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Reviews

Review: The Levellers, Subscription Rooms Stroud

Before embarking on their huge tour next year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their album Levelling The Land, The Levellers have been warming up with a grass roots tour of smaller venues in towns away from the normal tour circuit. As such, I found myself at the Subscription Rooms in Stroud on a bitterly cold November evening where it was the crowd who needed to warm up first. Thankfully it wasn’t just me that had braved the cold and icy conditions as there was a lively sell-out crowd filling the venue this evening.

As the lights dim, the stage is bathed in a blue wash and a thumping bass track plays, building with the addition of some pipes as the band take to the stage and the track fades to be replaced with the sound of a fiddle, signalling the opening bars of England My Home, setting the tone for the rest of the evening, with the enthusiastic crowd getting more into the songs from the bands early albums than their more recent offerings.

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Features

Feature: Is Tropical, Competition Winner!

Hey all, thanks for the submissions for last weeks competition to win Is Tropical’s new single. I asked you:

What was the first Kitsuné compilation, and in what year was it originally released? The first person with the right answer here, on Twitter or on Facebook will get the single! Winner revealed tomorrow.

The answer was Kitsuné Love, 2002, and the winner was Thom Lavelle. Well done Thom – the single will be winging it’s way over to you shortly!

Stay tuned for more giveaways soon.

James.

Categories
Playlists

144 Spotisfaction Monday – 29th November 2010 – Paul ‘Fozz’ Foster

Morning ladies and lads. I don’t like to be one to state the obvious, but good goddamn it’s cold. So cold, in fact, that I’ve come down with a bout of ManFlu (the horror!). So, I’m sat here trying to warm my poor hands whilst sipping a steaming mug of Lemsip. Great times, sirs. Great times.

Today’s playlist is by Gig Rig extraordinaire, Paul “Fozz” Foster, and is a fantastic concept – hit the links contained in the blurb below to see the music videos that go with his playlist. Nice work, Fozz.

As always, if you have an idea for a playlist (or if you just have a playlist you enjoy listening to, concept or not), then wing it our way and we’d love to publish it.

Love, hugs and mealy grubs.
Dave

Categories
Features

Feature: Gig Rig

Howdy folks! This week has been pretty awesome for gigs ”“ with an intense set from Sleigh Bells on Monday and a stellar performance from The National on Wednesday, which ended with an unamplified acoustic rendition of Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.

There’s a few new gigs to add to the list this week, and the most notable one is probably the upcoming tour from White Lies, whose music is gloomy yet upbeat and sounds like a cross between Joy Division and Interpol. I’ve not seen them live before but I’ve been reliably informed they put on an impressive show.

If you fancy some old-school ska-punk to reminisce about the “good ol’ days” of the 90s music scene then tickets go on sale today for Reel Big Fish‘s UK tour.

As always, hit the link for the full up-and-coming gig listings. Enjoy your weekends!

Categories
Playlists

143 Spotisfaction Friday – 26th November 2010 – Graham Terris

Afternoon, kids. Friday, once again. This week has been completely nuts – we’ve been trying to balance full-time jobs with running the site, and it’s really taking it’s toll at the moment. So, honestly, we need to expand and attract more contributors, editors, and people to help run the site. If you’re interested, then please do get in touch – we’d love to have you.

Today’s playlist is by first-time contributor Graham Terris (give him a wave and a lovey warm Spotisfaction welcome), and is entitled “2010 Live”. Honestly, I’m incredibly jealous – someone want to pay for me to attend that many gigs for 2011 please? Thanks for the playlist, Graham, it’s hugely appreciated. Hit the link to read his blurb.

Anyway, that’s it for another week. Keep your eyes pealed this afternoon for Gig Rig, and have yourselves a fabulous weekend.

Love, etc.
Dave

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Reviews

Feature: Is Tropical, Competition

Is Tropical. 2010 has been the year for Bandana-wearing punk-pop-electro. Having toured with Egyptian Hip Hop, Good Shoes and The Big Pink early in the year, Is Tropical then spent the summer recording their as-yet untitled debut album, signed for Kitsuné and then supported The Mystery Jets in their late Autumn UK tour. On 22 November they released the Kitsuné debut single South Pacific, and it’s a track that captures a summery, optimistic feeling in-keeping with the tracks name, the season it was created, and the growing momentum of the band.

Light, semi-glitchy and ultra low-fi beats, even the vocals are sketchy, giving the track, along with its jaunty synth lines, a childlike, innocent, unpolished feeling. There’s an ethereal, dream-like quality that makes it very easy to conjure images of sun, sea and sand, brightness and optimism. For a November release, this is about as summery as it gets.

