YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE

So, the new Idlewild album, Make Another World, came out on Monday and... well, it's a bit of a pick-and-mix to be honest. Obviously the band are trying to get back to the sonic-texture of their earlier, more youthful albums. And I can't fault them for trying to make another 100 Broken Windows - that album means the world to me. I have three copies!

But, but, but: Roddy Woomble has clearly moved on - the folk album, My Secret Is My Silence - co-written with Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones - was an attempt to get the calmer stuff out of their systems so that the band could present a unified front and become a melody-based rock band again. And songs like "Everything As It Moves" and "If It Takes You Home" do make a fair attempt at regaining much of the old sound, but there's a mildly irritating inconsistency throughout the entire album - most likely caused by the band's desire to revert back to their old ways.

To me, it sounds a bit like a minor mid-life crisis. This is a fantastic band who no longer know what they want to do. As uncool as it is to say so, I liked their last album. And the one before that. Sure, they didn't make me as deliriously happy, or ridiculously ready to go out dancing, as 100 Broken Windows, but I hold nothing against sonic-evolution, and I appreciated the incredible melodies that Roddy Woomble could deliver. This album leaves the impression that their desire to once again be what they once were is stifling their creativity: yes, the album's enjoyable, but they're capable of so much more.



Idlewild

Finished It Remains

Strange then, perhaps, that my favourite song off the new Idlewild record is the final track. If we were to play the genres game - which is old-school and NME-esque - then how could this song be pigeonholed? It doesn't know whether it wants to be a straightforward pop song (the opening "da-da-dun! da-da-dun!" guitar riff; the roll-of-the-tongue delivery of the line, "the three of us, are sittin' up...), soundtrack a film (1:31 - 2:01 where it flirts with all things epic and/or post-rock-esque), be an uptempo folk-lullaby (2:04 - 2:08: those harmonies) or be a reckless rock and roll song (2:07 - 3:20 : those guitar histrionics!). Perhaps the best part of the whole song though, is when it simultaneously side-steps and incorporates all these elements (2:52 - 2:56) and Roddy Woomble delivers such a fragile yet self-assured vocal for the line, "Leave... me... gone...". [Buy]



Roddy Woomble featuring Karine Polwart

If I Could Name Any Name

The aforementioned departure by Roddy Woomble and Rod Jones, is ever-so-slightly more than just a folk record. It incorporates elements of folk, indie, and rock, to make a by turns calm and exuberant album. It isn't groundbreaking or entirely innovative; it isn't going to appear on any "Greatest Albums Of All Time" list's like those that Q is so fond of. Yet, it's one of those albums that I'll always go back to - enduring and charming because of, and not in spite of, its old-new-borrowed-blue nature. [Buy]



Karine Polwart and Edwin Morgan

The Good Years

The previous song featured Karine Polwart, and this one is a collaboration between her and the author Edwin Morgan, once again taken from the Ballads of the Book compilation. An easy-listening folk song, with none of the fiddles or over-the-top bagpipes you might associate with Scottish folk. Focused, succinct, and so soft - like silk - both musically and lyrically. Everything in this song - the arpeggios, the strummed chords, the harmonies - lead up to that final line: "these the good years". It's such a nice, pleasant song, such a simple, idyllic idea, that it's hard not to feel content; warm; happy - soothed by such a swooning lullaby. [Buy]

TAKE IT SLOW, TAKE IT EASY ON ME

Feist

My Moon, My Man

This song practically skips along the pavement before throwing itself into your arms. Each line is sang so close to the microphone that with each word's passing, a stray breath is left in its wake; the occasional sigh. The words seem entirely unimportant; the melody could be a string of "la's" and it would still sound the same to me. Like a lazy afternoon; a sigh; a smile with arched eyebrows. [Buy previous albums]



Feist

One Evening (live)
Intuition (live)
Lover's Spit (live Broken Social Scene cover)
Mushaboom (Postal Service Remix)

These live tracks are interesting and lovely: relatively stripped back renditions ensuring that the vocals are the centrepiece. Vocally, Feist comes across like a shy, gifted child. The Postal Service remix is delicate and delightful. Both "My Moon, My Man", and "Intuition" will be on Feist's new album, The Reminder, out 23rd April. Here's the only UK dates of her upcoming tour:

16 April 2007 Komedia, Brighton
17 April 2007 Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Bright Eyes

Mushaboom (Feist cover)

YESTERDAY'S DRESS IN A COMPLETE MESS

Firefox AK

City To City

I wish the first seven seconds of this song would continue into infinity. My feet tap, my head spins. I saw Firefox AK live supporting Junior Boys, and found her to be beguiling. Live, the electro-pop backing tracks and the hammering's of the drum machine are overwhelming; overpowering. I couldn't even begin to construct thoughts in my head because every time coherent fragments were formed, they were silenced by the sheer volume of the electronics. Thoughts would hover, just out of reach; then disintegrate. Perhaps this was the best way. A smile appeared on my face, and it stayed. On record the laptop-handiwork isn't quite as overwhelming or glorious, but it's still there, and often it's very impressive.



Firefox AK

The Draft

The majority of the album is concerned with shamelessly resurrecting 90's electro-pop, taking pride in its grinning femininity. However, the final track on the album brings the male vocal of her husband into the equation and softens the approach. Each and every piece of instrumentation is subtle, yet effective. This is quiet, and contemplative. The dynamics are just right. Shhhh, quiet, then slightly more emphatic... but still hushed. The lyrics as a whole I don't understand, but I relate to the line: "Keep the attack short and fast". It means let the pain sting, then wash over me. Don't make this fight last longer than it has be. I give up the war. I give up. [Buy]



Hello Saferide

The Quiz

Annika Norlin, aka Hello Saferide, only deals in honesty; it's all she knows. She is charming, quirky and curious. The questions asked within this song range from the silly yet sweet: "Can you at all times wear socks 'cause I'm still scared of feet?", to the serious and pivotal: "If I fall would you pick me up?" She asks the every-day questions we all want to know ("Do you still keep pictures from girlfriends? Are they prettier than me?"), yet are often too scared to ask. The honest answers to these questions may not be the pleasing ones, but it's important to ask; it's important to know, because we/she needs "proof or a beer to open this heart". The truth is important.



