weltschmerz - listen

A summer's end

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 20:20:00 +0100

Work starts in four days. I spent the afternoon polishing shoes and gardening. Very Zen, I know.

The mood isn't as bleak as the title suggests; in fact, quite the opposite. I was informed of -- and hurriedly booked tickets for -- The New Pornographers' visit to London on 2nd November. O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! I have no idea whether they're playing any more dates in the capital; the official website currently mentions only "UK/EU shows in November and more in December". Anyway, a perfect birthday present (from me to me). Twin Cinema is a definite grower; "Use It", "The Bleeding Heart Show" and "Sing Me Spanish Techno" have buried themselves in my head. My brother is furiously deliberating the possibility of travelling back from uni for the gig. Classes? Pah!

And of course there's Sigur Rós a week later. My limited edition copy of Takk... has arrived, replete with beautiful packaging, additional artwork and -- fine, I'll stop drooling now. "Hoppípolla", an obvious highlight, is on repeat on the CD player; of the songs I hadn't heard already, "Saeglopur" was immediately striking in its intensity. I eagerly await the live performances.

Mercury

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 23:00:00 +0100

Congratulations to Antony & The Johnsons, who've won the Mercury Music Prize 2005. I was rooting for The Go Team! or maybe M.I.A., but what the hey, at least Coldplay didn't get it. Antony's voice (and appearance, I suppose) is definitely an acquired taste. I've warmed to tracks such as "Cripple And The Starfish", "Fistful Of Love" and "Hope There's Someone", but I can't help feeling that "You Are My Sister" (the current single?), which has been getting airplay, is horribly sappy and over the top. There's a whole bunch of mp3s here for your sampling pleasure.

Update

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 19:50:00 +0100

General update on various things:

First draft of dissertation is done and under my supervisor's consideration. Fingers crossed that I won't have to change/rewrite/add much.
Taking a break from the Discworld series to read His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. Most of the way through the first book now, and it's fab! Could those in the know please tell me how it compares to the Harry Potter series, which I've somehow avoided (in book and film form)?
Picked up Twin Cinema by The New Pornographers and I Am Kloot's self-titled at Fopp today. Pleasant surprises all round: I hadn't realised that the latest New Pornographers album was out in the UK already, and it was only a tenner.
The British music press seems to like Stars' Set Yourself On Fire. From the songs I know, I think I prefer Heart (2003), but hopefully they'll perform a mixture of old and new at their gig on 7/9.
Made my first mix in over a year, and it seems to have got a great response -- which is nice!
Started playing regular tennis again.

Another gig

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 11:15:00 +0100

Tickets to Sigur Rós @ Brixton Academy, 9 September.

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

If they perform "Svefn-G-Englar", my life will be complete.

Upcoming gigs

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 18:16:16 +0100

Oh my, it's been a while. No point apologising -- although I do hope that some people will still read this -- and let's just get on with it.

I got up early yesterday morning. (I'm still technically a student, so 9am counts as early.) Why? For this. Yes, my brother and I have tickets to see the Pixies in a month's time. Rock on. In fact, it's going to be a fan-bloody-tastic 3 weeks. Stay tuned; I might even write about the following gigs:

Pixies, 31/8 @ Alexandra Palace
Stars, 7/9 @ The Garage
Lemonheads, 15/9 @ Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Rachael Yamagata @ ICA

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 08:15:00 +0100

I first discovered and wrote about Rachael Yamagata pretty much exactly a year ago. She's come a long way since then: she performed on The O.C. (Season 2 Episode 11, in case you were wondering -- not that I watch the show) and appeared at Glastonbury last week. Having missed her gigs at The Enterprise a few months back, I wasn't going to make the same mistake with last night's show at the ICA.

Supporting was a young American singer-songwriter named Johnathan Rice (note spelling). The one-man-and-guitar act isn't easy to pull off, and despite Rice's best efforts, the overwhelming feeling I got from his 45-minute set was one of dreariness and tedium. The songs, while not poor per se, all sounded similar and dragged on for too long. Several of the song titles had connections with war -- not sure if I'm missing something there.

