song of the week.

this week i will be listening to this song lots and lots and lots.

Florence And The Machine - Postcards From Italy (Beirut cover). [YSI]

i love Beirut lots. i love good covers lots. i quite like Florence And The Machine. put them all together? yes pleeeeeeeeease.

a haunting vocal from Florence makes this track pretty much amazing.

if the link runs out before a week is up let me know!

we think you're a joke so shove your hope..

Last month I went to see M.I.A perform in Manchester. Whilst M.I.A was superb and completely on form, the real impressers of the night were the people who accompanied her onstage.

Santogold’s popularity is steadily growing throughout the blogging community, and whilst there hasn’t been any obvious explosion of hype surrounding her, she is one of the few who actually deserves it.
This outfit, made up numerous participants from the likes of Diplo to Radioclit and a former Bad Brains drummer, is not just a M.I.A rip-off as some may think at first glance. The conscious decision to make Santi White (vocals) the face of Santogold have come at no cost, apart from the occasional lazy journalist who thinks Santogold is two words. Therefore Santogold should actually be referred to as ‘her’.
Every song sounds different. Santogold utilises everything from reggae beats to electro vibes to create her wonderful sound. Genre blending would be an understatement.

Santogold - Shove It feat. Spank Rock [YSI]

I was pretty excited when Afrikan Boy leapt onstage. Anyone who says ‘Lidl’ isn’t just shy of genius is probably deaf or only likes “properly sung” songs. Anyway, ‘Hussel’ is one of my favourite songs of 2007 and my favourite off the ‘Kala’ album. With Afrikan Boy there live it made things just that extra bit special.

Afrikan Boy - Lidl [YSI]

Rye Rye was bouncing around the stage, brimming with confidence. She’s only 16 (!!! god I feel old?!) but boy can she work it. The snippets of ‘Shake It To The Ground’ she injected into the set were wonderfully placed. I have a feeling she’s a force to be reckoned with.

Rye Rye - Wassup Wassup [YSI]

When Rye Rye and Afrikan Boy came together with M.I.A to perform ‘Paper Planes, the remix’ it was pretty much brilliant.

M.I.A - Paper Planes, the remix feat. Rye Rye and Afrikan Boy [YSI]

I’ll be watching all these three throughout 2008. Keep your eyes on the game. (I was so tempted to put “playah” at the end of that sentence… too much watching Snoop Dogg's Father Hood - which is absolute quality tv by the way).

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.