I know it’s contrarywise to advertise another magazine when Plan B comes back from the printer any time now, but the Wire’s current feature on Eliane Radigue is awesome. I read it this morning on the way to work. Yeah, that’s work, as in something you have to go to on a train. I’ve taken some on, for a very short while, so as to be able to eat and pay rent and stuff. A stop-gap measure, induced by the lack of paid work my writing seems to generate right now. I know I should be thankful that I have two careers, both respectable, both ’skilled’, one that pays, one that doesn’t. But it doesn’t seem like that at 7.30 am on a train heading to Surrey and an office devoid of music, except for the distant strains of Radio 2 and Heart 106 that emanate from the corner. The office is full of books at various stages of production. I help produce them. On the train, I listen to BARR and Lightning Bolt and then I read about Eliane Radigue. I went to hear her perform once. I didn’t know who she was, but she blew my mind. She was a beautiful older lady making drones: that’s cool already. This is the first time I’ve read an interview with her. You should go read it too.

There’s a photo of her, seated at a synth, surrounded by lovely things. It’s a photo I might stick on my wall. Just to remind me of what I’d like to be doing in my 70s.

Oh, and Keith Moline’s review of Venetian Snares is ace too.

Posted by Frances May Morgan on Wednesday, September 28th, 2005
(5 Comments)

Just trawled my way through around 53 CDs (including the new Kate Bush and Ari Up) in the last couple of days, while writing the ‘Love Buzz’ chapter of my Nirvana book. Man. Oh fucking man. The only two artists that stand out are the new post-McCarthy outfit, Shooting At Unarmed Men - and this, the new Sugababes single. Seriously. Any chance of getting them for an interview, Frances?

Oh, I like the Def Jux Cage CD too: especially the sardonic Suicide Girls tribute.

Posted by Everett True on Saturday, September 24th, 2005
(9 Comments)

Last night, on the way back from Mudhoney in London, decided I would write the Franz Ferdinand feature in the style of a name writer on one the broadsheets. All inane observation, pop psychology and the odd bit of flirtation. Seriously. Mudhoney was great: as laconic and blistering as always, time doesn’t diminish these men just adds fresh layers of sarcasm. Highlight? ‘You Got It (Keep It Outta My Face)’ and an incredible ‘In ‘N Out Of Grace’, Peters taking sips of beer between the drum rolls. Oh, and the version of Sonic Youth’s ‘Halloween’ (originally released on a split 12-inch). I introduced the band, to much bemusement from a crowd easily half my (and their) age - no, I didn’t burst into song.

Current listening? Franz (for the feature, but the new album rocks) and BRAKES dude. Stupidly, I never made the connection they were Eamon’s band before. Man. Literate rock that doesn’t suck. Buzzsaw melodies and charm. It makes me go weak at the knees.

Posted by Everett True on Saturday, September 17th, 2005
(2 Comments)

Morgen und Nite do 15 minutes of folk noodling at the lovely Scaledown, Friday 17 September. Like it used to say on Queen albums, NO SYNTHESISERS. That’s right, folks, we’re doing an unlugged. What will I do without my silver machine to writhe around with? What will Nite do with his prehensile toes, when there are no pedals to tweak them with? Er, come and have a look. We are delightfully original and mesmeric, apparently.

SCALEDOWN

As usual Braby and Sanderson have compiled an intriguing selection of the unclassifiable and the odd, all playing 15 minute sets.

Starts 7pm over by 10.30 upstairs at The King & Queen, 1 Foley St, London W1.

Friday 16th September. Admission Free. (donations to the performers will be sought)

Benedict Drew - Solo performance for laptop and visuals from one of London’s most versatile electronic musicians. Ben is a member of the electronic duo Nish, and a collaborator with many of the new generation of free improvisers (as well as enthusiastic facilitator). He also provides live computer video for The Cinematic Orchestra and others. His music, although abstract, also manages to avoid the many pitfalls and clichés that can befall this new, but already somewhat over-subscribed genre, to create something exciting and innovative.

Tim Holehouse - Tim Holehouse, vocalist from Among The Missing gets more intimate for Scaledown with a selection of tense and moodily reflective songs self penned over the past 7 years. Should be a corker.

The Irrepressibles - Lead by the fragile and wistful voice of James McDermmott, The Irrepressibles concoct a theatrical assemblage of cello and acoustic tinged torch songs ideally suited for the Scaledown club. Delicate and swoonsome, by Jove!

Morgen und Nite - Using a spartan acoustic format (harmonium, resonator guitar with e-bow, and voice), the duo of Frances Morgan and Leee Nite nevertheless produce an enveloping warm bath of drone therapy, with nods towards an “ectoplasmic” folk music - somehow pure and deceptively simple. Claiming inspiration from Pelt, Sunroof, the Shaker Movement and Quantum Physics, Morgen and Nite are delightfully original and mesmeric.

Organ Morgan - Organ Morgan performs solo free improvisations on a battered old Hammond organ, creating drone like organic playful expressionistic brash sonic murals with the aid of rotary speaker and effects. This is one of his first solo forays. Coming from a background of classical, rock and blues music he is inspired by everything from Ligeti’s Volumina to the Green Onions of Booker T.

