Come On, Sarah

Smooth.

2007-06-25T21:05:00.000Z

Christ...
I haven't died. Not quite.
I've been mobbed with changes at work, and flat-related-stresses. If i'm truthful, i've had an awful lot of excrutiating hangovers i've had to work through and generally lasting the day/week/month has proven tougher than expected.

Anyway.
Glastonbury Festival has inspired me.
I've picked up lots of records i haven't listened to in a long time, dusted them down, given them a spin and remembered some of my favourite festival moments.

The Chemical Brothers in particular moved me.
I don't know how, or where, but i simply must see them again. This summer. The strobe lighting looked absolutely stupendous, didn't it?

If you haven't already, you can catch that performance along with a handful of other key headliners on the BBC's dedicated site.

While i was recovering from my latest overdose of white wine and sambuca in bed yesterday, i made this mix to try and chill me out a little bit. It's been a tough month, so here it is for anyone else who needs a desperately overdue mental detox.

'Save Me' Mix:
Moby - Porcelain [mp3]
Nitin Sawhney - Spark [mp3]
CocoRosie - Noah's Ark [mp3]
Dntel - Roll On (feat. Jenny Lewis) [mp3]
Lamb - Gabriel [mp3]
Portishead - Pedestal [mp3]
Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek [mp3]
Air - Alone In Kyoto [mp3]
Massive Attack - Teardrop [mp3]
The Chemical Brothers - The Pills Won't Help You Now (feat. Midlake) [mp3]
Bjork - Human Behaviour [mp3]
Kosheen - Face in a Crowd [mp3]
Four Tet - My Angel Rocks Back and Forth [mp3]
Fujiya & Miyagi - Collarbone [mp3]
Radiohead - Idioteque [mp3]

Please support the artists - buy their records.

Happy Sunday.

2007-05-27T22:00:00.000Z

I always wonder what your average Tom, Dick or Harry does on a Sunday.

Me? I sleep in till late, stagger about my home bleary eyed until i've mustered the energy together to make some brunch, then shower, at which point i tend to settle down on my wonderful leather sofa and read The Beach for the 1000th time, watch Shipwrecked, and listen to music i had long since forgotten. (I also usually spend a small fortune in Semi Chem and Boots, but i feel that's by-the-by in context...)

I feel embarassed to utter the phrase "I forgot about Mark Kozelek", but i have really neglected his records of late.

He is one of the greatest lyricists i've come across. His lyrics are beautifully desperately harrowing, with bleak, subtle accompanying music, fringed with folk tendencies. Kozelek seems to have a peculiar fascination with writing about loss, death, and pain. I love this bleak outlook, and the way in which he seems to despair at life.

"Sorry that, I could never love you back, I could never care enough, In these last days..."

...Beautifully crushing.

Here are my two favourite tracks from Mark Kozelek.

Red House Painters - Song For A Blue Guitar [mp3]
Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio [mp3]

What i forgot to mention, is that aside from writing, and recording materal with Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon and as a solo artist in his own right, Kozelek also runs his own record label; Caldo Verde Records. 'Tiny Cities' is a release off this label from Sun Kil Moon, and is, essentially, a record of delicious Modest Mouse covers.
Superb.

Sun Kil Moon - Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes (Modest Mouse cover) [mp3]

Stunning.

Go and buy the records.
Please.

Kozelek's website, for Red House Painers, Sun Kil Moon and solo work.

Ivory.

2007-05-26T17:14:00.000Z

Ludovico Einaudi is my favourite pianist. Full stop.

As a pianist, i adore playing his music. He composes works that ebb so effortlessly between wretchedly sad, and the beautifully euphoric. I've always found his pieces so easy to play because it's so easy to turn every piece into situation, and invert his music into your world; your situations. You can make his music personal. His melodies are so lyrical in style they sound like stories, whisperings of half truths and revelations.

I was lucky enough to see Einaudi live at a concert at Usher Hall in Edinburgh on his Divenire tour to support his new record of the same name, in March this year. To say it is a concert that will stay with me forever, really does not do it justice. I was moved to tears, on numerous occasions, at the sheer beauty of it. The fact Einaudi utilises such modern and simplistic composing techniques, yet can still emote such rich and strong feelings within his audience is a credit to his musical vision. And that's exactly how i feel about his music. It is a well crafted vision.

I'd like to think i have an affection, in some degree, for almost every style of music there is. If i'm truthful, classical music; despite being a classically trained musician myself, is one genre i find difficult to develop a real relationship with. What i do know, is that i adore Einaudi's work, and that hearing him hum and harmonize along with his feather-light fingering, whilst supported by a phenominal string essemble seemed more than merely a musical experience. It lit up a new genre clearly for me. Properly.

It sounds incredibly clichè.

The first piece i ever heard by Einaudi was 'Fuori Dalla Notte'.
My piano tutor had heard his 'Eden Roc' collection on ClassicFM and, knowing i yearned to sound more like an accomplised pianist than a mere amateur, suggested i try his work. I loved it. The piece offers such flexibility for rubarto and personal definition on dynamics.

Soon, i pieced together a handful of his piano music books and records. Here are a few of my favourites, most of which can be found on his 'Greatest Hits' CD - 'Echoes: The Einaudi Collection'.

