we were rockstars | another music blog.

Decadence in Berlin

2010-02-22T20:16:00.003Z

Decadence in Berlin are from the English midlands and write pop music to the best of their ability. Comparisons have been made to post-punk groups such as Joy Division and the Fall, through to more contemporary acts such as the Rakes and the Young Knives. One promotions company went as far as to describe them as "Sonic Youth meets the Arctic Monkeys", but the band were unsure if they liked that or not. The following tracks are from their 2009 demo and are here for your listening pleasure.

The band are easily distracted, and inspiration for songs in this bunch include a short prose piece by Richard Braugtigan, the musical Cabaret, and the macabre myth of the Man-Moth.

Decadence in Berlin - Setbacks EP (2009)
1. Atlantic Radio Fire

2. Man-Moth

3. I Am A Camera

Hear more/see more of Decadence in Berlin through the usual channels, including myspace.

They will be playing with La La Vasquez in Wolverhampton in April, as well as making trips to Liverpool and Aberystwyth in the coming months.

James's Top 5 Remixes of 2008

2009-01-21T15:04:00.011Z

Been a long time. Shouldn't have left you etc...

I shall make up for it with my top five remixes of 2008.

1) M.I.A. - Paper Planes (DFA Remix)

I first heard this while producing for the Analogue show on Bay Radio early in 2008. I cannot thank Graham enough. This funky fun remix is typical of James Murphy and DFA and for it to take my favourite song off my favourite album of 2007 and turn it into something new but equally awesome assures it my top spot for 2008.

2) Metronomy - Thing For Me (Breakbot Remix)

Over the last two years Metronomy has consistently impressed me and been an act I've taken to my heart. The stripped down sound lends it self so well to the remix/mashup genre and the amount of remixes alone from Nights Out could fill its own blog post - however this Breakbot remix is a lovely throwback to 70s soul (another of my obsessions) and stands out.

3) Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes (XXXChange Remix)

A good test of a remix is how it holds up to the original and if it can surpass it. XXXChange Remix of L.E.S. Artistes does exactly that and when you consider how good Santogold's self titled album of electro pop gold is then this is a sure sign of a fantastic remix.

4) Yo! Majesty - Club Action (Futurecop! Remix)

Another act introduced to me by Graham this time via this here blog. Yo! Majesty seem to be the answer to the question people have been asking since Salt and Pepper on released Best Of's. About time too as lesbian hip-hop never sounded so good. This remix of Club Action is typical of Futurecop! who seems to be permanently stuck in an Atari 5200 taking all things current into some crazy 80s vortex.

5) Girl Talk - Still Here

From one of my albums of the year, Feed The Animals, this is just one track of fourteen in a seamlessly stitched mashup marathon. Girl Talk's effortless splicing of Procul Harlem, Blackstreet, Kanye West, The Band, Ace of Base and the theme from Footloose (among others) all within one track caters for those who like their music Attention Deficit Friendly.

Gang Gang Dance.

2008-11-20T22:19:00.006Z

It's a wonder what ends up in my inbox sometimes. However, sandwiched between promises of bigger genitalia and some widow in a far off land asking for my bank details in order to collect an inheritance which no doubt does not exist I do occasionally get some gems sent to me from the lovely folks in internet land.

Gang Gang Dance make a lovely hip-shaking experimental noise with dirty synths and some tasty little guitar licks. The Brooklyn four-piece have just released their fourth album, 'Saint Dymphna,' through Warp Records, and have been remixed by XXXchange, who has previously worked with Spank Rock, and done his magic with Santogold's 'L.E.S Artistes'. The band, who are a favourite of the boys in both Hot Chip and Klaxons, have previously been described as "neo-primitivist," and I can see why as there is something tribal about the sounds they make: you can't help but move your feat to the infectious grooves. Here are two cuts from the new LP, which is now hot on my list of albums to pick up as soon as humanly possible. Liz Bougatsos’ vocals on 'House Jam' seem some way reminiscent of the haunting voices heard on The Knife's records, sticking sweetly to the synth line that punctuates the track. 'Princes' is a very different affair, sounding somewhere between Dizzee Rascal (down to guest vocalist Tinchy Stryder) and M.I.A. it's upbeat, and the guitar line that kicks in around three minutes just totally kicks.

mp3: Gang Gang Dance - House Jam
mp3: Gang Gang Dance - Princes (feat. Tinchy Stryder)

myspace: www.myspace.com/ganggangdance

You can hear XXXchange's awesome mix of 'House Jam' over at RcrdLbl.

Oh my! O Children.

2008-11-19T17:58:00.010Z

I can't believe that this year I have only posted once on this lil' old blog. Shocking. However, with the little redesign I've just decided to do, comes the plan of blogs galore. So where to start? I think I shall begin by looking at what I have been playing a lot of recently on my Last.fm and go from there...

I've been listening a lot to O Children the last few days. Formed out of the ashes of Bono Must Die, the band features the enigmatic Tobi O'Kandi on vocals and keys, and it is his dramatic oh-so-low voice which make O Children sound so awesome. They make me think a little of Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man who Tobi played drums for awhile back.

Like a lot of the bands emerging from London ways at the moment, O Children play dark post-pop music for kids who like to dress in black and wear wayfarers in winter. Currently there is no record, but the demos on Myspace shine like diamonds, despite the fact the band have only been together since slightly earlier this year. Choice pick would be 'Dead Disco Dancer' with its hypnotic refrain that "the disco dancer's dead", and mechanically precise bass-line.

The band are making up for the lack of a physical release however with a pretty damned fine t-shirt which is available from PureGroove. They are strictly limited edition, so if you want to be the hippest kid in the joint you will probably want to get yours as soon as. And if you live in London, get yourself to the Learner Dance Party tonight at Punk, where they will be playing alongside Televised Crimewave, and the noiseniks known as KASMs which feature Rory of Test Icicles fame. I'm kicking myself for being ill and living in the midlands.

mp3: O Children - Dead Disco Dancer (Demo)

myspace: www.myspace.com/ochildren

Do the D.A.N.C.E.

2008-08-25T00:28:00.004Z

Rhythm is a dancer and so is Mike Long. Under the guise of his youtube account "dipsetmuthafucka", Long spent a year filming a video a day of himself dancing in his hometown on Hamilton, Ontario in Canadia.

Now I like a dance and considered myself skilled in the art of shape throwing but this guy is in a league of his own. His moves are as impressive as his bravery as many passers by stop and stare and then move on after quickly concluding this man is insane.

INSANELY AWESOME!

An absolute certainty is that every video will have some skilled dancing, some shot of Hamilton Ontario, a pair of highly desirable white shoes but most importantly every song scores off the charts when its comes to cool.

The genres tend to gravitate towards Rock n Roll, Soul, Reggae, Classic Pop - with some Elctro and Hip-Hop occasionally thrown in. But I must reiterate; every song is a diamond. He has created a mighty compendium of videos that should be considered the definitive list in desert island discs.

Its under Mike Long's inspiration that I have selected a few songs that recommend you all put on at full volume and shake a tail feather too.

Creation - "Makin' Time"
Merry Clayton - "Gimme Shelter"
B-52's - "Rock Lobster"
Os Mutantes - "A Minha Menina"
The Maytals - "Pressure Drop"

Here are also a couple of videos out of the bunch I'd like to draw your attention to as well. Firstly this Chuck Berry classic which has a bit of back story from Long's 'mom'.
Chuck Berry - "Maybelline"
And with The Knife being a popular choice amongst us at wewererockstars and this video being a prime example of Long confusing the people of Hamilton I present his take on Heartbeats.
The Knife - ''Heartbeats''

On his youtube account he's challenged someone to take up his mantle. If you think you could then go for it - before I do.

Girrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl Talk

2008-08-23T15:49:00.005Z

Gregg Gillis (left) is an amazing man. If believe him to be created by God with the purpose of producing the most me-friendly music possible.

More commonly known as Girl Talk, he is music's answer to Attention Defecit Disorder. Taking the now established genre of the mash-up to new extremes, Gillis uses more samples in one minute than on the whole of "As Heard on Radio Soulwax Pt. 2"

Ok, maybe not that many, but he uses a LOT of samples very quickly and the affect is fantastic and I now cannot listen to Sinead O'Connor without hearing Lil Wayne (not that I listen to much Sinead O'Connor.

His new album is called "Feed the Animals" and I believe it to be an marked improvement on his 2006 album "Night Ripper". It uses samples from Pete Townsend, Ludcaris, Edwin Starr, Avril Lavigne Kelis, Rage Against the Machine, Jay-Z, Huey Lewis and the News, Aaliyah and Roy Orbison - and thats just the first 5 minutes.

"Feed the Animals" is available as a continuous download from Illegal Art Records for free (though you are encouraged to donate some of you own money). I listen to it on the cycle to work everyday. I use it to time how fast I gol; though I rarely get into worth before Jay-Z's Roc Boys mixed with Radiohead's Paranoid Android comes on - usually because I slow down to make sure I get a listen.

Try before you buy for free?

Girl Talk - Part 1: "Play Your Part"
Girl Talk - Part 5: "Set It Off"

Actually, this is my album of the year so far. Though I think I may suffer from the Attention Defecit thing...

Super Cute Voices!

2008-05-04T19:44:00.004Z

You know how sometimes you here a band, and you just know they are special. A band you want to keep all to yourself but it is impossible, because all you want to do is tell everyone how awesome they are? Well, Super Cute Voices are one such group.

The Welsh two-piece is comprised of 18 year olds Stuart and Charlie, who hail from Aberystwyth and Llanelli respectively, and they make far much more noise than their diminutive numbers would suggest. I was fortunate to catch them live at an Aberystwyth battle of the bands competition yesterday, and even the compare seemed a little confused as to whether or not the band was ready to start, seeming somewhat uncertain as to if there was just two of them. Stuart handles vocal duties as well as thrashing away on guitar, whilst Charlie (a powerhouse of a drummer) hits the skins and sings all the vocoded vocals (oh yes!). However, what really makes this band stand out from all the carbon-copy indie pretenders is their use of electronic tomfoolery. All their songs are backed by a series of midi synths and 8-bit blippery, not to mention the most bizzare Japanese voice samples, all programmed by Stuart, coming together to make a complete package which sounds somewhat like the off-the-wall Japs, Polysics, or 70s new wavers Devo. Unsuprisingly, Stuart heralds these acts as their two main reference points, but that doesn't make their music devoid of originality. Rather the opposite: they take the prototypyical new wave sound and make it their own.

