After Dinner Dance Party // It's Summertime and Living is Easy

Hey amigos,


Hope you've all had a truly spiffing weekend! We've been in love with the recent rise in temperatures and in between the many events of the week, we have had been creeping out to spent some time in the sun whenever we can! Between us we've had a fancy dress 60th birthday celebrations (where a Miss Rhi made an appearence as J-J-J-Jessie J) whilst Lauren took an eve to babysit Little M, who was a little gem. Saturday night was so much fun, drinks with friends, watching The Moons perform and then a boogie at our favourite club night. We finished the weekend with a family Christening, and finally, some rest and sleep! 


For this week's After Dinner Dance Party, we're spinning some of our essential summertime tracks... 



 A teenage fave. The Strokes, 'Is This It' gets constant plays on the Twee Towers jukebox, but it's an absolute essential at this time of year. We're sure that Summer, more than any other season craves that feeling of teenage excitement... especially when Julian Casablancas & Albert Hammond Jr is involved! 


We came across Diane Birch in 2010 when she billed on the same festival line up as James in a run of gigs he did with The Lightning Seeds. We got hold of her album shortly after and it spent that summer on repeat. Adore this soulful, poppy number and the video is amaze too!




Last but certainly not least, the sensational Coconut Grove by The Lovin' Spoonful! This song instantly conjures up wishful dreams of faraway lands with a cool sea breeze! Enjoy... 


Next weekend is set to be another fab one as the Queen's Jubilee is almost upon us. What's everyone got planned for the long break?


Much love, 
Lauren & Rhi xx

English Summer!

Bonus post today! I know, we're biased but we absolutely love The Moons new video for upcoming single, English Summer, filmed at Bekonscot Model Village. Enjoy!

For more lunar news, videos and gig info, take a look at their facebook page.

Much love, 

L&R xx

After Dinner Dance Party // St. Vincent

Did anyone catch St. Vincent on Jools Holland last week? James had mentioned her name after catching the shorter show earlier in the week, so I thought I'd give it a listen. Couple of tracks later and I'd bought her album, 'Strange Mercy' Looking forward to giving it a whirl at the Twee Towers, After Dinner Dance Party playlist this eve to see what Rhi thinks! 

For those unfamilar with St Vincent, imagine the seductive airiness of Regina Spektor, transformed into ferocious, gargagy goodness, supplemented by intelligent arrangements and literate lyrics. Sooo good!  As much as we like sweet folky guitars, isn't it refreshing to hear that sweetness combined with a bit more fervor?

Interesting fact, Annie Clark, the beaut behind St. Vincent, is a former member of The Polyphonic Spree. She's since exchanged the robes and picked up some pretty sweet 60s style attire, too! Big love.

Here's St. Vincent performing, 'Cheerleader' on Jools Holland... 

Much love,

Lauren xx

After Dinner Dance Party // She's a Rainbow...

 If there's one thing to be thankful of during these relentless April Showers, it's the momentary flickers of sunshine that creates the most amazing double rainbows (...oh my gawwwd) across the sky! Situated quite high up on a hill with rolling fields in front of us, we get a pretty good view up here at Twee Towers.  This week, James & I have had the Twee Towers record player spinning with all things rainbow too! After up all my plays on Spotify, I decided to take the plunge and bought The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger's album.



The GOASTT are Sean Lennon and his beautiful girlfriend, Charlotte Kemp Muhl. The particular track, 'Rainbows in Gasoline' took a while to grow on me,  offering moments of optimism, quickly down played by striking minor notes and melancholy lyrics. The lyrics are inquisitive, psychedelic to the point of bordering on nonsensical.  Whilst the album itself, is at times upbeat (as a listener, you almost feel like your interrupting playful moments between the couple), I absolutely adore the acoustic versions of these songs. Recorded in the couple's home studio, the duets are melodic dreams, and usually accompanied by an array of fancy dress get-up...


If you enjoyed these tracks, take a listen to Schrodinger's Cat too - the chorus takes you in directions that you didn't think you were going to go, just too lovely!    Spotting a double rainbow calls for double the musical rainbow treats, right? We've also been listening to this on repeat...

  "She comes in colours everywhere, she combs her hair, she's like a rainbow..."  

