Another from the maki files. This is from last year, maki faves Reina Republicana vs Is on a neat coloured vinyl 7″. 3 tracks from Reina Republicana and 4 from Is. Here’s two from each.
Popping a few more cds into i-tunes, I must have reached the twee indie section of my collection. I like this a lot. You may or may not, but here it is. There’s a nice back story to this one: Mai Meneses, the vocalist, was unceremoniously kicked out at the end of the first program of the first series of Operación Triunfo (a sort of Spanish X Factor) and told in no uncertain terms not to give up the day job. When she released this, her first album, most of her erstwhile peers had been long forgotten.
Good to have a slow topic from time to time. Been filling up i-tunes with cds from my collection and had forgotten how much I loved this album when I bought it. 16 songs. Not one over 3 minutes long. Guitars, simple bass lines and a ballsy female vocalists, who are sisters hence the name of the album. The name of the group comes from the brand of jeans their mum used to sell in her shop. Spanish group from Majadahonda (a town just up the road from Maki Towers) – they sing in English so shouldn’t be too hard to relate to. Here from 1995 are half a dozen tracks from their début album.
Ok, so you’ve all been good sports and suffered through my Stones lists, rock lists, garage noise, rock / punk heavy A-list, axe wank list, etc. So i thought that as you were all probably dreading my week for the Spill Game, i’d put up something a bit different. Some of you may remember that i have a not-so-secret hankering for a pretty pop tune. So in honor of VD (i was supposed to be next week, but i switched off with DsD), i did a list of some pretty ear candy instead of the usual ear-splitting stuff. You know the drill – toss one or all, or keep as you see fit.
Will that do?
(Look, there are going to be guitars. There just are. It comes with the turf. But they’re gorgeous Byrds-y, Las-y, melodic, reverby, distorty, feedbacky, groovy, and even maybe some acoustic-y. Maybe a bit of saminess at the beginning of the list, but how can you complain when it’s this easy on the ears. Huh? I do promise that there’s nothing like Jimmy Page taking a dump on a Telecaster.)
Happy VD to all!
I woke up this morning to new My Bloody Valentine music, 22 years after they last released something. Thoughts?
I’m trapped in an abandoned building
Come find me now
We’ll hide out
We’ll speak in our secret tongues
Will you come back to my corner
Spent too long alone tonight
Would you come brighten my corner
A lit torch to the woodpile high
My current earworm is the Frightened Rabbit song, above, I love the you-and-me-against-the world lyrics, a bit soppy maybe but it’s the certain romance that appeals to me, I’ve always believed companionship to be the most important thing – so here are the woozy romantic questions:
1. What’s the sweetest, or most romantic thing you’ve ever done?
2. What’s the sweetest, or most romantic thing that’s been done in your direction?
3. What’s your favourite thing to take the edge off?
4. Did you ever run away anywhere? Where did you go, how far did you get, were you with anyone?
5. I know I banned music questions from EOTWQ, but what’s your favourite romantic lyric?
kisses xx
Grab bag of groovy garage / punk / psych / indie / powerpop / whatever tunes that caught my ear, now that i seem to be able to listen to music again.
Due to popular demand, we are going to ‘Spillover….The Lemonheads!
For the most part (The) Lemonheads became in later years Evan Dando, and whoever he was hanging out with at the time, so we can also take Evan Dando solo songs too.
There are nine Lemonheads albums to choose from, plus singles, EPs, and lots of good covers to boot.
So, to perfect the perfect Lemonheads playlist, please nominate one or two tunes in the comments with a youtube or spotify link, please. I’m allowing more than one nomination, as possibly they may not be as well known as other bands we’ve ‘Spilt-over like the Stones, or Elbow.
So, do you like early noisy Lemonheads? Mid period strummy grungey Lemonheads? Quiet countryish Lemonheads? Acoustic gentle Lemonheads? Funny, romantic Lemonheads? Or the one about the gas man taking Evan’s old stove away?
