Freddy Krueger's Bidet

Mmmm Chicken, Chorizo and Tea (with UHT milk)!

2007-10-15T22:01:00.000+01:00

I love these Virgin Pendolino trains, or is this a Voyager? What’s the difference anyways? On the way back from our brief visit to Manchester where we managed to get a bit of gigging in. The Departure of Northampton fame were playing the Oxford Zodiac Academy Carling thing (does anyone mind if I just refer to it as the Cardiac?) a few weeks ago, and rather than do the easy thing of just going round the corner I decided that it would be easier (and much lazier) to rejig our work, social and rail commitments so that we could see them in Manchester (makes sense right?). The Departure, when we finally did our 500 mile roundtrip to get there, were very good live, playing to a packed (honest) audience of about 40 people they still gave it all they could, even though they were quite obviously perturbed by the slim crowd (probably had something to do with The Editors and Athlete playing concerts round the corner). Playing through a repertoire which I knew very little about, they easily converted me to their brand of eclectically-fast indie goodness.

The Departure - All Mapped Out
The Departure - Lump in My Throat

I recently found a MZ-510 net Mini Disc player on eBay for an absolute bargain of ten whole pounds. People mocked and people laughed but it has been fun coming up with mix-tapes of random bits of my music collection again. People have become lazy with iPods (although I almost converted but we will get into that later) and forget what it is like to sit there and pre-empt what music will suit their day. The days of tapes are long gone, and instead of spending 90 minutes to come up with a single tapes worth of music (that you couldn’t fast forward) we just click and point and our entire collection is in our pocket, its sick. Appearing on the MD this week is The Postal Services awesome This Place is a Prison, which is such a well crafted tune that when the drums kick in (about two mins fifty) I am almost wetting myself. Also on the MD is Radiohead’s new album In Rainbows, I originally had planned to go on about how Radiohead have broken all the barriers of modern music with their controversial release (postlink?), but I think enough people have given their opinion of that and I can’t be bothered. The first track 15 Steps is as close to musical perfection as possible, and when the buzz appeared last week about the album the words I used for this track were “Fucking” and “Sublime!”

Postal Service – This Place is a Prison Dazzlers fave songs
Radiohead – 15 Steps Dazzlers fave songs, two in one sitting!

That said (on the iPod culture), during our time in Manchester I popped into the Apple shop at least 14 times (who was to know that there is an Apple shop in the city centre AND the Trafford Centre!) to drool over the iPod touch. Now I know they are an extravagance to say the very least, with their much smaller capacities to standard iPods and at a half the price again of their memory savvy brothers. But, and this is a big but, they are fucking cool. I just want to be able to sit on the toilet reading the BBC Sport website on my touch screen iPod wirelessly. Surely that five minutes a day I will save on spending my toilet time economically warrants the £279 price tag….might see what the missus says!

Maury my Mom Don't Know S$%T!

2007-10-04T19:41:00.000+01:00

Been watching far too much Jam, or "Jaaaaaaaaaaam", the Chris Morris ex-radio now TV series, and its (frankly) fucked...
But it has an awesome ambiance soundtrack including some killer tracks, so here we have some of the better tracks off the surreal Jame

Firstly DJ Shadow, born Josh Davis, is a Californian DJ, Producer/Musical genius. His first album Entroducing was constructed completely from samples, and it is here that we find our first track Midnight in a Perfect World. I have always liked this track and only realised today that the sample that plays throughout is actually a Tears for Fears riff!

DJ Shadow - Midnight in a Perfect World

Second up is Morcheeba, a trip-hop London band, with their unique brand of rhythm and blues/pop they have come out with six albums. I can't say I listen to a lot of Morcheeba but this song, The Sea, is a classic mix of Morcheeba's laid back style

Morcheeba - The Sea

Stretch My Arms As Far As I Can!

2007-10-01T15:41:00.000+01:00

I finally went to my first gig at Oxfords new Zodiac, and it was a refreshingly the same as it used to be! Oxford's Zodiac was the place of legends in Oxford and a lot of people were quite scared when it got bought by AMG. Thankfully they have retained the old upstairs venue and bolted on a substantial downstairs venue (which is now bigger), allowing larger acts and more variety then ever.

iLiKETRAiNS were the subjects of my first concert, who wouldn't normally be my first choice of bands to go and see but I was very pleasantly surprised. Although iLiKETRAiNS have one of the most horrific names to type, and have actually slated Godspeed You, and Sigur Ros (both Bidet faves) they actually play some amazing post-rock. Originally from Leeds the five piece (with beards akimbo) play rock that wouldn't sound out of place on a Godspeed You record (hmmm) and Terra-nova perfectly sums this up!

iLiKETRAiNS - Terra-Nova
iLiKETRAiNS - Victress

Support for iLiKETRAiNS (I swear that is the last time I can be bothered typing that!) came in the form of the rather depressive but musically talented Her Name is Calla. Again branching the gap between modern instrumental post-rock and modern melodramatic pop, this four piece (again without a lack of facial hair!). As I was listening to them I may have gibed that their ever so slightly depressive lyrics were enough to drive you to suicide (might of been the Guiness talking) but in all fairness they were very enjoyable.

Her Name is Calla - The White and The Skin
Her Name is Calla - A Moment of Clarity

Finally, the main reason I went to the gig in the first place, The Winchell Riots, who are made up of a couple from Fell City Girl (thankfully back from their musical exit). Following closely from their old band, and even playing some of their older songs, they play a strange mix of guitar based epic rock! I have been told that eventually they will have some electro elements to their music but they are currently working out laptop issues!

The Winchell Riots - Stallone
The Winchell Riots - The Static I Feel
The Winchell Riots - Histories Dazzlers fave songs (future hit single?)

The catholic boat!!

2007-09-27T18:15:00.000+01:00

Teardrop, by Massive Attack was released in 1998 and reached a whopping number 10 in the UK sales charts. However good the song was, it was the music video that everyone always thinks about when they think about the song. When you hear it you cant go without thinking of the eerie fetus that lip syncs to the song, which worked even more so because the heartbeats were in-time to the song (or vice verser). The fact that I learnt today that I never knew was that the singing for Teardrop was actually done by one of the Cocteau Twins. In more recent times there have been a couple of really good covers of Teardrop. The very first was done by Elbow on the Radio One Live Lounge show. Elbow are a bit of a Bidet regular and hopefully need no introduction. Newton Faulkner also released a version of Teardrop on his debut album, Handbuilt By Machines (which unfortunately doesn't follow suit from this awesome cover). Another Bidet favourite has also recently done an amazing cover of Teardrop. Jose Gonzalez, the Swede/Argentine is on the road for the release of his new album, In Our Nature (which is awesome). To my surprise I heard this cover when flicking through the album, and as always Jose does an amazing version of an already fab song!

