CAMERA OBSCURA @ CLUB ACADEMY 22 APRIL 2009

Two word review: "pure class". Camera Obscura are dapper in appearance, accomplished in playing and blessed with songwriting skills by the (tartan) bag-load; tonight's performance which drew almost exclusively on material from the current and previous albums, managed to recreate the sumptious sounds of both records beautifully.

Singer Tracyanne delivers her country-soul-pop songs with an unchanging facial expression but a voice every bit as gorgeous as on record that conveys deep emotion and grand drama. The six piece band behind and around her are never showy or obtrusive (other than some occasional disconcerting staring) and live recreate the lush textures just as effectively as Tracyanne's singing. Last time I saw them I remember being disappointed by the thin sound and lack of atmosphere - I think both had more to do with the venue (Jabez Clegg). Tonight the keyboards at times sounded like a full string section. And what a joy it is to hear a trumpet live.

And the band are as stylish in dress as they are musically: three of the five men in waistcoats or ties and the women in classy vintage-style dresses - more Madmen than Oxfam. Accessories included a swan brooch from Traceyanne and a white clamshell belt for Carey (that's enough on the fashion review, thank you).

It was an audience of all ages, shapes and sizes - certainly on this showing there is not an obvious CO fan 'type'. There were a couple of (single white) males at the front who appeared to be a bit too obsessive in their attention on Tracyanne. Overall the crowd were quietly reverential during the new material and whooping with recognition at songs from Let's Get Out Of This Country. That is except for a couple of Red Stripe drinking irritants who persisted in having a conversation throughout several songs including during Country Mile. If Mr P had been there he would have tore a strip of the young whippersnappers. I only caught the last few minutes of Attic Lights but was pleasantly surprised. For some reason I was expecting blokish landfill indie but they sounded closer to Teenage Fanclub. Worth listening to more...

The Set List:

My Maudlin Career
Tears For Affairs
Honey in the Sun
French Navy
Let's Get Out Of This Country
James
Forests and Sands
Swans
Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken
If Looks Could Kill
Country Mile
You Told A Lie
Razzle Dazzle Rose
---
Eighties Fan
Come Back Margaret

SWANS

Camera Obscura
My Maudlin Career [BUY]

IF LOOKS COULD KILL
Camera Obscura
Let's Get Out Of This Country [BUY]

"I could meet you at the foot of the mountain, dressed as a mountaineer": THE BROKEN FAMILY BAND and other Monday releases

Well yesterday was the release day for five much desired albums in these parts: The Broken Family Band's 'Please and Thank You'; Camera Obscura's 'My Maudlin Career'; Art Brut's 'Art Brut vs Satan'; Brakes's 'Touchdown' and Jeffrey Lewis's 'Em Are I'.

That's too much of a wallet-bashing for one week so I have adopted a spread-the-burden approach. Specifically: buying the first a week early from Rough Trade, planning to buy the second at tomorrow night's gig (therefore including this as 'gig spends' as opposed to 'record spends'), buying the third today (mission accomplished - importing to iTunes as I type), and relying on Mr P to buy the last two. Hmmm. Might be waiting a bit for this.

So whilst the last three are currently unheard, I can highly recommend both The Broken Family Band and Camera Obscura albums as being worthy of your hard-earned cash. The short review for both is: if you liked the album that preceded this (either 'Hello Love' or 'Let's Get Out Of This Country') you'll love this. But let's talk more about 'Please and Thank You'.

When BFB announced last year they were leaving Track and Field their home and label since 2003 with no immediate deal in place ("we are now officially the hottest unsigned band in Britain") I was deeply troubled by the apparent lack of a plan and what it might mean musically. But I needn't have worried. A new home (Cooking Vinyl) does not mean a radically altered sound even if the label blurb suggests otherwise:
Eight years in, The Broken Family Band have gradually shed the accordionists, the cute girl singers, the banjo players, even the American drawl, and reduced themselves to the unchanged core of Adams, bassist Gavin Johnson, guitarist Jay Williams and drummer Micky Roman. And they’ve made their best album so far.

Now I LIKED the accordian, the banjo, the female vocals and the American drawl but none of this disappeared overnight for this album. (Hence me saying if you liked 'Hello Love' etc etc.). So this album doesn't feel like a sudden departure, more a gradual development. But is it their best album so far?? Better than 'Balls' or 'Welcome Home Loser'??

