Ask me tomorrow what my favourites are and ill have changed my mind or remembered a classic that somehow escaped my thoughts. Loving a piece of music depends so much on where you hear it, whats happening in your life or who you’re with. There are tracks that only feature because they seem to work particularly well when played repeatedly at volume while pummelling up the M6 late at night.
Its a personal selection at pray to my whims, if Im in love ill overload the chart with slush, break my heart and ive a terrible weakness for Country and Western. Quite what putting an experimental Norwegian Jazz collective at No.1 says on that front is probably best glossed over.

Hopefully somewhere among this ridiculously long list there might be one artist you’d never heard before but will go on to love in 2011. Regardless of their order everyone of these 200 pieces of music has something very special about it.

Visit the Music Like Dirt page on Facebook to tell me just how wrong my selections are or what tunes Ive criminally overlooked? Theres also Twitter or the comments section of this page.

Theres a ZIP featuring some of the music featured here or listen to all the tracks on the Hype Machine. (I tried Spotify but it only had about 45 of the tracks).

1. JAGA JAZZIST – “Toccata”

Jaga Jazzist – Twitter / Facebook / Website

Watch: Jaga Jazzist perform a dogma version of “Toccata” in Tønsberg’s grand church, Tønsberg Domkirke (below)

2.THE INDELICATES
“Savages”

“But we are ash, we are books
Coffee stained and overlooked”

The Indelicates – Twitter / Facebook / Website / Shop

3. BILAL
“All Matter”

“So what is love? (What is it)”

Bilal – Twitter / Facebook / Soundcloud / Website /
Listen to the original version – Robert Glasper (feat. Bilal) “All Matter”

4. GHOSTPOET
“To Something (feat. Rox)”

““try, try again, maybe we can start it over, like a record at the end””
The buzz around Obaro Ejimiwe aka Ghostpoet built slowly but inevitably in 2010. His soft, sleepy, dulcet tones first came to my attention via blogging stalwarts Cubikmusik & Jus’Likemusic, then in February at The Worldwide Awards his performance was so packed, security had to enact a strict policy of one in, one out (unfortunately I never got beyond out).
Gilles Peterson was just one of the people spellbound by Ghost’s everyday tales, sonorous delivery and mix of wonky beats, hiphop & electronica, snapping him up for his Brownswood imprint.
“To Something”, his unofficial mix of Fourtet’s “She Just Likes To Fight” featuring another up-and-comer Rox is a new high watermark. Absolutely beautiful. Count the days to his debut album.

GhostPoet – Twitter / Facebook / Blog / Soundcloud
Listen: The Sound Of Strangers FREE EP
Watch: “Cash & Carry Me Home” (Video) – The first big Ghostpoet single!
Read: Ghostpoet tells Cubikmusik about the acts that have most influenced him.

5. SAGE FRANCIS
“Best of Times”

“go on and listen when they tell that these are your best years, don’t let anyone protect your ears, it’s best that you hear what they don’t want you to hear, it’s better to have pressure from peers then not have peers.”

Sage Francis – Twitter / Facebook
Watch: “Best Of Times” (YouTube)

6. CIARA
“Ride (feat Ludacris)”

“I can do it up and down, I can do circles
To him I’m a gymnist, This one is my circus”

Ciara – Twitter / Facebook
Watch: “Ride (feat. Ludacris)”

7. AFROJACK
“Pacha On Acid (Original Mix)”

Afrojack – Twitter / Facebook

8. ADELE
“Rolling In The Deep”

“The scars of your love, remind me of us.
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all”

Adele – Twitter / Facebook
Watch: “Daydreamer” Live on Jools Holland
“Rolling in the deep” – Slightly odd video featuring a room filled with cups of water, a dancer flicking talcumn powder and Adele unable to get out of a chair.

9. KING CHARLES
“Love Lust”

“Oh, lust only grows like anger and revenge or beauty comes and goes but love stays until the end”

King Charles – Twitter / Facebook / Blog
Watch: Love Lust (Video) / Cover of Billy Joel “We Didnt Start The Fire”

10. JOSE JAMES
“Love conversation”

“Youuuuuuuu… are so very precious to me”

Jose James – Soundcloud / Facebook / Website

11. PETER BRODERICK
“Human Eyeballs On Toast”

“Feathers and a cage too small
Chemicals that make us tall”

Peter Broderick – Facebook / Website / Flickr
Watch: “Human Eyeballs On Toast” Video of Studio Recording

12. OWEN PALLETT
“Lewis Takes Off His Shirt”

“What I have is what you need
And I’m never gonna give it to you”

Owen’s trademark looped violin and vocals given extra oomph by the Czech Symphonic Orchestra.

Owen Pallett – Twitter / Website / Soundcloud
Download: FREE Export EP
Watch: “Lewis Takes Off His Shirt” – Suitably bizarre video

13. ROBYN
“Dancing On My Own”

“Somebody said you got a new friend
Does she love you better than I can?”

Robyn – Twitter / Facebook / Soundcloud
Watch: “Dancing On My Own”

14. DAN LE SAC Vs SCROOBIUS PIP
“Great Britain (Akira the Don vs. Joey2Tits Remix)”

“And we’re so so bitter, we never got over when Marathon got renamed Snickers”

In a flagrant abuse of the one song per artist rule I’m opting for three Akira The Don related tracks at No.14.

Back in May Akira’s website went up in smoke after his ATD 23 Streetfighter tribute mixtape was declared “The Best Gaming Mixtape You’ll Ever Hear” by the ludicrously popular gaming site Kotaku.com. In the name of adding to the buzz, my dulcet tones could be heard on Hype Machine Radio enthusing about standout track “Be Brave”. Shortly afterwards an unholy alliance of MLD and ATD’s twitter followers propelled the tune to the top of the Hype Machine chart.

14. AKIRA THE DON – “Be Brave”

“All I need a beat and sample
I hit it and it goes pop… example”

No best of the year would be complete without an entry from Polarbear, this year its as a guest on Akira’s all done in a day LP. Listen to more here, and he’ll also be guesting on “Concrete Pigeon” from Sound Of Rums new album.

Finally a quick mention for PolarBear’s AfroBear side project, this month a few new demos popped up on Polars Soundcloud page.

Akira The Don – The No.1 artist site in the world / Twitter
Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip – Facebook / Twitter (Dan / Scroobius)

15. GIDEON CONN – “Wildfire”
“Money fucks money and money is sexy”

Gideon Conn – Facebook / Twitter / Website

16. ROOTS MANUVA AND WRONGTOM
“Butterfly Crab Walk (feat. Riddla)”

“If you’re drinkin’ Tennants, you need to sober up”

Roots Manuva – Twitter / Facebook / BananaKlan
WrongTom – Twitter / Website / Soundcloud

Watch: Music Like Dirt talks to Wrong Tom about the album and heads to the launch party

Read: Tony McDermott talks about his classic Greensleeves sleeve designs – Must read
WrongTom selects 10 all time favourite tracks for CMU Weekly

17. BIG BOI
“Shutterbug (Feat. Cutty)”

“Now party people in the club it’s time to cut a rug
And throw the deuce up in the sky just for the shutterbuggs”

Big Boi – Twitter / Facebook / Website
Watch: “Shutterbug”s excellent video

18. JAMES MATHE
“The Load (“Get a wind thing for the mic” live on a rooftop version)”

“I will not ever take this for granted, I am forever in your hands”

James Mathe – Twitter / Facebook / Soundcloud
James Mathe – “Pallyacho (Home Demo)” (MP3)

19. GOLD PANDA
“You”

“You, You, You, You, You, You, You, You, You (repeat)”

Gold Panda – Twitter / Facebook / Soundcloud

20. JASJOT SINGH GHUMAN
“Vaisakhi Mela”

Jasjot Singh Ghuman – Facebook

21. YELAWOLF
“Speak Her Sex (Feat. Nikkiya)”

“Every night my little box, these speakers sexin me”

YelaWolf – Facebook / Twitter / Website

22. SUN KIL MOON
“Natural Light”

“I found a picture from before the fight, we’re in natural light
And youre sitting on my lap like everythings alright”

Sun Kil Moon – Website

23. CARAVAN CROOKZ
“Scooter Singh (feat Ash King)”

“ Definitely Southall sovereign status, more than Shadow from Gladiators”

Caravan Crookz – Twitter / Facebook / Scooter Singh Appreciation club / Website
Download: Free track “Jason DONovan” from their website

24. MARK RONSON
“Somebody To Love Me (feat. Boy George) (Holy Ghost remix)”

“In a couple of weeks you can tell all the freaks how you carried my body home”

Mark Ronson – Twitter / Facebook
Watch: “Somebody to Love Me (Video)”

25. BLEEDING HEART NARRATIVE
“Perun”

“You look so lovely as you stand there”

Bleeding Heart Narrative – Twitter / Facebook / Soundcloud / Blog
Watch: “Perun” (Video)

26. PAUL WELLER
“No Tears To Cry (Leo Zero Remix)”

“If you don’t want to see me fall
Turn your face to the wall”

Every generation has a Weller song to call its own whether its by The Jam, Style Council or the Modfather’s “Wildwood” era. The glorious 8 minute Northern Soul swirl of Leo Zero’s “No Tears To Cry” remix may just be the track that bewitches a fresh generation.
Leo Zero’s Dub Psychedelic Series previously sprinkled magic onto 70′s Bowie, and his Weller mix is a subtle triumph. On Soundcloud Leo was modest about his input “I can’t take credit for any of the parts! – I just did a beef-up and added some drums… the original is actually constructed with a lot of separate samples, I was very surprised when I cracked it open – it sounds so live, I thought it was all original“.

