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james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-15861161518051224892010-10-12T19:10:00.002+01:002010-10-12T19:44:29.358+01:00ULTERIOR / SEX WAR SEX CARS SEX<div style="text-align: justify;">It's not difficult to see where Ulterior are coming from nowadays. In the video (watch it underneath) for their new single 'Sex War Sex Cars Sex' the five of them are strobelit demons in black leather - presumably sweat-soaked hand-me-downs from the Manic Street Preachers, Ministry, Spacemen 3, The Sisters of Mercy, The Jesus & Mary Chain, and Suicide, since traces of all of the above are perceptible in the blinding noise that's synthesised, crunched and chewed, and spat out by the chugging mechanical pulse which lurches from the speakers. That said, although the influences are clear, pointing them out seems a bit petty because the whole thing's rather convincing. There are a heap of potential problems with the whole 'rock band' thing - it's pretty easy to talk like Iggy Pop and very, very difficult to<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span>fit into his jeans - but Ulterior avoid the pitfalls by basically just being really good and making it look pretty much effortless. 'Sex War Sex Cars Sex' is a brutal alternating motor of a song, the only refrain a gut-punch chanting of the one-track-mind title. Get the 7" (released on the band's own Speed label) exclusively from Rough Trade on 1st November. Watch the video. Contemplate digging out the biker jacket gathering dust in your wardrobe, then decide that sort of thing is probably left to the experts. Play the record at full volume. And look forward to the album, which is out early next year.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/15510420" frameborder="0" height="225" width="400"></iframe>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-79764658259340894872010-08-31T22:53:00.002+01:002010-08-31T23:22:55.571+01:00RIP NC / something new.Some possibly overdue news: after ten years of musical restlessness, the entity that is Neils Children has been terminated. Core members John Linger and Brandon Jacobs have clearly realised that it's time (as ever) to move on, and will be playing a final half-set at Offset Festival this weekend (Sunday, 5pm, ECC Tent), featuring choice picks from their unusually diverse back catalogue. It might be said that the group's failure ever to crack the mainstream was due to their constant refusal to settle into any musical niche for more than a few months, but one result is that they leave behind them a legacy ranging from garage rock to snotty psychedelic punk, from grooving new wave to juddering noise.<br /><br />However, it's not the end for the individuals who made up the group: together with Linger's brother Paul and Bonnie Carr (of Electricity In Our Homes) and ska DJ Eli Deutsch (of Nowhere To Run Club) they've formed a soul quintet named The Drop Five. They'll be taking over for the second half of the Offset show to unveil some new Style Councilesque songs, apparently influenced by 'European Cafe culture, Hammond Organ and positive and uplifting Soulful sounds'. Neils Children is finished, but it doesn't look like their constantly changing musical journey is over yet.james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-91962777478408833322010-08-11T21:34:00.007+01:002010-08-11T22:21:20.674+01:00demontré : MASCULIN/FÉMININ<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEY2JtH7OIfKr8ZAMbmUnJ3IyP_0xy72Gu9W4_pgm3XwPHp74dXSShQNAJdyTxa7JE47vQNZLvgNmHV28KTM4oHYz0tFImio5oOFK4_uwqy-eJTIG8f7W12dGxkY_qRvlV6sD1PrtGqt0/s1600/2DEMONTRE_FRONT_VINYLlowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEY2JtH7OIfKr8ZAMbmUnJ3IyP_0xy72Gu9W4_pgm3XwPHp74dXSShQNAJdyTxa7JE47vQNZLvgNmHV28KTM4oHYz0tFImio5oOFK4_uwqy-eJTIG8f7W12dGxkY_qRvlV6sD1PrtGqt0/s200/2DEMONTRE_FRONT_VINYLlowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504256800847382930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">DEMONTRÉ</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MASCULIN/FÉMININ</span><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Bold" title="Bold" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 3);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Bold" class="gl_bold" border="0" /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The trick here: conjure up a cloud of psychedelic shoegazing guitar, and then nail it down with a precise and angular post-punk rhythm section. The towering, omnipresent guitar envelopes the mix throughout <span style="font-style: italic;">Masculin/Féminin</span>, creating a strange and intriguing tension with the sharp, concrete bass and drum parts - guitar as female, bass and guitar as male? If any band is likely to pick such a conceptual title for a release, it's these three ostensibly cerebral young men.