First Brazilian Gig!

I'm feeling excited because I have my first Brazilian gig coming up, and what a gig it is. So good that I'm prepared to make a 1088 mile round trip from Brasilia to Sao Paulo to go. The line up includes TV On The Radio, Thievery Corporation (yawn), Yeah Yeah Yeah's and Daft Punk. I have wanted to see Daft Punk live for years so this was the clincher. In fact I was going to buy a ticket anyway, then I found out that the Yeah Yeah Yeah's (who I like lot) and TV On The Radio (album of the year contenders? I think so) were also playing. And that was that.

It will be interesting to see how the audience reacts to the bands, and how, if at
all, they will be different. I will post a full report after the event, no doubt.

Prince - Kiss (Daft Punk Remix)

Does Humour Belong In Music Pt. 2?

The above picture I think, is possibly the greatest photo ever, indeed it adorned my desktop for months. It is a picture of 'Weird Al' Yankovic being kissed by a whale. Say no more. I guess 'Weird Al' is most famous in the UK for his '84 hit 'Eat It'. But in the US he's huge, and I think he's great. I have a real soft spot for comedy music, which is shaky ground, I know, but I guess I'm so obsessed with music it can include this much derided genre.

'Weird Al' has a new album out (buy it on import here) and it continues a tradition that I am very keen on. Every album contains a medley of contempory pop hits in a polka style. Listen to this and tell me it's not genius:

'Weird Al' Yankovic - Polkarama!

Go on I dare you. Then listen to:

'Weird Al' Yankovic - Pancreas

It's an extremely well observed Beach Boys and Brian Wilson parody, based around the latters Smile album. Listen to all the fantastic instrumentation he uses to recreate the sound of the album. It's brilliant. And it's about his pancreas. Its also appropriate that he uses Smile as a template for a song, as Brian Wilson's original concept for the album was that it should be funny as well as moving. But I think he has such an odd mind, that what was funny for him just sounds weird to us.

And there is a very good 'Trapped In The Closet' parody for you R Kelly fans, and I know there is an army of you out there.


I get the feeling I might be alone on this one...

Does Humour Belong In Music?

As usual, I was wasting time by trawling through Last FM, and I found this group who have set up upon discussing one of my favourite music subjects, namely "Does Humour Belong In Music?". Obviously I didn't join, but I had a root around, checking out their list of band connections. Not surprisingly, Sebadoh were not on the list. Surprisingly, Sebadoh are responsible for one of my favourite peices of comedy ever. This track:

Sebadoh - Showtape '91

is on the new fancy extended version of Sebadoh III (buy it here). It is a 12 minute long introduction tape that Sebadoh would play before coming on stage. I remember being about 15 and going to my friend Joes house to listen to it (it was released as a b-side), and laughing ourselves into a non-existant coma. And I still think it's funny today.

I'm going to continue the comedy theme tomorrow. Now I know this might strike fear into some of your hearts, which is why I'd like you to suggest any good combinations of music and comedy that you can think of in the comments section. Don't be shy...

Ps. That image came from a google search for 'sad clown'. Spooky huh?

KRFT works

I think I can speak on behalf of the entire human race when I say we felt pretty damn miserable when we heard of the demise of Death From Above 1979. But then we saw, rising from the ashes, the mighty disco monster MSTRKRFT and we felt a lot better. Using the same straightforward dynamic for the dancefloor that served DFA1979 so well in the world of rock, their album 'The Looks' is ridiculously good, as I mentioned here before (buy it here). So even though this is only post number nine, I'm going to post more MSTRKRFT remixes here, because frankly you need them. Firstly, the dream ticket:

Death From Above 1979 - Sexy Results (MSTRKRFT Edition)

Secondly, the best indie rock meets dance with Riot Grrrlish vocals remix since the other DFA's remix of Le Tigre:

Gossip - Listen Up (MSTRKRFT Relick)

Go to their myspace page to hear their brand new remix of Acid Jacks. I love this damn band!!

