7and7is

7and7is has moved.....

2009-03-02T21:44:00.002+01:00

....over to my new Squarespace host.

El Rey The Wedding Present

2008-05-30T15:23:00.003+01:00

New album from one of my favourite bands. Still waiting for my copy grrrr.

http://www.scopitones.co.uk/

Listen to some tracks at Myspace

http://www.myspace.com/theweddingpresent

Full review once I've had a listen!

Modern Jazz Quartet: Odds Against Tomorrow

2007-08-31T14:33:00.000+01:00

This was the title track from the film score by John Lewis played by the Modern Jazz Quartet.
Check out this Noir of the Week posting for a great introduction to the film.

This track did more than any other in getting me interested in jazz. Its a highly atmospheric piece that shows off Milt Jacksons playing in particular.

I heard this track on an ep "European Concert"that my elder brother owned but you can find it on re-release on a CD.

Odds against tomorrow (mp3)

Melon Galia

2007-08-22T19:19:00.000+01:00

I've been discovering a lot of good french bands via emusic and this is the first one I'd like to share with you. Tho in fact these are belgian...

Their debut album, "Les embarras du quotidien", owes a big debt to Belle & Sebastian and the Smiths, but Melon Galia are no mere copyists. They had one of the stand out tracks "Les Mensonges" (mp3 below) on the weird and wonderful "L'Humeur Vagabonde: Hommage À Jeanne Moreau" Its available from e-music. Their cd is available as below. Sadly they are now no more. Their Myspace page announced...

Melon Galia unfortunately split in 2004. So : download our songs, make the adventure go on, and check out our solo projects in Samir Barris, Soy un caballo and Le Yéti.

USA

"Les Embarassas du Quotidien" (Melon Galia)

UK

"Les Embarass Du Quotidien" (Melon Galia)

Les mensonges (mp3)

Crackle and Pop 6: Tom Waits :Downtown Train (NME Version)"

2007-04-24T12:22:00.001+01:00

Tom Waits "Downtown Train (NME Version)" was part of NME GIV 3 7" from February 1986.

I loved early Tom Waits but got a bit lost when he started banging bones together. This was made into something horrible by Rod Stewart. Listen to this original and its fantastic steely guitar sound.

Downtown Train (NME Version) mp3

7and7is - Best of 2006

2006-12-08T22:31:00.001+01:00

Its that list time of the year so heres my best of 2006. Its been a pretty good year for new music and both James Yorkston and Joanna Newsom were new to me this year. So in no particular order:

Scott Walker - The Drift

Lambchop - Damaged

Yo La Tengo - I am not afraid of you and I will beat your ass

Scritti Politti - White Bread Black Beer

James Yorkston - Year of the Leopard

Joanna Newsom - Ys

Lloyd Cole and The Commotions - Forest Fire (live in London 1985)

2006-10-31T13:45:00.000+01:00

I have had a couple of requests to repost this but I had lost my own file and I've had to transfer again from vinyl.
Its taken from an old NME free ep "Drastic Plastic" in September 1985.
This particular ep featured Prefab Sprout, Style Council, Robert Cray and the Lloyd Cole and the Commotions track Forest Fire. Details of all the other free eps can be found here.

Lloyd apparently has no memory of this when I asked about this on his weblog he replied "Was it really 1985?? I thought it was '84.. No memories, I'm afraid. Who else was on it? Was it Billy Bragg??"

Forest Fire(Live in London 1985) (mp3)

James Yorkston: New CD

2006-10-29T11:39:00.000+01:00

James Yorkston has been constantly playing on my iPod for the past few weeks as I belatedly discovered him via the BBC TV folk progammes. The new cd "The Year of the Leopard".
is another collection of folkish tunes that insinuate into your unconscious the more you play them. He comes from Fife and is part of the wider "Fence Collective" based in the East Neuk of Fife. Reviews of the new cd can be found at The Guardian and Drowned in Sound.
Various tracks can be streamed from Domino Records.
Two links below to tracks available via James's MySpace site.

Surf Song (live) (mp3)
I Know My Love (demo) (mp3)

Yo La Tengo want to beat your ass!

