tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34262708622006311852011-11-27T16:32:00.909-08:00Music, Media and FilmAlistair Beechnoreply@blogger.comBlogger761100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-26969056242990993992010-02-21T01:47:00.000-08:002010-02-21T13:59:13.510-08:00

Running F&L was great fun but work / life got in the way.Thanks for reading and check out my new blog:http://alistairbeech.posterous.com/

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-50473553198026097052009-07-16T17:02:00.000-07:002009-07-17T04:23:38.513-07:00

Los Angeles R&B star Ne-Yo tonight provided drama at Manchester's M.E.N Arena after aborting his near sell-out show half way through a headline set. The self-proclaimed ‘smooth’ pop icon complained of illness after a couple of songs and appeared visibly uncomfortable, at one stage asking for patience from a loyal and fervent Arena audience.The aborted set relied on backing tracks and audience

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-79285437257657868502009-07-13T02:53:00.000-07:002009-07-13T05:06:34.412-07:00

Fondly remembered for their killer Bierkeller/Club North rave-ups, Tramp! DJs continue to head up some of the best Nights Out in Manchester and beyond. Download the new mixtape from Will Tramp! and taste the summer vibes. TRAMP! SUMMER LOVIN' MIXDJ Kaos 'Love the night away' (Tiedye mix)Phoenix - 'Lisztomania' (Classixx version)Holy Ghost- 'I will come back'Shit Robot- 'Simple Things' (Todd Terje

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-22353466507302257662009-07-10T05:56:00.000-07:002009-07-10T06:09:43.337-07:00

Via The Quietus, brilliantly filmed by Nick Abrahams as part of Jeremy Deller's Procession at the so far, so very good Manchester International Festival.Read our NME.com opening report of MIF (featuring our thoughts on Kraftwerk and It Felt Like A Kiss) here.More MIF coverage next week.

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-35284072052764857062009-07-09T01:08:00.000-07:002009-07-09T03:46:02.685-07:00

Falling and Laughing have teamed up with the fine chaps at Manchester's Night & Day Café to offer TWO tickets to see St. Vincent's show on Monday 13th July.To win, simply email us with a ONE sentence explanation of why you should get to see St. Vincent for gratis. The most entertaining message will be added to the guest list for the show*.St. Vincent's graceful new album Actor is out now on

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-54531035505420573852009-07-05T01:13:00.000-07:002009-07-05T01:14:01.871-07:00

Last.Fm is a great listening aggregator which charts your listening habits by 'scrobbling' tracks from a desired media player (it's a breeze with plug-ins for Spotify and Windows Media Player). However, this week's artist chart from Falling and Laughing HQ scared us a tad. Two of the F&L Top 10 disbanded in the '80s, while only four albums from 2009 made it into our Top 20 listening. You could

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-10328820513051850972009-07-01T01:00:00.000-07:002009-07-01T07:00:55.798-07:00

Have Dirty Projectors written THE Alternative Pop anthem of the summer?

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-48071418443618842332009-06-28T14:42:00.000-07:002009-06-28T15:23:25.994-07:00

For scoring a #1 with the zeitgeist spitting 'Bulletproof'.It seems like being rubbish live, resembling a mawkish rabbit and acting the most awkward pop star of 2009 is working out just right for Miss Jackson.Nice one. We'd take you over Pixie 'Spotty' Lott any day of the week.

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-41183042378887950532009-06-26T01:11:00.000-07:002009-06-26T02:48:20.253-07:00

Via PitchforkAnd hear / download Beck's tantalising take on Bob Dylan's 'Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat' from this year's War Child compilation below:Download Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat (Beck)

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-50185436432015221032009-06-25T01:45:00.000-07:002009-06-25T04:08:10.894-07:00

Those reliable chaps at Clique have built up quite an electro-pop empire, with their current home at Manchester's Mint Lounge fitting extra snugly.Tomorrow night (Friday, 26th June) sees a DJ appearance from indie-pop IT girl Florence and the Machine alongside Clique residents. Their spiffing Summer Mixtape, featuring F&L turns Passion Pit, La Roux, Phoenix and Friendly Fires is currently doing

