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.

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.

Fuck Buttons - "Surf Solar"

Greetings readers,

How are we? Just wanted to share Fuck Buttons' new 7" (edited) release, Surf Solar. This version has been edited down to under 4 minutes, though unsurprisingly, the album version will be over 10 minutes long. Once again, FB have come up trumps. Like a natural extension to their incredible first LP, "Street Horrrsing", Surf Solar has the trademark 4x4 kick-drum, discordant guitars, beautiful key changes and shimmering synths. At the same time the tune sounds fucked up and tortured yet retains a wonderful sonic sheen. Epic doesn't begin to decribe it. I cannot wait to hear the full 10-minute version, and for the release of the new album, "Tarot Sport", produced by Andrew Weatherall (legend), on October 12th. My fingers will be poised, ready for download. Am hoping to drum up some support and see FB on October 27th at Heaven for their only London tour date this year.

Elsewhere, I'd like to give you a heads up of a friend's new night called "Outfield" at Berlin's hottest, newest club, "Dice". Indeed two good friends of mine will be playing, Raw Hedroom and Max Cooper, with Maetrik headlining in Room 1 and Jay Shepheard in Room 2. Will be expecting high-quality house and techno throughout. Anyhow, will be flying out to Berlin next Friday for a few days, and cannot wait! Have never been before and only heard great things about the city.

Will also be moving back to London next week in anticipation of my Masters at the LSE. Have found a really nice flat with a live-in owner in South Tottenham, near the Stamford Hill border. Will be getting my fresh Challah and bagels in regularly!

Currently listening to surprise surprise, Surf Solar, by Fuck Buttons.

Thanks for reading.

Peace,

F.

A Stench of Oil Diplomacy in the Air

Greetings readers,

And how are we on this rather lovely Summer's day? For once I have no complaints about the weather - will hopefully be having a rather splendid BBQ later today!

So onto more serious matters. Well, if you have been following the news recently, then you will already know what the topic of debate is about in this post from the photo and title: the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi the Lockerbie bomber, from prison this week. Now I'm not quite sure I actually have a concrete position on this, but felt compelled to write something seeing as the whole event has blown up on both sides of the Atlantic, and how I certainly have my suspicions that a little bit of oil diplomacy is going on here.

So, as usual, the Americans have got their noses into something that had nothing to do with them, flexing their diplomatic muscle; the head of the FBI described the release of Megrahi as a "mockery of justice". Indeed, Scotland's former first minister, Jack McConnell also said it was a "grave error of judgement". According to today's BBC article, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of Colonel Gaddafi reportedly told a TV station that Megrahi's case was "always on the negotiating table" during trade talks. However, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson rebuked these comments, describing them as "offensive". The sceptic in me however, is not so sure.

Megrahi was apparently freed by the Scottish Government on compassionate grounds due to the fact that he has terminal cancer. Boo hoo. The fact of the matter is that he was convicted of the murder of 270 people in the Lockerbie bombing in 1988; if you believe in the rule of law, and due process, then he is a guilty man. Fact. In my opinion, freeing Megrahi on compassionate grounds makes the Scottish Government, and Scotland as a whole look weak. OK yes, one could argue that the decision makes Scotland look like a compassionate country but ultimately, Megrahi was convicted of killing 270 innocent people. He should have died in prison. Now forgive me for sounding like a Daily Mail reader, but for once I agree with the Americans.

To make matters worse, Megrahi was given a hero's welcome on landing in Tripoli on the eve of the first day of Ramadan. To top it off, Colonel Gadaffi was there to personally receive him. Indeed, many Libyans present were even waving Scottish flags - to be honest I found this particularly disgusting. Apparently a memo was leaked detailing how Gordon Brown requested that Megrahi be received in a discrete and sensitive manner. Surely that's like putting a hungry, fat kid in a sweet shop and asking him not to eat any sweets. Red rag, bull anyone?

