Homo Eclectic

Glitter For Gold

2008-04-18T16:36:00.006+01:00

Being touted as the next big thing to watch out for ages by those in the know (you know them; they wear skinny jeans, have fashion beards those trendy 80s plastic glasses), Santogold finally delivers her self-titled album. Pushed back a few months from January to April, the album has been hyped to levels reminiscent of the whole Lily Allen launch with huge dollops of NME-esque street cred attached.

Sifting through the hype, I finally got round to listening to the album last night, and it’s actually quite good. Playing with a whole host of influences, (electro, indie rock, two-tone, 80s pop, reggaeton, dub) – this is an album from artist who likes her music (unsurprising given her A&R background). Vocally, Santogold switches around from sounding a bit like Gwen Stefanni, M.I.A. and at times (to my ears) Amy Winehouse (maybe just when she goes aaahoooo ?)

The standout track on the album is the opener, L.E.S. Artistes that maintains that fine balance between being a pop song that has the ability to retain its cool. Other tracks worth looking out for are; You’ll Find A Way (the second single I believe) which sound like something No Doubt would have done if they were still together, the Pretenders-esque I’m A Lady, and a song that makes me think of Amy Winehouse on heroin (oops): My Superman. Oh - and we love the seagull noises on the opening of Creator although compared to M.I.A., I’m not as taken by Santogold’s ragga takes.

As an aside, she also wrote Ashlee Simpson’s latest (and much to my embarrassment a song I like) single; Outta My Head.

MP3: Santogold – I’m A Lady
MP3: Santogold – My Superman
MP3: Ashlee Simpson – Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)

New English Song

2008-04-15T17:33:00.002+01:00

As someone who doesn’t tend to listen to the words of most songs (touch my body, umbrella-ella-ay-ay etc – hardly Shakespeare) and instead is seduced by the melody and beat of most music, it was quite refreshing to come across Love, Ire & Song, the sophmore album from Frank Turner (aka the former Million Dead frontman).

Continuing a path laid by the likes of Billy Bragg and The Levellers, Frank sings an engaging mix folk, power pop (think Lemonheads) and social commentary (without sounding half as dull or righteous as I have just made that sound).

I love the dry sense of humour that runs through most of the songs (and no-one’s really clear about Tommy’s job description, but it’s pretty clear he’s vital to the whole damn operation – on ‘I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous’ or she’s not as pretty as she thinks she is – just picture her after she’s had kids – I bet she sits at home and listens to The Smiths – on ‘Reasons To Be An Idiot’ – a song inspired by a friend’s ex who was “essentially a pillock”) and the personal tales that form the core of the album (‘IKPBHGF’ namechecks friends, ‘To Take You Home’ is about a girl who dumped Frank by the time recording was over, and the beautiful ‘Long Live The Queen’ is about a a friend of Frank’s who died of cancer).

On top of that Frank has a great way with words (and I'm enough of a nerd to find the title 'Imperfect Tense' funny).

An album filled in equal measure with optimimism, frustration and great song writing - or in other words; Love, Ire & Song - certainly one of my favourite releases of the year.

MP3: Frank Turner - I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous
MP3: Frank Turner - Photosynthesis
MP3: Frank Turner - Long Live The Queen

Dark Kisses

2008-04-13T09:48:00.003+01:00

For those days when the Pippettes are too darn chirpy, and what you really want to do is wallow, The Chapin Sisters might be just what the doctor ordered. The Chapin Sisters are three sisters from New York whose blend of traditional folk, lush three part harmonies and indie rock moodiness first came to light on their self titled EPs, and can now be heard on their first full length album: Lake Bottom LP.

While the sound is gentle folk and the vocal harmonies are exquisite (sometimes you can’t replicate the merging of voices from one family by even the most talented singers), the lyrics tell a melancholy story; with titles such as ‘Kill Me Now’ and lyrics such “scrub at my skin, till it’s so raw I might break through’. This mix of the beautiful and the depressed and sarcastic makes for engaging listening.

MP3: The Chapin Sisters – Kill Me Now
MP3: The Chapin Sisters – Wash Away
MP3: The Chapin Sisters – Toxic (from EP)

Flying Solo

2008-04-07T13:31:00.001+01:00

This weekend I attended my first ever Hag Night (a cross between a stag party and a hen night) for a friend of mine who is a few weeks away from his civil partnership.

Unsurprisingly, the feelings of frustration about life surfaced – given that we are about the same age and most of the other folks at the event were women, I couldn’t help but feel a bit inadequate with my life and the lack of a relationship, marriage or children.

Whilst I can live with the lack of the last two, the lack of a relationship is something that grates – partly because of the void, but more importantly because of the negative feelings it generates. I dislike the idea that I have these recieved concepts in my head that equate value or relative worthiness with being in a relationship.

I’ve often struggled with singledom – not because I have some sort of comfort zone in relationships (far from it – I don’t think I’ve ever actually been in one) – but because some years ago, I decided to embrace the statement that some people are destined to live their life single. Intellectually I have seized that idea, but emotionally, I haven’t found the natural balance to find comfort in it.

So, the question that I’m trying to answer how do you accept your singledom and embrace it, rather than see it as something to be filled?

The Resurrection

2008-03-24T20:09:00.005Z

A few months later than expected, I thought it was about time I came back to the blog. I’ve been meaning to post for ages, but what with work and illness, I have’t really managed to find the time. Thank God (literally) for Easter holidays.

First up is Kemal Dogulu who I came across (I’ll try and hold the pun back) when surfing round youtube for Hande Yener videos. Hande Yener is from what I can gather, the Kylie Minogue of Turkish pop (think, quirky electro pop and a big gay following) and I loved her 2007 album; Nasıl Delirdim. A couple of taster tracks posted below.

Whilst nothing turned up from Hande, it turns out that she has written some new music (and sung part of the vocals) for her brother in law to be Kemal Dogulu. Bir Yerde (Somewhere) is a cracking electro-pop track which has been getting heavy rotation (do MP3s rotate?) on my player over the past few weeks. It doesn’t hurt that Kemal is incredibly hot (well to me) – and I don’t believe for a second he’s interested in Hande in the video (except perhaps to drag her off to the bar to cruise boys).

MP3: Kemal Dogulu – Bir Yerde (Somewhere)
MP3: Hande Yener – Kibir (Yanmam Lazim)
MP3: Hande Yener – Romeo

A Little Time

2007-11-12T17:47:00.000Z

For those of you still visiting this blog (thank you) - you'll probably have noticed that it hasn't been updated for a few months - I'm afraid, things have been very manic at work, and I don't have a lot of time on my hands.

Don't delete the link just yet - I will be posting sporadically over the next few months and will return with vengeance in the new year.

Bacon

2007-10-23T17:54:00.001+01:00

Today saw the closure of perhaps the most profilic of torrent sites; Oink, in a raid that saw its admin arrested and servers taken into police custody.

For those who belonged to the site, it was perhaps the closest thing to a music lover’s paradise – a community based upon a real love of music, not the den of criminals intent on destroying record companies as the subsequent press releases seem to have painted it.

The legalities of file sharing aside, the thing that gets me, is that the reaction to file sharing is short sighted at best and flawed at worst. If people want to see the future, then you only have to look at Madonna - regardless of what you think of her, she has always been a shrewd business woman, and with her latest move to Live Nation, she has shown that the business model for performers also needs to change with the times.

Rather than trying to stop people getting music for free, record companies should be looking to earn money through musicians doing what they do best - performing - as opposed to flying round the world doing publicity in order to sell CDs.

With the rise of myspace; sites like Oink are instrumental in building a new artist - if it wasn't for early release of materials on sites like Oink, which in turn gave non-professional music bloggers something to write about, artists like Lily Allen would never have got the hype behind them.

It does feel like the powers that be are focussing on winning a war they have long lost rather than reshaping the landscape.

Toxic

2007-09-11T08:43:00.000+01:00

Some folks are getting really upset.

'Nuff Said

2007-08-31T08:47:00.001+01:00

MP3: Cosmetique - Lady Di, Why Did You Have To Die (expired)

Quick Love

2007-08-19T13:50:00.001+01:00

It’s been posted all over the net for a few months now, but seeing as I’ve just heard it, and it’s been played more than a few times since

I discovered it, here’s a rather lovely mash-up of Placebo, Kate Bush (we could have done with a bit more of her on the track) and Pet Shop Boys; entitled Love Comes Running Up That Hill Quickly.

Kudos to DJ Magnet for creating a wonderfully senstive mix.

MP3: DJ Magnet – Love Comes Running Up That Hill Quickly (Placebo, Kate Bush, Pet Shop Boys) (expired)

D.I.S.C.O.

2007-08-19T12:57:00.002+01:00

I was this close to posting about the original movie Disco Dancer and the song Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja which M.I.A. has reclaimed in her truest fashion, but as is often the case, I was pipped to the post by the boyz at Club Contact.

A classic bollywood film, not just for its’ soundtrack but for the terribly choreography and terrible dialogue – the film is firmly embedded in my psyche (mainly because I was forced to perform the title track as a youngster in front of all the ‘aunties’ at some wedding. Even in my tragedies, disco plays a role). (Interestingly enough, as quite a few bloggers have pointed out, the film was huge in the Soviet Union). I really struggled to choose a clip to share (youtube is full of them) from the film, so I encourage you all to take 30 mins out of your life to go and enjoy the delights of the film).

The soundtrack to Disco Dancer was composed by Bappi Lahiri who, perhaps single handedly is responsible for bringing 80s eurodisco to indian cinema (and for stealing melodies outright from other artists – Jimmy is based upon the 80s hit You’re Ok by Ottawan, Auv Auva borrows from The Bugles ) – a trend that stayed around for a decade when the rest of the world had claimed disco had died.

MP3: M.I.A. – Jimmy (expired)
MP3: Ottawan – You’re OK (expired)

Disco Dancer OST

MP3: Vijay Benedict – I Am A Disco Dancer (expired)
MP3: Parvati Khan – Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja (expired)
MP3: Usha Uthup, Basavalingiah Hiremath – Auva Auva: Koi Yahan Nache (expired)
MP3: Basavalingiah Hiremath – Yaad Aa Raha Hai (expired)
MP3: Nandu Bhende – Krishna Dharti Pe Aaja Tu (expired)
MP3: Kishore Kumar – Ae Oh Aa Zara Mudke (expired)
MP3: Suresh Wadkar, Usha Mangeshkar – Goron Ki Na Kalon Ki (expired)
MP3: Suresh Wadkar, Usha Mangeshkar – Goron Ki Na Kalon Ki (part 2) (expired)

Rock The Nation

2007-08-08T21:37:00.001+01:00

Coming from the same stable (Jeepster Records) as Snow Patrol and Belle and Sebastian (they don’t sound like either), and with an album produced by Iain Gore (who also produced The Brakes, Larrikin Love and Babyshambles), SixNationState are well positioned to be a band to get excited about.

With frenetic guitars, a lead singer that sounds like he’s this close to being sectioned and his spent his life smoking cigarettes and swigging whisky straight from the bottle, the bandhas produced a cracking album that is choc-full of catchy tunes mixing folk, rock, ska and sound track to the scariest circus in town.

Listening to the album I really struggled to pick out just a few tracks to share – nearly every track here has something going for it – this is (inpite of the morose lyrics) one of the most fun (jaunty?) albums of the summer.

MP3: SixNationState – Keep Dancing (expired)
MP3: SixNationState – I Hate The Summer (expired)
MP3: SixNationState – Everybody Wants To Be My Friend (expired)

Beautiful Calm

2007-07-29T23:58:00.002+01:00

Fancy having you art work captured for posterity? Sia is offering you the chance to contribute to the artwork for her new album, Some People Have Real Problems. The theme is 'computer art' - submissions need to be in-keeping with Sia's album cover design below.

