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 21, 2009
Many of our readers will be familiar with our magazine, Properganda. In fact, visitors to this blog may not know that it was from our magazine that this blog was spawned. For the benefit of the latter, you can read more about it on our Properganda Magazine page.
Properganda 14 - Nov/Dec '09
October 5, 2009
If our new releases were a bunch of fantastic records released by a range of fantastic independent record labels and available from a range of fantastic independent record shops then they would… oh, hang on, they are. Some examples:
Tumbélé! - Various Artists
September 4, 2009
The Gambian/British ritti/guitar duo will be playing with rock singing legend Robert Plant at a special gig in aid of Nordoff-Robins Music Therapy.
(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 14, 2009
Iron Maiden – Rock In Rio (EMI)
Live album from ’80s screech metal band (Unfortunately we had to turn this off as the CD was scratched)
Les Paul & Mary Ford – Greatest Hits (Primo)
Jazz/blues guitar maestro plays a mean guitar and then multi-tracks it and speeds it up. (Some people in the office found this annoying but i think it’s unfathomably awesome)
Golden Smog – Blood On The Slacks (Lost Highway)
Not as good as Les Paul
fun. – Aim And Ignite (Nettwerk)
Quirky synth-pop
The Storys – Town Beyond The Trees Special Edition (Angel Air)
Delectable indie-pop
Engineers – Three Fact Fader (KScope)
Slow-burning electronic rock
Megafaun – Gather, Form & Fly (Crammed Discs)
Beautiful down-beat indie alt-synth-bluegrass
Fact of the Day:
I once tried to play the Iron Maiden drinking game. The idea is that you watch a live Iron Maiden video / DVD and you have to drink every time Bruce Dickinson punches the air. I lasted about 2 minutes.
August 14, 2009
World-renowned guitarist and recording pioneer Les Paul has died, aged 94.
(Photo: Colin Archer)
As well as being a superb guitarist, whose signature electric guitar is still one of the most iconic and popular electric guitars in production, he was also responsible for the advent of multi-track recording, a process which has revolutionised recorded music and has become the de facto method of recording for many musical styles.
More in-depth obituaries can be found courtesy of The Guardian, The Telegraph, Rolling Stone, The BBC, The New York Times and The NME.
A Les Paul Gold Top electric guitar
August 7, 2009
Esbjörn Svensson Trio – Good Morning Susie Sohø (Superstudio)
Jazz from the school of ‘what the hell are they doing to that instrument?’ taking influences from rock and electronica.
Madrugada – Grit (EMI)
Like Iggy Pop but Norwegian.
Dieselhed – Tales Of A Brown Dragon (Amarillo)
Experimental light country/post-rock
Calvin Richardson – Facts Of Life – The Soul Of Bobby Womack (Shanachie)
Smooth soul/R&B (the new kind, not the old one) tribute to Bobby Womack.
The McPeake Family – Wild Mountain Tyme (Topic)
Traditional music from Belfast, featuring three generations from the family.
Daddy – For A Second Time (Cedar Creek)
Bluesy country soul (from Bobby Womack to Tommy Womack).
The New Wave Of Traditional Metal – Various Artists (Classic Rock Magazine)
Covermount of the hilariousest hair-metal you’ll ever hear.
Unidos Por El Flow – Latin Kings, Ñetas y Jóvenes de Barcelona (K Industria)
Fairly laid-back Spanish hip-hop. (I’ve no idea what they’re talking about though)
August 4, 2009
Joni Mitchell – Blue (Reprise)
A seminal album from a very important person
Christine McVie – In The Meantime (Sanctuary)
Mellow acoustic pop
Bosque Brown – Baby (Fargo)
Ambient pianistic work
The Gilded Palace Of Sin – You Break Our Hearts, We’ll Tear Yours Out (Central Control)
Experimental blues, including bits of drum ‘ n’ bass.
Jeff Lang – Half Seas Over (Furry)
Rolling Americana guitar lines under Jeff’s great voice (this album is awesome!)
Jan Garbarek Group – Dresden (ECM)
Smooth, low energy jazz
The Evens – Get Evens (Dischord)
Non-lethal punk featuring Ian MacKaye of Fugazi and Minor Threat
Chris Garneau – El Radio (Fargo)
Laid-back but somehow bouncy ambient alt-pop
Karate – The Bed Is In The Ocean (Southern)
Laid-back post rock, á la Slint but more angular
Fact of the Day:
In the film The Karate Kid, the character Mr Miyagi is inferred to be descended from Chōjun Miyagi, the founder of Gōjū-ryū Karate.
August 3, 2009
Today’s super-exciting release is…
Martin Simpson - True Stories
With his latest album Martin Simpson moves on a pace, broadening the sound palette, ranging from solo guitar instrumentals to full band arrangements.
The success of Martin’s deeply moving song to his father, Never Any Good, on Prodigal Son has galvanised his song writing muse. True Stories is evenly split between traditional songs and tunes and Martin’s original compositions.
Also…
Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters - Living In The Light
Ronnie Earl is a bright and shining anomaly. He doesn’t tour, he doesn’t show up on David Letterman, he doesn’t play at rock festivals, he rarely gives interviews, and he isn’t the slightest bit interested in what Joni Mitchell called “the star-making machinery.” But he does make some remarkable, memorable and deeply touching recordings.
Living in the Light is a varied mix of blues, soul and gospel, all marked by his distinctive guitar style and the passionate conviction he brings to every track. It is also, perhaps in a contrary way, a record shot through with love, warmth and very real peace.
Plus loads more:
Drew Hill
Esther Tewkesbury
Jon Roffey
stevekersley
simon holland
andy kiang
Dean Owens
folkboy
lisa goodall
jamiehalliday