Much love,

Lauren xx

PS.  You still have a chance to win a selection of Twee Treats in our One Year Giveaway ♥  

After Dinner Dance Party // Paint it, Black

Groomed by the Jack White school of monochrome & mystique, The Black Belles are an all-girl, 60s garage inspired quartet formed in Nashville. 
With a bewitching goth aesthetic of wide brimmed hats, matching pale complexions and shrouded in black lace, the first reason we love them is because they have clearly taken tips from our halloween style. 
The second reason has to be for their interesting back bio, or lack of, veiled in mystery, the only thing we've been able to find out about them is that they were allegedly all kicked out of girl scouts for poisoning cookies. We're not sure we believe this but we like a band who's a bit bad ass. 
Most of all we just love their authentic nod to the dark side of the sixties, championing the roughness of fuzz, analogue & layered with screeching organs. 
We're loving their fabulous cover of The Knickerbockers' hit, Lies... Enjoy!

Much love, Lauren xx

After Dinner Dance Party // Andy Crofts' Rope Mix

Roll up, roll up... we have some wondrous musical marvels to share with you today, with a selection of numbers chosen by Andy Crofts of UK band The Moons. The Rope mixes are, a host of playlists inspired by a love of the Hitchcock film of the same name, loaded with an unhinged array of dark delights to excite the minds of a listener with a penchant for the weird & wonderful.


Notably, the concept of the playlist itself, eerily mirrors the prolonged, suspenseful shots used by Hitchcock to draw the audience into an abyss of double meanings and a vortex of timbre.


With each individual mix devoted to exploring a different musical point of view, from the R&B driven Worlds of Wonder, to the blissful echoes of Late Night Smoke Rings, begging the listener to turn off their mind, relax and float down stream. A lovely modern day homage to the wonders of mid-century pirate radio... without the adverts!


It's seldom that we get to hear music choices from a plethora of our favourite artists, all under one roof. However, in his Circus on Mars, Andy has rounded up tracks from musical friends to bring you the ultimate, guest playlist!

★ROPE SPECIAL★ "Circus On Mars" by Andy Crofts (Rope) on Mixcloud

As well as choices from Andy Crofts, this playlist features additional great guest choices from the likes of James Buckley, The Horrors, Paul Weller, The Coral, Richard Hawley, Miles Kane, The Charlatans, The Stone Roses, Ocean Colour Scene and The Sundowners! Click on the playlist for the full track listing.

To keep up to date with The Moons, click here.

Enjoy!
Much Love,
L&R xx

After Dinner Dance Party // Vinyl Revival

It's time to put a new spin on an old feature! We're still dancing around the Twee Towers kitchen after dinner to make the tedious task of doing the dishes a little more entertaining but with stacks of vinyl that had been temporarily abandoned in our studio, we'll be using this slot to pull some of our old (and new!) records to share with you! So, concentrating on one vinyl a week, we're starting with one of our most recent purchases, 'Cat's Eyes' with their self titled album!

This album was the soundtrack to our summer last year and we've loved playing it in the studio again this week while we've been getting organised for the year ahead! Cat's Eyes are a duo formed by Rachel Zaffira, a renowned opera soprano and classical multi-instrumentalist and Faris Badwan, lead singer from the London based psych/shoe-gaze band 'The Horrors'.
At the moment, we're absolutely loving the Sixties revival that's beginning to emerge in contemporary tunes. Cat's Eyes, undeniably harks back to Sixties from the Phil Spector 'wall of sound' present in the drums to the wistful vocal delivery, that sounds a little Velvet Underground in the Nico days.
We just love the constant juxtapositions within the tracks; the orchestral production and garagy guitar sounds, the heart-warming melodies and the unsettling eeriness created by the reverb on the vocals. It's a great album to stick on while being creative!
It was so difficult to chose just one song from this album as they all have something really different to offer. We've went for 'Face in the Crowd', the first song that we heard as a introduction to the band for those that are unfamiliar. if you've got a moment, go on youtube and take a look at their gig at the vatican... stunning!



if you've been riffling through your vinyls, let us know what you've been listening to! To hear more Cat's Eyes, check out our Facebook for an additional After Dinner treat!
Happy Dancing!
Much love, L&R xx

The Moons // Double Vision Love video exclusive

She Dressed in Black are delighted to exclusively unveil The Moons video for the brilliant 'Double Vision Love', the first single from the eagerly awaited new album, entitled 'Fables of History'.



