Poor neglected Hey Charlie! i’m sorry we’ve been such unresponsive parents recently. It’s the same excuses about galleries and hospitals, but that wouldn’t stop the realisation that if there were a weblog equivalent of the social services we would have been put away for leaving Hey Charlie! on the bus, or forgetting to warm the milk properly, or dressing the wee bairn up in flea-bitten rags, or something. Again, apologies are all we have.
Although i, thomas, (hello, good to see you again) have a scrap of evidence this time. A lot of the exhibitions i get involve in don’t really tend to be seen by many people, or even have much work in them, but at least every now and then there is a bit of a gem. This is an exquisite bit of noise from a sound exhibition i recently wrote the press release for, i recommend using headphones and a horizontal positioning.
Anyway, back to today’s procedures, we have a few belated birthdays to deal with. Yesterday, for instance, Noel Gallagher turned forty years old, while, on Monday, Kylie Minogue turned Still Too Young To Be Past It. This is the sort of time where the perils of a shared blog come to the fore – i prefer Kylie, while she prefers Noel. Not in a who-would-you-want-stuck-with-you-on-a-desert-island-with-you-before-you-get-rescued-and-move-to-the-countryside-together-to-drink-tea-all-day-and-make-babies sort of way, but in a way that simply and purely involves just the music. (Yes yes, i like Kylie for her music. You can’t really argue with this, this, this and this as proof that perfect pop music does exist – although i suppose you can really, but you’d be arguing against me.)
However, because Bianca is not here at the moment, i’ll take her side and give you something from Noel. Although, admittedly, if she was here she’d probably play you something by that band he’s in, whereas i think his best moments have been away from that. For instance, this. And similarly this, although i’m including that equally because it is probably my favourite music video ever ever. So much so that i’m going to embed it. Right here.
But anyway, as i was saying, Noel’s occasionally been pretty handy at the whole trad-indie acoustic guitar songsmithery thing, and ten or twelve years ago The Band He’s In could pass for being reasonably exciting, but i’d much rather he teamed up with his mates to do fourteen-minute guitar solos while battling a sitar over an insanely funky neo-bhangra freakout. Like so:
And if i had to include a cover version of a song That Band did, well, i’d play you something that makes Mike Flowers Pops’ rendering of their 'art' sound positively ferocious. The natural progression is to go from the lounge to…the cocktail lounge!
And whilst we’re doing many happy returns, it turns out that At The Club by Kenickie became ten years old while we were away. Yes, we feel old. Just in case you missed it…
Yes, yes, i know. i’m sorry. Things just got a bit hectic back there. i was part of an exhibition that panned like a Teflon and Bianca started work in a hospital that won’t let up. We can only apologise.
Anyway, where were we? i can’t remember, let’s just start here by saying that The Crimea have a new album out. Principally because they do. The Crimea formed after the demise of The Crocketts, a band who mixed primitive psycho-eyed frenetic rock garbling with moments of delicate introspection, this next song fitting neatly into the latter category, acting as it does as the B-side to ‘On Something’ which is most definitely the former. You’ll notice also that this track is a duet between ‘Davy Crockett’ (now plain ol’ Dave MacManus to his fans, including sister Annie) and one Mary Hopkin, who is not only reet famous but was also signed to Apple for a bit. Sweet and crunchy.
However by the tail end of 2002 The Crimea had been formed by the aforementioned male MacManus and Owen Hopkin (any relation?), a year after The Crocketts were dropped by V2. Peelie started playing Lottery Winners On Acid with fervent admiration as soon as it was released on Shiny Beast, as well as the follow up, ‘White Russian Galaxy’ - unfortunately he didn’t live to see them play the song on Top of the Pops, or sign to Warners and release their debut album Tragedy Rocks for that matter, but then again the gap between the first Shiny Beast EP and the album was probably longer than The Crockett’s entire career.
And now, not only is it ready, but you can download the new Crimea album, in its entirety, for nowt. Which is quite a clever marketing ploy apparently, but still rather pleasant i think you’ll agree. Free music might well be the future.
