This is where a pithy summary of the last month should be but I’m late for my brothers wedding in Manchester. He’d be most upset if he missed the chance to see me in a suit that makes it look like I work in Carphone Warehouse.
After a hugely successful Meltdown festival Massive Attack have a new album due, and fortunately someone took their tape recorder along to a recent show. Visit this site for 8 live recordings of new songs.
“Inertia Creeps” was my highlight of the gig with the list of the various lengths of detainment across the world culminating in the uk’s 42 days getting the whole place on their feet. All the flashed text of eroding freedoms under new labour were slightly undermined by security shoving their hands in front of any one snapping away with their mobile phone cams. Fight for your right to grainy distorted barely distinguishable footage!!
The Beautiful South main man returns for a cover of some classic Bootsy Collins. The lyrics are absolutely inspired as you’d expect from Heaton, with “Feminism’s fast asleep with a cock in either hand” raising a chuckle from this listener.
Finally this daft take on KC and The Sunshine band from the increasingly brilliant Hedluv. Its an ode to the smoking ban, which just popped up on their myspace.
Acid Brass sent The KLF to the colliery, Senor Coconut turned Kraftwerk Latin, and now Christian Prommer is taking dance classics to the jazz club. From Jaydee’s “Plastic Dreams” to Kraftwerks “Trans-Europe Express“, Prommer chooses ten of his favourite dance monsters from the last two decades and reinvents them using the piano, drums, percussion and bass of the jazz quartet.
There’s obviously a market (Volume 2 is to follow) for music that appeals to 30 and 40 somethings who now prefer dipping humous at diner parties to dropping acid at warehouse parties, but this is far from a novelty record. Take one listen to Mr Fingers “Can You Feel It?” below and you’ll realise that the reason Volume 2 is in the offing is that Prommer has stumbled on an inspired idea that improbably works magnificantly.
Domino records sent out a very nice Fourtet mix to promote his new Ringer mini LP. Propagate at will they said, so I am.
After last years fantastic Cassetiquette, DJ Wrong Tom is back with his patented cross stitching, killer music combo. Emma Ferguson provides another beautiful hand cross stitched cover (check out her shop for loads of wonderful pressies, badges and other frippery), while Wrong Tom takes in the entire musical output of the legendary J.Saul Kane aka Depth Charge and squeezes it into 30 minutes.
Coincidentally Duke Spook also had a similar idea, and you can grab his “Late Night Kung-Fu Lovers” mix from this blog. Happy times indeed for lovers of kung fu dialogue and huge beats.
Its so good to hear Goooooaaaaallllllllllll again, and Shaolin Budda, and, and, and… heads off to revisit Depth Charge collection.
On the subject of Depth Charge, J Saul Kane now runs DC Recordings, who are primed to release the follow up to the monumentally good “Death Before Distemper” compilation. Volume 2 is worth buying for its “Revenge Of The Iron Ferret” title alone, but its also packed with new tracks from Depth Charge, Emporer Machine, Kelpe, along with some lesser known but none the less brilliant acts.
Timo and Mikko formally of Opel Bastards feature under their “And The Left Handed” moniker. Check out their myspace for more electronic prog rock goodness, and look forward to DBD Vol.2 for another track by them, along with other hugely varied but consistently good stuff.
Rejoice, Roots Manuva just announced a new album will be with us for late summer. On Myspace he declares it’ll be “light and dark, vulnerable and wise by turns, drawing together cruffy anthems, club-shuddering basslines, slime and reason and introspective insight in trademark fashion”.
To celebrate here’s a re-edit of Witness, kindly sent over by Floorman. Its just one of the many re-edits featured on his blog, I’d advise you to visit forthwith.
I know its lazy but if you like The Prodigy chances are you’ll love the Nursery Of Naughtiness. Big beats, loud guitars, sitars, it’s probably Liam and co testing the reaction to their new album before letting the cat out of the bag.
The Winchell Riots apparently formed over a shared love of the novels of Philip Roth and a desire “make girls dance to sad songs”. The press release says “Bjork meets Mew meets Elbow”.
Last month marked three years since musiclikedirt.com first stumbled into the world of musical blogging. So self congratulations to myself for keeping going that long, or alternatively self flagellation for not “getting a life” in all that time! Either way, thanks to anyone who has ever read and especially commented on the music here, and most importantly to the musicians featured, who have been kind enough not to sue me when “featuring” the wonderful music they’ve created.
On with the March highlights…
THE CHART
Double click on any track above to listen, and click on the names below to visit.
