Blog

Track: Calculator (full track)
Artist: Micachu and the Shapes / Micachu
Album: Jewellery (09 Mar 09)
Tags: experimental, avant-garde, lo-fi, punk, grime, pop, indie, my gang rotw
Video: Click the pic...

YouTube, live performance

I'm in a sulk. It feels like everybody has been listening to Micachu for absolutely ages and I'm the last one to join the party and nobody thought to tell me about them. These things are hard to get over. I wouldn't want anyone else to feel like this so let me bring them to your attention, though you may have already seen them in people's charts around the site. Yes, the people who didn't share.

Before you read the rest of this, I recommend you have a listen, just so you can enjoy the same element of surprise that I did. Click the album pic...



And here's a photo or two, so you don't see any text to spoil things...



I hope you did as I suggested and had a listen first (and I hope you had fully streamable tracks in your region).

The album is original, experimental, fun and catchy as hell. Two artists came to mind as I listened: Sonny J, who went for a similar vibe of catchy pop and sampling like a fiend in his album Disastro last year (see my reco journal); and Hotpants Romance, lo-fi, proper punk, indie girls who I didn't have the guts to recommend last year but ended up being a guilty pleasure. Their album It's A Heatwave was critically well-received, but failed to take off. The girls are so lo-fi, they shot their music videos on their mobile phones and uploaded them in YouTube. Completely taking the piss. And I loved them for it.

Other artists people have mentioned are Captain Beefheart, which I can totally get, and that's pretty much it. Animal Collective are among their 'similar artists' here in Last.fm, which sounds about right. Most reviewers have opted for 'ground breaking' as a descriptor, with good reason as Jewellery was produced by the independently-minded Matthew Herbert.

Calculator is the track that stood out for me during my first listen and I was pleased to find a fairly decent live performance of it in YouTube. It's drenched in samples and, like the rest of the album, cleverly put together. I keep wanting to stop and identify pieces but somehow, it doesn't seem the point. Micachu seems to be using anything and everything she can get her hands on to propel her own ideas, not showcase her music library or her household objects. (In case you're wondering, it's The Champs - Tequila you're reminded of.) So in effect, you're listening to a new whole, and this is why she's described as genre-breaking.

Micachu is, the 21 year old songwriter / producer, Mica Levi. She studies composition at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London . As well as writing more traditional pieces, she writes electronic pop songs, sometimes delivered acoustically. She has worked with a band of equally talented musicians (“The Cluster”) made up of Miss Bienek, Taza, Yvette, Baker Trouble, Mayhem, Kit Downes, Ghostpoet and Kwes, but has recently unveiled her amazing new band (“the Shapes”), made up of Raisa Khan and Marc Pell. From Last.fm
I really wanted people to hear the music before reading this is experimental lo-fi as envisioned by a classically trained composer (which it is) because I didn't want to intimidate or put anyone off. The most overriding thing about the music is how fun it is but that's not to say this is your average, disposable chart fodder. The music is carefully put together and the more you listen, the more detail you hear. It's challenging and packed with ideas but not alienating or difficult. Calculator is pure rock 'n' roll. Turn me well (which begins with the sound of a hoover) is thoughtful. Lips uses a kiss as a percussion fill. Golden Phone is the most straightforward and most people's recommended download.

Tell a lie, it was highlighted in my friend's journal back in Feb/March. I have been lax this year.


Babs _{My Gang}

Reco of the Week archives



Admin - Stats as of today:

Last.fm listeners of this track - 3,049
No. of plays scrobbled in Last.fm - 10,545
Position in Last 7 Days: 10 / 462
Position in Last 6 Months: 11 / 1,174

Video
Date Added: 09 September 2008
Views: 1,904, Ratings: 5, Comments: 4, Favourited: 19 times

Stats after 7 days:

Last.fm listeners of this track - 3,231
No. of plays scrobbled in Last.fm - 11,373
Position in Last 7 Days: 10 / 453
Position in Last 6 Months: 11 / 1,174

Video
Views: 2,066, Ratings: 6, Comments: 4, Favourited: 20 times

373 Unique Visitors
422 Page Views


Unique Visitors
Page Views

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1. electronic-lounge/acid jazz/Trip hop: Matthew Herbert, Alice Russell, Air, Moloko, Jimi Tenor, Thievery Corporation, Kruder & Dorfmeister, The Herbaliser, Zero 7, VFSix, Portishead, Morcheeba, Tricky, Slow Train Soul, Róisín Murphy, De-Phazz, Goldfrapp, Nicola Conte, Alif Tree, I Monster, Moby, The Quantic Soul Orchestra, Massive Attack, Hooverphonic, Bonobo, Moodorama, Mo' Horizons, Quantic, Pat Appleton

