Hello! Sorry I've been away, my excuse this week is a passport form debacle and a new rabbit. Anyway to get back in the swing of the typing thing I thought I'd just write a quick digest on things that might interest you.
Firstly if you're in London and not doing a lot tonight, you could do a lot worse than dragging yourself down to THIS. Not only are there fantastic bands playing that, but it's for a good cause too, namely helping Allo Darlin' to play South By Southwest. In addition, I think Darren Hayman and Amelia Fletcher doing some songs from 'We Love The City' is not to be missed, if they do 'Good Fruit' that alone will be worth the price of admission. It's something I doubt we'll see again. Now would be a good time to post the wonderful 'Good Fruit' video actually, so I shall.
So anyway, yes, get yourself along to that, you won't regret it.
Elsewhere, The Melting Ice Caps have a rather lovely new single out now. Even better it's all for free. I've listened to the first song 'Our Lovely Afternoon' and found the band adopting a degage attitude mingled with a pleasant warmth. It's well worth hearing, and since it's a freebie you've got no reason at all not too. Get it from the website.
Continuing on the free theme, Where It's At Is Where You are, have just put up the next in there series of free monthly download singles. It's a goodie too, get over HERE and give it a listen.
Finally, and I hope she won't mind, a friend of mine puts together a lovely zine called Intercity Baby. More copies have just been reprinted and are on sale again. It's really such a pretty thing and definitely worth a read. Here's a little blurb
"The zine is full of wistful reminiscing on journeys – be they by train, car, or airplane – and the wonderful people and pop events that await us on the other end. I cannot fully express how genuine and fascinating the stories are. I really can’t wait for you to read them!
Some of the contributors include Laz of Bubblegum Lemonade, Pete Green, Jenny of Strawberry Fair, Charlie of Bears and The Golden Rule, and Pete of Horowitz.
I posed five questions (see them here) to a number of glittering international pop luminaries. Some of those who thoughtfully answered these questions are from The Orchids, Summer Cats, Pocketbooks, One Happy Island, Friends, The Foxgloves, Very Truly Yours, and more!
"I've always wanted more people to read the heartfelt stories, the daydreams through drizzly skies, the real-life wanderings through which I've lived vicariously while reading. So I'm hoping you might want a copy! We can do an exchange - send me anything you've made, be that a zine, a small piece of music, a poem, a postcard, a drawing. Or if you want, you can simply PayPal me 2 (popchicago@gmail.com) "
So, yeah, do your bit for the independant fanzine writer, and get yourself a copy.
This morning I went downstairs to discover a little package from the lovely folks at Weepop. Said package contained the new Transmittens mini-album, a badge, a sweetie and a really lovingly designed envelope to hold the 3 inch CDR. It's nice to get something so delightful through the post, and I love it when a label puts such a lot of love and effort into what they do. With Weepop this extends to the bands, and Transmittens are no exception.
I mentioned that Transmittens had a new record, 'We Disappear' coming out a few posts ago, but now that I've actually recieved it, I think it definitely deserves a larger post and it's a good excuse to post the lovely looking artwork again.
What can I say about the record except that it's fantastic? It's really very short, 10 tracks and 20 minutes, but when has that impaired the quality of a record? I think A Smile and A Ribbon's first record was similarly short and similarly brilliant. Also when it's that short, it's a great excuse to put the record on again, like I'm just about to.
Music wise, where talking tinny, bouncy, happy keyboards and cute girl vocals for the most part, though there's some nice boy/girl vocal harmonies thrown in for good measure; this is especially evident on 'Summer won't End'. Every song is catchy as hell, and the keyboards helping to suck the listener in with more hooks then a Peter Pan convention. Elsewhere, 'Too Right To Sigh' carries a calypso feel, whilst the short but sweet 'Hot Dog Suit' is ridiculous and ridiculous lovely. As the aforementioned 'Summer won't End' may have led you to suspect, this album just vibrates with the feeling of hot days and long drinks. It'll be one to play over and over (and will sound fantastic) with friends in the park, or on summer lawns or in the car on the way to another festival. There's a slight sad and nostalgic feel to some of the songs too, just right to capture that wistful mood as the sun slowly fades and casts long shadows of dusk across a city park.
That said, there's no reason why you shouldn't be listening to it now. There's already been mention of albums of the year in indiepop circles (Standard Fare being the main one), but 'We Disappear' should definitely be up there. As I say I think it's a record a lot of people will be listening to for a large part of the year. Do yourself a favour and go and order it now. Oh and once again, if you missed my post from the other day, then you can listen to opening song from the record, on Weepop. I left the link at the top for you.
