Saturday, March 01, 2008
Ok folks, so some catching up here on some culture you may care to indulge in...The Pankrti documentary "No Fun" has been released on dvd. It's on Continental Films out of Zagreb, Croatia. I can't find a mail order contact but will pass on info when it becomes available.
Damir Avdic now has a myspace profile.
Coming up on Perpetrator Records - of New Zealand - a brand new Jeremy Gluck three track 7" comprising "I Am Time", "Breaks Me" and "Anybody". Myspace crashed so I don't know if those songs are up there or not. There's an album coming together too so watch this space and his myspace too for all the info.Vampisoul is to release Ben Vaughn's "Designs In Music" on vinyl in April. (Brother Patrick spotted this on the SR mailout.)
The Duffy conspiracy thing caused a small ripple of excitement and I'm wondering what it would take to convince her to record Amy Rigby's "All I Want". Of course, Bernard Butler could just remix - or rather re-record the Ronnie Spector version using his industrial strength fairy dust.
There was some other news to impart but I can't figure out what I've done with it. i imagine it'll turn up in due course. Meanwhile, whilst we're with the "Wall of Sound" motif, let's head out with some sartorial leisure wear...
Friday, February 29, 2008
Haven’t really rallied from the lurghi totally but nonetheless ventured out on Tuesday night…
To my mind, The Cathouse is perhaps the worst venue in Glasgow. It's a dank, dark and - despite the Rawk vibe - it's a disco where bands of said variety, at a certain level, are cursed with playing when they come to the city. Making the trek on a driech night and getting there while SohoDolls go through a semblance of a soundcheck was never the idea but really, if they hadn't been playing then I'd have "stayed in the hoose". So eventually, at about 8.30-ish, they come on, do a short, sharp set and depart. I can't figure out if this is a good career move or not but they went down OK. Their marriage of “Empires and Dance” type electrocrunch and glam is sweet in the Eric Cartman sense but how do you get a prospective audience to notice. I spoke briefly to their guitar player Toni who says they're about to concentrate on their next album. Let's hope that offers up the necessary options.
And I like Hanoi Rocks but the sound was absolutely fucking awful. Mike Monroe mentioned something about the bus breaking down and making the best of them not soundchecking but this was beyond the pale. We left to catch a train out of Dodge. On one hand to get away from the racket but also to evade Hot Chip and Editors fans who were also packing into town.
The live music cattle market is someplace I have no desire to be anymore. Save for a few excursions to catch acts that I've supported my entire tenure, I'm exiting stage left from the whole sorry shebang. Sod it, some semblance of spiritual fortitude may even ensue. Then again, probably not, but even I wasn’t the oldest codger in the audience and one or two had gone dressed as their grandmother done up like a burst couch. It's unfortunate that we don't have anything akin to the Dirty Water or Debaser experience anywhere around here but them -as people are so fond of telling us - is the breaks.
And woah, you know that things are screwed when it's deemed newsworthy that The Black Crowes and Nas were the victims of bogus reviews in a lifestyle rag. The world has indeed ended. These bastards should be glad that their names make it into print anymore at all far less bleat about it not being cricket. All publicity these days is simply that, it doesn't work because the very nature of much of it is cut and paste advertorial. There's no soul in it. The further up the flagpole it runs, the less use the information actually is. It’s all bollocks. Everything is overloaded, on tilt. The only important filter is your own ability to smell shite when that particular aroma is wafted in your direction.
Can’t you just taste the desperation as the ever-depleting buck slides into the sea?
If the strategy of directing prospective audiences to the show, or to buy the t-shirt is indeed the future then count me the heck out. Who can read the type on cd booklets anyway? And, as for downloads, the only positive thing I can muster about that malarky is at least it doesn’t create landfill. A round of applause for that chill, inclement wind then...
To my mind, The Cathouse is perhaps the worst venue in Glasgow. It's a dank, dark and - despite the Rawk vibe - it's a disco where bands of said variety, at a certain level, are cursed with playing when they come to the city. Making the trek on a driech night and getting there while SohoDolls go through a semblance of a soundcheck was never the idea but really, if they hadn't been playing then I'd have "stayed in the hoose". So eventually, at about 8.30-ish, they come on, do a short, sharp set and depart. I can't figure out if this is a good career move or not but they went down OK. Their marriage of “Empires and Dance” type electrocrunch and glam is sweet in the Eric Cartman sense but how do you get a prospective audience to notice. I spoke briefly to their guitar player Toni who says they're about to concentrate on their next album. Let's hope that offers up the necessary options.