To enter, you need to create a design based around one of the track titles – in Sia's words - "The less time you spend on it, the more likely I am to use it. Discipline! One minute to draw it - and unleash your inner four year old!".

For those who need some aural inspiration; a couple of album tracks for your enjoyment. Additionally, I’ve posted my favourite Sia remix of Drink To Get Drunk (from the 2002 album, Healing Is Difficult).

Full competition details here.

MP3: Sia – Academia (expired)
MP3: Sia – I Go To Sleep (album version) (expired)
MP3: Sia – Electric Bird (expired)
MP3: Different Gear vs. Sia - Drink To Get Drunk (expired)

A Thing Of Beauty

2007-07-23T15:31:00.001+01:00

When you combine the voices of Linda Thompson, Antony and the songwriting craft of Rufus Wainwright, you know you’re probably onto a very good thing; and Beauty from Linda’s first album – Versatile Heart – in five years is a small treasure.

A string driven lament/commentary which is just exquisite in it’s production and in the vocal interplay with Antony providing a bluesy undercurrent to the song. The album also features Martha Wainwright provinding backing vocals on The Way I Love You.

MP3: Linda Thompson feat Antony – Beauty (expired)
MP3: Linda Thompson feat Martha Wainwright – The Way I Love You (expired)

Jason Tonight

2007-07-23T14:23:00.002+01:00

Clearly, a party in a box, the new album entitled Tonight from quirky folk-popster Jason Anderson is a rousing sing-along (really – a number if songs actually feature a rousing sing-along). Sounding a bit like Springsteen – Anderson is in a similar vein – an American storyteller who’s in it not for the glory, but the joy of it all (listen to live recordings on his myspace).

And, if that wasnt enough, he’s posted a recipie for guacamole on his myspace:

"mash up four avocados in a medium sized bowl.
do this with an awesome fork.
next, cut up half a big tomato into small chunks and mix those in.
throw some sea salt on there and mash it all around!
then cut a lime in two and squeeze in the juice from one part.
mix it up some more!! then squeeze in the *other* half of that lime!
oh man, it's getting so good!! wowee!"

Fair enough. The album is out on August 5th.

MP3: Jason Anderson – Tonight (expired)
MP3: Jason Anderson – So Long (expired)

Ms Ross Is Alive

2007-07-22T12:22:00.001+01:00

One of my favourite performances by Diana Ross has to be Rhythm of Life (from the musical Sweet Charity), with The Temptations from the 1969 G.I.T. on Broadway TV special. Ms Ross looks fierce with her black power afro, and inspite of the fact that she can't dance for nuts, there's something quite endearing about the whole trippy affair.

MP3: Diana Ross & The Temptations - Rhythm of Life (expired)

Still Crazy

2007-07-21T18:00:00.001+01:00

The best cover versions are the ones that get under a song’s skin, and pull something new out – Shawn Colvin delivers something special with her cover of the Gnarls Barkley monster; Crazy.

MP3: Shawn Colvin – Crazy (expired)

Urban Troubador

2007-07-19T22:18:00.002+01:00

I for one had not heard about Eugene McGuiness until just a few days ago, and ever since I've been seeing his name all over the blogosphere. (Well done to his PR people).

McGuinness has the razor-sharp kitchen-sink observation of Jamie T, the peppiness of Jack Penate and the madcap instrumentation (carousel and xylophone, anyone?) of a Patrick Wolf. Englishness permeates his lyrics , namechecking "endless English rain" and mindless daytime TV on his first single Monsters Under The Bed, or telling a cautionary tale of one of Liverpool's less salubrious thoroughfares on the Myrtle Parade and suburban life on Bold Street.

This close to becoming mainstream (though the swearing probably doesn’t make him that radio friendly), Eugene unleashes first full-length album, The Early Learnings Of Eugene McGuinness next month.

MP3: Eugene McGuiness – Monsters Under The Bed (expired)
MP3: Eugene McGuiness – A Child Lost In Tesco (expired)

Superstar Disco

2007-07-17T22:14:00.002+01:00

Ah Disco. One of the loves of my life. The magic beat, the seduction of the strings and the drum machine. This was music to dance to on a Saturday night, with sex in the air and the desire to really be free. And then you get WTF (what-the-fuck?) disco.

Firmly rooted in the WTF camp is this lost treasure from 1978 by one Phylicia Rashad aka as Clair Huxtable on the Cosby Show: Josephine Superstar was a concept album was a concept album telling Josephine Baker's life story through disco songs. At the time, Phylicia was married to Victor Willis (the original lead singer of the Village People) and somehow was convinced to do the album – produced by the VIllage People producers Jacques Morali & Henri Belolo. Naturally Morali used both the Village People and the Ritchie Family for backgrounds and enlisted Willis to arrange and co-write most of the material

The album starts off quite dignified, with Allen speaking softly and sincerely about the honor of paying tribute to "the first black female international star," within a few seconds it all descends into some some classic WTF disco –instead if covering Josephine’s songs as you might expect from this sort of endevour, the album instead tells her story with original tracks – predominantly in the first person – that said, they do manage to cover at least one of Josephine's original hits with a disco version of her hit J'ai deux amours (which I’m told is considered to be an all-time cult disco classic – specially in the gay-disco scene – though thankfully I have yet to hear it at any disco I frequent).

Somone in blogland metioned reading recently on the discomusic.com message boards about an interviewer who once asked Ms. Rashad about this album. You'd probably expect her to be a bit embarrassed and to maybe shrug it off, but instead she outright denied it's existence (or at least denied that she'd actually done it) and promptly ended the interview. Who says you need talent to be a diva?

MP3: Phylicia Rashad – Medley: St Louis, Broadway, Star Of Paris (expired)
MP3: Phylicia Rashad – Around The World (expired)
MP3: Phylicia Rashad – Medley: J'ai deux amours, Josephine Superstar (expired)
MP3: Phylicia Rashad – Colors (expired)
MP3: Phylicia Rashad – Don’t Cry Mommy (expired)

ZIP: Phylicia Rashad – Josephine Superstar (expired)

The Sound Of Weegie

2007-07-17T21:25:00.001+01:00

Apparently Fran Healy of Travis is partially responsible for inspiring young Amy Macdonald (for she’s only 19) picking up her father guitar and unleashing a precocious talent. (She adds that she’s also influenced by Pete Doherty – which proves that he’s not a complete waste of space – and that youth can be foolish.)

After spending her teens playing a few shows around Glasgow and Edinburgh and receiving a good reaction, Amy sent off some demos, recorded on eight-track in her bedroom. She was quickly picked up by Melodramatic Records, a London based production and management company. Within a few months, she’d secured a publishing deal with Warner Chappell and a record deal with Vertigo, home of Razorlight and The Killers.

In a similar vein to KT Tunstall or Janis Ian (check out ‘Between The Lines’ to see what I mean), Amy’s debut album This Is The Life is brimming with great tunes sung in her rich, bell-clear, gutsy vocal and possessing a compelling rhythmic punch and a choruses that swiftly get stuck in your head. Like those who came before her, Amy’s songs are her vehicle to show how see the world; she doesn’t go in for the easy love-lorn ballads, instead choosing to sing about the vacuous nature of celebrity and the hypocrisy of relationships. At times gauche, and others mature, the album is nonetheless a strong indicator that she is someone to watch.

MP3: Amy Macdonald – This Is The Life (expired)
MP3: Amy Macdonald – Let’s Start A Band (expired)
MP3: Amy Macdonald – Footballer’s Wife (expired)

Revolution Starts

2007-07-16T23:31:00.002+01:00

I posted a couple of tracks by (swoon!) Ivri Lider a few months back, and am very excited that Jesse has finally been released on the Columbia Record’s gay label compilation: Music With A Twist: Revolutions. The album is a bit hit ‘n’ miss, collecting queer artists that have been hanging around the gay music scene for a few years now (e.g. Levi Kreis, Dylan rice), but still serves as an interesting intro into the queer music scene. Other tracks worth checking out is the white boy soul of Adam Joseph, the Levi Kreis ballad from ‘The Apprentice’.

MP3: Ivri Lider – Jesse (expired)

Shot Of Brandi

2007-07-16T23:03:00.001+01:00

One of the standout tracks from the soundtrack of Grey’s Anatomy for me has to be The Story by Brandi Carlile if only for the opening lines; “All of these lines across my face, tell you the story of who I am” – the track is taken from Brandi superb sophmore offering, also called The Story. With a voice that reminds me at times of Patsy Cline, Janis Joplin and Jeff Buckley; Brandi is a seriously talented young woman.

The Story (the album), mixes folk, country and pop to create an album that smacks of authenticity – party down to Brandi’s voice which has the capacity to sound sweet and innocent at one point and then stricken with grief and intense emotion the next. Lyrically, the album is full of poetic lines such as "I started losing sleep and gaining weight, and wishing I was ten again, so I could be your friend again”, that make me smile inspite of the rather depressing content.

If you’re looking for an album that’s comforting as a glass of wine on a winter’s evening, you could do worse than checking The Story out. Whilst not as strong as The Story, Brandi’s self titled debut album is also worth investigating.

MP3: Brandi Carlile – The Story (expired)
MP3: Brandi Carlile – Turpentine (expired)
MP3: Brandi Carlile – What Can I Say (from self titled debut) (expired)

Life Is A Cabaret

2007-07-16T15:38:00.001+01:00

The effortlessly gorgeous Billie Ray Martin is back with her latest offering; a modern take on the Moroder sound: Undisco Me.

As if that wasn’t exciting enough, Glasgow’s Soma Record have dug through their vaults to release a restrospecive of their releases entitled Soma Coma – full of excellent downtempo electronica, one of my favourite tracks from the album is Bright Lights Fading, a neon-lit cyborg soul missive, augmented by the lush larynx of Billie Ray Martin.

Listening to the two tracks back to back and you truly have the non stop electric cabaret of Ms Ray Martin.

MP3: Billie Ray Martin – Undisco Me (Radio Edit) (expired)
MP3: Slam feat. Billie Ray Martin – Bright Lights Fading (expired)

Step Back In Time

2007-07-15T23:54:00.001+01:00

Thinking back to my days at University, I was reminded of two songs that instantly take me back to my first year. As mentioned, the gay clubs in Brighton were one of two options; those playing house or those playing hi-nrg Club Revenge was the venue of choice for those wanting to dance around their actual or proverbial handbags on a Friday night.

Way back then, most single releases didn’t automatically come with a whole host of club remixes (and certainly not always ones that would fit into the rest of a hi-nrg set list, so it was left up to the likes of Almighty and Klone to provide cover versions of whatever was in the charts at the time (which they are still doing, although fewer releases from what I can see.)

The two songs that take me back to the winter of 1996 are Jamie Watson’s cover of the Alison Moyet classic All Cried Out and Newton’s cover of the Dan Hill sobfest Sometimes When We Touch. Neither track is terribly great at what they do, but the fact that they were repeated ad infinitum at the club and a whole host of embarrassing encounters means that listening to these songs take me back to more innocent times. I shudder when I think back to a time when I actually made up dance moves for these songs…

…I guess I should be grateful that neither version has gone down as a classic, and so the memories can be contained (most of the time).

MP3: Jamie Watson – All Cried Out (expired)
MP3: Newton – Sometimes When We Touch (expired)

Clap! Clap!

2007-07-15T22:09:00.001+01:00

And we're back. I'd like to pretend that my absence was due to something exciting/tragic, but in reality work was…well…too much work, and I had too many balls in the proverbial air to juggle, so something had to give. But fret not, I have returned (question is, do I have the stamina to keep it up – as it were?)

(This is probably a really good time to say that I am single and still seeking a rich ageing millionaire with a dodgy heart).

Moving on from the attempt to get laid/wealthy, way back in time when I was a student in Brighton, the Thursday night place to go was a great little underground (literally) club to a night called Dynamite Boogaloo – when most other clubs were playing house or hi-nrg on the gay scene, the club light was a breath of fresh air, and very in keeping with the ‘student mentality’.