I read somewhere that Libya will soon be in the top 10 oil producers in the world. Given this, I have to wonder whether there really were some "under the table" discussions going on behind the release of Megrahi. Or whether this notion is just too sceptical and conspiratorial. If not, then presumably the Scottish were also in talks with the rest of the UK. I mean, Scotland is only a small country and I can't imagine Libya getting that much leverage out of her. No, more likely the rest of the UK were also complicit, with Whitehall surely being a key player in the whole process. Ha, gives a whole new slant on "due process"!

According to another BBC article I have just read, the Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz was in Tripoli on the day Megrahi returned to Libya, and was seen publicly apologising to the Libyan people in a news conference. Why? I hear you ask. Well, in 2008, Colonel Gaddafi's son Hannibal and his wife were arrested and detained by the Swiss police for allegedly beating two of their servants. Surprise surprise, the move infuriated the Libyan governement and it was not too long before Swiss companies and nationals were driven out of the country and the oil taps were half shut. Whoops. It seems that the Libyans have very evidently flexed their oil muscles. Yep, I can see the biceps rippling now.

I do have to agree that many of these complaining British and American politicians are blatantly guilty of "disingenuous posturing". Sadly once again, the rule of law and due process have given way to oil diplomacy so we can all feed our excessively consumptive lifestlyes here in the West (myself included). Unfortunately, this decision has also reflected rather badly on a devolved Scotland on the international stage.

Hey, at least we (the English) had nothing to do with it.

Currently listening to a rather good mix by Trentemøller entitled "Harbour Boat Trips in Copenhagen" - it starts off really folky and downtempo, and then starts to build into some nice 4x4. However, it still remains fairly slow and downtempo, with some interesting EBM, indie and electronica tracks in there. Very soundtrack-y and atmospheric. Definitely one for a lazy Sunday, cotching with your mates. Or perfect for reflective, solitary listening, as I am doing now. Anyway, check it out here.

One last thing - come on England, you can bring back the Ashes. 10 wickets, 2 days. We have the weather on our side....

Thanks for reading.

Peace (in the Middle East),

F.

Las noticias y revisión de música

Hola amigos,

Thanks for tuning in once again to this slightly Spanish-influenced blog, I'm sure you have noticed (title meaning - "News and music reviews"). So, I have been back in Blighty for a couple of weeks now, and have acclimatised to the real world. My States high has well and truly ended but has certainly left with me an indelible imprint: I am sure that the recent music that I have been listening to has, on reflection, been noticeably influenced by my three weeks over the other side of The Pond. Though this could easily be explained by the fact that I have been reading Pitchfork Media quite frequently, and heeding many of their album reviews. A combination of both probably.

Anyway, onto new music. Well, over the last couple of weeks I have discovered quite a few new albums, including Luomo's "Convivial", various albums by M83, Apparat's "Walls" and perhaps most importantly, Grizzly Bear's recent offering. So having read the recent PM review of Grizzly Bear's most recent album release, "Veckatimest", who gave it 9.0, I had to download the album. The band itself are Brooklyn based, and are actually on Warp Records, which was another reason I was drawn to them. Anyway, according to Wikipedia, their sound is categorised as "experimental rock, folk rock and is most dominated by the use of acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies". I concur. I would say that they sound a little bit like a cross between The Beach Boys ("Pet Sounds"), Fleet Foxes, Arcade Fire and Animal Collective. I am certainly digging the whole experimental, psychedelic, folky sound at the moment, particularly because it is quite chilled and downbeat (which is good for my current period of introspection). My fave tracks on the album are "Ready, Able", "Two Weeks" and "While You Wait for the Others", though on my second proper listen, the album is really growing on me. Anyway, as if not to big up the album enough, Fleet Foxes hailed "Veckatimest" as album of the decade, whilst Grizzly Bear are Jonny Greenwood's favourite band. Plaudits done. Go check out the album if you are into any of the above bands I have just mentioned and want something with beautiful vocal harmonies, amazing song structures, gorgeous orchestral arrangements and loads of depth.

