If there are any issues with clipping please do let me know so I can attempt to sort them out. It played okay for me, though. I can't believe I'm actually writing this but I found it played best using Internet Explorer. This could just be because I'm having technical issues at present. Particularly with Google Chrome.
The first part I managed to
complete and get online by about 16th August. Quite why it took me almost a
month more to complete and get up part two I cannot say. There's a mixture of
factors, mostly culminating in how many other things I have to do (the biggest
factor however, is that T word I refuse to mention this TIME - ah drat!).
There's this podcast of course but also the huge backlog of reviews I'm working
on (3 more CDs arrived yesterday and another 2 today - but hey keep 'em coming
please as I'm absolutely loving it - I've arranged them in release date order
so working through them as fast as I can - first one should be published
tomorrow or Monday and is a review of Butch Vig's latest project, The
Emperors of Wyoming). BUT, enough of the excuses, as legitimate as they
may be. I shall cease and desist (this is my new phrase of the moment) and just
crack on with stuff. And yes, I am aware that I can still at times be guilty of
a little procrastination. Who here isn't? Who there isn't? Who anywhere does not
procrastinate? I'm doing my best on that one but it is not an easy activity to
avoid. Just this week I've been introduced to something that has blown my mind.
My brain felt like it was exposed to the elements. In a good way I mean,
however and not some hideous hangover after a very heavy night on the old
Jim Beam. Mmmm, I could just drink a nice bourbon right now. Please send all
bottles directly to my home. (*lies*) I promise to share them.
The songs and music have so inspired me I'm going to write my own extensive poem/ode on The Silmarillion. It may turn out rubbish but I don't much care. I've been itching to express something about it since first reading it years ago. It is the one book I could never live without and I read it each and every year, without fail. After listening to Nightfall in Middle Earth I may even have to read it again this year. Check out the song Nightfall above. Thinking about it, someone should do (and by someone I wish it could be) some sweeping animations of the events depicted in the songs. That is probably the closest thing to any alternative adaptation there will ever be due to the nature of the narrative. On another note, I am so going to bring down my decent stereo from storage at my parent's place. It has rather powerful speakers (not the best but they are loud). I better issue polite warnings to all the residents in the street that when I do get the CD they can expect to hear sounds and music louder than they've ever heard before. While I'm at it I suppose I best write to the Police and the local council too. I imagine it would make a kick ass driving album too. Okay, I must calm down a little.
Right! Waffle over (for the moment). On with the show. The latest podcast should have had its first airing on Acoustic Spectrum in my regular time slot of 7PM (BST - soon to be GMT again with the swift onset of Autumn/Fall) Thursdays. It will likely be repeated again next Thursday as podcast #9 won't be finished until the week after that, at the earliest. In the meantime this blogcast will be published (which is, incidentally why you're reading it now - am I stating the obvious? Or am I just waffling on unnecessarily - answers on a postcard to the Batcave!) and Band of Badgers Presents #8 will be a streaming only special. The chief reason for this is initially because I really wanted to play the longest song from an album I reviewed a few months ago now. The album was On an On by Syd Arthur (review >>here<<) and the song, which I played to close the show, is Paradise Lost. As for all those who have featured on all the previous podcasts, I sought permission from the band to play a song. They granted this but on condition there was no download involved. So, I resolved to do this streaming special. Originally I was going to record it just for the radio slot but then thought, well, if I can disable the download option and just stream it there's no harm doing it as the regular podcast and writing up a post as usual. So here it is. I'll also keep the episode up on Soundcloud so anyone can hit play and stream it anytime they come across it there.The cool thing is that as well as getting to play what is an amazing song, a true musical adventure with such eventful flare and originality, I've been able to play a number of favourites of mine.
