Gavin: A lot happened in 2008. It seems so long ago now. Like any blog worth it’s salt and peppa though, we have decided to put together our best/worst gigs and albums of the year and used our clever little thinking boxes in our heads to have a guess (/dictate?) who will be floating boats in the next twelve months or so. Have a read and put us in our place about your favourite albums and who you think will storm 09…

Albums:

Bon Iver-For Emma, forever ago

Gav: From the brooding, elegant “Flume” right through to the mellow closer of “Re: Stacks”, this is a simple but greatly effecting album of heartbreak and recovery. The choice single, “Skinny Love” highlights what is truly great about Bon Iver: it could have been written at pretty much point in time from the 1920s onwards, but it is this timelessness that strikes such a chord with so many people.

For Emma

British Sea Power-Do You Like Rock Music?

Gav: Released right at the start of 2008, this album is pretty underrated and understated. “Do You Like Rock Music?” is a glorious celebration- equally wistful and triumphant. The way it floats elegantly from storming, epic soundscapes such as “Waving Flags” and “Down on The Ground” to serene, reflective ballads like “The Great Skua” and “Open The Door” will make sure it’s etched permanantly in many music fan’s hearts.

Deerhunter-Microcastle

Lauren: It’s predecessor Cryptograms was exciting to say the least but with Microcastle Deerhunter found a more complete yet simple style which is almost impossible to fault. Their ambient psychedelic sound is executed perfectly on the album especially on tracks ‘Little Kids’ and album opener ‘Cover Me (Slowly)’ which hint a completely overwhelming live experience.

Deerhunter-Little Kids

Goldfrapp-Seventh Tree

McAsh says: If you like Goldfrapp then you should listen to Seventh Tree, as it is rather good. If you don’t like Goldfrapp then you probably won’t like this album, as it is by Goldfrapp.

Goldfrapp – Some People

Los Campesinos!-Hold On Now, Youngster.

Lauren says: An album by music geeks, about being a music geek, written for music geeks. We spend hours online debating the best Sonic Youth ablum, we hate all the bands YOU like and when we fall in love or get our hearts broken it always has perfect musical accompaniment. What Los Campesinos! have captured in this album is everything involved in being a kitsch, pretentious arsehole and put it to music that sounds like Arcade Fire having a go on a play school’s collection of musical instruments, a huge, yet totally twee sound.

Los Campesinos!-My Year In Lists

M83-Saturdays=Youth

J_S_Peach: A surprise topper of one particular music site’s album list, Anthony Gonzalez 5th album took a rather unexpected turn following it’s predecessors Digital Shades Vol. 1 and Before The Dawn Heals Us. Taking inspiration from the films of John Hughes, M83 built on their intense electro shoegaze sound by popping it up to the max. That’s not to say this album is at all for the masses. The second album really pushes the boat out in terms of really minimalist build ups and long, drawn out pieces. The album’s closer, Midnight Souls Still Remain, nods towards the Brian Eno-esque tones of Digital Shades Vol. 1 suggesting that Gonzalez still has more to offer. Sturdays=Youth is one of the most complete albums of 2008, really pushing the boundaries of accessible contemporary music.

M83-Graveyard Girl

Sigur Rós-Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

Lauren says: To say this album isn’t the Icelandic four piece’s finest piece of work is far from an insult as they are so consistently brilliant that what isn’t their best is better than most bands can ever hope to ahieve. This, the band’s fifth studio release, saw the them explore new directions, most notably with the poppy, tribal wonder that is Gobbledigook which has not only fueled some unbelievable live performances this year but has also got thousands of adults at a time standing perfectly still singing ‘lalalalalalala’ in unison.

Sigur Ros-Gobbledigook

TV on the Radio-Dear, Science

Gav: TV on the Radio returned in 2008 with one of the most exciting and eclectic albums imaginable. “Dear Science,” is the sound of an uncountable set of ideas ricocheting from funk to rock, via dance and electronic music. It’s clever, ambiguous, witty, heartfelt and a million and one other things besides.

Golden Age

Youthmovies-Good Nature

Phil: With Youthmovies having been around for a good part of this decade, it’s hard to imagine that last year saw the release of their debut album. Good Nature is their most accessible work to date and Youthmovies bring their take on progressive rock into the mainstream, with one of the most poetic and stunning albums of the year.

