going underground..

Tuesday was my cousin's 15th birthday. she's recently decided that she like 'rock music' and by that i mean Linkin Park (gag). so i very kindly made her a CD and titled it 'An Antidote To Linkin Park: Songs That I Like That I Think You Should Also Like'. i basically shoved on your basic beginnings to guitar music. nothing too heavy or alternative, just simple pop songs.

featuring on the CD and following with my London theme, are Good Shoes. because they're amazing.
if you don't know about Good Shoes yet, where the hell have you been these past twelve months? i first saw Good Shoes live in January '06 supporting Be Your Own Pet (probably one of my favourite gigs, top ten definitely). i'd heard 'Small Town Girl' on the radio a few months before hand and searched frantically for their music online. there was a 12 track demo that the band themselves had put up for people to listen to and i became slightly addicted.

after months and months and months of touring, an EP release and several single releases the band recorded their debut album 'Think Before You Speak'. as a long time fan the first time i heard the album i immediately protested that the demos were better, but now i know i was mistaken. 'Think Before You Speak' is one of my favourite albums this year (top three i reckon) and has only made me anxious for endless streams of new material from the band.

their live performances are always special and i've been to every gig they've played in Manchester since that gig with Be Your Own Pet. seeing them in London will be a strange experience!

Good Shoes - We Are Not The Same
Good Shoes - Questions And Answers

fellow Good Shoes fan, Shaun, has just started his own music blog over at Puzzled. so go check it ahhhht.

ps. the new background is not 'emo'!!

hm.

i'm going through these love-hate phases with things quite regularly of late. my current phase concerns this big big city i live in but won't in about ten weeks time.

Friday was the first night of the Manchester International Festival with The Wombats playing at academy 3. it didn't feel like a festival at all, and a friend and i drunkenly stole someone's laminated lanyard with a hologram on. the security told me i can only use it in conjunction with a ticket but what it does, i have absolutely no clue. i'll have to test the waters! when i pull my finger out, there'll be a review of the gig up on High Voltage.

despite having lived here for nearly 15 years of my life, i still haven't managed to explore every bit of the city although i'm definitely trying to. Friday and Saturday nights out can either be absolutely amazing, or quite boring depending on where you go, when you go, how off your face you are, who you go with and how often you've been to that particular place. i think i'm starting to get quite weary of seeing the same faces in the same places. some, i don't mind. but others are grating on my nerves, and i'm worried that these last ten weeks of living in Manchester will become tiresome because of those people and the repetitive feeling going on with certain places.

then again, maybe i'm not getting drunk enough. regardless of that, here's to moving to the Big Smoke!

for the next week, i'm going to be bringing you some of my favourite bands from Laaaaaahndaaahn in celebration of packing up my shit, and moving it 200 miles south to share it with a bunch of strangers/smelly teenage freshers at university.

today i have to profess my undying love for Bombay Bicycle Club. they're from north London and i think they're just fantastic. and at 17 and 16 years old, i can only imagine what wonders they will be creating in the way of indie pop in a couple of years time. delicate but not at all, singing about the things that teenagers do but managing to make their songs simple and wonderful at the same time.

Bombay Bicycle Club - Cancel On Me
Bombay Bicycle Club - Open House

buy their EP (links on their myspace) because it is definitely worth your pennies!

last night.

Jack Penate at Manchester Academy 3.

i was sober, bloody hell that doesn't happen often. i arrived in great anticipation as i'd never seen any of the bands who were playing before. obviously, with his recent increased exposure and 'fame' for dancing i was eager to see some of said dancing from Penate.

first on were Wild Beasts. if you watched the video i posted in my last post you'll know just how weird they are. this weirdness completely translates into their live shows, and i'm sure most of the audience were either very confused or highly amused by the end of their first song. they sound like Scooby Doo meets The Rumble Strips. there's no other way to describe it. the frontman dances like a pigeon (don't ask), and their on stage banter was a little forced but aside from that i am looking forward to seeing them again tonight.

Adele, Jack Penate's friend and label mate was supposed be supporting also, however she couldn't make it due to having booked studio time blah blah blah. bit disappointing really as i might not have the chance to see her again before she explodes properly onto the female singer/songwriter scene.

after aaaaaaaages and aaaaaaages of waiting finally Jack Penate jumped on stage. wearing some manky patterned sweatshirt and some jogging trousers, which later on induced shouts from some kiddies at the front. they asked where his check shirt was, which got a little eye rolling from moi. does it matter if he doesn't wear what he wears on TV when he's playing a gig? ermmm NOT REALLY.
kicking things off with 'Spit At Stars', Jack managed to the the crowd jumping around like frogs on rocks. i was impressed, not overwhelmingly, but definitely impressed.
Jack also did a cover of 'Just Be Good To Me' in his set, covering the dub version rather than the pop version from the 1980s. this was definitely a highlight for me, reminding me of summers long ago in the car shuttling back and forth between Newcastle, Sunderland and Manchester with my mum playing her tapes on the car radio playing 80s R'n'B, Reggae and Dub.

