sinead o'connor - you do something to me

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some randomness

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Just a few tunes before I go to bed.

Saint Etienne - Sylvie

The Doors - Land Ho

Creedence Clearwater Revival - As Long As I Can See The Light

LL Cool J - Going Back To Cali

 

Laid Back - Baker Man

john cage - dream

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kirby's dreamland

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John Kirby is a singer/songwriter from Hamilton USA. I'm not sure which Hamilton as at least 26 of the 52 states have a Hamilton but I'll take a punt at New York State seeing as he seems to tour a lot around there. He's just released his EP free on Bandcamp as a stream and download. I like his sound. He has an early to mid-90s feel to it but what sets him apart is some truly epic guitar chords at times (think U2's Joshua Tree-type of guitar playing.)

He's described as folk-pop but to be honest I don't hear much folk or Americana, this is straightforward guitar based pop rock. It's never going to set the world alight but his music does have a freshness and honesty that, as long as you don't take it too seriously, will wash pleasantly over you.

dj cam

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A couple of tunes from DJ Cam

Swim 

Friends and Enemies

i'm not in a good mood

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Brighton lost to Crystal Palace tonight. It hurts. I need some tunes.

The Deep Six - Solitary Man

Brian Jonestown Massacre - Anemone

Carpenters - I Won't Last a Day Without You

Cities Of Foam - Under Stars

And this tune is dedicated to all Albion fans feeling the pain right now:

Coralie Clément - Ça Valait la Peine

end of a marathon session

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Apologies for the number of posts tonight but there's so much good music I wanted to tell everyone about. I'm off to bed now but dedicate the last few songs to anyone who reads my musings. Thank you.

The Go Find - 'Bleeding Hearts'

Tiny Vipers - 'Development'

St Vincent - 'Cruel'

Lokua Kanza - Meu Amor

perrosky - 'el transito'

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If you are after a Chilean band that play down and dirty blues then look no further.

will to power

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Will Sessions are a funk/jazz/hip hop outfit from Detroit that play some very tight sets. They've released a live album free as a download on their Bandcamp site for you. Let me repeat that for you. A damn good funk/jazz/hip hop 8-piece have given you a live album for free. Get it here.

words fail me

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That's not quite true or I wouldn't be here telling you about German techno maestro, Justus Köhncke's new album 'Spiralen Der Erinnerung' (the memory of spirals). The thing is that I can't decide if it's the work of genius or utter tosh.

He's taken classic 70s ballads and given them what can loosely be described as a deadpan, cheesy, casio 8-bit makeover. We've got Carole King's 'It's Too Late', Janis Ian's 'At Seventeen', Paul McCartney's 'Let Em In' to name but a few. Wichita Linesman's another. Shall we chuck in 'Nobody Does It Better'? Oh, go on then. Will I buy this album? Yeah, of course. 

It's a challenging album because underneath it is extremely listenable and works equally as well on an unironic sort of ambient long player. It's deceptively deep and the records chosen are those classics which some regard as cheesy but I disagree. They are of a particular time in music and that was a time at which a lot of cheesy dross was put out but these are quite rightly great songs. The only one I don't recognise is the last one although it could well be a massive German Euro Disco hit for all I know.

flowers and sea creatures

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Ben Watt's dance label, Buzzin Fly, has released the debut album by electronic ambient outfit Flowers and Sea Creatures. I've been trying to track down some information about them but they seem to be quite low-key. Their MySpace page refers to them as from Montreal whereas Resident Advisor has them down as one half Belfast, the other half Athens. Who knows, eh?

At least we can focus on the music and it's very zeitgeist-y with lovely crisp drum patterns, melancholic chords and vocals that are kind of Radiohead in delivery. I'm listening to the album extract on Soundcloud now and am very impressed on first listen. There's a warmth to this album and the production is top-notch.  I'm reminded of those early 90s Depeche Mode albums in the introspectiveness that smothers this album like a blanket. There is a maturity to this album that belies its freshman status and I am predicting big things for this band.

