Brilldream

Introducing B-sides About Suicide

2011-12-07T05:26:00.000-08:00

Hello Brilldreamers. It's been a while hasn't it? The reason iv'e not posted for so long (i'm trully sorry for leaving you weeping into your pillow cases) is i've been working on a book called 'B-sides About Suicide'. It's a book about the songs that have saved my life, a love letter to thing we call pop music. It's still a work in progress, but im hoping to get myself together enough to publish a few chapters into a fanzine and get it avalible for London Popfest. so fingers crossed. Meanwhile, here is a little bit of writing that I hope will strike a small chord now the nights are drawing in. Shaun Brilldreamxx

It’s late afternoon turning into early evening on an Autumn day. It’s cold, but a friendly cold, like the chill you used to get of a fresh bottle of milk when you were a kid. The smoke from my cigarette dances merrily with the steam from my cup of tea on the window sill, dances happily to the crackles and pops from the 45 going around and around on my record player. Days like these do not come along very often, and when they do they make me very glad. Days when I feel a bit wistful, a bit romantic, a bit nostalgic perhaps. Days when I have the time and the peace of mind to dig up and play old records. I wonder how many people still do this, put on a record just to listen to it. Not to keep them company in the car, not to wash up to, not to get stoned to or make love to, but simply for the pleasure of listening to music.

Days like these are golden and must be done in the correct way. I start by wrapping up warm, making a cup of tea (with an extra sugar. Just because I can), and lighting a cigarette. Then, I always start with the records that best fit my mood. Almost invariably on days like these it will start with a spin of ‘Something For The Longing’ by the Orchids. With its bright orange sleeve and Sarah inserts that still make me oddly excited after all these years. Then (after I’ve taken the record off the turntable and put it away safely) I put on ‘I’d Rather Be With You’, the b-side of ‘Here It Comes’ by Shop Assistants. Again, this is housed in an orange sleeve, and like the Orchids track it’s ever slightly pensive, a tiny bit achy and very, very beautiful. Then after that I let the music guide me around my record collection. ‘All I Wanna do’ by The School, with its hints of Tracy Ullman and its bubblegum pink vinyl. ‘Once And Never Again’ by The Long Blondes (orange sleeve again oddly) a song that never fails to make me dance in my bedroom. Then ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’ by The Concretes, then ‘Come Out 2nite’ by Kenickie, and so on and so on.

I have no idea why music makes me feel like this, I understand even less why I spend my time, effort and money on seven inch singles rather than playing golf, having a mistress or ploughing lots of money into a flash car. Or having a shit car for that matter. Or indeed learning to drive. Maybe you feel the same way about music, there are records and songs and ticket stubs and moth eaten t-shirts and pin badges and fanzines that make you feel safe, make you feel human, and make you feel like yourself. The people you work with might not understand this. Your parents will almost certainly understand. Maybe you’re unlucky enough to sleep with someone who doesn’t understand it. But don’t worry. I do.

Saint Etienne-Join our club

2011-04-18T07:44:00.000-07:00

I blame Dee-lite. After two decades making pop music, Saint Etienne are a band who should, by now, be heralded as a national treasure. Their posters should blu-tacked to every bedroom wall in Britain, their records held to the t-shirted bosom of every pop boy and girl. Milkmen should be whistling their melodies over the clink of empty bottles on every doorstep in the land. Instead, they are seen both as sadly nostalgic and a nostalgia piece. To think this is to miss the point unforgivably.

Even their first release was ballsy and way ahead of its time. It takes an unthinkable sense of self belief to take 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' by Neil Young and turn it into a debut single that sounds like Sandy Shaw in a cool Balearic cafe.

But Saint Etienne are that kind of band. Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs (two Modish Felt fans from Croydon) soon worked out that (like their heroes, Joe Meek and Martin Hannett) not rehearsing guitar chords in bedrooms for months on end didn't mean you couldn't make inspiring, unique pop records. Using synths, drum machines and female vocalists (Moira Lambart on 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' and Donna Savage on second single 'Kiss and Make Up') Saint Etienne used songs of hope, dreams and melancholy to humanise the coldness of the electronic backing music. Not that the music is all electro bleeps and loops. Indeed, the pastoral elegance of most of Tiger Bay is more Pentangle than Pete Tong.

It wasn't until lead singer Sarah Cracknell (Emma Peel crossed with one of the girls from Man About the House) was enlisted for third single 'Nothing Can Stop Us' that the band clicked into place. Though presented as a feather-boa swishing dolly bird, Cracknell is no mug. Both a chanteuse and a pop head that could fit into the world of vinyl addicts Stanley and Wiggs, she is also a songwriter in her on right. The classy, sashaying dancer 'Hug my Soul' is from the pen of Cracknell and her input to the band over the years should not be underestimated.

The joy of Saint Etienne is that by having a fun, intelligent, articulate female with more pop knowledge than most her fan base as the face of the group, they excell in making being a beta boy who believes in the notion of art and the expressive power of music as an acceptable, almost cool, thing to be.

Songs like Soft Like Me ("I'll teach him to be expressive not aggressive/soft around the edges/just like me"), Finisterre (I believe that music in the long run can straighten out most things/there are too many bands that act lame/sound tame/i believe in Electralane/...to look beyond Big Brother and gossip culture/so bored of stupidity/the myth of common sense. I believe in Donovan over Dylan/love over cynicism") articulate what a lot of males are thinking. The band, like their songs, are feminist and politely anti-macho.

'Falling in love with a band' is a phrase that is thrown around far too liberally. We buy the records, the t-shirts, the books. We go to gigs to view our quarry and show our support and love. They understand us and we like to think they appreciate us. But surely this is a one way street?

As with The Smiths, the beauty of Saint Etienne (or at least in their early work) is their ability to make the listener think the music is talking directly to them-sat alone listening to their crackling records in their bedroom. And its easy to see how falling for such a band, whose discs you can turn over and play again and again, could be more desirable than the real world. Imagine being lonely, misunderstood and loveless. Out of the speakers comes a voice with its arms warmly outstretched, inviting you siren like into her songs, into her world:-

'With the love ive got you'll forget about her/and find it easy to live without her'

Spring

'I'll be there/to run into your arms' Hug my Soul

'Just dial my number/ive got some plans for you/youre in a bad way and I can see you through. Youre in a bad way/everyday seems just the same. Just dial my number/or call my name'

Youre in a Bad Way

The reason Saint Etienne attract such a die-hardy, loyal fan base is they offer a whole new world, a whole new identity to adopt and explore. A world of feather boa wearing pop stars offering sympathy, a world of cool kitsch over kitchen sinks and a wistful, fun nostalgia. Ah, theres that N-word again...

On the surface, its easy to see how the band could be seen as aching for a bygone age where people stayed in to watch Top of the Pops and Radio One was worth listening to. a world of Kia-Ora and tank tops. Its in their sleeve art of 70's iconory, its in their lyrics ("Squeezy bottle under Pepsi signs" Mario's Cafe), its in their references (the Glitter Band, The Monkees, Man About the House).

But their iconory works on an almost wonky level. If you take, say, the line "Eubank wins the fight/and did you see the KLF last night?" from the song Marios Cafe, its much more affecting, personal and day dreamy than mentioning Mike Tyson and the Utah Saints. The imagery seems almost keenly nostalgic and daffy, but a slight scratch of the surface reveals real depth.

Saint Etienne are pop fans. You can tell by their records. Each album is a little package, not something just to play, but to actually own and love. From their sleeve notes (penned from the likes of Douglas Coupland, Simon Reynolds, Jon Savage and Mark Perry) to their sleeve artwork (the photography of Martin Parr and Leonard Freed) to their videos (directed by Hiro Nakano, Bjorn Lindgren and Paul Kelly to name just a few), the attention to detail and aesthetic pleasure is astonishing.

Everything is done with a great deal of love and care, a rare commodity indeed in the music business.

My argument is that Saint Etienne are not harking back to a bygone age, rather trying to hold up little pieces of England before they are gone forever. Soon enough, going to a record shop and buying a 7" single will be a laughably passe thing to do, let alone by a record with enough sleeve notes to last the bus ride home.

Thanks to an era where downloading a song is easier to make a phone call, the thrill of flicking through the racks and holding a record sleeve to your chest as you wait to pay will soon be gone forever. And how long will it be before we miss and long for those days of yore? This is something that has not alluded music journalist extraordinaire and pop historian Bob Stanley.

The most disturbing thing in the feature length film Finisterre, a cinematic love letter to London that accompanies the LP of the same name, is that a large quantity of the buildings lovingly filmed are now gone forever. Starbucks and Costa are making sure that soon you wont be able to buy a cup of tea in a little cafe anymore.

A herein is the lesson.

When we live in a world where you have to charge a book with a battery, when we long for a world of dusty little records shops with knowledgeable staff and the comforting scent of racks and racks of cheap vinyl; when we miss self run cafes with squeezy bottles, hand typed menu's, the familiar green LV of the luncheon voucher sign, the old lady behind the counter in a pinny, the smell of grease and linoleum flooring, its us to blame. We are the ones who let these institutions, these little beacons that we have grown up with disappear forever. All for an Itunes download and a 99p latte. We should be ashamed. Dont it always go, that you dont know what you've got 'til its gone?

This is a theme in the most affecting Saint Etienne song, Teenage Winter. A dreamy lament that goes from the sad (the rise of Ebay and the fall of charity shops, the replacement of jukeboxes with idiot bar staff blasting out Red Hot Chilli Peppers) to the bitter (bakeries turning into tanning salons, football pitches being ripped for executive housing) to the absolutely heartbreaking ("Mums outside Sainsburys/tears in their eyes/they know they'll never by a Gibbs record again. Their old 45's gathering dust/next to the birthday cards they couldn't face throwing away").

People like Pete, Bob and Sarah (and me) are not sat at home watching UK Gold and TOTP2 all day. We, like you, want the best new music, the best new literature, the best new cinema. We also want to preserve that which we have grown up with and has place in our hearts. Join our club, we're going to try.

Quadrophenia-The Who

2011-02-07T06:28:00.000-08:00

Im not a superstitious man. Ive never owned a pair of lucky pants, I dont do the lottery, i have no Hornby-esque pre match rituals that I kid myself into believing will turn a football result a certain way. I once entertained a notion that horror scopes stopped being utter rubbish if you actually needed the advise, but thinking back, it was probably thought up on the spot to impress a pretty girl or something. I stopped believing in god and Jesus shortly after figuring out that it was my parents that were putting my Christmas presents under the tree and not Father Christmas.

Its with a little shame then, that I admit to honestly thinking that there is some sort of supernatural hand guiding me towards music. Or rather, guiding music towards me. There must be. Theres no way I could have discovered all these wonderful bands and albums by pure fluke or some sort of random. When I do a mental time line stretching from the last record I bought to the very first, and think of all the weird twigs that reach from the branches of my musical family tree, well, its impossible that it could of happened by itself. I think about, aged 20, puting 'Pop-Up-Video' on the telly as I ate my dinner, for a lack of anything else worth watching, and my ears pricking up and drawing my eyes from the newspaper to catch the end of the video of 'Carnival' by Natalie Merchant, and how buying the album the next day lead (by various odd and confusing short cuts and roundabouts) to discovering Gillian Welch, Gram Parsons, Neil Young, Saint Etienne, The Housemartins, and Judy Collins. I think about how, years later, i took a very depressed friend to see Natalie Merchant play a gig in Manchester and how for one night I managed to take her away from her demons and black cage and see the light and possibilities of art. Would that have happened if I hadn't been watching VH1 as i ate my crispy pancakes? No, we would have been in the pub. Probably sat in silence.

I think of how one day I was half heartedly clicking through the Teenage Fanclub message board when I saw thread entitled 'Recommend me some new music'. The author of the thread had put down how he was bored of the the music he was listening to at the moment, and could someone suggest something? Right underneath this request, someone had posted a picture of the sleeve of 'Lets get out of the country' by Camera Obscura. No further information, just the sleeve. Christ knows what got into me, but I knew I had to have this album. Knowing full well it wouldn't be stocked in the Shrewsbury shops, the next day I took myself to Manchester to buy it. And there it was, under C in the indie/alternative section of Piccadilly records. A record that changed my life. A record that took me to 5 different cities to see the band play, that led my to go to Kissing Just For Practise in Manchester and being semi adopted by the Indiepop community. A record that lead me to meeting countless wonderful, beautiful and inspiring people. (a few months ago, for example, I was at a gig in London when a very pretty girl raced up to me at the bar and told how me how much I should go to her Indie night. I didnt, but we have been inspiring each other ever since. She told me later she approched me because I had a Camera Obscura t-shirt on.)A record that lead me to have a part in putting the band on in my home town and have one the best nights of my life. Its mental to think how one JPEG could have such an affect on me and my life. But thats music my friends. And thats one tiny brick in the Lego house that music made.

By far and away though, the most important record to find its way into my life is Quadrophenia by The Who. I know what youre thinking, but stop. Let me get rid of some misconceptions before we start. Quadrophenia is not a mod album. The film is a mod cult movie, but the album (NOT the soundtrack, the double LP affair) is no more an album for mods than Grease is an album for rock 'n' rollers. Ive got nothing against mods, indeed, its one of the only movements you can take into middle age with any degree of dignity. But im not a mod, i was, i suppose one very briefly, in my younger days. But when i discovered that a close crop escalated my already babyish features and therefore wouldnt get me served, and that the medium sized Army and Navy parker (the only one I could find in Shrewsbury) made me look like for all the world like Rodney Trotter, I soon stopped. It takes discipline to be a mod, a discipline I simply didn't , and indeed don't, have.

When i was ten, I received my first stereo as a Christmas present. I can see it now, its oatmeal coloured plastic and its tiny grey buttons and knobs. It had tiny chipboard speakers and the little grey plastic turntable was smaller than a 7" single. But i loved it. It was, for a fair period, my world. Its where i made my first compilation cassettes and first fell in love with music, but all that was still to come. With the stereo, I received two LP's. If memory's serves, they were the soundtrack to Top Gun and the latest NOW! compilation. I propped them up between the stereo and the right speaker, but music library looked a little thin. At the time, my dad was a guard on the trains. He came home one night with a gift. Someone had left the sleeve of Quadrophenia by The Who on a train. No records, just the sleeve. Dad had bought it home for me, thinking thinking the thickness of the double sleeve may aesthetically flesh out my anemic collection. Well, what a gift.

The LP has a booklet with pictures depicting the life of Jimmy, a mod kid whose tale was told in a little essay printed on the sleeve. There was pictures of him out on the town, riding his scooter, walking down an underpass, of a breakfast with a fag stabbed out in it, of Jimmy at home in the kitchen with his parents (his mum looks a bit like the queen) of him working on the bins and smashing up a car. Theres also one of him passed out fully clothed on his bed. On the walls of his room, next to his leopard skin littler bin, are pictures of the Beatles and the Who. There also pictures of women taken from girly mags. I was ten, and it was the first naked woman I had ever seen. Clearly, dad had not had a flick through before he passed it on to his first born. Jimmy's world, though, had intoxicated me. There was no turning back.

A little while later (maybe a couple of years), I saw that the movie Quadrophenia was on the telly, and somehow managed to convince mum to let me stay up and watch it. I have no idea how old I was, but I know I must have been very young still. I remember watching a scene where Jimmy starts the preliminaries to masturbating over a picture of a model he had stolen. confused, i asked mum what he was doing. "He's just being silly" was her terse reply. Very young. The film was a wonderful introduction to adolescence. The loneliness and longing. The shit jobs and brilliant kisses.

The soundtrack was even better. Often mooted as a mod album, Quadrophenia is in fact a concept album about the period of your life between leaving school and discovering yourself as an adult. Im yet to discover an album that covers it quite so brilliantly. Even taking into account the flabby production and slightly misguided 'four themes' concept, its a thing of rare beauty, and single handedly got me through my youth.

Songs like 'Is it in my head?' have, not a sound but a FEEL, that frustrated kids can not only relate too, but wrap themselves up in. Its melancholy, haunting but rich and beautiful. Its the perfect soundtrack for being a sulky little twat.
'Cut my hair' is a tale of trying to fit in at home and with your parents whilst aching to break free from the awnings and immerse yourself into the excitement and bright lights of the youth movement. Im too old for Quadrohenia now of course, but it did its job. And its weird to think why someone would leave a sleeve with no records on a train and the effect it would have on my life. I have no doubt I would be a completely different person without its effect. Without having the albums sense of pop-art poetry and aching romance, im certain I would have not fallen in love with the woman I did and followed the art that I have. For all the money and advice and favours my dad gave me over the years, its still my favourite present. and the most important.

Big Pink Cake weekender 2010

2010-11-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

Friday 5th November, Betsey Trotwood, London

So, we're tearing along the motorway, heads and hearts still fluffy and weak from the frivolity of visiting friends in Wales the night before and despite the pints of Purple Moose still sloshing around our bellies and five hours on the road i manage to convince the driver(my friend John, ex-goth and all round good egg) that the little gig ive arranged to go see is still a good idea. Hes compliant if unconvinced and after a slow crawl through the drizzle and dusk of a Friday night London it obvious he would rather have a good curry and a quiet few than seek pop thrills. But im having none of it. So, bags duly dumped and after quick shower and change, we head off into the Clerkenwell night.

Ive never been to the Betsey Trotwood before, and i was impressed. There is something magical about a good London pub at night, and call it driving fatigue, but everything seemed to glow in agreeable hue. everything seemed charming. From the framed Bmx Bandits poster to the little 'indiepop this way!' sign to our pints of Spitfire(after previous experiences of Bishops Finger, we stuck to the weaker stuff) being served in dimpled, handled pint pots, it all seemed designed to charm.

Swerving Cecilia's party and turning left, we navigated the staircase to a tiny room which could not be better suited to watch bands in. It was cramped in a cosy way, with low flying beams and the sort of acoustics that made sure the sound smacked you square in the chops. And so then, onto the first band of the weekend.

Sadly, as is Brilldreams style, we only caught the last two songs by The Kick Inside, but as I was seeing them in Bristol anyway, it wasn't the end of the world, and i enjoyed what i saw.

After a quick cigarette and unconvincingly trying to explain to John why it was a good idea to pay good money to see the same bands twice in a matter of days, it was time to descend that lethal little staircase to catch Pocketbooks. Somewhat staggeringly, it was the first time i had seen them perform live, and luckily they were every bit as dreamy and wonderful as i hoped they would be. We were even treated to some new songs amongst the old favourites. A breathless Footsteps was worth the price of admission alone, and started the first dancing of the weekend, despite the sardine tin
nature of the venue.

Next up were Sweden's The Electric Pop Group a band its almost impossible not fall in love with. They look like a cross between the Smiths and the kids out of Scooby Doo, and produce chimey pop that can only be described as dreamy. Our hearts were stolen by the brilliantly bashful 'Popgirly' and by the time 'Not By Another' had graced our ears and hearts, they had us eating out of their hands. John, who up to now was manfully hiding his reluctance to be here was frothing at the mouth, and immediately dashed to the kiosk to buy CD's. They are that kind of band.

Finishing the evening were The Garlands whose impossibly shy songs about the horrors of love ('You Never Notice Me', 'Why Did I Trust You?') are bathed in an ever so slightly thrashy pop thats makes dancing an inevitability. Theres something satisfying about watching a room full of people dancing and swaying with huge grins on their faces. Christin makes an engaging front woman, hips always swaying, eyes never off the ceiling and a voice that could melt the tin mans heart, she and her band were a brilliant send off that had us dreaming of Bristol and the weekend there within.

6th November The Croft, Bristol,

Theres something of Glastonbury on the streets of Stokes Croft in Bristol. It has the distinct sniff of weed and thrums with sleepy, dread locked young people who seem to have not got over the Levellers. Deep within it heart, amongst the Banksy street art and art centres is The Croft, a suitably pink building that would be indiepops home for the weekend.

By the time i arrive, buy a disappointing pint of Bath Spa bitter and remove my duffel coat, im just in time to catch the last two songs by The Sunny Street, which is a shame, as their gentle, egg yolk yellow brand of swaying pop seemed a pleasing one. I was, however, lucky enough to catch their version of hideaways 'What Is Love', which Remi, Christos and Ian seemed to lay a classic pop base for Delphine to some how turn the lyrics into a beguiling chanson to the mysteries of love.

As much as i like Amida through their inclusion on the Kids in the Club and Indietracks compilations and their release on Weepop!, but i couldn't fully enjoy their set as i couldn't for the life of me figure out who the singer reminded me of. This lack of absorption is all down to me as the band were fantastic. Their bouncy pop subtly framing the lyrics with a crafts mans touch. The set was a rapid, fluid one which was highlighted by a sprightly 'The End of The Affair'. The man i was reminded of by the way, which came to me on the train home, was author, journalist and broadcaster Andrew Collins. Phew.

Next up were our old muckers The Garlands who rather cleverly used the huge on stage projection screen to put on a DVD of simple animation. The effect was the of a puppet -how at the best birthday party ever. The Garls,(i can call them that, were mates)were just as good as London, with 'Throw Away This Day' being the highlight of an engaging little set.

"Go Bristol City!" shouts the guitarist of The Electric Pop Group in his lilting Scandinavian brogue. It turns out the band had been to see the Robins in a no doubt thrilling 1-1 draw with Preston North End. After quickly scanning the room for Bristol Rovers 'top boys', im relieved to find there are none, and settle down to enjoy a set that seems complimented by the excellent sound of The Croft, which breaths life into more subtle songs such as 'I Know I Will' and 'Believers'.

The Fauns are as Bristol as the suspension bridge and pasties and they seem to relish being on home turf. The are like a collision of the girl out of Portishead (a cowardly comparison admittedly, but one that stands up) and the blokes out of Spiritualized. The mix of spell binding shoegaze and the on screen film of crafts and planets drifting slowly in space quickly absorbs us, and for a while we are in space with them. That is until, like the clumsy twit i am, i knock a three quarter pint of Guinness off the sloped beer ledge onto a hapless amateur photographer. Its times when the whole room is snapped out of its daydreams and turns to look at you with thinly disguised disgust that you wish you were not 6ft6.