The Playlist:
- Alphabet of Hurricanes - Tom McRae
- Believers - The Levellers
- Fuel Up (4D) - Stornoway
- Gunfight - Laurence Fox
- Where We Started - Iwan Rheon
- For The Ride - Lera Lynn
- Bags Outside The Door - Blair Dunlop
- Rooks - Shearwater
- Paradise Lost - Syd Arthur
What a playlist I have for this streaming only special then. At the very top where he deserves to be is Mr Tom Mcrae. He's not known as Mr Tom McRae of course, just good old Tom will do. Although less of the old. I cannot begin to explain how amazing I find this singer-songwriter. The day I was due to attend my very first (of now 6) of his gigs was rather a bitch of a day if I'm being totally honest. Way back then, on Wednesday 5th November 2003, I received some really upsetting family news. I'm not going to go into it here, it isn't the place but it was the worst kind of news you can get. Numbness followed. I was in two minds as to whether I should go to the gig at all but I am so glad I did. Tom made me feel something, deep. I really was in an emotionally devoid place at the time following that news. It's fair to say I did end up drinking quite a bit towards the end of the night too but I can remember it all very clearly. Even though now nine huge fat years have since passed. Having not long released his second album, Just Like Blood, my friend and I lapped up what that and his self-titled debut offered. I have been a huge fan ever since.
As I mentioned, I've now seen Tom six times in total, soon to be seventh with the forthcoming solo tour he's doing in support of his latest album From The Lowlands. Being his sixth studio album, it forms the second part of the Alphabet of Hurricanes album (released 2010). It had always been envisaged as a two part album and the second part should have been out much sooner but Tom split with his then record company so things didn't exactly go to plan. It was touch and go as to whether these songs would make it out on the part two component but as a lifetime fan (I think I can kind of claim that now?), I am so happy they have. I will not get into my review mode here - I have far too many actual reviews to be getting on with, but I would of course love to review it soon as I get chance - but it is amazing! Of course I'm going to say that as a very biased fan of the man. Check it out for yourself. Better still, get yourself to one of the gigs he's doing in October/November. Live he is just astounding. It's why I return time and time again. Not even a hurricane could keep me away, I tell thee!
I did write a few pieces about Tom earlier this year which you can check out on the blog. I must check myself now or I'll go on writing about him for the remainder of this post. It would turn into the 'Tom Mcrae Special'. Don't think I wouldn't, either. The videos are two (of so very many) I took from the last gig I went to in 2011 when he was accompanied by a four string quartet. Just see for yourself! If you'd like to you can follow Tom on Twitter @tommcrae.
I'll keep it brief for the moment as I'll be covering more on this Oxford-based band with the release of their second album. First to mention is yes, they are another of those Oxford bands. Even though it is my conclusion Oxford is like Seattle is in the US for such bands, most of the guys in them do not have the beard thing going on. Perhaps this is just a UK band thing and the beards are for the US ones only? Who knows? That said, lead singer of Clock Opera (who hail from Oxford), Guy Connelly sports what has to be one of the most fantabulous beards I have ever seen. I want one. In fact, as I am off to see Band of Horses in November I have kind of started growing my own. I'll most likely end up looking like a hobo, however (hey, slaps for whoever said I already do anyway). I don't have any release dates for Stornoway's second offering just yet but I will of course share this information should I receive it. Beachcomber's Windowsill is well worth your attention and as promised on the podcast I've included a couple of videos from live gigs. One of these is the outstanding November Song played at Beautiful Days in 2010. The second is a clip of End of the Movies at the Concert for Conservation in Oxford last September. The band performed with a four string quartet at this gig, which sounded awesome. Please do excuse my shoddy camera work. I am no cameraman. I'm still working on getting a new better quality camera so hopefully future footage and pictures will be of a more publishable standard.
It is easy to understand why BBC Oxford Introducing presenter Tim Bearder was suspended from work after barricading himself in the studio and playing an hour of Stornoway songs from the demo EP The Early Adventures of Stornoway. Fair play to Tim for getting behind a local band in such a way! He is to be commended not suspended! I'm really excited about the follow up to the debut album so I will keep you posted about it.
It is easy to understand why BBC Oxford Introducing presenter Tim Bearder was suspended from work after barricading himself in the studio and playing an hour of Stornoway songs from the demo EP The Early Adventures of Stornoway. Fair play to Tim for getting behind a local band in such a way! He is to be commended not suspended! I'm really excited about the follow up to the debut album so I will keep you posted about it.
Laurence Fox
I featured Laurence in a previous blogcast and just wanted to include the set he currently has up on his Soundcloud page. Do make the most of these tunes because as he is heading into the studio to record them properly I don't believe they will be available for too much longer. I read via his Twitter page a few months ago that Laurence was featured on a BBC Introducing show. Am I able to find a link? No. I'll update it here should I track it down at some point.