Hello Saferide

2006

A song for sunny days/winter nights. The heart-warming lyrics are hidden behind a wall of happy pop music; behind quirky instrumentation and an ever-smiling voice. Annika has a talent for constructing sentences that contain dazzling yet simple, true-to-life imagery: "40 flavours on the floor and a half-drunk bottle with popcorn in it / Yesterday's dress in a complete mess and a bruise on my arm / I don't know where I got it".

For the most part the lyrics are alluring, sensitive and sweet, but sometimes her heart is laid bare in its misery. Revolving around her thoughts on a New Year ("it's gonna be another shitty year"), and her unrequited love ("I haven't told you yet, but I'm gonna be with you"), it's easy to forget that amidst the waves of dazzling pop instrumentation, and aesthetically pleasing vocal melodies, the lyrics within this song are an effort to translate genuine sadness into words. Perhaps the cleverest, and most emotive lyric amidst it all is this: "I will learn a new word each day; Today's word is 'dejected'". [Buy]

-----

Both artists are on the Swedish label Razzia Records. The name "Firefox AK" was derived from an inscription on a fire-extinguisher, and not from the web-browser that we all know and love. The photo which opens this post was taken by myself at the aforementioned Junior Boys performance; see more here.

SO FAR, SO GOOD, SOBER

Malcolm Middleton

Cheer Down

I first heard this song in Avalanche Records in Glasgow, and as soon as I heard it, I knew I wanted the CD it appeared on. Featuring the unmistakable voice of Malcolm Middleton, it's a song of hope. It's a realisation that everything's fucked, and you've lost your lover. It's a New Year's Resolution to change. It's the first sip of water since you've quit drinking. It's phoning up your ex-girlfriend and only getting her answering machine. It's sitting in silence with only a dial-tone to keep you company while you flick through old photo albums. It's knowing you have to change, and trying, but not knowing how, or to what extent. It's walking through Buchanan Galleries all alone, with nothing but your sadness to keep you company. It's hoping for the best, no matter what. The lyrics are almost too open and honest. Like watching an acquaintance burst into tears underneath the stairwell. Pretending to walk by without noticing, but then - a head on your shoulder, a tear-streaked voice, the words, "I've got no one".



Malcolm Middleton

Four Cigarettes

There's something about this track. Maybe it's the thought of a lover keeping you awake at night - missing the imprint of their head upon your pillow, their body upon your sheets. Maybe it's when he breaks in with "I'm four cigarettes away from having to leave the house", and the knowing - the shared experiences, laid down in song. Or maybe it's the melancholic piano melody after the chorus, the sadness that pervades throughout. Maybe it's the desire to be unique, the desire to make each and every life worthwhile. Or maybe it's the slightest hint of optimism despite "failure after failure".



Malcolm Middleton & Alan Bissett

The Rebel On His Own Tonight

This song genuinely excites me. As soon as I saw that the lyrics were by Alan Bissett I was intrigued, because I've read various pages from his novels and they're filled to the brim with contemporary cultural references and urban Scottish street-speak. The fact that the song has a speaking part by the man himself only adds to the excitement. I love spoken-word passages in songs. Malcolm Middleton is responsible for the singing and the music, and his expert craftsmanship produces an ominous electronic sound-scape which underpins the song, the singing, the deprecating lyrics. This track is simply put, fantastic. As soon as it breaks into the spoken-word, with those amazing lyrics, "Pure as vodka, pure as snow / She kisses like it's a terrorist act", you realise that the track, somehow, got more note-worthy; more remarkable. It's impossible, when listening to this track, not to feel sympathy, to feel sadness, to empathise - the lyrics are concerned with the subtle every-day tragedies of real-life.

Imagine an ex-best friend who you've known since childhood, and you've seen "the classroom page [where he] scribbled all [his] rage / Syd Barrett chord changes, Tyra McKenzie's name", and you've heard every-single-one of his ridiculous ideas and ambitions for the future, and you know he spends half his time "dreaming [he] is Stephen King", and you've been there every time he's been "steaming" and "taken a drubbing from somebody's fucking boyfriend". But you moved on with your life, and he never did, so "the rebel's on his own tonight".

-----

"Cheer Down" is one of the "Extra Songs", "Four Cigarettes" is track seven, off the special edition of Malcolm Middleton's newest album, A Brighter Beat, which is exceptional. So Scottish, and forlorn, yet so uplifted and triumphant. The remarkable thing about his music is the self-deprecating lyrics set over the top of the smile-on-your-face -as-you-spot-the-ice-cream-van music. Of course, I picked up on the more depressing songs, full of keep-the-curtains-closed misery and oh-lord-let-me-change optimism. [Buy]

-----

"The Rebel On His Own Tonight" comes from the Ballads of the Book compilation, out today, which brings together Scottish musicians and Scottish writers, in a project supported by the Scottish Arts Council. The packaging is gorgeous, with every page of the lyric booklet having its own appropriate illustration. For this reason alone, it is worth buying.

The Frames - LIVE REVIEW - 24th February 2007

The Frames

Fitzcarraldo (live)
Seven Day Mile (live)
Love Will Tear Us Apart (live Joy Division cover)

The Frames are an Irish band who have been around for, well, ages. Their singer and guitarist, Glen Hansard, busked on Dublin’s Grafton Street when he was only 14. He presented Other Voices: Songs from a Room back when it was actually good, and had his own band appear on it, once or twice if I remember right. He recently completed a solo album with Marketa Irglova (called The Swell Season), and a movie with her, entitled Once, which won an Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. The band themselves have been around since 1990, and now seems to be the time when they are finally achieving the recognition they deserve.

