Cats and Cats and Cats October 29, 2007

One of the first songs ever posted on this blog, over a year ago, was Hot Club de Paris’ Sometimesitsbetternototstickbitsofeachotherineachotherforeachother. A wonderful example of indie rock moving into its own post-rock stage, it was a song far more reminiscent of Godspeed You! Black Emperor than anything that had hit the NME chart in the last year.

Taking cues from the same musical landscape as Hot Club de Paris, Cats and Cats and Cats are a five piece (plus trumpet) from Staines, who have just put out a split EP with This Town Needs Guns (more on them later) on Big Scary Monsters. Alternately creating rhythmic, loud and almost mathematical songs, akin to Hot Club and 65daysofstatic, and lush soundscapes that are closer to Mogwai, they have already been tipped as the (a?) next big thing by Huw Stephens, but the deciding factor will be whether, second time around, the mainstream is more open to post-rock. If they are, then these cats could go far.Brilliant the Brilli Ant is the opening track to the split EP, while Happiness for Lola is the closer to their debut Victorialand EP.

Cats and Cats and Cats – Brilliant the Brilli Ant [MP3 via indiechristoph]

Cats and Cats and Cats – Happiness for Lola [MP3 via MySpace]

Image ganked from fofurasfelinas on flickr

Woody’s Roundup October 1, 2007

A couple of unconnected, but, in their own special way, awesome tracks for you today.
First up is a cut from M.I.A.’s new album, Kala. M.I.A. has done a lot with this album, not least making it listenable from beginning to end. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love her to bits, but I did find my ears bleeding if I attempted to play more than three tracks from Arular back to back. It seemed like the same thing that made her so unique threatened to be her downfall as well.
Kala proves that she can tone down the, um, abrasive quality of her music and still sound unlike any other artist recording today. The first single, Boyz, was a real return to form, and heralded even greater critical success, as well as a US top 10.
But it wasn’t supposed to be the lead single. That honour was originally reserved for Paper Planes, a very different track that samples the Clash’s Straight to Hell to great effect. Unfortunately, someone at the label realised that a song with the chorus “All I wanna do is *Gunshots* and *Kerching* make some money” probably wouldn’t go down well with clear channel. Or any radio programmers.
The other track is one by Plushgun, who’ve soaked the airwaves internet with their latest single. No reason why they shouldn’t have – its good, replete with lyrics that seem clever but acutally… make… little… sense.

I walk the line like Johnny Cash/I made the bus in seconds flat/I called your line too many times/I’m not obsessed, just impolite.

M.I.A. – Paper Planes [MP3]
Plushgun – Just Impolite [MP3]

These things are cool: Kanye West September 24, 2007

I’ve been meaning to do a post on Kanye for a while, but by the time I got round to writing the first one, it was too long after the release of Stronger for me to really do anything with that.
Then Graduation came out, and to say I was uninspired by that would be an understatement. I seem pretty alone in that opinion, although Drowned in Sound seems to agree with me, the money quote being

Five years’ time, tool up like Ralph Wiggum and prepare to say “I can’t believe I used to go out with you” every time he walks past.

But I’ve always thought I should say something about him, if only to point out the arrogance of releasing “Stronger by Kanye West”, rather than the more, um, accurate “Harder. Better. Faster. Stronger. [Kanye West Mix],” which is what that song is. Still, it satisfies my lust for strange cover versions, so who am I to complain, really?
Anyway, the recent thing that brought mister West back to me was another strange cover, this time with 30 Seconds to Mars covering him covering Daft Punk. An interesting choice, but sadly all it does is prove how the merits in each of the two originals were the (variously) brilliant orchestration, fantastic beats, and, of course, Kanye’s delivery. None of which feature on this, leaving a dreary, repetitive (nearly seven minute) drudge through an already too-familiar song.

30 Seconds to Mars – Stronger [MP3 via Mixtape Maestro]
Kanye West – Stronger (Mano Remix) [MP3 via indiechristoph]

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Re-imagining September 17, 2007

So it seems that for the 40th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the BBC got a whole bunch of bands to re-interpret the entire album. Clearly I’m behind on this knowledge, as the 40th anniversary was actually in June, but I don’t think I’ve been missing out that much.The problem is that while re-interpretations sound a good idea, they are very rarely carried off with the flair that is needed. The idea sounds fantastic; take something with proven success, and then pump as many different bands into it as possible. The end result will be a wide-ranging, eclectic album, with a solid foundation and as many different fan bases to tap into as there are bands on the disc.