Headlining the evening are The Blanche Hudson Weekend, and for all their quality and presence, they could have been headlining Glastonbury. Quite frankly, Caroline is a star. Blonde, head strong and brassy in a spangly dress, she's like a Morrissey heroine come to life. Luckily, the band are more than up for the challenge, and the set is rapid mix of fire and skill.

On then, for a swift cigarette before the dancing, where i witness Rocker buying the bouncer a kebab because "she was cold". What a man.

And what a DJ set to end the night with. It was somewhere around 'Pristine Christine' being played, dancing between the prettiest girl and the most handsome boy where i got the feeling. You know the one, where work seems a million, billion miles away and the pop dream rushes from your feet to your head, and you cant stop smiling. And this is what its all for, all this playing records and daydreaming, you can dance how you like here because you know no-one will laugh and you dont have to explain because you know they get it too. and you want every day of your life to be like this and you want this feeling to last forever. But it doesnt, and now your singing along to the Damned, yelling along, and you know this is the last song but somehow is doesnt matter, and you look around you, and you know, you just know everyone feels it too, and maybe they wish you lived in their town as much as you wish they lived in yours. And despite the cold world that waits for you outside, you know youre going to be smiling all the way home.

7th November, The Croft, Bristol

On to Sunday then, where after getting hopelessly lost whilst exploring Bristol i catch on the last song of A Fine Day For Sailing's set. It seemed like a very good song though.

The Give It Ups are a perfect tonic for that sunday afternoon hangover feeling. Coming on like incessantly cheerful childrens TV presenters via Butlins, they sooth away the fatigue, and despite the rather racy film on the screen, the set is a diverting one, where we are treated to a new song about "How Battlestar Gallactica is better than a relationship".

Doggy are almost impossibly french. Sophisticated and restrained, i wish i knew more french so i knew what their lyrics where about. One song, as the singer helpfully pointed out was about how beautiful there home city is. It must be pretty special as the song stopped twice with the singer shaking his head. "This song" he said "must be done more beautiful". And it was.

Some would argue that the Mai68's set was arty and punk and a moment. To me, however, it was wonky walk down pretension street. Songs fell apart, stuttered, went off in different keys, lyrics were forgotten. No one expects Bon Jovi, but you cant finish a single song maybe its time to practise. Call me an old fart, but i dont think the revolution will come from half arse, half pissed art school sloganeering.

The flaws in The Mai 68's Tony-Hancock-plays-a-terrorist set were shown up like sunlight through a crochet blanket by the excellent set by The Kick Inside. They played like their girlfriends were in the audience, who indeed were. Confident, controlled and sounding excellent despite the guitarist's weekend of worrying, they played like a band who had been together forever. Highlight was the version of their current Odd Box 7" 'Oh Vanity'.

Standard Fare are always at home at an indiepop weekender, and this was no exception. Self assured with their shiny new instruments, the played a 30 minute set that seemed a third of that length. Their constant touring has seen the once bright new stars of the circuit turn into seasoned professionals, and with
a set list that run like a greatest hits package, its surely only a matter of time before they 'do a Pains' and find themselves a the bigger stages the are so obviously destined for. Not even the scary bits of Batteries Not Included on the screen could spoil the fun.

The Standard Fare set had reduced people to sitting in chairs, as by now everyone was feeling knackered. Luckily, The School were on hand. With so many people on stage, they looked like a sound mans nightmare and not unlike a frieze. The School love what they do though. It was fun just watching them set up. Theres something right about them being the last band of a weekend with their infectious joy and aura of a christmas party. Stood in front of a 70's episode of Dr.Who, and with little tins pouring out bubbles from both sides of the stage (the bubbles being refilled probably got the biggest cheer of the weekend)the band performed a greatest hits set, with a closing pair of 'I Want You Back' and 'Let It Slip' sending everyone home with a full heart and knackered legs. Now, wheres that kebab shop Rocker went too?

Johnny Reb

2010-11-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

And so the cold blows of winter bring paranoia and the blackest of clouds to the little island of indiepop. The wisest elders of a certain forum busy themselves creating signs reading 'THE END IS NIGH', with the letters done in glittery stickers while the kids shrug their shoulders, log off, and go see another new band at another indiepop gig. And so the circle repeats itself.

Meanwhile, Glasgow's Johnny Reb (not, hopefully, to be confused with racist rant rockers Johnny Rebel. 'Keep the hate alive' indeed) sun themselves in Portugal between spats of dream-come-true recording with Morrissey right hand of the stage man Boz Boorer. Unsurprisingly under such tutorage, the band do a very, very good line in high brow rock n roll. He has also managed the near impossible task of pining down a red hot live band on to vinyl without losing anything in the transition. This is a band that may just make you swap your cords for turned up 501's.

Those of you expecting a skiffley racket or a dozen rehashed 'Certain people i know's will be disappointed, but everyone else will be very impressed by the way the music clicks together, its the sort which can bring a gig heart pumpingly to life in an instant. "You'll listen if you care and care if you listen" they wrote in their press ganging email/death threat and on both counts they stand absolutely correct.

In songs like the whip-snappingly wirey 'Emile(part one)' and the heart gladdening 'A year to the shadows', Johnny Reb create a world where the poets meet the greasers down town and raise a broken glass to love, hate and the muse.

You only have to listen to the Boz featured 'Crumbs' to hear how confident, competent and complete Johnny Rebs sound is and that (as the pop kid portents of doom will tell you) is something to celebrate.

http://www.myspace.com/johnnyrebsound

Interview with World Atlas

2010-10-15T06:29:00.001-07:00

Some of Brian's World Atlases

Brilldream recently caught up with Brian out of World Atlas to discuss journals, writers and the those damned comparisons with B&S

Q:So, are you bored by the B&S comparisons yet?

not really bored per se, but anxious to move beyond the sometimes flattering and sometimes scathing reviews and comparisons while ultimately remaining happy even to be mentioned in the same sentence. we do love the belles as much as any other fans of theirs and anyone who was melted and changed by tigermilk or sinister back then and even now, then had the deal sealed by arab strap. hopefully we can be seen as furthering the orchestral indiepop genre or at least contributing to it rather than repeating something. there wouldn't be genres of any art without pastiche or influence. we have a lot of other influences that i hear in our songs as well like nick drake, donovan, the smiths, simon & garfunkel and gilbert o'sullvan and we'll have more of an opportunity to present some songs and expound on our own sound with our upcoming full-length.

Q:How did World Atlas come about? You guys seem like a gang who started a band. Is that the case?

not exactly. world atlas was a solo project at first, then i realized i couldn't have all the textures that the songs called for playing alone. i started out with some bedroom demos i had done while learning protools and just played them around to some friends, started a myspace band page then jonathan our drummer became involved. he's someone i had met years ago but we reconnected through a friend, then fred thomas, another acquaintance at the time was living in brooklyn- we reconnected and he joined up. in that way we became a gang and started playing with the songs then adding parts and fills and nuances. everyone else came along through friends of friends and joined up adding their own opinions and ideas. we're more of a band who started a gang.

Q:Who would you describe as your influences? Do you, like most bands, all have completely different favourite artists?

i mentioned some before, but beyond those i know jonathan has some punk roots, jenny's in another band called ribbons who get a lot of joy division comparisons, and jessica comes from a musical theater background but indiepop songs and scene have brought us together.

Q:How do you go about writing songs? Is there one main song writer or do the songs come from jamming together?

in every instance so far i've come to the band with parts and lyrics and we'll build the song around them- play it a bit and see what keyboard textures are called for (rhodes, hammond, piano, something new), when a tambourine or vibraphone line should enter or exit, but as far as chord bases, lyrics and harmonies i've been the main song writer.

Q:What or who made you want to create music? Is it something you felt you had to do?

i grew up with members of my family playing and listening to music. my first instrument was trumpet though, through school band class, but i was rubbish and had little interest in it. so i've always been around music, but it wasn't until i first discovered bands that i wanted to create songs and emulate players, singing and playing guitar and bass. i had listened to michael jackson since i was very young who was more of a general presence than seen as something to aspire to. i can remember listening to the lemonheads and poster children around age 11 and wondering what instruments and pedals made what sounds and that was it. i was in my first "band" at age 12; making noise in a basement with friends- 2 guitars drums and bass and mics. it's evolved since i've been in ands for 20 years now and one of my undergraduate degrees in guitar performance so it is something i felt i had to do, or liked to do more than anything else anyway.

Q:You seem to have a sort of coffee ringed notebook, stare out of the window kind of asthetic, is that something youve had to work on or has it grown with the bands progress? Your whole, for want of a better word, vibe, is wonderfully romantic. Is that something youve nurtured?

well the name world atlas comes partly from a series of journals i've kept for a long time, which include stories, photos, lyrics, lists, drawings and ideas. they start out at as two-inch-thick, bound drawing books and end up almost a foot thick sometimes like big world atlases. i'm sure there are some coffee-ringed pages in there. it also comes from the sort of library aesthetic of faded maps and books that i feel surrounded by and from my growing collection of world atlases from the 50s to 70s. our aesthetic has grown with the band's progress and the romantic vibe was certainly what i've gone for since the beginning, albeit with a mysterious and playful side.

Q:Are you as well read as your lyrics would make out? Who are your favourite writers?

i have been in school steadily until recently. i finished a MA at columbia university a few years ago and am planning to start a PhD program next year so i do read and have read a lot. i'd say i'm interested in bookish things like... books and reading them, so yes, but as soon as i think i might be considered well-read, everything i haven't yet read comes to mind. so.. yes? i love paul auster always, and wells tower lately. there's a shakespearean reference in girl on a boys' bike too, though he's not really an influence. or does that make him an influence if you include a reference?

Q:Are there any up and coming bands you've come across that we should know about?

Very Truly Yours from Chicago are friends of ours and they're great live. definitely watch out for them if you don't know them already. We played the NYC popfest with them and saw them at the athens popfest. also Dream Diary from here in brooklyn. love them. they recently signed with kanine records (surfer blood, chairlift) so the stage is set for them and we wish them the best.

Q:How did your UK tour go? What are you favourite memories? Any plans to return?

the UK tour was dreamy and fun. we met so many great bands and people. otherwise- a flat tire, parking ticket, cramped van and hotel rooms- the usual, can't wait to come back in the summer again.

Q:What's next for the band, and what ambitions (if any) do you have for World Atlas?

next up for us is recording a full-length LP, which is mostly written. we just need to get us all together to finish recording it, which is proving difficult lately schedule-wise. hoping for a spring release in time for press to start for summer tours. otherwise... new photos, a few new players, merch to accompany the release.

Q:And lastly, what is you favourite Record, Book and cheese?

i've always had a problem with favorites. as soon as I decide or say something is my favorite I think of other things I should have said, so i'll try- record- Blake Babies- Sunburn (really influential and i can still come back to it and enjoy it in a current and not solely sentimental way) so i'll say that one, but also don't know what i'd do without tigermilk. book: wells tower- everything ravaged, everything burned / miranda july- no one belongs here more than you. they're both collections of short stories, both in yellow paperback and i'm reading them simultaneously, again. cheese: manchego, especially if there's quince paste involved.

Tindersticks and Martin Wallace- a marriage made in heaven

2010-09-29T16:29:00.000-07:00

Tindersticks are a band that create their own brand of musty romance. Their sound and aesthetic evokes moody, broody images of dusty suits, mouths tasting of whiskey, eroded romance, cigarettes in glass ashtrays with the ash burned down to the filter, fading yet undying love and suited and booted inner city boredom.

Their sounds is sweeping and mood driven, perfect soundtrack music, and indeed its when the music is captured by the unique vision of Martin Wallace that the band really make their truest artistic statement, not only making something that looks and sounds beautiful, but (in two films) something that questions the very nature of love itself.

Take the film for the 1999 single Can We Start Again?, which sees the members of the band in a cinema, not to see a movie, but snatches of memories of past loves. Whats fascinating, is that it completely goes against the Hollywood cliche of lost love. Picture in your mind a retrospective love montage in a modern movie, and what do you see? Shared ice creams? Holding hands on a beach? Shopping in a second hand book store?

Even if these things have happened to you in your relationships, i guarantee these are not the things you remember. In the film, you see tiny, almost insignificant moments of a love affair. The way a girl empties a laundrette washing machine, the way she reaches for something in a super market, the way she sips her drink, adjusts her top, chews her gum, flicks her hair. Her earring and her shoes. Things that can go almost unnoticed until they are not there anymore. This and the next film argues that love is something that is not only understood, but also only properly appreciated retrospectively. Its not the big things you miss, its the small things you took for granted.

The second film is for the 1995 single Travelling Light. Now, it could be argued that this is a film about two normal people going about their every day business. But the colour and tone of the film combined with the music and its lyrical content ("I’ve been looking through some of them old pictures" , "Do you remember, how much you loved me?") suggest an affair that has past, almost a ghost of a relationship. Again, a relationship in all its minutia are laid bare.

We see the couple share touching moments, sharing a bathroom and adjusting each others clothes before a night out and having a pub conversation.

We also see the boring bits. The man shaves, the girl hangs up the washing. We see them walking the dog, riding the bus, ironing. We also see see a motif returning from the first film, the couple shopping. This, i think is the crux of the two movies and the point im trying to make about them. Whatever reason we are left alone, the mind is preaware and ready to deal with things like sleeping, eating alone etc. Its when you find yourself buying toilet paper just for yourself, that when it really hits home that you are alone.

I read a review of a DVD that contains some of Wallaces Tindersticks films, and someone noted the fact that Wallaces work "captures the little sparkle of magic and romance that can occur between two ordinary people". Which to me misses the point.

We are ALL ordinary people, and those of lucky enough to have someone to share our lives with should find the sparkle of magic in not only the candle lit dinners and expensive gifts but also in buying bog roll together. Because you never know when you might have to buy it on your own.

Why The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart are better than Led Zeppelin

2010-09-24T06:28:00.000-07:00

There has been many positive moments that have pathed the way i listen to and appreciate music. The first time i played This Charming Man for example. It was a WEA reissue on 7" vinyl. I found it in a bargain bin in Woolworths for 20p. I was fifteen years old.

At the time, i was just ticking bands off. I bought it so i could listen to it and have something to talk about with the 6th form lads i used to hang around with on a Friday night. And something to talk to the 6th form girls about of course.

I remember puting it on my plastic all in one 'hi-fi', the record being bigger than the grey plastic turntable, puting the needle on the end of the thin plastic arm on to the groove and being...i'd like to say it was like seeing god or discovering myself as a person, but i just remember being a bit frightened. A good frightened. Its been said true beauty is terror, and the different melodies weaving in and out of each other, the way it suddenly all stopped and started again and THAT opening line, it just floored me. I remember playing it again and again, trying to work out what was going on and why i was so drawn to such strange music. Caravan by Inspiral Carpets this was not.

But i digress, i have a million such memories, all of them beautiful and stored in its own honey tinged glow in the back of my mind.

But it was two negative moments that have stayed with me. That have shaped me like a line in a circle of crop. The first one was seeing the Sex Pistols live. They had reformed in July 1996, and played The Phoenix festival two months after my nineteenth birthday. Being a kid into music, the Pistols were almost untouchable, something of legend up there with the Beatles and the Who and all the rest of the Mojo hall of fame, the bands that you had drilled into would never be touched in your life time or that of your children. And, almost unthinkably, i was going to see this myth, this testament to youth, power, politics and art in the flesh. Was i excited? Just a bit.

But they were awful. Fat and middle aged, they put the painting of Dorian Gray on the stage rather than the man. 'Rotten' called us hippies, then we would boo him. Then they butchered another classic. Then again. Then again. Like the junk yard dog in Stand By Me, it was the first time myth had gone up against reality and lost. And it hurt.

The Second, and most damning, was in book form. I went through i minor obsession with The Doors, initially triggered by the (actually awful) Oliver Stone film and then crystallised by the Danny Sugarman book No one Gets Out Of Here Alive. Its still a great book, a byword for gentle myth making, a tale told with the right mix of love and awe. And of course with Morrison being dead i couldn't blow it being seeing them old and boring, they would forever be framed, young, poetic and exciting. Its a laughable book to some, dumbed down and lumpen, but to a 15 year old boy in a quiet tiny town, it meant the world.

I was talking to an older friend about how much i loved it, and he recommended Hammer of the Gods, the Led-Zep bio. I look back at that, and wonder if that moment has done me more harm than good, and its the latter. Just.

I got bored by the constant justification of the bands art by the number of tickets sold. I was disenfranchised by Pages 'dabbling' with satanism. By the time i got to the part where he kidnaps and fucks a 14 year old girl, a tale told with such reverence and glee that this should be his ticket to some sort of rock and roll immortality, i felt sick to my guts. But that moment, on my bed at my parents house, sunlight illuminating the blue curtain as i lay on my belly and read, would hold me in good stead. I would not be fooled again.

What i learned by that episode is what i liked about music. Not what Johnny Marr calls "Harley Davidson rock", something with purity and heart. Bands and writers who perform to exorcise and communicate. Basically, people with more brains than cool and more fire than skill.

My favourite example of this is the song Try Again by Big Star, a song that takes the major theme of not fitting in or being comfortable and in your own skin, being continually chased by demons, and doesn't scream it in pain, but sings it with a hush in quiet, defiant acceptance.

"Lord ive been trying to be understood
And Lord ive being to trying to do as you would
But each time it gets a little harder
I feel the pain
But i'll try again"

A song that proves you don't have to scream to be heard.

These days, the best example of this is by a band called The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. On first listen, their LP is a full of effervescent, fuzzy songs of joy. But chip a little deeper, and you see words sung with, and about, quiet despair.

"Now you're someone says you re no one/strange teenager/you'll never know/death at 19"

"i cant stand to see your picture/on the dresser where i left you"

Songs about making mistakes, not fitting in, being afraid by love rather than consumed by it. Songs of romance, lust and shy danger. These are the songs of my life and of yours. I'm not living on a prayer. Ive never been welcomed to a jungle. I don't know what a radio ga-ga is.

But the POBPAH and Big Star songs, like countless others, were written and performed by shy misfits and the kids who didn't make the team. Written not to impress or self fulfill, but because they had too. This is their gift to you, and this is a whole lot of love thats fucking right.

World Atlas

2010-09-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

“Summer makes me drowsy. Autumn makes me sing"
Dorothy Parker

Like everyone else, the first thing you that will strike you about Brooklyns' World Atlas is how they sound almost unnervingly similar to TBWTAS era Belle and Sebastian. From the voices of the girl and boy to the guitar to the bass, the band sound almost cheekily close, but make no mistake, there is more to this band to pastiche.

Where B&S were the impenetrable cool gang of older siblings, World Atlas are more like your quiet gang of friends from the local library. Warmly inviting you into their world of crimson and honey autumn leaves, dancing alone in bedrooms, dusty books, candid photography and buttoned down regret, theirs is a world of blowing the steam off a cup of tea and watching the world go by from the dirty window of a sad cafe.

Most immediate and representative of the band is the song 'Girl on a Boys Bike', a thoughtful twinkle of a song with lyrics taken directly from a scuffed, coffee mug ringed notebook. The ending with the girls and boys voices melting together just floors me every time. Its perfect autumn music.

'XOXO' is sadly not about beefy beverages, but a smart, modish little sixties swinger about falling in love and lust with a brain and a bust. Its a got a snappy, clappy, happy water tight rhythm and crispy guitar that would not sound out of place on a Spencer Davies record.

'The Winter Stories' is 'Dylan in the Movies' little brother. Be warned, its rhythm and strings will have you nodding away to yourself on the bus. Lets hope no-ones looking.

Put them on your Walkman and take long way home.

http://www.myspace.com/theworldatlas

World Atlas's debut EP is available from here-
http://magicmarkerrecords.com/shop.html

Comet Gain-Books of California/Grant Lee Buffallo-Jupiter and Teardrop

2010-09-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

We met in a frosty pub beer garden on Christmas eve. Pulling the sleeves of our jumpers over our hands to keep them warm to as we held our pints, we talked and talked. About The Smiths mostly. Her favourite song, she told me with glowing red cheeks, was 'What difference does it make?' whilst mine was 'Well i wonder'. She shivered and said it was sad the someone so lovely loved a song so sad. It could almost have been a Morrissey lyric. As she left she kissed me on the cheek, blowing out smoke as she said goodbye. I felt something shift in my heart as i watched her wobble away. She was the first thing i thought about Christmas morning.

Almost exactly a month and a half later, im invited to a party. It just so happens to be held by the girl i met Xmas eve. It was fair to say this was interesting news. When i got there, she was drunk and full of vibrancy and life. She blew smoke out as she told me how i was too intelligent for this town. I didnt know what to say to that. She then grilled me. Really grilled me. About my politics, my beliefs, my morals and what i stood for and believed in. When she finished i gave her a badge with the sleeve of 'What difference does it make?' on it. Then we kissed and fell in love. It was as simple as that.

But of course love is never quite that simple. There was the small matter of her living in London which, on a good day, would be four and half hours from my front door to hers. Ive never liked London. I find it cold and elitist, a city driven by money and a hell bent desire to cripple the weak. But for her i would dart down when ever i could. I watched the video for 'love without lies' by Comet Gain and London with its scenes and cliques stared back. I pulled out the 7" and put the flip side 'Books of California' and soothed. Ah, romance and words. Love makes everything alright doesn't it?

I tried to get on with London. I really did. It was like trying to get on with her annoying best mate. I hated the pubs, the shops, the way the tube would turn me from bright, hopeful and buoyant to dark, jaded and knackered in ten minutes. In six months, i never once feel comfortable, accepted or at home. Well, almost never.

It was only the second time i went down, and i had tickets for us to go see Camera Obscura. All those times dragging myself through work, my heart aching from missing her, i dreamed and dreamed and dreamed about this night. Now it was my turn London. Going to gigs was my thing. Not even London herself could make intimidated at a gig. They were like a womb to me, a place i felt safe, warm and protected.