2. rock/alternative/indie: Beck, Radiohead, Coldplay, The Beatles, Jewel, U2, James, Ben Harper, G. Love & Special Sauce, Pearl Jam, PJ Harvey, Ian Brown, Alice in Chains, Feist, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Tori Amos, The Black Keys, The White Stripes, Cat Power, Santana, Kyuss, David Byrne, John Lennon

3. politically-conscious hip-hop: Gorillaz, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Michael Franti & Spearhead, k-os, Common, Blackalicious, Gift Of Gab, DJ Shadow, Buck 65, Beastie Boys, Jurassic 5, Aesop Rock, Outkast, Andre 3000, Digable Planets, The Roots, RJD2, Cut Chemist, Lyrics Born, dead prez, Pharcyde, Sole, handsome boy modelling school, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, MC Solaar,

4. neo-soul: Goapele, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Amy Winehouse, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, D'Angelo, Fiona Apple, Jamie Cullum, India.Arie, Alicia Keys, Gnarls Barkley, Joss Stone, Amel Larrieux, Sade, Ursula Rucker, Jamiroquai, nino moshella, The Brand New Heavies, Alice Russell, Musiq Soulchild

5. funky soul: Edwin Star, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, Gil Scott Heron, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Bill Withers, Ella Fitzgerald, Solomon Burke, Ruth Brown, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Dinah Washington, Isaac Hayes, Lonnie Liston Smith, Roy Ayers,

6. jazz/world grooves: David Murray, William Parker & Hamid Drake,James Carter, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Fela Kuti, Locura, Sun Ra, Gipsy Kings, Donald Byrd, Paco De Lucia, Bob Marley, DJ Spooky, Asa, Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn, Wai, Bebel Gilberto, Sergio Mendes, Mari Boine, Bjork, Manu Chao, Gotan Project, Finley Quaye, Angelique Kidjo, Zap Mama, Galactic, Alpha Blondy, Skerik, Rupa & The April Fishes

7. Folksy Blues: Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, John Lee Hooker, Ani DiFranco, The Cowboy Junkies, Nick Drake, Paul Simon, Beth Orton, Lou Reed, Bruce Springstein, Dr. John, Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder, Patti Smith, Albert King, John Martyn, B.B. King,

Hello Everybody,



There is only 85 days until the start of the 21st Dour Festival! And it looks like it will be a vintage year so make sure you don't miss it and join us on the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th July!

THE DOUR FESTIVAL = CHOICES (200 ARTISTS) + QUALITY + LOW BUDGET



GET YOUR TICKET NOW!
You love this year's line up and you don't want to miss the musical event of the summer?
You're not the only one and remember the festival has been sold-out for the past 4 years so make sure you have your ticket nice and early or you may very well miss out.
Our 4-day combi ticket is at the same price as last year, no inflation! You only pay 85 Euros for 4 days of music and 200 bands!
If you can only make it for 1 day and see about 50 bands it will only cost you 40 Euros.

So where do you buy your ticket?

From all over the world

* Via our internet site. It's open 24h a day, 7 days a week : http://ticketshop.dourfestival.be/en/
You can pay with VISA, Mastercard, Dexia Direct Net, Bancontact Mister Cash (Bcmc) and Ideal (belgian banks) You will receive your ticket via email, Easy, quick and direct !

Other box offices :

* In the UK: Proximus Go for Music, Lastminute.com. check out Festivalbus.co.uk for cheap travel
* In Belgium: Dexia Ticket Shop, Proximus Go for Music, Fnac, Ticketnet, Extrazone, Lastminute.com, and usual retail points.
* In France: Proximus Go for Music, Fnac, Ticketnet, Lastminute.com and usual retails points.
* In Holland: TicketService, Proximus Go for Music, Lastminute.com



NEW NAMES CONFIRMED AND FIND OUT WHO PLAYS WHEN!
We're very happy to confirm today the presence of the following artists at Dour this summer:


POP/ROCK/MATH-ROCK/EXPERIMENTAL/FOLK/INDIE
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead * // Cocoon * // De Staat * // I Like Trains * // Karkwa * // Les Fatals Picards * // Malibu Stacy * // Naïve New Beaters * // St. Vincent * // Stuck in the Sound * // The Dodos * // The Experimental Tropic Blues Band * // The Gaslight Anthem *

ELECTRO/IDM/DRUM'N'BASS/ELECTROPUNK/NEW RAVE/MINIMAL
Daniel Haaksman * feat. Deize Tigrona live // Feadz * // L-VIS 1990 * // Matthew Herbert * dj set // MiSSiLL * dj set // TC * // Tim Exile *

REGGAE/ROOTS/DUB/SKA/DANCEHALL/RAGGA/ELECTRO-JAZZ
Tryo * // African Head Charge * // Bitty McLean with Sly & Robbie * (Taxi Gang) // Bush Chemists meets The Dubateers * // Mad Professor Electronic Dub Show * feat. Aisha, Joe Ariwa, Chukki Starr // Mr. Vegas * & THe Thugz Band

PUNK/PUNK-ROCK/SLUDGE/METAL/POST-METAL/HARDCORE/METALCORE/NEW WAVE
Sepultura * // An Albatross * // Comeback Kid * // Heideroosjes * // Lionheart * // The Red Chord *

HIP-HOP/RAP/EXPERIMENTAL/NU-JAZZ
Assassin * // Fakkelbrigade * feat. Opgezwolle, Typhoon et James en producer A.R.T. // La Swija * // Medine * // Psy4 de la Rime *

* = new name


Once again, there is something for everybody! This means that the full line-up is nearly finalised but we still have a few surprises for you up our sleeve.


