Fusing psychedelia and freakbeat, Richard Norris of The Grid, Beyond The Wizards Sleeve and of course The Time and Space Machine hand picks ten of his favourite songs for this mp3 mixtape.
March, 2010
Toro y Moi – Causers of This
Toro Y Moi, the alter-ego of Chaz Bundwick, is undeniably talented and this is a pleasant, if incoherent, album, when taken in small doses.
[Photos] White Hills + Pontiak – The Luminaire, London 09/03/10
Our lensman Valerio tells us all the energy used was for the speakers, clearly none left to switch on a light. See the photos inside!
Happy Birthday – Happy Birthday
It’s a little bit scratchy, it’s a little bit glam, it’s a little bit punk and it’s whole lotta fun. Euan Mackay reviews the newie from Sub Pop signings Happy Birthday.
[Exclusive] Hot Chip: “I Feel Better (Ill Blue Remix)”
The Ill Blue Remix strips away the tense, string laden grooves of the original with a more European, balearic feel. Listen to an exclusive stream of the track inside.
The Tallest Man On Earth – Bush Hall, London 15/03/10
Perhaps there are terrible demons and beatiful angels inside Kristian Matsson, but he’s channelled them with a grace and perfection into his songs and performance – a skill of such rare commodity in these times.
Swanton Bombs – Mumbo Jumbo And Murder
Despite their early reluctance to sing from the same hymn sheet Swanton Bombs do, eventually, deliver on their debut record.
Kate Nash – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds 07/03/10
Who are you and what have you done with Kate Nash? Everyone’s favourite (or most hated, depending on who you talk to) red-headed piano-pop starlet is gone, replaced with a grungy-yet-sophisticated certified popstar.
Detroit Social Club – Kiss The Sun EP
Debut release from this much talked about Newcastle band shows plenty of promise.
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
On Plastic Beach, Gorillaz have given us a glimpse of the beauty one can fashion out of a bleak natural landscape, crafting discarded styles and sounds into something greater than we remember it, but vaguely familiar anyway.
So So Modern – Crude Futures
Herein lies the perennial question surrounding the majority of overhyped, strategically positioned modern music; can an exciting live proposition bridge the gap and deliver on their promise and make a first album that doesn’t quell the hype and incite the naysayers?
The SXSW Diaries // Day 1
Straight from the frontline, Jen Long starts her daily SXSW blog in style. With words, videos, photos and music from jj, Happy Birthday and The Smith Westerns.
SOTD #32 (Alessi’s Ark Takeover) // Vic Chestnutt: ‘Flirted With You All My Life’
In the run up to the release of Soul Proprietor EP, Alessi Laurent-Marke’s first outing with her new label Bella Union, we thought it’d be nice for her to takeover our Song Of The Day feature for a week!
Memory Tapes – Cargo, London 13/03/10
What comes next for Hawke will be very interesting – he has the weight of expectation upon him, not only to top his first record but to flesh out the live show with more musicians and a longer set.
Gonjasufi – A Sufi and A Killer
A remarkably confusing but expertly conceived record that come December could be up there as one of the year’s best. It is utterly spell-binding.
The Dillinger Escape Plan – Option Paralysis
This self-aware band have created another amazing album that should do nothing but increase their fanbase and (hopefully) inspire enough pride to keep them making music for a long time.
