‘Rita was sixteen years… hazel eyes and chestnut hair… She made the Woolworth counter shine‘

Not many shops can claim to have inspired lyrics as beautiful as Nanci Griffith’s ‘Love at the Five and Dime” but Woolworth’s 99 year place at the heart of our high streets gives it a level of affection beyond whats ultimatly just a chain store.  Its likely disapearance will leave a huge hole in town centres like my own Walthamstow thats unlikely to be replaced with anything other than 99p stores (ironic given Woolies beginnings). More importantly its staff gearing up for the Christmas rush may instead find themselves jobless before the 25th.

The news prompted a mass outbreak of nostalgia amoung journalists recounting childhood memories of theiving the pick’n'mix or buying the latest Five Star single on 7inch. Even on the morning of its death throws Woolworths caused one last musical drama as executives franticaly tried to ‘stop that truck‘ carrying 200,000 copies of Take That’s new album to their distribution centre.  Had ‘The Circus‘ reached the depot and become ensnarled in the administration process the boymanband’s latest may have been but a gap on record store shelves.

There are some frankly awful records about Woolworth’s but here’s a selection thats anything but. The punk of X-Ray Spex ‘Warrior In Woolworths‘ and Music Hall star Stanley Holloway’s story about Albert, The Lion, and the finest broom handle Woolworths could sell. In the live version of the magical  ‘Love at the Five and Dime‘ Nanci explains her love for Woolie’s, what the plucked guitar string represents and her reaction to spotting a Woolworths in central London on her first visit to Europe.

‘I wanted them to stop the car and let me out
so I could go fill up my suitcase with unnesceary plastic objects‘

Nanci Griffiths – ‘Love at the Five and Dime‘ (MP3)
X-Ray Spex – ‘Warrior In Woolworths’ (MP3)
Stanley Holloway – ‘Albert and The Lion‘ (MP3)
Hart Rouge – ‘Love at the Five and Dime‘ (MP3)

Woolworths 1971 Stereo Spectacular sale (Youtube)
Jasper Carrot says Argos is staffed entirely by people who failed their Woolworths exams

TRACKS OF THE MONTH (to be continued)

Alva Noto – ‘U_08-1‘ (MP3)
Yila – ‘Crush (feat. Alistair McNeill and Polarbear)’ (MP3)
Drums of Death – ‘dodfucksupanescorttune’ (MP3)
Torche – ‘Triumph Of Venus’ (MP3)
Madlib – ‘Dillalade Ride (Contact High)’ (MP3)
Richard Skelton – ‘Brook’ (MP3)
Busy Signal – ‘Tic Toc’ (MP3)
Mondkopf – ‘Sainte’ (MP3)
Lulu Lounge – ‘Bless You (MKLSMPSN remix)’ (MP3)
Lanterns on the Lake – ‘My Shield’ (MP3)
Charles Hamilton – ‘Two Left Feet (Swaggerless Swag)’ (MP3)

‘If there’s one rapper you need to know about its him‘

Never has an opening line summed up the presenters knowledge so well… No Alan, put your glasses on the script says ‘There’s one rapper I’ve heard of, its him‘. Leaving aside the insulting you only need to know one rapper premise, even the Jigga man’s greatest fan might struggle to argue he’s the best from three decades or more of Hip-Hop. Don’t get me started on the later assertion that ‘Reasonable Doubt‘ is one of the greatest Rap albums of all time!

Despite all this, the programmes actually quite watchable (UK users see on iPlayer here)and Yentob seems genuinely enthusiastic about his subject.

Hopefully we can look forward to ill judged presenter choice working in reverse.
Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s death robbed us of the perfect presenter for BBC1’s look back on the reign of Queen Elizabeth the Second. And how about Dizzee Rascal on Shostakovich… ‘man if there’s one classical dude you need to hear its him‘. He’s already told Jeremy Paxman he’s running for Prime Minister. (YouTube – Dizzee for PM!)
Oh yes and the Beeb broadcast a couple of overpaid idiots leaving rude messages on Manuel’s answer phone. The nation – stoked by its twin moral compasses – The Daily Mail and The Sun were outraged (rightfully as it goes). Taking time out from trying to destroy the BBC, Rupert Murdoch also gave us a glimpse of the standards we’ll get when he succeeds by announcing an Obama victory could worsen the global financial crisis.