Elbow - Teardrop
Newton Faulkner - Teardrop
Jose Gonzalez - Teardrop

I'm in Slough Motherf$@ker!

2007-09-16T15:44:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I was taken to the Charlbury street music festival. Charlbury is a small Cotswolds village not to far away from Oxford. Unfortunately this year they were hit quite heavily by the floods that have been ripping through the UK this summer but have managed to get that behind them and host a rather awesome free music and crafts festival. The height of the celebrations revolved around an Irish ban who brought dancy folk country music to the masses, and everyone jigged till the early hours! This brought me to ponder the use of Irish music in popular music and I remembered two of my favorite tunes from years ago!

East of Eden were a progressive rock band hailing from several areas of England, mostly Leicester and Bristol, in the days when prog rock was the only way to go! They were most noted for their use of jazz and folk licks/riffs in their music, creating a raw fusion of sound (so I am told). Jig-a-jig was one of the most famous works that East of Eden released and actually got them into the top ten. Using the regular prog rock build up they bash out fiddle licks on an electric violin (if thats not prog rock I don't know what is!) and back it up with some fabby beats!

East of Eden - Jig-a-jig

Kate Bush, who if you need introducing to you cant go much wrong with this track, was an odd lady, and really hated the limelight! This was a shame given that she is possibly the best female songwriter that the world has ever seen, and thankfully she is still going! Jig of Life was her homage to her Irish routes and had some rather bizarre poetry that she wrote at the end!

Kate Bush - Jig of Life

12 vacancies. 12 cabins, 12 vacancies.

2007-09-03T11:39:00.000+01:00

Elvis Perkins has had as colourful a life and upbringing as it is filled with tragedy and mourning. Elvis's father Anthony Perkins was famous for his role as Norman Baites in Hitchcock's Psycho. Anthony was quite open about his bisexuality and had two sons with Elvis's mother Berry. Unfortunately Anthony sadly died in 1992 from AIDS aged 60. Berry Perkins was a famous photographer and model in New York until sadly at age 53 she was returning back to New York on American Airlines flight 11 on September 11th 2001 which was one of the planes that crashed into the twin towers. Elvis Perkins music on the other hand is full of upbeat and folk like guitar strumming, light brush drums and melancholic lyrics (who can really blame him). I came across Elvis when he was on tour supporting Willy Mason, he has also lead support in America for Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah and Cold War Kids. His debut album Ash Wednesday was released in February this year, and has been put together chronologically with tracks 1 to 6 leading upto his mothers death and 7 to 11 after the tragic events of the 11th. The tracks I have chose are While You Were Sleeping, which was track 1 (to put it into context) and is a lovely bouncy song. The Night and The Liquor is a quite deepset display of the feelings that must of been felt at the time (track 8), and can induce tears!

Elvis Perkins - While You Were Sleeping [Dazzler fave!]
Elvis Perkins - The Night and The Liquor

p.s I have been assured that internet is available at home so let the posts roll!

Oww! My Pancreas

2007-08-17T12:59:00.001+01:00

Firstly, I apologise again for the lack of recent updates, our house move did go very well but getting our broadband set up seems to be taking forever. Hopefully next week should see a dramatic turn-around!

I have a few gifts for today though, Buena Vista Social Club was originally a club in Havana in the 1940's for dancing and music. In the 90's American guitarist Ry Cooder decided that he wanted to base some music on the ideals of the Social Club and enlisted the help of some traditional Cuban musicians. This turned into one of the greatest albums ever and was performed by a full ensemble in 1998 in Amsterdam, which was filmed and released to critical acclaim. Since the original album there have been all sorts of things released under the collective artist name, and recently Rhythms del Mundo was released to help generate money for the tsunami disaster. Rhythms del Mundo was a collaboration of some of the original Social Club members and current artists in the limelight, and consisted of recent pop orientated music done in a Cuban style. And I cant stop dancing!

Buena Vista Social Club - The Dark of the Matinee
Buena Vista Social Club - High and Dry
Buena Vista Social Club - Dancing Shoes [go on try not to dance!]

Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast

2007-07-29T21:10:00.000+01:00

Hey folks, sorry for the delay again, after river-boating has come the reality of changing jobs and moving house. It all of a sudden hit me that its going to be another quiet week on the blogging front as we sort out a new internet provider. On that note I have come across a few indie gems whilst I have been rocking out during packing (the only way to pack in my view). Long-view (formally Longview...) hail from several area's of the UK, I originally heard of them when I found out that a Manchester favorite of mine called Gecko-Levy were splitting (though Gecko-Levy carried on) forming a new band. Then a few months down the line I went to see Long-view as, strangely, Fell City Girl were supporting, and then the week after I saw them supporting the Cure! Anyways, Long-views debut alum, Mercury, was totally tip-top although not loved by the critics or the public for that matter. The band at the moment are working on a follow up album which is penned for Autumn release.

Long-view - If You Asked
Long-view - I Would
Long-view - Falling For You
Long-view - This is

The second band, Longpigs (I'm stuck on bands starting long!) from Sheffield, have had two albums out, the first The Sun is Often Out is scarily one of my mothers favorite of all time. It is also a very fantastic brit-pop album which tried to bring a bit more rock to the scene. While Blur and Oasis were slogging it out in the tabloids these guys were writing some awesome tunes. Their second album wasn't quite as amazing as they aimed to break America with it, and the band seem to have disbanded, although their singer Crispin Hunt (who's called Crispin) is to release a solo album.

Longpigs - All Hype
Longpigs - On And On
Longpigs - Over Our Bodies

Right back to boxing Lego and my Super Nintendo, also we finally have a webhost and domain thebidet.co.uk, tell your friends!

Hlemmur

2007-07-26T22:55:00.006+01:00

Managed to get my hands on a copy of Hlemmur, a biographic film about a bus station in Reykjavik and its homeless inhabitants. If you get chance do watch the film, it is a complete eye-opener and it is unbelievable to think that even in Iceland (I somehow believed it was an economic mecca) there are these poor people that have such an isolated life. The thing that gives the drama a further push is its soundtrack, composed by non other than the lovely Sigur Ros. Check out some highlights!