<br /><br />In any case, this musical sleight-of-hand is pulled off here with style. Demontré have learned on this release how to channel their shimmering/solid sound effectively: they've stopped trying to write pop hooks and focussed on atmosphere. (It's no accident that previous single 'Brandenburg' is both the most melodic track here and the weakest, especially when the floating, numinous guitar dives right in to dance rigidly with the bass.) Vocal melodies float tantalisingly through Jonathan Mead's pedalboard ether without surrendering their secrets. Ambient samples weave in and out to fill the spaces between tracks. There's movement, there's rhythm - sometimes you can dance - but you won't find any instant pop gratification here. That's good.<br /><br />What you will find instead is a seven-track helping of eerie death-disco beats, distant swirling vocals, and swooning six-string cartwheels. Standout track 'Lorenheim' is a grunge ballad lost in the fog, Smashing Pumpkins filtered through Slowdive, while 'Wholly Communion' brews up a sluggish psychedelic storm, gliding into the ear and insinuating itself into the cortex. The atmosphere and the tension builds and then slackens, from the catapulting segue of 'Vale of Health' to the low-key, piano-led, somewhat dubiously titled 'The Lion King'. With any luck you'll leave satisfied, because Demontré appear finally to have fulfilled their potential. What's next?<br /></div>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-84807725729476484922010-06-29T11:16:00.007+01:002010-06-29T11:42:59.446+01:00EIOH - new single.Electricity In Our Homes continue to plug away. Their new AA-side 12" 'You're Doing So Well'/'Appletree' (released yesterday, self-distributed) is a return to form, a stonking post-punk fist to the stomach which takes the trio back to their roots in the DIY sound of The Desperate Bicycles but maintains the sophisticated sound developed by the trio since the loss of their original vocalist back in 2008. Jerky cut-glass riffs jostle against a funk-informed rhythm section and hypnotic looped vocals: it's a little bit A Certain Ratio, a little bit Josef K, a big bit brilliant. Order one of the 300 copies available from <a href="http://www.myspace.com/electricityinourhomes">the EIOH MySpace</a> now, and watch the video to 'You're Doing So Well' here:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><object height="250" width="411"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rqaphXuoGHY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rqaphXuoGHY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="250" width="411"></embed></object></div>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-10199473296442613022010-06-24T11:13:00.003+01:002010-06-24T11:17:41.937+01:00Flats: debut EPThe scuzziest DIY punk band in London are about to be immortalised in plastic, with the release of their self-titled debut EP on 2nd August. The five-track 7" (also available as a download) will be released on Sweat Shop/Loog Records, and features a cover of Puncture's punk classic 'Mucky Pup'. Grab it while you can.james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-50956698609760529712010-05-12T18:37:00.002+01:002010-05-12T18:41:05.603+01:00OFFSET FESTIVAL: ECC TENT INITIAL LINEUP<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><object width="411" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NDkU5rRQqe4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NDkU5rRQqe4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="411" height="250"></embed></object></div>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-46288177626977728072010-05-11T15:48:00.003+01:002010-05-11T16:03:09.381+01:00Band