Thankfully 52% of American voters ignored two years of smears and lie’s from his ‘fair and balanced‘ Fox News network and voted ‘OBAMA 08′.

Nas – ‘Get Down (Quantic Soul Orchestra mix)‘ (MP3)

BEST OF THE MONTH

‘Oyster cards work through bags and purses
We got the best damn night bus service‘

Marvin The Martian pays tribute to late night London capers, Kebab shops, bubble bottom girls, and errr the night bus service. Taken from his FREE mixtape ‘Somebodys watching me’ available here.

Marvin The Martian and Jack Nimble – ‘London City (Beautiful)‘ (MP3)

Another mixtape, this time a limited edition CD with guest appearances from the likes of Scroobius Pip along with an Anchorman dub track.
Dub Step, Hip Hop, Pop all held together with tongue in cheek lyrics, although I thought the chorus ‘Summer 98‘ was ‘it was the middle of summer… we had sex’ until I finally heard the last bit as ‘In Essex‘ the other day.

‘Britains got talent… We got most of it’

Producers With Computers – ‘Summer 98 (remix)‘ (MP3)
Myspace

Apparently this brilliant Biggie Small cover version was all over the internet earlier in the year, but somehow passed me by.

The soaring strings and choirs are a joy, like the best of Beck and Eels with of course Biggie’s lyrics.
New single ‘Yours‘ (YouTube) proves he’s not just another ‘my own material is weak but check out my cover versions‘ merchant.

Dan Black – ‘Hypntz‘ (MP3)
Myspace

The second Bruce Springsteen track in as many months who says this blog isnt cutting edge!
Released to fans as a ‘little Halloween treat‘ its a gloriously low down dirty bluesy number.

In 1735 a lady gave birth to her 13th child that transformed into an evil creature. The horrified parents threw him in the river, where he now haunts the people of Jersey.

Bruce Springsteen – ‘A Night With The Jersey Devil‘ (MP3) / Video

Offical site / Lyrics

To make ‘The Story‘ Matthew Herbert sampled 70 copies of the sun newspaper. 70 celebrity gossip magazines. one copy of the nme. one madonna album. one copy of wallpaper magazine.  Every track on his new album is constructed from such artsy samples, including one project to record powerful people saying ‘Yes’. The Queen said ‘No’.
To read about under-reported and overlooked stories Matthew recommends Projectcensored.org.

Matthew Herbert Big Band – ‘The Story (Edit)‘ (MP3)
Accidental Records / Myspace

Kwaidan is a one-off project inspired by Masaki Kobayashi’s movie of the same name. Mat Ranson turns his hand to a longer format narrative, dispensing with his more usual hip hop styled rhythms for a more fluid darker brooding style of slow burning techno.

Kwaidan – ‘Masaki‘ (MP3)
Myspace

Mountains make dense laptop and loop based music that builds and builds swelling up as melodic sounds burst through the mix.

This taken from their much anticipated new album features acoustic instrumentation and field recordings blending in with subtle electronics.

Mountains – ‘Brown Glass Typewriter‘ (MP3)
Buy

Armed with banks of analouge synthesisers and vintage drum machines, Jonas pays tribute to 70’s Krautrock with a sprawling pulsating album.
Crept Idea For Mom sounds like music in Colonel Walter E. Kurtz’s head as he Acid trips his way through Apocolypse Now.

Jonas Reinhardt – ‘Crept Idea For Mom‘ (MP3)
Buy / Myspace

A bit of jazz from Bohren and Der Club Of Gore new album. It’s not straight Jazz, but a darker more understated take on the genre.  Bohren (German for drilling) were formed by ex members of a Hardcore Metal band who obviously wanted to get in touch with their ambient jazz ballad side.

Bohren and Der Club Of Gore – ‘Unkerich‘ (MP3)
Myspace

Peter Broderick’s gorgeous new album seems set to capture the Jose Gonzales market this Christmas.  It’s achingly beautiful but I’ve still got a soft spot for his previous more instrumental debut.
Piano, violins, and cello’s combine in this wide screen filmic beauty from the obscenly talented 21 year old.

Peter Broderick – ‘Floating / Sinking‘ (MP3)
Buy / Myspace

Any month that includes a new Akira The Don mixtape is a fine one indeed. ATD 16 is here and as ever it’s free from Akira’s website or for a fiver you can get an individually spray painted CD case complete with your name “Is The Don” on the cover.
Mine featured some wonky spelling and a broken badge, but as if by magic a fresh corrected copy landed on my doormat the next morning.

