Issue #21 June 2007
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To date they`ve recorded, written, arranged, produced and funded one album called `Shell` which successfully showcases their myriad sounds. They also contributed a track `Laughing, Smiling, Joking` to the recent Whimsical Records compilation `Elevate` and have received much radio airplay including recording two sessions for BBC Radio Devon.
You can give the band a listen by visiting their MySpace.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Click the headline to unveil the full story
The band released a statement, "Future generations are being made to pay for the costs arising from nuclear waste that will be dangerous for thousands of years. This represents a very large subsidy from those people, yet to be born, to the nuclear industry of today. Before any new nuclear power stations are built in the UK, te first two hidden subsidies must be removed and the problem of long-lived nuclear waste must be solved."
Alternative ways to produce energy are constantly being researched and developed. The latest proposal is to attach a dynamo to Johnny Borrell and give him a life-size plaster of paris model of himself to hump all day long.
The new album by Super Furry Animals, 'Hey Venus!' is released in August and early reports from the CDX stereo ar that it is very good indeed!
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The guitar is a Gewa Tennessee Bluesbird and is described as not worth a great deal monetarily but of priceless value to Eamon and the band sentimentally as the majority of their songs were composed on it. It was in a black case and had a 'Bronze Ace' wooden mic pick-up with the 'Bronze' wording rubbed off.
If you have any details please contact Rough Trade Records on 020 8960 9888 or e-mail brakes@brakesbrakesbrakes.com with a photograph.
Eamon, who was a bit 'worse for wear' when he lost it promises to play a gig in your front room if reunited with the instrument.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The tour will begin in Los Angeles on December 7th and cover the entire globe before finishing in Buenos Aires on January 24th.
I'd like nothing more than for this tour to fail spectacularly and, with the girls' target audience a decade ago all grown up and with a new Bratz-savvy generation having replaced them, you'd think they may have set their sights a little too high. But the world is full of imbeciles; airheads who would buy a ticket for a tour round a septic tank as long as you bombarded them with enough primetime advertising.
A Greatest Hits cash-in compilation will be in the shops for Christmas. Pre-order now for those you really hate.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
'Tonight The Streets Are Ours' will be released through Mute over two CD singles, a 7" and the celebrated download.
Hawley releases his sixth solo LP 'Lady's Bridge' on August 20th and he'll be out on the road in September playing the following dates.
September 2007
2 - Southampton Guildhall
3 - Cambridge Corn Exchange
4 - Brighton Dome
5 - London Roundhouse
7 - Birmingham Symphony Hall
8 - Liverpool Philharmonic
9 - Oxford New Theatre
10 - Bristol Colston Hall
12 - Sheffield City Hall
14 - Edinburgh Queens Hall
16 - Glasgow City Halls
17 - Gateshead Sage
19 - Leicester De Montford Hall
20 - Bradford St Georges Hall
21 - Manchester Bridgewater Hall
23 - Dublin The Place
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Click the links below and enjoy...
Podcast #1 - 'Burn'
Podcast #2 - 'Luna'
Podcast #3 - 'Chris'
Podcast #4 - 'Josh'
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
You can watch the video for 'Burn My Shadow' right now by clicking here.
If that wasn't enough, you can also check out some of the new album tracks by trying the streams below.
Unkle - 'Chemistry'
Unkle - 'Persons and Machinery'
They have also confirmed that they will appear live for the very first time shortly with dates among a tour that will also see them perform DJ sets. The band's first ever live gig will take place at Islington Academy on 5th July and demand is likely to be high.
UNKLE Tour
30 June - Basics@My House, Leeds (James Lavelle DJ Set)
5 July - Islington Academy (Live)
10 July - Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland (Live)
14 July - Melt Festival, Gräfenhainichen, Germany (Live)
20 July - Glade Festival, Reading (Live)
22 July - FIB Festival, Benacassim, Spain (Live)
3 August - Sankeys Soap, Manchester (James Lavelle DJ Set)
8 August - Sziget Festival, Budapest, Hungary (Live)
11 August - Summer Sonic Festival, Osaka, Japan (Live)
12 August - Summer Sonic Festival, Tokyo, Japan (Live)
24 August - Rock En Seine, Paris, France (Live)
25 August - Reading Festival (Live)
26 August - Leeds Festival (Live)
2 September - Electric Picnic, Ireland (Live)
7 September - Bestival, Isle of Wight (James Lavelle DJ Set)
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
They even took the opportunity to wheel out a new version of former single 'Northern Lites' stripped of it's original brass and steel instrumentation.
Singer Gruff Rhys introduced it with these words, "We've reached the point of the set where we choose a song from our back catalogue and play it in a different style. Last time we played it in the style of MC Hammer, tonight in the style of Big Star."
Listen for yourself with this exclusive live MP3 version!
Super Furry Animals - New Northern Lites.mp3
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Apparently the choice of Vig on production duties is an attempt to "capture their live energy" and to "create an enormous sound". It's certainly an interesting choice as many Vig detractors claim he did the exact opposite of that on the comparatively 'safe' Nirvana album 'Nevermind', and that it was his successor Steve Albini who unleashed the true rawness of the band.
The band have also announced an August tour ahead of their performances on the Radio 1 stage at Reading and Leeds.
August 2007
9 - Exeter Cavern
10 - Newquay Unleashed Festival
14 - Northampton Soundhaus
16 - Preston 53 Degrees
18 - Middlesbrough Empire
19 - Aberdeen Moshulu
21 - Stoke Sugarmill
22 - Bournemouth Fire Station
24 - Reading Festival
25 - Leeds Festival
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Living members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones have all agreed to play together if and when a London tribute concert is announced.
Following original drummer John Bonham's death in 1980 the band split and have only played together twice since. In 1985 they regrouped for Live Aid with Bonham's natural successor Phil Collins (stop sniggering at the back) hitting the sticks. Their last performance together came in 1988 at an Atlantic 40th Birthday concert where Bonham's son Jason took over in the chair. It is understood that Jason would again step in for his father in 2007.
Providing they don't fall out there is the distinct possibility of a 2008 Tour.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Yes, announced today by Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 1, The Verve will return with a fourth album shortly and a six date tour this November in Glasgow, Blackpool and London.
Verve (as they were known as when they were good) recorded a series of shoegaze singles before Britpop decreed that they should move in a more commercial direction and some American act forced them to add an extraneous and bizarre 'the' to their name. 1995's 'A Northern Soul' may have been genuinely worthwhile in places, but 1997's massive selling 'Urban Hymns' remains one of the most overrated listening experiences this correspondent has ever known.
