Posts Tagged ‘Wild Beasts’
The Letter ‘W’ Mixtape.
The Letter W Mixtape whittled down to 10 without too much thought because I seem to have found myself in a situation where I have to work my socks off and I think I’ve gone into shock over it.
My cousin was telling me about a friend who is a drummer the other day with the surname Moon. He is fanatical about The Who and when his firstborn arrived he was delighted it was boy, a chance to call him Keith Moon. His partner refused. They didn’t stay together, although I doubt the cause of the separation was the missed opportunity to raise Moon the loon Part Deux.
You can play my letter W mixtape on Spotify or YouTube. ♥
- The Waitresses – I Know What Boys Like
- Womack & Womack - Teardrops
- Wade Ray – Idaho Red
- The Who – I Can See For Miles
- Warren Zevon – Werewolves Of London
- The White Stripes – Hotel Yorba
- Wild Beasts – All The King’s Men
- Willy Mason – Oxygen
- Wye Oak – Civillian
- Warpaint – Undertow
November 21st Mixtape Guest Blog from A Very Cool Pea
And so the first girl steps up to the mark to guest blog a mixtape for me. Pea is so unbelievably cool she’s a frozen pea, fact! I have many musical soul mates, but Priyam really stands out for me as the epitome of über aceness when it comes to all those bands that could have slipped past my radar had it not been for her enthusiastic links to tracks (Zulu Winter, The Rubens, Yeasayer). She has a charming way with words as well, do feast your peepers on her blog, All Things In Print.
Making a list like this is bloody difficult. Make a mixtape she says, pick a few songs she asks, OK! I agree enthusiastically. Then I realise how many songs there actually are. It’s like asking a mother which of her children she loves the most. Cest tres difficult man. So, rather than just list everything that is on my iPod I have decided to dedicate my cameo, debut, guest appearance on From Disc Till Dawn to my all time, favourite, numero uno, live music experiences.
If you’re a Spotify user click here to play Pea’s mixtape, if you dig the Youtube then click here instead. ♥
1. Augie March – Here Comes The Night (This song is taken from the band’s first of four albums, ‘Sunset Studies’. They are the first ever band that I truly obsessed over after I saw them at an Australian music festival in 2001. I was a massive festival rookie so after almost being killed and salvaging one of my shoes in the middle of an unexpected mosh pit, I decided to abandon the crowd and find some quiet place to put my shoe back on. It was about 37 degrees that day and the only way of cooling down was to stand under one of the many hoses that they had jetting out cool water. I stumbled, soaking wet, into the nearest tent and was blown away by the tremor and delicacy that is Glenn Richard’s voice. They are kings of Australian folk music and may they forever reign).
2. Roisin Murphy - Ramalama (Roisin is one of my biggest hero’s. She’s outrageous, eccentric and so fucking cool Eskimos could live on her quite happily. The album Ruby Blue can only be described in exactly the same words. Oh and it’s quite sexy too. I saw her play at the Roundhouse (one of my favourite venues) in February 2008 and hearing/watching her live blew my tiny mind. I’m pretty sure I overdosed on endorphins. Or gin. Either way, this was the encore and ’tis my favourite. Ramalama is a religion. Bang Bang!).
3. Yeasayer – One (Anand Wilder – swoooooooooon. He is a Brooklyn God. I came across these guys listening to a compilation album called Dark Was the Night. I’ve seen them as many times as I possibly could – if you were there that was me yelling ‘Anand, I love you’. I begged Lady H to see them at Field Day one year and have suitably converted her into a fan. The most memorable gig I saw them at was at Digital in Brighton. Their music makes me want to get naked, put a daisy chain on my head and dance in mud. There can’t be any better feeling can there?).
4. Mozart – Porgi Amor (This is the most beautiful thing I have ever had the joy of listening to. It’s a song about the pains of love and you can feel every emotion in the Countess’s voice. I had tears in my eyes watching this in the Gods of the Royal Opera House. If you’re not a fan of opera perhaps I can persuade you with this? If not, then opera and champagne go hand in hand).
5. Joan As Policewoman – Chemmie (Oh this was a disastrous day. I woke up not being able to remember what happened the night before and was physically unable to get out of bed. I shamefully had to cancel my afternoon plans of watching Fantasia on the big screen and very nearly missed out on this gig which a friend of mine had treated me tickets to. Mustering my will power, I dressed, drugged and watered my broken self to see her at The Barbican. She came on wearing an all-over, leather playsuit and I was immediately thankful for being there. Take it away Joanie).
6. Wild Beasts – Vigil For A fuddy Duddy (A friend of mine once described the Cumbrian quartet as operatic. I scoffed and asked what the hell he knew about opera (cause I’m such a officiando yeah). Turns out his dad is some big shot in the Scottish orchestra arena. Lucky I had my top off to distract from this embarrassing, backfired mockery. Annnyway, I freaked when I missed out on tickets to their gig at Wilton’s Music Hall and literally begged a friend to take me instead of his girlfriend (what? she wasn’t a fan anyway). Summer Camp supported, I almost wet myself on refusal of not wanting to miss a second with the inconvenience of a loo break even after 4 pints, the venue was spectacular and intimate, and the boys performed to perfection. I even had my ticket signed by all the lovely chaps).
7. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zero’s – 40 Day Dream (Amazing, transcendent, fantastic, supernatural, spiritual, enchanting, enigmatic. These words are the closest I can get to describing the phenomenon of their gig at The Old Vic Tunnels. The Tunnels were transformed into a small universe with everything from an ethereal Texas Tavern with its very own haunting Les Enfants Terribles, spacecowboys, shamans, sun, moon, contraband candy and magical rum cocktails. Credit to the production of this 3-day extravaganza goes to the almighty Nick Cave but Ed Sharpe and his Zero’s brought the love and the music and sent my soul soaring higher than it has ever been without the use of class a’s. Nothing will ever compare to this gig).
8. Battles – Tonto (Drrrrrrruuuuuuuummms! I love this band. They are phenomenal. My companion for their gig at Heaven was From Desk Till Dawn. My focus was entirely on the drummer. I was in absolute awe of his stick mastery, his rhythm, his concentration but most of all the sheer amount of sweat that he was exuding. By the end of the gig his shirt was sodden. I love instrumental bands and these guys are probably the best (ahead of Errors). Watching this kind of stripped, raw, heavy sound be created live is pretty damn special).
November 13th Mixtape. For Ghosts Of Gone Birds
This weeks playlist is dedicated to the fantastic team behind Ghosts Of Gone Birds.
When I was a wee nipper Sunday afternoons used to be all about walking round Berry Head with my Dad. The end destination being the cliffs where a colony of Guillemots used to flock. Our house was covered in ivy, home to what sounded like a million birds all tweeting. My mixtape choices this week are all bird related tunes for childhood memories, our feathered friends and for the ghosts of gone birds.
Please visit this vast exhibition at the Rochelle School in East London and set aside a good chunk of time, you have until November 23rd and it’s free (donations welcome). There is so much to see and the good souls manning the decks are brilliant to talk to. I spent an age outside with an artist who sandblasts, watching him create a flock of birds in flight. By the time I wandered inside I had given him the idea to stencil tiles as he was miffed that his art couldn’t be sold. He has promised me half a shandy if the idea takes off.
Most important is the message Ghosts Of Gone Birds are trying to paint the sky with. They are truly passionate about the plight of our winged friends. I loved going to an exhibition that welcomed photography, saying it was important their message is spread as much as possible. My photos can’t begin to capture the strength of the artists on display, where else would you see a knitted Great Auk by author Margaret Atwood? My very favourite was a whole room of Ralph Steadman cartoons, who is best known for his work with Hunter S. Thompson. Ah, sublime little room of birds, I wish I could have stayed longer.
If you’re a Spotify user click here to play the mixtape and if you’re a YouTube purist click here to play the videos. ♥
- They Might Be Giants – Birdhouse In Your Soul
- The Bees – Chicken Payback
- Patrick Wolf – The Falcons
- The Byrds – Turn! Turn! Turn!
- The Dead Weather – 3 Birds
- The Civil Wars – Birds Of A Feather
- Wild Beasts – Albatross
- Pulp – Birds In Your Garden
- Goldfrapp – Little Bird
- Fleetwood Mac – Songbird
October 24th Mixtape
The plan was to have a rest from blogging my Mixtapes this weekend and instead bring you the wonder of The Minotaur exhibition under The Old Vic Arches. However, I idiotically deleted the most beautiful photography Lolita & I have ever created together and spent yesterday in a fit of EMO rage over it. Once the tantrum (at myself, which is a very tragic and unfulfilling type of tantrum) subsided he convinced me we should go back and start again. So, that review will happen eventually.
For now you just have to stick the headphones on and listen to a few songs instead. If I had to choose just one of the tracks worthy of your time and attention from the list below I’d urge you to play Sissy & The Blisters. I reviewed them for Flush The Fashion last week and was instantly in love.
If you’re a Spotify user click here to play the mixtape and if you’re a YouTube purist click here to play the videos. ♥
1. The Stone Roses – Sally Cinnamon (I thought I’d feel something deep in the pit of my stomach this week when the reunion was announced. I guess this is the curse of the media age, there are no surprises anymore. By the time the press conference was announced it was common knowledge. I was 10 when this song came out, I still maintain it to be the most perfect love story ever told in a song, the twist at the end… perfect).
2. Driver Drive Faster – They May Talk (I spoke to the lead singer quickly last week, he’s from Torquay. His first sentence when I told him that’s where I went to school was “Have you seen the Metronomy video?”. Its how strangers from The English Riviera greet one another now).
3. War On Drugs – Baby Missiles (Hadn’t really paid attention to this band until I heard this track so I’ll have a nosey around their material now, this could be the track that leads me into them).
4. Wild Beasts – Reach A Little Bit Further (I haven’t met anyone who has a bad word to say about Smother. This track really stands out for me personally).
5. Van Morrison – Moondance (Vintage Van. If you’ve never given him the time of day this should change your mind).
6. Disco Zombies – Drums Over London (I played this on the way home from the Bull & Gate on Thursday. I was on a bit of a music high and ended up walking about with the foxes for a bit before going home. Literally. Every street I wandered down foxes appeared from the shadows).
7. The Jim Jones Revue – Princess & The Frog (This was the first song I reached for this morning when I was having trouble waking up properly and feeling a Monday grump).
8. Sissy & The Blisters – You Girl (Dirty, moody, sneering. My new favourite band).
9. Friends – I’m His Girl (I am obsessed with this track at the moment, every time I hear it I want to put on hi-tops and trash gold. I own neither thankfully as I’d look utterly ridiculous).
10. La Shark – A Weapon (Firstly I’m a sucker for French electro pop so their name alone made my ears prick up, I still daydream of Le Tigre. This bunch are from SE London though, they don’t sound like they are. They sound French. I’m adding them to my daydreams).
