The Farandole is an open-chain community dance popular in Provence. It bears similarities to the gavotte, jig, and tarantella. The carmagnole of the French Revolution is a derivative. No satisfactory derivation has been given of the name. Diez (Etymologisches Wörterbuch der Romanischen Sprachen) connects it with the Spanish farándula, indicating a company of strolling players, […]
Bourrée
The Bourrée is a dance of French origin and is often referred to as the “French clog dance”. The bourrée resembles the gavotte in that it is in double time and often has a dactylic rhythm. However, it is somewhat quicker, and its phrase starts with a quarter-bar anacrusis or “pick-up”, whereas a gavotte has […]
The Swingles
The Swingles are an a capella vocal group. The Swingle Singers originally formed in 1962 in Paris under the leadership of Ward Swingle. In 1973, Swingle disbanded the French group, and formed an English group known initially as Swingle II and later as the New Swingle Singers, before settling on the Swingles name. They began […]
Paranoid Android
“Paranoid Android” is a song by English alternative rock band Radiohead, released as the lead single from their third studio album, ‘OK Computer’ (1997) in May. The lyrics were written by singer Thom Yorke following an unpleasant experience in a Los Angeles bar. The song is over six minutes long and contains four sections. The […]
The Armagh Rhymers
The Armagh Rhymers are a folk music and theatre ensemble based in Northern Ireland whose work is inspired by traditional Irish performances such as Mummers’ plays, Wren Boys, and biddymen. Past members of the group include Peter J. Shortall, Brendan Bailey, and Barry Lynch. The Armagh Rhymers group was founded in the 1970s by Dara […]
Horsegirl
Horsegirl is an American rock band from Chicago. The band members are Nora Cheng (guitar, vocals), Penelope Lowenstein (guitar, vocals), and Gigi Reece (drums) The group originated in 2019 and they self-released their first song, “Forecast”, that year. The group released their first EP, Horsegirl: Ballroom Dance Scene et cetera, through Sonic Cathedral Recordings in […]
Kokoroko
Kokoroko (stylised as KOKOROKO) is a London-based eight-piece musical group led by Sheila Maurice-Grey, playing a fusion of jazz and Afrobeat. In February 2019 they were named “ones to watch” by the Guardian, after their track “Abusey Junction” garnered 23 million views on YouTube. In February 2020 they won Best Group at the Urban Music […]
Night Tapes
Night Tapes started out as evening jams between housemates Max Doohan, Sam Richards and Iiris Vesik in London. Max and Richie have known each other since they were really young. They grew up together in the New Forest, a couple of hours outside of London. They moved to London to meet more musicians because they […]
Belle and Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian are a Scottish indie pop band formed in Glasgow in 1996. Led by Stuart Murdoch, the band has released twelve studio albums. They are often compared with acts such as the Smiths and Nick Drake. The name “Belle and Sebastian” comes from Belle et Sebastien, a 1966 children’s book by French writer […]
Gemma Rogers
Gemma Rogers is a London-based indie pop artist. Rogers’ lyrics combine the mundane with the apocalyptic: ‘New day’s dawning, Grandpa’s snoring, last night’s embers on tv’. They range between apathy – ‘turn the pages, nothing changes’ – despair – ‘doctor doctor help me please’ – and some sort of nihilistic hope’. But delivered in casually […]