He was also understandably excited to be offered the chance to work on Weller’s material:

“A remix for Paul Weller that was a real honour ( and a lot of fun) to do. I think of this sound as what was going on at Blackpool’s Mecca Ballroom on the Northern Soul scene – slightly disco-fied…. but this track also reminds me of Neil Diamond and Glen Campbell – it’s a truly great song, and I was literally jumping round the studio with excitement when I first heard it! It was one thing to land a Paul Weller mix after being a fan for so long, but then to find out it was for such a belter of a song was mindblowing”.

Leo’s work is always unbelievably good, for further proof download his remix of Lissie here, and Patrick Wolf’s new one (below)

27. JAMES BLAKE
“Limit To Your Love”

“So carelessly there, is it truth or dare
There’s a limit to your care”

James Blake – Twitter / Facebook
Watch: “Limit To Your Love” (Video) / Feist’s original version of “Limit To Your Love”

28. ALOE BLACC
“I Need A Dollar”

“Please mister boss man, I need this job more than you know
But he gave me my last paycheck and he sent me on out the door”

Aloe Blacc – Twitter / Facebook / StonesThrow Records (loads of videos & downloads)
Watch: “I Need A Dollar” (Video)

29. BLAKULA
“Permanent Midnight”

“Blakula” an imaginary soundtrack to the tale of a black vampire born in Haiti, hibernated in Transylvania and defrosted in New York City in 1977. Its nothing to do with the 1972 Blacula (with a c) film which had its own collectable blaxsploitation soundtrack.
Theres an amusing backstory of Blakula’s adventures on the New York scene, writing poems with Burroughs, jamming with Miles and the Velvet Underground, shaking a canister for Basquiat and his tail feather with Warhol.

The album takes in rock, prog, disco, jazz but melds it all into one glorious voodoo funk soup that the Italian duo Simon Maccari and Andrea Bellentani aka The Diaphanoids should be justly proud.

Blakula – Myspace / Buy
Listen to Sergio Rizzolo’s unofficial extended disco edit of another album highlight “Miss Morgue”

30. BENIN CITY – “The Beat (Live @ E4 Underbelly)”

A live favourite, and the perfect blend of old style Hip-Hop with a little Go-Go – its like Shady Grove are back on stage. The Beat sounds very very nice.

Benin City – Twitter / Facebook

31. RUN TOTO RUN
“This Is A Lull”

A slice of pure pop dance so blissful that Kylie herself would crawl over hot coals to get her mitts on it. “This Is A Lull” would fit daytime Radio 1 perfectly, but equally it’s pulsing synths and 80′s snare hits make it more than cool enough for the trendier dancefloor.
It works even better when twinned with one of Run Toto Runs inventive videos – this time its all trippy motion effects (watch below). To show how they created it, the director Christopher Poole has released footage of the band performing to a super slowed down version of the tune, which when sped creates the otherworldly effect. Watch Rachel singing deliberately sloooowwwlllyyyy here.

Run Toto Run – Facebook / Twitter / Soundcloud

32. MAGNETIC MAN
“Getting Nowhere (feat. John Legend)”

“I keep using my energy
Pushing and shoving my way to please”

Magnetic Man – Facebook / Website / Twitter (Scream / Benga / Artwork)
Watch: “Getting Nowhere” (Lord Of The Rings meets KIDulthood – odd video)

33. ARP & ANTHONY MOORE
“Spinette”

.

Arp – Arpsounds / Myspace

34. HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE
“Spottie”

The musical equivalent of sunshine, The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble returned with a devastatingly brilliant free download of the Outkast covering “Spottie” from their new EP. They’re safe in the knowledge that anyone who listens will be compelled to buy the full EP (if not their entire back catalogue). See them live if you have a chance.

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Twitter / Website
Watch: Heritage EP Video

35. SLEIGH BELLS
“Tell ‘Em”

Sleigh Bells – Twitter / Facebook
Watch: Excellent fan made “Tell ‘Em” (Video)

36. MONDKOPF
“Valse Dans L’Ombre”

An ipod inspired musical version of attention deficit disorder killed my album listening habits – Twitter, Facebook, MP3′s by the thousand, iplayer, youtube… Its hard enough to hold my attention for one song, let alone a whole LP!

Mondkopf’s “Galaxy Of Nowhere“ was one of a handful of exceptions in 2010. An album I can listen to from track 1 to 12 without my finger even hovering over “next” – ridiculous though that problem is.

Perhaps the 23 year old Parisian just ticks all the right boxes for me? Eno influences, crunching beats, large synths but most of all wonderfully BIG orchestration! Lovely.

Mondkopf – Twitter / Facebook / Lastfm / Music blog
As a bonus grab Mondkopf’s remix of one of my favourite tracks of 09 by Wolf Parade. Its huge and free from those people at RCDLB who get their mitts on all the best tunes, damn them.

37. LION D
“Nah Like Da Way Deh”

“To make it look like a global conspiracy, to hold the people down and keep them in poverty”

London born but now living in Italy (from where his mum hails) Lion D’s “Nah Like Da Way Deh” is a bitter pill of social commentary wrapped up in the sweetest summer reggae coating. Wind down the car windows and sing along to the likes of “To make it look like a global conspiracy, to hold the people down and keep them in poverty“.

Its also two tunes for the price of one as 2 and a half minutes in the vocals disappear and it heads off on a glorious 4 minute sax led instrumental excursion! If you like this be sure to check out his debut long player “Burning Melody“.

Lion D – Twitter / Facebook / Buy

38. EDWYN COLLINS
“Losing Sleep (Instrumental)” (MP3)

Edwyn Collins – Twitter / Facebook / Website
Watch: “Losing Sleep” (Video)

39. DENIS JONES
“Clap Hands”

“The goose drank wine, The monkey chew tobacco on the streetcar line
The line broke, the monkey got choked. And they all went to heaven in a little rowing boat”

Clap Hands (Video) pilfers its lyrics from the 1965 Shirley Ellis hit “Clapping Song” (which itself borrowed from an old nursery rhyme). Musically its a world away from Shirley (Youtube) with a huge squelching synth throb, Jones’ vocal clicks and a generally ominous tone. Not a skipping rope in sight but fantastic nevertheless.

Denis Jones – Facebook / Website / Buy
Watch: “Clap Hands” (Video)

40. NOCANDO
“Hurry Up and Wait”

“I’m flawed just like all of us, and I never pray but keep yelling that god is ominous”

Nocando – Twitter / Facebook /
Download: El-P Remix feat. Nocando
Watch: “2 Track Mind (feat. BusDriver)” (Video) / “Wow” – Who doesnt love hip-hop love songs?

41. STRAYFOLK
“What wouldn’t I do” (MP3)

“What wouldnt I do for a woman like you?”

Strayfolk is an americana constellation found on the south-west and western seafront of Sweden.

Strayfolk – Website
FREE download of “What Wouldnt I do” + interview at Bad Panda
Listen: More from members of Strayfolk on the Swedish Music blog

42. PRETTY LIGHTS
“Forever Lost”

Pretty Lights – Twitter / Facebook
Download: Grab the brilliant “Spilling Over Every Side” & “Glowing in The Darkest Night” EP’s for FREE on the Pretty Lights site.

43. GYPTIAN
“Hold You (feat. Foxy Brown)”

“Gyal me wann fi hold yuh, put me arms right around yuh
Gyal you give me the tightest hold me eva get inna my life”

Gyptian – Twitter / Facebook
Watch: “Hold You” (Video)

44. ACTRESS
“Maze”

Actress – Twitter
Actress (Darren Cunningham) picks his favourite records of 2010

45. GALAPAGHOST
“Never Heard Nothin’”

“Im deep inside of you, but you feel nothing”

Galapaghost – Soundcloud / Facebook
Download: “Runnin’” EP for Free.

46. BATHS
“Hall”

Baths – Twitter / Facebook / Website /
Watch: “Lovely Bloodflow” (Video) / A fan with lights on his fingers

47. THE FALL
“Bury Pts. 1 + 3″

“I’m from Bury, as in Bourrée
A French composition, On a fluted instrument”

The Fall – Fall Online / Mark E Smith interview
Watch: “Bury Pts 2+4″ (Video)

48. MR. SCRUFF vs KIRSTY ALMEIDA
“Pickled Spider”

Mr Scruff – Twitter / Facebook / Website / Soundcloud
Watch: “Pickled Spider” (Video)

49. GEORGE LENTON vs AL GREEN

“Simply Beautiful”

George Lenton – Tons more music on Soundcloud

50. GONJASUFI
“She’s Gone (Oneohtrix Point Never Remix)”

Gonjasufi – Twitter / Facebook / Tumblr / Website

Read 51-100 in the top 200 here

Now three years on Universal appear to be gearing up to make the most of the treasures at their disposal with some pretty impressive compilations emerging and loads more scheduled for imminent release.

To mark this new burst of activity, I had a natter with Trojan’s Laurence Cane-Honeysett, who’s been at the label for two decades now. For much of this time he’s had what many would consider a dream job, rooting through the vaults, unpicking the scrambled or unlabelled 1/4 inch masters in search of undiscovered gems ripe for reissue.

Listen to the interview below – including classic Trojan sounds – to hear Laurence reminisce about trips to the Trojan archive in Walthamstow, reveal plans for future unreleased material, and talk through the Ska, Mod, Dub and Label overview compilations that have just hit the shelves.

Trojan Records – Laurence Cane-Honeysett interview by musiclikedirt

MLD: Whats your role in the now Universal owned Trojan Records?

I’ve worked for Trojan records as the Jamaican music consultant since 1990. I ve worked in various capacities, I started off started off listening to the tapes and then compiling and writing sleeve notes. In later years I went on to oversee the releases, and now I work in an advisory capacity for Universal in terms of what they have in their reggae catalogue.