It’s worth considering why thus far this recognition hasn’t been forthcoming. Primarily, in the past, their recorded output has always had a kind of sonic inconsistency about it, with albums rarely flowing easily. Add to that the fact that their take on indie folk-rock is either revered and adored, or simply discarded as dull and lacklustre, and you get a feel for why although dearly loved in Ireland, they haven’t been making quite so many ripples across the Atlantic. In my humble opinion, this is soon to change however.

Recently, I had the chance to once again see The Frames live (after seeing them three times previously), and this time it was at the Oran Mor. It was a dreary cold February evening in Glasgow, but everyone knew from the moment the band got on-stage, that this gig was going to be interesting at the very-least, and spectacular at the very-best. As I queued at the bar for my two Vodka - Lemonade - and - Blackcurrant's, like the woman that I am, everyone else was ordering pints of Guinness. As I took my place in the crowd, and the band appeared on-stage, members of the audience started singing “Ireland forever” and waving Irish scarves about with vigour. Worth noting, of course, that the venue was in Scotland - a whole sea of water away from Ireland.



The Frames

People Get Ready (live)
Lay Me Down (live)
God Bless Mom (live)
Rent Day Blues

The gig kicked off with “People Get Ready” in all its bounteous glory. The song coincidentally, which perhaps best defines The Frames, and their dedication to their sonic evolution – “we have all the time in the world to get it right”. Indeed, the band have continually improved their sound over more than a decade, continually synthesising their violent emotion with quiet sadness.

The endearing cheekiness of Glen was fully on display as he told a few of the trademark stories which he's renowned for; prior to playing “Lay Me Down”, he offered forth a story behind the song: that it was about when he was 16 and “had a girlfriend – she was a Goth, [he] was a Rocker, so obviously [they] couldn’t go out in public. At Christmas [he] bought her this plot of land in a cemetery and [they] lay down in the hole and had a bloody good time”. However, fewer stories were told than usual, as for the majority of the gig he let the songs speak for themselves.

He also wore his beliefs on his sleeve: “God Bless Mom” was dedicated to the British Queen; the crowd were asked to “sing like little Catholics, sing!” whilst Glen clasped his hands in prayer. During one of the heavier parts of the song Glen screamed “You will never be like us! You should never have married a monarchy!”; “Rent Day Blues” was dedicated to “the landlords, the ruling classes, who have taken money off the Irish for over 800 years”, and was met with rapturous applause. On record, perhaps, some of this energy isn’t felt, but live the crowd laps it up. And it’s not a negative energy by any means – this sense of entitlement, this anguish and bitterness. It’s one that as a band they manipulate and channel into an inspiring creative force.



The Frames

When Your Mind's Made Up
Sad Songs
Star Star (live)

Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

Leave

The Frames had the crowd in the palm of their hands for the duration, willing to go along with every whim – for instance, Glen insisting that the crowd raise their palms in the air and mimic the vocal melody whilst singing it; making the crowd hold the note for over twenty seconds while he sang over the top of them. Even the extended song titles got a laugh from the awestruck crowd: “this one’s called ‘When Your Mind’s Made Up There’s No Point Talking To You So I Won’t’”; “this is ‘Too Many Sad Words Make For Sad Sad Songs’”.

It wasn’t a flawless gig by any means; gigs rarely are. The performance of Leave wasn't quite as eye-watering, heart-breaking and fragile as I've seen it previously; the guitar and bass notes were clashing with each other on “Pavement Tune”, making it slightly more raucous than usual. However, Glen went along with it and merely repeated “fuck it, fuck it, fuck it” to reassure Joe that it was fine. And it was fine – it was more than fine – if only all fuckup’s at gigs could be this insignificant; the band held tight regardless and the song was dizzyingly excellent right up until the final lines which Glen sang in “a slightly German accent” to the hushed, appreciative audience: “I vont my life to make more sense. I vont my life to make amends.”

Prior to the penultimate song, "Star Star", (requested several times by the audience), a story was told of a young kid – Glen – lying down in the middle of a field, in the middle of the night, and writing this song, while staring up at the stars and wondering about “the big questions, the one’s that really matter, like ‘Will I ever get my own lightsaber? So I can… turn the losers into winners and smash the liars – no, smash the greedy… fuckheads’… you know what I mean. This one is for all aspiring Jedi Knights”. The band performed the song, tacking on the expected Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ending, and when Glen sang about keeping the dream alive, and “if it comes down to this, I will”, I believed him; everyone did.



The Frames

Fighting On The Stairs
Finally
Fake

The Frames have struggled financially in the past, but their spirit has never wavered and now they seem to be coming into their own. Adverts bearing their name are plastered all over the internet recently, including the top banner on Pitchfork last week and the bottom banner on the Hype Machine at the moment, all advertising their most consistent record to date, The Cost. More than that however - because good PR can only go so far - they have just recently given an outstanding live performance – slotting in alongside Broken Social Scene, Radiohead, and Sigur Ros as one of the best live gigs ever witnessed by these eyes and ears.

If ever there was a band that could start a revolution, an uprising, its The Frames. An unexpected observation to make, it may seem, if you’ve only experienced the subdued tracks on their albums and not the emotional violence of their live show. Once you experience the energy and witness the adulation that is poured onto them in abundance by their fans, you realise that you truly are in the presence of a formidable force. U2 have pretty-much become a stadium band, The Pogues have become a money-spinning caricature of themselves, but The Frames are truly a band of the people destined for imminent world-wide recognition. They are as comfortable playing a sold-out Marlay Park gig in Dublin to thirty-thousand odd people, as they are playing in a small packed room like The Venue at the Oran Mor. It certainly looks like the future will be bright.



