Saturday 28 February 2009

Resonance FM Playlist 26/02/09




This week hosted by me...

Dan Deacon - 'Wet Wings' - 'Bromst' CD (Carpark)
Stag Hare - 'Yeriyah Matreearchy' - 'Black Medicine Music' CD (A Star)
Fever Ray - 'Keep The Streets Empty For Me' - 'Fever Ray' CD (V2)
These Are Powers - 'Glass Blocks' - 'All Aboard Future' CD (Dead Oceans)
Higamos Hogamos - 'Moto Neurono' - 'Higamos Hogamos' CD (DC Recordings)
J. Spaceman - 'Outer' - 'Spaceshipp' CD
The See See - 'Clap Your Hands And Shake A Chain' - 7" (Great Pop Supplement)
Sad Day For Puppets - 'Marble Gods' - 7" (Sonic Cathedral)
Crystal Stilts - 'Crystal Stilts' - 'Crystal Stilts' CD (Angular)
Mutating Meltdown - 'Fantasy' - 7" (M'Ladys Records)
Kasms - 'Bone You' - 7" (Trouble Records)
Venetian Snares - 'Sabbath Dubs' - 10"
Susumu Yakota - 'Flower White' - 'Mother' CD (Lo Recordings)
Klimec - 'True Enemies And False Friends' - 'Pop Ambient 2009' CD (Kompact)
Bridget St. John - 'Ask Me No Questions' - 'Ask Me No Questions' CD (Cherry Red)

Wednesday 25 February 2009

Kingstonlogic

Sometimes you manage to get a record into the shop that is just so 'shit your pants' awesome that it blows everything else out the water, Terry Lynn and her record Kingston logic 2.0 is one of those records. Don't think anyone else in the UK has picked up on this yet, I found it just trawling through lots of crap on the internets one afternoon, and boy does it make me happy. A healthy mix of Daft Punk, MIA, Missy Elliot and Ed Banger style beats, it blows the much hyped Santogold album out of the water (for me anyway). She grew up in the slums of Kingston and she has heaps of attitude....luckily she also has the tunes to back it up. If you don't believe me then check out these video clips right here.


Monday 23 February 2009

DOOM




Red wine and ear-bleed metal. It's a good look.

Friday 20 February 2009

When I grow up.....




I am obsessed with the fever ray album, yeah it sounds like the Knife but it has a more organic sound, less dancefloor and more headphone.
This video is amazing, and this album is certainly going to be in my end of year top ten come december.

too many dicks

Thursday 19 February 2009

60 YEAR OLD MAN


...though not in this picture, taken in 1971, when he would have been 22. (And I would have counted my age in mere months...) This is my dad, Wayne R. Smith, who will be sixty this Sunday, 22nd February, so I'll be in full Midland Man mode this weekend as I return to Derby to see him and the rest of my family. Happy birthday, dad.

Counter Culture Radio - playlist 19th February

Wavves - So Bored (Young Turks) 7
Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele - You Can't Force a Dance Party (Paw Tracks) The Good Feeling Music of ... CD
People Like Us & Ergo Phizmizz - In The Waking (Touch) Withers In The Waking 7
Weave! - Laveau (Pacific Reasons) Weave! LP
Nikki Giovanni - Ego Tripping (Soul Jazz) Various - Fly Girls 2CD
Bob Parks - Stand By Me (Junior Aspirin) The R&B Feeling LP
Stag Hare - Yert Yah Matreearchy (A Star) Black Medicine Music CD
Rail Band - Tamadiara (Syllart) Various - Mali 70: Electric Mali 2CD
Sweet Tee - Got Da Feelin' (Soul Jazz) Various - Fly Girls 2CD
Atom TM - Mittlere Composition No. II (Raster Noton) Liedgut CD
Opium Factory - Rainbeaux (Counter Culture) Various - Counter Culture 08 2CD
The School - All I Wanna Do (Counter Culture) Various - Counter Culture 08 2CD
The Acorn - The Lullaby (Mountain) (Counter Culture) Various - Counter Culture 08 2CD
Alexander Tucker - Another World (ATP/R) Portal CD
People Like Us & Ergo Phizmizz - Withers In The Waking (Touch) 7
Sister Rosetta Tharpe - I Heard My Mother Call My Name (Snapper Music) Up Above My Head CD
Focus Group - We Are All Pan's People (Ghostbox) We Are All Pan's People CD

resonance 104.4FM
resonancefm.com

THE LOW ANTHEM

We here at RT like to keep you abreast of what we think are going to be important releases, that's why we're here - most of these feature on our pre-order page and subsequently crop up as Albums of the Week or other hot tips. Now and again, we think something deserves particular attention - The Low Anthem is one of these. Those of you who have purchased Counter Culture 08 will already know of the delights of Charlie Darwin (soon to be released as limited edition seven inch) and the album is no let down. Quite a few UK labels are interested in releasing the album domestically, but in the meantime we have exclusive, limited numbers of the original US edition, with hand screened and individually numbered sleeves Check out our review here and a few samples from the album and get your pre-order in before they all go!

