Something for the Weekend: Ash "Binary"

I do like it when a band can take the piss out of themselves. It is a rare sight as many musicians depend on a "straight" façade in order to be taken seriously by the general public; although whether they like it or not, this often leaves many artists open to parody or derision.
So when Ash released a slasher-parody video for their single "Binary" on Monday, it raised both an eyebrow and a smile. The video was filmed on the band's camcorder whilst on tour in 2002 and features the band and former guitarist Charlotte Hatherley being killed off Psycho-style by an axe murderer. The sub-7 minute long feature also features Coldplay's Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland playing Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson type characters.
While the single itself is typical Ash material, the video is simply too good to ignore and far more entertaining than anything from Lady Gaga's bullshit factory. "Binary" was released on Monday.

Something for the Weekend: Joe Cocker "With a Little Help from my Friends"

Covers are, for the most part, viewed with derision in the modern music music. Often they showcase some laziness by the covering artist, but they on occasion they point to an artist that has run/is running out of steam and it is only the possibility of a good rearrangement that can salvage a reputation. So it is with sadness that a number of credible artists have veered into cover album territory in the last few years in order to extend an already limping career for just a short while longer, while only doing a disservice to the already written music. These performances are often just simple re-recording of already heard and well known songs.
Occasionally, there are wonderful experimentations within the genre - The Grey Album by Dangermouse is an example of taking two very famous albums (The Beatles' White Album and Jay-Z's Black Album) and creating a dedicated long playing mash-up that complimented the original material, rather than subtract from it. Nouvelle Vague are another example of a duo that restructure the work of others, giving them a fresher appeal; often transforming post-punk and 80's new wave material from the likes of The Clash or Joy Division to soft folk, French lounge pop or bossa nova.

One of the finest exponents of rearrangement is Sheffield blues musician Joe Cocker, whose 1969 cover of "With a Little Help from my Friends" by the Beatles steps out of the shadows of its Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club original and almost completely reinvents the piece - aided too by Cocker's own manic performances (as seen below).
The live version below comes from Joe Cocker's performance at Woodstock and shows the singer at the tip of the late 60's hippie movement, before the sheer hell of early 70's boredom rock set in.

Review: Taper Jinx "Apnea EP"

It may have taken a while, but in February I was finally hit with the Taper Jinx EP, In Doasaw and dagnammit it was a rather fine effort.
Released a while back as a sexual freebie by the Irish electronic label Kaboogie, Apnea retains much of the creeped out rhythms and sonic blushes of In Doasaw, but presents them in a harder, dancier fashion; yet this is by no means a stomper - if anything, Taper Jinx has released an EP that swings in a trance or industrial-esque manner.

The ambiance of the In Doasaw has since evolved into a black light music; whereby darkened felines busy themselves scanning a shrouded room while pillheads fuck eachother with their glistening, protruding eyeballs, all the while jutting like epileptic children on a strobe buzz - fuck, they've even got the foaming sensation to legitimise their sick manners.
The second track "Fractal", introduces more in the way of trance to the EP, yet it feels like a cul-de-sac riding against a tide; thoughts abound of constantly glancing a kerb and bouncing outward, yet unable to escape for the strong tide. Meanwhile, it's title-track follow-up sounds like someone getting sick on the Saturday night buzz. Yes, that 2am feeling of vomit dribbling from your vocal orifice, whilst the light flickers and flashes above in slow motion. Joyous, no? The EP is neatly wrapped up by "Coda" - a desolate soundscape that dreams up a barren land; it's all somehow quite fitting.

All in all, Apnea is a good effort, but hardly ground breaking stuff by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, this is the aural equivalent of getting off with an incredible sexy young lady on the dancefloor, only to discover when the lights come up that she's your cousin. Does any of this actually make any fucking sense?
Download Apnea EP from here!!

