Sunday 14 December 2008

Pocahaunted

Pocahaunted are two wigged-out chicks from Eagle Rock California - who make intense native american tinged drones. Their music very rarely includes any lyrical form, just moans, chants and screams over varied percussion and earthy tones - sometimes peyote trippy, and sometimes just outright carnal. Where to start with Pocahaunted? Difficult to say. In the two short years that they have been releasing music, their labyrinthine discography includes eight or so full length albums and countless single releases, including splits. I have counted about five limited edition full-length releases this year - "Chains" (released on Teardrops), "Mirror Mics" (Wierd Forrest), "Island Diamonds" (Arbor), "Peyote Road" (Woodsist) and "Beast that Your Are" (cassette release on Night People). Also excellent is a split album with Robedor called "Hunted Gathering". And guess what - they all make me feel tingly - two girls play-acting out their native american obssessions for the benefit of our aural pleasure is just too charming!

www.nonotfun.com/pocahaunted
myspace/pocahaunted
lastfm/pocahaunted


Thursday 11 December 2008

Dananananaykroyd

These wee glaswegian fellows have announced the release of their debut album, "Hey Everyone" on April 6th with Best Before Records. I am now hunting high and low for a promo/leaked copy so that I can get my headgear around it early, as this wee southern fellow happens to think that they make a marvelous din. Loved what they've done so far - check out the single "Pink Sabbath".

The album has been recorded in NYC and will be preceded by a new single "Black Wax". Prior to this the band will be stretching their legs supporting The Foals on tour in the new year. I am rooting for them anyway, if only to prove that it is possible to make it with an obtusely unmarketable and unpronouncable name - how the hell am I going to tell people about them in the boozer when I can't even say it? - You know its like the bloke from Ghostbusters crossed with a banana and the theme from Batman. Fuck it - can't be bothered - mine's a Pride - who's going to win X-factor?


Tuesday 9 December 2008

D Double E / Newham Generals

Here is a cool website that issues Grime sets compiled directly from pirate radio broadcasts - grimetapes.com.
Their latest "compilation" is a bootleg greatest hits of London MC, D Double E (right) spanning six years of broadcasts and it is darned hot. This is an illicit appetiser to his first album next year with the Newham Generals/"Generally Speaking" which I'll be looking out for. Anyone seeking an alternative insight into the setting of drugs and violence that permeates youth gang culture in the UK would be served well by checking it too, judging by the promo videos on youtube they are not intending to hold back.


This music, though, never seems to make as much sense to me once sanitised and manufactured on official releases, so the experts at grimetapes hq are doing this listener a great service in collecting the best bits amongst the "shouts out" and delivering it to us gratis via the medium of rapidshare. And their back catalogue looks pretty extensive too.


www.myspace.com/d double e
www.youtube.com/newham generals - frontline

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

I have just stumbled across this chap and first impressions are favourable. His debut self-titled solo album was released in the autumn on NY based Say Hey records - and was produced by Chris Taylor of fellow Brooklyn alt-folk-noiseniks, Grizzly Bear. His credentials as an uber qualified american singer-songwriter seem to be all well and accounted for: unorthodox upbringing on the road with his gigging comedian father, trail of unsuccessful bands, drug abuse followed by sleeping rough in Coney Island - check check check and check!

Now aged twenty five, he certainly punches his weight lyrically with narratives dripping with the dirt, grime, depravity and death of the city; "I ain't done a damn thing right, But oh, I'll try, before I die - How 'bout tonight" on "Buriedfed", the single and opening track of the album sets the tone. Somehow you get the impression that there is a lot riding, personally, on the success of MBAR's music career - which makes for compelling listening.


sayheyrecords.com
stereogum.com
myspace.com
www.youtube.com/buriedfed - video

Mission Statement

I have finally succeeded in setting up a blog. At this stage of the proceedings I am still not entirely sure how it is going to pan out, though I imagine it may well contain spontaneous ramblings combined with some opinionations on topics such as music, architecture, economics, politics, religion, sport and junk food. Though mainly music.

I'll try and maintain a healthy mix between the detritrus of my damaged brain and useful recommendations. It is also my intention to focus on new music, rather than bore you all with geeky fan-scribe on eighties indie-pop or old school hip hop.