DAFT PUNK. DAFT PUNK. DAFT PUNK. DAFT PUNK. DAFT PUNK. DAFT PUNK. DAFT PUNK. DAFT PUNK. See? You can’t escape them. Not even here at Musika Towers. ‘Get Lucky’ is a fantastic tune, but (ssssh) apparently, the album is a little bit self-indulgent. Even so, I think they’ve earned the right, but if ‘Get Lucky’ has earwormed the hell out of you, then Daughter’s cover will drag it out (screaming in a Pharell falsetto) and throw it on the bonfire.
‘No fighting in the playground!’ A cry we may have heard at school. But now? It can only be a result of the bundle due to squeeze into Brixton Academy with all the cool kids, for one of the most staggeringly diverse, musically historical line-ups ever!
You hibernate for a winter, and then in the space of two weeks, you’ve helped out at a charity gig night and seen some amazing talent, attended a local band night that was a real eye-opener, and been to see a personal favourite incinerate Village Underground (!!!). It’s like a musical trifecta has romped home and showered me in an embarrassment of sonic riches.
On the charity night at The Sebright Arms, there was an amusingly named band called All Girl Ninja Death Squad. They were neither stealthy, girls, or remotely assassin like. What they were was an alternative pseudonym for Francobollo, a Swedish band in London that play gloriously fuzzy, angular, stop-start pop that has the minimalism and stylings of a punk band, but with a delightful sense of playfulness and sense of humour.
Clinton Fearon – Heart and Soul (2012)
By Gary Lewis
The title says it all really. Clinton Fearon, of legendary roots reggae trio The Gladiators (bass/guitar), has dug deep into the archives and within himself, to pull out a collection of personal, beautiful tunes that crosses time, location and trends.
I want to be as happy and relaxed as the sexagenarian on the cover! And with songs such as ‘One Love’ and ‘Follow the Rainbow’ drifting out of your speakers and dropping Jah bombs on your consciousness, it shouldn’t be too hard to achieve.
Guitar is dead. Blah blah blah. Where are the new bands? Blah blah blah. Well, if you look under the lid of your small town, you’ll probably find a seething hotbed of talent.
On a night in Newbury last week, I was fortunate enough to go to a band night. ‘This is a local pub, for local people’ I initially thought, but, you get a real sense of community from the off.
Basically, Firestate RAWK! The long hair flows like cider on a summer’s day, and the riffs are bigger than a Euromillions rollover. It’s like the 90′s are slapping you in the face, reminding you of when grunge and rock took centre stage.
No, it’s not Pistorius’ court plea, but it is the follow up to flaming hot London producer Oscar Scheller‘s debut ‘Never Told You’, called, ‘I Don’t Care’.
He doesn’t really sing, but kinda talks his way through a tune awash in apathy, caked in nonchalance, and wrapped up in a grimy film of insouciance. He sounds like he doesn’t care, but the production (heavy bass and drums reminiscent of Blur’s ‘Song 2′) is surprisingly simple and accomplished.
It’s what we should all do on a Sunday. Not care. Take a load off. Turn it up. Sigh. If only Monday never came …
Squarepusher – Roundhouse, London, March 30 2013
By Gary Lewis
As Chuck D politely inquired: “Bass. How low can you go?” In the case of Tom Jenkinson as Squarepusher, the answer is lower than Frankie Boyle on Twitter; warped, nose-hair tickling, frenetic bass that was fully evident at his recent Roundhouse gig.
Much has been made of the rise of the AV spectacular: Amon Tobin, Deadmaus, Skrillex, going back to Chemical Brothers and Orbital. Yes, dance music is pretty boring just watching dudes behind a desk doing their knob twiddly thing, though Fatboy Slim does pack a lot of energy and some awesome Hawaiian shirts into the equation! But visuals and music obviously best work together when both are good.
Warp speed ahead! What a year for one of Britain’s most iconic film and music labels. A retrospective, major albums from their leading artists, and now, the first track from Bibio‘s forthcoming album Silver Wilkinson.
This is not an electronic Gotye, but it does have a similar feel for melancholy, demonstrated on the sublime ‘Lovers’ Carvings’, until the Avalanches style cut and paste electronic quirkiness kicks in with the gorgeous vocal and treacly beats.
It’s got ‘first nice weekend of the year soundtrack’ written all over it. Enjoy!
Holy Roller Musika Man! Super song of the day is a dastardly slice of funky folk designed to tap your feet to. What do we do? Well Headbobbing, we sit down, listen and dammit… Tap. Our. Feet.
… I heard a proper, party dance tune like this a while ago. So, it is with great pleasure that I introduce SoulFusion‘s ‘The Last Time’.
SoulFusion are Dylan O’Farrell and Jason Matthews, two music partners from London who have just released their first single on independent label Medikal Records.
