October 30, 2009
A box o' CDs
Hello! I’ve got a box of CDs next to me that need to be won, pictured. Please note though that i’m not giving away my keyboard and mouse, as otherwise i won’t be able to use my computer, hence won’t be able to run any more competitions.
The reason we have these to give away is because they are the sole survivors of a massive clear-out of our promo rack we had a couple of weeks ago.
So to enter our competition, all you have to do is answer this question:
October 27, 2009
Jimmy Web
Country/Americana guitarist and singer Jimmy Webb has, today (Wed 27th Oct) been on Radio 2 on the Ken Bruce show. This is an impressive feat considering that Ken Bruce wasn’t there, although he was being filled in by Zoe Ball.
Zoe Ball
Jimmy was joined by one of his sons, James Webb, who were interviewed. There’s a lot of mention of their extensive family of musicians, as well as talk of Jimmy’s work with Richard Harris. They even play a couple of songs too.
Thanks to the magic of the internet, you can now listen to the show again even though it has already happened. All you need to do is visit the BBC iPlayer (available until 03/11/09).
October 18, 2009
Those of you who have signed up to the weekly Properganda newsletter (what do you mean you haven’t signed up? Do it now!) will be aware that we’ve been increasingly talking about the downloads we offer. That’s because apparently people like downloading things these days, using their com-poo-tars (sorry, i can’t read the hand-writing on this press release).
Parma Ham (imported from Italy, therefore it is international)
So, a couple of our download selling chums have some special offers for you today (Sun 18th Oct). Dub-fuelled ska/rocksteady/reggae bunch Pama International are one such band; today, for one week only, you can get their single I Still Love You More from iTunes. But make haste, as it will be unavailable in a week!
They also have gigs coming up in the last three months of this year.
October 13, 2009
Slaid Cleaves (Photo: Karen Cleaves)
Americana singer and guitarist Slaid Cleaves will be featured on the BBC Radio 2 country aficionado’s broadcast, this Thursday (15th October) at 7pm. More details on the BBC website.
Apart from doing some great songs, i’d anticipate the show being particularly entertaining based on some of the stories he’s put up on his website, including how he used to be a medical test subject, the best flight he’s ever had and his unusual name.
September 28, 2009
A host of awesome releases are unleashed this day, including:
Sharon Shannon - Saints & Scoundrels
September 16, 2009
Country-rock double bass starlet Amy LaVere once again returns to the shores of Blighty to entertain, wow and otherwise impress an unsuspecting crowd.
As with last time she will be a guest of Seasick Steve, although this time Steve’s band will be the backing band for her. Also playing will be London-based experimental acoustic blokey Wishful Thinking.
Have a look at these dates and if you like the look of them, buy a ticket and go to the show! (more…)
August 17, 2009
Loudon Wainwright III - High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project
Banjo player and singer Charlie Poole was one of Loudon’s first models when he began singing and playing over 40 years ago. Now, together with producer/songwriter Dick Connette, he has put together a double album dedicated to the music and life of his early inspiration. Most of the songs recast the original recordings from the 20’s and 30’s, but Wainwright and Connette have also written 9 new songs around and about Poole’s life and times.
Jeff Healey - Songs From The Road
“You’ll find some Chicago classics, some old r&b, a taste of psychedelia, and some pop classics from a bygone era — Teach Your Children Well, Come Together, and his biggest hit Angel Eyes. Whenever we played — in Europe, the U.S. or at home in Canada — Jeff always gave his best, even in the last days when he was seriously ill. Around the world, thousands of fans will enjoy this CD. I believe Jeff was one of a kind and it’s doubtful there will ever be another one like him.” – Alec Fraser
Jo Hamilton - Gown
Stemming from a childhood spent in remote corners of Scotland, the Middle East and Sri Lanka, Jo’s music is elemental, an empathatic commentary reflecting our hopes, our glories and our tragedies. She unflinchingly reworks and applies the nostalgia of the old Gaelic lullabies of her childhood to a multicultural world of iPods and urbanism, often with devastating effect.
“A staggering voice that can brush softly against your soul or fill you with the intensity of an earthquake” – Scott Matthews
Plus plenty of other new releases:
August 13, 2009
Fleetwood Mac – Tusk (Warner Brothers)
Late ’70s indie pop
Zeep – People & Things (Crammed Discs)
Almost folkish pop
Guy Clark – Somedays The Song Writes You (Dualtone)
Skilful guitar playing in this slightly moody Americana record
Grandaddy – Sumday (V2)
Lo-fi indie alt-rock
Tommy Castro – Hard Believer (Alligator)
Deep, upbeat blues
Tumbélé! – Various Artists (Soundway)
Biguine, afro & latin sounds from the French Caribbean, 1963-74
Echaskech – Shatterproof (Just Music)
Squelchy, spacey electro with a robot singer
Conquer The World – Various Artists (Philadelphia International)
Compilation of awesome ’70s soul
Fact of the Day:
ZEEP also stands for Zero Emission Energy Plants, a system that proclaims to use traditional fossil fuels in a way which reduces the CO2 output by a process called gasification. (I have no reference for the scientific accuracy of these claims but hit the link above to take a look at their website if you’re interested.)
August 11, 2009
Justin Rutledge – The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park (Six Shooter)
Broad ranging cinematic country
Buck 65 – Secret House Against The World (V2)
Fusion of Americana with hip-hop and dance stylings
RinneRadio – Pole Stars (Rockadillo)
Ambient percussive bizarretronica with choppy vocal samples
Pedro The Lion – Achilles Heel (Jade Tree)
Bouncy but lazy indie post-rock
Baddies – Do The Job (Medical)
Palatable, slightly punky spiky indie
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe – My Brother’s Keeper (Shanachie)
Smooth soul/R’n'B/hip-hop from Lenny Kravitz session saxophonist/flautist/vocalist
Ohio Players – Skin Tight / Fire (BGO)
Amalgamation of the ‘74 and ‘75 albums, from the days when funk bands were awesome
Megafaun – Gather, Form & Fly (Crammed Discs)
Beautiful down-beat indie alt-bluegrass
Slint – Spiderland (Touch and Go)
Moody and beautiful album from the fathers of post-rock
Fact of the Day:
The V2 (Vergeltungswaffe-2), was the world’s first ballistic missile and the first human artefact to achieve sub-orbital spaceflight, paving the way for future spaceflight. However, an estimated 20,000 inmates died in the process of constructing them at the labour camp Mittelbau-Dora – according to v2rocket.com, more people died as a result of their production than their deployment.
August 10, 2009
Megafaun – Gather, Form & Fly (Crammed Discs)
Downbeat fusion of bluegrass, psychedelia and stoner-rock
Twilight Singers – She Loves You (One Little Indian)
Covers album in the style of lo-fi experimental rock-pop
Pearl Jam – Ten (Epic)
Classic early ’90s grunge
Wintersleep – Untitled (Labwork Music)
Downbeat, twisty but unalarming rock guitar riffage
Extradition Order – Since The Bomb Dropped (I Blame The Parents)
Experimental no-fi indie-rock. Due out September
Pedro The Lion – Whole EP (Tooth & Nail)
Epic early post rock with some sweet melodies
Western Star Rockabillies Vol. 2 – Various Artists (Western Star)
Upbeat country/rockabilly compilation from the UK label
Fact of the Day:
I forgot to write a fact of the day last Friday. Sorry.
Drew Hill
Esther Tewkesbury
Jon Roffey
stevekersley
simon holland
andy kiang
Dean Owens
folkboy
lisa goodall
jamiehalliday