Taper Jinx MySpace
Rating: 3 out of 5

Remembering Ian Curtis

30 years ago today, Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis committed suicide by hanging himself in his home, just prior to the their first US tour. I will not go into any of the stories or theories that may or may not have happened to Curtis in his short life; there are already far too many authoritative books and documentaries on the subject - all I will do is tell you is that Joy Division are one of my favourite bands.

In a very short period of time, they produced a body of work that has continued to influence and charge artists all these decades later and along with Martin Hannett, their approach to sound helped shape the output of a large mass of music, especially in the last decade. They produced two stunningly beautiful albums and a handful of quality singles under Tony Wilson's Factory Records label
For a truly close story of Ian Curtis, it is best to look no further than Touching from a Distance, penned by Curtis' widow, Deborah some 15 years after the event. It is well worth a read.

Joy Division "Transmission"

Something for the Weekend: Tottenham Hotspurs FC (featuring Chas and Dave) "Ossie's Dream"

I'm not a football fan - well, not a television fan by any stretch. As much as it is a fun game to to play, football on TV bores me; alas my current working environment has me surrounded by football fan, whereas I am the only motorsports fan within a country mile of me. When one also takes into account my unwavering love for tea, it means that I am essentially a migrated version of Mrs Doyle - the fact that I am not too far from either West Ham or Millwall does not ease my mood.

Something that has been drilled into me rigidly in the last few days (apart from the General Election) is the news that the FA Cup Final is fast approaching and while that in itself doesn't bother me too much, there is a distinct sadness that football teams do not do cup final songs anymore. They were often fun, cheesy, unbearable and probably penned by Chas & Dave.
Although North London team, Tottenham Hotspurs may not have reached this year's FA Cup final, they did get there in 1981 and with that, Something for the Weekend is proud to present "Ossie's Dream" as performed by Tottenham Hotspurs FC (featuring Chas & Dave - naturally). The song is basically the bog standard old terrace singalong that used to be quite frequent upon a big match or tournament, but have become less so in recent years. It celebrates that fact that Argentine player Ossie Ardiles was leading Spurs' attack and the team were going to deafeat their sporting enemies - that's pretty much all I could decipher. Well, at least I hope they were going to defeat their sporting enemies as opposed to anyone else...

Video: Grand Pocket Orchestra "Basketballs"

Good God it's the middle of May and Grand Pocket Orchestra have been kind enough to release a short video for he pleasant new single, "Basketballs". The five-piece scored a plus with a wonderful video last year for "Odd Socks" and have followed it up with a wonderful brutal piece of work for "Basketball". Indeed the 99 second opus shows the lead singer Paddy Hanna shoving his fist down his throat, thereby enticing a pool vomit to jump for freedom.
Grand Pocket Orchestra release "Basketballs" with a show at Twisted Pepper (Dublin) on May 22nd, supported by Futures Apart and No Monsters Club. Doors are at 8pm and it is €8 in.
Grand Pocket Orchestra MySpace

Strange Music Videos...

So-called outsider musician's rarely conjure up thoughts of Lady Gaga type pop-stylings. Many sit on verges of art creating pieces that rarely sit comfortably with a mass audience, diluted by commercial pop pollution; however there are those whose talents are simple skewed - one such outsider is Chicago singer Jan Terri. Terri spent a number of years as a limo driver while at the same time recording several video's to go along with her 1993 début album, Baby Blues - the below video, "Losing You" is taken from that album.
With little interest, Terri continued to work at her fledging music career while still driving until one of her videos made it into the hands of Marilyn Manson. He had Terri perform at one of his parties and was impressed enough by her performance to allow her to open one of his shows. To be frankly honest, "Losing You" isn't a particularly good song, but it is difficult to fault Terri's rather long-winded attempts to kick start her career.



Not to be outdone, whilst rather dullened of mind on a quiet Monday evening, I was reminded of this rather wonderful video for the Armi and Danny song, "I Want to Love You Tender". This remarkable piece of work was released in 1978 and displayed the Finnish group's apparent love for space age work out sessions - lovely...



