Find Yourself a new Boy
Just a quick hello & a couple of tunes to show i'm still alive!
Though it was out a couple of weeks ago, the Late of the Pier album is great... possibly my favourite of the year so far.
It sounds like this:
I was recently sent an excellent remix of 'Bathroom Gurgle' by Artwork. Artwork were once known as Project New City & I once posted a track of theirs (On Arrival in Narita) from the first I Can Count compilation. This remix drops much of the Bowieisms & glam rock in favour of some uplifting synths & squelchy Digitalisms. The song sounds born this way.
LATE OF THE PIER - BATHROOM GURGLE (ARTWORK REMIX)
Forthcoming on October 6th are some remixes of Liquid Liquid's classic 'Optimo'... by Optimo themselves (naturally), Tim 'DFA' Goldsworthy, Matthew Dear & some guy called DJ Sample. It's the latter that i'm drawn to, with some classic techno chords swirling round the inevitable cowbell & that unmistakable jabbering vocal.
LIQUID LIQUID - OPTIMO (DJ SAMPLE REMIX)
Like the last few of their compilations, the new Kitsune Maison (Volume 6) is a mixed bag. As usual there are gems within though... usually when diverting from the electro house formula.
The opening track by Lo-Fi Fnk reminds me of how good they are, and I really enjoyed the track by Pnau. My favourite though is the closing track by Appaloosa (which was also the name used for some great drum 'n' bass tracks by Global Communication back in the day).
I'd been searching for an mp3 of this since reading about it in the Guardian & listening on myspace, so the CD dropped through the door with perfect timing. Ths song begins with a French chanteuse accompanied by piano... and just when you start to think 'hang on, she can't sing too well can she', a drum beat and a repeated chorus take you away into memory bliss.
APPALOOSA - THE DAY (WE FELL IN LOVE)
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Tuesday, September 09, 2008
I Heart Norway
I'm just back from a FANTASTIC weekend at the Numusic festival in Stavanger, Norway. I was lucky enough to be playing some records, but also got to stay & enjoy the Nuart part of the festival, where top graffiti artists like D*Face, Nick Walker, Herakut, Dolk, Know Hope & Zeus spend some time decorating the venue & city.
The whole festival was so inspiring. DJ Pinch & MC Dread were a particular highlight for me, having never experienced live dubstep in such an intimate environment. I felt it was a bit of an awakening for me.
DJ PINCH - BRIGHTER DAY
Copenhagen grime MC Lucy Love also killed it, with some sharp rhymes over tough minimal 909 beats.
Zombie Zombie were as awesome as ever & put me into a complete joyful trance. If you've not seen this unofficial 'The Thing' inspired video then check it.. it's ace.
Nouvelle Vague & Datarock were predictably great... and it was fantastic to see A Certain Ratio tear through 'Shack Up'.
A CERTAIN RATIO - SHACK UP
Lindstrom was mesmerising, though I think his set was cut short a little, and Pivot were immense. Intricate parts welded to beautiful melodies & crashing noise. Their new album on Warp (O Soundtrack My Heart) is excellent... check the following track & also 'Didn't I Furious' (which I posted a few months ago)/
PIVOT - SWEET MEMORY
Here's a small selection of pictures from NuArt, but check my friend Ian's for much better & more (he was official photographer or something).
All in all it was a pretty wonderful weekend, and if you're looking for a more interesting festival experience next year I can't recommend it enough. The music was fantastic, the girls are beautiful (and very friendly...), and the art is always superb.
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Banksy in New Orleans
Some fantastic new Banksy pieces up in the States. Some seem a response to a government clean up guy known as the 'Grey Ghost' who's been indiscriminately covering any graffiti in New Orleans with ugly grey paint. These are great:
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Saturday, August 16, 2008
I Like Candy
Since my last post i've turned 34, watched Batman (bit shit innit), got pissed at 5 art openings, gone to one of the last meetings at Walthamstow dogs, DJd on a porn set and watched a lot of Olympics (Yay, just stayed up to watch Rebecca Adlington win her second Gold... just need now for Chris Hoy & Bradley Wiggins to come back with 3 each!)
All of which means i'm a bit late in running this competition for three signed copies of the new Glimmers CD 'The Glimmers are Gee Gee Fazzi'. To win email me by midnight Tuesday with the names of the two Glimmer Twins.
It contains this amazing sleazy cover of Olivia Newton-John's 'Physical', so is well worth having.
THE GLIMMERS - PHYSICAL
And let us not forget that ON-J was rather hot in her day.
This is to do with a 'Hidden Depths' event that Chromeo are curating next Thursday. The line-up is secret, but looks pretty amazing from what i've seen. You can register for tickets here.
There are quite a few new 12"a coming on DFA, by people like Mock & Toof, Juan MacLean, Yacht and Runaway. The undoubted highlight is this Holy Ghost! remix of Panthers, that's every bit as good as their own 'Hold On'. Shimmering disco sounds drag you into a druggy haze, while the laid back 'on and on and on and on' vocal reminds you that the music keeps on playing all night long.