The other band that I want to mention is M83. I was surprised to discover this band had been around for the best part of a deacde with quite a prolific back catalogue. This is especially since I am pretty into the whole shoegaze electronica scene. Anyway, the band is/was comprised of two Frenchman, Anthony Gonzalez, and formerly Nicolas Fromageau, and was formed in Antibes in 2001. M83's most recent album, "Saturdays =Youth" sounds more like avant synth-pop that any kind of shoegaze electronica, and I simply can't get enough of arguably the standout track, "Couleurs", which is this dance-floor oriented, epic, eight and a half minute synth-pop anthem. It's blatantly a little cheesy, but sometimes that's all you need and want. From reading reviews and one cursory listen, I imagine that M83's magnum opus is probably their album from 2003, entitled "Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts", which sounds like it would nestle in nicely between Ulrich Shnauss & Brian Eno. I.e. it is a beautiful, textured, soundscaped album with more than a hint of ambient eletronica. I defninitely need to spend more time on it.

Other albums I have recently been listening to include Apparat's "Walls", which is a lovely piece of mostly vocal-driven downtempo electronica, and Luomo's "Convivial", which is a very interesting and slickly produced house album. Kind of reminds me of German/French producers like Isolée and I:Cube, though I wouldn't necessarily put the album into the "micro-house" genre.

So, onto other affairs. Well, I recently received an offer from the LSE to study the MSc in International Health Policy which I am very pleased about. Have now accepted the offer, and am starting to make arrangements; think I will move back to London around mid-September, as the course begins at the end of the month, in effect. Am thinking of going for a flatshare with randoms in Hackney - this will hopefully be relatively cheap, easily accessible on the bus to Aldwych (LSE) and near most of my friends. Am obviously a little tentative that I will be living on a student's budget, but well, that will be part of the challenge. Anyway, I genuinely feel that I have reached a level of maturity where I will be able to take everything in my stride, and certainly have the drive to do such a course right now. Am also glad that my general boozing and hedonism is well under control! I think as an undergraduate (and even doing my first Masters) I was simply too pre-occupied with partying and boozing all the time. So there is no doubt in my mind that I will be going for a dictinction, and at the very least, a merit. We shall see.

I think the only other thing worth mentioning is the fact that I am intensely learning Spanish, courtesy of the Rosetta Stone programme, which I have recently acquired. After just a week's intense learning, I must say that I am extremely impressed, and had I paid the £350 odd for levels 1-3 (!), would probably have considered this value for money. In a nutshell, the programme teaches you Spanish in the way that you first learned your mother tonuge. I.e. by constantly making associations with pictures and objects, and by using clever patterns and cues. I am particularly enjoying the way that the programme starts with simple words relating to real-world objects and people, and then starts to build upon this, to form proper sentences. I am aiming to complete all three levels by studying an average of about one hour a day over the next two months or so. I will then hopefully be ready to enroll on the fast-track Modern Foreign Language course at intermediate level at the LSE (in conjunction with my main course). This will entaal 2 hours per week of teaching over 20 weeks, incorporating assessments throughout and at the end. As long as I am dedicated, I should be able to achieve this, and hope to be reasonably conversational come June next year. I am certainly very excited by this prospect, and will probably join the Spanish society, not least so I can converse with hot Spanish/Latina women!

Anyway, I'm all out of words, and my neck is starting to ache.

Hope you're all good in the hood.

Peace,

F.

More music musings...

So,

Here I am again, after just a day's break. Clearly I have much to talk about. Further to my last post, I'd like to talk more about some of the amazing music I have been listening to. Where to start?