To kill time as i waited for her to finish work, i made myself feel all grown up and cosmopolitan by catching a tube to Camden and buying some CD's. I only bought a couple, and bought both for her. Not an education as such, but music i thought (i hoped) she may like. I put one on as she got ready for the gig. It was the album 'Fuzzy' by Grant Lee Buffalo. I finished my wine as i looked out through her big window with candles running along the ledge and over the greying Islington sky. "Tonight" i thought "Tonight London you are mine".

With that, and a split second before the 'crunk-crunk' opening of 'Jupiter and Teardrop' i heard a voice behing me say "How do look?". I turned around to see her, glowing with love, glass of wine in hand, in her favourite hat, her prettiest dress and her little red boots. I'd never seen anything so beautiful, she looked perfect. We kissed and deep in my heart i knew this would last forever.

Its a funny thing, the passing of time. And a cruel one. On the odd occasion i find myself thinking about her, waiting at the bus stop in the pissing down rain, say, or staring out of train window, or when works particularly shit, its that image of her that i see, haunting me. Not the stink or the stains of her beige stairway carpet, not the afternoons passed in petty argument, not the mouse shit in her bottom cupboard, not the post work pasta and wine or the homous on toast or holding hands on the tube to tired to think and our heads in different places. Different worlds. Slowly, i got used that image and the sinking in the heart it brings.

I was forced to think about her the other day. I was watching telly in the glow of the rarity of a good day at work when the phone rang. It was my mate, who through a fug of extreme drunkenness managed to tell me that her mum had died in a terrible, random, cruel accident and he 'thought i should know'. I felt sick knowing there was nothing i could do help, to console.Too much time had passed.We were different people. Had different lives.

What else could i do in that situation? I bought and wrote out a condolence card and took myself for a pint to let it all sink in. I supped thoughtfully alone and looked out of the window at the train station clock. Beneath it, hiding from the rain, a middle aged man read a newspaper, a kid talked on his phone smoking. Two lovers kissed and parted and someone waved goodbye.

How Del Shannon can be punk

2010-08-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

We were in local pub, on a quiet Tuesday evening. We had gone to support a friend who was playing pretty early at an open mike/bring a guitar kind of a night. He played his set to a mixture of all day drinker old men, those who's post work drink had run late and those whose night time drink had started early. And , of course, us.

After his beguiling little set, we gave him a good back patting and bought him a congratulatory Guinness(partly for a good set, mostly for his sheer bravery. It must be lonely up there with just a guitar for company) and settled down next to the pub cat to watch the rest of the people playing.

Quietly, we watched and politely applauded a succession of 'earthy' singer/songwritery females (You know the sort, you would probably never listen to her CD in the house, but theres something about the mix of her voice and a few pints in a dusty pub thats just special) and older guys with beards and a passion for the blues.

Later in the night, a guy came on. Now, i hate to be disparaging to young musicians, i really do. But you know kind of kids who are punk rock but get a lift in their mums Volvo? He could play -that's for sure- and he had a nice mix of 'quirky' covers to sit next to those by Foo Fighters and all that. But there was something a bit fake about the way he only flicked his hair to the right of the stage(where the girls were) and the Americanised accent of his between song 'banter' that left me cold. And I'm sure he got that Stooges t-shirt from Top man.

What happened next restored my faith in music once again. In crashed three people. Very young and clearly very late. There was a boy, maybe 16, who was trying his very best to hide behind his fringe, wearing a t-shirt that had what looked suspiciously like a gravy stain. With him was a flowery girl of a similar age who wore a velvet jacket, an ankle lenth skirt, DM's and look of absolute politeness. Completing the trio was another girl of around the same age. She was clearly the leader, and obviously really quite pissed. She crashed around the small group of people in front of the stage like Ophelia, slurringly asking if anyone had left handed guitar as she had 'forgotten' hers. Being a nice chap, i pointed out that my friend (the guy we had come to see at the top of this page)had one, would she like to borrow that one?

After looks that could be best described as filthy and a lengthy talking to about how guitars can be someones 'children', the trio hit the stage to ignorance and the hum of the 9:30pm chatter of the British pub. Flowery girl, stood to the left, with an Argos guitar starter set strapped to her. To the right was the boy who self consciously banged at a wooden box with hole carved into it, which served as a drum. In the middle, of course, was the leader girl with my mates guitar(he didn't take his eyes off the guitar all night)and gutfull of attitude.

"Right" the leader would shout "1-2-3-4..." and songs would less start than blur into some sort of mutual recognition and get a bit louder. More often than not, Leader would forget the words. Or the chords. Or both. Without fail, the songs would fall apart at the end, each person stopping at a different time. its sounded like a polite car crash. The pair at the side looked at each other forlornly. Is this what it had come to? All this is practise and dreaming? People drank their pints. Some laughing. The Punk Boy sneered on.

"As I walk along,I wonder what went wrong..." Leader started to sing "With our love, a love that was so strong."
Somehow, the two guitars gelled. A smile started to grow on Flowery girls young mouth. The boy pushed his hair back as he happily hit away at the drum. It was happening.
"I'm a-walkin' in the rain,Tears are fallin' and I feel the pain..."
People started talking a little more quietly, heads started to suddenly turn and face the stage.
"Wishin' you were here by me, To end this misery, And I wonder..."

And then it happened.

As if by some pre-arranged signal the whole pub, to man, and including the bar staff started to bellow out"I WAH-WAH-WAH-WAH-WONDER!" along with the band. Everyone looked at each other, grinning. The band stopped, put down their guitars and hugged. This is it. THIS IS IT!

And i guess that's what it is to me as well. That's what punk is. That's what MUSIC is. Not sitting alone in a bedroom playing the same chords to perfection again and again and again. Its three chords and a dream. Its playing to local drunks not Wembley. Its people patting your back and buying you a pint not gold discs.

See this? This is my movie, and this is my Hollywood.

The Cavalcade - We Always Move Too Slow new video

2010-08-24T04:26:00.005-07:00

I always try and avoid posting up pop videos on here, as its downright lazy, but this is a real winner.

It combines three of my most favourite things-autumnal indiepop, long lost home video footage and a good mystery.

The 8mm film was found on Preston market, but the makers have no idea who the two dudes in duffel coats are. Do you? If so, drop them a line.

10p Mixes-Bedroom Sound

2010-08-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

Its a Friday night in the Nags Head, Shrewsbury. Theres peril and sadness amongst the old Guinness mirrors and soaked beer mats. Someone has put Madness on the jukebox, and the jollity of the song sounds hollow and almost insultingly inappropriate. Our friend has been laid off work, something that seems to happening with alarming regularity. He was a good worker, honest and enthusiastic. Its said that his gaffer had tears in his eyes when he told him the bad news, but he just couldn't afford to keep the business going any longer. We take turns buying him a pint. He feels bad, like hes sponging, but he would do the same thing for us and he knows it. A million times over. Inwardly, i breath a sigh of relief that its not me on the receiving end. And I bet im not the only one.

Im the queen of discount supermarkets/i own everything thats cheap/im a martyr for not having money/cant afford to do much else but sleep.

These lyrics are from a song called Cashflow Crisis by a band called The 10p Mixes. The clearest, most honest song written yet about being in a financial crisis and being in the shit . Its full of images of drinking water down the pub and waiting to hear about work from dodgy agencies. Its a brave move, it must be easier to write (and listen to) songs about falling in love in libraries and the like.

Its pretty sad that to task of writing about the current dole age has landed on such shy shoulders. The 10p Mixes download LP, Bedroom Sound, is a wonderfully whistful adventure into folky Indie. As well covering the worst money crisis since the 80's, they also write heartily about childrens confectionry (10p Mix),sex, romance and bitter regret(Always There), the romance of purple tights and a shitty indie disco(Sticky Disco) and being let down by Tommorows World (The Future).
It would appear you can have your cola-cube and eat it.

Its bedroom music in the best possible way, never better represented than in Nice Day for a Coat,a real stare-out-of-the-window song and Im Coming Home, a song that (if listened to on a walkmen on the train home) could have any Europhile blubbing for dear old Blighty.

The recesession in the 80's created some serious monstrosities-Holiday, Young Guns Go For It!, Live Aid, Stock Aitkin and Waterman and every pop 'hit' being about money.
Right now, with Simon Cowell, Scouting for Girls, V festival, Kate Nash, X factor and James fucking Corden poisoning our collective conscious, its really good to have The 10p Mixes on our side.

http://corporaterecords.co.uk/artists/The+10p+Mixes/Bedroomsound/

In defence of: Kingmaker

2010-08-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

While there is a music press, there will always be bands that are considered a bit of a joke. Rightly or wrongly, bands such as Menswear, Mud, Flowered Up, Gay Dad, Kula Shaker, Cud, Gerry and the Pacemakers, (and, should Luke Haines be believed, every band of the britpop era bar The Auteurs) were the whipping boys of the muso monthlies and inky weeklies of the pop press.

In 1994, with a Small Faces best of on the stereo, wearing a second hand Ben Sherman button down and smugly clutching a copy of 'Shakermaker' to its B&H ridden heart, the NME used the term "patiently waiting for the Kingmaker revival" to slag off what it perceived as the old fashioned, Camden Falcon, Steve Lamacq type of indie that Oasis et al set out to destroy.

They really should have gone for a better target. Though not without their faults (some of their 7" singles came with those horrible black and grey middles that were all the rage on major label vinyl in the early 90's. Erk. Also, telling the press that you were going to kill yourself when your turned 25 may not have been such a good idea).

Kingmaker, a band with humour and po-facedness in equal measure, also had a knack of writing fucking good pop songs.

Formed in Hull in 1990, Loz Hardy (specs, charisma, between-song-quips), Myles Howells ( cheekbones, quiff, aloofness) and John Andrew (old, looking a bit crusty) dropped the age old bollock of signing to a major with an eye on fame and fortune. Hardy was gobby and questioning in a Mile Hunt vein, something a label like EMI will always find hard to manage.

Its easy to see why they were signed though. 'Really scrape they sky', the lead track from the Idiots At the Wheel EP is a subtle, hooky little masterpiece of shoegazey minimalist indie. Your can actually feel your fringe grow over your eyes as you listen to it.
Based around crashing drums, a simple 4 note riff and a space walking bass line, its the kind of song that buries itself inside your conscience and refuses to leave. Hardy (on stage in 1991)described it as "A song about a thing you dont really believe you've done-and i dont mean leaving the iron on".

By late 1992(and with what can be imagined as a hefty recording budget) they really started to hit pop form. Eat yourself whole, off the Killjoy was here EP saw the band go top twenty with a song where you could actually whistle the chorus. All this and lyrics like "turned out at midnight/Turned off the light/Added some words to the 20th century/I dug you a grave/Wrote in the sky/"I love the drug, the drug you sold to me" ". Whats to not like?

After tolerating the Brit award baiting 'Armchair Anarchist', its ironic that EMI creatively throttled the band at their most commercial period. I remember watching the video for '10 Years Asleep' on the chart show and thinking "This is top ten. This HAS to go top ten". It didnt. It would appear the record company was expecting a chart position just as lofty as i was. Despite hitting a respectable pre-Oasis chart placing of 15, the label panicked. The band gave good face in the press at not giving a shit. But the label had pumped a tidy sum into recording and making fancy promo videos. They now wanted the money back.What happened next killed not only the song writing, but ultimately the band itself.

Loz-"I dunno if you have that over Stateside but [formatting] basically means there would be different b-sides on the 12 inch (2), cassette (1), CD 1 and CD 2 (3 on each). So if the album has, say, 13 songs on it and with three singles that means you're gonna need 40 songs. 40 fucking songs! So the workload is near impossible and plus the fans get ripped left, right and centre to boot. What was also happening was that you did songs for the album and then b-sides but really fucking excellent songs were ending up tucked away third song on CD 2 and no one heard them.".

The pressure produced a few mediocre singles and two albums of filler and then the bands demise. Its tempting to imagine what they could have come up with on a sympathetic label and with a decent producer. The classic tale of money over art ended with whimper, the band disappearing into journalism, systems management and in Hardy's case, a couple of tracks on an Elastica EP then obscurity. Did he really scrape the sky? Very nearly.

WeePop! Goodness

2010-08-10T06:59:00.000-07:00

Its incredibly hard for me to write about WeePop! records without turning into a big ball of orange juicy goo. I love this label. WeePop! are almost single handedly responsible for restoring my faith in the whole notion of record labels. No mean feat. Here are a few reasons why they are so amazing-

*Every time a new release, its like getting an early Xmas present. The care and attention to detail is a joy and an inspiration.

*The vinyl always smells really nice.

*I always imagined, for some reason, Camilla being this kind of Indie lady Penelope figure. Incredibly, shes actually cooler in real life.

Anyway

There is a couple of new WeePop! releases. Both are one of those lovely 3", 4 track jobs.

First up is 'Keep a secret' by Let's Whisper. Its lead track, 'California Girls' is almost like an indiepop version of the Katy Perry track. With busy drums replacing bikini tops and lovely, dry harmonies replacing auto tune, this is a track that should be on YOUR summer compilation cassette, whatever the weather.

Second is 'By the Shore' by Stars of Aviation. 'Underneath the Elms' is a trumpet lead daydream of a record. A mix of The Felt Tips and The Understudies, its sincere vocal is wonderfully set off by the aforementioned horns, understated drums and lovely chimey guitars.

Go and by these records. Trust me, i sniff vinyl.

http://weepop.net/releases.php

Bourgeois Heroes interview

2010-07-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite EP's in recent months is 'Muscial postcards' by Bourgeois Heroes. Its a kind of Kinks meets Pulp in a pool of pop perfection. I caught up with Jason and Elise to find out what its all about Alfie:

brilldream:OK,first things first, how did Bourgeois Heroes come about?

J: In the early 00's, we had lots of time on our hands. We fantasized about starting a group and drew posters for imaginary gigs and album covers before writing any material. May of 2002 we had the idea to drive to Tennessee to visit Graceland. While in Memphis, we wound up buying an electric guitar and a drum set at a consignment shop. The following day we recorded a single at Sun Studio.

JASON

brilldream:When i listen to your music, i hear shades of everyone from the Kinks to the Beach Boys and The Zombies and ,on Rosamonde, even Ronnie Lanes solo work. Who would you state as your influences?

J: You've mentioned a lot of my favorites. Nice work. I won't go into too much detail with influences since I enjoy making lists quite a bit. Speaking for myself, I suppose we ought to make sure we mention Harry Nilsson.

E: I'm influenced by Jason.

J: Oh, right... how can I forget? Elise!

ELISE

brilldream:How do you go about writing songs? I understand the band is something of a long distance affair, so how does that work?

E: I think it's valuable to get out of each other's spaces for awhile and then come together when we record, neither one of us really knowing what the other wants to do. Plodding away at songs makes them hackneyed. When we talk on the phone, we don't usually talk about music.

brilldream:Is there a single moment that made you want to create music or is it something that has brewed slowly?

E: I think it would be far more original if I didn't want to create music. Everybody's in a band nowadays.

J: It seem like any asshole can play guitar.

brilldream:I adore the spoken word reading put of LP's on 'The Boy at the Record Store'. Whose idea was it, and is there any significance in the choices of records or was it simply a random list?

E: That was my idea. I think anyone who starts at one end of a record store and flips their way to the other eventually sees the same records over and over again.

brilldream:I think the titular people in 'The Boy at the Record Store' and 'The Postcard Collector' will resonate with a lot of listeners. Are the songs autobiographical at all?

J: Elise and I both collect postcards and yes, I did try to learn Dutch to impress an uninterested girl. There are biographical moments in songs, but that's as far as it goes. I tend to create little stories or situations in my mind... or just play with words. I've never been able to write about myself with ease. I don't think most singers pull that sort of thing off to be perfectly honest. One only has to visit an open mic night only once to realize that singing about feelings can be a tacky affair.

brilldream:Almost all the songs have brilliantly written characters with proper dimensions which recall the work of the Kinks and even Richard Yates. Are they based on real people? Would you call yourself a voyeur?

E: I always thought Jason was more interested in the ways words fit together than a storyline.

brilldream:Apart from a Kinks like shine, the vocal also seems rooted in a certain Englishness. Would you describe yourselves as Anglophiles?

J: My voice may have an English quality because I learned to sing to "Rubber Soul". I love so many British groups, "Doctor Who" and English literature, but I can't really consider myself an Anglophile. There's plenty of American groups (and groups/singers from other places in the world) that I'm fond of and I've been experiencing American culture my whole life.

E: Some of the earliest music I loved was British, but not to the exclusivity of other music.

brilldream:Do you have any aims or ambitions for the band, or are you happy to see where it flows to?

J: To quote something Elise said in an interview several years ago, "we're a tragically underrated group". I'd like to do something about that.

E: I aim to be Jason's friend forever. That's all.

J: Forever is an awfully long time.

Musical Postcards is avalible in the UK from here-

http://www.roughtrade.com/site/shop_detail.lasso?search_type=sku&sku=329265

http://www.bourgeoisheroes.bandcamp.com/

http://www.bourgeoisheroes.com

Best Coast

2010-07-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

When i was a young 'un, like most pseudo-creative people my age i used to enjoy smoking pot. I was never a fan of the locking ourselves in a room playing computer games until the air grows so think we pass out school of caning. What i did enjoy, however, was wondering round in a pleasantly day dreamy fug, watching the world sunnily go by and thinking of that special someone. Good days.

Days that Bethany Consetino and Bob Bruno of La's Best Coast have captured with some aplomb in their garagey-surfy-girl-pop gone bad. But dont be mistaken, this is not stoner rock, more pop for stoners.

You can almost smell the rizla in 'The sun was high(so was i)', a daydream of a song that circles the beauty and romance of "watching cars go by" and wears it like a badge. A fuzzy, Supremes gone garage-pop. Its like a crystallized version of being 17 on a summers day.

'Make you mine' is classic 'why wont he love me?' 60's girl pop in dirty tights. Its hand claps add to the song like cute earring on a pretty girl.

Like a dreamier take on the Breeders 'Do you love me now?', 'When im with you' is a cute, thrashy song that can make the words "when im with you/i have fun" sound like the most romantic, most important words ever uttered. Perfect.

http://www.myspace.com/bestycoasty

download the sun was high(so was i) here-
http://www.mediafire.com/file/r9a2qr3rnv10f2l/Sun_Was_High_(So_Was_I).mp3

Interview with Evans the Death

2010-07-13T16:40:00.000-07:00

Evans the Death are by far and away my favourite new band of the year so far.

Their demos have caused a right old stir in indiepop circles, and we patiently await the bands first release.

To pass the time, i asked the band a few questions and unsurprisingly received funny, intelligent and thoughtful replies back.

So then-Who's stalked Jarvis Cocker as a seven year old? Who daydreams about punching small children? What role did 'bev' have in the formation of the band? And which one fancies Hotpants Romance? Actually, which one DOESN'T fancy Hotpants Romance? Lets find out-

brilldream: OK, first things first, how did Evans the Death come about?

Robert - It's a pretty mundane story really! Olly, Matt, Dan and I all went to the same school, I've played in bands with Matt and Dan for years. When they asked me to join them in Evans the Death last year I was happy to. They had met Katherine when seeing a band and started from there.

brilldream: Who would you describe as your influences? Do you, like most bands, all have completely different favourite artists?

Dan – Yeah, there aren't any bands that we unanimously like really. Apart from the Beatles. Personally a few bands that I think have influenced me are Pavement, The Fall, Orange Juice, the Pixies and Television Personalities.

Katherine – I just like anything; I like a lot of 60s girl groups, which is a bit obvious. In terms of the band specifically, The Smiths.

Robert - I agree with Dan, bar the Beatles we all tend to like different bands. My favorites include the likes of Neutral Milk Hotel, My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins and Beach House.

brilldream: How do you go about writing songs? Is there one main song writer or do the songs come from jamming together?

Dan - So far I've tended to write the songs, with Katherine writing the lyrics for one or two. The others are now writing really good stuff. It's nice writing a song then hearing it played and it sounding better than you thought it could. I keep forgetting to write myself guitar parts though which is an issue. We're also going to enter the world of jamming. Nothing Grateful Deadish or anything; just to see what we come up with.

Katherine – I wrote the lyrics to Morning Voice after being challenged to write a song about when someone hadn’t finished their toast.

Robert - I think we're all frustrated songwriters at heart!

brilldream: What or who made you want to create music? Was it something that's always been inside you?

Olly - I was said to have had 'a very lovely voice' by my music teacher/everything else teacher in primary school and that was enough for me to start. My repertoire on the keyboard was a blend of Beethoven and Level 42, and I had a fantastic time playing hymns in school assemblies until I toadally bombed whilst playing 'Green Onions'. I gave up soon afterwards.

Dan - I remember being the world's biggest Pulp fan at the age of seven, I thought they were the best thing. I got a letter from Jarvis Cocker saying how weird it was for someone so young to be such a fan, particularly as my favourite song was 'f.e.e.l.i.n.g.c.a.l.l.e.d.l.o.v.e', but he was glad. He made me think it was cool to write songs. From there I've just got more and more obsessed, and my stepdad plays guitar in a Santana tribute band which introduced me to actually playing music.

Katherine – My music teacher always gave me good parts in the school plays at primary school. Someone wrote on my leaver’s shirt, “You stole all the good parts in the play. Bev”. No kisses. So I thought something good should arise from this unfriendliness.

Robert - I honestly can't remember not wanting to make music. It's always been around me, there's always been some sort of music playing in the house, so I guess that's where it came from.

brilldream: Your lyrics sound like they have been poured directly from your diary(ies). How autobiographical are they? Does baring your soul on a song make you feel uncomfortable?

Dan - I've never had a diary so I guess that's what it is. Everything in them is true, we don't want to lie to people. We have a song called 'A Small Child Punched Me In The Face' which is a blow by blow account of the titular incident that happened after rehearsing in Camden the day that Michael Jackson died. I spent a few furious days wanting to smack all the children I saw, then I wrote the song and felt a bit better about it. There's a bit in catch your cold about ticket inspectors on trains that I wrote after getting a fine for buying a child's ticket. I suppose it's just a way of purging anger and telling off the people that wrong me. It doesn't make me feel uncomfortable at all, it's the only way I can do it without feeling pretentious. I could never write really obtuse, cryptic lyrics like foals or something. Good for them, but I'd feel ashamed.

