Thursday, March 31, 2011

An Aborted Frog Eyes Review From Last Year

I tried to write a review last year of Frog Eyes' latest record. Below is what I came up with. It made me realise I wasn't a music writer.

Frog Eyes - Paul's Tomb
(Dead Oceans)

I visited Frog Eyes' home town of Victoria, British Columbia once. Like almost no other place I've been it struck me as a city that longs for history. It has one already, of course, but you get the feeling that the past it posesses isn't quite the past it desires. Victoria longs for a grand and sweeping past, a past of deep traditional and historical significance.

And so it overreaches itself in a constant quest for something it supposes can simply be created. This is the new world after all. They were told it would be possible.

But, predictably, Victoria gets it all wrong. A postmodern Baudrillian similacrum if ever there was one - fake plastic stone mansions, fairytale horse drawn carriages and double decker buses fight for the attention of your eye as you sit taking afternoon tea in the shadow of the legislative parliament building of the troubled province of British Columbia, Canada.

The irony presents itself that the dream of pushing westward simply results in a historical homesickness, an overpowering nostalgic longing for what has been left far, far behind. And the quest to re-produce it is a difficult, problematic and dangerously distracting one.

One can't help but see Frog Eyes' and their main man Carey Mercer as a product of this environment. And certainly in this sense Mercer has done his home town proud; if there is to be a monument constructed - a common reference used in Frog Eyes' music - then it would be erected to him, right in Victoria's faux-historic town centre.

Frog Eyes have dug deep into an old European sensibility that is almost entirely absent in contemporary European bands themselves. And Europe's just the start. Mercer is often found to be quoting the old testement, the torah, even ancient Chinese wisdom and what's more, unlike his hometown, one feels that he really gets it.

Consequently, Frog Eyes are a band without easy contemporary comparison - as the references swirl, it becomes impossible to place them easily in any point in history and in that sense of course they're far more contemporary than most bands.

And make no mistake the contemporary is very definitely a concern of Mercer's - he might be singing about kings, saints, hunters and even an anonymous work of Christian mysticism written in 14th century, but Mercer's history book is a tool with which we can probe the present. Quite unlike Victoria's dazzling sheen of fake old world charm - which seeks to obliterate the present. Mercer is using this old world wisdom to shine a bright beam of light on current problems troubling British Columbia as a whole.

Check out their most recent press photo - what exactly is happening here? Is this just coincidence that the members of the band are presented as blinded to (or even by) their immediate surroundings. "We are the enemies of our light, and we command them to fall upon their swords," Mercer sings on 'Lear In Love' and one can't help but see this light as something evil, authoritarian and made to blind its subjects to their imediate reality.



Certainly a case could be made that this light is anologious to the massive PR campaign that draped the whole province in a glossy sheen so that it could present itself to the world for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Mercer was extremely vocal about the infringment of artist rights by the Vancouver Olympic commitee, highlighting the issue in this excellent Op-Ed piece in Stereogum.

But artist rights and even the Olympics themselves are just a a trivial issue compared to the real problems that beset British Colombia. Mercer seems to refer to them directly in a recent interview with the blog mbvmusic.com, making following hard-hitting statement:

"I write now about ignoble and debased hunting. I can't take this world: it's acidic and corrosive and it eats women. I live in a region that consumes and kills women and no one knows what to say or what to do. I write these words through a veil of tears, thinking about a highway of tears in my province where so many women have disappeared. I do not mean to suggest that all men are killers; I do mean to suggest that patriarchy is a killer. I do not know what to say or what to do. I am not entirely sure if writing about these things is the thing to do."

'The Highway of Tears' Mercer is referring to is Highway 16, that winds it way through the entire province. Since 1969, at least 32 women, many of them aboriginal, have been killed or suspiciously disappeared along a 500-mile stretch of the road.





Add to this the extremely disturbing case of Robert Pickton, a man who claims to have aducted and murdered 49 women (mainly of whom were prostitutes of native origin) and disposted of their bodies on his pig farm. Pickton is, thankfully, behind bars but investigations continue into this stomach churning and grisly case.

