who took me to wimpy for a big night out?

I know this blog focuses a lot of new music but I think a look into the past can be just as good sometimes.

Delta 5 were originally a 3 piece (who later became a 5 piece) that formed in Leeds in the late 70s. And their music is brilliant. No doubt you’ll be familiar with unforgettable sound of ‘Mind Your Own Business’, Delta 5’s first ever single. Even if you don’t know you’ve heard it you will have done.

In similar style to fellow Leeds band Gang Of Four, Delta 5’s sound is full of jangly guitars, spoken words being almost sung and bass, bass and more bass. Scathing lyrics, their contributions to Rock Against Racism and a feminist approach combined with their ‘unusual’ line up (three girls, two boys) pushed Delta 5 into the public eye for the short time they were active.

Their first three singles (‘Mind Your Own Business’ in ‘79, ‘Anticipation’ in ’80 and ‘Try’ also in ’80) were all absolutely immense, and the b-sides (‘Now That You’ve Gone’, ‘You’ and ‘Colour’) were as good as, if not better than, the a-sides.

Listen listen listen. And love love love.

Delta 5 – You [YSI]
Delta 5 – Triangle [YSI]

box of secrets.

Ask someone to name their favourite band that consists of one boy and one girl and you’ll probably get The White Stripes. Ask again after Blood Red Shoes’ album ‘Box Of Secrets’ hits shops this spring and you’ll probably get the same answer. This is extremely unfortunate as this debut album is already one of my favourites.

Both Laura (guitars) and Steve (drums) share vocal duties in the most complimentary manner. At times they sound incredibly similar, especially when yelping away.

‘Try Harder’ works itself into a frenzy in just under four minutes, building and building the sheer brilliance. I think my favourite track is ‘I Wish I Was Someone Better’. It twists and turns and is that bit faster paced than the other tracks on the album. And then there’s the “ooh ooh” bits everyone loves. ‘ADHD’ shows just how well only drums and one guitar can work. With almost terrifying shouts, the pair express their frustration for all to see. You can practically imagine the exclamations appearing out of thin air above their heads after every word: “I! Can’t! Concentrate! On! Any! Thing! At! All!”. ‘This Is Not For You’ is surely going to be a single. It’s absolutely brilliantly fantastic. It’s a little quieter than the rest of their discography but they make up for it with bucket loads of malevolence. ‘Forgive Nothing’ captures the Blood Red Shoes sound perfectly with grungy guitars, tons and tons of cymbal bashing and a sense of something dark simmering beneath the surface.

I don’t have any qualms with any of the polished up demos/’I’ll Be Your Eyes’ EP tracks and the new songs stick to Blood Red Shoes’ recognisable sound.
I’m 100% excited to see them on their forthcoming tour and wish I was going to more than one date. I don’t even mind forfeiting my attendance to the free Vice Tour featuring Black Kids and Friendly Fires.

This album is an absolute must-have and Blood Red Shoes are an absolute must-see band.

Blood Red Shoes - This Is Not For You [YSI]
Blood Red Shoes - ADHD [YSI]

haha 2008

Bands And Artists You'll Be Saying Are "Over-Rated" In Twelve Months Time. is the title of this post which shall also be known as Jamila's Very Un-Thoughtful (.. only geniuses create words you know) Big In 2008 Predictions.

1. ADELE. oh my GODDDD would people stop bumming her? thanks. she has an amazing voice i completely agree but how obvious is it that she's going to be this year's Kate Nash? that is in other words 'a very promising beginning. excitement for album. single release. major single abuse/rinsing/overplaying/radio 1 daytime looping. album release. boring on the whole. a few passable tracks. one/two good tracks. the rest being watered down to appease the 'average joe' public'. ahem. hopefully she has too much sense to let this happen.

2. LAURA MARLING. love her sound. lover her music. i'm really hoping i'll be proved wrong with this one. and that she doesn't go down the same path as mentioned re: Kate Nash above.

3. LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION. because he actually is over-rated?!

4. THESE NEW PURITANS. even after a luke warm debut album i predict hefty media attention. and some kind of 'we're the anti-Klaxons (but not really)' NME headline accompanying their inevitable cover.

5. THE TING TINGS. you love them now. but 'That's Not My Name' is so fucking catchy it's destined to be 2008's 'Umbrella' or something. i predict a re-release around an album/EP. radio 1 extreme airtime. then people will start asking for it at their local Oceana/shit shit shit nightclub that is only frequented by what i like to called shedheads.