The club was hosted by Boogaloo Stu, a cabaret artist, and featured a sound track that mixed pop, indie, northern soul and a good healthy helping of cheese. Before the likes of youtube, he would also show mash-ups of forgotten TV gems from the 70s and 80s.

Whilst I had heard most of the stuff that he played, the real eye openers for me were the random selection of 60s pop that he threw in; making the likes of Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones something that seemed perfectly in place next to Pulp and S Club 7.

My favourite song of the night was a toss up between House of Bamboo (frustratingly, I think it was his version rather than the Earl Grant or Andy Williams version) or the simple, but catchy The Clapping Song by Shirley Ellis.

I recency came across a remix of TCS by Player One which turns it into a big beat monster – original and remix shared below.

On the similar note of taking a classic track and giving it a tweak is Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons with 'Beggin (Pilooski Re-Edit). I hadn’t actually heard the original till recently – but with a few edits, he’s taken the original and given it something special. The record company had probably hoped that this would go down the same road as Elton John’s remix of Are You Ready For Love – but today’s chart entry of #32 means it’ll probably disappear by next week.

Now where’s the talcum powder for the floor?

MP3: Shirley Ellis – The Clapping Song (Player One ReThink) (expired)
MP3: Shirley Ellis – The Clapping Song (Original) (expired)
MP3: Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons – Beggin' (Pilooski Re-Edit) (expired)
MP3: Frankie Valli & the Four Season – Beggin' (Original) (expired)

A Piece Of Paradiso

2007-06-04T13:59:00.000+01:00

The lucky Xolondon went and saw The Pipettes a couple of days ago (green with envy much?) – he’ll have a review coming soon I’m sure, but a big-up to him for pointing us in the direction of a streaming version of their concert at the Paradiso in Amsterdam.

I’ve had the recoding of the concert for ages, but it really is another thing to see them perform – albeit on my PC.

For those that want to carry them around whereever you go, the concert is below in MP3 form.

MP3: The Pipettes – Live at the Paradiso, Amsterdam (zip file)

Life's Lesson

2007-05-21T16:13:00.000+01:00

Reaching number 25 in the UK charts in 1980, You've Got To Be A Hustler by Sue Wilkinson was recently re-discovered by me. I tried to find a video of Sue performing, but sadly it has been taken off Youtube. That said, some clevers souls have put together a montage that stays true to the tongue in cheek nature of the song.

MP3: Sue Wilkinson – You’ve Got To Be A Hustler

Heavyweight Song

2007-05-18T12:32:00.001+01:00

Hands down, my song of the week has to be Reverend and The Makers debut single Heavyweight Champion Of The World - a fusion of disco, indie and dance composed of stomping beats, funky basslines and plenty of bongo backing.

MP3: Reverend and The Makers – Heavyweight Champion Of The World (expired)
MP3: Reverend and The Makers – The Machine (expired)

Baby-dyke Dances

2007-05-16T21:39:00.000+01:00

So you're a Eurovision fan, but this year's winner has left you cold as you can't sing along, and more importantly you can't dance along on a Saturday night.

Fear not, help is at hand.

MP3: Marija Serifovic - Molitva (Serbian Dance Remix) (expired)
MP3: Marija Serifovic - Molitva (English version) (expired)

Love You More

2007-05-13T20:55:00.000+01:00

We can't get enough of the Sixties soul revival and the latest to follow in the strutting steps of Amy Winehouse is Liverpool's Candie Payne. Just like Winehouse’s successful appropriation of the classic girl-group Motown sound, so Candi has given us an update on another ‘60’s stalwart: the Dusty torch song.

These tunes have been coated with a Portishead-like blues and prove that the broken-heart is still the prime mover when it comes to hitting those lyrical heights.

Her debut single I Wish I Could Have Loved You More is like Dusty Springfield meet Marlena Shaw in Phil Spector's recording studio. The album with the same name is out on the 21st May, with an underlying eeriness and even loneliness in three minute kitchen-sink dramas reminiscent of classic British cinema or a Smiths' monochrome single sleeve.

MP3: Candie Payne – Why Should I Settle For You (expired)
MP3: Candie Payne – I Could Have Loved You More (expired)

Slav-a-vision

2007-05-13T16:22:00.000+01:00

Last night’s Eurovision presented the climax of what has been slowly building over the past few years as the Baltic and Slavic blocs voted for themselves and Britain’s inability to realise that the Bucks Fizz era is well and truly over.

Ukraine aside which had the right level of camp and bizarre to cross the east-west divide, I was very confused by the top 3 on musical merit alone. Baby-dyke was all very sweet, but left me cold (nice to see the Charlie’s Angel’s behind to offset her).

The winner for me should have been Turkey’s effort which gave one of the few combinations of some totty (albeit over tanned) and a song that I would actually listen to in the future.

If Britain wants to even think about getting in the top 10 in the future, we are going to have to up our game and leave the ghost of Brotherhood of Man behind us. Whilst it might be harder to change foreign policy, we surely can submit a contemporary pop song into the competition? The radio across eastern europe happily play western european pop when backed by record companies – so the east/west divide cannot be the only excuse.

MP3: Marija Šerifovic – Molitva (Serbia) (expired)
MP3: Verka Serduchka – Dancing Lasha Tumbai (Ukraine) (expired)
MP3: Serebro – Song #1 (Russia) (expired)
MP3: Kenan Dogulu – Shake It Up, Shekerim (Turkey) (expired)

Jay Rock

2007-05-13T12:18:00.000+01:00

I missed Jay-Jay Johanson’s latest offering Long Term Physical Effects Are Not Yet Known on it’s release last year – I was hoping for the more of the nocturnal electropop of Rush.

Sadly, the album sees him returning to the trip hop feel of his earlier albums. Jazz elements and a mournful piano have taken center stage on several songs, emphasizing the black-and-white, pared down atmosphere of mournful pondering.

Whist all very nice, the album doesn’t capture me in the same way as it’s predecessor which was one of my favourite albums to cycle round town on a winter’s night.

The standout track for me from LTPEANYK is Rocks in Pockets which hints to the sort of stuff he has done and that I loved.

MP3: Jay-Jay Johanson – Rocks in Pockets (expired)

Diva!

2007-05-07T22:15:00.000+01:00

With the Eurovision being staged later this week (the semi-final is on Thursday, with the main event on Saturday), it is perhaps timely that Dana International is back with her first single release for coming on five years.

A star in Israel as well as across the middle east prior to the eurovision, Dana’s performance was in many ways the logical conclusion of the competing elements of Eurovision; camp, hi-nrg pop, nodding to the mainstream appreciation of more middle eastern sounds in pop as well as really crossing gender boundaries (this year, the contest features two drag queens).

The first track off her forthcoming album was released in March, and is entitled Hakol ze letová (It's all for the best), and ticks all the boxes that will get the boys in tight tops very excited this summer with its' euro-pop hi-nrg feel.

MP3: Dana International – Hakol ze letová (Amir Afargan Remix) (expired)
MP3: Dana International – Diva (english version) (expired)

A Real Love Song

2007-05-07T18:38:00.000+01:00

A gem from 1999 now; Whistler aka Kerry Shaw, ex EMFer Ian Dench and James Topham were a band in the vein of Black Box Recorder with songs sweetly sung hiding a nasty tone.

Heralded in the UK by a brace of singles of the week ("If I Give You A Smile" in the NME and "Don't Jump In Front Of My Train" in the Melody Maker) and a flurry of Evening Session appearances, it won the band a devoted audience and a string of welcoming reviews. Stateside the band were equally lauded with positive reviews in Spin and Alternative Press, among others.

Sadly the hype didn’t manifest in any real mainstream success, however IIGYAS still remains a lovely 4 minutes.

MP3: Whistler – If I Give You A Smile (expired)

Start Of An Affair

2007-05-01T06:45:00.000+01:00

From the Friday Bridge website:

I . Friday Bridge is the musical vehicle for Ms Friday Bridge et al. II. Friday Bridge is the ideal musical companion to dinner parties and parlour games. III. Four Friday Bridge concerns are delicacy, melody, sophistication and lush orchestration. IV. In its mildness and refusal to trade intellect for friendship, Friday Bridge is most subversive.

I’d never heard of Friday Bridge before hearing Love & Nostalgia on a swedish music compilation a few weeks ago; but one listen and I was hooked. Shimmery,eighties, modern, retro and utterly lovely all at once, ths has to be one of my favourite songs of the moment.

Look out for their (her?) debut album Intricacy coming out sometime this year.

MP3: Friday Bridge – Love & Nostalgia (expired)

This Year's Rent?

2007-04-30T20:19:00.001+01:00

I’m not sure how I came across the video of The Bitch Of Living from the current musical flavour of the season Spring Awakening, but regardless of how I stumbled across it, there is something about the tune and the stageing that has utterly captivated me, and has me going back and playing the song on repeat enough to drive those I live with into utter despair.

The musical, based on the controversial play of the same title by Frank Wedekind, features music by Duncan Sheik and book/lyrics by Steven Sater. Based upon what I’ve seen and heard, I can’t wait till this makes its way across the ocean.

MP3: Spring Awakening – The Bitch Of Living
MP3: Spring Awakening – Touch Me

Holy Mother

2007-04-30T19:50:00.000+01:00

Cough! cough! sputter! sputter! The sun may be shining oustide, and the streets maybe (unseasonanably) full of men walking around with their tshirts off, but the last few weeks have seen me suffering with the flu (real flu, not man-flu). So two round of antibiotics and a years supply of Vicks products later, I’m slowly on the mend.

Twenty years after the release of her debut album, Sinead O'Connor is back with new album; Theology.

The press release accompanying the album says; “Theology is an attempt to create a place of peace in a time of war…It is my own personal response to what has taken place and is affecting everyone around the world since and including September 11, 2001. I simply wanted to make a beautiful thing, out of something beautiful, which inspires me."

Theology features eight new songs written, or cowritten, by Sinead, as well as three covers: Curtis Mayfield's soul-searching "We People Who Are Darker Than Blue," an interpretation of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's "I Don't Know How To Love" (from "Jesus Christ Superstar"), and the traditional reggae spiritual "Rivers of Babylon" with new lyrics written by Sinead.

The two disc album features predominantly the same songs in different forms: the minimalist acoustic "Dublin Sessions" disc was produced by traditional Irish musician Steve Cooney (In Tua Nua, The Chieftains, Mary Black), who, along with Sinead, plays guitar on the stripped-down recordings. The second disc, dubbed the "London Sessions," showcases the songs with a full band arrangements and guest artists include reggae bass legend Robbie Shakespeare.

MP3: Sinead O'Connor – Pslam 137 (Rivers OF Babylon) (Dublin Sessions version) (expired)
MP3: Sinead O'Connor – I Dont Know How To Love Him (expired)

Oh Yeah

2007-04-09T11:45:00.000+01:00

Frank Farian has a lot to answer for in the world of pop; the man who brought us the sublime Boney M also brought us the farce of Milli Vanilli and the tragedy that was No Mercy. I recently discovered an album by one of his first projects; Gilla (the stage name of an Austrian singer (Gisela Wuchinger).

Her debut album Bend Me, Shape Me hints at the sound that would become instantly recognisable as as the Boney M sound of euro disco – while the album is pretty much middle of the road disco; one of the tracks Johnny has oddly become stuck on my playlist this week – probably because it’s like a pastiche of about 3 other disco songs.

P.S. if you think you recognise the male vocal from somewhere – Frank Farian also sang the male vocals on most of the Boney M tracks – Bobby Farrell lip synched for the performances.