But although Pickton is in jail serving time with no hope of release - women still frequently disappear from Vancouver's notorious Lower East Side. And it's in the shadow of these disturbing societal shocks the album's concerns burst urgently to life. When Mercer sings that the female protagonist of the title track - "Donna", as he calls her - is "never going to get through" this is not just a literary construction, this is really happening.

The second song on the record - 'Sensitive Girls' - is most forthright in addressing a major British Columbia problem - the drug and prostitution problem of the lower east side in Vancouver. A part of town that Frog Eyes are more than familiar with. In fact, I first saw them playing live at a venue smack bang in the heart of this painful place. East Hastings and the surrounding area is a decaying urban zone (the ambient recordings on Godspeed, You Black Emperor's track 'East Hastings' where captured there) and it's full of broken down hotels, boarded up store fronts inhabited most obviously by addicts, beggers and prostitutes:

"But do you really love this place?

And your penchant for drugs shall ensure that you will always
Love this place,

And your penchant for drugs shall surely end in something close to ruinous
You don't need Cassandra to gaze over the edge

Deep-boned readers and community leaders all notice the stumble in your gait,
Do you really love this place?

You don't need Cassandra to gaze over the edge,

But you do need to get yourself out of the doom of this zone;
For there is nothing mystic or storytelling about this zone."




And consequently just when it seems Mercer might be assuming the role of moral judge or artist profiteer - he draws the line full circle around even his work and rebukes even himself. 'Paul's Tomb' is an album riddled with struggle so why should it stop at the boundry of its creator's inner self.

Sonically too - the struggle is present. Push and pull. Frog Eyes are still a band seemingly on the edge of falling apart on every single song they write. They're still a storm of treble - a howling gale punctuated by clanging alarum bells of shredding guitar and drums of oar-like rythmn. The listener is lashed to the mast, a turner-esque witness to the savage power and beauty of the waves that crash upon the deck.

But the power here in this record is not its sonics - no matter how difficult they may be on the ear at times. The power in this record comes from the challenge that Mercer makes to the listener. The challenge to look at our world - in all its painful reality - and realise that it's up to us to change it and stop the injustice that is all too easy to ignore. We have the power to help the vulnerable women and oppressed minorities - and read correctly this record is a both a powerful wake-up and an invitatation to do just that.

The tomb is not built for the past - it's meant for the present. The past is far enough away to be allowed to exist and to be showcased even. The present, however, is much too painful and inconvenient to be allowed to escape, and as a consquence it must be buried.

Frog Eyes' triumph is that they don't allow this to happen. And even as they toil they spot a chink of light...

"Wretched palms, violent psalms, violet fades from the cheek of my babe,
I shall cover you and swaddle you in Eden's last light,

I shall hope for the end of dark, dark days."


Thursday, March 25, 2010

Podcast 20

Welcome good people to this week's podcast. New music awaits...

Click here to listen now!

Sleephouse Radio - Podcast 20 by sleephouseradio

Tracklisting:
1. Felt Letters - '600,000 Bands'
2. Chain And The Gang - 'Interview With Chain Gang'
3. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - 'Evolution's A Lie'
4. The War On Drugs - 'Taking The Farm'
5. Art Museums - 'S.H.O.P.P.I.N.G'
6. Prins Thomas - 'Wendy Not Walter'
7. Anthony 'Shake' Shakir - 'Assimilated'
8. Richard McGraw - 'Asheville'
9. Clogs - 'Last Song' (Featuring Matt Berninger)

1. Felt Letters - '600,000 Bands'
2. Chain And The Gang - 'Interview With Chain Gang'



The damn near inscrutable Ian Svenonious does it again. A deft puncturing of ego-inflated balloons on both sides of the artist / critic divide here. The first from Felt Letters is out on 7 inch right now and the second comes from last year's Chain And The Gang LP. Chain And The Gang are touring right now too. Check the MySpace for details.

Felt Letters MySpace

Chain And The Gang


3. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - 'Evolution's A Lie'


There's been a massive amount of focus on Ariel Pink's forthcoming album and quite rightly so - the current vogue for chillwave, hypnogogic pop and tape hiss (and hipness) certainly wouldn't have happened without him.