2006-09-28T19:45:00.000+01:00

The great new album from Yo La Tengo is now available from your favourite record shops and at eMusic. "I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass" features some more muscular tracks than the previous "Summer Sun" cd. It starts with the rumbling squalfest of "Pass the Hatchet..." (see mp3 link below) and proceeds through 77 minutes to touch base with most song styles you can think of ending with the fuzzed out "Story of Yo La Tengo".
An in-depth review can be read over at Pitchfork.
They are on tour this autumn and I hope to catch them at The Sage, Gateshead.
If you have never seen the wonderful spoof that The Onion did on the band follow the link below!

"37 Record-Store Clerks Feared Dead In Yo La Tengo Concert Disaster"

Lots of mp3s available from the official website. Including the two below from the new album.

"Pass The Hatchet I Think I'm Goodkind" (mp3)

"Beanbag" (mp3)

Local Boy Makes Good: Green Gartside

2006-08-24T11:09:00.000+01:00

The re-emergence of Green Gartside and the new Scritti Politti album 'White Bread, Black Beer' has been one of this years highlights so far.

I have to acknowledge some vague connection to Green as I was at his old school (Croesyceiliog Grammar School, Cwmbran, South Wales) at the same time as he was, however Green being a couple of years younger, he obviously was off my radar ;-)
But he probably hung around the town centre (pictured below) as we all did, waiting for something to happen (it invariably never did) and thats why all who could, moved on and away.

The new cd shows Green on top form, with excellent songs and tunes and the return of one of pops great voices.

A fantastic site for all things Scritti (audio, videos etc) is bibbly-o-tek.

Road to No Regret (mp3)

Lambchop: Damaged

2006-07-25T12:17:00.000+01:00

The new Lambchop album "Damaged" is released next month and a short european visit is currently underway before a major autumn tour worldwide.
I'm off to see them at the Sage in Gateshead, UK this Saturday, its a stunning venue for any band and its looking to be a great night. The tracks I've heard so far sound like classic Lambchop with a bit more bite than the good but patchy "Ah C'mon/No you C'mon".

Its been gathering some very good reviews from, for example, the Observer
and also entertainmentwise.com plus a review of the title track "Paperback Bible" over at Pitchfork.

Paperback Bible (mp3)

The Return of Scott Walker

2006-06-11T22:02:00.000+01:00

Well he hasn't really been away, though it has taken him a few years to follow up 'Tilt' his last vocal album. (Pola X being film music).
Its another step into stripped down scaryness that has been gathering excellent reviews and notices.

"Fuck me, this is terrifying! .... Everything is ghostly, drifty,
abstract, croony, brooding" (Momus)

The Drift reviewed @ Pitchfork
The Drift reviewed @ Brainwashed

His new label 4AD has excellent links to a microsite and other fan sites.
There is even a 10 minute segment of Scott being interviewed on The Culture Show up on YouTube

I've now listened to The Drift a few times and it is a difficult listen but it will repay your attention with some of the most innovative music you will hear in a long time. Its available to download at eMusic.

Jesse (mp3)

Folk Brittania: Nic Jones

2006-04-16T21:41:00.000+01:00

Nic Jones was one of a group of musicians who were in the vanguard of the British folk revival in the late 60s and 70s. As his official site says

'An untimely car accident in February, 1982 abruptly ended his career and the legacy of the serious injuries he sustained is that Nic has not been able to work since.'

I can remember hearing Nic first on the John Peel show and loving his percussive guitar style (see also Davey Graham, Richard Thompson) and gravelly voice.

He was a strange omission from the recent BBC Folk Brittania shows and I rediscovered him due to the wonderful eMusic and his album Penguin Eggs.
The present story of his early albums is a controversial and convoluted one, and Nic doesn't recieve any royalties from them. So you are best advised to purchase Penguin Eggs and the two supurb home produced anthologies.

"In Search of Nic Jones"

and "Unearthed"

Both can be ordered here.

Lots more information can be found at the following.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nic_Jones

http://www.kneeling.co.uk/pages/nicjones/default.asp

http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart338.htm

http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart437.htm

cannadee i o (mp3)
humpback whale (mp3)

Folk Brittania: James Yorkston

2006-02-24T15:40:00.000+01:00

The BBC4 series Folk Brittania has showcased old and new 'folk' artists. James Yorkston is originally from Fife and has been/is a part of the Fife based Fence Collective , but now lives in Edinburgh.
The Fence Collective also include the increasingly popular King Creosote.
His sound is similar to some of the New American Folkies eg Devendra Banhart and Sufjan Stevens.
Lots of mp3s can be found on his website , live tracks, demos etc, its well worth exploring.
Some direct links are given below.