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-53888288981204714842009-06-25T01:00:00.000-07:002009-06-25T01:00:19.722-07:00

Junior BoysClub Academy9th June Ontario, Canada duo Junior Boys are tonight greeted by a small but dedicated crowd at Club Academy in support of their excellent third album Begone Dull Care. Singer Jeremy Greenspan complains of being as “sick as a dawg” but still produces a sparkling vocal performance while side kick Johnny Dark gets mean and moody on an army of synths and gadgets.The last time

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-54449541542350880242009-06-24T01:04:00.000-07:002009-06-24T03:36:46.237-07:00

Alright. We admit it. It took us a while to warm to Wild Beasts' odd-ball Cumbrian alt.rock, but we're sure glad we stuck with 'em. Their debut album Limbo Panto fused a curious mix of post-punk, nature boy folk and jumpy rock and the foursome, backed by their encouraging paymasters Domino, look set to enjoy the rewards of a slow build and time to develop their potentially genre-defining songs. '

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-43157498552498947602009-06-21T01:00:00.000-07:002009-06-21T01:14:58.906-07:00

The HorrorsRuby Lounge Manchester1st JuneInside the Ruby Lounge this evening there’s a curious mix of grungy teens, original shoegazers and inquisitive onlookers to meet The Horrors' feedback drenched stage entrance. Three minutes of noise later, singer Faris Badwin slouches on stage: stick-insect thin but hair and celeb girlfriend tamed, he’s visibly more comfortable with his colleague’s current

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-13908754707118509182009-06-20T03:18:00.000-07:002009-06-20T04:02:29.832-07:00

Black LipsManchester Academy 324th MayAdored around the globe and with enough indie-rock cred to last them into rehab, Black Lips are a chaotically brilliant live band, or so F&L remembered…We left the cities Roadhouse venue two years ago having witnessed a tight, sharp, on-top-of-their-game rock group touring their superb Good Bad Not Evil album to much acclaim. Two years later and they find

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-78079529788312504632009-06-11T01:45:00.000-07:002009-06-11T03:42:24.102-07:00

Hurts are a brand new group based in Manchester and London. Theo (vocals) and Adam (electronics, guitar) formed the songwriting team behind Bureau and Daggers and have now settled on a sleek, minimal pop blueprint.When Theo Facebooked us last week, he linked to an Disco Lento (slow disco) wiki and their stark MySpace page. On the evidence of debut tracks 'Unspoken' and 'Illuminated', their future

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-71485855034558675642009-06-05T01:30:00.000-07:002009-06-05T03:05:39.889-07:00

One of the brightest, most visually striking bands to emerge from Manchester in a good ol' while, Run Toto Run have impressed us with their delicate, dreamy pop for some months.Their take on current It band Passion Pit's 'Sleepyhead' is especially charming and well worth three minutes of your Friday.Run Toto Run launch their new single 'Plastic Gold' on Saturday 13th June upstairs at Manchester's

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-63757932807049490712009-06-03T01:05:00.000-07:002009-06-02T23:23:16.845-07:00

Exciting times! The very first F&L MP3 exclusive has arrived!Super Fresh Power Squad are five shit-hot looking lads from Manchester. They accessorise with more bling than the whole of South London and their Adidas get-up is pristine and box fresh. They arrived to indie kid bemusement last year with a pumped up, full-on live show and gaggles of glitter-eyed groupies. Bopping along to the vocoder

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-75277328775714120172009-06-01T05:00:00.001-07:002009-06-01T05:16:38.731-07:00

Prepping their self-titled debut album (review here), Manchester's The Nightjars have released a video to accompany lead track 'Valentine'.Perfectly timed with the arrival of the British summer (cloudless skies, burnt noses), Valentine's Boards of Canada-inspired visual montage was put together by curiously named Mr Dreams.The Nightjars is available to buy now via the bands MySpace page.