Lera Lynn
If you head to her website you can bag yourself a free download of two songs. One of which is an atmospheric version of Jonny Cash's Ring of Fire.
Blair Dunlop
Aside from sharing the same birthday (although not the same year, sadly) that's where the similarities between myself and Blair Dunlop end. He is one talented young chap and so far the only person to have depicted actor Jonny Depp as a child (in Tim Burton's Charlie & the Chocolate Factory). In order to concentrate on the music, Blair has left the acting world behind but I'm sure if he wishes to return to it he will continue having the kinds of success he is having as a musician. Debut solo album, Blight and Blossom is released on 3rd October and you can pre-order it by visiting the link >>here<<. In addition to Threads below, there are a number of samples of other tracks up on Blair's website, that will be on the album.
He doesn't just have his own album coming out next month, oh no. In true prolific style, Blair is also now in charge of The Albion Band. He took over the job from his father, Ashley Hutchings and joins a wave of new recruits. It's kind of like The Albion Band: The Next Generation. They recently released their first album (as the new line-up), The Vice of the People. Perhaps this is why I struggle to locate my own musical talent. There are too many folk out there who are using up all the available talent and skill. I jest, of course. I must crack on with learning a few chords although I honestly won't share anything with you as all the top music I feature and cover would completely put me to shame. By the way, I think he looks strikingly like the actor who plays Jeremy in The Vampire Diaries. Although on the album cover there's a resemblance to Brett from Flight of the Conchords. Just needed to share that information.
Shearwater
When seeing Shearwater earlier this year in Brighton I wasn't aware they would be returning for yet another European tour later in the year. And so now the race is on to try and fit their gig at The Garage in London into my heavy gig attending schedule. It is on a Saturday so providing I can sort out some cost-busting advanced train tickets I may well get to see this awesome US indie-folk-rock band twice this year. That's right, indie, folk and rock were used there. It sums them up pretty well but out of all the bands I discovered around that time (2007/2008), they're the one who have really stuck with me. There is a unique and distinct sound and quality to them and their work. The first album I heard, Rook remains my favourite but that isn't to say I don't rate the others. The latest, Animal Joy was released this year. Lead vocalist Jonathan Meiburg joked how he'd left the banjo behind for this tour as they were being mistaken for a solely folk band. He has no issues with that of course but it just isn't the case as they manage to cross a number of genres.
Syd Arthur
Yet another band who's debut album I received to review (review >>here<<). On an On from Syd Arthur was a real treat because with it, the band have managed to create something epic. It swept me up and took me on a roller coaster ride back in time to the late 60's then on through all the best progressive psychedelic music the 70's had to offer. It is no mere imitation of that music, however. It has a contemporary feel and the experimentation with all the sounds they have at their disposal is beyond words. Paradise Lost reminds me very much of what one of the great Led Zeppelin tunes might have been but again it is new and distinct to Syd Arthur. There's a free track on offer you can download at their website and they have a bunch of dates lined up which you can also check out at the website. I'm going to aim to get to the one in Leicester on 6th November if I can.
HANG ON JUST ONE SECOND. IT DOESN'T END THERE!
Indeed, you are not yet free to escape as I have so much more music on offer below. I did say last time that I would attempt to make this a shorter blogcast than the last but you should know me better by now. I wasn't made for brevity. I'm surprised how I managed to limit myself to the 10,000 words for my dissertaion. The only thing that stopped me going over was the potential for being marked down considerably. I thought it a bit of a cheek placing such a restriction on it though, with how windbaggy some of those Philosophers can be. Brevity is for short attention spans anyway and something I am learning to do with my album reviews. I have the skill covered there then so I can go on and on for as long as I like here. Perhaps not as long as I like or I'll still be here writing it up at Christmas.
I must share the excitement I felt when I saw one particular email drop into my inbox last week. Win A VW Camper Van would perk you up wouldn't it? Until reading the entirety of the sentence. Win A VW Camper Van tent. I think I'll leave it, thanks all the same. While it may dupe some unsuspecting and very drunken festival goers, I don't think it would carry much weight driving up the motorway (interstate). Not unless The Flinstones really were on to something with their Yabbadabbadoooo kick their feet as much as possible to start their vehicles and go manoeuvre. There's a thing. The carbon footprint would be non-existent.