(Also, while we’re here, having that last blog entry featuring Reuben gives me adequate reason, i feel, to mention that they have a new single called ‘Blood, Bunny, Larkhall’ out on 18th of June, which seems to be mostly digital although they’ll have some CDs too. On first listen it’s much better than the singles from the last album, but i’d advise you not to watch the video while eating dinner, particularly if it’s spaghetti.)
Hi my name is Thomas, i love Dalston Oxfam Shop and, i might as well admit now, i’m about to rip off their idea. Even though i don’t have any cassette-to-mp3 facilities just now. Sorry.
i’ve been travelling the country visiting my family for the past few days, which also doubles up as the chance to pick up a few long-unheard CDs and vinyls. My record collection is divided amongst various residences on the South coast of England, you see, with a few hundred in my Dad’s loft in Southampton, a few hundred more in my mother’s study in Bournemouth and a handful here in my room in Sussex. So, in order to make sure i had some choice cuts to upload soon (for variation) i’ve lugged home a delightful bunch of songs to play and a load of tapes in case my technological incompetence is eliminated to the extent i can put some of the various Peelsessions, Lamacq Live and tracks and festival coverage recordings up on here. i’m afraid that, as i looked upon all the compact discs teetering in mountainous towers as i unloaded them from plastic crates to read the tracklistings, i wanted to play most of them to you. So. We’ll all just have to wait.
[Edit: You remember, for instance, i said i’d play you ‘£1500 And A Bus Apology’ by Kid Carpet if i had it on me? Well now i do, so:
Anyway. As well as getting to see my family and the larger part of my record collection, i also got to see some of my hometown and find out how it’s changed. When i left Southampton two years ago one of the local independent record shops, Essential Music, was threatening to close down. Once a Fopp had opened at the top of the road, the faeces smashed into the fan with tremendous force and now they’ve been replaced by a Save The Children charity shop. And their selection of second-hand CDs is, i feel, rather great, considering that the stuff i left included a load of promos by the likes of Help! She Can’t Swim and Cranebuilders. So i’ll play some of what i picked up for you here, if that’s okay?
Whoever donated the bulk of the promotional singles and EPs in this shop must have been in good contact with Fantastic Plastic considering the sheer volume of artists present on their label, such as The Sinking Citizenship. i’d not heard this lot before but it’s quite good and petulant, at times a bit Cooper Temple Clause-y and a little Mansun-like, plus it’s always a treat to have that FP logo on a disc in your hands.
Vive La Fete are a group from Belgium that i recognised the name of because it was one of the names Peelie used to say (and play) a lot, they even made the 2003 Festive Fifty with their track ‘Noir Desir’. Part of the reason i’d not looked for them sooner is i wasn’t really sure what he was saying, even though i studied French and could have worked it out by translating the English ‘Long Live The Party’. i’m just a bit dim like that i suppose.
i’ve only seen Jeremy Warmsley live twice now, and i’m not really sure they count because one was an instore for Resident and the other was flanking Emmy The Great, so essentially i’ve only seen an acoustic set. But anyway live he is mesmerising, especially in the pin-drop atmosphere that his astounding voice often creates, but recorded he goes into intriguing electronic excursions that incorporate his bold harmonies and weepy storytelling. There was a copy of the ‘5 Interesting Lies EP’ which, happily, contains five great tracks.
There also fantastically happened to be two copies of the promotional sampler for ‘Racecar Is Racecar Backwards’, the debut album from Reuben (so hurry up and you might be able to buy the other one). Ah, Reuben. Have i got some stories about Reuben. Yes actually i have (thank you for asking), seeing as they were the favourite band of two of my best friends in college. On one occasion, around about the time they’d just released ‘Let’s Stop Hanging Out’, my mate Wellie had begged her mother to drive us to Portsmouth to see them headline an outdoor one-day ‘festival’, which was essentially a handful of screamo (snort!) bands throwing themselves about in a park near the docks. The forecast was for rain and, with clouds looming, it all seemed quite surreal really, sitting on a grassy bank watching local bands shout embarrassing Americanisms as cruise liners floated away behind them. The penultimate band, who i did review but completely forget the name of now, were halfway through their set when the rain suddenly became torrential and the organisers had to rush plastic sheeting over the equipment while the audience rushed to their cars. i remember returning back as the rain cleared slightly, watching said band risking electrocution to play their final, quite haunting song under circling clouds, as lightning forked on the horizon. It was really quite beautiful, until one of the promoters came out, pushed them off stage and then did a comedic fist-fight with the sky for pissing on their parade. We did get to speak to Reuben though, which was nice, and ask when the hell their album was going to be ready. i think ‘Freddy Kreuger’ came out about a year later, and i’m still unsure how you spell it. i’m also still unsure whether there really is a member of Junkplanet in the video or whether i just imagined it.
