Who's Next - The Who

Does anyone remember their youth? When a good friday night was cheap booze at a dirty party. When you’d hook up with that girl every week. When emotions were as powerful and as short lived as a tsunami. As the youngest member of this super-charged team of bloggers, I remember this well. In fact, now I think about it, all that stuff was still going on last week.

“We don’t care about your reminiscing though. Get onto the long-awaited new installment of Retro Sunday,” I hear you say (quite rudely, if you ask me). Well, let me introduce Who’s Next, the musical incarnation of teenhood, a shimmering rose-tinted mirror held up to the very institution of youthfulness. To summarise, a pretty sound album.

The album opens with an absolute anthem: Baba O’Riley (or Teenage Wasteland to the uneducated). It’s very difficult to argue with such potent lyrics as “It’s only teenage wasteland, and I’m wasted,” especially when combined with a few striking powerchords, and maybe even a naughty little violin. Sure, the song really doesn’t make a lot of sense in the literal meaning. I don’t really know who Sally is, nor why she’s travelling south ‘cross land but that only adds to its charm. Even so, it’s easy to pick up on one or two lyrics and enthusiastically shout along to them. “I don’t need to fight to prove I’m right. I don’t need to be forgiven,” is particularly nice when you need to convince yourself that laziness and immorality are, in fact, virtues. If The Who says so it must be true, right ?

Another highlight of the album has got to be Won’t Get Fooled Again.  This is another beautiful example of a song with no meaning but a lot of passion. I’m not sure what “I know that the hypnotised never lie,” means exactly, but I can really relate to it.  This might be because Roger Daltrey seems pretty fervent about it, and the drums are also rather snazzy.

However, it’s not all anger on this album. Oh no, let’s not forget Getting in Tune. Here we find soft harmonies and a real-life piano! Better still, have a gander at the lyrics:

I’m singing this note ’cause it fits in well
With the chords I’m playing
I can’t pretend there’s any meaning here
Or in the things I’m saying

Yes that’s right. This is actually the most truthful song ever written. That’s a fact. And you can’t argue with facts can you no?

I’m getting bored of writing this now, but I assure you that the other tracks are stunning. Behind Blue Eyes is perfect for anyone who’s ever felt victimised (aka everyone) and Water (only found on the CD version) quite accurately points out just how important H20 is to humanity.

Anyway, here’s a YouTube link for you. And if you fancy buying a fantastic album then maybe buy this.

Or don’t. Doesn’t really make any odds to me.

Sonic the Hedgehog has been popping Chaos Emeralds all night and has spent the last 3 hours sweating PowerRings out all over the hip new club, GreenHillzzz.

Rayza – Green Hill Zone (Euro Club ’95 Mix)

Hattip: OverClockedReMix 

Ok, so we’ve waved goodbye to 2007 and blogs all over the UK are getting rapidly updated due to the procrastination of students everywhere and INFTC is damned if it’s going to miss out on the action. We’ve all had our Christmas break and now we’re back with a new member and a round-up of the best, and worst, music we experienced in 2007; and anyone who even thinks of uttering the word ‘late’ gets a kick in the teeth!

Gigs of 2007 (chronological order)

Metronomy, Shy Child/Stealth/date unknown

Princess says:Just an absolutely filthy gig, as shows in Stealth often are. Between us, the blog members saw Metronomy put on a sterling performance numerous times in 2007 but this was the night everything fell into place. Fake facial hair, an audience going nuts and a shout out to our very own John.

Los Campesinos!, Sky Larkin, Johnny Foreigner/The Social/01.03.2007

G Town says: Surely one of the best tour line ups in years- this gig highlighted three sparkling new talents for the year. With raucous but gorgeous melodies the main thing shared in common by the bands, it was an excellent night.

Sky Larkin-One Of Two

The Maccabees, Jack Penate/Rescue Rooms/24.04.2007 Review

G Town says: This was just before The Maccabees released their debut album-Colour It In, yet the majority of the crowd sang every song back to the band in a triumphant call to arms. Rescue Rooms was absolutely packed and The Maccabees turned anyone who wasn’t already into a life long fan.