MP3: Gilla – Johnny

Yes He Is

2007-04-07T09:40:00.000+01:00

I first discovered Go On Do It by Victor (aka Victor Beard) from the awesome Morgan Geist album Unclassics that sought to uncover classic yet not terribly well known Italo disco tracks. ‘Go On Do It’ rejoices in funked-out 1984 electrodisco beats and production from Alexander Robotnick, sexy girl background vocals, and an insane sleazy rap from Robotnick's friend from Chicago, Victor Beard.

The track is the standout track from the album for me, and I’ve spent the last 2 years looking everywhere for the full unmixed track – so it really made my day yesterday when I discovered the track lying in a mate’s record collection.

MP3: Victor – Go On Do It (expired)

Sound Track

2007-04-07T02:00:00.000+01:00

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been spending most of my free time (and cash) watching films at the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival – this year, there weren’t many films I watched that captured my imagination once I’d walked out of the cinema hall – the positives were Infamous (Toby Jones was amazing), the HIV documentary No Magic Bullet and the third film by Israeli director Eytan Fox: The Bubble.

The latter was a great film which had me till the last 5 mins or so when it went awol (those that have seen it will know where I’m coming from). Inspite of hating the way the film ended, there was someting about the film and the way that it portrays the relationship between an Israeli and Palestinian that stayed with me for a few days after seeing the film, to the point where I was dreaming of certain scenes from the film.

The soundtrack of the film is excellent featuring a good mix of indie and israeli artists, specifically a couple of songs by the gay israeli popstar Ivri Lider. Ivri is a previous contributor to Eytan Fox’s soundtracks – in Yossi vs Jaeger he covered Rita’s track Bo, and in The Bubble he covers the Gershwin classic The Man I Love and Tim Buckley’s Song To A Siren.

You can hear one of Ivri’s new tracks Jesse at the GLEE site as part of the promotion for the forthcoming gay themed album from Sony Music’s gay label ‘Music With A Twist’.

MP3: Ivri Lider – Bo (expired)
MP3: Ivri Lider – Song To A Siren (expired)
MP3: Ivri Lider – The Man I Love (expired)
MP3: Ivri Lider – Zachiti Le'ehov (I Was Lucky To Be Loved) (expired)

That Blonde Bitch

2007-03-23T18:31:00.000Z

We've just discovered the ever so wonderful SoKo - bitterness was never so attractive.

Two From Twelve

2007-03-21T21:29:00.000Z

April 24th sees the realease of the eagerly awaited album of ‘cover’ versions of classic popular songs newly interpreted by the 2007 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Patti Smith, on Tuesday, April 24th.

‘Twelve’ is Patti Smith's first album of new studio recordings since ‘Trampin'’ (her Columbia Records debut) was released in 2004, and is her first-ever full-length collection of songs originally created by other performers.

Four tracks have made their way out in the world as a promo, and here are a couple just for you. Enjoy.

MP3: Patti Smith – Helpless (Neil Young cover) (expired)
MP3: Patti Smith – Pastime Paradise (Stevie Wonder cover) (expired)

And They Did

2007-03-17T10:55:00.000Z

I was just catching up on Xo’s blog, and for some reason his R.E.M. post reminded me that I hadn’t heard their version of I Will Survive for ages – recorded as part of the Fan Club singles in 1996, the track is Michael all over; awkward, insistent and surprisingly effective.

MP3: R.E.M. – I Will Survive (expired)

Love

2007-03-17T02:52:00.000Z

I love A Good Start by Maria Taylor. Simple as that.

MP3: Maria Taylor – A Good Start (expired)

Kid Gloves Not Needed

2007-03-17T02:38:00.000Z

I remember when I first heard the Raised By Wolves EP by Voxtrot in 2005 – it was an instant favourite – soundsing like a favourite EP and fresh all at the same time. It’s been two years since that initial EP, with a couple more following, but no sign of an album – well that is until now.

Voxtrot, the debut LP from, yes, Voxtrot, arrives May 22 on Beggars/Playlouder. The 11-track set follows three favorably received EPs – Raised by Wolves, Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives, and Your Biggest Fan – and contains entirely new material.

Produced and mixed by Victor Van Vugt (Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Mojave 3), the album sits in a space between the The Killers and Belle and Sebastian; not exactly twee, but still wearing its’ C86 influences on its’ sleeve. Compared to the previous EPs, the album is less immediate, and features more strings courtesy of the Tosca String Quartet.

Whilst I would have liked to see more anthems like Raised By Wolves, the album has enough to warrant repeat plays and suggests that the band will definitely be more than a 3 EP and one album wonder.

(Can I also say how great it is to see an indie band fronted by an asian guy :-)

MP3: Voxtrot – Kid Gloves (expired)
MP3: Voxtrot – Stephen (expired)
MP3: Voxtrot – Raised By Wolves (from the Raised By Wolves EP) (expired)

Modern Life Sucks

2007-03-14T22:28:00.001Z

Let Me Hear Your Body Talk

2007-03-12T15:43:00.000Z

I'm not sure how old I was when I first saw the video to the Olivia Newton John song Physical, but I still remember feeling embarrassed watching it when my family were in the room – especially, I don’t remember the gay ending from my youth.

Listening to the original again, it holds up surprisingly well…even if the video does feature ONJ torturing fat people.

The song has been covered a number of times already (e.g. Sophie EB, Goldfrapp). and now the Swedish clothing company WeAretheSuperlativeConspiracy (aka WeSC) have put together a compilation of covers by artists such as Cat5, The Glimmers and Caged Baby).

You can hear the full compilation at the company’s website.

MP3: Cat5 – Physical (expired)
MP3: Caged Baby – Physical (expired)
MP3: Goldfrapp – U.K. Girls (Physical) (not on the compilation) (expired)
MP3: Olivia Newton John – Physical (not on the compilation) (expired)

Another Dreamer

2007-03-05T19:31:00.000Z

We’re two months into 2007, and there hasn’t been much sign of the singer-songwriter that will be proclaimed as the saviour of the tradition for the year; that is until now…accompanied by the usual hyperbole (comparisons to usual likes of Damien Rice, Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake etc), Jack Savoretti is currently riding the wave of the music man’s publicity machine.

His lucky break came after his hairdresser said she cut the hair of Natalie Imbruglia's manager and offered to pass on some of his music. After being invited to the De Angelis offices with his guitar he was signed on the spot and the rest is history.

Releasing today, his debut album Between The Minds has been Radio 2’s album of the week, and features a bunch of radio friendly songs that should see him nominated for next years’ Brits. Not as instant as those mentioned in the same breath, the album is still fairly impressive for a debut, with 12 full formed songs, and lyrics that (just about) stay out of the ever so dangerous saccharine territory.

MP3: Jack Savoretti – Dreamers (expired)
MP3: Jack Savoretti – Once Upon A Street (expired)
MP3: Jack Savoretti – Dr. Frankenstein (expired)

Back To The Library

2007-03-03T05:46:00.000Z

I’m surprised this hasn’t blown up in blog-land yet, but checking the barometer that is hype machine, there’s not a lot of love out there for the glorious pop magpies Mr Hudson & the Library who release their debut album A Tale of Two Cites this month.

If you can try and imagine what The Divine Comedy would sound if they had stripped down the production to a minimum and instead were produced by Jay-Z, that goes someway to describing the sound we have here. Taking just the right bits from a host of other bands but crucially adding their own distinctive twist – like The Streets with class, Madness without the cringe factor, or Lily Allen's older, sharp brothers – the result, is a special album of 12 wonderful songs.

Video below of them perfroming their latest single Too Late, Too, Late live on Jools Holland’s show.

MP3: Mr Hudson & the Library – On The Streets Where You Live (expired)
MP3: Mr Hudson & the Library – Bread & Roses (expired)
MP3: Mr Hudson & the Library – Cover Girl (expired)

Round 4

2007-02-24T12:59:00.000Z

Tonight sees the last of the Melodifestivalen semi-finals prior to the second chance round.

My votes for tonight go to the rather wonderful, Village People-esque After Dark – Åh, när ni tar saken i egna händer. My swedish spekaing sources tell me that the title is pun ridden (“Åh, När Ni…” sounds like “Onani” which is Swedish for wanking…. the full song title meaning “Oh, When We Take Things In Our Own Hands”... ). Wonderful.

MP3: Magnus Uggla – För kung och fosterland
MP3: Emile Azar – Vi hade nåt
MP3: Sanna Nielsen – Vågar du, vågar jag
MP3: Caroline af Ugglas – Tror på dig
MP3: After Dark – Åh, när ni tar saken i egna händer
MP3: Sarah Dawn – Finer I Remember Love
MP3: Verona – La musica
MP3: Andreas Johnson – A Little Bit Of Love

...And He Wouldn't Give Me His Number

2007-02-21T21:39:00.000Z

This year, February has been a strange month for me; I’ve been walking around feeling like something is either very wrong with me or the universe, or at times both. I’ve been feeling overly emotional – spending way too much time watching soppy films and Grey’s Anatomy. Basically, I’ve turned into a 15 year old girl (and I’m about as competent as one at work, which is an issue in itself).

One of things that has recently made me go a bit funny has been my reaction to one night stands. Now, don’t get me wrong – I’ve probably had casual encounters with more men than are detailed in the Bible (old and new testament), but interestingly, very few of them have been one night stands – I seem to have an aversion to actually spending the night with someone. This weekend, I ended up having one (go me!) and it’s completely thrown me – I don’t know how to go from being intimate with someone (sleeping, kissing, touching) to not having anything to do with them again. Having casual sex is easy; but casual intimacy, and I’m like a teenager all over again. I think it has to do with how intimacy can foster hope – hope of a future, of potential, of more intimacy – and I clearly crave intimacy (sometimes you just want to be held).

It’s odd that something so liberating about the gay scene (casual sex with no social repurcussions in the same way for example that a straight woman would face – even in this age of Sex & The City) can feel like suffocating.

So here I am, trying to figure out how to re-encounter a one night stand...interestingly on the first year that I have ever made a Valentine's 'mixed tape' - I think the gods are warning me against emotions.

Don't worry - this hasn't turned into Oprah - there are a couple of related MP3s down below :-)

MP3: Eric Himan - One Night Stands (expired)
MP3: Blow - Hey Boy (expired)

Round 3

2007-02-17T17:27:00.000Z

Tonight sees the 3rd round of the Melodifestivalen to choose the Sweden's entry into the Eurovision. For my money, Magnus Carlsson and Måns Zelmerlöw are the front runners for this round.

MP3: Måns Zelmerlöw – Cara Mia (expired)
MP3: MissMatch – Drop Dead (expired)
MP3: Magnus Carlsson – Live Forever (expired)
MP3: Shieda- I mina drömmar (expired)
MP3: The Attic featuring Therese – The Arrival (expired)
MP3: Sebastian Karlsson – When The Night Comes Falling (expired)
MP3: Sonja Aldén - För att du finns (expired)
MP3: Nanne Grönvall – Jag Måste Kyssa Dig (expired)

My Funny Valentine

2007-02-17T04:17:00.000Z

Ok, I know this post is late, but I've never been a terribly great time keeper (as anyone who has ever arranged to meet me would be able to attest to). Valentine’s day has come and gone, and to celebrate, I created a mixed CD (yes, beneath this cold, hard exterior lies a cheesy sentimental interior).

Now I know there are more than enough lovely-dovey compilations around, so in an attempt to do something different (and because I'm single and bitter (or bitterly single - feel free to ask me out on a date tho), I thought I'd throw in some break up songs in as well. But, that's not the twist..oh no...the compilation features songs only by gay/bi men. Yes, it's a veritable fruitbowl of loved up and loved out songs.

Don't let the sexuality of the artists concerned put you off - even the most hardened (ooh er) heterosexual should find something of interest (although you won't hear the miltant propoganda encoded into each track ;-)

Anyway, ladies and gents, I give you For The Love Of Men: Homoeclectic Valentine Mix 2007.