Katherine – The only time I ever felt uncomfortable is when you have to sing something naughty and my dad hears it.

brilldream: I love the way you seem to be able to turn a song from desperate to comic with a flick of a lyric (ie:'when I'm watching the shopping channel I will think of you' from 'Im so unclean' and 'I'm afraid of getting a job /I'm afraid of snoop doggy dogg' from 'Catch your cold'). Its a very clever, very Morrissey-esque gift. Is it something you’re conscious of?

Dan - Thank you. I don't really think about it too much but I think getting the humour/misery ratio right is important. We don't want to be Leonard Cohen, but we don't want to be Half Man Half Biscuit either. I love how Stephen Malkmus can make you laugh with a line like 'walk with your credit card in the air/swing your nachos like you just don't care' without compromising the sincerity of the song. There's an undercurrent of sadness in their songs. Felt were good at that too, but in reverse; there's a really dark sense of humour to them.

Katherine – Whenever I hear people laughing in the audience I half think it’s great but then half of me thinks “Dammit take us SERIOUSLY”. I’m always the one telling Dan he’s too silly.

Robert - I think that's one of the things I like most about our music, the fact that people can have a chuckle in the audience.

brilldream: Are you as well read as your lyrics would make out? Who are your favourite writers?

Dan - We all love a good read. I try to read as much different stuff as possible but what I really love is modern American stuff, like Kurt Vonnegut, Richard Brautigan, Hunter S. Thompson, Daniel Clowes. I also recently read Mark E Smith's book and I'd recommend it to anyone. 'I want this book to be like the Mein Kampf for the Hollyoaks generation'. Fantastic.

Katherine – I never ever read, television’s more up my street. I am reading a book on North Korea at the moment though so I’m not all bad.

Robert - I don't think I'll every consider myself well-read, there's too much out there and I find that I can't read it all quick enough. I really like J.D Salinger, Hanif Kureishi, Michael Ondaatje and George Orwell, to name a few.

brilldream: Is there any up and coming bands you’ve come across that we should know about?

Dan - Dead Slow, Hella Better Dancer and Why Whiskey Why? are great bands and lovely people.

Katherine – We recently supported a band called Hotpants Romance who are ridiculously good and I know more than one of Evans The Death has a crush on all of them.

Robert - Why Whiskey Why? are my favourite new band.

brilldream: What’s next for the band, and what ambitions (if any) do you have for Evans the Death?

Katherine – We’re never going to be a stadium filler, but I do hope that we can have a little pyrotechnic spectacular during a set in the future. We’re going to take a year out after sixth form and try and make it work, and we’re recording an album this summer with someone good so it’s looking good.

brilldream: And lastly, what is you favourite Record, Book and cheese?

Dan – Mike Oldfield's Hergest Ridge, Ask the Dust by John Fante, the cheese that squeaks when you eat it which I think is called Haloummi

Katherine – A Christmas Gift for you From Phil Spector, Tess of the D’Urbervilles and camembert.

Robert - The Beatle's I'm Only Sleeping, Salinger's Franny and Zooey and brie.

Olly - I couldn't physically answer that, but I quite like Grotesque by the Fall today. I used to love ...And don't the kids just love it by Television Personalities before Dan Treacey compared me to Ron Weasely. Crash by JG Ballard is brilliant too because it's utterly appalling, and so is Casu Marzu for the same reason.

Tennis

2010-07-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

Get a load of this for a story-there is a married couple, from Denver right? And one day they decide to buy themselves a boat, and in this boat they sail around the North Atlantic for eight months. Now, as you can imagine, they rather want to keep a log of their adventures. But instead of keeping a diary, they start writing songs- and thus Tennis are born. Wow.

Wow indeed. The songs are amazing. Catchy, gentle and with plenty of swing. Its the thinking persons surf music. Its the thinking persons surf music.

Imagine, if you will, a captains log read out by the prettiest voice you can dream up. 'Marathon' is a Shoo-Wop-wop ditty that would not sound out of place at the Enchanted Under the Sea dance. Its chorus is both crush inducing and seriously addictive. Its just lovely. It will hook you like an anchor.

TENNIS - Bimini Bay 6.5.10 from Scott Laidlaw on Vimeo.

'Baltimore' is a slightly spikier affair. Awash with pounding, Mersey beat drums and tangy guitar, and melted toffee vocals.

'South Carolina' is girl group pop for the sophisticate. Its just the right side of saccharine.

Tennis make music that's fascinating, intelligent, sweet and fun. Why cant i find a girl like that??

http://www.myspace.com/tennisinc

The Notes

2010-07-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

Aaron, Sam and Lauren are The Notes,an Essex via East London band who infuse the best bits of C86-y sounds with a dark, literature rich lyrical content. Their sound is dark and sweet, like liquorish and just the right side of ethereal. Its all underpinned with rhythms tight as drum skins and spiked with noirishly sweet vocals.

The songs are born of bedsit boredom, and reach skyward for something, anything clever enough to relieve the ennui. They aim to save your life with 2 minute pop songs of warmth, darkness and imagination.

'Those days, those nights' is Joy Division via the sweet shop. All throbby bass and crisp drums and and crackly guitar. The vocal is so sweet it could rot your teeth and full of dreamy sadness. Its like a love letter you can dance to.

'Lighthouse' is a dreamy, shiny declaration of lurve. its charming and disarming and is the perfect soundtrack to walking around a drizzly city centre. Its also hey ho perfecto to sway eyes closed to.

'Summer love' is less Grease and more Factory. A short sharp stab of 80's bedsit romance pop that sounds like it was born in Manchester. On a Tuesday. In the rain. But in a good way.

Perhaps unsurprisingly judging by the title, 'Cult of the Hopeless' is almost goth. All foggy sounds and almost chanted vocals.

The songs are very short and darkly sweet. Like a kiss off a stranger who disappears before you can fall in love.

Their FREE download single is available from here- http://www.holidayrecords.net/

http://www.myspace.com/wearethenotes

Zipper

2010-07-03T04:31:00.000-07:00

Cherubic Madrid three piece Zipper are a band that reminds you why you got into indiepop in the first place. Full of limitless energy and lemonade fizz, their songs are inspiring and honest. You can dance to all of them too. Beware, this band will give you an irresistible urge to hit the town.

Pick of the bunch song wise is the heart hugging 'Badge'. After the insular drama of the verse comes the most uplifting chorus this side of Big Star. An ode to forming a band ("honey honey you play guitar, honey honey i'll sing the main part, it will be our band, our band"), it quite near over brims with romance and joie de vivre. I cant think of a way to make this chorus anymore perfect.

The poppy punk of 'Friday Night' has the rare ability to make me feel fifteen. Its full of the vigour and wonder of being young, a bit drunk and a bit stupid. Its like a drinking song for the permanently romantic.

As a campanion piece 'Sunday Morning' is the flip side of the extrovert Friday night dancer. "would you like to stay with me and watch cartoons until the night?".

Not half

http://www.myspace.com/grupozipper

Cilla Black-La La Lu (i love you)

2010-07-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

Its 1989, and I'm 12 years old. Despite constant begging and promises not only to wear my thick green and white jumper, but my blue cagoule as well, my mum wont let me go out and play football. "its not REALLY raining" i tell her. But when her voice edges into geordie i know im fighting a losing battle. Feeling like a baby, i send my friend Martin away from my front door. He pretends to be cool with it, but as he walks away, casey under arm, i know he doesn't. Not really.

Its still too early to watch the results come in on the mini printer on Grandstand, so resign myself to a film on my mums recommendation. I enjoyed Grease, but pretended i didn't due to its girly sing-along nature. "A bit wimpy" i told mum. Not that she believed me. I lay in front of the big faux mahogany and grey Thorn 1500, on my stomach, head lifted by elbows.

And waited.

"Please Sir!" was written by script writers John Esmonde and Bob Larbey in 1971 as spin off to the successful TV show. The film starred the proto-Hugh Grant John Alderton and to my mind, the most underrated English Actress ever Joan Sanderson as the sour faced yet golden hearted Miss.Ewell. The plot revolved around the sandpaper rough 5C, a north London class of delinquents and misfits and their efforts to get one over their fresh out of college teacher and Potter, their 'ex desert rat' caretaker played sportingly and rather brilliantly by Deryck Guyler.

As i lay on my belly that ached from laughing and elbows lifting my head that was confused to why all the school girls looked about 27, i felt a bit sad as the title credits ran. I lifted my hand to turn the channel. But an odd thing happened. I was paralysed by the song. The one that started as the kids shimmyed their way through the end of camp disco and ended as the list of cameramen, gaffers and best boy's scrolled ever upwards. That song, that song.

'La la lu (i love you)' was released as a B-side to Cilla's 'Something tells me(somethings gonna happen tonight). It reached the top 5 in the UK charts in 1971. Its also my favourite song ever. Yes, ever. Even next to the Beatles, the Beach Boys and B&S. Even (and i cringe as i type this) next to(go on, go on, type it!) The Smiths. There is no song in the world i would rather dance to. Its not the most indie-cool of choices. But its honest.

Of course its not the BEST song ever(it would sound plastic put next to, say 'Days' by The Kinks), but its the song i love the most. I love the way it manages to convey a whole kitchen sink drama in two minutes and forty seven seconds. I love the way the lyrics are super important, and at the same time nonsense. I love the way its framed in a certain time, both musically and lyrically. Who would 'sit in the kitchen, sit in the hall' these days? I love the way the orchestra ghosts in barely noticeably, like a ninja. I love the way it finishes twice as sonically as it starts.

Its just wonderful. Full of joie de vivre and teenage angst in equal measure, its the sort of record that is like a shot of rum to the soul.

Saturday afternoons would never be the same again.

La la lu download

http://www.mediafire.com/?ijztfjrgaum

Foxtrot Echo Lima Tango-a fanzine about Felt

2010-06-30T06:47:00.001-07:00

There has possibly never been a pop star as enigmatic as Lawrence, and one of the most wonderful things about this little parcel of passion is you are left none the wiser after reading it.
Apart from the fact that he smells of baby powder and likes Pete Doherty, the biggest shock of the tome came from discovering that Mark E Smith likes Saint Etienne.
There are no juicy tit bits or scandals, and the book is all the better for it.

What you have, however, is a work of pure love, respect, and passion for the subject. You only have to look at the pictures of Alex Decks 'Felt Box', a home made box set of lovingly put together C90's of Felt music, to see how much Lawrence's music means to people.

It contains honest, funny and wise writing from fans and band members that are complimented by interviews with the man himself.
All this is set amongst beautiful pictures and artwork(the picture of the young lady listening to a Felt album on page 68 being my favourite).

Be you a die hard or a casual listener, you will get a lot from this book.

Its an oddly effective read, containing genuinely funny bits (my favourite being Alan McGee trying to sign The Servants, only to find the bassists dad on the phone. "Servants? There are no servants in this house". They never did sign to Creation). There's also a Smashy and Nicey-esque radio interview that has to be read to be believed.

There's also sadness in the words. The ego of an artist who feels he can be up there with the greats getting consistently crushed by a disaffected music industry is a hard pill to swallow at times. Constantly chasing an elusive 'hit' that wont ever come has never dented his dreams though.
He's like a boxer, always whisked away from retirement by the promise of one last title fight.

Ultimately, he comes across neither elusive, mad or washed up. Just an English eccentric who believes in the pure power of pop. The anti-Cobain if you will.

What you have here is a readable, adoringly put together book that may just start a thousand bands and sell a million records. Here's hoping.

Details of purchasing Foxtrot Echo Lima Tango can be found here-

http://foxtrotecholimatango.blogspot.com/

Tada Tátà

2010-06-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just want some music that soothes, calms and makes you feel normal, like a glass of water on a hot day or a custard cream added to your elevenses.
Sweden's Tada Tátà are just the type of band to give you a bit of aural hug. They are as warming and as cosy as a jumper that smells of your lover.

Their sound is a hushed, almost folky pop full of sweet melodies and shiny plinky-plonk background noise, with soul shiftingly sweet melodic lifts.

'Ebony' is pretty little waltz with what sounds endearingly like a typewriter providing an accompanying rhythm. Its the soundtrack to walking around an indiepop fairground at 2 in the morning holding hands and trying not to drop your candyfloss.

A little more sinister yet no less twinkly is 'The Brigade', a minor chord maze of grey drums and pleaful vocals.

Clocking at under two minutes, 'Suzy' is the kind of song you wish every band would finish their set with. Happy and poppy with a bit for clapping too, its as pretty as uplifting pop gets. Lovely.

http://www.myspace.com/tadatata

Evans the Death

2010-06-15T05:23:00.000-07:00

(pic copyright Laura McCluskey 2009)

You know how the Internet is. Full of malicious rumours and untruths about the world of pop and the musicians there in. Take, for example, Evans the Death. Reading about them online would have you believe that they have just finished their G.C.S.E's. The idea that songs this accomplished, wise and wonderful could be created by people younger than Peaches Geldof is ludicrous.

Hailing from the unlikely twin stars of Clapham and Chelmsford, they wear their 80's jangle pop hearts on their sleeves. Their blood has the rich tones of The Sea Urchins and , in particular, The Field Mice running warmly through it. They are, in short, the best C86 band you've never heard.

'Sleeping Song' sounds like it came down fully crafted from some kind of indiepop heaven. Its instantly catchy (i genuinely found myself humming it puting out the washing on the line) and teaming with quotable lines. Any song with a chorus containing the line 'its something or other o'clock in the morning' is one to cherish. By the time Katherine Whitaker sigh-sings "Now i think i have missed my bus again" you will be powerless to swooning.

'Im So Unclean' is the kind of song the goes POW! and explodes into your heart. Garage punk/power pop with ethereal vocals. It pounds and throbs and moves your feet almost as much as it moves your heart. You will pogo with a lump in your throat. Very special indeed.

The pure, silver jangle of 'Morning Voice' is like an old folk song gone C86 ballad gone post punk. "when you melt me with your bedroom eyes". Quite.

This really is a band to dream about and fall in love with. Im quite taken.

http://www.myspace.com/evansthedeath

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Dan from the band has been lovely enough to give us all a free down load 'Im so unclean' which can be found here- http://www.mediafire.com/file/2ljyyjtd44y/MP3 2_ i_m so unclean mastered-1.mp3

Indietracks indiepop compilation 2010

2010-06-15T05:04:00.000-07:00

This really is a smashing role call of bands and songs. On seeing the project, my initial thoughts were to why Rough Trade couldnt do a similarly fantastic job on their 'Indiepop '09' comp?

Anyway, the artwork is by the lovely Emma Hall with the equally smashing Ian Cowen covering the mastering duties. The tracklisting is as follows-

CD1
01 The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Higher Than The Stars
02 Yokoko - Sally Doesn’t Care
03 Paisley And Charlie - Stone Lions
04 Onward Chariots - War Hero
05 Ballboy - There Is More To Life Than Sleeping And Eating
06 The Felt Tips - Silver Spoon
07 Internet Forever - Pages Of Books
08 Allo, Darlin’ - Kiss Your Lips
09 Boy Genius - Ramona Saves The Day
10 The Give It Ups - Alison Awesome
11 Stars In Coma - Peacebloom
12 Secret Shine - It’s Killing Me
13 Sarandon - Searching For The Now
14 Betty And The Werewolves - Good As Gold
15 The Callas - The Wrong Song
16 Be Like Pablo - Without The Pain
17 White Town - I Don’t Want To Fall In Love Again
18 MJ Hibbett And The Validators - We Are The Giant Robots
19 Cineplexx - Para Mi
20 The Sunny Street - Into A Poem
21 The Orchids - She’s My Girl (Indietracks Mix)
22 Shrag - Ghosts Before Breakfast

CD2
01 La La Love You - Sólo Tú
02 This Many Boyfriends - That's What Diaries Are For
03 Love Is All - Kungen
04 Veronica Falls - Found Love In A Graveyard
05 Standard Fare - Dancing
06 The Smittens - Summer Sunshine
07 The Specific Heats - End Of An Error
08 The Blanche Hudson Weekend - Grip Of Fear
09 The Middle Ones - Young Explorers
10 Foxes! - Alex Badamchi
11 Mexican Kids At Home - Animal Shells
12 Urbantramper - My Grand Plan
13 The Hillfields - Canvey Island Queen
14 The Cannanes - Foundering
15 The Loves - I Lost My Doll To Rock & Roll
16 The Millipedes - Hey Boy
17 The Pooh Sticks - Roll Over Easy
18 The Just Joans - Stuart’s Got A Dirty Book
19 Stars Of Aviation - Herman Düne Slept On My Floor
20 Jam On Bread - It's Always Sunny Inside
21 Linda Guilala - Nadie se Dara Cuenta
22 Pale Sunday - Shooting Star

Dreamy eh? Its released on the 28th of June on Make Do and Mend records. Full details can be found here- http://www.makedoandmendrecords.co.uk/mend004.html

(with thanks to Paisley for the heads up)

Tigercats

2010-06-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

A band containing members of Esiotrot and Hexicon,you would think, would be pretty brill. Say 'how do' then, to east London’s Tigercats. Imagine Darren Hayman fronting Sleepy Jackson with a Buzzcocks tribute bands excitable drummer and were pretty much there.

'Konny Huck' (see what they did there?) is an angular, dreamy little pop song, chock full of melodic riffing squeaks and superb drumming. Impressive and catchy in one basket.

'Stevie Nicks' is a slightly mellower affair, that bravely tries to tackle the shitty subject of post break up.

'Whitechapel boys' is a insanely catchy slice of thrashy pop fun, and my favorite track, a instantly memorable chorus thats under pined by squeaky keyboards.

All the above are available on their debut EP, available NOW on hair cut records.

http://www.myspace.com/tigercatswearinghats

The Whatevers

2010-06-11T07:06:00.000-07:00

There is a thing with bands, where you work ,and write, and toil and one day it just CLICKS. Leeds duo The Whatevers have well and truly broken through.

Describing their sound as a 'pop punk twee mess', what they actually make is a gorgeous boppy, fun sound with Edwyn Collins meets Emma Pocketbooks vocals. The lyrics are also pretty bloody good, real stories to sigh to on the bus, stories you have lived through yourself. And get this, there are lines you can actually laugh out load to. wow.

You can just tell this pair have put their blood, sweat, tears, pocket money and soul into this project. And its paid dividends. They really are quite special. They wear their indiepop badges on their sleeves and are all the better for it.

'Rhapsody in blue jeans' is a bona fide indiepop classic in waiting. I can just see seas of corduroy and hair clips bopping along to this at indiepop clubs and gigs all over the country. A kitchen sink drama that can laugh at itself. Brilliant.

'Awkward' is a rockier Orange Juice with endearingly self deprecating lyrics. Its just FUN.

But look, really, have a listen and have a download from their last fm. I promise you will be as charmed as i am.

http://www.myspace.com/samepowerchords

The Narrative

2010-06-10T14:43:00.000-07:00

Long Island trio The Narrative are a pretty multi faced band. When they try geek rawk (on 'The moment it stops' for example) its sounds to samey and flat. Its support-band-trying-to-sound-stadium and falls flat on its black denimed arse.

However, when they slow down and get a little more reflective, things start to happen. 'Waiting room' is a real heart pulling ballad that somehow fuses Belle and Sebastian and Fleetwood Mac. Pick of the bunch by about 18 miles is 'the photographers daughter' a shimmery, soundtracky little piece of dream pop heaven, with a cracking chorus.

Someone somewhere is pushing this band too hard. Its when they relax is where they really shine. 'indie emo-pop'? No thanks.

http://www.myspace.com/thenarrative

Captain Polaroid and the betamax conspiracy

2010-06-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

Birmingham's own Captain Polaroid is a purveyor of delightfully lo-fi, fizzy little pop songs. Not that the songs lose anything in their papier mache transition, rather the down to earth dusty production charmingly frames the songs.

The short, bruised little songs are melodic little gems. The thrashy little 'The same rules always apply' is Graham Coxon like and is as direct as finger poked in the chest. 'A dream is dream is a lie' is as sweet and poppy as seriously lo-fi gets. Crackly and cracking. 'Wintertime ending' is a sweet folky treat that should gracefully end a thousand mix CD's.

Armed with a 4-track and a romantic soul, Captain Polaroid is going to come aboard your heart.

http://www.myspace.com/captainpolaroid

FAC off

2010-06-06T07:38:00.000-07:00

I read with bemusement bordering on amusement the Guardian endorsed FUC51 blog. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jun/05/ian-brown-peter-hook-51 that sites Manchesters musical past as an 'albatross around the city's neck'. The berks.

The first thing that sticks out like a sore thumb is the slagging off of member of New Order/The Stone Roses yet no bemoaning of Morrisseys playing of the MEN arena or Old Trafford. Funny that, could it be that old Moz is en vogue and Ian brown isn't?

Secondly, the kicking of Peter Hook. Now, i will admit i love the Factory story. I think its more romantic than Romeo and Juliet. And like most people i don't enjoy seeing it belittled and sold off. I see that on Ebay that you can get Tony Wilson t-shirts, Zippo's and , heaven preserve us, wrist watches. This, like Ian Curtis tours of Macclesfield, leaves me feeling uncomfortable. But Manchester's trouble is it cannot help but sell its myths. How people and can sit and watch 24 Hour Party People and Control and then moan that they draw people to the city is beyond me. And, us much as i hate it, there is money in the Factory/Hacienda name. And who is more deserving of a slice of that than Peter Hook? For gods sake, the worst that's happened is the city has gained another venue. Hardly something to sulk about is it? If you want to see a city crippled by its legacy look at Liverpool. They've based a tourist trade on it.