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-88060344346631193392009-05-30T07:58:00.000-07:002009-05-30T09:40:46.226-07:00

And the Best living Pop Rock band award for 2009 goes to:SHED SEVENLast night Vegas wideboys The Killers performed for Jonathan Ross, a suit wearing man whose 'comedic value' recedes with each flick of his mop. Kudos to Wossy's team for pulling in Brandon & Co to replace the AWOL Katie Price: playing four songs in front of a whooping BBC crew audience. If you're stuck for something to do before

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-30069203722466404492009-05-25T00:45:00.000-07:002009-05-25T01:10:50.618-07:00

The Girl and the Robot is the second single from Royksopp's lauded new album Junior. The highly stylised video features Swedish diva Robyn frolicking around with a Robot, while Royksopp main men Torbjørn and Svein turn in a brief cameo half way.Robyn's star turn is a lesson in ice-cool, uncluttered electronic pop. Or, to paraphrase Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove: How I Learn To Stop Worrying

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-51862357207629656952009-05-22T06:56:00.000-07:002009-05-22T08:44:04.611-07:00

Krautrock (German rock music primarily made in the late 60s to 70s) has become an increasing influence on popular alternative music: name checked heavily by new artists, while its original bands glaze in the glow of renewed interest in their genre-defining exploits.As Julian Cope of 80s saviours The Teardrop Explodes gushed in his out of print 1995 book Krautrocksampler, German rock and

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-50832753561479816432009-05-21T01:38:00.000-07:002009-05-21T08:59:45.136-07:00

Following our intro to May 68 last month, we've picked up footage of the Best New Pop Band in Manchester in session for Channel M Music (one of the last ever performers).Listen to 'My Ways', a new demo track streaming below. Tight and sleek, glamourous yet accessible, it's one of their best efforts yet. More please! With industry buzz picking up pace and gigs booked throughout the summer, we

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-81045671302383035432009-05-19T02:11:00.000-07:002009-05-20T09:58:30.900-07:00

Following yesterday's intro report on Futuresonic, here's our summary of the musical output of the festival, written originally for NME.A leftfield mix of art, technology, debate and music, Futuresonic is an intelligent, demanding festival. Now in its 14th year, Futuresonic will in 2010 transform into Future Everything. In between tech-focused debates at the cities Contact Theatre, we pinned down

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-4891870913149296682009-05-18T02:10:00.000-07:002009-05-18T16:24:14.758-07:00

Between Thursday and Sunday we sampled the annual Futuresonic festival, based in Manchester. Now in it's 14th year, Futuresonic is a leftfield mix of art, technology, debate and music. We'll be publishing photos, reviews and more video content from tomorrow morning, alongside a link to our report for NME.For now here is video footage from Saturday's show at Urbis featuring Times New Viking,

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-34420391311408040732009-05-15T01:55:00.000-07:002009-05-15T02:30:26.191-07:00

This week Wilco took the sensible step of streaming their new album Wilco on their own website following a full leak online. The band had clearly planned ahead and quickly moved to placate fans tempted by downloading the leaked tracks. On first listen the new record is shaped by Krautrock structures, sparkling guitar interplay and as usual, highly accomplished instrumentation. We've yet to take

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-92081178506154148262009-05-13T01:20:00.000-07:002009-05-13T04:58:27.656-07:00

Last weekend saw the annual BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend pitch up in Swindon. A quick flick through the online highlights revealed a none too shoddy line-up, and we were spared any contact with 'presenters' Edith Bowman and Reggie Yates = result.OK, so obvious chart botherers Calvin, Dizzee, Lily, Akon, Kasabian, Franz and er, Chris Moyles all plugged their latest records/tours/weight loss but there

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-23343093636065027652009-05-12T01:39:00.000-07:002009-05-12T06:25:08.653-07:00

Whilst perusing the racks at Fopp HMV we came across this forlorn package retailing at £1. Live at Last is a visual document of The Charlatans' Brixton Academy show in 2004£1 for a DVD? After lengthy google-ing research we found HMV 85p cheaper than the miserly Play.com.The sales blurb from Play is wonderful garbage:"This may be their first ever full length live DVD, but there can barely be a

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-45160183260357585862009-05-11T09:50:00.000-07:002009-05-11T10:14:00.221-07:00

