New Music: KiD A

We might be a little tardy on this, but Helen Of Troy… firmly believes that late is better than never, so we’d like to introduce you to the marvellous KiD A, aka Anni T, whose debut single, wasnotwas, was released on June 15th. Wasnotwas is a delicious slice of scuzzy, repetetative electro-pop aided by Anni’s sweet but sultry drawl.

This Virginia-born singer, composer and producer has been working with dan le sac on forthcoming EP In A Dream House, We All Ride Carousels, which promises to be another example of near-perfect electro-pop.

Head to www.myspace.com/kida for a listen (we especially like the EEPROM ‘on fire’ remix).

Watch this space!

The Backlash Has Begun

Helen Of Troy hates to monger doom, but after reading Dan Cairn’s insightful prediction for the future of female pop we can’t help but think that the current comparatively wide-open windows of opportunity for female musicians might be slowly closing.

Cairns sees the Mercury Prize nomination of Florence And The Machine, La Roux, Bat For Lashes, Lisa Hannigan and Speech Debelle (pictured) as the first nail in the coffin for interesting lady pop, as the outsiders become the insiders and pop, inevitably, eats itself. Of course, as Cairns states, interesting female artists will still be making music, but a record company exec is less likely to take a chance on a new interesting lady artist when the zeitgeist lies elsewhere.

Helen Of Troy is currently undecided as to whether this industry shift will bring positive or negative results. While we’d hate to see any truly talented musician turned down because their face doesn’t fit, we equally hate to see shitehawke musicians succeed just because theirs does.

Whatever happens, it would be nice to think that, even when the fickle wheel of fortune points again to boys with guitars, some genuine headway has been made for boundary-pushing women in pop/rock over the past five years. Only time (and second and third albums) will tell, but here at Helen Of Troy… we’re feeling pretty positive.

New Music: Amanda Blank

Thanks to super-cool dedicated blogger Sheena Beaston, Helen Of Troy... has rediscovered the awesomeness of fierce electro-rapper Amanda Blank. Based in Philadelphia, the 26 year-old down-and-dirty emcee released her long-awaited debut album I Love You just last week. Widely known for being a serial collaborator, it came as no surprise to learn that the hedonistic hipster roped in Helen Of Troy... faves Lykke Li and Santigold, for a number of guest appearances on her aforementioned first full-length offering.

Whilst we've not had chance to listen to the album in full, banging lead single Might Like You Better and the wildly-infectious Make It Take It both serve as good indications of what Ms Blank has to offer. Her catalogue of collaborations isn't bad either, with the likes of Bump - taken from Spank Rock's debut album YoYoYoYoYo, and her contribution to the Eli Grayson remix of Britney Spears' Gimme More, showcasing perfectly what she's capable of.

Brassy, trashy, and fabulous - we love you Amanda Blank!

http://www.myspace.com/amandablank - Check out the album in full here.

New Videos For Your Enjoyment - Otherwise Known As A Lame Post!

Helen of Troy... was super pleased to discover that the next single to be taken from Florence and the Machine's debut album Lungs, is the utterly amazing Drumming Song. You can check out the accompanying video below - we suspect the new sexed-up direction might be a result of Flo and co's much-deserved Mercury nomination. Thoughts anyone?

Next up we have the video for Peaches's upcoming single Serpentine - the woman is fierce! Let's hope the next single to be released will be the awesome I Feel Cream. Enjoy!

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!

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

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!

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

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!