This blog has been fairly neglected over the past 12 months or so. I can’t really explain why, because my appetite for music is as strong as ever. Maybe it’s easier to tweet about new music I like. I don’t think blog reviews serve much purpose these days. The internet has kinda moved on from the idea that one chap in his bedroom can write anything about stuff that people can easily hear themselves. Why bother reading the post? And I know we still need pointers and there are many fine blogs out there still doing this. But the people doing the good blogs can actually write, to a reasonable standard. I am not sure I was ever the sharpest reviewer. So. Is this the end? I don’t know. I think I still want a place to share things that I find exciting. But whether I think I can add anything with a cruddy review is another matter. Time will tell.
Anyways, here is what I have been listening to the past year. This is culled from my last.fm account, so misses a lot of vinyl plays and all that. But here you go:
01 Ace Bushy Striptease (341)
02 Sarandon (267)
03 The Notes (209)
04 The Blanche Hudson Weekend (152)
05 The Lovely Eggs (149)
06 Dignan Porch (138)
07 Johnny Cash (128)
08 The Jesus and Mary Chain (124)
09 Clinic (101)
10 The Magnetic Fields (99)
11 The Middle Ones (97)
12 Trash Kit (89)
13 Milky Wimpshake (87)
14 Ducktails (79)
One Happy Island (79)
Personal and the Pizzas (79)
17 The Hairs (77)
18 Urinals (76)
The Beets (76)
20 The Smiths (74)
Radians (74)
22 Subtle Turnhips (72)
23 The Humms (68)
The Happy Thoughts (68)
25 Weekend (67)
Cause Co-motion (67)
27 King Tubby (65)
28 Sourpatch (64)
29 Gold-Bears (61)
Anguish Sandwich (61)
So there you have it, some new things and a smattering of old favourites. Surprised that somethings haven’t made the Top 30. But I guess they’ve been played on the iPod (which doesn’t want to scrobble to last.fm these days) or vinyl. Ah well. Charts were never an accurate reflection of anything anyway, were they?
Confession time, I adore The Wendy Darlings. They’re great. No, they are really fucking great.
This single came out in April (?) on Marineville Records. It’s their 2nd 7″ for the label. The ‘A’ Side ‘Girls From Japan’ is a big loping tune. Bounding along like an adorable puppy. But a puppy that got a bark and just enough bite.
Confession time, again, my old label released a 7 song EP by The Wendy Darlings in 2009 (all gone) so I am a little biased but I don’t think their are many better noisy guitar pop bands making noise and heat in 2011. The B side ‘Wild Guess’ is a little less immediate but no less a song. It chugs along – like a bastard mix of The Jesus and Mary Chain and something a little more snotty – it’s the massive guitars and pounding bass as the song builds that draw you in. Why aren’t people screaming from the roof tops about The Wendy D’s. Why? Why? Lord knows.
And a final confession, the band are not only brilliant on record. Back in May they played the Odd Box Weekender. They’re a fucking immense live band too. Get it? This lot are the real deal. The whole package. And they’re French. Fuck me? What more do you guys want?
This came out in March on new label Towed By The Ghost. It pairs together two Cambridge (UK) bands. I was already familiar with The Puncture Repair Kit having seen them on a few occasions and their song ‘Murder’s Probably Wrong’ comes close to capturing their live charm. The song seems to gallop a little when on stage they seem to swoop and soar – it seems a little ‘sped’ up. No mind, I still really like the band and their indiepop meets folk sound.
Flip the record over and we get ‘Josefina’ by Model Village a band I had checked out via their online presence a few times and they sounded pleasant enough but nothing had bowled me over. But herein lies the folly of relying on online streams as a way to assess a band. Their song on this 7″ is rather fabulous. I’m on about my 8th play of the day already. I love it when a pop song does this to me. I am hypnotised. Rachel Duncan’s vocals are warm and they’re starting to do something a little weird to me. The bands sound comes somewhere between Standard Fare and Camera Obscura. A little less indiepop than the latter – but with a little more finesse than the former. Splendid stuff.
I was in Cardiff last Sunday. I got to see the final show on the Ace Bushy Striptease and The Middle Ones tour. It was obviously a happy/sad time for the bands as they had enjoyed the tour so much and were sad that it was the last night of the tour. I can see why. I love both bands. I really do. And I picked up The Middle Ones debut album from the band. And I am playing it now and it’s making me feel all funny. It’s beautiful. It’s fragile. It sounds simple but it isn’t. Anna and Grace have made a record that really gets underneath your skin. In a good way I might add. Delicate arrangements and soaring vocals, with delightful harmonies lingering on and on. This is going to be one of the records I play most this year. I love it.