Ghostface KillahManchester Academy 2May 10thA leading member of hip hop legends Wu Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah (real name Dennis Coles) is a prolific album maker, with an eighth solo outing set for release later this year.Live, he’s erratic; at a recent London show he was reported to have stopped rapping to hold a Del Boy style sales pitch to shift a few t shirts onstage. Tonight he’s half an

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-398381980590933712009-05-10T07:06:00.000-07:002009-05-10T07:37:00.509-07:00

We love the cover art to Wilco's new album. Wilco (The Album) is out June 30 on Nonesuch.Hear their tip of the hat, topical cover of Woody Guthrie's 'The Jolly Banker', below.Download The Jolly Banker

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-86712332150715161072009-05-08T02:44:00.001-07:002009-05-11T14:31:50.555-07:00

Channel M Music (CMM) began in April 2006 with a skeleton staff of producer Daniel Parrott and a handful of camera operators. There was no grand plan, simply a desire to represent new talent from Greater Manchester and beyond, both in front of and behind the camera. Early shows mixed amateurish skits with curious Mancunian-humour (legendary comedy figure Frank Sidebottom has appeared since the

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-89712948053337590242009-05-07T02:30:00.000-07:002009-05-08T07:00:47.306-07:00

Sonic Youth return with new album Eternal on 9th June through Matador Records. Last week the 'Youth appeared on Later with Jools Holland, with the chaotic 'Teen Age Riot' (our favourite alt.rock tune of all time) fondly reminding us of their life affirming Roundhouse show in September 2007.Listen and download new free track 'Sacred Trickster' below the videos.Download 'Sacred Trickster'* Thanks

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-20570817198425702392009-05-01T04:07:00.000-07:002009-05-01T04:41:33.448-07:00

This week saw the announcement of 41 job cuts at Channel M, Manchester's Guardian Media Group funded television station. The saddest cuts came in the music department, whose staff worked tirelessly from April 2006 bringing new talent to the screens (and later) laptops of Manchester; championing local talent in the same breath as international.We are currently putting together an in depth piece on

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-20190380425020398432009-04-27T09:06:00.000-07:002009-04-27T10:51:31.835-07:00

Best: His Mother's Son (shown yesterday evening on BBC 2) follows briskly on the heels of Clough tragi-comedy The Damned United (article here) and reveals the dark, destructive story of 1970s football legend George Best and his mother, Ann, both alcoholics. At an hour and a half long, the film has enough time to make a presence felt, but its menacing coldness means viewers were left with little

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-85805093649441990842009-04-25T04:20:00.000-07:002009-04-25T04:47:22.480-07:00

The Horrors release second single 'Who Can Say' from new album Primary Colours on May 5th via XL. We recieved the album t'other day and it's one of the best we've layed ears to so far this year - check back next week for a full review. Read our verdict on first single 'Sea Within A Sea' from last month.Proof not to judge a book by it's angsty, dodgy goth cover?Cheers to Big Stereo for the video

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-61508739501714907282009-04-24T18:00:00.000-07:002009-04-24T15:33:29.189-07:00

Tony Manero is the new film directed by Chilean Pablo Larraín, and was the winner at last year's Torino Film Festival, as well as being submitted to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language film. A chilling, unforgettable piece of work, Tony Manero is notable for it's authenticity and strong character performances, not least from main protagonist Raul (Alfredo Castro).Raul is besotted with

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-4498257669475183582009-04-24T09:43:00.000-07:002009-04-24T09:55:06.744-07:00

Whitest Boy AliveManchester Ruby Lounge18th AprilWhitest Boy Alive front man Erlend Øye is a happy soul tonight; making no effort to disguise the geeky grin he sports throughout his bands 90 minute set. Back in the North where he spent six months living in leafy Chorlton (being Manchester, Erlend still got attacked) Øye barely moves two feet all night, such as his comfort and calmness these

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-2699563387849823702009-04-23T14:01:00.000-07:002009-04-24T09:55:28.739-07:00

And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead...Manchester Academy 3April 16th“God bless Conrad Keeley” reads a text on our mobile minutes after the gig. The And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead front man hasn’t aged a bit since his band’s visceral breakthrough in the mid-90s, and almost 15 years on, he’s leading punk-rock brothers to nightly mass. Tonight Trail of Dead are on fire, catapulting

