Beauty

While you weren't looking, the Horrors got good. Over-hyped and distinctly underwhelming, the first incarnation of these Iowa funsters probably left you questioning your distinguished musical taste or despairing at the salivating media surrounding the band. And I'd have joined you in that beery debate.
But the Horrors v2.0 are here, because we weren't paying attention properly the first time. And 'Mirror's Image' is everything right about this fresh incarnation. And while that track steals a momentary glance, look on and have a squint at the entire Mercury nominated album.
Should that be music to your eyes (not sure where I'm going with this), I heartily recommend you feast them (phew, back on track) on the Horrors live, they're far from horrific and definitely worth a look.

Beauty

The Single of the Year?

I'd heard this song less than once when I excitedly twunted something along the lines of, 'Has Ian Brown just released the single of the year?' In the sobriety of a tenth or seventeenth listen I'll say it's Top 5. If you've not heard it hold your bladder as you wag your tail like an excited puppy to 'Stellify'.

The Single of the Year?

A Conversion

Six weeks ago I vowed never to return to the venue I found myself standing outside on Saturday night. The last time I was at Wembley Stadium - to see U2 - it was a truly lack-luster experience. Sat too far away in 'fan club ticket seats' I said, never again. So imagine my surprise to be back beneath the scaffold arch. Adamant that we got standing tickets, or nothing, we struck a deal with the devil's helpers outside and found our way in. Inside Wembley felt strangely intimate: whether it was the stage, the crowd, the lighting, the sound, the screens; come to think of it, it was probably all of the above; I could feel a conversion coming on. But I wasn't expecting a second one. Jay-Z tore up the stage with the best hip-hop sound I've heard. Oh yeah, and I've heard hip-hop. Ahem. 99 Problems... yeah, yeah, naturally amazing. But it was a track from his new album, The Blueprint 3 which totally blew me. 'Empire State Of Mind' was accompanied by an epic back drop of the Manhattan sky-line. And the epic vocal of Bridget Kelly, in place of Alicia Keys. Jesus wept, she can sing. Moved by hippety hop. Who'd have thunk. And to top that, at the end of the gig, Mr Z started to thank the audience individually. Like Les Dennis and Dustin Gee used to do. Sweet.

Oh, yeah, Coldplay were pretty spesh too. But I'll leave that for another time.

A Conversion

The Fly Tonight

'Truelove's Gutter' is released on Monday. It's the new album from Richard Hawley. Who he? He's the syrup-toned Yorkshireman who you'll have heard playing with the Longpigs back in the day, famously with Pulp and more recently with Elbow. That you may know. What you may not know is he also played on tracks with Robbie Williams and All Saints? 'For Your Lover Give Some Time' is delicious. And I may just melt when he plays it tonight at the Fly.

The Fly Tonight

The 80s. Through Psychedlic Eyes

Lush. Sublime. Twisted. I could go on. Have a listen to Flaming Lips with Stardeath and White Dwarves and, without looking at the title of the track, see how long it is before you recognise the song they're covering. I bet it's not less than a minute.

The 80s. Through Psychedlic Eyes

The Mercury 2009

My choice from 'Speech Therapy', 'Spinnin''. By Speech Debelle. Speech, speech, speech we cried as she took to the stage to collect her award from Mr Boogie Woogie. 'Whooooooooooo?' was the cry of many others. Of course if they'd been listening to The Soundtrack to July 2009, as I'm sure you were, they'd have known all about Speech a long time ago. Though the album only came out then...

The Mercury 2009

The Monday After The Weekend Before

Massive Monday downer. So what better way to wake up the week than with a spot of Radiohead? Not since its release have I listened to 'Amnesiac'. Not all the way through, certainly. Just over halfway through, I've got to say it makes a lot more sense post 'In Rainbows'. And a much more listenable listen. Still way ahead of their time. It's as if the albums were released in the wrong order. If you've not been there, since, do go now. I think you'll be filled with wonky-eyed surprised.

The Monday After The Weekend Before

The Hole Death In Vegas Have Left

This is Neon Snakes, 'Fontan' (the 'a' has got a couple of dots over the top of it but I don't know how to keyboarderise them.) It's great. Really naughty bass kicks off the track which slowly builds to an epic instrumental - bar the occasional woo woohs - more than vaguely reminiscent of the mighty Death In Vegas. No bad thing. Very possibly the opening to the Soundtrack to September.

The Hole Death In Vegas Have Left

80s-based Euphoric Indie

'This Momentary' by Delphic. Not as good as 'Counterpoint' but if you like Friendly Fires, LCD Soundsystem, or going back further, New Order you want to be listening to this right now. Now.

80s-based Euphoric Indie

August 2009

An ever schizophrenic mishmash for August. From the angry drool of Alice in Chains, a record I must add may take your head off. To the happy-go-lucky Duckworth Lewis Method. From the euphoric, energy-injected elation of Felix da Housecat, back back back; to the so-laid-back-they’re practically horizontal, Dan Michaelson & The Coastguards.

Tuck in at sharemyplaylists.com

August 2009