Apparently there will be another full length album out this year too. I am not impatient and I can wait for it because I will treasure these lovely recordings first. I suggest you do the same.
So, yes. I’ve been quiet. Not sure why as I’ve had more time on my hands lately. But here I am, back again. Here’s what music has been setting off fireworks for me lately (i.e. expect sporadic ramblings about records I’ve been liking these past few months).
Sometime in February I found ‘Little Joy‘ on Emusic. That’s the new LP from My Disco. Yes they are influenced by Shellac and Big Black. But this little beauty is grinding beast of a record built on repetition and some fierce bass/drum action. In these austere times I’ve only managed to track down the mp3s for this release. For now, that is. These Australians have been known to tour with one time Londoners Skul Hazzards (now back in their native Australia, too). A shame I missed them because this record is the sort of thing I like. A lot. It scares the neighbours and makes my speakers shake. All is right with the world when my speakers shake.
Seems I’ve forgotten how to write lots of words about records. This return could be painful.
So yes. Goodbye The Loves. From Cardiff. Some three thousand members later, Simon Love and his current co-horts brought down their 11 year ‘career’ on Sunday at the Lexington. And it was a fitting way to go out. An all day rumble with special guests. I could go on about how freakin’ amazing it was to here Jamie Holman (as MickTravis) rattle through a set that was largely made up of Tompaulin classics. Yes, I could. But I won’t. I could also go on about howsparkling and bright The Lovely Eggs were. I could even tell you about The School’s set of Loves related songs, led by one time love, Liz. I could even mention Comet Gain. But I won’t because they were dull. But this night was all about The Loves. And they owned it.
The Loves have been a constant during my stay in London. I got here in 2000 around the time the band were hatching in South Wales. So I’ve happy memories of seeing the fledgling Loves breeze in to Track and Field nights and then seeing them do all manner of gigs on the toilet circuit over the intervening years. Some great, some shit, most entertaining. Back in my Lostmusic days I even put the band on. They weren’t their best that night but that was always the chance you took with The Loves. And since the band relocated to London and stole a few Pocketbooks for their rhythm section I found my fondness for The Loves returning. And like I said this show had dancing girls, guests galore (including Sean Price (Fortuna Pops’ head honcho) reprising Doug Yules’ (DOUG YULE!) role as the voice of Jesus, a backing handclap section made up of The School and a string section! And Kermit the Frog. This was a fitting end. It was fun. It was as it should’ve been. I’ll miss the Loves.
I always liked The Lovely Eggs. I mean who could fail to love their quirky pop tunes that they first appeared with. But after getting my mitts on ‘Cob Dominos’ I’ve gotta say the band have hit another level this time around and I think I love them just a little bit more now. Yes they are still as daft as fuck. Yes this record darts around like a hyperactive kid with a penchant for ODing on e number additives. But with songs like ‘Watermelons’, ‘Don’t Look At Me (I Don’t Like It)’ and ‘Fuck It’ the band made their mad cap off beat pop even better. This album is littered with pop hooks, noise wig outs and surreal lyrical turns. Out now on Cherryade, I am sure this record is gonna notch a lot of plays this year. The Lovely Eggs, not only are they lovely, they’re pretty fucking amazing too.
Here’s the video for lead single ‘Don’t Look At Me (I Don’t Like It)’
Mmmmm, 2011 has taken a strange twist: I’ve got a craving for Dub, Dubstep and odd electronica to boot. Investigations have begun because I am in no way qualified to talk about this stuff. I’ve had Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and King Tubby stuff in my record collection for what seems like an age. I guess that was hangover from listening to a lot of John Peel in the early to mid 90s. I’ve got no idea how you’d define dubstep or grime or a million other genre tags that leave me just a little confused. So I started with a compilation: ’5 Years of Hyperdub’ which came out in 2009. Fairly randomly. It was highly recommended over at Norman Records. Late to the party, again, it seems. But this 32 song double CD is mesmerising. Is it Dubstep? I don’t know. But the twisted haunting sounds of Kode9, Burial and Flying Lotus are exactly what I was hoping to hear when I decided to delve into this sound. In the mid 90s I dallied with Trip Hop. I still love stuff like Tricky and Massive Attack to this day. I didn’t dig very deep then. But what I hear on ’5 Years of Hyperdub’ is kinda where I was hoping Trip Hop might lead. Big brooding soundscapes with more energy and less dope (although I doubt the less dope part is actually true!).
So yeah, this is the first step.
I’ve been trawling Facebook and Twitter for recommendations too. So expect more in this investigations series in the near future. I’ve got the time. And now the inclination, too.
Yep. A new year. A new burst of optimism. A new dawn. And some of the bands I am looking forward to hearing MORE from in 2011. Whether in concert. Or on record.