Imagine To My Boy trapped in a Mark Mothersbaugh's gameboy. Perhaps.

And if you are wondering who won the battle of the bands... well, let's just say the winners were cute.

Super Cute.

mp3: Super Cute Voices - So Desu Ka

mp3: Super Cute Voices - Work!

Post exams, pre lectures..

2008-01-21T00:43:00.000Z

Woop. Finished my last exam on friday and since then have; drunk too much, wasted a day away being hungover, noticed that Aberystwyth has moved itself into a cloud, been climbing, eaten crumpets, and made postcards with far too many spelling mistakes in them for an English student.

Music wise 2008 has been bountiful, with the loan bringing the bank account into the plus figures it has resulted in me gaining far too many albums for me to type them all out (very much helped by a lovely housemate of mine :) However, I feel these definitely deserve a mention because they are just SO GOOD.

1) Erol Alkan - Bugged Out/ Bugged In mix
2) French Touch Anthology
3) Shy Child - Noise Won't Stop
4) Chromeo - Fancy Footwork

In regards to the French Touch Anthology, you most definitely get your money's worth - 4 discs costing around the same as a normal album. Currently I'm enjoying the second cd the most entitled The French Lounge however it has resulted in me daydreaming off into a world of black and white french films, where I get swept off my feet by a tall, dark, handsome french man... *sigh*

Anyhows, there are plenty of very cherry popping, heart meltingly good, bass lined beats to drag me back into the present day. Most noticably the noise is coming from those Italian boys; Crookers, Boy 8-Bit remixes and the Herve/ Sinden/ Switch lot.

To give you a little teaser, here is one of my favourites, and my aim of the next month or so? To get this played out in Aberystwyth, where it'll catch more than just myself hook, line and sinker...

Lethal Bizzle - Selfridges Girl Not On Myspace (Boy 8-Bit remix)

Enjoy!

x E x

A brief history of the twentieth century.

2008-01-09T17:50:00.000Z

It is amazing to what levels I am willing to procrastinate in order to avoid doing any revision for my exam next week. Of course, there is far too much on the internet designed to help divert my attentions. One of my favourite past-times is to read up on little tidbits of history on wikipedia. Sad, I know, but I've always had a love of history, and it's pretty interesting stuff, honest!

One of my favourite things to do is combine this "hobby" with music, as in, find out what it is that so-and-so band are singing about. Now, there are only a couple of groups I have come across who do this to quite an extent, one of which I have never really given much time of day until earlier, when I heard they were releasing their third full-length. British Sea Power, Brightons's eccentric quartet, release Do You Like Rock Music? on January 14th, and from what I have heard of it so far, it sounds like a rather amazing record. Several years ago my good friend Robert lent me their debut, The Decline of British Sea Power, which I never got around to listening to, and until this very moment is still sat on my shelves back at home. God knows why I never gave it a spin, for they had so much going in their favour of me liking them: for example, their rather interesting stage shows which included dragging in folliage, stuffed birds, and a 10ft bear which the group would shoo of stage. Then theres the name, harking back to a nostalgic time in history when Britania ruled the waves. If that wasn't enough, they used history in their songs! Awesome! I feel stupid for never giving them a chance, but I can honestly say after hearing the majority of DYLRM? I am pretty much a fully fleged convert. They remind me a lot of Hope of the States, who split up some time ago, but released two brilliant records during their career, both of which take great influence from the past. My picks of the pack would be 'Canvey Island', a song about the flooding that hit the island in 1953 and left 58 dead (you can read more about it on wikipedia). Seriously, the song sounds massive, and clearly the band's answer to the question posed in the album title is a resounding "yes!" In 'No Lucifer' the assault continues, a track which sounds heavily influenced by Arcade Fire (ex-Arcade Fire drummer, Howard Bilerman was a contributor to the record), but none the less spectacular, with singer Yan informing the listener they "...can always just say no to the anti-aircraft crew, the boys in the Hitler-Youth".

British Sea Power's new record, Do You Like Rock Music?, is released on January 14th through Rough Trade, and can be pre-ordered here.

mp3: British Sea Power - Canvey Island
mp3: British Sea Power - No Lucifer

This neatly leads me on to my favourite band of last year, and one of my albums of the year, in the form of iLiKETRAiNS. The Leeds . The term 'library rock' has been banded around the group quite a bit, and this is a fair description of their blend of post-rock and wry, intelligent lyrics, which explore a whole host of topics from the ill-fated journey of Scott to the Antarctic in 1912 ('Terra Nova'), the great fire of London ('25 Sins') and the black death ('We All Fall Down'), the Salem witch trials ('We Go Hunting'), and a protest song at the results of Dr Richard Beeching's 1960s report into the railways, which reulted in the closure of many branch lines and the loss of thousands of jobs ('The Beeching Report'). As you can imagine, it's not your conventional topics of songwriting when in comparison with the majority of bands in the indie charts. But then again, that's what makes iLiKETRAiNS so special. In October they released their debut full-length, Elegies To Lessons Learnt, on Beggars Banquet, which is easily the most macabre and bleak album of the 2007: if it's happy-go-lucky indie-by-numbers you are after it's probably best to keep clear, but if you want to think about what you are listening to, and get a history lesson in the process then they could be the band for you.

And on the subject of wikipedia hunting, iLiKETRAiNS saved most of that bother by providing a "text book" with the album which gives information on the subjects they portray in their music. If only the history curiculum in schools was taught by iLiKETRAiNS!

iLiKETRAiNS's debut album is available now from Beggars Banquet, and can be ordered here, whilst their next single is released on vinyl/download only in February.

mp3: iLiKETRAiNS - We Go Hunting

mp3: iLiKETRAiNS - Terra Nova (taken from Progress Reform, 2006)

mp3: iLiKETRAiNS - TiNSLEYViADUCT (2005 demo)

Happy 2008 - Here is some sound.

2008-01-06T00:30:00.000Z

I've been far too lazy this Christmas. A perfect chance for me to get back into the swing of blogging is squandered, with my time going into playing Wii until the early hours. Never mind, eh?

To make up for my absense I thought I'd put up a jumbo post of some of the stuff I'm liking at this current moment in time. Firstly, Okioki. Another amazing Aussie band, the Nintendo-friendly three piece from Perth have already played gigs with Hot Chip and Yuksek down under. Their myspace is a little vague with information, but they are worth a listen. Imagine playing guitar along to your gameboy and you are part of the way to working out how they sound. If you are expecting the art noise mess that Crystal Castles get out of nanoloop-ing and 8-bit sampling you may be a bit dissapointed, but if you're looking for a nostalgic gaming sound that could soundtrack games of the future, then this could be the hit your after.

mp3: Okioki - Defend the Gas Station
mp3: Okioki - Pocoyo vs The Incredible Machine

Next up, thanks to a heads-up from Gohan, his remix of fellow Parisians Thieves Like Us's 'Drugs In My Body'. This has become a personal fave of mine, and has been given quite a lot of playtime over in my media player. Thieves Like Us, signed over at Kitsune, ran a remix competition for the track towards the end of last year, spawning many a mix. Yet, out of the mixes I've heard of 'Drugs...' this is probably one of my faves. Tiny keys, synthesized choral line... simply love it. I've been watching over Gohan's stuff for awhile now, and if you haven't checked out his tracks over on his myspace, do so now! Thieves Like Us have UK tour dates in February, check their myspace for more information.

mp3: Thieves Like Us - Drugs In My Body (Gohan remix)

For our third sitting we have CHAINGANG. Flaming hell, Australia keeps throwing up some pretty awesome groups, this foursome hailing from Sydney. The email these guys sent me said a lot about the band all being from other bands, and having come together to create this slab of angry noize-rock. I haven't got an idea who the bands they used to play for were, but it seems that the line-up they are currently holding is pretty damn tight. Pulsing drums, dirty bass and heavy guitars, and with a distinctive punk attitude, encapsulated in front-woman Hayley's urgent vocals.

mp3: CHAINGANG - Get Off My Stage (demo)

Stimulation, I need some action.

2007-10-30T11:46:00.000Z

If you haven't noticed, I love the Teenagers and I find that I have to write about them pretty often to relieve myself of the need that builds up inside me like steam in a kettle (as I did here and here). There is just something so fun about their minimalist blend of pervy lyrics, distinctive bass lines and tinny programmed drums. Sometimes I imagine that if it wasn't for vocalist Quentin's affected French accent the band would be rather plain, but after seeing them live I was totally enthralled. I think they are the kind of band which work better in a small venue rather than massive settings, as with my experience with them they made the stuffy Birmingham Academy 3 into the coolest party that you've ever been invited too. They are a band that actually appear to be having a good time on stage, especially Quentin who excels himself pulling (admittedly camp) shapes at the first sign of a camera from a hand sticking out of the crowd.

You may have heard 'Selflove', an album demo which was floating around on the blogs a short time back, but with the release of their latest single for Merok, Starlett Johansson, the band have renamed the track and unleashed it under the title of 'Full Flavor'. It is, as far as I can tell, a song about masturbation; a topic which seems rather fitting for a band who are renowned for writing rude songs. 'Sunset Beach' is an older song of theirs, but I still love it like I would I small child who happened to be mine. It sounds like the soundtrack to an American 80s TV show which you happened to stumble across on cable in the early hours of the morning, still feeling the effects of the heavy evening of drinks from which you haven't recovered. And then you wake up and realise it was all a dream, and you are sitting in your underpants in the living room, the TV throwing out nothing by static.

According to the band another single is in the pipeline, as well as an album, which will be on Merok.

mp3: The Teenagers - Full Flavor

mp3: The Teenagers - Sunset Beach

A foal is a horse that is one year old or younger.