However, if you really must be part of a crowd of people shouting "play Bittersweet Symphony", "play Lucky Man", "play that one about the cat in the bag!" then tickets go on sale on July 9th and you can get your official Verve gardener's hat from Chris Evans' e-bay shop.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
So, maintaing the Beatles link, Charlotte Hatherley has been described by some as Ash's own Yoko Ono - that she 'ruined' the band - and on 'Siberia' (Little Sister) she does little to shut up the detractors. The song is never quite sure if it's trying to be Throwing Muses or Avril Lavigne meaning it sits uncomfortably in between those two particular bookends as lumpen lady-rock trying to please everyone while simultaneously pleasing no-one. Meanwhile, her old bandmates Ash have unfortunately turned into Keane on what is to be their last ever conventional single 'Polaris' (Infectious). What should be a final hurrah is no more than a whimper, close the door behind you lads.
Conversely, making a comeback now is Lightspeed Champion AKA Dev Haynes who you may remember from his time in the short-lived-but-fun Test Icicles. 'Galaxy of the Lost' (Domino) is a remarkable departure from the sound of the Icicles finding Dev turn all Elvis Costello on us to rather wonderful results. An ambitious number of instruments and layers have been crammed into this song - country pedal steel, piano all masking such grotesque lyrics as 'as we're kissing I'm sick in your mouth' and 'lick my open wounds'. Good to see he's retained an element of weird and great to hear this exciting new direction.
I can literally only listen to three seconds of Air Traffic's disgustingly profit-driven rock on 'Shooting Star' (EMI). To paraphrase the TV programme which it probably did not take its title from - Uvavu indeed Air Traffic. The ambiguously-titled Scouting for Girls do not fair any better with a stodgy three minute tribute to daytime Radio 2 entitled 'It's Not About You' (Epic). Slightly better is Scott Matthews' haunting 'Elusive' (San Remo). However, having finally woken itself up into something truly interesting the song fizzles out at least a minute too early.
I remember being quite impressed by the last Cherry Ghost single, but 'People Help The People' (Heavenly) comes across as little more than diluted REM. It's perhaps a little unfortunate to be released at this moment in time. It will be lapped up by Coldplay and Embrace fans in the absence of their favourite bands, but is unlikely to be remembered when those who do this kind of thing with slightly less passion return to their minions - all of whom are happy to buy everything they release.
The last time we heard from 'The Days of Pearly Spencer', it was a rather fine re-interpretation from Marc Almond. Now, some fifteen years later (and forty after the original by David McWilliam), Brian Houston's new version brings little to the table. Bolstered by a host of other musicians, this is a reasonably enjoyable take on the story of the homeless man from Ballymena. Brian's own songs, however, fail to illicit any such foot-tapping response being, as they are, rather stale acoustic tales of somebody else's love. Yeah, and Marc's version is still better too.
The promo for 'Foundations' (Fiction) by new Lily-in-waiting Kate Nash tantalisingly offers both 'clean' and 'explicit' versions, so I plump for the latter. Unfortunately, 'explicit' means an additional 'bitch' and 'shit' for your money and not the 'I personally wanked on the heating' line which I imagined half way through listening to this hymn to modern relationships all set to a beat as monotonous as the subject matter.
Koop's 'I See A Different You' (!K7) offers a welcome ray of sunshine amid what has been a most overcast selection of singles so far. Straddling cool jazz and retro easy-listening while maintaining a dance sensibility, this exudes sunkist vibes and rainbows even in remix format - the best on show here being Beanfield's cool retro house reworking. It may sound sometimes like lift music - but, by jove, it's a welcome lift. Similarly dance-driven is 'Prism #1' (also !K7) by Stateless, a foreboding mix of clanking percussion, ghostly bass and strings, lilting piano but, alas, the absence of a song.
Still to prove themselves commercially are The Aliens who finally give 'Robot Man' (Pet Rock) the full-scale release it deserves. This white-funk meets baggy-Primal Scream opus has been pleasing fans for the past year and, if given the airplay it deserves, really should soundtrack everybody's summer just like the remarkably similar '19/2000' from Gorillaz did some five years ago.
Buy, Blag, Steal : The Aliens, Richard Swift, Lightspeed Champion, Koop
Seek and Destroy : Air Traffic, Charlotte Hatherley
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
However, speaking to ContactMusic, frontman Black Francis has said that now seems unlikely as the group are still unable to get on with each other.
"I don't think that that Pixies record's gonna happen. I mean I could be wrong, I don't know. Just raffling the personalities all in to a recording studio is a problem, you know." said Francis.
The group have spent much of the past three years on the road and, particularly in the documentary 'loud QUIET loud', the band have clearly been suffering from the same internal squabbling which caused them to split some fifteen years go.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
In the article Simon Rothstein describes 'Levelling the Land' as a 'classic record', the band themselves as 'beautiful people' and very nearly misspells the Bestival festival as Bestial...which may suit the Levs better, I dunno.
The whole thing ties in with the mass re-release of Levellers LPs from yesteryear including their best (the aforementioned 'Levelling the Land') and their worst ('Hello Pig'). You'll also be ecstatic to hear that the horrendous 'What a Beautiful Day' is re-released as a digital only single from Monday.
Check out the full article here.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The pair have signed up for a ten part fly-on-the-wall series which shows the highs and lows of a double act who split acrimonously trying to piece their act back together. Salt has apparently found God, marriage and quite life in suburbia while Pepa remains a lady about town and quite the opposite. You can just hear the makers pitching it to VH1 bosses can't you? "Why, they're the original odd couple!"
Salt n Pepa scored massive hits with the likes of 'Let's Talk About Sex', 'Whatta Man' and their all-time classic hip hop party sex track 'Push It'. We're taking bets now on which one of these will be reissued in a rushed 2007 remix format.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Everybodys favourite Nu Yaawk rap/punk/jazzy/beat boxing /giant fighting robotic three piece The Beastie Boys have confirmed that their seventh studio album, The Mix-Up will be release on June 25 and it's ...it's an instrumental.
The Mix-Up is Beastie Boys’ first-ever full album of all-new only instrumental material. Its the follow-up to 2004’s To The 5 Boroughs and features Jim Diamond*, Adam Horowitz and Adam Yauch back on drums, guitar and bass, with able assistance from Keyboard Money Mark and percussionist Alfredo Ortiz.
The band will also be playing at several European festivals throughout June and July, including Live Earth at Wembley Stadium on July 7 along with a show on September 4 at Brixton, London .
The complete track listing for the LP is:
1. B For My Name
2. 14th St. Break
3. Suco De Tangerina
4. The Gala Event
5. Electric Worm
6. Freaky Hijiki
7. Off The Grid
8. The Rat Cage
9. The Melee
10. Dramastically Different
11. The Cousin Of Death
12. The Kangaroo Rat
Full review to follow
*OK I know it's Mike Diamond ...just couldn't resist it!!
Nick Foster (View Original Article)
Bob's people had planned to change the chorus to 'What's that coming over the hill? Bob the Builder! Bob the Builder!' and it was this that The Automatic objected to.
