de-minimis: January 2015

31 January 2015

adva - 'haben (omar salgado remix)'

I like this tune a lot. Pure, unadulterated techno.

samba toure - 'wo yende alakar'

So cool! Here's Malian musician Samba Toure with a beautiful tune that pays homage as much to the blues as it does traditional Malian music. Beautiful.

bc camplight - 'love isn't anybody's fault'

Wow! This is just the kind of tune to grab your attention and force you to hit the rewind straight after it's finished. It's channelling the Beach Boys for sure as well as lounge classics from yesteryear. I love it. My tune of the year so far.

belle and sebastian - 'nobody's empire'

I've been listening a lot to the new album and in my opinion it really is a game of two halves. One half of the album has tunes such as 'Nobody's Empire' which are classic B&S and I love them all the more for it, the other half veers right into disco territory and it doesn't sit right with me. I feel it has a sub-Saint Etienne sound to it for sure and I've no idea why they felt the need to do this. Maybe I've not approached the album in the right frame of mind or maybe I have some rigid preconceptions that I need to get rid of.

29 January 2015

personal trainers - 'show me love'

Last one from me for the evening, here's Sweden's Personal Trainers with a lovely slice of dream pop but with an 80s funk bassline chucked in for good measure.

hundred waters - 'out alee (plaid remix)'

There's apparently a whole raft of Hundred Waters remixes scheduled for release and when the others are available for embedding I'll put them up on this site for you too. This remix is just the tonic after yet another horrible commute home, it harks to warm summer evenings - a million miles from cold, wet Brighton right now.

calexico - 'cumbia de donde ft. amparo sanchez'

Tex-Mex music fans will no doubt be overjoyed to hear that Calexico have a new album in the pipeline. It's scheduled for 14th April and will be called 'Edge of the Sun'. Here's the first release from it and it's nothing short of excellent.

zola jesus - 'hunger'

She's back with a very simple but effective video where she goes berserk in an empty warehouse, love it. As for the tune, it's more power rock that we've come to expect from Zola Jesus. Personally I'd like to see her try something a little different now but if it works for her, who am I to complain?

marfu minimal techno set 20th january 2015

Here's a rather lovely minimal techno mix that I discovered whilst preparing dinner tonight, it's quite dark but with lots of humour and some killer tunes.

50 cents - '21 questions (snbrn remix)'

I'm not the world's biggest 50 Cent fan but the bassline to this remix is very compelling. It's bloody brilliant!

wiley - 'from the outside (actress's generation 4 constellation mix)'

What a great remix this is. Wire magazine have an exclusive stream of what is a very limited edition white label. It's very experimental so can't see it hitting too many dance floors but if you like esoteric electronic music then check out the link.

http://www.thewire.co.uk/audio/tracks/listen_wiley_actress-remix

26 January 2015

handmade birds - 'c45p'

There's something quite machine gun about this track, it's as if it's begging you to name the 80s action film that it was the soundtrack to. Great stuff.

viet cong - 'continental shift'

Sort of Interpol with reverb and distortion would be a good way to describe Viet Cong. The new album has already won lots of plaudits from critics and I can see why although the album as a whole isn't for me. One or two tracks jar too much on the ears but the remaining songs are absolute crackers. I'm left with a feeling that the music sounds a bit like 2005 never went away. Is this a good thing? I don't know! This is one hell of a tune though.

prince fatty meets nostalgia 77 - 'marathon man dub'

This is a cracking record to play for my birthday. It harks back to the King Tubby albums of yore.

25 January 2015

andy stott - 'violence'

My lovely girlfriend bought the 2014 Andy Stott album for me, for my birthday and I'm a very happy chappie indeed. She knows me well as it ticks all my boxes and was one of my stand-out albums from last year and now the album has extra special meaning!

sleater-kinney - 'fangless'

First listen of an album that has made a lot of news over the past week or so and I'm mightily impressed especially with this track. It's great to hear a powerful lead vocal over a true rock track.

gaz coombes - 'the english ruse'

This is one of those "must share" songs. I'm currently in the kitchen just clearing up and the new Gaz Coombes album is playing but I've stopped everything to listen to this particular tune. I can't really describe it other than it's really very good! Have a listen.

24 January 2015

edgar froese 1944 - 2015

The founder of ultimate Krautrock band Tangerine Dream, Edgar Froese died earlier this week after nearly 50 years in the music industry. I first came to know of the band through the soundtrack to the film 'Risky Business' and although I don't think his music has aged too well, there's still plenty there to admire and enjoy.

grace jones - 'she's lost control'

I can only imagine the record company's reaction when Grace Jones announced she was going to do a dub cover version of the Joy Division's classic. Utter madness but...by God, it works and then some. One of my favourite all-time cover versions.

marika hackman - 'before i sleep'

English folk singer, Ms Hackman has her debut album 'We Slept At Last' scheduled for release on 16th February and it's one that I've got pencilled in as a must buy having heard a few tracks from it, it reminds me in part of Vashti Bunyan ad in other parts early 70s acoustic Fleetwood Mac.

the prodigy - 'nasty (zinc remix)'

Here's the first remix of their massive comeback track. I think the jury's still out on this one for me. They don't sound like they've really moved on at all since the late 90s and it's all a bit samey. I must confess I was hoping for something a bit more leftfield from them.

david byrne - 'the revolution'

From his 2001 album 'Look Into The Eyeball'. I've got a big soft spot for this album, certainly one of Byrne's most reflective and cerebral solo albums.