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-5726074336070812322009-04-22T05:05:00.000-07:002009-04-22T05:52:15.275-07:00

'The Reeling' is the lead track from Passion Pit's debut album Manners, released on May 18th through Columbia. Currently the cover stars of Clash magazine, the 'Pit are set for a busy summer as indie's next big thing, 2009s hybrid of prep-boys Vampire Weekend and West Coast dudes MGMT. PR bumpf surrounding Manners:"A real deal album in other words, one that delivers on the blissful and bright

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-317912728599002512009-04-16T01:04:00.000-07:002009-04-16T02:59:31.794-07:00

With fellow Domino Records companions Animal Collective scratching mainstream pop/rock culture, Dirty Projectors have been tipped to follow with a new, R&B influenced album. Bitte Orca is released in June, with lead single 'Stillness Is The Move' due on 18th May in the UK.Now settled as a four piece, DP are led by the supremely talented Dave Longstreth, who made lo-fi indie records before

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-5173596677605817832009-04-14T00:14:00.000-07:002009-04-22T06:16:47.239-07:00

Chart Attack: is our new, irregular glance at the official UK Singles Chart; specifically the week's Top Ten best selling singles.As a kid growing up in suburban England during the early 90s, the Top 40 chart countdown was our passage to new music. Pre Internet and too young to see gigs or soak in the NME or Face magazines, and with a father reluctant to join the satellite dish revolution (no MTV

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-84061973195301633302009-04-13T02:32:00.000-07:002009-04-13T03:07:24.416-07:00

The re-birth of Manc scamps The Answering Machine gathers pace with their second "official" single 'Obviously Cold'.We've always had a lot of time for these boys (and girl) and their time away from the spotlight seems to have done the trick. Hyped before they'd released a note of music, TAM have since changed management and returned to their bedrooms to write a dozen killer indie-pop tunes, if

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-82124937075437881162009-04-09T03:57:00.000-07:002009-04-09T00:51:14.381-07:00

If U2's blanket marketing for new album No Line on the Horizon hasn't left you cowering behind the sofa, then alert your ears towards Justice's remix of lead single 'Get On Your Boots'. We hear nothing that resembles rocket science in the tap tap keys or dub back beat, but Bono's vocals are well reconstructed (ie. there's not much of them) and its a neat trick swapping The Edge's guitar motif for

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-15416754210711382072009-04-08T03:44:00.000-07:002009-04-09T00:28:24.738-07:00

Norwegian duo Datarock are back with new track 'Give It Up', ahead of their second album, Red. It's four years since their debut Datarock achieved press buzz and highly acclaimed gigs across the world. While Norway's renaissance as a musical trendsetter gathers pace (read our feature here and here) founding members Fredrik Saroea and Ketil Mosnes worked diligently on new material. The first

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-78102420542279123132009-04-08T03:33:00.000-07:002009-04-08T03:41:01.493-07:00

Dodgy chorus aside, Franz Ferdinand's rock-ist take on Britney's 'Womanizer' makes us : )Via Pitchfork and the BBC's Live Lounge.

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-45225453473241063892009-04-07T08:44:00.000-07:002009-04-07T09:03:08.168-07:00

Those fine chaps over at Dummy have put their weight behind Delphic, and following our intro last month, here is a rare video interview with the Manchester trio.

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-1423312485116392142009-04-07T07:15:00.000-07:002009-04-07T09:04:14.628-07:00

Phoenix perform 'Lisztomania' and '1901' on Saturday Night Live, tx 4th April.