They felt fans would chant back this version to them at all future gigs. But really, what harm could two people in an empty hall shouting 'Bob the Builder' possibly do them?
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
"There are no plans what-so-ever to record another Mojave3 record." he said.
Ian will concentrate instead on his other project, The Loose Salute, with keyboardist Allan Forrester while front pairing Rachel Goswell and Neil Halstead will continue to work on solo projects.
Featuring multiple members of early 90s band Slowdive, Mojave 3 never quite reached the same levels of popularity as their former selves. Nonetheless, it's always a sad day when a good band goes under and Razorlight remain active.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The new album 'Proof of Youth' is out in September and preceded by new single 'Grip Like a Vice' on 2nd July through Memphis Industries. The album features guest appearances from Chuck D, Bonde Do Role and a host of others.
That all-important track-listing goes like this...
1. 'Grip Like a Vice'
2. 'Doing it Right'
3. 'My World'
4. 'Titanic Vandalism'
5. 'Fake ID'
6. 'Universal Speech'
7. 'Keys to the City'
8. 'The Wrath of Marcie'
9. 'I Never Needed It Now So Much'
10.'Flashlight Fight'
11.'Patricia's Moving Picture'
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
After being told they were to play the festival's bandstand and not one of the stages, Wurzels accordionist Tommy Banner replied disappointedly,
"We were very disappointed to find out that we would be playing on a bandstand...we don't want to be seen as a sideshow." Manager Sil Wilcox added, "Don't get me wrong - we know our place. But [that] is not on a bandstand."
Michael Eavis responded, "We've offered them a fantastic slot. The bandstand is a great place to play. There are millions of people in that area, it's right next to the cider tent and only about 70 yards from the Pyramid Stage."
Well, the proximity of cider is certainly an issue to take into account, but, if you were looking forward to hearing the bands' biggest (only?) hits like 'Combine Harvester' and 'I am a Cider Drinker' at this year's festival, then I'm afraid there's nowt but disappointment for thee.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
No, unfortunately 'sold out' here refers to the band getting into bed with corporate coffee giants Starbucks for a new compilation album exclusively for sale via the chain.
The album will contain a number of Sonic Youth songs re-interpreted by other acts including Jeff Tweedy and Beck. The band will contribute a brand new song themselves.
Thurston Moore said, "Starbucks is the new record store, right?"
It's hard to see how this can work. The average Sonic Youth fan knows and cares about the ethical implications of purchasing your daily latte from Starbucks, while the average customer to that particular coffee emporium is more likely to clamour for the latest release by Dido or Coldplay.
Thoughts anyone? Are the Youth simply showing a naivety that suits their name or are they simply sick of never making any money?
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Tracklisting
1. Lo Fidelity Allstars - Kool Roc Bass
2. X-Press 2 - Give It
3. Fatboy Slim - Right Here Right Now (Redanka Mix)
4. Alloy Mental - We Have Control
5. Goose - Everybody
6. Alter Ego - Rocker (Stanton Warriors Remix)
7. Dave Clarke - What Was Her Name?
8. Tim Deluxe - Let The Beats Roll (Section 23 Mix)
9. Kidda - Feel Too Good (Midfield General Remix)
10.Ralfe Band - March of the Pams
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The album was released on Monday and if you haven't picked up your copy yet then hop to it!
The duo release a new single from the LP - the Shamen-reborn sound of 'I Believe' - on July 23rd and the video is already available for you to enjoy by following the link below that suits you and your PC best.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Tickets are out now and cost £75 for the two days with camping with discounts if you don't fancy the full experience.
The line-up is as follows:
Saturday 4th August
Supergrass, Calvin Harris, The Pipettes, Kate Nash, Pull Tiger Tail, Blood Red Shoes, Johnny Flynn, Plan B, New Young Pony Club, The Holloways, Lethal Bizzle, Foals, Peggy Sue & the Pirates, Video Nasties, Good Books, Lupen Crook, Beans on Toast, Nic Dawson Kelly, Gillian Edgar, Tom Allalone and the Great Expectations, Thom Stone, Poetry By Dockers MC, Scroobius Pip, The Thirst, Stuart James, Slam, Stanton Warriors, Nic Fanciulli, Meat Katie, Mike Pickering (Hacienda Acid House Set), A Skillz, Mark Fanciulli & Small Fry, Shake DJs, Mezza Breaks.
Sunday 5th August
Happy Mondays, The Rakes, The Young Knives, The Maccabees, The Noisettes, Hot Club De Paris, Patrick Wolf, Jack Penate, Mr Hudson & The Library, Kid Harpoon, The Teenagers, Late of the Pier, Laura Marlin, Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man, Underground Heroes, Devils Guns, Sparrows, Chineapples, Rosemary, Maker, The Long Weekend, Our Name is Legion, Letters from London, Danny Howells, Funk D'Void, Justin Robertson, Damian Lazarus, Desyn Masiello, Micky Slim, Sam Ball & Anil Chawla, Pete Griffiths & George Andrews, Warning: 2 Dirty DJs, Rebel Beat Allies.
To be a part of it get tickets now right here.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
A major reason for the massive sales was the fact one disc completed a 'collector's set' given away with the previous week's NME. This disc accounted for more than half of sales and is presumably now available in myriad e-bay auctions.
However, this is further proof that the 7" single simply won't die and is still one of the most popular formats among fans of rock and indie music. The same can barely be said for the CD single, however, which continues to be removed from multi-format releases in favour of digital, vinyl or specialised variations e.g. the superb yet rather pointless USB stick.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
He rose to fame in the 1970s by telling racist, sexist, homophobic and unfunny jokes.
Tributes have been rolling in from the likes of Frank Carson and Stan Boardman, the latter of whom suggests Manning's controversial style was merely good-natured 'taking the mick'.
Ah well...
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Their debut album is being finished off and you'll be able to hear some of it when the perform an exclusive live session of BBC Radio 2 on 29th June. If you can't wait till then you can also hear tracks and watch videos on their official site.
Tour Dates
Jul 4 - Swindon 12Bar
Jul 6 - Luton Live Room
Jul 7 - Camden Dublin Castle
Jul 8 - Brighton Barfly
Jul 12 - Hull, The Welly
Jul 13 - York Fibbers
Jul 14 - Stoke, The Underground
Jul 15 - Glasgow ABC2
Aug 10 - Belladrum Festival
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Saturday's the best day and kicks off at 12.05 with local act Fiori. There's then a few acts I've not heard of before Maps at 4.05pm followed by The Noisettes, The Cribs and The Enemy with super headliners the Super Furry Animals taking the stage at 9pm.
I've seen The Enemy and wasn't greatly impressed but help is at hand. A short skip and jump over to the hip hop tent will open up the delights of Jehst followed by KRS-One instead.