Sigur Ros - Bversogn
Sigur Ros - Hlemmur 1
Sigur Ros - Josep Tekur Fimmuna
Sigur Ros - Oskaborn Bjoojarinnar
Sigur Ros - Vetur

Welcome to the table

Guglielmo Marconi

2007-07-25T09:00:00.000+01:00

Been a while since a history lesson.
Guglielmo Marconi, a name synonymous with the first Atlantic wireless telegraph right? Well yes he is, but Marconi wasn't your normal inventor that sits in a darkened room for years tinkering. Born in Bologna Italy Marconi made his name in history in 1909 when he won the Nobel Price for contributions to the field of wireless telegraphy. His design for creating, now common radiowaves that could traverse the vast stretch of Atlantic between Europe and the Americas was based roughly on Heinrich Hertz's work of aetheric waves. To cut a long story short Marconi boshed together bits of other peoples inventions to make a practical use of radiowaves (one that is now all too common). His claims we always prone to being rubbished by skeptics, especially when Marconi had no actual proof, just his word. What was always fascinating about Marconi was his social underlife that was always one of the key driving forces for his peers shooting him down. He was an outgoing fascist, quite fitting that until the Euro he was the face of the 2000 Lire note, and even attended Mussolini's wedding as his best man! Marconi having been banned from speaking on the BBC, and almost being single handedly blamed for the lack of communication from the sinking Titanic (it was his radios on board!), died at the age of 63. Although the world of science looks on Marconi as an illusionist rather than a Nobel prize winning scientist the people of Italy regard him as a great.

The Secret Machines (finally got there!), released their own tribute to Marconi (though completely instrumental). The band themselves are currenlty recovering from the loss of their guitarist, who has now set out to start a new band. The School of Seven Bells are made up of Benjamin Curtis (formally of The Secret Machines) and also include Claudia Deheza. Claudia herself was in another of my favourite recent bands On!Air!Library! who created Sleater-Kinney-esque-girlrock. And thats where I started from, On!Air!Library!, and I got to going on about Marconi for twenty minutes, Wednesdays are long and dull!

The Secret Machines - Marconi's Radio
The Secret Machines - Lightening Blue Eyes
The Secret Machines - Nowhere Again
School of Seven Bells - For Kalaja Mari
On!Air!Library - Feb

I'm an anti-genre!

2007-07-24T22:39:00.000+01:00

[Little instrumental]

Rob Dougan, someone who you don't really hear much from these days, whose only/debut album, I stumbled (oooh the iTunes random) back on. Dougan, from Sydney, was famous before he even considered releasing an album or even making an attempt at a compositional career. Clubbed to Death (the only song we know by Rob Dougan) was picked up in a London nightclub and exploded into one of the most TV/Movie friendly backing tracks ever. From Guiness adverts to blockbuster films (Matrix anyone?), it came to a point where you simply couldn't get away from it if you pressed your TV's on button. He finally released his only album in 2002 (7 years after Clubbed to Death), Furious Angels, with mixed reports. The tracks all featured the heavy orchestral features of of his hit movie-single but not quite the punchy dance rhythm, and unfortunately his album was litterally "Clubbed to death!". The album itself was actually very well put together, and given Dougan's voice isn't the most friendly he even included instrumental versions of all his songs! Dougan is back writing material for his second album and is also writing tunes for the Sugababes? Insane!

Rob Dougan - Clubbed to Death 2
Rob Dougan - Will You Follow Me?

We're only making plans for Nigel

2007-07-21T17:04:00.000+01:00

Firstly sorry for the delay in posting, between spending a week on a boat in Norfolk and traveling to Manchester for a long weekend there has been oceans of rainwater in the way. As I write this I am finally on the train to Manchester after setting off from Norfolk 30 hours ago!

Secondly todays collection is made up of my laptop collection (wooo on the road) so its a bit sparse. The White Stripes have made a rather awesome back in recent weeks with their new album and single titled Icky Thump. The album itself is typical Jack White dirty guitar with bits of piano mixed in and Meg White going bang bang bang on the snares mixed with an occasional thud on the bass. What sets this apart from the White Stripes we all love? Nothing, and its not actually that bad a thing, each tune is as catchy as the other and I particularly like this little skitch into music-story-telling-thievery.

The White Stripes - Rag and Bones

The Editors are another band that are back with vengeance, their second album An End Has a Start is another album that is trying to keep the band consistent. If you are expecting anything new don't get your hopes up but if you were hoping to hear more Editors then you won't be upset.

Editors - Racing Rats

Anyone remember Victoria Bergsman? Or The Concretes? Well never mind, but Victoria Bergsman (the singer of the former Concretes) has come back on a solo project called Taken By Trees, and I tell you one thing, I am certainly taken..by....it [hmmm that didn't work]

Taken By Trees - Tell Me

Daz-da-automata

2007-07-12T11:13:00.000+01:00

Just a quickie, as I just came across some news that Minus the Bear are coming back to warm our ears again. For those that haven't had the pleasure Minus the Bear are a Seattle based slow indie rock outfit with some crazy guitar tapping action happening. January 2006 they unfortunately lost their keyboard player and it got some, including me, worried that they might loose it a bit. But sure enough they are to release an album sometime in mid August so keep ‘em peeled! I also came across this Maccabees track, a band from Brighton or a Jewish national liberation movement (you decide)? Nothing really to say about the Maccabees apart from the songs called Lego (yes!) and I really love the line “The boys chew Lego, and now we can’t build castles, or robots, cause the pieces don’t fit together!” such an intense metaphysical point [yup]

Minus the Bear - Pachuca Sunrise
Maccabees - Lego

Baby Lady Drown

2007-07-12T10:06:00.000+01:00

Bolton's finest, Damon Gough (aka Badly Drawn Boy), slipped up on my iTunes today, and it was a song I haven't heard in a very long time. I do like it when that happens as it makes you smile for some inexplicable reason and then you just realise you are sat in work grinning. Badly Drawn Boy is an interesting character, when he isn’t causing trouble trying to get a crowd to do a Mexican wave during a tsunami appeal concert, he stands on stage and sings his little woolly hat off. The one problem that I have with Badly Drawn Boy is his recorded material; he very rarely translates his music well to record. Where we have over-recorded songs we should just have Damon himself in a room with a guitar and harmonica at a push. That was always why his radio recordings album was a family favourite on my iTunes. Here a few select cuts

Badly Drawn Boy – Once Around the Block (BBC Session)
Badly Drawn Boy – The Shining (XFM Session)
Badly Drawn Boy – Cause a Rockslide (BBC Session)
Badly Drawn Boy – Pissing in the Wind (BBC Session)

The last song for this post is another Badly Drawn Boy song, this time with a band, a very special band. This is Roadmovie which was recorded with Doves as backing, oooooh

Badly Drawn Boy - Roadmovie (BBC Session)

Piccie - Badly Drawn Boy is the official sponser of Buxton Ladies FC, see if you can make it out on the white shirt.

