Eliza Doolittle - "Skinny Genes"

Okay, I know Bitter FM is supposed to be saccharine free radio and this song is a little bit heavy on the sugar... but I don't care. It's my guilty pleasure and that's all there is to it. I'm just pleased the management behind Katy Perry, Britney and Lady Gaga haven't got a hold of her... yet. The theme of "Skinny Genes" is basically the opposite to Lily Allen's "Not Fair" which is about a guy she really likes but doesn't do it for her in bed... in "Skinny Genes" the guy is annoying and not much liked but otherwise satisfies her. The use of whistling is a clever effort to keep it clean. To me, this song is like this... if someone gave me a coffee with sugar in it and although I don't have sugar, if the coffee is good I will still drink it. How was that for an analogy?

Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band - "A Day In the Life"

The 'Easy Star All-Stars' could easily be written off as a gimmick that went too far... but they succeed in covering iconic albums in a dub style. Most bands would be lucky to get away with one cover album but here they are on to their third. First was 'Dub Side of the Moon' a cover of the 'Pink Floyd' classic album 'Dark Side of the Moon' followed by 'Radiodread' which was a complete song for song cover of 'OK Computer' by 'Radiohead' and then came 'Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band' a cover of classic album by 'The Beatles'. So they were aiming quite high and many others would have been met with ridicule for even attempting such a daring feat. "A Day In the Life" is possibly my favourite Beatles song and this version takes the song into the 21st century and maybe to an audience that hadn't even heard the original. There are subtle changes to the lyrics like... "woke up, fell out of bed, dragged my fingers through my dreads" but generally they don't take it too far from the original other than the dub make-over.

Phantogram - "Mouthful Of Diamonds"

Phantogram are a duo from Saratoga Springs upstate New York. They describe their sound as 'street beat, psych pop' but 'electro-rock' is close enough for me. They formed in 2007 and released their debut album 'Eyelid Movies' in 2010. "Mouthful Of Diamonds" is a near epic dance pop song that would satisfy the indie kids as much as the dance crowd. Did I say near epic? let's call it EPIC!

Brad - "20th Century"

Seattle Alt-Rock band 'Brad' formed in 1992 and featured some grunge heavyweights including 'Pearl Jam' guitarist Stone Gossard, vocalist Shawn Smith from 'Satchel', bassist Jeremy Toback and drummer Regan Hagar. They were originally to be named 'Shame' but found another band under that name led by Brad Wilson (never heard of him) so being forced to pick another name they decided on his name instead.... but obviously not in his honour. They did name their debut album 'Shame' instead. The album was released in 1993 and was better than expected from a side project with very little time in the studio. "20th Century" is a bass heavy funky near hit that may have surprised the grunge fans but would have to have won them over. The vocalist Shawn Smith steals the show on "20th Century" with a very un-grunge but fantastic vocal performance. The one and only time Seattle grunge got funky!

Richard Hell and the Voidoids - "Blank Generation"

Richard Hell and the Voidoids released this legendary single "Blank Generation" in 1977 and he was also a big part of what became the punk look with his ripped jeans with safety pins and short spiked hair. Richard Hell was a founding member of New York band 'Television' with Tom Verlaine until leaving in 1975. He then had a short stint with Johnny Thunders in 'The Heartbreakers' and finally starting Richard Hell and the Voidoids in 1976. The title "Blank Generation" was a play on the 'Beat Generation' poets. It was a groundbreaking single and it set the standard for punk.

AK-Momo - "Greasy Spoon"

AK-Momo are a Swedish duo consisting of Anna Karin von Malmborg (AK) and Mattias Olsson. They have a liking for vintage instruments and synths including an optigan and a mellotron, which combined with AK's vocals and phrasing, the end result is a hauntingly beautiful sound. A hybrid of Joanna Newsom, Kate Bush, Portishead, (Felt Mountain) Goldfrapp and I think I can even add Jolie Holland to the list. "Greasy Spoon" is from their debut album 'Return to N.Y' from 2004.
Uniquely beautiful.