The Maccabees-About Your Dress

Maximo Park, Art Brut/Rock City/25.04.2007 Review

Princess says: ‘Our Earthly Pleasures’ may have barely compared to the band’s 2005 debut ‘A Certain Trigger’, but this year Maximo Park’s live shows went from strength to strength, starting with their headline tour in April. Supported by the forever underrated Art Brut, Paul Smith and Co treated their primed audience to an emotive show and generous set list. It was the kind of set you’d expect from a festival, but with the atmosphere crammed into a small venue and the energy and enthusiasm shared between just over a thousand people.

Late of The Pier/Rescue Rooms (Dot to Dot Festival)/27.05.2007 Review, Another Review

G Town says: Just a fucking beautiful mess. Personally the (joint) best gig of the year. The memories will most probably make me weak in the knees for many years to come.

Late Of The Pier-Space And The Woods

Bonde Do Role/Stealth (Dot to Dot Festival)/27.05.2007

Princess says: After dry humping with glow sticks down their pants, Bonde Do Role’s stage was swamped with a swarm of ecstatic fans. While their recordings do little to impress, the spontaneity and chaos made them an essential band to see in 2007. With the loss of their female vocalist, Marina, it’ll be a miracle if they stay together, never mind perform like that again.

Dolby Anol/Stealth (Dot to Dot Festival)/27.05.2007 review

Flip says: This gig was what Dot to Dot was about. Stumbling into Stealth to see a guy crowd surfing and another standing in front of two apple laptops going crazy. And the crowd are going just as mental. Playing through their set of energetic electronic music, Dolby Anol got everyone dancing. Dolby Anol are great live band and are well worth seeing.

Chromeo-Needy Girl (Dolby Anol French Mistake)

Patrick Wolf /John Peel Stage (Glastonbury Festivals)/23.06.2007

Captain Lovebead says: Having never heard of the guy, I wasn’t sure how I ended up in the tent for new and upcoming talent. But when Patrick began to sing Tristan from halfway up the lighting rig, I knew that fate had been on my side.

LCD Soundsystem/NME Tent (Leeds Festival)/24.08.2007

Princess says: When ‘dance’ acts play with a live band it can go one of two ways. Either their sound is totally lost or it gets a new and wonderful dimension added to it and LCD Soundsytem gets just that. James Murphy’s live voice is outstanding and, even though he claims to hate touring, his performance was energetic and, at times, really heartfelt. The set was perfectly split between both albums and ‘All Your Friends’ was just a very special moment.

Chemical Brothers/Main Stage (Bestival)/07.09.2007 Review

Princess says: An incredible back catalogue coupled perfectly with an awesome light show. The heroes of British dance music pulled off this headline show flawlessly.

Chemical Brothers-Galvanise(Live)

Does It Offend You, Yeah?/Stealth/29.09.2007 Review

G Town: Possibly the best thing about this gig is that nobody really expected anything great. The result was, however, very different. It was wild, shambolic and dirty- great electro played in the place for great dirty electro to be played.

Bloc Party-The Prayer (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix)

Late Of The Pier/The Bodega Social (Opening Party)/30.09.2007 Review

Princess says: Yet another riot incited by the band. People shouting, amps falling and t-shirts disappearing. Long live the Bodega!

Lethal Bizzle/Stealth/04.12.2007 Review

G Town: One of the success stories of 2007 did a lap of honour at the end of the year to a great reception. Despite various hiccups with the sound, Bizzle whipped the assorted rude boys, indie kids and trendies into a violent, but joyous, storm.

Lethal Bizzle-Babylons Burning The Ghetto(Spank Rock Mix)

Justice/Rock City/08.12.2007 Review

Princess says: An awesome mix of one of the year’s best dance albums with some complete tunes. An absolutely awesome crowd aswell and just enough room for some serious R.A.V.E.I.N.G. Just glad we managed to escape before CSS came and ruined it for everyone.