2007-10-29T21:43:00.000Z

Foals dress for the occasion and have awesome songs to match. Hailing from Oxford, these ex-art school types create a sound akin to Youthmovies crossed with the pop sensibilities of Bloc Party. The band won a lot of fans over at SXSW earlier this year, and with a couple of singles under their belt released on the Transgressive label, it could not be too soon for them to release an album. Did I mention they are perfectionists? In the short time they have been together they have recorded a mere handful of tracks, but the love and attention that goes into them is clear, as each one is pretty much near perfection. 'Hummer', a song the band describe as being about running, was their first single for Transgressive back in April, whilst the demo version of 'The French Open' shows the groups more progressive side...

mp3: Foals - Hummer

mp3: Foals - The French Open (demo)

Current single, 'Mathletics', is out now.

Behind my gameboy I got gamegirl.

2007-10-28T23:39:00.000Z

Tranterco is one part of Melbourne's Gameboy/Gamegirl, who you will have surely heard of if you've had your finger on the pulse of the coolest blogs in blogland during the past year. Tranterco (who is responsible for the faux rapping in GB/GC) has been djaying for awhile and as well as throwing down tunes he also puts his hands to some pretty interesting mash-ups and mixes. Examples from his myspace page include a mix of Justin Timberlake's 'Rock My Body', and a mash-up featurning SebastiAn and 90s R&B outfit Bell Biv Devoe. My pick from what I have heard of his output, however, has to be his mash of Spank Rock's 'Bump' and Midnight Juggernauts' 'Shadows', and I've included it below.

I've also thrown in a Gameboy/Gamegirl track, so you can check out Tranter during his day job. 'Pumps Rumps' is, to me, a throwback to 90s group 20 Fingers' 'Short Dick Man' brought kicking and rapping (?) into the naughties, but like a million times better. GB/GG have got a killer sound, and Ican't wait until they release some new material besides the tracks over on their myspace. Head over to Hype if you want to hear more, 'Sweaty Wet/Dirty Damp' is highly recommended.

mp3: Tranterco - Midnight Spanknauts (Midnight Juggernauts vs Spank Rock)

mp3: Gameboy/Gamegirl - Pumps Rumps

That's why I copy and paste.

2007-10-19T23:07:00.000Z

Every now and again you stumble across a musical gem, that once you've heard you never will forget. About two years ago I heard a song on late night MTV2, a song which since that day I have been able to remember vividly, yet until a couple of days ago I didn't know what it was. I could remember the cutesy animated video and the unforgettable chorus, but did I know who wrote that little piece of magic?

No, of course I didn't.

Plastic Operator are a two piece international electronic pop outfit, with one half from Antwerp and the other from Montreal. How did they meet? In London whilst studying audio production of course. After hitting it off, realising they both had a shared love for well written pop music, the duo began to make their own blend of bittersweet electronic pop music; music which is sure to leave you feeling both melancholic and uplifted simultaneously. Okay: try to imagine the Knife if all they listened to was the Postal Service and the Pet Shop Boys... they are somewhere in that region. Seriously, the stuff they produce is amazing.

Anyway, I digress slightly. On hearing the band's self produced debut Different Places I was stunned into silence when the third track kicked in and I realised this was the song I had been looking for. Call off the search! That tune that had managed to evade me for so long finally had a name, 'Folder'. It was P.O's first single back in 2005 and was well received by much of the music press, and now two years later it was blasting from my stereo. It's so catchy, vocalist Pieter Van Dessel's distinctive voice flowing over a sea of electronic keys and synthetic drums, seemingly sad with its strains of string and blipping synths. It's pop perfection. Plain and simple.
It's the kind of song you would want to fall in love to.

Why not fall in love with it too?

Plastic Operator's debut album Different Places is available now on Fine Day.

mp3: Plastic Operator - Folder

Acres of dead space cadets.

2007-10-09T11:32:00.000Z

Elle Milano are back! And not only do they have a new single, but a new album. Fans of the Leicester three-piece (they recently lost a member) may remember their Swearing's for Art Students EP which came out seemingly years back now which gained them a reasonable amount of support from the music press, especially from Indie fanzine ArtRocker.

The first single to be taken from the album, 'My Brother, The Astronaut' takes up where the last EP finished, an scathing indie rock anthem that leaves you gasping for air. Not a band to play quietly, the track is loud and abrassive; all angular guitars and shouty lyrics. Lots of fun! It also sounds remotely similar, in places, to a certain Fallout Boy song. This, however, may be intentional, as the band are well know for their satirical and cynical outlook on the British alternative music scene, as well as the shallow consumerist attitude of today's youth. Check it out for yourself, along with the classic title track from their EP, 'Swearing's For Art Students'.

The new single 'My Brother, The Astronaut' is released on Brighton Electric 0n October 29th, and is limited to 500 white vinyl and download. This will be followed by the debut album Acres of Dead Space Cadets later in the year.

mp3: Elle Milano - My Brother, The Astronaut
mp3: Elle Milano - Swearing's For Art Students

This just in!

2007-10-07T12:47:00.000Z

Bloc Party are good again. Honest!

Bloc Party's new single is called Flux and is currently whizzing around the blogsphere like bird flu in an apocalyptic vision of the future. RAD!. We Were Rock Stars is not content to sit idly by and neglect our duties in hyping this beyond hyperbole so: THIS IS THE BEST SONG YOU WILL EVER HEAR!!!

Ok, maybe not. But perhaps one of the best releases of the year and a quick one too. A Weekend In The City, an album well below the par set by 2005's (great year for music that) Silent Alarm, seems to have been done and dusted and if the rest of BPs new stuff is half as good as Flux, produced by A Weekend In the City producer Jacknife Lee, then we'll be welcoming them back to the dance floors of indie discos across the UK.

P.S. In order to bring you this literally HOTTT with three Ts off the press we have the added 'joy' of Zane L0L yammering on at the end of the mp3 but hopefully we'll replace this at a later date but no doubt in about 2 weeks you will have heard this everywhere and be sick to death of it a la Standing in the Way of Control.

Bloc Party - Flux

Sweet as Sugar.

2007-10-03T11:21:00.000Z

London's David E. Sugar has been around for awhile now, and in my opinion is one of the UK's bright sparks who continues to excell himself again and again. Whilst he produces his own original material, utilising a Gameboy's default sounds to program his beats, it is his remixes that have really grabbed my attention.

My first encounter with Sugar's work was his remix of Klaxons 'Golden Skans', a smashing mix with the best bit coming in at 2:43 with the song stripped back to the vocals and keyboard before the beat kicks back in. Sweet as.

His reinterpretation of Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly's 'War of the Worlds' is not so much a remix but Sugar ripping up the original and sticking it back together in the form of a three minutes of perfectly chunky glitch pop. It's like, wow, how to make a song that was already a tune in to the theme from an early 90s Sega game that you want to listen to on repeat. Thumbs up.

I have never really liked the Rumble Strips, and after seeing them last summer and being put off by their tad mediocre sound, I have never really strayed anywhere near them (well apart from to listen to Sportsday Megaphone's remix of previous single). However, how could I resist when I saw that David E. Sugar had put his hands to work at remixing their latest single 'Girls and Boys in Love'. At what a mix it is! It starts off all tinkling pianos, until roughly the 50 second mark when in drops a crunchy electro riff which is partnered once more about 15 seconds later by that lovely piano. It's big and punchy, and puts the original to shame!

On the subject of his original material, as an added bonus I have thrown in his cover of the Cure's 'Just Like Heaven', which sees a classic slice of Robert Smith put through the 8-bit blender and coming out squeakyfresh the other side.

David E. Sugar's new single 'Chelsea Girls' is out October 15th on Brikabrak.
'Chelsea Girls' video directed by Peepshow Collective.

mp3: Klaxons - Golden Skans (David E. Sugar remix)
mp3: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - War of the Worlds (David E. Sugar remix)
mp3: The Rumble Strips - Girls And Boys In Love (David E. Sugar's Shameless mix)
mp3: David E. Sugar - Just Like Heaven (Cure cover)

Just Jak It.

2007-10-02T10:38:00.000Z

Pseudonecrophile are a boy and a girl from Houston, Texas, who I seem to have stumbled across out of nowhere. However, since hearing them only a few days ago on the old myspace I have became somewhat obsessed with their irresistable blend of electronica and attitude, a mix that hits hard but manages not to sacrife its pop edge. Imagine Crystal Castles if all they listened to was Justin Timberlake. Or something like that. The track that has stuck in my head most is 'Jak It', an ode to a Jack Mitchell who, as the song informs, is a sex god. Apparently. Bass-heavy beats and quicksharp vocals is the name of Pseudonecrophile's game - and it's the kind of game I want to play.

The remix by supercool Parisian Gohan is also highly recommended and worth checking out, and if you enjoy that you can download his album from his myspace. 'John Woo' is a bit of a tasty tidbit to get your juices flowing. It got mine going for sure. Bonus, non?

mp3: Pseudonecrophile - Jak It
mp3: Pseudonecrophile - Jack Mitchell (Gohan remix)
mp3: Gohan - John Woo

Coming Back With Power! Power!

2007-09-02T14:15:00.000Z

BOOM! M.I.A is missing no longer, I have found her in my stereo every single minute since the release of her second major album Kala on the 20th of August.

I feared an album too 'banging' for my tastes with the more raucous tracks; 'XR2', 'Bird Flu' and 'Boyz up on her myspace at the beginning of the year.

"...take a pill good time all the time"

However this contender for album of the decade has come with some more saccharine tracks that are more to my tastes and serves to make the album a richer and more eclectic venture.

While blogging M.I.A. continuines the theme of 2007 being a great year for albums as many artists are following up on their 2005 releases which by and large were best bunch of records ever released in a 12 month period I have to say that this album is extremely good at making it feel little has come before it. It is totally complete, not one song could be swapped with 2005's Arular as it would serve to ruin both albums.

While Arular was an explosion of positively addictive Carioca Funk, Kala is much more of a Hip-Hop affair with Timbaland even producing a track. Its more stripped down and the samples are more recognizable and M.I.A's delivery and content has moved towards gangs and guns; though more AK47s in Africa than 8 Balls and Glocks in South Central LA. Contributions by Timbaland and Afrikan Boy help Kala conform more to the typical Hip Hop formula of collabirations.

"I’m illegal I don’t pay tax tax,
EMA yes I’m claiming that that"

She hasn't sidestepped pure dancibility and with Tacks like Boys, XR2 and the sublime Jimmy which sees her adopting a more Bollywood style she will be permanent fixture on all god DJs set lists - certainly in America where she is far out pacing her level of fame over here.