spotlight: FLATS<span style="font-weight: bold;">Flats</span> raise and then yank violently together the spirits of every scratchy, raucous punk band ever to surface, play one Peel Session, and fall apart on stage after eight gigs. News of their thrilling DIY racket is creeping across London, and with appearances planned at the 1234 and Offset Festivals, as well as label interest from Rough Trade, now seems to be a good time to lend an ear to their gyrating, self-referential post-punk clamour. Anyone who misses Swell Maps and The Cravats, or who wishes Electricity In Our Homes would get back on the amphetamines, would do well to get down to a gig sharpish. (They're playing at the Cave Club on Saturday, at Buffalo Bar in Islington.)<br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/flatsofcourse"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/flatsofcourse">Flats MySpace</a><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvzygH4XvNYw1WC1HHeYQR_QB75Wrm7fk-Xyf8NwrWot-97xkyg4L0lv6k-tseepKlOXv2iM9qF64qyHG2ovGDX5zuei0zcqkA6PjBOsg8IFIOPuhJaTMuVH4uMhzuPkwaISDjwpPzno/s1600/flats.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvzygH4XvNYw1WC1HHeYQR_QB75Wrm7fk-Xyf8NwrWot-97xkyg4L0lv6k-tseepKlOXv2iM9qF64qyHG2ovGDX5zuei0zcqkA6PjBOsg8IFIOPuhJaTMuVH4uMhzuPkwaISDjwpPzno/s320/flats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470027564123627682" border="0" /></a><br /></div>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-13465005514864248742010-04-07T14:34:00.003+01:002010-04-11T16:14:09.096+01:00Offset 2010: INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENTMore festival news. The people behind Offset Festival, certainly our favourite weekend-in-a-field last year, have just lifted the lid on their first wave of confirmed artists. On the influential/classic/seminal/'they're still playing?' artist side: Cluster, Liquid Liquid, Charles de Goal. So far, so good. But the festival's strength clearly lies in the new bands lineup: These New Puritans head a legion of up-and-comers which includes Factory Floor, O Children, Bo Ningen, Electricity In Our Homes, Blue On Blue, and - these two currently unannounced - Relics and The Murder Act. Tickets are available at <a href="http://offsetfestival.co.uk/tickets">the festival website</a> now, at very reasonable prices - if it's anywhere near as good as next year, Offset should provide the most bang for your buck anywhere this summer. And it's on the Tube.james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-10269530011034658812010-03-30T19:13:00.003+01:002010-03-30T19:17:57.515+01:00Factory Floor / FF - full-length debutFactory Floor - now known officially as simply FF - are about to launch a renewed assault on the world's ears with a full-length release: 45 minutes, 4 tracks, 17th May. <span style="font-style: italic;">Untitled</span>, out on CD and limited 10" vinyl on Blast First Petite, also includes a short DVD, <span style="font-style: italic;">Solid Sound</span>. The experimental trio are currently on tour with Fuck Buttons, and play the Shepherd's Bush Empire with Liars in May. Don't miss out.james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-16976194334309885942010-03-14T22:25:00.005+00:002010-03-14T22:32:44.407+00:00Video: O CHILDREN - RUINS<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="250" width="411"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TmcHPk8_1N8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TmcHPk8_1N8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="250" width="411"></embed></object><br /><br />Impressive stuff. It's out on April 19th on Deadly People.