Sunday, July 16, 2006

The 30th anniversary of punk (if you're talking the 76/77 variety) continues to gather pace and today's Seven days section of the Sunday Herald spits is tuppence worth into the fray. I've been doing a lot of talking and thinking about it too which has unlocked memories but what sgnificance do such war stories have? Shouldn't we have grown up and moved on?? I appear to be cursed but what about all the others? Ben Weasel has relocated and is back in the Blogosphere. Murray sent me a link to the Dolls section of the Roadrunner site and there's an electronic press kit on there. Like I said before the album, due out next week, is better than anybody could have imagined it could be. Check out Shock and Awe Go Home also. Look at the time. I ought not to be here. More soon. Maybe.
“I’m From Barcelona” aren’t actually from Barcelona, they’re from Sweden. Don’t know if they’re all from Stockholm but I discovered them through the HS axis. When I got on to my “dealer”, he said they were like Belle and Sebastian and while I see the comparison, these folks are altogether more exotic. Like The Polyphonic Spree vs The BMX Bandits with some They Might Be Giants thrown in. There’s definitely a touch of the Glasgow Brill Building sound, one cannae deny that. There's also a jug band choir, adult version of the Langley Schools project going on. And - being that we're actually in the throes of one this year, this could be THE sound of summer, such is the breezy singalong nature but these tunes are marinated in strangely rich arrangements of skiffle type-orchestration punctuated with horns. And then there’s the Beach Boy type harmonies Get down with the videos and get with it. The actual effect is somewhat indescribable but if you hear it for yourself then you’ll get the gist. “The Saddest Lullaby” isn’t the kind of title that I’d normally go for but it has a kind of Spiritualized gospel swing to it. Like "From The Underworld" by The Herd infused with a slow-burning gospel brass ensemble. Just read on Swedesplease that Mute will release this in the rest of Europe this coming September. One appearance on the right TV or radio show and these folks will be heading for the megasphere. Chalk up another victory for those Scandanavians...