TONIGHT IN MANCHESTER: Crystal Antlers

Crystal Antlers forthcoming album Tentacles will be the last new album released by Touch & Go. However they are being talked about - and I suspect will be remembered - for much more than this.

If fuzzy, garage rock with an heavy dose of pysch is your thing, tonight's gig at the Retro Bar in Manchester is for you. Part of their first UK tour, it will sell out - tickets in advance if still available here.

Presented by WotGodForgot, support is from Sycamore and Plank!

A THOUSAND EYES
Crystal Antlers
EP [BUY]

So listen to the words of my best friend, take your time, take my time.

You like me must have asked yourself “If I ran a record label, what would I call it”? Well we’ve all been beaten to one of the best names around, one that instantly conjures up music and heartbreak: Crying Bob Records. And then I learn the label is based in Sweden, home of melody, intelligent song-writing and crisp production for many a decade now. And then that this an artist-run, independent label. Before I’ve even (consciously) listened to any music, I like the sound of Crying Bob Records a lot.

Daniel who is/runs Crying Bob (and is one-half of Friska Viljor) sent me some music to listen to and write about. I’ll save his band for another time and first write about De La Mancha.

Before listening to their album from Atlas, I imagined De La Mancha would sound like Sigur Rós: other-worldly, probably instrumental, post-rock. The artwork reinforces this and makes me want to write 'glacial' before even hearing a note. Now 'glacial' might not be out of place in describing the music but overall the sound is epic, wide-screen indie-rock closer to say Doves or Spritualized. And the latter reference is given more weight by song titles like 'Superstoned' and 'So Let's Blow Up Our Heads and Leave'.

Of the nine songs on this album, six clock in at over 7 minutes; none of them are in a rush to be out of your way. And whilst there may be a familiarity to the template (moody, slow-build intro - mid-tempo drums - then layers of crashing guitars) there is a freshness to the delivery, a touch of experimentation and a variety across the songs that makes the whole never ponderous, often joyous. Even the songs that tend to gloomy introspection (the vocal on 'Lotus Seven' recalls Bends-era Thom Yorke) have something, a chime or a chord, that uplifts. All in all, a surprisingly satisfying listen that manages to weave that (whisper it) glacially crisp Swedish production with superior Brit-friendly indie-rock, and is certainly deserving of a wider audience.

RELEASE ALL LIGHT
SUPERSTONED
De La Mancha
Atlas [BUY or BUY]

THE TRAVELLING BAND @ ACADEMY 3, 6 MARCH 2009

Well I missed this gig but Ms L didn't. She sent in this short report for us: "Full house. Loyal support. Check shirts. Beards and a cover of Waterfall. Better sound at the Met. But excellent value". Ms L as well as value-conscious is always to-the-point.

The set list:

ANGEL OF THE MORNING
The Travelling Band
Under The Pavement [BUY]

HORSE FEATHERS @ DULCIMER 4 MARCH 2009

Somewhere between the chilly isolation of Bon Iver and the cool introspection of Elliot Smith lives Jason Ringle of Horse Feathers. Actually he hails from Portland, Oregon but you know what I mean. Tonight he and his touring band were in Manchester at Dulcimer in Chorlton as part of a short European tour. Last year's album from Horse Feathers 'House with no Name' augmented Jason's sparse acoustic folk with strings and atmospherics. And delighted to say these were here live with cello and violin accompanying the acoustic guitar.
This creates a chamber-folk sound which is perfect for intimate venues like this, moving from moments of serene beauty with a haunting space between every word or solitary chord, to more intense playing with violently plucked strings or a foot stomping on a tambourine to provide rhythm. The band claimed they had trouble getting their instruments warmed up but they certainly hit stride towards end of set: 'Heathen's Kiss' played with bowed saw was dramatic and moving. Jason can resemble Bonnie 'Prince' Billy in appearance - thick of beard, bald of pate, but slightly shorter and squater. You could draw similar musical comparisons but Horse Feathers manage to mark out their own territory and it was a joy to spend some time in their space.

Earlier that evening, Animal Magic Tracks (aka Frances Donnelly) had started the evening. At first she appeared to be a straight up folkie, finger-picking her acoustic and keening with the best of them. But putting down guitar to play haunting chords on keyboards to a soundtrack of clanking chains (or that's what it sounded like) on a small mp3 player showed another side to her. Easy to see why Fence Records have signed her - traditional folk stylings that take abrupt left(field) turnings.

If Frances was a bit reticent tonight - she kept apologising for tuning up in public and was clearly nervous - Men Diamler was not. He starts the set hunched over his acoustic with the microphone close to his bowed head. But he soon abandons the closeness to the microphone - and even the microphone. For some songs he stands and stomps, for others he goes walkabout in the small crowd.
What starts as folk-blues veers from a comic song about a horse (sung almost in the style of a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta) to covers of Fats Domino and Jacques Brel. He asks the crowd if they want a depressing song, a happy song or a play school song. The latter wins the public vote but in his set he gives us all three. There were CDs from Men on sale but surely the point is to see this performance live?

HEATHEN'S KISS
RUDE TO RILE
Horse Feathers

House With No Name [BUY]

Manchester Gigs in Music: March 2009 Pt.1

A 45 minute music compilation of some highlights of live shows this coming month: download link in post below this one.