+ All photos taken by myself on the 24th of February, 2007, at the Oran Mor. To see more from the same gig, click here.
- To read the longer version of this which briefly recounts the previous times I've seen The Frames, then you can download it as a Word Document here.
+ To buy albums by The Frames, click here.
- To read Glen's tragic article on the death of his best friend, Mic Christopher, click here.

Mic Christopher's album "Skylarkin'" holds a special place in my heart, as it has helped me through a rough Christmas period in the past. "Heyday" is the song post-posthumously used in the Guiness advert where one brother swims across to America, and says... "Sorry".



Mic Christopher

Heyday

I Was A Cub Scout Tour And Offer Mixtapes

Have you heard I Was A Cub Scout? I like them, alot. I saw them live at Club NME a while ago, and thought they had catchy tunes, but couldn't really make out much due to the muddled sound. However, one listen to Pink Squares is enough to convince you of their talent for crafting catchy, electronically-aided indie-pop. I'll be going to see them again on the 15th of March [the sound will be better too! since it's King Tuts!] and since they're touring all over the place, they've uploaded a mixtape. This includes one song from them, and six other songs by bands that shall be supporting them, at various stages, throughout the tour.



I Was A Cub Scout PRESENTS

The Tour Mixtape

Here's the tracklisting for all interested:

Data.select.party – 'Can’t They Tell We’re Joking'
Rolo Tomassi – 'Seagull'
Linda’s Nephew – 'Get Back Attack'
I Was A Cub Scout – 'Part II'
Decay Ends A Decade – 'Notes'
Sky Days Off – 'This Idea Is Suicide'
Tonight Is Goodbye – 'Snap Snap'

For a chance to win a physical copy of the mix, (of which there are five to be given away), go here. Slightly emo, chirpy pop songs make up the majority of it. Particular favourites are:

Tonight Is Goodbye

Snap Snap [recommended for fans of The Spill Canvas]

data.select.party

Can't They Tell We're Joking? [recommended for fans of Hot Club de Paris].



I Was A Cub Scout

Pink Squares
Teenage Skin

The odd thing for me, about I Was A Cub Scout is the sense of darkness within their music. It's at the edges of it. Imagine their music as a loose sheet of newspaper. There's the colour and vibrancy of the pictures, there's a few eye-catching headlines, but then, down in the bottom corner, tucked away, there's the obituary section. The catchy electronic pop of I Was A Cub Scout, for me at least, is tinged with this pervading sense of sadness, beauty, fragility, darkness. And it's through this that their music gains a longevity... immediate, instantly accessible, yet enduring.

WE'RE STUPID BUT WE'RE HAPPY

N.B. All links should now work again for the OXEGEN posts.

I upgraded my fileden account, so they should work for a little while at least. Let's celebrate:



I don't know how you plan to celebrate, but I've already done so. I saw Los Campesinos! tonight at Capitol, in Glasgow and they were fantastic. Their support, Sky Larkin, all came onstage during You! Me! Dancing! to play drums and hit mic stands and basically make a racket. Everyone up the front was disco dancing for the duration of the set, and that can only be a good thing. It's exciting, scratchy, beautiful guitar music with violins and keyboards thrown in to join the party. In short, it's great. If you have a chance to see Los Campesinos! then you definitely should.



Here's the last gigs of the tour, and two others they've planned:

4 March 2007 Late Rooms, Manchester (with Sky Larkin)
5 March 2007 Spitz, London (with Sky Larkin) - SOLD OUT!!
4 June 2007 The Point (14+), Cardiff
5 June 2007 The Scala (16+), London



Los Campesinos!

Death To Los Campesinos!
You! Me! Dancing!
Sweet Dreams Sweet Cheeks

To be perfectly honest: after seeing tonight's performance I am not at all surprised that Los Campesinos! supported the amazing Broken Social Scene. A well-deserved honour that just goes to show how evolved and glorious their sound is, despite being new kids on the block.



Hope you enjoy all the photos. There are a lot more here. I nearly broke my camera tonight trying to take pictures and dance at the same time. I can never resist a good old disco dance to amazing indietastic pop tunes.

Stars Trust Stars

Prior to their next proper release (scheduled for a Fall release date), Stars are set to release a pretty exciting remix album, cleverly entitled "Do You Trust Your Friends?" on the 22nd of May. This album definitely looks like it'll be well-worth buying, as the album being remixed, Set Yourself on Fire, was fantastic. Additionally, one look at the acts doing the reinterpretations should be enough to set your heart on fire with excitement.



Stars - Do You Trust Your Friends?

1. Your Ex-Lover Is Dead - Final Fantasy
2. Set Yourself On Fire - Montag
3. Ageless Beauty - The Most Serene Republic
4. Reunion - Jason Collett
5. The Big Fight - Minotaur Shock
6. What I’m Trying To Say Pt. 1 - The Dears
7. What I’m Trying To Say Pt. 2 - The Dears
8. One More Night - Apostle of Hustle
9. Sleep Tonight - Junior Boys
10. The First Five Times - The Russian Futurists
11. He Lied About Death - Metric
12. Celebration Guns - Camouflage Nights with Kevin Drew
13. Soft Revolution - The Stills
14. Calendar Girl - Young Galaxy

I can't wait to hear half these songs. I adore Final Fantasy (coincidentally, his Grizzly Bear remix is one of my favourite songs - so regretful, so honest, so calm - a song sang in retrospect with tear stained cheeks), the one Montag remix I have (of M83) is breath-taking (the moment beginning at 1:17 is just beautiful - "how fast we die"), Junior Boys were fantastic live, and well... every other band on here is pretty much great. Anyway, the tracks below may give a rough indication of what to expect [though the MSTRKRFT remix is primarily for your own enjoyment. It's Saturday after all, and you need a top-quality tune to get you in the mood for a party].