6. LATE OF THE PIER. are going to be gi-normous. and it's going to get so old so fast. lets just hope their debut album is too weird for Jo annoyingpleasegoaway Wiley and Edith i'matwatwhoplaysmusicfortwats Bowman and your general tracksuit/UGG(ly) boot wearing member of the lovely but dim population of the UK.

there's a couple others i could probably put on here but i don't want to be completely and utterly wrong by next January.
i was going to put Los Campesinos! on here a few days ago but having heard the forthcoming album i've completely changed my mind. kudos to them for having an album just that little bit too strange. (which i mean in a completely good way by the by!)

lists lists lists. don't you just hate them? well. obviously the general blogger doesn't because lord knows i've seen so many lately! normal not list-y posting and less bitterness from moi resuming shortly.

2007.

gig of the year: Les Savy Fav @ Scala.
Les Savy Fav - One Way Widow [YSI]

song of the year: Late Of The Pier - Bathroom Gurgle. [sendspace]

album of the year: Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position. [sendspace]

band i'm glad i discovered in 2007: Dirty Projectors.
Dirty Projectors - My Offwhite Flag [sendspace]

some extremely unoriginal choices from me to end the year! ta to everyone who has read this blog. hopefully 2008 will bring more exciting things for FUCKING DANCE (such as world domination and maybe a podcast or two).
have a good one!

merry xmas.

song of the week (and whatever's left of 2007) is a biased one (legitimately so) this time round. you've got to be able to plug a friend's band every now and then, right?

Mr Fang - Miss Deluxe (YSI)

Mr Fang are a three piece from Manchester (and are currently looking for a drummer - even a shit one will do they said). they would not like to play in stadiums nor would they like to duet with Kate Nash. they also dislike being compared to Hadouken! (with some serious lazy journalism going on who wouldn't?) and although they would not like it if everyone said they were amazing all the time, they do not like being called shit (especially when shit equates to having no substance).
they have been on Radio 1 because big daddy Lamacq likes their tunes but they aren't sure Edith Bowman would feel the same way.

Mr Fang like Big Black, Blood Brothers, Black Flag, Test Icicles and Les Savy Fav quite a bit. they are also working on making their sound more "poppy" though they aren't sure what pop is.

they are good so download the track asap because YSI only hosts files for 7 days. and go and leave Mr Fang myspace comments about how much you'd like their babies.

and and they are playing Camden Turtle with Popular Workshop on Janury 11th and i think that if you have some spare dollahz and would like to witness some fitness you should come to the gig. and if you live in Manchester Mr Fang are doing some megabus trip madness deal for £8. myspace for details.

quickieee.

been a little busy lately (writing essays while drunk, doing presentations hungover, going home for xmas etc etc) so forgive me if this is a short update!

i've been listening to Damn Shames a bit recently. i heard the name absolutely ages ago but no one convinced me to actually listen to them. then i got hold of a couple of tracks and i really really like them.

they're fast paced, funk and punk infused type guitar music. they remind me a little bit of The Rapture and a little bit of Cut Off Your Hands. they're from Scotland and they are good. really want to see them live!

Damn Shames - Last Things (YSI)

their new single 'Fear Of Assault' is out so go and buy it if you like their sound.

re: the last post! it started some nice discussion and i am going to be doing some investigating during the holidays and hopefully coming up with a large list of all the best bands in Manchester. there are a few already down (Modernaire, Sir Yes Sir, The Ting Tings..) so check those out whilst i see how bad our band scene really is.

you might have noticed i now have a banner on the top of the blog. done by my mate Benj. i think it's pretty ace.

also i got a nice little mention on the newest Song By Toad podcast. highly reccommend that you check that out!

limbs in general.

back at the end of May i briefly mentioned a band called ARMS AT LAST on this blog of mine.

if you didn't check them out then you have wasted so much time. they've now put some new tracks up on their myspace page that they have made with the help of Andy from Elle S'appelle (the tracks not the page haha).

and they sound absolutely fantastic. influenced by XTC and Nick Drake ARMS AT LAST sound like what would happen if Dartz! and Hot Club De Paris had an affair.

as much as i hate to admit it (because of good old city rivalry) Liverpool's musical output at the moment (and over the past twelve months) has been and still is completely brilliant. i just wish we had as many local bands as good as this to be proud of. instead we get lumbered with shite like The Courteeners and a thousand imitations.

bands like ARMS AT LAST should never disappear. or i'll cry.

go to their myspace for tuuuuunes.

song of the week

this week's song of the week is by a band called L'Aristocrats.

they're from London and they make nothing short of quality pop music. the track in question is unbelievably addictive. it reminds me of something but i can't quite put my finger on it. think Joy Division bass lines meets pacy drums and clever lyrics.