Well it's just too early to say - I think you need to live with a record for a good couple of months before saying this with any confidence (cop out I know). But after the first few listens it definitely has plenty to recommend it. It combines Steven Adam's smart lyrics (by turns lascivious, sarcastic or humorous) with a strong, confident band sound that is closer to 'indie-rock' than 'indie-pop'. So over 12 songs there is only one that is close to a ballad (album closer 'Old Wounds') and the rest are more uptempo. So this means there is no equivalent to earlier, classic, songs like 'Give and Take', 'John Belushi' or 'It's All Over'. Well re-listening to the album there is love plea 'Mimi' ("I'm thinking you may be the one") and mid-tempo chugger 'You Did A Bad Thing' but these do not have as much presence on the album as the more 'rockin' tunes, most with great hooks, singalong choruses or both. And of these I could have posted any: indie survivors anthem 'Don't Bury Us', the sordid encounter tales of 'Please Yourself' or 'St Albans' (the latter a hoot) or first single 'Salivating' for instance. This is one of the strongest songs to my ears and easily stands up without the typically mocking approach to video promo below. Play this five times and you should be hooked. If not, this probably isn't for you...

So as ever with The Broken Family Band this new album just gets better with each listen. I'll be able to say in June whether it's one of their best. And in the meantime they are touring in April and May and there's some live footage of their March gig in Glasgow available courtesy of Jack Daniels.

CINEMA VS HOUSE
BORROWED TIME
The Broken Family Band
Please and Thank You [BUY]

RECORD STORE DAY(S)

So tomorrow is Record Store Day. And I will be 121.5 miles away from Piccadilly Records, Vinyl Exchange, Beatin' Rhythm etc. And probably at least 50 miles from the nearest independent record store. Here's what Piccadilly Records are laying on tomorrow.

Here at Piccadilly Records we have a fun filled day too, throughtout the day we'll have the cream of local labels and club nights DJing instore, the line-up is as follows:
10.00-11.00 - FINDERS KEEPERS (DOM THOMAS)
11.00-12.00 - THAT AMAZING THING (FRANCIS WOOFF)
12.00-12.30 - CLINT BOON
12.30-13.30 - AKOUSTIK ANARKHY
13.30-14.30 - THE UNABOMBERS
14.30-15.30 - UP THE RACKET
15.30-16.30 - EL DIABLO’S (NEIL SCOTT)
16.30-17.30 - BALEARIC MIKE
And as if that wasn't enough excitement for one day, the lovely folk from the Sweet Tooth Cupcakery will be selling rock'n'roll cup cakes, we'll be giving away free bottles of Glacéau Vitaminwater and there's a fortune cookie 'lucky dip' with loads of prizes to be won.

So to celebrate Record Store Day some random memories from me of music I have discovered in record shops plus a recommendation for those of you like me not in physical proximity to a record shop.

First up: Selectadisc in Berwick Street, Soho (now sadly defunct). I 'happened' to be in there one day in 1993 when the music they were playing over the PA stopped me dead. It turned out to be a 10 minute track that STARTED with a countdown to an ending with a flurry of flute, guitar and strangeness. And then got stranger. I stood and listened for 20 minutes to the whole of the first side of Mercury Rev's 'Boces' and then bought it. Never regretted this for an instance. And that first song 'Meth of a Rockette's Kick' still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

A few years ago I was in Vinyl Exchange in Manchester when the same thing happened. Something was playing that stopped me in my tracks. A few minutes later I was the proud owner of 'Milkman' by Deerhoof. And earlier this year I walked into Piccadilly Records with the intention of listening to and probably buying 'The Airing of Grievances' by Titus Andronicus - and what was playing as I walked in? Well it was an omen not be ignored.

Thinking about these three songs/bands, the music is all loud and unhinged. Maybe that's what stands out. But I wouldn't have come across them without being in record stores. And let's not forget all the times that record stores have stocked/listed/recommended music and I've come across it in other ways. In these times of recession and music industry paralysis, let's celebrate and support record shops every day and not just tomorrow.

And if you can't make it to your nearest shop, how about taking up this offer and supporting the online shop for Drift Records?