Movin' up country (mp3)

Pepparmyntste (mp3)

Lost Gems: Bridget St John

2006-02-08T09:03:00.000+01:00

Bridget St John was a stalwart of the John Peel show in the late 60s and early 70s and recorded albums for his short-lived Dandelion Records label.

She had a voice that sounded like an english accented Nico, and has recently re-appeared performing with Devendra Banhart.
The track I remember most vividly from sessions on Peel is Fly High from the 'Thank You For...' album. After the recent re-discovery of Vashti Bunyan it would be good to think that Bridget St John could get some belated recognition.

Her first three albums have been re-released by Cherry Red Records with extra tracks.

Fly High (mp3)

Lost Gems: Procul Harum 1967

2006-02-07T14:33:00.000+01:00

Lost Gems: Procul Harum

One of the first albums I ever bought was Procul Harums 1967 eponymous début.
Though the band were best known for the hit “A Whiter Shade of Pale” this didn't appear on the original UK release, but was added to the USA issue.

If you have only heard the single you are in for a treat! The album is heavy on blues and Dylan influences and the Hendrix style guitar of Robin Trower.

If you want to learn more then a great fan site can be found here.

Buy from Amazon.uk
Buy from Amazon.com

Cerdes (Outside the Gates of) (mp3)

Something Following Me (mp3)

Crackle and Pop 6: Strawberry Switchblade

2005-12-21T13:13:00.000+01:00

This is one of thebaywindowgirls favourite bits of 12" vinyl. Its pop and its great, and surely you knew that?
All you would want to know about the band and more can be found at the excellent Strawberry Switchblade.net

Possibly one of the best resources on a single band I've come across, go spend some time there.
Also very good is the Deep Water fan site.

'Since Yesterday' was a slice of Pop confection custom baked for the most demanding of bitter-sweet teeth. Everything was in its place; it soared and swooned in just the right amounts, and fittingly it made Strawberry Switchblade stars in the public domain. It catapulted them from sharing photocopied pages with the Pastels and the Membranes to sharing the glossy colour pages of Smash Hits with Duran Duran and Boy George, and it sat them in peculiar juxtaposition with Mike Reid on Saturday morning TV.'
(From 'Strawberry Switchblade: A Personal History by Alistair Fitchett)

Since Yesterday (mp3 vinyl 12")
By the Sea (mp3 from Strawberry Switchblade.net)

These were the original 7" A and B sides, but the 12" had the following as an extra track, a dreamy cover of the Velvet Underground classic.
Sunday Morning (mp3 from Strawberry Switchblade.net)

Belle and Sebastian - Another Sunny Day

2005-12-08T13:12:00.000+01:00

The new Belle and Sebastian CD "The Life Pursuit" is released in the new year,(Feb 7, 2006) but has already "leaked" onto the internet. Its not as heavily produced as the last Trevor Horn production, thank god!. I still feel that "Tigermilk" and "If your feeling sinister" were the bands best moments. Something more than a bass player was lost with the departure of Stuart David...
Yes they can all play their instruments now, but that was, to me, never the point of B & S.

The new CD has a interesting blend of influences, T-Rex , The Bay City Rollers, glam rock, and I swore "We are the sleepyheads" is based on a Haircut 100 track! Which is ok, mostly, but the better songs hark back to the fey innocence of the early years. Matador Records have made one track available from their website and "Funny Little Frog" will be the first single released prior to the album.

Another Sunny Day (mp3)

The live performance of the "If Your Feeling Sinister" CD is now also available via iTunes only, with proceeds going towards the Asian Quake appeal.

Laura Cantrell: Keep It Peel @ Queen Elizabeth Hall

2005-11-02T16:04:00.000+01:00

Perhaps the most moving performance at this years Peel concert in London came from Laura Cantrell. She had to follow The “Mighty” Fall and did so with a set that will tear your heart out. No more words…go listen.