MLD: Whats the idea behind the 4 compilations that have just been released?

We used to do a series pre Universal of 3 CD boxsets, and these new comps are very much in the tradition of those. By and large genre based, introductions to various genres and scenes, that follow that model except 2 cd’s set and 40 tracks, but we didn’t want people who’d bought the boxsets to think wait a minute I’ve got these tracks on the boxsets.
What we’ve tried to do with these is include as much rare and unreleased material as possible.

The only thing is we are limited in terms of what’s available, we are negotiating to get the rights for more repertoire. People often think well it came out on Trojan in 1970 they can release it now, but obviously agreements expire. So we are limited, and someone might say well whys there no Studio 1.

MLD: So when you say unreleased, what do you mean? Unreleased on CD, on vinyl, or never ever heard before?

The four compilations Ska, Mod, Trojan, and Dub. None of the stuff on the Dub collection has appeared on a Trojan collection before. Other companies may have released tracks or Trojan may have issues it years and years ago.

The other collections we are trying to get stuff that has never been out before, its a first. Never out in Jamaica or the Uk, focussing either never been on CD before or never been in UK before. But by and large, good stuff, the best stuff has been out in some form, but we’re focussing on what’s never been out in UK, because obviously Jamaica produced more music than ever made it to the UK.

TROJAN RECORDS – Website / Facebook

Buy: Trojan Amazon store

4 new compilations (40 tracks on each for a fiver) Dub, Mod, Ska & “The Heavy Heavy Monster Sound: The Trojan Story”.

MLD: What particularly stands out for you? Is it the tracks issued for the first time like Rupie Edward’s “Let Me Love You”?

Its a little subjective, for example I’ve had Rupie Edwards “Let Me Love You” all my adult life, I bought the record god knows when, but that’s never been issued in the UK and only ever limited issue in Jamaica. Its a cover of an old pop song by the Playmates although its light years away from that in terms of style. Its a personal favourite, its studio 1 with Sound Dimension on backing.

The Mod one what I did like is that there are some old Island Chris Blackwell. A lot of Chris’s early Ska productions especially UK ones have been overlooked, no ones known what to do with them. So this was a perfect vehicle to show them off, and demonstrate that he was a decent producer and some of the music that came out on Island in the early 60′s and was big on the MOD scene.

MLD: Universal own Island so I imagine the plan is to tie in and plunder both archives as one?

We’ve Island, we’ve got Creole, Ras, Trojan, its an incredible collection so lets really start making the most of it which up until now perhaps that hasn’t happened. The opportunities to do “ultimate” compilations is there and that’s what we’re aiming for.

MLD: Is it a challenge servicing the “Now That’s what I call Reggae” market while not forgetting the collectors or hardcore fans?

You cant abandon the hardcore market, and you have to service it? Its two distinct markets and there’s room for them both.

Universal just did a compilation a hundred reggae hits for Tesco which was a really big seller, but obviously that sort of market is vastly different to the type of stuff that I get most joy out of which is stuff that’s never been out.

Listen: Click here to listen to Jonathan Charles’ fascinating BBC Radio 4 documentary on Sister Nancy “The Nun Nurtured That Reggae“.

MLD: Tell me about the experience of getting the keys to the archive for the first time?

That’s how it all started 20 years ago. That was my first job, the 9-5 job was working in Trojan’s archive out in Walthamstow. I’d get off at Blackhorse Road tube station and it’d be a 30 minute walk from there.

MLD: My home station! On U Sound also had their studio near Blackhorse Road.

Blimey! A hot bed of reggae! That’s where the warehouse was, all the tapes, all the stock.

I got the job because I was working for Record Collector writing review and articles, and then Steve Barrow who went on to run Blood & Fire, he left, and then I worked freelance for a while as a compiler and sleeve note writer. And then I said I want to be doing more and they said well we’ve got all these tapes that aren’t logged, come in and let us know what we’ve got on the masters! So Id be in a little studio down the back day in day out just listening to tapes, identifying them, putting them on the system, writing on the tape boxes, what was actually the contents.

It was fantastic, you can imagine it was just an education in itself because back then pre the internet there were very few places you could go for solid information on Jamaican music. It was a gold mine!!

MLD: I’m told the labelling on the tape boxes could have been better?

The funny thing was I always used to wonder why Jamaican music the singles that were pressed over here were so often so badly wrong, until I got to see the tape boxes, because all the tape boxes… it was rubbish what was written on them. It was confusing, or nothing there, or people would make stuff up… that sounds like Jimmy Cliff lets put it out as a Jimmy Cliff thing.

Now of course we find the same situation with the Island tapes which I’m hoping to get to grips with. They have got a database there but the people who originally logged it didn’t know what they were doing. They wouldn’t know if the song title was the song title or the artist. For example we did a Millie compilation recently, the most basic track My Boy Lollipop you’ll get all number of spellings of the track, and of Millie. At the time it was throwaway music it wasn’t really considered high brow or anything it was just lets get this out its a pop record from Jamaica.

MLD: Where are we now in terms of the tape archive, are you back getting access?

Its something that I’m really just giving my attention to. The Trojan is fine, but Island, the later stuff not just Marley, lots of artists, you name it they signed it. So even late 70′s stuff you;d think by then they’d have sorted things out, but its all over the place. Its just a logistical problem for me to get in there, even to see the tapes is a help because sometimes you can see things that perhaps someone who’s not knowledgeable about the music wouldn’t.

MLD: So these are where… there’s a vast store somewhere, they’ve not been digitised..?

No they’ve not been digitized, some are, and the company is moving towards that. Its easier said than done with a vast company. there are people logging and digitizing in some territories but not others. Trying to coordinate that effort takes a lot of effort and money. It is something that we know we need to do, especially as far as digitization goes. While the hardcore might not be that interested in downloading, that’s the way things are going.

Listen: Sandra Robinson – “Sensi For Sale (Part 1)” (MP3)

The Ethiopians – “Everything Crash” (MP3)

MLD: People I’ve talked to about Trojan or who are interested in Trojan seem to want to know… is there anything actually left in the vault!?

Ohh well there is. The answer to that is simple. Funny enough I get asked that question alot as well, because people think wow you put out so much especially in Sanctuary days when they were putting out 7 releases a month! It must have dried up, but so much music was produced particularly from the golden age of Trojan which was late 60′s through to the mid to late 760′s. The amount of music produced in that time is nothing short of incredible.

Even though we’ve released thousands of records over the last 20 years its just incredible how much for which they’ve got rights, which they could release, which is much more then has been out. Really of what’s they’ve got rights to maybe only a quarter at most, so there’s three quarters of the catalogue that’s not been out on CD or digital.

Download: A 21 track compilation of rare crackly 7″ flip side reggae dub versions. Compiled by a now vanished blog liamskablog: The Dubs & Versions Collection (Rar)

MLD: Is one of the issues tracking down the artists, in terms of publishing? Reggae publishing is perhaps known for some shady deals?

That is a problem, because there’s a lot of how could one put it..less than honest practices, but it was easy to just point fingers at the record companies but in truth it ran so much deeper than that. Producers – naming no names – would go to record companies and sign the repertoire exclusively, and then go to another company and do exactly the same deal. And then of course record companies would say what about the artists, and they’d say we’ll sort the artist out. If the the producer refused the record company to pay the artist directly there was nothing the record company could do about it.

But a stance has been taken that whether or not the producer liked it, we’d have to take the money for the artist and if the producers not paying them we have to. Its the right thing to do and we want to keep artists happy.

On the other hand I remember a long time ago there was an artist approached Trojan to pay his royalties, which they did and the following week I read an article saying he’;d never been paid any royalties.

Having said that there is a problem tracking artists down, and record companies have to actively try to do, so that people are getting paid.

MLD: Have you had a eureka moment? Discovering a special treasure that meant a lot to you?

I’ll be honest with you, there have been so many, especially with the Trojan catalogue. I was just like a kid in a candy shop. You can imagine there was stuff that had never been out, and still hasn’t been out, and I was finding stuff from the golden age that got me into the music in the first place. By artists Id never heard of and wonderful wonderful recordings. The only thing I did find though is we put some of those recordings on a compilation back in the early 90′s I think and it bombed. No one was interested. But I think now things have moved on and perhaps because not much has come out over the last couple of years its stoaked up more interest in the new stuff coming. It was getting a little tired before, the fact that we were putting out so much.

MLD: So you turn up at this warehouse in Walthamstow, open the door and before you are just racks and rack of tapes??

yes, literally that, in boxes. Just boxers full of tapes that haven’t been looked at since the day they were put in. That hadn’t been played since the day they arrived at Trojan, it was just mind-blowing. Actually there are still lots of unidentified things, especially on multitrack. Its just finding the time to play all these things, you’ve got hundreds. The only way is to get a studio go in here and play through them.

MLD: Are these all masters, 1/4 inch or are they mastered from vinyl?

It really varies , that’s another ting that was a surprise. It was interesting that we used to ask well this sounds terrible, and we’d be told sometimes that the master was the 7″ single they were provided with. In Jamaica cutting costs they’d use the tape over and over again, so a lot of those old original masters are long since gone and the ones that haven’t that remained in Jamaica, they rotted or they were eaten by termites. Baring in mind what there should be there is really only a small percentage of original masters existing. So we do have to use Vinyl in a lot of cases but then again they were using vinyl back in 1970. Things like Liquidator which was a big hit for Trojan was sourced off of a Jamaican 7″ single. Some people would say that’s the charm that roughness or rawness, it didn’t necessarily need sweetening with overdubs of strings and the like.