Cover me in makeup-Shake up!

2007-07-11T11:57:00.000+01:00

Covers are a fine thing, especially if well executed as a tribute to the original. For me covers shouldn’t be about making a perfect replica of the original, although Placebo would argue otherwise. Covers should be about your appreciation of a song and how you would convey the message the song sings. It doesn’t have to be vastly different it just has to be stylised to the covering bands persona otherwise its just the original sang by someone else, like a teenager with a hairbrush!

We Are Scientists have absolutely no grasp of Icelandic (I checked) but they do have a love for Sigur Ros that stretches miles. This is their cover of Hoppipolla, strictly acoustic but amazingly brought together and rather well, yet ever so slightly tongue in cheek, vocalised.

Tom Jones is a man, hes a real man, a man with chest hair and a voice that could strip even the most chastised of ladies to a desperate sex fiend. That said I am not entirely sure he should be doing covers of the Arctic Monkeys, but give him ten points for effort.

If pretty was a song it would be Julie Doiron doing a cover of Me and Julio Down by the School Yard, originally by Paul Simon. The Canadian Julie Doiron has been singing pretty songs for years no, through bands and her solo career. This is no different, but thankfully in English, and is a great tribute to Simons classic, which in itself has a big buzz on the lyricists forums. Truman Capote was under then impression that ‘me’ and ‘Julio’ were children experimenting with homosexuality in the school yard. This would certainly explain “What mama saw, was against the law”

We Are Scientists – Hoppipolla
Tom Jones – I Bet That You Look Good on the Dance Floor
Julie Doiron – Me and Julio Down by the School Yard

School Daze!

2007-07-10T22:27:00.000+01:00

Came across a website Law of the Playground which is a wikipedia of terms that people use/used at school. There are some ace entries there and I suggest everyone pops on and check it out, one of my favourites has to be: What do Ethiopians do at night? ..... starve.

Anyways without offending anyone else, I started thinking about music that I was into when I was in high-school/primary school and can only really think of a few.

Skunk Anansie - Hedonism
Gary Glitter - Hey Song
The Verve - Lucky Man

La Instrument

2007-07-10T11:27:00.000+01:00

Did you know instrumental is an anagram of "Lunar Mittens"?

Yet another instrumental session is upon us, this will be a bumper issue as there will be a lack of mentaling next week (I apologise but holidays come first!). Bit of a mix today, with instrumental only tracks from Interpol and Spiritualized, and an acapella Bjork (this counts as the other end of the spectrum from instrumental). First up though I would like to introduce Amiina, a band from Iceland who you have all heard but never knew it. Amiina are the recording quartet for Sigur Ros and as I am aware once toured with them to promote Takk. As a band they excel mainly by playing stuff that doesn't sound too disimilar to Sigur Ros themselves but this is not exactly a bad thing.

Amiina - Rugla
Amiina - Glamur
Amiina - Hilli

Next up is St. Vincent, or under her real name Annie Clark, who has the power to completely render you useless for the few minutes that you listen to her music. Usually she is poppy, guitar powered, and well rounded with some awesome lyrics (enough to support Jose Gonzalez!). This on the other hand, is a tad different, it drips with affection and care and just wants to be listened too, I could spout on but why bother just listen!

St. Vincent - We Put a Pearl In The Ground

Instrumental versions of tracks that should be sung over are usually the first to be cursed by the fast-forward button. Thankfully that doesn't apply to our next two offerings, the first Interpol, is a track that does miss its lyrics, but gives you an ace insight to the complications that Interpol weave. Second up is possibly my favourite Spiritualized track of all time, and dont be surprised if its lyric-ked countpart makes an appearance sometime soon.

Interpol - Mammouth (instrumental)
Spritualized - I Didn't Mean to Hurt You (instrumental)

Toy Music, not a statement but infact the name of our next band, produce well toy music! Using the latest in toy piano, toy drum sticks, xylaphones and recorders Toy Music create some brilliant compositions using the oddest of instruments. This is no different, Strap The Button acts as a good starter for your toy music career and will have you pulling out that Early Learning Center saxophone in no time.

Toy Music - Strap the Button

Because of Ghosts, are a raw sounding mess of sound, which falls together perfectly in time and in tune. Parts of which are somewhere in between Explosions in the Sky and Godspeed You, with guitar phrases laced together with xylaphone and an almost marching band like snare drum. Intrestingly enough on the bands website one of the members has a prefered instrument of "Wine Glasses"

Because of Ghosts - You Fool (Your House Was Built on a Frozen Lake)
Because of Ghosts - No More Reason, No More Doubt

Carrying on our fine instrumentals is Dirty Three, a three piece (believe it or not) from Melbourne Australia. Whats interesting about Dirty Three is that as a band they are only loved between the hardcore, but as individual musicians they have spanned all over the place. Warren Ellis, the violin player, is actually the lead violin player for Nick Caves Bad Seeds, the band themselves have had seven albums, toured with Sonic Youth and Pavement to name but a few, and are fantastic!

Dirty Three - I Really Should of Gone Out Last Night
Dirty Three - Sea Above, Sky Below

Finally, I have spent pretty much all day trying to figure out how I can justify having this next track, and to be honest I cant. Bjork doing an acapella version of Hidden Place, in terms of its instrumental status its about as far away as one can get from instrumental, but surely in that sense, like you cant have religion without both God and the devil, it makes it one in the same...

Bjork - Hidden Place (Acapella)

Trompe l'oeil

2007-07-09T22:33:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I finally got my allotment, sorry chaps for not updating sooner its been a busy digging weekend! It was quite interesting when we first got there though as there are lots of middle to old aged men, mostly just sat around, trying to get away from their wives. There was also a lot of fuss made about the fact that someone in their mid-twenties would quite happily take on an allotment, and take to it with gusto.

To chuck in a early season crop, Keith Moon doing The Beatles? You better believe it, I am not entirely sure why this makes me think of allotments... but it does!

Keith Moon - When I'm Sixty Four

The first known allotment was in the 18th Century, and was based in Birmingham, unfortunately at this time there was no legal specification for how allotments had to be provided by the government. Due to this point there was a great decline in the amount of allotments and of their owners, as people could charge what they wanted for allotments. It was in 1908 when the Small Holdings and Allotment act came into play and from then each local county council had to provide a certain amount of land for a nominal fee. In 1997 the total that the UK councils had made from allotment fee's was £2.61 million, whereas the costs involved in renting the land out and up-keep costs was £8.44 million. Allotmenteering (which is the actual word) is not just a strict British institution either, Sweden and Germany are two of the main adopters of allotments, famously Albert Einstein had an allotment he almost got kicked out of for not weeding.