Is there a theme to Kala? Does it all string together? Not really, no. Perhaps there are many threads that unwravel for a track and are reswen back into the fabric of the album later. While she criticises the status quo with regards to the West and the Third world in Hussle and $20 she is at ease with forgetting them completely with Jimmy and Come Around.

"no one on the corner has swagga like us"

Is it all good? You bet your Air Max 95s it is! Its arogant and funny, dancable and edgy, lots of good things and yes more good thing besides. While I did not think this immediately this is one of the greatest albums to come out of the UK (though this album owes everything but M.I.A. herself to the US) in the last 10 years. Its made listening to Arular harder and while I think this had the potential to become slightly dated in the long run right now its perfect and I'm prepared for the time when she claims she's bigger than Jesus and really isn't cool anymore, I'll be there asking the very important question, "Where were you in 92?" I was 7 growing up in Northfields, South Ealing near Hounslow where M.I.A. is from so I kinda feel like we're kindred spirits. I am seriously considering changing my name to Jimmy Aaja!

This was very close to a sensible album review and this worries me. To counter balence this I shall turn to M.I.A. herself and how she described her album to the Gaurdian in March: "Shapes, colours, Africa, street, power, bitch, nu world, brave." I couldn't agree more.

M.I.A. - Boyz
M.I.A. - Jimmy
M.I.A. - Paper Planes
M.I.A. - Come Around Feat. Timbaland

2005 Version 2.0

2007-07-29T11:04:00.000Z

If I have not said it before I shall say it here and now: 2005 was the greatest year for music ever. Well, for me it certainly was as it produced the most amazing albums in my living memory and it has always been albums that really make my pussy moist.

And now all those amazing artists are now coming out with their follow up albums and all helping to bring 2007 closer to the bench mark 2005 has set. We've already had Arcades Fire's follow up to Funeral, the excellent Neon Bible, LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver, Bloc Party's A Weekend In the City and quite a few other notable artists. Over a series of blogs I would like to draw attention to a few more acts that are following up their 2005 albums with produce of a similar high grade.

First up is New York based The National. Their 2005 album Alligator was the reason why I have bought their entire back catalouge, why I am willing to pay silly money to see them play in November, why I bum them hard and why I bought their new album, Boxer, without hearing a note.

The Album does not dissapoint and while I do love the format of albums I find it very hard to review them. But Huzzah! I live in blogland where the mp3s roll like mighty semi-legal rivers of music down the to estuary of your ears and trickling into your mind tanks the knowledge of how amazingly good albums can be sans the need for me describe the indescribable.

Here are two tracks from Boxer, Fake Empire and Mistaken For Strangers and since I know you're curious here's one of my favourite tracks from their Alligator album, Mr. November.

PS For me the National are a warm blanket that I like to wrap myself up in even when its hot, if you are cosying up to them too then I suggest starting with Alligator and moving on to Boxer from there. Also if you have a nosy round the blogs you may be able to lay your hands on their Black Session that did in Paris a while back - a truly magical recording. x

I could have been one of the most notorious..

2007-07-04T21:10:00.000Z

I went out last night, and as I burned it up in the back streets of Soho (on the lovely little hotbox hidden gem that is White Heat's dance floor) there was one song on my mind, Santogold's 'Creator'. Now, I know this has been around for a while, but it's not as well known as it should be, it's just such a good tune to dance too -wicked rhythm (-IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BEAT IN MY BOOKS). I was even lucky enough to see them play this out live in Fabric no less - with it's renowned sound system it sounded so damn fine.

Santogold - Creator

Now the real reason I was in Fabric was to see Justice/ Busy P/ Goose (yes, yes the chem bro's were headlining, but I just couldn't resist seeing the lovely French duo and the rest of the Ed Banger crew that were floating around) and thus spent most of the night getting a bit grimey in room 3. So as I left White Heat in the early hours of the morn this song managed to find it's way into my head, and it's still going strong now..

Sebastien Tellier (Mr Oizo, SebastiAn) - Chivers As A Female

However, just like two dj's fighting over the decks, the above mentioned song has been hustling for head time play, it's rival being this classic tune which I stumbled upon when looking through my brother's music collection (he's got a better taste in music than I give him credit for) - enjoy

Turbulence - Notorious

(Short post yeah? I just had to get these tracks off my chest, or should that be out of my head?)

One last thing before I go, got sent this link earlier... daft hands - now I just have to wait and see if anyone's going to try and top it, say with firestarter (I don't know how it would work, but that's for someone else to deal with ;)

ellie love

x y z

VHS Or Beta version 2.0.

2007-06-29T13:43:00.000Z

Somewhere along the line since the amazing 2004 debut Night On Fire, Kentucky's VHS Or Beta lost their guitarist of 10 years Zeke Buck, who parted ways to join Matthew Johnson in a new outfit called People Noise, exchancing the experimental dance funk for massive riffs and walls of feedback. Fair enough.

This however hasn't stopped the progress of the band, now a 3-piece, as they have just finished their third studio album Bring On The Comets, set for an August release in the US. Whilst new tracks such as forthcoming single 'Can't Believe a Single Word', and album teaser 'Burn It All Down' (both of which have been posted on the bands myspace page) have elements which herald back to the sound which they are most well known for, they also signal a departure towards a more minimal vibe, most obviously caused by the lack of Buck's trademark layered guitar noise. Yet despite this major change in the band's dynamic, they move on positively, as vocalist and guitarist Craig Pfunder discusses on their blog:

"We wanted to achieve a sort of minimalism we hadn't considered before. Not to say the record is minimal, but rather we focused on the songs first and labored to make big songs that have memorable melodies. That was a key focus."

'Burn It All Down' is my pick of the first two tracks to emerge, all flangered guitars, a riff not to disimilar to Boy Kill Boy's 'Suzie', with hints of syth and piano flourishing the verses, before a memorable chorus which calls back to 'Night on Fire', a highlight of the first record. VHS Or Beta are back, and it would appear they are far from an outdated format.

VHS Or Beta will release Bring On The Comets on August 28th via Astralwerks, there debut is available now.

mp3: VHS Or Beta - Burn It All Down
mp3: VHS Or Beta - Night On Fire

Messages from down under.

2007-06-23T20:11:00.000Z

Sometimes I forget to check my e-mails. It's one of those things I'm not great at. Most of the time it's only messages from myspace or paypal, or the odd bit of spam, so you can imagine my surprise and joy when I log in to Hotmail and find I've had some exciting messages from fun people telling me about fun music.

Even more fun is that a couple of these had come from Australia. That's 10583 miles!

Firstly was Sydney's Lions At Your Door, who sound like they mean business. Imagine The Gossip, but Beth has ditched Kate Moss and has spent a bit of time in NY with Karen O... and listened to a healthy amount of The Rapture together. It sounds too good to be true, I know, but it's all real. Their signature tune, 'LAYD', is the dance-punk calling card that you must hear.

mp3: Lions At Your Door - LAYD

And as if that wasn't enough, then there was 7 Day Weekend, who I just love for existing. Or something along those lines. According to the spokesperson for their label, Love is My Velocity, the 4-piece take their inspiration from and sing about "boys, pizza, parties and leisure wear". It's very fun and cutesy. The four girls all met at art school (where else?) and take pride in giving their gigs themes, allowing them the chance to dress up in a whole host of outfits including pirates, clowns and mimes. Latest track, 'Hot Property', sees the girls sing about wanting to get down low in your bungalow, all tongue- in-cheek of course, whilst 'Party Monster' is perfect fluoro-electro-pop... and it has hand claps. Hand claps = a selling point.

mp3: 7 Day Weekend - Hot Property
mp3: 7 Day Weekend - Party Monster

Perks of the job? Yeah, I guess so.

Goin' back to my roots

2007-06-22T01:48:00.001Z

Deep down I am a black man. I have always believed this. There are certain ‘facts’ that unscrupulous types would disseminate in an attempt to disprove this. My mother grew up Chiswick and my father in Kew and, yes, they are both themselves white. I was not adopted and to the untrained eye I do appear to be ‘caucasian’.

DO NOT BE DECEIVED!

I have been trained to feel the funk, to have soul, to be down! Essentially I was raised on Blues and Soul and very little else. Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Otis Reading, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Wilson Picket, BB King were played throughout my childhood and to this day, I say that they have had a lasting effect. Later on I moved to Funk, Disco and Hip-Hop and its this Music of Black Origin (oh yes!) that has always been my first love.

This all means that despite Graham and Ellie being uber trendy electro-trash-hip-hop-pop-rock lovers I’m going to have to add a slice of my own musical heritage as a black man. However to appease you blog-browsing music elites I’ve chosen 7 rarer tracks so this post doesn’t feel too much like the end of an Ally McBeal episode.

Al Green - Love and Happiness

The Reverend Al Green should be known to many of you but this song is far and away one of his best but never seems to get as much recognition as Lets Stay Together, Tired Of Being Alone et all. Besides being light years better than most of his other work Love and Happiness is straight up Al Green; electric organ, punctuating horns and a voice that many have said could recite the phonebook and still sound amazing. Trivia time: This is Nick Hornby’s favourite ever track – and he knows a little about music methinks.

Felice Taylor - I Can Feel Your Love

I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor is a song that I’ve been waiting to appear in some KFC/Baileys advert for the last two years since a friend put it on a mix-cd for me and when you hear you’ll understand why. The track is immediate uplifting soul straight out of 1967, produced and written by a pre-stardom Barry White. Taylor didn’t do too well in the US but had some small success in the UK, sadly though she’s not a name that gets talked about much these days, (that is until she gets used for a advert which is inevitable says I).

Francine King - Two Fools (feat. Sax Kari)

Some songs just end up in my laptop and I have no idea how they get there but praise the Lord that they are there. Francine King’s Two Fools featuring Sax Kari is definitely one of those songs. I can find so little information about this lady, she seems to be a soul singer from Mobile, Alabama but its New Orleans’s Sax Kari, who plays guitar on this hook-happy, cymbal-splashing, funk-ridden track, seems to be the driving force behind the outfit, only hooking up with King to do this one track. Sax Kari seems to be another unsung hero, a prolific writer and big band leader; he was signed to States and later Chess records. Not heard much else of his but this song alone is a warm blanket of early Funky Soul with comforting crackles of vinyl and loose-living lyrics of the South.