Please also share any Lemonheads memories, ephemera, anecdotes, trivia, or nonsense.
I’m a massive fan, and have kicked off noms with an acoustic version of a song from their 4th album. The acoustic version was a b-side, but ended up on their greatest hits too. My favourite version of “Ride With Me” is a live acoustic one I taped off the radio back in 1992, but I’m not sure where the cassette is.
Snow business
I never got round to doing a post on my albums of the year last year. I’m sure this was a profound disappointment to everyone, so here are 11 tracks from records I liked which I don’t think featured on the Festive ‘Spill (my own choices apart) or other people’s list.
You know the rules. Pick your favourite, pick your 11th favourite. And please feel free to mention any songs or albums from 2012 to which the Spill’s collective attention should be drawn.
There’s a new (!!) Suede song here. It’s called “Barriers”, a taster for their new album which is due in March. I know there’s a lot of Suede fans on The ‘Spill, so I’m most interested to see what you think. Let’s discuss in the comments below!
My 11 most played albums of ’12 in ’13.
My end of year round up is now turned into the ‘spill game:
you know the score DUMP one (or all of them – see if I care)
It’s pop and it’s fun – don’t take it too seriously.
Remember, they are my most played – I’m not claiming they will change the world – I just liked them.
Band names in BOLD – for those who believe I make stuff up:
1 Stroke My Curls The Dodoz Forever I Can Purr 2012
2 Cuka (feat. Ikonoklasta) Batida Batida (feat. Mck, Circuito Feixado, Ikonoklasta, Beat Laden 2012
3 The Empty Man Whitey Lost Summer 2012
4 Genevieve Stealing Sheep Into The Diamond Sun 2012
5 Horn For The Whole Damn World Lazarus and the Plane Crash Horseplay
6 Passenger Emily Wells Mama 2012
7 Kevlar Sweethearts Diablo Swing Orchestra Pandora’s Pinata 2012
8 Be Strong (Blakkat Remix) The 2 Bears Be Strong (Deluxe Edition) 2012
9 Rat-at-at The Skints Part & Parcel 2012
10 Clap Hooded Fang Tosta Mista 2012
11 Circus Sunday Driver The Mutiny 2012
Just a few links to videos by non-flamenco artists that have caught my eye this year. Youtube sidebar may turn up other stuff you’d like.
Reina Republicana
Great Indie band from Pamplona whose La Reina should have made the Queen’s list.
Luis Brea
Weary, post indie electro diddler whose Hypotenusa was one of my favourite albums of the year
Nadadora
Erstwhile a-listers brought out Luz Oscuridad Luz to my delight and general indifference. From 2011, but I only got to it this year.
Electric Nana
Went almost mainstream with an awful Carlos Jean remix. Thankfully kept doing her own, much better, thing
As promised here’s the video I made of Emma Pollock backed by my pals in the 12 piece Electric String Orchestra. The song’s called “Intermission” (maybe) and during the soundcheck me & the camera guys were trying to google the lyrics because it sounded so mighty and familiar, but we couldn’t put our finger on the song. Turns out it was an original, hence the lack of googlable lyrics, which makes this kind of an instant classic really. Like a James Bond theme for the best Bond film that never got made, I think.
I want to share a little new Bay Area music with all of you. Tumbleweed Wanderers first album , So Long , comes tagged as Country & Folk. I’d say that’s boxing them in. Their video release of Roll With The Times starts with them shamelessly invoking a Sly & The Family Stone lick to great effect . Well, that’s neighborhood music for these Oakland boys & I say more power to them. Know your roots.
They’re fresh off a tour supporting Australian Angus Stone & already talking new music. Love the idea of moving it forward. Here’s a couple of tunes that tickled my fancy. Hard Times for it’s use of the banjo to set the mood and So Long Blues for it’s fine vocal harmonies & understated instrumentation. Kinda reminds me of the Dillards. Full disclosure, the keyboard player is a close friend’s nephew & I got to meet a couple of them when they did the music for her daughter’s wedding a while back. Nice lads all & I’m wishing them well. Click on the player for a listen.