Its SOUTHERN LORD night at Rough Trade East. Friday 20th February.

A great night is instore this Friday at the Brick Lane Rough Trade.

Greg Anderson and Stephen O'Malley
founders of legendary US label Southern Lord and who perform as Sunn O))), are DJing.
They have also invited Alexander Tucker and They Are Cowards to play live.

8pm Alexander Tucker - live
9pm They Are Cowards - live
Greg and Stephen DJ to close.

This event is free entry, but you will need to collect a wristband to gain entry, these can be collected on the night, one per person.
Please call the shop and check the time that wristbands will be available, 0207-392-7788.

Tuesday 17 February 2009

Rough Trade Shops - Counter Culture Radio

Every Thursday at noon GMT.
Resonance is on the radio at 104.4FM in the London area,
and online at resonancefm.com

Simon, Margot and Kyle share some of the great music passing through the shops.

Laura Marling



Of course. Arriving slightly later than planned the golden-haired folklet played four songs just after The (also amazing!) Choir Of Young Believers.

Thank you to Anika Mottershaw for the photographs.

Monday 16 February 2009

TONIGHT

Chess club presents Choir Of Young Believers and a VERY SPECIAL Mercury-nominated guest. Who could it be....?

Monday, Monday

Mondays. Pretty rubbish, huh? The frivolities of the weekend seems a distant memory; the heavy hand of work firmly upon your shoulder. We here at Rough Trade feel your pain. Britain's answer to TV on the Radio, The Invisible, feel your pain. In fact they feel it so acutely that they've given us three previously unreleased remixes to share with you, all of their forthcoming single 'London Girl'.

The Invisible - 'London Girl':

Nightmoves Remix


Dolby Anol Remix

Cereal Remix


Enjoy!

Sunday 15 February 2009

Resonance fm Playlist 12/02/09

The Coughlan Sisters - Farewell My Love
Sourdeline - Le Chaudron
Madeleine Chartrand - Ani Kuni
The Yamasuki Singers - Yama Yama
Aguaturbia - Waterfall
Os Lobos - Santa Theresa
Cheryl Dilcher - All Woman
John & Philipa Cooper - The Mad Professor
Blackbirds 2000 - Blackbirds 2000
Rotation - Ra Ta Ta
Mighty Baby - Egyptian Tomb
Serge Gainsbourg - La Horse
Graham Bond - the Magician
Axe - A House Is Not A Motel
The Witch - Lazybones
Vinegar - Der Kaiser Auf Der Erbse
White Magic - The Light
Grouper - Disengaged
Pamela Frankin - Willy Waly

Wednesday 11 February 2009

WHITECHAPEL NIGHTS

Dam' it all, when is it going to stop being so cold? Yeah, I know, it's still winter, but it seems to be taking the piss this year. At least the snow has more or less disappeared - there are still a few clumps on the platform at Catford Bridge station - but it seems to have been replaced with endless sheets of rain.

Which is why we need music more than ever, to cheer us up through those long cold days, and keep us going until the next episode of 'Q.I.' and 'Whitechapel' (Rough Trade East has yet to make an appearance in this last, though there was a shot of several disgruntled coppers, including the marvellous Phil Davis, lounging around near Cafe 1001 across the road.) This week saw the arrival in the shop of a fair chunk of the mighty Ghostbox back catalogue. It's been getting a lot of press of late - the Guardian carried a review recently - mainly because of the new Belbury Poly album, 'From An Ancient Star', which had us scratching our heads as to where exactly to place it in the shop. After a brief stay in 'British/European', we pondered 'Nu Disco' or 'New Folk', Spencer suggested 'Krautrock', which I shot down in my puritanical belief that only music from a.) Germany and b.) the seventies should be in that section, before it finally landed in 'Electronica'. But really, it should have its own section - 'Electronic Folk TV Themes' possibly coming the closest, as it sounds like a mediaeval minstrel having a throwdown with a synthesiser and then being commissioned to come up with some music for the output of a regional TV station in the mid-seventies. Well, that's as close as I can get, anyway. We also have two other albums by the mighty Poly - 'The Owl's Map' (which makes me think of the classic Alan Garner kids book, 'The Owl Service' - if Belbury Poly had been around in the seventies, maybe they would have made the music for the TV version of that) and 'The Willows' , alongside titles from The Advisory Circle and The Focus Group - all of which are, as Phil would say, on the same tip.