You can now also find out who is playing when to prepare your festival. It's on our website : www.dourfestival.be

Get back into that 2008 groove!

HERE's 15-minute video from last year's festival. Have a look with your mates and get back in that special Dour feeling...




Until next time,
The Dour Team
http://www.dourfestival.be
http://ticketshop.dourfestival.be/
http://www.doureuh.be

Todays podcast has Antony and the Johnsons teaming up with electro pioneer and Bjork producer Matthew Herbert, Keane webcasting a live session in 3-D, Billy Bragg joining the YouTube royalties row, and the Motown demo byFrank Wilson that became a Northern Soul classic by Eddie Foster and is now the world's most collectible record.

Download ot here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/6musicnews/

Wed 18 Mar – Girl Talk, Daedelus, Joker, Fabulous Diamonds, cleckhuddersfax

Before I get going on my monthlies (read into that what you will), I'd just like to give a passing mention to the rather fabulous night held at the Scala by organisers Upset The Rhythm, who managed to book the DJ responsible for one of my favorite albums of last year at the venue for quite the evening out with two of my closest friends. The reason I have to mention it in passing is because the night itself was a joyous blur, the kind of night when so much good stuff was going on, musically and socially, you sort of lose your concentration with the gig itself, which happened to throw up a few surprises of its own.

Firstly, the combination of the venue (a rather weirdly constructed affair featuring all manner of staircases, passageways and Mediterranean tiling most often found all over the Costa del Sol) and the deluge of American students who had excitedly arrived to support their Mash-Up Master provided welcome relief; as the three of us arrived and travelled the stairs, it was as if we had stumbled on a Spring Break special marathon of My Super Sweet 16. These guys happened to be up for a party tremendously though, and whether it was because they were a lot younger or a bit more chilled out, the atmosphere was the most pleasant it's ever been at the Scala. It also provided lengthy discussions on just how God-damned attractive most of these Americans are, as well as excessive leering from my fellow gigbuddies, and maybe a few misguided machoisms ("Ladies...")

Back to the gig though, and having missed cleckhuddersfax at the beginning due to prolonged discussions at the neighbouring snooker hall involving Buffy, Lost and Disney's Gummi Bears (that'd be my doing!), we caught what we could of Fabulous Diamonds until we rather admittedly became quite nonplussed with their repetitive drone, which I'm guessing wasn't quite so ideal an opening act for the kind of crazy party that Gregg Gillis, AKA Girl Talk facilitates, and spirited ourselves away to the smoking garden in the Scala's lower bowels, the nicotine-stained miasma even taking myself aback once we passed through the double doors.

We managed to find an incredibly vacant upper balcony from which to watch the rest of the performance (for practical reasons, is all I'll say!), and we must have missed Joker's set because within minutes Daedelus was on call with a fabulous piece of live mixing hardware not unlike what we saw at Björk's gig at Hammersmith Apollo last year. Taking in all kinds of genres and dance breaks (his smooth interpolation of T2's Heartbroken (feat. Jodie) got a justified ovation), Alfred Darlington was forced to bust a few moves to keep the genreless momentum going on his machine, which even to the trained eye looked like little more than an '80s puzzle game; a sizeable grid of pink-lit squares passing left-to-right providing control to bass, vocals, drum sequences... we were at a loss as to how it actually worked, but it was the catalyst to a rather good opening set.

Then, after another quick ciggie and a few minutes to collect ourselves, Gillis sauntered onstage and placed himself behind his deck featuring little more than two laptops. A lanky hairy man who could pass for any pale, malnourished student, the power he held over the audience was extraordinary; as if the deafening screams weren't enough, as soon as UGK's Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) featuring Outkast came on as the irrpressible bassline from The Spencer Davis Group's Gimme Some More Lovin' rumbled underneath, the crowd flooded the stage in less than seconds; Spring Break had officially hit King's Cross London!

The rest, as I stated earlier, was a bit of a blur, but nothing short of crazy, hazy highlights recollected including the increasing bemusement of the bouncers at the front of the stage, Gillis' own special not-quite-right headbanging technique and dancing along to Kelly Clarkson far more enjoyably than I'd previously thought possible. Thanks to everyone behind that night, as well as my two friends whom I dragged along promising one heck of a party... though I had no idea quite what heck of a party it eventually became. As those Americans would proclaim: "Good times!"