HIGHLY RECOMMENDED REMIXES

The Most Serene Republic

Stars - Ageless Beauty (Most Serene Mix)

Final Fantasy

Grizzly Bear - Don't Ask (Final Fantasy Remix)

Montag

M83 - Teen Angst (Montag Remix)

Metric

Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT Remix)

OXEGEN 2007 - Sunday 8th July

As promised, here's the lineup (thus far) for Sunday. It looks well-good. Once again in order with artists I actually like at the front of the queue, and artists I've never heard of/dislike at the back of the line, here's the acts that have been announced so far.

N.B. If the main download links don't work, the alternative one's (all titled "Alt") most likely will. Thanks.



Sunday 8th July

Arcade Fire

Rebellion (Lies) - Alt

Considered by many to be the best live act in the world, there's pleasure to be derived from seeing so many band members going mental on-stage. Neon Bible is one of the most hotly anticipated releases of the year, and while I'm not entirely sure of the album from my brief listens, I'm sure many will fall in love all over again. At the festival, I'm sure they will take the time to remind you that "sleeping is giving in". Because really, who goes to a festival to sleep? Take enough coffee, Pro Plus, or whatever other chemicals it is that'll keep you awake.

Bloc Party

The Once and Future King - Alt
Secrets - Alt
Selfish Son

With the release of A Weekend in the City, Bloc Party may have lost some of their fanbase, and brought in new listeners. Not quite the angular rock of their debut, it's a more electronic, swirling affair full of insightful social commentary. Also renowned as a fantastic live act, so well-worth seeing. Enjoy the assorted B-Sides where the sound is very much similar to their first album of "dance-rock" songs.

Daft Punk

Digital Love
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
Human After All (Justice Remix)

The indie-man's dance band. Critical acclaim, commercial success, adoration from their fans, and their tunes playing in both ice-rinks and clubs all across the country.

Klaxons

Gravity's Rainbow (Van She Remix) - Alt
Magick (Simian's Mobile Disco Remix) - Alt
Atlantis to Interzone (Metronomy Remix) - Alt

Nu-wave. Say what? Anyway, have you listened to the radio recently? Ok, then you probably know everything you need to know about The Klaxons. Dancey tunes, art-school attitudes, literary references. I haven't properly listened to the album yet, but the majority of it seems decent enough, though not quite surpassing the brilliance of the singles. Or, some of the remixes for that matter.

CSS

Music Is My Hot Hot Sex
Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above

I've never really quite got the hype about this band; but then, I've never seen them live. Above are two songs of theirs that I do rather enjoy.

The Killers

Mr. Brightside (Jacque Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Remix) - Alt
Somebody Told Me (Mylo Remix) - Alt

Songs equally at home in clubs and indie-disco's, everyone knows this band. You either like them, don't mind them, dislike them, or love them. I for one, am not overly fussed, but I do love a good dance to some of the songs.

The Kooks

Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover at Radio 1's Live Lounge)

"Naive" is a cracker tune. It truly is. Have you heard it? I'd imagine so. The rest of the songs are decent enough - pleasant, made-for-radio rock.

Razorlight

Golden Touch (at Radio 1's Live Lounge)

Never been a fan of the skintight costumes, the performance at Live 8, or much of their music, but damn... I love "America". Once again, sorry I couldn't upload it for your delight.

My Chemical Romance

Song 2 (Blur cover at Radio 1's Live Lounge)

You know, back when I used to be on IRC all the time talking about song-lyrics, music, and guitar-playing, I used to really enjoy this band. This was around the time of their first release, which had some truly great songs. They progressed from that to become a commercial success and wholly adopt the Gothic style. I don't like 'em much now, but they do have talent.

Deep Dish

Dreams featuring Stevie Nicks (Axwell Mix)

A dance band I know very little about. They did have one tune that I loved, but I can't remember what it is now.

James Morrison

I saw him on Richard & Judy and he seemed like quite a pleasant chap. His music isn't quite as absolutely fucking annoying as James Blunt's, and that must count for something.

Babyshambles

Frankie Knuckles

Data Rock

Cagedbaby

P.S. At the time of writing, it looks like tickets for the festival are sold out, although more will probably appear for sale at a later date, once again from here. However, if you're now desperate for one, as you should be, then there's always everyone's favourite standby: Ebay.

DISMEMBER, then REGROUP.

Today I interrupt your morning coffee and viewing of This Morning to tell you something which excites me as much as Pitchfork. Of course, I don't live in America, nor do I have any money, so I shan't be going... But it's still pretty damn exciting. The Dismemberment Plan are reuniting for a one-off benefit for J. Robbins and Janet Morgan's son who was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).



Tickets are on sale today through Black Cat and Ticketmaster. Get buying if you live anywhere near there. I would love to go. And consequently, you should too. All proceeds from the gig will be used to pay the medical bills which currently can't be afforded. Even if you don't heart The Dismemberment Plan, maybe you'd like to donate.



The Dismemberment Plan

The Other Side

I've been meaning to write about the band for some time, and couldn't waste this excellent opportunity. But still, the words aren't forthcoming. Here's my best attempt to sum up this song, and much of their recorded material. It is the sound of university life in a foreign country. The displacement, the emotion, the closeness, the tenderness, the sadness of modern life. The intricacies of a relationship broken down and spoken quickly, rapidfire, missing out some points but getting the main ones seemingly into the same sentence which makes up for its lack of punctuation with the insightful pronunciation. So many of the lines ring true so much of the time, all placed hovering just above the ever erratic, intense drumming.

OXEGEN 2007 - Saturday 7th July

So it's decision time. Today, the 1st of March 2007, is an Eve. Maybe not as special as Christmas Eve, or New Year's Eve, but even so, it's an Eve none-the-less. Tomorrow, tickets go on sale for OXEGEN 2007. Quote: "OXEGEN 2006 was the fastest selling event in the Irish music calendar and tickets for 2007 are certain to sell out fast" : Unquote.