To hear this live, join The Moons at their London Christmas show at Bush Hall on Friday 2nd December! It's set to be a great night with support from The Sundowners and Flamingo Drive, so don't miss out and get your tickets here.
For more lunar exclusives and to keep up to date with what The Moons are up to take a look at www.themoons.co.uk or check out their Facebook and Twitter pages.
Much love, She Dressed in Black & The Moons x

After Dinner Dance Party // Girls With Guitars (and Ukeleles...)

Sometimes when we're busying ourselves in the studio (we're getting so much done! Its all moving so fast!) we like to throw slightly more chilled out After Dinner Dance Parties. Just girls with guitars (and ukeleles) - beautiful music to float about the house to and wonderful soundtracks for making charming things too!

Hope you enjoy this weeks slightly more mellow edition.

There will never be enough words to describe the brilliance and genius of Laura Marling. This darling doll produces songs so profound and heartwrenching its hard not to loose yourself in the worlds she spins with her enchanting lyrics... You'll feel she's looked into the darkest corners of your heart and plucked out your secrets and wrote a beautiful tune to accompany them for all the world to hear - her songs are relatable on so many levels. She's the only person we've ever come across who very rightfully deserves to be likened to the singing/songwriting high priestess Joni. Her third album is out a week today. Haven't looked forward to a release this much in a long time!

Simply adorable. This is one of those songs that brings a smile to your face no matter what sort of day you're having. First coming into the spotlight as a contestant on Australian Idol in 2006, some may recognise Lisa Mitchell's Neopolitan Dreams from a fabric softener advert... Love it when favourite songs come from such obscure places! Adoring the sweet video (and her pretty outfit) - don't you just wish you were dancing around a forest with prince charming, and having a tea party with dancing sunflowers right now...

We were already fans of the exquisite vocals and music stylings of Alessi's Ark, but oh, this cover of one of our all time favourite tracks, Lynyrd Skynyrd's Simple Man, is just hauntingly glorious! Just want to play it on repeat (and sometimes we do!)

We stumbled upon the exceptionally cute Sophie Madeleine quite by accident a couple of weeks ago and were taken by her sweet uke-rocking songs - The Rhythm You Started is the very catchy title track from her debut album released in July this year. One to watch we think! Listen to her lovely album here (Change the Numbers is a highlight!) and be sure to check out her fab 30 days of covers she recorded as a countdown to the album's release.

It wouldn't be right to publish this playlist without featuring the ultimate 'Girl with a Guitar.' She needs no introduction nor commentary... Joni Mitchell - Just Like Me (1966)

Happy dancing and daydreaming sweets.

Much love,

R&L xx

After Dinner Dance Party // The New Music Edition Volume 1

A new week and thus a new After Dinner Dance Party is taking place at Twee Towers. We thought you might like to hear some of the wondrous new bands that we've been listening to lately in our humble abode...

Some of you may have joined us for James Edward Bagshaw's journey through the The Moons' musical lunar-verse in his guest post a few weeks ago, when we danced to the songs that are influencing them as they mix their forthcoming album, 'Tales of the Unexpected'. Written by Andy Crofts, this demo perfectly evokes the wishful expectations and consequential disillusionment of an English summertime - topped with wonderful Brian Wilson esque harmonies to sweeten the inevitable rainy days! Incredible quintessential English footage too... love!

Southampton's mod-pop band The Lost Boys charmed us with their witty, tongue in cheek lyrics and playful nature that shines throughout this catchy tune. Britpoppy goodness from great, fresh British talent, can't wait to hear more!

Intrinsically cool; (like a Ramone in a leather jacket) the Dum Dum Girls are an all female outfit hailing from California. Splattering sweetness with punchy Siouxsie style punk, 'Bhang Bhang, I'm a burnout' has had us dancing around (angstily) for days.

By three dreamy girls based in London, Novella's single 'The Things You Do' combines the nonchalant intensity of Velvet Underground in their Nico era with seraphic vocals, whilst at the same time harking back to early nineties grunge and riot grrrl movements. Lush! We're hoping to catch Novella supporting the Dum Dum Girls at their upcoming tour.
Happy dancing lovelies!
Much love, L&R xx