another year over

Merry Christmas


ALBUM OF THE DECADE

Adem....Homesongs




























SONGS OF 2009


Jesca Hoop....Four Dreams


Cate Le Bon....Me Oh My


Euros Childs....Shithausen & Gently All Around


Super Furry Animals....Moped Eyes


Withered Hand....No Cigarettes


Broadcast & The Focus Group....To Be The Colony


Spaceships Are Cool....Let Things Go


Alun Tan Lan....Dyma'r Diwedd


Magic Arm....Rested Bones




ALBUM OF 2009


Ambulances....The Future That Was (well what did you expect?)

The albums of the artists who feature in the songs of 2009 list are all excellent and recommended purchases. As well as these I give special mention to The Soundcarriers who have created a terrific album called Harmonium.

*Many of the artists featured on this post feature in a Festive Bestive podcast put together by the ever super Ted over at Cloud Sounds. Ted has incredibly similar taste to myself when it comes to music ie he likes Euros Childs quite a lot.

magic arm

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Just go buy the album Make Lists, Do Something. Wonderful, like The Beta Band & Beck doing McCartney in the best possible way.

*I used to have a magic arm but it's not what it once was. Now it's crab claw.

spaceships are cool

Spaceships Are Cool are cool. Where would you expect to find one of the most inventive bands around? Not in Nottingham. Dreamlike psyche-pop with electronic fidgets.

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*Spaceships are cool. Cooler than dwarves for example although dwarves are big in Japan.

FOUND

Edinburgh artist collective FOUND's star is on the rise. Tommy from the group has made a laptop mixtape available as a kind of christmas gift over at their website. Any mix with Shuggie Otis on is fine by me.

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Have a listen to the talented experimentalists too. They're rather good.

*Members of FOUND recently won a Scottish BAFTA for their autonomous emotional robot band CYBRAPHON.

**A sardine tin lid makes an excellent quiff for a homemade robot. Perhaps I should contact the guys with this improvement suggestion.

sam and the plants

Sam & The Plants come from the north west of England a make, quite simply, gorgeous music. I could go on about pastoral 60s folk and other whimsy but there really is no point. Just listen and tell your friends.

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the beep seals

As the end of the year/decade fast approaches we are constantly reminded of who or what was best and such like over the given period. Or, who'll be missed since they passed on but let's keep this light.

In the spring of this year The Beep Seals decided to call it a day. They leave behind a lovely wee album they recorded with Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake that folks will hopefully stumble upon for years to come. Here's a taster...

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withered hand (free download)

The ever brilliant Withered Hand are giving away a new song for free. Ergo, help yourself to the first gift that keeps on giving from this here site.

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the wellgreen

I can't believe I've not mentioned The Wellgreen until now. Just as well nobody reads this rubbish. Anyway, The Wellgreen, purveyors of fine music from the west coast of Scotland with a debut album imminent.

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*Stuart Kidd from The Wellgreen is also in 9/10 bands based in Glasgow & the surrounding area. Marco Rea from The Wellgreen is in the rest.

jesca hoop

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Jesca Hoop is an American lady living in Manchester. Have a listen to her song Four Dreams. It's one of my favourites this year. She's just released an album called Hunting My Dress too. You might as well just buy it now. It'll save you having to pick it up later.

*Jesca used to be nanny to Tom Waits' children before moving to England. I don't know any children but from what I can remember I'd prefer their company to the perpetual drizzle of Manchester.

alun tan lan

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Alun Tan Lan is amazing. Guitarist in Euros Childs' group and Britains No.1 surf combo Y Niwl, as well as a superfine solo artist to boot.

*I went to school with someone called Alun. He was in a heavy metal band called Rip N' Tear. Must be a very musical name Alun.

eagleowl

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Our final St Andrews day offerings are eagleowl. Beautiful, beautiful slow rolling music from Edinburgh. Their new single is out any day now. Their last single, though sold out, is available to buy as a download. Please go and get both, for your own good.

*I used to work in a shop with Clarissa from Eaglowl many moons ago. It was shit but she seemed thoroughly decent. There were others who seemed thoroughly decent but their bands were pish.

esperi

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Seeing as it's St Andrews day here we have another band from Scotland. On Friday my group had the pleasure of playing on the same bill as Esperi. Although sometimes a full band, this performance was a solo outing for Chris Lee Marr and a magical thing it was too. All manner of instruments were sampled & looped through his trusty pedal, building and building a soft textured breeze of lovingly crafted sounds that would not seem out of place on a Four Tet release.

With Christmas coming, click on the click, & buy your ever lucky family some Esperi. I guarantee they'll thank you more for this than bath salts.

schnapps

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Glasgow's Schnapps make a kind of garage shuffle reminiscent of singer Ian Crawford's previous outfits - Kain and The Gilded Angels. Both of those bands imploded just as it looked like they were about to explode so catch this lot while you can. Music that puts a smile on your face. Sometimes that's all you need.