And if that's not good enough for you why not finish the night in party style watching Ozomatli? They might not be as good since Chali 2na and Cut Chemist jumped ship but I'll bet they still know how to get a party hopping.
That's not all though. Human League are playing on the Friday night and on Sunday you can see James Yorkston and Mr Hudson & The Library. There's all manner of comedy, arty workshops, a skatepark and a carnival procession too.
More info here - Godiva Festival 2007
Chris Unitt (View Original Article)
Shane MacGowan, Beth Orton and Jarvis himself will tackle their favourite Disney standard and Pete Doherty has been confirmed in the night's Dick Van Dyke cameo role as he mockneys his way through 'Chim Chimeree' from Mary Poppins.
Other acts performing at Meltdown include Jesus and Mary Chain, The Stooges, Motorhead, Devo and a rare outing for ex-KLF man Bill Drummond.
Oh, and if you're perplexed by the headline, it's the punchline to one of our favourite jokes at school...What's the difference between Hannibal Smith and Walt Disney? Great, eh?
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Drummer Nick Hodgson said, "Our next single is coming out in August and we're going to be Beano-fied. There's going to be a Beano story, and it's going to feature us as cheeky characters."
This reminds me of the time that Shakin' Stevens got the artists of Viz in to design one of his sleeves after he appeared as Fulchester United's star signing in popular strip Billy the Fish. It's not certain whether the Chiefs characters will invade the pages of the comic, but if they did it certainly wouldn't be a first.
Back in the 1980s the Beano made many references to popular culture of the time. Particular favourites back then were Madness - I remember Lord Snooty having a torrid time with some troublesome crows who enjoyed dancing to 'Wings of a Dove' (puns ahoy!) - and Wham! who turned up to greet Tom, Dick and Sally. Once it even transpired that 'Teacher' from the Bash Street Kids was the uncle of glam rocker 'Barry Bitter'. Of course, it's not as good as it was in my day, grumble grumble etc.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Tickets are already on sale and the venues are relatively small so, get yours quickly.
Tour Dates
6 Sep - Roundhouse, London (with Beastie Boys)
27 Nov - King Tut's, Glasgow
28 Nov - Club Academy, Manchester
29 Nov - Koko, London
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Their new single 'This Is An Advertisement’ gleeful parodies the chronic lack of integrity (both musical and political) displayed by the current miserable shower of “alternative” acts. “We will even change our name to the Coca-Cola band!” spits vocalist Gunnar in a faux-desperate plea for the holy grail of brand sponsorship
Ummm..they are signed to EMI
However they do make quite an agreeable sound and are going to bring their own brand of Icelandic noise on the road with Cajun Dance Party :
Saturday 7th July: Bedford at Esquires
Sunday 8th July: Manchester Night and Day
Tuesday 10th July: Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire
Wednesday 11th July: Glasgow King Tuts
Friday 13th July: Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Saturday 14th July: Sheffield Plug (Shuffle Night)
Monday 16th July: Brighton Pressure Point
Wednesday 18th July: London Luminaire
You can check their new video here
This Is An Advertisement
Nick Foster (View Original Article)
The Good the Bad and the Queen are to play their first outdoor performance with the Tower of London as a backdrop.
The line up (on Monday 9th July )is suitably eclectic with Harry Enfield acting as compere, K'Naan a Somalian ex-child soldier come rapper, Hypnotic Brass and performance poet John Cooper Clark.
Tower of London (no not the shitty band!!) have also announced that anyone holding tickets for the evenings show will be able to visit the Tower on the day for the reduced ticket price of £5, available from the Tower ticket office on the day of show. Tickets for the show are available through Ticketmaster or you can skip the booking fee and buy from the Tower of London box office.
Rumours that Dr Albarn won't be released from the Tower grounds until he's paid the price for years of pretentious twaddle whilst pretending to be a cock-a-nee barra boy are yet to be confirmed.
Nick Foster (View Original Article)
In a radical new move, Ash have decided to only release singles from this moment on. In a climate where the traditional singles chart is becoming infiltrated by album tracks meaning a band like Arctic Monkeys can notch up three, four or five new hits in one week, Ash are taking a completely different path and will release everything digitally one by one, compiling tracks on occasional CD compilations at appropriate times.
Tim says, "The way people listen to music has changed, with the advent of the download the emphasis has reverted to single tracks. It hasn't helped that most people have forgotten how to make a decent album. I'm constantly disappointed with records I buy.
I believe our new album is the pinnacle of everything we've done thus far, and I'm proud that this will be remembered as our last album. The future lies elsewhere and we can have a lot of fun by changing things up. It's like the Wild West at the moment, a time to take chances and try out new ideas.
When you're tied to the album format, you find yourself waiting six months between finishing a record and releasing it. By leaving this behind we can enter a new phase of spontaneity and creativity. We have our own studio in New York, we can record a track and release it the next day if we feel like it, give it to people while it's fresh. We're the first band to do this, but I very much doubt we'll be the last.
We've been one of the best singles bands of the last two decades and we're still younger than a lot of bands on the current scene. I’m excited to push this claim further by dedicating ourselves wholly to the art of the single for the digital age."
Fans of Ash's prior compilation 'Intergalactic Sonic 7s' - easily the finest LP they have released - will applaud this move that should result in nothing but quality songs and a goodbye to the tired concept of 'album track' and 'b-side' - too often an excuse for a song which doesn't make the grade.
This is an exciting new move in the music world and one that CDX applauds.
Ash release new album 'Twilight of the Innocents' on July 2nd following new single 'Polaris' next week. They will play a 4 day residency at London's KOKO betwen 3-6th July and will headline the Radio 1 stage at the Reading and Leeds festivals.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The comp is heralded as a '60 minute hardcore party in a tin' and 'guaranteed to ignite a party in even the most depressing circumsatances'.
Unlike the popular ATD series of mixes, demos and fuckabouts, this compilation is not free - but at £5 for a jewel-case CD and £2.50 for a tasty, virus-free MP3 you can't really complain. To have a listen to some excerpts check out the MySpace and if that floats your boat you can order it here.
The tracklisting is:
1 - The Piper Machine Intro
2 - Go DJ
3 - Where's Your White Lines At?
4 - White Whores
5 - Smells Like Stunners (We Love This Thing)
6 - Stunners Stand Up
7 - Whut?
8 - California Stunners
9 - WHOOMPH! Therrre It Is!
10 - Robot Connection
11 - Signs Of Donliness
12 - Dime! Bar!
13 - Jager Shots (Fucking Around)
14 - I Just Can't Get Enough of Burning Down The Ghetto
15 - If I Was S'express I'd Fucking Sue The Klaxons *
16 - Knights Of Boom
17 - 2 Many DJs Who Aren't Called Adam & Wade
18 - Ladies & Gentelmen We Are Poking Your Face
* - This is probably the best title for a song ever, ever, ever.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The artwork for the new Simian Mobile Disco album 'Attack Decay Sustain Release' (named after four twiddly knobs on recording equipment fact fans) is out, it shows the album title cut out from some grass and I reckon it's pretty bloody cool.