And I like Hanoi Rocks but the sound was absolutely fucking awful. Mike Monroe mentioned something about the bus breaking down and making the best of them not soundchecking but this was beyond the pale. We left to catch a train out of Dodge. On one hand to get away from the racket but also to evade Hot Chip and Editors fans who were also packing into town.
The live music cattle market is someplace I have no desire to be anymore. Save for a few excursions to catch acts that I've supported my entire tenure, I'm exiting stage left from the whole sorry shebang. Sod it, some semblance of spiritual fortitude may even ensue. Then again, probably not, but even I wasn’t the oldest codger in the audience and one or two had gone dressed as their grandmother done up like a burst couch. It's unfortunate that we don't have anything akin to the Dirty Water or Debaser experience anywhere around here but them -as people are so fond of telling us - is the breaks.
And woah, you know that things are screwed when it's deemed newsworthy that The Black Crowes and Nas were the victims of bogus reviews in a lifestyle rag. The world has indeed ended. These bastards should be glad that their names make it into print anymore at all far less bleat about it not being cricket. All publicity these days is simply that, it doesn't work because the very nature of much of it is cut and paste advertorial. There's no soul in it. The further up the flagpole it runs, the less use the information actually is. It’s all bollocks. Everything is overloaded, on tilt. The only important filter is your own ability to smell shite when that particular aroma is wafted in your direction.
Can’t you just taste the desperation as the ever-depleting buck slides into the sea?
If the strategy of directing prospective audiences to the show, or to buy the t-shirt is indeed the future then count me the heck out. Who can read the type on cd booklets anyway? And, as for downloads, the only positive thing I can muster about that malarky is at least it doesn’t create landfill. A round of applause for that chill, inclement wind then...
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Edinburgh Live bootleg available now!Friday tomorrow... not before time... should be able to play catch up then. All outta antibiotics, still barking at the moon. The episode of The Wire I just watched had a Fleshtones song in it, I take that as a decent omen...
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Care to check our specs, friend? Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. *guarantees* its workmanship to meet or exceed minimum industry standards. We welcome you to come and inspect for yourself...THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28th / OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD TIKI BAR & LOUNGE / And the last Thursday of every month! 538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B) in Manhattan / Two large shows, from 8:00 sharp until 10:00 / No cover! Need further proof? Boy, tough customer...
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5th / CAFE STEINHOF /
422 Seventh Avenue (at 14th Street) in Park Slope, Brooklyn / Two teutonic shows, from 10:30 sharp until 12:30 / No cover!
THURSDAY, MARCH 20th / RODEO BAR & GRILL /
375 Third Avenue (at the corner of 27th Street) in ol' Manhattan / Three thirst-inducing shows, from 10:00 sharp until 1:00 / No cover! Industrially yours, Michael
Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.
"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"
Well-Rounded Radio: Episode 044 features an overview of the Fleshtones and an interview with Peter Zaremba. The interview is illustrated with several clips from "Take A Good Look" and offers a fascinating insight into the recording of the band's latest album. A Podcast is available for downloading on the Well-Rounded Radio website.
Monday, February 25, 2008
There's a lot of information to process during "A Life In The Death of Joe Meek".
The success of such a venture is largely down to access. Not only to people who were there but also to individuals with a passion for the subject. Short of digging out the old ouija board and doing the Captain Howdy with Meek himself, the filmmakers have amassed a wealth of material. Of course, it gets to the stage that it's perhaps all too much but this "work in progress" cut set out the stall very well. It was good to see George Miller and Mike Stax in there with Chas Hodges and an array of the musicians who recorded with him during his short tenure on this earth. The Edwyn Collins clips are kind of precious too. Would it benefit from having your Jimmy Page or Richie Blackmore and the like in there? In my opinion, not much - other than status but I imagine it would be easier to make people who need crowbarring take notice. The freedom of ownership of the film means that this could actually be customised to any specific audience that sees it. There could be a template that ranged from informative introduction all the way through to a marathon nowt left unsaid. This one clocked in at 119 minutes which went in a lot faster that I expected it to. LITD doesn't pander to the usual stream of alleged experts and professional talking nappers. It went further and deeper.
