Beautiful in form & execution, plus I've been waiting years to hear some of the bits and pieces included in this. Poignant without the 'likable-only-because-of-sentiment' schtik. Full of life, humour and character.
Scout Niblett - Uptown Top Ranking EP She's definitely prettier without the wig. Not the point of Scout Niblett perhaps but it's one of the things I always think when I see her. This ep is top in-between music - not quite stylistically independent but worthy. Makes for part of a gritty back catalogue rather than something to rely on as a epoch-defining record. I love it though. It makes me think of al larsen for no reason, as she doesn't sound anything like that nor are any of the sentiments similar. Maybe just an implication about her sense of humour.. ..was this a halloween record? I forget...
Old Man Gloom - Christmas
The world, to me, is defined by quiet and loud. This is both. Our bass player once asked Nate Newton if he'd heard Old Man Gloom. Apparently Nate was quite nice about it, not all "Dude, I am Old Man Gloom", but I'd prefer it if he had gone for some massive over-reaction David Lee Roth-stylee - somehow the universe would be richer.
Jesu - HeartAche ep
Not listening to anyone that says this isn't great 'cos it is. LA LA LA LA LA LA NOT LISTENING.
David Cross - Shut Up You Fucking Baby
I'm trying to watch Mr.Show at the moment. It's not always easy for a non-American. And who the hell is Ricky Henderson? Brilliant though.
We can't really have been described as prolific but we do have a couple of things in the works. There's an album, called "I Am Come", recorded but still being tweaked and mastered. It should be out in the UK through Rock Action in Spring / Summer this year. There's also an ep (possibly with the tracks: War Machine, 30,000,000,000,000,000 People, & Miser Chimp) in the offing, which will probably also be on Rock Action.
Could you tell me what your favourite albums have been this year and what it is that endeared you to them?
Favourite records of this year.. ..erm, some of these are a bit of a cheat...
Big Business - Head For the Shallow
Couldn't beat Karp. They ruled. Tight Bros sucked.. ..there's a really thin line sometimes. Big Business, however, are the shiznitz. The only album recently I've wished for less guitar on, but only because the bass destroys and doesn't need any aural assistance from some weedy six string.
Aufgehoben - Anno Fauve
I love this record to bits. It's a record many people would love to make but somehow never get anywhere near. If you haven't heard this record, picture a cross between bark psychosis and merzbow but it's really unlike either.
Battles - EP C / B EP / Tras/Fantasy
Post-Space-Math-Jazz-Rock or something, with added bloody keyboards. Carries a flag also picked up by Parts & Labor. Essentially very listenable for oblique stubborn noisy anti-pop.