Paul Kelly - "Bradman"

We know Bradman was a cricketing legend and we also know Paul Kelly is an Aussie singer-songwriter who is also a brilliant story teller. Here is his tribute to the greatest batsman ever. But I'm actually posting this because I just want to talk cricket for a change - but I won't because this is a music blog not a sport blog. I don't like cricket.... I love it!



I better not add a moment in cricket history either.

Hot Hot Heat - "Pickin' It Up"

Hot Hot Heat are an indie rock band from Canada. Their second album 'Elevator' features "Pickin' It Up", a catchy rock number that, surprisingly, was not released as a single. Elevator was released in 2005. Like an actual elevator, the songs on the liner notes are listed from 15 down to 1 and had no 13th song - like the 13th floor button in some elevators.

Field Mouse - "Tomorrow Is Yesterday"

Field Mouse are a New York dream pop band. They definitely have some shoegaze influences. A sound something like Lush, Sleeper and My Bloody Valentine getting together with Smashing Pumpkins... in fact, the title "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" says it all, in that regard.

Klima - "The City"

Klima is the musical project for London based French chanteuse Angele David-Guillou. Her self-titled debut album was released in 2007. "The City" was my introduction to Klima's beautiful melancholic vocals and after rediscovering it again just recently, I need more. So it will not be long before you hear more Klima on Bitter FM.

Sonny and the Sunsets - "Green Blood"

Sonny and the Sunsets have a new album out 'Antenna to the Afterworld.' It's an album inspired by the death of a friend and the psychic contact with another. But he turns that dark theme on its head and what we get is a kind of sci-fi concept album full of interesting characters... aliens mostly. "Green Blood" is a love story like any other love story - they meet, face many challenges and then part because of their differences. Oh, and she just happens to be an alien with an angry cyborg husband after them. Confirmation that Sonny Smith is an artist in every sense of the word.

I CUBE - "Adore"

I first came across "Adore" by I:Cube as part of a Hotel Costes compilation 'A Decade' from DJ Stéphane Pompougnac's series. "Adore" lives up to its title and sounds as good on the radio as it would in some cool cafe or bar. Downbeat at its best.

Not the Nine O'clock news - Rowan walk!

A classic



A bit of an insight

Willy Moon - "Railroad Track"

Willy Moon is a London based Kiwi artist signed to Jack White's Third Man Records label. "Railroad Track" is from his debut album 'Here's Willy Moon' released a couple of months ago. It's a short genre melding steam train that leaves the station sooner than expected. Willy Moon somehow manages to bring early rock n' roll and blues into the modern technology age. "Railroad Track" samples ARC Choir's "Walk With Me" - a song that Kanye West also sampled on "Jesus Walks."



ARC Choir - "Walk With Me"

Rilo Kiley - "Let Me Back In"

The previous blog post was a love letter to Paris from Malcolm McLaren - so I will stick with that theme. This time though, it is a love letter to Los Angeles from Rilo Kiley. Their recently released archives album 'Rkives' was a bit like a confirmation that they have called it quits as a band... but with a thank you gift. All is not lost though, with Jenny Lewis now well established as a solo artist. "Let Me Back In" is an outtake from the 'Under the Blacklight' album. For fans... this is faRKing essential!

Malcolm McLaren - "In The Absence Of The Parisienne"

Malcolm McLaren's 'Paris' album was a treat for jazz fans and francophiles alike.... however, just about everyone else, including respectable critics, thought it was cheesy, pretentious or didn't know what to make of it. But I come from the francophile side, followed by the jazz side, and I thought it was (mostly) fantastic. "In The Absence Of The Parisienne" is a great jazz track with Satie style piano and some sweet jazz percussion. But what does it for me is the looped strings (I presume it is looped strings) track. Even his voice can't ruin this one. Merci Monsieur McLaren.

Beck's Edison bottle

My favourite beer, a cool independent label and a few creative minds have done something amazing with "Here She Comes" by Ghost Wave. Way Cool.

Wilco - "Jesus, Etc"

While we are on the subject of the Sept. 11 World Trade Centre attacks (the previous blog post), Wilco's "Jesus, Etc" from their brilliant 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' album, must be the greatest song about the WTC attacks that wasn't actually about the WTC attacks. Like much of the album, including the cover artwork, the references are all coincidental. The album was due for release on September 11, 2001. Although, it was delayed in the end. Did Jeff Tweedy have a precognition at the time he wrote this song? No... just a fascinating coincidence.