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-84992409936765379972009-04-02T13:32:00.000-07:002009-04-02T14:45:30.004-07:00

Hard working, intelligent and unshakably their own men, The Nightjars have adopted a steady approach since emerging in Manchester four years ago.Now a three piece, they've assembled a debut album with the experience of their Towards Light mini-album, which was one of the strongest North West records released in 2007. The world may have since gone nuts over The Ting Tings, but bands of The

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-9819824011849016002009-04-02T01:19:00.000-07:002009-04-02T02:04:26.866-07:00

Handsome Furs is the husband and wife twosome of Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade) and Alexei Perry. They make minimal, grey electronic noise to complement Boeckner's breakneck guitars and indie boy vocals. Second album Face Control is out now on Sub Pop (buy from Rough Trade and Amazon) and we're completely taken by the simplicity of their zombie movie inspired 'I'm Confused'. Handsome Furs are

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-25618002102977598452009-04-01T12:54:00.000-07:002009-04-22T06:21:25.149-07:00

Last week we interviewed Thomas Mars from Phoenix about the group's rather ace new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, released on 25th May.We caught up with Thomas on the day of a video shoot for their next single 'Lisztomania', filmed at the plush Wagner Opera House in Germany. Below are a couple of excerpts from our chat. The full interview will appear in May's edition of Clash magazine.........

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-57587149066187895522009-03-30T11:52:00.000-07:002009-04-22T06:30:31.301-07:00

PJ Harvey and John Parish go a long way back, with Harvey contributing to Parish's Automatic Dlamini project in her teens and collaborating on 1996's Dance Hall at Louise Point album.Parish returned the favour producing Harvey's last album White Chalk and the pair release new record A Woman A Man Walked By, this week.Lead single 'Black Hearted Love' is the dark, brooding lead single, complete

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-46465536105802745512009-03-28T03:01:00.000-07:002009-03-28T05:25:11.958-07:00

Mullet haired San Diego resident Nathan Williams is Wavves, described by his PR team as an author of 'slack beach punk anthems'. The ever reliable Pitchfork TV filmed a show last month in New York, and although we find Williams' onstage persona a little irritating, there's much to admire in his primitive musical template.Augmented by a live drummer, Wavves rip through songs at an alarming speed,

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-85684181384884820112009-03-28T02:45:00.000-07:002009-04-22T06:24:15.278-07:00

Very new, unsigned noise rockers Lost Knives live in Manchester. They emerged just a month ago with three songs on their MySpace page. They've yet to even play a gig yet, and lose their gigging virginity on 30th March with Broken Records at the Ruby Lounge, Manchester.The three songs currently online - recorded in demo form earlier this year in Liverpool - brim with musical verve and have been

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-54272328390125910532009-03-26T23:12:00.000-07:002009-03-26T16:14:41.089-07:00

Video courtesy of Pitchfork TV. 'One Day' is released through DFA Records on April 6th.Download the Surkin remix of One Day, below.Download 'One Day' Surkin remix

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-61000590572329783412009-03-26T19:58:00.000-07:002009-03-26T03:31:44.434-07:00

Are Passion Pit 2009's answer to MGMT?Also signed to Columbia, the Massachusetts quintet have enjoyed lots of love from salivating music bloggers since their Chunk of Change EP (listen on Spotify) arrived in September through French Kiss. Debut album Manners drops on May 18th (UK) and a day later in America (In Sound pre-order). Propelled by the awesome 'Sleepyhead', Chuck Of Change picked up

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-16035191156349355242009-03-20T06:43:00.000-07:002009-03-26T03:29:06.944-07:00

'Free' advert supported streaming service Spotify launched in October 2008, and has quickly become the most talked about music application across online and print platforms. It arrived with substantial media coverage in the UK on 10th February this year, and support shows no sign of diminishing as user numbers increase (as of 2nd March Spotify boasted 1 million users from Western Europe and the

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-79078287978510523602009-03-20T03:44:00.000-07:002009-03-26T03:29:39.390-07:00

This year marks the fifteen year anniversary of Chicago troubadours Wilco's formation. Currently recording their seventh studio album, they next month release their Ashes of America Flags tour DVD as part of the international Record Store Day. A welcome celebration of the humble independent record store in these digitally force-fed times, the UK arm of Record Store Day will offer exclusive

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-17738713013766006992009-03-20T02:25:00.000-07:002009-03-20T03:37:11.932-07:00

Returning for the second year between 2-19th July, the Manchester International Festival yesterday announced it's main musical bill. To our delight, German electronic pop pioneers Kraftwerk will open the festival with a live performance at Manchester Velodrome, supported by American composer Steve Reich.Other notable events include Elbow's two night residency at The Bridgewater Hall alongside The