A Bit of PR & R.
Firstly, a few courtesy of those wonderful peeps at Prescription PR who I thank for sending me so much stuff to cover. I honestly wish I could do more and at a much quicker pace but alas, it is just myself. I have tried getting the cat to help out but she just meows at me grumpily while giving one of her actually quite terrifying evil stares before plodding off lest she get a big warm hug.
Menomena
This is a band with a real story. Just listen to the first single from their latest album, Moms. Astounding stuff. Not cheery, no. Cheery is boring! With an opening line like, 'Heavy are the branches, hanging from my fucked up family tree,' this is real grab hold of your heart, pull it up out of your chest through your mouth after resting as a real lump in your throat, kind of stuff. The sheer amount of sounds that the tune picks up build it to colossal heights.
Such a heavy mix is only to be expected from a band who's last album was released with an 80-page hand-designed flipbook. Creativity is in great abundance with these guys, then. Not only this, but to celebrate the release of that debut, Friend and Foe, Justin Harris assembled a 25 member choir, teaching them the various vocal layers with the help of his trained opera-singer mother. I imagine that would have been one mighty mission. What a goosebump inducing performance that must have been!
This follow up album, Moms, offers a deeply personal glance into the souls of the two remaining band members, Justin and Danny Seim. For me, as I've mentioned time and time again, this kind of 'lay your soul as bare as you possibly can', usually makes the best kind of music. Even when no lyrics may be involved. It is probably the main reason most musicians want to share their work. Those of us who can't write down lyrics to our own woes or are not able to generate a hook laden melody to express some emotional turmoil can, and do, take a huge amount of solace from the music of the bands we like.The two guys are a contrast in terms of their actual moms. Danny's mother died when he was 17 years old whereas Justin's dad walked out on their family when he was very young. Justin has had and still does have his mom play an active role in his life. So, while it is as much about the moms of the title, the corresponding relationships they have with their fathers, was also a major influence in the writing of some of their songs.
Sadly, I've not been able to listen to the entire album yet or I would have offered a mini review of the whole. If I can rectify the situation I will try and get out a review before the release date. Moms is released on 8th October on Barsuk Records. Their European tour kicks off at the end of November so why not get yourself along to a gig near you?
Menomena UK & European Tour Dates:
11/23/12 Glasgow at Captain's Rest
11/24/12 Leeds at Brudenell Social Club
11/26/12 London at Cargo
11/28/12 Paris at Point Ephemere
11/29/12 Strasbourg at Laiterie
11/30/12 Munich at Atomic Cafe
12/01/12 Berlin at Postbahnhof
12/03/12 Hamburg at Uebel & Gehahrlich
12/04/12 Koln at Gebaude 9
12/05/12 Amsterdam at Paradiso
12/06/12 Brussels at Botanique Buy tickets
12/08/12 Camber Sands, UK at ATP Festival (SOLD OUT)
Melinda Ortner
I shall be whizzing away at my laptop to get a review of Melinda's EP up online ASAP following this blogcast. That is, as soon as I have finished off The Emperors of Wyoming, which I do almost have completed. Therefore please see the press release below for the Strangers EP and my own words will follow soon. With a view to reviewing (it sounds a bit of a muddle saying that out loud) I have had a good few listens to Strangers and must admit while it isn't really what I'd usually say is 'my kind of thing', Melinda has totally sold it to me with this offering.
MTV’s “Steal The Spotlight” Grand Prize Winner
LA Music Award Nominee, Best Song
“Top 15 Songwriters Of The Year” for ASCAP’s Johnny Mercer Project
Melinda Ortner was born
and raised in California ,
and for the past five years she’s been based in LA, launching her music career. Her
first single Heartbeats was originally written for the US
movie I Hate Valentine’s Day. She also penned tracks for the Finnish
movie Gone With The River – her track of the same name made it
into Billboard Top 100 in Finland, while Heartbeats was
instead chosen for the major film ‘American Pie: Book of Love’ which
really introduced Melinda to a vast audience. Since then it’s had more than 40
000 views on youtube, been aired on several US
radio stations, was regularly featured on MTV2, Showtime, HBO , USA
The four tracks comprising the EP
elegantly range from the dark title track to the incredibly catchy Sweet
Little Lies. Like the forthcoming full length album (pencilled for
December 2012) it mirrors a great songwriter with the ability to do exactly
this, without ever losing track of the story she is telling; the story of
Melinda Ortner, the dream she wants so bad and the years of hard work put into
reaching it. Her lyrics are refreshingly honest and forthcoming, and her songs
are written with great care, with an eye for the details as well as larger
picture. Melinda uses the piano as her main tool of composing, but also brings
in percussion, electronic/acoustic guitar, bass, effect
pedals and cello when in the studio with producer and co-writer Asaf
Rodeh.