MP3: Richard Cortez – Craving Something Beautiful (expired)
MP3: Mark Weigle – Cody (expired)
MP3: Rufus Wainwright – One Man Guy (expired)
MP3: Skott Freedman Feat. Mark Weigle – Papa Was A Rodeo (expired)
MP3: Andrew Spice – Beautiful Creatures (expired)
MP3: Steven Franz – Inside My Head (expired)
MP3: Gentleman Reg – The Boyfriend Song (expired)
MP3: Skott Freedman – Hole In His Soul (expired)
MP3: Jimmy Somerville – Because Of Him (expired)
MP3: Gregory Douglass – Upside Down (expired)
MP3: Ennio – Hey, Jesus (expired)
MP3: Hidden Cameras – Man That I Am With My Man (expired)
MP3: Matthew Brookshire – Better (expired)
MP3: Antony & The Johnsons - Fistful of Love (expired)
MP3: Freddy Freeman – Echo (expired)
MP3: Dylan Rice – The Lie (expired)
MP3: Dennis Hensley – The Last Time (expired)
MP3: Stephin Merritt – All I Want To Know (expired)
MP3: Christopher Dallman – Green Camaro (expired)
MP3: Jay Brannan – Half-Boyfriend (expired)

Not Possessed

2007-02-17T04:10:00.000Z

I've just spent the last hour or so listening to the new (self-titled) album from Brett Anderson, and I'm sorry to say it's a bit of a mixed bag - there are a couple of tracks in addition to the rather wonderful Love Is Dead that got me hitting repeat button (e.g. The More We Possess The Less We Own Of Ourselves), but about half the album just didn’t gel with me. I’m kinda disappointed as I loved the two Brett featured tracks posted earlier.

Have a listen if you can hold of an advance copy and let me know if I need to give it another go.

I’m not going to post any more MP3s from the album, as a negative review is likely to end up with a ‘cease and desist’, so I’ll share the latest single from the rather gorgeous Feist. (It’s Slinky discotastic.)

MP3: Feist - My Man My Moon (expired)

More Swede

2007-02-11T23:43:00.000Z

Säkert! is the band put together by Annika Norlin aka Hello Saferide. Joining her are members of Vapnet, Laakso and Isolation Years. Whilst I have no idea what the band are singing about, let that not stop you from enjoying some glorious swedish power-pop.

On a related note, I’m loving The Draft by Firefox AK (video below):

MP3: Säkert! – Det Här Är Vad Dom Säger (expired)
MP3: Säkert! – Vi Kommer Att Dö Samtidigt (expired)
MP3: Säkert! – Det Kommer Bara Leda Till Nåt Ont (expired)

Swedes Please

2007-02-11T03:52:00.000Z

We’re big fans of Eurovision at casa Homoeclectic. Even as a child living in Nigeria, I used to get the ESC’s taped and sent to me to play over and over again. I’m not sure whether it was the latent gay calling out from within me, or maybe Eurovision made me gay, but either way, it’s sadly one of the gay cliches that we subscribe to whole heartedly. Of all the countries to submit entries into Eurovision, the one that I always looked forward to was Sweden; guaranteed to be poptastic and cheesy as a slice of Herrgårdsost.

Unlike the UK , who never seem to get the pop stakes right, and keep trying to send novelty acts to the ESC, Sweden has a whole song contest of its own spanning mutiple weeks and getting entries from ‘real’ popstars and amatuers alike.

Melodifestivalen is an annual music competition organised by Sveriges Television and Sveriges Radio to determine the song and artist that will represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest. It has been staged under various formats pretty much every year since 1959. The competition is broadcast live on television and radio, with considerable popularity, being the most popular television programme in Sweden every year since 2000. In 2006, an estimated 4.2 million people (almost 47% of Sweden's population) watched the finals.

The festivities kicked off last week, with the usual mix of schlager and europop, and I’ve posted the songs performed in the first two rounds. Come back next week for the third round.

Round 1

MP3: Elin Lanto – Money (expired)
MP3: Stefan Andersson & Aleena Gibson – Anything But You (expired)
MP3: Anna Book – Samba Sambero (expired)
MP3: Addis Black Widow – Clubbin' (expired)
MP3: Andreas Lundstedt – Move (expired)
MP3: Tommy Nilsson – Jag Tror På Människan (expired)
MP3: Sofia Berntsson – Hypnotised (expired)
MP3: Uno Svenningsson & Irma Schultz Keller – God Morgon (expired)

Round 2

MP3: Regina Lund – Rainbow Star (expired)
MP3: Marie Lindberg – Trying To Recall (expired)
MP3: Jimmy Jansson – Amanda (expired)
MP3: Cosmo4 – What's Your Name (expired)
MP3: Lustans Lakejer – Allt Vi En Gång Trodde På (expired)
MP3: Jessica Andersson – Kom (expired)
MP3: Svante Thuresson & Anne-Lie Rydé Första Gången (expired)
MP3: The Ark – The Worrying Kind (expired)

It's a Pleasure

2007-02-10T10:26:00.000Z

Monday sees the sophomore release of Fred Ball’s (producer of Bertine Zetlitz’s Rollerskating as ell as a number of tracks off Brett Anderson’s forthcoming album) pet project Pleasure with a an album, simply entitled Pleasure 2.

Using a variety of vocalists (including Brett Anderson), the album is an 80’s electro dream with the spirit of Prince firmly embedded in its cheek.I only got the album a couple of days, and already, I’d have to say that it’s one of my favourite albums of the year for me (and not just because he features cowbells on a couple of tracks).

MP3: Pleasure - Out Of Love (expired)
MP3: Pleasure – Back To You (feat Brett Anderson) (expired)
MP3: Pleasure – Finest Thing (expired)

Something For The Weekend

2007-01-26T09:07:00.000Z

As always, been really busy trying to be a professional (no idea what that really means apart from spending hours in the office creating pretty Powerpoint presentations and using words like strategy and initiative), which means little time to post. Never mind, the weekend is nearly here... and we've got some stuff to share (above and over the normal STIs).

First up, The Ark are back with a new single Absolutely No Decorum, which continues the masterclass in modern glam rock the boys started with their debut album. It's fair to say we're eagerly anticipating the album later this year.

Juvelen's press release reads:

Straight from the motherfuckin dungeons of pop! Born in a Stockholm basement some two years ago, rising from the ruinsof compromise and time wasted, Juvelen signalled the start of somethingfunky fresh. Finally the record will be set straight.The good name of pop music will be restored, and sexy willonce again be the shit. You can’t really mention Prince as an influence these days, can you? Let’s just say its aboutsongs of the heart, sung from the hip. May I kick it?

Well - you can't argue with that - and Hanna, the lead track on his debut EP is going down a storm in my bedroom. You can hear most of the EP at his myspace page.

Emmy The Great probably deserves a post of her own - as I've always had a soft spot for female singer/songwriters of the folky/geeky/emo variety - but given the current time limitation, she'll have to live here. Rated as one of Vogue's artists to watch in 2007, ETG is a sweet, jaded anti-folk hero for 2007.

Andrew Bird is back with his follow up to the excellent The Mysterious Production of Eggs with Armchair Apocrypha. As good as it's predecessor, I'm currently addicted to the opening track Fiery Crash.

Xo's posted a vid of Brett Anderson's impending release (ooh er missus) - whilst it's a lovely song, should we be worried that the comeback is a song that was debuted nearly three years ago - the song was first performed at the Rock 'n' Royal” show in Copenhagen in May 2004. A slightly remastered version of that performance (basically taking out the audience noise) is posted below.

MP3: The Ark - Absolutely No Decorum (expired)
MP3: Juvelen - Hanna (expired)
MP3: Emmy The Great - Atoms (expired)
MP3: Emmy The Great - Edward The Dedward (expired)
MP3: Andrew Bird - Fiery Crash (expired)
MP3: Brett Anderson – Love Is Dead (Live at The Rock ‘n’ Roll Show) (expired)

Indian Winter

2007-01-07T21:52:00.000Z

After 2 weeks in Mumbai for the first time in ten years, I'm back in blighty with mixed emotions. This has been the longest I've been off work for ages, and Mumbai presented a whole world I had forgotten existed. The Mumbai of today is still as chaotic and an attack on the senses as it ever was, but this was the first time I realised how quickly India is shaping it's game. The city oozes wealth at every corner - there is money to be made in the city, I'm just not sure how.

On a personal level, sitting on the gay india internet chat rooms, I've been forced to re-examine how I feel about being a foreigner in Britain. Inspite of the fact that I have been here for coming on 18 years, I realised that whether I like it or not, the colour of my skin will always make me the 'other'. It is not uncommon to see comments such as 'no asians' on gay profiles in the UK, whereas in India, for the first time in ages, I felt like I actually belonged rather than being an outsider.

Musically, I reignited a love of indian music that had been gently simmering on the back burner for a few years - India & Pakistan have a thriving music scene - and I made a few fanstastic discoveries, I'll be sharing over the next few weeks as I work my way through them.

First off, although a couple of years old, my favourite discovery is Rabbi Shergill; mixing elements of sufi, folks, pop, rock and bhangra, his self-titled debut offering hasn't left my playlist for the past couple of weeks.

Rabbi's father was a Sikh preacher and his mother, a college principal, loved Gurbani kirtan. Rabbi was "very, very influenced by Sikh literature. In an interview a few years ago, he said; "I grew up reading Gyani Gyan Singh, Kabir's dohas, Shiv Bata... We would have long discussions on poetry. I was listening to rock music and Punjabi spiritual music. It all combusts man. It's the great reality of urban India."

If you want to know what the word actually mean, check out this site dedicated to the man.

MP3: Rabbi Shergill - Bulla Ki Jana (expired)
MP3: Rabbi Shergill - Tere Bin (expired)
MP3: Rabbi Shergill - Ajj Nachna (expired)

Toxic Ronson

2007-01-07T14:56:00.000Z

In March 2006, Mark Ronson released a cover of Radiohead's "Just" as a single. In certain areas it gained major radio play. It was released as part of "Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads", a full Radiohead covers CD, in April.

Ronson's second album, "Version", due out sometime in April, 2007, includes other covers of a diverse selection of rock & pop songs including: Kaiser Chiefs' Oh My God (featuring guest vocals from Lily Allen), Coldplay's God Put A Smile Upon Your Face, Britney Spears' Toxic, and Ryan Adams' Amy.

MP3: Mark Ronson – Toxic (expired)

Magic Accident

2007-01-02T09:43:00.000Z

Perhaps one of the most eagerly awaited albums this year is Patrick Wolf's third release The Magic Position. As is the way these days, a collection of tracks pupporting to be the album have been released on the internet - I haven't seen a final listing of the album, so I'm not sure how kosher these are, but from what I've heard, the album will definititely be worth the wait.

More accessible than previous offerings, TMP continues to develop PW's electro-infused english folk-pop sensibilities.

MP3: Patrick Wolf - Overture (expired)
MP3: Patrick Wolf - Magpie (expired)
MP3: Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position (expired)

buy: Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position

Awwww

2006-12-11T22:53:00.000Z

It's one week till I'm off to India to see the grandparents for the first time in ages, and I'm trying to catch up with all the work I haven't actually done this year - so sporadic posting for a few weeks more (unless my boss gets run over - here's hoping).

In the meanwhile, check out this rather adorable personal ad:

Children Behave

2006-11-26T19:07:00.000Z

I’m a bit meh about the new Girls Aloud cover of the Tommy James and the Shondells classic; I Think We’re Alone Now (famously by Tiffanny for most folks) – but I do rather love the Pipettes version.

MP3: The Pipettes – I Think We’re Alone Now (expired)
MP3: Tommy James & The Shondells – I Think We’re Alone Now (expired)
MP3: Tiffany – I Think We’re Alone Now (2005 version) (expired)

The Night Is My World

2006-11-26T15:17:00.000Z

I’m not sure whether to be aghast or secretly delighted that the latest release by Danish pop group Infernal is a cover of my all time favourite italo disco records; Self Control. Their version is fairly faithful cover of the Laura Brannigan cover of the Raf classic.

