de-minimis

28 November 2016

owen - 'empty bottle'

This sounds like a great comedown album although those days are long behind me now. Mind you, I think I can still appreciate a brilliant tune when I hear it.

27 November 2016

frank turner - sweet albion blues'

As a Brighton and Hove Albion fan, I've got to say this weekend has been a perfect one football-wise. Brighton won after going behind, Newcastle lost and this means we're only 2 points off top and the cherry on the icing on the cake was seeing our bitter rivals Crystal Palace go 4-3 up in the last few minutes after being 3-1 down and to throw this away, losing 5-4 in extra time. Sweet Albion Blues indeed!

matt monro - 'on days like these'

This is the song on the opening credits to The Italian Job. Worth the admission money alone.

26 November 2016

hank mizell - 'jungle rock'

Another top tune. I had very happy memories of watching this on Top of the Pops.

alex kenji - 'adelante (original mix)'

And one of my all-time favourite minimal techno tunes. Love the Spanish guitar samples in this.

n.r.g. - i need your love (like the sunshine) original mix

TUNE!

flume - 'trust feat. isabella manfredi'

This is a band that my eldest son raves about and I can see why. Great stuff.

24 November 2016

the pop group' - 'zipperface'

I heard this on the Marc Riley show and I've fallen instantly in love with it. What a tune.

23 November 2016

phil kieran - 'blinded by the sun'

No chance of being blinded by the sun today on the South Coast of England. This is one top tune though.

psycho radio vs lc anderson - 'bad reputation (daniele baldelli & marco dionigi funkadiba)'

Gotta love a funky remix and this is a God damn funky remix.

dizzyride - 'soundtrack'

Fans of the Cocteau Twins will adore this new track from Dizzyride.

spice girls - 'song for her'

Here's the Spice Girls (ish) comeback tune and presumably there's a new album on the way too. It's just Geri H, Emma B and Mel B this time around and although the tune is okay it clearly misses Mel C's presence. We all know she was the Spice Girl with the best singing voice and this proves it.

21 November 2016

japan - 'ghosts'

There's always a right time to play a bit of David Sylvian.

20 November 2016

equador - 'blood'

This is a new band to me but I'm liking what I hear so far.

17 November 2016

stephen steinbrink - 'absent minds'

What a great album 'Anagrams' is and brutally honest too.

16 November 2016

emiliana torrini and the colorist - 'when we dance'

What's that? A new Emiliana Torrini song...yes please!

suede - 'beautiful ones'

One of my all-time favourite Suede tunes and one I haven't heard in a long time.

hope sandoval and the warm inventions - 'that spider'

This is a b-side that appears as a bonus disc with my Rough Trade copy of the CD. I think the album is a little lacklustre but this tune absolutely hits the spot.

15 November 2016

pascal pinon - 'forest'

If you hear a better song by 2 Icelandic sisters today then I'll be very surprised.

13 November 2016

new order - 'truth'

Their debut album 'Movement' was released on this day in 1981.

ryley walker - 'the halfwit in me'

False modesty, Ryley, me old china. No-one thinks you're a halfwit in fact some of us think you're something of a genius.

beth orton - 'concrete sky'

When in doubt, Beth is the answer.

hundreds - 'i love my harbour'

This remains my all-time favourite Hundreds song and it's not difficult to see why.

justin peter kinkel-schuster - 'laid low (btr live studio)'

A completely new name to me and one that I will definitely look out for in the future.

east of my youth - 'stronger'

This is an Icelandic pairing of Herdís Stefánsdóttir and Thelma Marín Jónsdóttir with a very atmospheric track that morphs like a butterfly from the ethereal to the corporeal effortlessly.

gabriel bruce - 'come all sufferers'

If you haven't heard Gabriel Bruce's album of the same name as this song then you are in for a big treat.

martha wainwright - 'around the bend (live at city winery, new york)'

I know how Martha feels.

12 November 2016

diane birch - 'nite time talking'

How about this for wonderful?

arborist - 'i heard him leaving'

In between the wet weather outside and watching The Breakfast Club inside I'm listening to a few new albums this morning and this one by Ulsterman, Mark McCambridge has grabbed my attention. The mixture of melancholy, great guitar playing, killer lyrics and languid delivery is irresistible.

pavo pavo - 'ran ran run'

Have a listen to this and tell me you don't start thinking 'Brian Wilson'. Love it.