-------------------

Right, on with the journal then, featuring twenty albums I had the pleasure of listening to over the last month, collated in descending order of merit. You know the drill...

The Law of the Playground by The Boy Least Likely To
It’s not just by my own admission that I declare this, but people at work have told me that my iTunes holds one of the greater music libraries to be found amongst our systems. Whether it’s to do with my own personal taste or rather my reputation as a musical clutterbug remains unfounded, but you could imagine my pride when one colleague told me she’d found her favourite album of the year thus far with The Boy Least Likely To’s sophomore effort, considering it happens to be one of the lesser rated pieces on my iMac. All twee and summer loveliness, there’s no doubt that some people will love this milquetoast work, the kind of music that bubbles away into nothingness; unfortunately, there’s nothing truly idiosyncratic enough about this duo’s sound to contrast itself against the more intelligent works on offer (see below).

Scream by Chris Cornell
Cornell being the venerable institution in the grunge-metal scene that he is, his latest album featuring production wares from none-other than hip-pop hitmaker Timbaland and his merry protégés was always going to draw ire from most of his fans; what business does the man who chanted Black Hole Sun have writing soft-rock tracks with the man partially responsible for Madonna’s worst album in years? Stunt partnership criticisms aside though, the result is still rather self-consciously square, with Cornell’s valiant vocals fighting earnestly to marry themselves with Timbaland’s motifs convincingly. If there were maybe a few appearances from rap music’s current seniority and some other special guests to lighten the load, maybe the result would have been less of a failure. As it stands, half of the songs are as flaccid as OneRepublic’s entire oeuvre.

Polly Scattergood by Polly Scattergood
Those who found Diana Vickers particularly insufferable on The X Factor last year with her “unique” sense of style and her affectedly cringeworthy vocal mannerisms would do well to avoid Polly Scattergood’s eponymous debut, considering that in all likelihood Miss Vickers’ incoming album will most definitely sound very much like it. Now, late in the game on this otherwise painfully earnest effort, Scattergood does suggest some promise that could place her alongside Little Boots as an electronic singer/songwriter to take note of (that being the double whammy of Bunny Club and Nitrogen Pink, both sporting a subversive bounce that is hard to ignore), unfortunately, they are but two tracks surrounded by ineffectually OTT ballads that are very nearly ruined by Scattergood’s simpering delivery despite some admittedly beautiful arrangements.

Eye Legacy by Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
Forever remembered as the motormouthed propellant for the rather fabulous R&B/hip hop triumvirate TLC, Lopes was midway through recording tracks for her second solo album when she was fatally killed in a car crash. Whilst this is billed as Lopes’ second album, it actually works more as a compilation tribute to the star, what with most of Lopes’ vocals here being both rescued from studio archives from her shortlived album sessions and even lifted wholesale from her first solo album, Supernova, released back in 2001. The result is a well-intentioned mish-mash, with some of the cut-and-paste work all too obvious to ignore (especially on the latter half’s more conscientious jams), but the club floor fillers featuring the likes of Bobby Valentino, Missy Elliott and bandmates T-Boz and Chilli, more than preserve Lopes’ rambunctious reputation.

Living Thing by Peter Bjorn and John
The “High School Friends Done Good” story is always a heartening story to hear, especially when they come from such humble sources such as this intrepid trio from Sweden, who found breakout fame when that song of theirs with the lovely whistle was heralded as one of the best singles of 2007 (also prompting remixes and samplings from the likes of Diplo and Kanye West). The third full length album from these guys casts a similar wistfully playful spell for most of its duration, but does happen to make way for some welcome bouts of raucousness, be they the children’s choir chorus of Nothing To Worry About or the bar brawl detailed in Lay It Down. Whether it will break the one-hit wonder curse for them remains to be seen, but it's still pleasantly diverting nevertheless.

Fine Fascination by Red Light Company
For all intents and purposes, I shouldn’t like Red Light Company’s debut album, what with their being yet another English band with one foot in indie punk and another in stadium pop rock, trying to strike a fine balance so as to ascend to the heights of their worthy influences (those namechecked in interviews include U2, Radiohead and Elbow). Unfortunately, it would appear that this five-piece have a lot more going on for them than your typical rock poseurs, and whilst the wannabe-Americanisms may err on the side of irksome (notably on their referencing Arcade Fire on New Jersey Television... especially with their being from London!), there are genuinely enough great rock pop moments on the likes of Scheme Eugene and Arts & Crafts to escape the Busted comparisons with ease.