Listen: Carl Malcolm – “No Jestering (Part2 – Dub)” (MP3)

Bob Marley & The Wailers – “Buffalo Dub” (MP3)

MLD: Going back to Universal how does Trojan fit in such a vast company. How does it make itself heard?

I think that was a problem to begin with. Universal has a frontline or contemporary record company and they didn’t really get to grips with marketing older music. Trojan is a rather small fish in a huge pond, and it was a little bit lost initially going from one of Sanctuary’s main bread winners to being a really quite insignificant part of Universal.

Now there is a concerted effort and recognition at Universal that Trojan has great value, historically, commercially, but also in kudos, the brand.

MLD: As far as the reissues go, will you be bringing out not just various artists compilations, but also single artist and album reissues? Also there appears to be very little actual product available on even Amazon?

That’s another issue, there is a change over in the way the back catalogue is structured and im very optimistic for the future in terms of what’s being said and planned now. There’s going to be direct to consumer website, aimed at hardcore fans, and more in the way of single artist compilations and originals. On Spectrum albums will be coming out in the originals series such as Harry J Allstars

MLD: I looked on itunes and there appears to be barely any Trojan material available?

Yes, stuff is going up there but by the same token a lot of stuff has been deleted so its in everyone’s interest that the product is available. It may not be of importance to hardcore fans but its a great showcase, if its out there people like tv, adverts, games, films are more likely to use it. The only way we can make money is if the product is out there.

MLD: Aside from the 5 or 6 compilations that have come out in the last month or so, what else is in the pipeline?

Well we are going to be doing a vinyl range which is going to exclusive unreleased and rare material. We’re doing a Bob Marley & Jimmy Cliff single artists compilations.

MLD: Yes I read about you finding lots of unheard Jimmy Cliff in the archive.

It was fantastic, really I could have done a whole albums worth of unreleased Jimmy Cliff and if Id had more time to look maybe a few albums worth. Its astounding but also there is also the Bob Marley Jad stuff which is coming out which is exciting.
Universal acquired the JAD catalogue, pre Island stuff and from end of August beginning of September, the first fruits of that a 4 CD set of stuff that’s never been presented in that form before. Bob Marley when he was a real Soul Rebel. There are a couple of tracks that have never been on CD before and we’ve been promised a 100 or so previously unissued titles , we don’t know how good whether they are just demos, what they are , but that should be happening next year. So its happening across the whole Universal family, this realisation that reggae has this great value to the company.

There’s also going to be a Trojan boxset hopefully, of CD, Vinyl, Memorabilia, an exciting project with the best of Trojan plus rare stuff in there, all sorts of interesting things in a luxury presentation.

Once the obvious names are out there then we get to artists like The Ethiopians and artists of that ilk who aren’t perhaps as well known to the public but have a very important place in terms of the history of Jamaican music. And have commercial value, I mean Train To Skaville was used in a TV advert last year which brings a lot of money in. Its also important to appeal to the core fan base that love and cherish this stuff. Funny enough I found a couple of unreleased Ethiopians tracks amongst the Creole tapes that potentially could come out.

MLD: Well, thank you very much for your time, Ill let you know when its up on the site. Music Like Dirt is of course pinched from the old Desmond Dekker track, although people often don’t understand what it means.

Yes, the 2nd compilation I ever put together was called Music Like Dirt, but the name can be funny. Its not easy, we’ve just done a Lee Perry Black Ark years compilation, which is provisionally called “Sipple Out There” ie “Trouble Out There”. However a few people have quite rightly said what the hell does that mean!?

MLD: I can imagine. I got emails from Lily Allen fans when I put together a compilation of tracks she sampled on her first album… her music isn’t like Dirt they’d say?

You sometimes have to explain it, and you think well maybe I should call it something else.

MLD: Whats the selling point with the Perry collection?

Its amazing its never been done, but its what came out in Jamaica on his label on 7″ single. There’s never been a compilation saying well this is the stuff he issued himself, after he opened Black Ark which he would obviously consider the best.
If it does well we could do the same with the disco mixes , 12″ single, then you could do UK singles, given that Universal have rights via Trojan and Island to all the stuff that Perry put out in the UK after 74. The cross over between Trojan and Island is perfect.

Listen: Boris Gardiner – “Melting Pot (Coldcut re-rub)” (MP3)”

MLD: Finally are there plans to remix any Trojan material or release previous remixes such as WrongTom’s Bob & Marcia’s “I Dont Care” remix ?

A few things got caught up and not released in the buyout of Trojan by Universal but its definitely an area we want to get back into and release.
Going back to what Trojan have and what there is on the masters, with multitracks its ideal for remixing..24 tracks multi’s.
Justin Robertson did one for the last track on the “Heavy Heavy Monster Sound – The Trojan Story” compilation, his remix of a Pioneers song. That’s the sort of thing we’d like to aim at a younger market and to try and suck people in who then may want to dig further. The message to any remixers is come to us, we’re interested in presenting or updating the music for a contemporary audience.

MLD: That’s sort of what I hoped with the Lily Allen compilation, that perhaps her fans would download it, and then discover all this incredible older music they didn’t know Lily was sampling.

To be honest I got into reggae in a similar way , it wasn’t remixes it was covers,. I was a big R&B fan, and I would listen to the radio to people like Charlie Gillett who’d play sound by say Prince Buster. If they weren’t covers they were heavily influenced at least the early stuff by American R&B. I then went back and dug further via that route so I think the same can be done via music now. Hopefully to introduce vintage reggae music to a whole new generation.

Listen:
BBC Radio 2 Documentary – “Tighten Up – The Trojan Records Story”
Part 1 Part 2

Join the Music Like Dirt Facebook page – Im sure theres a very good reason to…let me know if you think of one.

Compiled from a shortlist of around a 1000 tracks through a process of demented indecision until “only” 200 remained.  Breathtakingly good tracks were chopped in fits of peak, and the order could still change at any time. The point is these lists are slightly point-less, but these 200 tunes have enriched my life over the last 12 months.  Besides half the fun of making charts is looking back at the previous editions of 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 and realising you shouldn’t be left in control of the car stereo, let alone pontificating on the finest musical output of the year. Declaring Beyonce’s “Single Ladies“ the 45th best of 08 is as far as I’m concerned excuse enough for you to all to leave now.

It’d be great to hear your own favourites and you can now join me in heated debate on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments section of this page.
Emails with the subject line “How can you call yourself a music blogger when you don’t have the Animal Collective in your list” will also be accepted.

If you’re an artist and object to me giving away the fruits of your labour please let me know and I’ll remove the link ASAP.

1. McAlmont and Nyman
“In Rai Don Giovanni”

“although surgeons fixed his eyes,
He never sees how vulgar he’s become” (lyrics)

All is not well with the musical universe when the glorious voice of David McAlmont is not present at the top of its table. Despite his phenomenal talent McAlmont’s career trajectory has been anything but smoothly ascendant, but in the unlikely form of Michael Nyman he may have finally found his perfect foil.
As this countries most celebrated contemporary composer you wouldn’t expect Nyman to struggle for inspiration but the pair only came together after discovering they shared a similar artistic block. Nyman needed words to spark his compositions to life, while McAlmont lacked the songs. The resulting album “The Glare” is the finest showcase for that unique voice since the first McAlmont & Butler longplayer way back in the mists of the 90′s.

Its no surprise that the project’s concept is suitably highbrow, how many LP’s take inspiration from the 19th century French painter Gericault? He saw his art as a documentary on canvas, telling the tale of news events of his time, sometimes in collaboration with people actually involved in the stories. McAlmont took this on by twinning some of Nyman’s finest works with lyrics written in the first person perspective of the subject of a current headline. So “Going To America” finds captured Somalian pirate Abdiwali Muse worrying about FBI agents and Navy seals, while the title track has Susan Boyle contemplating life as an overnight sensation.  Zimbabwe, Joanna Lumley and the Gurka’s… it all sounds painfully clunky as an idea but aside from a few tracks it works phenomenally well.  Its also worth reading McAlmonts blog on the lyrics with links to the headlines that inspired each song.

“In Rai Don Giovanni” gives Veronica Lario, the long suffering wife of ageing lothario and statue catcher Silvio Berlusconi a chance to tell her story. Despite first catching Silvio’s eye while stripping off in a play she eventually finds the “skinny blonde model’s” and “floozies younger than his kids” too much to bear and is off “to better things“.  Her or rather David’s voice declares all this in celebratory style, the music is bouncy and vibrant, strings pluck and horns parp as she throws off the shackles of a “shameless playboy pimp“. With the P of pimp emphasised with spitting indignation.

What better way to start 2010 than with David McAlmont back centre stage, in his pomp, overblown, exuberant, camp as hell but gloriously beguiling. Even better according to his twitter the pair have re-entered the studio to record a new track together.

Myspace / McAlmont Twitter / Facebook / Michael Nyman.com
McAlmont reveals inspiration behind the songs
Buy: Amazon / MnRecords
Watch: Guardian TV featuring interview and exclusive new track.

2. Octave Mouret
“Locked Doors (feat. PolarBear)” (MP3)

“No one ever says that Im like you, but there are times when I’m frightened they might do”

Lyrics are often the songwriters neglected art, a catchy tune may stick in the head but the right turn of phrase can stop you in your tracks or send the mind spiralling.  As such when you stumble across a true wordsmith you tend to hold them tight (or in my case enthuse about them at length on a blog).

The current crop of poets, or at least those that stray from purely spoken word into music seem to be in a rich vein of form when it comes to matching jaw droppingly good lyrics with a decent tune.  Scroobius Pip returns with a new single “Get Better (YouTube)” in March and Kate Tempest’s Sound Of Rum LP was a highlight of last year, to name but two.  At the top of that tree sits Polar Bear, an act Ive plugged so much that as I said in a previous post I’m dangerously close to donning a ra-ra skirt, energetically thrusting pom poms in the air and demanding readers “Give me a P… give me an O“.