They have also released an EP last week to accompany the album and is well worth a listen by itself. The tunes lend themselves very easily to remix. 

you've got a friend

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A beautiful tune with an important message. Night all.

finally, it's happened to me

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I'm rather excited about this release from Wolfgang Voigt, out tomorrow. It's his new EP Endlich/Unendlich and he looks like he's had a lot of fun making it. Just read the blurb accompanying it:

ENDLICH: A gentle, pressing ambient-beat sets off for town. Unfamiliar voices try to lure him into the dark. UNENDLICH contains highly sensitive messages from Wolfgang Voigt’s minimal knowledge that can only be revealed at full volume under the headphones. 11 minutes all or nothing in seeming inmobility. Black noise. Black hole. 

thom yorke in the mix

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This is a brand new mix from Thom Yorke for the Mary Ann Hobbs show on Xfm and you can read more including the full tracklisting here.  'Nuff said!

foxbase alpha

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It was twenty years ago today..actually 20 years ago last month that the most important album in my life was released, Foxbase Alpha by Saint Etienne. 

I've been reading lots of mentions of albums released all that time ago and there is no doubting 1991 was a great year for music: Nevermind, Low End Theory, Trompe Le Monde, Screamadelica et al but Foxbase Alpha was THE album for me. Nothing comes close to the feelings I have for this album. I've written about my love for this before but just in case you hadn't got the message I have it in every released format including the re-mastered edition, the remixed edition and the Subbuteo edition. 

Let's face it, I'm using this as an excuse to play the album so I'll shut up and stick a few of the tracks up here. 

And you can't mention Foxbase Alpha without the seminal 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart'. Je t'adore.

little feat — on your way down

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Sundays were made for this.

get up and dance

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I'm feeling quite energetic this morning - in fact, let's have some dance music.

So soulful, so well produced. Wighnomy Brothers vs Kosheen - Hide You

A blast from the past from an old drum and bass compilation I had. Sound of the Future - Lighter

From the ever wonderful K&D Sessions album......Alex Reece - Jazz Master (K&D Remix)

The next one absolutely rocks my world. Siriusmo - Einmal in Der Woche Schreien

And this is just sooooo good. Minimalism! Masomenos - Percute (Original Mix)

Last from me this morning.....Wolfgang Voigt - Empathie (Protest)

remembrance of things past

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This Proustian of titles is in honour of REM who announced their split this week. I am sad but I don't think there's too many people who hadn't seen it coming. They seemed to have reached the end of the road with the band and the last few albums are particularly unremarkable. I'd like to pay homage to them by picking a couple of songs from my favourite album of theirs, Green. 

This was them at their absolute best. It was their sixth album but their first for a major record company and they delivered one of the great albums of the late 80s. They changed a lot of their previous practices too. The lyrics were now written at the same time as the tune and they deliberately experimented with different instruments too to create an almost perfect album. They fully deserved their success and the albums of the late 80s and early 90s are what they should be remembered for more than anything else.

one of my favourite one hit wonders

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Tasmin Archer - Sleeping Satellite

how to dress well "suicide dream 3"

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Apologies but this blog entry is lifted almost word for word from the record company blurb. I hope you don't mind. I've tried to re-word it and add my own slant but tiredness has caused me to fail spectacularly. I hope you don't mind.

1,000 copies of How To Dress Well's new "Just Once" EP are available on 10" vinyl via Yourstru.ly's new Love Letters Ink imprint. Each physical copy comes with a hand-written letter from Tom Krell and a password to view exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the "Suicide Dream 2" recording. 

$1 of all physical sales will benefit MindFreedom.org, an organisation that helps those with mental illness. Pre-orders are available via bandcamp yourstrulysf.bandcamp.com/​album/​just-once-ep The digital release date is set for July 12th and will be available on July 12th for the physical edition.

welterweight

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I've been neglecting techno of late. I apologise for this. My musical moods are somewhat fickle and often a hiatus from one particular genre of music is, to me, a detox. I feel re-invigorated to seek it out the music again. With that in mind, I came across this, just released today, a new EP 'Rubber Band Boy' by William Welt and on first (and subsequent listens) is a moody, minimalist masterpiece.