Laura Cantrell Peel Day Concert (mp3, 18.3mb, correct file now attached)

Lots of exclusive mp3s at the link below.
http://www.lauracantrell.com/downloads.asp

Crackle and Pop 5 - Love Song for the Dead Che

2005-10-12T13:05:00.000+01:00

I bought this single in 1968 after hearing the "A" side "The Garden of Earthly Delights" on the Pete Drummond show. The United States of America were a great psychedelic band who created a unique sound developed by band member Joe Byrd, mixing early electronics and treated vocals with electric violin and guitars. Though this "B" side is much more downbeat and an obvious and acknowledged influence on both Broadcast and Portishead.

'Love Song for the Dead Che' is - according to the Dusted review - ‘Burt Bacharach on downers...'

Pitch fork describes the bands leader...
'Former UCLA ethnomusicology instructor Joseph Byrd concocted miracles with musique concrete-style tape collages and white noise blurts that veered in and out of the songs like uninvited but still welcome guests.'

Love Song For The Dead Che (MP3, Vinyl rip)

emusic - 50 free downloads offer

2005-10-07T13:37:00.000+01:00

There are now many different legal downloads sites available, but eMusic is one of the best. I picked up on this from Canadian Alan Williamsons blog Sixeyes, who you all have subs to anyway? If not go and visit right away!

eMusic currently has a offer of 50 free downloads which I have taken up. They have a wide selection of indie labels signed up and I will definitely be keeping my subscription.

I got into a countryish/folkish mood while on the site and went for the following.

Lambchop - Is a woman. (Very downbeat album from Kurt and the gang but that suits me fine)

Richard Thompson - Old Kit Bag (bit of a mixed bag really, some strong songs from RT but also a lot of very ordinary tunes)

The Be Good Tanyas - Chinatown (love it, not heard anything by this band before and I will be back for the first cd next month)

Nic Jones - Penguin Eggs (completely blown away by this so Nic will get a whole entry of his own very soon!)

Steeleye Span - Please to See the King (excerpts) (was as good as I remembered and will download the rest next month)

The site is also Mac friendly, with a good download manager for OSX.

The Clientele - Strange Geometry

2005-08-31T12:44:00.000+01:00

A new Clientele cd is always to be looked forward to and this one is no exception. Pitchfork described 'Since K Left Me' the first single off the new album 'Strange Geometry' as "...total 60s sunshine pop." Its the first track and a great way to start an album complete with its Beach Boy musical quotes. The Clientele trademarks of glistening guitars and hazy vocals are featured throughout, but also complemented on some tracks this time round by string quartet arrangements by Louis Philippe.

Tracks from the album and other rarities can be found at the bands Myspace site.
You can buy the album from Pointy and Merge or from the wonderful Norman Records.

Alasdair the Clienteles guitarist/vocalist recently appeared on BBC 6Music. You can stream the programe from here (this link will expire shortly) he is on about 1.42 minutes in. Or you can download the programme segment below.

The Clientele live on Gideon Coe (mp3)

To meet other Clientele enthusiasts subscribe to the Lacewings mailing list

Stars:Set Yourself On Fire

2005-08-11T12:35:00.000+01:00

Stars new album has been out in Canada since last autumn, but is only released in the UK/USA this month. The uk sleeve has been changed from the great original, to this horrible conception. So buy an original Canadian copy here!
The music is a great mix of guitar and synth pop and sounds like a amalgam of Slowdive (particularly on the 'Ageless Beauty" single), Prefab Sprout, (look no further than The Big Fight) St Etienne and surprisingly (and sadly now no more) The Delgados.

Ageless Beauty (mp3)
The Big Fight (mp3)

Happy days are here again...WooHoo!

2005-08-04T08:36:00.000+01:00

The Broken Family Band - Welcome Home Loser (Track & Field HEAT 32)

The Broken Family Band inhabit a dark and scary space between alt-country and indie and on this their latest release completely fulfill the potential shown on earlier eps and albums.
A black humour pervades these songs of failed and failing relationships, "we can fuck each other over just for fun," indeed!
The lyrics are wrapped up in gorgeous tunes and instrumentation, with guitars , guitars, guitars (and sometimes a banjo). They should be huge, they shouldn't have to work 9-5!
Go buy a copy immediately!

Honest Mans Blues (mp3) from 'Welcome Home, Loser.'