Youthmovies – Archive it Everywhere (Live at ATP)

Why?-Alopecia

Phil: Based around songwriter Yoni Wolf, Why? manage to put some of the most vivid imagery concocted on to record; their third LP, Alopecia, is no exception. Despite not quite reaching the bar they set with Elephant Eyelash, they have returned with a more immediate album that still delivers a highly unique listening experience.

Why? – These Few Presidents

Gigs:

British Sea Power/Rescue Rooms/22.01.2008

Gav: Without this great gig, The Courteeners would have been the last band I saw for around three and a half months. Obviously not an optimal situation to be in at all. As it was, the bunch of English eccentrics that British Sea Power are blew the roof off Rescue Rooms in one of the best barn storming gigs of the year. Showcasing most of their excellent third album, “Do You Like Rock Music?” as well as a delving into the old back catalogue, this was an event of great fun and celebration between band and fans. The gig finished with a thrilling climax as guitarist Noble left the flag draped stage to climb the balcony and then drop onto the heads of the crowd as numerous musicians flooded the stage to create a fist pumping and emotional finish.

British Sea Power-No Lucifer

The Mae Shi/Dot to Dot Festival/24.05.2008

Gav: The combination of a bunch of LA punks shouting and slamming their instruments into overdrive whilst mostly positioned in the crowd as a big sheet envelops everyone made for one of the best sets of this years dot to dot. Fast and intense but also big and fun. Kind of like the Flaming Lips on crack (*insert other lazy music journalism cliche at your own disposal*).

Heartbeeps

Jay Z-Glastonbury Festival/28.06.2008

Gav: After Signor Eavis’ clever little trick of telling us something along the lines of “a New York hip hop star will headline Glastonbury…but it’s definitely not Jay Z…” *winks* and Noel Gallagher saying it just wasn’t cricket to have rap music at the festival, there was something of a buzz around this performance. Almost every band that performed on the Saturday urged their crowd to go and see Jay Z that night and it seemed it was either going to be utter shit, on the scale of the Fiddy bottling at Reading, or it would be amazing. Of course, it was amazing. The fact is, it felt like you were part of something people would talk about for years and just seeing the endless crowd of the Pyramid stage all singing along to “99 Problems” was worth the ticket price alone.

Dirt Off Your Shoulders

Interpol/Sheffield Academy/09.07.2008

Lauren: Interpol are a band who’ve never afraid to admit there are times when their live shows are for nothing but the Benjamins but this warm up show for Latitude festival this summer seemed to be all for the fans. A more than generous set, some rarely played songs and some even rarer smiles from the band all made the show one that you couldn’t help but walk out of on air rather than sticky Sheffield Academy floor.

Interpol-NYC

Sigur Rós/Latitude Festival/18.07.2008

Lauren: Just as with their albums, Sigor Ros’ live shows are consitantly brilliant but below a setting sun melting into a clear night sky surrounded by the woods of Latitude Festival they delivered a life changing performance. Dressed in the splendor of what looked like mythical woodland creatures the four piece were backed by twenty or so similarly attired backing musicians it was like witnessing a party from another world.

Sigor Ros-Festival

Dananananaykroyd/All over the country/2008

Phil: I think it’s pretty apparent that us folk at INFTC like to dip our toes into the world of Dananananaykroyd from time to time. Without trying to kiss ass, I think it is safe to say that they are the best band I saw live last year. If you have seen them you will know what I mean, if you haven’t then go see them, now.

Dananananaykroyd-Some Dresses

Worst Gigs:

These New Puritans/The Bodega Social/15.02.2008

Lauren: Just because you’re pretty and your photos been in the observer doesn’t mean you no longer have to give a shit.

Glasvegas/Dot to Dot Festival/25.05.2008

Phil: After people were queuing out the door for Santagold, it was hard to believe that a half empty rescue rooms were waiting “the most important band” of this generation and the “best band out of Scotland for 20 years“. Glasvegas played for only 20 minutes but this was enough for a significant amount of people to leave. That really all that needs to be said; they were just poor.

Remixes: We wont write so you wont read, lets both just dance!

Friendly Fires-Paris (Aeroplane Remix Feat. Au Revoir Simone)

M.I.A.-Paper Planes (DFA Remix)

Metronomy-A Thing For Me (Breakbots B-live Miami Mix)

Dizzee Rascal-Sirens (Wargames Remix)

Bloc Party- mercury (herve_is_in_disarray_remix)

Tips For 2009:

Calories-Myspace

Phil: What more could you want from a band? Huge pop hooks, noisy riffs and more energy then three people should ever have. Last year they played shows with the likes of Tubelord and Johnny Foreigner, this year they have a debut album out in March. Expect to see the name Calories a lot this year.

