This New Record Is Literally Quite Good

Zoey Van Goey: Two White Ghosts (Left In The Dark, 2009)
I've actually got five minutes to listen to some records today - although, to be fair, I'd rather be walking round the park eating an ice-cream. This little gem fell into my lap quite quickly. ZVG are, literally, indie-pop, which means, by law, they have to have at least one song about Japan. But that's OK, because this is actually quite a good one. I like it, anyway. The very name itself might make you want to throw yourself out of a window. But what can I do? Oh yes, and this is good too. The CD - The Cage Was Unlocked All Along - doesn't appear to exist on the internet yet, but it will soon. I promise!

This New Record Is Literally Quite Good

Jeniferever: Lives Apart (Monotreme Records, 2009)
Relax girls, they're married. Maybe. Anyway, Jeniferever are from the heaving metropolis of Uppsala in Sweden and they make music that makes your brain feel nice. This is from their new album (which is good too). This is the stuff, eh?

New Music Friday: Double Edition

DM Stith: Morning Glory Cloud (Asthmatic Kitty, 2009)
DM is an interesting fellow for sure. His official record company biography notes that, "his father is a college wind ensemble director and former church choir director; his grandfather is professor emeritus in the music department at Cornell University; his mother is a pianist; his sisters sing opera, play piano, tap dance, play timpani and are excellent soft ball players." I hope that at least some of that is made up. Lies do decorate the truth so, don't they? Anyway, this is a fantastic track from his album (that doesn't exist on the for sale part of the internet yet, but this is good to be going on with). Try it, you'll like it (probably).

Chase & Status feat. Kano: Against All Odds (Ram Records, 2009)
I'd like to first say that I'm thrilled Drum and Bass artists still do photos like this. I'd assumed that era was over - but no! Also, when I first heard this I nearly fell over with both surprise and delight. Surprise because I didn't think people made records like this anymore, then delight because, oh yes, they do! I'm not entirely convinced about the amazingness of the four-to-the-floor middle-eight, but then, I'm not "off" my "chump' at some rave-o-drome, am I? So, literally, what do I know? Anyway, it goes back into the breakbeat after a while, so who's counting? More of this sort of thing here.

This New Record Is Literally Quite Good

The Monocult: A Sign (Pink Liquid, 2008)
This is a record has a boring sleeve. But the music is fantastic. Like, really quite surprisingly fantastic. I had moved The Monocult's record (quietly) to the Not Today pile (I blame the boring sleeve), then got a call asking me give it a listen. Thank you caller. No, really, thank you, as I have now played the damnable thing about twelve times and it has received the office accolade of being known as "The Single Greatest Record Ever Made", a title previously bestowed on the last Burial album and Tony Lamezma's remix of Biology - so it's in exalted company. Anyhoo, A Sign makes me think of Talk Talk and Pentangle and the Amplive mixes of Radiohead and, frankly, that's goood enough for me. The album - Maybe We Should - doesn't exist on the internet yet, so if you like this anything as much as I do, why don't you email them and ask them where you can buy it? Or send them links to filthy websites. Your choice, innit.

New Music Friday

Extrawelt: Homing (Cocoon Recordings, 2008)
I get sent a lot of electronic music, most of which I try to listen to and a lot of which just leaves me a bit, ahem, cold. I've done my time in the electronic dungeon and, to be honest, I'm quite happy up here with the beard-wearers these days, but this is a bit good. Extrawelt are two blokes from Germany and their record is, literally, quite nice. This track is even more than quite nice tho', it makes me want to stand in a dark room, very late at night, feeling tremendously woozy and I don't often get that feeling anymore. Thank you Extra chaps.

Hello Old Thing, Hello New Thing: 37

Gilberto Gil: Procissão (Phillips, 1968)
There aren't many people who could argue that, as an entire package, they're a lot cooler than Gilberto Gil. A long-term musical and political activist, his late 60's work was thought of as so inflammatory that it got him thrown in prison by Brazil's then military government. He was, until recently the country's Minister For Culture. That's progress, right? Anyhoo, this absolute belter of psychedelic, tropicalian, sambatic loveliness was originally to be found here, but it's now here for a very reasonable price. Stuffed full of uh-mazing choons too...


Hollowbody: Chains (Sleeping Horse, 2008)
I opened my post this morning and there was a hand-written postcard from this chap Dan Weltman who records as Hollowbody. Now, I'm a complete sucker when it comes to hand-written notes, so I whacked this straight on and, oh dear, it's really, really good. Weltman has a fantastically easy sort of voice, like he's not hugely bothered if you're listening or not, and he swings in and around the tune with a real charm. He plays that guitar nicely too. So, a good package then. Thanks for the CD Dan. Good luck with it all...

Hello Old Thing, Hello New Thing: 30

Sir Charles Thompson: Mister Boogie (Columbia, 1961)
I don't think that Thompson really was a Sir, but if he wasn't he should have been, if only for his services to making the world a slightly warmer and happier place. Until I heard this I'm pretty sure I was completely unaware of proto-lounge-core boogie-woogie, but now I have I feel like my life has changed for the better. In my dreams this is the music that plays when I walk into pubs. Everywhere you look, people are smoking and smiling and drinking champagne from walloping great saucers. What a world that would be...


Late Of The Pier: Space And The Woods (Parlophone, 2008)
BISH, BOSH, BISH, BOSH, WOO-HOO! ectetc. I played this for the first time yesterday and I couldn't quite believe how many great late 70s moments there were in it. I'm not a huge fan of that sort of thing really, but this has been done very well. What's more interesting is they appear to be from Castle Donnington, which makes them nearly neighbours of Silvana. Nearly, I said...

New Music Friday: Steve Pilgrim

Steve Pilgrim: Lover, Love Her (Demo, 2008)
Steve Pilgrim is from Liverpool and he not only plays the guitar rather nicely, but he sings real good too. I don't know much about him tbh, but there's all sorts of stuff out there if you look. This came from my friend Mike and, in case you're wondering if this is some awful plant, it isn't. I didn't like the last thing he sent me and told him so TO HIS FACE. Steve's not signed yet, but I sort of think he will be soon (so does Mike) and then you'll have to pay for his records. So, until then, happy sharing!

Hang On, This Record Is A Bit Good...

The Accidental: Illuminated Red (Full Time Hobby, 2008)
Full disclosure: Stephen from The Accidental (that's him top right trying to escape) is a friend of mine. He is also a member of the wonderful Memory Band. Anyhow, none of that matters much really, all that's important is that Illuminted Red is a meditative doozy of a tune, a veritable toe-tapper, a softly-softly, midnight-blue folk-pop treatise on the magic of, well, life itself. "Imagine if each word we say was collected in a bag," they whisper. That's quite a thought, isn't it? In my case it would have to be a really big bag with lots of room for more words. Their very, very good album is out towards the end of April and I particularly like the track, Slice Open The Day. If you are the sort of person who likes staring out the window contemplating something hugely important, you will too.