The Mouth of Ghosts
This time thanks goes to Kimberly at Never Enough Press, another PR company sending me heaps of new music to check out and for which I am incredibly grateful.
The Mouth of Ghosts are another band recently signed up to the independent record label, Red Dragon Records, who are going from strength to strength. The band are set to release their single 'When the Sun Sets' on 29th October having already received some worthy praise from BBC Radio 6, as well as from a number of other radio stations.
"When the Sun
Sets is effortless, ethereal, and gorgeous. Soaring, sensuous vocals set in a
shimmering widescreen production underpinned by an irresistible groove and the
best bass-playing I've heard all year. Deservedly picked as a Fresh Fave by
readers on our blog recently." Tom Robinson, BBC6 Music
A London-based quintet, it is fair to say their formation has been a work in progress, of sorts. The same beautiful quality was no doubt there in the beginning with founding members Simon Langford and Marco Italia who added Alla Seydalieva, to make a trio. Drummer Phil Page hopped on their music bus late last year before it picked up Valerie Deniz in March to complete the line-up.
Ahead of the single release, the band have a number of dates around the London area and are planning to follow it up with something not too long after. It is clear to me that they are going to grab people's attention with When the Sun Sets, so I look forward to what comes after it. Tom at BBC Radio 6 hit the spot with his description above. There's a real ethereal sound interwoven about the alternative rock and the vocals are, quite simply put, stunning! When a band can build up such an atmosphere it is a very good sign for their future.
Live Dates:
Tue Oct 09, The City Showcase @ 93 Feet East, London
Mon Oct 15, Featured Artist Slot @ Vibe Bar, London
Fri Oct 26, 'When The Sun Sets' single launch party, Mother Live, London
Sat Oct 27, Oxjam, Shepherd's Bar, London
Sat Nov 03, The Workshop, London
Lillian Todd-Jones
Citing Bob Dylan, Douglas Adams, Philip Pullman and Rudyard Kipling, as some of her influences, I will not deny it was this which enticed me to check out more closely what Lillian Todd-Jones has to offer. Twenty three years old and from Dartmoor, I am already jealous of the youth and hometown. It's a good jealous, though. In what has been a promising start for the fire dancer, she has been recording songs in London with Gordon Mills Jr (Ed Sheeran, Newton Faulkner).
The video for Butter Soul is both striking and engaging. I was only stating a few days ago how I'm never really that bothered about story-themed videos but I will admit this one captivated me.Clearly the result of some pretty damn impressive creative and artistic skills that go way beyond just the music. Filmed by director Garry Wood, the set was a dilapidated mansion. It comes to vivid life via an array of stunningly shot clips. All seem to lead back to an ethereal-looking Lillian tied to a fallen over chair. Perhaps there's a tortured element to that Butter Soul? Assistance was provided by Hollywood creature designer Todd Amos. It definitely has a WOW factor and confirms Lillian Todd-Jones not only has a myriad of layers but she also has infinite dimensions. A quick glance at her website proves this even more so. A Douglas Adams quote hits you first. Class! Take a look >>here<<.
COME HITHER, THERE'S MORE...
Tom Forbes
A couple of podcasts ago (#6 to be precise - I do know there are folk out there who cannot live without precision) I played a song from Kid Conventional. His songs are an inspiration and belie his young age. There are a lot of young guys and girls capable of writing some of the most deep and emotionally charged lyrics these days. Not just these days, no doubt. Anywho, he is playing in support of Tom Forbes at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on 24th October. It is not a gig you should miss, if you're a Birminghamonian (is that what we're called?).
