de-minimis: October 2014

31 October 2014

nick cave and the bad seeds - 'the higgs-boson blues'

Maybe I'm warming slightly to this album now. Hope so.

28 October 2014

mazzy star - 'common burn'

I don't think I could ever get bored of listening to Mazzy Star.

she & him - stay awhile'

They've an album of covers coming out soon, rather appropriately called 'Classics' and this is the first release from it, a cover of the Dusty Springfield tune. A pretty good rendition too.

fear of men - 'descent (fd acoustic session)'

The ever excellent Fait Divers recorded Fear of Men in session in Dijon recently. The results are excellent.

27 October 2014

eaves - 'alone in my mind (for mannington bowes)'

Fans of Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen will adore this track. What a tune.

the bootleggers feat emmylou harris - 'cosmonaut'

One of the better tunes from the Lawless soundtrack.

robag wruhme - 'prognosen bomm'

A rather lovely piece of electronica from one of the jewels in the Kompakt record label crown.

26 October 2014

björk - 'hollow (16bit remix)'

The last for this mini-session of blogging. This is the 16-Bit re-interpretation from the remix collection of her Biophilia album.

matthew e white - 'gone away'

Carrying on the Sunday slumber tunes, here's another mellow number, this time from his 2012 album 'Big Inner'.

mirel wagner - 'what love looks like'

A suitably dark tune from Finnish singer/songwriter Mirel Wagner on a dark and foreboding Sunday afternoon.

25 October 2014

billie holiday - 'me, myself and i'

It's a Billie Holiday sort of Saturday morning, I think.

24 October 2014

beck - 'country down'

If you haven't the 'Morning Phase' album then you are missing out big time. Trust me on this.

shimmering stars - 'derèglement'

It's as if the Jesus and Mary Chain were covering the Everly Brothers' 'Cathy's Clown'. A superb album from the Vancouver band.

harold melvin and the bluenotes - 'i miss you'

Top, top tune.

lanterns on the lake - 'there's a light on in your home'

This rather lovely, soulful track popped up randomly on my iPod whilst wandering around Lincoln's Inn Fields today. It fitted my mood perfectly.

23 October 2014

It's almost like lo-fi R&B. Detroit Hip-hop producer Black Milk has done really well here to break from the usual bling n bitches cliches and has come up with a genuinely soulful, stripped back tune. Love it.

miaoux miaoux - 'stop the clocks'

Some mid-afternoon electro-pop to keep you going.

unkle - 'follow me down'

You can't go wrong with Unkle.

david lynch - 'i know (sasha remix)'

Nearly the weekend...

22 October 2014

stornoway - 'i saw you blink'

Here's a great hit from a superb album of a few years back. Stornoway really were a breath of fresh air when I first heard them. They still sound great.

j mascis - 'trailing off'

The world's a crazy place for sure. Thank God for great music.

hymnalaya - 'colt for a king'

Icelandic folk outfit, Hymnalaya have a great sound, crisp, clean vocals, tight musical arrangements and beautiful tunes.

caribou - 'our love'

Taking a huge nod from Inner City's 'Good Life' is the lead track form Caribou's new album and one I'm still getting to grips with. It's very good in parts but there are a few album fillers that don't go anywhere that let the album down in my opinion. That said, the tunes that are good, 'Can't Do Without You' for instance, are absolute belters.

emiliana torrini - 'nightfall'

This is from the 'Men, Women and Children' soundtrack. I can't say I'd heard of the film until now but will definitely look out for it if only for a chance to hear this beautiful tune.

eternal summers - 'gouge'

There's nothing better to pick me up after yet another disrupted commute into London than listening loudly to music whilst walking. It's extremely therapeutic, for me anyway. Here's some honest to God, great guitar pop that was one of the tunes that provided therapy.