11 November 2016

rebekah fitch - 'afraid of the light'

Here's a new name to me, Belfast-born Rebekah Finch has a great new single. What a voice.

the xx - 'on hold'

The start sounds a bit MOR but it soon steps up to what is a cracking tune. I expect this will get lots of air play over the next month.

tigercub - 'memory boy'

It's great to hear an honest-to-God rock band and even better when they're from your home town of Brighton. Here's Tigercub taking no prisoners with this beast of a tune.

baltic fleet - 'lights of rock savage'

This is quite epic.

leonard cohen - 'it seemed the better way'

There was an very sad inevitability to Leonard Cohen's passing away. He was very aware of his own mortality in his last few years and this was reflected no more so than in his last album which is a stone-cold classic.

09 November 2016

to prague with love from brighton

I promised a very good friend that I'd post some music on here for them so here goes and I hope they like the selection.

FC Kahuna - 'Hayling (Max Cooper Remix)'

Box Office - 'Clar (Fait Divers Acoustic Session)

Here's a tune with some dancers pulling some great moves and it reminds me of the night I first met this wonderful, funny and clever friend where we danced like no-one was watching.

Ben Pearce - 'What I Might Do'

And lastly a song that I love so much not just because the song has a beautiful sentiment but also for this music video. It always lifts me when I feel down.

Wave Pictures - 'Like A Drummer'

ultimate painting - 'monday morning, somewhere central'

Another great London band is Ultimate Painting with their own take on jangly guitar pop.

anoushka shankar - 'land of gold (mogwai remix)'

This quite excellent remix of Anoushka Shankar's track by Scottish post-rockers Mogwai reminds me of early Sinead O'Connor and I guess the message is probably the same.

joan as policewoman & benjamin lazar davis - 'overloaded'

It's one hell of a collaboration and the end result is one fantastic album that crosses a number of genres.

foreign fields - 'weeping red devil'

Another great new album is the presciently-titled 'Take Cover' which is probably the best advice anyone can take right now.

pajaro sunrise - 'man's the only bird who has no feathers'

I like this track a lot, a good mix of electronica with some folky tinges and a kick arse hook to it.

safia - 'embracing me'

How about this for a cracking new tune from Canberra three-piece Safia?

jim james - 'here in spirit'

Lead singer of My Morning Jacket, Jim James has his second album out now and a lovely soulful affair it is too. There's a really vibe to it and none more so than with this track.

06 November 2016

de montevert - 'forever'

This track is so good, taken from her eponymously titled new album. If this Swedish singer doesn't ascend to great things then there really is no justice in this world.

04 November 2016

the philly armada orchestra - 'for the love of money'

This track really ought to have been a soundtrack to a kickass blaxploitation movie. Just listen to those guitars!

brodka - 'up in the hill'

Polish singer Brodka is making a lot of waves in her home country but now it's good news for the rest of us as she expands her audience with this English-language tune taken from her 2016 album 'Clashes'.

crystal fighters - 'good girls'

I've found the album a bit hit and miss, there are some cheesy MOR tracks in there but there are also beautifully crafted pop tunes such as this one.

lambchop - 'niv'

There has been quite a hiatus since the last full-blooded Lambchop album and so it's a very welcome return to Kurt Wagner and co. The new album doesn't come with too many surprises except for liberal and deliberate use of vocoder but even that enhances the tunes rather than just flattening out the vocals.

palace - 'bitter'

I think the new album is out today but I managed to get an advance copy and have been enjoying listening to it for the past few couple of days and this particular track has been knocking around for a few years now.

02 November 2016

michael mayer and roman flügel - 'we like to party'

Taken from his new album '&' here is the ever brilliant Michael Mayer.

hot chip - 'i feel better (max cooper remix)'

This remix suits my mood right now. It's a very minimalistic interpretation of the Hot Chip tune and it works splendidly.

01 November 2016

chrysta bell and david lynch - 'all the things'

Ahead of the new series of the new series of Twin Peaks is an EP from actress/singer Chrysta Bell and the genius of David Lynch.

24 October 2016

pascal pinon - 'forest'

Saying goodnight to a great weekend with some Icelandic loveliness.