Tom is himself very young to be offering up tunes that sound like they're from someone much more, well-seasoned, shall I say. If this is what the lad is producing now, he should be very excited because he has an amazing and bright future ahead of him. It's always a pleasure to help with promoting homegrown talent and as Tom is from the Midlands (UK), you can expect to be hearing more of and about him in the future. There are a host of links where you can listen to, watch more and keep up to date.
>>YOUTUBE<< >>FACEBOOK<< >>REVERBNATION<< >>MYSPACE<<
>>YOUTUBE<< >>FACEBOOK<< >>REVERBNATION<< >>MYSPACE<<
This headline gig at the O2 Academy 3 demonstrates the progress Tom has made and the quality of the set he can offer. Please get along and support him and the other acts on the bill. You can send a message to Tom at his FACEBOOK PAGE requesting tickets, which are a fantastically affordable £6. Any of you out there who are students in Birmingham, please get along and show your support.
Sigur Ros
The Icelandic band Sigur Ros are touring. Yey! I even got a chance to get tickets early as part of their fan pre-sale. Except that as with the likes of Mumford and Sons not even three different methods of trying to get tickets were successful. Sad times. Not only that, with us approaching the middle of the month already (yes that TIME features again, how is it almost the middle of the month? It was just like August??!) I'm unlikely to be able to even afford tickets now they are on general sale. Bad times. I'm so in need of seeing these guys! They're another act I've been following for quite a while. I think it was way back in 1999 when I first heard Sven-G-Englar from the album Agaetis Byrjun (ordinarily I would type it correctly complete with all the accents in the right place, but with my current technical issues I'm already running very late). The whole album enchanted me and had me transfixed. Due to such incredible demand a third London date has been added for March 2013. I'm hoping and preying there will be tickets left come payday. If not, I may have to sneak myself in somehow. Any ideas or suggestions? Email me at bandofbadgers@hotmail.co.uk
Fatea Showcases
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest Showcase session - Pathways - Autumn 12. It is available for download now but only for a limited time. After that it will be available no more as a newer session will take its place. As ever, the playlist features a host of great emerging talent with music that really does span the genres. Therefore there is likely to be something for everyone, another reason it is well worth checking out.
Get your FREE download by clicking >>here<<. This current session will be available up until 31st October so don't delay, download it today! You see, I have to get all rhymey if you won't go and grab this for your collection, right NOW.
Frightened Rabbit
This Scottish indie-rock band were absolutely sensational at Truck Festival back in July where they closed the second stage on the Saturday night. Well worthy of closing the main stage, I think pretty much everyone in attendance descended on the smaller tent to catch their set. You can read my review of that via Part 2 of my Truck Festival Review but do check out the latest song being sampled at their Soundcloud page. It is taken from the forthcoming EP, State Hospital which is released on 24th September. You can pre-order it by following the links either at the band's website or via Soundcloud. With a full album due for release early next year too the rabbits have been busy and the reason for the EP is to air those songs that didn't make the cut for the album but which still need to be shared. Unable to make it to any dates on their recent/current tour (nowhere near enough, sadly) I'm satisfied that I at least got to see them perform. I will be eyeing up tickets for next year, however.
Sigur Ros
The Icelandic band Sigur Ros are touring. Yey! I even got a chance to get tickets early as part of their fan pre-sale. Except that as with the likes of Mumford and Sons not even three different methods of trying to get tickets were successful. Sad times. Not only that, with us approaching the middle of the month already (yes that TIME features again, how is it almost the middle of the month? It was just like August??!) I'm unlikely to be able to even afford tickets now they are on general sale. Bad times. I'm so in need of seeing these guys! They're another act I've been following for quite a while. I think it was way back in 1999 when I first heard Sven-G-Englar from the album Agaetis Byrjun (ordinarily I would type it correctly complete with all the accents in the right place, but with my current technical issues I'm already running very late). The whole album enchanted me and had me transfixed. Due to such incredible demand a third London date has been added for March 2013. I'm hoping and preying there will be tickets left come payday. If not, I may have to sneak myself in somehow. Any ideas or suggestions? Email me at bandofbadgers@hotmail.co.ukFatea Showcases
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest Showcase session - Pathways - Autumn 12. It is available for download now but only for a limited time. After that it will be available no more as a newer session will take its place. As ever, the playlist features a host of great emerging talent with music that really does span the genres. Therefore there is likely to be something for everyone, another reason it is well worth checking out.Get your FREE download by clicking >>here<<. This current session will be available up until 31st October so don't delay, download it today! You see, I have to get all rhymey if you won't go and grab this for your collection, right NOW.