Eugene McGuiness Rings Around Rosa (4 Mar Deaf Institute BUY TICKETS)
Wavves So Bored (2 Mar The Bay Horse BUY TICKETS)
Fanfarlo Harold T Wilkins (3 Mar Deaf Institute BUY TICKETS)
Alela Diane White As Diamonds (27 Mar Deaf Institute BUY TICKETS)
Horse Feathers Rude To Rile (4 Mar Dulcimer BUY TICKETS)
The Phantom Band Folk Song Oblivian (13 Mar Deaf Institute BUY TICKETS)
Crystal Antlers Until The Sun Dies (Part 2) (12 Mar Retro Bar BUY TICKETS)
Broken Records Nearly Home (30 March Ruby Lounge BUY TICKETS)
The Boy Least Likely To My Tiger, My Heart (17 Mar Night & Day BUY TICKETS)
Emily Barker Disappear (18 Mar Dulcimer BUY TICKETS)
Tinariwen Amidinin (20 Mar with Tuung Academy 3 BUY TICKETS)
The Travelling Band Desolate Icicle (6 Mar Academy 3 BUY TICKETS)
David Byrne & Brian Eno My Big Nurse (30 Mar Bridgewater Hall BUY TICKETS)

And not forgetting:
4 Mar Shooting Spires Retro Bar / 6 Mar Peter, Bjorn & John Academy 2 / 6 March African Soul Rebels Bridgewater Hall / 8 Mar Emiliani Torrini Ruby Lounge / 8 Mar The Durutti Column Deaf Institute / 10 Mar The Answering Machine Ruby Lounge / 12 Mar Damo Suzuki Ruby Lounge / 14 Mar Air Cav Abode Chorlton / 14 March Noisettes Ruby Lounge / 15 Mar Howling Bells Club Academy / 16 Mar Tim and Sam's the Tim and Sam Band Retro Bar / 20 Mar Joe Gideon & The Shark Ruby Lounge / 20 Mar Pulled Apart by Horses Islington Mill / 21 Mar O Children Cafe Saki / 27 Mar Paddy Steer Klondyke Bowls Club / 27 Mar It's A Buffalo Academy / 28 Mar Sweet Billy Pilgrim King's Head

And tonight at Night & Day from 6pm:
Night & Day presents...Transformer... An evening of Lou Reed & Velvet Underground songs played by a fine host of Manchester musicians featuring.... SILVERCLUB / THE JANNOCKS / MAUPA / SYCAMORE / THE BOTTOMFEEDERS / POCKETKNIFE / KIN / BEAT THE RADAR and DANIEL LAND with very special guests TBC. To celebrate the great man's 67th birthday on Monday 2nd March. Tickets £5 on the door.

Happy Birthday Lou.

Manchester Gigs in Music: March 2009 Pt.2

The link here [51MB]

WOODPIGEON @ THE DEAF INSTITUTE 24 FEBRUARY 2009

"There's not enough beards in this room". Sarcastic observation is one of Ms L's many strong points. In a PACKED if not quite sold-out Deaf Institute, there was certainly plenty of facial hair on display. And when The Miserable Rich took to the stage, four of the five - of course - had beards too. This was a similar set to that at Dulcimer last month but they swapped their "noughties" cover for their "eighties" one so we got The Strangler's 'Golden Brown' instead of Hot Chip. Their brand of acoustic chamber-pop went down well with all in the room - again. On record and live they really are something quite special - seductive and stately and debonair all at the same time. Word from the band afterwards is that album number two - including tonight's final song 'Oliver' - will be out in August.

The Set List:
Early Mourning
Pisshead
Boat Song
The Time That's Mine
Golden Brown
Monkey
Poodle
Merry Go Round
Muswell
Oliver

MUSWELL
The Miserable Rich
Twelve Ways To Count [BUY]

Mark Hamilton, the leader of Woodpigeon, has a beard too. He also is a good foot taller than the rest of his band. This, the beard and the generous-sized woolly jumper give the impression of a high school music teacher leading a troupe of students. Tonight's appearance was the five-person version of the collective - Mark on red Gibson acoustic plus keyboards/melodica, cello, violin and violin/ukelele - and they tended to the hushed, acoustic end of the Woodpigeon songbook.

The set list threw me though. I was expecting this to be drawn from the two albums (now released in the UK on End Of The Road Records) - and the set started with I Live A Lot Of Places, Songbook/The Sound of Us Playing, Emma et Hampus and then In the Battle of Sun vs. Curtains, Sun Loses and We Sleep Until Noon (they do have a penchant for long titles) but then it lost me. I recognised The Hamilton Academicals and Feedbags (and the cover of Abba's 'Lay All Your Love On Me') but the other five or so songs were unfamiliar. One ('Beth Dreams'? 'Beth's Jeans'?) was apparently "written only yesterday". The others I don't think were from Europe-only bonus CD 'Houndstooth Europa' either so I assume are from early EPs or new material?

The band were under a time pressure to complete the set by 11pm "when students will start grinding themselves against each other" for a club night but the performance never felt hurried and the songs were allowed to unfurl at a gentle pace. I could quibble about the short set, the lack of songs from Songbook and the lack of their more up-tempo and elaborate material, but the overall loveliness (no other word for it really) of the band, the music and the atmosphere won me over. So yes the evening had a beard but also a comforting hug and warm smile. It was brought to us by The Red Deer Club and Humble Soul who really should be rather proud of themselves. But yet again I missed The Winter Journey. Which again I hear was a shame.