The Annie Lennox Collection by Annie Lennox
It was heartening to see Lennox ascend to the upper reaches of the chart with her solo retrospective set (cannily released the week before Mother’s Day), especially seeing how unceremoniously she was dumped by her record label in 2007. Along with her tireless charity work, Lennox’s music has always exhibited a profound maturity that tows the line between ethereal balladry and no-nonsense blue-eyed soul sass, particularly the work found on her Diva and Medusa albums, showcased here best by Walking on Broken Glass, Why and No More "I Love You's". Since the last Eurythmics album in 1999 however, her work has been less than amazing compared to her earlier success, even if the credentials are no doubt impressive (try playing “diva-spotter” on the star-laden collaboration Sing), yet, as this collection proves, there’s no arguing over what a fine pop institution she is.

The Hazards of Love by The Decemberists
Although you’d have to give them credit for taking such an artistic gamble, it would be easy to reconcile why this intrepid five-piece’s latest album shouldn’t work. A rock opera tribute to folk tales detailing a virtuous girl’s descent into madness via sexually rapacious antagonists populating a menacing forest, ripe with lyrics that register more like Sondheim-style dialogue than erstwhile chorus hooks? Musical haters everywhere (I:^{) can rejoice though, because RENT this ain’t; rather it’s a bold, reckless gesture in terms of present-day musical trends that benefits greatly from the band’s songwriting smarts, their startlingly proficient arrangement skills and some really rather beautiful vocal performances from its “cast”. It all beggars bewilderment as to how they’re going to tour with it; maybe an Off-Broadway production??

So Far Gone by Drake
Like most of his hip hop compatriots, Aubrey Graham has profiles on last.fm, Wiki and the IMDB. Unlike most of his peers, however, Mr Graham has yet to release his debut album, having slowly but surely caught the attention of Internet bloggers with his mix-tape trilogy, which culminates with this last effort before his debut hits later this year. Hip hop guests du jour Santogold and Lykke Li are thrown into the mix alongside jams from Kanye West, Omarion and Lil’ Wayne, the former in particular appearing to have cast a heady spell on Drake’s lyrics and production, with the protégé taking in a more slanted view of the typical hip hop clichés with liberal dashes of psychological perseverance through self-doubt and deceitful wenches, as well as some sly amendments of the “baby, I love you” formula such as the genuinely funny Best I Ever Had. We look forward to the debut, Aubrey!

Troubadour by K'naan
As written by Orange_Anubis (see comments here), my last entry was especially accented by music of the “troubadour” style, yet somehow, Somali-Canadian rapper K’naan’s sophomore album baring such a moniker actually passed me by. Embracing a more boisterous, mainstream sound as well as a multitude of special guests than his well-received debut, Mr Warsame’s rhymes and beats are of the ilk that celebrates world music at its most vibrant (if opener T.I.A. doesn’t sway you, you’d do well to check your pulse) and yet still incredibly forthright and mindful of the state of affairs plaguing the world at large. A heady mix of personal experiences (hear closer People Like Me, detailing his moving separation from his family in Somalia) as well as endearing machismo (hear the rather lovely tribute Fatima), Warsame’s album stands tall in its bursting with thought-provoking ideas of our present day as well as its water-tight club jams.

Beware by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Less than a year after his last full-length album was released, Will Oldham reinforces his reputation as one of the finer folk-music songsmiths further with his fifteenth studio album in sixteen years, if not one of its more generous sonic donators to the genre. Inhabiting a more paranoid, lovelorn and wary emotional plain than previous effort Lie Down In The Light, Oldham’s new effort suffers slightly from the progenitor’s modesty, or rather that whilst these songs are never less than lovely, there aren’t enough standout moments or enough varied instrumentation to truly stir the listener’s sentiments. Which isn’t to say that there aren’t any (standout track You Are Lost is one of the most heartbreaking songs to be released so far this year), and Oldham’s ear for melody is still one of the most unquestionably soulful to be found in music today.

Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear
Now, I don’t really think of myself as a fickle person when it comes down to music taste, and last.fm has been responsible for some lovely surprises since I joined nearly two years ago, but this whole tagging thing I could really do without. I’m hopeless with sub-genres and the like (as evidenced by my bitter tirade against OCG nearly a year ago), and bands like Grizzly Bear are such a collective that inhabit such a nebulous space between rock, indie, folk and psychedelia that, if their music didn’t happen to be rather bloody good, I’d take great exception to them. A timeless marriage of guitar-led indie rock subtly synthesised into a head-turning mix that takes in chamber music (hear Fine for Now), rabble rousing (Southern Point) and uncategorically weird soundscapes (album highlight I Live With You), it at once celebrates and promises an interesting future for rock in general.

Bromst by Dan Deacon
A little more raucous electronica now courtesy of Dan Deacon, a multi-instrumentalist who has courted noted attention for his interactive live shows, which normally find him directly in the middle of the audience space and often calling upon members of the audience to perform alongside him with various instruments and dance sequences. With this in mind, listening to his second full length album suggests one heck of a demanding show on the intrepid crowd that willingly volunteers for such japes, as Deacon’s soundscapes feature some quite relentlessly dancey “everything-but-the-kitchen-sink” moments alongside the more introspective pieces, particularly on Woof Woof and Get Older, which could happily snuggle alongside the likes of Holy Fuck and Battles on a playlist for the wilfully leftfield. One to lookout for in 2009 certainly...

