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

the field's new album - a sneak preview

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You may recall that I mentioned here, The Field have a new album out soon. Well, those nice people at Kompakt have released one of the tracks as a stream and I'm very impressed with it. Definitely augers well for the rest of the album and is already on my shopping list. Here's 'Then It's White'.

scott walker pt2

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Sorry about this post straight after the other one but I'd forgotten just how good this song is. Actually, it's not just good - it's epic. What a tune, what a voice!

Scott Walker - Stay With Me

within a year a walker

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The title comes from one of my favourite Squeeze songs but I'm using it only as an extremely clumsy way to announce a Scott Walker themed post. The man is a genius who has influenced many musicians. Here's a few (but let's start with a classic from Scott).

Scott Walker - No Regrets

Jarvis Cocker - Baby Coming Back to Me

David Sylvian - Bhajan

Damon Albarn - Strange News From Another Star

Marc Almond - What Makes a Man

hmm...I've chosen British performers. It wasn't a conscious decision either.

what becomes of the broken hearted?

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It's a very good question and quite relevant to the meeting I had tonight. I won't go into details but don't worry. I'm just feeling poignant.

Spiritualized - 'Broken Heart'

whatcha listening to?

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I thought I'd give you a little taste into what I listen to on my iPod. These tracks came up on shuffle one after the other just now:

Airlock - 'Alpha'

Stakka and Skynet - Straight Jacket (feat Skinny)

Joan as Policewoman - 'Ride'

The Black Keys - 'She's Long Gone'

Antellects - 'Love Slave'

joe goddard ft valentina - 'gabriel'

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The official video for the latest tune from Hot Chip's Joe Goddard has finally been released. It's a tad understated considering it's Hot Chip but the tune is a biggie. I like this a lot.

markus wesen - horgerate

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This is the first compilation on the Ohral label and is curated by Markus Wesen, a well seasoned Cologne DJ who certainly knows his stuff. It's an all sorts album ranging from the funky to the minimalist end of techno but there's no passengers here - it's all serious dance music designed to get those heads bobbing and those feet tapping. Released a few days ago, this is one of the best dance compilations I've heard this year.

we are family pt2

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Kool and the Gang - Summer Madness

Marlena Shaw - Woman of the Ghetto

Labi Siffre - I Got The... 

Thanks Simon

we are family pt1

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I've asked a couple of good friends to choose a few Sunday soul grooves for you and first up we have:

Private Number - William Bell and Judy Clay

Elgins - Put Yourself in my Place

Carla Thomas - B-A-B-Y

Thanks Dan. Nice selection.

rave on

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A couple of Buddy Holly covers and a song by the great man himself. 

Florence and the Machine - 'Not Fade Away'

Everything but the Girl - 'Love is Strange'

Buddy Holly - 'True Love Ways'

randomly yours

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These are just a few of the tunes I've been listening to tonight

Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat

Eddie Vedder - You've Got to Hide Your Love Away

Billie Holiday - I Cover the Waterfront

Ry Cooder - A Cowboy's Prayer

Tindersticks - Another Night In

Good night!

wilco's new album sneak preview

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Ok, this post has a very short shelf life so you'll have to be quick but those alt-country rockers, Wilco, are streaming their entire album (released in 3 weeks time) on the internet for the next 24 hours. Apparently it's to celebrate Labour Day. You can catch it here and if like me you spent 10 minutes trying to find the play button - it's top left next to the album title!

I like what I've heard so far and on the strength of this first listen will probably by the album. 

in their house #11 - youandewan

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there's always someone somewhere

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This afternoon I shall mainly be listening to the Smiths

Cemetery Gates

Half a Person

Death of a Disco Dancer

Frankly Mr Shankly

stones rarities

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The premise for this post is quite simple. I love the Rolling Stones (who doesn't?) and I'm posting 4 of their lesser well-known tracks. The ones that slipped under the radar.

Midnight Rambler

Blue Turns to Grey

Parachute Woman

2000 Man

musical youth

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One of my favourite songs from back when I was young and had dreams - Propaganda with Duel

joli chat ep

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My favourite minimal techno release at the moment, Joli Chat by none other than Ricardo Villalobos has finally been released and is available for download. Listen for yourself and see what all the fuss is about.

ghostpoet - liiines (xxxy remix)

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I'm not the biggest fan of Ghostpoet but this remix by London producer xxxy is pushing all the right buttons for me.

   

david 'honeyboy" edwards 1915 - 2011

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I'm sad to write that the last direct link to Robert Johnson, David 'Honeyboy" Edwards has died this week. A classic Delta Blues guitarist, he played alongside Johnson and even claimed to have been present at his poisoning. 

Blues was Edwards life - he left home at 14 to play the Blues with Big Joe Williams and his life on the road meant he crossed paths with all the greats from the 30s onwards. His output was prolific until the early 40s and then he seemed content to live with his back catalogue and the blues standards that they all did in the bars and clubs from New Orleans to Chicago and beyond. The 1970s saw a renaissance and a public eager for new work forced him back into the recording studio. The resulting album "I've Been Around" is a classic by a bluesman with nothing to prove. He recorded regularly thereafter although maintaining the itinerant life that he had followed since a young lad. He eventually wrote his autobiography in 1997 and the book and accompanying CD is a must-have for any blues historians. 

He was always touring and never retired playing in his last gig at the Cathead Festival as recently as April. His catchphrase was "The World Don't Owe Me Nothing". A typically self-deprecating comment that deserves the response that it owes him a huge debt of thanks. Whilst researching about him for this entry I stumbled across this documentary about his life. If you have half an hour to spare you could do worse than see Edwards tell his story in his own inimitable style.

the messiah is my sister

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Here's a couple of links to 2 women that can really hold a tune.

Dresden Dolls - Backstabber (I saw Amanda Palmer in concert last night, one word - WOW!)

Elkie Brooks - Pearl's a Singer