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-49933549081683352822009-03-19T19:42:00.000-07:002009-03-19T04:27:25.446-07:00

Emerging from Manchester at beginning of the year, May 68 are four guys and one gal with a developing set of electronic pop songs. Our favourite is 'The Duke Is Dead', streaming below. They've been described as a cross between CSS and Roisin Murphy, but we can also hear the mechancial moves of Metro Area and the pouting of Glass Candy. If you like what you hear, you're able to download a demo

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-66822684082320439732009-03-19T18:49:00.000-07:002009-03-19T04:24:16.376-07:00

With most of the music industry this week backslapping itself at South By Southwest in Texas, Friendly Fires are preparing for a second tour of North America before hitting their biggest UK venues yet at the end of April. It's been a slow, measured build for the St Albans trio, and word of mouth has propelled them into the hearts of clubbers across the globe. Helped by some inventive, catchy

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-54889226629908667152009-03-18T10:52:00.000-07:002009-03-26T03:30:06.785-07:00

insert italic tags469277618" />With the blogsphere going ruddy crazy for nauseatingly hyped electro femmes Little Boots and La Roux, its worth looking outside the box for 23 year old Londoner Anita Blay. With Metronomy main man Joseph Mount on production duties, thecocknbullkid has made tentative strides since emerging last July with debut 7" 'On My Own' through Mount's Need Now Future

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-76517677937722367402009-03-17T08:35:00.000-07:002009-03-17T11:22:09.450-07:00

Today's news wires were punctured by strong rumours of a reforming Stone Roses. Arguably boasting a bigger following than during their 1986-96 existence, the founding members Ian Brown (vocals), Mani (bass), John Squire (guitar) and Reni (drums) are held in devotion by many fans, including groups they influenced, most notably Oasis.This year is the 20th anniversary of the release of their

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-72650914175241562282009-03-17T05:27:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:28:42.239-07:00

Today marks the release of The Horrors new single 'Sea Within A Sea' on their official site. A definite attempt to explore new sounds following the goth dirge of their 2007 debut album Strange House, Sea Within A Sea takes in many shoegaze and post-punk influences. Produced last summer by Geoff Barrow (Portishead), the song (below) is a refreshing change of tactic; singer Faris Badwin has lost

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-31280570996639905702009-03-16T16:18:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:44:13.093-07:00

You lucky pups. The new Super Furry Animals album Dark Nights / Light Years will receieve a full playback TONIGHT (16th March) from 8pm (UK GMT) from the Welsh wizards official site. The album will available through download from this evening and gets a physical release on April 13th by Rough Trade. You can hear their Krautrock-inspired new track 'Inaugral Trams' (featuring a German speaking

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-41600315069651122622009-03-15T11:36:00.000-07:002009-03-26T03:30:30.210-07:00

Modern football films are incredibly naff. Who can forget When Saturday Comes and Sean Bean’s Jimmy Muir, "a hard-drinking brewery worker in the city of Sheffield, with an arrogant lack of respect for authority” or the Mexican-turned-Geordie of Goal’s Santiago Nunez?We haven’t seen Mean Machine, and the thought of prisoners 'getting pally' with Vinny Jones means we’ll probably never bother. While

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-89296260664548514602009-03-15T08:57:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:31:29.056-07:00

Canadians Junior Boys release their third album Begone Dull Care on May 11th in the UK, with single ‘Hazel’ recieving a physical 20th April release through Domino. The web buzz around their new material is highly merited, as Begone Dull Care is a stunning record; an immaculately produced mix of synth-pop and MOR songwriting. In a recent interview with Fact magazine, singer Jeremy Greenspan

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-3927184332290935642009-03-13T10:01:00.000-07:002009-03-13T10:36:45.983-07:00

DFA’s The Juan Maclean make their long awaited return with new album The Future Will Come on 16th April. With ‘Happy House’ vocalist and LCD Soundsystem touring member Nancy Whang now a full time collaborator, Juan also called on label mates Holy Ghost! and !!! drummer Jerry Fuchs to record the new record.Preceding the album is new single ‘One Day’, released on 6th April (DFA store). Beginning