Klaxons-As Above, So Below (Justice Remix)

Rubbish Gigs of 2007 (Chronological Order)

The Long Blondes/Rock City/24.02.2007

Princess says: Don’t get me wrong, Kate Jackson is both an amazing singer and performer and the two male Long Blondes are talented and enthusiastic musicians and probably don’t really deserve to be in this category. However, with remaining members Reenie Hollis and Emma Chaplin looking like they were being forced to play to an audience of blind and deaf pensioners, the gig was just impossible to enjoy. Poor form ladies.

Captain Lovebead says: Ignore what Princess says, Reenie Hollis is fit. And that is all that matters.

The Rakes/Rock City/19.03.2007

G Town says: After releasing their fantastic, frantically paced debut album, the Rakes went off for a bit and came back with “Ten New Messages”. The general feeling in the press and music world was that the album was a little…crap. This gig at Rock City, therefore, was a bad combination of the half full, half arsed crowd shouting for 22 grand job throughout the set, the band making bad jokes about Freddie Flintoff and only about a third of the set being any good. They seemed more interested in getting people to come to the Social after “to take lots of drugs!” rather than playing a great set.

Klaxons- Leeds Festival 28/08/2007

G Town says: Although touted as the gig of the weekend by the NME, this was actually the point, for many, in which New Rave was put into perspective. LCD Soundsystem had just finished their beautiful, experimental, heart wrenchingly strong set on the same stage. Then Klaxons came on dressed in sparkling red capes and chain mail dresses. They seemed tired- their voices shot to pieces- as they duly pulled out the same set they’ve been playing for well over a year. This seemed more prog rock than new rave and although many lapped it up, it was a real disappointment for most after the genius of LCD Soundsystem.

The Teenagers/The Bodega Social (opening party)/30.09.2007 Review

Princess says:Boring boring boring, one OK song, boring boring boring.

CSS/Rock City/08.12.2007 Review

G Town: Justice=euphoric wizardry that brought the house down. CSS=Naff and tacky, relying far too much on gimmicks.

Albums of 2007 (Chronological Order)

Arcade Fire-Neon Bible-05.03.2007 Review

G Town: Epic, vital, touching and powerful. This album has created waves and is yet to grew old or repetitive.

Arcade Fire-Intervention

LCD Soundsystem-Sound of Silver-12.03.2007

G Town: The king of Indie-dance, James Murphy, returned in 2007 with Sound of Silver- an album which was complex yet simple, obvious yet subtle and fun but emotional and heart wrenching. “All My Friends” and “Someone Great” are both easily big contenders for song of the year and the album as a whole just worked. Fantastically.

LCD Soundsystem-All My Friends

Kings Of Leon-Because Of The Times-02.04.2007 Review

G Town says: Because of The Times was the album in which Kings of Leon went from being a good American garage band with hair a plenty to being a great band. Anthems galore, some ballsy stadium rock and the whole thing played with gritty Southern blues running through its veins.

Arctic Monkeys-Favourite Worst Nightmare-23.04.2007

Flip says: With a best selling debut album to live up to, Arctic Monkeys had their work cut out. However they managed to do it, putting out a second album which has more variety, more depth and overall a lot better album.

The Maccabees-Colour It In-14.05.2007

G Town says: The Maccabees were the word of mouth success story of the 2007. Avoiding hype, the band created a great following due to their live shows and singles. It was their album, however, that really proved their worth. Glorious melodies, punchy art rock, heartbreaking anthems, songs about swimming pools and one of the most distinctive voices in guitar based music, Colour It In was, and still is, fantastic in almost every way.

Dizzee Rascal-Maths+English-04.06.2007

Flip says: Three years since the release of his second album Showtime comes Dizzee Rascal’s best album yet. From the Bugsy Malone sample in Wanna be to Alex Turner’s appearance on Temptation to the almost N.W.A like Sirens. That ability, to use anything from all genres and create a great track, is what has given Dizzee Rascal his wide spread appeal.

Dizzee Rascal-Felx (DJ Q Remix)

Interpol-Our Love To Admire-09.07.2007

Princess says: Ok, so ‘The Heinrich Maneuver’ sounds alot like ‘Slow Hands’ and the artwork is very similar to that of another band. Get over it. This album is still on of the best I’ve heard this year. It ranges from catchy, clever guitar-pop to the epic, emotive materpieces that have become a trademark of the New York based four piece. On top of that, there’s yet to be a singer this decade with a voice as powerful and haunting as Paul Banks’.