Jack Penate - My Yvonne
Jack Penate - Cold Thin Line

shhh.

just a quick one today!
engross yourself in Wild Beasts whilst i'm seeing them support Jack Penate tonight (and possibly tomorrow night if the gods are in my favour).



video for 'Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants'. it's weird as fuck but 100% worth checking out as it becomes slightly addictive after a few listens.

alsooo The Pop Register is a brand new blog dedicated to bringing you the best in simple pop music. they've got an acoustic version of 'Kill The Director' by The Wombats up for grabs so get it while it's hot! you can buy Kill The Director from hereeee. and of course your local record shop.

life's exciting, right?

has this been the craziest hiatus ever?

first of all, my brother broke his arm. yeah, i know. 12 year old boys do that sort of thing all the time don't they? swinging from trees, running in front of cars, stomping round the house.. actually, they never grow out of that. but anyway.
he broke his arm. big deal.
but then he went and caught Compartment Syndrome. (haha, i say that like it's his fault). but two and a half weeks, lots of crying, stress, lack of sleep and SEVEN operations later he has come home. i won't bang on about it but it came at such a bad time, right before my exams. he's okay now, bit of pain but that's to be expected. he isn't going to lose his hand or anything so everyone has calmed down. a song to fit the bill has to be:

Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds

during my hiatus the weather has also seen it quite fit to rain. and when i say rain, i mean rain and rain and rain and rain and rain. it's raining right now. (i wrote that on friday the 22nd and it's STILL raining now - tuesday 26th).

Liars - Dumb In The Rain

so there have been a few album/EP leaks during my absense. stand out ones are obviously the new stuff by Interpol and from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. i haven't been able to stop listening to either. speaking of listening to things! my iPod has ressurected itself! i can't begin to tell you how happy i was when it came back to life.

Interpol - Rest My Chemistry
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Kiss Kiss

other things that have happened whilst i've been furiously revising (cough cough) and failing my exams and life:
- Gordon Brown anyone?- Paris Hilton released from jail then put back in jail and then released again
- Glastonbury typically flooded
- The Verve have reformed
- almost the end of the world on Dr. Who- Wimbledon has started! yesssss. there's nothing like watching tall, tanned, atheltic men running around getting sweaty. phwoar, haha. anyway..

there's also been an anti war demo in Manchester, more rain, and i've been to see To My Boy and CocoRosie.
To My Boy supported Pull Tiger Tail at the night & day cafe, and they were supreeeeeeeme! i think i love them even more after that performance. Pull Tiger Tail were average, but i got in for free so no complaints from moi.
CocoRosie were mind blowing. simply put. best birthday present i've had this year (admittedly seeing as my birthday is July 31st it is also the first, big love to Shaun).

To My Boy - The Grid
CocoRosie - Japan

the blogosphere has been continuing without me. you guys have been HELLA BUSY. i've found some new blogs that my computer insists on loading S-L-O-W-L-Y. nevertheless, here's some stuff you should check out:

- Toad, from Song, by Toad has gone and done a podcast. you can find it here. The Sequins feature on said podcast, and they are absolutely amazing. well worth a listen.
- Malcolm at Five Believers has updated finally after a nudge from me!
- i gabbled on about Gang Of Four for Sweeping The Nation and their feature Sings To Learn And Sing which unfortunately got cut short due to lack of submissions.
- The Daily Growl had a baby. well, his partner did. wooo, congratulations.
- The Roaring Machine and Spoilt Victorian Child got married, congrats Liz and Simon.

babies! marriage! two things i plan on never ever ever doing or having. i'm feeling rather young and carefree in light of this.

Elle Milano - Busy Busy Busy

i'm off to see Jack Penate tomorrow so if i'm not dead from liver failure/still on the booze (highly likely) i'll update with a more music-orientated post, not just rambling this and that. but for now i'm off to the pub! wooooooooooooo! realising that when i wake up tomorrow i don't have to do anything is making immeasurably happy. i'm so happy i could be sick.
many many many many thank yous to everyone who has wished me well with my exams and people who've told me to hurry up and finish so i can start posting in here again, haha.

oooh.

i'm on a BIG FAT HIATUS until my exams are over.

see you June 27th.

strange.

remix part deux is going to have to be saved for another day, as there's an album i want to talk aboooout.