Thirdly, and this is what really pisses me off, is the whining about the Ian Brown gig. So fucking what? I don't fancy going to watch it either, so why not take advantage of the dozen or so gigs/nights/films etc that the city has to offer on the same night? Outside perhaps Glasgow, Manchester has the best venues, the best bands, the best records shops, the best crowds and the best attitude. It also has by far the most eclectic taste in Britain and the widest choice. Do me a favour and and spend a weekend in Crewe, or Shrewsbury, or Stoke, or Coventry or even a 'big' city like Bristol or Birmingham. You will, pretty soon, realise how spoiled for choice you are. Sitting and typing and moaning is not the Manchester way is it? If you don't like the gig, fine, put on your own. There's loads, fucking LOADS, of bands, venues and people to make it happen.

There was (maybe still is) a Northern Soul night on at the Thirsty Scholar on a Friday night, and every Friday night this bloke, a big fella, would go dressed exactly like Joe Strummer circa Combat Rock. He wouldn't do anything, he would just sit there with his missus and a pint of lager and just watch the people dancing. Now, im not going to judge him on what he does with his weekend, so why should i judge some middle aged man going Platt Fields hoping he does 'where Angels Play'?.

Honestly, Mancs. Don't know the're born.

TomTom-Teenage Terraces forever

2010-05-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

Most of you will have no idea who Tomtom is, but his passing has been felt deeply within the Teenage Fanclub family.

Tomtom was a poster on the TFC forum, who represented everything thats perfect about the music that we adore. A bright, funny man who would bend over backwards to turn you on to new music, often going WAY out of his way to do so. He was a guy who adored music, a gentleman and a true fan.

He was one of those guys, the sort you would see at every gig, a passionate man who loved nothing better than making you a CD to introduce you to a new artist, a new avenue, a new adventure.

We are quite spoiled, i think, in the world of indiepop in that we are lucky enough to rub shoulders with artists we admire. Its almost taken for granted that we can meet with/drink with/talk with the people who make our little world a better place, and its easy to forget the people who go out of their way to make that gig and to introduce us to certain bands.People like Tom are the lifeblood of our little corner of the music spectrum, and its crucial that people like him are not forgotten.

But, like i said, most of you will not know Tom, so i ask that you look at this thread, learn the lessons and strive to be a bit more like him. I wish our scene was full of people like Tom, but of course it isnt. But i think we should try to take a tiny piece of what he (and, essentially us) stood for into the future. God rest you ya eejit. You wont be forgotten
http://www.teenagefanclub.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41635

Holdfast

2010-05-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

A sparkling little Chicago five piece, Holdfast are a big carrier bag full of potential. Teasing us with a mere 2 tracks on their myspace, but what joyous two tracks they are.

'Lollipop' is a rollicking little nugget if 'la-la' heaven.Full of sunshine and grass stained fun, it will sound perfect in June. It has very neat twist in the end, going all serious like, showing their Wilco like dark underbelly. But be warned you will humming the INFECTIOUS chorus all tea time.

The mercurial 'Why cant i feel tonight' is what was known in old money as a 'toe tapper', a leg pumping ode to joie de vivre that sounds like Pavement in their Sunday best.

Ones to watch these.

http://www.myspace.com/holdfastband

Bourgeois Heroes

2010-04-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

Right, lets not mess around, Bourgeois Heroes are brilliant. Hailing form New England, the somehow take all of your favourite records and put them through some sort of amazing B&S/Pulp filter. Sophisticated, clever indiepop is go. Its like someone has designed a band for listening to on the bus. Effing marvelous.

'The Boy at the Record Store' is a proper old fashioned character song, musically invoking everyone from the Beatles via B&S, Ballboy and Roy Orbison. It even has a girl spoken word bit. Its like a music loving librarians wet dream.

'I Wanna Be Nice To You' sounds all the world like a jam between the Doors and the Beach Boys gone twee. Try and listening without giving it a bit of a Ringo hair shake during the chorus. i challenge you!

'Musical Postcards' is a bloody waltz. A lovely, string embedded baroque number with china fragile vocals and a pretty, 60's-ish chorus. Really interesting, ambitious stuff.

They shift between psychedelia and skiffle with an absolute ease. This band is a little bit special, dont take my word for it, check them out here-http://bourgeoisheroes.bandcamp.com/
and get yourself a CD. Its under a fiver in English money.

Birds of California

2010-04-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

Formerly known as Tweefort, February Records have released a single by Massachusetts' Birds of California. They are something of a indiepop supergroup, containing members of Lunchbox and Magic Marker. Their music is true pop heaven, shiny, bright and brandishing chorus's that stick like glue to your ears and warm up your soul like a jacket potato eaten whilst christmas shopping.

'Saturday' is the middle track of three, and is sensibly infectious. You know when youre in a car on a gorgeous sunny day, and a track comes on that you dont normally like, but it some how fits and you find yourself singing along? Well, this like a track that you DO like in the same situation. By the time the trumpets kick in, you may have jaw ache from smiling. Its like Brian Wilson discovering fuzz.

The single can be downloaded free from here-http://februaryrecords.com/ but i would heartily recommend having a snoop at some of their new material on their myspace. Judging by these tracks ( in particular the fantastic 'Man of Affairs) their LP could be something very special indeed.

http://www.myspace.com/birdsofcalifornia

The Vanguard Villains

2010-04-25T06:33:00.000-07:00

Noo Yoiks The Vanguard Villains are a three piece, but you may be questioning your own ears when you hear the fullness and warmth of their sound. They do have a couple of up tempo numbers in their arsenal (due to, i imagine, having to entertain drunk people in little venues), but its in their quieter, subtle, shaded songs where they really, really come into their own. They describe their sound as 'retro', but they occasionally veer more towards 'classic'.

Pick of the bunch (to these ears anyway) is 'Admire', knocking on five minutes of gentle, sophisticated groove. Its the aural equivalent of rubbing your forearm on lush green grass on a beautiful summers day after enjoying half a bottle of wine. Its a 'quiet-verse-louder-chorus' number, but resists going all Nirvana and is all the better for it. Admirably ambitious.

'Fade' is a slinky and sedate. The sometimes harsh lyrical matter (i wish i had a home/i wish i broke your bones) is a silver pin bursting the balloon of the music. Dreamy in the right way, this is the sound of a band who have done it all before.

'Insidious' is throbby and dreamy and reflective, with a huge hearted chorus that's JUST the right side of fuzzy. Sleek with riffs in all the right places, its hearty and benignly heroic. Great stuff.

Anyone on a long drive through somewhere hilly could do worse than checking out 'Unexecuted', a gorgeous, pastoral near instrumental thats both acoustic and satisfying, (which, lets be fair, is something of a rarity)that goes pleasingly bonkers at the end.

The Vanguard Villains-Talented without going muso, well worthy of a listen.

http://www.myspace.com/thevanguardvillains

The Elated Sob Story

2010-04-21T05:13:00.000-07:00

San Diego's The Elated Sod Story really need a good producer. Its not the band are bad, far, far from it. The guitars blend together with almost subconscious ease, and the bass is bravely to the fore and never short of melodic. The drums are snappy and tight and the vocals are confidently hazy, the sort of vocal only the really talented can get away with. What frustrates is whats missing. Now, im no Brian Wilson, but even i can spot gaps where a really good harmony or a real 'let rip' of a vocal would make the songs very, very special.

And the songs are great. Really great. i cant tell whether this is a lo-fi band tyring to be shiny and poppy or a shiny and poppy band trying to be lo-fi. Either way, the talent and charm wins over.

The lightly lemonade epic 'Similar Game' sees a chugg-ghugg Breeders-esque guitar line skip merrily with its twinkly counterpart. Its a very confident mix. Its a day dreamy affair, and just when you sink into daydream territory, a pretty, fuzzy guitar break parts the clouds. Pop bliss. On toast.

Bass lead 'Wish you had a mind' is an ode to indecision and waiting on a lover. Its full of gently heartbreaking longing. I love the chimey guitar outro. Its an oddly mature song that belies its twee melody, thanks to its ballsy, breathy vocal.

'A.S.' is a lovely swirl of a song with a subtly sinister PJ Harvey vibe that would be SO satisfying with a loud, shouty vocal in its already well defined chorus.

Reading this back, it looks like im knocking the band. Im not, i like them. Lots. Im just struck immediately by their potential. If im ever in San Diego, i would love to get this lot in a studio.

www.myspace.com/elatedsobstory

RIP Alex Chilton

2010-03-18T05:15:00.000-07:00

Alex Chilton, singer/songwriter with the Box Tops and Big Star has died of suspected heart failure in New Orleans, days before performing with Big Star at SXSW. He was 59 years old.

Something of a child prodigy, Chilton scored his first hit record with the Box Tops, The Letter aged 16. He will probably be best remembered, however, as a founder member of power pop legends Big Star, a band he formed with Chris Bell, Andy Hummel and Jody Stephens in 1971.

Big Star is the sound of four Memphis kids trying to ape the sound of their beloved Beatles, and in failing, discovering a sound (via the legendary Ardent studios) unique to them, a kind of clean glam that, for me, chrysalises the sound of the romance of the 1970's and the feeling of being young, with all the excitement and frustration that brings.

Jewels in Chilton's song writing (with co-songwriter Chris Bell) cannon include 'Battle of El Goodo' which for my money is the greatest protest song ever recorded. The contrast between the the shiny, almost rustically relaxing music and lyrics with images of dead soldiers being zipped up in body bags is a devastating one. 'Thirteen' is a ballad about a young man trying to impress a young woman, which of course has been done a million times, but never so tender or honest or real. The band went on to influence a wide spectrum of artists such as Jeff Buckley, the Bangles, Teenage Fanclub, REM, Ryan Adams to name but a few.

For me personally, Big Star will always have a place in my heart for being one of the bands that i had to get out of my comfort zone to listen to. I felt a bit more grown up and musically wise after listening to Big Star. Once, i went swimming with some friends in lake. It was a beautiful summer day, and i was asked to bring a CD to listen to while the water was still and peaceful and reflected the sun on to our young bodies. The CD was, of course, Big Star.

Alex Chilton will be sadly missed.

The Smith Westerns

2010-03-08T06:49:00.000-08:00

OK, what if i told you there was this band, right?, and this band sounded like a cross between the Ramones and the Beach Boys? That suggested a fizzy Pavement or a more together Daniel Johnston? A band that sounded like POBPAH's little brothers or distant relations to the Buzzcocks? A group that churned out fantastically highly cranked up garage pop? The Jesus and Mary Chain snogging with Bowie? A band that had big fat hooks hidden carefully between ocean size sheets of fuzz and frolics? Well then, dear friend, let me introduce you to the joy of Smith Westerns.

The Chicago four piece are one of those bands that put their heart into their music. It sounds endearingly ramshackle to the point of amateur. But make no mistake, there is real, real talent here.
'Dreams' is the sound of early Orange Juice covered by a CBGB band. Can we coin the phrase Chime-punk? Because that is what this is. A love song of the Buzzcock variety, with chunky riffs hidden under the tinkling guitar only adding to the sheer, unabashed joy of the chorus.

'Girl in Love' is glam rock, but good glam rock. More glittery than sleazy, with the hand-on-hips vocal fighting to death with the Bolan stomp and fuzzed up guitars. Its the sound of being 15 placed delicately on to leopard-skin vinyl.

OK, imagine someone drinking too much Tizer and then drunkenly singing Shawaddywaddy on karaoke. Now put the whole sound through an effect pedal. Imagine the whole thing sounding like a sunny teenage day. You now have 'Tonight'.

Smith Westerns-Get trigger happy.

http://www.myspace.com/smithwesterns

Tonight-

First Aid Kit

2010-03-06T05:35:00.000-08:00

With an opening salvo such as "We aim for the hearts, not the charts!", you would be forgiven for falling in love with First Aid Kit without even hearing them. Your ears, however, are in for a real treat.

Hailing from Stockholm, you would however be forgiven for thinking they are actually from somewhere in South USA. Its the kind of two voice-two guitar (or uke or banjo) music that fills venues and souls in the same way that, say, Gillian Welch does. Folky with a very slight sleepy haze, the young ladies blend harmonies that ring true around dwarf the sum of their parts. Delicate without being dainty, its a sound as smooth as glass.

'Hard Believer' as pretty enough little strum along then without warning, around the minute, it drops down a little with the downbeat 'love is rough/time is tough' refrain the suddenly SOARS out of the blimmin room with its harmonal blend. Its enough to send your daydreams into the stratosphere. Heatstoppingly lovely. it makes the coda 'its one life/and its this life/and its beautiful' make so much sense.

'Tiger Mountain Peasant Song' is snow pure song with really, really brave vocals that could fall flat on their arses in over hands and in other songs. But here, it triumphs.

'Winter Is All Over You' is a testing yet lovely little lament that could melt bronze at fifty paces. Soft as lace and tough as leather.

I'm really quite pissed off i didn't get off my arse and see this pair live. They would be small venue heaven.

http://www.myspace.com/thisisfirstaidkit

London?

2010-03-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

Fot those of you in dear old London, you could do worse than go to Falling Down at the Pheonix in Oxford Circus. Three bands for a fiver. Cant be bad.

For further details go here-http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=309633674230&ref=ts

Schools out! Well, nearly...

2010-03-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Brilldream faves The School are almost ready to unleash their much delayed debut album on the world. 'Loveless Unbeliever' is released in Spain, Korea, Mexico, Canada and the USA in April with the UK getting a release in May. It will, however, be available to buy at the March tour. Yay! The track listing is thus-

1. Let It Slip
2. Is He Really Coming Home?
3. Valentine
4. I Want You Back
5. Is It True?
6. I Love Everything
7. Can't Understand
8. The One Who Left Me
9. Hoping and Praying
10. Summer's Here
11. Shoulder
12. All I Wanna Do
13. I Don't Believe in Love

Those who have bought releases by The School will notice they already own a few of these songs, but nevermind. The BIG news is that there will be a limited release on RED VINYL! How cool is that?

Pocket Satellite-Toy Train EP

2010-03-04T03:32:00.000-08:00

With London Popfest ( maybe i should have wrote about that, but i find booze and reviews are a bad mix. But a for balanced overview check Sam's overview here- http://alayerofchips.blogspot.com/2010/03/pre-popfest-tales.html or have a wade through here-http://www.anorakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=3205 ) leaving me with a head like a cave containing a Napalm Death sound check and body that feels weaker than old man Steptoe, can we all thank goodness for the soothing comfort blanket of Pocket Satellite's Toy Train EP?

Folky without being whimsy, overly twee or 'celtic', PS recall Monkey Swallows the Universe, Zooey van Gooey or maybe even a dreamier Noah and the Whale. Strings hum merrily, banjos pluck agreeably, xylophones chime with smiles and the softly robust voice of Maya fall together to leave a blanket of snow pure sound. I probably make it sound a bit whimsy and mittens, but its not. Imagine THE perfect band to open the last day of a festival, when your liver screams for mercy and you bones ache, and you brain demands something to dream to. This lot are perfect. Imagine the aural equivalent of have an ice cream in one hand and a pint of Guinness in the other.

Lead track 'Rocks in Shoes' is an attack on your cynicism, a sway of song with subtle harmonies and a quietly catchy melody that gingerly livens up towards the end, like a gingerbread man Arcade Fire. Gorgeous.
'We Chased Soldiers' is a rich little number that hints with HUGE hand gestures the potential of this little band. Its very humbly ambitious (especially in the last verse that gives sweeping a good name) and could be the one that sends punters to the merchandise stall to buy the CD.
The title track is dreamy little love letter the joy of travel. Again, the melody is feather soft and super subtle, but it will get you in the end.

The EP is available from here- http://www.theespc.com/ or via the band myspace (where its a bit cheaper) at http://www.myspace.com/pocketsatellite

Interview with Adrianne Gold from When I Was 12

2010-03-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a tip off from Colin, by far and away the best CD ive heard all year is 'Dear Eskimo' by New Jersey's When I Was 12. (my review can be found here-http://brilldream.blogspot.com/search/label/when%20i%20was%2012 ). Its amazing that more people have not yet discovered this unique little gem. i was lucky enough to catch up with vocalist and song writer from the group, Adrianne Gold to find out a little more about the band, their wonderful sound and her writing.

BRILLDREAM-Hi Adrianne, how are you today?

ADRIANNE GOLD- Absolutely sleepy! Wanting to be under covers but writing a ten page paper on copyright infringement instead.

BD-Could you tell us how When I Was 12 got together? I like to think you all met at a Teddy bears picnic...

AG- Starting my freshman year of high school I've started writing these quirky little love songs, changing the members of the band here and there, and changing our name constantly. We went from: At The Bake Sale, to Donnie Drywall and the Sheetrock, to Some Slumbering, to The Curious Girl, to Hattie and the Fox, and finally to When I Was 12.

Currently the band consists of myself, Dan Houwen, Carolyn Haynes, and Eric Resnick. Dan and I have been working together since my senior year in high school and I'm a freshman in college now. He's the sweetest, I friended him on the band myspace and thought he was really cute so we got together and once i heard him play bass/guitar, it was a done deal. I met Carolyn at college, first term, in my piano 101 class. She had really adorable red hair, wore the cutest sweaters I've ever seen, and had the most infectious smile/laughter, (not to mention she's a whiz on the glockenspiel AND saxophone!!!) We met Eric at the starbucks on our campus. Carolyn and I saw him patting his chest, loved his yellow shirt, and knew he had to be a drummer. I like anyone who likes coffee.

BD-Your songs are poppy and dreamy but with very clear and direct lyrics. Who influences you as a songwriter? And is there a single moment that made you want to be a musician?

AG- Oh, so many people influence me as a songwriter. Definitely Tilly and the Wall, Saturday Looks Good to Me, and The Magnetic Fields; they all write really brilliant love songs. I remember it was 8th grade and my dad told me if I learned to play guitar he'd buy me a heart shaped one. I think that's when I knew I really wanted to be a musician, or at least I knew I really wanted a heart shaped guitar.

BD-To me, a lot of the lyrical content seems to tackle the thorny issue of relationships, both romantic and platonic. Are they based on real life events and people? And do you think people are either in love or longing for it?

AG- Almost always real life events and people. God, if it wasn't for these boys, you know? WHAT WOULD I WRITE ABOUT. I'm always writing about all the boys I've met/haven't met/boys who have broken my heart/boys who I've broken their hearts/boys I've fallen in love with/boys I thought I fell in love with/boys/boys/boys.

BD-Your lyrics also have a pin sharp eye for detail. Are you a people watcher?

AG-Don't get me started on voyeurism, especially living in a city now, it'd be almost impossible not to watch everyone and everything. I am always so curious about where they're going, who they're meeting, if they're in love, or if they're just running late. Details, details, details. Colors are so important to me, and just the little things that can really bring a listener there or make them feel like they know who I'm talking about.

BD-They also, in places, have a very nostalgic feel. Are you a diarist? Or are you the type of person who scribbles a lyric on the back of a bus ticket so you don't forget it?

AG- i have the worst memory so I'm the kind of girl who will scribble words down on any surface she can find so she won't forget them a moment later, although most of my songs are memories, and it's hard to forget them, even when I want to.

BD-I love the song 'Oh Telephone Wires'. Can you tell me a little of what its about? And how long did it take you to come up with those amazing harmonies?

AG- We recorded our CD at Cambridge Sound Studios with Jim Salamone, we had the most incredible creative chemistry, and he helped us come up with the higher harmonies for he song. He's a real stand up guy. This song is about a girl and a boy whose hearts froze in the winter, and though they thawed come spring time, they just couldn't love each other the same. They had moved on whether they wanted to admit it or not. Bittersweet. They're off to find something better but at the same time we all know how hard it is to let go, of anything, of anyone.

BD-Did you really see the Mona Lisa?

AG- Unfortunately I did not. I also know that the Mona Lisa is no longer located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was using creative license, it rhymed, I couldn't help myself. You try rhyming things with pizza, it's hard, you know? I think the Mona Lisa was at the Met for a little while though, sometime in the 60s or something. the entire "S is for Subway" song is hypothetical. I was going to let this boy take me to New York City, but I was too afraid to. I was only imagining what it'd be like, or what it wouldn't be like.

BD-You have told me before that you have "Millions" of new songs. When can we expect to hear them?

AG- Our new drummer Eric Resnick is also going to record our new CD. We are thinking 12 songs, half love songs, half anti love songs. I've come to the conclusion that true love does exist but not all of the time and that when you're sad or angry you don't want to listen to something about fairy tale endings. Hopefully you'll hear them soon. You can hear them now though if you attend our shows!

BD-Is there any other New Jersey bands we should know about?

AG- Of course!!!! The Front Bottoms (sweetest boys ever existing in existence!) Safe Travels (Classiest guy I know) Mike Bruno (Haunting and beautiful) Dan Abary (His voice will make you melt) We Are the Sun (such fun!)

BD-Finally, whats your favourite book, item of clothing and cheese? and whats the best birthday present youve ever received?

AG- Favorite book, it's hard to narrow it down to just one so I'll tell you top 2. I know Ursula K. Le Guin is most known for her science fiction pieces but you've gotta read this short story "Very Far Away from Anywhere Else" it's very very endearing. I also like "Girl in the Flammable Skirt" by Aimee Bender, a little risque, but very artsy and intriguing.

Favorite item of clothing, I'd have to say my black shiny and gold and silver sequiny dress. It's so much fun to wear. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=32107772&op=8&o=global&view=global&subj=564130738&id=45902093

Favorite cheese, hm I've been ordering the chicken marinara melt at subway with provolone cheese, but I've always been into munster cheese and lately brie!

Best birthday present I've ever received? Maybe my megaphone. It's so much fun to shout into and sing with at shows. I also just really like birthday cake or cupcakes or anything sweet.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.myspace.com/wheniwas12

The debut album from When I Was 12-'Dear Eskimo'is available from here-http://cdbaby.com/cd/wheniwas12

Orange Juice

2010-02-22T06:36:00.000-08:00

Ah, Orange Juice. Being a slightly naive lad from the Shires, it took me ages to properly get into Orange Juice. I first heard them via 'Rip it Up' via an indie disco, and despite the track being brilliant (and fitting in sweetly with the current 80's pop vogue), its a pretty bad place to start to get in to the band.