I'm disappointed in the new teaser track though - 'Round and Round' showcases Ariel's 80s FM Radio fascination, while I prefer the flipside hazy experimental Ariel Pink. I was hoping with the help of a full band and proper studio he'd go in the direction suggested by this awesome krautrocking, Darwin-baiting B-side from last year's 'I Can't Hear My Eyes' single.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti MySpace


4. The War On Drugs - 'Taking The Farm'


I've been digging Kurt Vile for a good while now - but I've had this MP3 unlistened on my computer for much longer than that. Random rediscovery threw it up again and I'll be damned if I haven't fallen in love.

If you love Vile and you haven't checked out The War On Drugs - the band of his like-minded best friend Adam Granduciel - then you're missing out.

From the 2008 album 'Wagonwheel Blues'.

The War On Drugs MySpace


5. Art Museums - 'S.H.O.P.P.I.N.G'


More melodious goodness from Woodsist records - this time it's Guided By Voices as re-imagined by the house band in a John Hughes movie. Or something. Excellent stuff once again.

Art Museums MySpace


6. Prins Thomas - 'Wendy Not Walter'


I have a love/hate thing going with the Norwegian Space Disco scene. I want to love them but some of their smoother tones keep pushing me away.

Not this track though. Could this be the start of something beautiful? From Prins Thomas' hotly-anticipated "nye plate" (that's "new record" in Norwegian, folks).

More info at Prins Thomas' Full Pupp Record Label MySpace


7. Anthony 'Shake' Shakir - 'Assimilated'


If you think inspirational music journalism is dead then you really should read Dusted Magazine's review of Anthony 'Shake' Shakir's retrospective anthology Frictionalism 1994-2009

Journalist Ben Tausig does everything right and there's samples of the music too. It got me so excited that I had to check this record out and I'm sure glad I did.

Frictionalism is a fantastic record of Anthony Skakir's radiant brilliance and it's all brand new to me. Three CDs worth of wonder await. Thank you Mr Skakir and Mr Tausig.

8. Richard McGraw - 'Asheville'



Illustration by Kevin Sprouls

Flat out "fucking" flawless songwriting from a fella I'd never previously heard of. I can't remember how I found out about him either.

Then again, all you need to know is that he's a fantastic songwriter, has a cracking new album out and spending sometime with his music would be a damn good investment.

Also, it's the modern age people - visit his MySpace below and do your own damn homework. Lots more music and videos await you.

Richard McGraw MySpace


9. Clogs - 'Last Song' (Featuring Matt Berninger)



The National are on their way back as we speak - and I personally can't wait to have another one of their excellently crafted records to cherish.

Until then - and not counting the mp3 leaks that have already begun - there's a brand new Clogs record out. It's called 'The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton' and this time it not only features National guitarist Bryce Dessner but also lead singer Matt Berninger, guesting on this epic piece of late night stillness.

Clogs MySpace

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Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Sleephouse Radio Mixtape - Number One

Thought I'd try something a little different this week and roll all the songs into one coherent and calming whole. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the very first Sleephouse Radio mixtape...



Click here to listen now!

Sleephouse Radio - Mixtape One by sleephouseradio


Tracklisting:


1. Brain Machine – Pulsations
(taken from Thisisnotanexit Manifesto One CD)

2. Nest - 'Amroth'
(taken from the album 'Retold')

3. Sun Araw - 'Bump Up (High Step)
(taken from the 7" 'Sun Ark')

4. Liars - 'No Barrier Fun'
(taken from the album 'Sisterworld')

5. Inch-time - 'Icicles & Snowflakes'

6. Lemonade - 'Bliss Out (Gold Panda remix)'

(taken from Ewan Pearson's excellent 'We Are Proud Of Our Choices' compilation CD)

7. A Ldric - 'Birds On Tree'

(taken from Ewan Pearson's excellent 'We Are Proud Of Our Choices' compilation CD)

8. Mokira - 'Storspov / Fjäderreverb'

(taken from Various Artists – Ström - Pausfågeln Remixad - More info here)

9. Stimming - 'Song For Isabelle'
(taken from the album 'Reflections')

10. Fieldhead - 'Of October'

11. Paul Simon - 'Can't Run But'
(taken from the album 'The Rhythm Of The Saints')

12. Lucky Dragons - 'Take Turns'
(taken from the album 'Rara Speaks')

13. Cults - 'Go Outside'

Join the Sleephouse Radio Facebook Page now - and get the podcast in your news feed.