23 January 2015

young ejecta - 'welcome to love'

I've had the commute from hell and this crisp, clean beauty of a tune is just the medicine to help me relax.

22 January 2015

bonnie prince billy - 'blindlessness'

"I can't see what I'm doing, it's like a dog is standing on my face". What an opening line to a song! The video to this new track by BPB also features a small dog but fortunately there's no face-sitting going on here.

bláskjár - 'ég vildi að ég væri'

I've just reached 100,000 views on this blog and I'm chuffed to bits with this statistic. Thankyou to everyone who has stopped by to read and listen. It seems fitting for me to mark the occasion with something very dear to my heart: Icelandic folk/pop and so here is Bláskjár aka Arndís Hreidarsdóttir with a tune that combines 70s French ballads, Scandinavian pop and the kind of lyrics that made me fall in love with Icelandic music all those years ago.

leeroy thornhill - 'in the air tonight (edit)'

Now...it's not often you'll find me sticking Phil Collins on my blog, I'm not the greatest fan but In The Air Tonight is undoubtedly a great track and this is an edit that will quite simply blow your socks off. He's taking the basic tune and gone to places that this song has never been before. Forget your preconceptions for one minute and give it a try!

jenova 7 & mr. moods - 'dark water jazz (mr. moods remix)'

Here's a very dark and trippy number with big nods to Portishead that's probably best suited for much later on in the day but I couldn't resist adding it to my blog. It's great that trip-hop like this is still being made. Restores my faith in mankind.

kali uchis - 'lottery'

Big thanks to 405 Magazine for highlighting this track from Columbian singer-songwriter Ms Uchis. They're quite right, there are lots of similarities with Amy Winehouse and all in the right way. Lovely track.

20 January 2015

laura marling - 'false hope'

Last tune from me tonight and it's the first track from the very eagerly awaited new long player from Ms Marling. It sounds like she's upped the ante with a fast-paced, country-tinged edge to her music.

bc camplight - 'the 22 skidoo'

I can't get this tune out of my head at the moment, possibly because I've had their album 'Blink of a Nihilist' on repeat for ages!

django django - 'first light'

I thought I'd posted this track a week or two back but somehow it was stuck in my drafts, so apologies for that and better late than never:

the wave pictures - 'i could hear the telephone'

Music by the Wave Pictures and words by Billy Childish (or is it the other way around?) here's the first single from their new album. They just get better and better, don't they?

petula - 'a circle is a lover's straight'

The new album from Petula popped up in my inbox the other day and I've just had a chance to listen to it whilst cooking. Suffice to say, it's a corker and if laid back, folky guitar music is your thing then you need to listen to the album now.

poliça - 'very cruel'

Great stuff as ever from a band that I adore.

19 January 2015

angel olsen - 'white fire'

This song would go very well with Leonard Cohen's 'Sisters of Mercy'.

18 January 2015

yoggyone - 'memory feat. taha aitabi'

This is a lovely way to sign off the weekend. A superb downtempo electronic track that oozes class. Wow!

carmen villain - 'quietly'

Half-Norwegian, half-Mexican singer Carmen Hillestad has also been busy as a support act, this time as UK support for Neneh Cherry so that should give you a good clue as to the quality of the music. It's extremely high with lots of lush orchestration and silky smooth lyrics that float mysteriously over the music like Will-O'-The-Wisp.

bright blue - 'already home'

He's supporting Low Roar in recent gigs but can't be long before he starts headlining with powerful tunes such as this. He's got a great country voice but this is infused with Nick Cave-esque edgy chords making for a very subversive form of Americana.

donny hathaway - 'the ghetto'

Keeping the soulful vibe going with this classic.

daniel steinberg - 'gotta get (original mix)'

Here's the first track from Daniel Steinberg for 2015 and it's a real corker.

17 January 2015

nick cave and the bad seeds - 'brompton oratory'

One of the hidden gems from the Boatman's Call album.

stanton warriors - 'loving me wrong'

With a new album out in 2015, I think it's going to be a big year for UK remix specialists, Stanton Warriors. Here's the first track released and it's the usual high quality combination of crisp and clean drum patterns, velvet voices and cheeky rhythms.

jeri-jeri with mbene diatta seck - 'mbeuguel dafa nekh'

This track hails all the way from Senegal and is a real party pleaser and at over 9 minutes long has enough lulls and high points to keep any crowd going.

keith and tex - 'let me go girl'

Who's up for some old school rocksteady?

metamatics - 'haethear'

I first heard this last night and thought that it must be from the Kompakt Records label as it had all the hallmarks of their particular brand of minimal electronica but I was completely wrong. It's a British musician on a small indie label and surely deserves lots of plaudits for this beautifully crafted tune.