CALVIN HARRIS.
i can already hear the grumbles and groans and see people remembering the fucking awful video for 'Acceptable In The 80s' with the animal thing being dissected and the strange dance routines. so you can imagine i was highly surprised to realise that the forthcoming album 'I Created Disco' isn't actually a slice of half bad!

there are more good songs than bad ones, trust me. 'Acceptable In The 80s' and 'The Girls' are very poor reflections of Harris' work, and, i suspect, just attempts to get him out and onto the mainstream buyers' radar. of course, you're thinking "but even my little sister - who happens to like The Feeling - likes Calvin Harris!". once she's heard the album, she (like most of the rest of the Acceptable.. bandwagon jumpees) will be so confused and so put off by the dramatic and dark electro bleeping and beeping and noise-making that she will only ever remember Harris if someone shows her those stupid sunglasses him and his posse wear.

i have to say that this post was inspired not only by a good few listens of the album, but also but Calvin's performance on Pop World. obviously, no one sounds the same live as they do on record, but Harris does a pretty good job of it. aside from the distorted bits and samples, etc. so kudos to him.

the album is mainly made up of 4/5 minute long songs that could potentially be the bridge between electro and actual mainstream pop. i'm not talking "omg CSS are mainstream now because they are in NME every fucking week" or is this Calvin Harris playing on the TopShop PA? mainstream either. i mean, top ten hits every time, arena tours, Cascada collaborations and on the myspace profiles of people who shop in Mark One (i know, i'm such a hater).

favourites, and my most recommended:

Calvin Harris - Colours
Calvin Harris - I Created Disco
Calvin Harris - Electro Man

i could easily easily see myself dancing to 'Colours', as it fits in perfectly with many electro style tracks that are being made and played all around the country. i'll be surprised if it isn't released as a single. 'In The Industry' is well worth checking out too.

if the above tracks still don't convince you, i urge you to seek out the whole album (pre-order it here) - released 18th June 2007 - then pass comment.

remix my face.

i've been asked to DJ at Ashes To Eyelashed in August, which i find absolutely hil-bloody-larious seeing as i a) have no DJ experience whatsoever, b) have a broken iPod, c) keep my vinyls in a big cardboard box, and d) well, i'm just me - i dance, not DJ.

i know you have to fade and do something that involves pressing and pushing and twisting loads of buttons, but that's about it. if anyone can recommend a SIMPLE, easy to use, (preferrably FREE) DJ program/software for the Mac that will teach me the very very basics please do.

in light of this, and some wonderful discoveries of late, here's my REEEEEEEEEEMIX post. when i type 'remix' into my itunes it comes up with 165 tracks (out of 3413 that's not a lot).

first up! first heard this today, it's banging (or PHAT as Tracey from Big Brother would say).

"haaaaviiiiiit!"

Hot Club De Paris - Clockwork Toy (Metronomy Remix)

it's very Metronomy-esque, with its dark beats and underground club vibe. there's none of the sea-shanty-ing you'd usually expect from Hot Club but there's plenty of their vocal to be going on. very enjoyable, if a little awkward to dance to.

next is a song you can definitely dance to.

The Black Ghosts - Face (Lo Fi Fnk Remix)

you really can "taste the music" with this track. its 100% futuristic electro style put together with clapping and slapping and singing and noises is definitely this side of amazing. Lo Fi Fnk are always winners.

by far one of the best remixes done of a Klaxons' track so far.

Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (To My Boy Remix)

not that i'm bias because i love To My Boy or anything, coughcough. it's darker than their own work, but then i suppose you could say Klaxons are darker (ignoring all glowsticks, neon, crazily coloured jeans). there's much more of a RAAAAVE theme to this track too. those who are honest have put their hands up and said "yeah, we know, Klaxons aren't rave". rave being actual 90s dodgy tshirts, coloured dreadlocks, a few wasters in a field with carrier bags wrapped around their body on purpose RAVE. (maybe in ten years time that's what Klaxons will end up like).

not forgetting the track that put Crystal Castles on the map for many.

Klaxons - Atlantis To Interzone (Crystal Castles Remix)

the now familiar sound of that weird siren-y thing has echoed many a time in indie clubs up and down the country, inducing people to dance and make that "ooh ooh" noise. a slice of Crystal Castles' best work i'd say. it also makes me want to sing "i've got the hots for you.." haha.

one of the best bands around at the minute had their first single remixed, i have two amazing versions but only one can win.

Late Of The Pier - Space And The Woods (Filthy Few Remix)

this remix brings in that futuristic element with distorted vocals and the hollowed out beats pave way for a much simpler drum 'n' bass infused rhythm to take over. a little lengthy, but i'd never say no to more of Late Of The Pier.

my beloved! The Futureheads. when i first got this track i was very skeptical, trying to imagine dancefloor beats mashed in between the jaunty guitar music.

