As many of you might know, I can sometimes have a bit of a short fuse, and it doesn't take much for me to get incensed about something! One such incident came whilst watching Top Gear, featuring Simon Cowell. Now, I'm not going to devote much time to the odious little s**t, but to cut a long story short, he was banging on to Clarkson about how his taste in music was exemplary, and how his job was really hard. Has he never watched his own show? It revolves around him telling a group of karaoke singers how good/bad/terrible they are, and if he does happen to think they are good, then they might one day get to release an album of Westlife covers. I honestly don't know how I would cope with such a hard job as that - but I'm sure a swim in my pool full of money would calm me down.

Well thats enough talk about Cowell - even thinking about his ridiculous haircut gets me riled. I've developed a bit of an obsession with the KLF this week folks, I don't know where its come from but I think the fact that Bill Drummond fired blanks into the audience at the 1992 BRIT awards, and then subsequently retired from the music industry might have something to do with it! The KLF have made some house music that I actually like - for educational purposes see the album 'The White Room' for all the big hits. They also did an excellent chill out album called, er, 'Chill Out', which sounds exceelent at 4am!

In other news this week, my award for 'Most Irritating Band on the Planet (currently) goes to the Feeling - I'm just happy if I can go through a day without having to listen to them on the radio, or see an advert for their shitty album!

A short rant this week, but I'll be back soon with more scathing criticism. I'll leave you with my playlist.

James Welbourn - 'All bound for mu-mu land.'

Playlist (Band/Song/Album)

The KLF - Justified and Ancient - The White Room
Madness - Michael Caine - Keep Moving
Miles Davis - Mystery - Doo Bop
Zero 7 - Destiny - Simple Things
The Cure - Fire In Cairo - Three Imaginary Boys
Kyuss - 50 Million Year Trip - Blues for the Red Sun
The Buzzcocks - Raison D'Etre - Singles Going Steady
Stevie Wonder - I Don't Know Why (I Love You) - For Once in My Life
The Descendents - Tony Age - Milo Goes to College
PJ Harvey - Good Fortune - Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea

Los Campesinos!, Johnny Foreigner, Sparky Deathcap @ Bedford Esquires, 12/2/2008

The atmosphere in Esquires is sober with anticipation both before and after the reverb-and delay laden performance of Sparky Deathcap, whose raw and remorseful vocals are delivered to a crowd who clearly warm to his howls and finger-picked electric folk as the set progresses. His creative use of a sampler did seem to leave some members of the crowd a little nonplussed, however. Sparky howls and bawls his way through a set of melancholic numbers, reminiscent of Will Oldham’s incarnation as Palace Music on Arise Therefore, though you get the feeling that he feels slightly out of place on this bill.

Frenzied just isn’t a strong enough word to describe Birmingham trio Johnny Foreigner’s music. Chaotic comes close. Manic? You’re getting there…Los Campesinos! May be the seven-piece on the bill tonight, but as soon as “Champagne Girls I Have Known” bursts from the PA, you hear a band whose sound is far more raucous and ear-blowingly powerful than from your average three-piece. Johnny Foreigner are far from average though.

Bassist Kelly, who tonight looks akin to a rock ‘n’ roll little red riding hood, and frenetic front-man Alexei exchange vocals like two kids warring in the playground, while drummer Junior provides near flawless fast-paced stick-work from the back.

“Sofacore” provides a climax to this startlingly energetic set as Alexei’s guitar is flayed around as freely as his fringe, Junior ups the tempo on the skins, and Kelly is Deal-esque on bass. Another typically trademark whirlwind performance from Johnny Foreigner tonight, which feels like it’s over as soon as it’s started, but one which is loaded with tonnes of substance and promise.

The minute stage leaves Los Campesinos! looking slightly like a bizarre identity parade, with guitarists Neil and Tom morphing into Siamese twins joined at the hip, and everyone else finding space wherever they can.

You wonder how well the Los Campesinos! sound will translate live, using a melodica and glockenspiel in their heavily layered compositions, but, except for some vocals being on the quiet side, the sound is pretty much bang on. The delivery of each clink and frenetically uttered lyric is as tight as the duck’s proverbial with barely a beat out of place.

Lead-man Gareth’s performance is as sharp as his haircut as they scamper through “Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats” and then merrily skip through “Please Don’t Tell Me To Do The Math(s)” and “Death To Los Campesinos!” to the delight of the crowd, who handclap and finger snap their way along gleefully.

“You! Me! Dancing!” is a six-and-a-half-minute opus with a chorus that switches between excitable exclamations and the most regretful lyrics about dancing since George Michael sang about his guilty, rhythmless feet. Los Campesinos!’ impressive performance climaxes with the brilliant “... And We Exhale And Roll Our Eyes In Unison” before launching into an hyperactive rendition of “Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks” which has the crowd in a chorus of even more handclaps and some excitable moves on the dance floor.

No sign of an encore, but Los Campesinos!’ creative variety of indie-pop leaves me, unable to resist at the very least joyfully whistling their infectious choruses as I exit onto the streets. On the back of this performance this may be the last time they play Bedford, but I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of Los Campesinos! in the future.