Baaneex: The latest signings to Odd Box. They make me happy.
Dream Diary: Saw them at New York Pop Fest last year and they were wonderful and dreamy. And great.
The new record ‘Belong’ by The Pains of Being Pure At Heart. I was lucky enough to find myself at a listening party for this before their superb show at 229 in December. It’s gonna be a killer record. They’re back in the UK for a London show at the start of March, too.
Sarandon: Their new record is coming out as a split release with Slumberland (USA) on Odd Box in March. It’s a fabulous record. It’s also a concept album. You’ve been warned.
The Blanche Hudson Weekend: Their debut album proper is in producution and if their ‘compilation’ Reverence, Severance and Spite is anything to go by it’s going to be a stunner. The band are also starting to hit their straps as a live band now that they’ve played more than a handful of shows. It’s gonna be their year.
The Odd Box Singles Club. 6 slabs of 7″ vinyl, 12 cracking bands. Enough Said.
It would be ace if No Bunny came to the UK. I really really really want to see them. Ditto Super Wild Horses.
London Popfest. After missing most of last years’ with illness – I got a feeling this year is gonna be extra special.
Weekend: Their LP ‘Sports’ gate crashed my favourites from last year at the tail end of 2010. I want them to play London soon. Damn it.
Sock Puppets: Hopefully they’re still recording an EP for Odd Box. And they should come back to London soon. Maybe I should make that happen. Talking of Odd Box shows;
Which Way Is Up! launches on February 18th at The Wilmington Arms. A new regular night from Odd Box – every third Friday of the month. Some cracking bands lined up too: This Many Boyfriends, Lisa Bouvier, Pocketbooks, The Felt Tips, Falling and Laughing, Chips For The Poor, Baaneex, The Whatevers, The Notes and loads more to be confirmed.
ah, yes, The Notes: Superb new band from Southampton (via London). Their debut record ‘Wishing Well’ is out now on Bleeding Gold. Just buy it.
Talking about high expectations: Evans The Death. Superb live shows galore last year. More please. And their debut record promises to be a corker.
Everyone likes a dance. Hopefully coming very soon: Fall Out Make Up. Which is being run by Carys, Ben and me.
So, I did this post back at the end of August – where I did mini round up of my favourite records of the year so far. It’s now 2011 and it’s time to do a more comprehensive list. So I think I am going to post a top 20 albums of the year list. I’ve decided to omit releases on Odd Box. It’s easier that way.
01 Kid Canaveral – Shouting At Wildlife(Straight To Video)
02 Trash Kit – Trash Kit (Upset The Rhythm)
03 Super Wild Horses – Fifteen (Hozac)
04 Swans - My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky(Young God)
05 Betty and The Werewolves – Tea Time Favourites (Damaged Goods)
06 The Chasms – Index Of Spirits(Command To Destroy)
07 Standard Fare – The Noyelle Beat (Thee SPC)
08 The Notes – Wishing Well (Bleeding Gold)
09 Subtle Turnhips – Terd (Hozac)
10 Phil Wilson - God Bless Jim Kennedy (Slumberland)
11 Best Coast – Crazy For You (Wichita)
12 Shrag – Life! Death! Prizes! (Where It’s At Is Where You Are)
13 Weekend – Sports(Slumberland)
14 Clinic – Bubblegum(Domino)
15 The European – In A Very Real Sense (Stolen Recordings)
16 The Vaselines – Sex With An X (Sub Pop)
17 Surf City – Kudos (Fire)
18 Edwyn Collins - Losing Sleep (Heavenly)
19 The Felt Tips – Living and Growing (Plastilina)
20 Reading Rainbow – Prism Eyes (Hozac)
It’s been a wonderful 12 months for albums. Easily the best year in the last few years. I kinda thought the art of the great LP was dying and singles and downloads were king. I was wrong. I still love a good 7″ single but there have been so many LPs released this year it makes me dizzy with excitement thinking about what might be coming up in the next 12 months.
Confession time, I adore 
This came out in March on new label Towed By The Ghost. It pairs together two Cambridge (UK) bands. I was already familiar with 
I was in Cardiff last Sunday. I got to see the final show on the Ace Bushy Striptease and The Middle Ones tour. It was obviously a happy/sad time for the bands as they had enjoyed the tour so much and were sad that it was the last night of the tour. I can see why. I love both bands. I really do. And I picked up The Middle Ones debut album from the band. And I am playing it now and it’s making me feel all funny. It’s beautiful. It’s fragile. It sounds simple but it isn’t. Anna and Grace have made a record that really gets underneath your skin. In a good way I might add. Delicate arrangements and soaring vocals, with delightful harmonies lingering on and on. This is going to be one of the records I play most this year. I love it.
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