Parliament - Come In Out of the Rain

I cannot say enough about Parliament. If you think you don’t know them you probably do. Sampled by anyone who’s anyone these guys, under the leadership of the weird and wonderful George Clinton, are the most spectacular pioneers of the funk. Under the guises of Parliament, Funkadelic, Parliament Funkadelic, P-Funk, P-Funk All Stars they have produced some of the most seminal albums of the genre and took funk to a more experimental, political and generally more engaging level than other exponents like James Brown ever did. This track Come in Out of the Rain is from one of their earlier albums Osmium (but only on a very rare pressing worth thousands today!) and its one of my favourite ever protests songs. It should knock the socks off anyone with ears basically. I doubt this will be the last time Parliament/Funkadelic will be posted by me on here but if you can’t wait for more buy Funkadelic’s 1971 album, Maggot Brain, TODAY!

Gil Scott-Heron - The Bottle
Gil Scott-Heron - Lady Day and John Coltrane
Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man

GIL SCOTT-HERON!!! Shouted by James Murphy and LCD Soundsystem 6 minutes and 17 seconds into I’m Losing My Edge, from their self titled album of 2005, when Murphy is listing some of the coolest underground acts ever to have existed. A tentative link to what this blog is usually concerned with but frankly it doesn’t need one, this could be a blog about German industrial metal or Buddhist prayer chants and I think there’d always be a case to put some Gil Scott-Heron in there. Introduced to me by my friend Dom about 4 years ago (for which I am eternally grateful) there was no denying this guy is amazing. Gill Scott mixes poetry, jazz, soul and funk beautifully and effortlessly. Considered a racist in the 70s by many of the whites in the music industry due to his outspoken and uncompromising political views he never crossed over into the mainstream sadly but I think its clear its not what he wanted. DAMN! I’m listening to some Gil Scott right now I can’t just give you one track so you’re getting three and here’s a video of his best known poem The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.

I feel like I’ve got something out of my system. I can continue blogging about fey indie bands from Montreal and

Sweden

now and not feel like I’ve overlooked my past. Time will tell if I'll be returning to my roots.

One love.

Is yours a shower or a grower?

2007-06-22T00:40:00.001Z

Your preference that is? Do you like yours to impress straight away or do you prefer it to grow to be fully appreciated. I’m definitely a fan of growers when it comes to my music – yes, music! I wonder at the amount of bands and albums and songs that I have dismissed after only one or two listens that could have become all time favourites had I just been prepared to give a little more time.

“BARR is really good”. This is what I’ve been saying to people when I’ve been giving them mix-cds. “Forget everything else, track nine, Half of Two Times Two, love it!” I feel obliged to give it special mention as it is definitely, for me, a grower and I would hate for anyone to not give it the time it deserves and, in my opinion, needs to be fallen in love with. But how do you define a grower? It is not simple because I believe there are many different types.

They can be ‘slow burners’ – you’ve been listening to a highly recommended album for a few days now, perhaps not giving it your undivided attention, you may not even realise it is mind blowing till a break in a song or a chorus. You sit up, not sure where this has come from. You re-start the track and listen to it fully and it slowly dawns of you that you’re listening to something really special.

They can be ‘leapers’ – albums that you listened to a few months, maybe a few years back and you enjoyed it but to no great extent. Leap forward to today, bored of what you’ve been hearing over and over again recently you go back and delve into your shelves for something you’ve not heard for a while. You replay the album and like a fine wine its matured into something wonderful. I’m not sure if in the dormant period the music has made a concerted effort to get better or in the time between listens subconsciously your brain has made sense of it all and has been awaiting the chance to listen again properly.

They can be ‘clickers’ – you’ve listen to a few songs by some group for a day or two just before you’re about to give up and consider it for recycling suddenly everything falls into place and all the stuff Pitchfork or that blog or what your mate has been saying makes sense. “This band is awesome!” A treasured favourite is born.

This is what BARR (Brendan Fowler) was. When first recommended to me, I didn’t think much of him, then another friend recommended him and I said I’d listen again. After a friend, with whom I had previously agreed BARR was nothing special, turned around to me and say he’d been converted I went back and was determined to discover what the fuss was about.

CLICK! The stripped down production with spoken word delivery at first seemed too bare but now beautiful. CLICK! Initially Fowler’s voice felt monotone and inexpressive but now subtle yet acerbic. CLICK! I got what he was actually talking about and who he was talking to, this opened up all his songs and his style became so much easier to understand. I think he has to be seen live to fully grasp what he’s about. Having now fallen in love with him I have to say his album Summary, one of my favourite albums this year (cover below), is definitely worth getting and giving it a few listens to – or however long it takes.

1. First
2 The Song Is The Single
3. Summary
4. Complete Consumption Of Us Both
5. Untitled
6 Half of Two Times Two
7. Was I? Are You?
8. Piled On Piles On Head
9. Context Ender

The best thing about a grower is you feel that you’ve really earned it. With the music not immediately brilliant and the time needed to be given to fully appreciate how good it really is you feel like you’ve come away with something both you and the artist have put effort into making and it this creates connection between yourselves. For me it creates one of the strongest relationships with a band I can have.

I played it to a friend and she loved it straight away. She totally missed the point.

Commercial breakdown #1: Dogs Die in Hot Cars

2007-06-14T19:49:00.000Z

I was thinking earlier about how that every now and again there is an advert on TV, and I'll be sitting there thinking "I know this tune...". Well, welcome to the first commercial break. Basically it's a means for me to post some stuff I wouldnt normally post, and say a little about it.

First up is the now sadly defunkt Dogs Die in Hot Cars. The group only released one album, an ep and several singles in their short career, but albeit a brief stint in the spotlight, one of their unlikeliest tracks has become unknowingly their most well know by accompanying the commercials for popular high street chemist, Boots. Taken from the Man Bites Man EP, 'Nobody Teaches Life Anything' was always one of my favourite DDiHC tracks despite being just over a minute long and instrumental. I can remember the first time I heard Boots use the track several years back, which has since been re-recorded by unknown forces (perhaps the band??) into different variations depending on season, such as the Christmassy version which accompanied the 3 for 2 promotions.

I realise some people may find it rather sad that I have taken so much notice of the Boots adverts, but it's a great little piece of music. For those of you interested in Dogs Die in Hot Cars I highly recommend their LP, Please Describe Yourself, which is unashamedly packed with indie pop gems, such as 'I Love You 'Cause I Have To' and the amazing 'Pastimes & Lifestyles', which I have included below.

Dogs Die in Hot Cars' Please Describe Yourself is available on V2 records.

mp3: ~~Dogs Die in Hot Cars - Nobody Teaches Life Anything~~
mp3: ~~Dogs Die in Hot Cars - I Love You 'Cause I Have To~~
mp3: ~~Dogs Die in Hot Cars - Pastimes and Lifestyles (EP version)~~

Kate Nash is a victim.

2007-06-13T20:36:00.000Z

"A victim of what?" I hear you shout.

Well, I was listening to the radio the other morning in the car and I heard a certain radio presenter compare Kate Nash to Lily Allen (yes, fair enough), Amy Winehouse (ermm..) and Sandy Thom (WTF!?). I know they are only doing their job and trying to broaden peoples musical knowledge/interest, but I thought that was a terrible comparison to make. Comparing 'Foundations' to 'I wish I was a Punk-rocker' is like comparing Fugazi to Busted. Well, maybe that's going too far, but I was annoyed at this.

19 year old Nash is from London and after releasing only a couple of singles she has kicked up quite a storm. Whilst many have compared her to Allen, she has more in common with another London singer-songwriter, Jamie T. Current single 'Foundations' tells the tale of a relationship which has turned sour, but in which the lover doesn't want to let go of what she has regardless. It's sweet and heartfelt, and certainly going to be one of the hits at festivals which Nash is playing a plenty. Also, as a little bonus here's 'Birds', the b-side from 'Caroline's a Victim', her limited debut single on Moshi Moshi, of which there are 1000 copies on 7" vinyl only. This was one of the first tracks I'd heard by her and I remember that Tori thought it was funny when I sang it. I could add 'Caroline's a Victim'... well I don't know, hit me up if you haven't heard it, it's a clasic.

The single, 'Foundations', is available now on Fiction records, and her album is expected for release in September.

mp3: Kate Nash - Foundations
mp3: Kate Nash - Birds

Thinking about life.

2007-06-06T13:38:00.000Z

I was just looking out of the window and I realised how perfect the colour of the sky actually is. My PC is set up in front of my bedroom window so as I sit typing I can watch the sky change and trace the clouds move across it. Since I cut down the conifer in March I've been able to see more of it (which is great) and I was just thinking how huge the sky actually is. There are hardly any clouds, and what clouds there are seem so far away and small, hanging there in an expanse of blue. It's so different than winter sky, when it seems to shrink and clouds loom really close down, making everything seem a little bit claustrophobic. Anyway, am I getting a bit deep? Maybe, I don't know. Today has been a bit of a strange day, and it had made me just think a bit too much.

On the subject of thinking about life, here's a band I stumbled over towards the end of last year, Montreal's Think About Life. I remember first hearing 'What the Future Might Be' and being enthralled. Their sound is hard to pin-point, as the band themselves concur in their biography on the Alien8 website:

"The sounds range from manic to troubled to tender to silly, exploding every emotion at once into a thousand pieces at the bottom of a canyon. TAL reassembles this raw material into a worldview rooted in thunder-storms, roller-coasters, clowns, sea-beasts, romance, fireworks, massive sphinxes, basketball championships, chivalric knighthoods, snowmen, children, videos, hamlets, and sunglasses."

Quite an interesting mix of influences I'm sure you will agree. The band is the resulting work of multi-instrumentalist and key figure on the Montreal scene, Graham Van Pelt who, joined by the Donkey Heart Quartet's Martin Cesar on vocals, and Matt Shane on programming and drum duties (and also responsible for all the TAL artwork, whic is amazing), have together created an album that is both fun and refreshing, danceable and heartfelt.

A new song can be heard on their myspace page, which is strangely reminiscent of Modest Mouse, and with a new EP due out in the summer, it would seem that the sky's the limit for the boys. Check out 'What the Future Might Be' and another highlight from the record, 'Money' below.