3rd Bass - "Cat's In The Cradle"

In 1990 when Vanilla Ice released his hit "Ice Ice Baby" a lot of people thought he was the first white American rapper but '3rd Bass' featuring white rappers MC Serch and Pete Nice had already released their debut album "The Cactus Album' a year earlier on Def Jam. They later released a single "Pop Goes the Weasel" which was a harshly critical commentary about Vanilla Ice watering down the rap genre for the mainstream audience... and they had a strong case. 3rd Bass only released three albums in their short existence and a solo album each thereafter. In 1994 MC Serch recorded some sessions but Def Jam wanted a 3rd Bass album only and not a solo album... which created some conflict between MC Serch and Def Jam's Russell Simmons and it put the breaks on the solo album. However, in 2000 MC Serch and Pete Nice did get together for some sessions for a comeback album but conceded their time had come and gone and they just couldn't make the album happen. Which is a shame because one of the songs from those sessions "Cat's In the Cradle" is a fantastic take on the Harry Chapin hit. It was finally released on the album "Many Young Lives Ago" in 2007. The song is perfectly crafted and the sentiments between father and son are the same... but instead of being set in middle America it is now set in Queens, New York with the appropriate soundtrack.



Harry Chapin - "Cat's In the Cradle"

Randy Newman - "I Miss You"

In between years and years of film scores Randy Newman released a studio album 'Bad Love' in 1999. The album was more of an outlet for his personal songs that didn't have to relate to a film script and he had a lot of subject material to cover... from American culture, old rock stars (including himself) and older guys with younger girls to name a few. He mocks everyone and everything in his path and usually with his wry sense of humour but at other times with a cynical venom. The one song that gets me every time I hear this album is "I Miss You" but not only because it is possibly the best ballad he has ever written but who the song was for. He made it clear at the time the album was released that it was a love song for his first wife... while he was married to his second wife. He says he was married to her for 18 years and he had never written her a love song so this could be his redemption... but it was probably more unnerving than anything else for all past and present family members. This time the satire is not in the song itself but all around the song.



(Lyrics)
Still in my heart after all these years
Separated by time now by distance
I couldn't allow myself to feel the loss that I feel right now
You're far away and happy I know
It's a little bit late... twenty years or so
It's a little bit cold for all those concerned
But I'd sell my soul and your soul for a song
So I'll pour my heart out

I miss you
I miss you, I'm sorry but I do

I want to thank you for the good years
And apologize for the rough ones
You must be laughing yourself sick
But I wanted to write you one before I quit
And this one's it

I miss you, I wanted you to know
I miss you, and I still love you so.

Hera - "Feels so good"

Hera is a singer songwriter originally from Iceland and now based in New Zealand and it is certainly our gain. She has already released at least five albums... one of them in Icelandic. She is now based in Christchurch and the recording of her new album has been delayed because of the studio's proximity within the cordoned off area of the city following the recent earthquake. She is finishing it at another location but in the mean time she has a new single available "Rattle My Bones" at www.herasings.com which was recorded in Christchurch and Iceland.
In 2008 she released a single "Feels so good" which is constantly on Bitter FM playlists. It is a catchy and uplifting slice of pure pop... how did most of the world miss out on this?

Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch - "Lua"

Conor Oberst is the main singer/songwriter in 'Bright Eyes' and along with releasing about ten albums under that name he has also released a couple of solo albums. I have already featured Bright Eyes on this blog so let's move on straight away to this song "Lua". It was released as a single simultaneously with the release of another single "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)" in 2004 and they ended up on the top two places of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Sales respectively. He released two albums 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning' and 'Digital Ash in a Digital Urn' simultaneously not too long after the singles. "Lua" was also on the 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning' album and was a highlight on a near-perfect album. A new version featuring Gillian Welch was released on the Red Hot Organisation charity album 'Dark Was the Night' in 2009 and that alone was enough to attract my attention. Together Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch have given a bit of light to a very dark song of despair regarding a couple who suffer from depression and their drug dependancy to take away the pain. Shit, it is still as dark as hell, to the point that you can still feel their pain, but Gillian Welch gives it a bit of freshness with the addition of her vocals.


(Lyrics)
Well, I know that it is freezing
But I think we'll have to walk
Keep waving at the taxis
They keep turning their lights off
But Julie knows a party
At some actor's West Side loft
Supplies are endless in the evening
By the morning they'll be gone

When everything is lonely
I can be my own best friend
Get a coffee and the paper
Have my own conversations
With the sidewalk and the pigeons
And my window reflection
The mask I polish in the evening
By the morning looks like shit

And I know you have a heavy heart
I can feel it when we kiss
And many men stronger than me
Have thrown their backs out trying to lift it
But me, I'm not a gamble
You can count on me to split
The love I sell you in the evening
By the morning won't exist

You're looking skinny like a model
With your eyes all painted black
Keep going to the bathroom
Always say you'll be right back
Well, it takes one to know one, kid
I think you've got it bad
But what's so easy in the evening
By the morning's such a drag