MP3: Infernal – Self Control (expired)
MP3: Raf – Self Control (expired)
MP3: Laura Branigan – Self Control (expired)
MP3: Replicant feat. Marc Almond – Self Control (expired)

Impatient

2006-11-23T18:38:00.000Z

Oh Take That! I’m so disappointed – opportunities to resurrect your career do not come along that often for ex-boyband members, and rarely for the full band. With all the good will surrounding their return to centre stage and the lessons learned from the individual solo attempts, you would have thought that they would have pushed the boat out and not been so, well, boring.

Listening to a promo copy of Beautiful World, the core market seems to be less the fans that have now grown up into adults, but the mothers of the aforementioned fans.

Apart from the three tracks where Mark Owen takes lead vocals (the tracks in question are probably the most interesting tracks on the album, and sound like outtakes from his solo efforts), the album sounds like a poor man’s James Blunt – or put another way, the sort of material that was Gary’s downfall the first time round.

It’s a pity that a band that seemed like they were having so much fun reliving their youth earlier this year have decided to take the safe, predictable route which will be unlikley to give them the longevity they so desire – especially when bands like Westlife do it so much better.

I can only hope that Polydor gives them a third chance at the apple, it would be a shame for Beautiful World to be the legacy of their return.

MP3: Take That – Like I Never Love You At All (expired)
MP3: Take That – Shine (expired)
MP3: Take That – What You Believe In (expired)

buy: Take That - Beautiful World

My Name Is Sue, And I'm A Singer

2006-11-13T15:46:00.000Z

As mentioned in the last post, I have been veering towards music that I know and love over the past few weeks as an audio comfort blanket. One of my favourite (and definitely cheesiest) album that I often revisit is by Aneka of Japanese Boy fame.

Aneka (real name Mary Sandeman) was a Scottish folk singer who sang in Gaelic with the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra. More as an expirement, she recorded a pop album, as detailed in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh:

"Japanese Boy was a complete accident. I'd been working with Mary on some Scottish folk albums, when she said to me she'd love to have a bash at some Pop songs. Now keep in mind that she was almost six feet tall, spoke in a frightfully posh voice and was the respectable wife of a small town GP with two children.

I never thought in a million years that she had a chance of making it in the Pop world. Anyway, she kept pestering me and I kept forgetting to write something for her, until one day she called me to say that the studio had been booked to record a song that I hadn't written yet. To cut a long story short I wrote the chorus, and I threw the whole thing together by taking bits from other songs that I had written years before. It was recorded as a demo, and was turned down by every major company.

Then the German company took it on and it went straight into the charts, and eventually #1 all over the world. There was a massive panic as to what to about her image. Then someone came up with the wig and kimono. A complete transformation."

Sandeman found the name "Aneka" by looking through the Edinburgh phone book - the name she found was actually "Anika," but she changed it to avoid upsetting person she took it from.

The album Japanese Boy is a treasure trove of guilty pleasures bringing to mind the sounds of Kate Bush, Olivia Newton John with a sprinkling of italo disco. Whilst it’s never going to make it to anyone’s top ten list, it brings back memories of my childhood that make me grin everytime I listen to the album. Sadly, the album has since been deleted, so I’ve posted the entire LP for your listening pleasure.

MP3: Aneka – Oh Shooby Doo Doo Lang (expired)
MP3: Aneka – Tuwhit Tuwhoo (expired)
MP3: Aneka – Japanese Boy (expired)
MP3: Aneka – Put Out The Light (expired)
MP3: Aneka – Come Back To Me (expired)
MP3: Aneka – Ahriman (expired)
MP3: Aneka – It´ll Be Alright (expired)
MP3: Aneka – Be My Only Karma (expired)
MP3: Aneka – I Was Free (expired)
MP3: Aneka – Little Lad (expired)

Album: Aneka - Japanese Boy (Album)

Trying To Stay Afloat

2006-11-13T09:52:00.000Z

It’s been ages since I’ve posted on here, and my posts have become more and more sporadic as work seems to take over my life (not out of choice I hasten to add) – 50 hours last week, and a fairly high likelyhood that this week will be the same – I think I may cry.

Work aside, I’ve been going through a strange period where, on the whole, new music seems like too much to contend with – the stress of work makes me yearn for music I know and love rather than introducing anything new that would serve as a distratction. Odd, I know.

That said, I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t picking up the odd new track on my journeys…

…First up, sounding a bit like The Jam, Adam & The Ants with a liberal sprinkling of rock ‘n’ roll are Vincent Vincent And The Villains – VVATV have been playing the band scene for a few years and have finally been signed with a major label. I first saw them whilst flicking through TOTP a few weeks back and loved their sound.

The Veils are a New Zealand band based in London, fronted by lead singer and songwriter, Finn Andrews. With a sound that has been likened to artists as diverse as Jeff Buckley, The Birthday Party, The Smiths, and Joy Division, I have to say I am loving their latest album Nux Vomica. Inspite of the fact that I’m a pophead most of the times, there are times (like today when it’s grey and cold) where what you want is some intense gothic melancholy rather than glitter and hotpants.

Before they teamed up with Niles Rodgers and Bernard Edwards to become the disco legends that they were destined to be, Sister Sledge were a cute though not terribly exciting Mowtown band. In between their debut album (Circle of Love) and the Rodgers & Edwards output, they put out a promo cover of Stevie Wonder’s As, which I have been trying to track down for ages – finally managed to a couple of weeks ago.

There has been a track that seems to have been played at every club that I went to all summer, that I kept hearing but forgot to download or actually do anything meaningful with – I finally got round to downloading it – the Moto Blanco remix of Mary J Blige’s ‘Be Without You’. And a super tune it is as well.

Is it odd that I find this guy adorable?

MP3: Vincent Vincent And The Villains – I’m Alive (expired)
MP3: Vincent Vincent And The Villains – On My Own (expired)
MP3: The Veils – Advice For Young Mothers To Be (expired)
MP3: The Veils – Under The Folding Branches (expired)
MP3: Sister Sledge – Circle Of Love (Caught In The Middle) (expired)
MP3: Sister Sledge – As (expired)
MP3: Mary J Blige – Be Without You (Moto Blanco Radio Mix) (expired)

Desperately Seeking

2006-10-31T12:11:00.000Z

So EZArchive have taken it upon themselves to become the most un-userfriendly file hosting site around.

Does anyone know of a decent alternative?

Take It Back

2006-10-10T15:36:00.000+01:00

This is the long awaited Take That ‘comeback’ single. Doesn’t it sound like a poor man’s James Blunt? Or an averagely endowed man’s Ronan Keating? Or whatever.

Someone please call Lulu up and tell her to sort the boys out.

Catching Up

2006-10-10T12:22:00.000+01:00

I tend to do most of my posting at work, and recently it has been so busy, I’ve ended up with a few half written posts that never got completed. So, here’s a little catchup.

If you didn't get a chance to go to the Sufjan Stevens concert at the Town Hall in NY, fret not - a complete live recording here.

The Bluetones are out with a new album this month – treading a similar vein to previous albums, the self-titled release sees the Hounslow group delivering their brand of catchy, Byrdsian indie tunes and twee self depricating lyrics. Whilst I’m not mad about the first single off the album, the first track on the album; Surrendered is a cracker in my books. I’ve also posted Fade In/Fade Out which was written for David Walliams of Little Britain fame in response to his swimming the Channel.

2006 does seem to be the year of singer-songwriters climbing back out the woodwork; sounding somewhat like an english Bright Eyes, The Chronicles Of A Bohemian Teenager is the debut album from Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - nom-de-plume of the prodigious talent that is 20 y.o. Sam Duckworth. It finds Sam tackling the classicism of folk music and splicing it with modern technology and a youth’s eye view of contemporary Britain. The album's an utterly captivating listen, seldom doing what’s expected of the genre and continually giving way to extremely pleasant surprises.

Blur’s frontman Damon Alburn is out with a new band called The Good, The Bad and The Queen with Clash bassist Paul Simonon as well as members of the Verve. The single Herculean will be released as a CD and 7-inch on October 30, 2006 "deleted the same day.

Sounding like a cross between Brett Anderson and early Pet Shop Boys, Biker Boy have released a track that I can’t decide whether I like or not. What do you think of You Got Me Wrong?

Lastly, the campaign is to get The Hoff (aka David Hasselhoff) to number one here in the UK with his take on the Ted Mulry Gang track Jump Into My Car proved relatively successful, resulting in a number 3 chart position. Given the fact that every download/disc bought will get DH one step closer to staying in the top 3, I’m not going to post the track – instead, I’m posting one of his classic anthems – Looking For Freedom – where he tries to do his best Bruce Springsteen but comes across all Neil Diamond.

Phew.

MP3: The Bluetones – Surrendered (Expired)
MP3: The Bluetones – Fade In/Fade Out (Expired)
MP3: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly – I-Spy (Expired)
MP3: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly – An Oak Tree (Expired)
MP3: The Good, The Bad and The Queen – Herculean (Expired)
MP3: Biker Boy – You Got Me Wrong (Expired)
MP3: David Hasselhoff – Looking For Freedom (Expired)

buy: The Bluetones - The Bluetones
buy: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - The Chronicles Of A Bohemian Teenager
buy: The Good, The Bad and The Queen – Herculean
buy: David Hasselhoff - Jump Into My Car
buy: David Hasselhoff - The Very Best

A Plague Upon Your House

2006-10-02T08:43:00.000+01:00

As part of the Margate Exodus project this weekend, ten international singer-songwriters had each been commissioned to write and record a song inspired by one of the ten biblical plagues. Artists include Brian Eno, Scott Walker, Rufus Wainwright and Imogen Heap.

You can pick up Rufus’s lament at Xolondon and Imogen down below.

MP3: Imogen Heap – Glittering Cloud [Plague of Locusts] (Expired)

buy: Plague Songs

Scott's Eaten Alive

2006-09-27T08:57:00.000+01:00

A while back I mentioned a bootleg of Diana Ross’s Eaten Alive that I had heard at one of my more dodgier haunts – I finally got round to asking the DJ where he got the tune, and it turns out the bootleg has been produced by one of the London scene regulars Scott Houzet.

In the cold light of day, I’m still loving the Eaten Alive mix – surely this is good enough for a proper release?

You can get more info and more remixes from his myspace.

Diana Ross – Eaten Alive (Brother Venus Rmx) (Expired)

Back And Good

2006-09-25T15:26:00.000+01:00

Remember how excited you were when you heard the Lily Allen demos? The consistently good, witty output from a british artist? The no hold barred lyrics? Well, it’s time to get ready to feel like that again…

Amy Winehouse is back this autumn to reclaim her crown as London’s sassiest singer with her sophmore release Back to Black.

Unlike her debut Frank which tho well hyped didn’t seem to penetrate further than the sets who actually care who is nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, BTB is still a jazz influenced affair – this time tho, the 60s influences are worn on the sleeve, and the tunes are more poppy in style. Amy’s candid tales of her cheating, drinking and loving are entwined in wonderfully direct retro soul, jazz and doo-wop beats, from Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson.

She’s been compared to the likes to Aretha Franklin and Billie Holiday – whilst this does seem like the usual hyperbole, her ability to craft a thoroughly british modern soul sound, does suggest you’re listening to someone special.

The fantastic first single Rehab is out on the 23rd October with the album out on the 30th.

MP3: Amy Winehouse – I’m No Good (Expired)
MP3: Amy Winehouse – Back to Black (Expired)
MP3: Amy Winehouse – Addicted (Expired)

buy: Amy Winehouse – Back to Black

Play It Again!

2006-09-20T22:42:00.000+01:00

Wednesdays are traditionally the shitty days of my week – I’ve already had two days of work, and the weekend is another two days away – wednesdays generally make me want to go and hide in the toilets at work and not come out till thursday evening (when my boss finally goes back to Amsterdam for the weekend).

