song of the week

this week's song of the week comes from Munch Munch.

i saw them on Saturday and, although it wasn't the first time, they really impressed me.

synth and keyboard wonderfulness mashed together with the insanity of one and a bit drumkits and a xylophone.

Munch Munch - Wedding [YSI] [SENDSPACE mirror]

match point.

Spawned from the demise of their previous bands, Super Tennis are a three piece that make shouty, incredibly catchy, guitar driven songs. They like tennis quite a bit and go by their first names plus the last name of famous tennis players’ names. “We once thought it sounded like Pat Cash and Sue Barker chatting through the medium of air fresheners,” Tom McEnroe says, “but perhaps our sound is most accurately described as a combination of Def Leppard and R Kelly b-sides covered by the Kinsella family band on a fine summer's sports day.”

As well as being influenced by tennis (obviously…), tennis players, “clean living, fun times and exotic beers”, the band also point out Les Savy Fav, Broken Social Scene and the Kinsella family as noteworthy in their book of inspirations.

Joining in what seems to be the most revolutionary thing to have happened in musical history since the end of Britpop and the emergence of Girl Power, the band and their label (Faux Discx) have put out an EP for zero pennies. You can download it if you head over to their myspace. Is legitimately free music the way forward? If it’s always this good then the answer is obviously yes.

Super Tennis - European Honey Babies / Shyamtronix [YSI] [SENDSPACE mirror]

shunt.

another banging tune has just gone up from Firas.

Firas - Shunt [ysi] [zshare mirror]

straight to the point and 100% danceworthy, this track is surely a fire starter on the dancefloor.

electro goodness to the max. check it outtttttttt.

new new new

A five piece from Leicester, MINNAARS met in various ways through their local music scene. They make poppy, math-indie influenced by the likes of Minus The Bear, Radiohead and Youthmovies although the band dabble in a wider reaching spectrum of artists such as James Brown and Fela Kuti.

“We're evolving very quickly and just starting to get into a stride. The first two songs we put on myspace are literally the first two songs we wrote. People should listen to MINNAARS so they can dance, think and listen to us evolve,” says Neil Humphrey (guitar/vocals) on why you should listen to his band. “I like to think that we could get you dancing and thinking at the same time.”

Complex time signatures and catchy vocals, MINNAARS are like some weird blend of Foals meets The Futureheads but slightly heavier. “Our sound is changing all the time and we keep acquiring new instruments and synths etc, so where we are in 12 months is anyone’s guess... I'm just sure it'll have a strong melody and a foot tapping beat,” Neil explains.

MINNAARS are a brand new band who certainly sound like they are well on their way to accomplishing something wonderful with their music. Whilst a lot of guitar dominated indie moves into bland and boring mainstream territory, this band provides something fresh and exciting.

MINNAARS – Spelt With A K [YSI] [SENDSPACE mirror]

life moments.

After watching a succession of music documentaries this weekend I’ve been thinking about my most vivid and life defining moment of music and I have come up with one very very short period in time.

That time was seeing PJ Harvey perform 'Who The Fuck?' live on Jools Holland sometime in early ’04. At which point I would have been an not so great 13 year old. I was into all the stuff that was in the charts and all my friends at the time were of a similar disposition. I wasn’t the greatest pupil at school (understatement of the year – I was a complete terror) and I hadn’t a clue about anything outside of school playground politics.

Anyway. On this particular episode of Jools, PJ Harvey was wearing a yellow mini dress and her hair was a fierce black set against the intense paleness of her skin. I remember seeing her and thinking to myself that she looked a bit mad.

Then the song began and instantly I was captured. The way PJ tore into the opening lines was amazing. The entire thing was so effortlessly angry but sexy at the same time.

I’d heard my fair share of angry music and swear words by age 13 but this was something completely different. It seemed like everything clicked into place for those two minutes.

That performance showed me that it was okay to be angry outside as well as inside and that not knowing what to do with your life was acceptable. It showed me that it was possible to not care what people think of you and that you could be cool doing your own thing by yourself. And ultimately it led me straight to the path of music with more than just a pretty face.


PJ Harvey - Who The Fuck? live on Jools Holland '04.

If it wasn't for that one song I'd probably be a crackhead with five babies by now.

before the bad times.

song of the week:

Adele - First Love [links removed by request of the record label]. go and listen to her myspace instead.

not a cover of the Maccabees song, but instead a stunning track from '19', the debut album from everyone's top tip for 2008.

jewelry box music paired with remorseful lyrics and Adele's slightly husky vocals. eerie yet entrancing.

throwback.

soooo there's a new Long Blondes track.

The Long Blondes are currently working on a second album with the help of Erol if you didn't know already.

and this track sounds absolutely 80s-tastic with a touch of the late 70s bass heavy vibe and Blondie-esque vocals. and i really rather like it.

The Long Blondes - Century [YSI] [SENDSPACE MIRROR]

the quality's not ab fab but it's going to have to do for the time being. plus when the song goes onto your iTunes it's called 'Everything I Touch' so you'll have to correct that!

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]