I've got a flask inside my pocket
We can share it on the train
And if you promise to stay conscious
I will try and do the same
Yeah, we might die from medication
But we sure killed all the pain
But what was normal in the evening
By the morning seems insane

And I'm not sure what the trouble was
That started all of this
The reasons all have run away
But the feeling never did
It's not something I would recommend
But it is one way to live
Because what is simple in the moonlight
By the morning never is

Yeah, it was simple in the moonlight
Now it's so complicated
It was so simple in the moonlight
So simple in the moonlight
So simple in the moonlight

The Vaselines - "Son Of a Gun"

The Vaselines are another Scottish band but this band is not as prolific as 'Belle and Sebastian' in fact, far from it... they released their debut album in 1989 after a couple of EP's in 1987 and 1988. The first EP was 'Son of a Gun' and the second was 'Dying For It' which featured a couple of songs covered by Nirvana "Molly's Lips" and "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam". They broke up after the release of the debut 'Dum-Dum' and only reformed briefly in 1990 at Kurt Cobain's request to open for Nirvana in Edinburgh. Kurt Cobain was a huge fan and gained them some wider exposure. The founding members Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee did other things and had other musical projects and solo material released in the intervening years before they reformed for a couple of concerts in 2006 and 2008 and more regularly in 2009 and finally released their follow up album 'Sex With an X' in 2010. "Son Of a Gun" the title song from their first EP was also covered by Nirvana and it's easy to see why Kurt was such a fan... it is a beautiful song with great vocals from Frances McKee but there is no doubt about the do-it-yourself punk attitude of "anyone can do it" and that is the charm here. The cult status that followed, via a famous fan, meant that we didn't miss out on the fun.... thanks Kurt.

Belle and Sebastian "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John" featuring Nora Jones

Scottish indie/twee pop band 'Belle & Sebastian' started out in 1996 and after about eight studio albums they are still highly regarded by critics the world over. Stuart Murdoch is the key member and he has also been involved in the 'God Help the Girl' album and forthcoming film project... and the most recent album 'Write About Love' from 2010 has continued with some of the 60's characteristics of the 'God Help the Girl' project. "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John" from 'Write About Love' is a duet with Nora Jones and the most surprising thing about it is that it actually works. Nora Jones would have been considered an unlikely collaborator with Stuart Murdoch by most Belle & Sebastian fans but they couldn't be disappointed with the results.

Head Like A Hole - "Comfortably Shagged"

Wellington band 'Head Like A Hole' named themselves after a 'Nine Inch Nails' song, although, I haven't had it confirmed but they formed not long after NIN released the song "Head Like A Hole" as a single. They built up a reputation as one of the greatest live bands in NZ during the 90's along with fellow Wellington band 'Shihad'.... they also shared the same manager as Shihad the late Gerald Dwyer. Their live performances in the early days were usually naked or otherwise on stage caked in mud. They imploded, as they say, around 2000 but have just recently reformed. "Comfortably Shagged" is from their fourth album 'Are You Gonna Kiss It Or Shoot It?' released in 1998. It's funny, after listening to this again it kind of reminds me of Grinderman. Anyway, this was HLAH at the end of their first incarnation and let's hope their reincarnation is as fruitful.

My Bloody Valentine - "Lose My Breath"

Okay it's St Patrick's Day and the logical reason I'm late with my posting would be because I have been drinking too much guinness and that is exactly what happened... St Pat's is not what it used to be at the Taupo bars, but still a lot of fun and if nothing else, a good excuse to have a few beers. Anyway, for the day to celebrate everything Irish it would be wrong not having an Irish band for today's blog. 'My Bloody Valentine' were one of the greatest Irish bands... and there are a lot to choose from. "Lose My Breath" is one of my favourite 'My Bloody Valentine' songs. It isn't even from their masterpiece album 'Loveless' it is from their debut album 'Isn't Anything' released in 1988. Belinda Butcher had just joined the band after original vocalist Dave Conway had left in 1987 and she is the vocalist here. Founding member Kevin Shields is the ultimate shoegaze legend but I keep going back to the Belinda Butcher songs first and this one in particular. "Lose My Breath" has a 'Stereolab' feel to it and that possibly attracted my attention initially.
I'll see if I can find a cool bar that will play this rather than The Commitments or fucking U2 next St Patrick's Day.

P.S. There are plenty of youtube videos of this song to attach but I found one with Edie Sedgwick... we've already had a blog about her on here (The Cult - Edie) so this is a bit of a bonus.

Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry - "7 Seconds"

Youssou N'Dour is a singer from Senegal and is a big star all over Africa. This single "7 Seconds" made him a worldwide star in 1994. It is a duet with Nenah Cherry and it was included on her album 'Man' in 1996 and that is where I eventually got it from. It isn't a bad album at all... we still play a few songs from 'Man' on Bitter FM. "7 Seconds" is sung in three languages... Wolof, the Senegalese language, French and English. World music had finally gained a worldwide audience.

The Breeders - "CannonBall"

The Breeders were basically a side project for 'Pixies' member Kim Deal and ended up being her full-time band after the demise of the Pixies. Kurt Cobain was a big fan and they opened for Nirvana on a 1992 tour. Their second album 'Last Splash' was released in 1993 and it more than satisfied any diehard Pixies fan. "Cannonball" was one of the greatest songs from the 90's... the driving bass gets it going and it is like a roller coaster ride thereafter... when you hear this song it takes you along for a three and a half minute ride... it will never just be music in the background.

The following comment was written by someone on youtube "If you don't like this song you're probably a sexist heavy metal asshole that dislikes this song for gender related reasons. Fuck you". A bit harsh... but you have to love their passion.

Silent Poets - "Moment Scale"

Silent Poets were a Japanese acid jazz duo but now a solo musical project for Michiharu Shimoda. Their sound is similar to fellow Japanese band 'United Future Organization' but a little more downbeat/dance music orientated. "Moment Scale" is the ultimate chill out soundtrack to watching Sunday morning go by.... the hangover will be long forgotten.

French For Rabbits - "Claimed By the Sea"

French for Rabbits is a new musical project for one half of 'Ragamuffin Children' Brooke Singer, who isn't the singer in Ragamuffin Children but is the singer here... not just in name. "Claimed By the Sea" is a song donated by her to the 'Songs for Christchurch' download album(s), which you can download for a donation to the Christchurch Earthquake Relief Fund (just click on the cassette image near the top of this page to download the album). Anyway, while I do hope you support the cause, this song "Claimed By the Sea" is on the blog for the people of Japan who have suffered a massive earthquake and a devastating tsunami.... our thoughts are with you. The video footage has been so unreal... it is hard to completely comprehend. I know this song was not written about a disaster of this magnitude but I have posted it here as a tribute to the victims of the tsunami and the people affected by it. 幸運を祈りなさい.

Ryuichi Sakamoto - "Rain"

This is to the people of Japan after the devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake... we are still in the early stages of what will be a long recovery process regarding the Christchurch earthquake... we had some much needed help from a Japanese rescue team and it looks like we will reciprocate that... so our thoughts are definitely with you. Here is a sad song, that kind of reflects the terrible situation, from Ryuichi Sakamoto a celebrated Japanese composer/musician.

Collapsing Cities - "Seriously"

Auckland band 'Collapsing Cities' sound a bit like Interpol if they were on the Flying Nun label. Although, they are not copying anyone but their influences shine through at times. Their debut album 'Elixer Always' was self released in 2008 to critical reviews and a lot of interest from student radio but unfortunately they were much ignored elsewhere. "Seriously" is about the complexities of dating... "Seriously, I really do think we can get along, even though we're an astrological disaster, I sure can give you some of what you're after"... sounds fair enough, although, it's not just their star signs that are at fault... "You've got some weird open relationship, with your boyfreind of eight years, and as much as most men would revel in it, you know it's gonna end up in tears" and I thought I had dating problems.

Ladi6 - "Walk Right Up"

Ladi6 had been the guest vocalist on so many albums by artists such as Scribe, Fat Freddy's Drop and Shapeshifter to name a few... so it was only a matter of time before she released her debut album. Although she had already made a name for herself in 'Sheelahroc' with their well known kiwi almost-hit "If I gave you the mic" from a few years ago, she confirmed her status as an important figure in the NZ music industry with the release of her debut album 'Time Is Not Much' and particularly this song "Walk Right Up" which I have to admit I couldn't stop playing... the Bitter FM listeners certainly heard it enough but I'm sure they loved it as much as I did. "Walk Right Up" has a cool beat that crosses over to the dub side... all the Fat Freddy's fans would be nodding their heads and let's face it, if you aren't doing the same you would probably be up on the dance floor.

