Embomusic

Popstarz7 went well, I did the main slot from 12-2, which was good, cos there was a decent amount of people jigging about - including Pet Shop Boys, who were in the house. Awesome! I left early with headache from cold I've had all week.


So, went through my music mailouts this morning, and as I've not done it in a month there was lots to get through! Excuse this quick rundown's listlike nature. Started with a Futureheads video diary, which they explained how instead of signing to a label they've got involved with distribution networks.
I listened to The Dodos who are Wichita's new babies, they are soft spoken yet mathrock -good clean drumming.
Then checked out Cadence Weapon, who are a bizarre mix of hiphop and IDM. I couldn't believe Myspace description til I heard it! Crazy sampling, slow rapping, whizzing bleeps and squeals throughout!
Next checked out Telepathe, whose music is oddly structured, it's slow repetitions and minimal lady lyrics make you think of an unemotional Goldfrapp or a Gary Numan chick - sometimes break beats, sometimes mathrock, it's quiet and controlled fun - but not my bag.
Dirty Projectors were just too weird - experimental, but not in a good way; Zappa without the funk; Happy Scott Walker.
Then Jonquil, who like Band of Horses and Islands are lovely dreampop, only with fun instruments like accordions and trumpets and slow building songs that never break into craziness, but keep you bobbing along the happy river.
Next, for fun and plezure I listened to Fuck Buttons, who I could listen to forever. If you haven't listened to them yet, now would be a good time. They are opening for Mogwai next month and I plan to be there listening quietly and feeling the dirty euphoria climb all over my brain like a lemon wearing stilts.
After that I felt compelled to give Times New Viking a listen, if only cos the name kicks ass! Establishing themselves as Lo-Fi from the first note, they let their influences be known. With completely pointless keyboards of Velvet Underground, Crazy churchy singing of Arcade Fire and fuzzy production of Clap your Hands Say Yeah they blast out silly tunes which seem punky but not punk.
From their myspace stumbled across Psychedelic Horseshit, which is a Dada/nihilist approach to shoegaze - as he confesses in his bio "Shitgaze is abysmal...this band is either a load of idiots on speed who suddenly thought they could play music while tripping, and sounds like a very massive pile of utter drunken shit, or it’s just some very clever chimpanzee’s who’ve evolved and suddenly realise they ’might’ be able to play some music". An inspired crew, who
dare to sound truly awful.
Then, as usual missing the boat, finally listened to HEALTH several months AFTER they played in Cambridge. Of course, they are as good as everyone said and fling you about at high volumes smashing your mind to bits. They have done some very improbable but fantastic collaborations with Crystal Castles, the song Glitter Pills has the diiiiirtiest electro keyboards at the end it's a crime if someone doesn't do a remix.
After that, found myself terrifyingly listening to Shit and Shine who I find hard to describe - part death metal, part experimental drone - each song incredibly short bursts of spazzed drumming or screaming or just humming noises. The great thing about their music is they never make the sound too busy - they build, but never spazzing on all instruments - like a boat at half sail; they know the limitations of the human ear. I did have to take a silent break afterwards though!
Continuing, Fleet Foxes delighted my ears. The kind of beauty you don't want to share, but sit quietly under a blanket with headphones on, watching the world go by as it all sparkles past. Sub-pop and Bella Union do it again.
On the tail of that sound, came My Brightest Diamond, too soft to quite catch my attention - but it was like Massive Attack without the groove, PJ Harvey on beta-blockers, fairly unexciting.
Midnight Juggernauts are like Michael Jackson and Daft Punk on MDMA. Pure loved up funky electro. Showers of bleeps in calm indie rock and a scent of Bowie.


I've also got myself a sweet little deal with Simon Baker whereby I sort his Facebook needs and he supplies me with free giggage. Nice one.