16 January 2015

london posse - 'how's life in london'

"I call her Eliza Doolittle because By Jove I think she's got it." What a tune. British hip-hop's finest moment? Quite possibly.

little herman - 'gotta keep on walking'

Let's keep the vibe strictly blues with a very early Northern Soul tune that deserves a lot more airplay.

nine below zero - 'riding on the l and n'

If you hear better blues harmonica playing this weekend I'd like to hear it. Superb stuff.

emilie nicolas - 'fail'

Wow! This is about as in-your-face as an electro-pop can get and underneath the wall of noise there's quite a trippy track with a hell of a back story. Too many superlatives...apologies for that.

diagrams - 'phantom power'

God Is In the TV have already earmarked the Diagrams album 'Chromatics' as a contender for album of the year. Brave words indeed! It's a mix of folky-pop, very much in a Belle and Sebastian vein but lots of electronica to give it a bit of welly.

matias aguayo - 'run away from the sun'

I love how Matias Aguayo stays true to the deep house ethos but still manages to pack lots of humour into his music. This track sees him playing a vampire TV chef (!) frustrated by his inability to eat food. Well...we've all been there, eh?

charlatans - 'come home baby'

I'm really excited that I'll be seeing The Charlatans later this year in Worthing. The new album promises much and in that vein here's the new video to the latest single which also features on the album.

lapsley - 'falling short (jacklndn remix)'

What a way to get you in the mood for a terrific Friday.

15 January 2015

bill callahan - 'faith/void'

I was thinking about this tune earlier and thought it needed a good airing, so here goes!

the felice brothers - 'woman next door'

Have I mentioned before that I love the New York State alt-country boys? What a barn-storming track this is.

loftylows - 'home'

Now here's a very groovy downtempo number with fantastic production. One of my favourite tunes of 2014.

cibo matto - 'emerald tuesday'

What a comeback from the Japanese/New York act with their 2014 album 'Hotel Valentine'. This track has a Morcheeba meets Roni Size feel to it with a lovely jazzy undercurrent.

the brian jonestown massacre - 'memorymix'

Let's wake everyone up with some honest-to-God good music.

14 January 2015

karen o - 'body'

When I first heard this tune I had to check that it wasn't a cover of a Daniel Johnston song, it's uncannily like the kind of song he'd write and the DIY lo-fi recording with distortion is pretty darn spot on too. It's a killer tune and I recommend it to anyone with a soft spot for Johnston.

13 January 2015

favela - 'gong'

There's a warmth to this track that shines through and wraps around you like a favourite blanket. I can't decide if it's 'sitting on a beach at sunset' or 'snuggled up on a sofa with hot cocoa' type of music but I guess it doesn't really matter where you are when you listen to this, it's any occasion beautiful music.

jessica pratt - 'back baby'

My friends would most probably describe this as right up my street. It's very folky with an almost Scandinavian feel to it. She's got a new album out very soon too. Looking forward to that.

ilovemakonnen - 'super clean'

I do like it when hip-hop act walks the path less trodden and produces something markedly different. I might be imagining it too but it appears to be the rappers that aren't too keen to let you know about their bitches and bling. iLoveMakonnen is certainly bringing brains back to the genre.

anushka - 'kisses (dark0 remix)'

This is a belter from Brownswood Records, a tune that steadfastly sticks to 'just bubbling' under but the hooks and drum patterns hit all the right notes with enough going on to keep everyone interested....and then there's Anushka's voice. Superb.

kings of convenience - 'i don't what i can save you from'

I need music like this right now. Very stressful day.

09 January 2015

pennybirdrabbit - 'maybe'

I haven't blogged about her in some time so it's a lovely treat to return to an artist that always sounds so fresh and clever.

silver swans - 'how soon is now'

If you're going to do a cover version then you need to bring something new to the table. Silver Swans have just done that, transforming the tune into a Bauhaus-esque throbbing, paranoid machine gun of a tune.

05 January 2015

fabian - 'prophecy (extended version)'

What a bass line. Superb.

03 January 2015

pulp - 'i spy'

A classic from a classic album.

oh wonder - 'the rain'

Here's a brand new track from London pair, Oh Wonder. It's rather lovely as it happens but I fear that it does sound very 'now' and probably won't age too well. Maybe it's just me, maybe I've been listening to too much melancholic Scandinavian pop but there's definitely a 'sound' and this has it.

kraftwerk - 'showroom dummies'

Taken from the Trans-Europe Express album this is a tune I haven't heard in such a long time. I'm going to make it my mission to revisit all the Kraftwerk albums this weekend. Thankfully they're as about as prolific as Halley's Comet!

01 January 2015

beth orton - 'something more beautiful'

What better way to kick off 2015 on my blog than with Beth Orton.