Between Saturday 18th April and Monday 18th May DRIFT RECORDS will offer '3-for-£10' on our entire back catalogue. Albums by: The R.G.Morrison, Thirty Pounds of Bone, Birdengine, Matt Eaton, Tandy Hard, Thomas White, Le Reno Amps and the critically acclaimed 'Drift Collective' sampler will be available at just £5 each or 3-for-£10. As if that weren’t enough, for the special price of £25 you can purchase the entire back catalogue, plus an exclusive Drift Record Shop 'bag for life' and badge set.

My thoughts are on the Matt Eaton are here. It's easily worth £10 of your money but with this deal you could buy it six times for that prices. An offer you can't refuse?

METH OF A ROCKETTE'S KICK
Mercury Rev
Boces [BUY]

MILK MAN
Deerhoof
Milkman [BUY]

MY TIME OUTSIDE THE WOMB
Titus Andronicus
The Airing of Grievances [BUY]

AS LONG AS THE ROAD
Matt Eaton
Finish Your Chips [BUY]

I started out in search of ordinary things ... 'Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle' - Bill Callahan

My relationship with Bill Callahan/Smog albums goes through ups and downs. After the career highs of 'Red Apple Falls' (hushed magnificence) and 'Knock Knock' (art rock magnificence) came 'Dongs of Sevotion' and 'Supper' which to my ears were just so-so. Then in 2005 he released 'A River Ain't Too Much To Love' which knocked me over with it's stripped-down folk take on the Smog sound. But the follow-up 'Woke on a Whaleheart' (the first album where he dropped the 'Smog' moniker) I never really 'got' and stopped listening to fairly quickly. So what to make of the release this week of 'Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle'?

Well after a couple of listeners, it's definitely a keeper and may even be up there amongst his very best. And it's not a 'return to form' - it's a subtley different and new development. It takes the assured, philosophical songs of 'A River..' but places them in a beautiful, gossamer-light orchestral arrangements. Drums, bass and guitar play their part but hovering in the background are these delicate strings and horns that reflect the beauty and wonder the songs find in nature.

Bill never likes to make it easy - biographical details are scant, his lyrics can be highly ellipitical, he is taciturn when performing or in interview. But on this record whilst the lyrics are still quasi-philosophical ("how can a wave possibly be?") they are sung by a man who sounds at utter peace with the world. This sense of ease, the wonder at the natural world (birds, winds, trees inhabit every song) and the inventive musical flourishes that give each song a unique identity combine to a winning formula. Some of those flourishes: 'The Wind and The Dove' starts with arabic horns, 'Eid Ma Clack Shaw' is a graceful march, 'Rococco Zephyr' has piano suggesting water ripples and wavering strings suggesting the breeze. And the final eight minute song 'Faith/Void' is almost soulful in its repetition of the phrase 'It's Time To Put God Away' over sweeping strings; it's like Al Green turning atheist. Poetic, accessible and wholly beguiling, this is probably going to be one of my favourite records of the year. (I'm just not looking forward to the follow-up).

JIM CAIN
EID MA CLACK SHAW
Bill Callahan
Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle [BUY]

TONIGHT IN MANCHESTER: Loney, Dear

Photo: Sara Axelsson

Emil Svanängen plays Night and Day tonight in support of the new Loney, Dear new album Dear John. It's another set of Scandinavian lovelorn orch-pop beauty that gets better with each listen. As I type I can't believe I'm going to miss this,but sadly too many over-lapping commitments. BUY TICKETS



I WAS ONLY GOING OUT
Loney, Dear
Dear John [BUY]

And there is a Daytrotter session of songs here too.

THE WAVE PICTURES @ THE ROADHOUSE 10 APRIL 2009

When I asked Mr P if we were going to the see The Wave Pictures this Easter Bank holiday his response was "definitely definitely definitely". Given other commitments this month, this was good to hear. And it also turned out to be good news given how good - if short - this gig was.