A slightly more cultured (though there is nothing wrong with Keith Moon) supper of Turin Brakes is in order when going down the allotment route. I think this has vibes of a rainy overcast plot, which is something, I am realising more in my allotmenteering capacity, comes with the job.

Turin Brakes - Above the Clouds

Robots in disguise!

2007-07-05T13:46:00.000+01:00

After spending the best part of three and a half hours last night recording mix tapes for our holiday, I was informed that we only have a stereo-radio-cassette player to keep us company, I have been on a music high. Next week we embark on a week long trip through the Norfolk Broads (so expect zilch on the posting front) upon a floating, slug-speeding, caravan, and I need music. Last nights taping session, which was so retro it began to make me bleed, was full of the topping hits that you would expect at a wedding circa 1986. Where at least one persons is wearing: a suit with trainers, one single silver glove, too much hair lacquer, a leather jacket, a track suit (usually a child).

Talking Heads, from Rhode Island, started off as a three piece guitar/lead singer, bass/backing and drums type of affair. Consisting of David Byrne, Tina Weymouth (who recently recorded with Gorillaz) and Chris Frantz, they moved from Rhode Island to New York and actually support The Ramones at CBGB's (imagine that). It was here in NYC that Talking heads became dubbed as 'New Wave' although the first at the time, it was later to become bandied around everywhere! In 1979 the band went through their major transition to become the Talking Heads we all love, with the inclusion of more band members (five!), and the mastery of Brian Eno they released Fear of Music, and its still amazing today!

Talking Heads - Same as it Ever Was

The Housemartins, now theres a band you don't hear mentioned very much, if at all, these days. Hailing from Hull (it stinks of fish..) the original line up was a bit moribund (apart from Paul Heaton), but then with the inclusion of Norman (Fat Boy) Cook (Slim), and the drummer Hugh Whitaker (story to follow) they became huge! (well sorta). Obviously Paul Heaton went on to form the Beautiful South, which the name itself is against The Housemartins principles (being pro-north!), and Norman Cook went off to Fat-Boy up! Hugh Whitaker, the drummer of the Housemartins, returned to Hull after splitting with the band and went into partnership with a friend of his, James Hewitt. Hugh carried on playing drums until he found that his business partner James Hewitt had ran with the ten thousand pound loan that Hugh had paid him. Enraged Hugh went on a rampage through Hull placing pipe-bombs in James's house and tracking him all over the Hull and Leeds area until finally on a fateful day in 1993 James Hewitt got his come-upance. Ding-Dong' "James dear can you get the door", "Yes ok" James saw a figure through the peep hole, it was the postman. "Good morning Mr Postman" said James opening the front door, "Good morning James, you don't remember me do you? How could you forget, forget me!". Just then the postman pulled out an axe and 'whallop!' James lay on the floor, with an axe in his head.

Hugh spent just five years in prison, no one knows if James lived or died.

Housemartins - Happy Hour

p.s That shits actually true!!

I'm baaaaad, Smashing it!

2007-07-03T15:37:00.000+01:00

Its instru-mental!

As the thunder, lightning, hail, monsoon, typhoon, hurricaine and rain continue to belt this tiny island into oblivion its time to get on with the instrumental. Thomas Newman is top of my people list today, not simply because we watched Little Children, which features his work, but because my iTunes shuffle still surprises me to this day. Thomas Newman is one of the finest soundtrack composers out there, cousin to Randy (I never knew that till now) he has put in music what sometimes cannot be expressed in visual terms. I came up with a few of the key movie elements that have been emphasized by Newman's work and here a few questions:
Would anyone of made a fuss about the American Beauty, plastic bag scene? Would anyone of cried in The Shawshank Redemption when Brookes dies? Would anyone of actually cared about Meet Joe Black?

Thomas Newman - Whisper of a Thrill (from Meet Joe Black)

The piano has always been one of those instruments I love, I have been trying to play for longer than I can remember and still marvel when I play anything remotely good. Its emotive, simple, and one of those skills that puts you in good standing to learn anything once you have mastered it. Michael Nyman is another soundtrack composer who has provided some brilliant music to some fantastic films. Nothing more so than the music to The Piano

Michael Nyman - Scent of Love

Carrying on with the piano theme, Christopher O'Riley, the American classical pianist with a penchant for Radiohead. Which comes neat onto our next offering of Robert Glasper playing some Radiohead style Jazz, which does work oddly enough. The Hawi'ian Jake Shimabukuro, who is the finest ukulele player ever, does some more covers playing the Beatles, give it time it becomes more obvious after a while. Then moving onto more normal instrumental Tuesday type stuff, we have M. Ward the singer/guitarist who has worked with many a famous act (Bright Eyes in particular). The Six Parts Seven, who are a mix of Explosions in the Sky and Eluvium, create layers of bass, drums and some fine guitar. Enjoy my chums!

Christopher O'Riley - Paranoid Android
Robert Glasper - Everything in its Right Place
Jake Shimabukuro - While my Guitar Gently Weeps
M.Ward - Transfiguration
The Six Parts Seven - Stolen Moments

Look around you!

2007-07-02T20:14:00.001+01:00

Owen Pallett. That name probably means very little to you, and thats what this post is for! I was talking to a good friend of mine and I got onto the topic of a young composer named Owen Pallett and it seems no one knows of him. I must put this right I thought and this is my attempt at educating the masses.

From Ontario Canada, young Owen born in September 1979, is a singer/composer/violin God. He is the only (barre an occasional drummer) member of the band Final Fantasy (yes named after the game). Writing the string sections for both of The Arcade Fires albums, and touring with them occasionally, but its his solo (Final Fantasy) work that needs highlighting. On stage he is very sheepish but at the same time outlandish (think Patrick Wolf) with just a violin hooked to Boss loop pedal he creates layers upon layers of violin phrases looped on the fly so to speak. With his powerful but quite subtle lyrics pounding over the top of arrays and crescendo's of his violin. His music is about his life, and more importantly his sexuality and how this has changed his life, for better and for worse. Owen was never in the closet with sexuality and is very upbeat with his music being labelled 'Queer'

For our brief dip into the world of the Polaris Music Prize winner we have one of his more famous singles, though he supposedly hates the support it got, This is the Dream of Win and Regine (of Arcade Fire fame). Adventure.exe was a strange song in the Final Fantasy repertoire as it was made famous by an Orange advert, and advert he didn't want his song in! For our pudding this evening is The CN Tower Belongs to the Dead, which is obviously in reference to the thousands of tourists that travel in hordes to see the 1/2 kilometer tall tower of his hometown.