Think About Life's self-titled debut is available now on Alien8 recordings.

mp3: Think About Life - What The Future Might Be
mp3: Think About Life - Money

The Little Ones uncovered.

2007-06-04T16:37:00.000Z

I've known of the Little Ones for awhile, Bay Radio having been sent several singles and their ep during the year, however I never really gave the Californian 5-piece a chance. This changed the other day upon hearing their latest single 'Lovers Who Uncover' from their Sing Song EP, and I must admit I fell in love with it. The track sounds really sad, a lamentation of love, all delayed guitars, pulsing bass and drifting keyboards. They kinda make me think of the Maccabees, but put through an American filter. I think it's something to do with that 'sad' sound that makes you want to sigh and watch clouds drift past your window. Simply put, it's beautiful, and I am pretty sure it's going to be one of my songs of the summer, and most likely the year. The video, directed by Terri Timely is also well worth checking out, if only to see the band performing in a shipping container.

Having been listening to the track I've remembered that this isn't my first encounter with this track, and that I had come accross a remix back in February. In what's becoming a reoccuring theme in my posts, I've included the Crystal Castles remix which I had not been to excited by when I first heard it. However, now having heard the Little Ones original, and having listened to the remix a few times I would class it as a bit of a grower. It's not on the same level as that Liars remix posted a few weeks ago: all trademark CC 8-bit flourishes and driving synths, but its a good listen for anyone who likes either bands.

The Little Ones Sing Song EP is available now on Astralwerks.

mp3: The Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover
mp3: The Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover (Crystal Castles remix)

pack it up, pack it in, let me begin...

2007-06-02T21:22:00.001Z

Ah yes, here be the first post by me, so lets skip the tedious introductions - my name's ellie and I'm going to be your tour operator for today...

Plenty to get through here, should be packing (get kicked out of uni accommodation tomorrow morning) hence why I'm playing on the internet - I'm currently following that ancient student mantra - 'procrastination is everything'. Have spent the past few hours absorbed in the wonderful world of ArePeopleReal, brainchild of those lovely boys the Broken Hooker Deejays.

Simply put, they reel in the likes of Skulljuice, Les Petits Pilous and Duke Dumont and get them to do mixes, all wrapped up with a BHD mix, and an odd computerised voice for commentary. It means I have to use the oh so hated I-tunes to get them (last time it timed out on me every few minutes or so) but they're most certainly worth it. Have yet to find a word that can convey just how good these mixes are, but this comes rather close... FFBM!!!!!*

So now I've got that off my chest (have been ranting to anything with ears about the love I have for those podcasts of late) I'll continue; Dj Mehdi and DatA have also been hustling the airwaves today, with both Lucky Boy and Morphosis burning up in a synth disco, just how I like it. Vitalic also deserve a mentioning, last week a mate gave me Ok Cowboy (remember that?! all the way back in 2005 - when I had only just surfaced from the world of indie doom!?) and it's safe to say I think I'm a little hooked. Here's Repair Machines; reminisce if you you loved it the first time round, or (if you're like me) listen and prepare to fall in love instead.

Dj Mehdi - Lucky Boy

DatA - Morphosis

Vitalic - Repair Machines

Went on a bit of a music blog spree yesterday, and as my brother was with me thought I'd show him what the internet is really for. He's fallen in love with Uffie (not so surprising really) and I've become rather smitten by this little track...

Feist - Gatekeeper (Pocketknife's Faded Beach Towel Remix)

Feist also appear on the new Kitsune Maison compilation, I've listened to it a few times now, and I have to admit, I do prefer the third one, but that's not to say this one's not got it's moments - namely in Numero's Hit Pop... candyfloss colours on foreign promenades.

Numero - Hit Pop

Think I'll leave you now, as the realisation of just how much I've got to pack has just smacked me in the face. It's going to be a late one.

More will follow soon... ellie love.

p.s for those who were wondering, FFBM = full fucking bore mate.

O M G, I think I'm in love.

2007-05-18T07:42:00.000Z

Okay. Let's assess the situation.

Yesterday morning I sat my one and only exam (it was not too bad), and spent the rest of the day indulging in my radio show and various tomfoolery to do with the radio. Tom and I are going to spend today doing some maintenance to the studio, so I'm up early (its before nine am) despite not getting to bed until about 4.30am, following a night in the pier with Leona, Hannah and Kathleen. I'm a bit sad that I may not see them again until September, but as I am going home this evening I thought I may as well make the most of my last night.

Oh, and when I got in I decided to watch the most recent episode of Lost. I think I may even have got tearful whilst watching this. I think I'm unstable from lack of sleep.

So, to match my unstable mind, and also due to the fact I may not get to post for a few days (the internet at home in ancient dial-up, although Mom says she may get broadband and a new snazzy PC), here's a song that I have been enjoying the last few days which I hope you like. I stumbled on it by chance, and it has instantly become my favourite of the 'Homecoming' remixes. I'm talking about The Cleft Palettes mix of the Teenagers first single, which takes the original, covers it in 8-bit blips (ala Crystal Castles) and replaces the Teens' original dialogue with a satirical take on the whole "new-rave" scene. It's clever, witty, and original, albeit rather childish.

Just how I like it.

mp3: The Teenagers - Homecoming (The Cleft Palettes remix)

Whilst I'm at it, and because I just mentioned them in passing, why don't I add some Crystal Castles. 'Knights' is one of their most recent tracks, and is to be featured on the Kitsuné Records Compilation 4. Is it just me or does the production sound slightly different than previous efforts? The track sounds rather dark: the vocals distorted and seemingly crying in the background over their trademark waves of synth and rising/falling 8-bit samples.

Also, finally got my hands on the remix they did of Uffie's 'Pop the Glock' entitled 'Make it Hott'. It's well worth checking out, as it is an interesting mix, very different to a lot of their remix work as whilst transferring the song into their own little dream world of computer noises, they edit the track up a fair bit, isolating certain sections, and glitching it up, but not murdering it like the Curtis Vodka mix. Hott indeed.

mp3: Crystal Castles - Knights
mp3: Uffie - Make it Hott (Crystal Castles remix)

Apopalypse now.

2007-05-15T21:11:00.000Z

Upon logging into my myspace account this morning I find I have a message from Apopalypse, which as far as I can discern is the work of one Phil Death. He begins by commending my blog (which I was surprised to discover is now listed on The Hype Machine!), before scolding me for neglecting his glitchy tech pop. Well, of course, me being me and not wanting to dissapoint quickly visited Apopalypse-space where I was filled with meriment to hear such musical gems as 'EID', which has a sound akin to Late of the Pier. Pulsing programmed drums, harmonious electronics and gloriously distorted vocals. And then there is 'Bolts for Brains', which sounds like a demented robot trying to play Ladytron's back catalogue simultaneously by itself, frying its circuit boards in the process.

Apopalypse are certainly one to watch, and now that they've been brought to my attention I'll be keeping an eye out for sure.

mp3: Apopalypse - 'Bolts for Brains'
mp3: Apopalypse - 'EID'

PS. Now that I'm listed on Hype I know that I'm gonna blow my bandwidth... time to look for a better file host I think!

Songs from the Fields.

2007-05-15T00:40:00.000Z

Thought I'd post this, a review of Fields debut album, Everything Last Winter, which I wrote for the Bay Radio website, the station on which I present several shows.

Everything Last Winter is the debut album of Anglo-Icelandic five-piece, Fields, who in just over a year since their first gig have honed their distinctive and somewhat progressive blend of indie-rock, and not only managed to gain themselves a deal with Atlantic, but a deal which has allowed them to release their records under their own Black Lab imprint, retaining their own musical freedom.

One of the things that strikes you most about the album is its seemingly huge layers of guitar: walls of sound that combined with the use of electronic sounds, make the songs sound massive. The album has been produced by Michael Beinhorn, who has previously worked with the likes of Mew, Soundgarden and Marilyn Manson, and he has done a great job in making sure that although the guitars are often face-meltingly loud, they do not become to intrusive to the structure of their songs. Highlight tracks such as previous singles ‘Song for the Fields’, and the amazing ‘If You Fail We All Fail’ are just examples of the bands method of harnessing quiet/loud dynamics and combining them with memorable chorus. On the other hand you have ‘The Death’, a blistering five minutes of distorted guitars, which is contrasted by other tracks such as the slow-building ‘Charming the Flames’, with its haunting electronic ambience, or the vocal beauty of ‘Feathers’.

The male/female vocal dynamic between Nick Peill and Thorunn Antonia are reminiscent of Seafood, the album being literally covered with majestic harmonies, they being one of Fields greatest charms. Musically, in their louder moments they call to mind My Vitriol, whilst other times the rustic and folkish tendencies of Mercury Rev, circa 2001, appear to wash over their music.

Overall, Fields have produced an exciting debut which certainly silences those critics who saw them as a band who were all talk and no action. Believe the hype, and be charmed by the Fields... Rating: 8/10

Everything Last Winter is out now on Atlantic records.

As well as two tracks from the album, I have also included SebastiAn's fine remix of 'If You Fail We All Fail'. Please enjoy his interpretation of one of the album's stand-out tracks.

mp3: Fields - Song for the Fields
mp3: Fields - If You Fail We All Fail
mp3: Fields - If You Fail We All Fail (SebastiAn remix)

Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1986.

2007-05-13T21:55:00.000Z

Parisian Kavinsky is yet another amazing artist who produces synth-driven electronica, along similar lines as Justice and SebastiAn, the latter of which he is touring with on Daft Punk's Alive 2007 tour. However, whilst aforementioned artists can often verge into glitchey-electro, Kavinsky offers something much more sublime. His first two EPs,Teddy Boy and 1986, both released on Record Makers are drenched in slick synths, with a heavy 8os feel, which is reflected in the artwork which accompanies his releases.

According to his last.fm page, Kavinsky "is a zombie in need of revenge; killed when he crashed his Ferrari Testarossa in 1986. His records are the story of his first steps in the world of the living dead". This is a pretty damn close description of the imagery his music creates. 'Testarossa Autodrive' is the sound of Kavinsky driving at unearthly speeds through a neon city, taillights blazing across lanes of crawling traffic, against a backdrop of skyscrapers. It's the kinda music I imagine RoboCop would listen to, 'Grand Canyon' being the perfect music for cruising through a dystopic and crime infested city.

