Múm - "Green Grass Of Tunnel"

"Green Grass Of Tunnel" is a single from Icelandic band Múm released prior to (and was included on) their album 'Finally We Are No One' from 2002. The songs were created while working in a lighthouse and the inspiration was influential once they got into the studio.... even to the extent of the video here for "Green Grass Of Tunnel" which features a lighthouse.

Benjamin Schoos feat. Laetitia Sadier - "Je ne vois que vous"

Benjamin Schoos is a Belgian born musician/producer who finally got around to releasing his debut album 'China Man vs China Girl' just recently. This track "Je ne vois que vous" caught my attention because of the guest vocalist, Laetitia Sadier, of Stereolab fame. Even if Cliff Richard had a song with Laetitia Sadier, I would be interested... Stereolab were one of the greatest bands of the last couple of decades. While the Laetitia Sadier performance here is as good as expected, the song itself is better than expected. The album is now a must after also finding out that it was inspired by Jean Claude Vannier, who was the orchestral arranger on Serge Gainsbourg's 'Histoire de Melody Nelson' album. Sacré bleu!!!

Cold Specks - "Blank Maps"

Cold Specks is the moniker for Canadian musician Al Spx. Now based in London, she released her debut album 'I Predict a Graceful Expulsion' earlier in the year on Mute Records. A very recent purchase by me and it will, no doubt, be somewhere near the top when I put together the top albums of 2012 show... to be aired real soon. 'I Predict a Graceful Expulsion' is a stunning debut that is engaging from start to finish. I accept that it does have a degree of 'sameness' throughout the album but still manages to stay interesting. As opposed to, say, Tame Impala's 'Lonerism' which starts off like the psychedelic Beatles album you wish they recorded... but over time it feels too much the same and the interest is lost. Sorry Tame Impala fans, but I am just trying to explain why I can like one over the other, when they have similar attributes. Her songwriting influences started with The Strokes and included Alan Lomax's early field recordings to Tom Waits and even Smog. After an English record producer heard a CD she had recorded and distributed to friends, she was asked to move to the UK and record with him. Interestingly, she agreed but had to delay because she had dropped out of college but hadn't told her parents... she was leaving every morning but hanging out at malls etc. I'm sure her parents forgive her now, although, even her non musical name Al Spx is a pseudonym, so maybe there are some issues... but that's not our business. Her soulful voice is an integral part of her sound... a powerful instrument that draws you in and her band respect that. She describes her sound as Doom Soul and I certainly can't argue with that. "Blank Maps" has been banned on some American radio for the line in the chorus "I am, I am, a goddamn believer" - blasphemous or ironic? who cares... it's fucking brilliant. Get this Cold Specks album and "I predict a grateful experience".

Good "Taupo Times"

It has been an enjoyable but busy holiday so far but I will be back tomorrow posting a song a day... and all of them feature on the extensive Bitter FM playlists. In the meantime though, I would like to thank a journalist from our local newspaper 'Taupo Times' for her support regarding the promotion of concerts and for supporting the arts in general. So thanks Libby and all the best with your new venture in Wellington.

Here is a video she created... it's a nice tribute to the people of this great little town.

Rilo Kiley - Xmas Cake

Here you go, have some Xmas cake from Bitter FM. Merry Xmas.

Psapp - "Monster Song"

Psapp are a London pop/electronica band (although, more pop than electronica) with a penchant for toy instruments (commonly referred to as Toytronica, a genre which they may have invented). "The Monster Song" is from their third album 'The Camel's Back' released in 2008. It is an uplifting catchy song with a great vocal performance by Galia Durant. Although the lyrics and the promotional video are much darker, the listener could be forgiven for not noticing... it just sounds too bright to even pick up on the darkness.
"The Monster Song" has become a Bitter FM standard.

R.E.M. - "It's the end of the world as we know it" (acoustic)

Tomorrow is the 21st of December, 2012. Do you have any idea what that means? To a lot of people, December 21, 2012 is huge. Everyone I work with has been talking about it and some of them are getting very anxious. The anticipation is everywhere I look. Yes, you guessed it, December 21, 2012 is the end of work for the year and the start of the summer holidays.

XTC - "Your Dictionary"

'Apple Venus Volume 1' was an album of distinction... 12 albums after their debut. It was very orchestral with it's chamber pop moments and sometimes Beach Boys sounding with the high harmonies, noticeable here in parts of "Your Dictionary". One thing about "Your Dictionary" is very clear... it's a divorce song like no other.



Lyrics

H-A-T-E
Is that how you spell love in your dictionary
K-I-C-K
Pronounced as kind
F-U-C-K
Is that how you spell friend in your dictionary
Black on black
A guidebook for the blind

Well now that I can see my eyes won't weep
Now that I can hear your song sounds cheap
Now that I can talk all your corn I'll reap
I'm not so sure that Joey wed a Virgin Mary
There are no words for me inside your dictionary

S-L-A-P
Is that how you spell kiss in your dictionary
C-O-L-D
Pronounced as care
S-H-I-T
Is that how you spelt me in your dictionary
Four-eyed fool
You led 'round everywhere

Now that I can see it's the queens new clothes
Now that I can hear all your poison prose
Now that I can talk with my tongue unfroze
I'm not so sure of Santa or the buck-tooth fairy
There are no words for me inside your dictionary