Final Fantasy - This is the Dream of Win and Regine
Final Fantasy - Adventure.exe
Final Fantasy - The CN Tower Belongs to the Dead

For more Final Fantasy madness be sure to check out the amazingly named 'He Poo's Clouds' and you can try clicking.......here

Just a load of Crypto-fascist-bourgeois crap!

2007-07-01T23:33:00.000+01:00

Its been officially twelve hours since England has banned smoking in pubs, bars, nightclubs, cafes and restaurants, lunch rooms, membership clubs and shopping centres. In fact the UK is now the largest whole nation to ban smoking in such a way and seems to lead the race in banning smoking full stop. There is a mixed opinion of who is right and who is wrong in the no smoking ranks, yes it does mean that our health will benefit by not being in a smoke-ridden environment in pubs but at the same time does that encourage us to spend more time in pubs? Take today for example, almost as a tribute to the fact that there was no smoking in pubs we saw more children spending time with their parents in pubs, is this a good thing?

Anyway on to the music, as today is carnival day and everyone is a bit celebratory, for more reasons more than just the lack of smoke in public areas, we are going to have a covers evening. Our first act is Jonna Lee, doing a rather amazing version of The Postal Service's DC Sleeps Alone Tonight. Next we have the Yeah Yeah Yeah's doing a cover of Bjork's Hyperballard, which I/We are told was sent to Bjork herself and never listened too (or was it?). For a pinch of something out there we have Lovedrug from Ohio, who have always been unfortunate, and thankfully after splitting from their label (through the bands request oddly!) they have been doing some banging tunes, especially this cover of Heart Shaped Box. Finally we have Slowbear the Great and their amazing cover of Bloc Party's Banquet, this song was submitted to the Blag Party mix, which was a bunch of independant music folk doing tributes to the great Bloc Party (I seriously suggest checking them out, they are all free!)

Jonna Lee - DC Sleeps Alone Tonight
Yeah Yeah Yeah's - Hyperballard
Lovedrug - Heart Shaped Box
Slowbear the Great - Banque

I'm gonna creep inside you like a warm kitten!

2007-06-29T10:59:00.001+01:00

Today is indeed a great day, I was originally bringing together a piece about synthpop/electropop and low and behold on Rufus Wainwright's forum (don't ask why I was there) I found out that The Mighty Boosh are indeed doing a third season, oohh the excitement. The electropop is of course going to continue, even more so fuelled by the knowledge that the electro loving Vince Noir will be back. So first up the electropioneers who invented music, The Human League, before them was nothing but tune ups and setting up equipment in the hope that they would turn up.

The Human League - Don't You Want Me Baby?

Gary Numan, one of the great frontment who could indeed 'pull shapes', was another of the synthpop pioneers. Brought up in Slough, arse end of nowhere, he came to the music scene really quite young (in the days before Daphne & Celeste) and had millions of records! In 2000 some of the finest musical talent came forward and told of their love for the Numan (plural being Numanoids) and created a tribute album called Random. One of such covers was An Pierl who does a wonderful cover of Are Friends Electric? on the piano. So for your aural pleasure I have dug out Me! I Disconnect From You, which was always a favourite as a child, and Music for Chameleons, which I can't listen to without thinking about Alan Partridge attacking tax ladies.

Gary Numan - Me! I Disconnect From You
Gary Numan - Music for Chameleons
An Pierl - Are Friends Electric?

During the time of The Human League and all of the new wave/new romantics, there was a mini battle between themselves and the mighty Depeche Mode. Personally I was always a Depeche Mode (Sound of Silence did it for me) man though I have never been too sure why I didn't jump over. Saying that Wikipedia says that Depeche Mode were actually the more successful band and supposedly one of the longest-lived bands ever! Yet on the flipside Dave Gahan has been on a long drugs spiral whereas Philip Oakley still gigs (with new ladies), not sure what qualifies as a winner there

Depeche Mode - Strangelove

Synthpop has recently seen something of a comeback with the likes of the new wave Indie boys playing with their Moogs and Korgs. From the Kaiser Chiefs to the Klaxons to The Killers (?? maybe its in the 'K') we are hearing more and more of the new Indiesynth which is taking the UK, especially, by a bit of a storm. MSTRKRFT, pronounced Master Kraft, so I am told, was the brainchild of Jesse F. Keeler of Death From Above 1979 fame. They have provided some good (not amazing) fresh tracks of their own, but its with their remix tracks that they really shine. This one is a remix of Death From Aboves Sexy results and reminds me of Friday afternoons in the sunshine, in the pub, just after work, or maybe thats just whats on my mind.

Death From Above 1979 - Sexy Results (MSTRKRFT Remix)

Wikipedia.....doesn't knob about does it?

2007-06-27T19:57:00.000+01:00

Obviously the news today is heavily centered around the Prime Ministarial handover on Downing Street. Its all quite strange, and now more than ever do you see that Prime Ministers are in office, hated, and then pressured and forced out of office, and then loved. It doesn't stop in the UK as well, look at the US Presidents (bar Regan) they are loved "Ohhh he's new", hated (usually around the time of budgets) and then loved again (which usually coincides when his/her successor starts being hated). Bill Clinton, who I did like all along, was one of the best Presidents of recent decades, alright his choice of lady wasn't perfect but pure carnal needs shouldn't stand in the way of national progress. With Blair it took a grand total of three hours (minutes) before people were talking about the best way to relocate his skills, and strangely enough how Gordon Brown isn't really the most honest person. Anyway, to mark the occasion I had a think about possible Tony, Gordon, songs, we start off with The Pixies. I see this song as the celebration of our new (old) Prime Minister, and then we move onto his darker, more hated, time in office with George Michael. Finally Blur bring us in (they do sing about Tony Allen dancing so just imagine its Tony Blair!) with Music is my Radar. Finally a bit of Stranglers comedy!

The Pixies - Tony's Theme
George Michael - Shoot the Dog
Blur - Music is my Radar
Stranglers - Gordon Brown?
Tony Blair - Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Wednesday, Wednesday

2007-06-27T15:43:00.001+01:00

I could never really get the hang of Wednesdays, they are always a bit of a write off day. This week sees something even more so in the way of bad Wednesdays, as much of the UK has been flooded including, as shown, Hillsborough which is Sheffield Wednesdays football ground. First up today is Ladyfuzz! who I only just found out today when going over their MySpace that they had actually called it a day (tis a shame). This three piece from Londinium were rocky, poppy and damn cool. I saw them support Futureheads and they were really rather special live as well, but I don't quite know why I am even telling you!