The album is released next week and has the following tracklisting:
1. 'Sleep Deprivation'
2. 'I Got This Down'
3. 'It's The Beat'
4. 'Hustler'
5. 'Tits and Acid'
6. 'I Believe'
7. 'Hotdog'
8. 'Wooden'
9. 'Love'
10.'Scott'
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Speaking about 'Kurt', Courtney said, "I really hired him 'cos he looks so much like Kurt. It's weird, and he can play really well. He didn't kill me but he swore if I gave him a week he'd learn everything. He's blonde and soooooooo beautiful and his guitar playing is great."
Meanwhile on former Larrikin Love guitarist Micko, "His guitar playing blew me away because it's just so fucking MODERN. Its' Jonny Greenwood and Jack White and now and he's not stuck in any nineties rut."
So, with the 1920s blues and 70s prog influences of White and Greenwood...what rut is he stuck in exactly?
The band doesn't have a name yet (that we've heard of) and may not ever write or record anything. But at least it's not another Hole LP eh?
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The track, like much of the album, is heavily inspired by Japan and its culture. Nicolas suggests the track is a musical haiku, "J'ai perdu la raison dans la mer du Japon - I lost my mind in the sea of Japan. Just one simple line."
Bandmate Jean-Benoit concurs, "When you go to Los Angeles or Japan there is something special in the air and we wanted to capture this special Pacific touch. It's almost like a perfume. It sounds a little bit like a French Band, Taxi Girl, Mirwais' first band. We were big fans of this band and there is a similar feel in the production."
The single is out on CD, cool and collectable transparent 7" vinyl and the ubiquitous download. Remixes across the formats come from The Teenagers and Kris Menace.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The band are mostly famous for alleged festival anthem 'Staying Out For The Summer' (a clarion call to smelly revellers in campervans) and the horrendous Top 10 novelty hit 'Good Enough', a song that shouted 'We Love TFI Friday' and was last heard on a margarine advert.
The original line-up reunite for the first time since 1998, presumably due to the same desperate need for cash that drives has-beens to Reality TV and especially in the wake of frontman Nigel Clark's muted solo comeback earlier this year.
So, if that's 'Good Enough' for you then you can see them at the following venues.
November 2007
5 - Glasgow ABC1
6 - Sheffield Leadmill
8 - Birmingham Academy 2
9 - Manchester Academy 2
10 - Liverpool Carling Academy
12 - Northampton Roadmender
13 - Bristol Academy
15 - London Shepherd's Bush Empire
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
You can check out the video for 'Boyz', shot in Jamaica and heavy on cutting graphics and jutting dancers, plus a three minute version of 'The Making of Boyz' by visiting www.miauk.com/videos.
Don't forget to check your favourite MP3 blogs for 'leaked' tracks 'BirdFlu' and 'XR2' - still proving massively popular and giving more than a taste of what's to come with 'K A L A'.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Of course, it's possible that Tim simply made a mistake, but, if Ash's new Muse-lite sound is anything to go by, the time to call time on their illustrious career was quite some time ago. Personally I think they should have ditched the music business immediately after the 'Goldfinger' single, leaving an exquisite corpse and a perfect track record.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Those of you who've been following the Gossip slightly longer than daytime Radio 1 listeners, E4 viewers and Heat subscribers will not need to be told that the song comes complete with a range of tasty mixes from Tronik Youth, MSTRKRFT, Touche, Trevor Jackson and Punks Jump Up. Although, one of you might be able to help us locate the whereabouts of the stupendously good ATOC mix which has been bizarrely left out this time around...or for that matter JD Twitch's Optimo mix.
The band are also out and about around the UK soon including appearances at various festivals.
Tour Dates
24 June - Glastonbury - Festival
25 June - Norwich - UEA
8 July- Kinross - T in the Park
9 July - Liverpool - Carling Academy
11 July - Nottingham - Rock City
15 July - Manchester – International Festival
24 Aug - Reading - Festival
25 Aug - Leeds - Festival
7 Sept - Birmingham - Academy
8 Sept - Bristol - Academy
9 Sept - Isle of Wight - Bestival
11 Sept - Cambridge - Corn Exchange
12 Sept - Preston 53 Degrees
13 Sept - London - Forum
14 Sept - London - Forum
15 Sept - Brighton - Dome
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The tales of Monkey, Pigsy, Sandy and is-that-a-boy-or-a-girl Tripitaka are recounted once more, with set design and costumes from Jamie Hewlett and music from Damon Albarn (in Mandarin no less). Let's just hope the TV series is an influence and there's plenty of Kung-Fu action incorporated also as Chinese opera is notorious for lasting whole afternoons and being more than a little unlistenable for many.
Monkey: Journey to the West will open the Manchester International Festival on June 28. Now ... altogether now ...
Born from an egg on a mountain top ... The punkiest monkey that ever popped ... He knew every magic trick under the sun ... To tease the Gods and everyone and have some fun ... Monkey Magic, Monkey Magic, Monkey Magic, Monkey Magic oo-ooh.
Andy J (View Original Article)
So Richie Deluxe and I are in our local record emporium this weekend (research purposes naturally) and we spot a new compilation called "Kiss Does Rave"....
Truth be told, it`s actually not that bad as far as these cash in CD`s go - split over two discs (one old school rave, one nu-skool rave), but you`ve probably got all of these tracks already ... at least that`s what we thought until we spotted what we guessed was a typical misprint on the tracklisting:
"Kicks Like A Mule - Gravity`s Rainbow"Now we expected they meant either:
"Klaxons - Gravity`s Rainbow" or "Klaxons - The Bouncer" (the Klaxon`s cover version of the Kicks Like A Mule classic) or even "Kicks Like A Mule - The Bouncer". Nope.
Kicks Like A Mule have indeed recorded a cover version of The Klaxons` Gravity`s Rainbow. Very good it is too. Don`t believe me - go to the Kicks Like A Mule myspace and hear it for yourself. Or go and buy the compliation I guess. But it gets even more random ...
Whilst researching this article (we do that sometimes) I came across this ...
Just freaky, but how much does this need to be released ?
Andy J (View Original Article)
It's pretty undeniable that Orbital had a very special relationship with Glastonbury, with their legendary 1994 appearance regularly being held up as not only their breakthrough gig but also one of the festival's best sets of many years. Certainly their 1999 set was something close to religious for this excited writer. Hopefully the live album will also finally herald a legitimate release of the boy's unique live interpolation of Bon Jovi's "Living On A Prayer" in their masterful track "Halcyon". The inclusion of the Dr Who theme tune is also certain to excite many fans as it's extremely likely to morph into "Chime" as part of their euphoric usual set closer.