I was expecting to research their back catalogue and discover a dozen or so mini 'Rip it Up's. What i discovered was a sound alien to the instant and charty Rip It Up, and was a bit lost by the strange, sparse production and the lyrics blurred by the odd vocal.
Luckily, however, i grew up a bit. Like one of those magic eye picture things, the more i focused on the music the more i got out of it.

The guitar jangle, drum rattle, and throbby bass became like trusted friends. And after deeper listening, how the hell did i miss lyrics like "The late bus is leaving/From he lonely station/So grab your silk stockings/And your Dance invitation"(Intuition told me) and "Have a wonderful birthday, dear/It only comes but once a year/I'll spoil your party with a punky sneer" (Louise, Louise)?
When you hear Edwyn sing "I'll never be man enough for you, it makes you wonder how the hell we got to the slack jaw and grazed knuckles of Oasis. Here are songs full of life, honesty, naivety, longing and wonder. Listening to music on the No.7 bus would never be the same again.

So if you're just getting into Edwyn, remember like jazzers will tell you, the best music is not always the most immediate. There is a wonderful new world to explore.

'Falling and laughing' download

https://rcpt.yousendit.com/823779593/d7893d06ef29dede0c2c1044d0e8dc98

'Blue Boy' download

http://rcpt.yousendit.com/823783757/77b4fe778fbb18da57ffb5aae5e74349

'In a nutshell' download

http://rcpt.yousendit.com/823788329/60fac2487dc7b95d11cbda75b431aeda

'Consolation Prize' download

http://download.yousendit.com/VGljYlJYQzNRWUt4dnc9PQ

Birdie

2010-02-19T07:58:00.000-08:00

In the post below, i talked about good travel music and the need for a good song to stare out of a train window to. On the flip side of that, there is also sometimes a need for something calming, something to slow the pace of your heart but but something that still inspires. Something to stare out of your bedroom window to.

Birdie where born when Paul Kelly and ex Dolly Mixture Debsey Wykes met whilst recording with Saint Etienne. Their sound is classic british pop without being Britpop, calm without being Chill-out (whatever that is).
Its chamber pop with nods to Bacharach, french pop, and down tempo soul. The mix is a really pleasing, hangover curing, hip-sway along sound (just check out the soothing 'Walk on By' brass on 'Dusty Morning')
. But their card-up-the-sleeve is feather light-subtle hooks that will have you sighing along to the words in no time. Dansette and match.

The following downloads and video are form their debut album 'Some Dusty' and should give an idea to their understated and underrated music.

Let her go-

Laugh-

https://rcpt.yousendit.com/822686917/e4d19290f2aba2e4adb58cb19e8e4de7

Dusty Morning-

https://rcpt.yousendit.com/822688629/7728b6541716b010fd00694736c6d714

American Dollar

2010-02-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

As anyone who has found a screwed up £5 note in an old pair of trousers knows, life can sometimes give you a nice little surprise every now and then. Take for example, gentle reader, the story of American Dollar. They sent me an invite on that Myspace, and ignoring the judge/book/cover rule, i immediately decided that i wouldn't like them because of their name. How wrong i was.

Instrumentals filled to the brim with atmospherics, this is perfect travel music. i remember ages ago reading a review of 'A storm in heaven' by Verve, which stated the case that even if it wasn't your cup of tea, if you put the cassette (that's how long ago it was)on in your car whilst stuck in a traffic jam, it would transport you to another world. This is the case with American Dollar.

A clean rush of sound, AD ( i can call them that, were friends) do a canny trick of playing dreamy music without relying on fuzz or haze. Take for example 'Fade In Out', which starts up as perfect, mind hugging stare-out-the-window music before breaking down into a pretty piano led middle eight, to going almost silent but for a heartbeat bass line, before exploding into life around 3:20 to push your heart through your rib cage at the sheer joy of it all. Get this band on your ipod next time you've got a boring journey. I'm actually looking forward to the journey to London popfest now. Full of surprises life.

http://www.myspace.com/americandollarband

Young Michelin

2010-02-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

From Aline, France (no me neither) Young Michelin are the sound of young France and joyous it is too. Their songs a full of cleanly crunchy guitars and poppy rhythms punctuated by tasteful stabs of effect pedals. All this is under pinned by vocals that sound Fonz cool even in (because they are in?) French.

'Les Copains' strokes the ears and the spine like a Joy Division shandy. An instrumental that could be a the theme tune from a programme about a boy and his dog who are stuck in 1979, its a very good indicator of the great skill in their playing and clever production.
'Je suis fatigue' is catchy as fuck. All quietly fuzzy guitars, punchy drums and hooky, teenage-dreams chorus, its what Big Star would sound like if they were French.
A brilliantly executed 'Obscene' combines the new wave with the old with verve and vigour. Smart.

Existe!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=480587445

The Missing Chums- How Come?

2010-02-11T07:15:00.000-08:00

Now then, to be absolutely chrystal clear and whiter than white honest, im not a huge fan of this song. Its very nice, very catchy and im sure the band will do very well, but its a bit Starsailor for my tastes, BUT the video that accompanies the song is something else.
Its a trimmed up short story by Krzystof Kieslowski, him of the 3 colour trinity, and its one of those things that finds you and walms the old ticker and inspires the mind. Wonderful.

Pale Sunday-Shooting Star EP

2010-02-11T06:21:00.000-08:00

Summers here. OK, one look out of the window or a second without a cardigan on will prove that statement a lie, but you will be able to fool you ears with the Shooting Star EP by Pale Sunday. This is pop sunny side up, joyfully reminiscent of Teenage fanclub and BMX Bandits and even the early pop prowess of Super Furry Animals.

The sun soaked title song of the EP can be downloaded from the link below. Try listening to it with out the smells of BBQ's and freshly cut grass wafting up your nostrils. Bet you cant.

Shooting Star-http://www.indiepages.com/matinee/sounds/pale6.mp3

For further info on release dates etc please see here-
http://www.indiepages.com/matinee/

New Nat Johnson the Figurheads

2010-02-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

This is the video for the new Nat Johnson and the Figureheads single 'Wasted'.
The sultry, rich little number, the third from their first album Roman Radio, is backed by 'Padre Volante.

Its available on 'God-i-love-you-youre
-so-perfect' 7" vinyl and 'meh' digital download via Damaged Goods records from here-http://damagedgoods.greedbag.com/buy/wasted-padre-volante/

Is it just me or is 'our' Nat morphing into Polly Harvey?

The Melting Ice Caps-Free download single

2010-02-07T07:26:00.000-08:00

melt

'Our Lovely Afternoon' is the new single from London band The Melting Ice caps. Full of gorgeous piano and sweeping strings in front of sophisticated beat, the track boasts a beautiful vocal and a stirring lyric. Soaked through with melodrama, the track has classic air to it, whilst somehow pulling off the trick of sounding modern and ancient at the same time. Its one of those that gets better with repeated listening. Ambitious and charming, its well worth your attention.

On the flip is 'Ohio', a much more upbeat, softer song. Its a breezy little number that recalls 80's pop such as ABC, particularly in its brilliantly executed little chorus. Its full of imagination and clever little twists.

Both the above can be downloaded for free (complete with art work) from here-

http://www.myspace.com/themeltingicecaps

The Understudies

2010-02-04T09:51:00.000-08:00

Hailing from London via Scotland (a fair walk to practise one would assume), The Understudies are one of those bands that charm you from the heart outward as soon as you hear them. Its probably down to the mixture of the authenticity of the shy, frail vocals and the raw honesty in the songs-songs of real proper love. Not chocolate box amore but bona fide LOVE songs aching with regret and nostalgia-noire.

'Flick knives' is gorgeously haunting, a Tindersticks go Butcher Boy affair that recalls early Suede. Its hard not to be thawed by the emotion in the almost timidly shy vocals, there are moments of real beauty here. A kitchen sink drama without the kitsch.

'Wanting V Getting' is an angsty twinkling shuffle. With lines like 'The bus stop in which you stole my heart is still standing here today', its a song anyone who's ever had a broken heart can relate too.
Just when you think your poor heart cant stand anymore, Bree comes in like the angel of reason singing ' because wanting is one thing, getting is another' like a cross between Cilla Black and Black Box Recorder. Wonderful.

'If I come to you' is a pleeing, pin striped want-song where both guitar strings and heart strings are played arpeggio. Almost painfully full of emotion, its butt nakedly honest and true.

Live favourite 'Chip pan glam' comes across like The Smiths 'Hand in glove' via a 50's edition of Coronation Street. With nourishment for the heart and for the hips and chock full of killer lines, its money shot is the pay-off line 'We've got a love/like a thousand chip pan fires/still, you sit there and you and ignore us/its been known/to burn whole houses down'. Fabulous.

Not always easy listening, but with a natural warmth and almost super human honesty, The Understudies are truly a band to fall for.

http://www.myspace.com/wearetheunderstudies

The Awesomelies

2010-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, writing a blog can pay absolute dividends. On occasion, you get something to review that's so bloody good you spend a week listening to it in sheer wonder of the lovable swoon-sass of the songs.

Formed in Athens, GA, The Awesomelies offer a bleepy, plink-plop pop that's never short of charm or sass. The boy and girl doing the boy-girl vocals are Becky and Ian, and with a brand of fizzy surfy pop EVEN I can dance to, you know they are on to a winner.

Their download album 'Make Way' is full of short, snappy little statements of intent.
The stand out track is the bratty, hook laden 'I object to your room'. Its clappy beats and organ strokes (ooh er missus) that seem to be machine made for swinging hips too. Marvelous.
Elsewhere, the prouder than proud 'We do all the best stuff' is as sneery and arrogant as cardigan wearing indiepop gets (ie not very). Imagine a one of those hip-hop bragging battles in library and you re half way there.
The relatively epic 'The Check deposit' is chanty ode to making tapes off the radio that somehow turns into an almost dance rap song that would sound simply brilliant on a long car journey.
'Grids of California' is probably that straightest pop song here, with lots of subtle hooks and a drop off ending that leaves you wanting more.

They seem to be have been sent purely to cheer us all up. WE ARE AWESOME they state on the prickly 'Like Youre Awesome'. And its really hard not agree.

The album in question can be listened to here, and downloaded via one of those Radiohead things where you can pay what you like. Go on, chuck a couple of quid in you tight sod.

http://theawesomelies.bandcamp.com/

The Exhibition

2010-02-02T04:36:00.000-08:00

A Yorkshire-and-proud four piece, The Exhibition have released a free download of their latest 4 track demo. The EP precedes a 7" single, hopefully released around June time on Of National Importance records. And a surprisingly refreshing release it is too.

I say surprising, because by reading other reviews i thought the may be shoe-gaze-y and day dreamy, nothing wrong with that of course. But the description could not have been further from the truth.
The Exhibition's songs of fire and skill show an almost Mod intensity and passion. Tight, taught guitars inter-knit with each other in front of super crisp drums that often spill into furious fills.
Alex out of Artic Monkeys sings like he wants to get laid, Ricky out Kaiser Chiefs sounds like hes singing for a Brit-award. Pete out of the Exhibition sings like his life depends on it. Their sound is focused, organic and true.

For my money, the best track on the EP is 'Bright New Worlds',it really is an absolute cracker. A furious wrestle of a song that's too anarchic to be an anthem, but still boasts a proper, proper chorus which seeps into you mind with out you even realising. Its a track that could put most debut singles to shame with its clear eyed statement of intent. Great stuff.

the EP can be downloaded free from here-

http://www.zshare.net/download/70438734877b8cf7/

http://www.myspace.com/wearetheexhibition

The needle and the damage done and done again

2010-01-28T06:29:00.000-08:00

In 2002, a band from North London called The Libertines released their debut album, Up the Bracket. The LP was appreciatively received by young music fans, who no longer had to put the with the out dated, luddite lager-rock of Oasis and by critics, who finally had something interesting to write about after desperately clinging to The Strokes for inspiration, a band for all their twangy riffs and ultra studied sub-CBGB cool, still came across with the collective charisma of Bill and Ted in a collerless leather jacket.

Eight years later, Robyn Whitehead, a promising film maker and photographer was found dead amongst drug paraphernalia in a flat owned by Pete Wolfe, co writer of number one hit 'For Lovers' , in Hackney, East London. The cause of death is a suspected drug overdose. She was 27 years old.

The story between the two events you probably know. A sordid tale of drugs and super models, of men being thrown to their death off balconies. A book of broken dreams, broken bones, break ups, and break ins. We followed the story from hoping he would turn to gigs, to hoping he would write good songs again to hoping people would stop dying. It should have been so different.

Initially, The Libertines, and in particular Pete Doherty, caused something of a renaissance amongst British youth. For all the critics of Doherty's music (and there are plenty, Ive seen many a level headed music fan turn apoplectic with rage when the sobriquet 'genius' has been used to describe him and his songs), for all the people fed up to the high teeth of the 'Potty Pete' stories, what is undeniable is the effect he had over his admirers. He made music romantic again.
He inspired people. I have met people who have started bands, set up record labels, write poetry, put on nights, promoted live music, because of the ethic of The Libertines. Ive met people who have became writers, musicians, fashion designers, artists, reviewers, blogers, travellers, thinkers, because the saw a twinkle in Pete Dohertys eyes and thought 'i can DO something. I can be different'. Hearts are won, the arrow ascends.

Then, of course, with broken hearts, the arrow falls. The pied piper effect reveals its down side. When the piper himself sinks into a seedy world of drug dens and addiction, there are people who will follow him into his rank lifestyle.

Manchester has a reputation for being a drug city. Mancs will trip over themselves to tell you how many pills they have popped, they will gaily drag you into a toilet cubicle for a cheeky line, they will stink out the top decks of their buses with the acrid fug of skunk smoke. But with heroin and crack cocaine comes a sense of shame. They are drugs that are frowned upon, because they are killers, and they know it. In London, in a certain scene, smack and crack share a sense of almost idle bohemia. People nod out in dens thinking they are the reincarnation of absinthe swigging french poets in the 1800's. This of course, is bollocks.

You can wave the Bill Hicks argument that all great music is created by people on drugs. Or that Keith Richards made 'Exile on Main Street' as a smack head. But like Neil Young, who slowly watched his band die one by one through overdoses, i would argue that addiction kills not the heroes, like Keef, Nick Cave or Shaun Ryder, but the hangers on, the people who get sucked into the scene. All three will tell you that, when it comes to heroin and crack, you either clean up or die.

There's lots of thing i find disgusting about the tragic death of Robyn Whitehead, a bright funny young woman who posted on the same message boards as me, and attended the same gigs i went to. I'm disgusted by the tragic waste of a young life. I'm disgusted that Doherty, a man who is happy to lead people into his fucking horrible crack den world, can merrily skip away when people are killed through it. I'm disgusted that a man who obviously has no intention of getting clean can be found in a UK court with thirteen wraps of heroin and be released back into his little day dream world. I'm disgusted for myself, for falling for his spell, for defending him and his 'artistic nature' in the face of common sense, and the fact it took a young girls death to finally, finally wake me up to that fact. I'm disgusted that the poor girls death has been dragged into the perverse world of tabloid journalism. I'm most disgusted that her death wont be the last. Something has to change.

French Kissing

2010-01-22T05:47:00.000-08:00

Calm down, sadly, this is not a post about the art of the 'tongue sandwich', although that is of course a fine activity i hope you have tried. Ive even had go myself with the assistance of some very nice and sympathetic young ladies. No, this is a post about a new band from London who are 'new wave' in the sense is their music is surfy.

Soon to be released 7" 'oh Suzanne' (on Sleep All Day records), is joyful little twist of song. Like a skunky, zesty Beach Boys. Its a curious tune that could have been just as easily written in 1960 as today, with its clappy, choppy rhythm and restrained chorus that doesn't go down 'La-la-la' road, even though the melody is straining to do so.
'I would let you know' is even more exciting, i really chunky cut of garage rock that sounds like about 23 great bands at the same time. Its the sort of song that comes out of one of those hand held transistors they have on 60's films. Rollickingly good stuff.

http://www.myspace.com/frenchkissingband

Airport Girl download

2010-01-21T07:09:00.000-08:00

Spoiled you lot are, blimmin spoilt. Off the back of giving you the new Allo Darlin single for a absolutely nowt, those lovely people at FortunaPop! are letting you have the pop perfection of Aiport Girls 'The Foolishness That We Create Through Love Is The Closest We Come To Greatness' as a free download. Released in 2000(is it really that long?), to comparisons to B&S and Denim, the song is a masterpiece in lovingly crafted sway pop, with a trumpet part to melt too. Not only that, but they also give you the chance to see the shelved video for the first time. Like i said, spoilt

The track can be downloaded here- http://www.fortunapop.com

Camera Obscura North America/Mexico tour

2010-01-21T06:56:00.000-08:00

Everyones favourite vintage dress wearing sigh pop 6 piece, Camera Obscura, have announced a tour of North America with a couple of bonus dates in Mexico. They are currently slogging it across New Zealand and Australia, before heading to Japan, Portugal and Indonesia, bless them. They must be knackered. The US tour kicks off on April 3rd, with the dates being as follows-

Iowa City, IA Blue Moose Tap House (April 3)
Madison, WI High Noon Saloon (4)
Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall (5)
Lawrence, KS The Bottleneck (7)
Norman, OK Meacham Auditorium (8)
Austin, TX Emo's (9)
Denton, TX Hailey's (10)
Houston, TX Warehouse Live Studio (11)
Mexico City Lunario (13)
Guadalajara Lydo's Show Center (14)
Las Vegas, NV Club Aruba at the Aruba Hotel (16)
Visalia, CA Cellar Door (20)
San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall (21)
Eugene, OR WOW Hall (23)
Bellingham, WA Nightlight Lounge (24)
Portland, OR Berbati's Pan (25)

Sylvie Vartan

2010-01-18T07:30:00.000-08:00

I was at work the other day, and one of my work mates had stuck on one of those 'Classic Gold' type radio stations. You know the sort, the ones that dips every song into a kind of grey fug, and you're guaranteed to hear 'Downtown' by Petula Clarke or 'Massachusetts' by the BeeGees once every 15 seconds. Anyway, it put me in the mood for some REALLY good 60's pop, and Ms.Vartan was the first CD i picked up.
As far as i can gather, Sylvie Vartan was to 60's France what Robbie Williams is to the UK now. A bit of a princess of the people, but with tunes. Oh what tunes.
Full of swing and a certain type of cool that cant be aped by Austin Powers, her records are far too many to start recommending here. But check out the compilation 'Irresistiblement:1965-68' and the FABULOUS site here-http://www.myspace.com/sylvievartan and fill your Chelsea boots.

The Fauns

2010-01-18T06:56:00.000-08:00

Bristol's' The Fauns, some would have you believe, are shoe gaze. Whilst that opinion is true, after listening to the album 'Faun', you cant help feeling such a label is misleadingly simplistic.
All the joyous rush of MBV, early Ride etc are there in the grooves, but the band offer a more satisfying wholeness, a more pleasing pop peek. Imagine the sedative-serene slipstream of early Spiritualized, but less druggy and with a kitten soft vocal (courtesy of Alison Garner) and you can almost grasp the cotton wooled slow-burn of their music.
Where the band hits the heart, where other bands completely miss, is their breathtaking mix of their sound. Rather having a wall of feedback massaging the brain, its the very sublte, very deft blend of 5 instruments all playing different things that lifts the soul. Its the reaction of instruments becoming one mass lushly textured sound. Man.
'Cool stuff', to me, is their sound at its very peek. Ive read elsewhere what good headphone music they make, but I'm afraid i disagree. It sounds much better pouring out a speaker like a metallic waterfall. I may have just sounded like a hippy, but listen to it and you will see what i mean.
'Understand' is more evident of their love of shoe gaze. Poppy, light with a thinly disguised C86 jangle. Pretty.
'Black sand' is bordering on sinister. All noirish electronica, it would make a very good soundtrack to dream about tanks.
You could pick up '1991' with your little finger its so light, superbly dreamy.

Sound track to the best dream you've ever had? Very possibly. Recommended? Highly.

http://www.myspace.com/thefauns

New Lucky Soul single-White Russian Doll

2010-01-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

They are a funny old band Lucky Soul. Routinely coming up with the goods, be it in pure pop form (My Lips are Unhappy Without You, Ain’t never Been cool) or seriously seductive soul (Give Me Love) they have never really surfaced to the fan base or status that bands like Camera Obscura or Allo Darlin’ enjoy. Maybe they haven’t toured enough, maybe they haven’t been kissing the right asses. I don’t know.

We welcome them back after a fair old absence with the new single White Russian Doll, and an ambitious little bugger it is to. Its as if its been hand built to be played on the radio, from its opening burst of immediacy, to its catchy 60’s-ish dancability, to its Strokes-y riffs, to its hooky refrain of ‘No pressure at all…’, to its sudden ending, its been made to catch you ear, making it all sound like being hit by its pop rush. I guarantee you will dance to this song somewhere this summer.

On the flip is a LS sound we maybe more familiar with in Cryin’ in the Morning, its all petticoats and tear stained pillow cases. it’s a 50’s style doo-wop tear jerker that wouldn’t sound out of place at the enchanted dance under the sea. Very brittle and pretty.

http://www.myspace.com/luckysoulluckysoul

When i was 12

2010-01-10T07:45:00.000-08:00

For all the arguments about what is 'Twee' and our mutual love for all things saturated in mind fizzing NOISE, its always nice to hear some fresh cute music. Can we call it cute? Good.

Noo Joisey's When I Was 12 are a minty clean breath of fresh air. Wilfully silly, their brand of pop is sugary without being saccharine. Think Au Revoir Simone. Think Rose Melberg. Yes, their Indie-Folk is THAT good.