The Invisible by The Invisible
It says a lot about a band who defy individual credentials as expansive as Matthew Herbert, Amy Winehouse, Paul Epworth, Hot Chip and Róisín Murphy, but that is precisely what sideproject trio The Invisible have done with their debut album, a surefire contender for the most unclassifiable album of the year so far. Taking in all of their prior influences whilst at the same time aiming for something completely different (with a little help from Herbert in the production), this motley crew have made an album chock full of different genre hooks and quirks that have been whipped into a singularly unidentifiable concoction that no doubt presents them as the new Thinking Man’s Rock Band. Be it the quasi-religion of Passion or its follow-up double-edged love ballad London Girl, there’s something here for everyone, as well as something possibly quite exciting for the future.

Yes by Pet Shop Boys
Let’s get the disappointment out of the way first and foremost; unfortunately, Messrs Tennant and Lowe’s latest album, co-written and produced with hitmakers du decade Xenomania, isn’t the concentratedly euphoric blast of pop mastery that months of hype on the Internet has whipped PSB fans into hoping it would be. However, what remains is an undoubtedly classy affair, awash with pure pop sophistication and buoyant melodies to thwart the most successful pop acts working today, tinged with that indelible melancholy that has steered Tennant and Lowe to the upper echelons of the pop spectrum over the last twenty-five years. Given the tender admissions of Vulnerable and Legacy alongside the caustic irony of Love etc. and Beautiful people, it’s heartening to know that this duo’s edge hasn’t dulled so much either.

Take My Breath Away by Gui Boratto
Following his debut album with a couple of high profile remixes for the likes of Pet Shop Boys and Goldfrapp, Mr Boratto’s follow-up is about as sweat-inducing as glitch-house can really get, most likely to do with his own Brazilian roots as well as his ear for a thoroughly toe-tapping beat. To be found here are ambient club jams that are the very epitome of slow-burn beauties, particularly the title track, which pulsates away so agreeably and smoothly you’d be hard-pressed to stop yourself smiling for the full seven minutes. Admittedly, with the bar set so high on the opening song, the album fails to traverse the hurdle quite so effortlessly; but let it not be denied, this album still struts a favourable line between dancey excess and refined musicianship better than most composers can spin with their vinyls, taking in electric fist-pumps (No Turning Back) as well as dreamy euphoria (Besides) in a beguiling mix.

It's Blitz! by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
More reliably rabble-rousing indie anthems from Karen O and company, last seen just last month collaborating with hip hop duo N.A.S.A. and on Scarlett Johansson’s debut disc from last year, amongst other things. Their third LP, like their prior albums, comfortably straddles the lines of indie, pop, dance and rock to offer something truly special for everyone and anyone who listens (and surely helps earmark co-producer Dave Sitek for some sort of Production Award for next year!), be it electro-tinged pop power (lead track Zero) or forlorn balladry (closer Little Shadow) and, literally, everything in between, all held in place by one of the most charismatic frontwomen of the current indie scene. Let’s just hope that Radio 1 won’t insist on playing it to death over the rest of the year...

Heavy Ghost by DM Stith
Hailing from a musical family and having spent time amongst the artiest of New York’s music scene as a graphic designer, David Stith arrives with his first full-length album with label Asthmatic Kitty with a fair amount of curious buzz, made so by lovely lead-off single Pity Dance. The rest of the album follows suit in a thoroughly disarming mix of glitchy electronica and alt-folk hues, at times summoning favourable comparisons to Robert Wyatt with regards to the surreal melancholy permeating throughout (hear Creekmouth). An acquired taste, to be sure, as Stith distances himself quite radically from every other folk artist currently playing today (to my knowledge, anyway!) but well worth listening to even just once to see what kinds of delights are to be had, particularly on the white noise surrounding the haunting harmonies of Fire of Birds.

Dear John by Loney, Dear
Another multi-instrumentalist solo album now, this time courtesy of singer/songwriter Emil Svanängen and his fifth solo album, though it’s only the second to be released through a major independent label. What makes Svanängen’s music stand out amongst the rest of the guitar-strumming crowd though is that he marries just enough subtle techno-savvy and elegant pop hooks to his acoustic melodic musings to give the listener something both relevant and timeless to listen to. It’s always something to admire when an album’s more uptempo licks (as found on opener Airport Surroundings and Violent) seamlessly ebb alongside its more languid moments of introspection and heartbreak (hear I Was Only Going Out and Under a Silent Sea) without summoning too much attention to itself. In a year already bursting at the seams with wannabe promoters of Jeff Buckley’s legacy, Svanängen’s latest effort is an early standout.