Sitting pretty at the top is “Follow Him” taken from Example’s album of bootlegs and b-sides “What We Almost Made” (8 quid for 16 tracks here). It features Example & Scroobius Pip comparing tales of stalker fans. Pip gets a nazi while Example goes to sign a fans dress only for her to whip out her breast:
“I stared at her tit and then froze…
she had a tattoo of my face with her nipple in the middle as my nose”.
Marc Mac from 4Hero has compiled a totally FREE 24 track Daru Spirit / Soul Hop sampler, packed with nu-soul delights.
The Fugees classic “Ready Or Not” is re-invented as a downbeat beauty, while the track below could be mistaken for the finest of Jill Scott’s work.
As ever there were lots of ridiculously good mixes about last month. A bit of self publicity first, although not technically a mix, my first podcast is available to download. This version here comes with added clips from the months news, The Daily Show and lots of Elliot Spitzer jokes, enhancing or getting in the way of the music depending on your view. Stuart James, Spank Rock, Julian Cope, Pip, Gonzales and many more feature.
In February’s round up I had Kelpe’s new LP as one of the definate highlights (buy it here), and since then he’s been kind enough to send over his own monthly mix to share. The likes of Shuggie Otis, Porn Sword Tobacco, Fugazi, and Caribou are blended together in a wonderfully horizontal chilled out selection. Cut down the peppermint tea and Valium and relax with Kelpe instead.
Greg Wilson seems to pop up more and more frequently on this blog of late, but what can I do if he keeps posting mixes of such brilliance. This month The Cosmic Boogie Collective are hosting three mixes from his return to DJing in 2005.
The Stylus 1 mix was recorded direct onto minidisc at the Music Box in Manchester, and it can’t be recommended highly enough. Parliament, James Brown, Eric B & Rakim, its pure 70’s/80’s nostalgia but whats wrong with a bit of that.
After four years of applying I finally got tickets to Later with Jools Holland last week. Unfortunately Gnarls Barkley cancelled their appearance and gig the day before for family reasons and flew back to the states.
Estelle stepped in, setting up a potentially awkward meeting with Adele who was also featuring. Here’s Estelle in the Guardian last weekend :”Adele ain’t soul. She sounds like she heard some Aretha records once, and she’s got a deeper voice - that don’t mean she’s soul“.
To be fair to Estelle she was pointing out a very valid point about how there’s never been so much “soul” on the radio but its only ever white people playing it… Ronson, Winehouse, Duffy, Adele. It wasn’t a personal attack on Adele (well not quite), but the racism of the UK record industry.
Thankfully Adele didnt bless Estelle with her cold shoulder, not did girl fights ensue (although James Taylor almost broke his neck tripping over Estelle’s cables), both were excellent on the night. Estelle with a track that pilfers from George Michael, and Adele with a heart breaking version of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love“, plus personal favourite “Hometown Glory“.
I’ve been unnecessarily sarcastic about Jools and his boogie woogie piano in the past but the guys a total pro, an amazing player, and whats more had the audience eating out of his hand… a charming man. Which is more than can be said for the worst warm up bloke in history. It was as if they’d dragged a passing cabbie in to try and get the crown going. Members of the audience looked at each other in horror as he ran through his repertoire of “cor you nervous theyll be tight sphincters in here tonight (shakes leg).. oh I think I just shat myself“… “youve got 5 minutes what can you do in that time, perhaps just have a piss or knock one off hehehe“.
Everytime Jools arrived in the nick of time and dragged the audience back from scatological hell.
As is often the case the show was stolen by the unheralded act, in this case The Neil Cowley Trio, otherwise known as “the token jazz band, time to put the kettle on“.
They only played one track, but then they probably get through a piano per song on the basis of the pounding given to the thing during “His Nibs”. On the strength of this performance i’ll be buying the album, and Im viewers across the country will be doing the same (if they weren’t in the kitchen at the time).
BBC iplayer: Watch the live 30 minute “Later..Live” here (until 8th April) - worth it for Adele’s brilliant take on Bob Dylan with Jools on piano.
The full 60 minute programme is available here for the next six days (featuring Neil Cowley Trio, Adele, Estelle, James Taylor, Black Kids and me in the background).
Two months in and still some people refuse to let 2007 die! Smashing my own record for the tardy posting of “year end best of’s” my brother declared his judgement on the year in late February.
Visit Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This Before’s Top 100 of 2007
Featuring descriptions like “it goes off like a motherfukka” and “as addictive as a McCrack Burger” its packed full of discovered and undiscovered gems (many of which are downloadable). Here’s one such delight:
Rough Trade also waited until February to take a considered look back, and as ever their “Counter Culture 07“ compilation is an absolute must buy. Even a self confessed musical geek as myself found completely unheard of but soon to be favourites of every style scattered across the 41 track double CD. Who’d have guessed for example that Julian Cope had returned and was producing spoken word classics like this warning to future loves.