Har! This find made me more elated than probably necessary, but still, i think Hoggboy were BRILLIANT! For those of you not chuckling into your keyboards, Hoggboy were one of those bands tipped for international indie-rock stardom and yet, despite the promise, languished outside the Top 40 continuously and prevailed as the support act in the Flapper & Firkin for the rest of eternity. i even remember running to the local newsagent one Wednesday during school lunch-break, finding that ver Hogg were front page in NME’s ‘On’ section (yes i feel a bit old now) and reading in the interview that the group said, “we aren’t like other bands”. To which the journalist with them added, “Then again, other bands are shit.” They were to The Vines what Terris were to Coldplay (only two years later) and, considering the Antipodean’s progress since, that’s saying something. It’s a shame really, because i think they would have fitted in well as the more melodic contemporaries of, say, The Horrors or Xerox Teens of now. When the aforementioned Lamacq was broadcasting his final Lamacq Live programme he played ‘So Young’ and said that they were just ahead of their time - which may or may not be much solace to a band lumped into a scene (with No Name) that included the much more successful/revered Mclusky and Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster. [i’ve just found out the single is now deleted too, so download while you can i guess.]
i was at this point going to leave you with a track by Lifting Gear Engineer (primarily, i should confess, because of the title), from a compilation that i also picked up at the STC shop called ‘A Step In The Left Direction’ on Boobytrap Records but the CD won’t upload onto my computer. Oh well. All it leaves for me to say then is remember to support charitable thriftiness.
…Unless you want to stay here and watch the new Von Sudenfed video instead? Okay!
So anyway, we know New Rave (or is it Nu Rave now? i can’t keep up with the kids nowadays. i’d rather it wasn’t because Nu automatically makes me think of Nu Metal and frankly i’d rather not) is only just managing to stagger about on its feeble mashed-out legs, but there are still people wanting explanation. Basically, then, the Klaxons stuck a few keyboard sound effects onto their guitar-centric song(s) and it’s been the basis for a whole ‘movement’ ever since. Not that this, in itself, irritates me. No. It’s that, only a few hours ago, i heard someone say that new rave is better than the original Rave movement.
Now, this is the bit where i succumb to my creeping elderly fuddy-dudiness, and admit that i don’t understand the youth of today (as if i ever did). i’ll state that i’m sure Shitdisco are probably nice people but it’s “not my type of thing”, call the dog to fetch my slippers and let the grandchildren huddle ‘round me so i can regale them with tales of lost times, like when CD singles with remixes lasted half and hour and the entire male population was fighting over Justine Frischmann. But i mean, really…new wave versus old rave, and new rave wins?! i know the Klacks put on a decent performance but it’s hardly turning your biggest hit into a machine gun-wielding thrash metal number, dumping a dead sheep at the entrance of the after-party and burning a million quid to celebrate. Heck, it’s not even furiously looping ‘Cloudbusting’ over an euphoric piano/acidic beat. i know i expected the rave revival about as much as i expected Steve Lamacq to move to Radio 2, but they’re not even trying. Which is why i not only feel old, but also feel the need to say embarrassingly lectural in-my-day-lad bollocks like that. But as soon as any of the young whippersnappers deliver something as downright thrilling as the opening cry of “Who loves you, and WHO DO YOU LOVE?!?!?!” at the beginning of ‘Temple of Dreams’, i’ll eat my words without ketchup. Unless it's anything by the newly resurrected Kicks Like A Mule, which doesn't count. Anyway.