PANTHERS - GOBLIN CITY (HOLY GHOST! REMIX)
Coming soon on Merok records is 'La Basta' by LA band Rainbow Arabia. As the name suggests, there's an Arabian influence to their sound. A couple of husband & wife punks lost in the desert with nothing but a 4-track for company. Pretty awesome.
RAINBOW ARABIA - OMAR K
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Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Dogs aren't funny
It wasn't entirely sensible asking to be sent youtube clips while my internet connection was suffering one of it's regular 'even worse than usual' phases. A 0.1 MB connection is no fucking use for watching video.
Being the internet, I was basically sent a load of cats. Fantastic!
Dramatic Cat
Boxing Cat
Simon's Cat
Vicious Cat
Savage Cat Attack
Plus some crap stuff, some old stuff, some dodgy records and a LOL
After borrowing one of the national lottery machines for the evening, the name I plucked out of the draw was Craig Porter. Yay for Craig. He now has two tickets for Field Day.
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Competition
I forgot to say that if you want to go to Field Day you have until midnight tonight to entertain me via youtube.
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Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The Black Keys Work
This year's Field Day festival is approaching, and as well as another eclectic & interesting line-up we've been assured that we will be able to piss and get pissed this year. Despite the queues I had a great time last year, and with more bars, bogs & volume it should be a gay old time.
I've got a pair of tickets to give away. To win them (and I hope I don't live to regret this), just email me something interesting from youtube. It doesn't have to be music but it mustn't be PR. Mark your email 'watch this then give me some fucking tickets'.
For inspiration i've just watched a pretty interesting documentary about Northern Soul courtesy of Noodles and Broth, but sleepy puppies or suicidal Saudis are fine also.
How about some music then.
The latest excellent compilation from the Strut label focuses on 'Calypsoul' - Caribbean Soul from 1969 - 1979. It's mainly worth checking out for this killer opening track by 'The Revolution of St. Vincent'. I have no sleeve notes, i know nothing of the band. But I know good & this is it... and it sounds twice as sweet when listened to in this unrelenting heat.
THE REVOLUTION OF ST. VINCENT - THE LITTLE YOU SAY
Even more mysterious is this track I was sent the other day. I'm sure i'm not leading you up the garden path with another faux-Bangalter tune, but all i know about this is 'It's a secret track, and i can't tell you who it's by just yet. . It's a secret track by a really well known band... it'll be on the radio (also without a name..) and what not soon, but currently we're keeping it's identity secret..!
The high decending chords seem nicked straight from Glass Candy, but i'm at a bit of a loss as to who it might be. Rumour has it that Franz Ferdinand have a new disco-fied direction, so my shout is that it could be a new track by themselves. In fact i'm starting to become convinced of it. Anyone got any better ideas?
SECRET TRACK
Slightly less mysterious is the news that Riton has a new pseudonym for Modular records - 'Eine Kleine Nacht Musik'. He sounds like he's been listening to Jean Michelle Jarre & Stereolab, and this track (the album opener) is awesome, combining spaced out melodies with pounding krautrock drums. Must investigate further.....
EINE KLEINE NACHT MUSIK - ERTRINKEN
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Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Primitive World
Phew, well it's been a rather hairy week, with my newish Vista PC suddenly deciding to not recognise my external hard drive - containing all my music. I'm rather embarrassed to admit quite how much is on there, but suffice to say it would have been slightly annoying had I lost it all.
Fortunately though, after a bit of messing round with drivers it seems to be back in business. Relief all round.
As a result i've finally been able to fix that Brand Image track that didn't upload properly last week. Yay!
So today i've been mainly listening to a track I was first sent & indeed should have posted up last year. Tahiti Boy is a guy called David who's formed a band with people from Poney Poney, Bitchee Bitchee Ya Ya and sometimes TV on the Radio. They had a single out last year on Ed Banger offshoot Arcade Mode, and this was it.
Based on this single, he seems blessed with a similar gift for pop & melody as Phoenix, and there's something about the way the track gently crescendos towards the end that hooks you in & makes you skip straight back to the beginning again.
TAHITI BOY AND THE PALMTREE FAMILY - SHE WAS MINE
Tahiti Boy are playing their first UK gig next week... which could be interesting. It's clear that So Me wasn't roped in to design the flyer though!
Could there be another band with a worse but also tropical sounding name? Why yes... how about Desmond and the Tutus. Yep that's pretty bad.
This wasn't exactly what I was expecting from a release on Tiger Sushi records, and in fact on first impressions I thought it was quite bad... but like a Black Mamba from their home country, it slithered up on me and sunk it's fangs into my buttocks. I guess this is evidence of the Afrobeat influence that I hear is infecting indie music these days?
DESMOND AND THE TUTUS - KISS YOU ON THE CHEEK
If you're at a loose end on Friday could I heartily recommend a trip to Adventures Close to Home's new home in Shoreditch. I'm djing, and Alex & Will will be buying fancy cocktails for every single person who comes.**