<br /></div>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-24851270962449797552010-03-09T13:26:00.003+00:002010-03-09T13:36:11.420+00:001234... '10 - FIRST ANNOUNCEMENTThe first wave of the lineup for this year's 1234 Shoreditch Festival have been revealed. Be prepared: it's good. Highlights include These New Puritans promoting new album <span style="font-style: italic;">Hidden</span>; perennial 1234 associates S.C.U.M; Wild Palms; the return of ddd; Japanese psych-freaks Bo Ningen; the jangling sounds of Veronica Falls; Maria & the Mirrors; The Ruling Class; and punk orchestra Action Beat. The full list is at <a href="http://www.the1234shoreditch.com/">The1234Shoreditch.com</a>, along with £15 advance tickets which we recommend you snap up.james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-866187485120390482010-03-08T19:29:00.002+00:002010-03-08T19:49:42.427+00:00Band spotlight: THE MURDER ACTLight from dark, melody from distortion, a chiming guitar and a clanking drive: The Murder Act step gracefully across dichotomies, rolling out waves of noise and beautiful harmonies in equal measure, the whole underpinned by insistent krautrock beats. If that sounds good to you - it should - then visit their MySpace page to hear their eight-minute greeting to the world, 'Sex Song'. Do it now, before it's too late.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/themurderact">The Murder Act MySpace</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6E8udOUCjCZ5ly2nZNtI8K212tHpPN8nSaHKf82NHhjmrmGfAOAoFg8_Lf_-ZQJ4WQ-81WDIQumdMxfxjQsi2vWdo4bo0Auwe8dXN7XTf6zBPnym2Sbl203JKuKCGMQDynsplKfhfxg/s1600-h/14096_299334454158_141566964158_2897143_2576417_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6E8udOUCjCZ5ly2nZNtI8K212tHpPN8nSaHKf82NHhjmrmGfAOAoFg8_Lf_-ZQJ4WQ-81WDIQumdMxfxjQsi2vWdo4bo0Auwe8dXN7XTf6zBPnym2Sbl203JKuKCGMQDynsplKfhfxg/s320/14096_299334454158_141566964158_2897143_2576417_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446352499196969010" border="0" /></a><br /></div>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-64917900196658704652010-03-06T14:07:00.004+00:002010-03-09T14:22:25.422+00:00News: Wild Palms singleWild Palms are no longer, as they had been dubbed formerly, 'the best unsigned band in London' - they've got a record deal with One Little Indian, and their second single 'Deep Dive' is out on April 19th. (The self-released debut single 'Over Time' is still available from their MySpace, too.) Even better: <span style="font-style: italic;">Artrocker</span> magazine are offering a free download of the b-side, a splintered and soulful take on Bjork's 'Human Behaviour' - get it <a href="http://www.blogger.com/05%20Mar%20The%20Georgian%20Theatre%20%2814+%20show%29,%20Stockton%20On%20Tees%2006%20Mar%20The%20Dog%20And%20Parrot,%20Newcastle%20Upton%20Tyne%2013%20Mar%20Double%20Magazine%20Warehouse%20Party,%20Manchester%2015%20Mar%20Captains%20Rest,%20Glasgow%2016%20Mar%20Bongo%20Club,%20Edinburgh%2017%20Mar%20Roxy,%20Newcastle%2019%20Mar%20Amplified,%20Darlington%2024%20Mar%20The%20Garage,%20London%20%28with%20The%20Twilight%20Sad%29%2016%20Apr%20The%20Coronet,%20London%2022%20Apr%20Bodega,%20Nottingham%2024%20Apr%20The%20Recommender@%20Jam,%20Brighton%2001%20May%20Camden%20Crawl%20London%2002%20May%20Camden%20Crawl%20London%2015%20May%20The%20Great%20Escape%20@%20Hectors,%20Brighton%20%20Read%20more:%20http://www.artrocker.com/node/21758#ixzz0hgl0i7nq">here</a>. The quartet are on the move around the country in the next few months, so keep an eye out:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvOOy-kJYF3kPcIxAt1syVsvhbgYD6hE0T0TMsl8l4HsF0Zmxl100ENVWXWM1-zG6eFwMxayiw9bbw5px_dn2XZAaog3_bnQddVS0eh9BVMz0MArG4fdm3mwt3da1K8IxskOA85hT8_s/s1600-h/l_8817e2b6eece4f3f9b44d0b3fb36fd87.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvOOy-kJYF3kPcIxAt1syVsvhbgYD6hE0T0TMsl8l4HsF0Zmxl100ENVWXWM1-zG6eFwMxayiw9bbw5px_dn2XZAaog3_bnQddVS0eh9BVMz0MArG4fdm3mwt3da1K8IxskOA85hT8_s/s320/l_8817e2b6eece4f3f9b44d0b3fb36fd87.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446639197330947042" border="0" /></a>13th March: Double Magazine Warehouse Party, Manchester<br />15th March: Captains Rest, Glasgow<br />16th March: Bongo Club, Edinburgh<br />17th March: Roxy, Newcastle<br />19th March: Amplified, Darlington<br />24th March: The Garage, London (with The Twilight Sad)<br />16th April: The Coronet, London<br />22nd April: Bodega, Nottingham<br />24th April: The Recommender at Jam, Brighton<br />1st & 2nd May: Camden Crawl London<br />15th May: The Great Escape at Hector's, Brightonjames.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-3493941061087500272010-02-09T06:48:00.002+00:002010-02-09T06:48:53.740+00:00maria & the mirrors : OMAR<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.parlour-records.com/PLR09lrg.