The full tracklisting is : Walk Now (1994) / Are We Here? (1994) / Attached (1994) / Kein Trink Wasser (1995) / Impact (The Earth is Burning) (1995) / Remind (1995) / Halcyon (1999) / The Box (1999) Style / Bagpipe Stye (1995) / The Girl With The Sun In Her Head (2002) / Funny Break (Weekend Ravers) (2002) / Belfast (2002) / Frenetic (2002) / Satan (2004) / Dr Who? (2004) / Chime (2004)
Andy J (View Original Article)
Friday 22nd June
Pyramid Stage
Arctic Monkeys
Kasabian
The Fratellis
Bloc Party
The Magic Numbers
Amy Winehouse
Gogol Bordello
The Earlies
The View
Adjagas
Other Stage
Bjork
The Arcade Fire
Rufus Wainwright
The Coral
Super Furry Animals
Bright Eyes
The Automatic
Modest Mouse
The Cribs
Reverend and the Makers
Mr Hudson and the Library
Saturday 23rd June
Pyramid Stage
The Killers
The Kooks
Paul Weller
Paolo Nutini
Lily Allen
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
Guillemots
The Pipettes
Seasick Steve
Liz Green
Other Stage
The Stooges
Editors
Maximo Park
Babyshambles
Klaxons
CSS
Biffy Clyro
The Long Blondes
Brakes
El Presidente
Switches
Sunday 24th June
Pyramid Stage
The Who
Kaiser Chiefs
Manic Street Preachers
Shirley Bassey
James Morrison
The Marley Brothers perform 'Exodus'
The Waterboys
Corb Lund
The National Youth Orchestra
Other Stage
Chemical Brothers
The View
The Go! Team
Mika
The Rakes
Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly
Cold War Kids
Sunshine Underground
The Enemy
The Holloways
Kharma 45
So, a little something for everyone there, including a performance from everyone's favourites Kharma 45 for the Sunday early birds - if they actually turn up to this festival...disappointment caused by their Reading no-show last year was huge.
Obviously Glastonbury has a range of other stages including the John Peel stage, One World, Circus and the Hungarian Performance Art Circle. So, don't spend too long ogling at these middling indie bands will you?
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
The quirky title comes from original plans to make this a concept album surrounding a young woman named Venus's move from small town to the big city.
Gruff Rhys said, "Some songs link up to that story more than others, but some were left off the record, they'll be on the next one, which we're working on already. It started off as a concept, but then we chose songs for their merit rather than their themes."
Tracklisting
1. 'The Gateway Song'
2. 'Runaway'
3. 'Show Your Hand'
4. 'The Gift'
5. 'Neo Consumer'
6. 'Into The Night'
7. 'Baby Ate My Eight Ball'
8. 'Carbon Dating'
9. 'Suckers'
10.'Battersea Odyssey'
11.'Wolves'
'Show Your Hand' will be the first single and will be released by Rough Trade on August 13th.
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
News is filtering in that come September, aging rockers The Cult will once more be turning the amps up to 11 and unleashing a new, as yet to be titled, single and album on top metal label Roadrunner.
Culture Deluxe naturally applauds this and, on the strength of Ian Astbury`s forthcoming collaboration with sometime trip-hoppers turned actually-quite-good-almost-indie act UNKLE, actually are quite looking forward to the threat of some half decent rock music to listen to on the radio again.
Meantime, as the evidence from the classic "Sonic Temple" album shows, we`re asking you to work out just how long the legs of their guitarist Billy Duffy actually are ? And isn`t it about time there was a best of The Cult album released ?
Andy J (View Original Article)
Lemanis - 'Shell' (Lemanis)
Featuring four multi-instrumentalists, a whole music-shop`s worth of instruments and defiantly refusing to fit into today`s `accepted sound`, Lemanis operate from a blueprint that merges 80`s twee pop with 60`s hippy and gentle psychedelia.
Sax and brass on `Ice Cream Dream` recalls the short lived wonder of Jamie Wednesday while `I`m Afraid` seems to come directly from that lost musical that you never knew Brian Wilson had been writing. Immediately after, `It Seems Like a Dream To Me Now` fires from a completely different direction but maintains the sheer number of layers in the mix - piano, harmonica, banjo, multi-part harmonies...and that final layer of uncontrollable fun.
By the time the blues rock of `Lady` knocks you flying (before catching you and singing you a soothing lullaby - yes, this is literally a song of two halves) and the Pink Floyd sound of `Turtles` pillages your mind, you lie back, exhale and consider booking Lemanis to play the `far out festival` that you`ve just conceived...
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
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As you will have heard, it was wet. The rain that usually splashes your car windscreen is running down your neck, The mud you’d walk around in the park is in your ears and the pie you turn down at the train station is in your hand getting soggy and dissolving into your fingers. You turn slightly feral, you suddenly have no problem wiping your hands on your clothes, or using a toilet that harbours more diseases than a Croydon brothel, or smoking a roll-up that’s ‘only a bit muddy’. You replace your anally retentive habits and thorough, sensible routines with music and everyone has a party.
This was particularly apparent whilst watching The Who, surrounded by ecstatic people in the cold, pouring rain, witnessing these gods of rock n’ roll playing the perfect gig. The music was what we were there for and was quite literally all that mattered. A similar transformation occurred on the Other stage on Saturday when the flamboyant CSS turned a muddy field of rain into a Brazilian beach party using little more than a sparkly jumpsuit, some bubble blowing kits and boundless enthusiasm.
Willy Mason transformed the Park stage from a slippery hill into an almost religious experience, his encore of ‘Oxygen’ bringing tears of joy to his followers. Meanwhile the incredible Bat for Lashes morphed the John Peel tent into an exotic dreamland of magic and mystery. In doing so she provided what I believe was the performance of the festival as well as the prettiest smile.
With such magic being woven it seems unbelievable that there could be any disappointments (other than the weather). Sadly Lily Allen’s Glastonbury debut was pitifully weak and littered with childish comments. When she wasn’t talking about willies as if she’d just learnt what one was, she was caterwauling her way through her embarrassingly meagre repertoire, regularly reminding us that she hadn’t even performed her first gig a year ago. It sooo showed. Likewise the Kooks betrayed the trust that came with being second on the Saturday bill and the Guillemots' Pyramid stage performance was a little too experimental and failed to stop me catching the end of the Long Blondes (officially the sexiest act of the festival).
All that aside, the headliners made the weekend. Monday night’s Arcade Fire / Bjork combination was a wholly euphoric experience with a remarkable laser display upstaged only by the Killers' fireworks (both physical and metaphorical) on Saturday night. As overjoyed as I was with Brandon and Co. I cannot help feeling a little jealous in missing out on Iggy and the Stooges. Most of my party were there and two of them contributed to the famous stage invasion (Dan got on the BBC coverage, the jammy bastard).
