Something for the Weekend: Cold in Berlin "Destruction"

This week’s “Something for the Weekend” presents Cold in Berlin. 

The East-London based post-punk quartet make lovely noisy noise, not too distant from a stark and mashed version of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Siouxsie and the Banshees and ADULT and tonight at the dutifully grimy and delightful Old Blue Last on Old Street (London), they will be launching their debut album.

The album, called Give Me Walls, will officially be released by 2076 Records on Monday (November 29th) and can be picked up from their site.

The video for Give Me Walls lead single, “Destruction” was constructed from still images recorded by Dina Karklina. “Destruction” was originally released at the tail end of 2009 as a split-single with Death Cigarettes – who also happen to be Cold in Berlin.

Whatever. It doesn’t matter, because it’s still very, very good.

Cold in Berlin MySpace

Cold in Berlin "Destruction"

Peter Christopherson (RIP)

Last night, electronic music pioneer Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson died in his sleep at his home in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 55-year-old found notoriety, first with the industrial group Throbbing Gristle in 1970's and early '80's, before forming first, Psychic TV (with former Throbbing Gristle-lead, Genesis P Orridge) and later, Coil (with Jjohn Balance).
Christopherson was also an influential visual artist, creating works for the likes of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Factory Records. He was known for doing window design work for Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood's shop, SEX, and is credited for taking the very first promo shots of the then unknown Sex Pistols.

Throbbing Gristle reformed in 2004 following their break-up in 1981, with the four-piece performing irregularly until Genesis P Orridge left the group only two weeks ago. Nevertheless, Christopherson - along with Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti - continued, albeit under the banner of X-TG until Christopherson's untimely death yesterday.

Throbbing Gristle "Discipline (live)"

Something for the Weekend: Men Without Hats "The Safety Dance"

When Canada's Men Without Hats surged forward in 1982 with their début long-player, Rhythm of Youth, it marked yet another step in the synthesised pop world, that also housed the likes of Duran Duran, the Human League, Ultravox and others.

Founded by Ivan Doroschuk in the late-70's, the group revolved around Doroschuk, two of his brothers (Stefan and Colin) and electronics maestro Jeremie Arrobas; however the band did not become a solidified entity until 1980 and the release of their début EP, Folks of the 80's.  Numerous changes followed Folks of the 80's and by the time Rhythm of Youth arrived only Ivan Doroschuk remained from the original incarnation.

Produced by Marc Durand, Rhythm of Youth dropped one of the biggest hits of 1982, The Safety Dance.  The song, about revellers not being allowed to pogo in nightclubs, was Men Without Hats sole commercial success, reaching the top 10 in the UK and hitting number 1 in America's Billboard Hot 100.   

The Safety Dance also garnered no little fame for its video.  Filmed in a village near Bath, it featured Doroschuk and several random people dressed up in medieval clothing, while morris dancing.  The dance also featured the protagonists making a rather silly "S" shape with their arms.

The band continued until 1991, although success had long since passed.  However, Ivan Doroschuk reformed Men Without Hats in 2003 with his brother, Stefan, to release their sixth album, No Hats Beyond This Point, but it was met with little critical or commercial success - in fact, the album has been left completely out of print.

In September, Men Without Hats once again returned to perform at the Rifflandia Music Festival in Canada and are apparently working on another comeback.

An Open Letter to Greg James and the BBC

Hi Greg,

I hope you don't mind, but there is something that drastically needs to be pointed out. It is the 15th of November. The 15th of November!!  Please Greg, tell me why are Christmas songs being played on the 15th of November? A few moments ago, the super extra bonus tones of Mariah Carey bellowed outward and shattered a pained silence and something very tragic happened.

People jigged. Some began to shake and bobble with vague amounts of rhythm - albeit lightly, with minor hip and head placements. Yet the signs were clear and obvious. People were beginning to smile… even if it was only polite.

Is there to be no respite from this merry hell? Soon people will be expected to smile and be joyous - but in November, that's not possible. It’s far too dour a month for good things to happen to common folk. If the populous become happy prior to December 1st, faces across the country could be broken forever!! The damage done to the NHS coffers in order to cure these shattered frowns may be irreparable.

