de-minimis: November 2013

29 November 2013

little barrie - 'long hair'

This popped up on my iPod this morning and certainly put a smile on my face.

28 November 2013

all those people all those lives, where are they now?

Ever wondered what your favourite stars from the 80s now look like? Have a peek here. There's some that look like they are due refunds from their plastic surgeons. OMD - really, did you have to spoil the illusion?

http://djrioblog.com/2013/11/26/new-wave-artists-aging-gracefully-an-80s-world-gone-by/

And Stephen Tin Tin Duffy looks - well, like a geography teacher now. I prefer to remember him like this. I love this song:

ólafur arnalds - 'this place was a shelter'

He's playing in Hove next week and I'm taking my 11 year old son to see this Icelandic pianist, musical genius and all-round nice guy. Can't wait. Until then, here's a taste of what we can expect.

depeche mode - 'halo (goldfrapp remix)'

They were excellent last week at the O2 Arena. Not my favourite music venue but a long stretch but they put on a great show.

dengue fever - 'one thousand tears of a tarantula'

Who's up for some Cambodian psychedelic rock?

27 November 2013

skint records podcast series

A bit of music/football trivia for you: Skint Records were long-time sponsors of Brighton and Hove Albion. How cool was that? The coolest football team in the whole world sponsored by the coolest record label. That's how cool.

Here's their entire podcast series in one mighty 15 hour chunk. You can get hold of them individually on iTunes or here.

nina kraviz - 'desire'

Russian DJ / producer, Ms Kraviz is releasing a new 6 track EP titled 'Mr Jones'. You can listen to it in its entirety here. I've chosen the first track from it and as soon as you listen to it, you'll know why. It's quite compelling, hypnotic even with a very deep house rhythm and at nearly 13 minutes long it gives you lots of time to get into the groove.

james blake remixes destiny's child 'bills'

As if winning the 2013 Mercury Prize wasn't a big enough challenge, James Blake has upped the ante with a remix of generic girl band Destiny's Child's hit 'Bills' under his pseudonym of Harmonimix. The result is something altogether different from the original, thankfully and this curious experiment works. I wonder what next for Blake.

forest swords - 'thor's stone (lee scratch perry remix)'

Hot off the press and sounding extremely smooth. I swear Lee Scratch Perry couldn't make a bad record if he tried.

26 November 2013

real lies - 'deeper (bey lf remix)'

East London soul boys making great sounding music. What's not to like?

chew lips - 'slick'

When I heard the start of this tune I thought at first it was 'Your Silent Face' from New Order's 'Power, Corruption and Lies' album. The New Order connection doesn't end there though as East Londoners, Chew Lips, have collaborated with Bernard Sumner on remixes of their tracks too.

25 November 2013

robyn the robot

This is a brilliant little article from Pitchfork magazine about female Swedish technology students who have built a robot after being inspired by fellow Swede, singer and all round action-lady, Robyn. More power to her elbow as she has long been a campaigner for equality in the music industry and it seems appropriate that this project promotes equality and female opportunity in the engineering world. You can read more about it here. And any excuse to play my favourite Robyn song.

elíza - 'return to me'

Elíza Newman is an Icelandic singer with a great line in quirky pop, cryptic but never cynical lyrics and catchy tunes that might just bring a tear to your eye. This is taken from the 2007 album Empire Fall.

the stepkids - 'sweet salvation'

I've said it before but my friends have the best taste in music. Take this beauty for instance, I'd never heard of them or the song until this morning but a message from a chum and I knew this was going to be a good tune. I wasn't wrong, a trippy electronic number that seems to go on forever and finishes way too quickly. Thanks to my friend Dan for the heads up on this.

24 November 2013

two door cinema club - 'handshake'

Before I close off for the day I'll just share a band with you that's brand new to me and is a hot recommendation from my 14 year old son. They sound very good, fresh elctro-indie. Very Passion Pit, who I'm informed have remixed one of their songs.

ben watt - cold november sunday, a deep folk mixtape 23.11.13

A perfect way to end a Sunday evening.

Here's the tracklisting:

Tim Hecker / Radiance

Mark McGuire / When You're Somewhere

Mutual Benefit / Advanced Falconry

Zachary Cale / Unfeeling

Shearwater / I'm So Glad

Meg Baird / All I Ever Wanted

Clifford Brown / Willow Weep for Me

Fryars / Love So Cold

Hiss Golden Messenger / Dreamwood

piers faccini - 'reste la marée'

English-born, French-raised and with an Italian father, there's no denying that Piers Faccini isn't well-travelled and his brand of folk music reflects this with a healthy mix of Gallic and Anglo-Saxon. Described by the excellent folk music website For Folk's Sake as a cross between Kings of Convenience and Nick Drake and that's a pretty big compliment in anyone's book. As you can imagine with a description like that, it's all about subtle nuances, gentle inflections and a delicate pace. Perfect for a Sunday.

23 November 2013

the temptations - 'ball of confusion (12 shades of re-edit and master)'

Oh my goodness, this re-edit is incredible. It's taken the original and added lush strings and a lot more depth. It's positively Spector-esque.

sleeper - 'what do i do now?'