Ludovico Einaudi - Giorni Despairi [mp3]
Ludovico Einaudi - Eden Roc [mp3]
Ludovico Einaudi - A Fucoco [mp3]

His latest record, 'Divenire' has moved me more than his others.
Einaudi ultilises more strings than on previous collections, and he has also experimented with digital sounds; loops, samples etc. He seems to plumet to a new depth, and it's quite epic in parts. Seeing a good 80% of this album performed live has probably made it for me.
Here are my three favourites off this record:

Ludovico Einaudi - Divenire [mp3]
Ludovico Einaudi - Monday [mp3]
Ludovico Einaudi - Oltermare [mp3]

Please, if any of these have spurred an interest, ask me where to go next!

But more importantly, please buy his records.
He's a wonderful man, and exceptionally talented. He deserves more recognition for his work.

Those of you in the UK have the chance to catch him at The Royal Albert Hall on the 7th November.

I'd grab it with both hands if i were you.

Enjoy.

Cheer Me Up Thank You

2007-05-20T16:09:00.000Z

Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine [mp3]

Rachel's - Last Things Last [mp3]
Coldplay - Fix You [mp3]
Beck - Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometimes [mp3]
Elliott Smith - Everything Means Nothing To Me [mp3]
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - People Ain't No Good [mp3]
Martin Grech - Holy Father Inferior [mp3]
Nina Nastasia - Counting Up Your Bones [mp3]
Ryan Adams - Starlite Diner [mp3]
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - I See A Darkness [mp3]
Low - Pissing [mp3]
Moby - Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? [mp3]
Arab Strap - Soaps [mp3]
Owen - Never Meant [mp3]
Radiohead - Talk Show Host (Nellee Hooper Mix) [mp3]

New Buffalo - Cheer Me Up Thank You [mp3]

Normal service will be resumed shortly.

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.
- Aldous Huxley

I've got love for you...

2007-05-13T17:12:00.000Z

Living in Glasgow has altered my driving (and living) experiences for many different reasons.
1) I can drive my flatmate's car, which has the luxary of a 5th gear and speed capabilities that far exceed anything my poor Micra could ever withstand.
2) I get to be angry - city-driving is very, very different to country-driving.
3) I get to listen to XFM Scotland. I very rarely listen to Radio, but XFM is great.

XFM, and my flatmate, are responsible for 75% of the tracks i am going to post.

These are bands i consider to be my guilty pleasures. Some/a lot of them really shouldn't be, but they are that sort of wonderfully happy, non-complicated alternative pop that would make a lot of my friends want to vomit.

The list:

1) Hard-Fi - Hard To Beat [mp3]
"Can you feel it? Rocking the city?" See, SIMPLE.
It's quite a tune. Great for pre-going out girly nonsense involving shots of vodka and blackcurrent from eggcups.

2) CSS - Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above [mp3]
You just know that if this comes on in a club you would be incapable of making you feet stop. It's just impossible. The riff circa. the 2 minute mark is amazing!

3) The Dandy Warhols - We Used To Be Friends [mp3]
A great driving track. Pure cheese. But great.

4) The Sunshine Underground - Borders [mp3]
I finally managed to see them live last week. It was worth putting up with the crowd, this track especially was indietastic.

5) The Pigeon Detectives - I Found Out [mp3]
GOING OUT WITH! GOING OUT WITH!
'Nuff said.

6) Amy Winehouse - Rehab [mp3]
I can't stand this woman. Girl. Whatever, female. That said, i do think this song is brilliant. It's had pretty much constant spin-time in my flat lately. Super.

7) Trap 6 - Get It On [mp3]
I suspect a certain bandmember may kill me for associating this band with the likes of Hard-Fi and The Enemy (below), but regardless, this song is an absolute belter. I made the fatal mistake of playing it to my co-habitant and it is another song on the list i am hearing on a terrifyingly frequent basis.

8) The Enemy - Away From Here [mp3]
As featured on THAT ER advert. And i love ER.

9) Maximo Park - Our Velocity [mp3]
One of the best singles i've heard all year. And the video is top, too. I've never been the biggest Maximo Park fan, but this is absolutely fantastic.

10) Calvin Harris - Acceptable In The 80's [mp3]
Is the BIGGEST club tune i've heard in a while. I first heard this in the ABC in Glasgow quite a few months ago and just thought it was the best thing since slicest bread. I've never had quite so much simultaneous singing and dancing related glee in one place. Magic.

Once again, if you enjoy the tracks you really should support the artist(s) and buy their records.

Enjoy, you bunch of indie pop-tarts.

Perfect bank holiday music.

2007-05-07T17:57:00.000Z

Asobi Seksu.

Asobi Seksu are a wonderful shoegazing rock/pop band from New York. Their name actually means "sex for fun" or "playful sex", or something along those lines, in Japenese. Do i have your attention? Good.

They have a rich, enveloping sound lashed together with layer upon layer of guitars, akin to My Bloody Valentine, Yo La Tengo, The Radio Dept. etc. It's the most beautifully textured sound imaginable. 'I'm Happy But You Don't Like Me' from their debut self-titled record is just so big.

Yuki Chikudate's vocals break through this exspansive instrumental work like a ray of sunshine... her voice is so unmistakably pure, ranging from falsetto to beautifully soulful, interchanging English and Japenese with ease.

'Thursday' is possibly one of their better known tracks, from the latest LP 'Citrus', sounding distinctly pop with subtle vocal harmonies melting into a swirling wall of sound. It's absolutely divine.

I have heard that they are due to tour the UK within the next couple of months, they already have a date unofficially announced in London on the 19th June at The Metro Club, i can only pray they make it up to Scotland.