*If you do need more than this why not drink schnapps. If you've still not got a smile on your face you probably need to lighten up a bit. Have a wank - tickle your balls/ladypart a little, you only live once.

jovenes y sexys

Jovenes Y Sexys are my favourite band this week. Hailing from Caracas Venezuela, this duo are giving away their songs for free. You'd be a mug not to take them up on this kind offer.

*I, like these two, have a cat.

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pascal pinon

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I don't know an awful lot about Pascal Pinon apart from the lovely music they make. From what I can gather they are 4 young sisters from Iceland who might just take over the world.

john stammers

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John Stammers creates beautiful acid folk music. He's released an album on the faultless label Redbricks Recordings. You could do worse than buy everything available from their shop.

colorama

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Colorama are a one(ish) man band affair from the lovely Cardiff. If you only have time to listen to one song today listen to Sound. If you have time to listen to more than one song you might enjoy yourself more than you deserve.

*There's actually 5 in the band with more guesting on some songs but Colorama is the vision of Carwyn Ellis I believe.

**Carwyn also uploads an excellent podcast at the end of every month.

beak>

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Portishead mainman Geoff Barrow has a new project. Beak> were formed in January with fellow Bristolians Matt Williams & Billy Fuller & recorded their self titled debut in 12 days. Dirty psychedelic krautrock. Brilliant.

*Portishead were named after the town in Somerset from whence they came. Luckily then they didn't come from neighbouring Sheepway, Clapton In Gordano or Gooch Slit.

the meek

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The 3rd in a series of beautiful fuck off rock n' roll, 4 if you count The Nihilistic Death Trip Couple. This bunch are from LA & site The Stooges as an influence. All that's needed to feature on this blog is that influence or a Gorky's Zygotic Mynci one. Being brilliant is always good too.

*According to Matthew 5:3-12 "blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth" so if this music lark doesn't kick off - no biggie.

singapore sling

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More magic fuck off rock n' roll, this time from Iceland.

*Singapore Sling were named after a famous cocktail - The Harvey Wallbanger.

black acid

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Fuck off rock n' roll from former Death In Vegas mainman & all round friendly good guy Richard Fearless. Just look at those influences...

STOOGES, THE MORE DEMENTED STONES, HOWLIN’WOLF, BO DIDDLEY, SKIP SPENCE, MOBY GRAPE, GENE CLARK, LIQUID LIQUID,STEVE REICH, HERZOG, VELVETS, CANDY MCKENSIE, HARRY SMITH, KENNETH ANGER, ARBUS, RALPH EUGENE MEATYARD, CAN, ESG, WEED, NEW YORK CITY, ROKY ERICKSON, POPUL VUH, HAWKWIND, HARMONIA, PERSPECTS, NEU.

*A black microdot was the strongest acid I ever had the pleasure to encounter. It's practically impossible to get microdots around here these days but if you could I'd be in about it like a dug eating beans.

homelife

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Homelife are a 2-piece from manchester who've just released their latest album, Exotic Interlude, on the wonderful Humble Soul label. I 1st came across them about 10 years ago when I bought an early 12" on impulse (The vinyl was warped & totally blew my mind). At that time they included Graham Massey of 808 State as well as several others and I immediately became a fan. Hopefully you'll check them out and become one too.

*My homelife is awful. Nothing works and the only thing that grows in the garden's the washing.

**Apparently someone read this the other day so hello to you if you return.

the nihilistic death trip couple

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The Nihilistic Death Trip Couple are an excellent band from Berlin. Think The Velvet Underground, Suicide & The Jesus & Mary Chain. Think Spacemen 3, The Stooges & Neu, in fact don't waste time thinking, it's only rock n' roll...

*left lapel badges & sunglasses are all the rage in Berlin, everyone's wearing them.

inspector tapehead

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Inspector Tapehead are 3 chaps from Scotland with an album in the pipeline. I imagine it'll be good. It's been in the pipeline for an awful long time so I imagine it'll be awfy good.


*Incredibly all of the guys were born at a young age.

bear in heaven

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Bear In Heaven deserve to be massive and they will be I expect. Lovely chaps from Brooklyn making magic music.

*Brooklyn is in America where, I'm told, people are fat & backward. I live in Scotland and, in my experience, many of the people here are fat & backward also. Isn't the world a funny place...

withered hand

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Withered Hand's album Good News is out now. You can buy it by clicking on the click. I recommend you do because I love it but your taste in music might be different to mine.

I also recommend you don't get involved in the whole lo-fi/polished production debate because a lot of people will find it tedious & you probably don't know as much about music as you think you do.

Enjoy the songs, or don't enjoy them but try not to belittle the great work that's gone into them with your cuntery. Or do, if that's what you're into.


*Withered Hand sing quite a lot about Jesus. Jesus went on a lot about how good his dad was. Kinda like Nizlopi, but Nizlopi's dad was definitely real and rumour has it Jesus was illigitimate. A bastard if you'll pardon my French. A bastard in the real sense though and not in the Robbie Williams sense.

