fan Death, Ladytron, Donna Summer, Santigold, Britney, thecocknbullkid, Kelis, Menya, Ladyhawke, La Roux, Bjork, Lykke Li, MEN, Grace Jones, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Little Boots, Metric, St Etienne, en vogue, Gwen Stefani, VV Brown, Róisín Murphy, heartsrevolution, Kap Bambino, CSS, Janet Jackson, Le Corps Mince De Françoise, Le Tigre, Bonde do Role, Robyn, Missy Elliot, Ebony Bones, Salt N Pepa, Heloise & the Savoir Faire, Neneh Cherry, Goldfrapp, Mpho, and others.

See you there!

Wednesday 15 July 2009

Album Review: Regina Spektor – Far

Listening to the first track of a new Regina Spektor album is like resuming a conversation with an old friend you’ve not seen in years. Comforting, familiar, and cheering.

Far, Spektor's fifth studio album, is another joyfully rounded release, replete with a myriad of musical short-stories presented in a manner that both moves you and mates you all in the same moment.

Regina’s percussive lyrics, broad vocal range, and elaborate compositions weave together to create a truly unique and full sound, further enhanced by the intimate and delicate production. A plethora of high profile producers including Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple, Dr Dre) and Jacknife Lee (U2, REM), have clearly had to sacrifice their own styles in order to suit Spektor’s stripped-down purity.

An infusion of Soviet-style classical piano, deft drum beats, and bluesy singing begins to define Spektor’s indefinable style. Thankfully, following her commercially viable 2006 album Begin to Hope, Spektor has not been tempted to tone down her kookiness for her increasing audience figures - even going as far as to poke fun at her new-found popularity in the robotic Machine.

There are many serious and powerful ballads on this album, such as the thought-provoking lead single Laughing With, the epic Human of the Year, and Eet. These are complemented by sparkling pop ditties like Dance Anthem of the ‘80s and The Calculation. However, every track has been carefully constructed to showcase the true vocal and musical imagination of their creator. Spektor’s observations of the minutiae of nature, religion, and the small adventure of finding a wallet are a deliberate stride away from the metropolis-influenced comments of previous albums, an overall theme summed up in the album title.

Overall, Regina’s latest offering delivers. It’s familiar but mature. Kooky with serious undertones. Vocally quirky and musically delicious. Perfect.

9/10

Laura Adlington

Sunday 12 July 2009

What Helen Of Troy... Has Learnt This Week




Celebrate, lead single from Madonna's third greatest hits package Celebration, is set to hit radio waves around July 28th. The two-disc album, and her last with Warners, will now feature two new tracks and not three as previously reported (though this may be subject to change). As far as Helen Of Troy... is concerned, they aint ever gonna be as good as the rude and lewd Justify My Love!

ActionAid has unveiled a new single for their 6 Degrees project, which aims to highlight the charity's work on women's rights in poorer countries. The single is a cover of Chaka Khan's I'm Every Woman, and features Helen Of Troy... favourites thecocknbullkid, Micachu, and Roisin Murphy. You can download the track by registering here.

Ebony Bones releases her debut album Bones Of My Bones tomorrow! For those who don't have en effing clue who she is, hop on over to her MySpace page and marvel at her spectacularness now - We Know All About U and Don't Fart On My Heart are especially amazing.

And finally... Juliette Lewis has released a new vlog, which details news on the new album and tour, as well as bringing the lols with some quality dancing and flashbacks. Enjoy!


Monday 6 July 2009

Spotysharing Part Four




Warning - this playlist is electro-tastic! Featuring Helen Of Troy... favourite Florence and the Machine with latest single Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up), Dismissed by the effing brilliant and ruddy rude Uffie, plus the sublime Lettin' Go courtesy of Ms Janelle Monae. Check it out here.

Sunday 5 July 2009

New Music: Daisy Dares You




There are many things that make Helen Of Troy... feel positively prehistoric, but perhaps none more so than hotly-tipped trendy teen, Daisy Dares You. At the ridiculous age of 15, Essex-born Daisy Coburn (aka Daisy Dares You) has already garnered a huge amount of interest from journos and bloggers alike. So much so, Jive Records - home to Britney Spears and P!nk - signed the peppy poplet up sharpish, and we can see why. Imagine Avril Lavigne, Lily Allen, and Alex Roots all rolled up into one and you'll start to get an idea of what DDY is about.

Songs featured on her MySpace page include the epic Number One Enemy, which has smash hit written all over it thanks to it's super slick production and catchy-as-fuck chorus. Self-titled track Daisy Dares You, is another big-hitter and easily our favourite of the lot, whilst Talk About The Weather and Next Few Minutes showcase a more soulful side to the youngster.

If this is what she's capable at 15, we can't wait for what's in store.

http://www.myspace.com/daisydaresyoumusic