Today however was surprisingly wonderful thanks to a certain Ms. Annika Norlin aka Hello Saferide. Sounding like a cross between Joni Mitchell (before the cigarettes took over) and Suzanne Vega, With wonderful titles such as If I don’t write this song, someone will die (sung from the p.o.v. of an obsessive compulsive), Hello Saferide writes some wonderful, twee pop songs with an edge.

Whilst I discovered her through her latest EP entitled Would You Let Me Play This EP Ten Times A Day (the answer has been a definite yes!) and the fantastic opener The Quiz , trawling through her back catalogue reveals more than her fair share of gems, with the standout track being Long Lost Penpal.

If you’re looking for singer to make you chuckle, tug on your heartstrings as well as give you a handful of of catchy tunes – don’t look any further than Annika. Check out her myspace for more tracks.

MP3: Hello Saferide – The Quiz (Expired)
MP3: Hello Saferide – Long Lost Penpal (Expired)

buy: Hello Saferide records (link to shops)

From The Captain's Table

2006-09-14T16:24:00.000+01:00

It's interesting that within the space of a couple of days, both the Scissor Sisters and Elton John latest albums have been occupying my stereo.

Above and over the obvious sonical similarities between SS' present day output and Elton's 70s records, the albums both deal on one level with the result of fame. Whilst the Scissor Sisters have put together an album that attempts to secure themselves against the insecurities of fame; Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin (this is a partnership after all) have created an album that picks up where the superb Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy left off. The Captain And The Kid features 10 new songs reflecting the intimate lives and public times spanning their long-standing songwriting partnership.In fact, for the first time, both John and Taupin are featured on an Elton John album cover.

Created in the tradition of those fantastic records of the 60's and 70's, The Captain & The Kid is a celebration of when music was the most important voice of our culture and the album was its
prime vehicle. Much like Elton's previous records Tumbleweed Connection, Madman Across The Water, and Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy, The Captain & The Kid is an album meant to transport you back to that place in time when music mattered most.

I know that it’s not terribly hip to be an Elton John fan, but hopefully with the straight up influences upon the works of the Scissor Sisters, and the return to a golden time, more folks will revisit the magic of Elton and Bernie.

MP3: Elton John - And The House Fell Down (Expired)
MP3: Elton John – Blues Never Fade Away (Expired)

buy: Elton John - The Captain And The Kid

I Believe In You

2006-09-13T15:20:00.000+01:00

If the Scissor Sister debut album gave a firm nod Elton John and MOR rock through a hoxton filter, then their latest offering Ta-Dah has them channeling their 70s AM rock and white-boy disco influences.

Unlike their previous album which often felt like an album made by a group of club kids having fun and making up pastiches of their favourite childhood songs, Ta-Dah feels less rebellious and more grown up. On the face of it, it’s hard to decide whether this is a good thing or not – part of the charm of the SS was their dont-give-a-damn attitude to pop music in the face of santised, packaged pop.

But, after a few listens the grown-up, heavily 70s influenced production takes on it’s own attraction. This is a band dealing with fame, and growing up. Of chasing the music that they want to make and not trying to be hip or cool. Having always been a big fan of the 70s, it’s like finding a long forgotten album from your childhood – at once recognisable but new at the same time.

Read more about the band's take on the album at their myspace.

Ta-Dah is released in the UK on Sept 18th.

Judging from the progress on this album, I predict that the 'difficult number' 3 will indeed be their magnum opus.

MP3: Scissor Sisters – She’s My Man (Expired)
MP3: Scissor Sisters – Kiss You Off (Expired)
MP3: Scissor Sisters – Might Tell You Tonight (Expired)

buy: Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah

Telling Secrets

2006-09-11T19:33:00.000+01:00

It's taken me ages to get hold of a copy of Kat Flint’s EP The Secret Boy’s Club EP, and having finally managed to get my grubby paws (twas a fun weekend ;-), I’m glad to have persevered. Coming across like a scottish Missy Higgins (female, great turn of phrase, guitar – I’m crap with comparisons), TSBC is a beautiful, gentle collection of songs.

Kat sings with a powerful clarity that manages to be vunerable and powerful within the same breath. Although recorded on a shoestring, the tracks come across as accomplished complete songs (and one even features handclaps and a kazoo! Yes! A kazoo.)

Fans of the aforementioned Missy Higgins, Suzanne Vega, Janis Ian or even Judy Collins should check her out.

Hear Kat

TUESDAY 12th SEPTEMBER - TOMORROW NIGHT

Barfly B*Sides @ the EnterpriseHaverstock Hill (opposite Chalk Farm tube), North London

Doors @ 7.30pm

£5 entry

MP3: Kat Flint – Fearsome Crowd (Expired)
MP3: Kat Flint – Anticlimax (Expired)

buy: Kat Flint - The Secret Boy's Club EP

Ready To Be Happy

2006-09-08T14:10:00.000+01:00

I hadn’t actually listened to a Lloyd Cole album prior to getting hold of a copy of Antidepressant, so, I didn’t really have a frame of reference (above and over the Camera Obscura line) or an expectation of what it would sound like.

My initial impressions are very positive; I can see why folks like Xolondon get so excited about his voice; there’s something warm, comforting and very familar about his voice. At times reminding me of Roddy Frame, David Gray without the nasalness or a less strident Morrissey (I realise Xo’s probably spitting his coffee out as we speak).

Musically, I’m told from the accompanying blurb, that the album is definitely a little bit perkier than the last few records with some of the songs are a bit more friendly in terms of potential radio play. Whilst I’m not convinced that he’s going to get much radio play, the album does warrant listening to. Even at his jauntiest, there is a quiteness, and indeed a timelessness in the tracks that makes the album addictive listening.

Clearly an intelligent wordsmith, LC covers a whole host of topics in his songs from the a look back at youthful rebellion, adults fantasising and american road trips.

Not sure how representative this album is of Lloyd’s work, but it has certainly urged me to investigate his discography. A classy, adult pop album.

Antidepressant sees its UK release on the 26th Sept.

MP3: Lloyd Cole - The Young Idealists (Expired)
MP3: LLoyd Cole – Woman In A Bar (Expired)

buy: Lloyd Cole - Antidepressant

I Bet You Win

2006-09-07T19:06:00.000+01:00

So, no surprises there – the Arctic Monkeys picked up the 2006 Mercury Music Prize. To be honest, I don’t really give a monkeys (see what I did there?) about AM – it does however give me the chance to post a guilty pleasure – Almighty Records in the UK is a studio/remix group that as well as remixing chart acts records covers of chart indie and ballads and makes them more ‘dance-floor friendly’ – a few months ago a dodgy club I occasionally frequent played an Almighty cover (feat Belle Lawrence) of I Bet You Think You Look Good On The Dancefloor which made me squeal with delight.

It’s really tacky, but for some bizarre reason I had a blast dancing to it. And I wasn’t even drunk.

MP3: Belle Lawrence -I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor

buy: Belle Lawrence – IBYLGOTDF

Got Me Good

2006-09-07T09:07:00.000+01:00

If you haven’t already done so, make sure you check out Xolondon’s scarily accurate (I kept going; “yes, that’s what I thought!” reading it) review of Jamelia's latest album Walk With Me . The only place where I’d disagree is his excitement about No More – it’s good, but it’s not that good (well done for using the harpsichord again, Jams).

My current (I know it’s going to change with further listens) favourite track off the album in addition to the superb Something About You is the equally good Get Up, Get Out which is surely one of the few pop songs to feature (albeit fudged) the line You fucking do it again. There is something about the song that reminds of a whole host of other songs, from the speed garage beats, the speeded up sample and a nod to A Million Lovesongs.

More lovely tracks at Xolondon’s pad.

MP3: Jamelia – Get Up, Get Out

buy: Jamelia - Walk With Me

Versus

2006-08-23T14:06:00.000+01:00

I got sent Mastermix Mashup CD a few weeks ago; whilst most of the mashups weren’t to my taste, I thought I’d share a couple that did at least make it to the end of the track. A couple of Alex C mashups thrown in for good measure – visit his site for more goodies.

MP3: Mylo vs. Neneh Cherry – Drop The Pressure vs. Buffalo Stance
MP3: Supermode vs. Bronski Beat – Tell Me Why vs. Smalltown Boy
MP3: Lily Allen Vs. Dawn Penn – No No No Shame For You
MP3: Madonna vs. Donna Summer – I Feel Future Lovers

Flaming Satin

2006-08-23T12:53:00.000+01:00

On the 4 Sept 2006, Goldfrapp are releasing special limited edition double A-side 7” picture disc comes with two tracks: the Flaming Lips mix of 'Satin Chic' which, in typical Lips psychedelic fashion, is entitled Satin Chic Through The Mystic Mix, Dimension 11. The other side features Goldfrapp's fabulous version of The Ordinary Boys' "Boys Will Be Boys' as performed during their recent classic Live Lounge session on Jo Whiley's BBC Radio 1 show (and posted here a few months ago). The single is a picture disc with artwork designed by Alison Goldfrapp.

MP3: Goldfrapp – Satin Chic Through The Mystic Mix, Dimension 11

buy: Goldfrapp - Satin Chic

Indeed.

2006-08-22T19:32:00.000+01:00

MP3: Jarvis Cocker — Cunts Are Still Ruling The World

Great Shape

2006-08-22T15:17:00.000+01:00

Nine months, nine great albums and over half a dozen singles through 2006 already, Tru Thoughts & Zebra Traffic are set to release their second 'Shapes Compilation' of the year.

Shapes Volume 2 2006 offers listeners a sneak preview of what the label has lined up for the next six months, allowing DJs to get their hands on some early exclusives and giving the turntable-less a chance to hear some essential non-album tracks, 'Shapes Compilation' is perfect for newcomers and impatient fans alike. Feat. exclusives from Quantic, Nickodemus and Nostalgia 77; also incl. unreleased material by Spanky Wilson & Quantic Soul Orchestra, TM Juke, Jumbonics and Kinny &amp; Horne; a cover of The Broken Keys' next single by The Bamboos; Alice Russell remixed by Bonobo; Diesler getting the Gerardo Frisina treatment and a live recording by The Nostalgia 77 Octet.

For the really impatient of you out there, I’ve included a couple of my favourite tracks from a very strong label compilation out there.

The album is available on the 8th September 2006

MP3: Alice Russel – A Fly In The Hand (DJ Vadim Mix)
MP3: Quantic & Nickodemus – Mi Swing Es Tropical

French Connection

2006-08-22T12:52:00.000+01:00

How I wish I had worked a little harder in my french lessons at school. I can currently ask for croque monsieur and occasionally explain to those who wish to know, that although I did take french A levels, I also failed them, but would they like some peas?

With that in mind, I have no idea what french-canadian band Malajube are actually singing out – but it does sound awfully jolly. Sounding a bit like bands such as Broken Social Scene and the Shins, Malajube create joyful indie melodies that have had them on repeat. Whilst they’re probably singing about eating little children or granny bashing, the abscence of anything that I can understand on their 2006 release; Trompe-L'oeil means I’m happy to bop along in time.

MP3: Malajube – Montréal -40ºC
MP3: Malajube –Pâte Filo
MP3: Malajube – Le Crabe

Naachne Rani

2006-08-22T12:44:00.000+01:00

From the liner notes of the 1981 release Salma & Sabina Sing The Hits Of ABBa In Hindi:

: "This cassette contains the Hindi versions of the melodies of the World's Number One Pop group - ABBA. Their melodies are magic and their reproduction in any other language is a challenge which only the most talented and versatile musicians and singers can accept. This challenge was accepted by a group of people from the Indian Sub-Continent and Europe. Amit Khanna, the writer of numerous Indian hits is the author of the Hindi lyrics on this cassette. he has not only managed to totally preserve the feel and atmosphere of ABBA but also given a new " Indo dimension " to the lyrics, which are undoubtedly the most beautiful songs ever written... The two Agha sisters, Salma and Sabina have put their voices to these lyrics... With their stunning personalities, looks and voices, the Agha sisters are sure to become a phenomenon on the musical scene."