23 October 2016

lowly - 'deer eyes'

Danish band Lowly are new to me but after hearing this great track which is apparently an ode to Britney Spears I'm going to hunt out more about them.

the radio dept - 'occupied'

Listening to The Radio Dept's new album 'Running Out Of Love' is a great way to spend a Sunday morning.

21 October 2016

josienne clarke & ben walker - 'dark turn of mind'

There's really nothing finer to wind down to than some folky blues. This is just superb.

fujiya and miyagi - 'serotonin rushes'

A much under-rated Brighton are Fujiya and Miyagi. Their unique brand of English electronica really deserves as wide an audience as possible. I see they have simultaneously released 2 EPs - EP1 and EP2 and this particular track is taken from the first.

hundreds - 'spotless'

One of my favourite German bands has a new song out and a great video to accompany it. It's great to see them back.

20 October 2016

oneohtrix point never - 'animals (director's cut)'

When you get Val Kilmer to star in your music video then you know you're onto a winner. Warning though - the video has strobe lights.

erik jonasson - 'autumn falls'

Swedish singer Erik Jonasson brings us a timely Autumnal tune with a cracking guitar solo finale.

katie kim - 'some day'

Taken from her new album SALT which is available via Bancamp here is Irish singer Katie Kim with a stunning track.

cass - 'you don't see'

How about this for a tune to wake you up? It starts relatively innocuously as a piece of minimal techno but then morphs into something altogether darker.

cyané - 'stand sol'

Here's a fantastic musician who is completely new to me, Cyané, who hails from Guadalajara in Mexico. Her sound is similar to the more experimental downtempo electronica of Bjork, Goldfrapp, PlanningToRock and that ilk. This musician deserves as wide an audience as possible.

the wands - 'faces'

Some great new psychedelia here from one of Denmark's finest bands.

19 October 2016

the lemon twigs - 'as long as we’re together'

Yup, I get why there's so much hype. It's a hell of a tune.

tall tales and the silver lining - 'unknown forces'

There's something of Avi Buffalo about this LA-based band. It's a great sound if you can capture it well and this is particularly true with Tall Tales. This is the title track from their EP.

jabberwocky - 'photomatron'

It's an oldie but still a goodie.

julia jacklin - 'same airport, different man'

I am mightily impressed with Julia Jacklin's new album. One for Lana Del Ray fans, for sure.

17 October 2016

zero 7 - 'speed dial no. 2'

A sublime tune to help wind down of an evening.

helado negro - 'lengua larga'

I must have written it dozens of times but Bandcamp is just about my favourite music website. I love the ethos and the variety of music on there. Here's another fairly well-known artist who is happy to keep a Bandcamp page and I've got to say, the new album is an absolute joy.

16 October 2016

blind pilot - 'joik #3'

Last one from me for a bit so let's leave with a great song from Oregon indie-rockers Blind Pilot.

de la soul - 'pain (feat. snoop dogg)'

I've found their new album a huge letdown with very few discernible tunes on it, instead a rambling mess that's neither one thing nor another but this is the one track from it that shines.

stephen steinbrink - 'absent mind'

The levity of the tunes belies an album that deals with a lot of tough subjects - addiction, mental illness and you can't help but warm to this fantastic album.

drive-by truckers - 'filthy and fried'

I think this might be the first time that I've blogged about this particular Southern Rock band. I must confess that I find a lot of their music washes over me without much of a trace but this particular track certainly hits the right spot.

the amazing - 'perfect day for shrimp'

The great music continues. The Amazing's new album 'Ambulance' is a melancholy delight.

fort frances - 'i'm building a wall'

This tune is quite apt given the upcoming US elections.

benjamin francis leftwich - 'summer'

Benjamin Francis Leftwich's album 'After The Rain' is something of a slow-burner. I've had it some time but have only recently come to appreciate just how good it really is.

charles x - 'can you do it?'