Grizzly Bear

I noticed the name 'Grizzly Bear' appearing several blogs over a couple of weeks, so I thought I'd check them out, especially when I found out they were signed to Warp in the UK. Having now listened to their album 'Yellow House' (buy it here), I think it's one of the best albums of the year. They have been described as pychedelic on other blogs, but I think that's misleading, multilayered and dense are more accurate. I'd put them somewhere between Animal Collective, Beta Band and My Morning Jacket. Here's a taster:

Grizzly Bear - On A Neck, On A Spit

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Join The Hype!

So as I said in my last post, I thought that I should highlight a couple of bands that keep cropping up in my blog trawling. But first important business. Cornelius, Japan's finest pop star and a bonafide genius in my eyes, has posted his new single 'Music' on his myspace page. It's great, but perhaps not up to his previous high standards. Such is the problem with releasing two albums of such exceptional high quality.

So a lot of kids are getting excited about Crystal Castles, a male/female duo from Toronto. They sound like a woman shouting over a commodore 64. If that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, or you have an aversion to music liked by people with angular hair and ripped clothes, you may want to avoid the mp3's below. If, however, you are like me and, even though you know you shouldn't because if it was up to you the audience at one of their gigs would be forced to work in a mine for life rather than mince around spending their parents money on £200 t-shirts, you can't help but be suckered in by a lo-fi punk rock ethic, a complete lack of decernable talent and the sheer bad taste junk noise of it all. Enjoy!!

Crystal Castles- Love and Caring (7 Inch Version)
Crystal Castles - Alice Practice
Klaxons - Atlantis to Interzone (Crystal Castles Remix)

This Man Is Your Post Punk Hero

So here are my final three faves. I downloaded about 150 tracks from blogs in the last week so I have loads more songs to post, starting tomorrow.

Number three is:

Talking Heads - These Boots Are Made For Walking

There aren't many unreleased Talking Heads tracks that I know of, so enjoy this rarity. I think this may not be the last Talking Heads track I post on here...

Number two:

Peter John and Bjorn - Young Folks (Beyond The Wizards Sleeve Remix)

The original of this is pretty good, but in this version, Beyond The Wizards Sleeve (Erol Alkan and Richard Norris) make it a little less twee and add a shuffle. The track also includes whistling, and I am a sucker for whistling. I may do a whistling top ten at some point.

And number one is:

Roberto De Simone - Secondo Coro Delle Lavandaie

This originates here, where you can read about it. But the short version is that it is from an Italian opera of 1976. Somehow it ended up sounding like a supergroup of the Slits, the Au Pairs and 'Bone Machine' era Tom Waits. And it is as good, if not better, than that sounds. Let me know what you think by leaving comments below.

Tomorrow, I'll start looking at the most hyped bands in the blogs right now.

Youth Double Bill

Just a quick one folks, as I'm currently entertaining the mother-in-law, the grandmother-in-law, and the great aunt-in-law. Here's a a Sonic Youth double bill. First, the Yeah Yeah Yeah's splendid cover of 'The Diamond Sea', and then the Yoof themselves with a live track from '87:

Yeah Yeah Yeah's - The Diamond Sea - Buy it and the rest of the EP here.

Sonic Youth - Sister (Live In '87) - Buy Sonic Youth here.

Science of Sleep

I was just looking at the (recommended) website for the new Michel Gondry film 'Science Of Sleep', which looks tremendous. It appears to be an expansion of the ideas behind the Chemical Brothers 'Let Forever Be' video, where dreams and real life become confused. Sounds like the perfect setting for a Gondry film, fingers crossed it plays here.

Todays favourites from my month long blog trawl are:

Michael Dracula - Destroy Yourself

New Scottish no wave combo, and the first new signings to the revamped Ze Records. Read about them here.

Epic Man feat Plan B - More Is Enough

Epic Man is producer extraordinaire Paul Epworth, better known as Phones. This is the best rap track I've heard in a while.

See You Later Alligator

I am as sad as anyone regarding the sad demise of Australia's own Princess Diana, stone cold Steve Irwin. I could write a long tribute like some blogs, but I feel Steve would be happier knowing that we celebrated his life through the medium of electronic music. So in celebration of a life of grappling creatures, enjoy this Hot Chip double bill:

Steven Malkmus - Kindling For The Master (Hot Chip Remix)
Hot Chip - Colours (DFA Remix)

Then head over to R Bally where you can download live shows from Sonic Youth, Pavement, Fugazi, Cat Power and the Specials, and Daytrotter for a Bonnie Prince Billy session. Then go to Captains Dead for an Afghan Whigs show from '94, and over to Gorilla vs Bear for a new Sufjan christmas song.