Non-Musical highlights included Hot Cider, the Ghostbusters crowd at the Cinema field, happy Kiwis, the sonic forest (gotta love any art installation which confuses stoners), people watching at the silent disco, coffee and donuts at 2am, flushing toilets at Worthy farm and last but not least Bill Bailey’s 3am Sunday night stand-up, performed to the coldest, tiredest, wettest crowd in Glastonbury history, who were despite it all, as happy as a gig in mud.
That said, can we have some sun next year?
Chris Jones (View Original Article)
On such an evening, who could help but relax and be happy? Well, if you’re really looking for someone who’d fit the bill then you could start with Richard Swift. Having just about given up on the music business he found that his bitter sign-off to the industry – an album titled Dressed Up For The Letdown - finally won him some of the attention he had been craving. Picked up by Rough Trade in the UK he’s garnering respect in a slow-burn, word of mouth kinda way.
He’s clearly not forgiven and forgotten being put through the music industry mill, but being grumpy at a bunch of people lapping up your songs and applauding each one seems a little ungracious. Richard seemed to think it was the children heard laughing in another part of the MAC site that were the only ones enjoying his set but then his misanthropic spike was a nice counter to the almost overbearing niceness of the rest of the evening.
Maybe the lines “I made my way into the spotlight/ Just to realise it’s not what I want” from Songs Of National Freedom are to be taken at face value. This was a standout tune in a good quality set, with Richard swapping between piano and guitar as the songs reguired, occasionally accompanied by a lank-haired chum on guitar. Recent single Kisses For The Misses, was good too and the set of intelligently-observed guitar pop (if you liked Richard Hawley’s solo effort you’ll like this) was polished off by a surprising drum machine-driven electronic wigout. Hopefully his record industry reservations can be kept in check for a long enough for a few more people to discover him.
I was quite looking forward to seeing Nina Nastasia but I’d not done my usual, diligent pre-gig research and so knew no more than that she hails from New York and is a singer/songwriter. To be honest I’m now not much the wiser. Her set slipped by pleasantly enough but failed to register with me at all. I kept catching my mind wandering and chiding myself for lapses in my critical professionality. The only thing that stayed in my memory is an overscripted-sounding bit of banter about how she’d forgotten to think of anything to chat with the audience about. Next…
Actually next up was a much more interesting proposition. Curator of the Homefires Festival, of which this tour was a spin off, Adem is one of those affable sorts who makes it his business to be constantly busy and involved in something interesting. Having watched the rest of the acts from the side of the audience he took his turn on stage alone to softly croon Love And Other Planets.
Adem was then joined onstage by the Elysian Quartet (an innovative, young string quartet who deal solely in contemporary and experimental music) who had provided arrangements for some of Adem’s songs.
Let It Burn smouldered ominously with the strings variously picking out the melody, drawing discordant screeches and again adding percussion, this time with one quartet member using a comb between the strings as a rattle.
The quartet downed bows for Adem to accompany himself on a small music box, playing a tune as per the holes punched out of the decorated card fed through it – a gift from the lady who provides Adem’s album artwork. It’s not an outstanding piece of music but he managed to pull it off and it’s quirkiness like this that stops his work from drifting into vapidity.
With the outdoorsiness requiring a slightly earlier finish than most gigs, my friend and I headed off to catch the dying embers of a barbecue at a friend’s house in good spirits. What more could a lad ask for on an early summer evening?
Finally, what with the interweb now meaning that nothing exists without being recorded I can present to you Adem’s ‘Let it Burn’
and ‘One In A Million’ too. You don’t get to feel the warm summer breeze but if you listen you might hear the geese honking overhead. Enjoy!
Chris Unitt (View Original Article)
Once again I find myself here at The Water rats in Kings Cross, ducking and diving past people who should really should be at Glastonbury (what is the current obsession with men in their late-20’s and facial hair? What’s so fucking counter-cultural about having a politely trimmed bit of hippy rug on your chin? Especially when you’re listening to Devendra Banhart on your £250 Ipod whilst catching up on work email via your Blackberry head implant…), waiting for Remi Nicole to take to the stage, which she promptly does as soon as I get in.
It’s a mildly biblical experience when she does take the stage though, because as soon as she arrives there is a symbolic parting of the waves. The older, bearded masses of politenik faux-hemians retreat to the back of the room, or to the bar to wait for the headliners tonight (The High Llamas, who I have no interest in seeing at all), leaving behind the youngsters to have their fun. And believe me, Remi Nicole is a whole shitload of fun. Having dispensed with the acoustic niceties of the ‘Fed Up EP’ earlier in the year, this time around she has a backing band that beef up her songs into a heady, quintessentially British stew of reggae, indie and sing along ska, with tales of her mates escapades and being unlucky in love sung with a knowing smile and a sense of knowing that belies her tender years. Christ, it sounds like I’m writing here a love letter here. But I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t think her set was fantastic. Comparisons with Lilly Allen and Kate Nash should be left at the door, as her sound is closer in sprit to Blur, Supergrass and Babyshambles than to the knowing pop that the former two peddle. Songs such as ‘Go Mr. Sunshine’, ‘Fed Up‘ and ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ are imbued with a refreshing lack of pretentiousness. Unlike that last sentence. I’ll simplify it: I reckon she’s top banana.
The real treat though is yet to come. This is the third time I’ve seen Paul Steel in the past year, so the tracks played off his debut mini-album ‘April & I’ are already familiar to me, but unfortunately tonight the spotlight is not on Paul as it was when I last caught him back in May headlining The Metro. The care and attention lavished on Paul back them by the sound man seems to be a very distant memory tonight, as much of his set seems to get stuck in sonic fudge, which for somebody who brings along a Noah’s Ark--esque menagerie of instruments is never a good thing. Songs like set-opener ‘In A Coma and ‘Honkin’ On My Crackpipe still soar majestic and fully-formed out of Steel like sand being kicked out of Brian Wilson’s sandpit whilst he rolls around with Elvis Costello, but tonight the audience, which has thinned out considerably since Remi Nicole left the stage, remain largely unresponsive. I do end up sounding like a bit of a fan-boy when I tell people about Paul Steel, but I really couldn’t understand the amount of arm-folding that went on during his set, sound problems aside. At the risk of sounding like Disgruntled from Tunbridge Wells, the audience were shit, and I think that rubbed off on Paul, but we all have off nights, so I’ll forgive him this one and recommend that you check him out on tour before his first full-length album comes out later on in the year.