“Locked Doors” a collaboration with Octave Mouret is achingly beautiful, with deceptively simple deft production allowing the words due prominence.  PolarBear draws his stories from the ordinary, and the simple truth that there’s nothing more powerful or easy to relate to than everyday life.  In this case the father/son relationship, and dealing with a dad who mostly isn’t there. The words are defiant yet laced with damage, the son may never “google his name, or sit on night buses wondering where he is” but the pity for the fathers loss can’t help but reflect back… “If I ever put even one foot into your shoes, I have people who’ll stop me“.    As with all of PolarBear’s work its deeply affective, brilliantly judged and has more in common with Mike Leigh or Jimmy McGovern than any songwriter I know.

He’s always got several projects on the go at any one time so I’d recommend signing up for his mailing list to keep uptodate, or Twitter, although that mostly features the amusing things a son says to his dad.
PolarBears latest major piece is a collaboration with BAC called “Return” in which an entire film is conjured up and imagined through spoken work. The run starts in March, snap up your tickets here (I will be).

Octave Mouret Myspace
PolarBear Twitter / Myspace / Home Of Polar / Buy PolarBear

3. Moodymann
“Freeki Mutha F cker” (MP3)

“you don’t even like this song, you just dig the hook”

With its rumbling bass, subtle keys and whispered fruitiness “Freeki MF” is the sound of a pre-Jehovah Prince getting upto no good with some early Chicago/Detroit house. Riding a spartan backing Moodymann throatily intones his tale of voyeurism while the lady in his sights sighs and coo’s at his every line.
It’s probably the most sexually charged record since Lil Louis’s peak or at least since Prince released the Scandalous Sex suite, a 25 minute recording of his seduction of Kim Bassinger. Thankfully its a far better record than listening to half an hour of Prince & Kim shagging, but like Scandalous it has a comical quality. You can whisper the line “You used to ride the bus, today you took the train” in as gravely a voice as you like but it’ll raise a laugh before anything else.

One of the finest records of the year even if it does swing wildly across the lines of steaminess, comedy and creepiness.
In the interests of accuracy I should point out that I’ve discovered this actually came out in Dec 08, and has been a live favourite since 2005.

Facebook / Myspace / Mahogani Music / Freeki Mutha F cker Tshirt / Buy
Watch: Moodyman performing the song at the Montreaux Jazz festival 2005 and in 2007.

4. Terry Lynn
“IMF” (MP3)

“There will not be a good future for the rich, if there is no prospect of a better future for the poor”

A critique of the IMF’s systematic destruction of the Jamaican economy as told through the medium of a stonking great pop reggae anthem.  It doesnt matter that as a sheltered speaker of our Queens English I cant understand half of what Terry is saying, the chorus is still cutting yet unbelievably catchy.
The IMF’s mantra of liberalize, privatise and deregulate is infamous, and its bullying of countries like Jamaica into selling their assets in return for access to loans has been the subject of entire documentaries. The award winning 2001 film “Life & Debt” examined what the Jamaican Prime Minister called the “imperialist” actions of the IMF. Its available to watch online, and features the speech by IMF Director Horst Kohler sampled by Terry on this track.

Myspace / Website / Buy

5. The XX
“VCR” (MP3)

“Watch things on VCRs, with me and talk about big love” (lyrics)

Aside from the obligatory Animal Collective, The XX were probably the most blogged about band of 2009. Unlike the Animal Collective however they broke through into the mainstream aided by a huge marketing spend from their label XL.  Three or four promos were sent to me alone, posters plastered the tube, and it worked as critics applauded and the kind of people who buy their CD’s at Tesco bought into the band.  That may sound outlandishly snobby, but on several occasions people I know who have never expressed any particular love for music beyond Radio 2 blasted out The XX and evangelised wildly on their behalf.   And the reason beyond the hype and the major label? Its quite a simply a bloody good album.

“VCR” is the poppiest and lightest of the albums tunes, a simple love song about “watching films” together with the musical accompaniment of little more than a bass and sweet xylophone.   I could in truth have picked four or five off the disc as my favourite, without even going into all the fine remixes on offer (eg Pariahs fantastic “Basic Space”).
Recently I attended xx: A Sculpture of the Album,  a “3D physical interpretation” in a large empty storeroom beneath Soho’s Phonica records.  It’s a decent idea, with three pillars, each containing a video performance from one band member and depending where you stand the mix of the album changes.  I can’t say I was exactly bowled over by the experience but the visit did offer an opportunity for a bit of banter with my brother over the merits of The XX.
In his eyes the sparse sound of The XX is not beautifully simple, its just simple full stop.  All the tracks fairly similar and unremarkable… its just pleasant.  The debate concluded with my brother insisting he made sounds like the XX when he first tried to play a guitar.  He confidently stated he could therefore easily toss off an XX LP in an afternoon.  Needless to say I didnt agree but I’ve offered to pay for the release of this LP should he be able to deliver on his bold claim!

Myspace / xx.info / Buy
“VCR” (Youtube) / “Basic Space (Pariah mix)” (YouTube)

6. Talen
“The Vibes – A Sizzla Tale” (MP3)

“Don’t fight the Vibes… I like the vibes”

Winterthur, Switzerland – Not the first place that comes to mind when imagining hotbeads of 21st century Reggae sounds.  Ok, old Pipecock Jackxon aka Lee “Scratch” Perry made Zurich his home but the 2 DJ’s/2 Producer’s team going by the name Talen should put Switzerland on the reggae map.
Dancehall meets dubstep with an absolute thumping bass drum made fiercer still by ragga royalty Sizzla booming his love of “Reggae music“.
The track works especially well when played very loudly on motorways (I havent tested it on A roads). Many long journeys out West were accompanied by me hitting continual repeat on this “Talen Sound“.

Myspace / Facebook / Talen Soundcloud (inc FREE mixes)
Buy / itunes

7. Jay-Z
“Empire State Of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys)” (MP3)

“Mommy took a bus trip and now she got her bust out,
Everybody ride her, just like a bus route”

Jay-Z.com / Myspace / Buy
Watch: Video / VMA Awards performance / Alicia Keys solo version of “Empire State”

8. Mayer Hawthorne
“The Ills” (MP3)

“You know the ills of this world they can get you down
But then you get back up”

Facebook / Twitter / Myspace / Video Interview / Buy
New “Soul With A Hole” 24 track compilation of Mayer Hawhornes favourite Soul originals.

Watch: Unofficial video for “The Ills” as beautifully crafted by an annoyingly talented bloke I work with (below). Inspired use of archive footage, unlike a similar-ish attempt at Coldcut’s Beats & Pieces I bashed together but never finished about 15 years ago.

9. Glasser
“Apply (Lemonade Remix)” (MP3)

“If the walls were too thin, You would break right in”

Myspace / Blog
Watch: The making of the 12″ limited edition sleeve / “Apply (Original version)” Video

10. DJ Quik & Kurupt
“9x’s Outta 10“(MP3)

“Irradiated mushrooms irradiate entire rooms”

Twitter / Myspace / Buy
Watch : 9x’s Outta 10 Video / Interview about the Album

11. Fort Knox Five
“Funk 4 Peace (Nick Thayer Remix)” (MP3)

“Turn the music, its time to release”

Twitter / Facebook / Myspace / Soundcloud / Buy
Watch: “Funk 4 Peace (live)”

12. Cracks In The Concrete
“Ballad of Ashley Marie”

“you cant afford me, you sad sorry fuck… im dearer than rubys, you’re shit out of luck”

Myspace / Optimo label
Louise McVey & Cracks In The Concrete Myspace / Buy

13. Bob Hillary & The Massive Mellow
“Hear Mi” (MP3)

Facebook / BobHillary.com / Myspace / Buy
Watch: Bob gives a tour of the treehouse where he lives in Scotland. / “Hear Mi” a very pretty video

14. Desire
“Under Your Spell” (MP3)

“I don’t eat, I don’t sleep, I do nothing but think of you”

Blog / Myspace / Italians Do It Better Blog / Buy
Listen to the equally good/better “Don’t Call” (below)

15. William Elliot Whitmore
“Mutiny” (MP3)

“I want to wrap my hands around his crooked neck
and throw him overboard”

Website / Facebook / Myspace / Daytrotter Sessions / Buy
Watch: “Mutiny” Live

16. Shafiq Husayn
“Lil Girl (feat. Fatima)” (MP3)

“diggin for them secret doors, one day you shall find it”

Twitter / Facebook / Myspace / Buy

17. Jamie T
“Chaka Demus (Ben Bones & Jamie T remix)” (MP3)

“I love her, she loves me too. That’s why we get togetherrr”

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Myspace / Buy
Watch: “Chaka Demus (Original)” (Video)

18. Laura Veirs
“July Flame” (MP3)

“Can I call you mine?” (lyrics)

Twitter / Facebook / Myspace / Website / Buy
Watch: The Making of “July Flame” (Video) / “July Flame” (Video) /

19. Clock Opera
“White Noise (Django Django remix)” (MP3)

“Rejoice in d chords, white noise and drums”

Twitter / Facebook / Myspace / Read Clock Opera’s Tips for 2010 / Buy LTD 7″
Watch: “White Noise (original)” (Video) / “White Noise” Live on Diesel:U Music Video

20. Black Meteoric Star
“World Eater (12″ version)” (MP3)

Website / Facebook / Myspace / Buy
Watch: Snippet of Gavin Russom (Black Meteoric Star) Live show

21. Dinosaur
“Kiss Me Again (Tim & Pauls Edit)” (MP3)

Tim talks about the edit / Arthur Russell Documentary Trailer
Listen: Original 12 and 13 minute versions

22. La Roux
“In For The Kill (Skream’s Let’s Get Ravey Remix)” (MP3)

“Full stops and exclamation marks
Oooh my words stumble before I start”

Myspace / Facebook / Website / Buy
Apply for tickets to special Heaven 17 / La Roux live collaboration

23. Fashawn
“Samsonite Man” (MP3)

“Look in the mirror, realise you getting older”

Twitter / Facebook / Myspace / Buy
Watch: “Life As A Shorty” (Youtube)
Read: Fashawn picks his top 10 west coast hiphop albums of all time

24. Afrozen Orchestra
“Togana” (MP3)

.

