Commercials have done favours for more musicians than you can shake your proverbial stick at. For a long time now I've considered such broadcasts to be a conduit for some great music; case in point, the latest Virgin Media advert that features Beasts by London (via Liverpool) based songstress Slow Moving Millie. Really, it's a great piece of emotive music but what's weird is that when I purchased it off itunes, the track is named Beasts (From the Virgin Media Advert). It's the same on Play.com. And Spotify. I get the distinct feeling that the record company is pinning all its hopes on this bit of publicity spring boarding Miss Moving Millie into the limelight.
Saturday, 22 August 2009
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Hockey
Can we not beat around the bush. Hockey? They're great, right? And that fact that their drummer has chosen (or maybe not) to model himself on Derek Smalls of Spinal Tap fame is an occurance that makes them all the more alluring. You just know Pitchfork's will find them repulsive, which riles me, though will not stop me catching them when the come to town (Liverpool town) the middle of next month. The above video is a live performance of the track Song Away, taken from the forthcoming album Mind Chaos which can be pre-ordered HERE.
Monday, 20 April 2009
Time-Out
I've gotten a little behind on various bits of university work hence the neglected blog. Once I get back on track, I'll be back with bells on. Apologies. Until then...
Sunday, 15 March 2009
This Is Not A fire Release
October saw Check The Availability introduced you to the tropical sounds of My Tiger My Timing. If you liked what you heard then, you'll be pleased to hear this London foursome have anounced the release of a souped version (Andy Spence of NYPC had a hand in recording) of their signature tune, This Is Not A Fire, through Silver Machine Music on April 6TH. There don't seem to be any plans to press up a 7", however the digital download will be backed by a Tronic Youth remix, together with a dubstep version coutersy of Sam Wire. In the meantime...
UPDATE: I've been informed that This Is Not A Fire will get a 7" release. The date? 06/04/09.
Monday, 2 March 2009
No. 26
"Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms" Sen. Ron Paul .
MP3: Flowers Of Doom - Happiness DOWNLOAD
MP3: Peter, Bjorn And John - Lay It Down (Punks Jump Up Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Red Blooded Women - Enjoy The Silence (Heads We Dance Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Plants And Animals - Bye Bye Bye DOWNLOAD
MP3: Plump DJ's - Beat Myself Up (Don Diablo Re-rub) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Modeselektor -Suckerpin (Feadz Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (Me Gusta Remix) DOWNLOAD
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The Revolution.
MP3: Flowers Of Doom - Happiness DOWNLOAD
MP3: Peter, Bjorn And John - Lay It Down (Punks Jump Up Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Red Blooded Women - Enjoy The Silence (Heads We Dance Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Plants And Animals - Bye Bye Bye DOWNLOAD
MP3: Plump DJ's - Beat Myself Up (Don Diablo Re-rub) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Modeselektor -Suckerpin (Feadz Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (Me Gusta Remix) DOWNLOAD
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The Revolution.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Milke
Milke definitely win the award for best Myspace header thingy-ma-gig. But that's a side issue, for this "impeccably coiffured" British based, Australian born duo, made up of Ra Khahn and Andrew Friendly, have achieved something so few accomplish in managing to seamlessly synthesize indie, electro and pop without a hint of cheese or pretense. Single, Love Get Out Of My Way, due out on 17TH March, is delivered as a taster of Milke's debut album, set for release sometime later this year.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
New Phoenix Track
It's funny, I've never really been that in to Phoenix. Odd, considering the bands pedigree; fulfilling the role of backing group for Air, not to mention the fact the bands guitarist, Larent Brancowitz, played with short lived retrospective super group, Darlin', which featured both members of Daft Punk!
Phoenix's new track, 1901, released in anticipation of the bands fourth studio album sometime in May, may require that I do something about my relative ignorance of the band's back catalogue. 1901 is a pleasure to listen to. A masterpiece of French indie-rock. The chunky keyboard buzz intro, the whirling synths and jangly guitar hook, make it (for me) this years Time To Pretend.
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Sunday, 22 February 2009
Hometown Glory (CCC Remix)
Here's the story behind the track (how very VH1):
"After meeting her at Heathrow Airport (we were on the same flight to NY. She was in first class and CCC was in no class) (That was supposed to be funny, so please Laugh!) it was LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! During the flight, her album, '19' was included in the 'on board entertainment. How cool is that!?!?!? You fly from London to NY and your album is available to all the passengers. Perfect time to show off. Very very cool!!! Anyway, 'Hometown glory' is simply amazing, and this is CCC's hommage to her beautiful voice."
So there you have it. Destiny? Fate? Luck? Whatever it was, s'nice when things come together, innit?
