The Weekly Froth! With Saint Etienne, Julio Bashmore and Gossip

Time And Space Machine

By Stef Siepel

The Weekly Froth! A weekly take on six tracks, most of which have recently popped up somewhere in the blogosphere. Bit of a mixed bag with a slight leaning towards house, disco, and remixes, but generally just anything that for some reason tickled the writer’s fancy.

‘Heading for the Fair’ by Saint Etienne (Time and Space Machine remix)

I love the start, that rolling bass does wonders, just gets the thing going really. Not sure if he aims for Chinese sounds there, but that is what it makes me think of. At 1:20 Richard Norris (aka the Time and Space Machine) kicks it into higher gear, and I’m almost expecting someone singing “Chiiiinaa daarrrrling” at one point or another. Its got that Eighties synth and space vibe going on that I think is really fun and which I think is good to hear again a bit. Especially with such a build, as Norris does a nice job of changing it up every so often (and more often than not he takes the pace with him). It has the variety, it has that hypnotic balearic thing going on, it’s got pace, and it’s got a certain thing to it that hooks you to the song: in short, it’s quite a lovely listen to this remix of a Saint Etienne tune. … Continue Reading

Muso’s Guide’s Festival Season: June Previews – No Direction Home, Field Day, Nova and more…

We’ve asked some of our writers to preview a few of this year’s festivals that they’re most looking forward to; to offer some idea of what the event is about, and to pick out a few bands and artists that they’re most excited about seeing perform. In this installment, we take a look at the End of the Road affiliated No Direction Home; the newly revamped Field Day and its sibling event The Apple Cart Festival; the inaugural Nova Festival, and Somerset’s Sunrise Celebration. … Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth! With Richard Rossa, Sleep Over and Van She

Richard Rossa – Midnight Dub (Kelton Prima remix)

By Stef Siepel

The Weekly Froth! A weekly take on six tracks, most of which have recently popped up somewhere in the blogosphere. Bit of a mixed bag with a slight leaning towards house, disco, and remixes, but generally just anything that for some reason tickled the writer’s fancy.

Track of the Week: ‘Midnight Dub’ by Richard Rossa (Kelton Prima remix)

Kelton Prima is one that likes to go deep with the beat (at least the songs I’ve heard of him), and though this is not as deep as cuts of his I already have in my collection, it isn’t quite the by SoundCloud labelled nu-disco either. I would say it is more of a mix of deep house with some lighter elements, including a tingling bell of some sorts and a quite prominent synth. Then the space sounds come in (that I do remember of him, see his fairly recently released song ‘The Dark Side of the Spoon’) and Prima makes it an intergalactic ride through the clubs. The synths give it its air and its contrast, but the thing that keeps propelling it forward is the kind of grainy beat that keeps on going furiously. Like how the drums become prominent for the first time at the tail end of an interlude of some sorts in which the song is stripped down a bit. After that, the synth and space sounds bring this to its end. If you like your deep house (but not too deep) and your space (but not too space), and if you especially like it for a club setting, than not much wrong with this one I reckon. … Continue Reading

In Pictures: We Are Augustines, Glasgow, O2 ABC

We Are Augustines – by Julia Stryj

By Julia Stryj

May 10, 2012

When I first heard about We Are Augustines and their tough past as individuals and the struggle towards the end of their previous band Pela, I was instantly amazed by the band’s determination and passion. Their surprisingly uplifting – considering it deals with a lot of the bumps that were on singer Billy McCarthy’s road – debut album Rise Ye Sunken Ships is constantly being listened to. Driving through the never ending rain to Glasgow to see them on their first proper headline tour since the album’s release in the UK, I find out that the support band is on at 19:45. That means a relaxed dinner is replaced by a quick take away as I don’t want to miss My Goodness.

… Continue Reading

In Pictures: The Subways, Edinburgh, Liquid Rooms

May 6, 2012

A selection of photos from The Subways’ recent show at Edinburgh’s Liquid Rooms. Support on the night came from Royal Republic. All photos taken by Julia Stryj. More of Julia’s work can be found here.

… Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth! With Late Night Tuff Guy, RAC feat. Penguin and Classixx

Late Nite Tuff Guy

By Stef Siepel

The Weekly Froth! A weekly take on six tracks, most of which have recently popped up somewhere in the blogosphere. Bit of a mixed bag with a slight leaning towards house, disco, and remixes, but generally just anything that for some reason tickled the writer’s fancy.

Track of the week: ‘Holiday’ by Late Nite Tuff Guy

Nope, this is not a remix of the Madonna song. You’ll be forgiven for thinking so though, I certainly did prior to listening to it. But it’s old school and it’s disco, and that is LNTG’s comfort zone really. Love the beat and bass action to get this song going, nice tempo, sure will come in handy for the dancefloor (which, by the way, this song is perfect for, also with the tempo change at 1:25 which surely must go down well). As always he sure knows how to build something up. Really a lot of patience here, as there are several points where you would expect (and he does tease you with it) that the song will go for the kill, but instead it does another round of catchy bass (and who is complaining?). Finally, at 3:50, in come the vocals, and oh boy, they sure have got attitude to them. A smooth ride, catchy and funky, and some strong voices there: what more do you want from a Change remix? … Continue Reading

In Pictures: Bombay Bicycle Club, London, Alexandra Palace

April 28, 2012

A few beautiful snaps from Bombay Bicycle Club’s recent headline show at London’s Alexandra Palace. Support on the night came from Lianne La Havas and Rae Morris. All photos by Alex Kavanagh. More of Alex’s work can be found at http://www.alexkavanagh.com.

… Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth! With Idjut Boys, Tom Noble and YACHT

Idjut Boys - One For Kenny

By Stef Siepel

The Weekly Froth! A weekly take on six tracks, most of which have recently popped up somewhere in the blogosphere. Bit of a mixed bag with a slight leaning towards house, disco, and remixes, but generally just anything that for some reason tickled the writer’s fancy.

Track of the week: ‘One For Kenny’ by Idjut Boys (Extended Version)

‘One For Kenny’ has this sexy, lets-get-it-on quality to it that I really like. Underground in the club, let’s get down. There aren’t a lot of light sounds being used in the first half of this, which makes sure the song situates itself firmly in the seedy clubs downtown from the get go. Around halfway the synths come out though, and finally this lighter sound comes through to contrast the underground vibe, and it does get a bit more party with that, it gives it a bit more of a pace. So you’ve got two parts, which for a track of more than six minutes isn’t that bad of an idea anyway. And the second part still is club material as well, so don’t worry about that. Lovely track with loads of atmosphere. … Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth! With Baio, Hot Chip and Tomas Barfod

Baio - Sunburn EP

By Stef Siepel

The Weekly Froth! A weekly take on six tracks, most of which have recently popped up somewhere in the blogosphere. Bit of a mixed bag with a slight leaning towards house, disco, and remixes, but generally just anything that for some reason tickled the writer’s fancy.

Track of the week: ‘Tanto’ by Baio feat. Matias Aguayo

Matias Aguayo had some people jumping up, down and around with his album last year, and this has him featuring him in a Baio track. It starts with this deeper-than-average beat, but I think the main thing is the kind of exotic sound it has to it. I can’t quite place it, but it is not influenced by European or American sounds me thinks. It does make for an engaging listen, especially with the deep/light contrast it has going in its main sound. Love the peaceful drop back just before the four minute mark, and then with finger snapping and vocal lines it slowly starts to grow back again to its full sound. First Baio introduces a bass to help the two earlier elements out, and after a good minute or so we get back to drums and dancing. If you like to dance to exotic sounds, this is one for you. Nicely executed, smooth ride, sounds you don’t hear too often, and it meshes really well together. … Continue Reading

Graham Coxon – A+E

Graham Coxon - A+E

By Steve McGillivray

Much publicity has surrounded Graham Coxon over the last year or so. With Blur making their live return and endless talk of possible new tracks, Damon Albarn has seemingly knocked it all on the head recently saying there will be no new material. If all that leaves you slightly disappointed then rejoice, for the Blur guitarist is back with his eighth studio album, A + E. This comes a full three years after his previous album, 2009′s folk drenched The Spinning Top. Judging by the body language from Blur concert footage of last year, it’s probably where he wanted to be all along anyway. … Continue Reading