Calories – Adventuring

CFCF-Myspace

J_S_Peach: Mike Silver, better known as CFCF, spent a lot of ’08 remixing for artists such as HEALTH, Crystal Castles and Genghis Tron but 2009 sees the release of his first EP-Panesian Nights. Having already recieved positive reviews in his native Canada it can only be a matter of time until you find yourself dancing to his beats at a club near you.

Bathtub Clash (CFCF Remix)-CFCF

Dananananaykroyd-Myspace

Gav: I’m jealous of anyone yet to see this band live becuase they will be instantly, repeatedly and joyously blown away. This six piece are charismatic yet refreshingly unpretintious, combining great wit and ridiculously exciting crowd participation. Most of all though, they have tunes which tear you apart, put you back together again, give you a little cuddle, push you around a bit then leave you sweaty, deaf and grinning like a tit. I’m pretty sure for some of their more Shoreditch oriented fans, their gigs are probably the first time they’ve had genuine fun in a long time. Details: Album, “Hey Everyone!” out in April, lots more tour dates (including supporting Kaiser Chiefs at the likes of the o2 Arena, mental etc) and hopefully some insane festival appearences.

The Greater Than Symbol and the Hash

Dolby Anol-Myspace

Lauren: Take one sixth of Dananananaykroyd (we quite like them if you hadn’t already guessed), a lovely man names Graham Peel and a shit load of wires and you’ll find yourself listening and throwing yourself about to the bizarre electro of Dolby Anol.  They’ve remixed everyone from The Futureheads to Beyonce and like their Danana friends their performances result rooms full of sweaty chaos. Definitely to dance outfit to look out for in 2009.

Dolby Anol – Dolby & Gabbana (Cuz we are Dolby Anol)

Passion Pit-Myspace

Gav: From the beautifully ambient, same-cooking-pot-as-Postal-service “I’ve Got Your Number”, to Holy Fuck bumping uglies with Prince to create “Better Things”, Passion Pit are a genuinly great little five piece of nerds from Massachusettes. “Sleepyhead”, meanwhile, is just biding it’s time before it becomes a globally accepted classic and a must for any indie disco DJ to put on at the end of the night for everyone to dance/slip around in beer to while hugging each other and crying slightly.

Passion Pit-Sleepyhead

Pulled Apart By Horses-Myspace

Gav: Riffs/melodies/riffs/shouting/FUCKING RIFFS. Ignore the fact that the singer can sometimes, ever so slightly sound like Jimmy from South Park having a screaming fit, Pulled Apart By Horses are a rough, raw slaying machine combining metal with something slightly more fun and accessible. And RIFFS, obviously.

Pulled Apart By Horses-I Punched A Lion In The Throat

Tubelord-Myspace

Lauren: A band we’ve never been afraid of showing love for in the past, Tubelord are a trio of oddballs who, through what we can only assume was a bizzare sequence of events, got themselves into a band to play to the world their own brand of pop-punk as loud as anyone will let them. 2009 will hopefully see the release of an album so pretty soon you can play it as loud as you parents/neighbors will let you.

Tubelord-I Am Azerrad (Huw Stephens Session)

Youves (Formerly Mirror!Mirror!)-Myspace

J_S_Peach: Following successful performances at events such as Dot to Dot and shows with the likes of INFTC favourites such as Dananananaykroyd in 2008, Nuneaton punk-funkers Youves have put in the groundwork for an exciting 2009. With a name change and new EP Cardio-Vascular on the way through Holy Roar Records in May these boys are a hot tip.

White Lies- m’space

Just like how porn keeps sex pests, miserable old men and horny teens happy in a legal and safe way, stadium/pop rock should serve to keep little cretins off our music. White Lies will be big. Probably huge. This is fine.

Women-Myspace

Lauren: Despite their self-titled debut being released last year INFTC predict 2009 will see the rise of Canadian four piece Women. The band create lo-fi dreams that float out of your speakers somewhere in between Black Lips and Deerhunter, the latter they were set to support if it weren’t for illness.  You can still catch them with Wavves around the country in March and, in what is fast becoming my favourite London venue, The Lexington on the 3rd.