Asobi Seksu - I'm Happy But You Don't Like Me [mp3]
Asobi Seksu - Thursday [mp3]
Asobi Seksu - Walk On The Moon [video]

Please go and buy their records.

www.asobiseksu.com

Hope you all had a nice long weekend! x

Twice as Nice.

2007-05-01T20:36:00.000Z

I like reinventing.
Be it myself (i have an interesting habit of taking scissors to my hair purely to eleviate boredom, oh uh..), or my environment, location, anything... i get itchy feet with the same thing for too long.
Why should it be any different with music?

I mean, i have classics, sure. I have tracks i could never, ever get bored of; tracks i wish to never forget... But i love hearing someone else have a crack at a track i love. Or better still, a track i hate and can grow to appreciate thanks to a brilliant cover. Now that's really interesting...

It could be percieved as cowardice, i guess. People have a perception of a cover as being something kids do at college shows when they're 15. Thrashing a poor Pulp cover out, 10 years too late. The number of times i had to sit through 'Teenage Dirtbag' by Wheatus, is just hideous. Iconic somehow, but just absurd!

Anyway... Here are some good covers. Some of my favourites, infact. I hope you like them.

Cat Power - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction [mp3]
- The Rolling Stones

I saw this stunner live in Glasgow on Thursday. I was pretty glad i had only had a couple of drinks, because i fear that had i had a few more, i may have left a broken skeleton of the person i was. She was so bewitchingly beautiful. So scatty, in pieces, just beautiful. I've only seen a couple of people behave like her on stage, but yet it seems lazy to bracket her in the same group as these artists. It was beautifully endearing, anyway.

This is off her Covers Record. It's beautiful. Enjoy.

www.catpowerthegreatest.com // www.rollingstones.com

Danny Malone - Sadie [mp3]
- Joanna Newsom

I'll be truthful, i know very little about this man.
I do know that he is from Texas, and makes wonderful folky music laced with pop.
Frankly, anyone who can pull off a decent Joanna Newsom cover earns my respect, and i adore this cover. He's morphed a melancholy, eerie track into something quite upbeat and radiant. It's not overpowering, and is delicately respectful to Newsom's flair.

www.dannymalone.net // www.joannanewsom.com

Bettie Serveert - Lover I Don't Have To Love [mp3]
- Bright Eyes

Bettie Serveert get a lot of stick. A lot of hate, you might say (i'm sorry...) Infact, i remember Pitchfork ripping the album this track is from, 'Attagirl' absolutely to pieces.
I don't care, i like this cover. I don't think it is particularly worthy of featuring on an album, and admit that does seem slightly desperate, and admittedly it's not a patch on the original Bright Eyes track... but it's still great.
Don't let Pitchfork dictate your tastes, have a listen!

www.bettieserveert.com // www.thisisbrighteyes.com

Eva Cassidy - Imagine [mp3]
- John Lennon

I remember hearing the album 'Songbird' for the first time when i was about 12. My Stepmum was a fairly big Eva Cassidy fan, and i remember being completely bewitched by 'Fields of Gold' and 'Over The Rainbow'. I've since sought out the other records that have been released after cancer finally beat her, and they really are gems. This is off her record called simply 'Imagine'. It's a lovely rendition of a special song.

www.evacassidy.org // www.johnlennon.com

Islands - Waterloo Suns et [mp3]
- The Kinks

I used to love The Kinks. Past tense. When i was 16 years old, in my final music exam for my GCSE's i had to totally disect Waterloo Sunset as part of my modern pop song module, or something. It has completely destroyed not only the song, but their back catelogue for me.
At least, so i thought. Until i heard this Islands session. It is helping me to overcome my fear of The Kinks, so it can't be all bad...

www.islandsareforever.com // www.thekinks.com

Johnette Napolitano - The Scientist [mp3]
- Coldplay

Just a really pretty, sweet, innocent cover of one of my favourite Coldplay tracks.
Nothing else to add, really...

www.johnettenapolitano.com // www.coldplay.com

Final Fantasy - Peach, Plum, Pear [mp3]
- Joanna Newsom

I associate this track with Final Fantasy almost as much as i do with Joanna Newsom. Which is very odd, to say the least. When i saw him in Glasgow last year, i was praying he would play this. He didn't. I half think that was a good thing though. I love the original. I think the cover is so rich and magnificently touching. I think it might have destroyed the dream for me, if it was all a reality!
Another wonderful Newsom cover, have a listen...

www.tomlab.com // www.joannanewsom.com

David Ford - Come Pick Me Up [mp3]
- Ryan Adams

Nothing will ever touch the original of this, for me. The harmonies are so mind numbingly beautiful. It almost seems to hug you. Like those annoying cuppa soup ads. Seeing it live was one of my musical highlights ever, i think. Anyway. As much as i adore Easyworld and Dav Ford, this isn't the best cover. He still has a magnificent voice, however. And it's still a magnificent track, so it can't be all bad... It's certainly worth a listen.

www.david-ford.com // www.ryan-adams.com

And finally...
Were you a Busted or a McFly person?
Can't decide? I have the perfect solution!
Busted AND McFly!
I spoil you, i know...
Busted & McFly - Build Me Up Buttercup [mp3]

If you like what you hear, don't forget to buy their records and support the featured artists.
Thanks!

Wild Horses.

