My Bloody Valentine

I went to see My Bloody Valentine on Tuesday last week. It felt like a real event before we got there - lots of buzz about the previous gigs had already appeared in the form of reviews and facebook updates. We were given ear-plugs on the way in in readiness for the onslaught of noise they end every gig with. Anyway they played a blinding set mainly from Loveless, but with a fair few from Isn't Anything (my preferred album I think) and also from the EPs. Sounded really tight and the sound was loud but clear, recreating the sound off the albums fairly closely. But the last song, You Made Me Realise, is what it was all about. The middle section of this is just one chord which goes on for over 2o minutes. It gets louder and louder and the sound feels like something physical in the room with you, vibrating your internal organs and making every hair stand on end. There is no space left in your brain for thoughts so it becomes almost like meditation or a full mental reboot. It's not for everyone, I'd guess about 20% of the audience left before the end, and a lot stood with their hands over their ears, but for the rest it was a perfect end to a very special and unusual gig.

Tokyo Police Club and Mobius Band

Andy and I went to go and see Tokyo Police Club at the Scala tonight. And they were great, if you like that kind of thing.


Mobius Band

The support was an excellent three piece called Mobius Band. With a drummer and two guys who shared singing, playing guitar and playing the synthesizer. There were a few problems with the mix early on but they really created a great sound. I loved them. A kind of mix of melody and live wall of sound kind of thing. They don't sound like the Flaming Lips but I couldn't help but think of them. They perhaps build their sounds in the same way. An interesting band with a bright future.

Tokyo Police Club are a tight, efficient band who seem to really enjoy themselves. Like all great bands with a keyboardist, the guy looked like he was totally off his head throughout. Don't get me wrong though they aren't a keyboard band they are a fast and furious noise band. While the guitar is strong, the band lives by the sound of the drums and bass.


Tokyo Police Club

None of their songs on their album are over 3 minutes (except one which is only fifteen seconds over). They are fast, furious, controlled noise.

My only criticism was that the sounds were a bit samey. Andy assures me that this was a problem with the mix and that they needed to, "make the vocals louder, and perhaps turn down some of the noise". Andy's main complaint will probably be about the two sessions of synchronised clapping.

A good night out, I intend buying the albums which is a good sign.

Next week (Tuesday) I'm off to see My Bloody Valentine at the Roundhouse.

Get The Blackout Of Here

This is the most hilarious thing I have seen in a long time. Straight outta the mean streets of, er, Bolton I give you - BLACKOUT!


My eeeeeeeears!!! Christ on a tandem, that is truly hideous. They're just so ... Netto. But who knew Ian Dowie was packin da mad MC skilzzzz!!! Still, I'm pretty sure they might be the first, er, 'crew' to get a line in about Kit-Kats. Ahem. Sorry about that, do carry on.

Chew On That

[ALERT: noisy young people and their loud bang bang bang music oh my ears and look at what they're wearing never would have happened in my day I saw Wishbone Ash once etc and so on]

Following the excitement surrounding the Ocelot Mthrfckrs remix of Dragonette, I have since discovered a similarly talented chap going by the name of Chew Fu.

Here is a great mix by him: Chew Fu: My Palms Is Out Mix

Tracklist here: Palms Out Sounds: Chew Fu

Enjoy!

(P.S. it's got a ripped up bootleg of Steppenwolf in it to keep the grandads happy...)

Are you crying? I'm not crying, I work out.

Forget Spiritualized, the original and best by the nutter himself.

Perhaps a little more sentimental than your average post but a cracker none the less.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ucN4DActxA

Hold Your Jar

Roll up, roll up, ubiquitous UK summer smash hit on its way:



Hot uber-producer Calvin Harris? Crossover grime star Dizzee Rascal? 80s synth stabs? Cowbells? Mis-spelt word in the title implying a certain amount of street txt msg cred whilst annoying the pedantic grown-ups? Check, check, check, check, CHECK!

Just you even try not to (at the very least) nod your head to that. Rinsin' out of every clapped out beamer from Camberwell to Edmonton...