Seeing The Wave Pictures were playing Manchester had the edge taken off slightly: firstly they were playing The Roadhouse with its occasionally iffy sound; and then secondly they were touring in advance of the new album ('If You Leave It Alone' coming out 4 May). However I'm glad to report the sound tonight was spot-on plus the set took in a range of songs old and new, including two I cannot place (any assistance gratefully appreciated), with the new album on sale early to boot.
Even if on record The Wave Pictures can at times be a bit too casual (if 'Instant Coffee Baby' was sequenced differently, lost two tracks and included the earlier single 'We Dress Up Like Snowmen'/'Now We Are Pregnant' it would have been the hands-down Album of the Year), I had forgotten just how good they are live. The make-up-the-set-list approach might be a bit casual, their playing certainly isn't. The drumming is phenomenally tight, the bass-playing over this fluid, almost jazz-like and David's guitar playing soulful and intense by turns. It all combines beautifully and even songs on the new album like 'Tiny Craters in the Sand' which on record are more whimisical are given extra muscle live. Potentially the best live band in the UK??

Sadly with a club night following, the gig was curfewed early and the band finished a ten song set without even an encore. Highlights for me included 'Friday Night in Loughborough' and new song 'Strawberry Cables' plus drummer Jonny singing 'Now You Are Pregnant'. Towards the end of the set the travelling Geordie contingent in the crowd joined in the singing on 'Our Perfect Lovers' with comic effect and rude words. Getting their revenge for their claim The Wave Pictures never play Newcastle? David's response "it's a long way from Loughborough".

The Set List:
Canary Wharf
("I was drunk and I was blind")

Friday Night In Loughborough
Tiny Craters In The Sand
I Swam Out To Greet You
Strawberry Cables
Now You Are Pregnant
("She had cinnamon on the tip of her tongue")
Our Perfect Lovers
Leave That Scene Behind

The UK tour continues until 15 April with some dates in Spain following. The band are back in June with a date at The Deaf Institute already on sale. Do not miss.

LEAVE THE SCENE BEHIND
The Wave Pictures
Instant Coffee Baby [BUY]

TINY CRATERS IN THE SAND
The Wave Pictures
If You Leave It Alone [BUY]

The Benefits of Mailing List Subscription: Downloads For 'F' All

Making myself feel popular through the daily receipt of automatically generated emails is always a pleasing distraction from life's slings and arrows. And so I always go out of my way to sign up with band/record label/promoter lists whenever and wherever I can. And this week, said subscriptions lead not just to a full inbox but to some free music.
From the Merge Records newsletter:
With one critically acclaimed record under their belt and a highly-anticipated sophomore album Outer South on its way, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band are set to release the documentary One of My Kind on Wednesday, April 15th. One of My Kind will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the band’s journey over the past year and a half. Watch the trailer for One of My Kind. Download a free MP3 of "Nikorette" from Outer South. Pre-order Outer South on CD and LP in the Merge store.

From Art Brut and Cooking Vinyl:

Simply enter your email address below, and we'll send you a PIN code for a free download of: "Weird Science".

The song is a bonus track to accompany release of new album 'Art Brut' vs Satan on 20 April (pre-order here). The first single 'Alcholics Unanimous' was released yesterday.



And finally from the Chemikal Underground newsletter:

It's only fair that Chemikal Underground subscribers get their hands on a Lord Cut Glass track first, so we duly and proudly present 'Even Jesus Couldn't Love You' - in full and for free!
Just cast your eyes right-ward to the 'Downloads For 'F' All' section and do what comes naturally...

Plus
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Aidan Moffat has rendered us his interpretation of Katie Melua's (how should we put this...timeless classic, yes, timeless classic) 9,000,000 Bicycles. Not only that, but we're going to give you it for free. Why? Because it's you and that's how we roll, that's why. You can summon the track to your computer by visiting our new feature, 'Downloads For 'F' All' below...
Well you have to follow this link rather than 'below' but make sure you sign up for the newsletter whilst visiting for future news and music. Cuz otherwise that would be cheating ...

And the eagle-eyed of you kind readers may have noticed I have added an email subscription box to this blog for those (both of you) who are still struggling with RSS. You won't get anything other than notification of posts here. But that way you won't miss out and a slightly fuller inbox may be just what the doctor ordered (at least for the needy and less well-adjusted out there. Come and join me).

The Wonderful Dexterity of Hannu Mikkola

There are three things I know about Finland, namely:

1. It is the home of Nokia
2. They drink a lethally strong liquorice flavoured vodka
3. It is the home of rally driver Hannu Mikkola
The second fact I can thank Mr S of Salford for - but my knowledge of Hannu's wonderful dexterity (which makes me want to shake hands with the whole of that nation) comes from Half Man Half Biscuit and the opening line to 'Architecture, Morality, Ted & Alice'.

