Good stuff

Funny thing about ostensibly running a music blog, is that occasionally kind folk in record companies send me new things to listen to. Sometimes they're even quite good.

Some bands I've received and liked recently include:


Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (USA)
mp3 Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Stop the Bus (from This is Somewhere) website

This is the second track from the second album from this group, purveyors of an excellent southern rock in the style of Neil Young's Crazy Horse. When they rock out, they are awesome - sounding like the best gig you never went to in about 1972. Grace is a powerful singer and looks great. The opening track Ah Mary sounds like it's a political statement. They need to move on and write stronger songs I feel, but they are a great live band now, and could make some great albums.

Epo 555 (Denmark)
mp3 Epo 555 - Harry Mambourg (from Mafia, 2007) website

This track sounds like a totally classic slice of 80s indie rock, but isn't particularly typical of a lively and varied new release from this interesting Danish band. It's a good musical formula these days, and the band seem pretty strong. They sound like they'd be a real blast to see live.

Power Solo (Denmark)
mp3 Power Solo - Fertilizer Baby (from It's Raceday ...And your Pussy is GUT, 2007) website

I couldn't decide if I hated this or loved it. I'm still not sure, but this wacky, slightly tongue in cheek album is starting to sound like a pretty good mix of the best of American roots music, with an emphasis on dark bluesy swamp-laden rock. They can certainly play, and have some strong tunes. Apparently they've toured with Billy Childish, which is OK in my book, and they're touring Europe now and the USA in November.


Seth Lakeman (UK)
mp3 Seth Lakeman - Poor Man's Heaven (from Poor Man's Heaven EP) website

This is a single (out on Monday), but it is a pretty great one - a blasting shot of power folk. Not sure what he's singing about, or why we need to be encouraged to "c'mon now" throughout the song, but I'll mark it down to youthful enthusiasm. Nice.


Freakpaeans (UK)
mp3 Freakpaeans - Cathy with the laughing eyes (from Now when I wear an anchor) website

I wasn't sent this, I picked it up at a Woodlands recordings gig in Brighton, not realising that the opening act I'd seen and liked was in fact the very same Freakpaeans. Aside from the irritation that this name is almost unspellable, this is a pretty good selection of esoteric English folk whimsy that is neither of this time nor of any other. Recommended. The CD is free from the website for as long as it lasts.



And should I mention the new Radiohead CD? (I like it, but... don't get me started!)

Blue hands

I can feel their blue hands
Originally uploaded by Southcoasting

• Radiohead - Street Spirit (Live in Switzerland, 2006) mp3
  

"... all these things we'll one day swallow whole".

One of the greatest songs ever in my book.

Plazza Maggiore

Plazza Maggiore

Wonderful Italy. Nice few days spent around Bologna and at a conference. Productive and enjoyable.

• Beirut - Postcards from Italy mp3

Italy is rather photogenic. Bologna especially so - full of ancient history, beautiful old architecture, and fascination at every turn.

More postcards on my flickr site.

Charlie Chaplin in Switzerland

Charlie Chaplin in Switzerland
Originally uploaded by Southcoasting

The victim of a witch-hunt during the McCarthy era in the United States, Chaplin was already in his 60s when, in 1953, he chose to live in exile in Switzerland with his family. But the artist did not retire. He continued to make films, composed the musical scores to accompany re-releases of his silent movies and wrote his autobiography.

The Manoir de Ban is now destined to become the "Charlie Chaplin Heritage Site". A museum devoted to the film pioneer and the early days of Hollywood, the site will also include a movie theatre, an outdoor stage and a film school. "There had been plans for a museum in London and for one in Hollywood," says Chaplin, the driving force behind the Swiss proposal. "So when we came up with the idea for the Manoir de Ban, we had to persuade everyone that Switzerland was the best place - in the house where he spent the last 25 years of his life."

(swissinfo)

The statue in the above photograph is in Leicester Square, London (in front of the Swiss Centre)

There are millions of images

• William S Burroughs and Gus Van Sant - Millions of Images (1985) mp3

Mosaic created with fd's
Flickr Toys from my black
and white flickr set.

Barbecuties

Barbecuties
Originally uploaded by Southcoasting

Burgers, sausages and steak at the allotments.

More pics at my flickr site (click through this photograph)

• The Kinks - People Take Pictures of Eachother mp3
  

Casting

A cast of three
Originally uploaded by Southcoasting

Lauren broke her wrist this week, falling from the monkey bars on which she was hanging upside down by her legs. She's a brave girl and on the mend now.

Pixie

Pixie
Originally uploaded by Southcoasting

Our new family member. The best cat in the world, probably.

Sometimes you can get swept away

by Southcoasting

Small people in Floral Street

• Felt - Primitive Painters mp3

• Bob Dylan - Just Like Tom Thumb Blues mp3
  click through the picture to my flickr site, and a better quality image

God Bless You Elvis Presley

It was 30 years ago today he died, and his music still marches on...

• Elvis Presley - I just can't help believing (live in 1970 from That's the Way It Is) mp3


• Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds mp3

Burger above consumed in tribute to the King!

Happy Anniversary

India's 60th Anniversary demands to be celebrated. It's an amazing country with an amazing people whose influence stretches far beyond its borders. I have never visited, but it's on my list. Anyway, congratulations to India and also Pakistan, although that country's success is arguably a little more distant at present.

I can't recall any recent western pop songs that have offered a tribute to this country, so I'll have to rely on two from around the time of the 20th Anniversary in 1967...

• Beatles (John Lennon) - India (rare demo) mp3


• Brian Auger & Julie Driscoll - Indian Rope Man mp3

It's incredible to think that this music is now older than many modern countries!

India women statistics: http://www.indiawomenstat.com/

Social watch India - key indicators: http://www.socialwatch.org/en/fichasPais/97.html

India's population timebomb: http://www.wakeupcall.org/employment/population_bomb.php

Elliott Smith was born today

Sad that I only got into Elliott Smith after he died, but I think his songwriting is awesome. He was born today (August 6th) in 1969 in Nebraska but was best known as being from Portland, Oregon. He died in Los Angeles in 2003, apparently stabbing himself with a steak knife at his home in Echo Park following an argument with his girlfriend. He had given up alcohol, caffeine, red meat and refined sugar and his longtime (sometimes abused) regimen of psychological medication after his 34th birthday, on this day in 2003.

You can see some of the beauty in Elliott's cool gentle personal songs in this video of the song Angeles, See Video

and here's a great song, although I guess it turned out to be somewhat ironic.

• Elliott Smith - Say Yes mp3 via rawblog