Interpol-The Heinrich Maneuver

M.I.A-Kala-21.08.2007

G Town says: Flicking between different musical genres of the world as if it were nothing, MIA seemed to explore so much with “Kala”. Whether she was floating down a river in the Australian outback playing didgeridoo with a gang of aboriginals or dancing to a bonkers, bollywood-with-glowsticks anthem, the whole album was undeniably fresh. A complete original, a true visionary and without doubt one of the best albums of the year.

Beirut-The Flying Club Cup-08.10.2007

Princess says:An almost flawless follow-up to his 2006 debut ‘Gulag Orkestar’, ‘The Flying Club Cup’ is a beautiful exploration of european styles. Every song is rich and a glorious use of both unfamiliar styles and instruments for 22 year old Zach Condon. The album features luscious and fabulously indulgent string arrangements from Owen Pallet (of Final Fantasy) and these help to give the album the ‘over the top, dramatic feel’ Condon aimed for when recording.

Beirut-Forks and Knives (La Fete)

Soulwax-Most Of The Remixes-22.10.2007 review

Flip says: Soulwax. Legends of the remix. This is a collection of some of Soulwax’s best remixes that they have done over the years. From the Klaxons to Robbie Williams to DJ Shadow to Hot Chip this collection shows why Soulwax are some of the best producers at the moment. And if that wasn’t enough, the second CD sees fellow DJ’s 2manyDJ’s make a mix tape using the Soulwax remixes from disc 1. This album gets you dancing in your room to an abundance of quality tracks.

Hot Chip-Ready For The Floor (Soulwax Dub)

Bands Of 2008

Vampire Weekend Myspace

Princess Says: This delightful New York foursome have a wonderfully luscious Shins-esque sound and the big string section in track ‘Boston’ really is amazing. So far, they only have one UK date planned but you can bet your bottom dollar that there are more on the way! Their self-titled debut album is out on 28h January in the UK.

Vampire Weekend-Boston

Johnny Foreigner Myspace

Princess says: Last year this band released one one hell of an E.P./mini album (it has 7 tracks so take your pick). ‘Arcs Across The City’ is not only a fusion of guitar and pop music with lyrics that lodge themselves in your head for days on end, it is also home to a pop-up sleave and therefore what is arguably 2007′s greatest artwork. They’re not dissimilar to Los Campesinos! but where LC! have the big sound of a seven piece, J’Fo make a more stripped down racket. The band are starting 2008 in the same way as 2007, by touring with team Campesinos, catch them before they both get huge!

Johnny Foreigner-Our Bi-Polar Friends

Late Of The Pier Myspace

G Town says: Late of the Pier pretty much damn well defined last year for many- and all the signs point towards more of the same this year. Having built up a following through wild gigs, a string of online demos and a couple of great singles- the band waited to get the right record deal which has now meant they are recording their debut in their house somewhere. With a headline tour and said album lined up for 2008, Late of the Pier look set to continue the weird and wonderful journey, penetrating us with their twisted minds.

Late Of The Pier-The Bears Are Coming

Metronomy Myspace

Princess says: It’s no secret that INFTC are well into Metronomy. Unlike the rest of our picks for 2008 they have already released a debut album, and an awesome one at that. However, more recent material has shown a change in style for the Brighton trio. Their weird and wonderful electronica has progressed into fabulous disco music with lyrics for us to sing along to. This, and the fact they toured with EVERYONE last year, will mean 2008 will likely be the year Metronomy go from quirky cult band to full blown heroes of dance music.

Metronomy-Radio Ladio

The Answering Machine Myspace

G Town: The Answering Machine are a quartet of charming, guitar bashing young folk who, by all rights, should see 2008 be their year. With their fast, scuzzy indie taking influence from the likes of The Strokes and The Libertines, they manage to carve out their own little take on the artrock sound. These guys are a real gem of a band, find them now before they’re everyone else’s gem as well.