SPARKY DEATHCAP 7/10

JOHNNY FOREIGNER 8/10

LOS CAMPESINOS! 9/10

[Review taken from Drowned in Sound]

Lightspeed Champion @ Bedford Esquires 2/2/2008

Luke

Lightspeed Champion @ Bedford Esquires

2^nd February 2008

£6

In the week where he was plastered on the cover of the NME and appeared as panellist on Nevermind The Buzzcocks, you’d be forgiven for assuming that being chased through the streets of Bedford whilst outside a popular Portuguese themed chicken restaurant was clear evidence of Dev Hynes’,(aka Lightspeed Champion) rapid rise to stardom. However, as would have become startlingly obvious to Dev and his backing band, they weren’t after a picture with the ex-Test Icicle, or even an autograph…

Though Hynes’ fame has not quite hit the levels of being chased around town centres by screaming, adoring adolescents, his all-round appeal is clear to see with a few members of the sell out crowd wearing deerstalkers in tribute, something which amuses Hynes when he spots them being waved in his direction from among the masses.

Hynes certainly cuts an unusual figure as he walks out onto the tiny Esquires stage, complete with a harmonica, used live for the first time, despite his fears that an association would be made with politics and protest songs.

The set opens with the melancholic yet melodic “Salty Water”, working as a prelude to the four- minute crescendo that is “Dry Lips”. By the time Hynes wails “Tell her I give up” the crowd are bopping along. It is at this point that the harmonica is discarded from Hynes’ musical accoutrements, putting to bed any hopes or fears of Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind” appearing in tonight’s setlist.

“Galaxies of the Lost” produces what is as close to a “lighters in the air” (or should it be camera-phones in the air nowadays?!) moment as you’re likely to get tonight, though it does fall short of getting every member of the crowd to sing along and wave their arms in the air, sadly.

Hynes sweeps through the set with real purpose, playing almost exclusively tracks off the album, though the time is taken to air a new track to the crowd, amusingly written from the perspective of a Brazilian hooker. The set ends with the ten-minute epic “Midnight Surprise”, which builds block by block until it reaches a self-proclaimed “Gary Barlow moment” half way through, with Hynes lamenting lyrically, with just a keyboard for support. A colossal conclusion follows, featuring a feedback laden guitar solo and a frantic fiddler seemingly in danger of self-decapitation from his bow.

I’m not sure how many encores will be played on Lightspeed Champion’s first headline tour, but the crowd tonight wants one, though they don’t seem entirely certain that they’ll get one, but they carry on nonetheless. Hynes eventually returns to the stage, unsure of what to play. The harmonica hasn’t made a return, so “Blowin’ in the Wind” still looks out of the question. An apology is made in advance about butchering the song about to be played, but you almost feel a collective grin grow on the faces of the crowd as he belts out Weezer’s “Buddy Holly”. He may not look like Buddy Holly, and the violinist looks nothing like Mary Tyler Moore, but quite frankly, with a performance like tonight backing up a solid debut album, I don’t care about that.

8/10

[Review taken from Drowned in Sound]

Pink Bloody Floyd

James

Welcome to mine and Luke's blog, where we chat general shit about music old and new, and what has really narked us about the music scene in the recent past. I can't speak for Mr Slater, but during my posts there will be much reference to how much of a knob I think Paul Weller is, along with general hope that Sting will finally realise that he should never make another record, and should also apologise for his back catalogue. Personally, I think he should apologise for that sickening bit at the end of the 'Rise and Fall' video where he touches Craig David, but I digress.......

The subject of today's discussion is Pink Floyd. Now, for me, they are one of the most overrated bands in history, what with their 13 minute songs and their general overuse of the effects pedal. I will begrudgingly admit that they have had their moments; the Syd Barrett era, and the only song I like, 'Great Gig In The Sky' (which incidentally showcased the talents of Clare Torry rather than the Floyders), but in the main the songs were overlong and signified for me all that was wrong with prog.

The worrying thing for me is that I am being overwhelmed by Pink Floyd fans. I can't take it anymore - my arguments are falling on deaf ears! I would actually prefer to tan my own testicles than have to listen to a single minute of 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' - for me it really is that bad! For anyone who is unsure of whether they like Pink Floyd, just listen to 'Division Bell' - that should put you off for good.

In other news, Lincoln played host to the Cribs tonight at the Engine Shed. To quote the words of Noel Gallagher's apology to Damon Albarn and Alex James after the 'AIDS' affair, "whilst not being a fan of their work, I wish them a long and happy life." As you can probably tell, I'm not a Cribs fan. Neither am I a fan of the Kooks, another band due to play my home city very soon. Needless to say, I won't be going to see the grammatically challenged, curly-haired public-school knobjockeys when they play, however this is a sign that Lincoln is getting big acts. I just wish it would get some big acts that I like! I feel like I'm being punished for buying that Alanis Morrisette album when I was 12 by being forced to listen to an eternity of middle of the road indie bands. Hopefully Boards of Canada will answer my call and play Lincoln soon....

Finally, one more feature that we aim to do as part of the posts is a daily playlist. This will comprise of the artist/song/album. Hopefully we will BOTH provide one! Here is todays, and thanks for listening. Until next time....

ARTIST SONG ALBUM
Radiohead Nude In Rainbows
Youngblood Brass Band Culture:Envy:War Culture:Envy:War
Madness Bed and Breakfast Man One Step Beyond
The Shins Australia Wincing the
Night Away
Charlie Rich Behind Closed Doors Behind Closed Doors