Let the music do the talking i guess, step forward old guard:
In response to a request from top quality mixtape maker and fellow Sri Erotic Volvo fan Rik, today i present to you my ridiculously unpatented recipe for Chocolate Spaghetti Cake. Please note that the measurements of each ingredient are to the maker’s discretion.
Assemble: spaghetti; rice; cooking chocolate; milkshake powder; prepared cake flan; whipped cream; digestive biscuits; banana; chocolate drops; hundreds and thousands. Cook the spaghetti and rice together for a few minutes longer than recommended on the packet to ensure softness and fork until fluffy (avoid stodginess). Drain if excess water remains. Mix in the cooking chocolate while the mixture is still hot and the milkshake powder (or syrup like Crusha for moistness if you prefer). Once thoroughly mixed allow to cool. Form in a mound on the flan until sturdy enough to slice and cover with the cream, then arrange the bananas, chocolate drops, digestives and hundreds/thousands. Party ‘til you puke.
i couldn’t really think of any cake-based songs to put with this, so here’s something to wash it down with.
We’ve been a bit late in picking up on the solo efforts from Gwenno, one of the three pleasant ones from that Bananarama tribute act we mentioned earlier. Those on the wrong side of the Pips debate – i.e. the people who don’t like them – should note that Gwenno in her own words likens the songs to both Ace of Base and The Postal Service, but i think even that’s doing her a disservice. Looking forward to the album. Thanks to Simon for sending the track.
It’s good to know words just aren’t enough sometimes. One of the absolute stand-out albums of last year, Leave Now For Adventure, had only eight words in it, and i can’t even remember them properly. i think that’s very telling, not when it comes to my occasionally lacklustre memory, but regarding the sharpest, shiniest, most potent noises. Some people are just better wordless.
The aforementioned Feedle long-player came out last year in a digital sense (£3, kids) on SVC Records, which, as eager mp3 aficionados may realise, is the imprint wing of masterful weblog Spoilt Victorian Child. (If you click on that link RIGHT NOW you’ll not only see a heart-warming-as-artery-cardigans photograph of Peelie and Gedge on ‘This Is Your Life’ but also a little bit of writing about The Greatest 7” Single Of All Time). However, this week saw the re-release of Leave Now For Adventure on Illicit Recordings, in a proper physical digipak look-you-can-get-it-in-the-shops(-if-you-ask-them-to-order-it) CD format and everything. You can buy for Not Much Monies at Norman Records, see?
If i controlled radio stations worldwide i’d make sure they played you this straight away.
Worth getting if you think you’d like 65daysofstatic without the guitars, i think you’ll agree. There’s even a malicious rumour that Feedle used to be in 65dos which would make a lot of sense, but we do know that at the very least they are mutual admirers and keen buddies.
Speaking of which! Not only does Feedle re-return, but a new 65daaaaaaaays album is due upon us. In the UK here, the rest of Europe over there and the US in the other direction, you’ll all have to wait until 30th April for ‘The Destruction Of Small Ideas’ on the marvellous Monotreme Records (you’ve got to admire a label that names itself after one of these little buggers). Japan get it a week earlier on Zankyo Records, which is nice, and if you can’t wait that long you can listen to them live in Austin if you visit the Lounge Acts page at Texan radio station WOXY.
i’ve got a wealth of 65days stories, none of them particularly interesting to anyone but me i suspect. However, a word of advice, this goes down well in clubs:
Readers should note that all mp3s featured are for evaluation purposes only, please endeavour to research, support and love all artists you can. If you are the artist in question and feel irked, or if you just fancy a word about anything, please get in touch: tabdrinkink74[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]uk
Readers should note that all mp3s featured are for evaluation purposes only, please endeavour to research, support and love all artists you can. If you are the artist in question and feel irked, or if you just fancy a word about anything, please get in touch: tabdrinkink74[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]uk
are two halves of the same whole living on either side of a very very very very very large rock. Thomas knew he wanted to be Bianca's friend when she said she wanted a relationship where the only communication was through mixtapes.