I'm not sure what Alex Kapranos added to the debate. Evidently a fan but with nothing tangible to bring to the table - we are in Glasgow after all -Franzdabbidozi, all well and good but however, it's quite possibly just me... NBT readers will find a lot to love in this film and to that end, expect a nod to it's whereabouts as screenings gather momentum over the weeks and months. I think that Howard S. Berger and Susan Stahman have come up with a unique slant on a profoundly British institution. Not an easy thing to pull off in any case but pull it off they indeed have.
The success of such a venture is largely down to access. Not only to people who were there but also to individuals with a passion for the subject. Short of digging out the old ouija board and doing the Captain Howdy with Meek himself, the filmmakers have amassed a wealth of material. Of course, it gets to the stage that it's perhaps all too much but this "work in progress" cut set out the stall very well. It was good to see George Miller and Mike Stax in there with Chas Hodges and an array of the musicians who recorded with him during his short tenure on this earth. The Edwyn Collins clips are kind of precious too. Would it benefit from having your Jimmy Page or Richie Blackmore and the like in there? In my opinion, not much - other than status but I imagine it would be easier to make people who need crowbarring take notice. The freedom of ownership of the film means that this could actually be customised to any specific audience that sees it. There could be a template that ranged from informative introduction all the way through to a marathon nowt left unsaid. This one clocked in at 119 minutes which went in a lot faster that I expected it to. LITD doesn't pander to the usual stream of alleged experts and professional talking nappers. It went further and deeper.
I'm not sure what Alex Kapranos added to the debate. Evidently a fan but with nothing tangible to bring to the table - we are in Glasgow after all -Franzdabbidozi, all well and good but however, it's quite possibly just me... NBT readers will find a lot to love in this film and to that end, expect a nod to it's whereabouts as screenings gather momentum over the weeks and months. I think that Howard S. Berger and Susan Stahman have come up with a unique slant on a profoundly British institution. Not an easy thing to pull off in any case but pull it off they indeed have.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The disruption of the biggest part of last week has really thrown me. I'm a little jarred at how knackered I feel after doing pretty much nothing but sleep for longer than I have in recent living memory. Shouldn't I feel more refreshed? I guess these batteries are more or less unchargeable at this point. And I just "discovered" that the Joe Meek thing runs for over 2 hours, blimey... it's also sold out so let's go find out if it's any good.
Not over-confident about making a stop-off on this ol' keyboard later but stranger things have happened. Maybe the fresh air will invigorate but I'm not extending any false hope of such.
Not over-confident about making a stop-off on this ol' keyboard later but stranger things have happened. Maybe the fresh air will invigorate but I'm not extending any false hope of such.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Sometimes I feel like I'm making progress of the recuperation front. Then I try to up the pace and end up feeeling like I've been kicked down a flight of stairs. Very peculiar. But anyway, stopping by at Amy Rigby's diary today - it was great to catch a new posting there about their latest adventure. Every one a maserati...
Firefox AK – If I Were A Melody (Razzia)
The follow up to “Madame Madame” has been assembled in Berlin and the electro-stamp of that environment is the cornerstone here. There are echoes of the dreamier moments of Suicide amongst a Kraftwerkian smorgasbord. Glistening and pulsating in equal measure, this type of sound used to be employed to evoke the future. I’ve been reading a lot of positive reviews regarding Gary Numan recently and there are elements of Tubeway Army about this too. “Winter Rose” must sound pretty mighty pumping out on a high-spec club PA.
At one time, such synth driven things were considered cold or remote, but now machines can emote warmth. It’s no longer just about bpm in this post-Moroderist age. fAK is about 3000 times better than anything New Order ever even hinted at and Andrea Kellerman’s voice is an integral part of what sets it apart. The heart of which is pure analogue, the placement of the vocal within the electro-mentation strike me as finite. The guy who put this together evidently did that by design and not accident. This ain’t remotely rock’n’roll but it does verge on soul, albeit of an android-gynous variety. But hey, why read my gibberish when you can listen and make up your own mind.