Rubber Band Boy is a cavernous tune that builds into a thundering almost acid bassline. The Tom Ellis remix of this is more soulful and yet has a retro Detroit feel to it. Lumpy Groove sees the horns given the full re-working in an infectious tune and the last on the EP, What U Talking About is very deep. It reminds me of Robag Wruhme. 8.5 out of 10 from me.

 

dylan thomas's under milk wood - a bbc play by richard burton

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I have just spent the best part of an hour listening to my favourite radio play. This is the definitive version of one of Britain's most important plays. The gentleness, the love that Dylan Thomas poured into this and that Burton added has created nothing more than a national treasure. It's so much more than just a play or a poem. I could wax lyrical about this all day and every compliment would be inadequate testament to this work of art. The Rev. Eli Jenkins soliloquy (video 2, 11 minutes in) on his hometown is worth the admission money alone. Perfection.

alina orlova - kukushka

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random music

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Forgive me but tiredness has removed all musical inspiration from me this evening. Instead I will let my iPod choose the music. 

DJ Krush - Song 2

MikeMonday - I Dream of Ducks

Belle and Sebastian - Little Lou, Ugly Jack

Shlomi Aber - Tokyo Shanghai

US Christmas - Fire is Sleeping

go with the flo

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Silje Nes has composed an instrumental piece to go with this lovely timelapse video from Blank Blank and it was premiered at the recent Go With The Flø festival. As with everything she does, this is simple yet intricate, beautiful yet haunting. (It's deliberately filmed in portrait).

FLØ from Blank Blank on Vimeo.

curiouser and curiouser

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Occasionally I wander over to radiolab.org to see what wonderful sounds they have uncovered. It's a website with a very simple ethos - they want to make you think about what you are listening to. It's not always music, sometimes it's experimental noise, other times it's ambient background sounds and there's even voices and animal sounds.  It's always interesting though. The latest nuggets they unearthed are three wonderful musical acts recorded in June this year at their Curious Sounds concert in NYC.

You can find more about the three acts here:

http://www.bukeandgass.com/

 http://glennkotche.com/

http://www.reggiewatts.com/

peter wolf crier

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Peter Wolf Crier are (if the music Gods are truly benevolent) going to be big in the very near future. They have a real passion for their music which is serious, well-crafted and very artistic. They've very kindly streamed their entire album on the AOL music website here so you can listen before you buy. I like this album a lot and is quite different from most music out there at the moment. I can hear bits of Bolan, bits of all sorts really but it's definitely their own sound. Check out a couple of tracks they've put onto Bandcamp.

never can say goodbye（hiroshi fujiwara & k.u.d.o. remix)

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some saturday morning tunes

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FM Belfast - American

Kraftwerk - Wellenlange

Hifana - Fresh Push Breakin'

Heart Kill Giant - A Hymn for Her

Elvis - Such a Night

jens lekman new ep

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There's just so much great music out there and it just keeps on coming. This time it's the new Jens Lekman EP and you can listen to it free from Soundcloud and also below. I've waited so long for him to release this and the wait has certainly been worth it. Great stuff!

edit - link removed as it's no longer streaming. Sorry!

There's definitely something Herman Dune-like about it with lashings of Vampire Weekend thrown in for good measure. Or is it memories of Lloyd Cole that I can hear? 

awolnation

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Awolnation are a bit of an internet sensation. They released their debut single 'Sail' back in March as a download and have sold tens of thousands worldwide hitting the top ten digital charts across the globe. Their no-nonsense, shouty rock with better than average lyrics seem to have struck a chord with the buying public and I expect their new single 'Not Your Fault' to be equally well-received.

Here are both songs for your listening pleasure.