So how much money is in your bank account right now? If you're a student, like myself, the answer is: fuck all. Thus, I doubt I'll be going. However, if you're undecided, take a look at the line up, and decide, because : I repeat : It's decision time. If you have an overdraft, I would advise you to use it. If someone owes you money, call in the debt. Sunday's line-up is shit-hot, if you're actually sober enough to make your way across the various stages. I'll post it later on tonight or tomorrow. Anyway, here we go:

In order with artists I actually like at the front of the queue, and artists I've never heard of/dislike at the back of the line, here's the acts that have been announced so far.




Saturday 7th July

Interpol

Obstacle 1 (Arthur Baker's Return To New York Remix)

First album was amazing - you could play it on repeat for hours sitting having dinner with the family, or you could dance dance dance to any one of the tunes off it at an indie-disco pissed out of your head. Second album was a grower - but still a bit of a disappointment.

Erol Alkan

Death From Above 1979 - Romantic Rights (Erol Alkan's Love From Below Re-Edit)
Justice - Waters of Nazareth (Erol Alkan Dur Dur Durrr re-edit)

You've heard the hype. I've heard it's true. He is the ultimate party-starter - that's the word on the street.

Justice

Soulwax - NY Excuse (Justice Remix)
Death From Above 1979 - Blood On Our Hands (Justice Remix)

Indie-disco anyone? Electronic remixes and bloody amazing one's at that. Yes please. "Never Be Alone" was playing everywhere at all times all over the country. It brings back happy memories of sweaty nights dancing with friends. You have to have heard it. Seriously. Thus, instead of that, I give you these fine remixes. All have been involved in alcoholic dance-sessions that I've taken part in. You probably have too. These are C-H-O's... chooooons.

Gossip

Standing In The Way Of Control (Soulwax Remix)

Seen the advert for Skins? Me too. I love that ad. Damn good tune, damn fine show - not sure about the rest of the bands output [i.e. I haven't heard it.] But this one song remixed by - everyone's favourite - Soulwax, is relentlessly catchy.

Snow Patrol

Run (Live at KEXP)
Chasing Cars (Hey Team! Remix)
You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will. (live Bright Eyes cover)
An Olive Grove Facing The Sea (live at SXSW)

With Eyes Open they crafted an album that went on to be number one in the UK for sales for the whole of 2006. Impressive. They used to be less stadium-rock [i.e. Less like Coldplay]. But still, everyone has a lot of hate for them, and I don't. I like them. The songs above are brilliant. Although I saw them perform on the Brits and it was one of the most soulless performances I've ever seen. Maybe sometimes they're actually good though? You decide.

Muse

Muse vs The Spinto Band - Supermassive Mandy

I heart Showbiz. Everything after that album was a bit hit-and-miss for me. And I don't get all this wanting to be Britney Spears craic. But you know... voted Best Live Act at the Brits must count for something. Right? Enjoy a mash-up that actually works for once.

Kings of Leon

I've heard Four Kicks covered about ten times live, always well. It's a great song. Aha Shake Heartbreak is an album I listened to in a car, the morning after, very hung over, and it is a great album. Youth and Young Manhood is an album I've listened to in the store-room of my then-workplace Longs while climbing up shelves and pretending to be working. It was pretty decent too. I'm sure they'd be great live.

Tori Amos

Famous Blue Raincoat (Leonard Cohen cover)
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover)

Concept albums, and pretty piano songs. With as little familiarity as I have with her work, it's hard to say more. A nice quiet one for the crowd of hangover-kids.

Amy Winehouse

She's a sesh-head. She's bound to be good fun.

The Fratellis

They like IRN-BRU. I saw him carrying a bottle on the Brits. FACT! Sticking with the old Scottish heritage. Chelsea Dagger is equal parts catchy-as-hell and annoying-as-hell. It's a good singalong though.

Goo Goo Dolls

Iris (acoustic)
Slide (acoustic)

Say it with me now: Old. School. That said though, Iris is just one of those songs. One of the amazing one's that everyone has their own little memory for. It reappears on mix-tapes all over the place. It's on at house-party's. It's legendary. Slide, less so, but a decent tune, with a decent melody.

Scissor Sisters

Take Me Out (Franz Ferdinand cover)

Never really catered to my tastes unless I was insanely drunk at the time. So yea, a good festival band I guess. Sorry about the dire 56kbps, but it's a good enough cover, so what the hell.

Mika

"Hi my name's Mika, and I'm a combination of Queen, the Scissor Sisters, and the Darkness. Enjoy my live screeching performance."

M.A.N.D.Y.

DR. LEKTROLUV

Booka Shade

Wu-tang Klan

No thanks.

Support recorded music: Buy CD's from Amazon.
Support live music: Buy an Oxegen ticket.

if it's not you then do it for the sake of fashion

Everyone would like 15 minutes of fame. Half the world is currently writing a blog post about themselves, about a band, about how they just featured in a 3 minute documentary which is currently #4876 on http://www.youtube.com/. Everyone wants someone to take notice. It's like what they used to - and still say - about novelists. Everyone and their dog is a closet novelist, waiting for the final page to that masterpiece. Now it's not so much about being a novelist... it's just about going against the trends, becoming an actor, an artist, a singer, a band-member. Not getting a simple day-to-day office job, or being a construction worker. We all aspire to fame. Kele is your grandfather, telling you that you had the chance to be anything you ever wanted, and your choices have been self-serving and that you'll live to regret them. Was it worth it? For those few beautiful starlit nights when you passed out in a field, drunk? Probably.