L'Aristocrats - Get Mine (sendspace)

also: get your hands on a copy of the funfunfun blog fanzine! details at the myspace here.

bam.

have you met the quirky love child of Justice and Digitalism rolled into one six and a half minute song? no? oh.

i have.

the track is called 'Hole Shebang' and it's made by as well as produced by Firas (aka Alex Waez of the Filthy Few fame - most known for their incredible podcasts).

this is an electro frenzy if i've ever heard one. the track kicks into fifteen seconds of thundering percussion keeping you on your toes before it unleashes the magic. it bleeps and crunches it's way through the seconds til you find yourself nodding your head then tapping your feet and eventually you'll be throwing your arms all over the shop with your eyes closed and your legs doing pretty similar things.

download it. dance. appreciate.

Firas - Hole Shebang (right click and save)/[YSI mirror]

and make sure you check out those Filthy Few Podcasts!

the end is nigh.

Put That On Your Turkey! is a brilliantly named mix by DJ Tamer Oldboy.
at just under and hour it packs in masses of tracks that will keep you dancing til your pressies arrive! ho ho ho and such things.

Put That On Your Turkey! Mix (59:20)

tracklisting:

01. PARTYSHANK - PENIS VS VAGINA (SHANKS KILLER MIX)
02. JUSTICE - D.A.N.C.E (LES RYTHMES DIGITALES MIX)
03. CROOKERS VS SALT N PEPA - LOVE TO PUSH IT (URSULA 1000 EDIT)
04. DUSTY KID - PSIKA / K O R E
05. DIPLO vs THE BEATLES - SHAKE IT OUT (TWIST AND SHOUT)
06. SCOTTIE B - NIGGAZ FIGHTIN'
07. BIZARRE INC. - PLAYING WITH KNIVES (L-VIS 1990 B.MORE MIX)
08. LETHAL BIZZLE - SELFRIDGES GIRL (BOY 8-BIT MIX)
09. EARTH, WIND & FIRE - LET'S GROOVE
10. FREDRICO FRANCHI - CREAM (FRANCHI ALTERNATIVE MIX)
*WITH LADY SOVEREIGN - LOVE ME OR HATE ME (ACAPELLA)
11. DUKE DUMONT - WHEN I HEAR MU'SIC
12. DEBBIE DEB - WHEN I HEAR MUSIC
13. HUMAN RESOURCE - DOMINATOR (HOSTAGE MIX)
14. DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH? - LET'S MAKE OUT
15. BEN MONO FT. CAPITOL A - BEATBOX (JESSE ROSE MIX)
16. CRYSTAL CASTLES - ALICE PRACTICE (FUTURECOP! MIX)
17. SE:SA - LIKE THIS LIKE THAT (SINDEN & COUNT OF MONTE CRISTAL MIX)
18. RADIOCLIT - DIVINE GOSA (SWITCH MIX)
19. KLAXONS - AS ABOVE, SO BELOW (JUSTICE MIX)
20. STEED LORD - FEEL THE HEAT
21. KYLIE MINOGUE - LOCOMOTION
22. FUTUREHEADS - WORRY ABOUT IT LATER (SWITCH MIX)
23. DUSTY KID - THE CAT (CROOKERS MIX)
24. JOHNNY CASH - RING OF FIRE (NIGHT FACILTIES MIX)
25. JACK PENATE - SECOND MINUTE, SECOND HOUR (AARON LA CRATE MIX)
26. JUSTICE - WATERS OF NAZARETH (JOHN REDDEN MIX)
27. DIZZEE RASCAL - PUSSYHOLE (BEATSMUGGLAZ MIX)
28. KISSY SELL OUT - HER
29. GORDON EDGE - SET YOUR BODY FREE (CROOKERS MIX)
30. JAPANESE POPSTARS (CHARLIE FANCLUB MIX)
31. MITCHELL BROTHERS - MICHAEL JACKSON (CALVIN HARRIS MIX)
32. I WILL SHANK YOU FOR A PENNY - MUSIC BOX
33. STEVIE WONDER - MASTERBLASTER
34. EXAMPLE - SO MANY ROADS (HERVE MIX)
35. PHAROE MONCH - SIMON SAYS (ESTAW MIX)
36. HIJACK - TROUSER JAZZ

check it outtt.