Tuesday 24 August 2010

'Le Ballon Absurde!'

This is from a rough sketch I did whilst in Scotland a couple of weeks ago for a forthcoming project. I'm not entirely sure what form it'll take as yet - print, zine or book but I like the concept even if the trees look terrible. My French is merde but the title just seems to sound better like that despite the fact it's probably grammatically lacking.

I'm always slightly reluctant to post such embryo-like brain farts on here but watch this space for more on 'Le Ballon Absurde!'.

Sunday 22 August 2010

Menagerie 2 - last few records left!

I picked up the Menagerie 2 lp from Jake this week and it looks and sounds brilliant. Highlights for me are the songs by Akron/Family and Moon Duo (featuring members of Wooden Shjips). The latter is an immense feedback drenched stomper - knocked me socks off it did.

There's less than twenty left of the run of 500 so hurry up if you want to get hold of one - it's a fantastic package. Buy one here. It just got put on Creative Review too so the album won't be around for long.

Here's a taster and underneath my contribution for the See See's swirling west coast tinged psychedelia 'Up The Hill'.



Thursday 19 August 2010

Minor Makeover!

Yes that's right - out with the old and in with the new - time to change the banner. I also have a slightly more acceptable looking shop page now in preparation for the release of the zine and some prints. It's taken all day and doesn't really look like it should've done but no matter. The link will appear on the left very soon.

Time to pour a forty on the floor for the old banner - ropey and unreadable as it was I shall miss it...

Wednesday 18 August 2010

Special Benny 'Toys' album launch

Special Benny launch their excellent debut album 'Toys' at The Macbeth with support from friends, collaborators, admirers and me!
...
Live:

Special Benny
The six-piece band are Mat Baynton, Grace Cheung, Tom Corbett, Ben Gates, Rob Smoughton and Matt Turner who hail from Southend, Brighton, Bexleyheath and Hong Kong but now call London home. Although they admit their individual tastes differ greatly the band cites Tortoise, Jim O'Rourke, Sufjan Stevens, Battles, Frank Zappa and Steve Reich among their shared favourites. As might be expected from a band who admire such experimental luminaries, there is a high degree of collaboration and planning involved in their song writing: “We finish all our ideas together, or the band as a whole aren’t interested. Democracy can be hard within a band, it can lead to arguments. But at the same time, the fact that we are always surprised when we play together is an absolute joy.”
http://specialbenny.com/


The Voodoo Trombone Quartet
Formed in 2004 by producer, record collector and multi instrumentalist, Paul Thorpe, the band's first tracks were made freely available on the net as supposedly 'rediscovered' originals. The joke soon backfired however when they became immensely popular in their own right as each one clocked up thousands of downloads. The newly formed Freshly Squeezed took note and duly signed Paul for the band's debut album in 2005. Now expanded to a live 8-piece band, The Voodoo Trombone Quartet continue to win fans with their superb live shows at the best UK clubs and festivals including Bestival, Glastonbury, The Brighton Festival Speigeltent, Pussy Parlure, Lost Vagueness and many more. Their music is also featured in hit shows like Ugly Betty and Medium Wave has recently been the theme to MTV's new series The Paper.
http://voodootrombonequartet.com/


Hong Kong In The 60s
Hong Kong In The 60s are Mei Yau Kan (vocals, keyboards, guitar); Christopher Greenberg (keyboards, vocals, guitar); and Tim Scullion (guitar, keyboards, vocals), a multilingual three-piece from London, who formed in 2007. They are heavily influenced by early electronic pop, 1960s Chinese music and Italian film soundtracks. Using their collection of old Casio keyboards, the group combine bittersweet pop melodies and atmospheric electronics to create what Sean O’Hagan of The High Llamas describes as a “lovely, understated and quite beautiful sound.” In their hands, the cheap noises of old toy synths and outdated drum machines reveal hidden warmth and emotion.
http://hongkonginthe60s.com/


DJs:

Grovesnor
Grovesnor is Rob Smoughton, drummer for Hot Chip (and sometimes Special Benny) and student of the old school who loves a good tune and a crisp rhythm. Although undeniably influenced by the pop music of the 80’s there’s something supremely modern about the music of Grovesnor – but yes, there are echoes of Hall and Oates and Billy Joel.
http://grovesnor-music.com/

Mat Pringle
Upcoming artist Mat Pringle illustrated the fantastic 'Toys' album art. He'll be spinning fuzz drenched drum heavy global nonsense. A limited number of screen prints of the sleeve will be on sale.
http://matpringle.blogspot.com/

Joe Gamp
An early fan of Special Benny, the Artrocker scribe will be making a rare appearance on the turntables.

Sarahtron & Benjamus Prime (Proper Songs)
Oh them.


+ Vinyl, CDs and screen prints on sale.


Venue: The Macbeth, 70 Hoxton Street, London, N1 6LP
Info: 020 7749 0600
Date: Wednesday 22 September, 8pm-1am
Price: Free entry!
Nearest tube: Old Street (Northern Line)

http://themacbethuk.co.uk/
http://propersongs.net/