Alongside his own music, Kavinsky also makes time to make some remixes in his own distinctive style. Find below his reinvention of Klaxons' 'Gravity's Rainbow'. Grab it fast and enjoy.

In June Kavinsky will release Deadcruiser, a mini-album compiling tracks from the first two EPs, the tracklisting is as follows:

01:: The Crash
02:: Testarossa Autodrive
03 :: Transistor
04 :: Grand Canyon
05 :: Flashback
06 :: Testarossa Nightdrive
07 :: Wayfarer
08 :: Ghost Transistor
09 :: Deadcruiser

mp3: Kavinsky - Testarossa Autodrive (Teddy Boy EP)
mp3: Kavinsky - Grand Canyon (1986 EP)
mp3: Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (Kavinsky remix)

It fit when I was a kid.

2007-05-13T00:59:00.000Z

I don't really know much about Liars, apart from that many heralded last years Drum's not Dead as one of their albums of the year. Having only heard bits and pieces of their back catalogue I came to the conclusion that they had a pretty uncompromising sound, bass-heavy, full of drums and low vocals.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, Tori presented me with a Liars remix she had come across by Toronto's Crystal Castles, whom we both adore. The remix was of a track off of DnD, 'It fit when I was a kid', one which I hadn't previously heard. I find that listening to a remix prior to the original mix will always taint my mind, so that when I do eventually hear the original mix it becomes less accessible than if it was heard first (example: Diplo's mix of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 'Gold Lion' will always be favoured over the album version). Well, anyway, after a couple of weeks listening to CC's interpretation, all 8-bit blippery, haunting echo-harmonies and resonant pianos, I decided it was time to listen to the track how Liars had intended it to be heard. And I was surprised. Unlike CC's mix, the Liars original felt much more cold and empty. Yet whilst that description may not sound like a complement, it should be read as one. It isn't until about the 2 minute mark until the elements which are distinctive to the Crystal Castle remix come in; the ambient piano chords and nursery-rhyme-esque vocals. It certainly was more than I expected, and has made me seriously reconsider listening to Liars more intently, especially their last album. Hear for yourself.

Liars Drum's Not Dead is available on Mute.
Crystal Castles will release the Untrust Us EP on Summer Lovers Unlimited in the not too distant future.

mp3: Liars - It fit when I was a kid
mp3: Liars - It fit when I was a kid (Crystal Castles remix)

Remixxxes by Spank Rock.

2007-05-10T23:31:00.000Z

Spank Rock is one of those artists that the more I have heard by them the more I have learnt to love them, and I owe finding him to his quality remixing which led me onto his own material. The first mix of his I heard is his now classic remix of CSS's 'Let's Make Love...', whom I was thoroughly obsessed with last summer. I remember throwing it in all my mixes back in the day, and it's still a track I love to pull out and play to the day. From the intro, which still sounds like a telephone dial tone to me, to the kiss kiss kiss sounds in the second verse, it is the ultimate remix of CSS to date in my opinion (sorry Calvin!). If you haven't already heard it, I would suggest this is one remix of recent times you need in your life. Do it.

Recent exploration of my 7" singles brought to light a mix that I had previously over looked and due to not coming across it during my travels through cyber space, was very excited to find. Little did I know, but at some point I had bought a 1 track single of the now defunct Test Icicles's classic 'Circle. Square. Triangle' remixed by no other than Spank Rock. Kicking with a heavy bass line reminiscent of 'Bump' and acompanied by vocoded vocals, it was such a great feeling to find it in my possesion. For some reason I hadn't played it either, as it was still shrink-wrapped, but it is include below in all its glory. Awesome.

I'm off to see King Lear in Stratford-Upon-Avon tomorrow evening (technically today) with Sir Ian Mckellan(!!), so I won't be posting again until Saturday, so as a little prezzie to keep you occupied until then I've included a little bonus remix of Spank Rock's 'Put that Pussy on Me' by Diplo, which is by far my favourite Spank remix, so make sure you check that out too.

mp3: CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above (Spank Rock remix)
mp3: Test Icicles - Circle. Square. Triangle (Spank Rock remix)
mp3: Spank Rock - Put that Pussy on Me (Diplo tonite remix)

At Yo Majesty's pleasure.

2007-05-10T11:53:00.000Z

Sometimes I come across something which makes me realise the world is a good place. Like kittens. They are fantastic. Or like the time I was waiting for Tori in Primark and I saw a man play a game called 'Gong' with his son, the rules of which only they understood and would be impossible for on outsider of the family circle to grasp.

Anyway, I digress (slightly). Yo Majesty are one such example of why the world is still okay. 3 girls who perform uplifting and fun hip hop who write songs about kryptonite pussies ('Kryptonite Pussy'). Dressed in mega-baggy t-shirts and baseball caps, they look like the nineties forgot about them and no-one told them that to get big in the rap game you have to be covered in bling and have been shot at least 4 times. "Fuck that shit!" shouts the collective voice of Yo Majesty. 'Club Action' is the track that has impressed me most (plus it gained me a dirty look from a flat mate), a blast of dope rhymes (not sure if I can pull off that kind of slang?) about jumping around pissed up in a club, putting your hands up if you want to get rich. Genius.

Their first release, the Yo EP, is available on Out There recordings.

mp3: Yo Majesty - Club Action
mp3: Yo Majesty - Kryptonite Pussy

We are the Teenagers.

2007-05-10T00:15:00.000Z

I remember the first time I heard the Teenagers. My girlfriend, Tori, had 'Homecoming' as her profile song on myspace. First I was slightly shocked, but it grew on me. So much so that I have spent the past few months since then trying to track down as much of their material as possible. For those of you who haven't come across the Teens yet (seriously, you must have?), you may have heard some of their distinctive remixes for New Young Pony Club, Au Revoir Simone and Simian Mobile Disco, to name just a few. 'Sleeping Bag' is a track I haven't seen featured on any blogs, and although this version is tagged the Yo version, I haven't a clue what the original version sounds like. All I know is that this track share a similar haunting vibe in its sound as 'Homecoming', the lyrics verging on the pervy (Tori and I are pretty certain that the lyrics say "I'm feeling all erect" - yet to be confirmed). If anyone knows where you can catch the original version, please shout!

'Homecoming' is set to be their first single, out 20th May on Merok records (the label that brought you Klaxons and Crystal Castles no doubt). Backed by 'Fuck Nicole', the single is titled We are the Teenagers, the title of the second track which I have included for your pleasure. Consider it an audio calling-card of the Teenagers' sound: 2 minutes of perfect minimalist trance-pop. Or, jargon aside, just another example of why I love the Teenagers so much.

mp3: The Teenagers - Sleeping Bag (Yo version)
mp3: The Teenagers - We are the Teenagers

video: The Teenagers - Homecoming

Let's make love and listen to Calvin Harris.

2007-05-08T22:45:00.000Z

Welcome to the first post of my new look blog. There is a very slim chance you visited it under its old guise, One More Power-Chord and the System's Done For, but just in case I have left the old posts up, although all the downloads have now expired. Dang. So yes, welcome to We Were Rockstars. I am Graham. There is a chance that I will be joined by James, and possibly Paul if I can persuade him.

As you may be aware, CSS have re-recorded and re-released 'Let's make love and listen to Death From Above', originally released last summer, a sign that the label clearly can see that more money can be made off of the band now that they have had several UK tours under their belts and a ever-expanding fan base. Whilst I am normally hesitant around re-releases, it has meant that a new wave of remixes of the track have been spawned. Which is brilliant. The single comes out next Monday in the UK and is backed by remixes by Simian Mobile Disco, Hot Chip, and my personal favourite, Calvin Harris. I have not heard much by Calvin Harris apart from 'Acceptable in the 80s', which managed to infiltrate most areas of society until even my mom knew the words to it, and similar to the aforementioned track, his remix ups the electro element, twisting the song away from its former funky self. Which, once more, is brilliant. The single is out 14th May. Until then, satisfy yourself with Calvin Harris' mix.

mp3: CSS - Let's make love and listen to Death From Above (Calvin Harris remix)

Normal scheduling to begin shortly.

2007-01-24T12:27:00.000Z

Lost Penguin - "Pleasurewood Kills" (Fake Product)
Video directed by James Price
myspace: http://www.myspace.com/wheresmypenguin

Thanks for your patience.

Christmas holidays are go!

2006-12-15T17:49:00.000Z

Wow! It's the end of term, and as I pack the last of my junk into boxes to take home for the Christmas break, I thought it only right to make a final post of the year: I know that once home I won't.
[I'll be too busy eating mince pies and chilling out. I need this rest.]

I've got a radio show now, with my good friend Leona on the Aberystyth Uni student radio, going out via the internet world wide. The show is called Analogue! and is a dancey indie/electronica show, on a sunday night 6pm - 8pm. You can find more information on the show on ol' myspace at www.myspace.com/analogueradio . Feel free to add us. More information on the show will be posted in the new year when I'm back at uni. I'm also in the process of trying to start a club night in Aber playing similar stuff to the show, with a guy called Joe who I have never spoke to in person. It's all good.

Anyway. I will leave you with some of the tracks I have been loving the last few weeks and a dashing of Christmassy tracks to keep you in the spirit.

Have a great Christmas, and an a w e s o m e New Year.

Ho ho who?
mp3: ~~The Knife - Christmas Reindeer~~
mp3: ~~The Long Blondes - Christmas is Cancelled~~
mp3: ~~Chris de Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling~~

mp3: ~~Peaches - Downtown~~
mp3: ~~Xerxes - Alright to Say~~
mp3: ~~Hadouken! - That Boy That Girl~~
mp3: ~~Cat5 - Sexy~~
mp3: ~~SebastiAn - Ross Ross Ross~~

ps. Chris de Burgh is more hardcore than you.

Don't be offended, yeah?