Frightened Rabbit
This Scottish indie-rock band were absolutely sensational at Truck Festival back in July where they closed the second stage on the Saturday night. Well worthy of closing the main stage, I think pretty much everyone in attendance descended on the smaller tent to catch their set. You can read my review of that via Part 2 of my Truck Festival Review but do check out the latest song being sampled at their Soundcloud page. It is taken from the forthcoming EP, State Hospital which is released on 24th September. You can pre-order it by following the links either at the band's website or via Soundcloud. With a full album due for release early next year too the rabbits have been busy and the reason for the EP is to air those songs that didn't make the cut for the album but which still need to be shared. Unable to make it to any dates on their recent/current tour (nowhere near enough, sadly) I'm satisfied that I at least got to see them perform. I will be eyeing up tickets for next year, however.
Bands of the Moment......in brief.....
The Scholars
Gearing up for the release of their first brand new single, Wired on the 8th October, the guys are supporting GUN at the Oxford O2 Academy Sunday 16th September (Yes, that is this very night so get down and show your support for this amazing band - at the rate it has taken me to get this blogcast done you'll have to hurry down there - read this later, get going). They will rock, I am certain of it and I look forward to getting to a gig ASAP. There should be a few on the go closer to or shortly after the release of Wired and a video is in the process of being sorted for the song as well.
I've been listening to the five new tunes again over the last few days and I'm always glad when they (as well as the older songs) pop up on my iPod shuffle. I am a self-confessed fan of the band but the quality they exude speaks for itself. I'll be playing Wired on the next Podcast and there will be an interview as part of that blogcast as well. The video is This Heart's Built To Break, a song I played a couple of shows ago. The song is a FREE download so if you don't have it yet, get on it! Click >>here<<.
Lightfire
They also recently got their song Ignorance featured on Emerging Icons at Absolute Radio on the Sunday Night Music Club. Have a read of an interview band frontman Scott Sieradzki did for this >>here<< where in addition to learning a bit more about the band, you will gain insight into the Lightfire Man Championship.
Pawns or Kings
Sadly, Pawns or Kings have been unable to release their EP, Pomme de Terre as originally planned due to computer problems. I feel for them as when my iPod Classic passed over into Silicon Heaven I was distraught. It was 80GB, which may be relatively small given the storage these days but I had more or less filled it completely with music. No, it was not all backed up thanks to me not having purchased an external HDD. Experiencing computer problems at present I will be backing up my last year's worth of data over the coming days.
This is the third time I've featured Pawns or Kings but they are going nowhere as I'll be playing a song from them on the next show. They are soon to return to the studio to get back to work on Pomme de Terre too.
And Finally....no really, finally....
I couldn't go without listing some of the latest music to enter into my earshot thanks to either bands themselves or to Twitter friends like Danny Burns, who will himself be featuring on the next podcast with his song Cocaine Avenue, below. An awesome song, which I'll talk more about on the next podcast.
I'll be featuring these bands and playing songs from them in future podcasts so contrary to my nature I'll keep this brief.Gun Club Cemetery - visit: http://www.reverbnation.com/gunclubcemetery
Echo Raptors - visit: http://soundcloud.com/echoraptors
And thanks to Tracy@OrderofVoices for these gems.
Order of Voices - visit: http://www.orderofvoices.com/
The Fireflys - visit: http://www.thefireflys.co.uk/
That is tragically brief I know and given how much I'm loving the sounds of these bands it doesn't do them any justice. Still, I couldn't not mention them and like I say, they will be featuring in due course.
Unfortunately there was heaps more I wanted to include but I fear if I embed any more code on to this particular page it will never load. Or worse still, it might even crash the whole interweb (perhaps that is a slight over exageration). With ongoing technical problems (I hope I've not mentioned that as many times as it feels like), it has taken me more or less the entire weekend to get this written up, processed and online. Therefore as delayed as I was with all the reviews I'm writing, I am now more than another day behind. Forgive me.
Until next time, enjoy what's here (I hope) and peace to you all.
As always my thanks to Mark Blasco at podcastthemes for the intro theme tune.
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