Niccokick – The Good Times We Shared, Were They So Bad? (Startracks)
Well, these Scandanavian kids have conjured up a noise that welds an Aha type commerciality to Pixies QuietLoud staple. But in addition to that, they’ve employed the secret weapon of a crack horn section plus some serious orchestral grandeur. I don’t mean brass players that are addicts stupid, I’m talking top notch players.
These Söderlund brothers are only youngsters but they’ve crafted another collection of real quality pop here. “The Art Of Doing Nothing” swings like The Skeletons Vs The Herd and there are acts that have been hauling their carcasses around the earth for decades that couldn’t muster that.
Here in Blighty, this could be lumped in with “Indie”. Niccokick’s sound is overwhelmingly optimistic bordering on stadium rocktastic. I’m not sure it has any place in this world because things have become so cynical that their oeuvre could be mistaken for something that it isn’t. I honestly believe that this could rid the world of yer Coldplays and Snow Patrols given a smidge of a chance. It won’t whet the whistle of some NBT readers but even they would have to recognise the luxurious musical fabric these guys have woven.
And whilst we're in the manor of sound, don't forget the screening tomorrow of "A Life In The Death of Joe Meek" at the GFT. See you there...
Firefox AK – If I Were A Melody (Razzia)The follow up to “Madame Madame” has been assembled in Berlin and the electro-stamp of that environment is the cornerstone here. There are echoes of the dreamier moments of Suicide amongst a Kraftwerkian smorgasbord. Glistening and pulsating in equal measure, this type of sound used to be employed to evoke the future. I’ve been reading a lot of positive reviews regarding Gary Numan recently and there are elements of Tubeway Army about this too. “Winter Rose” must sound pretty mighty pumping out on a high-spec club PA.
At one time, such synth driven things were considered cold or remote, but now machines can emote warmth. It’s no longer just about bpm in this post-Moroderist age. fAK is about 3000 times better than anything New Order ever even hinted at and Andrea Kellerman’s voice is an integral part of what sets it apart. The heart of which is pure analogue, the placement of the vocal within the electro-mentation strike me as finite. The guy who put this together evidently did that by design and not accident. This ain’t remotely rock’n’roll but it does verge on soul, albeit of an android-gynous variety. But hey, why read my gibberish when you can listen and make up your own mind.
Niccokick – The Good Times We Shared, Were They So Bad? (Startracks)Well, these Scandanavian kids have conjured up a noise that welds an Aha type commerciality to Pixies QuietLoud staple. But in addition to that, they’ve employed the secret weapon of a crack horn section plus some serious orchestral grandeur. I don’t mean brass players that are addicts stupid, I’m talking top notch players.
These Söderlund brothers are only youngsters but they’ve crafted another collection of real quality pop here. “The Art Of Doing Nothing” swings like The Skeletons Vs The Herd and there are acts that have been hauling their carcasses around the earth for decades that couldn’t muster that.
Here in Blighty, this could be lumped in with “Indie”. Niccokick’s sound is overwhelmingly optimistic bordering on stadium rocktastic. I’m not sure it has any place in this world because things have become so cynical that their oeuvre could be mistaken for something that it isn’t. I honestly believe that this could rid the world of yer Coldplays and Snow Patrols given a smidge of a chance. It won’t whet the whistle of some NBT readers but even they would have to recognise the luxurious musical fabric these guys have woven.
And whilst we're in the manor of sound, don't forget the screening tomorrow of "A Life In The Death of Joe Meek" at the GFT. See you there...
Friday, February 22, 2008
Having spent a lot of time staring at the ceiling, sweating, this week – and not in a good way – it was something of a relief to even feel like listening to music and going through the dreaded e-mail backlog. Lot of cackle on the wires about two “hotly-tipped” female artists – Adele and Duffy and I’m compelled to air my tuppence worth. Adele emits a formless, shapeless style to me. Apparently a graduate of the dreaded Brit-School, it’s like Michelle McManus goes lite Jazz. I spelled it that way purposely. Jeez, at least Kate Nash has a whiff of Kirsty MacColl about her however... And Duffy – well this “Mercy” thing is fine if you like pastiche. “Rockferry” was better in my opinion in its MacAlmont and Butler sort of swooping pop way but really – this is saving the beleaguered music business? Well if y’all say so. There’s something very calculated and maybe even cynical about both of these artists swift rise to “popularity”.