'Make believe hearts' could be an excitable Softies. With lines like "sometimes you like to smoke a cigarette/not around me/because I'll have an asthma attack" and "Nobody knows i cry when it snows" its hard not to swoon.
'S for subway' is feather soft road movie of a song. Full of ice cream and pizza and love metaphor, it would take a heart of stone not to be charmed. Love songs rarely come more honest or warming. Just lovely.
'Oh telephone wires' is a ballad-A FUCKING BALLAD!-about growing up and growing out of that certain someone. Heartbreaking nostalgia-noir.
'Black cat/white picket fence' is ridiculously lovely. Its like a song sung by snow-siren, child like and grown up at the same time. Its a bit scary how good this band could be.

I could go quote lyrics by this lot all day, but go listen yourself. The cynicism of Christmas is over, lets get romantic.

http://www.myspace.com/wheniwas12

The Medusa Snare

2010-01-09T05:39:00.000-08:00

Ive been barking on about lots of old stuff of late, so it time to talk about some great new music, so lets start with MEDUSA SNARE. They are half of Manhattan Love Suicides. And by the sounds of it, it the nosier side.
Fans of MLS may miss the 60's girl pop-punk, but the band make up for it with a whole sleeve full of influences. At the forefront of these are the Jesus and Mary Chain, but the melodic, hushed voiced side rather than the feedback soaked.

'This not a war' is superb. mary chain fuzzy and poppy, is like being kissed by someone beautiful with mouth full of sherbert. its fiffs are as hooky as its chorus. Brill stuff.
'SlowMotion' is a delicious slice of minimalist shoe gaze. Quiet yet noisy with a riff to die for. And those drums!
'Belenkaya' is a snare drum filled assault. Finely tuned and melodic, its silver noise rather than white.
'Monster' is much quieter, reflective affair and could have proudly graced a Sarah Records release. Yup, its that good. Just the rights side of catchy, with a vein of light feedback and more of that gorgeous riffage.

Overall, the band have a feel that's oddly American, like a band the BJM would befriend. But well worth checking out.

http://www.myspace.com/themedusasnare

Marion

2010-01-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

I recently rediscovered an album called 'This world and body' by a band from Macclesfield called Marion. I was actually a little taken aback by how good it was. Marion came around at an odd time, just after Suede had (wrongly)temporarily quenched the pop worlds thirst for a 'new Smiths' and just in time to be roped in with the snowball of shit we have come to know as 'Britpop'. This is a shame.

Though possessing in Jaime (his spelling) Harding one those front men who you either rather like or could happily throttle, the bands Smiths credentials were pretty good, having been a Northern band managed by Marr-Mentor Joe Moss, to actually having their second LP(the sadly woeful The Program) produced by Sir Johnny of Marr himself. Even old Mozzer said he liked them, a curse if there ever was one. After the ill fated second LP (which didn't chart) the band dissolved into a mire of heroine addiction, with only guitarist Phil Cunningham coming up roses by playing guitar live with New Order.

Its sad that they will always be remembered as a boil on the arse of britpop, as their first album is a cracker. Obviously honed with love and care in the rehersal room, the songs leap from the speakers and soar.
'Sleep' you will remember as the harmonica lead song from the Citroen ads at the time, but its the other songs that really shine. 'Lets all go together' was gutsy , intelligent and dramatic with a swooping chorus that went 'Its hard for you/they dont understand/youre lifes and exam/and you need something'. The sort of record you sort of hoped Suede would make.
'Vanessa' is a hoot. All chiming guitars and hands on hips. The kind of song that pops in your head when you see an ex- looking fantastic.
'Wait' is an articulate radio song, should such a thing exist. 'My children' is a baby cousin to the Smiths' 'Asleep' that explodes into life a la 'Creep' by Radiohead.

Again, this is a CD you could probably get for a couple off quid off Amazon, but have a chew on these first-

Vanessa download-
http://download.yousendit.com/TzY1cHBJYXl3NUtGa1E9PQ

Wait download-


https://download.yousendit.com/TzY1cHBBT005NVYzZUE9PQ

Lets all go together download

://download.yousendit.com/TzY1cHBJWlRtNExIRGc9PQ

Frank Blake-Dont let love pass you by

2010-01-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

An absolutely wonderful curio for you today pop fans. Frank Blake was a short lived project from 1996 that consisted of one of brilldreams favourite song writers, Teenage Fancluber Norman Blake and former BMX bandit(and, at the time, future TFC member) Francis McDonald. Unsurprisingly for output from such thoroughly nice men, the output was hushed, relaxed and of good temper.

The pick of the bunch is B-side 'Don't let love pass you by', a McDonald penned little belter that takes the Byrds, The Beatles, Big Star and even Teenage Fanclub and makes a lush little pop stew. Released on Shoeshine Records, this is a proper old school 45, one which you can hum the melody half way through and sing the whole record after two listens. Pop perfection. It would sound perfect on a Dansette.

'Dont let love pass you by'-


http://rcpt.yousendit.com/798277648/700d7901d609ae85731cc882b8ca44ca

James Roberts-Everything you know is right

2010-01-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

'Everything you know is right' is the first solo album by James Roberts, former member of Delta and The Sea Urchins,who most kids of a certain coolness would have found via the seminal (and seminal isn't too stronger word) 7" 'Pristine Christine'.

Its an album that has the feel of a man given a free reign, and as such doesn't always hit the target. The sub-Kasabian shuffle of 'If time was all', for example, probably sounded fantastic in the studio at 4am, but in the cold light comes across like the backing music to a Sunday league goal of the month competition.

When it hits, however, its a bulls-eye. The Lennon-y 'I knew' is acoustic wooziness at its best. Folk with an edge and with a chorus that has a hook that will bury itself in your head, its like Shack never happened.
'Its all made light' is a swirling carnival folk-pop monster that sounds like Doves taking on The Wonder Stuff.
The haunting, dusty 'Laughing Mostly' sounds like a long lost Acid-Scouse strum along. Perfect bath music
Epic closer 'The Way' should be sent round to Mr.N.Gallaghers house. THIS is how you do a sweeping number with more than a nod to The Beatles. Chiming and timeless.

Is 'Everything you know is right' pristine? No, its not without its faults, but its a private, often suprising LP and well worth further investigation. And you can get a copy for about £2 on Amazon.

'I knew' https://rcpt.yousendit.com/797777226/3c218faa264c6b0123c27f209cf20d5b

'Laughing mostly' https://rcpt.yousendit.com/797774692/37db21e1777431c60fcc2ef1c4b2fd46

David Tattersall free download

2010-01-01T13:13:00.000-08:00

Happy new year! And straight off the blocks are the ever reliable wiaiwya records, releasing a limited (to a 1000)download by Wave Pictures front man David Tattersall. 'Happy for a while' is a taster for his forthcoming solo LP (expected April) and judging by this it should be very comfy, acoustically melodic and rather nice. A bit like Noah and the Whales' mellower stuff but with more of a story. Im very much looking forward to hearing more.

Go get your copy while its still there.

http://www.wiaiwya.com/

Cats on fire-The Hague

2009-12-28T15:10:00.000-08:00

Those of you who wish to be around a million miles away from the turkey curry and the Ugg-boot and puke horror that is new years eve could to a lot worse than take advantage of the new free download by Finland's Cats on Fire.
'The Hague' is like a Guiness by a roaring fire, warming and bitter. Folky and silky, its the perfect escape. Let Mattias's hushed, soothing vocals take you somewhere nice this December.

http://www.cosyrecordings.com/cosy024.html

Standard Fare-Fifteen

2009-12-28T14:35:00.000-08:00

Ah teenage angst. Mistakes, mis-shapes, love, lust and longing. Hope, Harp lager and heartache. 'Fifteen' is the new 45 by Brilldream faves Standard Fare, and not since the days of Kenicke has the whole love bites-under-pop-posters period been so roundly represented.

Though less catchy than its predecessor, 'Dancing', A-side 'Fifteen' is more of a dancer. You can expect some spilled beer when this one is performed live. Imagine a little sister to 'Once and never again' by the Long Blondes', its a lay to the bewildering confusion of young lust. This ones a grower. Expect to be humming it when you least expect it.

On the flip is 'Understand', a tender, reflective strummer. And a pretty little posie it is too. Dedicated to the young, foolish and poetic, i think everyone will fall for the line "When we meet in the park every week/i say 'i love you', you say you love me too/its what i most want to hear/more than anyone anywhere". Oddly, its when Standard Fare sound at their youngest is where they are at their most mature. i can almost taste the Merrydown...

http://www.heychuck.com/theespc/release_details.php?cat_no=SPC028

Ex-Crush

2009-12-21T17:12:00.000-08:00

Like an affair, a side project can be a pretty dangerous thing. And like an affair, it seldom begets satisfactory results. There are exceptions(Frank Blake, Some Girls etc.), but a side project is usually an ill conceived show of vanity(Bowie goes drum & bass anyone?) at best to a poor car-crash(hello Peter Hooks' Monaco)at its worst. Its with a hearty 'PHEW!' , then, that we welcome Ex-Crush into our little lives. Ex-Crush are a side project of The Just Joans' Chris and Katie. Don't worry though, JJ fans are in for a treat that wont ruin your appetite. The songs are positive, altered, focused and refreshing. Everything a side project could and should be.

Still founded on the Just Joans vision of crap chat up lines, pissed snogs and regret, they(perhaps bored with the 'indie ghetto', maybe blase with the twee-er than thou, maybe just plain bored) have ditched the strum and plink plonks for a fresher, hookier, beatier sound. Its a electro for people who cant afford their electricity bill.

If you imagine meeting Saint Etienne at 3am in a bar bemoaning the loss of a lover and sporting an unexplainable love bite, then you can get a sense not only of their sound, but also of their attitude.
'All boys break hearts' is a crisp, clean slice of charty dance pop. its gives Katie's voice lots of room to stretch and make its mark. Its a story of lost love. Real love. Its one of those songs you can dance and cry to at the same time. It may make you feel a bit guilty for having a penis.
'Wasted weekends' sound like Kenicke via a mid 90's remix, and an ambitious one at that. A sad little tale of regret delivered with typical brutal honesty. If it was sung with just an acoustic guitar it could snap a heart string, but as it is, its an odd curio. A Pet Shop Boys for the permanently pessimistic.

Ex-Crush, crying in a nightclub toilet near you.

http://www.myspace.com/excrushband

The San Marinos

2009-12-21T08:12:00.000-08:00

From Sweden, The San Marinos are Anna and Daniel, and they write yer usual tweepop but with a (probably unsurprisingly) European slant. Their D.I.Y recordings wave off such dinosaur stuff as 'Feel' and 'Riffs' but search lovingly and longingly for the perfect melodic pop-rush.

'Half a million' is a fizzy as cherryade and almost as tasty. A poem to parties and peace, its about love baby. Too danceable to be protest and too happy to be hippy, its a daisy chain of a song. John Lennon would love it.
'Guess how much i love you' is a bleepy electro-swirler, all snap, crackle and glitter, with a bass-line of solid teak. A song made to hold hands to, its a heart salad with a side order of self doubt.
'On our way' is sleeky, lush little song. A twinkling stare out of the window. A song to daydream too and no mistake.

The self-prophesizing 'We're beautiful' is a fuzzy dash of quirk pop. Its sheer, sheer love is self evident and strangely moving. Its a funny thing, listening to lots of music and trying to find what effects us and whats worth listening too and all that, but its really, really moving to hear people put so much effort into their craft. Its like watching football really, we don't mind signing a clogger, if they put in as much effort as possible and make the odd audacious tackle.

The San Marinos are no cloggers. They write clumsy, pretty, inspiring, music. They are a band that's hard not to love.

http://www.myspace.com/thesanmarinos

www.liao.se

New 'Allo darlin' free download

2009-12-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

Fortuna pop love you. They must do, or why else would they let you have a download of the new 'Allo Darlin' 7" for absolutely nish?

'Polaroid' is lovely, motown-y little shindig of a single. Its a real statement of how far the lovely. Elizabeth and the crew have come. Imagine Camera Obscura's 'French Navy' but slimmer and shimmyer. "i feel like dancing on my own/ to a record i do not know/ in a place Ive never seen before". Oddly, that's the exact effect the record has.

on the flip is 'Will you please spend new years eve with me?' a sweet, shy, little pleader some of you may remember from her set in Nottingham, or indeed the demo form her last Xmas release. Very seasonal, very beautiful. Get you copy here:-

http://www.fortunapop.com/process_polaroid_free_download.php

and you can actually buy the single on 7" from here:-

http://www.fortunapop.com

The Jealous Sea

2009-12-15T07:42:00.000-08:00

From San Fransisco, duo The Jealous Sea ( ronardo p. recacho & taylor b. crawley)are the sort of band who release their songs on super limited edition EP's on super little labels, so you may have to resort to myspace to hear their doe-eyed songs about crushes and the like. But its well worth a visit.
'Exes and Ohs' is a slinky shimmy of a song, its longing, lovelorn lyric seeks sympathy from the Suedehead-esque battle of riffs beneath it. Its boy/girl vocals melt together to give the music what-for. And the middle eight is exquisite. A charming and accomplished song.
'Past the Grey' is a delight, its Comet Gain goes Felt tips strum and jangle fits the subtle, breathy almost Sundays-esque vocals like a velvet lined glove. Its 'Bahbaddabah' backing vocal and, again, a fantastic middle eight are other treats.
'Moving Targets' is reminiscent of early Camera Obscura. Its lyrics and vocals gaze longingly at the sky for someone to 'L.O.V.E' while Lucksithsy jangle underpins the whole thing gorgeously. Here's hoping im on the ball next time they release something, and lets hope its soon.

http://www.myspace.com/thejealoussea

Manchester picture niceness

2009-12-15T07:08:00.000-08:00

The martyrdom of Saint Tony and When Johnny met Steven by Pete McKee

As the time for presents gets ever nearer, here's a few ideas for the Manc or music fan in your life (or even a treat for yourself). Pete McKee is a Sheffield artist with a collection called 'Great moments in Manchester Music'. His quirky, cartoony paintings are both serious and silly, and train spotter friendly. And would look ace in my bedroom.

http://shop.therealmckee.co.uk/manchester-music.html

Not quite as serious, but no less sublime is the collection of Smiths/Morrissey pictures by Stephen Wright, who was the photographer responsible for the famous 'Salford lads club' picture on the gate fold of 'The Queen is Dead' and the rear of 'Strangeways...' amongst others. His work is currently beautifully displayed in Piccadilly records, and is very, very tempting.

http://www.smithsphotos.com/

John Cooper Clarke-Distant relation

2009-12-15T06:49:00.000-08:00

Just at the point where i was getting sucked into the cliche of hating Christmas via the tedium of a war for the number one spot and the horror of 'Macca' selling his arse for two shillings to Simon bastard Cowell (WHY? he has the most accomplished back catalogue out, he needs the neither the money or publicity. You have the feeling Paul has not played Pontoon.), i borrow a mates Ipod on a train, and this was the first song on it. This is a real Xmas song, and its not even about Xmas. Its about family, all the silly little things that make our families unique. About people we love, even if we don't admit it that often. Listen to this, then give your mum a ring-

https://rcpt.yousendit.com/791193098/899827a9b5c55fe2d7180a253f49320f

Jupiter and teardrop.

2009-12-14T17:26:00.000-08:00

Right, i SWORE i'd never post on here pissed, but here we are, and i'll try not to bore you. I was going out with a girl, a teacher no less, in London. I'd been buying a couple of CD's i thought she may like from a record shop in Camden. While i was idling in her flat in Islington i put on one i had purchesed, a Grant lee buffalo album and as the 'crunk-crunk' bit of this song played she came out of her bathroom looking just perfect and i swore this would be forever. I was as confident as i ever will be, but deep down i knew it was unlikely that anything would feel this good again. as i write, i was right, but theres always hope. Some songs fade away, but some feelings last forever.

More Christmas niceness with Lucky Soul

2009-12-12T06:33:00.000-08:00

OMG!!!whoz r u going 2 vte 4? X fctr or ratm??!!!

Meanwhile, back on planet pop, purveyors of dazzling Indiepop, Lucky Soul have released a Xmas song that has even the most cynical Christmas hater like me weeping openly into their mulled whine. Its a sweepy, weepy version of Muds 'Lonely this Christmas' and you can have it for nowt as a Christmas gift from here-http://soundcloud.com/ruffa-lane/sets/ruffa-round-the-christmas-tree

The Golden Rule

2009-12-10T06:52:00.000-08:00

My timing is awful, like the theme song to 'Saved by the bell' i often get to the bus stop to see the bus go by. I always get to the pub as everyone else is starting to get really drunk. I discover a bands debut as everyone else gets into their second. My clothes are always exactly 16 months out of fashion.

I really, really wish I'd found out about The Golden Rule at the start of the summer, when its not scorching, just nice and warm and everyone is cheered by the sun coming out. They would be an ideal accompaniment to walking a dog lazily through a nice field on a lovely warm day. Everything they do sounds like a summers day at about 7.oopm

'In a field', the lead track from their 'Golden rule' EP is really charming little love letter of a song, all lazy strums and daydream lyrics. Sun filled and politely lush. 'Something i can use' is sunny yet serious, an introspective search of a song that would still sound fantastic on a car stereo, the female/male vocals entwining gorgeously. 'Now i hear the train' is a delight, singer Charlie's voice sounding like all his influences at once, the chimey jangle underneath making the whole thing sound swimmy, like a glass of wine on a hot day.

http://www.myspace.com/goldenrulemusic

Holly, Ivy and mistletunes

2009-12-10T06:05:00.000-08:00

Its here again, all garish decorations in that chav down the roads garden and awful, awful adverts. Oh Christmas how i deplore you(i may cheer up once ive actually done my Xmas shopping...)

Anyway, those lovely people at Something For The Longing have released a gorgeous little compilation of Xmas songs, covers, and winter tinged originals. Included is The Wentletraps gorgeously slight version of Lows 'Just like Christmas', Archaster's 'Away in a manger' that fits neatly somewhere between Edwyn Collins and Richard Hawley, the frosted frug of 'December' by Sugarspun, the C86/sha-la-la pleader 'Christmas(please come home)' by the ace Jealous Sea, the sweetly intimate 'Blue December' by That lingering feeling and an an aces version of 'Winter wonderland' Mary Ann Logue, which sounds like background music on a ZX Spectrum game.

The comp, with all the above and more, can be downloaded here-
http://rapidshare.com/files/314611246/Holly__Ivy_And_Mistletunes_192.zip

Standard Fare

2009-12-09T16:31:00.000-08:00

If there is one moment everyone will remember from Novembers Nottingham alldayer, its the exact second Emma Kupa started to sing. You could feel the whole audience switch from polite attention to being completely mesmerised. Standard Fare have that effect.

Hailing from Sheffield, the three piece treat us to metallic, textured pop songs that have the capability to switch from brittle to soaring with almost casual ease. Their debut single, 'Dancing' (a 7" on Sheffield Phonographic Corporation) is a tight, crackling record with bare, confessional lyrics which stumbles lazily into category of CLASSIC. Everything about it, from its wire-y tangles of guitar , to the make-up-still-on lyrics to THAT voice is unique. I really cant wait to hear more from this lot.

'Philadelphia' is a catchy little bastard, that feels like it could fall on its arse any minute, but doesn't, a sassy swagger of a pop song. 'Night with a friend' is a tangy little call and response number with disarmingly heart on sleeve, glass half empty lyrics.

Loads of bands get the tag 'one to watch', but this one demands your complete attention. They almost make me wish i was 20 again.

http://www.myspace.com/standardfare

Basia Bulat

2009-12-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

I had a bit of a shit day at work today( i know, boohoo etc) where i had 2 hours of mania with 2 hours of calm then another two hours of mania. In the gap, i thought that 'Oh, My darling' by Busia Bulat would hit the spot very nicely. Her gorgeous voice is more white wine than honey, refined without being pretentious, somewhere between husky and silky. Her songs are folky without being away-with-the-fairies, poppy without being hook ridden, serious without being uptight, energetic without being frantic. Its a grown up record that's not afraid to finger paint.

The album begins with 'Before i knew', a veritable sorbet of a song that, at just over minute, dusts you off from that big horrible world ,and gently sits you at the table Basia's feast of cocksure folk. The subtle harmonies and hand claps steal away your troubles. Its everything that an opening song should be and was the first song on every compilation i made for a good few months. 'I was a daughter' is a clever waltzy stew, its hand claps and drums stopping you being completely washed away with the gorgeous sweep of the strings at the heart of the song. 'Snakes and ladders' is a heady, dizzy swirl of a song, somewhere between Yann Tierson's 'Amelie' soundtrack and Arcade Fire, all jerky circles and inertia addled imagery.

Along with these downloads, her myspace page is well worth a look, if just to here her heart stopping version of Daniel Johnston's 'True love will find you in the end. Her second album, 'Heart of my own' is scheduled for release next year on Rough Trade.

Before i knew
https://rcpt.yousendit.com/788533946/3f63327ed242165fed208a0bd33a9d4d

I was a daughter
https://rcpt.yousendit.com/788538398/3ea6aafa0e53b2b4208ea7b91fe225ca

Snakes and ladders
https://rcpt.yousendit.com/788538936/b86f6321f20f4e7ab8a80bf881b289eb

http://www.myspace.com/basiabulat

Diarrhea Planet

2009-12-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

Maybe its beacuse i was brought up on a diet of Columbo and Scooby Doo, but i do enjoy a good mystery. Diarrhea Planet i can tell you nothing about. There is no infomation about them. All i know is someone goes around music websites with a link to a blog and a link to download an EP. Thats it. Upon further investigation, i can tell you the music is fantastic. Its the sound of a group of people not giving a fuck about record labels or the perfect chord. Its 5 short, feisty, cool, infectious
razor sharp, pop songs. I really cant tell if its nonsense or genius. But its so much FUN. Riffy and shouty, imagine Town Bike going via Pavement and The Flaming Lips with a dash of the Pixies. But dafter. 'Ghost with a Boner' could be an artificially stimulated Broken Social Scene. I cant imagine anything more enjoyable to listen to on the way home from a really, really, REALLY shit day at work. Those pesky kids.

http://www.mediafire.com/?jt5zniuiznm

http://mybrainflakes.blogspot.com

Its Jo and Danny!