The Answering Machine-Silent Hotels

Kissy Sell Out Myspace

Flip says: Not really a band, but Kissy Sell Out is starting to get a lot of attention from everyone everywhere. Being known for his trademark air horn and his energetic DJ sets Kissy Sell Out is now recognised as one of the best DJs in the country. With his killer sets and the air time from people like Annie Mac we are going to here a lot from Kissy Sell Out in 2008.

Gwen Stefani-Wind It Up (Kissy Sell Out Remix)

Friendly Fires Myspace

Princess says: Their current single ‘Paris’ may have chart success written all over it but that’s no reason to get on your high horse just yet. Ok, so it’ll probably end up on the playlist for every chain pub in the country, but so what? I’d like to see you find a better song to accompany your beer and burger or, for that matter, a chorus you’d rather chant while off your tits in a middle of a field this summer. Stylish, sexy and undeniably catchy, Friendly Fires have a real shot at breaking into the indie mainstream this year.

Friendly Fires-Paris

Listen to the song. Pay special attention. Two minutes and forty-one seconds into the track you will notice something that’ll make you tingle. You wonder if it was real. Can something as beautiful really exist? Four seconds later your question is answered. There it goes again.

This is not a simple ‘puh’. This is a ‘pah’. And not any old pah either. This pah is the king of pahs. The feeling that goes into it is phenomenal. This pah is stronger than gravity. If one could perfect the timing, shap and energy of such a pah, one would be the most powerful person alive. If only for one moment.

Music journalis is about opinion. We bloggers do give facts about tours and releases but overall we are providing a commentary. Not today. Today I am expressing a world-truth. There is not a p better used in music.

Can you think of one?

See.

Daft Punk are currently finishing their world tour in Japan and Australia.

They have a MySpace and One More Time is one of the many fantastic tracks on their album Discovery.

One More Time – Daft Punk

SABREPULSE

Music has for too long involved musical instruments. They are cliche now. Other art forms have evolved from their traditional media. Art is no longer just paintings and sculptures, it can be created from dustbins and syringe: elements with meaning to our lives.

Thus enters Sabrepulse, a pioneer and a legend of the modern era. Well, not exactly a pioneer – he was not the first to create the artform – but he is certainly the best. The King of Bitpop.

I mentioned that he uses elements from our culture, I probably should have mentioned that I do in fact mean video games. If you’re too sophisticated for that then please leave.

Still here?

Good.

His albums take you back to freer times. When jobs, exams and money never plagued you. When your biggest worry was that you were running out of Continues. When your greatest fear was Game Over. Whilst listening to his hyperactve tunes you can hear distant calls from your childhood: the odd beep or crash you recognise from Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Listening to Sabrepulse is like being at a rave inside a Sega Megadrive. And trust me – I’ve done both. In regards to the actual sound of the music, it is impossible to describe in such little space. Each of his albums is host to a spectrum of emotions and attitudes. My favourite song (Dot Matrix Hero – available below) sweeps through four entirely different chapters whilst keeping continuity – all in the space of two minutes.

Can you spare 2 minutes? Maybe a few more? All good songs require time to grow on you. And best of all, if you like it you can download 4 of his records on his Myspace for free! What a nice man.

Maybe you should go support him on his tour? You will definitely want to.

Dot Matrix Hero

When watching The Long Blondes, like I was this weekend at Leeds Festival, it is easy to focus your attention on frontwoman Kate Jackson. Yes she is energetic, yes she is dramatic, but is the really the best Long Blonde?

Adjust your gaze to the right slightly. “Hallo,” I hear you say. Yes, “Hallo” indeed. Let me introduce Reenie Hollis. She is the chilled out bassist of the Long Blonde and while she gently plucks the strings of her instrument she smiles seductively at members of the crowd. She’s absolutely beautiful and she knows it. From her facial expression you can tell what she’s thinking.

“Hallo boys. Yes, I am very attractive, aren’t I? And yes I am in a band, playing in front of hundreds of people. I know you want me. I know you want me to play with your instrument. But you can’t have me. I’m in a popular band. Mmmm.”