ATD 16’s easily the best mixtape since ohh… ATD 15, featuring as it does all manner of cover versions, sneak previews of the new album, and general brilliance. On its 20th anniversary NWA’s “Express Yourself” gets reworked East London style with doo-wop, Dot Cotton, and the classic rhyme:
“Simmer Simmer, I need a blade for my strimmer“

The Pet Shop Boys “Rent” is also “Don’ed” along with the finest remix of 2008, Akira’s take on Gonzo’s “Working Together“. It’s not all played for laughs, the stark “Eleven In My Mind” is a brooding warning as our civil liberties disappear in the name of fighting “terror”.

Head to the one man multi-media empire that is Akira’s website to buy the CD, T-shirt or download the mix, or why not grab the acapella’s and enter the remix competition (the best will appear on a forthcoming mixtape).

Akira The Don – “Eleven In My Mind” (MP3)

UPDATE: So Akira noticed I’d posted Eleven In My Mind and where some might have sent in the lawyers he posted a full version with intro/outro, an acapella, and instrumental version on his blog. Grab it here now. Cheers Akira!

TRACKS OF THE MONTH

Mercury Rev’s latest album will be hitting the top of those end of year lists in a few months time, and their last single “Senses On Fire” just got a tasty new remix. Fujiya & Miyagi make the track their own with clattering drums, and much more club appeal than the rock approach of the original.
For extra goodness the record company sent over a track by new signing Jape, who’s been remixed by Friendly Fires… very nice it is too!

Mercury Rev – “Senses On Fire (Fujiya & Miyagi mix)” (MP3)
Jape – “Strike Me Down (Friendly Fires mix)” (MP3)

Considering this blog is named after a classic Ska track there’s been shamefully few reggae tracks here recently.
So to put that right straight away, a tune from Tony Rebel thats doing damage to both the dancefloor and the English language, “My Love on Fyah“. For riddim spotters, its on the Baltimore riddim.

Tony Rebel – “My Love On Fyah” (MP3)

Recorded in a Manchester bedsit Sally Murray’s EP will delight fans of Dylan, Drake and Yansch but it also jumps musical styles enough to surprise anyone making assumptions based on those influences. Bowed & de-tuned guitars, lap steel, and ghostly voices all make an appearance topped with her own versatile but beautiful voice. The steel guitar on “Changes On The Ground” is just gorgeous!

Sally Murray – “Changes On The Ground” (MP3)
Sally Murray Myspace

The English love to portray the French as a bit nutty so what better way to reinforce some steareotypes than a joyously bonkers album from GaBLé. Hip-Hop, Indie, drunk foxes, and hoovers are squeezed into 40 minutes of madness.

GaBLé – “No One Knows” (MP3)
Gable Myspace
Buy: Gable – “7 Guitars with a Cloud of Milk“

MIXES OF THE MONTH
Aside from Akira’s epic there were plenty of other superb mixes to enjoy this month.
Lack Of Afro attempted to dampen the clamour for his new album by launching a monthly mix, hosted by clothing company Node. Its what you’d expect from Adam, ie the funkiest tunes you’ve (n)ever heard.
Mix 1 has vanished from the site already so I’ve popped it up here for a short while (The Nas remix is soooo good). Follow the links below to nab Mix 2.

Lack of Afro – “Node clothing mix 01” (MP3) / Tracklist

Visit Node website to download Lack of Afro Mix 2 / Tracklist

Music and politics are often uneasy bedfellows, and road to the White house is littered with the ill-advised political musings of rock stars.

DJ Z-Trip wisely sticks to what he does best, fast and fabulous mixing of the finest tunes, with Obama’s speeches cut up, and a bit of McCain/Bush thrown in for comic effect/warning. The music covers all bases from rock to rap.

You’ll love it even if you HATE politics! It even manages to get away with being the 485th mixtape to use “The Terrorist” T.e.r.r.o….

Visit DJ Z-Trips site to download the mix in either radio friendly or unaltered flavours.

Enough politics? Try a half an hour of huge bass, rattly breakbeats and daft bleep courtesy of the British Males. Featuring Hot Chip mixes, Drums of Death, Ofra Haza, and that Mujava track thats about to go Oizo on the charts.