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 199px;" src="http://www.parlour-records.com/PLR09lrg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">MARIA & THE MIRRORS</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">OMAR</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(PARLOUR RECORDS)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">A weird tension runs through this record, a dichotomy between the harshly digital synth/bass noise that floods the speaker, and the organic tribal pulse pumped out by Maria & the Mirrors' twin drummers, chanting incomprehensibilities and slamming intricate rhythms on both sides of the disc. They've clearly studied their Pulsallama and their Liquid Liquid, and there's a certain Mary Chain ethos haunting the whole thing (if the Mary Chain had been raised by a lost African tribe), but really this sounds like nothing else coming out of London at the moment. Or anywhere else, for that matter - perhaps everyone's too scared to even try and make this kind of sound. Very, very interesting.<br /></div>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-76156924298829634352010-01-28T10:53:00.002+00:002010-01-28T10:56:22.612+00:00The end of the Experiment.<div style="text-align: justify;">Distressing news for fans of kickass punk-rock feminism (and lengthy band names): An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump have packed up their drums and unplugged their basses for the last time. This is what the Birds had to say:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">C-Bird and X-Bird:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">After two years, we have decided to call it a day with The Birds. We've experienced some great moments with this band but feel the time is right to concentrate on other passions. We want to thank everyone who has supported us these past two years and those of you who have taken the time to listen to our music, read our blog and meet us at our shows! We've met some great people along the way and have some fantastic memories! It's time to move forward positively into the future and launch ourselves head first into whatever is in store for us. The past two years have been an exhilarating whirlwind and we will continue to live our lives without regret and full of creative thought and positivity!!! A big thank you to all of your support!!! </span><br /> <br /><span style="font-style: italic;">D-Bird:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">After almost 2 years together, we lay to rest one of the most exciting, exhilarating and exhausting projects I have ever been involved in. It all started off from an impromptu jam, an impromptu band formed and within such a short time, the impromptu band went full time, touring the world, recording with the likes of Steve Albini and meeting people I could only ever dream we'd meet.</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rather than dwelling on the reasons for ending I think it's important to look back and reflect on a proud achievement. We had FUN, I adored instrument swapping and more than anything, I loved being on stage. The time has now come to move on and focus on my new band Blue On Blue as well as my club Decasia Club, to thank those we've met along the way, enjoy new projects and take all that we have learned into a new direction. It has been one hell of a ride!! Thank you all for the support!</span><br /></div>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-35788793417586230662010-01-12T14:33:00.002+00:002010-01-12T14:37:42.443+00:00This Thursday: AN EVENT.Londoners, listen: this Thursday (14th January 2010) Shoreditch's Old Blue Last reopens, refurbished & renewed. They're having a free party to christen the new decorations, and O Children are playing - good. There's also a secret headliner, three words (_h_s_ N_w _uri_an_), absolutely brilliant new album out next Monday - better. It would be a shame to miss out. Free alcohol for firstcomers, so get down early.james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-73891689856946236172009-12-31T18:49:00.007+00:002009-12-31T20:30:49.776+00:00Top releases, 2009:The countdown begins, the Two-Thousand-And decade is almost finished: here's the best (in our view) of its last year. A happy New Year to all. Thank you for your continued support and interest, and please enjoy your 2010.