Well, currently I am listening to Fever Ray's eponymously titled debut offering. For the uninitiated, Fever Ray is Karin Dreijer Andersson, one half of the sibling duo, The Knife, who many of you will know. There are definitely similarities in the production style with The Knife, namely that the music is still basically synth-pop, all arpeggiated and such. But unlike The Knife's techno leanings, Fever Ray goes down the haunting, ethereal gothic route. Not that I am expert mind, but I can certainly hear The Cure and Depeche Mode in there. And maybe even Ryuichi Sakamoto. Although this is much more chilling. Apparently it's the sound of a new mother's sense of frustration and isolation when still awake with child in the middle of the night. And boy, can I sense that. Brrrrr! But the production is absolutely amazing. And the album is growing on me with every listen.

What else have I been listening to? Probably too much to tell for one blog, but would definitely have to single out Fuck Buttons' debut album offering, "Street Horrrsing" as absolutely incredible. The Bristol duo have certainly put out a shimmering, magisterial post-rock effort of epic proportions. Basically, if you like Mogwai, you will probably like Fuck Buttons. Although dare I say it, FB have slightly more "dancey" elements and incorporate more melody, so may be easier to digest for anyone new to the "soft-loud" dynamic sound that Mogwai basically invented. All the tracks are absolutely incredible, and average about 8 minutes in length, so not for the fainthearted. The standout track is probably "Bright Tomorrow" which incorporates a steady 4x4 kick-drum, slow, chugging synths, brooding visceral guitars, and ends with the sound of a screaming, eerie tortured voice all laiden on top. Crescendo is certainly the word. Amazing. Oh yeah, and I absolutely love FB's abstract artwork (see above), which has definitely been given my mate Ben's seal of approval (and he is a graphic designer don't you know).



Other albums I been listening to recently include Junior Boys' latest release, "Begone Dull Care", which continues the Canadian duos interesting and well produced retro synth-pop sound. And TV On The Radio's latest album, "Dear Science". Now granted, this was a bit of a wild card for me, especially given I don't listen to that many bands. But having been given 9.1 by Pitchfork Media, I had to take this seriously. And after a few listens, I have deifinitely got into the sound. I guess I would describe TVOTR as rock, but with some electronic leanings, which is probably why I rate them. Some real standout tracks, including "Love Dog" which is like a beautiful, lullaby. Have really fallen for Tunde Adebimpe's voice. Very soothing indeed.

I suppose the album I have been most looking forward to has been Nathan Fake's eagerly anticipated sophomore effort, "Hard Islands". Don't think I need to harp on about how bloody good "Drowning in a Sea of Love" was. Electronica shoe-gazing at its finest. Apparently, Nathan Fake produced that album whilst still living with his folks in Norfolk, whilst his second album offering was produced from his new abode in Hackney. And boy can you tell. It is a much tougher, hard-edged prospect. Pretty much techno, though with the Nathan Fake/Border community IDM tag stamped all over it. I.e. still very interesting production, still with shoegaze elements and has plenty of glitch. That said, I have been pretty disappointed. The tunes just aren't as catchy. No really discernible melodies as far as I can hear. Think the standout track is "Fentiger", the last on the album, that has a big synthy breakdown mid-way through, that probably most resembles stuff from the first album. Don't get me wrong, Hard Islands is still a decent album, but it was always going to be hard to match the amazing effort of DIASOL. Will be interesting to hear what Nathan Fake's third LP is like. Though not sure if I can wait another 3 years...

Well, that's about it for now. Could drone on a lot more, but my neck is starting to ache.

Next blog: I wll probably be talking about quite how much I am enjoying watching "The Incredible Human Journey" on BBC2, presented by Dr Alice Roberts. It is absolutely fascinating, and should be of interest to anyone who has ever thought about where modern homo-sapiens has come from, and how we have adapted and evolved into different races, cultures and creeds. Plus Alice Roberts isn't exactly hard to look at, though don't want to sexualise someone who is clearly a proper scientist. Still, I am a red-blooded male...

Peace,

F.