I LIVE A LOT OF PLACES
Woodpigeon

Treasury Library Canada [BUY]

SONGBOOK/THE SOUND OF US PLAYING TOGETHER
Woodpigeon
Songbook [BUY]

BRITISH SEA POWER @ LIVERPOOL ACADEMY 14 FEBRUARY 2009

I have felt a connection with Rose Dougall ever since this blog was used as a citation on her Wikipedia page. Having seen her twice before tonight (both in British Sea Power-related support slots) it is good to report both her (and her band's) continuing confidence and the fact she listened to what I advised last time. Namely, she is now foresaking sitting down behind her keyboard meekly but is acting like a proper front woman. Even a bit vampy tonight. And all the better for it even if not musically my cup of camomille.

I spent the first part of Seal Cub Clubbing Club's set as well as appreciating it, racking my brains as to who they were supporting last time I saw them. I think the answer is New Rhodes at Night Day probably 3 if not 4 years ago. Which makes me wonder just how young this fresh-faced five piece must have appeared then. My recollection was arty and spiky guitar pop - a sort of younger brother to The Young Knives say. But tonight they are more diverse in sound, more ambitious and more experimental: if they came from Brooklyn rather than West Kirby it wouldn't be a surprise and they would have critics slavering. Definitely worth seeing again and hearing more.

British Sea Power appear refreshed and fit after their Xmas break. Tonight and tomorrow's gig in Derby appear to be some kind of low-key step into 2009. The set is familiar to anyone who saw them on last autumn's tour and they are as well drilled as ever - but with the odd mistake along the way just to show they've had some time off. Sadly no new songs tonight but given it was Valentine's Day we did get an impromptu cover of Love Me Tender sung by Noble and Hamilton.

I didn't think the sound at the Academy was that good during the support acts - came across as quite leaden and sludgey (and at the quiet bits you could hear the other gig taking place in the second space! Reel Big Fish by the way). But by the time BSP took to the stage the sound definitely worked with not against them. Took a bit of time for both band and crowd to warm up - and if there were no great surprises and the lack of a frenetic ending it was nonetheless highly enjoyable. So. When ARE we going to hear some new songs?

The Set List:

A Wooden Horse
Apologies To Insect Life
Atom
Larsen B
Down On The Ground
A Lovely Day Tomorrow
True Adventures
Carrion
Waving Flags
The Great Skua
Love Me Tender
No Lucifer
How Will I Ever Find My Way Home?

Canvey Island

Spirit of St Louis

----
Lights Out For Darker Skies/Rock in A

CARRION
British Sea Power
The Decline of British Sea Power [BUY]

LIGHTS OUT FOR DARKER SKIES

British Sea Power
Do You Like Rock Music? [BUY]

TONIGHT IN MANCHESTER: The Yellow Moon Band

Tonight at the Deaf Institute, the spacey psyche-folk of The Yellow Moon Band with support from Tim and Sam's The Tim and Sam Band and Advances in Mathematics. A perfect pre-Valentine's Day "..groovy...folky pastoral...astral rocking" treat for your loved one. Advance tickets here - only a fiver.



ENTANGLED
The Yellow Moon Band
Travels Into Several Remote of the World [BUY]

You'll spend the rest of your life trying to hard to forget that you met the world naked and screaming

...and that's how you'll leave it.

I only came across Titus Andronicus recently; hearing some songs on Last.fm got my attention. When I walked into Piccadilly Records to find out more, the album was playing. I took it as a sign and bought it without further investigation. I have not regretted this.

In their words: Titus Andronicus is a rock and roll band from Glen Rock. In the beginning, there were only three people in the band. At one point, there were eleven people in the band. Right this second, there are five people in the band. Titus Andronicus formed in the spring of 2005. Titus Andronicus' debut long player, "The Airing of Grievances" was released in April of 2008 by Troubleman Unlimited. And now it's been picked up in the UK by XL Recordings.

This is an extraordinarily good record, brimming with energy, ideas and screaming in equal measure. TA take bits of the underground rock handbook (Husker Du, In Utero-era Nirvana, Fugazi, Sebadoh) add some despairing lyrics sung/screamed in the style of Conor Oberst and some literary readings (from Shakespeare's play of the same name and Albert Camus' The Stranger) to make a joyous, ear-burstingly-loud, ramshackle pure energy-rush of a record.

Titus Andronicus like to scream and carry on at excessive volume. Titus Andronicus like songs which are fast more than songs which are slow. Titus Andronicus think slow songs are okay sometimes. Titus Andronicus never sing about love, only hate. Titus Andronicus have no hope for the future. Titus Andronicus believe only in nothingness. Everyone in Titus Andronicus was born to die. Titus Andronicus crave your approval but will settle for your utter disdain

Utter approval from me. Either 'Titus Andronicus' (on this month's Manchester Music in Gigs compilation) or 'My Time Outside The Womb' will be on my Pick of 2009... but I'll need the rest of the year to work out which 0ne makes it.

My excitement at finding out they are playing Night and Day was short-lived - it's the same night I already have tickets for Woodpigeon and The Miserable Rich. Ah well, there's always Leeds, Glasgow or London

MY TIME OUTSIDE THE WOMB
FEAR AND LOATHING IN MAHWAH, NJ

Titus Andronicus
The Airing of Grievances [BUY]

BRAKES @ MOHO LIVE, 1 FEBRUARY 2009

All previous times hearing Brakes songs live (the one with the pineapple; at the festival; Eamon solo) have never been less than excellent. But here's a brief tour (in advance of another one in April?) in advance of hearing the new album (advance song ' Crystal Tunings' is a slow-building, brooding chug rather than the usual short-sharp-shock) on a new label Fat Cat (what does the move signify?). Plus they are playing MoHo Live to which this was my first visit: a recently renovated venue which appears to have been over-hauled within months of opening. Hmmm. And it's snowing in Manchester city centre. It never snows in Manchester city centre...

