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

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!

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!

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!!

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!

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.

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

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

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

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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

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

Guglielmo Marconi

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!

[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

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