British Males are concerned about the quality of your evening and provide free mixes here.

AND FINALLY..

Something very very much NOT SAFE FOR WORK, but as its the work of Flying Lotus I had to post. Seriously don’t watch this at work – unless your work involves putting videos in brown bags for married men.

Directed by Eric Wareheim (Tim & Eric) in association with Warp Records and Warp Films. Music by Flying Lotus. Co Directed/ Animation by Devin Flynn. Co Directed/ Edited by Eric Fensler. More info at dancefloordale.com

AUGUST BOOTY

Limited edition runs of 1970s style DJ re-edits seem to be flying off vinyl pressing plants at the moment. Far removed from the mash-ups of recent years (mix Nirvana with Destiny’s Child) the whole point is to stretch out the original source for the dancefloor.

Stumbling across Eamon Harkin’s blog was my find of the month. As is often the case Piccadilly Records brought Eamons name to my attention, stocking his wonderfully warped out version of John Carpenter’s “Assault on Precinct 13“. His website features mixes and edits of a better quality than you find on most expensive limited edition 12″ runs.
Harkin’s re-edit of Bill Withers “Harlem” layers soaring strings, stabs, killer drums, social commentary and more up and up, building till you think it impossible to rise again, only for another blast of strings to floor you again. Phenomenal

Bill Withers – “Harlem (Eamon Harkin Edit)” (MP3)
Visit Eamon’s blog for his latest re-edits all the way from the Human League to the Loose Jointz.

WINDRUSH ON DVD

Of the first weekly selection of tunes from my brother and fellow blogger “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before“, it may have been the Jay-Z/Daft Punk booty that sent the Hype Machine into a frenzy but it was “Spit It Out” by Warning! Heat Ray! that stopped people in their tracks.

As the song deals with immigration it’s fitting that Warning! Heat Ray! have also started a campaign to get the BBC to release their sublime 60th anniversary of Windrush documentary on DVD. Find out more, email Auntie, do the facebook thing and get this essential historical document on the shelves and in the classroom.

Hidden away on Hip-Hop Connection’s cover CD “Blighty” turns the history of Black Britain into a love song, a stormy love but love nevertheless. Natalie Williams provides the beautiful chorus that appears to be the standard fare of troubled relationship’s… it could be Rhianna’s latest but Doc Brown subverts the norm with his insightful rap.

“You stay in my veins like the Smith in my name, from this tiny island that I came”

Accuse me all you like of being a soft Guardian reading, hummus eating namby pamby liberal who sees London as some kind of multi-cultural playground where the worlds people join hands and skip happily to work everyday but I cant listen to this song without getting tingles down my back. I’ve tried believe me, and everytime..seriously everytime…it happens.

Maybe its just me? Have a listen…

Doc Brown – “Blighty” (MP3)
Doc Brown Myspace

THE RETURN OF BOMB THE BASS, BLUES & SUPERSOUL!

I own practically every tune, remix, or white label Bomb The Bass, Coldcut and S*xpress every released. They were my personal punk, the overthrowing of boring chart music and endless guitar solo’s by a bunch of geek’s with no musical training and a sampler!

So the long awaited return of Tim Simenon aka Bomb The Bass is something of an event. The first few tracks to emerge from the new album show Tim’s usual skill at roping in the latest and greatest talent in the “Featuring…” slot. John Spencer features as he did on Coldcuts last album, while on “Butterfingers” Fujiya and Miyagi are complimented by a sparse but gloriously burbling backing. Sink into the squelch!

Bomb The Bass – “Butterfingers (feat. Fujiya & Miyagi)” (MP3)

Watch the video here (Quicktime)

Bomb The Bass Myspace to preview the album

The influences of Krautrock, Electro, Chicago house, Italio disco and Detroit techno are all over DFA’s fantastic new compilation of the finest from Berlin’s Supersoul records. To appreciate “Deuteronomy Brown” you need to listen loud in the car, club or destroying your hearing on little white earplugs. That slap bass kills me.

Walter Jones – “Deuteronomy Brown (If edit)” (MP3)

Buy “Nobody Knows Anything DFA Presents Supersoul Recordings“ – Recommended!