21 October 2014

todd terje - 'delorean dynamite (for sale)'

This is a very cheeky little video. Not only is it a music video for the track from his latest album but it's also an ad for a rare Delorean Dynamite where, for the right money, you could buy the actual car.

paul hartnoll - '8:58'

With the announcement that Orbital have announced they have split and gone their separate ways. Paul Hartnoll has wasted no time with his new project 8:58, the track and video of the same name released today.

neat beats - 'cosmic surgery'

A lovely bit of downtempo trip-hop all the way from San Diego. I'm wallowing in self-pity as I listen to another frustrating Brighton and Hove Albion performance so this is the perfect back ground music to my evening.

depeche mode - 'useless'

I meant to blog about this classic Depeche Mode tune yesterday but forgot...It's 17 years (and a day) since 'Useless' was released from the Ultra album. I've no idea where the time goes but it's scary to think how old these tunes are. Anyway, enough about my mortality and back to the music:

john holt 1947 - 2014

One of the sweetest voices in reggae has died, John Holt recorded the original 'Tide Is High' that Blondie took to great success. Ironically, his only big UK success was a cover version itself: Kris Kristofferson's 'Help Me Make It Through The Night'. I have a big soft spot for that song too so have plumped for this track.

20 October 2014

eva bowan - 'hyperspectacle ep'

Polish-born and Brighton-based (yay!), Eva Bowan has released an EP of psychedelic electronica that deserves serious attention. Listening to this is a great way to spend a Monday lunchtime.

ásgeir - 'it will rain'

Here's a previously unreleased track from the Icelandic wunderkind and will feature on the upcoming deluxe version of his new album.

the charlatans - 'so oh'

This is their new single scheduled for release on 1st December and will feature on the album 'Modern Nature' earmarked for release early next year. First thoughts are that it's okay, good even but lacks a bit of bite. It's desperately missing an essential ingredient; the chorus is a little too flat, a little too MOR. I do like the guitar work through the song though and it ends very nicely. 6/10.

john costello - 'blanket expression'

The original was a track by Test Card F, an obscure Norwich electro band who recorded the track for a Peel Session in 1982. picked up this superb cover by John Costello randomly on Soundcloud some time back.

jagwar ma - 'uncertainty (time and space machine dub)'

Monday mornings, eh? This might wash away those blues.

19 October 2014

lily the kid - 'breathe'

The Reykjavik music scene is still producing great new talent. Check out this very clean and exquisite track.

saint saviour - 'a word (peckham safe house session)'

Saint Saviour never fails to deliver, even with acoustic guitar songs. Fantastic stuff.

strawberry switchblade - 'since yesterday'

On a scale of one to ten of how much I love this record, I'd probably be at eleven. Top, top 80s classic.

18 October 2014

soley - 'pretty face (egokind rmx)'

It looks like it's Remix Saturday with this choice track. Her album 'We Sink' was my album of the year a few years back, it's that good.

easy star all-stars - 'us and them (dreadzone remix)'

Just time to sneak this tune onto my blog before we head out to watch Brighton play Middlesbrough. Come on you Seagulls!

saint etienne - 'nothing can stop us (richard x remix)'

From the Richard X remix album 'Foxbase Beta'. It doesn't get much better than this, you know.

vampire weekend - 'contramelt b (toy selectah remix)'

This song comes courtesy of my 12 year old today, who has loved this remix for a fair, few years now.

17 October 2014

the narcissists - 'planet euthanasia'

One of the great forgotten hip-hop albums of recent years that simply does not get the justice that it deserves.

art department presents martina topley-bird and mark lanegan - 'crystalised'

Yep. It's the XX covered by Martina, Mark and Art Department. What a collaboration!

blank realm - 'bulldozer love'

If you're after a ramshackle tune, the type that has everything but the kitchen sink thrown into it then this is what you're after. Great guitar riffs, a silly chorus that just won't quit and Ramones-esque deliveries. A great way to start a Friday.