Arrived to catch the last couple of songs from Sir Yes Sir. Unfair to pass judgement based on two songs but the three piece are clearly in thrall of angular US experimental indie and need a bit of work to get their own identity/sound sorted out. Next up was Airship. Following the under-rehearsed feel of Sir Yes Sir, Airship sounded in a different world: slick, loud and heavy. But for me it quickly paled. They had a partisan crowd in enjoying the set but I felt it was would-be arena-indie that I could do without. Started to miss Sir Yes Sir - especially during the song about a "World Renaissance Smile". Eh?

Third on the unbelievably-good-value bill was Ten Bears. 'Hotly-tipped' is a torpedo that has sunk many a band. Ten Bears definitely have something about them and might survive the label. The five-piece play an off-kilter guitar pop with plenty of hooks and quirks without shouting look at us. Some of the outfits (checked shirt, trucker's cap, embroidered shirt) hint at 'country' but this is misleading: I thought they were somewhere between the tuneful end of Pavement and the noisy end of Teenage Fanclub. Not completely won over on first meeting but the wig outs towards the end of the set and the astonishing drumming throughout will make me come back for more. They have a single 'Dirt on the Radio' available on iTunes.

So eventually Brakes. Three of the band arrived - but where was lead singer Eamon? Has he become an indie-diva expecting others to set up his equipment and then prepare an entrance for him? No he's just been waiting off stage wearing a space suit.

Well after my concerns about tonight and a possible new direction, happy to report it's business as usual for Brakes. They may not have played together for four months (so we were told) but as usual the performance was high energy and tightly drilled. And when they did make a mistake, they didn't take it too seriously. You could really sense their enjoyment at playing and performing together.

Only four new songs in the set (new album "Touchdown" due in April) and 'Crystal Tunings' (called 'Oh! Forever' on the set-list) is a slight aberration but a good one and in the context of the rest of the set not too much of an aberration. 'Why Tell The Truth...' is about when Lloyds charged Eamon £75 for going overdrawn by £4 - not quite a credit crunch anthem then but a good dig at the banking system. Short songs like 'Comma Comma Comma Full Stop' and 'Cheney' (with new 'goodbye' ending) were all played twice. Here's the set list - kindly annotated by Alex the drummer to the correct running order (that's drummers for you): 'Spring Chicken' came before 'Cease and Desist' and 'Ring a Ding Ding' was not played (why not?!).

So my misgivings were misplaced - Brakes continue to delight live. Rest of this tour here and they are back on the road in April including a Manchester date at Ruby Lounge on 13 April (Ms N's birthday no less).

SPRING CHICKEN
Brakes
The Beatific Visions [BUY]

HI HOW ARE YOU?

Brakes
Give Blood [BUY]

CRYSTAL TUNINGS AKA OH! FOREVER
Brakes
Touchdown [PRE-ORDER]

Manchester Gigs in Music: February 2009 Pt.1

The shortest month? No time to waste then - get some gig tickets booked! All kicks off with Brakes TONIGHT at Invention at MoHo Live.

The Spinto Band Pumpkins & Paisley (23 Feb Night & Day BUY TICKETS)
Parts & Labor Nowhere's Nigh (17 Feb Star & Garter BUY TICKETS)
Woodpigeon If Only I Were A Painter... (24 Feb Deaf Institute BUY TICKETS)
Ra Ra Riot Ghost Under Rocks (15 Feb Night & Day BUY TICKETS)
Gang Gang Dance Nicoman (25 Feb The Roadhouse BUY TICKETS)
School of Seven Bells iamundernodisguise (27 Feb Night & Day BUY TICKETS)
Peter Broderick And It's Alright (8 Feb Academy 3 BUY TICKETS)
Vetiver Angel's Share (25 Feb Dulcimer BUY TICKETS)
The Black Lips O Katrina! (18 Feb Deaf Institute BUY TICKETS)
Brakes Crystal Tunings (1 Feb MoHo Live BUY TICKETS)
Titus Andronicus Titus Andronicus (24 Feb Night & Day BUY TICKETS)
Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians The Yip Song (13 Feb Bury Met BUY TICKETS)

50 minute compilation: download link in post below this one.

And not forgetting:
2 Feb Valgeir Sigurdsson, Nancy Elizabeth Cross St Chapel / 3 Feb The Airborne Toxic Event Ruby Lounge / 4 Feb Glissando Retro Bar / 6 Feb Max Tundra Deaf Institute / 8 Feb Hot Club de Paris MoHo Live /10 Feb Asobi Seksu The Roadhouse / 13 Feb Tim and Sam's The Tim and Sam Band with Tim and Sam Deaf Institute / 14 & 17 Feb Magazine Academy 1 / 15 Feb I Am Kloot Club Academy / 16 Feb Women Night and Day / 18 Feb Tricky Club Academy / 23 Feb Chris Corsan Islington Mill /24 Feb Emmy The Great Ruby Lounge / 25 Feb Bear Hands Ruby Lounge / 28 Feb The Jessie Rose Trip Night and Day

And some more Brakes - click on the title 'Hey Hey' to watch the video for the first single from the new album 'Touchdown':


Hey Hey from INDIAN on Vimeo.