The Perfect Gentleman (mp3) from 'The King Will Build A Disco' mini-album

Crackle and Pop 4

2005-07-11T12:48:00.000+01:00

Everything But The Girl - Native Land

Everything but the Girl are Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt, who met at Hull University though both were already involved in music, Tracey more successfully via the Peel favourites the Marine Girls. The first joint album as EBTG was the very successful "Eden" (1984) a blend of minimalist guitars, vocals and jazzy influences. But they were never a group to stick to just one sound.
Its now late 1984 and Margaret Thatcher is possibly the most hated (by all left leaning folk) PM of all times. Lots of groups started railing against her via songs, but who would have thought that our bossa nova based chums EBTG would have been so radicalized? I suppose their songs had examined the personal politics of relationships so this was a natural progression. The album that followed in 1985 "Love not Money" explored the themes begun in Native Land. EBTG had also by now got over their Getz/Gilberto obsession and had found a new one - The Smiths, the album and this single being much more driven by chiming electric guitars. Here, on Native Land they even got Johnny Marr to play the harmonica!

Native Land (mp3 vinyl single)

David Gedge

2005-07-08T09:25:00.000+01:00

David Gedge (Cinerama, The Wedding Present) was the guest on Andrew Collins 6Music show last Sunday.
Listen to the whole show via the BBC, or download the Gedge section below.

David Gedge on 6Music (mp3)

Splinter Magazine: your new best friend

2005-07-07T12:19:00.000+01:00

Feel all alone in your musical world?

Mojo and Uncut not covering your interests?

Help is at hand...Splinter is an excellent new music magazine first issue available now.

The magazines aim is

"... to give time, space and adoration to those bands who get misaligned, misinterpreted or criminally ignored all together. We want to cover these bands with insight, intelligence, wit, and passion. It's a simple plan."

That's sounded ok with me and after receiving my copy (£2.75 by post) its born out by the content. Interviews with British Sea Power, Degrassi, Hood, The IK+ ,The Kills, Love Ends Disaster, and David Gedge. Plus features onThe Fall's history, Sarah Records, and The Field Mice. The article and photos on Yorkshires finest Hood are worth the price alone and any magazine smart enough to appreciate the supreme talent of David Gedge deserves your money.

Now if they could only do a feature on The Clientele ...

Summer Sad Music: Damon and Naomi

2005-06-23T13:30:00.000+01:00

Damon and Naomi are Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang. And as the official website states....

"Once upon a time (1987-1991) Damon & Naomi played in a band called Galaxie 500. They made three albums: Today (1988), On Fire (1989), andThis Is Our Music (1990)."

Bit like saying Lou Reed and John Cale played in a band called the Velvet Underground! Galaxie 500 are now cited by all sorts as an influence, tho at the time they were terribly overlooked and undervalued.
Galaxie 500 imploded/exploded around 1990/1 and Damon and Naomi, after some hesitation began life as a duo. The latest cd "The Earth Is Blue" is a lovely collection of breathy vocals and shimmering guitars, its perfect summer music as the temperature soars here in the UK.
Buy it direct from the website shop.

Beautiful Close Double (mp3)

Crackle and Pop 3

2005-05-22T16:58:00.000+01:00

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - NME Drastic Plastic ep 1985

The NME gave away lots of vinyl goodies in the form of the above ep during the eighties, as well as the better documented cassettes (C86 etc).
This particular ep featured Prefab Sprout, Style Council, Robert Cray and the Lloyd Cole and the Commotions track Forest Fire, a live version of the rattlesnakes song that has stayed a favourite of mine and has not to my knowledge been issued again. It was a surprising omission from the otherwise excellent recent rattlesnakes anniversary re-issue.

Forest Fire (mp3, vinyl rip)

It's raining today - Scott Walker's melancholic genius

2005-05-01T11:13:00.000+01:00

(Scott Walker 1967)

Coming into the public eye via The Walker Brothers 60's pop epics (The Sun aint gonna shine, My ship is coming in etc.) Scott Walker left the two other "Brothers" in 1967 for a career that has had many ups and downs as he passed from pop stardom into cult obscurity.
He has though, produced over the years a body of work distinctive enough to make him a major influence on people like Julian Cope, Brian Eno, David Sylvian and Jarvis Cocker. He produced the last Pulp album and has recently signed for the 4AD label and a new record is promised...

He hasn't got a huge web presence but Montague Terrace has some good articles and images and a mailing list can be subscribed to at Yahoo Groups.