Sadly, the female member of the duo, Armi Aavikko passed away in 2002 of pneumonia following a long battle with alcohol addiction, whilst 'Danny' (real name Ilkka Lipsanen) is still active in the Finnish music industry where he is considered a bit of a Daniel O'Donnell type figure. This song became part of an internet meme in 2006 and gave the couple some measure of short term success, if rather late and based partially in ridicule.
There is a sense of sadness that both of these acts received attention not for their outstanding talents - for that is obvious, but for the peculiar situations they found themselves in at that particular times. It's not the nicest way to be remembered, should they ever be remembered at all.

Review: CutThroat Convention "What The?"

What The? - the single from London/Japanese band CutThroat Convention - is rather odd. I had to listen to it several times to make sure I heard it right the first time. The singles' two songs, "What The?" and "The Void, the Vuv" possess even touches of not quite in your face hardcore with almost swift electronic musings and sly dubstep, sheltered by singular strings to provide nine minutes of some of the strangest music laid in front of me this year; but don't get me wrong, because What The? is fucking great.

Imagine the musical equivalent of what you think colonic irrigation might be like and you are left with What The? After a listen, one is left feeling rather flushed, but ultimately refreshed - this actually manages to rid the meandering shit from the body, leaving only the fluids of goodness and vitality. Throw on some clothes and top it off with a leather jacket, find an alleyway and mercilessly kick the shit out of one of those monstrous recycling containers.
Go on, you know you want to. The chance to be an utter bastard is at your feet and it's time to deploy your Winklepickers to the revitaliser of cardboard and plastic - no other false economy shall be propped up today!! Hah!!
Do I know what to make of this? Fuck no, but it was fun trying.

CutThroat Convention MySpace
Rating: 4 out of 5

Something for the Weekend: Election 2010 Special

At the time of writing, it is only turning midnight and the seat counts are beginning to roll in, so for this week I'm leaving a slight multiple choice for everyone out there.
If it is a Tory victory, then be prepared to see the quality of life for anyone (anything - we may be considered to be less than human, but don't quote me on that) that is less than higher-middle class to suffer badly and watch the true horror of Conservative economic and social values become apparent. In that case, sing this song...



However, should there be a three-way coalition government (admittedly the Liberal Democrats are in the minority at this juncture), then the possibility for electoral reform and negotiation of economic issues would have to commence... which may be much better in the long run. Anyhoo, if the latter happens, then I shall sing this...

Rubicks (93 Feet East, Bethnal Green, London; May 7th)

This Saturday London based electronic-rock four-piece, Rubicks, will be releasing their new single Giddy Up at the Playground Club at 93 Feet East (Bethnal Green, London).

DJ-ing later on will be the rather nice Gary Numan, so anyone who wants to be seen, you know where to go. There will also be sets from You Love Her Coz She's Dead, Losers and a whole bunch of other folk. Doors are at 7pm and tickets are a tenner (£8 if you get them in advance) and should be running til about 4am. Rubicks are on early, so get there if you can.
Rubicks MySpace

Butterfly Explosion: May European Tour

Irish post rock band, the Butterfly Explosion are heading off on a European tour this month, taking in trips to the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Austria supporting God is an Astronaut and will be followed by a one-off show at the Sound City Festival in Liverpool.