If you want free downloads from across the musical spectrum forget this site and head to Puregroove Records. Almost everyday they have a free download from the store of the freshest and widest ranging new music out there. One day it’ll be some 8-bit house track and the next it’ll be Honkyfinger’s Blues! Armed only with a slide steel guitar, a kick drum and a beard he creates a phenomenal Bluegrass stomper. I’ve not seen him myself yet but Puregroove assure me he’s superb live too.

Of course they also tie up any visiting acts (see instores) and only release them once theyve signed every copy of their record in the store, but they also usually throw in Puregroove exclusive goodies like mixes, badges or prints.

Honkeyfinger – “Burning Skull Blues” (MP3)

Honkyfinger Myspace

THE LARGEST RECORD COLLECTION IN THE WORLD

Paul Mawhinney owns the largest private record collection in the world with over 1 million albums and a million and a half singles dating back to 1881 (the first flat record). The majority are available on anything other than vinyl but due to ill health Paul’s already closed his record store and has been looking for someone to take over his life’s work for a decade now.

As Paul puts it “Basically no one gives a damn!“. This is the story of one man and his music (thanks to I Guess I’m Floating for posting).

“Music was my first love and it will be my last”

600 HIP HOP CLASSICS IN ONE MIX

Talking of vast record collections Bobby Corridor’s dusted off 600 HipHop classics, put them in his magic blender and somehow squeezed them all into an hour and a half. Its witchcraft I tell you!

Visit here to download Bobby Corridor’s – “History Of Hip-Hop mix”

No month would be complete without a little Steinski. A rather tasty video to his classic “Lessons” record appeared, check it below:

ESSENTIAL LINKS

Vintage Reggae fans take a trip here to learn about and listen to the history of the “Answer” Rhythm.

Linkset.net have uploaded every single BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix from 1993 to 2008. Enough mixes to keep you listening 24 hours a day for a few months… slightly bonkers but head over here if you like mixes.

LACK OF AFRO

“Press On” the debut album from Lack Of Afro was one of the albums of 2007, effortlessly straddling the cool crowd and the less so. The lovingly crafted samples, and stomping funk had the Hoxton set convinced the Avalanches had made a funk album, while Radio 2 lapped up the tunes and the inspired use of Steve Harriet’s golden voice on killer single “Touch My Soul“.
Brilliant though it was, I approached the live show with some trepidation… how would such a heavily sample based album translate up close and personal at The Jazz Cafe?
The Answer: Main man Adam Gibbons simply transformed Lack Of Afro into a phenomenally tight five man funk machine. Gibbons’s brilliant drumming is at the heart with added sax, guitar, bass and DJ for those essential vocal snippets. Damon Minchella in particular added extra dirt to the show with the most fantastic low down squelching bass lines ever. At first I couldn’t actually believe he was getting the sound out of his bass guitar, assuming that it must be a sample but no that guy must have a serious effects pedal (see his own fun project Trio Valore Inc, below)

In short check out the Lack Of Afro live show for furious funk with the occaisional inspired cover thrown in (The Arctic Monkeys never sounded funkier). It can get even better with the arrival of album No.2 in November and the essential Lack Of Afro remixes to keep us overdosed on funk in the meantime (look out for the Hot 8 Brass Band mix in particular – listen on myspace).

Lack Of Afro Myspace / Lack Of Afro Remixes Myspace
LISTEN: Mr Konfuse – “Lookout Weekend (Lack Of Afro Disco mix)” (MP3)
Trio Valore Inc – “Miracolo Dub” (MP3)
BUY: Lack Of Afro – “Press On” – Highly recommended

STAN HALEN

Down in deepest Ohio, brothers Dan and Stan Halen had an upbringing steeped in the country and rock n roll of their folks. They wanted nothing more than to be in a band, and to meet Heather Locklear.
A few misdemeanours found them briefly behind bars where they met a certain Jimmy Green and bonded over a shared love of mullet headed 1980s soft rock.

Once free the unlikely trio set about achieving their dreams, i.e. making a record combining the rock of Van Halen with the country of their youth, but most importantly becoming famous enough for Ms. Locklear!!

Who’d have guessed “Jump” was such a great Country and Western song!!?

Stan Halen Myspace
LISTEN: Stan Halen – “Jump” (MP3)

SCROOBIUS PIP’S SPOKEN WORD SURGERY

Colin Murray is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most open minded DJ’s on Radio 1’s roster. Who else would hand Scroobius Pip a regular spoken word slot on his show? That’s right, spoken word every Thursday at 10.30ish on Radio 1!

