End of 2010 & Jan/Feb round-up

Greetings friend,

How has life been treating you? Done anything interesting recently? Unfortunately, work has been increaingly demanding over the last month or so, rendering me bereft of sufficient energy to put digits to plastic recently.

My dear blog, I am so sorry to have neglected you so much over the last year or so. I feel that we have become estranged lovers, only reuniting for fleeting visits of dispassionate and gratuitious sex. I promise to be more attentive. I know I say this every time, but stay with me. You know I'm good for you.

So...onto my usual ramblings. Although I am on the whole continuing to enjoy work, I really haven't had any proper time off since I started this job at the beginning of July 2010. In almost 8 months I have not had more than 4 consecutive days off (and the times I did this were either to write my Masters diss or rave it up in Berlin - hardly relaxing experiences!). Once work has calmed down this week (I hope), I plan to take a long weekend off very soon - sadly I still do not have an intimate female relation in my life, so am thinking of heading somewhere alone for a few days to read, listen to music, walk, think - I need some catharsis, and sometime soon. Thankfully, music as always, provides me this on a daily basis.

And onto new music. Well, I vowed to wrench myself out of my depression that was creeping and building throughout November and December; can honestly say that I am in a much better place in general - feel in control of work, making (the right) people notice my capabilites, got a pay rise, have been socialising more with friends, and maintaining good relations with family. Just about. OK, granted I am still drinking too much, not exercising nearly enough, and eating crap at least twice a week. But to coin a phrase, at least I'm not a "pig in a cage, on antibiotics." Sorry, I'm massively digressing. Be patient.....I think part of the process of lifting myself out of a low ebb (aside from the days getting longer) is by finding new, and affecting music. And boy, have I found quite a few gems recently.

Pantha Du Prince - 'Black Noise'. God knows how this very talented chap got through my net, but boy, is he a fantastic producer. Black Noise is an abolutely immense album from start to finish. I would say it's quite hard to define PDP's sound - maybe akin to Trentemoller crossed with Isolee perhaps. Essentially this album can and should be listened from start to finish, a rarity these days. Trying to describe the album sound is also hard - crossing micro-house, techno, ambient and minimal. I knew on first listen that this guy is German. There just seems to be a very definite, precise, tuned sound, with lush production values that Germans seem to be able to execute so well. Anyway, this hasnt't left my phone for months and doubt it will for quite some time. My fave track is definitely 'Stick To My Side' which has Noah Lennox (of Animal Collective) on vocals. Absolutely immense.

I have also recently decided to re-visit Atlas Sound's 'Logos'. Having been unaware of Bradford James Cox and his band Deerhunter until about a year ago, this album is wonderful. Definitely not an eletronic album, more indie or alt-pop or even pysch-pop. Has a couple of amazing tracks on there, one by Laetitia Sadler from Stereolab. Melancholy but lush at the same time.

Very new acquisitions....

I have just downloaded Isolée's new album 'Well Spent Youth'. On first listen I can see that this album could be as good as 'We Are Monster' or ''Rest'. Given Rajko Muller's extremely high production values, and level of detail, I will need to give this at least a couple more listens, and on my decent quality earphones before I can really review it properly though. Still, exciting stuff nonetheless.

Finally, I have just downloaded Gold Panda's first full LP, 'Lucky Shiner', having heard good things. And well, it is superb. First impressions remind me strongly of The Field, so if you like quite repetitive but melodic and really well crafted elecronic music, then this might be for you. But then, I suppose all elelctronic music is repetitive so not a particularly useful comment! There's also definitely a strong Four Tet influence in there too. It's currently reminding me of Everything Ecstatic or Rounds. Certainly this album has an immediate appeal, but also clearly has bags of depth. I know I will be re-visiting this quite a lot. Once again, superb production and beautifully put together. I feel there's a very strong sense of nostalia running through this album, which in my current state, is definitely no bad thing.

Well, that's my verbal diarrhoea over for now. I hope that my writing will propel you to check out some of the new music I have been listening to. Or if not, made you think just a little. Would love to hear any of your thoughs on James Blake's new album. Just gave it a first liften on Spotify. I can see he's clearly a precociously talented guy, but don't quite get the hype. Next big thing? Can someone please enlighten me?