If you do not halt this unseasonal jolliness, you may have eternal happiness on your conscience - I only hope you can live with that...

Sincerely yours,

Leigh O'Gorman

Something for the Weekend: Del Shannon "Runaway"

When Del Shannon and Max Crook penned in 1961, little did they realise that they had authored what would become a huge international hit.

Indeed, what may have simply rock 'n' roll song was turned on its head by Shannon's pained vocals and his swift changes of pitch that wrapped the lyrics in emotion torment.  Yet it is Crook's treatment of his Clavioline-based Musitron during the song's bridge that makes the hairs stand on one's neck. 
Such a searing sound dancing playfully with "Runaway"'s integral rhythm, is a perfect match for the sombre lyrics of loss and desperation that parade through the song's sole verse.  A performance on American Bandstand (see below) helped catapult the song to number 1 in the US Billboard charts, before it eventually making to the top spot in the UK two months later.

Shannon had several somewhat less successful in the following years as he struggled to recreate the magic that made "Runaway".  The song gained fame once again in 1986 when an updated version of the song soundtracked the intro to the NBC drama, Crime Story and led to an appearance on the David Letterman show.

For a time, he remained moderately in the public eye in the late-80's, but on February 8th 1990, Shannon committed suicide at his California home.

(November 2010) Easy Music for Difficult Ears Spotify Playlist

Ireland. I look outside and it is cold, wet and desolate. Consumed in thought, mired in its own problems - like a drunk in the corner forcing in another sip at a time.

November 2010 Playlist

1. The Damned "New Rose" (Damned Damned Damned, 1977, Stiff Records) Buy it here
2. Bow Wow Wow "C30 C60 C90 Go!!" (Girl Bites Dog, Your Digital Pet, 2006, EMI) Buy it here
3. The Slits "Newtown" (Cut, 1979, Island Records) Buy it here
4. Tricky "Suffocated Love" (Maxinquaye, 1995, Island Records) Buy it here
5. Gorillaz "Dracula" (G-Sides, 2002, EMI Records) Buy it here
6. Crystal Castles "Year of Silence" (Crystal Castles II, 2010, Polydor) Buy it here
7. Add N to (x) "Buckminster Fuller" (Avant Hard, 1999, Mute Records) Buy it here
8. Beck "Mutherfucker" (Mellow Gold, 1993, Geffen Records) Buy it here
9. Prodigy "Poison" (Music for the Jilted Generation, 1994, XL Recordings) Buy it here
10. LCD Soundsystem "Yeah (Crass Version)" (LCD Soundsystem, 2005, EMI Records) Buy it here
11. Heartsrevolution "Dance Till Dawn (Dex Pistols Remix Deux)" (Hearts Japan EP, 2009, Kitsune France) Buy it here
12. Throbbing Gristle "Final Muzak" (The First Annual Report, 2001, Yeaah) Buy it here
13. Vladimir Ussachevsky "Sonic Contours" (Sounds of New Music, 1957, Folkways Records) Stream it here
14. Electrelane "Many Peaks" (Rock it to the Moon, 2001, Mr Lady Records) Buy it here
15. Andre Williams "Bacon Fat" (Rib Tips & Greasy Chicken, 2007, Tuff City) Buy it here

October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010

Gig: Ulterior, Rubicks (Electrowerkz, London - Nov 5th)

This Friday, the Playground presents the launch of Ulterior's new single, "Sex War Sex Cars Sex" at Torrens Street's Electrowerkz venue near Angel in London.

Also playing will be Mirrors, Rubicks, Lord Auch, The Gaa Gaa's, Neurotic Mass and Movement as well as several DJ sets from various chaps. To be honest, the only band I've know in that list are the rather wonderful Rubicks.

Doors go from 7pm until 4am and the show is a sweet £7 in - tickets can grabbed from here.

London electronic band Rubicks will also be using the night to celebrate the launch of their new single, "Worship".  

While embodying touches of Blondie and Goldfrapp, Rubicks themselves knock out some fairly ace tuneables - if only it wasn't so hard to search for them on the webz.

Rubicks MySpace // Rubicks Twitter

Rubicks "Is This Love?"