2007-04-22T15:12:00.000Z

Gosh. I'm proper rubbish. Apologies to anyone who reads this for allowing such lengthy periods of time to elapse before i update. I have been trying to organise my life sufficiently before i could dedicate a few minutes to something other than coughing and squeaking (laryngitis, brap).

After the relative success of my 'Wolf party' (get the pun? good work) a while back, i've decided animal themes are great. I'm saving bears for a rainy day, because if nothing else, there are so many bands i love with bear related names/songs, it would take me days to settle on something worth sharing. And even then, the content of this Blog is going to be questionable...

So! I have settled on horses.

1) Sparklehorse.

Sparklehorse is Mark Linkous. To say he is an exceptionally talented, yet delicate man probably does not do his songwriting ability and temperment justice. At all.

Linkus' voice is beautifully eerie, yet sweet; cute. He's a contradiction of terms and i think that's why i love his quirky-pop so much. I was quite a late-comer to the Sparklehorse bandwagon, but i'm here to stay. Shade and Honey (see below) is one of my favourite tracks, for the bassline alone. It just floats. The keyboards just ooze and melt into the music. It's wonderful.

And what better, than Sparklehorse with a band as epic as The Flaming Lips? Covering Daniel Johnston? Sup-erb.

Sparklehorse - Shade and Honey [mp3]
Sparklehorse with The Flaming Lips - Go [mp3]

Sparklehorse online.

2) Band of Horses.

Band of Horses are one on an ever increasing list of bands i adore from record label Sup Pop. If i had to pick one label, and one label only from which to buy records, i think they would be it. I say think, there really isn't a shadow of a doubt i would pick Sup Pop. Wonderful, wonderful music...

Anyway, Bands of Horses. They are from Seattle, and consist of Ben Bridwell, Mat Brooke, Rod Hampton and Creighton Barrett. They play that orchestral, alternative-indie with folky roots stuff i love. If you dare call that a genre. If you like Low, Iron & Wine, The Radio Dept., The Flaming Lips etc, i don't think you could go wrong in investing in their debut album, 'Everything All The Time'. Here are two tracks off that record to wet your appetite.

Band of Horses - The Great Salt Lake [mp3]
Band of Horses - The Funeral [mp3]

Website.

3) The Unicorns.

...are more than horses. Yes, yes they are. Okay, so maybe this is a slight cheat, who cares.

When i think of The Unicorns, i can remember this July passed, Truck Festival; a small festival in Oxfordshire, too much vodka, and singing "I was booorn a unicooorrn" in an almighty cheery tone for the best part of Saturday afternoon. My friends had quite the treat...

The Unicorns formed in 2000 in Montreal , and had only a brief flirtation with the music industry within this collective, as in only 2005 Pitchfork announced their split due to "differing point of views". They made quirky, dissonant indie-pop that i can't help but smile at. Hopefully you will too.

The Unicorns - I Was Born (A Unicorn) [mp3]
The Unicorns - The Clap [mp3]

The Unicorns fansite.

You should have a lot of love for these 3 tracks, too.
Albeit, for extemely different reasons.

If anyone has Mazzy Star's Wild Horses, i would appreciate that back.
It's been misplaced.

Sunshine after the rain...

2007-04-17T19:28:00.000Z

Air - Redhead Girl [mp3]
The Cooper Temple Clause - Amber [mp3]
Coldplay - Yellow [mp3]
Avast! - Juniper Green [mp3]
Jeremy Warmsley - Dirty Blue Jeans [mp3]
Prince - Purple Rain [mp3]
I Was A Cub Scout - Pink Squares [mp3]

This week has been exceptionally messy.
I'm working on a proper update, i promise.

Places.

2007-04-12T11:32:00.000Z

I work for a travel company. It seems, therefore, somewhat logical that a post at some point in my blog should include some sort of tangible relevance to travel; right? Cool.

Here come some of my favourite tracks relating to PLACES. The places are colour co-ordinated. Incase, yknow; you happen to be 'geographically challenged'. More commonly known as 'a bit dense'.

Joanna Newsom - Swansea.

Swansea's alright, i guess. I spent many a week there in a caravan as a kid battering daddy long legs away for dear life. Wonderful, but creepy critters. Joanna Newsom on the other hand, is definately superb. It's probably just as well this song isn't strictly speaking a full blown description of the Swansea, Wales... I get excited when i find someone else who listens to her voice and hears something that radiates beauty and simplicity. My mother happens to think Newsom sounds like a sick child. But then, my mother listens to Abba.

Neutral Milk Hotel - Holland, 1945.

Neutral Milk Hotel are a wonderful indie/rock band. American, of course. I guess Neutral Milk records would appeal to fans of Of Montreal, Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists; that style of beautifully rich and warm music. Uplifting. All i know, is that the full length records are wonderful, and everyone should own them.

R.E.M. - All The Way To Reno.

Now, i've never been to Reno. But if Whoppi Goldberg's character in Sister Act as Deloris/Sister Mary Clarence is to be believed; i don't think i ever want to. Just as well Michael Stripe doesn't spend 4:45 mins in this song whittering on about the place, then. I don't understand how people can't get some enjoyment from R.E.M. I genuinely believe people have only started saying such things to the contrary to deliberately antagonise me...

Regina Spektor - Düsseldorf.

Who doesn't love Regina Spektor? I mean, really. Her voice is to die for, her simplistic piano motif's are second to none, she's beautifully quirky looking, and she's shy! It's very rare i see an artist live whose voice is so unique and powerful, whilst being so subtle i am rendered speechless. Well here is one...