Manchester Gigs in Music: February 2009 Pt.2

The link here [51MB]

HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT @ ACADEMY 1, 30 JANUARY 2009

Where did all these people come from?! Tonight's gig at Academy 1 was not sold out but if felt like it: not only was the 2000 capacity venue heaving, the atmosphere was that of a major happening where everybody inside was relieved to have a ticket and be part of something. And what a great atmosphere it was, more homecoming parade than wintry evening gig.

Half Man Half Biscuit have always instilled loyalty and affection and it was palpable tonight. Older and newer songs were greeted with recognition in equal measures; the playing was greeted with as much appreciation and warmth as the exceptional lyrics (make Nigel Blackwell Poet Laurate NOW); and even where the crowd got boisterous it was always accompanied by a genuine bonhomie. When you see a group of blokes all wearing Dukla Prague football shirts at the front what can you do but smile?
I expected the set to be mainly from the last two albums but it went right across their 23 year (count 'em) spanning back catalogue. This was actually the first time I had seen the band in over 20 years (Birkenhead 1985 since you ask). I'm not sure how or why that has happened but I'll make sure it won't be so long to the next one. Future HMHB dates here. I missed both support bands sadly but the 90 minute set (look at all those songs) from HMHB was great value in itself in every sense of the word.

The set list went something like this below but I think the running order goes awry at a few points and especially towards the end (the Guinness and Red Stripe combination not really helping). The encores included a cover of The Hollies 'The Air That I Breathe' "since we are in the fair city of Manchester". A 'credit crunch' version of Twenty Four Hour Garage People went down particularly well especially with Mrs A who was in attendance tonight despite being on medication and accompanied by a pain in the neck. And our friends from near and far.

Took Problem Chimp To Ideal Home Show
When The Evening Sun Goes Down
Turned Up Clocked On Laid Off
Bad Losers on Yahoo Chess
The Light At The End Of The Tunnel
Yipps (My Baby's Got The)
Petty Sessions
Restless Legs
Totnes Bickering Fair
We Built This Village On A Trad. Arr. Tune
Blue Badge Abuser
Gubba Look-Alikes
Them's The Vagaries
Look Dad No Tunes
Bob Wilson Anchor Man
Evening of Swing (Has Been Cancelled)
The Trumpton Riots
Everything's AOR
For What Is Chatteris
Twenty Four Hour Garage People
Joy Division Oven Gloves

Eno Collaboration

The Air That I Breathe
National Shite Day

TOOK PROBLEM CHIMP TO IDEAL HOME SHOW

Half Man Half Biscuit
CSI:Ambleside [BUY]

ENO COLLABORATION
Half Man Half Biscuit
Voyage To The Bottom Of The Road [BUY]

WE BUILT THIS VILLAGE ON A TRAD. ARR. TUNE
Half Man Half Biscuit
Achtung Bono [BUY]

Meanwhile our roving reporter Ms L was in Bury at the Met for The Travelling Band. No report forthcoming yet but some photographic evidence has been supplied. Including the set list. Makes me feel proud.

ONLY WAITING
The Travelling Band
Under The Pavement [BUY]

TOMORROW IN MANCHESTER: Of Montreal

Think all gigs are the same? If so refresh your thinking with tonight's show at Club Academy brought to you by Hey Manchester and Pineapple Folk. Here's what they say:

We’re delighted to present of Montreal’s first visit to Manchester since June 2007, when they played an unforgettable sold-out show for us at the Roadhouse! Since then, they’ve performed with a real life horse in New York, which kind of puts the step-ladder-and-hotpants spectacle we got in the shade, doesn’t it? This time round, however, we’ve got them an extra large stage to handle their musical theatrics (including dedicated dancers and two drummers, we hear).

Get a taster by watching this:


Or higher quality footage of the 2007 tour can be streamed on Fabchannel but you really should be there in person for an extraordinary collision of indie-pop-psychedelia with vaudeville and music hall. Tickets here.

AN ELUARDIAN INSTANCE
Of Montreal
Skeletal Lamping [BUY]

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HATING ROCK CRITICS
Of Montreal
If he's protecting our nation, then who will protect big oil [BUY]

Unboxing Nonesuch

Well look what I got in the post: a parcel of all the CDs released in 2008 by Nonesuch UK. After my lengthy tirade against major labels and the record industry, are they now trying to buy my affection?
That wasn't their motivation but a parcel of 29 CDs is easily going to sway my opinion. I've always had a soft spot for Nonesuch after their signing of Wilco. Warners dropped Wilco due to the delays and disagreements over the release of 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot'. Nonesuch, a SUBSIDUARY of Warners stepped in, signed the band and released the album. A great example of a label thinking and acting NOT like a major label. And now with this delivery their stock rises even further. So what's in the box?

Well there are several broad groups:
> Contemporary classical: Kronos Quartet play Terry Riley; John Adams, Steve Reich.
> Elder States-men and -women of the Singer-Songwriter world: Ry Cooder, Emmylou Harris, kd lang; Stephin Merritt's The Magnetic Fields, Randy Newman, T Bone Burnett.
> Jazz types (in its broadest sense): Brad Mehldau, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell
> Traditional and indigenous musics: koto music, Japanese flute and Geza Music from the Kabuki
> The uncategorizable/unfamiliar stuff: Punch Brothers, Fernando Otero, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Nicholas Payton.
Oh and a compilation of music from the TV series "The Wire" which brilliantly blends dialogue with hip-hop, funk grooves, Steve Earle and Tom Waits.