The first edition began in fine style with Polar Bear performing “David” and hopefully many more hugely talented spoken word acts will get a well deserved but rare spotlight shone on them in the coming weeks. Many thanks Mr. Murray, although it should be remembered this is the mighty John Peel’s old slot but small steps should always be applauded.

Scroobius Pip Myspace / Polar Bear Myspace
LISTEN: Every Thursday on Colin Murray’s Radio 1 show + listen again.
Polar Bear – “David (Live on Scroobius Pip’s Spoken Word Surgery)” (MP3)
Polar Bear – “Candlelight” (MP3)

A quick click on Scroobius’s Myspace friends revealed that Stuart James – long time favourite of this site – also has new material coming. As ever most of his tracks are available for free download, while we await a well overdue first single or album from James.

Stuart James – “Hello (Camberwell Hit Factory mix)” (MP3)
Stuart James Myspace – loads of free downloads

Actually while on the subject of spoken word, I did Paul Heaton a disservice last month when applauding what I lauded as a genius cover of Bootsy Collins. It turns out it was actually a poem written by Heaton which Bootsy read for that other former Housemartin, Fat Boy Slim for inclusion on his Late Night Tales compilation.
I did think the lyrics were uncannily witty, acerbic and perfectly suited for Paul! Fine reading by Bootsy though!

Bootsy Collins – “Everything is Everything” (MP3)

Paul Heaton – “Everything Is Everything” (MP3)

BUY: Paul Heaton – “Cross Eyed Rambled“ – Brand new solo album from England’s finest lyricist!

ALBUM OF THE MONTH – JAMES YORKSTON
BUY: Pre-Order the absolutely beautiful special edition version of the new James Yorkston album

Back with album No.4 James Yorkston is also releasing a rather special limited edition version with all sorts of goodies. It comes in a box, with 2×10″ versions, the album itself on CD, another stuffed with amazing remixes of Yorkston finest moments, and best of all a full album of interpretations of Yorkston songs by a range of artists. Not only that but tucked away Willy Wonker style in one of the 1000 editions is a golden ticket entitling its holder to James writing a song specially for them and possibly (if you don’t live on the other side of the planet) performing it for you in person!!

Oh and there’s also an enamel badge.

James Yorkston Myspace / James Yorkston Covers album Myspace

LISTEN: Rozi Plain – “The Lang Toun” (MP3)

THE BEATLES

Not sure what it is with the cover version-fest this month but lets continue with the Beatles.
This months MoJo magazine comes with a White Album tribute CD with covers of all the albums tracks. One of the highlights comes from Joan As Police Woman’s take on “I Will“.
Elsewhere 1970s Japanese drummer Jimmy Takeuchi takes Sgt. Peppers and gives it a funk make over. Wonderful version and what’s more the “Stoned Circus” 7″ from which this is taken contains an equally splendid AA Side. “The Hen’s March” is the only known example of a genre known as “Bagpipe-funk!

Jimmy Takeuchi – “Sgt. Peppers” (MP3)
Joan As Police Woman – “I Will” (MP3)

SRI LANKAN GOODNESS

I’ve clearly got to pay more attention to the sounds emanating out of Sri Lanka if Kamaj vs Nanda Malani is anything to go by. The wonderfully wonky parping bass riff running throughout is particularly good, but it’s the unexpected instruments and vocal snippets breaking through the mix that shine. Video games, and ancient sounding flutes rub shoulders with sitars? Kamaj is clearly one to watch.

Myspace Kamaj
Kamaj vs Nanda Malani – “The Bushman’s Lost Nanda Malani Tape” (MP3)

Finally The Muppets flip out to M.O.P’s classic “Ante Up” – You Tube clip of the month – Brilliant!!

Massive Attack – “16 Seeter (Feat. Horace Andy)” (MP3)

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!!

Paul Heaton – “Everything Is Everything” (MP3)

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.

Hedluv – “Smokin’ Ban” (MP3)

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.

Christian Prommer - Myspace

Listen: Christian Prommer – “Can You Feel It?” (MP3)

Buy: Christian Prommer – “Drum Lessons Vol.1” (itunes)/ Boomkat / Play / Amazon

Watch: Christian Prommer – “Can You Feel It?” (Youtube)

MIXES

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.