And so on to the main act. RY opened her set, as she did her debut LP, with "Be Be Your Love". A full band provided the backing, including the obligatory cellist and violinist (I wonder what classical musicians think of them). The setlist comprised a good mix of tracks from her self-titled EP and the Happenstance LP, plus unrecorded new material. "Why Did I Leave" (formerly known as "What About Steve", we were informed) was showcased as a song that will appear on the next album, with recording due to start in August.

The double whammy of "Letter Read" and "Worn Me Down", arguably her two best songs, provided the highlight of the evening; the latter included an audience-sung chorus. RY's rapport with the smallish crowd was excellent all night; there were anecdotes about London cabbies, performing in Glastonbury's trance tent (!), and even some scatological humour. The encore included "Reason Why" (the O.C. track) and the hidden track from Happenstance, a duet for which Johnathan Rice returned to the stage.

It was, overall, a decent gig. I think the majority of the audience expected more songs from the LP, and I would certainly have enjoyed hearing "Under My Skin" and "1963" live, but she can't be faulted for serving up a varied setlist.

I was admittedly disappointed that the stripped-down version of "Worn Me Down", which introduced me to RY in the first place, didn't feature. If you missed it last year, no worries, because it's been reposted at Achtung Baby!.

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 00:45:00 +0100

London was horribly warm and sticky today.

Bill Withers
Ain't No Sunshine

from Just As I Am (1971)

The irony didn't escape me when one of Bill Withers' biggest hits started playing in my head.

Thank the soul brothers at The Selector.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Ain't No Sunshine

from Blacknuss (1971)

This weekend's weather will be intense, a bit like Kirk's interpretation of the song.

Love jazz, love Said the Gramophone.

And it's contagious

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Sat, 28 May 2005 00:35:00 +0100

For your listening pleasure: two female voices that I can't get enough of.

Regina Spektor
Us

from Soviet Kitsch (2004)

If you like Fiona Apple, you'll dig Regina Spektor and this delightful love song. Even if you hate Fiona Apple, the wonderful chorus will probably lodge itself in your head.

Don't say I didn't warn you; visit insound.

Neko Case
If You Knew

from The Tigers Have Spoken (2004)

Neko Case is of course a member of The New Pornographers, but she also has a splendid solo career. This rollicking track, a plea to an unfaithful lover, is taken from a live album released last year.

Feel the pain at ANTI- Records.

It's all in your head

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Tue, 17 May 2005 11:25:00 +0100

Mates Of State
Goods (All In Your Head)

from All Day EP (2004)

Mates Of State have been on my "check out" list for a while. The duo have been around performing for a few years, and in fact became husband and wife in 2001. As soon as I heard Goods (All In Your Head), I was hooked on their charming indie-pop. Infectious boy-girl harmonies, keyboard bursts that sound like sunshine through your speakers, pure summery perfection. File with The New Pornographers, Joy Zipper, The Wannadies and Azure Ray.

Hurry over to Download.com and the world will seem like a better place.

Robyn
Be Mine!

from Robyn (2005)

I first heard this track on Fluxblog a couple of months ago. Robyn is a Swedish pop star; her fourth, latest and self-titled album has just been released, on which Be Mine! appears as the lead single. Unrequited love isn't meant to sound this good.

For stabbing strings and an anguished chorus, thank The Selector.

We will always be a light

noreply@blogspirit.com () — Sun, 08 May 2005 22:30:00 +0100

Eisley
Telescope Eyes

from Room Noises (2005)

I stumbled upon Eisley on Yahoo!, of all places. The Texan band, which opened for Coldplay on their 2003 US tour, comprises four home-schooled siblings and their best friend, and has been variously labelled as Christian rock and boxed with Sixpence None The Richer. Be that as it may, Telescope Eyes remains an immediately arresting listen, with its bittersweet female harmonies and off-kilter lyrics.

Find this track, and more, at MySpace.

Stars
Ageless Beauty

from Set Yourself On Fire (2005)

I wrote about Stars and their gorgeous Look Up back in February. Ageless Beauty is a single from their most recent album. It never quite hits the heights of Look Up, despite the urgent beat and Amy Millan's breathy vocals, but it's still worth a listen.

Judge for yourself at Download.com.