As always, thanks for reading. I will do my utmost to keep my blog fitter, happier and more productive. Like a pig, in a cage, well you get the point.

Currently listening to Gold Panda's 'Lucky Shiner'.

Peace.

Schneider TM - 'Light 3000'

Greetings,

Just re-stumbled upon this absolute gem. For those that don't know (tsk!) this is a remix of The Smith's 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out', from the seminal The Queen Is Dead. album of 1986. I remember first reading about this in one of Jockey Slut's "Top remixes In Tenular List Format" in about 2002. As sacrilegious as this sounds, especially if you're a Smiths fan, I actually prefer this to the original, and wanted to share this with you.

Futuristic, melodic electronica. Gorgeous.

Albums of 2010 Pt I (and return to blog)

Greetings readers,

It is with great glee that I return to this blog, after nothing less than a whole year of radio silence. Shameful I know, but you should also know that I have been a very busy boy, distracted by what has been an incredibly eventful year; 2010 has seen me complete my Masters degree at the LSE, and re-commence gainful employment with a small-sized boutique consultancy in West London. Oh, and I turned 30. So no longer a wee whipper-snapper.

Trying to summarise a year of events and my thoughts into one blog post would be difficult, and I'm not even exactly sure how I would structure this. So, I'm not. I'm going to talk about music, and some of my favourite albums of 2010, which I think has been a great year for electronic music. However, before I do this, I would like to share a philosophical thought with you. I recently watched a brief video clip on the BBC entitled "Five Minutes With: Alain de Botton". Some of you will know that Alain is a notable public intellectual, philospher, essayist and general all-round interesting guy (not that I've actually read that much of his stuff). Anyway, during this interview Alain states that the reason he (and I suspect many other people) read and write is borne out of anxiety. And well, this really resonated with me. Certainly I share this sentiment. My most prolific period of blogging/writing has been when I have been unhappy/unemployed/depressed or simply had some sort of frustration or energy that has needed an outlet. So I think on reflection, when I am at my happiest, I am often at my busiest and most contented, and therefore less likely to share inner thoughts like I am doing with you now. No doubt the more attuned amongst you will be wondering why exactly I am now being driven to tap these keys incessantly. Well, that is for me to know, and you to find out. Unless of course you have the misfortune of knowing me well enough to answer this question!

OK, so I digress. Well there have been a number of excellent albums that I have listened to this year so in no particular order here goes:

Scuba - 'Triangulation'. I'm literally ending my first full listen of this (yes I know, not cutting-edge anymore) and can honestly say the album is phenomenal. Listening to this, it seems clear to me that dubstep as a genre really has matured and gone global. And with Scuba and his residency at Berghain, it's clear that Teutonic Berlin 4x4 precision has had a clear impact on the Hotflush boss's riddims. Something very exciting seems to be happening in the UK (London, Bristol...) and Berlin in parallel, and I'm pleased and proud that a Brit is running a highly respected night that is pushing sonic boundaries in the world epicentre of techno. Can't get nuff of dem technoid-dub-riddims. Yougetme? Tight.

Mount Kimbie - 'Crooks and Lovers'. Again, another recent acquisition. Although I've only listened to this album about three times, it's already a fave and one I'm sure I'll keep going back to. Also on Hotflush Recordings, these guys have definitely taken dubstep to the next level (post-dubstep is how music journos seem to be describing this new sound). Am loving the influence of African-electroid-funk that seemed to have really been injected into the scene with the sound of Mujava's 'Township Funk' on Warp a couple of years ago. Deep, introspective but with warmth too. Nice shit.

Actress - 'Splazsh'. On reading the review to this album earlier in the year on Bleep, I was immediately drawn to it. Critics in all corners have lauded 'Splazsh' as being one of those albums that is incredibly hard to define or categorise, much to the frustration of musos everywhere I'm sure. To be quite honest, it took me quite a few listens to really get into this album; suffice it to say my persistence was worth it. The way I would describe this album is that it is akin to listening to a carefully constructed lo-fi ambient science-fiction house record best experienced when stoned, alone in the dark. It also has some interesting and amusingly-titled tracks, my fave being 'Bubblebutts and equations'. Weird other-wordly shit that is well worth getting your teeth into if you're looking for something a little more abstract and out-there, but still with that ever-so-important discernible house groove.