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span>1. The Big Pink - Velvet<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhxf7IXVkXNP-jQabIcvnTrnIVcnheJdvBA3L3kIGIlSrmadMW0xL8M7L_nfc4pZTSx8k1IeOTTdJMYTEK0cHw-75eyMswchoSggiXXtqjtlsMLFfbyRzOSsRm6XvtKV0V-rOnwjTZCk/s1600-h/o2223143.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhxf7IXVkXNP-jQabIcvnTrnIVcnheJdvBA3L3kIGIlSrmadMW0xL8M7L_nfc4pZTSx8k1IeOTTdJMYTEK0cHw-75eyMswchoSggiXXtqjtlsMLFfbyRzOSsRm6XvtKV0V-rOnwjTZCk/s320/o2223143.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />2. Ulterior - Sister Speed / Aporia<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-sI20FuJ53A5VfQ9ly56gLa9ZY3KeIKZoHnbt_-TW-FdjYB5QZgfqfbuh-JwXVFPYUqSASsoV6X7YAfJFcafq149V9VNANnvMjugFNispiTZWU6HaomW3UW6qo9XWxXzX7uRwMGIsn8/s1600-h/ULTERIOR_ITUNESsmall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-sI20FuJ53A5VfQ9ly56gLa9ZY3KeIKZoHnbt_-TW-FdjYB5QZgfqfbuh-JwXVFPYUqSASsoV6X7YAfJFcafq149V9VNANnvMjugFNispiTZWU6HaomW3UW6qo9XWxXzX7uRwMGIsn8/s200/ULTERIOR_ITUNESsmall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421497495259419202" border="0" /></a><br />3. Hatcham Social - Crocodile<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VMPtScoV03NV63FART5FiNv_Ghz001QBKSMUuAdSf65RpDuGchhx8ATP-aQJOam6S3HrZHoAtAGqKof50vbyhU_Y7yms4Z5sSwshT-jRfo-oe9luiL17BKLsjleuGlYEOelEgeXe0Do/s1600-h/crocodile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VMPtScoV03NV63FART5FiNv_Ghz001QBKSMUuAdSf65RpDuGchhx8ATP-aQJOam6S3HrZHoAtAGqKof50vbyhU_Y7yms4Z5sSwshT-jRfo-oe9luiL17BKLsjleuGlYEOelEgeXe0Do/s200/crocodile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421498085506774882" border="0" /></a><br />4. Fever Ray - Fever Ray<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0Bh4wQgR4vmMvWZtnDvIi5M6Ia0xAjrgCPM5DKe5f4OWVnf9UwvLDgQJmZwF7PthYBfA7KyIJSveMgw_e6iQCiDXJNrpZBwTaawgSloPw3Ph97L8GsKpoQmk66olBpQULXKArf3uugQ/s1600-h/fever-ray-cover_medium.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0Bh4wQgR4vmMvWZtnDvIi5M6Ia0xAjrgCPM5DKe5f4OWVnf9UwvLDgQJmZwF7PthYBfA7KyIJSveMgw_e6iQCiDXJNrpZBwTaawgSloPw3Ph97L8GsKpoQmk66olBpQULXKArf3uugQ/s200/fever-ray-cover_medium.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421498402641501138" border="0" /></a><br />5. Hatcham Social - You Dig The Tunnel, I'll Hide The Soil<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkZP6wemff4behbp6LW-eXxX28V8NThFOD-KLD0iTVtHBomWOWmqTKSsDQrN34DsggAnyho4afB0B3z9dkbITt8WjMBkEJmCQJ2UI6mvxNqrwurX4HcNZSEc2g1kbKIkjdl0w93Xi-r0/s1600-h/51m78Pl-fxL.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkZP6wemff4behbp6LW-eXxX28V8NThFOD-KLD0iTVtHBomWOWmqTKSsDQrN34DsggAnyho4afB0B3z9dkbITt8WjMBkEJmCQJ2UI6mvxNqrwurX4HcNZSEc2g1kbKIkjdl0w93Xi-r0/s200/51m78Pl-fxL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421498635198842786" border="0" /></a><br />6. An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump - Buy a Life<br />7. A Place to Bury Strangers - Exploding Head<br />8. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart<br />9. The xx - xx<br />10. Lydia Lunch / Suicide - Frankie Teardrop<br />11. The Horrors - Primary Colours<br />10. HTRK - Marry Me Tonight<br />13. R O M A N C E - Another Place / The Art of Losing<br />14. The Spectrometers - Make Your Own Instrumented Glove<br />15. Disconcerts - A. Medic<br />16. Spider & the Flies - Something Clockwork This Way Comes<br />17. The Big Pink - A Brief History of Love<br />18. KASMs - Spayed<br />19. Electricity In Our Homes - Gymnastics / Motorbike<br />20. Neils Children - X.Enc.<br /></div>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-67717522322317179752009-12-30T12:15:00.003+00:002009-12-30T12:22:47.961+00:00Tonight we recommend. . .Shoreditch's Old Blue Last plays host tonight to what promises to be a riotous punk show. Brighton's Bad for Lazarus (led by ex-Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster guitarist Rich Fownes) will be flailing around and making a brilliant racket, preceded by two of London's brightest hopes: blues-punk terrorists Stavin' Chains, and the dark, driving clank of The Murder Act. It's free. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=251197643237&index=1">Go</a>.james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-33855338207029789012009-12-10T13:51:00.005+00:002009-12-10T14:19:02.328+00:00an experiment on a bird in the air pump : BUY A LIFE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkrVyIjuLKWrUu3bV71RmLmPpzygvHewgOlOUaQjoZ0ytITySIlH2y_i7E9B_wI6M_BiODhw-JMvKCWsfKWglm_g3LpoGr034PaAnQUqjS7OlAQCvZhfhIYoyMi-SQDbs78rKMlT9zY8/s1600-h/birdsep.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkrVyIjuLKWrUu3bV71RmLmPpzygvHewgOlOUaQjoZ0ytITySIlH2y_i7E9B_wI6M_BiODhw-JMvKCWsfKWglm_g3LpoGr034PaAnQUqjS7OlAQCvZhfhIYoyMi-SQDbs78rKMlT9zY8/s320/birdsep.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413611019338707602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">AN EXPERIMENT ON A BIRD IN THE AIR PUMP<br />BUY A LIFE<br />(BUY A LIFE RECORDS)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">You would never guess that this self-released three-track EP was produced by The Charlatans' Tim Burgess: he, by all accounts, is a fairly laid-back kind of guy, and this 7" buzzes with pure, venomous aggression from beginning to end. I can only conclude that the Birds themselves have got a lot of rage stored up, and that they've fortunately (for us) chosen the recording studio as the best place to get it out of their systems - you can hear it in the drumming alone, really. Each of the three sings on one track, the vocal highlight being some fantastic distorted soul shrieking from C-Bird's on 'Only in Death'; X-Bird smoulders in the dark on 'The Silent Hour', and D-Bird's more untrained voice lends opening track 'Smear' a vulnerable edge - not that she sounds any less <span style="font-style: italic;">angry</span>, what with the snarling fuzz of two basses and a minimal tribal beat backing her up. It's certainly a step up from last year's 'These Sins', distilling bits of Hole, The Stooges, and Sonic Youth into a visceral seven-minute punch. Recommended.</div>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-10787402907298874062009-11-03T11:09:00.002+00:002009-11-03T11:17:09.094+00:00Return of T N P SAlmost two years after they crashed their debut album <span style="font-style: italic;">Beat Pyramid</span> into our ears and disappeared into the studio to play with brass instruments and prepared pianos, mystical sound engineers These New Puritans return on 18th January with their follow-up, entitled <span style="font-style: italic;">Hidden</span>. The week before will see the release of the seven-minute single 'We Want War' on 10" vinyl; the 25th January is the date of TNPS's first London show in over a year, at Bush Hall. We're glad to see the return of the one of the most intriguing bands to hit the country in the last few years, and curious to hear the album, even based solely on the tracklisting:<br /><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal;">'Time Xone'<br />'We Want War'<br />'Three Thousand'<br />'Hologram'<br />'Attack Music'<br />'Fire–Power'<br />'Orion'<br />'Canticle'<br />'Drum Courts–Where Corals Lie'<br />'White Chords'<br />'5'</strong><br /><br />More when it happens.james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-83737262118834205382009-11-02T09:53:00.003+00:002009-11-02T10:00:37.285+00:00New Hatcham Social EPFrom today, those in London have the chance to be one of only 100 people to own the new Hatcham Social EP, 'Sidewalk'. Each of the limited 10" vinyl copies has different hand-drawn artwork by a fan, a member of the band, or an associate (including members of Electricity In Our Homes and The Horrors); as well as the brooding, shoegazing title track, the EP also features a remix of 'Hypnotised Terrible Eyes', the terrific 'Wild Creatures', the band's lo-fi version of The Beach Boys' 'Surfin' Safari', and a demo of a song called 'King Kong'. (The downloadable version also features a remix of 'Sidewalk' by Tom Furse of The Horrors.) This will sell out quickly; move along to Rough Trade to grab one.james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-13840614486018104242009-10-23T19:55:00.003+01:002009-10-23T20:23:48.517+01:00demontré : BRANDENBURG<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/I_Love_The_Clash/ALTsleevebetter-2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 199px;" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a75/I_Love_The_Clash/ALTsleevebetter-2.