2006-11-04T00:28:00.000Z

Boy vs. Bacteria is one young Swede by the name of Richard Åström, who describes his music as 'retrogamerpixeldancemusic', and really that is the best description for it. When my flat mates heard me listening to it the other day they thought I was actually playing computer games, but upon entering my room were confused to find me sitting on my bed nodding my head. To me, the sound is complete nostalgia - taking me back to my youth playing for hours on my gameboy, or my mastersystem on a tiny tv, guiding little pixel people accross vibrant landscapes. 'Boy vs. Bacteria' is my top pick of the material he is currently pushing on the world, with its vocoder vocals - just amazing. Anyway, enough of my rambling, check him out below, and if you like what you hear you can download more on his website at http://www.boyvsbacteria.com/.

mp3: ~~Boy vs. Bacteria - Boy vs. Bacteria~~
mp3: ~~Boy vs. Bacteria - Monsterboy In Wonderland~~
myspace: http://www.myspace.com/boyvsbacteria

Does it Offend You, Yeah? are just ace. Not much to say apart from I stumbled across 'We Are Rockstars', and in a small way I think it has changed me. Mutilated me even possibly? Try it yourself, but don't get too offended, not that you will because its damned brilliant.

mp3: ~~Does it Offend You, Yeah? - We Are Rockstars~~
myspace: http://www.myspace.com/doesitoffendyou

Bonde do Role are three mad-hatters from Brazil, who were discovered by Diplo and have promptly recorded an ep for release on his Mad Decent label. Playing with samples and the baile funk style popular in the region, they take from popular culture and make it their own. DJ Gorky's mash-up style sees AC/DC get thrown in to the mix and turned totally on its head, but to amazing effect. With a European tour in the pipeline, expect to see more of Bonde do Role (which translates simply as 'The Rollercoaster Band') smashing and splicing it up to tasty effect. 'Melo do Vitiligo' and 'Solta o Frango' are my pick of the crop, and will more than likely feature in one of my future sets. Simply, I would describe them as fun, and they cheer me up no end when I realise how cold the weather is outside.

mp3: ~~Bonde do Role - Melo do Vitiligo~~
mp3: ~~Bonde do Role - Solta o Frango~~
myspace: http://www.myspace.com/bondedorole

On the enjoyment of technology.

2006-10-16T18:16:00.000Z

After a long absense accross the summer months, I thought it was about time I returned with a bang and posted some tracks etc for your listening pleasure. I am thinking about how to use this blog in a way that is both fun for me, and enjoyable for anyone else who stumbles on to it. But until I get some form of set format I thought I would kick things off with my latest mix.

"On the enjoyment of technology (amongst other subjects)" is my October mix, which I made for Tori, and yeah, I think it's pretty good. Sadly, because of upload restrictions on the Uni network I can't upload the mixed version, so instead here are the tracks presented in the order I did mix them. It's the follow up to my untitled September mix, and features some of the tracks I have been loving this past month or so. Please let me know what you think!

mp3: ~~Hot Chip – And I Was A Boy From School~~

mp3: ~~New Young Pony Club – Ice Cream~~

mp3: ~~Datarock – Computer Camp Love~~

mp3: ~~The Gossip – Listen Up!~~

mp3: ~~The Kills – The Good Ones~~

mp3: ~~Peter Bjorn and John – Young Folks~~

mp3: ~~Love – My Little Red Book~~

mp3: ~~Larrikin Love – Downing Street Kindling~~

mp3: ~~Metric – Monster Hospital~~

mp3: ~~Bloc Party – Two More Years (MSTRKRFT Remix)~~

mp3: ~~CSS – Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above (Spank Rock Remix)~~

mp3: ~~Van She – Kelly~~

mp3: ~~Blondie – Hanging on the Telephone~~

mp3: ~~The Fratellis – Chelsea Dagger~~

mp3: ~~The View – Wasted Little Djs~~

mp3: ~~Klaxons – Atlantis to Interzone (Crystal Castles Remix)~~

mp3: ~~Lost Penguin – Mr Whippy ReWhip~~

mp3: ~~Daedelus – Sun Down~~

mp3: ~~Field Music – You’re So Pretty~~

mp3: ~~Cut Copy – Future~~

Go! Team live tracks

2006-03-28T22:48:00.000Z

The Go! Team hail from Brighton, and have a sound so upbeat you will want it to be summer, not this pathetic drizzle that still lingers about like a nasty smell. Their sound is such a unique and happy one that McDonalds approached the band to use a track in a comercial. Of course, the band laughed at the idea.

To describe The Go! Team is a lengthy task. Featuring hip hop samples, white noise guitars, string and brass arrangements amongst other instrumental exploitations/explorations, the group stand out in a music scene over saturated with simple indie/guitar acts. The Go! Team are something else. But, obviously, you will know this allready. So here are some mp3's of college radio session, including track "The Ice Storm" not featured on the amazing debut album "Thunder, Lightning, Strike".

mp3: ~~The Go! Team - "Huddle Formation (Live)"~~
mp3: ~~The Go! Team - "Junior Kickstart (Live)"~~
mp3: ~~The Go! Team - "Bottle Rocket (Live"~~
mp3: ~~The Go! Team - "We Just Won't Be Defeated (Live)"~~
mp3: ~~The Go! Team - "Ladyflash (Live)"~~
mp3: ~~The Go! Team - "The Ice Storm (Live)"~~

Links:
The Go! Team

¡Forward, Russia! early demos

2006-03-24T14:57:00.000Z

¡Forward, Russia! are a Leeds based, number loving four piece, and if you haven't heard their blend of The Rapture meets At The Drive-In dance-punk, you really need to check them out. With only several singles to their name, all of which have been released on guitarist Whiskas own label dance_to_the_radio (who have released music by the likes of This Et Al and iLiKETRAiNS), they have caused quite a stir on the UK scene, touring with the likes of Biffy Clyro and VHS Or Beta. This year should see them ascend the slot of support band, and become a headline act to be reckoned with.

Their next single to be released, "Nine", will be available on the usual formats on Monday 24th April on the dance_to_the_radio label, and will be followed by the bands debut album "Give Me A Wall" on Monday 15th May, also through dttr. The album is produced by Paul Tipler (Idlewild) and will have 11 tracks, ten of which are all new recordings, the eleventh track being January's release, "Twelve".

As a treat for those of you who are yet to have caught the band, below are the links to download their May and August 2004 demos which brought them to the attention of the likes of NME amongst others. Enjoy.

¡Forward, Russia! - May 2004 Demo
mp3: ~~¡Forward, Russia! - "One"~~
mp3: ~~¡Forward, Russia! - "Two"~~
mp3: ~~¡Forward, Russia! - "Four"~~
mp3: ~~¡Forward, Russia! - "Five"~~

¡Forward, Russia! - August 2004 Demo
mp3: ~~¡Forward, Russia! - "Three"~~
mp3: ~~¡Forward, Russia! - "Six"~~
mp3: ~~¡Forward, Russia! - "Seven"~~

Links:
¡Forward, Russia!
dance_to_the_radio

People in Planes

2006-03-22T12:08:00.000Z

Cardiff's very own People in Planes are shortly to release their debut album, titled "As Far As the Eye Can See". Produced by Sam Williams (Supergrass, the Mystics), the album looks set to go down a storm both here and in the States.

The band, who were previously known as Tetra Spledour (who were previously known as Robots in the Sky), have a sound a kin to REM, Smashing Pumpkins, and as it is revealed not suprisingly, Supergrass. Talking of their origins, Peter Roberts (Guitar) recalls himself and Gareth listening to "I Should Coco" by Supergrass:
"We just listened to it nonstop all day, every day," Peter says, "That's the one that made us want to be in a band. So when it came time to record what would become As Far As The Eye Can See, Sam Williams, who produced I Should Coco, was an obvious choice."

You can hear the first single off of the album, "If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)" by clicking the mp3 link below. The track, which first appeared on last years "Talking Heads" single on Trigger Industries, has since been re-recorded and revamped (as well as renamed) and is a prime example of the bands brit rock-influenced sound.

The album "As Far As the Eye Can See" is to be released on the 28th March on Wind-Up.

MP3: ~~People In Planes - "If You Talk To Much (My Head Will Explode)"~~

Links:
People In Planes

Something Glorious is About to Happen...

2006-03-21T12:39:00.000Z

Okay. So I have decided to start a new blog, abandoning my livejournal, which I rarely visit, to attempt keeping a regular music related blog here on blogger. Chances are I won't be able to keep it up for long, but regardless, I will at least try.

First, a little about myself. I'm Graham, 19, and I am a first year student at University of Wales Aberystwyth studying English and Film & TV Studies. When not at Uni I reside with my parents and my sister in Telford, Shropshire, which is not far from Birmingham. My hobbies mostly revolve around music; collecting records, playing guitar, playing in a band, djaying. That said, I also enjoy art and photography, the latter being one of my great intrests which I have sadly neglected whilst at university... the price of Polaroid film (my favoured medium) being too expensive at the current time. I have also self-released several mini comics of varying (poor) quality with my good friends Robert Brown and Gareth Cutter, and between us we have our own self-publishing label, Mindlube Productions.

So we move onto why I decided to create this blog. I see a lot of other music-related blogs out there, and I thought it would be a good way of me to share my thoughts on bands, links to sites if interest and share with you links to music I feel is worthy of you checking out.

I shall begin my postings with a recent dj setlist from my set at Indiesoc (the Monday night Indie club, held in the Angel, Aberystwyth) from the 13th March 2006. Gives you a taste of the kind of thing I play during a set which is (I imagine) for an audience who wants to hear some 'hits', so to speak, rather than total obscurities. Anyway, here is what I played:

The Departure - Be My Enemy
The Go! Team - Bottle Rocket
Supergrass - Caught By The Fuzz
Mclusky - To Hell With Good Intentions
The Rapture - House Of Jealous Lovers
The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
The Smiths - This Charming Man
Pulp - Mis Shapes
Joy Division - Transmission
The Cribs - Hey Scenesters!
Kings Of Leon - Four Kicks
Bloc Party - Helicopter
Test Icicles - Circle. Square. Triangle
Smashing Pumpkins - Today (Request)
We Are Scientists - Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt
Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down
Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict A Riot
The Futureheads - Hounds Of Love
Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To

As you can see it's mostly made up of contemporary artists, with a few classics thrown in. At some point I will post some older sets which are from different time slots, which has meant I have played tracks I wouldn't during another.

Currently listening to:

The Blood Brothers
"Crimes" (V2; 2004)