Bella Union, a label with a reputation for quality, an incredibly strong discography and an authenticity that many a major label would love to buy. We sit and chat with four of their artists on the eve of their joint Union Chapel concert.
Author Peter Bloxham
Kaki King – Junior
Kaki King might want to throw herself exclusively into those billowing, wandering, overwhelming compositions and guitar performances that make you want to throw your hands in the air and learn piano…
TLOBF Interview :: Yeasayer
“You don’t wanna trip into the Snow Patrol” – Pete Bloxham talks indie genres, love songs, using B-Sides for BMW adverts and why Chris and Ira from Yeasayer will never be the Rolling Stones.
Crossing Border Festival – The Hague, 19-21 November ’09
Crossing Border fully deserves it’s reputation as a festival ascending to a major highlight on the literature and music calendar. Peter Bloxham reviews.
TLOBF Interview :: Memory Tapes
Memory Tapes debut LP ‘Seek Magic’ is out this week. We asked Dayve Hawk a little bit about the project and if we can expect a visit from him and his own brand of intelligent, super-smooth dance any time soon.
Do Make Say Think – Other Truths
Other Truths finds the post-rock of Do Make Say Think expand to fill other, wonderful areas of musical creativity. Pete Bloxham reviews.
TLOBF Interview :: múm
Peter Bloxham catches up with Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason to talk about the Icelandic experimental pop collectives new album ‘Sing Along to Songs You Don’t Know’.
TLOBF Interview :: Engineers
After taking a lengthy break and finding a label Engineers have finally released their new album ‘Three Fact Fader’. TLOBF’s Peter Bloxham met Mark from the band one warm summer afternoon as they were gearing up to support the release by playing their first concerts in two years.
TLOBF Interview :: The Low Anthem
Responsible for one of the most genuinely moving releases of 2009 with ‘Oh My God, Charlie Darwin’, Peter Bloxham catches up with Rhode Island trio The Low Anthem over breakfast.
Wireless Festival (Bella Union Stage) – Hyde Park, London
A dream line-up in the midst of a of a corporate landfill nightmare. A who’s who of people to see live when you get the chance. Apparently Kanye West played too. Peter Bloxham reviews.
TLOBF Interview :: Yo La Tengo
Ahead of the release of their new album, Popular Songs, and prior to the Meltdown Festival appearance, Pete Bloxham had a chat with Yo La Tengo.
Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Phoenix seem to be channelling some sort of mysterious energy from another dimension where everybody is cool and French and hangs out with Daft Punk. And if that’s starting to get old, they really don’t seem to care.
TLOBF Interview :: Black Lips
Peter Bloxham met Joe from Black Lips whilst milling around North London last week. They had a rather nice chat about what it’s like to play in a band all over the world from Canada to Hong Kong.
TLOBF Interview :: Grizzly Bear
Peter Bloxham met Chris’ Bear and Taylor from NYC quartet Grizzly Bear on a fresh spring afternoon on Shepherd’s Bush common to talk about ‘Veckatimest’, touring with Radiohead and Twitter.
Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear have written an album with a beating heart, claims Peter Bloxham. A sincere and beautiful album; a classic of 2009.
Camden Crawl – London, 24-25/04/09
Another year, another Camden Crawl. A booze soaked live music trek across Camden, much like one in every three weekends but with a better line up and way more people. Festival season 09 is officially underway.