Categories
Playlists

142 Spotisfaction Wednesday – 24th November 2010 – Rhys Howell

Arg mad rush over here today, so a very late playlist. But hopefully it means you’ll all chill out this evening and listen to this one in the comfort of your own home. We’re very busy these days thanks to the success of the site, and are looking for more contributors to provide us with playlists and articles, and to give us a helping hand to start publishing more of our articles. So, fancy being a part of running a blog? Love making playlists or writing about music? Then contact us! Facebook or Twitter us, or send us a message through the site, we’ll be delighted to hear from you.

Now, todays playlist is brought to you by Rhys Howell, and it’s a delightful classical playlist to smooth you over the hump of the week. Enjoy!

James

Categories
Reviews

Review: The Concretes – WYWH

I first listened to The Concretes last year, as I worked backwards from their former singer, Victoria Bergsman, and her solo album East Of Eden, to their eponymous debut from 2004. Just as I had loved her album, I loved their work together as a group, but for very different reasons. The Concretes was a jangly pop mix of horns, strings and a sickly sweetness complemented by the accented, carefree, slightly odd vocal of Bergsman. Basically it was just really nice ”“ and I don”™t mean this as a put-down at all. It was like a musical equivalent of watching a decent feel-good film like Juno or Little Miss Sunshine or something. It was a cheerful listen that was surprising in how enjoyable it was.

Since then much has been made of Bergsman”™s departure back in 2007 and the effect of that on their album of that year, Hey Trouble. Many people seem to think that the band is still struggling to work out what they”™re doing without her, but this seems absurd to me. They replaced Bergsman immediately with then drummer, Lisa Milberg, who has a voice not dissimilar from her predecessor”™s and except for this change the line-up has stayed largely the same. So, surely this shouldn”™t have made too big an impact? Obviously I don”™t know exactly what role Victoria had in the band and maybe she did tell them what they all had to do at all times so that without her they fell apart, but for whatever reason they have taken a different direction.

Categories
Playlists

141 Spotisfaction Monday – 22nd November 2010 – Hyperdub

Morning folks. Quick call to arms for you this morning – for the first time since our launch, we’re running really short on playlists. If you have a Spotify playlist that you’re quite proud of, or would like other people to see, then please get in touch in the usual fashion (Twitter, email, on the site, etc.). Seriously, anything you can send to us will be gratefully received and used – we survive on your content, guys and dolls, so please get it to us!

Anyway, to business. We have something a wee bit different for you today. Today’s playlist is one that was recently published by prolific dubstep label Hyperdub, and features many of the label’s artists such as Kode9 and Burial. It’s a cracking playlist, and one I’ve very much enjoyed listening to – I hope you enjoy, too.

Take it easy, friends.
Dave

Categories
Playlists

140 Spotisfaction Friday – 19th November 2010 – Dan Herlin

Afternoon all! Sorry for the slight delay in getting the playlist to you today – I had this morning off as holiday and quite short-sightedly forgot to ask anyone to cover! Oops. My apologies. Tonight is episode 3 of The Walking Dead, which is ridiculously exciting – I’ve not been this gripped by a series in a long time. Are you watching it? If so, what are your thoughts so far? Having said that, I guess, I was equally as engaged by Lost season 1, and look how seasons 2 and 3 panned out…

Anyway!

Today’s playlist is by Dan Herlin and is entitled “Paraphrasing”. It’s a long one, but stick with it as it’s very enjoyable – some great versions in there, kudos to you Dan!

Have a lovely weekend, kids, and see you next week.

Dave

Categories
News

News: The Levellers Add Dates

As announced recently Levellers are on tour next year with an anniversary show of their seminal album Levelling the Land. Well it would appear that it isn”™t just me that”™s excited about being reminded of those heady days 20 years ago when the album was first released, as demand for tickets has been so high that 5 extra dates have been added to the tour.

You can now catch Levellers, being supported by the equally effervescent The Wonder Stuff, at Dublin Academy, Liverpool O2 Academy, Cambridge Corn Exchange, Lincoln Engine Shed, and Bournemouth O2 Academy.

I”™d suggest getting in quick for your tickets as these shows are bound to be popular as well.

Hit the link for these new dates.

Categories
Reviews

Review: 3 Daft Monkeys, Gloucester Guildhall

Inflatable Buddha - image courtesy of Martin Svancar

I’d not heard much of 3 Daft Monkeys before we reviewed their latest self-released album The Antiquated & The Arcane a short while ago, but since then I’ve had the album on near-constant repeat and have fallen in love with their eclectic folk stylings. It was with some excitement, then, that I recently attended their gig at Gloucester’s Guildhall.