Once upon a time there was a brilliant, but rather undiscovered, band from Long Island called My Favourite. They released some absolutely fantastic record and a bunch of great singles, combining nostalgia with a rose tinted view of the world. Just watch the video below and revel in the brilliance. Or listen to 17 Berlin.
They were wonderful, and when they finally called it a day it was a sad one. That could have been the end of it, if not for the fact that Michael (the main lynch pin) from the band started another group called 'The Secret History', who've been quietly gathering praise and fans for a little while now, they played NYC popfest last year, and are doing so again this year. I've been enjoying their 'Desolation Town' EP for a little while now, particular the song 'The Haunted Hearts' fervently awaiting the advent of new material. Thankfully that wait is over because they've just put up a new song called Johnny Anorak over here on their Myspace. It's predictably great, when the chorus comes in it's as swoonsome a song as I've heard this short year. Even better they've announced a new album for March. You can download the song and read about more on this blog. I'm really excited. I think 'The Secret History' are going to get a lot bigger this year. I've got my fingers crossed for them to play Indietracks. I suggested them on Anorak but like most of my post, it got ignored. Maybe they've already got them. Here's hoping.
Oh yes, If you want to listen to their 'Desolation Town' EP, then click below.
Often I think that my musical life (or at least this blog) can be likened to a man stumbling around in a darkened room until his hand alights on an object which can illuminate the darkness, except in my case it's music not objects.
One such band who've managed to permeate the deep dark of my musical ignorance this week are The July Days. I've never heard of them before, though I guess and hope that they're named for the events that occured one July in Russia over 90 years ago. Anyway, I know a little bit more now thanks to their Myspace. They are from Birmingham and have supported The Lovely Eggs and My Sad Captain as well as winning a Battle Of the Bands at Birmingham University. See what I mean about stumbling in the dark? This lot should have been on my radar ages ok, still I'm just glad I found them. Hopefully you will be too. I think one listen to 'I Said, You Said' should be enough to convince you. I can't quite explain why, but that song makes me giddy and tells my feet they want to dance, and only the best songs can do that. Give 'em a listen over here.
The other thing I've been listening to today is the new Charlotte Gainsbourg record. Charlotte of course is the daughter of the legendary Serge, in fact her first musical outing came on a Serge single. She's an actress as well as a musician and such a fine pedigree comes over on the record. Her current release IRM, is written, arranged, produced and parly played by oddball Beck.
In places it has elements of Beck's slightly darker pieces mixed with a chanteuses touch of the sublime. It's arranged beautiful, and Charlottes voice, although not perfect fits the music very well indeed. It's a lovely, fragile, thing to listen to, and I'd encourage you to do so if you get the chance.
Hello.First up I'd like to introduce you to a band I've been listening to a fair bit today. They're called 'The Devil, My Pocket'.I don't know much about them (for much, read nothing), there was a brief mention on The Icicles homepage and so I thought I'd check them out. I liked what I heard too, there's a certain element of Will Oldham/Smog to them, especially on the song 'While The House Burned'As is obligatory there are songs to hear on their Myspace, as well as a 4 song demo thing on the website, here. You should go listen.
In other exciting news I've just noticed that Weepop are going to put out the new Transmittens mini album (though 10 tracks feels like an album to me) on the 29th January, though they have it up for pre-order now. You probably know Weepop through such other great bands as 'The Smittens' and 'The Just Joans', the label has a high pedigree. So do the 'Transmittens'. Weepop released there last record 'Our Dreams' as well, and it was a cracker. Ignore the cuddly name, you won't find anything too overly twee or cutesy here. I say the band are more of the vein of The Magnetic Fields, or maybe Mates Of State. I have little doubt that this record is going to be superb, the first track (and the track available to listen to HERE on the weepop website) Marfa Texas is splendid and the second track 'The Sea At Night' is also great and on their Myspace. I can't wait to listen to the whole thing.So what now? You go to Weepop and pre-order the record that's what. It's ridiculously cheap and will almost definitely sell out. I've just ordered mine.
So not much in the way of news from me today, I was going to review the 'Women's Basketball' album, but looks like Alayerofchips got there first. Go have read.
Speaking of the aforementioned blog, Sam from Alayerofchips is putting on another gig soon, and it looks likely to be another great one. I know that most of the people who read this blog probably read that one too, but it's worth a re-post, and if you haven't heard about this yet then you really should read on.