In my review of HMHB's Manchester gig I suggested (an unoriginal demand) that Nigel Blackwell should be made Poet Laurate. His powers of observation, satire and sarcasm are brilliant and equally matched by his genius use of language. And all this is celebrated in Chris Rand's exceptionally good HMHB Lyrics Project site. There may be others but as Chris says:

Trouble is, like darts in soap operas, most of them are so wrong. So with too much time on my hands, obviously, I’m trying to rectify the situation, and not only build a complete set of lyrics, but actually get them right (with a lot of help from your comments and corrections). It may take years. Should you have already transcribed any lyrics yourself, and want to contribute them, please email me and contribute to the cause.


So as well as "120 pop songs picked over by pedants" which you can search by song or album, you can leave comments, subscribe via RSS or email for updates, view news updates of HMHB lyrics in the media, info on gigs and bootlegs and even contribute your PBRs (“life is a Perpetual Biscuit Reference”). My favourite of these is from 'Jan' on 27 March this year:

"Sometime ago, Number One Daughter was invited to Avebury at Halloween. She came home full of tales about the folk she had met, and handed me a present, a little notebook made from handmade paper. “Oh, lovely,” I cried, “but why this? What is it?” “Mother,” she retorted, “I’m shocked. Don’t you know a quaint notepad for weekend pagans when you see one?”"

If you don't get this go here and listen below.

Now surely this is what the interweb was invented for? Andy (from Everything's Swirling) wrote a couple of months ago (OK nearly a year ago) about his favourite fan sites many now sadly neglected. He is also the creator and author of the pretty-much-definitive Galaxie 500 fan site A Head Full Of Wishes which, although with not as many laughs as the HMHB Lyrics Project, is still worthy of your attention and your bookmarking. In these days of corporate ownership of 99.9% of the internet, it's great to be reminded that there are people like Chris and Andy who are selflessly using the web and associated technologies to share and celebrate what they (and we) love.

And a final HMHB-related item from me. Ms N's upcoming birthday was celebrated recently with the presentation of some ornamental Joy Division Oven Gloves.

Let's leave the last words to Nigel via Chris's site:

I’ve been here and I’ve been there
In me Joy Division oven gloves
I’ve been to a post-punk postcard fair
In me Joy Division oven gloves
Ooh ooh Nagasaki towpath
Ooh ooh tickling the laird
Ooh ooh checking out the Quantocks
In me Joy Division oven gloves
In me Joy Division oven gloves
Joy Division Oven Gloves

Although the last word may actually go to Mrs A who has taken recently to leaving comments referencing HMHB lyrics. Not that she needed any more ammunition, but I think I may have just muzzle-loaded a large blunderbuss...

ARCHITECTURE, MORALITY, TED & ALICE
Half Man Half Biscuit
Back in the DHSS [BUY]

TWENTY FOUR HOUR GARAGE PEOPLE
Half Man Half Biscuit
Trouble Over Bridgewater [BUY]

MANCHESTER GIGS IN MUSIC Pt. 1

A 42 minute music compilation of some highlights of live shows this coming month in Manchester: download link in post below this one.

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone Optimist Vs The Silent Alarm (20 April Deaf Institute BUY TICKETS)
Jenny Lewis The Big Guns (24 April Academy 3 BUY TICKETS)
PJ Harvey & John Parish Sixteen, Fifteen, Fourteen (24 April The Ritz BUY TICKETS)
Dirty Projectors Knotty Pine (with David Byrne) (1 April Mint Lounge BUY TICKETS)
Camera Obscura My Maudlin Career (22 April Club Academy BUY TICKETS)
Loney, Dear I Was Only Going Out (15 April Night & Day BUY TICKETS)
Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele 26 Miles (1 April Trof NQ BUY TICKETS)
The Wave Pictures We Dress Up Like Snowmen (10 April Roadhouse BUY TICKETS)
Brakes What's In It For Me? (13 April Ruby Lounge BUY TICKETS)
Art Brut Sound of Summer (27 April Academy 3 BUY TICKETS)
My Latest Novel The Reputation of Ross Francis (9 April Deaf Institute BUY TICKETS)
The Sons of Noel & Adrian Violent Violet (24 April Klondyke Bowls Club BUY TICKETS)
My First Tooth Typewriters (11 April Kro Bar BUY TICKETS)
The Zombies Maybe After He's Gone (24 April Bridgewater Hall BUY TICKETS)

And after compiling this it appears the Jenny Lewis gig is not happening. Shame.