Decent biogs can be found at Artists Direct and The Rough Guide to Music.
You can even watch a performance (thanks to Bedazzled blog for the link to this) of Scotts from a 1967 Dusty Springfield show.

The best starting point for newcomers to Scott is probably the "Boy Child" compilation available at amazon.uk and amazon.com.

Plastic Palace People (mp3, from "Scott 2")

It's Raining Today (mp3, from "Scott 3")

Dealer (mp3, from "Climate of Hunter")

Crackle and Pop 2

2005-04-21T14:03:00.000+01:00

The Small Faces have sometimes been overlooked as one of the premier mod bands of the sixties, but they have been given their dues in this recent NME Originals on Mods. (For all things mod visit here!)
After The Who they were my favourite mod band and were a particular favourite of teenage girls everywhere due to there boyish good looks. (Steve Marriots trademark centre parting hairstyle was requested in many gents barbers!)
They had a string of excellent hits, fab clothes and groovy shoes, but were plagued by label problems that didn’t help their career and led to Steve Marriot leaving to join Peter Frampton in Humble Pie (bad, bad, move). The rest of them joined up with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood (both pinched from Jeff Becks group, he was not amused) to form The Faces, the ultimate good time band.
The Small Faces don't have much of a web presence, but a decent fan site can be found here, and Ian McClagan has his own website with stories pictures etc.
There is now at long last a cd collection that does them justice. “The Ultimate Collection” available from Amazon.uk, and (at a price) Amazon.com.

A favourite of mine is "I Feel Much Better” the “b” side to 1967's “Tin Soldier” Both tracks benefiting from the backing vocals of P.P. Arnold. (Who had a major hit of her own with “First Cut is the Deepest”). I think this was bought cheap after it had charted from the bargain bin of the local department store, the way I obtained most of my vinyl!

I Feel Much Better (mp3/vinyl rip/mono)

The ambient life - David Sylvian

2005-04-05T16:24:00.000+01:00

David Sylvian has been one of the great survivors of the early eighties. The goldfish bowl of life in his early band Japan became intolerable and they split and he started a solo career that has seen a wealth of fine music produced over numerous albums.
Spike magazine has an interesting article on how his spiritual quest has affected his music. Over at the BBC there is a Japan/David Sylvian RR Buyers Guide. Mainly for the early solo stuff. A good starting point would be the two anthologies "Everything and Nothing" (vocal) and "Camphor" (instrumental). I rate him (along with Scott Walker) one of my all time favourite vocalists.

His recent album "Blemish" has now been followed by a remix version of the album. And an album with his brother and ex-Japan drummer Steve Jansen is also in the pipeline.

MP3s can be found on his official site (a bit flash heavy), they are added to regularly and include live and remixed or revised versions of tracks. Many other music and video downloads are available at the main fan site.

Crackle and Pop 1

2005-03-31T12:10:00.000+01:00

Its autumn 1963, I’m 10 years old and I’m off to buy my first piece of vinyl. I’m with my best mate Roger and ….. my dad! This was the deal, Roger would buy the “Twist and Shout” ep and I would buy “The Beatles Hits “ ep. Sensible lads eh?
We dumped dad on the way back, took the records straight back to Rogers house and loaded up his Radiogram. Now this was an impressive bit of kit, an immense wooden cabinet with a radio and record deck.
Then complete with two tennis rackets we proceeded to sing along to both eps, Roger doing John and me opting for left handed Paul. You had to make your own entertainment etc….. Though this was probably a scenario being echoed up and down the UK.

“The Beatles Hits” was originally released in September 1963 and lots of anoraky details can be found here on Steves Beatles site.

Interesting detail from the cover is that all songs are credited to “McCartney-Lennon” though the blurb on the back refers to the songs as being by Lennon and McCartney. Paul has obviously never forgiven Lennon for this.
A favourite of mine was “Thank You Girl” originally the b side of “From Me to You” released in April 1963. I particularly liked the wailing harmonica and the pounding drums.

All the mp3 files featured are taken from my original vinyl, so the quality is…crap, obviously. But you can’t beat the authentic sounds of crackle and pop.!

