julia holter - 'running through my eyes (an fd acoustic session)'

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A simple yet stunning acoustic set from Ms Holter for the ever-brilliant FD Sessions.

james blake's 'overgrown' wins mercury music prize

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If ever proof were needed that the geekier edges of electronica are coming into the mainstream then James Blake's well-deserved win should go a long way to satisfying the doubters. His music has always been a very cerebral and intimate creation, I can't recall too many 'in your face' tracks from him despite how heavy he drops the bass. 

Blake's stock is already extremely high with A-list musicians lining up to request his mixing skills. Only this week I heard a very powerful production with Drake (not my thing but I can appreciate he's a great musician). This remix of Rahjconkas is far more up my street.

xx's coexist remixed

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I have just seen in Fact Mag that four tracks from the beautiful Coexist album have been given a remix makeover and are scheduled for release next month on an EP named 'HVNXX'. The full tracklisting is as follows:

Tracklist:

01 Fiction (Marc Piñol Remix)

02 Reunion (Mistakes Are Ok Remix)

03 Missing (Round Remix)

04 Swept Away (New Jackson Remix)

The first two have been released for streaming ahead of EP launch so I'm really pleased to be able to link them here:

Fiction (Marc Piñol Remix)

Reunion (Mistakes Are Ok Remix)

thursday's child

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I'm trying to eschew the obvious Halloween connection today (I've always enjoyed Guy Fawkes night much more) and instead post an eclectic mix of music. Hope you enjoy at least some of them but for the traditionalists, I've snuck a tune in at the end just for you.

Bailey Brothers - 'Happy Valley Special'

Perhaps it's the weather but I'm feeling quite melancholy this morning and for obvious reasons old school bluegrass really hits the spot.

The Supremes - 'Stoned Love (A Tom Moulton Remix)'

Normally associated with the Philly sound here's disco production legend Tom Moulton's take on a Motown classic.

Lund Quartet - 'Love's Madness'

Bristol jazz/trip-hop. What's not to like?

Kid Montana - 'Spooky (Halloween Mix)'

This is a slow-burner but really quite cool and trippy. In the words of Crimewatch -"Don't have nightmares."

warpaint - 'love is to die'

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I'm very excited about going to see Warpaint tonight at my all-time favourite music venue, Brixton Academy. Their first album was a very impressive affair and coincidentally the release date of the new album (January 2014) as well as new tour dates have been confirmed in the last couple of days. I'm really pleased to see Brighton Dome as a venue too.

Here's the first release from their eponymous new album.  

omar souleyman - 'warni warni'

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Last one of the night and bang up to date with Syrian cult pop star, Omar Souleyman and produced by Four Tet's Kieran Hebden. This track is a monster of a tune. Seriously, you've got to play this loud and often. You won't regret it.

jacques brel - 'le plat pays'

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Another re-discovery tonight for me, this time Jacques Brel this time with 'Le Plat Pays' (translated as 'The Flat Country'). I can't help but think of Leonard Cohen when I hear this song. Just beautiful.

let's hear it for the drummer

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I don't know if the name Craig McClune (aka Clune) is a name you're familiar with or not but he was for a time the drummer with David Gray's band and one of the most engaging, exciting and extravagant drummers I've ever seen live. It's difficult to put into words the visual and aural experience of seeing him drumming live but it's one that you don't forget once seen. 

I was reminded of him from that Ray Lamontagne video with David Gray lurking in the background. He's not always been my cup of tea but certain songs hit the spot and with Clune providing a live trip-hop sound this song in particular is one that I do like a lot. Just check out the drumming.

ray lamontagne - 'are we really through'

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With a voice and rich and evocative as someone like John Martyn or Daniel Lefkowitz and a songwriting talent to match, a Ray Lamontagne live in session recording is always going to sound special. I've been listening to 'God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise' whilst doing a few chores and it's been like re-visiting an old friend after a long time apart. Here's a wonderful live version for BBC Four.

nick cave and the bad seeds - 'live at krcw'

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Just a heads-up that there's a new live album pencilled in for the end of next month. Here's the full listing:

1.   Higgs Boson Blues

2.   Far From Me

3.   Stranger Than Kindness 

4.   The Mercy Seat

5.   And No More Shall We Part 

6.   Wide Lovely Eyes 

7.   Mermaids

8.   People Ain't No Good

9.   Into My Arms (limited vinyl only)

10. God Is In The House (limited vinyl only)

11. Push The Sky Away

12. Jack The Ripper

Looks like I'll have to get the limited edition vinyl as those two vinyl-only tracks are up there with my favourite Nick  Cave songs.

tim paris - 'edges of confusion'