Arriving late due to a slight guestlist kerfuffle and having a bit of a chin-wag with an old friend in the bar, I missed the start of opening act Inflatable Buddha. It turns out that this was a major mistake on my part. Wandering in to find enigmatic poet/mandolin player Steve Larkin joking around with the crowd as naturally as if he were best of mates with everyone in the room, I was instantly hooked. Their particular brand of quirky folk punk was quite mesmerising to behold, a relentless energy surging from Larkin, and also double-bass player and co-vocalist Susannah Starling, through the remainder of their set. Particular highlights for me were ‘Clown’, a highly entertaining tail about a bi-polar, alcoholic circus worker which very clearly showcases the poetic nous that won Larkin 2004’s Spoken Word Olympics in Canada, and ‘Life Is Sweet’, which got the crowd well and truly warmed up through the liberal use of well-timed hoi‘s. A thoroughly enjoyable set, and I shall certainly be looking out for this 4-piece in the future.

Categories
Playlists

139 Spotisfaction Wednesday – 17th November 2010 – Dave Christensen

Hey hey Spotisfaction crew! Bit of a rush of things this morning so I may have to be brief. I’d like to echo Dave P’s Black Ops shout out – add me on Xbox live (Mr Strangent) for some zombie nonsense. Saw Holy Fuck on Monday night at the Electric Ballroom, absolutely incredible; I’ve been a very lucky boy for amazing gigs this year, and long may it continue.

Still always need your playlist submissions. You don’t want to hear from me all the time do you? We love all the quirky little playlists and all the reasons you guys listen to the music you do, so all those playlists you’ve got saved on the right hand bar of your Spotify account? Think about submitting them!

Now, on to today’s playlist, a great showcase of the Old Guard still making great music, from Dave Christensen.

James

Categories
Reviews

Review: The Mystery Jets, The Roundhouse London

The Mystery Jets have had a good year. Off the back of their third album proper, Serotonin, in July, William Rees and Kai Fish made a guest appearance on The Count & Sinden’s hit track After Dark, which was a mainstay on dance/indie playlists for most of the late summer. Since then, they’ve been on tour literally non-stop since mid-September, playing 38 European gigs since starting off with a double-header at New York’s Mercury Lounge on 14/15 September. They bring this mammoth tour to a close with a home-coming gig at London’s Roundhouse tonight, with signs of tiredness starting to set it.

Categories
Features

Feature: Tomorrow’s Sounds Today

Hello everyone and welcome to another editions of Tomorrows Sounds Today – sorry it’s a little late, but we had a manic one at the ol’ day job yesterday. Anyway, let us welcome you in from the cold cold winter and settle you in from of our roaring fire of new and exciting music. Slip off the shoes, pop on the slippers and we’ll make you a warming mug of some tasty new albums, we might even slip in a wee dram of hot releases as its a super cold day.

My first choice this week is one which is not part of Spotify but I feel it is an important thing to raise. I try not to be a charity plugger as there are far too many out there doing too much good work and inevitably they don’t all get equal voice.

That said, I have friends in the field on active service and I’ve spent different periods of my life tied with different Army Units (it was almost a full time career choice for me) so I am a strong supporter of the work the Royal British Legion do, not just at this time of year but all year round. Political views around war aside, people are dedicating their lives on a daily basis.

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/the-nation-remembers/two-minute-silence

Anyway…. morale guilt trip over with, onto the normal tunage!

Weezer ”“ Death to False Metal – This album comes very close to the latest studio release Hurley which we covered previously and whilst the songs are all ‘new’, it is not intended as a new album, although the band have professed to giving it the same energy and coverage. It acts as a collection of work spanning their careers, and all I will say is if you are a fan of Weezer already, I think there is plenty in there you will like. However, I don’t think (as you would expect from an informal, non studio release) that it will necessarily convert any non-fans. It is still a great album and worthy of mention along with their main releases, and for me at least it certainly doesn’t feel like a weak B-sides cash in attempt. For that alone they should be applauded, as that is all too easy to do these days.

The Radio Dept. ”“ Never Follow Suit – This EP from Swedish outfit The Radio Dept. is one of an ever growing list from a band who never seem to release many albums but are always punching out the EP’s. To say never is a little unfair as there are a couple out, but EP’s seem to form the backbone. As their name might suggest, they are on the more electronic spectrum and certainly make me think of some of the 80’s electronica bands with hints of New Order, Cocteau Twins and the like. A great piece of work and worthy of the rest of their catalogue.