Ryan Adams - Dear Chicago (live from The Borderline - London, 19/09/2006).

One of my favourite Ryan songs? Quite possibly. One of the best gigs i have ever been to? Definately. Most exspensive bar i have ever had the misfortune of visiting (twice)? Yeah... I've never been to Chicago, but i've heard it's lovely (anyone care to inform me.. comment!) I might attempt to justify my complete adoration for Mr. Adams in more depth at a later stage... not today.

Stapleton - Lights Luxembourg.

Now i have never claimed to be Stapleton's biggest fan. A fan, certainly. But there are hundreds of people who know, and appreciate their work much better than i ever could. The first record i owned of Stapleton's was an 3 track entitled 'Icy You'. Lights Luxembourg is a B-Side, and in my opinion, better than 'Icy You'. I have played it to be people in the past who have been startled at how "rustic" the band sound. Well, that's what a couple of well produced albums will do to you... The B-sides were always more of a homage to Stapleton's early roots, anyway.

Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Feel The Illinoise!
(okay, so a slight cheat...)

Sufjan Stevens is uplifting, he's fun, he's fresh and he's exceptionally talented. This album is superb. You really should own it. I really don't know what else to add... I can't believe it's not compulsory to own at least one Sufjan record.

Beirut - Postcards From Italy.

This is currently the ringtone on my phone. If i'm honest, i set it as this about 3 months ago and haven't been able to access my bluetooth adapter affectively on my laptop since to change it to something else. I don't mind. It's a lovely track.

Elliott Smith - L.A.

As a specialist in the Americas, Los Angeles is the bain of my existance (well, LA and Iguassu Falls, but that's another rant entirely...) People don't understand how big it is! And then Travel Agents, of all people, call it Las Angeles! Do they mean Vegas? Do they mean LA? Argh!! Trying to explain that Santa Monica, Bel Air and Hollywood are basically towns within a town seems to mean very little to 90% of people in the British travel industry. That said, it's not Elliott Smith's fault. And it's very difficult to get angry at a dead man. Especially a dead man who made such beautiful music.

Well. That was a rather ecclectic mix.
I might attempt a proper entry at some point.

www.joannanewsom.co.uk
(a fansite, she doesn't have a website - how neat is that?)
www.neutralmilkhotel.net
www.remhq.com
www.reginaspektor.com
www.ryan-adams.com
www.stapletonmusic.com
www.sufjan.com
www.beirutband.com
www.sweetadeline.net

Finally! Where are YOU from? Is it nice?
It's a blog, okay, it's to read. But i want INPUT.
I have Google Analytics, i'm stalking you anyway (hi Oakland USA!), but feedback/input/comments would be just super!

Red Headed Beauties.

2007-04-08T22:14:00.000Z

Okay, so i might be scraping the barrel here in terms of 'themes'. However, it has recently struck me how many beautiful, talented red-headed women there are in the music industry. I can think of dozens, straight off. And that's excluding the hot one that was originally in Sugababes (aherm)! So stop sniggering at the motif and get cracking with the downloads...

Neko Case.

Lately, i've fallen in love with country music.
We're not talking Shania Twain here - "I'm not out to become Faith Hill". Rather, alternative-country with real soul, and feeling. Dare i say it, real talent.

Neko Case makes exceptional records, yet she is still relatively unknown. With no less than 5 LP's to her name as a soloist, including one live album, and a string of incredible records with Maow, The Corn Sisters, The New Pornographers, and The Sadies, you really have no excuse to ignore her.

She's epic. You really ought to listen to her.

Neko Case - Blacklisted [mp3]
Neko Case - Hold On, Hold On [mp3]

www.nekocase.com

Rilo Kiley.

I'm in love with Jenny Lewis.
I seriously suspect that if i ever had the fortune of meeting her i would be so overcome by her beauty i'd forget to be starstruck due to her musical talent. And her musical ability really is worth talking about.

Rilo Kiley create the most uplifting, jolly, country-pop.You wouldn't have thought that both Bake Sennett (guitar/vocals) and Pierre de Reeder (bass/keyboard/vocals) both used to be in a goth/hardcore band. No, but really...

Rilo Kiley equate summer for me. Driving along country roads with the windows rolled down (air conditioning? what air conditioning!), cigarette in hand, air dumming on the steering wheel singing to your hearts content. The uplifting feeling is increased tenfold if you have 3 friends in the car riding this wave of good feeling with you.

Go on, listen to something nice and uncomplicated. Something pretty.

Rilo Kiley - The Execution Of All Things [mp3]
Rilo Kiley - Portions For Foxes [mp3]

Why not check out Rilo Kiley, The Postal Service, and Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins if you like this beauty?

Martha Wainwright.

Any child of Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III has simply got to be incredibly gifted musically, right? Correct.

Despite my fears that Martha Wainwright is sometimes overshadowed by her famous parents, and exceptionally talented brother; Rufus Wainwright, Martha is begining to recieve the attention she deserves. It would be very easy to dismiss her, but you'd be wrong to.

Martha's self-titled LP is so subtly underwhelming, so haunting, yet incredibly uplifting and romantic. Her voice is so effortless, complemented fantastically by beautiful backing vocals and delicate harmonies. It's a superb record.

Martha Wainwright - When The Day Is Short [mp3]
Martha Wainwright - Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole [mp3]

Her website.