I also managed to get a load of classic soul and funk back catalogue on the shelves this week, courtesy of the mighty Ace Records, who are, as their name implies, pretty damn Ace. If you pop into Rough Trade East this week, don't be surprised if I don't try and turn you onto the beautiful harmonies of The Delfonics (whose song 'Funny Feeling' is in my All Time Top Ten Songs), the dirty psychedelic funk of The Pazant Brothers, or maybe the earth-shaking delights of the 'Super Breaks' compilations (three volumes high and rising) or the 'Super Funk' series (six volumes and not a duffer in sight), curated by the ever - funky Dean Rudland.

Otherwise, you might catch me trying to slip on 'Disco Dream And The Androids', a classic piece of seventies Moroder-esque pulsing space disco which has recently arrived on lovely twelve inch vinyl.

One more thing I should mention before I take my leave is a book that's selling like the proverbial hot cakes at the moment (shades of a classic 'Big Train' sketch here), 'A Year Of Festivals' by Jarvis Hammond. For those of you thinking of heading to a festival this year - and I'm sure that's most of the customers in Rough Trade covered there - this book will be indispensible. Check out his website for more details!

And that's me for now. The only thing that remains for me to say is that you should tune into Counter Culture Radio on Resonance FM on Thursday 12th at 12 noon, when our own Kyle will be spinning some no doubt great folk, psych, freak and kraut nuggets for those lucky enough to be able to tune in. Good luck with that, Kyle - looking forward to seeing what you play!

And now, in the words of the great Jewish Scottish poet Rabbi Burns: Awa' !

Tuesday 10 February 2009

SEPARATED AT BIRTH?

BELLA UNION LOVES YOU: COMPETITION WINNERS

Apologies for the slight delay in getting back to you on this - We realise you may have Valentines Day plans to make! Here are the winners, and some of our other favourites....

WINNERS:

Nicky Stones:
"I'm a minger / You're a minger too / So come on minger / I wanna ming with you"
- 'Hello Sunshine' by The Super Furry Animals

Carolyn Butler:
"Not to put too fine a point on it, say I'm the only bee in your bonnet"
- 'Birdhouse In Your Soul' by There Might Be Giants

Joanne Maylott:
"I paint pictures / To remember / You're too beautiful / To put into words"
- 'Good Fortune' by PJ Harvey

Francis Stones:
"My baby's fat / She's ugly / She's fat and she's ugly / But I love her / I need her / I love her / Oh yes oh yes I do"
- 'Took My Lady To Dinner' by King Khan & The Shrines

Weirc001:
"I am thinking it's a sign / That the freckles in our eyes are mirror images / And when we kiss they're perfectly aligned"
- 'Such Great Heights' by The Postal Service


...AND THE BEST OF THE REST:

Roberto Gonzales:
"Love, exciting and new / Come aboard, we're expecting you / Love, life's sweetest reward / Let it flow, it floats back to you / Love Boat soon will be making another run / The Love Boat promises something for everyone"
- The Love Boat theme

Kerrylyn Keys:
"Orange skies / Carnivals and cotton candy and you / And I love you too you know I do"
- 'Orange Skies' by Love

Alex Parker:
"I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black"
- 'Heart Shaped Box' by Nirvana

Tom Perry:
"If you've got love in your heart / Why don't you keep it with mine? / I can't promise a miracle / But I'll always be trying..."
- 'Lay It Down Slow' by Spiritualised

Robyn Hitchcock:
"You're just a piece of meat / and I am a butcher / I love you better, love you forever / you're just an object to me"
-'Object' by Ween

Anonymous:
"I've got the leanest, meanest, penis"
- 'One More Chance' by Notorious BIG


Thanks to everyone who submitted entries. We spent a morning (for the most part) laughing our heads off choosing the winners.