Now your laughter has a hollow ring
But the hollow ring has no finger in
So let's close the book and let the day begin
And our marriage be undone

De La Soul - "The Magic Number"

As hip-hop was developing during the 80's (Public Enemy aside) it was all drum machines, scratching, plenty of sampling (commonly without permission) and the rapping was predominantly boasting. In 1989 De La Soul added a bit of colour to the genre. Their debut '3 Feet High and Rising' was welcomed by all music lovers. They were like a modern reincarnation of hippies... they even created a concept called "D.A.I.S.Y. Age" which was a theme throughout the album. "The Magic Number" was my pick from the album at the time. "The Magic Number" was based on the Bob Dorough song "Three Is a Magic Number" recorded for the American educational children's TV show Schoolhouse Rock!
If any maths teachers are using this song in the classroom - I hope it's the De La Soul version.



Schoolhouse Rock "Three is a Magic Number"
Actually, I have changed my mind. Every maths teacher should play this song in the classroom and then the music teacher should play De La Soul's "The Magic Number" to show them how music progresses over time.

The Prodigy - "Ghost Town"

"Ghost Town" by The Specials is a Bitter FM favourite from way back... the kind of song that you absolutely never tire of. In other words, it's a fucking classic... and that means "don't try to cover it under any circumstances. Well one slipped through the net and changed the rules completely. The new rules are as follows... "Ghost Town" can only be covered by one artist or band. That artist or band shall be 'The Prodigy'- no exceptions. The Prodigy succeeded because they kept the song very much as we know it and they just turned everything up a few notches, except the vocals. More of an updated instrumental. Not as essential as the original but being forgiven is high enough praise.

Miss Li - "Shoot Me"

"Shoot Me" is from Swedish singer songwriter Miss Li's 'Beats & Bruises' album from 2011. It's a slow melodic number with the piano and reverb drums totally in control... well, until the vocals come in and steal the show.

Grand Rapids ~ "Never Be Without You"

Ben King formed Grand Rapids after the demise of Goldenhorse and that resulted in some sensational pop moments. In fact, "Never Be Without You" is a perfect radio pop song.... does that mean it got played on commercial radio? Probably not.

Talking Heads - "Psycho Killer"

Here is some hard evidence that David Byrne was one of the greatest live performers in the history of rock music. My first, and only, live Talking Heads experience was at the Sweetwaters festival a long time ago. Not really knowing what to expect as a live act - we were blown away. As luck would have it, they released a concert movie 'Stop Making Sense' not long after... so I got to experience it all again and again and again.

Thao & Mirah - "Little Cup" (Live on KEXP)

The news of a collaboration album by Thao and Mirah was too good to be true. When the album 'Thao & Mirah' was released in 2011 it kind of lived up to expectations. I suppose I expected them to collaborate with the songwriting but it seemed to be more of an album of contributions from each of them... although, I am not complaining about the end result. The album was produced by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs, who had released the brilliant 'Whokill' album around the same time as this. Mirah's "Little Cup" is a quietly sung gem of a song. Her vocals are stunning... check your credit card because you may want to download her back catalogue.

The Dave Brubeck Quartet - "Take Five"

The news of Dave Brubeck's death may have prompted millions of people around the world to dig out their old 'Take Five' LP and give it another spin. Even if he is to be remembered for only one song, rather than a lifetime of jazz releases, he would still have to be proud. So if you didn't dig out your old record... here is "Take Five" for you to enjoy once again.

Kid Loco - "Cocaine Diana"

French producer/DJ/musician Kid Loco (Jean-Yves Prieur) made a name for himself as a trip-hop master... particularly after the release of his second album 'A Grand Love Story' in 1997. On his fourth album 'Kill Your Darlings' he added some pop song components to his trip-hop bag of tricks. On the opener "Cocaine Diana" he let his fans know what to expect straight away. The strumming guitar and the vocals from Tim Keegan sounded much more indie pop than downbeat... not so much a radical change but more a brilliant collaboration.

Hannah Cohen - "Don't Say"

A recent discovery here at Bitter FM is Hannah Cohen, an American singer/songwriter. After moving to New York from San Francisco as a teenager she started modeling for artists and photographers until taking up photography. From there she moved on to music. Teaching herself to play guitar and writing her own songs... eventually releasing her debut album 'Child Bride' earlier this year. The first single from the album was "Don't Say" which starts off like French For Rabbits' "Claimed By the Sea" with the haunting acoustic guitar and by the time the slow chorus rolls by... we are reminded of Emilíana Torrini's 'Fisherman's Woman' album. A very impressive debut.

Mutton Birds - "A Thing Well Made"

Don McGlashan has always been a great story teller through song and "A Thing Well Made" is no exception. While it seems subtle, nothing more than a fictional tale of a Christchurch sports store owner going through his day. At one stage even admiring the firearms to the point of imagining the craftsman holding the finished product with a high degree of satisfaction. Finishing with the dispatching of the mail orders... particularly an AK47 to a collector down the line. If you are still with me, yeah, not too fascinating at all. However, the so-called collector (while not named) was David Gray from a small seaside town of Aramoana, near Dunedin. David Gray was the perpetrator of New Zealand's worst massacre. He killed 13 people after a dispute with a neighbour in 1990. A very dark moment in our history. While the song is from a very different perspective... it is still chilling.