Jamie Cullum is Popular Here

Having just witnessed Jamie Cullum perform on Brazils most popular and ridiculous variety show, the appropriately named 'Faustao', I felt a need to talk about the real Brazil. Honestly, his attempt to ingratiate himself with the population by morphing his latest easy jazz rock number into an all out samba fest with drums and dancing girls was quite revolting. It will probably work though. There is a popular image that Brazilians are cool, and while quite a few of them are, there is a significantly higher proportion who consider the worst dregs of 'western' culture as something worth co-opting.

This morning, while finally getting around to listening to Sufjan Stevens 'The Avalanche' (verdict: predictably, I loved it) I was treated to a full volume rave nation version of 'I Say A Little Prayer.' I don't know about you but i always thought that the one thing lacking from Aretha's tender classic was a 160 bpm gabba beat. And when I say full volume, I mean dub soundsystem at the Notting Hill carnival, headphones rendered useless, full volume. This was not the soundtrack you asscociate with Brazil, if you think it'll be bossa nova, tropicalia and samba all the way, you are sadly mistaken. Last week I was treated to Stoke's own Robbie Williams, also playing outside my flat at retina shattering volume.

Don't get me wrong, I love this country, and virtually every person I have met has been very friendly and helpful. I'm just saying that Brazilians are as lazy as everyone else when it comes to their culture, and if one offers to lend you a CD, you might want to politely decline.


"And where are these mp3's you promised us?" the kids (okay, kid) demanded. Well they begin right now. I have decided on my favourite ten downloads from the last month and I am going to put them up here all week, ending with my absolute favourite, just to make it exciting. Kinda.

I thought it would be appropriate to start with Brazilian Girls, as you know I'm like in Brazil and that. Also, this is a MSTRKRFT remix and i can't stop listening to their fantastic album 'The Looks', which if I was a lazy journalist I would describe it as the album that Daft Punk should have made after 'Homework'. However, I am not a journalist and I love both those follow up Daft Punk albums, so I am not going to say that.

Brazilian Girls - Jique (MSTRKRFT Remix)

09.04.06
Just looking around the internet I discovered that Stoplight Sleep has also given love to the MSTRKRFT album yesterday and posted a different remix. And Shake Ira Shake Ira has posted a DFA Remix of Arthur Russell which I can't tell you anything about because the blog is in Italian. Sounds great though.

Greetings From Brasilia

Greetings from Brasilia, and welcome to my blog. I thought today was a good day to start, as yesterday, after three months, I experienced my first Brazilian rainstorm, and if anything reminds me of home, it's rain. But it made a pleasant change to be wet because of rain, rather than sweat. Nice.

Firstly, let me apologise for the appearence of the blog. I am new to all this blogging business and in time everything will look pretty, but for now it's pretty basic.

I would tell you a little about myself, but as you are reading this there is a 99% probability that you already know who I am. But just in case you are in that 1%, and here as a result of an odd google search, then here is a brief biography. I was born in Brighton, England, where I lived until I was 18. I moved to London for 11 years, until may of this year when I came here to Brasilia in Brazil. So why Brasilia? Because my girlfriend is Brazilian, and she said so. And besides, friends and family apart, I had nothing to lose.

So why start a blog? There are two reasons. Firstly, I am no diarist, but I thought you might find some of my experiences of living here interesting. This is definitely not an opportunity for me to show off: "ooh look at me, its so hot here, isn't this all glamorous?" you don't want to read that, and I don't want to write it. And anyway, I am not a traveler, its not as if I spend everyday on a beach or up a mountain. Which leads me to the second reason.

I am not working (yet), so I spend a lot of time on the internet, and I mean a lot of time. So everyday I wade through the numerous blogs and websites out there, many of which have very good music available to download. But you don't have the time to wade like me, you have lives, jobs and responsibilities. I have none of these things, so I will post my findings on here for your pleasure. I hope you enjoy it. Please feedback, leave comments, and let me know what you think.