Bloc Party

Rhododendron

You know, I've listened to this song on repeat 22 times already today. It's not that it's particularly good. I think it's more to do with the passing, soothing nature of the song. It's certainly nothing special... but it does possess a lot of indie charm, and it's a relaxing song to sit with and contemplate. In short, it tides you over like a nice cup of tea. [Buy]



Pedro the Lion

When They Really Get To Know You They Will Run

Another one in the same vein. I know next to nothing about Pedro the Lion - ok, so I know he (David Bazan) is adored by his fans. Anyway, to my ears this song seems to be about the frivolity of school/university. The pretenses and fronts that all of us put on and put up with to make ourselves more likable. The fact that we can convince ourselves, and crucially: others, of anything. "Her tiara digging deep in her head"... I don't know about you, but since I seem to remember that David Bazan is religious, this line - for whatever reason - conjures up the image of a crown of thorns. High-school kids simultaneously blessed and mocked - liked and envied. But at the end of the day, this song is a summer song. One song off a mix-tape soundtracking kick-abouts on the beach. Image is everything. [Buy]

P.S. For the record: I think A Weekend in the City is well-worth buying. It's struggling to be a soundtrack to our generation, and almost succeeds. I adore it. You should too.

Old News

So my fileden account got suspended, I suspect because I put up that Johnathan Rice track. So I now have a new account, but consequently a lot of old links won't work. Sorry. Fresh starts and all that, though.



Hot Chip

Look After Me

Hot Chip can, at times, be the essence of electro-beauty. Like poetry read in silence. Synths played with eager hearts. A postal service for the new romantics. The sounds of a letter being delivered through the letter-box. The letter is from a old lover. Your romance was painted in many colours. A full palette was used to describe the two of you and it ended sad but hopeful. There is still fondness in the memory. There is still beauty in the retelling. And if ever the two of you were to meet again you'd be best friends, old lovers with no history other than a history of hugs and more hugs. Affection.

Words can't describe the beauty sometimes. Sometimes a photograph truly is worth a thousand words. And sometimes music is worthy of no words at all. Imagine sign language to those with perfect hearing. Offer your friend a bed in your room and let him lie down... put on Hot Chip and provide him with tea and a biscuit, even if he's not sick, he'll feel better after listening. Listen. Listen. Listen. [Buy]

Text written 14th August 2006



Scala Choir & Kolacny Brothers

Teenage Dirtbag (Wheatus cover)

It's the quirky piano line. It's the staccato. It's the fact that a five-year old could play it with ease. It's the fact that it's youthful voices, full of purity, singing, in unity, about the youthful hassles of growing up. It's quirky, eccentric, popular, and pure. In its essence is happiness. Right beside the happiness lies silliness. It's novel. The novelty may wear out. But for now, it will do. [Buy]

Text written 12th September 2006

She's Nothing Like November

Johnathan Rice

I Wouldn't Miss It For The World

Like a more confident Elliott Smith. Like a wordsmith who hasn't quite found his own imagery for the first verse so borrows others. This song could perhaps be considered cliché, but when delivered with such honesty, reminiscent of Between The Bars, well, I'm not complaining. Are you? Ambiguous and delicate, softly strummed, lovingly whispered, it ends with a promise - the motif throughout the song - "when you die I will come looking for you... I wouldn't miss it for the world". Because the world changes us, makes us harder, makes us stronger, makes us bitter... if we retain even a little of our souls, we'll have something to celebrate. [Buy]



Tobias Froberg

Grace

A wedding song. The ceremony's over; the church service, the meal, the drink, the speeches: everything's over and everything's run out. And you're slightly sad, because oh how you laughed at Jeff's speech; and the gifts - the gifts! - they're so beautiful, and you don't think you'll ever be able to let everyone know how much it means - oh it means so much! Everything's over and everything's run out. It's the last dance of the evening, the true reality starts here. The meaning of cold feet. The meaning of true love. [Buy]

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I've been meaning to write about both songs since the 10th of July, 2006. I'm sorry it took so long. Two love songs in one day. It's almost like Valentine's day, a day too late. Welcome back.

in words once beautiful!

It's hard to be miserable, after going out for a sesh. A sesh, for those not in the know = a night, of partying, of drinking, of having a laugh with friends. Harder than that though, is constructing coherent sentences whilst inebriated... but we'll give it a go.

Jeniferever. What is there to say? They're signed to Drowned In Sound Records - an off-shoot of the music-news-reviews-information website Drowned In Sound. The main thing with the band, EVEN THOUGH they're a post-rock band, is that their main focus - the thing which will BREAK... YOUR... HEART... about this band - is the vocals. Odd, I know. Generally, post-rock relies upon the music as the main heart-tugger [see: Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai - who use a few voice samples, Godspeed You! Black Emperor - ditto, Sigur Rós - who use melody, but not so much lyrics, etc].

But Jeniferever have beautiful lyrics. One's that will tug and tug and tug and not relent until finally you say, "ok, I get it, I'm crying, my heart is breaking, what more do you need?" This song starts pseudo-triumphantly. It's almost like we're all - the whole world and I! we're pretending! yes, yes we are! - pretending that we're fine, it's ok, we'll go on! But you know, by the end I'm weeping - we're all... yes, the whole world and I! we're weeping! yes! we are... I'm sorry, but we are! - sorry, the whole world is weeping, at the thought of things that are broken, that can never - NEVER - be fixed, and I don't know why; and nor do they.

But you know, I dream. I dream, every single night. Yes, every! single! night! That "your eyes would... burn as bright as they once did! burn as if you were seventeen!" Because I loved you then. I did. And the end of this song - the quiet words, the quiet instruments; the broken-heart spilling out into song - that's how I'll always feel. Even though I still have my dreams, and those lyrics, all about you - six at last count; even though I have all of this, I will still miss you.



Jeniferever

The Sound Of Beating Wings

Imagine the loss of a friend. Someone who you've been with for say, six months, a year? - No! more than that! - someone who you've had a relationship with since... since seven years ago. Someone you've always loved but they've never known, truly. Someone, let's say, you became friendly with, properly, sincerely, for about a year and a half. And something happened, you don't know what, but things drifted apart, someone/something severely broke the bond, but in your heart it's still there - the bond - it will always be there. You'll always love them even if they will never - NEVER - know it. This song is about them.