Staff Picks - Week Beginning 09/02/09

Spencer:

Peter, Bjorn & John - Seaside Rock

Torche - Meanderthal

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - S/T

Zombi - Spirit Animal

Swing Kids - Discography

Noreen:

Wavves - S/T

KTL - IV

The Hunches - Exit Dreams

Davila 666 - S/T

The Bug - London Zoo


Phil:

Weave! - S/T


Circlesquare - Songs About Dancing And Drugs


The Puddle - No Love No Hate

Titus Andronicus - S/T

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - S/T


Kyle:

Trees - On The Shore

Sir Richard Bishop & Friends - Wooden Guitar

Bert Jansch - Jack Orion

Earth - The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull

Lights - S/T

Margot:

Robert Henke - Atom / Document


Hudson Mohawke - Polyfolk Dance

Lithops - Ye Viols

Alva Noto - Xerrox


Atom Tm - Liedgut

Marc:

V/A - B Music: Drive In, Turn On, Freak Out

V/A - Amorphous Androgynous


V/A - Protected: Massive Samples

V/A - Fly Girls

Luke Haines - Bad Vibes: Britpop And My Part In Its Downfall

Saturday 7 February 2009

RUM TRUFFLES ARE YUMMY

My Nan sent this to a local paper in about 1960 or something and I have used it ever since I was allowed to use kitchen utensils.

Thursday 5 February 2009

Bella Union Competition: Update


What a great response. I've already picked out a couple of favourites but ultimately we'll put it to the jury (ie, Spencer) to decide. Keep them coming... we won't be announcing the winners until Monday. In the meantime, please do make friends with us by 'following' our blog... it's lonely down here in grey East London and we could do with some company.

what a downer


Lux Interior of The Cramps died yesterday aged 60.
What a total crap start to the year.
I can't tell you how many great nights I had chicken dancing as a goth to that band at the Zig-Zag club in Birmingham.
He was a real rock n roll legend and didn't end up making insurance adverts like some.
I'm sure hell is better off for having Lux down there doing the chicken.
Here is a clip of them performing at the Napa State Mental Hospital in 1978, and if that doesn't get them in the rock n roll hall of fame we may as well all hang our boots up now.
I'll be having a drink or two for you tonight.





Monday 2 February 2009

Comms Room Clear-Out


Our sale section has grown like a gremlin in a swimming pool, owing largely to the clear-out we had today. There's stock from 5, 10, 15 years ago - all at bargain basement prices. My advice is to head down to RTE quick-sharp: last time goodies didn't stick around for long....

NEUSCHNEE





Snow in London? Why, I never thought I'd see the like. I have to admit that none of these photos are anything to do with me, I just did a search on Flickr and found these great photos by locombia, andrewgrill, FoxyCoxy and sf2london. I was hoping some one might have taken a photo of the Catford Cat with its back covered in snow, but so far, no-one has. Our small back garden is so far completely untouched by human foot, and gives us a good idea of just how much snow actually has fallen. Did anyone else catch the thunder and lightning at around 2am?

So it's a good day to listen to lots of stuff like Neu! ('Neu!2' even has the track 'Neuschnee', which translates as 'New Snow'), Cluster, Eno, or best of all, Big Daves 'Low' for those chilly instrumental works of genius that seem to fit this weather so well.

If any of the people who took the photographs above aren't happy with them being on this blog, please get in touch and we'll take them down.

Sunday 1 February 2009

FROM THE ARCHIVES (SLIGHT RETURN)





Well, here they are again, for those who didn't catch their earlier brief, Halleys Comet-like appearance on this blog. These pictures, taken by the mighty Tom McShane, are from last years Record Store Day, which was a pretty amazing day all told, including a DJ set from Can legend Irmin Schmidt and a storming live set from Baltic Fleet amongst others. But the highlight for me was the arrival of Billy Bragg, who did a hilarious set (I'll never hear Beethovens 9th in the same way ever again) and then did a signing session before adding his handprints to our Counter-Cultural Icons selection, as chronicled in these photos. He was as funny and amiable company as you'd imagine, and Spencer, Phil and I were all a tad starstruck - it's BILLY BRAGG! A hero to us all. The greatest moment for me was later, when, after shouldering all his own kit (a true one-man band), he gave me the thumbs up on the way out of the store. The thumbs up from Billy Bragg! Life doesn't get better than that. Anyway - here's hoping that this years Record Store Day will bring good some good memories to look back on as well!

Photographs copyright Tom McShane. Cheers Tom!