Women-Black Rice

So – on a return to form, I can’t quite remember how to upload songs, which is ok, because the event that prompted me to write this requires nothing more than a listen – Trophy Scars have released a new song. It costs nowt but 0.99c – less than 50p GBP, and from the small preview HERE is a complete return to form of a band that I have been waiting on for ages.

I am currently listening to a lot of Bon Ivor and Illinois – both of whom I found off other blogs- I will link to the posts below – the Illinois song on Pandatoes is HEAVILY recommended, it’s my favourite of the week, and if you didn’t download the Menomena song I posted AGES ago – it’s also there. I’ll be back when I get further instructions on techstuff.

Pandatoes on Illinois
Music-for-robots on Bon Ivor

Enjoy.

P DIDDY AND CHRISTINA AGUILERA – TELL ME (SWITCH REMIX)
DEAD KIDS – FEAR AND FLUROIDE (LILLICA LIBERTINE’S TRIED AND TESTED REMIX)
DJ MEHDI – SIGNATUNE (ZZZ EDIT)

Check out Lillica Libertine’s myspace HERE he’s got some sick tunes up. Good luck everyone who’s currently doing exams x

Blah blah, Dot to dot, Nottingham, Blah Blah, Wasted, Blah.
Here’s my top 5.

1. Chromeo –
An “electrofunk duo” from NY. Two best friends since childhood, and the self proclaimed only successful Arab/Jew partnership since the dawn of human culture, Pee Thug and Dave 1 play lovely, calming music that makes me feel like I’m driving through Miami in the 80′s. It’s a nice feeling, and one that I look forward to in grimey Nottingham.

Recommended Songs – Bonafida Lovin’, Momma’s Boy, Needy Girl, Fancy Footwork

2. Bonde Do Role -
Diplo’s first signing to his label and as he describes them – “It was, like, little children screaming about drugs over a Smiths loop and a breakbeat,” Three band members, one being DJ Gorky who captured my mind for about six months with his Electro Pancada mix, I feel that Bonde Do Role may be my rebound, but the gig will be an absolute party and the music is brilliance. Pure brilliance.

Recommended Songs – Melo Do Tabaco, Caldinho, Melô Do Robôróque (Strongly Recommended)

3. Gallows –
An angry band from Hertfordshire who have just released their first single and will destroy the stage when they play. Unfortunately on the 14+ stage so will be filled with underage f00ls. (Like me.)

Recommended Songs – Kill the Rhythm, Abandon Ship

4. Late Of The Pier -
A local band, one that I could describe as friends of the blog (we’ve met them once, and they were wierd. They tried to kidnap Princess.), they play a great live show (or so I’ve been told) filled with dirty synth, antics of all sorts and great riffs. They don’t like music much, and their favourite artist is Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Reccomended Songs – Space and The Woods, A Heartbeat a flicker a line.

5. Architecture in Helsinki, Datarock, Thieves Like Us, Fanfarlo, I Was A Cub Scout, Sky Larkin. -
I have a lot more than 5 recommended bands but a lot less time to write about them as I need to go and upgrade my rank on Gunbound:Revolution and to be perfectly honest, that’s not going to wait around. So check out dot to dot, it’s an insane line-up and I can’t wait. One bit.

Recommended DJ’s Metronomy and Erol Alkan -
Possibly my favourite band/person of all time, they are demoted to three DJ sets rather than a live performance, which is a great shame, but I’m sure that he’ll stun and amaze crowds who go to see him at 17.30-20.00 in stealth.
Erol Alkan could possibly be described as the most hyped DJ about at the moment. For good reason though, he’s safe. His 2AM-4AM set will undoubtedly be filled with pillheads and homeless people who need somewhere warm to be, but it’ll be stonking.

Recommended Songs – DJ’s, but to get into the spirit – Bloc Party – She’s Hearing Voices (Erol Alkan’s Calling Your Dub) and Metronomy – Black Eye/Burnt Thumb

Peace.

Coursework deadlines dominated my last week, something that I would neglect and forget until till about 19:30 every day when I would sit at the PC, staring at the screen and crying about the lack of care that was going into this extremely important time of my life.
The one thing that kept me sane, that practically forced my crippled fingers to type and my blackened eyes to stay open was the calming, soothing, melodic and brilliant music of Menomena.

Menomena hail from Portland, Oregon, and are quite established, having already released two albums; (“I am the Fun Blame Monster” (2003) and “Friend and Foe” (2007)) and a concept album, “Under an hour”. I love both albums, their songs range between creepy and possible, beautiful(gay?), but remain unthrilled by “Under an Hour”, but this probably boils down to the fact that I feel concept albums are pretentious.