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-32363315528430940372009-03-13T08:43:00.000-07:002009-03-13T09:54:55.245-07:00

Continuing on yesterdays returning Doves, we’ve been intrigued by new material from Jack Penate and The Maccabees. Both rode with much hype in 2007 armed with debut albums and significant press buzz. Penate in particular found it hard to live up to the brightness of his early singles across a full album, while the Maccabees looked tired and uninspired when we caught them live in Manchester last

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-7915277157538915352009-03-12T08:56:00.000-07:002009-03-12T18:13:55.414-07:00

Former members of promising indie-pop group Snowfight in the City Centre, Rick, Matt and James are Delphic. Three guys in their early to mid twenties, they've eschewed a previous songwriting ethic they have since attributed to "writing songs to get signed".The change in sound and outlook is remarkable, replacing potential indie anthems with euphoric beats, Kraftwerk-inspired electronics and

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-34505968909027678752009-03-12T01:41:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:34:19.535-07:00

Touring the UK this week (all now sold out, new dates are scheduled for April/May), Doves return with new album Kingdom of Rust on 7th April. The single of the same name is released on 30th March (pre-order here). On the evidence of teaser download 'Jetstream' and 'Kingdom of Rust', we shouldn't expect a vast departure from the trio's cinematic indie-rock, but if it ain't broke etc. They've

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-16827120971900023722009-03-11T07:50:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:35:38.479-07:00

We had the pleasure of speaking to Erlend Øye last month for the April edition of Clash magazine. Conducting the interview through Skype, Erlend had a few problems making out our questioning. Like a true gent, he offered to call us back on our landline! Erlend and his chums have made a cracking record in 'Rules', which you can pick now directly from the band at their Bubbles online store.

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-10245398787958043822009-03-10T07:16:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:36:17.789-07:00

In an attempt to make up for a lack of posts over the weekend, here's what we would've posted if we hadn't been prepping for a smart job interview...onwards!Manchester's Dutch Uncles (formely Headlines) are currently up there with best young songwriters in the North, but with the rest of the UK seemingly too busy lapping up heavily PR'd token-indie, these boys took themselves off to Germany to

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-23644953188552035472009-03-10T07:04:00.000-07:002009-03-17T06:36:49.284-07:00

Q: Put together Liam Fray (Courteeners) and Miles Kane (most talented Rascal, least talented Shadow Puppet) and what do you get?A: A conjoined ego bigger than the entire North West and a horrendous take on a Smiths classic!Judge for yourselves...

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-41274806046992450572009-03-05T06:40:00.000-08:002009-03-17T06:37:20.138-07:00

Recent winners of NME's Philip Hall Radar Award (basically the band most likely to explode this time next year) The Big Pink follow in the leather booted footsteps of 2008 winners Glasvegas.Newly signed to the excellent 4AD, The Big Pink are Robbie Furze (guitarist for Alec Empire) and Milo Cordell (founder of Merok Records and the man responsible for bringing Klaxons, Crystal Castles and more

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-18277535676787104892009-03-04T09:46:00.000-08:002009-03-17T06:37:54.696-07:00

Everything Everything live in Manchester, but its members were born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Kent.Their debut single 'Suffragette Suffragette' was one of our favourite tunes of 2008, and though newie 'Photoshop Handsome' is not quite as immediate as it's predecessor, we're won over through it's sheer odd-ball charm. Watch the bonkers video below...

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-10874125354315605872009-03-03T09:59:00.000-08:002009-03-17T06:38:41.964-07:00

School of Seven Bells Night & Day Café, Manchester 27th February ‘SOLD OUT’ reads the paper sign outside the Night and Day Café in the heart of the cities still hip Northern Quarter. Whilst a number of flash venues have established themselves in Manc-land over the past year, Night & Day still stands as the holy grail of dank, dark gigging to many folk about town. Decidedly non-plussed

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3426270862200631185.post-18153075436440585522009-03-02T09:37:00.001-08:002009-03-02T09:56:01.784-08:00

Keep checking back for regular(ish) updates of the Music and Film variety.x

Alistair Beechnoreply@blogger.com0