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Thursday, March 04, 2010

Podcast 18 - The Save 6music Special

The sad news - the rumour that the BBC is to close down its often excellent radio station 6music was confirmed this week.

The good news - there's been widespread condemnation of the decision and a massive amount of public support for the campaign to save the station from the controller's axe.

This week I've turned Sleephouse over to tunes that've been played on the station (and the Asian Network, which is also facing closure) during the past week.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is precisely what we'll be losing...

Click here to listen now!

Tracklisting:
1. The Impressions - 'We're A Winner'
2. Django Django - 'Wor'
3. Captain Beefheart - 'Big Eyed Beans From Venus'
4. Martin Carthy - 'The Devil And The Feathery Wife'
5. Canned Heat - 'On The Road Again'
6. Ulrich Schnauss: 'Knuddelmaus'
7. Asha Bhosle & Mohammed Rafi — 'Chura Liya Hai'
8. The Fall - 'Edinburgh Man'
9. Eden Ahbez - 'Full Moon'

Join the campaign:



1. The Impressions - 'We're A Winner'


A more fitting way to start the podcast I couldn't think of - Curtis Mayfield really knew how to write a protest song. Lesson number 1: Always focus on the positive. In this case, the incredible music.

A cut from this week's edition of the ever enthusiastic Craig Charles' Funk and Soul Show which goes out prime time on Saturday night.


2. Django Django - 'Wor'


Marc Riley's weekday evening show is often an essential listen, not least for those of us who grew up with the classic Mark and Lard show in the mid-90s. Live sessions, the best in new music and some cracking banter make this show an important part of any emerging band's bread and butter.

Django Django are a case in point - Marc's been hammering the releases of these up-and-coming young chaps for almost a year and he's already had them in for a live session.

Listen to Marc Riley weeknights right here - and buy this 7" single from Django Django's Bandcamp site.


3. Captain Beefheart - 'Big Eyed Beans From Venus'


Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone is a national treasure (© Luke Turner of The Quietus) - and it represents just the kind of show that wouldn't even get elbow room on any other station. Every Sunday evening from 5.30pm Stuart pries the lid of a a great big barrel of crazy and broadcasts a show that heads straight for the outerlimits.

This week's featured album was apparently "Beefheart's most accessible album" - 1972's blistering 'Clear Spot' - but as is normal with music from The Freak Zone that still means it's about as twitchy as a tree full of itchy monkeys.


4. Martin Carthy - 'The Devil And The Feathery Wife'


The ghost of John Peel hovers above everything that 6music does and one of the greatest things about the station is their ability to showcase the incredible 'John Peel Session' Archive.

This week the Freakzone dipped in and pulled out a stunning acoustic set by Martin Carthy, recorded for John Peel's show in 1983 and beginning with a rather endearing flub.

Click here to listen to The Freakzone every Sunday - it will definitely improve your life.

[INTERLUDE - Guy Garvey introduces Canned Heat]

5. Canned Heat - 'On The Road Again'


One of the things that 6music really does well is true passion for music and Guy Garvey's show is perhaps the most obvious example of this. The Elbow lead singer is clearly completely in love with the music he plays and he does a great job of making you fall head over heels too.

He's doesn't really have to try hard with this classic but the story with which he introduced this week was just the kind of a priceless and unique insight that 6music listeners won't get anywhere else.

Listen to Guy Garvey's Finest Hour every Sunday night from 10pm

And yeah, I know this is an obvious track but it's still amazing and that's what 6music is all about - not being a snob, just being an enthusiast.