Tennis - "Marathon"

Tennis are a husband and wife duo from Denver and their single "Marathon" is from the album 'Cape Dory'. Not long ago they bought a yacht and sailed the Eastern Seaboard for a year and the album is like a journal of that experience set to music. There is a distinctive 50's lounge/60's girl group vibe on "Marathon"... a recent new direction for a lot of indie bands at the moment. File them under 'Retro Indie Lounge Nautical Pop'.



Speaking of Tennis... here is a hilarious video from Not the Nine O'Clock News about John McEnroe at home.

Bob Dylan - "Sara"

It was 1976 and Bob Dylan was going through another artistic high or resurgence after his iconic 60's output. He had only just released 'Blood on the Tracks' a year earlier and now with the release of 'Desire' he was back at his best again. I was a big fan of 'Desire' and it was my first vinyl purchase before I went through his back catalogue. The recording of 'Desire' was at a chaotic period for Dylan with the huge array of collaborators and friends that came through the sessions and subsequently the 'Rolling Thunder Revue' tour that followed. The guests included musicians such as Scarlet Rivera on violin, Emmylou Harris on backing vocals and while the sessions started off with up to five guitarists in the studio, including Eric Clapton, they were narrowed down to a band of session musicians... although, the Rolling Thunder Revue tour was full of additional guests. The final result of 'Desire' was an album unlike any other Dylan record. The violin was prominent and the song styles varied and there was a strong folk presence but this time more frivolous at times but on the serious subjects he still had that protest singer's sharp tongue... which was prevalent in 'Hurricane". 'Sara" was a tribute to his wife Sara (Lownds) and it was written when the marriage was on shaky ground... they had already experienced a separation a year earlier. Sara apparently turned up in the studio when Dylan sang it... in what was then a serenade, with her sudden appearance. This song was Bob Dylan's attempt to reconcile with his wife and it worked. Well, it supposedly bought him another year or so with his wife until they finally divorced. This has to be the greatest love song ever written. His most soul baring and heart wrenching moment. In fact, his whole fucking soul is in this song.

Sarabeth Tucek - "Stillborn"

Sarabeth Tucek may have started her musical career late, after only first picking up a guitar at the age of 26, but her talent was obvious from the first song she wrote. She attracted the attention of producer Luther Russell who then sent the demos to (Kings of Leon' and Ryan Adams) producer Ethan Johns and together they produced her self titled debut album. She has worked with 'Smog' and 'Brian Jonestown Massacre' while also being invited to open for Bob Dylan.... not bad for someone most people haven't heard of. Anyway, the debut album is sensational and I'm sure everyone fortunate enough to have come across it and bought a copy would be pushing it, like drug dealers, to other like minded people. She has been compared to Cat Power, Karen Carpenter, Nico and Jenny Lewis regarding her voice and Neil Young and Bob Dylan regarding her songs but I first heard this album without noticing those similarities because it just blew me away.... it stands up completely on its own. However, if I had to make a comparison I would liken it more towards Aimee Mann and Mazzy Star than any of the above. But that's what is great about music... we all pick up on some different aspects and this album could easily have you hearing something new after every listen. "Stillborn" is a slowly strummed and haunting song with vocals and harmonies that transcend greatness. It is clear that the producers (Ethan Johns in this case) got the same mournful and confessional results as they did with Ryan Adams' 'Heartbreaker' album. There is no doubt that Sarabeth Tucek is an artist worth exploring.

THE BABYS - "Isn't It Time"

This song "Isn't It Time" was the ultimate AM radio song from the 70's and could now be considered a lost classic. That's the reason we play it on Bitter FM... thankfully, mainstream radio seems to have forgotten it. "Isn't It Time" was released in 1977 from their second album 'Broken Heart'. It starts off like a slow piano ballad until the chorus explodes with a sensational vocal performance by John Waite and backing from the Babettes. Power pop at it's best.

Arctic Monkeys - "Cornerstone"

The Arctic Monkeys turned heads in 2006 with the release of their impressive debut album "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" which was a unique new voice in the crowded alt-rock market. By the time they released their third album 'Humbug' in 2009 they were well established and the expectations from fans never waning. The obvious thing about 'Humbug' is the maturity of their songwriting and that of Alex Turner. "Cornerstone" was the second single from the album and I hear some Morrissey similarities in the verses (the Morrissey of late rather than the early Morrissey or Smiths era)... it would be more coincidence than anything else. "Cornerstone" is a fantastic song on so many levels but what I really like about it has to be the lyrics. The protagonist here is a guy that is so heartbroken and obsessed he approaches look-a-likes of his ex girlfriend but with an obvious lack of success because he asks them if he can call them by his ex girlfriend's name, however, the song finishes with the line "you can call me anything you want" and it just happens to be his ex girlfriend's sister... fucking brilliant. I didn't even know Alex Turner existed five years ago but now I can vehemently say that no one else but Alex Turner could have pulled this off with so much wit and style.