So damn funky.

shonen knife - 'tasmanian devil'

Possibly Japan's greatest ever rock band are still playing it loud and proud. Their 2016 album 'Adventure' sees no relenting in their domination of the Japanese music scene.

hunter/game - 'the path'

And now for some minimalist techno, taken from their album 'Adaptation' here's the sublime Hunter/Game.

billie marten - 'emily'

A British talent as prodigious as Laura Marling, Billie Marten's new album 'Writing of Blues and Yellows' is a collection of tunes whose maturity makes an absolute mockery of the teenage Ms Marten. This song is a particular favourite of mine.

hoops - 'gemini'

This was a Bandcamp recommendation and looking at their feedback, are a band that are surely destined for great things. They are an Indiana band that play a lovely synth dream-pop, perfect for lazy Sundays.

omni - 'eyes on the floor'

If you're a fan of Devo, Television and that ilk then I think you'll love Omni, their 2015 album 'Deluxe' is packed with great late 70s riffs and even the production sounds retro.

sarathy korwar - 'indefinite leave to remain'

Sarathy Korwar is a Siddi, originally Bantu tribespeople brought to India as slaves and he combines the musical traditions of his ancestors together with Sufi and Western Jazz to bring a remarkable and unique sound.

woodkid and nils frahm - 'winter morning'

Two of my favourite pianists/composers around are Nils Frahm and Woodkid. Together they make such uplifting music that it's impossible not to be moved.

ttng - 'coconut crab'

Another band whose ill-advised choice of a band name has almost certainly cost them commercial success. It's great to see them revert to the initials (I shan't say what they were called but a quick google will give you the answer) and hope they go from strength to strength. This particular track is a quirky number with lots of little stops, starts and wonderful cameos. Love it.

drowners - 'dreams don't count'

Taken from their 2016 album 'On Desire' this is the New York band at their very finest.

gold panda - 'stolen phone'

Have Gold Panda ever released a dull track? I don't think so; I love the understated but beautiful approach to their music.

beyond the wizard's sleeve - 'black crow'

An album that has paradoxically won a lot of critical acclaim but yet still seems to have slipped under the radar for a lot of people is the Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve 'The Soft Bounce'. If you haven't heard it yet then you really should get around to it.

lewis del mar - 'loud(y)'

A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon is listening to the new Lewis Del Mar album.

14 October 2016

house of wolves - 'bandcamp'

If you listen to just one new album on Bandcamp today then please make it the eponymously titled 'House of Wolves'. Blues-y Americana never sounded so good.

two door cinema club - 'are we ready (wreck)'

If first songs on an album are anything to go by then Two Door Cinema Club's new album 'Gameshow' is bloody fantastic. Talk about up and at 'em, this track demands attention.

douglas dare - 'new york'

The new Douglas Dare album 'Aforger' is a work of pure beauty. Kind of pitching itself somewhere near Crybaby vocals-wise and a bit like Woodkid on the instrumentation it's got a jazzy, lo-fi electronic feel to it that just grabs you by the lapels and insists you listen.

josefin öhrn + the liberation - 'endless ocean'

For all those who are still bemoaning the loss of Fever Ray and PlanningToRock, both of whom seem to be missing in action then the new album by Josefin Öhrn might just tide you over for some time to come. The whole album is extremely dense with psychedelic influences, bits of Suicide, Portishead and so much more.

stina nordenstam - 'so this is goodbye'

I miss Stina Nordenstam so much. I hope she returns to the recording studio one day.

12 October 2016

paul simon - 'wristband'

I gave his 2016 album 'Stranger To Stranger' my first proper listen on the commute home tonight and it's an instant hit. He's still got lots of influences from African music but there's a bit more variety to this very strong album - a bit of funk, a few slowies, some acoustic tracks, instrumentals, Latin, African, a folky blues tune titled 'Duncan' that is very retro Simon and Garfunkel sounding and is quite glorious. I really do like this album a lot. I might ask for it as a Christmas present as I would love to have this on CD - I only have a digital copy presently.

This tune 'Wristband' is probably my fave on the album. I'm expecting a few remixes of this to appear soon.

10 October 2016

sälen - 'iilwmbf'

I think I've found my new favourite thing. I can't get this tune out of my head, it's just bloody brilliant. Apparently they are from East London although they have a huge Scandinavian feel to them with huge nods to bands such as Little Dragon. Seriously...have you heard a better tune today?

05 October 2016

alcest - 'eclosion'

I'm a bit of a sucker for shoegaze albums and so I can heartily recommend the new album 'Kodama' from French band 'Alcest'. This tune in particular rocks like nobody's business. Great stuff.

01 October 2016

regina spektor - 'black and white'

I'm greatly enjoying listening to Ms Spektor's new album on this rainy October morning. It's certainly a bigger sounding album than I was expecting, it sounds like she has a full orchestra in there at times.