"the loss of you left the scars that will always be a part of me"

That's the truth. Even if you never know it.

[and what are the words? the words once beautiful? what are they?

I loved you.]

THERE ARE ANGELS SINGING! THE BELLS! THE BELLS!

So, it's nearly Christmas. Seen the news stories about global warming? - there will no longer be snow, etc, etc? Well, I'm still hoping for snow. Why? This song:



Swimming

In Dulci Jubilo

Trivia: It uses a technique called binaural recording. It makes the song lovely. The kids talking and laughing at the start, and all you can think of is an ice-rink in the middle of a snow-covered piece of land surrounded by the whole community.

The guitar comes sliding through the ice, skating along - no fear - just nice, and casual, and simple, and perfect. All the instruments arrive - they heard maybe Santa was coming? And if not, it's just nice to be outside in their duffel coats with their hoods up and the air cutting through them. Each breath an effort but a lush, refreshingly invigorating one: so, this is what it feels like to be alive?!

This is the type of song they play at outdoor ceremonies - you know the type: a religious message and freshly made tea served in polystyrene cups and mince pies and the Angels come along to dance. To keep it brief: this song is triumphant, it's laughing, it's complex but seems simple, it sounds like anyone could've arranged this - but, could they? no! of course not! - it's like stepping outside, and slipping and falling onto the concrete - oh, but of course! there's ice all around! ice and snow! - and looking up and seeing an Angel laughing at you.



The Late Greats

Sleigh Ride

Frivolous like a fairytale, Christmas is the time of snow, and cards written in a loving hand, with a carefully thought-out message inside, something cliché and earnest. Writing about music is pretty much the same - somehow the words aren't quite right, the sentences aren't as honest as intended. But still, here's another song, and there's really not much to say about it other than:

It's building a snowman in the freezing cold; it's waking up in the morning and your little brother picking up your new Christmas present and throwing it out the window - but it's Christmas, it's funny, you're not mad; it's ice-skating but falling so many times that - oh my, my back, my back! i think i've broken it! ah, help me up, oh please! plea - and pulling that person down with you; it's dancing with someone exceedingly attractive; it's learning to laugh; it's being happy again.

Buy this album! I beg you! All proceeds go to Shelter! The songs are beautiful, and silly, and classic! Stream more of the festivity! It's Christmas!

When your heart takes over

Let's state the obvious first, as a sort of pre-requisite: there's lots of music. Lots and lots. More than you can imagine actually. About everything. Ever.

Songs about strangers on trains that we are immediately drawn to; trees and bushfires; politics and religion; glaciers and hurricanes and tragedies; tears and sadness and deaths in the family; parents that left before birth, promises that were never fulfilled; the 'what if's and 'but's and everything that could've been done differently, and everything that might never have happened, and everything that despite our prayers and wishes never did; the money lost on the bus; the gambling debts that ruined a marriage. Songs about distance and time and space and the big fuck-off "WHY?!... Why are we here? What's our purpose? Who is my God and what of my life and when was I most pure and where is hell?"

And there are a lot of songs about love. But this one. It's summed up in the words that emerge through the laughter at the end: "Oh God". It is one of the most elegant, sad, delightful little songs I have ever heard. It's poorly recorded, and it's casually performed, and it's so so unbelievably fucking heartbreakingly beautiful.



Elizabeth Frazer and Jeff Buckley

All Flowers In Time

Reunion! Union!

Stars

Reunion

Striking down on that first chord like some sort of smiling tribute to The Smiths, dancing and twinkling with the musical equivalent of controlled chaos. Conjuring images with the fantastic frivolousness:

driving to school, and home again, with the wind in your hair and tears in your eyes from the gush of air, and the freedom, the beauty of the scenery - it's not much to look at, actually - but right now, in this, precise moment, it's beautiful. Palm trees instead of Palmpilots. Staying up during the night dreaming awake and then eventually nodding off.

(You couldn't slip into slumber like that these days when you're doing an all-nighter 'cause you know you have to have that essay in by noon, or else.)

But before you left the waking world, all you could see in your thoughts was the girl you kissed on the cheek; the girl who's hand you held and afterwards convinced yourself you were in love! - the one you said you cared for, sort of. 'Cause even though you were by parts shy and by parts confident - your own little enigma - you could never tell that girl, all the things that you probably should've told her. I'll let this song be your story. It's smiling, it's nostalgic, it's sad. It harks back to innocent days of drinking yourself silly - as much with happiness as with alcohol. It recalls a time when you were too scared to tell a girl, well... that... you...

truly truly loved her.

Don't Write Tired

Tiredness filled the page. The young artist watched as the canvas filled itself with ink, almost by magic. When he awoke in the morning he didn't know who'd been in his drawing room. He remembered a rough sketch, a simple idea, and a palette full of colours which he didn't know what to do with. When he awoke his ideas had been realised, his palette emptied, he almost felt betrayed. His subconscience came out and it filled the canvas and something about it made him sad, hopeless. Somehow it felt like he didn't own the beauty because he didn't remember creating it.

Who knows where thoughts come from. They just appear. That's right Lucas. That's right.

I have a blog? I have a blog. I'm at uni... versity. Glasgow, since you ask. Updates will begin again. Sometimes you get so lonely in this place all you can do is write. Especially when you can't download. Then you upload.

FOR THE TINIEST MOMENT IT'S ALL NOT TRUE

It's light and floating. Children's toys strike a chord. They sparkle with innocence. The voice is matter-of-fact. There is blind hope in this song. There are tears and there are memories. There is joy and glitter. Imagine colouring books lying open on a hall table. Imagine a telephone lying beside it. Imagine the chance of a fresh start, a beautiful dream, one final pleasant sleep next to a pillow smelling of her perfume.

Snow Patrol

You Could Be Happy

There are heart-felt tears. There are regrets. There are mistakes. There is a dream of forgiveness. There is real-life.