6. Ulrich Schnauss: 'Knuddelmaus'


Of course, it's not just 6music that's faced with the chop - it's the Asian Network too. And there's been a hell of a lot of "What about the Asian Network? Don't you Indie music types care about that?" comments flying about. I personally have never listened to the Asian Network before but this week I've dipped in my toe.

What I found wasn't Asian in the slightest - he was German and he was making a wonderful DJ mix on a show called 'Pathaan's Musical Rickshaw'. Ulrich Schnauss popped up somewhat unexpectedly and you can listen his DJ mix right here until Sunday (7th March). I'd highly recommend it.

'Knuddelmaus' comes from Ulrich's excellent 'Far Away Trains Passing By' album which came out in 2002.

7. Asha Bhosle & Mohammed Rafi — 'Chura Liya Hai'


It's probably tokenism of the highest order - stereotypical certainly - but I simply had to include this fantastic track from Bollywood great Asha Bhosle. I heard it on this week's edition of Retro Selection on the Asian Network. I have no idea what this song is about but it's beautiful nonetheless. Just like the show that played it.

For me, the bottom line is that a good public service radio station is a something that only a non-commercial entity like the BBC can properly provide. Cut the websites, the magazines, and the expensive foreign TV imports - but keep the things that contribute to understanding, education and community in the UK. Asian Network and 6music are two such things.

8. The Fall - 'Edinburgh Man'


6music and Jarvis Cocker are a match made in broadcasting heaven. His new Sunday Service show is superb - featuring music, art and poetry discussion and readings by Jarvis himself - it's a uniquely English gem.

Just like The Fall, without whom a podcast supporting a station that champions UK independent music would by no means be complete.

This week Jarvis chose this unusually gentle track from 1991's 'Shift Work' album - like John Peel used to say of The Fall: "Always the same, always different."


[INTERLUDE - Jarvis reads 'The Goalkeepers Revenge' by Bill Naughton. Now you don't hear that kinda thing on many radio stations.]


9. Eden Ahbez - 'Full Moon'


It's also thanks to Jarvis' that I now know about the enigmatic Eden Ahbez - a proto hippy in the late 50s who was also responsible for writing the song 'Nature Boy' for Nat King Cole.

I'll be investigating Eden Ahbez further and this is what I love about 6music - and the BBC in general - they both entertain and educate me. One of the very principles at the heart of the corporation's foundation all those years ago.


Help 6music (and The Asian Network hopefully) - join the Facebook group here and find out what you can do to keep these stations alive.

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Thursday, February 25, 2010

Podcast 17

I missed a week but I've come out the otherside with a Sleephouse podcast that's somehow decided to theme itself on night and the dawn...

Click here to listen now!

Tracklisting:
1. The Walker Brothers - 'Nite Flights'
2. Archie Bronson Outfit - 'Shark's Tooth'
3. Balam Acab - 'Heavy Living Things'
4. Carl Sagan -'Glorious Dawn' (Featuring Stephen Hawking)
5. Oneohtrix Point Never - 'Hyperdawn'
6. Gil Scott Heron -'I'm New Here'
7. Bill Callahan - 'Night'
8. Jurgen Paape - ' 864M'
9. The Orb - 'Glen Coe'

1. The Walker Brothers - 'Nite Flights'


In 1978 the Walker Brother came together to record an album they all knew would be their last. Their record company was closing down and Scott Walker grabbed the opportunity to record 4 incredible mould-breaking compositions.

This is one of them - the amazing title track. It set Scott Walker on the path to his solo career and as Eno said of the record "it's a disgrace [...] we (musicians) still haven't gotten any further than this."

Track this record down, if you can, download it from iTunes or listen to it on Spotify right here.

It really really needs a physical re-release - so I've started a campaign - join here.


2. Archie Bronson Outfit - 'Shark's Tooth'


The Bronson are back. A new record on Domino, a new lazer viking oddessy of a video and an enhanced chrome-plated sound - their album, 'Coconut', is out March 1st.

Download this song at their website: archiebronsonoutfit.com


3. Balam Acab - 'Heavy Living Things'


Satisfyingly mysterious, Balam Acab are yet another great producer of pleasingly menacing sounds that I was introduced to by the ever-excellent 20 Jazz Funk Greats blog.

