Young Dreams
December 2, 2011 § Leave a comment
Album to be released on House Of Telle/Modular Recordings 2012 (date TBC)
Download MP3 from Modular here. Visit Young Dreams here.
Stan says: #Friday. News that a full length debut by Norwegian act Young Dreams was in the offing for early 2012 was happily received around these parts. The Kingdom of Norway recently broke into our top 5 countries to be visited list, and while this is mainly down to a latent interest in Fjord jumping, songs like this never hurt.
High Highs + Tashaki Miyaki
November 28, 2011 § Leave a comment
‘Flowers Bloom’ from the ‘High Highs’ EP (Bandcamp)
Free ‘Flowers Bloom’ MP3 (courtesy I Guess I’m Floating) here
‘Get It Right’ from the ‘Tashaki Miyaki’ EP
Out now on on The Sounds Of Sweet Nothing (Bandcamp)
Stan says: #Monday. Two of the most hypnotic, dream inducing videos that have crossed our monitors in 2011. Wintry scenes with horses and young lovers at play … what’s not to like?
Extra Classic – Give Me Your Love
November 18, 2011 § Leave a comment
Taken from the album
‘Your Light Like White Lightning, Your Light Like A Laser Beam’
Out now on Manimal Vinyl (US Only).
Stan says: #Friday. There are times when the streets of London Town are keen to remind those who walk them of their mortality. In the aftermath of such reminders we often fall back on a familiar musical selection for comfort, (some ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ and ‘Graceland’ here, a spot of Millie Jackson and The Staples Singers there), records whose warmth and presence we hope will shield us from the realities of the world for at least short while. But what if the hand of god were to reach down and remove said records from our grasp, telling us (rather sternly through his chosen mouthpiece), “Henceforth thou shalt only be permitted to listen to records that have been released during the past three calendar months in moments of existential trauma!!”, … what songs then we hear you ask? Well in that particular scenario we have concluded that we could start out by listening to a track like this old school sounding belter by San Franciscan five piece Extra Classic, slipping into some flares, growing a handlebar and possibly lighting some incense in a bid to really seal the deal on the C’68 vibe. And now to locate the rest of the playlist.
The Innocence Mission – Happy Birthday (Live)
November 9, 2011 § Leave a comment
Visit the Innocence Mission website here.
Stan says: #Wednesday. A lovely version of a beautiful song that (according to iTunes) we have not played since way back in ’08 – a glitch in our re-listening system that has now been corrected. Noting the birthday related lyrical content, we’d like to dedicate this post to the mighty Lou Ferrigno who today joins the ranks of the Sexagenarians. Lou, we appreciated your line in fake tan and your ability to dig that Dr Banner guy out of 20 tonnes of cement every Saturday afternoon more than you can know. And while Messrs Bana, Norton and Ruffalo might not be the worst actors in the world, it is to you who our thoughts will turn whenever we consider what it means to be truly hulky.
Jookabox – You Cried Me
October 31, 2011 § Leave a comment
Taken from the album ‘Dead Zone Boys’
Released on Asthmatic Kitty Records. (Buy here).
Stan says: #Halloween. One of our all time top ten videograms, (whether viewed on All Hallows’ Eve or not). Still never managed to watch/listen to this and not break into a smile in the aftermath – in a vampiric and extremely evil way of course. But enough of this misplaced joviality, time for us to get back down to the dungeon and check on the piccalilli and newt soup.
The Auteurs + Luke Haines
October 19, 2011 § Leave a comment
Stan says: #Wednesday. Distraction struck when listening to the new album by Luke Haines this morning (available now on iTunes, ltd edition digipak out 7/11 on Fantastic Plastic here), and we found ourselves absentmindedly sticking on ‘New Wave’ by The Auteurs instead. Perfectly autumnal, ‘Junk Shop Clothes’ was always our favourite tune on an often bizarre record that was littered with standouts and quite unlike any of its Britpop bedfellows at the time. It’s just such a shame Haines has decided to become so conventional in his writing these days. Now, where exactly did we get up to with ‘Nine And A Half Psychedelic Meditations On British Wrestling Of The 1970s And Early ’80s’ …
M83 – Midnight City
October 18, 2011 § Leave a comment
Taken from the album ‘Hurry Up We’re Dreaming’
Out now on Mute/Naive
Buy here
Stan says: When played at volume the synth riff in ‘Midnight City’ seems to have the ability to scramble our brainwaves, shutting down all higher level ponderings roughly five seconds after it starts coming out of the speakers. Not so great for getting work done perhaps but often enjoyable if the time window is available and you feel the need to disengage for 4 minutes or so. That the new video for ‘Midnight City’ takes place in a school for kids with extra-curricular weight lifting skills leaves us even more inclined towards its discombobulating charms.
Dan Mangan – Jeopardy
September 19, 2011 § Leave a comment
Live at Trinity St. Paul’s, Toronto
Stan says: #Monday. Pondering how it’s become mid/late September when I’m sure we should be getting ready for Spring to hit … and Mangan’s sentiments in this live version of the album closer from his forthcoming third solo release (Oh Fortune) feel right on the money. The shaky (phone) camera work only adds to the charm.
My Sad Captains – Orienteers
September 14, 2011 § Leave a comment
Taken from the album ‘Fight Less, Win More’
Released 7/11/11 on Stolen Recordings
Stan says: #Wednesday. Still a sucker for a bit of soft focus acoustic guitar pop when the mood strikes. It’s nice to see My Sad Captains are sticking to their guns two years on from the release of their debut. A lovely little tune. Live at The Lexington in London on 16/9/11. Check out their blog here for more info on upcoming gigs + releases.
‘Beat Street Strut’
September 9, 2011 § Leave a comment
New York Hot Tracks Video
Taken from the soundtrack of the motion picture (1985)
Stan says: #Friday. Sure the 80’s had its issues and we won’t go into them all right now … but once in a while you cannot help but yearn for that simpler time when even the worst of the worlds troubles could – if push really came to shove – always by solved by a good honest dance off.
GRANDPA STAN 