Cornerstone lyrics.
I thought a saw you in the Battleship, but it was only a look alike
She was nothing but a vision trick under the warning light
She was close, close enough to be your ghost
But my chances turned to toast when I asked her if I could call her your name

I thought I saw you in the Rusty Hook, huddled up in a wicker chair
I wandered over for a closer look and kissed whoever was sitting there
She was close and she held me very tightly
Till I asked awfully politely, "Please, can I call you her name?"

And I elongated my lift home
Yeah, I let him go the long way round
I smelled your scent on the seatbelt
And kept my shortcuts to myself

I thought I saw you in the Parrot's Beak messing with a smoke alarm
It was too loud for me to hear her speak, and she had a broken arm
It was close, so close that the walls were wet
And she wrote in a letraset, "No, you can't call me her name"

Tell me, where's your hiding place
I'm worried I'll forget your face
And I've asked everyone
I'm beginning to think I imagined you all along

And I elongated my lift home
Yeah, I let him go the long way round
I smelled your scent on the seatbelt
And kept my shortcuts to myself

I saw your sister in the Cornerstone on the phone to the middle man
When I saw that she was on her own, I thought she might understand
She was close, well you couldn't get much closer
She said "I'm really not supposed to, but yes, you can call me anything you want"

The Clash- "Brand New Cadillac"

The Clash released one of the most important rock albums of all time in 1979 with 'London Calling' and its cover artwork was a homage to Elvis Presley's self titled debut album, which was possibly the very first of the most important rock albums ever.... from 23 years earlier. It wasn't just the cover that had some similarities... there was also a bit of rockabilly or rock n' roll on 'London Calling' along with their usual punk, pop, ska and reggae sounds spread out over a double album. "Brand New Cadillac" was a rock n' roll number that followed the title track on the album. It is a cover of a Vince Taylor b-side from 1959 and The Clash don't reinvent it too much. A slice of good old rock n' roll with a punk swagger.

Tift Merritt - "Mixtape"

I had never actually taken the time to listen to anything from Tift Merritt until I heard a friend play this song and I was totally surprised when I was told who it was. I don't know why I had preconceived ideas about Tift Merritt's music but I suppose we all fall in that trap occasionally. It is a good radio friendly song that radio doesn't play (except Bitter FM, although, I'm as guilty as the others after just discovering it by accident) and it is about a mixtape. Why haven't there been other songs about the good old mixtape?.... they were the 'playlist's' of the generations before the iPod came along. A mixtape was like a love letter. So personalised to the person it was for and you could spend hours compiling it... and the recipient was not always as appreciative as you thought your effort deserved. Thank god cassette tapes are no longer with us but at the same time there was something quite special about the customised mixtape.

Warpaint - "Undertow"

Los Angeles indie/art rock band Warpaint finally released their debut album last year after an impressive EP a couple of years earlier. The album 'The Fool' was a favourite for critics and music lovers alike. 2010 was the year for boy/girl bands but this girl band, other than a little bit of help from a Red Hot chili Pepper or two, have created a musical masterpiece themselves.... and without compromise, as would be expected. "Undertow" builds slowly and at its peak it doesn't necessarily get you out of your chair but it does get you thinking how something dark can be so beautiful. This song is my dark twisted dream-pop fantasy.

Freur - "Doot Doot"

Now here is a song that is up there with the very best One-hit wonders and although they actually released two albums... you wouldn't know it. Freur were from Cardiff and they originally went by an unpronounceable symbol or squiggle (a la Prince) until the record company forced them to have a pronounceable name. They released "Doot Doot" in 1983 and to me it was one of the best New Wave/Dance hybrids to date. They blended the two genre's together and set the standard that even they perfected years later as 'Underworld'. They formed 'Underworld' in 1988 after the demise of Freur and the rest is history because we know how important 'Underworld' have been to Indie/Dance music. With "Doot Doot" Freur used all the best technology of the time for a sound that was mind blowing and the amazing thing is that it still sounds great now.... it has out lasted a hell of a lot of other 80's music (some of it unlistenable now)... and the same can be said about the Underworld songs of the 90's.



Here is an early version with Welsh lyrics.