Lyrics
Jesus, don't cry
You can rely on me honey
You can combine anything you want

I'll be around
You were right about the stars
Each one is a setting sun

Tall buildings shake
Voices escape singing sad sad songs
Tuned to chords strung down your cheeks
Bitter melodies turning your orbit around

Don't cry
You can rely on me honey
You can come by any time you want

I'll be around
You were right about the stars
Each one is a setting sun

Tall buildings shake
Voices escape singing sad sad songs
Tuned to chords strung down your cheeks
Bitter melodies turning your orbit around

Voices whine
Skyscrapers are scraping together
Your voice is smoking
Last cigarettes are all you can get
Turning your orbit around

Our love
Our love
Our love is all we have

Our love
Our love is all of God's money
Everyone is a burning sun

Tall buildings shake
Voices escape singing sad sad songs
Tuned to chords strung down your cheeks
Bitter melodies turning your orbit around

Voices whine
Skyscrapers are scraping together
Your voice is smoking
Last cigarettes are all you can get
Turning your orbit around

Last cigarettes are all you can get
Turning your orbit around
Last cigarettes are all you can get
Turning your orbit around

Elvis Perkins - "While You were Sleeping"

At a time of loss - I have a song from an artist who released his debut album after a very difficult time. In fact, a very difficult time for many other people as well. Elvis Perkins is the son of actor Anthony Perkins (of 'Psycho' fame - probably my favourite movie of all time) and Berry Berenson, a model, actress and photographer. His father died when he was in his teens and his mother died on September 11, 2001, as a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11, which was deliberately crashed into the World Trade Centre... as we all know. His debut album 'Ash Wednesday' was released in 2007. "While You were Sleeping," was written before the World Trade Centre attacks, but like some of the post-Sept 11 songs on the album, it is reflective of his relationship with his mother.

Theremin trilogy

The Inventor


The Film Composer


The Rock Star

Tricky - "Chinese Interlude"

Tricky's new album 'False Idols' is up there with his debut 'Maxinquaye' on many levels. Firstly, the most obvious, is the quality of the songs. Secondly, his attitude is the same as it was when he started his solo career and released his debut... no pressure put on himself and just doing what he wants and what feels right. It is hard to find a track that stands out on such a great album. However, there is one that is a bit different and ironically it doesn't have much input from Tricky himself. He has many vocal guests on all his releases and one of them this time is Fifi Rong, a London based - Chinese born singer/songwriter producer. The song "Chinese Interlude" is described well in its title. A beautiful interlude written and performed by Fifi Rong. So for me, when I downloaded 'False Idols' I got an album by Tricky back at his best and I got to discover a new artist in Fifi Rong.... two for the price of one. 'False Idols' may not be as important to the trip-hop and music world as 'Maxinquaye' was - but it is as important to everyone who bought that album and wanted more.

The Babies - "Mess Me Around"

I heard "Mess Me Around" by The Babies again (on Bitter FM, of course) and this time around it reminded me so much of the Flying Nun 'Dunedin' sound of the 80's and 90's. There is definitely some Verlaines, a little bit of The Clean and slightly more Look Blue Go Purple... or is it just me? Either the observation of the day or the most meaningless piece of information you heard all day.

Lower Plenty - "Strange Beast"

"Strange Beast" by Australian band Lower Plenty is gothic country/folk/blues at its best. From the baritone vocals to the ghostly and distant backing vocals, it has a kind of darkness that I crave. A wonderful strange beast it is.

Vampire Weekend - Hannah Hunt

The news of a new Vampire Weekend album didn't have the excitement the previous 'Contra' album had when that was at pre-order stage. That one was expected to match the debut and it ticked all the boxes. This time though, I just thought I could probably give their third album 'Modern Vampires of the City' a miss. Maybe the first two albums satisfied my need for quirky African indie rock music and there is so much good music around anyway. Well that was before I heard "Hannah Hunt" - so disregard all above comments.

Natasha Leggero - LA Gang Tours

Here is some comedy from Natasha Leggero. Check out her album 'Coke Money' for one of the best comedy albums in recent times.

The Front Bottoms - "Au Revoir (Adios)"

The Front Bottoms are an indie-rock band from New Jersey. "Au Revoir" is from their fourth album 'Talon of the Hawk' released last month. If "Au Revoir" doesn't put a smile on your face, don't worry, there is help available and I hope you have a speedy recovery. Au Revoir.