I’ve never really been able to make my mind up on The King Blues, they often sound too simple, juvenile and lacking the lyrical panache when dealing with political and social issues to be taken serious. However, I loved their cover of ‘New England’ and I’m quite taken by new single ‘Headbutt’. There’s a touch of Jamie T about it and it’s nice and easy on the ear, so can’t really ask for more than that.
You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcodeDATE ARCHIVES : May 2010
Holy Fuck – Latin
Holy Fuck’s latest album has received plenty of attention from bloggers and reviewers alike and as it’s probably been done to death I will keep it short and to the point. 
Canadian’s Holy Fuck continue to carve out a unique and identifiable niche for themselves, making brilliant electro without the safety net of loops, laptops or programmed backing tracks, meaning their sound is like nothing else around. Latin is tighter, leaner and funkier than any of its predecessors, most likely due to the consistency of the lineup affecting the band’s sound. Although this new-found cohesion sees the demise of the air of spontaneity which previously made them so gripping, we’ve been largely compensated by a great album with superb and intricate instrumentation and arrangements, it’s a small price to pay perhaps but certainly worth it.
This is a must have album for 2010, no excuses.
Introducing: Yuck
London outfit Yuck have only been together a relatively short time, forming towards the end of last year but have already begun to make an impression on people, including here. While it’s only early days as was mentioned, credit where credit’s due, there is a whole lotta potential here. While it could be seen simply as an omage to the past, a nod to greatly underappreciated indie garage music of the 80’s/90’s like The Flaming Stars, as their sound is greatly remincint of such artists.
It’s pleasant and inoffensive on the ear, as far from yuck as their name suggests as you could get, nicely crafted lo-fi wistful stuff with haunting deadpan vocals, we salute you.
Breithlá Playlist
Right muchachos time for some reflection of sorts.
So I’ve kept up this blogging malarkey for over two months now and I’m enjoying sharing my musical (and other) views and discoveries with you all. Traffic to the blog has been growing steadily and I would like to thank you all for continuing to listen to my ramblings. I’ve been thinking of ways to make the blog better, hopefully I will get around to implementing these ideas. Consequently if any graphic designers would like to help me come up with a blog banner/logo I’d be forever indebted. Oh suggestions are always welcome on how to improve things.
As it’s my birthday I had hoped to knock a mix of some sort together but I never really got a chance, after mulling over the possibilities I decided to post some good cover versions instead. Semi-inspired by listening to LCD Soundsystem’s Joy Division cover comes The National, The King Blues, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Hot Rats, Babyshambles (& Friends) and The Kooks take on some classics. Personally speaking, it’s a good selection of covers doing justice and giving a new lease of life to the originals.
That’s not all, there’s two of my favourite songs, Gang of Four’s ‘Armalite Rifle’ (Riot Dog would be proud)and HMHB’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is a Dukkla Prague Away Kit’.
Slán
Mp3: The National – Pretty in Pink (Psychedelic Furs Cover)
Mp3: The Hot Rats – Drive My Car (The Beatles Cover)
Mp3: The King Blues – A New England (Billy Bragg Cover)
Mp3: The Kooks – Victoria (The Kinks Cover)
Mp3: Echo & The Bunnymen – Ticket to Ride (The Beatles Cover)
Mp3: Babyshambles – Janie Jones (The Clash Cover)
Mp3: Gang of Four – Armalite Rifle
Mp3: Half Man Half Biscuit – All I Want for Christmas is a Dukkla Prague Away Kit
Double Dagger ‘No Allies’ & Irish Date
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Baltimore trio, Double Dagger have just dropped a new video for ‘No Allies’ to celebrate their Ireland & UK tour. The DIY garage rock kings have been firm favourites around these parts since releasing EP, Masks. If like me you’re hoping to catch these guys live, they play Dublin’s Whelan’s (upstairs) on Wednesday 19th May.
Playlist #7
BANG! The lazylist of tracks for the week returns for your aural pleasure.
There’s lots of electro on offer this week with a distinct Irish flavour. The Japanese Popstars drop a track from the deluxe version of We Just Are and there’s some splendid, plucky electronica from Nouveaunoise who will release a debut album this year. One of the busiest remixers at the moment, Toddla T, pops up once again with another fantastic remix, this time Major Lazor is the willing victim. Speaking of remixes, Tiga has come up with an absolute belter reworking Boys Noize ‘Transmission’.