Beth Orton.

Okay. So i'm cheating with this one. But i've always considered Beth Orton to be this beautiful, dainty strawberry blonde. Surely i cannot be alone on this..?

Beth Orton's voice chills me.
She has an incredibly versatile style that ebbs with ease, unvarnished, unbuffed, just naturally flowing.

I don't have much else to add. If you haven't heard her, you need to sort your life out.

Beth Orton - Safe In Your Arms [mp3]

Visit her online.

Tori Amos.

I stumbled across a Tori Amos 7" in a second hand record shop going for 25p once. I had never heard of her before, but frankly, figured i've spent 25p on worse things (Space Hits cassette that didn't even work, for example - quite a crushing moment) so i figured; why not?

Best 25p i've spend in a long while. Tori Amos is soulful, she's warm, whilst remaining emotionally intense. Her back catelogue is so vast there simply must be something you can enjoy.

Her 9th studio album, 'American Doll Posse' is due to release in the States at the begining of May. Personally, i can't wait.

Tori Amos - Amber Waves [mp3]
Tori Amos - Mrs. Jesus [mp3]

www.toriamos.com

Easyworld.

Okay, so i'm cheating a fair bit with Easyworld too. If for no other reason than i always thought Jo Taylor was slightly odd looking. Possibly from her constant frown... Although i always suspected she just looked grumpy for the press shoots. Anyway. It would have been rude for me not to include Easyworld.

Easyworld are one of those bands i can't listen to for long periods of time, because their albums cut me up quite so much. 'Long periods of time' has, in this instance, been well over a year. But by accidently stumbling across their second LP 'Kill The Last Romantic', which showcases a slightly more mellow side to Easyworld, i instantly remember their energy, Dav Ford's delicious voice and their insanely catchy riffs coupled with seriously destructive lyrics. The next two months will be spent listening to very little else...

Any attempt of a write-up i could fumble through could never do them justice. Just listen...

Easyworld - Hundredweight [mp3]
Easyworld - How Did It Ever Come To This? [mp3]
Easyworld - A Stain To Never Fade [mp3]
Easyworld - Junkies And Whores [video]
(the video isn't up too much but it's a wonderful song, and is less ridiculous than the video for How Did It Ever Come To This?)

Easyworld's website.

Next weeks theme; Bears? People with perms? Who knows!

Five Wolves.

2007-04-01T17:31:00.000Z

I saw Thee More Shallows perform almost exactly a year ago, at the Porter Cellar Bar in Bath. It was a very unusual performance, in that, the members of Thee More Shallows supported themsevles under the pseudonym 'Rai Partha'. It was incredibly confusing after a few too many SoCo's and lemonade... At one point in their set, they joked about starting a third project called 'Wolf! Wolf! Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!...' to honour the increasing number of bands with Wolf in their name. Well, to honour Thee More Shallows, here are a few of my favourites. A pack of five, no less.

1) Wolf Parade.

Wolf Parade are one in a string of incredible Canadian bands i love. The fact the band was born when Spencer Krug was offered a slot supporting Arcade Fire, is testement to their style and 'showbiz' contacts. Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse played a huge part in getting Wolf Parade signed to Sub Pop; home of The Postal Service, Low, Dntel, The Thermals, CSS, The Album Leaf and The Shins, amongst others. Brock had further influence still in producing their debut LP 'Apologies to Queen Mary'.

The rich, raw orchestral sound is easily comparable to these two key influences in the bands development; Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse. I think it's magic.

Wolf Parade - Shine A Light [mp3]

Wolf Parade via Sub Pop.

2) Sea Wolf.

Sea Wolf, a.k.a. Alex Brown Church and a rotating backing band, seems to ceasely complement my unintentional secondary theme of 'beautiful indie' in this post, with thick RICH strings. He plays stripped down meanderings with GUITARS and BEATS and stories.

Church has a soft, warm voice that effortlessly flows and breathes with every phrase and thought. It's captivating.

It's easy, peaceful, and incredibly uplifting indie-pop.

Go listen.

Sea Wolf - Black Dirt [mp3]
Sea Wolf - You're A Wolf [mp3]

Sea Wolf online.

3) Patrick Wolf.

I adore Patrick Wolf.

Seeing Patrick Wolf performing on prime-time TV shows such as Popworld, is still quite a suprise to me. Watching Wolf on the Charlotte Church Show, was quite something else... I half forget he was recently supporting Arcade Fire on tour, and that his popularity has soared in recent months. 'Fans' have been slinging the phrase "sell-out" around like mud lately, well; i think they're wrong.

Comparisons between Patrick Wolf and artists such as Final Fantasy are a frequent ocurrance. Having seen, and loved both performers live; i still believe Wolf has the edge over Pallett. His tuneful pop-esque tunes are scattered with lustings of something more substantial and exciting than merely pop music. His dance rythyms excite and energise his work, highlighting his real musical talent. I don't think i have ever seen any one man play so many different stringed instruments...

If, by some fluke, you have missed the Patrick Wolf phenomina, here are a couple of tracks to wet your appetite.

Patrick Wolf - The Libertine [mp3]
Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position [mp3]

Why don't you visit his website?

4) Peter & The Wolf

Peter & The Wolf's album 'Lightness' is phenominal. Red Hunter's voice is mesmirising, seducing listeners into a world quite different to our own. He sings his fragmented stories in a sepia tone you can't help but become engaged with.