**No Cigarettes is probably my favourite single of the year so far. At least take a couple of minutes to let it into your life.

live video

the soundcarriers

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The Soundcarriers are a 4-piece from Nottingham. They blend influence from psychedelia, tropicalia & soundtrack music. Find out all you need to know by clicking on the click. I can't recommend you doing this highly enough. It's a beautiful sound they muster and you will know details of their album (Harmonium) & free downloads if you do. The album arrived by post today & it's excellent...Buy it.


*Listening to The Soundcarriers will make you automatically better at hanky panky.

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the voluntary butler scheme

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The Voluntary Butler Scheme are a one man beat group from Stourbridge with a bit of 60's pop and a hint of Motown about him/them. You can find out all you need to know by clicking on the click. I recommend you do so for album details, free downloads & gigs.

Some people would describe him as quirky. Anyone using the word quirky can drink my skitters as far as I'm concerned. Goodbye

hexicon

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Mentalist Asociation cohorts Hexicon are a 6-piece from London and their song Narissa I Won't is as good a song as you might hear today. (unless of course you click on every click on this majestic page of curio)

ivan campo

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Simple little pop songs from the North of England. Lovely stuff. Lend it your ears & you might not get them back.

*Ivan Campo are named after famous Spaniard Pedro Almodóvar.
** The Ivan Campo boys are so good with the ladies their van runs on fanny batter.

jen jeniro

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Welsh psychedelia from Wales. I've no idea what they're singing of but I like how it sounds. If you speak Welsh you can find out all you need to know by clicking on the click. If not, just listen. As my old Gran used to say - You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
You may well ask - Is Bob Dylan my Gran?
No... she's Donovan.

cate le bon

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Cate Le Bon needs no introduction (she's the mother of 80's fatty Simon Says - lead singer of the band Cock Fun). Click on the click to hear the title track from her imminent debut album (October 5th to be exact).

sophie madeleine

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If you're not entirely sure you like this music don't feel bad. Sophie Madeleine looks a bit like Francoise Hardy. Looking like Francoise Hardy, she'll do better than us.

man man

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Genius

shugo tokumaru

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I absolutely love everything I've heard from this guy. Fans of Air and Cornelius should really enjoy Shugo Takumaru. If you're in possession of one or two ears you might enjoy him too.

*If you're lucky enough to have one ear you'll hear this stuff in mono which is how it was intended to be listened to.

john southworth

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John Southworth is a Canadian chap with an album out on October 13th. Click on the click. See if it's up your street, or don't bother, it doesn't really matter to me.

*Like John, I also have a cat - Cosmo Catpus. Catpus claims to have invented Tipp-ex but Mike Nesmith's mum used the correction fluid to alter the patent.

the junipers

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The Junipers are the best band in Britain except for Ambulances. So technically, the second best band in Britain & the best band in England. Certainly worth a listen at any rate. Psychedelic pop from the Midlands. Buy their album, buy Ambulances album, & sneer at people for being not as brilliant at liking music as you are.

eitha tal ffranco

eitha tal ffranco

The best music coming out of Wales right now comes from this lot. Most days I might say Euros Childs or SFA or Cate Le Bon or Alun Tan Lan or Race Horses or Sweet Baboo but today I'm saying Eitha Tal Ffranco. I heard a rumour they've split up so today...

In actual fact I know nothing about the best music coming out of Wales. I don't know much of many things but I like Eitha Tal Ffranco


listen here...

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some favourites from the last year or so

no one does it like you by department of eagles



heart of chambers by beach house



i sing, i swim by seabear



blue ridge mountains by fleet foxes



strange overtones by brian eno & david byrne



this summer night by robert wyatt & bertrand burgalat



seahorse by devendra banhart



parachute by shugo tokumaru



lost & found by taken by trees



an old gruff rhys live performance



heike makatsch

the dice man by luke rhinehart

A brilliant read. Funny as fuck - unless you are completely wrong about everything and an all round pitiful excuse of a person.

a letter of complaint to a moron

Hello Barry

In response to your email regarding the £15.99 LOVEFILM has removed from my bank account uninvited, can i say your explanation is unsatisfactory.

You say i have an active account &, due to a FREE trial which has just elapsed,your terms & conditions apply.

As explained, i was turned down a FREE trial due to my partner having had one at the same address. therefore, as i am not a customer, i don't believe your terms & conditions apply to me.
In actual fact, i believe the unsolicited removal of funds from my account to be an act of theft. I gave you my bank details in good faith of services pending and, as no service was rendered, i would suggest you have no right to the aforementioned £15.99.

Stealing is wrong Barry. Reimburse me immediately. If a human contacts you at any time in the future, please don't suggest they are mistaken as a matter of protocol. Take the time to investigate the circumstances of their grievance and respond accordingly.

Your arrogance with regards this matter astounds me.
I look forward to your witless response

Best regards
Stephen

david shrigley

kurt vonnegut

Some great books by a great man - he'll be missed

once upon a time in the west

The best film ever made. You might say "Citizen Kane" or "Vertigo" or something else wrong. Let's move on