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">DEMONTRÉ<br />BRANDENBURG<br />(LONDON IS DEAD)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>An interesting one, this:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>we touch down in Brandenburg<span> to the sound of a guitar swooning in middle-distance, and are greeted by a feyly sung/spoken verse before being smacked un</span>expectedly across the face by its big brother, a spiky post-punk chorus. It's an interesting contrast, which works in an Interpolesque kind of way. The rhythm section is politely inobtrusive, mostly propping up the guitar - which is fine, because the guitar makes some really wonderful shoegazing noises, but frustratingly there really isn't anything (either on 'Brandenburg' or its b-side 'Act.III Scene.V') that sticks in your ear when the music's over. It's difficult not to appreciate the merits of this track, but it's more difficult still to remember anything about it ten minutes later, which is a shame because this is clearly a group with potential and an excellent ear for sound. Now they just need to write a song that'll hold it all together.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">'Brandenburg' b/w 'Act.III Scene.V (Days of Yore)' is released on 26th October as a digital download and as a limited edition 7" on 9th November. Watch the promo video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMeBi72_qu0">here</a>.</span><br /></div>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-89714656974034496712009-10-05T21:23:00.002+01:002009-10-05T21:28:41.641+01:00Project:KOMAKINO album: European releaseProject:KOMAKINO's debut album, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Struggle for Utopia</span>, will finally be available in the UK by the end of the month. The exciting new French label Desire Records is bringing the record to French shops on 26th October, and Rough Trade are set to import it into the UK: preorder a copy from their website <a href="http://www.roughtrade.com/site/shop_detail.lasso?search_type=sku&sku=318450">here</a>. The release will also include remixes by The Horrors' Tom Furse, Micron 63, Russian post-punk group Motorama, and Ciaran O'Shea of DiscError Recordings.james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6818810481443723824.post-78639632911550784932009-09-24T14:33:00.004+01:002009-09-25T14:47:54.261+01:00disconcerts : A. MEDIC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.parlour-records.com/PLR07lrg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.parlour-records.com/PLR07lrg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">DISCONCERTS<br />A. MEDIC<br />(PARLOUR RECORDS)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span>February's</span><span> debut single from Chichester's finest (only?) frenetic post-punk trio</span> was a masterly amalgamation of everything that was best about 80s DIY punk, scratching brilliantly and pulsating like a long-lost Fire Engines single. The <span style="font-style: italic;">A. Medic</span> EP doesn't do anything new, but it does everything several notches bigger and better. 'Cotton' and 'Tongues' are tightly-structured pop clatterers, with as much in common with Gang of Four or A Certain Ratio as with The Desperate Bicycles; the rhythm section of Rick Trust and Alan Pilkington worms its way into the subconscious while the brain focusses on Hugo Hamper-Potts' slashing guitar, and lodges there for good. There's something about Hamper-Potts' yelps which recalls the (very brief) time when The Young Knives wrote exciting and brilliant pop songs, but don't let the comparison put you off - it sounds like Disconcerts are in no danger of running out of ideas any time soon. A perfect balance of DIY and disco; wherever Disconcerts head next, we hope they keep the best of both worlds as well as here.<br /><br />A. Medic <span style="font-style: italic;">is released on 5th October on limited 12" vinyl, and is available for preorder from the <a href="http://www.parlour-records.com/PLR07.html">Parlour Records website</a>.</span><br /></div>james.M;;http://www.blogger.com/profile/13141880142250259247noreply@blogger.com1