Myspace / Label / Buy 7″

25. Gold Panda
“Quitters Raga” (MP3)

Twitter / Myspace / Gold Panda Shop

26. The Slew
“Robbin’ Banks (Doin’ Time)” (MP3)

Slew.net / Facebook / Myspace / Kidkoala.com
The Mighty Slew YouTube Channel / Buy the LP
Kid Koala backing Meaghan Smith on turntable (YouTube)

27. Lupe Fiasco
“The National Anthem” (MP3)

“Health care hair, Drive by thighs
Education lips, HIV eyes” (lyrics)

Twitter / Facebook / Blog / LupeFiasco.com / Buy
Download FREE Lupe mixtape “Enemy Of The State: A Love Story“
Watch: “Muhammad Walks” – Lupe’s take on Kanye’s “Jesus Walks” from a Muslim perspective

28. Mount Kimbie
“Maybes” (MP3)

Facebook / Myspace / Buy
Watch: Video for “Maybes” made as part of a fan’s final year at Art School.

29. Left Lane Cruiser
“Big Momma” (MP3)

“oh yeah yeah oh yeah yeah, yo mama”

Facebook / Myspace / Buy
Watch: “Big Momma” Live in a record shop and a radio studio. / Interview

30. Randan Discotheque
“Daily Record May 18th 1993”

“I forgot about that, Cliff Maier sold his wife to an arab millionaire”

Twitter / Facebook / Myspace / Buy
Watch: “I’d Like To Be Alone” (Live) – Another Randan classic from a few years back

31. Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate
“Kala Djula” (MP3)

Myspace / Toumani Diabate Facebook / Buy
Watch: Kala Djula (Youtube) / Short film about the making of their 2nd and final album together

32. Jeremy Warmsley
“If He Breaks Your Heart (Miyauchi Yuri remix)” (MP3)

“If he breaks your heart, Will I stand a chance?” (lyrics)

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Website / Buy

DL Free EP / Watch: “If He Breaks Your Heart (Acoustic)”

33. Little Boots
“Earthquake (Stonemasons Club Remix)” (MP3)

“I know some days are hard, But must you make mine too”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Littleboots.co.uk / Buy

Watch: “Earthquake (Single Version)” (Youtube)

34. Nine High
“Cookout (M-Phazes Remix)” (MP3)

“Give me bacon chops, give me steak on top”

MySpace / Taos Records Blog
Their distribution company just went bust so they’ve put the full album up as a FREE download
Watch: “CookOut” (Video)

35. Neon Indian
“Should Have Taken Acid With You” (MP3)

“Should have taken acid with you, Melt our tongues and become unglued”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Buy
Watch: No offical video but 1 trippy Super8 fan made alternative as well as another featuring an off his face bloke falling over in a shop.
Read: Pedestrian Interview with Neon Indian

36. Badly Drawn Boy
“Is There Nothing We Could Do?” (MP3)

“Who am i to ask you why you feel the way you do”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Website (inc LTD 7″ offer) / Buy
Watch: “The Fattest Man In Britain” (ITV Player)
26 min GuardianTV interview with BDB (winning Mercury/New LP/songwriting) “Is There Nothing We Could Do? (Acoustic)”

37. Leyland Kirby
“When We Parted, My Heart Wanted To Die (Friedrichshain Memory)” (MP3)

Website / Facebook / Blog / Buy LTD LP
Watch: “When, We Parted, My Heart Wanted To Die (Youtube Edit)”

38. Lee Fields & The Expressions
“Ladies” (MP3)

“When I saw you walkin by. Girl you blew my mind.” (lyrics)

Website / Facebook / MySpace / Buy
Watch: Lee Fields rehearsing “Ladies” / “Love, It Comes and It Goes” (Live)

39. Frida Hyvönen
“Jesus Was A Crossmaker” (MP3)

“Sweet silver angels over the sea, Please come down flyin’ low for me”

Twitter / Facebook / Website / MySpace / Buy
Watch: The Judee Sill Original

40. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
“Sugarfoot” (MP3)

“Brought me down straight to my knees, She’s doing things I’ve never seen”

Twitter / Facebook / Website / MySpace / Buy
Watch: Youtube Channel / “Sugarfoot” Live on Late Late Show

41. Jack Penate
“Tonight’s Today (Extended Mix)” (MP3)

“And my filthy palms, Reach for the harms”

Twitter / Facebook / Website / Buy
Watch: “Tonight’s Today” (Video)

42. Major Lazer
“Can’t stop now (feat. Mr. Vegas & Jovi Rockwell)” (MP3)

“My love for you coulda never drop”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / MadDecent / MD Store / Buy
Download Diplo “Free Gucci” Mixtape
Listen: The Techniques – “You Dont Care” Heavily sampled on this track.
Watch: “Pon De Floor” Video, features JA dance style “Daggering” or dry humping as its known round these parts!

“Hold The Line” Prince Zimboo’s brilliant remix. (below)

43. Julianna Barwick
“Bode” (MP3)

Website / Myspace / Buy
“Sunlight, Heaven” (Video)

44. Kelis
“Acapella” (MP3)

“Before you, My whole life was acapella!
Now a symphony’s, The only song to sing”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Website / Buy
Kelis talks to Vibe magazine about her new album, motherhood and split with Nas.

45. Shakira
“She Wolf” (MP3)

“Starting to feel just a little abused
Like a coffine machine in an office”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Website / Buy
Watch: “SheWolf” (video) / The Oxford Union invite Shakira to give speech / Katie Courik interviews Shakira

46. Lily Allen
“Fuck You (DOCTOR ROSEN ROSEN Rx)” (MP3)

“So you say it’s not okay to be gay, Well, I think you’re just evil
You’re just some racist who can’t tie my laces, Your point of view is medieval”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Website / Buy
Watch: “Fuck You (single)” Not very good Video /

47. Windmill
“Airsuit” (MP3)

“the stars and planets all align”

Website / Facebook / MySpace / Buy
Download the epic “Big Boom” for free from RCDLBL
Watch: “Big Boom” Video featuring spaceman Matthew

48. Peggy Sue
“Lover Gone” (MP3)

“Ohh Lover gone, this song is not a love song, because our love is gone”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Website / Buy
Buy their debut album and ticket for launch gig in March for 14 pounds.
Watch: “Lover Gone” (video) / “All N My Grill” Missy Elliot Cover version

49. Juice Aleem
“KunteKinteTarDiss” (MP3)

“Ive got no tattoos because Im not a viking”

Twitter / Facebook / Website / MySpace / Buy
Watch: “Higher, Higher” (Video) / “First Lesson” (video)

50. Busdriver
“Least Favourite Rapper (Feat. Nocando)” (MP3)

“Your favourite dude champions every Chicago city slum
From his condominium”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Buy
Download: “Least Favourite Rapper (Anti-Pop Consortium remix)” Free from XLr8r
Watch: “Me-Time (With The Pulmonary Palimpsest)” – Excellent video / Busdriver on Blinddate!

51. DJ Food
“All Covered In Darkness (Parts 1 & 2)” (MP3)

Blog / MySpace / Buy
Visit DJ Food Soundcloud to download mixes including hour long Kraftwerk covers Vol.6
Read: DJ Foods favourite music of 2009
Watch: DK & DJ Food “Now, Look & Listen” a Solid Steel AV Mix

52. Rocco DeLuca & The Burden
“Bright Lights (Losing Control)” (MP3)

“Honey, you know I Love You
there’s no one above you… And no one below”

Twitter / Facebook / Website / MySpace / Buy
Watch: “Bright Lights (Losing Control)” (Live) (Video)

53. The Cubical
“Like Me I’m A Peacock” (MP3)

“You never even liked me, how the hell you wanna save me”

Twitter / Myspace / Buy / Download Free Rarities LP

54. Florence + the Machine
“You’ve Got the Love (XX remix)” (MP3)

“When food is gone you are my daily meal”

Twitter / Facebook / Website / MySpace / Buy
Watch: “Youve Got The Love (Original)” (video) / Candi Staton @You Got The Love (Live @ Glastonbury)” / 1991 Source feat Candi Staton

55. Miike Snow
“Burial (DJ Mehdi Remix)” (MP3)

“at your, own burial, dont forget to cry”

Twitter / Facebook / Website / MySpace / Buy

Watch: Absolutely beautiful video shot in Varanasi, India. Makes me want to go back to India again. View below.