Balam Acab MySpace


4. Carl Sagan - 'Glorious Dawn' (Featuring Stephen Hawking)


To lighten the mood, but keeping with this issue's theme of Night, dawn, rebirth and new beginnings, here's autotune's finest moment. For those of us who grew up watching the BBC's Sky At Night and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

You can even buy it on vinyl now apparently - visit Third Man Records here to get it.


5. Oneohtrix Point Never - 'Hyperdawn'


Unpronounceable but flawless synth work that might seem distant and cold at first but really rewards upon repeat listening. I highly recommend the album 'Rifts' for further investigation. At least stick this track out until the dawn chorus breaks. Another one for sci-fi fans.

Oneohtrix Point Never



6. Gil Scott Heron - 'I'm New Here'



Gil Scott Heron's road to this record has been a long one; tiring too, as the mood of this song attests. His new album, his first for 13 years, is really fantastic achievement from a man who from the sounds of it is lucky to still be here, but who's work is worthy of far more credit.

This song, the title track from the record and a Smog cover (from 'River Ain't Too Much To Love') and makes it his own - which is no mean feat.

Visit gilscottheron.net


7. Bill Callahan - 'Night'


A classic but oft-ignored track from Bill's 'Woke On A Whaleheart' record from 2007; a true masterpiece upon looking back.

8. Jurgen Paape - ' 864M'
9. The Orb - 'Glen Coe'



Two tracks from the latest instalment of Kompakt's now almost historic Pop Ambient series, which turns 10 years old this year. Pop Ambient 10 marks the anniversary fittingly with an album that bears an incredible amount of repeat plays and deserves to be as essential a part of your household as your favourite furniture.

Click here to buy this album right now - you will not be disappointed.

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Thursday, February 11, 2010

Podcast 16

Yet more Sleephouse Radio... this is becoming somewhat of a habit.

Click here to listen now!

Tracklisting:

1. Beak> - 'Iron Acton'
2. Caribou - 'Odessa'
3. Memory Tapes - 'Green Knight'
4. The Sundays - 'Can't Be Sure'
5. Laura Veirs - 'July Flame'
6. Jarvis Cocker - 'You're In My Eyes' (Discosong) Pilooski Remix
7. Pilooski - 'AAA'
8. Flying Lotus - 'Quakes'
9. Pangaea - 'Because Of You'


Read on for further complications...

1. Beak> - 'Iron Acton'


A cracking piece of motorik krautrocking from a Bristol based band comprising of members of Fuzz Against Junk and Team Brick, not to mention Geoff Barrow from Portishead. Listen to the whole album and buy it at Beak>'s Bandcamp site.

Beak> MySpace


2. Caribou - 'Odessa'


Brand new stuff from the ever dependable Dan Snaith. Heading into hyponogic waters with this new free download (available now at his website) from his forthcoming longplayer 'Swim'.

Caribou MySpace


3. Memory Tapes - 'Green Knight'


I don't believe you really need a reason to play one of the best songs from last year. Other than I thought it would go really great with the Caribou track. If you haven't already got acquainted with Memory Tapes or you've been holding off...

Memory Tapes MySpace


4. The Sundays - 'Can't Be Sure'


Hard to believe that this music is now over 20 years old. It was brought back into my mind this week by a cracking article that celebrates their classic album 'Reading, Writing And Arithmetic' on "quality music website' The Quietus.

Read the article here


5. Laura Veirs - 'July Flame'


Laura Veirs just seems to release album after album of flawless music. The songwriting cannot be faulted while the production subtly draws upon genres of music as wide-ranging as contemporary classical, mathrock, ambient and electronica. It just doesn't shout about it - that's all. The new album 'July Flame', like all those preceding it, is highly recommended.