The Futureheads - Worry About It Later (Switch Remix)

i was oh so wrong. The Futureheads and remix go very very well together. i love this remix especially as it's just so dance-able and that's what The Futureheads are all about for me. the way the vocals have been chopped up and stuck back together is also immense.

i despise Mika with every fibre in my body, but when re-done by a man i love dearly, the results are wonderful.

Mika - Love Today (Patrick Wolf Remix)

the taste of Wolf is all over this track, from the weird noises to the way Mika's voice has been stretched and pulled and wrapped around the electronic bleating and slap of the drum. it's a bit haunting too in the way that only Patrick can make nice things scary. lovely!

and last but definitely not least, a slice of the home front action! Daggers (previously known as Bureau) remixed by Modernaire. could it get any tastier? the answer you are looking for is a big fat no.

Daggers - Money (Modernaire Remix) - newer version!

this track sounds like the 80s being dragged kicking and screaming into the digital age . pure quality, but it's nothing less than i'd expect. visit Modernaire Remixed for a free download of Modernaire's remix of The Holloways' track 'Generator'.

if i'm uninspired by the time Sunday/Monday rolls around i might do a part deux to this as there are loads of other gems i'd like to share.

have a PHAT weekend, and don't kill yourself over the annoying-ness of Tory voting Pete Doherty rocker-boy nu rave indie loving Peaches Geldof lookalike Emily!

moping.

i have been doing a considerable amount of moping in the past 24 hours, i might even start sporting an emo fringe if things don't look up.
so i've gone for a 'best songs to mope to' theme, and the list is almost endless. funnily enough a large percentage of my most played tracks (itunes, not last.fm) are mope-tastic tracks. that's because i have an overwhelming tendency to find a melancholy song and hit the 'repeat 1' button, whilst eating coleslaw on toast and feeling rather sorry for myself.

first up has to be Laura Marling. i've already spoken about her in this blog before (here), expressing my astonishment at her talent for someone so young. her angelic features disguise her powerful thoughts rather well i think. the particular song is 'London Town', simply because it's the saddest thing i own by her, but also the prettiest.

Laura Marling - London Town

what's a list without Patrick Wolf in it! i adore Mr. Wolf, and after having seen him live twice my thirst for more of his work has only been increased tenfold. a solo artist with an amazing gift and the ability to touch people's hearts and make them think with his strange off-beat, sometimes electro infused, folk but not folk music. the song is 'Bloodbeat' although there was strong competition from 'Empress' and 'The Stars'.

Patrick Wolf - Bloodbeat

next is the Pixies, woop woop. if you don't know who the Pixies are by now, well, things are pretty hopeless for yoooou! even my brother (who likes such dreggs as The Kooks, The Automatic and Green Day - post whatever their last album was called) likes the Pixies. the track is 'Hey' because it's amazing. simple.

Pixies - Hey

so i reckon that's a good amount of moping for today.
onto things of importance!

i've been mentioned in Million Music Marketing in their post titled "The Best UK Music Blogs" along with blogs like headphonesex, song by toad, popjustice and keep hope inside. plus! i am now averaging 100+ views per day. this makes me very happy.

new new new.

it's two weeks until my first exam and i am busy doing nothing. i've been finding myself thinking "ooh i could post such and such a band on my blog" instead of "Maslow's hierachy of needs is a hollistic persective in psychology".

i love it when people complain about how "shit music today" is, because it really isn't. you've just got to look a bit harder for the good stuff. the brilliance is that with myspace, blogs, etc the looking can be done oh so easily. so here's a couple of bands you might not have come across before, but should definitely check out.

The Pressure Drop are a "four piece guitar band, making noise from Croydon". they are what The View would sound like if they were any good, and anyone could understand what the hell their frontman was saying. their song lyrics are slight works of genius, talking about girls who want to be the next Jade Goody, being 17 and drunk, and people who are too cool for their own good. there's a punk-y vibe on their tracks that sets them apart from the other young London bands like Cajun Dance Party, etc.

The Pressure Drop - Peroxide Dreams

you can get all of The Pressure Drop's demos here.

Elle S'appelle could have been included in my post about Liverpool if i'd known about them beforehand. their tracks remind me of the sunshine, in the same way that bands like The Answering Machine and Sky Larkin do. there's some lovely keyboard action going on too. definitely ones to watch; i can see their infectious indie spreading like wildfire over the next 12 months.

Elle S'appelle - Seesaw

you can get a couple of other tracks off their myspace page here.

also check out ARMS who are also from Liverpool. they sound like a chilled out Danananayckroyd (who they are playing with towards the end of June in Liverpool). they make shouty lo fi indie, again similar to bands in the vein of Sky Larkin and Los Campesinos! have a listen to their tracks on myspace here.

Lo-Fi Culture Scene have two new tracks up on their myspace page for download so go and grab those whilst you can!

and many many thanks to everyone who has been commenting, sending messages of encouragement and plugging my blog. it means a lot!