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I first heard this on the excellent 'Immer 3' album and even when sitting with a superior selection of tunes, this is a real stand-out track from the long-player.

radiohead - 'house of cards'

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Some Tuesday lunchtime quality.

mount kimbie - 'blind night errand'

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This corker of a tune popped up on my iPod just as I was pulling into East Croydon last night on the way home to Brighton and a fair few Palace fans got on there, all looking very glum at losing 4-1 at home to Fulham. It made the tune all that much sweeter and I'll forever associate the tune with that result. Everyone's a winner! Well, maybe not Crystal Palace.

atoms for peace - 'before your very eyes'

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Monday seems to find me in a melancholy frame of mind and feeling very uninspired. I must have hit about 30-odd tunes on Youtube/Soundcloud/various other music websites and then quickly forwarded to the next one. This is about the only one that I've listened to the whole way through. Great video as well. 

elliott smith - 'pretty (ugly before)'

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He died at his own hand 10 years ago this day. Yet another musician who wrote such beautiful music yet whose personal life was tormented by personal demons. Taken from his last album and, it appears to me at least, to be his suicide note to the world. 

reuben wilson - 'orange peel'

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This has to be one of the most famous riffs in breakbeat. Funky!

eurythmics - 'julia'

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My all-time favourite Eurythmics track and from a soundtrack that has been forgotten when thinking of the duo's musical output. They hit exactly the right mood with the entire album and reflects the book's paranoia, sadness and bleakness.

primal scream - 'running out of time'

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From the bonus disc on the new album ' More Light'. Classic Primal Scream sound.

chuck berry - 'brown eyed handsome man'

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He's 87 today. Incredible to think the man who is one of the most important figures in popular music is still alive.

dj icey - 'get it'

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This is very Major Lazer sounding and you know what that means - play it loud and party like it's the end of the world.

john grant live at the jazz cafe 18/10/2013

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I went with a few friends last night to legendary Camden venue, the Jazz Cafe to see John Grant.The gig was pretty damn awesome, the man played a superb set to a very appreciative and respectful audience. I didn't see anyone filming it and the pauses in his songs were left silent and not a cue to start clapping/whistling/shouting out something inane. This surprised and pleased me. Proof that most people had heard and listened to the albums.

I think his move to Iceland has suited him. There's no doubting where Gus Gus have influenced and given him new musical avenues to explore. We started with techno and it worked well live, his band were excellent although the heavier electronic pieces did look like a lot of them were synching to it. Only on a few songs did he really let rip with that lovely voice of his but perhaps that is what makes it such a treat. His in-between songs chatter with the crowd was very warm and personable with him name-dropping other musicians he'd met recently and referencing his sexuality often. JG seems to be quite comfortable about it now and I suppose that when I think about it this shows a bit more with the lyrics to this latest album as opposed to 'The Queen of Denmark'. That's not to say that there's no venom in Pale Green Ghosts - there's a track called 'Greatest Motherf**ker' on it for a start. He played a few favourites from the QoD album - most notably 'Chicken Bones' and 'Marz'. I forget which track he dedicated to Midlake who were in the audience with us. That was pretty cool too.

All in all a great night and a real shame that with the gig in London, my girlfriend and I had to dash halfway through the encore. This was the first time I have seen him live and I recommend the experience. It has enhanced and put some more context into the albums and I'm definitely going to revisit them with a new appreciation.

This is a great remix from the Limited Edition version of Pale Green Ghosts (which I'm very pleased I splashed out for).

fela kuti - 'sorrow, tears and blood'

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The great man would have been 75 years old today, so to celebrate let's sign off this evening with this dance friendly edit of the title track from my favourite Kuti album.

l'anarchiste - 'the traveler'

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I've been busy all evening updating my CV (the joys of being a contract worker) and generally losing my rag with MS Word. My sanity has been saved by this album from Salt Lake City folk/rock band L'anarchiste. It's all quite downtempo, mainly acoustic and I love the way it soars, pulls itself back and then lets go again. This is the first listen and it's been lovely background music, I'm looking forward to giving it a proper listen with headphones and discovering it properly. It's also reminded me just how rewarding the Bandcamp website can be.  

wu-tang clan 'wolves feat. george clinton'

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And the good music on my iPod kept on coming at lunchtime earlier. You can't go wrong with a heavyweight pairing of the Wu-Tang Clan and George Clinton, can you?

ever had one of those mornings?

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The one where every song that pops up on your iPod is a great tune? My morning commute has been just that. Here's a few that came up. Hope you enjoy them too.