Rock music, a lot like smoking, can lead to a lot of long-term health problems if you’re not careful. Believe it or not, there are still some people out there who hold on to their dog-eared Dodgy records, partying like it’s 1998. That’s what happens to you if you get hooked on the bad stuff. Honking on the smooth sounds of Paul Steel and Remi Nicole however is something that I’d recommend carrying on past July 1st, and into the foreseeable future at least. Just don’t dress it up in damp-arsed metaphors like I just have though. It’s a tough habit to break, and they don’t do gum or patches for it yet.
Ben Goldrun (View Original Article)
Yep, the kids were out in force for this one and that, for any grumpy old men out there, was no bad thing. There was a palpable sense of excitement in the venue and when Does It Offend You, Yeah? took to the stage the screams of delight were louder than I’d ever experienced for any support band in this place. Ever.
The hype around DIOYY has been building for a while and for those of us that have been watching them for a while it was interesting to see how the bedroom-generated tracks would translate to the live set-up. Very well apparently, although not without mishap but the opening numbers of the set were frenetic enough that no-one noticed.
First song – bassist/vocalist James stepped on his power cable but the show carried on regardless with their second vocalist/cowbell hammerer jumping in. Second song – first crowd surfer seen. Third song – two girls are seen staggering back through the crowd to clean up after a glow-stick malfunction.
This was only DIOYY’s sixth outing as a band and so it’d be hard to judge them harshly for a lack of stagecraft. It’s something they need to work on but in the meantime the recruitment of an energetic hype man with a neat line in hat-swiping is a step in the right direction. Still, they’ve got the tunes to back them up – the grinding groove of Weird Science works an exhilaratingly dirty riff and set closer We Are Rockstars has half the room jumping. Honestly, I’ve never seen a support band manage that – these boys are set for bigger things.
Hadouken!’s main man James doesn’t lack for much in terms of generating a rapport with the crowd. His rapid-fire, tartly delivered lyrics are backed up by the relentless band behind him, all heavy synths and beats. The reason they seem to attract such a young crowd becomes quite apparent – not the sort of band to sling in a ballad for breath-catching purposes, the young uns are the only ones that can keep up. I'm not complaining about the energy the band can sustain, but it's a bit one-paced without a few troughs to show off the peaks.
Oh, so I am complaining, but still, the high point of the evening was a blitz through new single Liquid Lives with the crowd singing along and the “drink, smoke, fuck fight” chant rousing the rabble especially. The singalong carried on with the crowd providing the intro to Tuning In too.
Scoring points (with me at least) for refusing to go through the rigmarole of the faux-encore they deliver a final, destructive That Boy, That Girl and exit the stage leaving a ragged, sweaty and very happy crowd.
Chris Unitt (View Original Article)
Tunes such as 'Ice Cream Sundae' (Kasabian performing the theme to The Krypton Factor) and 'Loosely Dancing' (the return of baggy misfits Northside anyone?) allow the two camps to intermingle, united by a love of pure groove with clearly noughties sensibilities that sets The Twang apart from being simply a Happy Mondays tribute band.
Debut single 'Wide Awake' sounds better than ever bolstered as it is by an appreciative crowd bellowing out a chorus that has become as synonymous with Radio 1 recently as Dave Lee Travis and bad jokes were in the 1980s. Meanwhile current chart hit 'Either Way' (not shy to the airwaves either) is greeted warmly by those who've warmed to this unlikely combination of The Streets mellower moments with Stone Roses 'Waterfall' melodies.
Already the traditional finale, 'Cloudy Room' is performed as the new album version and is sufficiently different to the rendition on the band's MySpace that fans had previously grown to love. This one accelerates the general pace of the song to that of the frenetic wig-out climax, but still slows down to authentic original speed for the 'Let's get some Gianluca' line. The difference in the performance of this song represents the difference in The Twang's overall performance in the two months since they last graced the Granite City. Recording the album has allowed them to stamp their own sound on their songs and should go some way to convince those who've dismissed them as second-rate baggy revivalists. Of course, sticking by your influences over a course of LPs never hurt their sonic godfathers Oasis did it?
Richard Brown (View Original Article)
Anyway, a couple of weeks later I was asked if I wanted to go and see her perform live and, having nothing else to do that evening, I agreed and half-heartedly set about listening to whatever tunes I could get hold of. Which was when I realised I’d been saved from making quite a silly mistake.
I’d not been into the back room of the Glee Club before. The main room sometimes suffers from an atmosphere akin to a school assembly but this was much cosier. I was at the back of the room but still almost within touching distance of the stage. As I had settled into my seat and chatted to my neighbour about the support act I’d missed, when a little blonde lady in a red dress led her band out on to the stage.
The band take their places and Basia sits down, wrestles with the microphone stand and with a strum of her autoharp brings us all under her spell. A minutes worth of strumming and singing – short and sweet – follows and it’s apparent that there’s more on offer than yet another well-meaning but tiresomely derivative songwriter.
When the applause abates, the second song brings the whole band in with an abrupt change of pace, as if flexing muscles to show that we’re not in for a moping, one-paced show.
The set is perfectly paced and varied with the songs wrapped in a delicious warmth that pervades the room, drawing us closer into the songs. Most of Basia’s album Oh My Darling features with Why Can’t It Be Mine, La-Da-Da and December staying in the memory. Violin, piano and ukulele are interspersed over the drums and Basia’s autoharp and guitar with enough invention to keep the attention up.
Double-time hand claps from the whole band introduce I Was A Daughter, continuing until their instruments are needed and silencing for the duetted middle part before coming back in and rising to a quick crescendo.
Little Waltz comes mid-set and is the undoubted highlight. Plucked guitar notes decorate a sorry tale of love that didn’t quite blossom before the strings invoke the song’s emotion. The line “I learned how to dance but I never showed it to you” holds such repressed feeling than Ishiguro would be proud of it.
Basia’s between song banter is quite at odds with her demeanour when singing. She has trouble speaking between the giggling and manages to sound entirely genuine when she beamingly announces how pleased she is to be playing in Birmingham. Maybe she is genuine. Tonight is the one month anniversary of their being on tour so perhaps the novelty hasn’t worn off, but then with highlights like staying with the drummer from Dexys Midnight Runners how could it?
On drums Basia’s brother Bobby, teased for his surly onstage demeanour, is impressive, especially on The Pilgrimming Vine where he keeps a tight martial beat on the snare while the song unfolds around him. If there’s any suggestion that working with ex-Arcade Fire’s Howard Bilerman has had an influence it’s on this song.
A rousing rendition of Snakes and Ladders closes the set and as the band troop off they make it as far as the door before being called back by the crowd – not in the usual charade of these things but with more of a pleading edge. The band turn back at the door to give us one last morsel.
Basia Bulat and her band of family, friends and housemates have returned to Canada for the time being but until they come back I’d heartily recommend buying her album. You may as well get in early because as everyone seemed to agree after the show the little girl with the unusual name is headed for bigger things.
Chris Unitt (View Original Article)