Category: Music
-
-
1/1 — Brian Eno
Ambient 1 / Music for Airports is 40 years old this month. It is spurious to claim that Brian Eno invented ambient music. Erik Satie’s furniture music deserves mention. Eno himself recognised the role of Muzak. Music for Airports is not even Eno’s first ambient album, despite its Ambient 1 moniker. But it certainly is […]
-
OK — Micachu and the Shapes
—
I have been shamefully late to discover Mica Levi, and Micachu and the Shapes. This is a track from the band’s 2012 album Never. It contains a lyric that made me laugh out loud, which doesn’t happen very often.
-
My original iPod is a time capsule from 2002
—
My original iPod is a time capsule from 2002 What happened when one person started up his iPod for the first time in 15 years. …I also came across music and artists which made me wonder what on earth I was thinking of when I loaded their tracks into iTunes. If I could talk to […]
-
NME at the gate
Only recently I wondering what future the NME had. Its glory days were long gone.
-
An inauthentic authenticity: the soulless side of vinyl
—
The vinyl resurgence isn’t all good news — particularly for independent musicians.
-
In — Brothomstates
This is the opening track from the 2001 album Claro by Brothomstates. That was a special purchase for me, because it was the first IDM album I bought. I already knew I liked this sort of music because I was exploring what I could with whatever clips of tracks I could find online. But Claro […]
-
The time Aphex Twin opened for Björk
—
Shuffle mode has just reminded me of the time Richard D James (best known as Aphex Twin), using the pseudonym DJ Smojphace, opened for Björk at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2003. From the YouTube video description: For almost 2 hours Richard played nothing but “noise and feedback” from the backstage, only appearing in stage to […]
-
Bittersweet Bundle of Misery — Graham Coxon
—
Bittersweet Bundle of Misery — Graham Coxon This song is a little bit too close to Coffee & TV for comfort. But after having left Blur, perhaps Graham Coxon wanted his own version of his own song, which I guess is fair enough. Looking back, this song almost seems like a last gasp of the […]
-
I’ll be honest; I’ve had better music rounds
I’ll be honest; I’ve had better music rounds.
-
Is the greatest hits album dead?
—
Is the greatest hits album dead? tl;dr — It is not. But the greatest hits album has changed — into a premium package for a specialist audience.
-
Count It Up — Field Music
—
Count It Up — Field Music When a band you like releases a new album and it’s really good then count it up.
-
Harsh Reality — Claro Intelecto
—
Harsh Reality — Claro Intelecto A delicious slice of minimal techno. Perfect for a chilly night time walk through the city.
-
Sense — The Lightning Seeds
—
Sense — The Lightning Seeds The Lightning Seeds were one of the first bands I really liked. They don’t seem to have as much indie-cred as I think they deserve. Maybe that’s what happens when your biggest hit is a football anthem. Sense is a little bit before my time, but I still think it’s […]
-
Everywhen — Massive Attack
—
Everywhen — Massive Attack A lot of bands I liked wilted somewhat after Radiohead released Kid A. Not Massive Attack. 100th Window may not be their most admired album. But I thought it was one of the few that successfully met the Kid A challenge. Gone were the trademark trip-hop beats that made them so […]
-
Blue Mondays
There may be no real science behind the concept of Blue Monday. But there is definitely something strange about mornings in January. I always go back to work as soon as possible after the new year. On my morning walk to work, the streets are dark unlike any other time of year, and eerily quiet. […]
-
Roundabout — Yes
—
Roundabout — Yes I used to think I got my proggy tendencies from my dad. However, he was recently dismayed to learn that I like Yes, who he says are too noodly. I guess I developed an excellent taste in music all by myself.
-
Conditions of a Shared Belief — Soulwax
—
Every Friday evening I’m going to post a tune that I’m digging right now. Because why not? Conditions of a Shared Belief — Soulwax I’d never taken notice of Soulwax before. But after reading a review of their latest album From Deewee in an end-of-year list, I decided to check it out on YouTube. Wow! […]
-
40 years of the Voyager golden record
The 40th anniversary of the launch of Voyager has created renewed interest in the two gold-plated phonograph records that are on board.
-
The George Street Sessions: A new CD featuring musicians from north east Fife
A new CD has been recorded in Alex’s family’s front room — and it sounds great.
-
John Bult: Julie’s Sixteenth Birthday
—
John Bult: Julie’s Sixteenth Birthday The story of one of the worst record covers of all time. “During the photo shoot, Ted kept telling her to look serious, like her dad is talking to her,” Bult said. “But she just kept looking sad to me.” When the final album was pressed, and Bult saw the […]
-
Help! I’m becoming an audiophile
After years of dilly-dallying, I have finally bought myself a new record player. But I’m still not convinced vinyl provides the superior sound quality.
-
Always great to have new music from the Focus Group
—
It’s always great to hear new music from the Focus Group. Stop-Motion Happening has more wronged-up sound collages of mis-remembered pasts. Here’s a clip.
-
-
Radiohead at Trnsmt were OK
—
I took the opportunity to see Radiohead when they played at Glasgow Green this summer as part of the Trnsmt festival. Even though they have been one of my favourite bands for over 15 years, I had never actually gone to see them before.
-
In Rainbows turns 10
—
In Rainbows turns 10 – Chris DeVille, Stereogum This article is spot-on. It didn’t necessarily feel like it at the time, but In Rainbows is one of Radiohead’s best albums. I keep coming back to it and it is a joy to listen to.
-
Pleased to have got my hands on the new Autechre EP (for charidee)
—
Pleased to have got my hands on the new Autechre EP (for charidee). For some reason my Autechre release detection radar was switched off, and by the time I discovered it, it had sold out. I eventually tracked down some copies on Juno Records. One of 1,000 copies.
-
Passionate late night radio for the freaks
Excellent radio with a passion for the unusual: Steve Davis and Stewart Lee discussing their love of experimental music on the BBC, and the triumphant return of Iain Lee to late nights.
-
-
Review: Pulp – Separations (2012 reissue)
—
Separations is a difficult album to love. But is also contains some of Pulp’s biggest breakthroughs.
-
Review: Pulp – Freaks (2012 reissue)
—
In a sense, Freaks is Pulp’s most interesting album — probably because it is also the band’s worst album. The original suffered from a rushed production. So could a remastered edition cast a new light on the recordings?
-
Review: Pulp – It (2012 reissue)
—
Despite the fact that I am a huge Pulp fan, I have arrived late to last year’s reissues of Pulp’s first three albums. But the remastered edition puts It in a new light.
-
Review: Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest
—
A long gestation period between albums can go either way. After the disappointiment of 2005’s The Campfire Headphase, Tomorrow’s Harvest surpasses expectations.
-
Review: Best of Bug hosted by Adam Buxton
I made the trek through to Edinburgh on a school night for the rare opportunity to see Adam Buxton’s Bug show in Scotland. Although I was feeling the effects today, it was well worth it.
-
-
-
Music 2012: Some of my highlights
—
Some musical highlights of 2012 that I did not include in my top ten.