A perfect weekend in LA. The sun was shining once again. The temperature was warmer than it has been in some time, and of course lots of great music accompanied yesterday’s afternoon of relaxing around the house and today’s trip Point Magu. Check out one of my favs from this weekend. – nic.
Black Kids – I’m not gonna teach your boyfriend how to dance with you (Kate Nash cover)
14
Jan
08
Oh, what a clever title
31
Dec
07
It’s that time…
… when I’ll dole out the ‘honors’. I don’t know what ‘the best’ is. These were simply the albums that meant the most to me at various points in the year.
My favorite was ‘Untrue’ by Burial. A late entry but the only thing I heard this year that sounded like nothing I’d ever heard before. It’s beautiful, deep, emotionally resonant and in 50 minutes completely restored my long lost faith in the album as an art form. It’s one mood piece that when listened to as a whole (preferably on headphones) instantly conjures the wet, dark, late night urban back streets of London. It fetishizes modern city life the way Boards of Canada ‘Music Has the Right to Children’ did for idle rural boredom. It’s a bit soul, dub, 2 step.. in a very la
te night kind of way. Buy it from Bleep.
A taster- Bloc Party -Where is Home (Burial Remix) Burial removes all but trace amounts of Kele’s vocals and makes an otherwise overlooked Bloc Party song one to remember.
Honorable mentions- LCD Soundsystem ‘Sound of Silver’ (proved James Murphy isn’t just a wiseass beatmaker but a proper songwriter as well) The Good, The Bad and the Queen, Maximo Park ‘Our Earthly Pleasures’, Kaiser Chiefs ‘Yours Truly..’ , Modest Mouse ‘ We Were Dead..’, Mark Ronson ‘Version’
Most Overlooked/Undervalued – Elvis Perkins ‘Ash Wednesday’, The Bees ‘Octopus’
Non musical bits of culture that made the year better- The Mighty Boosh, The New Yorker, Will Self ‘Psychogeography’
08
Nov
07
..when the thrill is gone…
How to make a sadly beautiful song about a decaying relationship even more.. down? Have Plaid add a loping, bubbly, creepy bass line. I liked this song as soon as I heard it and I’m glad to see that the remix and the video are not just thoughtless promo exercises but a genuine and well thought out addition to the Bat for Lashes aesthetic.
Bat For Lashes- What’s a Girl To Do? (Plaid Remix)
E.T/Donnie Darko-seque video by always on it Dougal Wilson
05
Nov
07
Just Because
With crispy leaf weather and dark late afternoons fully happening I thought I’d throw up
some music for the occasion. John Martyn is basically a British living legend that started off in the 60’s folk scene but has dabbled and incorporated everything from jazz to rock to reggae into his music. He’s a pretty obvious influence on Jose Gonzalez and Beth Orton among many many others. I first discovered his music on of all things one of those 90’s ‘chill out’ compilations. (that kind that were kept in print by either people that took far to many drugs or threw far to many dinner parties) I’m no expert on his career but I prefer his 70’s stage post pure folk but before his ‘fusion’ phase. He still regularly releases albums and gigs and is meant to be an amazing performer. (The first song ‘Solid Air’ was written about the death of his friend and one of my favorite songwriters Nick Drake)
26
Oct
07
Democracy in action
No posts of late as I’ve been in a parallel universe holding up the pillars of justice i.e jury duty. Everything they say is true, you do learn about the court system and the law, namely it’s absolutely glacial pace.
For the occasion here’s one of my favorite underground 90’s rap classics. Originally I heard this on the timeless Terranova DJKicks comp but you can dig it up on one of the Fat Beats collections too. (Or as I did cherry pick it DRM free from the Amazons new beta MP3 shop)
16
Oct
07
Secret Sundaze
Given that the name was probably thought up in 3 stoned seconds I give Giles Smith and James Priestly a lot of credit for carrying on their parties for 6 years now. I’m pretty sure I ended up at one of their early ones in East London at some point. The ones I remember were either at 93 Ft East in Brick Lane or on the roof of a very not safe for hundreds of people to be dancing on building just down the road. Basically a way for loads of people to fuck their Sunday right off. I’m charmed to see that they’ve gone all officially released compilation and Ibiza residency now. Here’s a quickish mix by James Priestly in the Sundaze style. House and Techno on a Sunday at 4pm isn’t for everyone but if you’re going to runaway from reality for the weekend you might as well take it to the end to the classy stuff like this.
11
Oct
07
Cock and Bull
Can’t remember where exactly I heard Cock and Bull Kid first, but she caught my ear straight away. Everyone seems to throw Kelis at her. As in “East London’s answer to Kelis” or “Kelis making grime on a broken lap top” – She reminds me more of SantoGold and Kate Nash… sassy and grimey. And this is the only song i can think of that straight disses a boyfriends Mom.
Cock and Bull Kid- There’s A Mother In Our Bed
More on the Kid here in this article from FACT magazine (I forgot how spot on and vinyl centric this mag is… bookmark it for your next London trip)
05
Oct
07
Tacks, The Boy Disaster
A little investigation shows this band has been making it’s way around the blogs I don’t read.. the ones written by geeky boys in vintage t-shirts and worn out corduroys. I don’t really have a lot of time for their blogs. I don’t know why, but it seems all the bands they write about have degrees and live in Brooklyn and look just like them. These are all fine things, great even… I just can’t make the time to sort through it all. Anyway- Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1 played these guys today. He’s a geek of a different color but so enthusiastic, excitable and varied in his tastes I try to give him a listen a couple times a week.
Here’s my favorite song from Tacks.. – it seems to invoke reviewers to throw around words like “languid” “dream pop” and “lush”….sure, i guess so. That fits. I just like that that it name checks 2 of my favorite places London and Paris… and rain. It would make a great little short story.
If you like go buy their EP on iTunes..
02
Oct
07
Hadouken are really ridiculous…
…but according to my iTunes I have played this mix at least three times all the way through. It’s a lot of their tunes mixed with all the other NME-tastic neon bleep grime stuff like Eskiboy, Klaxons, Fox N Wolf, Wiley etc etc. It’s been around a minute and you might feel weird listening if you’re over 18 and/or not on drugs,but everyone needs a bit of ridiculous once in awhile.
They have a new mixtape of all new tunes of their own coming soon,so if you like this keep a look out for that in a month or so. And if not … give ‘em a break they just celebrated their first anniversary of being a band, are all about 19 and have probably already done more then you.
28
Sep
07
Hands Up..
..if you don’t need anymore SMD in your life. Yeah, I didn’t think so. Is ANYTHING they do bad? They even admittedly blew there tour budget on lighting. Nice! And they don’t do overstylized photo shoots – they’re all keepin’ on with their ‘english dorks with sick beats’ style that never gets in the way of their music. Look what they did with the Celebration?! They are little house magicians pulling fully formed rabbits of joy out of their hats for us on something like a monthly basis now. This one is even ‘legal’
