15th March 2012

Hint* – Aliens Enter (NAT)

Seems like Hip Hop is very much my current flavour. It appears to be the only genre that is moving me of late. I am sure it will pass soon enough as the waxing and waning of these things seem to be cyclical.

The reason I was drawn to this today (apart from the infectious beat) were the shots of Austin, Texas (Hint’s home town) in the video. This brought back very happy memories of being there this time two years ago at the South by Southwest festival and which is also now in full swing again this year. It is always a good showcase for rising artists so I will try to read some reviews and do some research in the coming weeks and pick out some recommendations for you.

It is strange and refreshing to hear a female rapper, especially one this young.

RjK

*Artist #403

Aside

Ash – Goldfinger

I have some old school friends coming down to London on Friday. We are going to watch the Ireland v England rugby match at Twickenham on Saturday. It should be a fun and raucous weekend, and not a little nostalgic. It is strange as my buddies are starting to become scarily grown up, not an affliction I am in any danger of suffering from myself!

Anyway, I thought I would post something that reminds me very vividly of my schooldays. Ash are also from Northern Ireland and 1977, the album this is taken from, was released when I had just started secondary school. It still sounds so urgent and youthful and full teen angst. Additionally, this song has a fabulous intro.

I’ve got some records on, some bottles of wine on a stormy night, the rain is lashing down and I’m waiting for her…

RjK

13th March 2012

Mayer Hawthorne – Just ain’t gonna work out (Rory McDermott guest gig review)

Mayer Hawthorne, Scala, 7th March 2012:

In 1965 James Brown (and the Famous Flames) appeared in a naff woolly jumper on a television show called Ski party. Shot for a largely white audience it was surely his most sterilized peformace, watered down for white sensibilities. Like John Belushi appearing in Little House on the Prairie

And so I spent the first 20mins of the gig- feeling a bit duped. A rather lanky but well preened Michael McDonald flanked by a Ralph Lauren boy band sang through a nu-soul repertoire.

Then something quite odd happened – the music picked up, the crowd limbered and I stopped being a complete prat – I came round to his thoroughly infectious routine. By the start of the second half he had me in the pocket of his red velvet tuxedo.

Mayer Hawthorne is an entertaining guy, amicable and humorous when interacting with the crowd. His songs are overtly tongue-in-cheek with crooning more Neil Hannon than Neil Diamond (Note; can carry a tune better than either…..)

The smooth tone voice and falsetto range are a direct throwback to his musical roots (He grew up in Detroit, Michigan – The Motor City which put the MO in Motown). But this was not an imitation cover gig; it was a show. And a bloody good one.

From MH’s Twitter

RMcD

12th March 2012

Action Bronson* – Imported Goods

I heard this on a stereo at a houseparty I was at in Kentish Town on Saturday night. I immediately thought it was the legendary Ghostface Killer on the basis of the machine gun cadence and clever, colourful rhymes. But it turned that I was quite wrong, Action Bronson is also from NYC but physically he couldn’t look much different!

I have been hitting this hard for the rest of the weekend, I love the Diana Ross sample and slightly off-beat, dorky video. It has been something of a hip hop purple patch for me of late.

I want my cash stacked higher than the NASDAQ…

Also, while at the party I was talking to a fellow blogger who writes for This Greedy Pig, a pretty interesting fashion and music blog. Something for me to aim at…

RjK

*Artist #402

Ten Freshest Artists of the journey so far…

To mark posting artist number 400 I thought I would highlight 10 that I thought particularly fresh.

What does fresh mean? The first time I hear them they made my heart race, my pupils dilate, my nostrils flare and made me forget I had ever heard any music before that very second. It also means that they made me want to spread the good word.

Here are 10 such artists, specifically ones I have encountered in my 15 meandering months of blogging in no particular order:

Nguuni Lover’s Lovers

Darondo

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti 

M83
 
Jóhann Jóhannsson

tUnE-yArDs 

Fox the fox
 
Shabazz Palaces

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Oddisee

Thanks for sticking with me and thanks for the encouragement and inspiration along the way. Feel free to highlight any other bands that have excited you.

Here’s to the next 400…

RjK

10th March 2012

Real Estate – Dumb Luck

This is nice and mellow, which is very welcome after a busy week. March 2012 is turning out to be a busy little month for me.

I discovered Real Estate last year. Their sunny, chilled out sound is very pleasing. Also, after posting The Beach Boys earlier in the week I can hear a little of them in this. 

RjK

Aside

Bucketheads* – The Bomb! (GPF)

Classic 90’s dance tune. It reminds me of being a teenager. I heard it last night while out on the tiles in Brixton with a few old friends. Great sample and a funny video here to match.

These sounds fall into my mind… 

RjK

*Artist #401

8th March 2012

Peasant* – The flask (NAT)

I don’t know a great deal about this guy but have been enjoying this tune very much recently. It is breezy and has a low-fi sound that reminds me a little of Best Coast.

It also marks artist number 400 in my meandering blogging voyage. Look out for a post over the weekend with the 10 freshest artists I have stumbled across so far. Thanks for sticking with me.

RjK

*Artist #400!!

7th March 2012

The Beach Boys – Darlin’

It seems like I have posted a lot of new artists (as well as Diana Ross) recently. So I thought it might be good to post something classic. I don’t know that you get more classic than The Beach Boys.

It took me a while to realise that they were more than just boyish surf melodies. But listening to Pet Sounds blew my mind. I can’t overstate how much I recommend you check them out. Their music is so rich, frequently the contrast between sweet melodies and wistful lyrics is startlingly effective.

I am off to see Mayer Hawhorne in Scala tonight. I will let you know how I get on later in the week.

RjK