56. Peaches
“Billionaire” (MP3)

“Fu*k you like a billionaire. Debonair, in my Fred Astaire footwear”

Twitter / Facebook / Website / MySpace / Buy
Watch: “Billionaire” (Live with Yo Majesty)
Miss Piggy performs Peaches most famous song “Fu*k The Pain Away” (see below)

57. The Melting Ice Caps
“A Good Night” (MP3)

“Anyone who says Shoreditch folk are arseholes has obviously never tried playing an indie gig in a pub in Colchester” (lyrics)

Facebook / Website / MySpace
Download 5 Melting Ice Caps Singles for free + bonus tracks! Totally essential!
Listen: The Soft Close Up’s (Myspace) – David’s other band

58. Sea Skid
“Swami” (MP3)

“I was made for loving you, baby, You were made for loving me”

In Flagranti MySpace / Codek Records (inc loads of videos. most of which are NSFW) /

Watch: Kiss – “I Was Made For Loving You” (Youtube)

59. Gable
“I’m Ok” (MP3)

“I’m really fine, I’m well balanced, I’m OK, Im OK”

Website / MySpace / Buy
Watch: “Drunk Fox In London” (Video) – Gable

60. Withered Hand
“Hard On” (MP3)

“A Hard On, A Hard On, A Hard On dont mean you’re in love”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Website / Buy
Listen: Interview with Withered Hand on Edinburgh Student Radio

61. Indigo Jam Unit
“Arctic Circle” (MP3)

Website / MySpace / Buy
Watch: Indigo Jam Unit – “Pirates PV” (Video)

62. Popular Tyre
“Febbre Del Discotheque” (MP3)

“This is your… D.I.S.C.O”

Facebook / MySpace
Watch: “The Old Walking Man” – Popular Tyre

63. Alice Russell
“Let Us Be Loving” (MP3)

“keep on keep on lovin ..lovin….”

Twitter / Facebook / Website/ MySpace / Buy
Watch: “Let Us Be Loving” (Video)

Video below: At last years SXSW Alice & her band were kind enough to let me follow them around for BBC News during a day (and well into the next) of gigs.

64. Erol Alkan & Boys Noize
“Waves (Chilly Gonzales Piano Remake)” (MP3 Removed)

Alkan: Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Website / Buy
Gonzales: Twitter / Website / Myspace
Watch: Chilly Gonzales challenges Andrew W.K to a Piano Battle. / Jarvis Cocker & Gonzales perform “Francaphobia” @ Pigalle Club

65. Floating Points
“Love Me Like This (Nonsense Dub)” (MP3)

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Buy
Watch: The original version by Reel To Reel – “Love Me Like This”

66. Akira The Don
“Ask Amanda Palmer” (MP3)

“She said pop culture reffrences will date your shit like Futurama, he said fie that bullcrap,
I that Bratpack, ask Amanda Palmer”

Twitter / AkiraTheDon.com / Facebook / Buy
Listen: Tons of superb tracks to buy and free download @ Akira’s Soundcloud

Watch: ATD’s tribute to Steven Wells: He was the greatest
210 Songs in 10 minutes
Akira interviews Raekwon
ATD – “I Dont Hate The Beatles Anymore”

67. Dirty Projectors
“Stillness Is The Move” (MP3)

“after all that we’ve been through
i know that i will always love you”

Website / Facebook / MySpace / Buy
Download: “Ascending Memory” Free Digital DL 7″ feat two unreleased tracks.
Watch: “Stillness Is The Move” (Youtube)

68. The Leisure Society
“Pancake Day” (MP3)

“Im not an evil man, on pancake day Ill lend you my frying man”

Twitter / Website / Facebook / MySpace
Buy the brilliant Willkommen Collective Vol.1 compilation CD

69. La La Lepus
“We’re Taking Out Your Family” (MP3)

“We’re zeroxing your legacy, while we feed you on your shame”

MySpace / Myspace Remixes
Watch: “We’re Taking Out Your Family” (video) /

70. jj
“Ecstasy” (MP3)

“When I’m in the club. I’m always on a drug. If you get a hug. Guess what drug.
I’m on ecstasy” (lyrics)

jj artist page on Secretly Canadian
Download: New free Download MP3′s from jj
Watch: “Ecstasy” (Video) / Lil Wayne “Lollipop” (The original) / “Pure Shores” jj ruin the All Saints original

71. Bill Wells & Maher Shalal Hash Baz
“Tipsy Cat” (MP3)

.

Bill Wells MySpace / Mahar Shalal Hash Baz Myspace / Buy

72. Fatman & Tropical
“Simple Things (feat. Sarina Leah & Ty)” (MP3)

“Just relax and follow me, until we start to fly. Apostrophe”

Myspace / Buy
Ty: Twitter / Facebook

73. Various Production
“Tricycle” (MP3)

Blog / Website / Facebook / MySpace / Misc (Various offshoot for more unusual work) / Buy
Look: Various Production are known for their beautiful cover art and David Bray the designer responsible has a blog packed with his stunning work.
Watch: “My Girlfriend Has A Problem With It” – A profile of the illustrator David Bray

74. Kid Harpoon
“Childish Dreaming” (MP3)

“Why are there nightmares? And who made my shoes?
Why are there children shedding blood on the news?” (lyrics)

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Buy
“Childish Dreaming” (Live) (Youtube) / “Childish Dreaming” Guitar Tabs

75. Bill Callahan
“Jim Cain” (MP3)

“In case things go poorly and I not return
Remember the good things I’ve done”

Facebook / MySpace / Buy

76. Chase & Status
“Saxon (OH SNAP!! Edit Stylee)” (MP3)

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Buy
Watch: “Against The Odds (feat Kano)” – C&S
Ninki Minaj, singing over the top of “Saxon” possibly as demo for Rhianna (who knows)

77. Quantic And His Combo Barbaro
“The Dreaming Mind (part 1)” (MP3)

Website / Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Buy
Watch: “A Postcard From Cali – Tradition in Transition Trailer” (Video)

78. Delphic
“This Momentary (Shoplifters’ Split Second Remix)” (MP3)

“Can we make the time to leave it behind and reshape, remake our Fate in what we see”

Website / Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Buy
4track EP Free Download
Watch: “This Momentary (original)” (Youtube)
BBC Sound of 2010 Video

79. Maxwell
“Pretty Wings” (MP3)

“Your face will be the reason I smile
But I will not see what I cannot have forever”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Website / Buy
Watch: “Pretty Wings” (Video)

80. Julian Casablancas
“4 Chords of the Apocalypse” (MP3)

“I can hear it in your voice, There’s always a catch…
We’re going nowhere, And we’re going there fast.”

Facebook / Website / MySpace / Buy
Watch: “11th Dimnesion” (Video)

81. FrankMusik
“Little Words (King Cannibal Remix)” (MP3)

“the three words always end
and you know we can’t pretend”

Website / Twitter / Facebook / MySpace
Watch: “Little Words (original)” (Video)

82. Larry Jon Wilson
“Shoulders” (MP3)

“God never gave me a shoulder, baby, strong enough to carry your goodbye tearstains on”

Website / Twitter / Facebook / MySpace
Watch: Larry Jon Wilson: Canoochee Revisit/Ohoopee River Bottomland (Video)

83. Etienne Jaumet
“For Falling Asleep” (MP3)

Facebook / MySpace / Buy
Watch: Etienne messing around in his studio
Etienne Jaumet – “Clementine M06″ (video)

84. Drake
“Best I Ever Had (Skeemix) (feat. R. Kelly)” (MP3)

“You the fucking best, you the fucking best
You the best I ever had, best I ever had”

Twitter / Website / MySpace
Watch: “Best I Ever Had” (Video) – Every hiphop/r&b cliche in the book but seriously what do you expect

85. Joy Orbison
“Hyph Mngo” (MP3)

“oooo a jew, ooo a jew, a jew”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Buy
Download: Joy Orbison “Greenmoney mix”

86. Breakage
“Together (feat. David Rodigan)” (MP3)

“We dont want too many speeches, its all about the music”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace
Watch: “SIR David “RamJam” Rodigan” (Amusing Rodigan dancing)
Rodigan interviews Bob Marley

87. Sam Amidon
“How Come That Blood” (MP3)

“what are you gonna do when your daddy finds out”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Website / Buy
Watch: “Wedding Dress” – Sam Amidon

88. DJ Sprinkles
“Sisters, I Don’t Know What This World Is Coming To” (Youtube)

.

Website / MP3′s to sample / Free “10 Years of Amazing Demo Tapes” Comp
Buy / Comatose Catalogue
Download an “acoustic-electro ambient mix” by DJ Sprinkles for Resident Advisor

89. Sound of Rum
“Prometheus” (MP3)

“building my sanctuary on sinking sand”

Facebook / Website / MySpace / Kate Tempest Myspace / Buy
Watch: “Slow Slow” – Sound Of Rum

90. Eliza Doolittle
“Money Box (Jamie XX Remix)” (MP3)

“take your dollar, your buck, I couldnt give a… penny“

Twitter / Facebook / Website / MySpace

91. Pictureplane
“Goth Star” (MP3)

Twitter / Blog / MySpace / Buy
Read: Pictureplane’s Top 10 tracks of 2009
Watch: “Goth Star” (Video) / A very “arty” new performance video

92. Tune-Yards
“Hatari (Karn Remix)” (MP3)

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Website / Buy
Watch: “Hatari (Live)” – Tune-Yards / “Real Live Flesh” (Video)

93. Washed Out
“Feel It All Around” (MP3)

.

Facebook / Blog / MySpace / Buy
Watch: “Feel It All Around” (Video)

94. Patrick Wolf
“The Sun Is Often Out” (MP3)

“Was your work of art so heavy that it would not let you live?”

