Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

Track n’ Field 002

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

knee high socks

I read a good review of the Beach House album recently, that opened my eyes to a horrible (yet very accurate) definition of a new genre of music, that unbeknownst to me, I had been listening to for many years. They coined it ‘Blogosphere Indie’. So this weeks Track n’ Field features two bands that fit nicely into that category, the first being 1,2,3 … It was sent to me, like most things are, because there was a video accompanying the song that featured lots of cute cats (sorry, I forgot this was the internet, I of course meant Kute Kittehs) This catchy, false starting song is available through Ooh La La Records

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download Confetti

The second track by Keepaway was recommended by the ever ‘on it’ Half Machine Records blog. I recently heard that it’s creator, and owner of the label, has been eating so much fruit of late that he almost fainted from a potassium overdose. You heard it here first.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download Yellow Wings

Track n’ Field 001

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Arm Farm

Joanna Newsom is set to unleash a 3 disc / 3 vinyl new album on 23rd February. She has a inexplicable way of conjuring the most amazing images in mind. In this song ‘81, I imagine her gently patting soil with a weathered trowel, whilst thinking of her dissolved relationship with Bill Callahan.

‘81

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Another one for conjuring imagery, in this case that of isolation, are 2008’s favourites Bon Iver. A special artist for me, you and obviously Daniel Blumberg from London’s new outfit ‘Yuck‘ – in this track ‘Automatic’ we hear the voice of change, of moving on and a sense of maturity that could have never of been expressed through old band Cajun Dance Party.

Automatic

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Little is known about Manchester’s WU LYF (WORLD UNITE; LUCIFER YOUTH FOUNDATION) … and let’s keep it that way. Their ever changing myspace page and blog is keeping everyone I know enthralled and anticipating their next move.

Concrete Gold

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Vampire Weekend – Contra Launch Party

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Contra Launch Party

Me, most of London, and hopefully you will be attending this.

Head to www.vampireweekend.com to hear their amazing sophomore album

Staff Bendi Bilili

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Arjan-Benning

“We’re all handicapped people, ain’t we”

Staff Bendi Bilili, Africa’s premier handicapped band have been warming my heart for the majority of my damp tube journeys this month. They recorded their album, Tres Tres Fort in a nearby Congolese zoo, and only at night to avoid the hum of nearby traffic and market noise. It is one of the most positive sounds i’ve heard all year, and I give myself a round of applause each morning.

They’re playing the Barbican on Tuesday 10th Nov – I’m on row ‘S’ – holla

Photograph by Arjan Benning

I <3 Henry Rollins

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Rollins

3 reasons why Henry Rollins could beat up your Dad.







Box Elders

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

Marc Yankas

One of the first songs I ever tried to sing with my former band was Box Elder by Pavement. We were in a garage, we had just learnt how to smoke… they were good times. Now, skipping forward 10 years, we find Pavement reforming, curating ATP (don’t they just go hand in hand with Butlins) and a host of bands making perfect lo-fi pop who are gaining far more acclaim than we ever did. One of these bands, named after the bug not the song are Nebraska’s Box Elders. They rule. Check out latest single ‘Jackie Wood’ out now on Goner Records.

Box Elders – Hole In My Head

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Image by Marc Yankas

Left It Alone – Launch Party

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

27th oct (banjo)

Last week Banjo or Freakout informed me that he had thrown the towel in on his vegetarianism and to celebrate this, and the release of his wonderful single ‘Left It Alone’ we went to a nearby diner and gorged on cow and chicken.

I shall be going to this. Hell, I’ll be selling you the singles at this. I look forward to taking your money with a smile.

Loverman vs. Ramesses

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Loverman

To celebrate the launch of their new mini album ‘Human Nurture’ available on Young and Lost, Loverman present us with ‘Crypt Tonight’, a dark list of of what singer Gabriel thinks of  himself. Suffice to say, none of the mentioned identities are what you’d like your children to aspire to be. ‘I’m the antichrist, I’m a preacher, I’m a sex offender, I’m your children’s teacher’ – It’s a chilling piece of music and most likely the sound Jethro Cave hears when he’s brushing his teeth.



On a slightly different, yet still quite dark tip, I’ve just started working with a guy called Adoom. He is by far and away one of the nicest people to inhabit this jaded city we live in. Like all really nice people he sings in the doom metal band Ramesses, and was kind enough to give me his ‘Baptism of the Walking Dead EP‘ … it’s very good, even if doesn’t fit into most cd players. Check out the new video for Khali Mist below. As we were watching it together he sighed and said ‘makes you wanna reach for the bong doesn’t it?’, yes Adoom, yes it does.



A Whole New Way

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Hélène Dodet

The Horrors release a new single on November 2nd after a session at the XL in-house studio with Rodaidh ‘Hot Rod’ McDonald. Carrying on where Primary Colours left off, AWNW contains a nod to Joy Division’s ‘Isolation‘ without any hint of pastiche. It’s tracks like this that are making the Mercury Award judging panel uncomfortably look at one another as they rest their tea on Speech Debelle’s cd cover.



Image of stillness in Japan by Hélène Dodet

The Cosmos Remixed

Friday, September 25th, 2009

This could well be a Chris Morris or Adam Buxton creation, but it most likely one of the many hidden geniuses hiding behind their keyboard filling our internet with miraculous content.

Great 16-bar from Hawking.

‘If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe’

- Carl Sagan