Junior by Röyksopp
It’s all getting rather exciting for Röyksopp fans right about now, the Norwegian dance duo appearing especially keen to celebrate their first decade together by releasing two albums this year. This first one, featuring collaborations with Robyn, Anneli Drecker of Bel Canto (who recalls Kate Bush at her finest on the loving You Don’t Have a Clue), Lykke Li and Fever Ray herself Karin Dreijer Andersson, will surely be spun many times leading up to and during the summer months, a flirtily electric affair positing some of the finest joy-pop moments of their career. Robyn’s duet, The Girl and the Robot, has already caused such a stir with its reckless flurry of beats and blips (with the chanteuse herself on finer-than-ever form too) that it’s been greenlighted as the next single, whilst also providing the perfect flipside to her collaboration with Kleerup in 2007. The second affair, Senior, is said to provide more lushly composed electronica for cosying up to the winter months come its November release date. Don’t you love it when bands spoil their fans like this?

And that is why Junior is my Album Of The Month For March!

Another month, another long-winded guff... thanks for reading and feel free to leave all your comments below! XX

The GrooveLife Divas are those woman that have such power, beauty and wit that they demand attention with such grace and dignity as they express such thoughtful reactions to the most serious challenges to the human soul These women carry themselves in a manner that makes it seem so effortless to be just plain sexy to the core, which is why they are... the Sassy 'n' Classy Divas of the GrooveLife

The Architects
1. Nina Simone
2. Me'Shell NdegéOcello
3. Sarah Vaughan
4. Billy Holliday
5.
6.
7. Morcheeba... Skye Edwards
8.
9.
10.
11.
12. Lucinda Williams
13.

The Current Renovators
1. artist]Pat Appleton (De-Phazz, VFSix feat. Pat Appleton
2. Alice Russell (Quantic, The Quantic Soul Orchestra, TM Juke, Bah Samba, Kushti
3. Róisín Murphy (Moloko, w/ Handsome Boy Modeling School)
4. Beth Orton (w/ Finley Quaye & William Orbit
5. Goldfrapp
6. PJ Harvey (w/ Tricky, w/ Nick Cave)
7. Ani DiFranco
8. Jill Scott
9. Bjork
10. Joy Malcolm (Waldeck, Incognito)
11. Sia (Zero 7)
12 Erykah Badu
13. Beth Gibbons (Portishead)

Tomorrow's Promise
1. Lady Z... Slow Train Soul-- Slow Train
2. Amy Winehouse
3. Kata Miletich (LoCura)
4. Smoke City
5. India.Arie[/artist
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13

Divas from Down Under
1. Bebel Gilberto
2. Mari Boine
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10
11.
12.
13.

Folkstress

Album
1... Lady Z
2... Amy Winehouse
3... Shirley Bassey
4... Joy Malcolm
5... Erykah Badu
6... Jewel
7... Bebel Gilberto
8... Mari Boine
9... Shirley Bassey
10... Zap Mama
11... Angélique Kidjo
12... Beth Gibbons
13... Skye Edwards
...

Track
1. Kata Miletich
2. Lou Rhodes
3. Cat Power
4. Julee Cruise
5. Beady Belle
6. Smoke City
7. Goapele
8. Dani Sici
9. Brazil Girls
10. Sia
11. Zap Mama
12. Micatone
13. Joss Stone

-- Pat Appleton (De-Phazz, w/ VFSix)
-- Beth Orton (w/ Finley Quaye & William Orbit
-- Goldfrapp
-- Alice Russell (Quantic, The Quantic Soul Orchestra, TM Juke, Bah Samba, Kushti
-- Me'Shell NdegéOcello
- Amy Winehouse
- Morcheeba... Skye Edwards
-- PJ Harvey (w/ Tricky, w/ Nick Cave)
-- Róisín Murphy (Moloko, w/ Handsome Boy Modeling School)
- Joy Malcolm (Waldeck,Incognito)
- Cowboy Junkies... Margo Timmins
- Lou Rhodes (Lamb)
- Kata Miletich (LoCura)
- Sia (Zero 7)
- Cocteau Twins... Elizabeth Fraser (w/ This Mortal Coil, w/ Massive Attack, w/ Ian McCulloch
- Jill Scott
- Ani DiFranco
- Incognito
- Bebel Gilberto
- Mari Boine
- Cat Power
- Sarah Vaughan
- Julee Cruise
- Erykah Badu
- Jewel
- Smoke City
- Bjork
- India.Arie *
- Lady Z... Slow Train Soul-- Slow Train
- Beth Gibbons (Portishead)
- Lucinda Williams
- Dani Siciliano (Matthew Herbert)
- Suzanne Vega
- Micatone
- Joss Stone
- Brazilian Girls
- Sade
- Billie Holliday
- [re: Jazz]
- Sinéad O'Connor
- Angélique Kidjo
- Everything but the Girl -- Tracey Thorn
- Astrud Gilberto
- Mazzy Star
- Jazzamor
- Shirley Bassey
- Nina Simone
- Alif Tree *
- Katy Perry *
- Moriarty *
- Norah Jones *
- Kylie Minogue
- Kosheen *
- Lila Downs
- Goapele
- Emiliana Torrini *
- Madonna
- Karen Ramirez *
- Lady GaGa
- Hird *
- Dido
- The Brand New Heavies
- The Dø *
- Tori Amos
- Alicia Keys *
- Les Nubians *
- Beady Belle
- Feist *
- Sweet Coffee *
- Naomi *
- Count Basic *
- Aretha Franklin
- Pink
- Gabin
- Stereolab
- Mellissa Etheridge
- MC Lyte
- Fiona Apple *
- The Cranes
- Kinny & Horne *
- Esthero *
- Emmylou Harris