The tour is as follows:

07 May - Kade Zaandam, Holland
08 May - Watt Rotterdam, Holland
10 May - Gruenspan Hamburg, Germany
11 May - Universum Stuttgart, Germany
12 May - Zentrum Altenburg Oberhausen, Germany
13 May - Gebaeude Cologne, Germany
14 May - Beatpol Dresen, Germany
15 May - Blue Note Poznan, Poland
16 May - Kwadrat Krakow, Poland
17 May - Magnet Berlin, Germany
18 May - Schlachthof Wiesbaden, Germany
19 May - Feierwerk Munich, Germany
20 May - Orpheum Graz, Austria
22 May - Mello Mello, 6:30pm-7pm, Liverpool Sound City Festival

Butterfly Explosion's explosion début album, Lost Trails, is out now and can be picked up at CCNow and iTunes.
Butterfly Explosion MySpace

Video: Janelle Monae "Tightrope (featuring Big Boi)"

Janelle Monae has had something of a quite time in recent years. The afro-punk and soul singer released her début album seven years ago and although there have been numerous EP's and singles in the meantime, it is an immense length of time between long players.
This new album, titled The ArchAndroid is the continuation of a conceptual series called Metropolis (fuck sake, another one?), which will feature musical suites II and III, with I and IV: The Chase previously released in 2007. While the new single, "Tightrope", goes on for far, far too long, it cannot be denied that the video is a fantastic piece of work - and is to be frank deserving of a much better song.
Judging from the release info, The ArchAndroid has eighteen tracks - eighteen fucking tracks!! One hopes they are very brief; although "Tightrope" does go on for about a century, so one never knows...


Janelle Monae "Tightrope (featuring Big Boi)"

(May 2010) Easy Music for Difficult Ears Spotify Playlist

Rambling along like a stupid drunk who has just been dropped to the kerb by inconsiderate and untrustworthy "friends", comes the third Easy Music for Difficult Ears Spotify Playlist. Alas, it's May and things should be all sunny and glorious; however I have never done sunny and glorious and have no intentions of being happy now.
In a ill-conceived attempt to soothe my sullen brow, here is May's list of music and bullshit and stuff. Enjoy!!

May 2010 Playlist

1. Miles Davis "Ah-Leu-Cha" ('Round About Midnight, 1956 GNP Crescendo Records) Buy it!!
   
2. Hoyt 'Floyd' Ming & His Pep-Steppers "Indian War Whoop" (American Folk Music Boxset, Recorded 1928; 2008 Master Class Recordings) Buy it!!
3. Billie Holiday "Strange Fruit" (Billie's Blues, 1990 One Media) Buy it!!
4. Jon Balke "Giada (Chapter 1)" (Book of Velocities, 2007 ECM Records) Buy it!!
5. Simple Kid "Drugs" (SK1, 2004 Demon Music Group) Buy it!!
6. MGMT "Brian Eno" (Congratulations, 2010 Sony Music Entertainment) Buy it!!
7. The Stranglers "Rok it to the Moon" (The UA Singles 1977-'82, 2009 EMI Records) Buy it!!
8. XTC "Science Fiction" (Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles Collection 1977-'82, 2009 Virgin Records) Buy it!!
9. Blondie "I'm on E" (Plastic Letters, 1977 Capitol Records) Buy it!!
10. Devo "(I Can't Get Me No) Satisfaction" (Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo, 1981 Virgin Records) Buy it!!
11. Siouxsie and the Banshees "Dear Prudence" (Hyaena, 1984 Polydor Records) Buy it!!
12. Super Extra Bonus Party "Who Are You and What Do You Want?" (Night Horses, 2009 Super Extra Bonus Party) Buy it!!
13. Kate Nash "Mansion Song" (My Best Friend is You, 2010 Polydor Records) Buy it!!
14. Beat Happening "Bonfire" (Black Candy, 1989 Rough Trade Records) Buy it!!
15. A House "Live Life Dead Died" (I Am the Greatest, 1992 Setanta Recordings) Buy it!!
16. The Wedding Present "Kennedy" (Bizarro, 1989 RCA) Buy it!!
17. Cold in Berlin "Destruction" (Destruction/What Went Wrong?, 2009 2076 Records) Buy it!!
18. Dead Kennedys "Cesspools in Eden" (Bedtime for Democracy, 1986 Alternative Tentacles) Buy it!!

(April 2010 Playlist)
(March 2010 Playlist)