Yossou N'Dour  - 'Don't Look Back'

Peggy Sue - 'February Snow'

The Mighty Diamonds - 'Jah Jah Bless the Dreadlocks'

Esthero - 'Fastlane'

goldfrapp - 'drew'

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She's back and with what is quite simply a stunning collection of songs. The new album feels far more personal and once again a change of direction with a huge acoustic blues input. Just listen to this.

marlena shaw - 'woman of the ghetto'

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Last blog entry tonight and it's another look back at some American soul music. The inspiration for the Blue Boy hit, this Marlena Shaw track is a classic in its own right. Powerful message, powerful music.

the wiseguys - 'casino sans pareil'

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From one of the most under-rated albums by one of the most under-rated British hip-hop acts. This is just so good after all these years.

gonjasufi - 'sheep'

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If you can name a trippier song than this then I'd like to hear it. When the Bollywood sample kicks in - oh my!

love unlimited - 'high steppin' hip dressin' fella'

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We saw the Barry White produced 1972 album 'Walking In The Rain With The One I Love' earlier and it inspired me to dig out some Love Unlimited on a Saturday night. I'm listening to this on headphones and the production is completely off the scale - there's so much that Barry White put into this track. What a man he was.

brighton - 'run away'

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Anyone who even vaguely knows my musical tastes will know that I adore Scandinavian pop music. There's just something about it that is unashamedly pop and yet serious music at the same time - and sharing a very similar musical heritage with British music it's easy to find an affinity with.

And then - kapow - a Norwegian band goes and names itself after my hometown and my football team: 'Brighton'. I'm buzzing after this discovery and the icing on the cake is that the tune is bloody brilliant too. Friday afternoons don't get much better.

https://soundcloud.com/diamond-club/brighton-run-away-dc-24/s-WD7WZ

Update to this blog, their record company has very kindly sent me a new hot-link.

tuesday night in the mix

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A couple of songs to listen to see out this glorious October day, it's what they call an 'Indian summer' isn't it?

First up is Shackleton with 'Seven Present Tenses'. Bearing in mind some of his darker, more elaborate electronica, this is quite danceable and extremely catchy.

And then some all-girl garage rock: 'Waste Away' from Those Darlins. I'm a real sucker for a guitar twang. This track is just perfect. 

philip selway - 'the witching hour'

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I've put this on my blog before but it's so good I really want to post it again. Who knew that Radiohead's drummer would have this kind of tune in him?

poets' day

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I missed the national poetry day and consequently this addition is very late and apologies for that. It's a Tuesday lunchtime collection of songs based on poems in their own right. surprisingly, there are lots of candidates but these 3 are hand-picked by me because I have them in my own music collection and more importantly, they are excellent re-workings of already beautiful poems. 

I toyed with the likes of Staggerlee but I recall I have that already on my blog somewhere and I wanted a more traditional poem as the starting point.

First up is Christine Tobin's 'The Wild Swans at Coole' from her 'Sailing to Byzantium' album - a concept album based around the poems of W.B. Yeats. I confess I hadn't read the poem prior to hearing this track but she's done an excellent job of interpreting a stunning poem. I did originally want to have her take on 'The White Birds' but sadly I can't find it on the web to stream.

I can't have music based on poetry without mentioning Jah Wobble, a man who has not been afraid to go back to the classics as a source of inspiration. If you have never heard Jah Wobble wax lyrical about Blake's poetry then you are in for a treat. It's sublime.

The final song will put a smile on your face for sure. I've always loved this Muppets interpretation of A.A. Milne's 'Halfway Down The Stair' since I first heard it as the b-side to my brother's 7 inch copy of  'Ma Na Ma Na'. Don't let the puppets fool you into thinking it's just nonsense, I love how subversive the Muppets were in their musical interpretations. Ground-breaking for sure.

john squires - 'transatlantic near death experience'

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Here's a song that's worth playing loud and often today. John Squires sounds likes he's enjoying himself and I did too listening to this and I'm a big fan of the extended ending when he lets rip with the guitars.

ben pearce - 'what i might do'

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Oh my, this is a hell of a find on a Sunday evening. You know you're getting old though when your 11 year old son tells you "oh yeah, I've heard this one." Young man's game, this music blogging lark.

The tune itself is a moody affair reminiscent of something like Outkast in their introspective moments. It's very danceable too. 

terror bird - 'try to break me'

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Lo-fi electro is Terror Bird's stock in trade and she does it exceptionally well. Hailing from Vancouver, this is, I believe, her debut album and it's packed full of instantly catchy tunes. It reminds me very much of Yazoo, OMD even the Pet Shop Boys in places. Highly recommended.

bob marley and the wailers - 'mr brown'

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Some very old school reggae for a lovely Sunday morning. I don't think Bob's voice sounded any better on any song.