Look at that poster to the left there, isn't it lovely? The bands playing are just as lovely. Withered hand have been garnering praise from all quarters of late, obstensibly one man from Edinburgh he creates beautiful folky music to die for. There's a nice video up on the website here. Go and listen.
Elsewhere on the bill, The Pete Green Corporate Juggernaut keep rolling on (see what I did there), they're always great value, songs with heart, played with joy and viveur and returned in kind from every audience I've seen them play too. Go here for loads more fun. The other band on the bill are Red Shoe Diaries, from right here in Notts. They sometimes sound like Hefner, they have the same soulful, emotional feel as Belle and Sebastian and they're playing all over the place at the moment.
So if you've not already seen or heard of the gig, are in Nottingham or the surrounding area and like what you hear/read, then definitely go to the show, you won't regret it.
If you again look to your left, you can see a poster for another gig. This time a tribute to the ever wonderful Darren Hayman and Hefner. This also promises to be another good one. We Show Up On Radar are just about to release a new single and know all about writing songs which are emotional and fragile yet witty and warm, much like Darren really. Elsewhere Vom Vorton, or Tom from Lardpony and latterly of Of Mice And Mental Arithmetic has previous form having contributed a fantastic version of 'The Sad Witch' to an 'Alayerofchips' compilation a fair old time ago.
Anyway it promises to be a good old night and it's on February 5th. Did I mention it's for charity, will it is, Battersea dogs and cats home and the DEC Haiti earthquake appeal to be precise. What more reason could you need?
I realise of course that these two events are both Nottingham based, but I'm local so perhaps it's to be expected. That said I want to do a weekly UK gig listing thing, hopefully starting this Friday. So keep a look out for that, and if you have a gig you'd like to be added onto it then let me know.
Morning! Yesterday morning I stupidly banged my little toe on a doorframe and managed to break it. As a result I'm currently in a painkiller induced fugue, and not up to concentrating too much on writing the blog. Hopefully then, you'll forgive me today for falling back on an old staple; the classic album. This may well be number 1 of an indefinite series.
Note I said classic album, not forgotten classic. Most albums that get classified as forgotten or 'lost' really aren't, they're just languishing outside of the mainstream. I mean if I was to mention 'Snowball' by The Field Mice to the majority of people on the street they'd not know what I was talking about (and their loss really) but if I talk about The Field Mice on anorak or any other indie pop type forum, then pretty much everyone will know what I mean. It's not a lost or forgotten record, it's found a niche. So yes, which pontification brings me nicely to my own little post on a classic album today. I've chosen Thunder Up, by The Sound.
The Sound were active between 1979 - 89 musically they're more often then not pegged as post-punk which in terms of when the band were active - if not completely in regards to their, ahem, sound - is pretty accurate. The band shared a record label with Echo and The Bunnymen and played with, Sheffield's mostly forgotten men, The Comsat Angels.
The Sound released 5 record between 1980 and 1987, most of which met with plaudits and wide critical acclaim, but the band never seemed to make the leap into the public conciousness, the way other bands of the time like Joy Division and The Bunnymen did. I mention those two in particular, because they were the most similar in musical style to The Sound yet managed to break out of the niche I mentioned earlier, whilst The Sound didn't. I don't know why.
There is much to The Sound's story I've not mentioned here but I would advise reading up on them if you listen to the record after I've yammered on about it and enjoy it. As I've mentioned The Sound released 5 records, they are all different. 'From The Lion's Mouth' is the best known one, it's the album that should have made them huge, and didn't. I've decided to focus on Thunder Up, because it's probably the most accessible. It's also my favourite.
It opens with 'Accleration Group' a rowdy, fast paced song which lives up to it's name and should grab you within seconds. Followed by torch aloft ballad, 'Hand Of Love' it's a sternum breaking one - two punch of an opener. Elsewhere the yell of "make it kinetic" on 'Kinetic' will worm it's way into the internal jukebox, as will the upbeat and lively horns of 'Iron Years'.
It is a really uplifting album, despite it's sometimes darker lyrics. It's got a nostalgic tinge to it, but the overall feel is one of searching for, and reaching for joy. Nowhere is this better exemplified then in lyric to Iron Years. "I'm on your side, a friend deep inside. Like the times we were so close to joy, we were so close....... I know you will be there soon"
I could go on and on about this record. But I think it's best to just leave you with a spotify link and the ability to make up your own minds. See you tomorrow.
Nottingham based gig goer.
If you have any comments, suggestions or if you want to send things to be
reviewed, feel free to contact me on
beerandbands@gmail.com
Oh, yeah, you can look at my musical taste on http://www.last.fm/user/peppermint_fox
