ALBUM REVIEW: Lou Doillon - Places

French Lou Doillon is the daughter of British singer Jane Birkin, having won the genetic lottery (that jaw line...wow) it seems Doillon has now decided to turn her hand to making music. Already a model for the likes of Givenchy and GAP and an accomplished actress, let’s just hope that Places isn't another one of those irritating ‘I want to be a singer now’ flash- in –the- pans of an album.

The offspring of ‘famous people’ are, for the most part a rather irksome commodity (think Paris Hilton, Peaches Geldof and Nicole Richie, for instance).  Many go as far as to actually resent them, as their stature is merely inherited, nevertheless, there is always that intrigue that that platform creates, are they any good? Do they actually have any talent of their own?

Her voice is undeniably strong and atmospheric, perfectly matching her mystique. It has a very classicist allure to it with its own personal charm. Opener and lead single ‘ICU’ is a song which Doillon explains she wrote when , ‘desperately in love with someone that I hadn't seen and that I never saw again in my life’. Sounds a little scary, right? It is however a very bluesy, laid-back track that echoes slightly of Al Greens’ more sombre moments.

Places overall is sadly rather samey, it is like a similar, mediocre idea that has just repeated on every track, leaving an overall stale result, missing a certain chutzpah or gens quoi. Cafe background music , sure, but for a debut, something a little louder and more colourful added into the mix would have been wonderful.

IN PICTURES: The Neighbourhood @ Start The Bus, Bristol 7/5/13

It was a great show, really moody and earthy. The sound quality was spectacular, and they echoed of that dulcet toned sound that Lana Del Rey's music embodies.

These guys have such a cool aura and vibe. They played London's Heaven the night after, which I'm sure was a much  better show for them, this wasn't the greatest of venues for this kind of band.

Here is one of my favourites from their album I Love You, which is out now:

INTRODUCING: Betty Who

Originally published at Notion Magazine: http://www.planetnotion.com/2013/05/02/introducing-betty-who/

Australia has been unrelenting with its musical exports in the last 18 months or so, take Flume, Tame Impala and San Cisco for instance, who’ve all provided us with startling, relevant and at times avant-garde approaches to their chosen genres.

Betty Who, born and raised in Sydney, is no exception, with her unapologetically pop-centric sound and peroxide blonde pixie crop. Her debut EP The Movement (which is available as a free download now via her Soundcloud) includes just the right blend of stylised pop with deep 80s craters.

Lead single and opener ‘Somebody Loves You’ is awash with sky-scraping choruses, while bubblegum pop courses through its every vein. Yet, just when you think she might, as an artist, be veering too much into that hook and loop-heavy domain, tracks like ‘Right Here’ take us down to a melancholic and perfectly chilled ambiance.

‘You’re in Love’, meanwhile, has echoes of Ellie Goulding’s new Skrillex-assisted sound, but is a stand-alone pop gem in its own right. 

Closing track ‘High Society’ leans into a playful teen-pop hue, capturing that starry-eyed anticipation of entering the adult world of parties and staying out late, which for the most part, describes Betty Who’s energy down to a T.