Fourtet – “DJ Mix” (MP3)
Myspace
Buy: Fourtet – “Ringer” Mini-album

Depth Charge vs. DJ Wrongtom – “Kanetiquette” (MP3) / Tracklist / Artwork
Depth Charge vs. Duke Spook – “Late Night Kung-Fu Lovers” (MP3) / Tracklist
Wrongtom Myspace / DC Recordings Radio show

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.

And The Left Handed – “Disturbing You” (MP3)
And The Left Handed Myspace
Buy: DC Recordings – “Death Before Distemper, Vol.1”
Preorder Vol.2: The Revenge Of The Iron Ferret!!!

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.

Roots Manuva – “Witness (Floorman M20 Edit)” (MP3)
Watch the “Witness” video, otherwise known as the greatest music video ever made.
Visit The Floorman Blog for re-edits galore / Roots Manuva Myspace

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.

Nursery of Naughtiness – “The Collision” (MP3)
Nursery of Naughtiness Myspace

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”.

The Winchell Riots – “The Man Who Mapped The Oceans” (MP3)
Winchell Riots Myspace
Buy: The Winchell Riots – “Histories EP” / Special Limited edition artwork version / HMV

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.

Daru Beats – “Its On You (feat. Ketha Doree)” (MP3)
The Daru Spirit / Soul Hop Sampler is available to download from here or here.

MASTERMIX THOSE NUMBER 1 TUNES

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.

“MLD Radio: Podcast 01 (03/08) with a bit of politics” (MP3)

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.

“Returning Your Call – Kelpe Mixtape March 2008” (MP3)

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.

Visit Cosmic Boogie Collective for free mix download (plus two others)
Greg Wilson – “Two Sides Of Sympathy” (MP3) – Just one killer version of The Stones

LIVE ON LATER WITH JOOLS HOLLAND

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).

Neil Cowley Trio – “His Nibs (Live on Later with Jools Holland)” (MP3)
Neil Cowley Trio Myspace

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).

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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:

Pase Rock – “So Fucking Disco” (MP3) – Pase Rock Myspace

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.

Julian Cope – “Soon To Forget Ya” (MP3) – Cope Website

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“.

Alela Diane – “The Pirate’s Gospel” (MP3) – Alela Myspace

GONZALES

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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!

Gonzales – “Apology” (MP3)

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.

KELPE – Myspace / Kelpe.co.uk (visit for FREE download)

Kelpe – “Skylla” (MP3)

Buy: Kelpe – “Ex-Aquarium” from Amazon / MP3’s from Bleep

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WIN THE ALBUM OF THE MONTH(YEAR?)

The Superimposers – Harpsichord Treacle

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”

The Superimposers Myspace / Wonderful Sound label / Side project Dan Solo Myspace

Listen:
The Superimposers – “Golden” (MP3)

The Superimposers – “Leave It All Behind” (MP3) – from 2nd Album

An hour of the Superimposers music and influences on the Wonderful Sound Podcast – Visit here.

Buy:

The Superimposers – “Harpsichord Treacle” from Rough Trade / Pre-order deluxe edition from Wonderful Sound (out Feb 11th)

YOU’VE GOT MAIL

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.

LPX Myspace (inc. 3 FREE downloads)

Visit LPX’s blog “Easy Music For Difficult Ears“ updated practically daily with irreverent musings on music and life by “a miserable irish wanker”

Listen:

LPX – “When The Gods Punish Me” (MP3)

Buy:

LPX – “Seventeen” from Road records

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“.

Dr. Rubberfunk Myspace /  Funkydown.com (free mixes)

Listen:

Dr. Rubberfunk – “Theme For A Latter Day Lothario (Lost Idol Remix)” (MP3)

Buy:

Dr.Rubberfunk – “My Life @ 33 Remixes” – 12″ / Digital downloads (with bonus tracks)

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.

Visit The BBC Introducing site for more.

Listen:
The Ting Tings “Great DJ (Live @ Maida Vale)” (MP3) – Myspace
Riz MC – “Sour Times” (Live @ Maida Vale)” (MP3) – Myspace
Late Of The Pier – “Space and the Woods (Live @ Maida Vale)” (MP3) – Myspace
Amy Winehouse – “No Good (Scroobius & Le Sac Bootleg)” (MP3) (repost) – Myspace