Sail

Not Your Fault.

doe-eyed beauty

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Sound the Sound is a wonderful music website that has a regular Doe Bay Sessions with guest songwriters often performing acoustic versions of their hits. Damien Jurado took it one better and penned this track especially for the session. Performed in the night air by candlelight and lyrics sung from a  recently scribed piece of paper, Jurado hits the perfect note with this performance.

an autumnal minimal mix

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This is a very tight little set from Agustin Cooper. It's about as minimal as it gets without being musically anorexic. I've listened to it twice and been blown away by just how good it really is.

 

sóley: smashed birds

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This is a new song from Icelandic band, Sóley and I think it's lovely. They've also got an album out at the moment. I think it's a must-have for this household.

just because

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There are some songs I will never tire of listening to and this is one of them. I also adore the video with Veronica Bennett looking absolutely scrumptious. I am totally in love with the way she smiles. I adore this song and I'm putting it on my blog...just because.

neon indian - 'era extraña'

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Neon Indian's second album is released tomorrow and you can preview it on a free stream on Soundcloud here. First impressions are good however I do hope the poor quality of the stream isn't replicated on the album. It sounds terribly distorted to me.

little dragon - brush the heat

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Last post of the day from me, I promise (I can't help it if there's so much good music around!) A brand new video for 'Brush the Heat' from Little Dragon. 

those darlins

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I really like this all-girl group (we won't count the drummer). They play honest-to-God, old school Garage Rock and they've got some really catchy tunes. Check these two out.

Prank Call

Red Light Love

the life and death of robert johnson

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I am sad to read that the last ever mix CD for the Live at Robert Johnson series on Kompakt Records has been issued. They will still be issuing dance music compilations but they will all be standalone tunes. The preview of number 8 and final one does sound rather good - almost funereal and perhaps rather appropriately so. Dixon has made a wonderful eulogy to what will be a much loved mix CD series. 

looky looky

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Some bands don't make it easy to search the net for them. If you give your band the name of a slightly low rent women's fashion chain then the odds are that you are going to struggle to be the top hit on a google search engine. So on that note may I introduce New Look to you. 

They launch their debut self-titled album on the !K7 label early next month and from the free stream of a few of their tracks I'm certainly curious to know what the rest of the album sounds like. They are very much into the deadpan delivery favoured by Pet Shop Boys, Kraftwerk et al although the sound could with a prevailing wind blowing in the right direction be a release from the 'Italians Do It Better' stable.

I especially like 'You and I' but listen for yourself here.

stereo mcs

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The Stereo MCs are back with a new album and have rather ambitiously launched a trilogy of videos that together form a story following the lives a young working class boy and girl as they slide inexorably into that murky underworld of drugs, crime, squatting and hopelessness. 

The songs are, I'm afraid a bit unremarkable and sound a bit like the songs New Order would have recorded as album fillers in the mid-90s. The Stereo MCs have had some brilliant albums - from the early days of Supernatural and Connected to the wonderful Deep Down and Dirty and more recently Double Bubble but sadly for me the three songs that form this trilogy and are apparently the big tunes of the album just lack that something that would make me want to get up and dance to it. I can see this being the music they would play in a goals round-up on Soccer AM. As for a Jamie Cullum guest spot on one of the tracks - really? I'm not going to get all huffity about Cullum and his brand of easy listening cod-jazz (I've done that previously in this blog) but I don't think he brought anything to the tune that stands out at all. Sorry lads but I have to say it's a no from me. 

The videos too are just a bit naff. I can see what they are trying to do and I admire the novel approach that allows a bigger plot to develop around 12 minutes instead of the more restrictive 4 but it just seems a bit cheesy in delivery. The child staring blankly into space as the parent goes mental inches from her face and  all slowed to half speed; the child ghost of one of the protagonists watching expressionless as the car crash of his adult life smashes around him - it's all a wee bit cliched.

I really was looking forward to both the trilogy and the album but on the basis of this it's doubtful I will explore this album further. Here's the trilogy.

Boy feat Jamie Cullum

Tales

Far Out Feeling