Laura Veirs Website


6. Jarvis Cocker - 'You're In My Eyes' (Discosong) Pilooski Remix


Jarvis is now broadcasting live to the UK and confirming his national treasure status with aplomb. His 6music show is well worth a listen of a Sunday afternoon. As is this pretty damn dirty remix from French Edit Maestro Pilooski, which rescues a frankly forgettable song from Jarvis' last album 'Further Complications'. Download it below:




7. Pilooski - 'AAA'


More way-out and lost-in-the-jungle genius from Pilooski. A real treat that I can't even begin to classify. It's damn hard to get hold of too. I think Rough Trade still have some copies, so click here and get this tasty vinyl now.

Pilooski MySpace


8. Flying Lotus - 'Quakes'



Living up to its name, this latest offering from Flying Lotus is earthshakingly bass heavy. It's not on the forthcoming album - entitled 'Cosmogramma', out in May and featuring Thom Yorke's vocal chords - but you can find it on this nice and fresh 2010 Warp Records sampler.

Flying Lotus MySpace


9. Pangaea - 'Because Of You'


Really excellent cut (as I believe the kids call it) from London's Pangaea. You can find this dark, brooding little beauty on recently released Pangaea EP and buy it right here.

Pangaea MySpace

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Thursday, February 04, 2010

Podcast 15

Happy Official 'End-Of-The-Great-Recession' everyone! Hands-up who's in a party mood?

Don't worry, Sleephouse Radio are offering cheap loans on some excellent high interest soundwaves...

Click here to listen now!

Podcast 15 by sleephouseradio


Tracklisting:
1. The Silvertones - 'Financial Crisis'
2. Stereolab - 'Ping Pong'
3. Joanna Newsom - '81'
4. Pantha Du Prince - 'The Splendour'
5. Bachelorette - 'The National Grid'
6. Grouper - 'Vessel'
7. Frog Eyes - 'A Flower In A Glove'
8. Emeralds - 'Up In The Air'
9. James Blackshaw - 'Cross'


Join The New Sleephouse Facebook Page Now!

Read on for the finer detail...


1. The Silvertones - 'Financial Crisis'


Lee Perry produced reggae to sooth away those recession blues. Find it on a compilation albym entitled 'Produced and Directed By The Upsetter'.


2. Stereolab - 'Ping Pong'



A classic from their 1994 'Mars Audiac Quintet' album, and a pretty stinging, sarcastic but cogent critique of global capitalism from everyone's favourite Marxist pop futurists.

www.stereolab.co.uk


3. Joanna Newsom - '81'


Everybody's talkin'.... and quite rightly so. Ms Newsom serves up some more stunning work. Taken from her triple album, 'Have One On Me', which gets released at the end of the month.

Joanna Newsom @ Drag City


4. Pantha Du Prince - 'The Splendour'


Chilly minimal electro perfectly pitched for this glacial winter weather. Taken from the forthcoming 'Black Noise' record on Rough Trade.

Pantha Du Prince @ MySpace


5. Bachelorette - 'The National Grid'


More goodness from Drag City, Bachelorette hails from New Zealand and makes some blissfully blasted electronic hymns.

Bachelorette @ Drag City

Bachelorette @ MySpace


6. Grouper - 'Vessel'


Liz Harris is becoming unapproachably flawless in her output these days. Unapproachably mysterious too, which is fine by me, as music this good speaks for itself.

Grouper @ MySpace


7. Frog Eyes - 'A Flower In A Glove'


Frog Eyes have just announced a new album, 'Paul's Tomb: A Triumph', to be released April on Dead Oceans. This is the song that opens the record and features the band at their labyrinthine best.

Get more info from Frog Eyes @ Dead Oceans


8. Emeralds - 'Up In The Air'


Continuing Sleephouse's exploration in the recently resurgent ambient music scene, we turn up this little gem (pun intended). Emeralds hail from Cleveland, Ohio and this comes from last year's 'What Happened' record.

Buy Emeralds @ iTunes

www.nofunproductions.com/


9. James Blackshaw - 'Cross'


James Blackshaw makes glorious instrumental chamber music, touched equally by back porch folk musicianship and the concert hall orchestra. John Fahey is a very easy comparison to make, but when I use that comparison it's meant as a high compliment.

James Blackshaw MySpace

James Blackshaw @ Young God Records