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.