16 October 2014

ourlives - 'blissful ignorance'

An Icelandic band that have been around for a fair few years but somehow don't get the publicity. I've no idea why, their radio-friendly sound is pretty damned good and they're a tight band. This is from their 2014 album 'Den Of Lions'.

bryan ferry - 'the price of love'

As smooth as silk, cooler than a cucumber.

jon kennedy - 'do as you did'

Ah, who fancies some breaks and beats now?

lana del ray - 'pretty when you cry'

I'm warming again to her music. I think the hype surrounding her became a bit much but after listening to her album 'Ultraviolence' again I think I gave her a bit of a hard time of late.

avi buffalo - 'at best cuckold'

If this album doesn't feature in the critics' top 10 lists at the end of the year, I'll eat my hat.

the felice brothers - 'meadow of a dream'

I haven't blogged the Felice Brothers in a long time so let's put that right now. The folky Americana outfit who hail from high up in New York State have an album out this year, 'Favorite Waitress' that I've dipped into occasionally of late and whilst it's never going to set the world alight with a slightly more introspective look at life than their previous albums, if you're a fan of this genre then this is a must listen to album, in my opinion. I do love how they manage to remain quite a political band yet not lose themselves in some sort of preach-fest. The message never stops the good music from coming through.

tricky - 'aftermath'

Maxinquaye remains one of the most important albums of my life.

15 October 2014

grace - 'pluto'

Now this is very, very cool indeed. She's from Perth in Australia and this is her debut single and what a single it is. It reminds me of PJ Harvey if she ever did a techno tune. Great stuff indeed.

lamb - 'we fall in love'

I'm very excited about the new Lamb album, I've heard a stream of it and it's absolutely wonderful. The lead track especially is phenomenally good but unfortunately there's no stream for that but this track is a more than adequate replacement. Definitely one of my albums of the year.

gerd - 'seduce me'

Here's an oldie from the 'FSO Future Sound Of' compilation album. Very trippy downtempo loveliness.

marissa nadler - 'nothing in my heart'

Just lovely.

mark lanegan - 'i am the wolf'

I heard snippets of his new album last night and was particularly impressed with this track from it. Classic Lanegan all the way.

king creosote - 'pauper's dough'

This tune reminds me of their fellow Scots rockers, the Waterboys. Someone else I could draw comparisons to is Will Oldham. He's as prolific, as prone to collaboration and unlike say, Ryan Adams, is consistently high quality.

14 October 2014

damon albarn - 'father's daughter's son'

Fair play to Damon Albarn for consistently pushing himself, musically. This isn't even the best track on his new album and it's a corker.

sarah jaffe - 'lover girl'

Taken from her 2014 album 'Don't Disconnect' this is a very solid-sounding track from Texas-born Sarah Jaffe. She's toured with some big names including Norah Jones, Chelsea Wolfe and Midlake and her reputation keeps growing. It's easy to see why too.

perez prado - 'j'ai pleure de joie'

Now this is great. A mariachi-sounding tune that could have come straight from a spaghetti western from the 60s. I think I read that Perez moved to Mexico after the revolution so I wouldn't be surprised if the influence comes from his time there.

esben and the witch - 'wooden star'

Here's a band that have really come of age over the past couple of years. Their doom-laden music is much tighter, better use of 'space' in their music too (if that makes sense) and the result is something that Portishead might be proud of.

red emperor - 'kink in your soul'

Here's a great young local band from Brighton. Great to see so much local talent from my hometown.

orenda fink - 'this is part of something greater'

Her 2014 album 'Blue Dream' just gets better and better with every listen. It made for a very lovely commute this morning.

12 October 2014

first aid kit - 'fleeting one'

They just go from strength to strength. You can't beat a bit of First Aid Kit on a Sunday morning.

andersons - 'young love'

This is a Japanese duo who fill in that hole left by the departure of Asobi Seksu, a seriously good Japanese pop band. They're a bit more 80s indie than the shoegazer Asobi Seksu but the tweeness remains (in a good way) and their new album 'Stephen and Emily' is full of catchy 3 minute slices of dream pop.