Friday, 20 February 2009
BMK
If you have a thing for MSTRKRFT and the Nordic countries, then let me introduce you to BMK; Sweden's answer to the Ontarian duo. Known in their homeland as Blandmissbruk (a word which I'm told refers to the mixing of many nefarious habits at the same time), BMK are rumoured to be masterminded by members of the Swedish band, Division Of Laura Lee. They where brought to the attention of label Swedish Columbia via their notorious warehouse parties in the outskirts of Gothenberg. The label was impressed enough with their slightly murkier brand of electro-dance, that they whipped out the bands second single, We Don't Care, backed by a sweet Tanimura Midnight remix.
Get the record HERE for free.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Between The Bars
MP3: Mutual Appreciation Society - Between The Bars DOWNLOAD
MP3: Grant Buell -Between The Bars DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Vitamin String Quartet - Between The Bars DOWNLOAD
MP3: The Vitamin String Quartet - Between The Bars DOWNLOAD
Monday, 16 February 2009
No. 25
MP3: Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy (Paul Epworth Version) DOWNLOAD
MP3: East 17 - It's Alright DOWNLOADMP3: Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning (Alex Metric Remix) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Mike Keneally -Sisters (Steve Vai Cover) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Vitamin String Quartet - Viva La Vida (Coldplay Cover) DOWNLOAD
MP3: Don Henley - Dirty Laundry DOWNLOAD
Saturday, 14 February 2009
The Evening Magazine
Judging by the fact that it's early evening on 14TH February, and I'm writing up a blog post, you should have some indication as to my relationship status. And if you're reading this on said date, you're probably in the same position. I'll attempt to make this worth both our whiles.
Interestingly, Evening Magazine (founded by ex-BC Camplight man, David Disbrow) pushed forward the release date of their E.P., The Ride Across Lake Constance, from 26TH January, to sometime earlier in the month. I can only assume that demand was so high there were worries of rife copyright infringement. That's understandable, as this 'Philadelphian' nine-piece where pretty much the soundtrack to my December; a calming, delicate alternative to the frenzied activity of participating in a family Christmas. In making The Ride Across Lake Constance, Evening Magazine have made a genuinely accomplished record. While the diversity of sounds and instrumentation recalls the rich music of Arcade Fire, the sparse, understated production distances their music sufficiently from their northern friends. Buy the E.P. HERE.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Help, I'm Alive (Acoustic Version)
I posted Help, I'm Alive, back before Christmas. It's been on heavy rotation since, justifying my excited anticipation of the release of Metric's fourth studio album, Fantasies (due 14/04/09). Bridging the gap between then and now, The Band have kindly distributed an acoustic version of Help, I'm Alive via their website. Thanks guys. Dare I say I prefer this to the 'plugged' version:
Sunday, 8 February 2009
Adverts
What in God's name is going on in world of commercials? First we had John Lydon of Sex Pistols fame dressed in stately home regalia flogging Country Life butter (whose sales, I hear, have risen considerably as a result). Following that, Iggy Pop stuffed the remnants of his dignity down the bog by advertising car insurance. Car insurance!!! And last night, I watched agog, as the latest Pantene shampoo advert was backed by a 'classical' version of Daft Punk's Aerodynamic, played by all round pain-in-the-arse Myleene Klass. Is nothing sacred?
Monday, 26 January 2009
New Year
The dawn of a new year usually brings with it the hope that the coming 365 days will bring success and happiness. This year we've even had the inauguration of America's first black president, giving many individuals 'hope', which, putting my overbearing cynicism aside (I believe Obama is calling for extra troops in Afghanistan), I'm only too happy to buy into.
Unfortunately, the signs that my year will develop into something half-decent are not encouraging, hence the omission of any post lately. First, my ipod decides to go on the blink (I'm sure those things are built to last no longer that 18 months). Then I go and drop my N95 in the toilet (don't ask) and am now left with the most basic of phones and an addiction to Snake. To top it all of, my car, my beloved '92 Micra, gave up the day after I got it back from the garage where I'd just had its breaks fixed.To my aid came Swedish duo, The Sound Of Arrows, whom delivered music's answer to Prozac via their track, M.A.G.I.C.. This peppy numbers opening gambit is to sing what must surly be the most encouraging lines of the year: 'Yesterday I had the longest dream/That the world was endless with possibilities'. That coupled with the optimistic melody of a chorus that sounds like it's been written for the Disney Channel, sung by kids, makes this tune a genuine underground pop classic.
Monday, 12 January 2009
Heads We Dance - Computer Love (Kraftwerk Cover)
In a shrewed move, Leeds based electro-pop outfit, Heads We Dance, have covered Kraftwerk's classic track, Computer Love, as part of the Buffet Libre DJ's Rewind2 Project. I say shrewd as I find it rather appropriate that a song about discovering romance through technology should get reworked by a band who sing about Love In A Digital Age.
All songs featured on the Rewind2 Project are available to download for free HERE.
MP3: Heads We Dance - Computer Love (Kraftwerk Cover) DOWNLOAD
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And while we're on the subject:
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