I know what you’re thinking. You want to know when I’m actually going to write about their music. Well, I don’t think I am. I like their stuff and if you want to find out if you do then download the track below. (But I must say one track alone is not enough, you do need the whole album.) Instead I am going to tell you to go and see them live, it is definately worth it.

Fuck this, I’m off for a shower.

The Long Blondes – Giddy Stratospheres

Hit their IndieSpace

Oh, and by the way she’s with the drummer. Gutted.

Lindisfarne isn’t a band concerned with reality. Songs about actual events are far too obvious and cliche. No, the band whose first album was titled Nicely Out of Tune, reminisce about times that never were and yearn to go home to somewhere you’ve never been.

After a bumptious instrumental the lyrics kick in with “Hey Mr Dream-Seller, where have you been? Tell me, have you dreams I can see?“. The song is called Meet Me On the Corner, and it doesn’t really have any meaning. No concrete meaning that is. Instead it hosts a myriad of emotions and a spectrum of memories.

The first time you hear it, you will enjoy the cheerfulness of the tune and smile at the concept of a dream-seller (“Well I’ve got time, if you deal in rhyme“). The second time you’ll grow more attached to. The third, more so. And onwards until you’re on your way to the corner “to fix a rendezvous, because your dreams are all I believe“.

There is no showbiz attitude to Lindisfarne. They don’t write songs about taking cocaine, or about looking good on the dance floor. They make the type of music to play whilst drinking ale with your friends. They are not from this century, and it’s only by a stroke of bad luck that they were born so late into the last.

So, get yourself some mead, settle yourself down, and have a listen. You will love it. And then “Down the empty streets we’ll disappear until the dawn, if you have dreams enough to share.”

Lindisfarne – Meet Me On the Corner

If you fancy buying their best of album (which you do), then click here.

Paul Simon – Graceland

It was with amazement that a friend of mine, who is neither ignorant nor uncultured, confessed to having never heard of Paul Simon and to not being able to name a song by Simon and Garfunkel. It is to him therefore that I dedicate this entry/cultural lesson/period of enlightenment.

Let’s put Graceland into context. The year is 1986, the Cold War is in full swing, none of the Spice Girls are older than 14, and the world if boycotting South Africa for its state of apartheid. Paul Simon has been well known for two decades, and hugely famous for one as a part of folk-duo Simon and Garfunkel. His most recent album Heart and Bones had been a failure so he was looking for a new path to take his music down. He found it in South Africa.

Although credited as a solo album, Paul was joined by many African and American musicians in creating Graceland. It marks a sharp contrast from most Simon and Garfunkel albums in that is shows a more colourful spectrum of styles, forms and cultures: from the Everley Brothers to Youssou N’Dour.

The album opens with The Boy in The Bubble, a subtle and cynical commentary on the dual bladed advancement of modern technology. “These are the days of miracle and wonder, This is a long distance call, The way the camera follows us in slow-mo, The way we look to us all.”

One of the most famous songs of the album is You Can Call Me Al. It splices together magical musical moments where you can’t quite name the feeling, with wide and worldly wisdom of the world and what it means to exist within it. But he maintains that, even when completely stranded in a foreign currency with no money or language, at the end of the day “I can call you Betty, and Betty when you call me, You can call me Al”.

That’s how reassuring life is in Graceland.

Gumboots offers, in my opinion, the greatest acknowledgment of the world’s beauty and its people’s optimism, in popular music. The chorus is “You don’t feel you could love me, But I feel you could” followed by an uplifting saxophone piece. The mood of the whole song is is so carefree and jovial, the third verse tells of a poetic meeting of two people:

I was walking down the street
When I thought I heard this voice say
Say, ain’t we walking down the same street together
On the very same day
I said hey Senorita that’s astute
I said why don’t we get together
And call ourselves an instituteÂ

That’s how refreshing life is in Graceland.

Video of You Can Call Me Al

 Gumboots

Website

Sky Larkin -Dot2Dot Festival – Nottingham – 27th May 2007

Sky Larkin is definitely a favourite of mine, and of the blog-team as a whole. Thus, it’s with a heavy heart and much dismay that I don’t give this gig the glowing review that a band of their calibre deserve. Thankfully, with such high expectations it doesn’t matter too much when they fall slightly short.