Eastern Redevelopment Committee - More electronics and visuals from the resolutely recondite duo of Wilson and Smith. In this intriguing project they will present a psychogeographical portrait of The King and Queen (the venue for Scaledown) itself, using environmental recordings, video and software which translates photography into sound. Smith and Wilson’s work, whilst always explorative and uncompromising is also inspired by deeply engrained elements of working class culture.

Posted by Frances May Morgan on Thursday, September 15th, 2005
(1 Comment)

THURS 15th SEPT
A NIGHT OF FAKE FOLK AND WRONG MUSIC
7pm-1am, CARGO, Rivington Street, London, EC2.
£4/£5 (fundraising for resonance 104.4 fm)
Chevron, DJ Rubbish, No Bra, Limn, Vanishing Breed, Miss Hawaii, Cow’P,
Sculpture. Resonance FM DJs

www.resonancefm.co.uk

I can’t because I’m doing this magazine, but you oughta.

Posted by Frances May Morgan on Thursday, September 15th, 2005
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i’ll be playing guitar and singing in i’m being good tomorrow night at the free butt in brighton. i think we’re on last. other fine acts are good morning captain and projections. it’s a benefit gig for steve’s van which because the engine ate itself.
if you want to hear i’m being good visit www.infinitechug.com

Posted by Andrew Clare on Wednesday, September 14th, 2005
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It was due to the unfortunate retro overkill of those years 2002-2004 that the words ‘post-punk’ and ‘no wave’ were beginning to strike fear and dread into my heart, not the music itself or the period or the aesthetic. That should go without saying, as it should that China and Nancy from Mars were really truly stylish as fuck, but sometimes it needs to be said again, just to remind yourself that reappropriation of the past can tamper with the present so much that your present apprecation of the past is forever despoiled.

There is the added factor that I can only listen to so much jerky bass and yelpy voices before I do a massive bored. That, I admit, is my own failing.

But!

I am loving this compilation very much tonight, partly because it suits my antsy bastard mood, but also because of the Patife Band, who put their money where their mouths are or some such cliche by being post post post post just about everything. What the fuck is with that bassline? Twelve-tone, is it? That’s what it says in the sleevenotes. I wouldn’t know, but there’s some weird scale action afoot for sure. The drums are insane, starting with a clatter and ’settling’(ha!) into a gallop, and the vocalist chants and never once yelps, and there’s a kind of guitar, synth and alto sax/clarinet all soloing at the same time (note: I might be wrong here) in the middle. And then there are RIFFS. Like proper ones. It’s all over in two minutes and six seconds and is quite simply the best piece of music I’ve heard in ages.

If anyone knows anything about this band - there’s not much in English about them on the web - then do let me know, because they are the multi-tasker’s friend and the caffeined-up editor’s dancing partner and I wanna salute them for that.

Posted by Frances May Morgan on Monday, September 12th, 2005
(12 Comments)

http://media.putfile.com/Kanye79/320

Posted by Andrew Clare on Monday, September 5th, 2005
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Just in the process of finishing up my first ever mix tape for our son Isaac. All the songs on it are taken from recent charity store/boot fair acquisitions, recently sent CDs and the odd random record lying around my office. Tried to keep it upbeat throughout, with a few quieter numbers for when we want him to mellow out. The new Franz Ferdinand single and Orange Juice would’ve been the next two tracks if there’d been room. Any suggestions for a second tape gratefully received. And I’m happy to dub copies for any other local parents. Or interested parties.

SIDE ONE
Misty’s Big Adventure - Two Brains
Ian Dury And The Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
Rachel Sweet - Hairspray
The Long Blondes - Lust In The Movies
Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry
Tenpole Tudor - Swords Of A Thousand Men
Kitty Daisy & Lewis - Honolulu Rock’N'Roll-A
Buddy Holly - Heartbeat
The Muppets - Mah Na Mah Na
The Tornados - Telstar
Ramones - I Want You Around
Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Egyptian Reggae
Squeeze - Up The Junction
BEF feat Gary Glitter - Suspicious Minds
The Chefs - You Get Everywhere

SIDE TWO
The Bear Necessities (The Jungle Book OST)
I Wan’na Be Like You (The Jungle Book OST)
The Modettes - Twist And Shout
The Concretes - Miss You
Misty’s Big Adventure - Never Stops Never Rests Never Sleeps
Supergrass - Coffee In The Pot
Dan Sartain & The Serpientes - Cobras Pt II
Devendra Banhart - I Feel Just Like A Child
Desford Colliery Band - Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines
Oompa Loompa song Pt I
The Diskettes - Jump Up
Oompa Loompa song Pt II
Calvin Johnson - Rabbit Blood
Oompa Loompa song Pt III
The Research - C’mon Chameleon
Oompa Loompa song Pt IV
Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Ice Cream Man (live)

Posted by Everett True on Thursday, September 1st, 2005
(13 Comments)