Various versions of Alela Diane’s “Pirate’s Gospel” seem to date back to 2004. Last year however saw its first full release and Rough Trade made it their Album of 07, calling it “enchanting and endearing in equal parts, this album will endure long after this year is done“.
Chilly Gonzales is back!! A man with the talent of ten rolled into one, comedian, classical pianist, inventor of jew-funk and more. He can leap genres and enchant audiences using only his irresistible charm, and a blessed gift for a cracking tune.
“Solo Piano“, his last album showed off his virtuoso skills as a classical pianist, but “Soft Power” sees a return to the eclecticism of old. Gonzales has always been equally at home having “Hot Pink Hot Sex” electro style with Peaches as he is with an old fashined ballad.
“For all the reasons that I gave so that I would not be an asshole, that I am”
“Apology” finds Gonzales wrapping up his failings as a lover and a friend in a gorgeous song, that had me hitting rewind for another dose of beautiful self loathing!
Myspace / Website / Video’s (inc. being forced to take singing lessons by his label)
KELPE
Having your ipod set to random shuffle on an added “last month” playlist is a very lazy way of being constantly spoon-fed new music, but we all have our foibles.
Its worth it though for the moments when a new tune appears that has you reaching for your pocket to discover just what this unheard beauty is. During February nine times out of ten when I dragged the ipod out, the track in question was from the new album by Kelpe. It happened so often it may need to be added to the urban dictionary: To “Kelpe“, def: the act of taking ipod (or other MP3 player) from ones pocket to discover the title of the amazing tune that just popped up on shuffle.
“Ex-Aquarium” is out now on J.Saul Kane’s DC Records, a label so consistently brilliant my eyes now read the words “DC Records” as “Enter Your Credit Card Details”. If you’re a fan of Boards Of Canada, Fourtet or any other “Electronica” you’ll love this record.
Criminally under-appreciated, The Superimposers return with a third album packed full of their trademark gorgeously crafted songs coupled with irresistibly lush instrumentation. It’s rare enough to find an album containing not one duff track, but the Supers achieve this with ease and for extra effect if you buy the album from Rough Trade you get a free bonus disc full of side projects/remixes/etc which is in itself virtually flawless. Mixing the best of Brian Wilson, The Kinks and The Beatles, without ever sounding like a tribute act.
Now we’re past January it’s more than time to wheel out the phrase “Early contender for album of the year”!
So good were the first two Superimposers albums that having already ordered the new one online, I passed Rough Trade and couldn’t wait for the postman I had to nab a copy immediately.
To win my spare copy of “Harpsichord Treacle” simply email on the address in the top right with “I’ve never heard the Superimposers album but I agree its the best album of the year by far” in the subject line. Enjoy.
“oozing from your i-Pod like treacle from a Harpsichord”
Over the years many acts have been kind enough to send in music for my listening pleasure, and in response I sometimes rudely fail to mention this or even worse simply don’t find the time.
Two highlights from this months postbag (which included another Celine Dion CD!!!) are a new EP from LPX, and a remix album courtesy of Dr. Rubberfunk.
In an effort to placate those who can’t wait for the summers promised new material Dr. Rubberfunk has assembled some of the finest remixers around for a fresh take on 2006’s “My Life at 33” LP. Yam Who?’s rework of “Theme For A Latter Day Lothario” surpasses even the high standards we’ve come to expect from him, while my own personal favourite is Dan Shannon’s Dub version of “Taking Over“.
January was to be the month to cast aside two decades of ambivalence/downright hostility to the charms of Stephen Patrick Morrissey. To repent and move happily on gladioli planted firmly in back pocket.
All looked good as the fervour of his fans and the sheer presence of Morrissey just a few feet away (thanks to the ever excellent Roundhouse) swept me up. Then five songs in, he was gone. No words of apology, no explanation, just a timid exit stage left.
As the minutes ticked on without any announcement it began to dawn on the crowd that their dream chance of seeing Mozza in such intimate surroundings was going badly wrong. Bizarrely Jonathan Ross, David Walliams, and Russell Brand suddenly appeared with Ross and Walliams seemingly believing that the best way to placate a disappointed crowd is to stand about giggling while taking snapshots of them on your mobile.