It's a pretty representative sample of the output of the label: classy, refined, global, genre-defining. And all coming with high-end packaging, artwork and full colour inserts. I know I'm not going to like it all but I'm really going to enjoy ploughing through all this new stuff.

Even the unpacking was fun. Mrs A spend an earlier part of the week snorting with derision at the concept of unboxing, those sad people who film themselves unpacking new technology (here and here). So it was no surprise to her to find sad old me photographing my parcel (video would just be vulgar). It's good she knows me so well.

And if any major or independent labels do want to purchase my affections, influence my opinions or just generally bribe me with product, please get in touch. It won't take much to buy me: my integrity crumbles at the merest hint of free music.

RIDIN' WITH THE BLUES
Ry Cooder
I, Flathead [BUY]

SHORES OF WHITE SAND
Emmylou Harris
All I Intended To Be [BUY]

IV: ROYAL WEDDING
Kronos Quartet
The Cusp of Magic [BUY]

WAY DOWN IN THE HOLE

The Blind Boys of Alabama
"...and all the pieces matter" Music from The Wire [BUY]

And there are two cheap price Nonesuch samplers available VOL1 and VOL2

RICHARD THOMPSON @ THE LOWRY 18 January 2009

Richard Thompson is an enigma to me. He's one of those artists (Neil Young is another) with three decades of influential music-making under his belt; revered by musicians, fans and critics alike; and I cannot even name three songs of his I have listened to all the way through. I feel as though I should like him but knowing where to start is a problem. For me, he is wrapped in an impenetrable cloak of mystery which only those with an intimate knowledge of his extensive back-catalogue are allowed to shelter under. A bit like jazz really.

Reading about his '1000 Years of Popular Music' tour made me think this could be the way to see RT without taking on the back catalogue challenge. And then what do you know? Two hours before this nearly sold-out gig is about to start I get gifted a ticket.

Richard Thompson first performed 1000 Years of Popular Music at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and has since done multiple-night stands in Chicago, New York, London, and numerous other major U.S. cities. The set list varies from night to night, but has been known to start in the 13th century and move to medieval Italian ballads to selections from the songbooks of Gilbert & Sullivan, Stephen Foster, Ray Charles, Hank Williams, The Beatles, The Who, Squeeze, and Prince, all strung together by Richard's vocals, incomparable guitar playing and dry wit. For this tour, Richard is accompanied by vocalist/pianist Judith Owen and percussionist/ vocalist Debra Dobkin.

So the first half of the concert had Italian renaissance music, a madrigal, 19th century mining ballad, an operatic aria from Henry Purcell, a 17th century sea shanty, music hall, even Gilbert and Sullivan. Second half: Cole Porter, honky tonk country, early rock 'n' roll and into the sixties with The Kinks and The Easybeats, and then on to Abba, The Korgis and Nelly Furtado. It was a leisurely, chronological journey with anecdotes and back story to each song - but the arrangements and musicanship were excellent and projections on a large backdrop (renaissance art, American merchant navy ships, couples jiving) illustrated each era and each song.

As the set got more contemporary, it all became a bit 'so what'. The covers didn't add much to the songs from recent decades (unlike his Britney cover - see below) and it all lacked the variety, inventiveness and joy of first half. Still it was one of the most enjoyable and surprising evenings of music I have been to for a long while; and great to feel as though I was in the younger half of the audience for once.

Live versions of 'Blackleg Miner', 'Shenandoah' and 'Oops I Did It Again' can be streamed here courtesy of NPR and the tour continues. '1000 Years of Popular Music' is available as a DVD and 2 CD set here.

No Prince or Britney tonight but he did play versions of these:

DRINKIN' WINE SPO-DEE-O-DEE
Malcolm Yelvington
The Sound of Sun [BUY]

SEE MY FRIENDS
The Kinks
Ultimate Collection [BUY]

Stockard Channing Did Hold Sway

Finally got around to sorting out a version of Pick of 2008 for posting here. These are not the BEST songs of 2008 but a selection of my FAVOURITES which I think - sort of - fit together. Track-listing below and you can download it in two parts. The compilation title is from the lyrics of the last song. The titles (and therefore the songs) that didn't make it include Fat Cops Make Bigger Targets ('Happy Spirits' by Radar Bros.) and Tired of Being A Hero ('A Sad Country Ballad for A Tired Superhero' by Woodpigeon). Too many songs, too much choice, something's got to give.

Stockard Channing Held Sway: Pick of 2008

SIDE A - Download [42MB]

Frightened Rabbit - The Modern Leper [BUY]
Eugene McGuinness - Fonz [BUY]
Bowerbirds - In Our Talons [BUY]
The Shortwave Set - Glitches 'n' Bugs [BUY]
Thomas Function - Can't Say No [BUY]
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig! Lazarus! Dig! [BUY]
Adrian Crowley - Brother At Sea [BUY]
Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines [BUY]
Laura Marling - You're No God [BUY]
The Acorn - Flood Pt. 1 [BUY]

SIDE B - Download [46MB]
Willard Grant Conspiracy - The Great Deceiver [BUY]
The Miserable Rich - Pisshead [BUY]
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue [BUY]
Conor Oberst - Moab [BUY]
The Wave Pictures - Friday Night In Loughborough [BUY]
Los Campesinos! - Death to Los Campesinos! [BUY]
British Sea Power - A Trip Out [BUY]
Fujiya & Miyagi - Knickerbocker [BUY]
The Voluntary Butler Scheme - Trading Things In [BUY]
Robert Forster - Let Your Light In Babe [BUY]
Half Man Half Biscuit - National Shite Day [BUY]

My Top Ten Albums of 2008 is still here.