Caribou - 'Swim'. Well, this has got to be by far and away the album that I have most listened to in 2010. Interestingly, I didn't think this album was that amazing on the first few listens. But what has struck me is just how well crafted and fun this electronic pop LP really is. I have been aware of Caribou, aka Dan Snaith, for quite a while. Certainly I have enjoyed listening to his previous releases (including as Manitoba), and remember getting quite into the 'folk-tronica' scene that seemed to be emerging back in the early-ish noughties with other such acts like Four Tet and Prefuse 73. Anyway, this album contains some wonderful tunes with gorgeous melodies, catchy vocals and bags of depth. It's an album that you can listen to on the commute to work, chilling at home with your mates smoking a sply, or dancing to in your living room post-club at 6am. Just gets better and better. Highly recommended.

OK well, that's it for now. What I have learned from blogging is that less is often more. So I will try to make my posts less like essays and more like punchy opinion pieces. Or some shit like that. In my next post I plan to cover the second instalment of fave 2010 albums including Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem and other such delights.

If you're still reading, thanks for coming back. I will do my best to write more regular blog posts, pending on work and other commitments. In the meantime , I hope you are having a lovely Christmas, wherever you are, and whatever you're doing.

Currently listening to Scuba's 'Triangulations'.

Peace.

Favourite Albums of 2009

Greetings readers,

I hope this finds you well, and glad to see you have not deserted me entirely given my reasonable hiatus from this blog. I have recently set up a new blog (serial blogger, I know) at the LSE which has somewhat pre-occupied me, but I have resolved to give this more love and attention from here onwards. The prodigal son has returned.

OK, so onto business. Well, I wanted to share with you my favourite albums of 2009. Some of these are actual releases from this year, some are older, but they constitute my favourite, and likely most listened to albums of 2009. Yougetme? Plus I just don't have enough time to listen to enough new music these days. Well, that's my excuse anyway.

1. Fever Ray - eponymously titled [2009]
2. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport [2009]
3. Philip Jacaszek - Treny [2008]
4. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion [2009]
5. Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling [2008]
6. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago [2008]
7. The XX - eponymously titled [2009]
8. Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust [2009]
9. TV On The Radio - Dear Science [2009]
10. múm - Finally We Are No One [2002!]
11. The Field - Yesterday and Today [2009]
12. The Antlers - Hospice [2009]
13. Grizzly Bear - Veckaitimest [2009]
14. Little Dragon - Machine Dreams [2009]

Clearly I have a thing for Swedish and Icelandic electronica!

I promise to accompany each album with a little personal review when I eventually have some proper time but one must prioritise...

Peace,

F.

US Senate announces health care bill, but will tyranny of the minority prevail?

Harry Reid, Senate majority leader, has announced his version of health care reform:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/health/policy/19health.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Its braver and more radical than many expected from the Senate even a few months ago. However, three Senators are currently holding Reid to ransom with threats not to support the legislation:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/health/policy/18senate.html?fta=y

Due to the Senate's super-majority rules, Reid needs the votes of all three. The three are: Blanche Lincoln (Arkansas), Ben Nelson (Nebraska) and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.

The three poor, rural states these Senators represent hold a combined 3% of the total US population. Tyranny of the minority indeed! Imagine if the 1945 Labour government had to hold up the NHS legislation in order to meet the concerns of three MPs from Norwich, Shropshire and Anglesey...

Quick US health reform update

The House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill on Saturday, and the Senate has produced a merged bill which should hit the floor soon. After that, the two legislatures have to negotiate a combined bill to send to Obama's desk. Here's a quick rundown on the two bills and their differences:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aJU5kC3UDPaw&pos=8

If one of these passes, it will be the largest and potentially most significant piece of welfare legislation passed in the US (perhaps anywhere) in decades. 35 million people, nearly the population of Poland, will find themselves with health care coverage for the first time. Stakes are high right now in the US.