And not forgetting:
2 April A Place To Bury Strangers Ruby Lounge / 3 April Marble Valley Chorlton Irish Club / 6 April Wildbirds & Peacedrums Dulcimer / 7 April Bat For Lashes The Ritz / 10 April The Leisure Society Ruby Lounge / 10 April The Loves, the Bobby McGees Black Lion / 10 April Fujiya & Miyagi Deaf Institute / 12 April Keith Ruby Lounge / 16 April Trembling Bells Deaf Institute / 17 April Sparkwood + 21 Carlton Club / 18 April Earth Islington Mill / 19 April The Whitest Boy Alive Ruby Lounge / 21 April The Veils Ruby Lounge / 22 April Health Deaf Institute / 23 April 65 Days of Static Deaf Institute / 24 April Bridge & Tunnel Kro Bar / 27 April The Von Bondies Ruby Lounge / 27 April The Nightingales Night & Day / 29 April The Juan Maclean Deaf Institute / 30 April Richard Swift Night & Day

And for something different this Friday - art or music? Or both?

MANCHESTER GIGS IN MUSIC Pt2.

Download here [47MB]

THIS WEEKEND IN MANCHESTER: Buffalos and Shell-suits

'Don't Be Scared' the debut album by its a buffalo was released on 16 March. The launch party is tonight at Academy 3 (advance tickets here). The first solo album from Homelife's Paddy Steer, 'Dragon's Breath', is released on Monday 30 March. The launch party is tonight at Klondyke Bowls Club (advance tickets here). C'mon chaps, get your diaries lined up a bit better!

I wrote about its a buffalo elsewhere. Their countrified, lofi Mancunian pop does have a certain shambolic charm - enough for them to survive the curse of being Liam Fray of the Courteeners favourite band I hope. Homelife have been making some excellent and eclectic records over the course of the last seven or eight years - but 'Dragon's Breath' sounds as though it excels in its eccentricity. I haven't heard it yet but this review at High Voltage has me sufficiently eager:

Instrumental, incidental, innovative, Paddy Steer’s 20-track deep collection of oddly-titled, often skit-sized sound bites are more barmy than eccentric, but every bit as lively as the appealing cover artwork... These tracks are packed with head mashing surprises galore and it’s this strong sense of the unexpected that’s sure to grab and hold even the shortest attention span. From the random jazz/bass electronica of the xylophone-happy title track all the way to the acoustic clockwork clip-clop of the penultimate dreamscape ‘Spanish Tea’, many corners are turned along the way.
Buy Dragon's Breath here.

SOMEWHERE IN RANGE
BANG! ON THE SEAFRONT
its a buffalo
Don't Be Scared [BUY with bonus tour CD!]

BUFFALOS
Homelife
Flying Wonders [BUY]

And tomorrow night Liverpool pop-punkers goFASTER>> are in Manchester touring in support of their new EP 'A Modern Education'. I'm not actually sure if the tour is billed this way but you can see how I'm trying to cram stuff in.

goFASTER>> are signed to the very special Alcopop Records and courtesy of them I have just started listening to the EP. My first reaction is how OLD it makes me feel - the youthfulness of the band just leaps out of the speakers. On one listen it's too early for me to venture an opinion but I can imagine live in Dry Bar will be a fitting setting for their 'pop songs about rubbish jobs, daytime television and STD's'. Advance tickets here. Plus here's last year's single about shell-suits.



MAGAZINE ADDICTION
goFASTER>>
A Modern Education [BUY]

You Can't Force A Dance Party

Now that I have been informed of the correct spelling of 'ukulele', what should land in my listening intray but Dent May And His Magnificent Ukulele.

Although on Animal Collective's Paw Tracks label, the sound of Dent May is a world away from their uber-cool avant-noise pop. Dent's music is quite conservative, staid, even simplistic. He croons sugary-sweet over simple instrumentation - said ukulele often playing against another instrument (tuba on 'Oh Paris!', pedal steel guitar on 'Howard'). Similar in some ways to Jens Lekman or Stephin Merritt (both ukulele players) but without the lyrical dexterity of either or the lush swoon of the former.