The three minstrels (I can only assume the fourth is watching the gear) walked onto stage and, without uttering a word, began to serenade the audience. We watch with glee as their distinctive sound wafts into our ears.

After their maiden song singer, Katie, introduced the band shortly and sweetly with “Hi, we’re Sky Larkin and we’re from Leeds”. She then explained that they had accidentally left their synth back home, a tragedy she later blames on pear cider. She jokes that we will later be able to brag about having attended the gig “where they forgot their synth and played B-sides and rarities” but you can hear a sigh of disappointment whisper through the crowd.

However, to my surprise I must confess, the next few songs were good. Sure, they didn’t hold up against Keepsakes or Somersault but it would be counter intuitive to expect it. I didn’t know many of them, and none of them well, but it wasn’t long before my head began to nod and I wasn’t alone.

The drummer, Nestor, provided a sideshow to the music with his fantastic array of facial expressions. It was entertainment in itself watching his face proceed through the myriad of facial gestures all succinctly expressing the apparent rage he had for his drumkit. I cannot say whether it was devised deliberately but if it was it was pure genius.

The set tumbled from one tune to another, punctuated by Katie’s frequent apologies for the lack of synth, and many a joke – some witty, some weak, plenty at Nestor’s expense. They played a new song, which I’m quite keen about and then finished with the only one of the night I could sing along to – One of Two. Here, master of bass, Doug, dropped his calm and collected look to energetically play air-synth. As an ex-member of the only air-band I know of, 80% Nitrogen, I can safely say he performed with prowess.

I opened by saying that this wouldn’t be the glowing review that the band should deserve and I can already hear you say that it was about as glowing as a Klaxons audience. Last time I saw them play it was with Los Campesinos! and I thought Sky Larkin’s show was better than the headliner’s (which is not easy to say when up against LC!). This time they weren’t as good, and I’d hoped they’d be better, so I felt let down. However, considering the absence of 1/4 of their instruments, they were outstanding. One of Two did feel like it was missing something, but had I not know it with its synt I think I’d have been impressed.

The gig wasn’t as good their previous, but it must say something that the gig, that they later confessed to us as being their worst ever, was so very enjoyable. Sunday night may not have demonstrated Sky Larkin’s full potential, but it certainly proved that they are flexible and can perform under pressure. These qualities can only be commended in entertainers of all profession.

Be sure to hit their Myspace and if you have opportunity to see them play don’t turn it down.

Steve Winwood – Arc of a Diver

Steve Winwood is a fantastic soul musician. He’s not from Detroit. He’s not from Memphis. He’s from Birmingham. He’s not even black. Guess what? It doesn’t matter in the slightest.

Steve Winwood plays every instrument on this album, and also provides the vocals. While this could easily leave the album’s flavour quite raw and maybe bare it is actually very rich, whilst still being very nutrious – a sure nod to the chef’s musical prowess.

The first track, While You See a Chance, opens with an iconic keyboard piece, which he wrote on the spot after accidentally deleting his drums track. If ever there were to be evidence for fate, this would be it. This are the foundations upon which great monuments are built. The song is constructed from here on, from its melodic and almost holy origin to its peak at the chorus. Here, atop his masterpiece, Winwood preaches motivationally to the masses. When the song finishes there is an urge to rewind to the beginning, but if you aren’t quick enough you’ll be caught by its successor Arc of a Diver.

The main criticism I have of the album is that there is no unifying theme running through the album, nothing that stops it from being just a random compilation album. But with this dark thundering cloud there is a silver lining. Each song has a very different ambiance and emotional posture, carried by the music more deftly than by the lyrics.

Each track is delightful, with the exception of the fairly tedious Slowdown Sundown but I suppose not all albums can be as good as my previous entry‘s.

Steve Winwood, despite being almost 60, is on tour in the USA and Europe, having just finished his UK tour. Dates are on his Myspace

BUY

While You See a Chance

Arc of a Diver