It was left to Brand - a huge Morrissey fan - to step up to the mic and announce what everyone had feared “Stephen Patrick Morrissey is too ill to continue”. This was greeted with a barrage of boo’s and eventually anything to hand was thrown at the stage, as a visibly shocked Brand spluttered “Calm down its Morrissey, he’s ill” followed by “Fucking hell I dont even work here, I just came out to tell you“. (YouTube video)
As one projectile narrowly missed David Williams head, security informed them the crowd weren’t receptive to 20 minutes of “I’m a Lady” sketches and they were ordered off sharpish. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for Brand, but also sorry to have missed what looked set to be an incredible evening.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Morrissey’s record label have discarded the traditional 50’s/60’s icon sleeve design, and for his new releases have gone for what appears to be a theme of Mozza breaking wind. The new single has Morrissey rein-acting Eddie Murphy’s Trading Places “when I was growing up, we want a Jacuzzi, we had to fart in the tub” gag, while the greatest hits seems to feature Mozza savouring his own potent brew.
It was also noticeable that NME never received that promised lawsuit over the “racism row”. Thats not to suggest Morrissey is racist, but you cant sue someone if they repeat your John Major-esque wishes for a bygone and fictional time when England was England.
AND FINALLY…
I was lucky enough to get down to Radio 1’s fantastic “Introducing” night. Over half a dozen of the most hotly tipped new bands packed into the legendary Maida Vale studio’s, like a smaller, fresher, funkier, less boogie woogie version of Jool’s Later.
The Beeb have a whole site packed with more info and live video’s from most of the bands featured including Late Of The Pier, The Ting Tings, Riz MC and Le Sac & Pip.
How to do a top 20 of the month without giving away 20 MP3’s that technically (actually legally) aren’t yours to dish out? Well I thought I’d give this Imeem gadget above a try. You can play and in some cases buy the tunes but they’re not free to download, so let me know what you think.
It’ll be interesting to see if anyone actually bothers listening or if people just want to nab the MP3’s and run. Anyway give it a go, and look out for a new one next month (or alternatively if no one uses it, I’ll quietly forget I ever mentioned it)!
Its always fantastic when someone takes the trouble to send me a CD, but can I ask Sony to perhaps put a warning on their mail? Hopefully that’ll put a stop to me collecting my parcels from the post office, eagerly ripping them open in the street… only to pull out Celine Dion’s “eagerly awaited” new single! Does my blog really say, “This man would really appreciate a little Celine in his mail“?? Ok dont answer that.
The Hot 8 Brass Band
This New Orleans 10 piece first came to worldwide attention after featuring in Spike Lee’s epic documentary “When The Levees Broke“, although they actually formed way back in 1995. The original release of the track on a small local label was understandably overshadowed by the tragic events wrought by Katrina and the current administration.
It only takes one listen to this life affirming version of Marvin Gaye’s classic to realise that something this good cant stay hidden, and sure enough word of mouth spread to the UK where Coldcut, Giles Peterson and the usual bunch of left of centre DJ’s went, I believe the technical term is bonkers about the track! A full release on Tru-Thoughts followed, which sadly seems to have sold out (?) although the LP is available from Amazon or Tru Thoughts themselves.
Featuring brass band versions of Marvin, Dr. Dre and others along with plenty of originals, the album is the authentic sound of the New Orleans tradition of face offs between local brass and jazz bands. As well as coming through the events of Katrina, the Hot 8 have also suffered the loss of four of their members, three through violence on the streets of New Orleans. They’re active in anti violence projects and undoubtedly deserve the support buying their LP gives them.
This is not however some bleeding heart story or guilt trip to buy, its simply what happened. You should buy the album not because of their history but because it’ll put a bloody big smile on your face!
Congratulations to my friend Simon who had one of his increasingly brilliant portrait photos picked out by Rankin (who seems to have dropped his first name) in The Guardian. The shot of Marvin The Martian above, isnt actually the winning pic but its pretty damn good, and more importantly gives me an excuse to post Marvins fantastic reversion of Calvin Harris’s “Acceptable In The 80’s“.
Whether you’re a Harris fan or not, most people would admit lyrics are not exactly his forte, whereas the marvellous mind of Marvin is a veritable lyrical gold mine. He adds a brilliantly witty rap to “Acceptable” listing exactly what was and wasn’t acceptable in the 80’s. It takes the tune to another level, and is especially funny if youre old enough to get all the references (although clearly Marvin isn’t).
Another track I’ve been meaning to post for ages. A little spin on Google informs me its a re-edit of Leo’s Sunship, but I cant pretend to know how the original. What I will say is if you’re looking for a feel-good dubbed out disco monster this is your tune.
The main hook consists of a breathy female voice gasping “Wowwwwww” which will bury itself in your head and refuse to leave. I’m amazed this hasn’t featured on every sports montage cut this year… but its never too late.
KELPE