Msk your favorite pizza dj - every Wednesday 7 - 9 pm EST @ www.party934.com - 102.5 FM in New York / Hudson Valley

That's the playlist for the february, 26th show, focused on cold and experimental sounds from north europe, download the podcast from

1. Teddy Rok Seven - The Beginning
2. Jimi Tenor - Asteroid Belt
3. Röyksopp - So Easy
4. Nils Petter Molvaer - Little Indian
5. Bugge Wesseltoft & Sidsel Endresen - Truth
6. Fennesz - Caecilia
7. Lars Horntveth - Tics (Four Tet remix)
8. Lali Puna - Nin-com-pop
9. Apparat - Useless Information
10. múm - Grasi vaxin göng
11. Detektivbyrån - Nattöppet
12. Stealpot - Amazing Night in Eternaltown
13. Amiina - Glámur
14. Matthew Herbert - Fatter, Slimmer, Faster, Slower
15. Ólafur Arnalds - Lokaðu augunum
16. Library Tapes - Repor
17. Eivind Aarset - The String Thing
18. Arve Henriksen - Leaf and Rock
19. Mogwai - Team Handed
20. Tiamat - Do You Dream of Me?
21. Wibutee - Vibhuti
22. Sigur Rós - Flugufrelsarinn
23. The Field - A Paw in My Face
24. Damero - Neck Warmth
25. Fuck Buttons - Colours Move

---
http://www.msk.fm - musik for your teeth

Sun 25 Jan – The Matthew Herbert Big Band

Matthew Herbert is not a fan of the newspaper, announcing to the audience, “Today we are reading from the Herald-Sun”, before tearing the paper apart in front of a microphone. You don’t usually see that kind of dedication in capturing a sample, let alone capturing one in front of a live audience, but Matthew Herbert made things clear – he isn’t just another electronic artist. Herbert was in town to reveal his Matthew Herbert’s Big Band concept, bringing sequencers, mixers, and samplers together with a sixteen piece swing band and vocalist Eska Mtungwazi. With a set based around his latest album There’s Me And There’s You, Herbert and his team created a sound that was familiar yet very unique.

With the band making their entrance first in black tuxedoes to applause from the audience, they are joined by a conductor and Mtungwazi. When Herbert finally hit the stage in full tails the crowd cheered with approval, before getting straight into his set. The band follows instruction from their conductor – trumpets are blown, drums are hit, piano keys are pressed down. The music sounds enormous in Hamer Hall, and gets better as they go through each song. But the music from the band is ultimately controlled by Herbert, who loops and chops individual instruments as they are played, adding in the odd beep or sound effect to keep it fun for traditional electronic music fans. Singer Eska Mtungwazi cannot escape it either, as her vocals are ran through filters and looped, quite often resulting in vocals from one song appearing in another. It even gains laughs when Herbert continuously loops the name of a band member during the band’s introductions mid-set, resulting in a bit of playful teasing from fifteen band members towards a now blushing trumpet player.

More must be said about Eska Mtungwazi. Reminiscent of other current soul singers like Sharon Jones or Shirley Bassey, she is able to present the audience with booming vocals or soulful melody depending on the song. She gets in on the newspaper tearing as well, making herself a pair of pom-poms that she shakes around during The Yesness. While the band taps on their orchestra stands with pencils, Herbert himself is pacing back and forth between his synths and mixer, almost performing a bad dance in the process which draws a few comments from around the audience. Those thoughts disappear when Herbert asks the crowd to sing a note in D for the encore, because the crowd is a bit too focused on getting the note spot on with one member even starting a few seconds too early, providing everyone on stage with a few laughs. When the song wrapped up and the house lights came up, most people weren’t chatting about what dance moves they saw, but were remarking about the show they just participated in. Yes, its big band music, its jazz, its swing – but its manipulation should be applauded for how brilliant it really is.

Copyright 2009 - inthemix/The Sound Alliance. The following cannot be republished.