For mains we have Wolf Parade who I listened to ages ago and then forgot about, and then remembered but couldn't remember anything about them, just that they were good. For them we have Shine a Light which was the song I remember hearing that first time and thinking "This is really f--ing good", these Canadian crazies will keep you a-bopping.

For pudding we have a real treat (ish), its in the form of the Tungay Ukulele Orchestra, don't ask me why I have a fettish for the sound of the Ukulele, I don't understand it either! See if you recognise this video-game classic!

Ladyfuzz! - The Man with The Monochrome View
Wolf Parade - Shine a Light
Tungay Ukulele Orchestra - Zelda

Minoru Yamasaki

2007-06-26T15:27:00.000+01:00

Minoru Yamasaki was an architect who unfortunately passed away in 1986 due to cancer. He wasn't the most prolific worker and his creations were quite mauve, for want of a better word, but he created some 'interesting' pieces. The first one that springs to mind is the ex-Twin Towers of NY, Minoru was slightly lucky in that he did not see his masterpiece fall apart in such an extreme way. The one thing Minoru did witness in his lifetime was the demolition of Pruitt-Igoe, another one of his ill-fated designs. Minoru wasn't a bad architect by any stretch of the imagination and his products failings have never been because of any action of him. Pruitt-Igoe was a set of 33 tower blocks/apartment complexes in the middle of St Louis that were originally built to be a multi-racial modern haven for the working class. Unfortunately this wasn't meant to be, and as the buildings fell into disrepair and the surrounding areas value plummeted, through a period of about 15 years, the St. Louis Housing Authority finally set about demoloshing the blocks in 1972. Moving onto the point, Godfrey Reggio filmed the demolition as part of his film Koyaanisqatsi, and with the help of Philip Glass made the destruction of Mr Yamasaki's hard work seem a moving creation in itself. If you get chance to see the film do, its really very good, but the music from the scene, called Pruitt-Igoe, along with the sombre images of a desolate and empty block of two and half thousand apartments being blown to smitherines is just ripping.

Philip Glass - Pruitt-Igoe

Expression or appreciation of subtle shades of meaning

2007-06-26T13:53:00.000+01:00

Instrumental Tuesday is back again!!

Yet again we are here to bring you the instrumental classics of the day, and today is no exception. Two nights ago I caught the last forty-five minutes of 28 Days Later, a film that I had always slaughtered really (even though I had never watched it, sad I know!). I hate to say it but I was really quite surprised even coming into it that late in the film. It was really quite sublime and, always the first thing I notice, the soundtrack was ace to boot. The first little skitch I saw may have been a dream or something similar of white horses running round a field, rather stunning, especially to the amazing backdrop of Brian Eno's : an ending (accent). I was then even more surprised when a small scene of a sad moment (don't wish to spoil anything) which again was put together superbly was bolsted with Godspeed You Black Emperor's East Hastings, which has always been a favourite. Surprise couldn't even begin to describe the sheer brilliance in the build up and climax of the penultimate scenes to which you could shut your eyes and through the music understand every subtle nuance of goings on. Brought together by the very brilliant composer John Murphy, entitled In a House - In a Heartbeat, play them loud!

Brian Eno - An Ending (accent)
Godspeed You Black Emperor - East Hastings
John Murphy - In a House, In a Heartbeat

Tomato ketchup up the bum...

2007-06-24T19:03:00.000+01:00

Manchester (home town) is a place that has changed a lot since the late 90's. Not too many people realise but Manchester was one of the recent(ish) cities to be damaged by terrorism. On June 15th 1996 a bomb was detonated in the centre of Manchester (causing £411m of damage) by the IRA, thankfully no one was hurt. The city was devestated as half of its commercial district was ripped apart in a time where bomb attacks were unheard of. Since that time however there has been an amazing change in the city centre, £1.2 billion in fact, and its now a truly wonderful city. At the time of all this I was at school, and was actually within close proximity of the bomb blast (about 900ft away), I was also working for a Manchester radio station, and the music in Manchester has always thrived. At the time there were a lot of famous up-coming local music acts and some have grown along with the town. The first band, Doves, who have always been a personal favourite performed some amazing sets on our radio and this song, The Man Who Told Everything, is a true fave which is the perfect Indie song. The other performer that we saw a lot of was Damon Gough (Badly Drawn Boy) who provides a perfect example of a typical mancunian, don't let those Irish Gallagher brothers fool you. Elbow, who are now known very well throughout the UK have always had their own brand of happy cheeky indie, Newborn, reminds me of the first time I heard the song, in the middle of Manchester in the rain where time almost slowed down (make sure you listen to the organ-age at the end). The final two, I am Kloot and Alfie, are two that are still struggling for the limelight, but still provide us with some brilliant music......enjoy!

Badly Drawn Boy - Once Around the Block
Doves - The Man Who Told Everything
Elbow - Newborn
Alfie - Bookends
I am Kloot - Titanic

"Love comforteth like sunshine after rain."

2007-06-22T17:33:00.000+01:00

It seems not only Glasto has rain problems this weekend. With flash floods all over the country and a nationwide heavy rain MET office warning (which never happens) it looks like we are in for a wet one. I managed to watch a bit of Royal Ascot today, and even the Queen was facing the elements in her horse drawn Royal procession. Lets hope no one left he washing out, just in case here are some rain themed songs, including the deeply underestablished I Am Kloot, and Peter Gabriel (who is much better than Phil Collins).

Peter Gabriel - Red Rain
I am Kloot - Morning Rain
White Stripes - Red Rain
Violent Femmes - I Hear the Rain
Prince - Purple Rain
The Cult - Rain
Guns and Roses - November Rain Play this very loud and see how many people you can hear singing along!

Glastonbury Festival 2007

2007-06-21T09:36:00.001+01:00

This weekend, as you may or may not know, is the Glastonbury Festival in the UK. It is possibly the largest single venue festival in the UK and it is usually the most varied (musically). This year sees some great acts, good old, obscure and famous, and large and tiny. Unfortunately for some of us getting the time off work and the finances to do it was beyond us (mainly me) and we have had to accept second best.

So for those who will join me in sitting in their gardens with music blaring full blast getting trollied inviting strangers round and generally getting messy here is a mix of Glasto's finest (this year)

Cold War Kids - Hang me up to Dry
Willie Mason - We Can be Strong
Tapes 'n' Tapes - Crazy Eights
Bjork - The Anchor Song (Family roots Strings version) Dazzlers fave songs
Patrick Wolf - Wind in the Wires
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Ixtapa
The Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)
Bloc Party - She's Hearing Voices
Arctic Monkeys - Old Yellow Bricks

Play it loud!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..........