The overall feel is of early 70s easy listening combined with Jonathan Richman at his most winsome and gauche, playing the lonely outsider (listen to 'Girls on the Square'). In my first couple of listens I find myself alternating between being totally won over or wincing at the tweeness. Or thinking the whole thing is a camp wind-up.

It will be interesting what prolonged listening will do. Or how he comes across live. Dent plays Trof in the Northern Quarter on 1 April (presumbably with his Magnificent Ukulele but it is not actually credited). Support from Sparky Deathcap and Jam on Bread - tickets here. Other tour dates here.



YOU CAN'T FORCE A DANCE PARTY
COLLEGE TOWN BOY
Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele
The Good Feeling Music of ... [BUY]

TOMORROW IN MANCHESTER: O Children

Tomorrow night is the first gig from the New Ears team: "A night of bands, DJ’s, drinking and dancing @ Saki Bar, MANCHESTER, 7pm – very late" AND "Cheap cocktails".

Headling are O CHILDREN

Take you pick from “Psychedelic post-punk with a gaze of the shoe about it…this noirist quartet are a must-see live band.” [NME] OR "Like a giant Grace Jones, with the brooding post-punk authorial voice of Ian Curtis, Tobias of O CHILDREN delivers a booming exercise in how to perform a static dictatorship, as his band play a set of whirling melodies". [Artrocker]

Also on the bill Citizens, Egyptian Hip Hop, Sir Yes Sir and DJ’s from: May68, Natalie Esquire, New Ears, Super Super. All for £4. Don't think there are advance tickets so best to get their early.

THE ILLEST HALL OF FAME
O Children
[BUY]

THE PHANTOM BAND @ THE DEAF INSTITUTE 13 MARCH 2009

The Phantom Band wish to appear enigmatic and shadowy. Given their name and what I had read about them (including the bit about performing with sacks over their heads) I was expecting a performance to match. And initially lead singer Rick Princeton delivers as he stands behind the mic appearing like a bearded hellfire-and-damnation preacher, intoning strange incantations with arms outstretched. But then between songs he smiles and mumbles 'thanks' and you realise he's just an ordinary Scottish musician. But playing extraordinary music.

Opening song 'Burial Sounds' is a good introduction to the world of The Phantom Band - the best showcase of their potent mix of motorik rhythms and voodoo-swamp-blues-rock with a touch of psychedelic jamming. Reviews for Checkmate Savage draw the strangest and broadest list of band comparisons (Beta Band meet British Sea Power? TV On The Radio and Violent Femmes?? Nick Cave meets Neu?). Most should just be ignored and the music listened to.

On record it is confident distillation of all these influences or elements. And live it's pretty much the same - and still utterly compelling - played faithfully by the six piece band (so no studio-based creation then) They may be a surprisingly ordinary looking band tonight (except the keyboard player: either an extra from 'Paris, Texas' or the lost member of Grandaddy) but still with presence and a sense of originality. But it's the music wins you over - some songs feature three guitarists, instrumental 'Crocodile' builds and builds to a finale including two melodeons, rhythms are beaten out on a series of found (or unrecognisable) instruments including what looks like jagged metal shelving brackets. If it all sounds overkill, trust me it works and doesn't convey the subtlety they can bring. My appreciation of the subtlety may at times have been impaired by Guinness but overall this was a great performance and any disappointment at their ordinariness soon dispelled by the songs.


Set list translation: 'Dancehall' is 'Burial Sounds'; 'Mountain' is 'Folk Song Oblivion'; and 'Bee Flight' (or is that 'Beef Light'?) is 'Halfhound'.

Tonight was an Akoustik Anarkhy evening; support was from Easter and Three Trapped Tigers. Flyers for Easter's debut EP referenced Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine but they were not as noisy as this suggests - closer to the melodic, meandering end of the Sonic Youth spectrum. Definitely had some moments but didn't keep my attention throughout - get their EP here. Three Trapped Tigers on the other hand were very noisy. They received some enthusiastic reactions but their instrumental avant-noise just passed me by.

THROWING BONES
BURIAL SOUNDS
The Phantom Band
Checkmate Savage [BUY]

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]