I really struggle to come up with appropriate adjectives to describe his voice, i'm not much of a writer. It's just so eerie and beautiful. It touches you.

Peter & The Wolf - The Highway [mp3]
Peter &The Wolf - Lightness [mp3]

I struggled to find a website for Peter & The Wolf, this'll do.

5) Wolf Eyes.

Wolf Eyes make noise. Their first two major tours were with Sonic Youth and Andrew W.K., and despite most of their material being released on cassette's and CD-R's, they have released well over 150 recordings. If this alone doesn't grab your attention, i'm not sure what will.

Their second LP 'Human Animal' released from Sub Pop has such a huge range of intensity and sound, and like Merzbow, Jazzkamer etc, this album shows the possibilities that exist outside a simply musical approach to sound, and shows that anything is possible. Even silence is manipulated.

I wouldn't expect me to like this, so maybe you will too?
I can't wait to see them live and see how it works - tour dates here.

Wolf Eyes - The Driller [mp3]

Wolf Eyes website.

Rawr!

It's been a long cold winter, and now i'm coming home...

2007-03-31T15:32:00.000Z

Recently, i, like many others, have developed a strong passion for Oregon band The Decemberists.

Their mix of tuneful pop with lush alt-country ballads, while utilising strings, upright bass, organs, and accordians is enchanting. I had the pleasure of seeing them perform live in Glasgow earlier this year, and the way in which they made such a diverse, rich sound seem so effortless was awe-inspiring. Meloy's voice especially, was captivating.

A couple of months prior to seeing The Decemberists i had stumbled across an untagged mp3 i did not recognise in my iTunes. I recognised the voice, and proceeded to investigate. The track i had been listening to was called Tristan & Iseult, by a band called Tarkio, fronted by none other than Colin Meloy of The Decemberists fame. He was backed up by Gibson Hartwell, Louis Stein, and Brian Collins.

With some research, i stumbled across a compilation album called 'Omnibus'. This was released only last year and covers all the material recorded by the band, from their album ' Guess I Was Hoping For Something More' and two EP's. Notably, it includes 'My Mother Was A Chinese Trapeze Artist', later rerecorded by The Decemberists.

If you like Meloy's voice, and some of the more simplistic, country tracks from The Decemberists, you're going to love Tarkio.

Tarkio - Caroline Avenue [mp3]
Tarkio - Sister Nebraska [mp3]
Tarkio - Tristan & Iseult [mp3]

Enjoy!

Buy Omnibus on www.amazon.com and www.amazon.co.uk

Golden fields and blue skies.

2007-03-27T18:11:00.000Z

After making a string of dark, mellow mix CD's in recent months, i decided it was time to make one that makes me feel good.
This mix is great for walking home to after work, leaves crunching under your feet and wind chilling your cheekbones. By the time i get to Cut Your Hair i'm singing wildly along Dumbarton Road, grin on my face, cigarette at my fingertips ready to slouch down at home with a cup of tea.

It fills me with optimism. By the time i'm at the 3rd track, i'm skipping. And there is a lot of optimism needed if walking through Glasgow at 6.30pm on a winter's evening, trust me.

1. Ocean Colour Scene - The Day We Caught The Train [mp3]
2. Pavement - Cut Your Hair [mp3]
3. I'm From Barcelona - We're From Barcelona [mp3]
4. The Strokes - You Only Live Once [mp3]
5. Klaxons - Golden Skans [mp3]
6. The Polyphonic Spree - Reach For The Sun [mp3]
7. Skunk Anansie - Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good) [mp3]

8. The Smiths - This Charming Man [mp3]
9. My Latest Novel - Sister Sneaker Sister Soul [mp3]
10. The Shins - We Will Become Sillouettes [mp3]
11. The Cure - Close To Me [mp3]
12. Anathallo - Hanasakajijii Four: A Great Wind, More Ash [mp3]
13. The Magnetic Fields - 100,000 Fireflies [mp3]
14. Yann Tiersen - Comptine D'un Autre Ete: L'ap [mp3]

The photo from Dumbarton Rd has been borrowed from Smart Alex on flickr. I think it's nice. Why don't you go see more of his photography?

Remix Monday.

2007-03-26T15:16:00.000Z

I used to hate remixes. Infact, anything with even half an electric blip and beat or... yknow, something that isn't natural, i would despise. I think it's because as a classically trained musician (and a mediocre one, at that), it's not a genre i have any understanding of, and i think this scares me a bit. Thanks to a couple of ingenious remixes, i have overcome this phobia. I think 65daysofstatic had a lot to do with this. I don't think i'm all set to become a wild raver, but i'm ever closer to getting there. Here are a couple of my favourites...

Feist.

It's taken me a long time to 'get' Feist. I wanted to love her for a long time due to her part in the rather incredible Broken Social Scene. But i just couldn't do it. I just found it a bit souless, a bit dry (rather like i find Fiona Apple, still). I found it yet still distressing as i fell more and more in love with Emily Haines' solo work, and i have never been as big a Metric fan as Broken Social Scene.

I loved a track Leslie Feist recorded for Christmas entitled 'Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming' so i made it my duty to pilgrim on. I came across a recorded set from the World Cafe, July 2005.
This changed everything.

So here is Mushaboom, the original, the live session, and the Postal Service Remix; which i think is delightful.

Feist - Mushaboom [mp3]
Feist - Mushaboom (live from the World Cafe) [mp3]
Feist - Mushaboom (Postal Service Remix) [mp3]

Feist online.

