Durrty Doogz-Can't Hold Me Down
Removed

Seems like this lot are going to be the next ones to bolt from the underground eski/grime stable into the mainstream, they were one of the acts on the bill at the Urban Music Festival and according to reports went down pretty well with the crowd. You can watch a video here and you should check out the whole of One Xtra if you enjoy this. This track has influences of dancehall and that's something that seems to be evident across the scene as I mentioned in a previous post. The great thing about grime/eski or Wot D U Call It? is that the raw beats and sounds are often complimented by an MC's playful vocals and manipulation of voice, coupled with slice of life commentary it's interesting, if nothing else, to listen to.


Kim Carnes-Bette Davis Eyes
Removed

Right, I don't care, I'm posting this because it's due a comeback and you can all laugh at me from behind your computer screens if you must.


Elsewhere Rock 'n' Roll in the Real World is an indie blog that recently started posting Mp3's.

Also I've updated the links, so click away....(well, not away, y'know come back too)

Back on....

The Futureheads-Meantime
The Futureheads-Dalms
Removed

I got the bandwidth issue resolved quicker than I expected so, all is back on, please remember to help my bandwidth out by only clicking one at a time-thanks. Lets get down to it then.... i must be quick today though as I've already spent enough time trying to sort this damn thing out. As promised two tracks from the new Futureheads album. Meantime is a fantastic slice of witty cynicism, and should become their signature tune. Dalms comes on like Dexy's Midnight Runners Geno and then enters Jam territory with Futureheads added harmonies and quirks. The album is good but is let down somewhat by the production which is done by the lead singer of Lomax. It doesn't fully show the dynamics of the band is a bit flat compared to what you see live, still these two tracks sound great. I'm told that they've had the album produced three different times and each has been rejected by the record company 679 Recordings, also home to The Streets hence the collaboration that I posted here a little while a go. 679 is actually pretty much owned by Warner music, though what that means anymore is anyones guess, seeing as Warners have been bought out.

Extra special thanks to the man of non-meat variety at Tofu Hut, yep he's back and firing on all canons.

Well, my bandwidth has been exceeded and they've shut my site down so there won't be any more Mp3s until I can get this thing sorted out, I had planned a extra large chunk of goodness today but alas technology has failed me. Anyone got any tips on how to keep it down? Sorry, I will try and sort this as soon as possible but as you may have noticed I'm not good at the technical stuff.


Whilst I leave it to the powers that be to decide if they can sort this bandwidth issue out for me (hopefully I should have something sorted by Friday), I'll post a review of last nights Rapture gig at London's Astoria. We arrived early to catch Sunderland's excellent The Futureheads, and enjoyed their geeky Northern charm and off-kilter harmonies a great deal. My music journalist companions even giving them the tag of "best new band in Britain", I certainly think live they are dynamic, charismatic and energetic. I'm planning to post a track or two from their new album when I get the chance, in the meantime there is some free tracks available on their official website above and from this great fan website. Now I've seen The Rapture quite a few times and in varying venues, the first time I saw them I was completely wasted on free booze and they could've been Chas & Dave for all I cared. The next time was at a 125 capacity dive in Brighton and I was not impressed, having gotten quite worked up with the records I'd heard I was disappointed when there was a distinct lack of something in the live performance. Then I caught them at a festival some time later again not blown away even with an impromptu dance from Bez. But...........last night they hit the spot and for me finally gave a live performance that matched up to the majesty of their records. The packed out Astoria was filled with a sweaty throng of lovers and losers and the atmosphere took the quality of the gig to the next level. By the time 'House of the jealous lovers' was unleashed, hands and arms were thrown into the air, balloons fell from the ceiling and people were united in musical (some definitely in chemical) ecstasy. One question hung over it all though, why oh why was Matt dressed as though he lived on a council estate and popped down the local every night for a couple of pints?

Other Tidbits

Investigate Spooky Records, an Australian label with lots of MP3s to download including some from The Cramps esque Digger & The Pussycat.

If you like your girlie indie-pop check out the audio page of the Track and Field organisation.

You must if you haven't already visit Devics, who make quietly menacing songs to listen to alone.

Oneida Mp3's and others at JagJaguwar

Express yourself the way you should be able to. Google sucks for doing this.

J-pop fans can dowload the new album sampler from New York based Marxy

It's Immaterial-Driving Away From Home
Removed

In a car on a motorway on a grey rainy day, I listen to this song and curse that I live on an Island. This is It's Immaterial's biggest hit and was released in 1985, it's the kind of synth-rock that was popular back then and is currently influencing many current bands. It's Immaterial didn't ever really break out of the underground and stopped releasing material around 1990. A small biog and discography can be found here. Driving Away From Home has an eccentric English charm to it, John Campbell's voice is kind of melancholy in a slightly similar way to Morrissey's. You can still get the album this is taken from Life's Hard and Then You Die.




Secret track 1
Secret track 2
Removed

I'm not going to tell you who these are by or any information other than they're both from the same band, it's new stuff and you really really should listen to them. The second one makes me think of Bugsy Malone-just as a thought to put out there, see what you think. I will probably post information on them in the future.

Time to make a switch


Ok, a nice new look, much cleaner than the last, so please don't be scared of change....
Timi Yuro-It'll Never Be Over For Me
Removed

My heart just breaks when I hear this song, dramatic orchestral backing and Timi's deep aching voice sends me to another, sadder place. Yuro had a number of health problems throughout her life, including many to do with her throat but she tragically died on 30th March this year at the age of 62 of brain cancer. In my opinion she should be as popular as someone like Dusty Springfield. Her voice was quite versatile and she sang in a variety of genres from country to easy listening but she sounded best when belting out soul. She was most famous for her version of 'Hurt' (the Roy Hamilton one) which was a hit in 1961 and in 1981 when it was reissued, you can still buy the 7" of 'Hurt' here. There are quite a few collections of her back catalogue around but this one is the best for the soul.



79Cortinaz-Feather Eggshells
Removed


So I told myself that I had to stop listening to Echo Beach so much, so then by chance I found a live cover version of Echo Beach by these guys. This song has a mysterious allure, it's kind of familiar because it sounds like so many different things, there's a bit of G'n'R, Afghan Whigs, Tindersticks early Faith No More and others I can't pick out at the moment. Feather Eggshells does rock-out a little too much toward the end though but still now I can't stop listening to this. 79Cortinaz are an Irish band, who have been together just over a year and were formed in Carlow, they write and record their songs in a shed, have a minimalistic website and you should download more of their songs from here.I haven't seen 79Cortinaz live or even seen what they look like but I think they've got potential, they've been signed to a UK indie so I presume that's the place to look out for future activity. Yeah, I guess I'm thinking about heartbreak....