09 October 2014

dubstar - 'not so manic now'

19 years ago today, Dubstar released their album 'Disgraceful' with this cover being one of the standout tunes from what was a superb album. The line 'because I've been up here for a while, I'm starting to feel the monotony of the tower block' is as good as any ever written in pop music.

thom yorke - 'a brain a bottle'

I'll be honest, the jury's still out on this one.

stakka bo - 'great blondino (coco walsh remix)'

All the way back to 1995 for this superb remix of a much under-rated tune.

06 October 2014

the new pornographers - 'dancehall domine'

Another new album I'm loving at the moment is 'Brill Bruisers' especially this track. A real up and at 'em tune.

escapists - 'only bodies'

This is a cracking way to start the week, great tune, majestic guitar playing, superb delivery. Job done.

05 October 2014

daypak and padberg - 'close up (exercise one remix)'

I heard this on the Maya Jane Coles Fabric compilation and a mighty fine tune it is too. Very moody, very catchy.

by the sea - 'you're the only one'

Ethereal, jangly guitar pop aplenty here. Great stuff.

karen o - 'rapt'

This is pushing all the right buttons with me. Love it.

nina simone - 'here comes the sun'

She's not wrong.

04 October 2014

beastie boys - 'nonstop disco powerpack'

Is there anything finer on a wet Saturday lunchtime than listening to the Beastie Boys loud, very loud?

mr oizo - 'flat beat (aaron snapes rework)'

The original tune is 15 years old, same age as my eldest son. Incredible! Where's the time gone? This is one hell of a remix too. Love it!

caribou - 'can't do without you (extended mix)'

I'm very excited with the new Caribou album, 'One Love'. I heard a stream of a few tracks the other day and it's an instant hit from me. It's quite sparse at times but there's plenty of meat on the bone where it matters.

03 October 2014

santa cruz - 'sesame noodles'

They're French and they're rather good if you don't mind me saying. I discovered them via Bandcamp here and I'm rather glad I did. They're an acoustic number - or this album certainly is and they remind me a lot of I Am Kloot with the melancholy clever lyrics and exquisite guitar-picking. Check them out!

gerald peklar - 'mick the freak (mick thammer remix)'

I've said it many times before but we all need a bit of minimal techno in our lives. This is a lovely, melodic number. It doesn't really go anywhere in particular but it's got some lovely little parts to it, is extremely clean-cut and produced with as much warmth as there is precision.

elliott smith - 'miss misery'

Nearly 11 years since his tragic death, such a sad tale.

02 October 2014

grumbling fur - 'all the rays'

I think their 2014 album 'Preternaturals' is going to be a big name on quite a few 'best of' lists at the end of the year. This track in particular reminds me of mid-90s Depeche Mode, In fact I thought it was an unreleased track by DM when I first heard it. Beautiful.

ausgang verboten - 'consumer'

Back in 1983, Patrick Book was a 16 year old Swedish schoolboy when he made and self-published this cult classic. There's no debate about the Kraftwerk influences but he's also captured their subtle humour too. It's a forgotten classic that deserves greater audience.

jungle - 'the heat'

Now if you're a fan of Zero 7, FC Kahuna, Sneaker Pimps, Moloko then you really, really need to listen to Jungle's new album. It goes on and on and ends far too quickly, a lovely , trippy collection of tunes.

st. vincent - 'psychopath'

I've been listening a lot to her new album and its growing on me more and more. I do like how she's ploughing her own furrow, musically and although she's quirky her music is extremely solid and well-grounded.

talib kweli - 'what's real (feat. res)'

I can find him a bit hit and miss at times, a tad over-aggressive and the delivery a bit samey but when he shines he shines very bright indeed. This is one such tune.

fact tv interview with tricky (i am adrian thaws)

Here's a wonderful interview that Fact TV did with Tricky and as ever he's brutally honest about life. He's no fan of Damon Albarn anymore and his views on Prince aren't much better but I think I sympathise with him after hearing the reasons why. This is a must-listen for any Tricky fans.

01 October 2014

whomadewho - 'every minute alone (michael mayer remix)'

So smooth. Another great tune from one of Kompakt Records' jewels in its crown.