The problem is, this is rarely the end result. Sometimes, this is because of following the money – the awful cover of Perfect Day that the BBC released is an example of that. Cram as many famous faces as you can in, without regard as to whether they will improve the song, and then release it to a celeb-hungry audience, and watch the sales grow and grow.

Of course, other times, it can be the reverse. No one can accuse George Martin of chasing the money while making In My Life, just of masturbating furiously at the mixing deck shouting “I AM A GENIUS” while Jim Carey sings performs I am the Walrus. The end result is an, uh, mixed album, although I’ll be the first to attest to the brilliance of Jeff Beck’s cover of A Day in the Life.

The problem with this latest series of covers is that they expose the fact that, in a way, every popular guitar band of the last 40 years is just doing their best Beatles impression. Without any creative direction, if you put Razorlight or the Kaiser Chiefs in a studio and ask them to cover a Beatles song, what you get is something that is almost, but not quite, a perfect reproduction. Which, of course, makes it completely pointless to listen to.

Lou Reed et al – Perfect Day [YouTube]
Jeff Beck – A Day in the Life [YouTube]
Kaiser Chiefs – Getting Better [MP3]

Algebraic! September 10, 2007

Sometimes there are cultural phenomena. Something new arrives on the scene, and, for no apparent reason, shoots, briefly to the top of the world.Sometimes there are internet phenomena. These are the same basic thing, except with magic dogs and psychedelic rainbows. One perfect example of this is the cartoon Adventure Time. Shown but once on TV, on a Nickelodeon pilots compilation, it, like much before it, gained a second life on YouTube. It is totally rhombus.

Anyway, much of the music that you can hear on that program – in fact, all, save the opening theme – is by one man, called Casey James. One of the kings of this modern world, Casey appears to be able to do anything. He had a hand on the CGI for Pirates of the Caribbean, he produces fine photography and drawings, he is in the worlds “premier ukulele and gameboy band”, and he stopped the undead rampage of Imhotep.
Its the ukulele and gameboy band I want to focus on. Called Casey James and the Staypuft Kid, they have but one downloadable song from their myspace, and no CDs out. So I guess I’ll look at the song.
It sounds like Conor Oberst having a breakdown in a toy factory (as a side note, does anyone else like those kind of comparisons?). The general background ambience is just of the right side of disney, while the actual song, if forced into traditional instrumentation, would fit right into Bright Eyes back catalogue. I like that.

Casey James and the Staypuft Kid – Songbirds and Ghetto Blasters [MP3]
Casey James and the Staypuft Kid [MySpace]

These things are cool: Kate Nash September 5, 2007

If you are from Great Britain, you will, by now, have heard of Kate Nash, and probably be strongly opinionated in some way. Shooting to number one with her second single, Foundations, she was derided by many as just knock-off Lily Allen, down to the same kooky dress sense, mockney accent, and impressive production values. It doesn’t help that she was boosted to fame by, of all things, being in Allen’s Top 8 on Myspace.
There are, of course, differences, some more flattering than others. For instance, just five seconds of genuine hipster-shit first single Caroline is a Victim will tell you she has her own unique roots. Sadly, six seconds of it, and you will be screaming for it to stop. Bizarrely, despite leaving it off her album, and not writing any other songs like it, Nash still insists it has its merits. I’ve posted it for you to decide.
After that outrage of a song, it was surprising, to say the least, to hear Foundations, but hear it we did. Being fantastic, it rightly shot to number one, and everyone heard it. And then heard it some more. And, eventually, started trying to stop hearing it.
I’m not posting that. I’ve heard it too much myself, and if you have, you won’t thank me, and if you haven’t, you can find it elsewhere.
What I would like to post is a remix I picked up from indiechristoph. As everybody knows, remixes are variable. Remixes by Metronomy are not, however. I know I’m a bit slow on this one, but give me a break, I’ve been on holiday.