It’s not their fault, they’re doing a job. They’ll jump through hoops for their respective imprint but the way all this appears to work makes any kind of longevity unlikely. I keep hoping that Mari Wilson would just come back and be done with it. The concept of being groomed to be a pop star or whatever must surely cause advance precipitation of the dry boke followed by the full on heave. At least Duffy didn't go to class to come up with her Bonnie Tyler goes Dusty faux beat. Give "The Brits" their own TV Station where the sheep can subscribe and be kept up to speed and maybe free up some other areas for acts with no such tacit connections to the sad mafia that seem to have a grip on the what passes for entertainment industry. Did you see poor old Ozzy on that awards shit the other night? He deserves better than that surely.
I think it’s maybe time to wrap up (warm) and go outside. I must be recuperating because this shit is winding me up.
It’s not their fault, they’re doing a job. They’ll jump through hoops for their respective imprint but the way all this appears to work makes any kind of longevity unlikely. I keep hoping that Mari Wilson would just come back and be done with it. The concept of being groomed to be a pop star or whatever must surely cause advance precipitation of the dry boke followed by the full on heave. At least Duffy didn't go to class to come up with her Bonnie Tyler goes Dusty faux beat. Give "The Brits" their own TV Station where the sheep can subscribe and be kept up to speed and maybe free up some other areas for acts with no such tacit connections to the sad mafia that seem to have a grip on the what passes for entertainment industry. Did you see poor old Ozzy on that awards shit the other night? He deserves better than that surely.
I think it’s maybe time to wrap up (warm) and go outside. I must be recuperating because this shit is winding me up.
Ghost On The Highway dvd coming soon...
Did they ever sort out the music licensing for this? Either way it's a must see...
Thursday, February 21, 2008
The Fleshtones return Europe in May for a series of dates in France. As usual, the men who added "Super" to "Rock" will zigzag across The Hexagon while performing strategic sorties on Holland, Italy and Germany. How do they do it? Do not attempt these dangerous manoeuvres at home, simply head for one of the following destinations and join in the fun!
May 12 - Locomotive, Paris, France
May 13 - Vauban , Brest, France
May 15 - Bikini, Toulouse, France
May 16 - Poste à galene, Marseille, France
May 17 - Nikea, Nice, France
May 18 - Garage, Milan, Italy
May 19 - Cafe Atlantik , Frieburg, Germany
May 20 - Le Fil, Beauvais, France
May 21 - BBC , Caen, France
May 22 - Aknathon, Amsterdam, Holland
Needless to say, further dates will be added. Why, there is even talk of a stop-over in Geneva. How the hell are they gonna fit that in?
May 12 - Locomotive, Paris, France
May 13 - Vauban , Brest, France
May 15 - Bikini, Toulouse, France
May 16 - Poste à galene, Marseille, France
May 17 - Nikea, Nice, France
May 18 - Garage, Milan, Italy
May 19 - Cafe Atlantik , Frieburg, Germany
May 20 - Le Fil, Beauvais, France
May 21 - BBC , Caen, France
May 22 - Aknathon, Amsterdam, Holland
Needless to say, further dates will be added. Why, there is even talk of a stop-over in Geneva. How the hell are they gonna fit that in?
Apart from the ongoing headaches and gut considerations, I generally get by on the health front. However, this past few days has caused me to make a doctors appointment. Being laid out and having to just peg out in the old scratcher until it kind of passes was my only option. Plus I've got this nagging stitch "pain". It's not really pain but rather irritation. I have no faith in doctors really but there's enough going on to require some kind of check. Have to say that it goes 100% agin the grain but these things seem to happen sometime.
You'd think that being forced into taking days off work would be a relief but not really because I've had no energy to do anything. I don't like that. I don't like wasting time languishing but there was nothing else for it. Hardly seems possible that it's a week already since The Nomads. What is that Cher was on about about turning back time? I'd definitley bodyswerve the connection with the lurghi bug.
You'd think that being forced into taking days off work would be a relief but not really because I've had no energy to do anything. I don't like that. I don't like wasting time languishing but there was nothing else for it. Hardly seems possible that it's a week already since The Nomads. What is that Cher was on about about turning back time? I'd definitley bodyswerve the connection with the lurghi bug.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)