Friday 18 May 2007

Video Mashup

One of the entries from the Acapellas4u.co.uk video mash-up competition and very worth checking out. Some greatly skilled editing and mash-up-ing [that would be the verb of 'to mash up', yes?]

Thursday 17 May 2007

R.A.G.E.

When I was 15, I was luck enough to see Rage Against the Machine at the Leeds Festival, in what was to be one of their last few ever gigs. Without exaggeration that 45 mins was amongst the highlights if my life. It was awesome. I would never ever deify a band, but Rage are the one exception to that rule, and no band excites me in the way Rage did and still do.

Self Titled is still my favourite album, and I still dance around my room to them as though I was 15.

When I heard they were reforming for one gig, I was dumbdfounded, but accepted that I'd never make it to the US to see them. But watching some video footage of it just now, I sorely wish I had. The atmosphere looks incredible. Take a look at the footage below of them coming on stage. The excitment in the crowd is unbelievable. People are going crazy.

I'm deeply jealous, and even felt myself welling up (I'm generally pretty stoic on the emotional literacy front).





7 years on from seeing Rage at Leeds and I must have danced to this next song an endless number of times at indie-discos. I'd reckon it must be in the hundreds at least. It has amongst the most iconic intros in popular music, and can still get a crowd (even a neoned-up, asymetrical haircut indie crowd) moshing in a flash. So seeing them playing it on film, only a week or so ago, makes it something magic.




And finally some better quality footage.

My friend Tom Greed was there too. I hate him. :)

Sunday 13 May 2007

The Paper Chase



The above image is the delightful front cover to the album 'now you are one of us' by The Paper Chase, the headliners at Lofi Hifi tomorrow night.

I've posted a track from the album below, and after a few listens I'm really taken with this particular tune.

The compulsary comparison sees them sitting somewhere between Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse - taking the the epic orchestration of the former and combining it with the pounding rhythms and clever vocal hooks of the latter. They also drop delightful harmonies and jarring discordance in unexpected places, giving the track a real sense of progression.

Other tracks available to hear at the wesbite see a strong take on Fugazi's brand of hardcore forged with the exciting, angular outbursts of no-wave and more relentless, pleading lead vocals.

The Paper Chase - we know where you sleep


The gig is £5/6 I think, then free after the bands. One you won't regret attending though. Plus the usual electro and guitars free-for-all from the Lofi residents afterwards. Doors at 8.

Thursday 3 May 2007

Opinions?




Hmm, hmm.

Was sent this promo mp3 the other day by a guy at Beggars Banquet.

I rather like it. Very electro, very indie.

In one overblown sentence, I'd say they were bleeping singalong 2012 robot indie regimented by thudding franco-electro beats, but with vocally, clipped, syncopated Shoreditch delivery and a massive hint of Suede in the chorus.

Yes, it does look like I want to work for NME. But I rejoice in describing music as quirkily as possible. I think the classic 'don;t try and pigeon-hole me' is pretentious rubbish, and that how you describe a band is part of the fun/part of how you hear about a band. Plus how can bands break away from genres unless these genres are already set?

Anyway, music:

mp3: To My Boy - Model