Thank You Girl (mp3)

My Vinyl Record

2005-03-24T17:08:00.000+01:00

I wanted to give some focus to this blog and the purchasing of a new record deck (I know its cheap!) and an iMic have given me the technology and the excuse I need!
I’m still going to do ad hoc posts but I now have something to aim for. I’m going on a journey through my collection of vinyl singles and eps, starting with the early sixties and continuing through the decades.
I’m quite excited about this and I hope you will discover some stuff you don’t know or have forgotten about. There will be crap anecdotes from my early record buying years and scans of scuffed and torn record sleeves, great!

"It's quiet on the prairie"

2005-03-02T13:55:00.000+01:00

Saw Kid Dakota perform on tour with Low and was completely blown away with the songs and the performance.
Darren Jackson, leader of this Minneapolis indie band is most often associated with drummer Christopher McGuire and aided on this tour by both Zak and Alan from Low.
The drumming of McGuire has to be experienced to be believed and was worth the price of admission alone.

Two cds are available "So Pretty" and "The West is the Future". Or order from the wonderful Norman Records.

So Pretty (mp3)

10,000 Lakes (mp3)

Momus and the Devil

2005-02-19T14:59:00.000+01:00

Well a bloke with the hairstyle of the devil anyway ;-)
As promised a couple of older Momus tracks.

One from his 1995 album Slender Sherbet
which was a album of new versions of songs from the 80s. "The Hairstyle of the Devil" is an acoustic take on the original beats and keyboards version. There is an obvious heavy debt to Jacques Brel throughout this version.

The Hairstyle of the Devil (mp3)

Momus has unfortunately been overlooked in the history of the development of the pop and dance music synthesis. He was making the same connections as the Pet Shop Boys and New Order, but never got the credit for it.

And on to the best album the Pet Shop Boys never made, 1993s Timelord.
"Enlightenment" is one of the finest songs written about AIDs that I know (oh except for the PTBs "Being Boring" obviously).

Enlightenment (mp3)

Songs in Hard Times: Richard Thompson

2005-02-07T14:50:00.000+01:00

I have been listening to the excellent Decemberists a lot recently, a band that has obviously studied the English Folk-Rock genre in detail, so a post on one of its major players seemed timely.
Richard Thompson has been making excellent music since the sixties, when he was a founding member of Fairport Convention. Then a sort of Jefferson Airplane for the UK but later on and many line-up changes later pioneers of English folk-rock.
He also played on Nick Drakes classic “Bryter Layter” (they were both on Island records, and both discovered/produced by Joe Boyd).
He has a huge talent for writing memorable songs, backed with astounding note bending acoustic and electric guitar playing. In Autumn 2003, Rolling Stone rated Richard Thompson No. 19 of the World’s 100 Greatest Guitarists.
His excellent website Beesweb has many mp3s available for download, mostly unavailable on cd.
One of his most interesting recent projects has been “100 years of Popular Music” A cd a tour and soon a DVD!

Maybe its the Baywindow girl

2005-01-21T14:45:00.000+01:00

Momus is in fact Nick Currie. An original Creation Records artist signed by Alan McGee in 1987. His output has been vast and various and I hope to post up some older tracks another time. He has caused much controversy over his lyrical content (explicit sexual references) and his openness and willingness to talk and sing about sexual politics from a male perspective.
The NME loved him... for "Tender Pervert"

"One of the most provocative, intelligent songwriters around; someone who'll tackle sexuality, (im)morality, and the sins of the world with almost embarrassing sincerity." Len Brown, NME

..and hated him... for "Hippopotamus"

"Momus is a bit like a mussel: it tastes good when swallowed whole, but examine it too closely and it looks as disgusting as a shrivelled, unidentifiable piece of sexual organ. Spit it out immediately." Betty Page, NME

He has lived in London, New York, Paris, Tokyo and (presently) Berlin.
He has an excellent web presence including his own blog and newsgroup.
Recently he has posted up "Oskar Originals" comprising mp3s of the original versions of the songs on the 2003 album from Momus, Oskar Tennis Champion.
Oh, and look you can even buy a Momus doll!

