squeak. speak. roar!

Hi all, I’m just back shortly with a blog entry which I promised a particular band I’d write after the elections.

My all-time favourite band Nizlopi has just released their latest single, Start Beginning (download full song here!), yesterday. The lovely song comes from their second LP called Make It Happen scheduled for general release on March 31.

Nizlopi is made up of Luke Concannon and John Parker from Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, England. I discovered them in December 2005 when I was still in UK and soaking up the miseries of a relationship break-up. I vividly recall that period. I was having the worst time of my life, you see. The only comfort I had then was the occasional long distance call. But above all comforts, I had sought solace most in the music I streamed from the internet.

Nizlopi made to #1 on the UK charts with their gorgeous song JCB Song. It was the innocence of it all that hit me. The soothing melody, the heart-warming lyrics, the Transformers reference - that did it for me as one of the best songs I’ve ever heard in a very long time. Their second single Girls was equally touching. The violin, the guitar, the bass and the tambourine articulated my sentimental disposition many times perfectly.

I had almost forgotten about them until one day, I downloaded some of their tracks. It was weird. I think it was a case of sudden manic depression and I needed comfort. Nizlopi was there. I also got a friend to buy their first album, Half These Songs Are About You, for me. I discovered their awesome website and proceeded to download their mini-album, ExtraOrdinary (listen to title track here!). True to their philosophy in writing heart-felt, simple and beautiful music - it was brilliant. They continued to blend hip hop with acoustics and John’s beatboxing is something I really can’t get over. He is amazing. Then there is Luke and his lyrical prowess - his words never fails to reduce me to tears as every strum of his guitar with his voice feels as though he is speaking to my very soul.

I’m not kidding. This is how sappy I am just as how wonderfully enriching Nizlopi is to my life. Here is a plug to the band who ’sang’ me through my break-up with their first album. I’ve already pre-ordered Make it Happen - in hope they will pull me through another.

I’v been listening to Yesterday several times today (haha). Savour the lyrical simplicity and download the album! Support independent music (like how we value independent media!) :)

Yesterday
Lyric by Luke Concannon
Performed by Nizlopi (Concannon/Parker)

I saw you yesterday
The words fell out our mouths
suddenly everything changed
The clouds all opened for us
Its the same as
Revelation chapters
Blooming out from pain
Everything we need today is

So listen close to me
Cos we are all at sea
And love’s a mystery
Love does this to me
All the anger here
All the pain inside
It makes me wanna hide
but I won’t wait tonight

Chorus
Cos the way you speak to me
My heart is opened up
I really know you love
You really know me love
And after all the stuckness
You and me just start to trust this … this love

Look into the world
it seems the suffering
Is raging on now
And we all are wondering
If we can build now
If we can overcome
And justice be the sun
In the heart of everyone

Going I really feel it, don’t you feel it in the world
I really feel it, don’t you feel it in our hearts
Going I really feel it, don’t you feel it in the world
I really feel it in this town

Chorus

This love that is here
This love that is our light
This chaos that smashes my insides
This cause for which we must fight
(Repeat once)

Chorus

There’s nothing more that I would really rather do
Than sit and talk right here now with you
Watch the rain clouds falling on this place
Watch the rain clouds move across your face

Yeah I’m here with you
And I’m broken too
We all are inside
Dreaming beneath this dark sky tonight

Thank you Nizlopi, for singing from your souls to mine :) I love you boys. Spread the love, yo!

Resources:
WEBSITES – www.nizlopi.com (official site), www.myspace.com/nizlopi (MySpace), www.fdmrecords.com/newsletter (mailing list)
UK TOUR – www.nizlopi.com/live
DOWNLOADS - www.fdmrecords.com/shop/
YOUTUBE - www.youtube.com/user/Nizlopi

Back to my break while I await Make It Happen when it’s released on the 31st! :)