The jury is still out on Jack White’s latest furore The Dead Weather but ‘Die by the Drop’, taken from their new album is pretty tasty, as is LCD Soundsystem’s cover of Joy Division. Not many bands would have the bottle let alone the capabilities to do this justice but thankfully they can.
Mp3: The Dead Weather – Die By The Drop
Mp3: Major Lazor – Hear The Bassline (Toddla T Remix feat. Serocee and Mr Versatile)
Mp3: Boys Noize – Transmission (Tiga Remix)
Humanzi ‘Kingdom of Ghosts’
Another overdue look at a deserving album, this time from Dublin’s Humanzi which follows in the same vein as BRMC & Audio Bullys receiving some well-earned kudos.
Humanzi returned earlier in the year with their second album Kingdom of Ghosts. It’s an album many probably thought they would never make following the low sales of debut Tremors despite big support slots, massive advertising and marketing campaign and a somewhat unfair critical backlash. Four years on, following decamping to Berlin, they have strode back triumphantly to our green and not so pleasant land with a darker more resolute album, aided in no small way perhaps by recording in an disused DDR radio station, in the very room where the East German National Anthem was originally recorded, and broadcast from. There is no seismic shift in sound, the dark and sleazy rock n roll influences of past remain, it’s the delivery, songwriting and importantly the production which hampered their debut that has greatly improved.
While many another band would have crumbled under the largely unfair critical backlash of their debut, thankfully Humanzi are made of tougher, more resolute stuff than that, returning with a bellowing, dark angry album for dark angry post Celtic Tiger Ireland.
You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcodeHumanzi – Hammer
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ‘A Reprieve’
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were one of those bands which broke through in the last decade helping ‘save’ rock n roll from the doldrums of the Coldplay & David Gray types, however their latest album seems to have really rubbed critics the wrong way. For the most part Beat The Devil’s Tattoo has been slated, this post hopes to re-dress the balance somewhat.
Granted, there’s no new ground being broken here and lyrically it can be a little lacklustre, but, did they ever really break barriers? BRMC have found something they’re good at and are sticking with it; dirty, attitude filled, distorted riff laden rock n roll with flashes of blues, folk and psychedelia influences. This isn’t ever going to be regarded as a seminal album by any stretch of the imagination but if you’re looking for straight up rock n roll, look no further than BRMC. No need to throw out that leather jacket and sunglasses just yet.
Mp3: B.R.M.C. – Beat The Devil’s Tattoo
New: The Coral – Butterfly House
The Coral have been reasonably quiet by their standards in recent times but they have just released a taster from their forthcoming 5th studio album, Butterfly House. The album to be released on 12th July was produced by John Leckie, of The Stone Roses and Radiohead fame and recorded at RAK studios in London as well as Rockfield in South Wales.
‘Butterfly House’ is pretty typical of what we’ve come to expect from the Merseyside psychedelics if a touch rockier towards the end; lots of sumptuous hooks, intricate arrangements and lush melodies, topped off by Skelly’s rich and distinctive vocals. Top Stuff!
You can download ‘Butterfly House’ free from The Coral website
The Coral play this years Oxegen Festival, Punchestown, Co. Kildare on 9th July
London Calling?
This is the first of many features from Ben hopefully, highlighting some bands doing their thing in and around London which most of us would otherwise miss – so without further ado I hand you over to the capable hands of Ben.
When Barry asked my to write about bands in London, I spent ages trying to think what bands would represent some sort of London scene. The thing is, there is no one ‘scene’ as such. There’s a million bands ripping off Arctic Monkeys or Bloc Party, but for the interesting stuff you have to choose your own little niche.
Krautrock has been getting slowly trendier over the last few years, but it seems to be getting a lot of attention at the moment (I saw a Krautrock section in HMV the other day) and London has a great scene of bands mining the sound.
Now mix poptastic tunes, shared boy/girl vocal, Can/NEU!-esq improv drone, and a healthy dose of LCD/Talking Heads grooves. They gig religiously, and I’m pretty sure they’ve had a different line up every time I’ve seen them, regularly adding extra drummers or percussionists or even a horn section. Lead singer Justin once told me he prefers people to play an instrument they don’t know how to play. I like that. Now play Electric Sound Club on 17 May 2010.
You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcodeMp3: Now – Two of The Beatles have Died
Eat Light Become Lights are getting a good bit of buzz around them at the moment. They’re busy working on a new album which I’m looking forward to. They bring a great mix of melodic keyboards, driving bass and fuzzed up guitars. I’ve yet to catch them live, but they’re playing Klub Motorik @ Half Moon Herne Hill Sat 22nd May.
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