2009-12-05T07:53:00.000-08:00

For some god-only-knows reason, despite my love of Joy Divsion, the Smiths et al, the music that sounds most like Manchester to me is by folktronica (not my term i assure you)duo Its Jo and Danny, odd concidering they come from Aldershot. Maybe its because their label is called Double Snazzy. I dont know. What i do know is they invented the Green Man festival, so you can blame the current beard vogue on them.
Their music is odd, skewered folk, based on barmy samples and breezy melodies. 'Lank Haired Girl to Bearded Boy'(2000) is probably the best port of call to start with, them being at their 8-track, laid back best. But poppier, cleaner LPs 'but we have the music'(2003) and 'The Quickening' (2005) are well worth a look at. The tracks that typify them are probably 'Hippy Thinking', a laid back of wash of music, samples, strings and wispy vocals. Imagine a Beth Orton swimming after smoking too much pot, and youre halfway there, and 'It should have been me' a later, slightly more sophisticated sway of girl pop. Its a bit like Portishead made out of dandelions at sunset on a beach. But have a dig, they are the kind of band where everyone has a different favourite track. Triple snazzy.

http://www.myspace.com/itsjoanddanny

Hippy thinking

https://rcpt.yousendit.com/785389752/03fb1b236ac85679edbf7201764cb564

It should have been me


https://rcpt.yousendit.com/785392150/43e595703327a4cb2d412a2c1041c932

The Pieces

2009-12-05T07:22:00.000-08:00

You know how sometimes you want to listen to something thats not trying to blow you away, or be too tricksy, have chorus's that hook into your head? You want to listen something thats subtle buts substantial? Good and, well, NICE? The now defunct Pieces are(were)from Indiana and feature a pre Some Girls Heidi Gluck. I re found their CD (purchased of a merch store when they supported Evan Dando on his solo tour a few years back) while looking for a jumper recently, and was warmed through by its sunny, uncomplicated, breezy harmonious little pop songs. 'Lauren' is , you sense, a bitter sweet little tale of an ex girlfriend written by songwriter Vess Ruhtenberg but sung by Gluck. This is worth a listen just to hear the way she pronounces 'Jarvis Cocker'. It does something odd to me. 'Good question' is a public musing with a melty-warm little chorus, a soothing song that would sound perfect on compilation made to drink wine too. 'Soda machine' is proper pop like they used to make it. All chordy and would go down a treat in a car on the way to the seaside. Good old fashioned songwriting. The CD is pretty hard to pin down, but not half as hard as trying to find any bloody information about the band.

http://www.myspace.com/thepiecesofficial

The wait


http://rcpt.yousendit.com/786353046/ed5c3e9ab7f95b43250c47ce81f15549

Lauren

http://rcpt.yousendit.com/786353972/bb76dc9cd2523d4e891753e668ee6267

Good question

http://rcpt.yousendit.com/786354976/aebfce8a613e6ac414d084d5b2218661

soda machine

http://rcpt.yousendit.com/786356038/ec9a8daa71a413ff7cc08eb03144c01d

Morrissey

2009-12-03T13:09:00.000-08:00

Theres something about this time of year, between the begining of winter and the start of the christmas crisis, that makes me go a bit reflective and sends me on long walks. During these walks, i like to dust off some old mozzer tracks that i dont usually play on my ipod, you know, Alsation cousin, things like that. Sometimes, just like everyone else does, i get to thinking about getting old and looking back. And when i do always think to myself, 'well, whatever happens, at least ive seen Mozzer play Speedway live, i'll always have that'.

Anyway, heres a download of a live version of Speedway-https://www.yousendit.com/download/MVNmMWZPZDVlaFFLSkE9PQ

New Shrag single free download

2009-12-03T08:19:00.000-08:00

Those lovely people at wiawya records have let you have a free sneaky peek at the A side of Shrags new single 'Rabbit kids', and little cracker it is to, less shouty than you would think but bursting with melody and proper singing and that. A huge slap of POP. The single will preceeding a new LP due out early next year.

rabbit kids-

http://download.yousendit.com/ZW9BT0NYTkFoeVlLSkE9PQ

For those of you that like doing old fashioned things like buying a record so you can actually play it and hold it and own it and that, the single is avalible from rough trade here-
http://www.roughtrade.com/site/shop_det ... sku=320105
and of course from merch stands/tables.

Just Joans

2009-12-03T07:04:00.000-08:00

There comes a time in every break up of a relationship were you start to listen to really, really sad songs because they make you feel sadder, which somehow makes you feel better. Its like picking at a scab, the pain is easier to take when you control it. So you spend night after night alone in your room playing the same sad songs again and again. Then, eventually, there comes a time when you realise you've made a bit of a fool of yourself weeping into barmaids blouses and thinking every corny, shite love song on the radio was written about you. At this point, you want to listen to something thats as poigniant as it is angsty, something that will give you hug then bark at you to pull yourself together. The Just Joans could have been created for this stage of introspection.

The motherwell 6 peice are masters of writing songs that both lie in awe of the fucked up-ness of relationships and at the same time take the piss out of it. Take, for example 'I wont survive', an ode to the joy and liberation of finding new love, with a chorus that warns of immediate self destruction should the said relationship sour.
'If you dont pull' is like a baby cousin of The Smiths's 'How soon is now?', a tale of a lonely man in a terrible nightclub who realises that as hidious as the place may be, it might be the only place he will find love.
'Hey boy..youre oh so sensitive!' is a perfect little piss take of the fey indie boy that lurks in all of us, the part of us thats convinced liking Woody Allen and carrying a book of poetry around with us will make us irresistible to the opposite sex.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking of them all is 'What do we do now?' a song about about growing older, losing friends and being alienated from your hometown. Full of achingly misplaced nostalgia, its like someone closing the indie club of your youth and holding a microphone up to it.

"what do we do now/now were are ten years older?/the bands we loved are dead/i'll always think of you/whenever i smell cider/but it wont be the same/again."

heartbreakingly real.

http://www.myspace.com/thejustjoans

what do we do now?

oh boy...youre so sensitive

Leaving Mornington Crescent

2009-11-02T06:30:00.000-08:00

people, boring people, who like to take silly amounts of drugs and stand in the middle of field with 500 strangers pretending they are enjoying themselves will tell you that, when it comes to dancing, 10 minute remixes are the way to go. they are talking cobblers, and i can prove it. Swedish poppers Leaving Mornington Crescent will (on the excellent 'keep your hands off me') have you all danced out in just 51 seconds. its like an SAS assault on your pop sensibility, straight in, do the job, and out. no messing. 'what if you' is a sighing pop dancer, all kittenish vocals and feather light hooky riffs. the comparatively epic 'april song' (clocking a weighty 2:47)is a rustic, rural charmer, with icicle piano chords and a flutey, springtime chorus that really makes life suddenly seem a whole lot better.
"the air is clean/the grass is green/every ones holding hands and so are we/i feel laughter and expectations on every ones faces/i dont believe in rainy days" . cant argue with that can you?

http://www.myspace.com/leavingmorningtoncrescent

Pocketbooks

2009-11-01T07:08:00.000-08:00

its hard to say what the difference is between the stuff i want to write about on here and the stuff i dont. recently, i got sent a list by a PR company steering me towards a couple of their bands that they wanted me to write about. one was alright(i may write about him on here when i haven't wrote about so many singer/songwriters), one was a frankly awful mockney punky kate nash minus the tunes. the students will lap it up. the last band puzzled me. all the elements where there. tunes, niceness, good lyrics. but something about them put me on edge. then it dawned on me. they are trying WWWWAAAYYYYY too hard. trying too hard to sound like something a PR company would pick up. trying too hard to be the band of the summer on radio one. reeling and in need of having my hopes hugged again, i turned to Pocketbooks.

hailing from London, Pocketbooks are one of those bands the effortlessly radiate charm. they are just so natural. they cant help making you smile, bless 'em. you wouldn't catch this lot trying too hard, they simply dont have too.

the tunes? its all breezy grown up tinkly POP crafted with love, sugar and sunshine. their songs are all sweetly told stories. you know, with a beginning, a middle and an end. how rare is that these days? the sort of band you could fall asleep to just as easily as you could greedily listen to the lyrics on the train, devouring every words and wonderfully put phrase. imagine kitchen sink with the emphasise on kitsch.

which songs? breezy and wonderful, i would recommend them all, but beginners could do worse than check out 'Waking up', the phenomenally charming 'Fleeting moments' and 'The first world record'. prepare to be have your socks charmed off.

http://www.myspace.com/pocketbooks

Daniel J Nixon

2009-11-01T06:32:00.000-08:00

just as every November the 5th will see some poor sod blow his hand off with a firework and Saturday nite TV will always be appalling to the point of patronising, there will always be sensitive young men in cool shirts pouring their red-wine souls out via a gently strummed acoustic guitar. Daniel J Nixon is that sort of chap, only a chap who's talent is very close to matching his ambition.

his calming, rustic deep sighs of soothing songs a very finely crafted recalling in parts Nick Drake and Sam Hammond(look him up, its worth it).

'Hide and Seek' is an achy, nostalgic song full of longing. 'First snow of winter' is calm and so frosty you can almost see your breath icing on a window pane. lovely. pick of the bunch is 'Turn this stone', a lovely waltz of a song. So gorgeous it could have almost been written by a woman. its a treat, classic and contemporary at the same time and full of gentle hooks.
next time you're on your last glass of red and down to your last cigarette, give him a listen.

http://www.myspace.com/iamdanieljnixon

Sarabeth Tucek

2009-11-01T06:22:00.000-08:00

Many years ago, i used to go out with a girl lived on a farm. Based in the middle of nowhere, her house boasted her huge bedroom. For some reason, maybe it was the peacefulness or the romantic isolation or the quiet scenery, but for some reason, hushed, serious music always sounded better in her room. Sometimes i here an artist and think “this would sound amazing in Amanda’s room. Sarabeth Tucek is just such an artist.
I’m ashamed to say i only heard of her because she used to go out with Anton Newcombe from the BJM. (although, in my defence, her whole press strategy was based on this fact).
Her music is quiet and engrossing, bewitching and seductive. Imagine Joni Mitchell being in the velvet underground and you’re half way there. ‘Something for you’ is typical of her tangy folk songs and recalls Sandy Denny. It is perfect post work-kettle on music. ‘Stillborn’ is just astonishing. Hats off here to producer Ethan Johns. As he does a few times, he rescues ‘Stillborn’ out of a samey singer/songwritery bog by making the chorus gently explode. The whole thing washes over you like a friendly tide. It would make a wonderful soundtrack to watching rain slowly flow down a window pane. In a good way. ‘Home’ is a mini masterpiece, a song that melts together string laden piano balladry and Americano jangly geetar. Dark, rich, and playful, Sarabeth Tucek’s music is worthy of your research.

http://www.myspace.com/sarabethtucek

New Tender Trap Download Single

2009-10-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

i would love to write more about this but i may just get sacked in the name of POP if i go on for too long(see post below) but you REALLY need to know that the fantastic tender trap have an absolutely free new download single which you can find here-http://www.fortunapop.com/tender_trap_free_download.php

not only that, you lucky skint popsters, they also play a FREE gig at jamm in brixton this thursday. happy days.

right, im off before 'the man' takes away my tea ration

alive alive oh

2009-10-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

hello everyone, im afraid ive been off the radar for a bit due to having a very poorly PC, which no languishes in the St.Dixons computer hospital in Kent. the good news is shes is on the mend and will be back very shortly. the bad news is until then im checking in on a works computer so have a very limited space to write anything. rest assured, ive got shedloads of exciting stuff to write about, and will do so just the minute my poor laptops better, so please bear with me. meanwhile, please contact me through www.myspace.com/royrace or shauntomkiss@yahoo.com . until next time, be good.

shaun brilldream

live review:zoey van goey/strike the colours shrewsbury 24/09/09

2009-09-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

ive seen some odd gigs in my time. performance art madness? 200 kids squeezed into a sweatbox that holds half that number? gigs knee deep is mud and shit? mothers milk mate. bring it on. this, however, was the maddest gig ive ever been to. the gig itself was held in a small theatre on the shrewsbury school campus, a VERY upmarket public school that john peel and all that mob attended in their charcoal shorts and knee socked prime. the venue itself was very nice, more like a lecture hall really. i pay my money to a very friendly chap who seemed like 1950's house master(who turned out to be kim out ZVG's dad) and enter the hall. the audience seems to comprise of posh peoples parents(all twin sets, pearls and haw haw laughter. and they ALL wore exactly the same glasses) and rugby shirted 12 year old kids. bizarre.
during the 'interval' between bands, i have a drink in a referees room doubling as a bar selling wine(red or white, already in glasses) and orange juice. on the wall is a photo of a man called Piers scoring a goal against a team called 'Saint Cuthberts'. the star and garter this is not.

anway

strike the colours were up first, who are a band of charming glasgow mother folkers. full of violin lead waltzes that crashed into pounding string lead sways. pretty, perky and charming with some seriously skilled guitar hysterics dropped in every now and again, the band are supertight and the hall, amply equipped to handle the acoustics and the beauty of jenny reeves's voice, was duly warmed through. "that was lovely" said a woman in a twin set and the biggest pair of earings ive ever seen,"rather like folk wasnt it sebastien?" sebastien nodded, and inwardly so did i. i was really quite charmed.

next up, entering the stage to the politest applause this side of Lords, was zoey van goey. an equally folky quintet whos quiet, hushed hymn like songs explode into the sound of huge waves crashing into the rocks. recalling in places noah and the whale and even the beta band, they had the ability to be inspiringly experimental. it didnt always work, but when it did it was breath taking, like a folky(that word again) doves with beautiful and bewitching harmonies. other tricks up the bands sleeves were wonderful skiffley sea shanties and indiepop jangles of such joie de verve that the guitarist very nearly shuffled his fringe off his head. delightful stuff. a mention must go to their canadian drummer, who could very easily give lee thompson in the nicest drummer in pop stakes.

so, the poshest gig ive been to by far, but also one of the friendliest and most charming. two bands with lots of scope and colour and shade, cheered on by the PTA. shouldnt work, but it jolly well did.

http://www.myspace.com/zoeyvangoey

http://www.myspace.com/strikethecolours

Paisley and Charlie

2009-09-24T08:04:00.000-07:00

sometimes you find fantastic things completely by accident. i was going to write a post about 'la la lu' by cilla black(i probably still will so breath a sigh of relief cilla-ettes) when i fluked across a cover of said track on youtube. complete with fenn street gang video, the cover is the work of sleek, slinky, sixties duo paisley and charlie. second cousins of saint etienne, theirs is a world of crackly 45's, double decker annuals, smart jumpers, white tights and too much tizer. a lovely world of black and white sit-coms, sunday matinees and dancing with a transistor to you ear.

the music is dreamy, dramatic, demure and hushed. 'Stars' is string soaked thing of real, honest to goodness beauty, a song about lost love and regret. woozy and sad, its like coming down after a break up in a bond film. or a soundtrack to dancing with an ex of their wedding day, feeling sad after too much champers.
'emily and mabeline' is a acid tinted folk song, childlike and day dreamy while 'snow blitz' is an unashamed pop song-all flirty eye lashes and dancefloor chorus.
'withnail and i' is a relaxing and recharging as a rubber duck assisted bubble bath, and there is a dramatic sweep to the ethereal, rustic 'the waltz'.

get yer peepers and lugholes on this little lot why dont ya?

http://www.myspace.com/paisleyandcharlie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8P-htYnvvQ&feature=related

the platers-the second between spark and flame EP on indie mp3 records

2009-09-21T07:52:00.000-07:00

the latest release form the enviably reliable indiemp3 records is the superb EP by London post punkers the platers. layerd with a thick mid-80's dust(no bad thing)the EP is a worthy investment.
the title track of the impressively structured release is a slow burning beauty with a seriously pretty chorus with pin-picked chords and a vocal that recalls a working mans club Bowie going to the lesser free trade hall in 1977.
the moody 'unwise', with its lamenting lyrics and two chord backbone, recalls the doors's robbie kreiger jamming with echo and the bunnymen. classy and noir and mustily sad.
my favourite track here is the jaunty, 'lets take the world tonight, johnny' which is exhilarating to the point of exhaustion. its like being taken to town by a pissed up nice uncle. it makes you want to get up and do SOMETHING.its the sort of song that spills pints at gigs.
the set is delicately, classily closed with 'down the works' a dreamy, atmospheric stare-out-the-train-window treat. day dreamy and disarming, its a lullaby for the doomed.

the label has done itself proud again, this EP is a cracker. its released TODAY and is available from here-http://www.indie-mp3records.co.uk/

www.myspace.com/theplaters

Red Shoe Diaries

2009-09-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

for people of a certain age(i.e. me)the name red shoe diaries brings back a clammy, red faced feeling, as it was the name of a very naughty, late night programme of pillow soft 'erotica' featuring david duchfingymajig off the x-files and some tastefully filmed rudeness. er, probably...honestly, the things we watched before they invented the Internet.

anyway-luckily nottinghams red shoes diaries are out to bring the name back into polite society with their sophisticated strand of indiepop. the stirring 'fireflies at dawn' features a coffee stained riff pinning down a daydream-on-the-bus chorus. its a lovely autumn soundtrack.
the gorgeous 'jesus dont care' is a pretty unapologetic shrug of a love song, the beaming positivity fighting out with the downbeat lyrics on the almost maddeningly catchy chorus.
the quietly angsty 'underage disco' is oddly sexy with a typically addictive chorus. i would wager that someone in the band has spun 'the best of the beach boys' a few times. they are not an obvious influence, but the talent of writing a hooky chorus has seeped through the grooves.

red shoe diaries are not a band you want to take for a drink, but one you want to take home and cook for.

http://www.myspace.com/redshoediariesmusic

Autumn

2009-09-21T06:24:00.000-07:00

Autumn is ace. oh yes it is. its officially the end of summer, so no more pretending to have a good time at 'BBQs' that are trying desperately to look like the barbeque's in lager adverts. everything about autumn is cool. people look better(shoes replace flop flops, jumpers and cardigans are pulled out to pull over t-shirts, cords replace shorts.), the pubs are full of good people, you are still far away from christmas to feel comfortable, the colours are better, the stars are always out. its more romantic full stop.

and apart from a myriad of new records and tours to look forward too( POBPAH, the school, spiritualized and new ballboy related stuff to name but a few) and a readily ripening football season we also have peep show back(a return that worryingly saw me fall to my knees weeping in pure, pure gratitude), an exhibition of my favourite photographer(francesca woodman) in my favourite gallery(manchester) and even a film worth going to the pictures for in '500 day of summer' (a fairly decent soundtrack AND Zooey Deschanel, who essentially a bright, witty, katy perry with the best dress sense in the world. its impossible not to have a little crush on her. shes even named after a character in a jd sallinger book, i would marry her for that fact alone).

theres something comforting about autumn, and i for one am glad its back.

Live review:The Cavalcade manchester 03/09/09

2009-09-04T07:16:00.000-07:00

this was always going to be a hard gig to please me. not only was i going to miss the headliners, ohbijou, due to catching the last train home reasons(when i was at school, a lad in the year above missed the last train home from Birmingham after a carter usm gig. at the time, is seemed impossibly glamorous. nowadays, trying to catch forty winks at 4am on platform 4 of crewe station is my worst nightmare made flesh), but there was also a last minute venue change from the night n day cafe to nexus art centre, a Methodist cafe with NO BAR.
now i love the night n day. i know it has its critics(mainly those who don't like paying 850 pound for a can of lager and don't enjoy being in a venue that's so hot it makes the third ring of hell seem a bit nippy), but i love it. it somehow makes everyone in there more interesting than they actually are, and i adore its tatty, day dreamy charm. the nexus, was however, wonderful. with big sofas, candles, and little books provided to sketch/scribble in, it was so airy and comfortable it was like being in a womb. my favourite feature was on one of the plushest sofas. a huge teddy bear you had no choice but to cuddle if you sat there. and believe me no-one was complaining. and,considering its Methodist funded, the only religious thing i saw was a peace dove made out of a wire coat hanger. putting free gigs on a Thursday night for the kids of Manchester? that's more anthony h wilson than jesus h christ.

anyhoo, on to the music. first up was jacob cordingly from ok deadman, gamely playing a solo slot after his drummers dad was taken ill. obviously we all wish david's dad well. jacobs set was a risky affair. with covers of 'fake plastic trees' and 'hallelujah', it was risking a car crash in pretentious street. luckily, he was saved by an honest conviction in what he was doing and the fact that he looked like he could have been in coronation street circa 1987. quiet and accomplished , his set was well executed and well saved.

The Cavalcade were up almost immediately after. looking a tiny bit nervous and huge, sparse stage, they still played a set that stayed close to their recorded material,and in fact, sounding better for it. it must be difficult being chained sound-wise to a drum machine. its impossible to 'jam-out' or cut loose, but incredibly it aids the band sound. they sounded like their cd, but better. guitars chimed silver, the hushed, shy vocals charmed. the whole sound was politely tight, dreamy, and inspiring.
make no mistake,this band is fucking brilliant. Manchester and London may want a band like the cavalcade, but their are towns and people who NEED them. the same way people need(ed) felt or B&S or the smiths. people who try to keep their heads up in towns where its assumed you're gay because you don't like oasis, people who have a lifeline in their ipod, an island from the stress and misery of work or school. there are people who will see themselves in this bands music, and will feel release. i hate to put pressure on young, shy shoulders, but this band has the potential to be very, very special. they have a DUTY to play their music to as many people as possible. they joked in an interview i did with them that their ambition is to have 5 people who like them at every gig. but whats more important is that for every gig they play, a couple of people will be truly TOUCHED. their music is that good. their lyrics are that good. there are people all over this country crying out for music like this, a sane voice in the shit wilderness.
from the opening chords of 'meet you in the rain' i was sucked in. finding dark humour and warmth and empathy in the lyrics and music. as much as i (and, i expect, everyone who reads this)admire(s) the bands DIY attitude to touring and releasing, they need, no deserve, decent management and a decent label. if this band isn't as big as say, the Clientele this time next year, im going to want to know why.