Possibly my all-time favourite Brit-pop song. It's a classic.

nick cave - 'suzanne'

...and Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water.

22 November 2013

grizzly bear - 'will calls (diplo remix)'

Hot off the press is a Diplo remix of the 2012 Grizzly Bear track. It's certainly a lot less in your face than his usual output but you can definitely tell that it's him. Time perhaps for him to explore different sounds?

19 November 2013

all things brighton beautiful

Here's a mixtape of music from the Brighton area, my hometown and also where the coolest football club in the world are based. Thanks to fellow Albion fan, Muzzywick for collating this.

And the tracklisting:

The Friendly Fires - Arkansas

The Grooveyard - Summer (Flexi)

The Blue Minkies - Tough Punks Are Square

Shrag - Tights in August

Whirl - In a Dream

The Popguns - Waiting For the Winter

14 Iced Bears - Inside

The 'Tone - Bloody

The Friendly Fires - Looks Like Rain Again

The Blue Minkies - Helena (live)

The Grooveyard - Peter

14 Iced Bears - Like a Dolphin

The Numbers - I Don't Know What I Want

The Chefs - I'll Go Too.

Shrag - Forty Five 45s

Comet Gain - Ballad of a Mix Tape

18 November 2013

eels - 'bombs away'

Track 1 from the Wonderful, Glorious album, it's strange how this album has slipped under the radar without the critical acclaim that perhaps it's due. It's a shame as it's a very good long player.

damien jurado - 'silver timothy'

The new album is out at the beginning of January next year and this is the first release from it and it's certainly a step away from his more Americana sounding output of previously. This almost retro-psychedelic song has a definite West Coast influence and the chorus could have been lifted from the soundtrack to a 60s road trip movie. I like it a lot.

rae and christian - 'happy'

From their latest album and it's an instant hit in this household.

17 November 2013

billie holiday - 'i'll be seeing you'

What a voice. I don't listen to Ms Holiday half as much as I should.

woodkid - 'i love you (quintet version)'

I'm still buzzing from having seen Woodkid at Brixton Academy this week supported by the BBC orchestra. Here's a slower stripped back version of the album showing exactly why his music works so well with a classical backdrop.

black - 'wonderful life'

It is, you know.

12 November 2013

rudi zygadlo - 'the man in the duck'

A quick walk along the Regent's Canal near Islington was made even better with this popping up randomly on my headphones. It's kind of electronica meets glitch hop and sounds quite deep and foreboding.

11 November 2013

daniel steinberg - 'phuturelabs mix november 2013'

My favourite minimal/nu-disco/deep house DJ producer has put together this brilliant mix that's been playing away on my laptop all afternoon. It's really quite chilled and the perfect wet weather antidote.

blood sport - 'life in units'

I'm very excited by this new album from Sheffield band Blood Sport. Taking their cue from the oxymoron in the band's name, they play uplifting African guitar hooks but to accompanying Ian Curtis-esque snarls and barks.

Here's a few tracks from the new album. Superb music

unkle - 'country tune'

How's your Monday been so far? Mine's been bloody awful.

07 November 2013

snowbird - 'porcelain'

Thanks to my brother for giving me the heads up on this track. A bit of digging on the 405 website they reveal that Snowbird are a duo including Simon Raymonde ex-Cocteau Twins. There's an album scheduled for January too with contributions from Midlake, Radiohead and Lanterns On The Lake. It sounds too good to miss.

los mismos - 'jefe ironside'

A bit of Spanish 70s funk for you. It's extremely cheesy, lounge music even but great fun nonetheless.

06 November 2013

dum dum girls - 'lost boys and girls club'

It's a slower track from the Dum Dum Girls iwith a video made in association with H&M Life but the drone-y guitars and unmistakeable voice of Dee Dee Penny makes sure that there's nothing mawkish or forgettable. They really should be a much bigger band than they are, you know.

the sussex sessions: isobel anderson and ruby colley

They met whilst part of separate acts at Glastonbury in 2011 and have now combined forces to produce this EP of stripped back folk music that allows both singer Anderson and violinist Colley to express themselves freely and make a contradiction of the music as both are clearly masterful musicians and although delicate there is nothing fragile in some powerful performances. It makes for what is a beautiful collection of songs.

mapei - 'don't wait (kingdom rmx)'

If you listen to just one remix this evening then make it this, it's quite something, it really is.

partial arts - 'telescope'

Taken from Kompakt Records Total volume 9 is this little number from Partial Arts. It's deceptively bouncy and ambient but underneath is a very serious dance track.

wednesday's woes

The weather is a bit pants, isn't it? Let's get some music going to get everyone smiling. The first track especially is a monstrously good song.

Biting Tongues - 'Toyota Boss Trouble'

Bliss - 'Overture (feat. Sophie Barker & Merethe Sveistrup)'

I Heart Sharks - 'Wolves'

05 November 2013

celebrating 10 years of fort knox five remixed

There's a brilliant EP from seriously funky Fort Knox Five exclusively available from Beatport with remixes from Krafty Kuts amongst others. I know a few party DJs who would love this record. In the meantime the band have uploaded it as a Soundcloud stream for our pleasure.

Thanks chaps.