Kate Nash – Caroline is a Victim [MP3 via The Putz Factory]
Kate Nash – Foundations (Metronomy Remix) [MP3 via indiechristoph]
Kate Nash – Made of Bricks [Album]

Image by dramaqueenraj on flickr under Creative Commons

These things are cool: Kid Harpoon September 4, 2007

After posting Kid Harpoon’s cover of Going Down (one of the singalongs of the summer, for me at least), I felt I should do him justice with a post of his own. Hailing from the same stable of slightly psychedelic, Sid Barrett-influenced Twickenham bands as Mystery Jets and Larrikin Love, Kid (Mr Harpoon?) didn’t enjoy the same level of fame as they did, although looking at their fates, that is probably for the best in the long run – better to be a slow-burner than a fad, surely. Still, his music is instantly familiar, solosingersongwriter fare, but with a genuine dark twist in it that isn’t seen enough these days, Late for the Devil being a classic example.

Well I suppose, better than never my soul

Is late for the devil

I must have missed him calling out

Or something like that.

I must admit, however, in my mind Kid Harpoon has always been a bit of a cover queen, given that his my two favourite songs are the aforementioned collaboration and a version of First We Take Manhattan by Leonard Cohen. I am sure that this is due to failure on my part and not his, but it still leaves me wanting more than I have received.

I should thank Transparent Magazine for these demos – I’m not sure they’ve ever been available for download, so without them, this would just be a redirect to the myspace page.

Kid Harpoon – Late for the Devil [MP3 via Transparent Magazine]
Kid Harpoon – First We Take Manhattan [MP3 via Transparent Magazine]
Kid Harpoon [MySpace]

Image by loungerie from Flickr under Creative Commons

It’s all take take take. September 3, 2007

I said I would follow up the Tunng post when I got more money, and, well, that was a half truth. I’m still album-less, but I can now write a post about Good Arrows, the new album.
Based on what I’ve heard so far, it represents a genuine progression from their previous album, somehow becoming both more of an abstract soundscape, and a lot more accessible.
The song Take is a good example of that. Despite having even less of a “structure” than previous songs such as Jenny Again or Woodcat, it seems instantly recognisable, and, while it lacks some of the recognisable film samples that made the previous album such a unique proposition, it makes up for it with the intense layering of all kinds of instruments, and a true feeling of coherence throughout the whole recording that makes you feel like you just eavesdropped on something very special.
I also feel I should post another song from the second album, Woodcat. I assumed I’d posted it when it was released first time, because it is so damn good, but turns out I didn’t. Its the closest they got to a proper single, and there was even a video (of sorts) for it. Also, it needs to be listened to on headphones, because when the panning kicks in, your head ASPLODE.

Tunng – Take [MP3, Album]
Tunng – Woodcat [MP3]

These things are cool: Florence and the Machine August 31, 2007

These things are cool. In which I post things which have gained that elusive quality of “Cool”.
Florence and the Machine are cool. Very cool. And indie succubus with the lungs of a goddess backed by a shady figure with an acoustic guitar, they can’t fail to impress. They are also very difficult to dislike (a rare trait in some of the bands in this scene), and musically capable in a classic way.
Despite not actually having a single out, Florence has created one of the greatest singalongs of the summer in the form of her duet with Kid Harpoon on a cover of Going Down, but to mention this would be to sell out her original stuff, including the fantastic Girl With 1 Eye.
Fact Magazine have done an interview with her which includes one particularly quoteable question:

You appear to have a song called ‘Donkey Kosh’. Does this title have anything to do with the fairly horrific sexual act of similar name?
What? What’s that? What have you been doing, I have never heard of a sexual act called donkey kosh.

Florence and the Machine – Girl With 1 Eye [MP3]
Florence and Kid Harpoon – Going Down [MP3]
Florence and the Machine [MySpace]

Jenny, who isn’t a friend of mine. August 27, 2007

Tunng are a band. Their third album is out today, but because I have little money, I am not going to write about that one. Yet.
Comments of the Inner Chorus is an album by the band Tunng. Until today, it was their most recent one, but all that has changed. What hasn’t changed is the sublime folktronica (new genre!) that it contains, and the perfect example of mashup culture that its use of film samples and obscure instruments makes it.
Jenny Again is a song by the band Tunng, on the album Comments of the Inner Chorus. Its upbeat melody conceals the fact that its a murder song. Why are they all murder songs? Its quite good. One for listening to on headphones – the panning really boosts the intensity.

Tunng – Jenny Again [MP3, Album]