Tokyo all female three-piece TOQUIWA release their hi-energy J-punk in the UK on October the 22nd, 2012. Scopitones announced TOQUIWA’s self-titled debut on digital release and limited edition tour CD.
They begin touring the UK on 26/10 in Bournemouth – I’m going to be there (in a home made bright orange TOQUIWA T-shirt) – I also made a T-shirt using the ticket from a live Wedding Presents Ukrainian Sessions gig. But I can’t wear both.
This is the track listing and below the review are Smash Hits style questions sportingly answered by the band.
(I want to post this today – so I will have to ask Sakura to advise if I’ve got anything in the wrong places)
Photograph of the band used with permission – all designs created by arTEEsane are not for profit – please don’t use.
illustrative track from Music Ripple recorded as Pinky Piglets
The self titled album by Toquiwa on the Wedding Presents Scopitones label, should almost be called go out and get ‘em girl – such is the frantic pace that they erupt with perfect pop rock. The first 13 seconds set up the album (you heard right – 13 seconds sets out their manifesto) – Fantasticly playing the many influences and condensing them into a tight Toquiwa package.
Strangely managing to be extremely talented musicians yet still exuding that punk ethic of innocence and naivety.
The tracks have so many astonishingly catchy segments and hooks, you wonder how the pace can be kept up, but keep up they do, building and building, twisting styles and era’s together as if timelines were squeezed, squashed and smashed into their musical brains. Until in comes out sounding as though these things should always have sat together (superbly) in each 3 minute track.
Not only that, they know how to sequence an album – just as your head might explode keeping up – (ten second bar room blues, into superfly 70′s style, into a quiet millisecond break – roaring back into .. you get the drift – I’m loath to compare because it all sounds so Toquiwa – but as reference you could detect The Animals merging with a Curtis Mayfield track with hints of Kirsty MacColl’s weariness and wonder, while a Status Quo repetitive rock riff underpins a track – and quite loud quiet indie rock aesthetics jostle in) they take a breather with a ballad – and then we are invited to party hard once again, ending with an enthusiastic Wedding Present adaption to thrill and inspire while closing the album out.
It’s fantastic fun – superbly performed and feverishly played. Total enjoyment.
Would they be happy to answer my frivolous questions linking to each song on the album?:
各曲に関連した私のくだらない質問に答えていただけたら幸いです。
It was a chance meeting out side Shibuya station in Tokyo that resulted in Japanese girl punk-pop band Toquiwa’s signing to a UK record lable and collaborating with The Wedding Present.
Toquiwa (as Pinky Piglets) were playing a street live out side the famous Shibuya station in the heart of one of Tokyo’s most popular entertainment districts when the promoter who was booking the Wedding Present Japanese tour walked past and stopped to listen and had one of those wonderful “A ha ! ! !” moments. He booked Pinky Piglets as they were called at the time to support Wedding Present and the start of a common journey with the two bands began.
Band name of the year keep the lo-fi/grunge revival afloat. Not sure if the music quite measures up just yet, but they are going in the right direction.
**Apologies for multiple random posts, but thought I’d grab the window whilst wife and baby are fast asleep upstairs**
My friends in The Electric String Orchestra put on a big show in Glasgow a few months back, which I was lucky enough to catch on camera. They do rock n roll & popular covers with a 12 piece orchestra (Bowie, Muse, Lady GaGa, GnR, King Creosote etc) and have guest singers also (Emma Pollock, Twilight Sad still to come, I will post when they’re ready!).
This clip is of fine Highlands folk singer Rachel Sermanni performing one of her songs, Rachel has gone down well on The ‘Spill previously, so I thought you may like to see this.
And after the jump, Britney Spears gets tackled. Continue reading
About a year or so ago I did a post on 1991. Ever since, I’ve been wondering how I could possibly do a follow-up post, and have finally come up with the idea of doing one about 1992. Clever, huh?