Facebook / Website / MySpace / Buy
Watch: “Accident & Emergency” (Video)
Read: Quietus interview and session with Patrick

95. Neko Case
“Vengeance Is Sleeping” (MP3)

“Damp and bruised by stranger’s kisses on my lips
But you’re the one that I still miss” (lyrics)

Website / Facebook / MySpace / Buy

96. Wave Machines
“Keep The Lights On” (MP3)

“Hold your fingers up to the sun,
trace the bones feel the blood run”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace / Website / Buy
Listen: “Keep The Lights On (Metal On Metal remix)” – 13 minute mix (Download here)
Watch: The Wave Machines (Live @ Rough Trade)

97. Father Abraham
“Helpmesaveme” (MP3)

“Let me the first to say congratulations God”

Twitter / Website / Buy
Visit: All 52 songs from his year long, 1 song a week project. All Zipped up for free download / Download more MP3′s on the new Father Abraham site

Read: Father Abraham was kind enough to take part in one of Music Like Dirt’s irregular features “Listen To This“. He picked 3 songs for me, and I did the same back. Did he really hate them all!!?? Read Pt1 / Pt2 (and download some fantastic music too)

98. Emily Barker
“Little Deaths” (MP3)

“All the plans I had, like butterflies on my hands
have now flown from reach”

Twitter / Facebook / MySpace /
Watch: “Little Deaths (Live)”

99. Build An Ark
“In Her Smile (Daedelus Remix)” (MP3)

Facebook / MySpace / Buy
Listen: Live @ Cargo – Full gig

100. Mike Dehnert
“Umlaut2 (Levon Vincent Ny Basement Mix)” (MP3)

MySpace / Buy

101. Paul White – “Hustle (Bullion Remix)”

102. The D.B. Buxton Revue – “Sex With My Ex (Cadence Weapon’s No Sex Mix)”

103. Slim Twig – “Black Eldorado”

104. Vybz Kartel – “Yuh Love” (MP3)

105. White Denim – “Say What You Want”

106. Pangaea – “Memories”

107. Laish Quartet – “In The Morning”

108. Wale – “TV In THe Radio (feat. K’naan)”

109. Richgirl – “He Ain Wit Me Now”

110. Jay Electronica – “Exhibit C”

111. Gucci Mane – “Lemonade”

112. Tony Lionni – “Found A Place”

113. Mike Slott – “23 Halfs”

114. Generationals – “When They Fight They Fight”

115. Caspa – “Lion’s Roar”

116. Palov & Mishkin – “Jack The Nose”

117. The Emperor Machine – “Kananana”

118. The Gossip – “Heavy Cross (Siriusmo Dub)”

119. The Miserable Rich – “Muswell (Chicken Feed Remix)”

120. Alan Wilkis – “Pink and Purple (Father Abraham Black and Blue RMX)” (MP3)

121. Diego Bernal – “Bring It On Home” (MP3)

122. Titiyo – “Crystal Clear Mud”

123. Headless Heroes – “Hey,Who Really Cares (Jon Hopkins Remix)”

124. Cobblestone Jazz – “Fiesta”

125. The Heavy – “How You Like Me Now? (Joker Remix)”

126. Blakroc – “Stay Off The Fuckin’ Flowers (Featuring Raekwon)”

127. Bibio – “Jealous Of Roses”

128. Twi The Humble Feather – “Finale”

129. Two Fingers – “Straw Men”

130. People Under The Stairs – “Trippin At The Disco”

131. Jah Wobble – “Get Carter Version (Cliff Brumby Mix)”

132. Kurt Vile – “Beach On The Moon (Recycled Lyrics)”

133. Pepe Bradock – “Path Of Most Resistance”

134. Nils Frahm – “Ambre”

135. Kenny Glasgow – “Jump Up In The Air (MFR Remix)”

136. Fanon Flowers – “Acid Kush” - Website / Myspace

137. The Phenomenal Handclap Band – “15 To 20″

138. Jee4ce & Riddlah – “Never (Father Jack Remix)”

139. The Duckworth Lewis Method – “The Age Of Revolution”

140. Vic Chesnutt – “Flirted With You All My Life”

141. Tifa – “Talk Of The Town (feat. Natalie Storm)”

142. Myd – “Train To Bamako”

143. The Very Best – “Warm Heart of Africa (feat. Ezra Koeing) (Theophilus London Remix)”

144. Micachu – “Lips (Clark Kunt’s Heavy Mental Remix)”

145. Shit Robot – “Simple Things (Work It Out) (Main Mix)”

146. Danny Norbury – “This Night Is For You And For Me”

147. Trans Am – “Wounded Monkey (feat. Tim Soete)”

148. Regina Spektor – “Laughing With”

149. Dennis Ferrer – “Hey Hey (Df S Attention Vocal Mix)”

150. Poirier – “Marathon”

151. Douglas Wood – “Folk Ghost”

152. Screaming Females – “Boyfriend”

153. Lunice – “One of Me”

154. Alan Fitzpatrick – “Face Of Rejection”

155. The Gentleman Losers – “Ballad Of Sparrow Young”

156. Joker & Ginz – “Purple City”

157. The Hundred In The Hands – “Undressed In Dresden (Jacques Renault Remix)”

158. Pink Dollaz – “Dont Need No”

159. Mike Bones – “What I Have Left (Alexis Taylor Version)”

160. Willie Isz – “The Grussle”

161. Alif Tree – “Way Down South (With Tony Joe White)”

162. DOOM – “Angelz Featuring Tony Starks”

163. The Black Keys – “Her Eyes Are A Blue Million Miles”

164. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – “Where Was My Brain?”

165. The Go Away Birds – “Highwire”

166. Alan Pownall – “A Life Worth Living (Jakwob Remix)”

167. Omo – “Advantage”

168. Capitol 1212 – “Everybody Move Like Robot (feat. Daddy Scotty)”

169. Olivia – “Take It Off”

170. Raekwon – “House Of Flying Daggers (Feat. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface & Method Man)”

171. Nino Moschella – “We Fight”

172. Dizzee Rascal – “Dance Wiv Me (feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome”

173. Wet Paint – “It Rots”

174. The Mars Volta – “Cotopaxi” (MP3)

175. Levon Vincent – “Late Night Jam (Original Mix)”

176. Forest Swords – “Miarches”

177. Hifana – “MONDEW (feat.Pro.Chinnen)”

178. Thom Yorke – “All For The Best”

179. Burial & Four Tet – “Moth”

180. Ellie Goulding – “Wolves

181. Grizzly Bear – “Two Weeks

182. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – “Alyo”

183. Starkey – “Miracles”

184. Toro Y Moi – “Blessa”

185. Jonathan Kane – “Smear It”

186. Volcano Choir – “Island, IS

187. Yeasayer – “Ambling Alp”

188. Mux Mool – “MERLINFIST!

189. Sébastien Tellier – “Kilometer (A-Trak Extended Dub)

190. Efdemin – “Acid Bells”

191. Matty G – “Layin in Bed, Overture: Watermelon City (feat. Elizabeth Alex)”

192. Motor City Drum Ensemble – “Raw Cuts #6″

193. Tokyo Black Star – “Black Star (Feat. Rich Medina)”

194. Zigmat – “Watch the World”

195. Charlie Parr – “Don’t Send Your Child To War”

196. Animal Hospital – “A Safe Place”

197. Bishop Lamont – “Hallelujah (feat. Xzibit)”

198. Ghost – “From The Beginning

199. Player Piano – “Anything At All

200. Phoenix – “Lisztomania” – Watch Video tribute to the movies of John Hughes below

But not just any Owls.

Officer Owl is a secretive duo, one half with more than a hint of Mancunian treasure Stickboy – the other – well, all we know is she’s a lass from Leeds.

What with only coming out at night, Officer Owl have been hard to pin down.  What started in September ’08 as a “Listen To This“ feature is now an abbreviated “Officer Owl says Listen To This” (perhaps the tracks I picked out just didnt turn their heads).

Read on to find out what musical delights Officer Owl discovered when rummaging through their nest.  As for the Owl’s own music I can’t recommend it highly enough, beautiful, enchanting classic songwriting,  with backwards loops, banjo’s and luscious melodies all floating in and out of the mix.  A guaranteed delight for all fans of laptop folk and to my ears at least The Postal Service.

Officer Owl – Myspace / Last.fm

Listen: Officer Owl – “Untitled Number 7” (MP3) – Recommended
Hear all 3 Officer Owl tracks on Lastfm (more music is promised!)

Owl facts / Medieval Owl facts

Video: Completely unrelated video about Owl Vomit collecting.

“and the animals spoke, as the buildings turned to smoke“

OWL CHOICE 1: Firstly a rather unknown Manchester band called These eyes are cameras….. i bumped into these on myspace and instantly fell in love…. traditional kinda music, bit of a Bright Eyes feel but still very British.
I love that Manchester is always known for its Oasis, Stone Roses type bands but every now and then something unexpected raises its head above the skyline.
I love all their tracks but would like to point you towards “Sacred Blue“.

These Eyes Are Cameras – Myspace / Full album previews on Frig.com

Listen: These Eyes Are Cameras – “Sacred Blue” (MP3)

OWL CHOICE 2: Next, Sweet Baboo…. i first heard this chap on Marc Rileys BBC 6 music show and got hooked and HAD to buy the album. Right now it doesn’t leave my player, its so diverse and fresh.
Has a beautiful lo-fi feel that never sounds false. I guess its for fans of Bonnie Prince Billy and Daniel Johnston. An amazing understated voice and a great talent.

Sweet Baboo – Myspace / Sweet Baboo.co.uk

Listen: Sweet Baboo – “Emotionally Alone” (MP3)

OWL CHOICE 3: And my final choice… well there is so much out there but i will point you in the direction of Howard Eliott Payne. Once frontman of the often overlooked “The Stands” and now flying solo. Hes been to America and recorded what i think will be a beautiful album with the genius that is Ethan Johns (Kings of Leon, Ray Lamontagne, Ryan Adams).
This is just amazingly written music, its not complicated…. its how music used to be. One man, a guitar and a few bits to fill it in. Album is due out soon and i think its going to be rather special. Take a listen to “Until Morning“

Howard Eliott Payne – Myspace

Listen: Howard Eliott Payne – “Until Morning” (MP3)