Hi, my name's Laura and I have a problem...

My problem started about 7 years ago and is probably best illustrated in pictorial form:

 That's right, I'm addicted to Bete Noire!

I've included her jewellery in a previous post or two, but that doesn't really show the full extent of the collection I've acquired over the years. I also know for a fact that one necklace is packed away with my Christmas bits and have a nagging feeling that I'm missing a couple of necklaces but we've been slowly packing up the flat and I wouldn't know where to begin!

The addiction started about 7 years ago, at Newport tattoo convention, when Kim bought me a red, glittery necklace which read 'True Love'; at that point the company was known as Clutterfly. Soon after, I bought the Tea Cake necklace (pictured above) at another tattoo convention. I was heart broken when my True Love necklace broke from being worn too much (both literally and figuratively I guess!) and more so when I tried to replace it and found that the company was no more.

A few years passed and I continued to (very carefully) wear the Tea Cake necklace, but the True Love one had meant a lot as it was a gift from Kim. I was absolutely thrilled when Bete Noire somehow popped up on my news feed and I went to the website with the purpose of replacing the broken hearts. Clearly, since then I have overcompensated! I live in these necklaces. You don't have to go far to find pictures of me wearing them.

(True Love in Pink Glitter, Misery Chick (discontinued? and now a little green thanks to zombie make up!), Cara Mia)

 There are quite a few reasons why I love these necklaces so much. Firstly, the options are pretty much endless - they make the most amazing custom pieces which I find myself coveting and wishing I'd had the idea first; they add a bit of fun to any outfit; they always get commented on and I have no problem sending anyone Beth's way; I love to support little companies who put their hearts into their work; Beth (the owner) is a sweetheart; they are really good quality...I could go on and on.

My most recent two arrived yesterday with the sweet little bonus of a chocolate brooch (now pinned to my leather jacket). I have a little in common with Beth as she seems to have a bit of a soft spot for all things goff too. I'd been after the Adam's Family inspired Cara Mia necklace since she first posted it on Instagram so it was inevitably going to join the rest soon, and how better to decorate a Cat Heart than with Jack off Jill lyrics? Both beautifully glittery and on black chains. I can't get over the little hand made rose. So perfect!

The moons are probably the most frequently worn as I can get away with them for work. The girls in my year 10 class regularly tell me that they think they're lovely. I also bought them in 'Blue Agate' for my bridesmaids because they were so cute and I love to see that they still wear them too <3

The necklaces themselves range between about £9 and £18, which I think is a bit of a bargain considering they are all hand made and hand painted. The amount of time and work that she puts in is phenomenal.

So although I would say that my Bete Noire love has turned into something of an addiction, I won't be seeking any help. In fact, I would go as far as to suggest that other people develop the addiction as well!

Lollipop Listens to...Bolshy.

On Thursday, I was on the train to London, enjoying some of that rare, British sun (I know, crazy right?) and scrolling through my music selection to pick something to match my mood. I was on my way to see one of my closest friends, who I haven't seen in a long time, and it's been a pretty good week, so I needed something happy and sunny. It didn't take long to find...as soon as I hit B, I knew that Bolshy would be the soundtrack to that train journey.

Bolshy are a band I was introduced to last summer, after my husband came back from playing Dirty Weekend festival. Of all the bands he had seen, he knew they would be right up my street: sunny sounding, calypso-y ska. On first listen, I was hooked. The horns, guitars, vocals...where to start? And to top it off, a really strong message behind the lyrics, which I love. 

I soon bought their debut E.P. Radical. Anarchic, Bolshy. Scouse. (available here for just £2!) and it has been one of my go to listens ever since.

The E.P. is 5 tracks long and each has its own style, showing the variety this band brings.

Counting Fucks, the opening track, is a fast tempo number, with a zero fucks attitude (hence the name!). The layers in this song create a really interesting listening experience, drifting between clean, calm vocals and fast tempo-ed guitars, with a really dirty sounding trumpet solo (in the best possible way; I love the way it sounds!), all underpinned with a stunning bass line. A really catchy opener...I have had it stuck in my head so many times and usually when it would be really inappropriate to start singing!

The next track, Dead Worm, is a calypso inspired track, with a much calmer sound (it reminds me of Dirty Rev's later stuff.) It's a bit more stripped back but builds really nicely and is definitely one for those lovely, sunny days. Spaceman (track four) also channels this sunnier sound. It is slightly faster, with a much more urgent bass line, pulling you through with the fast paced horns and twisting vocals (I'm so envious of the singer's stunning voice!). It eventually breaks down into a more dub sounding beat, with echoing upstrokes on the guitars and complex bass line, the odd blast of horns in the background, before picking up again to the chorus.

Payroll Call is an obvious message to those who have tried to steer them away from a musical path to "regular" jobs. The sound of this song is a lot darker and dirtier than the other songs (again, in a really good way!) The shared vocals on this are a really nice touch and I would love to hear more of it in their music.

The E.P. ends on No Means No, a feminist number - definitely something which I have a lot of time for. This song is a lot heavier than the rest, which I think definitely backs up their anger towards rape culture and victim shaming. Again, this track is a journey, with some really hectic, heavy parts and some calmer parts, highlighting the talent of the individual musicians in the band. I love the bass and drums together in the break down towards the end and the alternating horns as it begins to pick up again. They really are a talented bunch!

As someone who sings for a ska-punk band (Take Warning - our debut E.P. can be found here), these guys are really something I aspire to. Can't wait to catch them live!

Laura xx