1991 was a vintage year, bringing classic albums like Screamedelica, Nevermind and Blue Lines. 1992 can’t compare – NME thinks Sugar’s Copper Blue is the album of the year – but even so, whittling this playlist down to just 12 songs was hard.
Because when you’re 13-14 years old and just discovering the wonders of music, 1992 is bursting with amazing records. Melody Maker, NME and Select magazine are fonts of wisdom. Mark Goodier is a musical guru. The Chart Show indie chart is a highlight of the month. All my paper round money goes on cassettes from Our Price (usually around £7.99).
Here are a few of the things I was listening to… more about them after the break.
In the meantime, shall we pretend we’re doing a Festive ‘Spill for 1992? Let’s have your top 3…
Don’t normally do this because I don’t usually find anything new that makes me quite as happy as my RR discovery this week. But my search for “Reinas” turned up an indie group from Pamplona called Reina Republicana and their song La Reina. It’s based on a kids’ song and says very little else than “The Queen is coming. The Queen goes by. God save the Queen.” Which is reminiscent of the flash by in the blink of an eye visit of long awaited dignitaries so brilliantly portrayed in Berlanga’s “Bienvenido Mr Marshall”. The twist is that the last time they sing the chorus they change the last bit to “God kill the Queen.” I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s a curious juxtaposition to the general cheeriness of the song.
Anyway, who cares if it was on topic or not. I’ve just found a new group that I like a lot and want to share with you. Their début album is paltry in terms of length but majestic in terms of quality. Here are three songs from it as well as the song nommed this week. It will remind people of other groups (Lush, maybe?) and is no doubt derivative, but it’s well outside my normal comfort zone and has still managed to enchant me.
Yes, that’s right ‘Spillers, an all-new PODCAST! Long overdue, I know….but, better late than never, right? Well, don’t agree until you’ve listened to it !
It’s a very random and eclectic mix based on whatever was in my box of records at the time….and there were so many I didn’t get to that I wanted to include. They’ll have to wait until next time, I suppose.
Listen until the end for some exciting news ! Well, exciting for me, not perhaps for anyone else !
Enjoy !
A while back I posted an e.p. by Círculo Polar, some friends of mine, who just happen to be regulars down at my mate Quique’s pizza restaurant. Some of you may remember it. They were thrilled with the response and enjoyed interacting with some of you here. Well they’ve called it a day but not before recording and releasing an album. They’ve asked me to share it with you. So here it is. The album is called Mainstreet / Meanstreet.
Mainstreet
Ignition
Velvet Sky
I’m Not Fading
Revolution
Who Are You?
Meanstreet
Mainstreet
Weird Love
Nothing Stays Till The End
Started Underground
Here is the new single from ‘Spill favourites of 2010 (and of course ex-Pocahaunted member) Best Coast.
The whole album, ‘The Only Place’ is streaming on NPR here too.
The initial reviews look good and it definitely sounds like a step forward to me too. It takes the girl-group Cali-pop stonerisms of the first album and adds a bit more production and lyrical depth. The summer starts here!
Doing a Tinnie here. I got two tickets for Andrew Bird for 7.30pm at the Trinity Centre in Bristol on June 6th. Then I discovered he is on in Brighton four days later which is much more convenient for me. So the upshot is, the 2 Bristol tickets are going begging. They were £19.50 each, but no reasonable offer refused. If you want them, say so in the comments, and we’ll work out a way to sort things out thereafter. Should be good – he’s doing the new album.
I love earworms and I love The ‘Spill. One of my favourite discoveries through Earworms was The Shins and The Album Chutes Too Narrow (thanks Toffee and Fintan). I know nothing about them. Anyway I heard this on a shop p.a. system this morning and thought “I know that voice”. Shazam told me it was from the new album by The Shins, which I promptly bought. Now on my second listen and loving it to death.