I’m throwing down three tracks, one being a remix by friends of the band; Talkdemonic. This song is how I got into menomena, it’s haunting and amazing, despite only being 1:44; but like most menomena songs the drumming remains paramount and overshadows the melodies;

MENOMENA – TWENTY CENT REVOLT(TALKDEMONIC MIX)

The next song is off their newest album, “Friend and Foe”. This is a song that sticks firmly in the creepy section of their music, the piano creating a floating, ethereal quality that is smashed to pieces with the introduction of the crashing drums, i love this track.

MENOMENA – WET AND RUSTING

Finally, the conclusion to their first album, a monstrously haunting and tuneful song that downplays the drumming and focuses on the band’s attention to vocals and other instruments. Well worth a listen.

MENOMENA= – THE MONKEYS BACK

Check the band out at the two links below, do it.

MYSPACE
OFFICIAL SITE

Next post = It’s for the party.
waheeeeeye x

There’s one reason that Trophy Scars are my favourite band, and it’s a reason why everyone else should give them a massive chance, and it’s that they are absolutely amazing.

I first came across Trophy Scars on a reccomendation on their newest album; Alphabet. Alphabets. It’s a prime example of something that the band do very well, an epic, well thought out, clever piece of music. I won’t insult the band by genreising them, and also I have very little idea where I would place them so i’ll let the band’s Last.fm description talk for them;

“Trophy Scars – not just a roving clan of substance abusing ninjas, but also a distinguished group of intelligent musicians. Trophy Scars uses their clever craft of swordplay and word manipulation to deliver a unique blend of tragedy; soaring pianos, epic guitars, lung-punching bass, acute percussion, screams, yells, and singing all crashing into each other – making for a new and unusual cocktail.”

I am posting my two favourite songs, one off two of their older EP’s, goodnight alchemy and Darts to the sea. I’ve neglected putting one up from either “Alphabet. Alphabets” because I feel that the album only works as a whole, and “Hospital Music For The Aesthetics Of Language” as I have only recently downloaded this and have yet to find a favourite.

I feel the songs I am posting characterise Trophy Scars perfectly, extreme changes that happen incredibly quickly, insane vocals and tuneful accompaniment and melodies. They are both worth a listen, and if you even half like either of the pieces I would 100% recommend getting “Alphabet. Alphabets” as it is possibly my favourite album ever.

TROPHY SCARS – TRAPS AND TRICKS AND SUCH
TROPHY SCARS – DREAMS OF NEW ORLEANS

Trophy Scars are currently recording their second full length which they talk about HERE

MYSPACE
OFFICIAL WEBSITE

I am also posting a song that I really like;

1) It’s fun and nice
2) Van She are always worth listening to
3) Dragonette sounds like this pokemon;

DRAGONETTE – I GET AROUND (VAN SHE VOCAL MIX) (Removed)

Safe. x

As the title suggests, my first post is about the Brighton based music duo South Central.
All the information I have been able to derive about them is straight off their myspace as they don’t seem to have a website yet. Currently touring with the Sunshine Underground, (Nottingham Uni, 4th May, anyone want to go?) and having previously opened for Klaxons (who entitled them “Cunts”, a massive compliment?) they seem to be doing quite well for themselves in spite of this.

I first encountered South Central when they remixed one of my favourite artists, Metronomy. If i was gayer, or interested in making deep analysis of the songs i’ll post i’d probably write something along the lines of; “Their remixes poach the very best parts of the original song, mix them up and play them back in a wall of grinding electronic beats that grows from a very basic introduction to an extreme plethora of rasping synth.”

As i’m not, i’ll post my favourite three remixes because they’re absolutely insane and also one of their original songs, but of course, all their other songs and a few remixes can be heard at their myspace HERE.

METRONOMY – TRICK OR TREATZ (SOUTH CENTRAL REMIX) (Removed)
THE MACCABEES – X-RAY (SOUTH CENTRAL REMIX) (Removed)
THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND – PUT YOU IN YOUR PLACE (SOUTH CENTRAL REMIX) (Removed)

SOUTH CENTRAL – NOTHING CAN GO WRONG (Removed)

The video I have posted below this post is also WELL worth checking out, it’s mental.

South Central – Castles Of Heroes

Peace Out.