How can you argue with that?

MP3: Salma & Sabina – Toba Toba (Mamma Mia)
MP3: Salma & Sabina – Kabhi Kabhi (Honey Honey)
MP3: Salma & Sabina – Abhilasha (Chiquitita)
MP3: Salma & Sabina – Pehli Pehli Preet (Super Trooper)
MP3: Salma & Sabina – Ho Jayegi Badnami (Money Money Money)
MP3: Salma & Sabina – Hum Rahi (Fernando)
MP3: Salma & Sabina – Hai Ye Pyar Ghazab (The Name Of The Game)
MP3: Salma & Sabina – Mitha Maze Dar (Dancing Queen)

Zip: Salma & Sabina Sing The Hits Of Abba In Hindi

History of Bandwagons

2006-08-07T13:45:00.000+01:00

Always one to jump on the bandwagon, I'm currently very excited about the debut album The End of History from Fionn Regan – the latest singer songwriter to be making waves.

The comparisons to the likes of Nick Drake, Simon & Garfunkel and the other notable 60s/70s songwriters may be predictable, but that shouldn’t be seen as a criticism – far from it, Fionn has crafted a surprisingly mature folk album that has the potential to stand the test of time.

MP3: Fionn Regan – Be Good Or Be Gone (expired)
MP3: Fionn Regan – Hey Rabbit (expired)

buy: Fionn Regan - The End Of History

Eaten Alive!

2006-08-07T13:32:00.000+01:00

Sort of a request/post here. This weekend I went to one of my local gay bars, where the DJ played a bootleg version of Diana Ross's Eaten Alive. The version was basically the eaten alive part of the chorus over a synthy house track. I've scoured the internet to see whether anyone has released any bootlegs/dance remixes of the track, but with no luck.

Anyone have a copy?

I hadn't actually heard the original Diana Ross track till this weekend - written (and featuring on backing vocals) the Bee Gees and Michael 'I want your nose' Jackson, I have to say I love it for the confused over the top mess that it is.

MP3: Diana Ross - Eaten Alive

buy: Diana Ross - Eaten Alive

Hating The Kids

2006-08-07T13:26:00.000+01:00

If you ever wondered what would have happened if Kirsty Maccol and Billy Bragg would have sounded had they decided to joined forces (or what would happen if you really pissed B&S off), then The Indelicates are probably the closest that you’ll get to it. Brash, direct, humorous and great songsmiths, this duo are one of my favourite discoveries of 2006.

Their single We Hate The Kids is out now – visit their site to download lots more MP3s (especially the fantastically titled Waiting For Pete Doherty To Die).

MP3: The Indelicates – We Hate The Kids
MP3: The Indelicates – A New England (Billy Bragg cover)

Back.

2006-08-07T13:23:00.000+01:00

This company has been responsible for my extended absence – three days after connecting to them, my internet connection died and no amount of persuasion, threats or calling bribery could get my connection back up.

Thankfully, I have now returned to the land of the connected, and am able to go back to sharing random bits of musical delights from my music collection.

First post back, I recommend you check out Headlights and their debut album Kill Them With Kindness. With its sonic clash between shoegazing twee-pop, indie guitars and a synth wall of sound, this album has crept under my skin and feels like the perfect soundtrack for my current state of mind (frustrated at work, cold and wet).

The mix of melancholic lyrics and beach boys chords are making me very happy.

MP3: Headlights – TV (Expired)
MP3: Headlights – Put Us Back Together Right (Expired)

buy: Headlights – Kill Them With Kindness

Join My Club

2006-07-26T14:21:00.000+01:00

I’m officially crap. I’ve been here for nearly four months so far, and I haven’t gotten round to updating the links section of the blog. So, here’s the deal– if you link to me already, stick a note in the comments section, and I’ll stick you on my ‘link list’ when I update sometime over the next week or two. (Btw, if you’re going to try and use me to advertise your site selling viagra or somesuch, please be aware that I haven’t had (good) sex since 2004.)

Maybe I'm Getting Old

2006-07-26T11:14:00.000+01:00

Ok. This is distressing – all three of my most anticipated tracks of the month have all made me go ‘Erm?’ and not necessarily in a good way. I’ve already mentioned that I didn’t get ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’ – I have tried giving it a go, but I still end up in the same place -it’s fun, but it ain’t no classic.

The next track that I searched high and low for was ‘When You Were Young’ by The Killers – hoping for something anthemic in the vein of the their debut album or perhaps a change of direction – instead it feel like Killers-by-numbers or Meatloaf meets Bruce Springsteen – an album track perhaps, but this is no way to kick off an album.

Lastly, Robbie William’s much hyped move from ‘rock to electronica’ (according to the Sunday Times) has left me confused. It starts off a bit like Jacques Your Body (Les Rythmes Digitales) and then goes into an odd 80s rap with electro squelches and a minimal drum machine backing – the oddest thing about the song for me is the lack of humour or self-pity that is characteristic of a lead RW track.

I’m torn about this track – part of thinks it’s utter shite, but then in the usual RW way, it kinda niggles under the skin and sort of stays there. What the track needs is a really good remix to give it that dirty 80s electro-funk feel it’s kinda of aiming for.

The one thing I have to say though, is kudos to RW for trying different things – although I’m not sure EMI is looking for experimentalism as opposed to a chance in hell to recoup their original squillion pound investment. (For all your RW updates take a trip to A Risk Each Day) – he’s still a handsome fella tho.

I think I may go into hiding till the hyperbole dies down.

MP3: Robbie Williams – Rudebox (Expired)

Do You Feel Like Dancing

2006-07-22T03:30:00.000+01:00

Ok – this is not what I was expecting – Scissor Sisters are back and the seem to be channelling the Bee Gees over what seems like samples of the piano riff from ‘Oh What A Night’ in the background for the first single I Don’t Feel Like Dancing from their (at least at casa Homoeclectic) sophomore release Ta-Dah.

I have mixed feelings about this – the track has a certain Saturday night strut across the floor appeal, and at times it feels like SS are trying to write their own ‘Comfortably Numb’, but at the same time, given how much we loved their debut album the track feels like a bit of a let down.

Let me know what you think.

MP3: Scissor Sisters – I Don’t Feel Like Dancing (Expired)

Razor Sharp

2006-07-15T14:01:00.000+01:00

On monday, Razorlight release their second album titled Razorlight. The album is an unforgettable short, sharp shock - with just 10 songs spread over 35 minutes it never gets the chance to outstay its welcome and touches on everything great about classic, epic rock from the past 30 years.

It’s a refreshing old-school pop album that conforms to the truth that less is more – musically it’s a pared down, intimate feel.

MP3: Razorlight – Who Needs Love (Expired)
MP3: Razorlight – America (Expired)

buy: Razorlight - Razorlight

p.s. Blogger is f*cked – so no pics on posts till they fix the problem.

Boogie Woogie Sister

2006-07-15T12:34:00.000+01:00

Now you’ll either love this or hate this. It’s a mystery no one has thought of this before; The Puppini Sisters embrace such wartime originals as "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (From Company B)" and "Mr. Sandman" alongside period-style versions of such pop/new wave hits as Blondie's "Heart of Glass," Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" and the Smiths' "Panic."

Marcella Puppini formed the trio, "The Puppini Sisters" in September 2004 with Stephanie O'Brien and Kate Mullins on a lark – what would happen if you updated the Andrews Sisters?

Marcella is the husky brunette who loves red lipstick and high heels and worships the old school Hollywood divas. Kate is the feisty blonde with a penchant for black eye make-up and beer gardens, and Steph is the cheeky redhead who loves pouting and camp glamour.

Personally, we are a big fan of them, and have had their debut album Betcha Bottom Dollar on nonstop (whilst I’ve been trying to seduce american servicemen and draw stocking lines down my legs).

Betcha Bottom Dollar is out in the UK on 31st July. Pop into their rather fabulous site while you’re waiting.

MP3: The Puppini Sisters – I Will Survive (Expired)
MP3: The Puppini Sisters – Sisters (Expired)
MP3: The Puppini Sisters – Wuthering Heights (Expired)

buy: The Puppini Sisters - Betcha Bottom Dollar

Dear Boy

2006-07-11T21:33:00.000+01:00

Roundly touted as a Swedish Bright Eyes, Loney, Dear is the alter-ego of Emil Svanängen - a Stockholm-based multi-instrumentalist who records at home or round his folks' house.

Sologne is 10 songs of Swedish psych folk sung in English with a strong indie pop flavour. with a cascade of acoustic melodies showering the self-referential lyrics and Waltz-themed time signatures in a warm, home-spun haze that is an OC producer's dream.

Loney Dear will fit perfectly in your collection along with Death Cab For Cutie, Arcade Fire, Grizzly Bear, and Architecture In Helsinki.

MP3: Lonely, Dear – The City, The Airport (Expired)
MP3: Lonely, Dear – Le Fever (Expired)
MP3: Lonely, Dear – I Fought the Battle of Trinidad & Tobago (Expired)

buy: Lonely, Dear - Sologne

For The Love Of God

2006-07-10T18:06:00.000+01:00

Go to Club Contact immediately and download the superb There For The Grace Of God. The song has to be one of my top 3 favourite disco records ever. Yes, ever.

Art Students On The Rampage

2006-07-10T08:28:00.000+01:00

Yelping, screaming, angular indie-pop but with tunes; Elle Milano passed me by when they released their debut EP earlier this year. On a recommendation of a friend I decided to check them out, and we like what we hear.

Elle Milano are a four-piece indie band based in Leicester, England, formed by the indie fashion models Adam Doherty and James Iha, formerly of the band Psirens. Their debut EP Swearing’s For Art Students is out now.

MP3: Elle Milano – Swearing’s For Art Students (Expired)
MP3: Elle Milano – Sunshine In Happyland (Expired)

It's All Coming Back To Me Now

2006-07-07T21:53:00.000+01:00

As part of their ‘80s Issue’, Q Magazine has attached a free CD with modern covers of 80s tracks. Featuring the likes of The Futureheads, Teddy Thompson, Placebo and The Boy Least Likely To.

Some of the covers have been released before by the artists as B sides, whereas others have been recorded especially for Q.

Tracklist:

1. Orson - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
2. The Futureheads - Let's Dance (David Bowie cover, specially recorded for Q)
3. Boy Kill Boy - It's Different For Girls
4. Neal Casal - Wishing Well (Terence Trent D'Arby cover, specially recorded for Q)
5. Lorraine - Heaven 6. Cord - Spirits In The Material World
7. Boy Least Likely To - Faith (George Michael cover, specially recorded for Q)
8. Teddy Thompson - Don't Dream It's Over (Crowded House cover, specially recorded for Q)
9. Catherine Feeny - I'm On Fire
10. Kelley Stoltz - Heaven Up Here
11. Camera Obscura - Modern Girl (Sheena Easton cover, specially recorded for Q)
12. Clayhill - Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
13. Katie Melua - Just Like Heaven
14. Placebo - Running Up That Hill
15. Elf Power - Upside Down

Seeing as you can get 15 tracks for the princely sum of £3.90 (or a pint of beer in the west end), I encourage you to buy the mag to get the tracks. For those not in the UK, a couple of tracks off the album below.

MP3: Lorraine – Heaven (Expired)
MP3: The Boy Least Likely To – Faith (Expired)
MP3: Camera Obscura – Modern Girl (Expired)

We Apologise For The Interrputed Service...

2006-07-06T21:31:00.000+01:00

…but it’s very busy in the real world, and we’re struggling to find time to post – but more stuff should be up this weekend (incase you thought I had gone to the blog graveyard in the sky).