Nouvelle Vague: 80's new wave meets bossa nova

2005-01-07T14:18:00.000+01:00

One of the delights of last year was discovering the Nouvelle Vague CD.
It’s the project of Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux utilizing a heavenly array of (mainly) French female vocalists. It re-interprets classic new wave tracks of the early eighties, the idea being…

“… to forget the initial punk or new wave background of each song, keep simple fundamental chords, work with young singers who never heard the orginal versions, and make the quality of original songwriting happen in a completely different way.(bossa nova, jazz style and sixties pop)”

Sounds a great idea? Oh my it really is! Tho I'm a total sucker for that bossa nova beat!
Tracks covered include Love Will Tear Us Apart, A Forest, This Is Not a Love Song and Teenage Kicks...
The album can be streamed or purchased as a download here.
Check out the track below, a cover of a tuxedomoon song from their "Holy Wars" album

In A Manner of Speaking (mp3)

To purchase this fine recording go to Norman Records:slapping the thighs of melody!

I see your face each time I close my eyes

2005-01-05T14:10:00.000+01:00

The Clientele are a band I love dearly and purchase without hesitation. They formed in Hampshire, UK and are now based mostly in London.
The main influences are Felt, Galaxie 500, Love, The Zombies, Nick Drake, the Kinks to name a few. They specialise in haunting melodies based around spectral guitars and very sparse production using old valve amps and mics.

Early singles were gathered together onto an initial CD "Suburban Light" which garnered decent reviews but still not a lot of recognition.

Various CD's, 7" singles and split singles have appeared, but the first "proper" CD "The Violet Hour" was released in 2003.

... to estatic reviews... such as this from Pitchfork

...and comments like these....

"the 13 tracks here drift from Felt-lined fragility to reserved Luna-ish experimentalism" Mojo

"Ever more intent on discovering the essence of indie, the Clientele are back with an album that dissolves like a daydream and aches like a jilted bride" The Guardian

They are on the Merge label in the US. And on Pointy in the UK.
Pointy has an excellent website with lots of mp3 downloads.

So start with a song from "Suburban Light" "Reflections after Jane" (mp3) which has all of their trademark guitar sounds and melancholy melodies.
"Five Day Morning" (mp3) is also from this CD.

The first single off "The Violet Hour" was...
"House on Fire" (mp3)
One more from this CD... ).
"Everybodys Gone" (mp3)

The Clientele have a very good mailing list "Lacewings" which is worth a look as the band quite often annouce gigs and releases here first.

All their records can be purchased from the ever excellent Norman Records.
"The loveliest & best in new & used indie rock & post pop, new wave meets avant hip hop, electro, IDM & alternative beats..... to alt country & experimental sweets. Vinyl, cds and DVD's from around the world. Delivered to your doorstep by underpaid but hopefully happy post people (that means we're mail order folks)"

Mercury Rev - The Secret Migration

2004-12-21T14:47:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Craig for suggesting this.

Mercury Rev release their new album in January. You can pre-order it here (UK) or possibly from the excellent Normans Records of Leeds.
Amazon.com are only listing an import at present?

I think it’s a great improvement on the last release which was a bit underwhelming on the whole, I thought. Track 1 from the cd “A Secret for a Song” was released in download format.
Track 3 “Diamonds” has a great electric piano figure that pops in and out of the song and has the usual Mercury Rev hallmarks of high production values matched to a great song.

“Diamonds”

Heartless Romantics

2004-12-07T14:18:00.000+01:00

Off to see The Dears in February at The Leadmill, Sheffield.

Excellent new cd is getting lots of attention on 6Radio

Heartless Romantic

Lost in the Plot

The Weekend Never Starts Around Here

2004-11-30T12:26:00.000+01:00

No new material from Arab Strap at the moment, but that’s no reason to not check out this excellent Scottish band.
The UK website has some good information and is run by the very wonderful Delgados. They also have all their catalogue in downloadable mp3 format. However their American label Matador has a much better profile and some free mp3s.
I first heard Arab Strap on a John Peel session, while in the bath and thought them terribly gloomy at first. They are of course on investigation, very humorous, very sexy, but also very gloomy in a sort of Ivor Cutlerish way.
The first two cd albums on Chemikal Underground are classics. “The week never starts around here” and “Philophobia”.
A move from Chemikal Underground to Go! Beat produced the patchy “Elephant Shoe” and the excellent “Mad for Sadness” live set. Retreating back to Chemikal Underground produced the much stronger “Red Thread” and “Mondays at the Hug and Pint”
The two mp3s below are from the Matador site.
Who Named the Days?
The Love Detective