Sidi Touré – Ir Kagay Alada (Live)
October 17, 2011 § Leave a comment
‘Ir Kagay Alada’ (Live at Old Town School of Folk Music)
‘Sahel Folk'(album) by Sidi Touré
Out now on Thrilljockey (buy link)
Stan says: #Monday. At least twice a year we find ourselves getting a little bit distressed about all of the music that we haven’t listened to in the preceding months. It’s hard to predict when the distress will come but it always does. Our decidedly un-encyclopedic knowledge of the genre known as ‘World Music’ (though we’ve never been too sure about the aptness of the title) is a particular area that we have underlying concerns about. We used to have a plan to go on a solitary highland retreat and go on an intensive listening course but alas that particular dream has not yet come to pass.
In the meantime here’s a live recording from last month of a track by Malian guitarist Sidi Touré whose 2011 album ‘Sahel Folk’ we did manage to hear … and whose warm relaxed acoustics we love.
Dan Lyth – Pascal
October 10, 2011 § Leave a comment
Taken from the ‘Some Of My Friends Songs’ EP
Out now as a free download via bandcamp here
Stan says: #Monday. A reworking of an original by The Scottish Enlightenment. We only stumbled across this last week (despite being released just over a year ago), but have been bewitched by its subtle charms ever since.
Good Sport – Pushover
October 3, 2011 § Leave a comment
Taken from ‘And Now We Are Talking’ EP
Free download via Bandcamp here
Stan says: #Monday. This track from the new EP by Pittsburgh electronic outfit Good Sport aka Ryan Hizer (ex Librarian) is working well in Stan Central this morning and has the right combination of Jim Reid-y vocals and electro poppings to keep the creative part of our brain engaged before the next cup of caffeine is consumed. This is our favourite track of the bunch, but it’s worth checking out the full (free to download) EP via the link above.
Alexander Ebert – Truth
September 26, 2011 § Leave a comment
Taken from the album ‘Alexander’
Out now on Community Music/Rough Trade
Stan says: #Monday. Hearing the RZA featuring version of this track again at the weekend reminded us how much we prefer the original. It also made us wonder who would win in a whistle off between Alexander Ebert and that other well known North American whistling machine Andrew Bird. Based on past performance the safe money is still on Bird, but Ebert’s got enough form here to have a shot at an against the odds upset. This is from the debut album by the Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zero’s singer that came out earlier this year. Visit his website here
Cowabunga Babes – Lovesong
September 12, 2011 § Leave a comment
Taken from ‘Lydia Lunch’
Out now on Volar Records
Stan says: #Monday. Big fan of the 90 second pop song … when done well. It’s always a fine line between making a mess and making music regardless of track length but squeeze too many ideas into too little time and things can go wrong fast. This track (from the Austin, TX groups 2010 release), makes it through with the flag flying and has that moldy peaches esque rough hewn vibe that’s always good to hear on a Monday morning – especially if you are ever in need of reminding that MUSIC = FUN.
Ladytron – Ninety Degrees
September 5, 2011 § Leave a comment
Taken from the album ‘Gravity The Seducer’
Released 12/09/2011 on Nettwerk.
Stan says: #Monday #unseasonalmusicpartt3 #vs. For no particular reason at all we’ve never been big followers of Ladytron in times past. Maybe it was the name? Either way they have previously managed to find themselves filed under the ‘bands we can’t quite to bothered to listen to right now’ category in our mental music scrapyard, (along with an almost infinite quantity of ‘world music’ artists that we long ago promised we would listen to but are now hiding away from in an overwhelmed corner). ‘Ninety Degrees’ however is currently proving a more than acceptabe accompaniment to our afternoon tea and biscuits so perhaps further investigation is warranted? Just can’t quite shake the Sarah Nixeyness in the vocals and the resultant itch to listen to some old Luke Haines records. Perhaps that Ladytron album fest can wait for another day …
Josh T. Pearson – Sorry With A Song (Live)
August 29, 2011 § Leave a comment
Mute Studio Session
Original version taken from ‘Last Of The Country Gentlemen’
Out now on Mute Records
Stan says: #Monday. Live version of Pearson’s forthcoming single (out 3/10/11). Giving me echoes of ‘Highway 29’/’Ghost Of Tom Joad’ era Springsteen, … when excessive listening makes you start to wonder if robbing a bank and heading for the Mexican border is, in fact, an excellent life plan.
Cass McCombs – The Same Thing
August 22, 2011 § Leave a comment
Taken from ‘Humor Risk’ by Cass McCombs
Released 7/11/11 on Domino Records
Stan says: #Monday. Cass McCombs is not always the recommended treatment for a stag hangover, especially if teetering on the edge of something mildly existential. This however is almost (almost), upbeat in a House of Love kind of way and McCombs’ vocal has a definite Sumner-ish/Mancunian quality to it at points. Interesting.
Morrissey – Will Never Marry
August 15, 2011 § Leave a comment
Stan says: #Monday. Few have done a better job of selling misery than a young Mr Morrissey did here.
World Party – Kingdom Come
August 8, 2011 § Leave a comment
Stan Says: #Monday. Weekends staggery/pub crawl in the Cotswolds complete. First involuntary expulsion of stomach contents by fellow attendee on Saturday = 1050am. Senior crew member spends night in lock up. Mission accomplished. Considering different musical remedies to help restore liver function and faith in humanity post looting in Tottenham. This came to mind.
GRANDPA STAN 