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE @ CLUB ACADEMY 14 JANUARY 2009

Given the huge press attention around the release of Animal Collective's eighth album (quiet January? Domino spending their Arctic Monkeys earnings on PR?) it might appear a no-brainer that tonight's Manchester gig sold out weeks ago. But in the current economic climate and with the live music market possibly reaching saturation point, nothing is certain and all credit to Pineapple Folk and Hey! Manchester for putting on this event.

I missed support Highlife and arrived at 9.15pm to find the band taking to the stage. Tonight it was the three-man line up: Avey Tare, Panda Bear and Geologist (if you want an AC history there is a convoluted one here or a more straightforward one here). On record AC mix pulsating tribal rhythms, shimmering synths and glorious harmonies to magical, and at times euphoric, effect. The new album Merriweather Post Pavillion is no exception, if anything more blissfully transcedent than some of the earlier experimentation and pure noise. But live?

Well pretty similar really. Ambient passages introduce and link songs, snippets of older songs are spliced together and whilst not the most animated performers the spirit of the records is captured well via banks of electronics, samplers, synths etc overlaid with guitar and some live percussion. No camera with me tonight but there are some photos of the London gig here - but they make it appear much more soulless than it was on the night in Manchester.

But what stood out for me to my surprise was the vocals - what I thought was the element that relied most on the studio. Live the pulsating rhythms were not to the forefront: what gave the songs life or carried the rhythm was the higher register harmonies of Panda Bear or the more squawky mid-range of Avey Tare. So the highpoints were when the two were singing/chanting together; and when this was met with recognition or reaction from the packed crowd, that's when it all came together. When this didn't happen, things could drag a little. So overall good but not great with occasional joyous moments ('My Girls' and 'Lion in a Coma').

And despite the seemingly universal praise for Merriweather Post Pavillion it's good to find some nay-sayers: I played 'My Girls' to Daughter 2.0 before leaving home tonight, thinking surely the harmonies AND the lyrical content were a winning combination. It got an instant thumbs-down. (I'll keep working on her though - she just needs a bit more time to appreciate avant-noise-psyche-folk-pop fully).

GRASS
Animal Collective
Feels [BUY]

SUMMERTIME CLOTHES
MY GIRLS
Animal Collective
Merriweather Post Pavillion [BUY]

THE MISERABLE RICH @ DULCIMER 8 JANUARY 2009

Arrived late at this Red Deer Club evening so sadly missed Carl Woodford. Not sure if this evening was a sell-out but the small upstairs room at Dulcimer was PACKED. Although it may have been difficult to get a drink, it certainly kept the crowd warm on this chilly January night.

The Random Family are a band-cum-promoters who appear to own/play/promote (?) at St Brides Church in Liverpool - and all of tonight's line up will be playing there 9 Jan. They are a four piece - two guitars (with occasional banjo, mandolin etc), stand-up bass and flute/recorder - with three of the band taking lead or dual-lead vocals and all four on harmonies at times. They started with a minimum of tuning up and preparation but became a bit more serious about 'getting it right' as the set went on. They play gentle acoustic folk-pop, the relaxed approach underpinned by highly accomplished playing. All three vocalists and the sound in general were never so distinctive that you could point to obvious comparisons or say that is was unique - so overall gently uplifting without knocking you over. The strongest moments were the three part harmonies or in the interplay between male and female lead vocals. More of this please. They had copies of their second EP on sale.

DREAMS OF YOU
The Random Family
Caught In A Lullaby EP [BUY]

After writing about The Miserable Rich earlier this week it was good to see them live in Manchester. Tonight they appeared as a five piece: vocals, acoustic guitar, stand-up bass (again), cello and violin. The mellow chamber-pop on record was a bit more (relatively) intense live. The lead singer was by no means Ian Curtis but for the first two songs there was some intense glaring and grave looks. However once he started talking between talks the mood and the expressions lightened.

It was a short set - six songs in the main set ("this is 'technically' the end") and two for the encore ("this is 'properly' the end"). The set list included five songs from the Twelve Ways To Count album (Monkey, Pisshead, Boat Song, The Time That's Mine, Muswell and Merry Go Round) plus their version of Hot Chip's Over and Over. Merry Go Round featured some fine audience accompaniment for the clapping section. The two songs for the encore were new to me - new songs or covers? Further information welcomed.

Amongst the crowd in the packed room was (local resident) Badly Drawn Boy. It's a long time since I've listened to any of his music and I wouldn't have made the connection without seeing him on this night but I'm struck by the similarity between the finest (i.e. my favourite) of his songs 'The Shining' and the sound of The Miserable Rich. That's where the similarity ends - unless The Miserable Rich are soon to be scoring the next film adaptation of a Nick Hornby book?