2007-06-20T09:36:00.001+01:00

If yesterday was Instrumental Tuesday today must be Wake-up Wednesday

Waking up is very hard, especially if you are lazy, and today I found more than ever that its only music that gets me out of bed. Its quite interesting that more and more you realise, and find, uses for music and the way it moves you (quite literally). So todays homage, musically speaking, is to music that moves you....out of bed. First up are two crackers for early mornings, the rock-up, as I like to call it with pieces from The Hives and the (International) Noise Conspiracy, two of Swedens finest. The Hives who need no real introduction with their classic Here We Go Again and the slightly lesser known, but no where near as un-awesome, (I)NC. With a new album due any minute, hopefully, these cultured rock-politicians can become more of a light to a decaying rock world. Mixed in are a couple of other more recent tracks thrown in for their varied musical awakening effects, espeically the Architecture in Helsinki track. Rounded off with the bizarre talky-speak of Art Brut and finally the old-school mother pulling the covers off in the form of David Bowie (thats scary). Just for good measure is The Chain, I cant for the life of me stay still when that bass-line kicks in at exactly 3:04 (the perfect snooze alarm!) have it!

The Hives - Here We Go Again
The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Capitalism Stole My Virginity
Architecture in Helsinki - Heart it Races
Battles - Ddiamondd Isn't a typo hmmmm Battles
Art Brut - Emily Kane
David Bowie - Queen Bitch
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain

*Dances*

Edit!
Just found a remix of Heart it Races, its mental!
Architecture in Helsinki - Heart it Races (Yacht's I Should Coco Remix)

Tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock

2007-06-19T15:55:00.003+01:00

Instrumental Tuesday is here!

Being in work can sometimes be a bit of a nightmare, even more so when it is getting late in the day and all you can think about is home time and Lego. In these situations the only thing that gets me through is instrumental tracks, and I have no idea why. I do love a good instrumental and there have been more and more mainstream instrumental bands cropping up. I love the almost euphoric sense of Explosions in the Sky (both a Winter and a Summer band....) and the Cinematic Orchestra who amazingly I only just came across yesterday, and how happy I was with their Jazz-trance-dance-oh.

God is an Astronaut - Tempus Horizon Best band name or what?
Explosions in the Sky - Your Hand in Mine
Eluvium - Prelude For Time
Fridge - Eyelids
Cinematic Orchestra - Evolution (Versao Portunense)
Do Make Say Think - A Tender History in Rust
Murder by Death - Holy Lord, Shawshank Redemption
Message to Bears - Found and Safe
Mogwai - I Know you are But What am I? Dazzlers fave songs

Ooooh instrumental mega-mixing!

I'll shove that bat up your ass and turn you into a popsicle...

2007-06-18T18:07:00.001+01:00

The Warriors, in my opinion one of the finer films out there, had everything in it that a growing boy needs, and more, but it still interests me now. I recently came across a set of programmes about the making of and the stylisation of the film, it was technically very well put together, the camera work and some of the eerie scenes (the Jones Street gangs roller-skater!). But there was all the little stuff, the choreographed fights, the amazing lighting, the costumes, and one of the most important things in films, the soundtrack. Barry De Vorzon and his soundrack worked wonders over the top of an excellent film, dubbed as "Synth Rock!" and of course The Eagles/Joe Walsh In the City which was an amazing cap to the film.

Arnold McCuller - Nowhere to Run
Barry De Vorzon - Baseball Furies Chase
Joe Walsh - In The City

For a geek factor fact, it turns out that the Warriors themselves when filming had to take off their colours when they went to lunch as to not offend actual gangs in New York!

"what are you doing here?"

2007-06-18T16:20:00.000+01:00

There are moments in our lives that things just drastically change. Usually, these moments are accompanied by music that gives us a level of comfort incredibly hard to attain through something else. One of these moments happened to me in May 2006 when I graduated college. Not only was I caught in a middle of a frenzy, but this quick and sudden change (lets face it, we all know we'll graduate but do we ever really get down to it and face it?) forced me to not revel in the moment. In my quest for comfort through night-swimming and long conversation with fellow graduates, I ended up in a record store in Boston to find some peace of mind. In the back aisle, with the $9.99 cds I found one with an interesting name: Kings of Convenience. I asked the guy to play it for me. Within five seconds of the first tune "Homesick" I was taken back. Whatever I was looking for, I found it in this song. I found it with the lyrics. I found a home away from home. It engulfed the four years I spent away from Mexico City and it also showed that college was yet another chapter closing. But it was alright. It would all be alright. So I share this song with you, whoever you are, to see if it helps you or at least, gives you an enjoyable moment throughout the day.

Kings of Convience - Homesick

First post, Oxford the musical city

2007-06-18T13:26:00.001+01:00

Hi all and welcome to the new music blog created by me Dazzler and a bunch of other muso folk who should hopefully show you some light in the foggy musical wilderness. I wanted my first post to be a testiment of why I wanted to have a music blog so I have decided to pick my current hometown (Oxford) and some of the bands of Oxford that have changed me in some way.

Fell City Girl are one of the sad stories of Oxford, for four years this four-piece-epic-rock-anthem-a-thon band created some of the greatest nights of our lives. With stunning sounds and some of the most sublime vocals I have ever seen come out of a 5ft bloke, supported by some serious drum attack from their resident green monster. With February Snow they showed us that a pop-epic can still be meaningful and touching, on the other side Rudolph Valentino - Star of the Silver Screen taught us that there was much more to rock then energy, there is carnage and destruction. It was epic and amazing but unfortunately due to lack of interest it wasn't meant to be and these four chaps had to go back to piecing up their semi-shattered careers/educations/relationships and lives..

Fell City Girl - February Snow
Fell City Girl - Rudolph Valentino

The Foals, who are being bandied around by DJ's in the UK as we speak, are a band that as a self respecting musician I had set out to hate. They are pretty, over-hyped, Indie-disco and they stand for the musical morals I hate (beauty, scene and style..... its not because I haven't any honest!). Unfortunately they tack this along with an amazing talent for writing catchy pop tunes that you love to hate and they are fucking amazing at getting you off your feet. What bastards!

Foals - Hummer

On a final note for my first post we have to pay homage to two of the founding Oxford bands, and still two of my favourite bands for life. Supergrass with their ever-lasting youth and some of the best tunes I think I have ever heard, Moving in particular being a fave. Radiohead...of course, possibly the greatest UK band still alive with some of the most moving and life changing albums (isn't OK Computer still wining greatest album of all time with The Bends closely behind). Worryingly enough there are still many occasions where I see Thom Yorke trying to park his mini on St John St and bump into Danny Goffey feeding his children at Red Star on the Cowley..bizarre!

Supergrass - Moving
Radiohead - Airbag