Lamb.

I first heard Lamb when i saw them live at a Pilton Party in September 2002. A Pilton Party, for those not aware, is where Michael Eavis of Glastonbury Festival Ltd, throws a party for the villagers of Pilton to thank them for the stress the festival put the village under over the summer, and raise money for local charities. It's as straightforward as it sounds. Acts are usually friends of the Eavis family, and those who play are usually granted a spot at next summer's event. Coldplay and Idlewild, amongst others, have performed in the past.

I went this particular year with my father, who was there to metaphorically let his hair down after working at the festival himself. Secretly, i think he wanted to see Suede (personally, i'd have paid good money not to see Brett Anderson prance about in leather pants, but each to their own). I wanted to see Idlewild. Lamb, i was not expecting. It's taken me a few years to really appreciate what i missed out on that evening. I blame Roddy Woomble's bottom for distracting me.

These days, i adore Lamb. I also adore Funkstörung, so this remix seems entirely logical.

Lamb - Heaven [mp3]
Lamb - Heaven (Funkstörung Remix) [mp3]

Visit their website for more '90's trip-hop.

Le Tigre.

Le Tigre are rather like Marmite. You either love them, or hate them.

Me? I love them. But i can appreciate how after sustained playing you may wish to hit your head across a slab of concrete. I find their outfits and ridiculously sickening enthusiasm harder to handle than their music, to be honest. Imagine The Pipettes on crack...

Le Tigre pigeonhole themselves to 'Electronica' meets 'Punk' meets 'Rock'. So imagine what you get when you mix that with Death From Above 1979.

Thankfully, you don't have to. Here is Deceptacon.

Le Tigre - Decaptacon [mp3]
Le Tigre - Decaptacon (DFA Remix) [mp3]

Le Tigre online.

Dave House.

Dave House needs no introduction if you happen to live in Kingston. If you don't, visit Banquet Records or something online. All you need is in there.

Dave House has recently taken time out from his solo work to concentrate on his band The Steal, where he plays bass. Exicitingly, it seems he has finished mixing his follow-up to debut solo album 'Kingston's Current' which is set for release April 16th. To support this new LP - 'See That No-One Else Escapes', and his split with Jenny Owen Youngs due for release April 23rd, he has a mammoth tour of England and Scotland throughout March and April. And Dave House rarely gigs outside of Kingston. So this is big stuff.

In celebration, i'm willing to share both the remixes featured on his first album. Enjoy.

Dave House - Kingston's Current [mp3]
Dave House - Kingston's Current (Beehive Pines Remix) [mp3]

Dave House - Weeknights And Weekends [mp3]
Dave House - Weeknights And Weekends (Buddy Peace Remix) [mp3]

iknowdavehouse.co.uk

Best of the rest:

Quirky post-modern folk? Just listen.

2007-03-25T18:30:00.000Z

Britta Persson.

Britta Persson is Swedish. She's already landed support slots with artists such as Grizzly Bear and Paulo Nutini, and has collaborated with Logh during a live performance (covering the theme to Twin Peaks, no less). She reminds me of Regina Spektor. Not especially vocally, granted, but more the way in which she sounds so unique, and is making what she wants out of her genre. Is it folk? Is it pop? Is she a bit mad? Quite possibly. Her voice is so big and carries so much emotion i get scared her skinny frame and pale skin won't be able to carry her. But it does.

Maybe i just get carried away because she plays piano (it makes me think that the Regina Spektor comparison is an exceptionally lazy one, too), and i've always had a bit of a soft spot for the piano... But i think she's rather special.

She has recently released her first full length album, entitled 'Top Quality Bones and a Little Terrorist' after a string of EP's and demo's.

The tracklist goes:
1. Winter Tour
2. This Spring [mp3]
3. Low Or Wine
4. Oh How Wrong
5. First Class
6. You Are Not My Boyfriend
7. Finger Is Up
8. Bellamy Straat Straat
9. Bummer Summer
10. Train Song

Britta Persson - Defrag My Heart [mp3]
Britta Persson - The Youth (Demo) [mp3]
Britta Persson - Winter Tour [video]

Why don't you visit her website?

Nina Violet & The Invisible Orchestra.

I came across Nina Violet thanks to a LiveJournal community about dreadlocks. No joke.

Nina Violet (and the orchestra that is invisible because... well, there is no orchestra) similarly has the one debut album, which, in a nutshell, makes use of thick strings and guitar, her stomping feet and a unique voice.

She's considered a family friend of Willy Mason (younger brother, Sam Mason is her drummer on tour...), and is an integral part of his backing band perfecting viola, banjo, mandalin, guitar and backing vocals. She has even opened for Beth Orton.

While on tour with Mason she ran into the crowds after her set selling her CD's like some sort of bewitched teenager desperately trying to flog a ropey demo. Except, it's rather superb.

Like all great vocalists, her voice and style reminds you of several different singers, but you get so caught up in her voice you find yourself having difficulty in focusing in on anything except her. She makes a very modern-sounding fusion of country, folk, roots, blues and jazz, punctuated by occasional bluegrass.

Her S/T LP looks like this:
1. Tin & Tiny
2. Fighting Fish
3. Old Man & The Mill
4. The Dog Tomorrow [mp3]
5. Off the Fisticuff
6. Painted On The Sky
7. From The Moon
8. Banged-Up
9. Dreams Feel Real

Her website is basic, MySpace might be your best bet.