The Miserable Rich are back in Manchester (and touring) with Woodpigeon in February (details here)

MUSWELL

THE TIME THAT'S MINE

The Miserable Rich

Twelve Ways To Count [BUY]

THE SHINING
Badly Drawn Boy
The Hour of Bewilderbeast [BUY]

There's more love in this head than these eyes can show

In the first weeks of 2009 you'll find most bloggers looking forward to the new releases and new bands of the year (see here for Sweeping The Nation's picks for 2009). Me? I'm still catching up with records from 2008 and 2007 (and watch out for a future post on an album from 1990 soon).
The two records from late last year that have been lodged on repeat in my head recently share other similarities: both are on small independent labels, both feature large('ish) collectives of players, both just about fit into the umbrella description of 'orchestral-pop' and both feature the kind of fey, fragile male vocals that I can't get enough of - but which drive Mrs A to distraction. She prefers her male singers a bit more throaty, more rawk 'n' roll.The Miserable Rich released Twelve Ways To Count at the end of November on Humble Soul. They are a four- (or is it six-?) piece from Brighton who combine the tender vocals of James De Malplaquet with gentle acoustic guitar, cello and violin to beautiful and - on this their debut -very accomplished effect. When I first heard 'Pisshead' last month I kicked myself because I had just finished my compilation of songs of the year. And this song should be on it. It is funny, poetic, moving and euphoric all at the same time; and in addition to the strings there's whistling and possibly even spoons. A winner on all counts. Intelligent and moving chamber-pop of the highest order - buy now.

EARLY MOURNING

PISSHEAD
The Miserable Rich
Twelve Ways To Count [BUY]


Woodpigeon played End of the Road Festival in 2007 two if not three times. And I missed them on both/all occasions. Their first album 'Songbook' was released on End of the Road Records (the same people as the festival - they liked them so much etc. etc.) in September last year; it was originally released in N America in 2006. Built around main man Mark Hamilton this Canadian collective are closer in sound and mood to Sufjan Stevens. Whereas The Miserable Rich keep it simple and sparse with string section/acoustic guitar/vocals, Woodpigeon play with a bigger box of musical toys and the songs flirt with different musical styles: 'A Sad Country Ballad for a Tired Superhero' is a march, 'Ms Stacey Watson, Stepney Green' pays homage to Belle & Sebastian for instance (they also like long song titles). If The Miserable Rich are 'chamber', then Woodpigeon are definitely 'orchestra'. This is a great record, deserving all the accolade found here. And - even better - both Woodpigeon and The Miserable Rich are touring the UK together in February for six dates only -more here.

CHORUS OF WOLVES
IF ONLY I WERE A PAINTER, I'D PAINT FOR YOU THE MOON
Woodpigeon
Songbook [BUY]

And squeezing in another of last year's albums....

Now some people's whose musical opinions I trust greatly have recommended The Hold Steady to me over their last couple of albums. I keep hearing stories of epic, life-changing gigs and of rock 'n' roll with attitude harking back to The Replacements and The Grifters. But my brief dalliances have left me unconverted. Odd snippets of music has sounded more like sub-Springsteen bluster to me. But I have been giving last year's album Stay Positive more of a chance.
I still remain unconvinced. But then, but then... I hear last track 'Slapped Actress' and I think I may be starting to see what people mean. There's something about the edgy tension conveyed musically and in Craig Finn's gruff, bar-room vocals that lift this above the humdrum. Hang on - gruff, throaty rawk 'n' roll vocals?? I should be playing this to Mrs A. Immediately. And maybe I should just stick with fey and whimsical. It's worked for me so far. More from past years soon.

SLAPPED ACTRESS
The Hold Steady
Stay Positive [BUY]

Manchester Gigs in Music: January 2009 Pt. 1

Thank God that's over. An orgy of indulgence that now lacks all purpose culminating in an evening of forced celebration a.k.a the 'biggest' party night of the year. It used to be the only thing to look forward to at the start of the New Year was the January Sales. But they now happen in December. So what DO we have to look forward to this month?

Well, fairly sparse on the gig front but take your pick from US psychedelicists (Animal Collective, Of Montreal), various shades of folk (David Thomas Broughton through to Richard Thompson), dependable old punks (Buzzcocks, Half Man Half Biscuit), garage-country noir (The Brute Chorus, The Bookhouse Boys), French chanson (Francoiz Breut) and indie-tropicalia (Little Joy). For such a quiet month that's quite a spread.

Casiokids Togens Rule (29 Jan Club Academy w/ Of Montreal BUY TICKETS)
The Miserable Rich The Knife-Thrower's Hand (8 Jan Dulcimer BUY TICKETS)
Animal Collective Peacebone (14 Jan Club Academy BUY TICKETS)
Little Joy The Next Time Around (20 Jan Academy 3 BUY TICKETS)
The Brute Chorus The Cuckoo & The Stolen Heart (20 Jan Night & Day BUY TICKETS)
Francoiz Breut Si Tu Disais (21 Jan Ruby Lounge BUY TICKETS)
Of Montreal An Eluardian Instance (29 Jan Club Academy BUY TICKETS)
Zombie Zombie What's Happening In The City? (26 Jan Ruby Lounge BUY TICKETS)
The Bookhouse Boys Dead (19 Jan Night & Day BUY TICKETS)
Half Man Half Biscuit Totnes Bickering Fair (30 Jan Academy 1 BUY TICKETS)
David Thomas Broughton One Day (24 Jan St Margaret's Church BUY TICKETS)

Link in post below this one.

And not forgetting:

16 Jan Buzzcocks Academy / 18 Jan Richard Thompson The Lowry / 23 Jan Seasick Steve Apollo / 24 Jan The Only Ones Academy 3 / 24 Jan Grace Jones Apollo / 27 Jan Sky Larkin Night & Day / 30 Jan Allez Allez Naive Melody @ Charlies

And Allez Allez have a Xmas mix available here if you are still feeling festive.

Manchester Gigs in Music: January 2009 Pt. 2

The link here [48MB]