Free lunch

Yesterday I signed up to three promotion companies so as to get free cds for DJing; It will be easier to stay on top of new music. I was sensible and didn't sign up to any I didn't *need*. There were some great ones, which had music I'd love, but not play. We'll see how it goes.

Going to sort my webspace so all my music related stuff is available through one page. Link to come soon!

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.

No, I didn't see Jay-Z

Well! What a week!
We travelled down on the Wednesday, enjoyed some lovely weather and food and company and many beers. Too much to tell so here is a quick rundown with links!
Began with Vampire Weekend, who were really good! very enjoyable set and really connected with the crowd. Plus lead singer is cute! Later went to MGMT which was really good, but the audience was young and silly and a detriment to enjoyment. Stuck by left speaker, so not the greatest sound. Lots of Time to pretend sang around camp all week!
Next day was Holy Fuck who I can't find any glasto footage of, probably cos BBC is too pussy to write their name even though this was one of the highlights of the whole festival. They were unbelievably good. Prog in song form. Truly inspired me. Later that day saw the secret gig by Franz Ferdinand with a sneaky glance at Foals as I passed the Other Stage. Foals were more Mathrock than I had realised and I enjoyed them although I was only waiting for Cassius to come on. :) Franz pumped out hit after hit and no one could resist dancing. So fun! Finally was the amazing Schlomo presenting "Music Through Unconventional Means". A human beatboxer who was absolutley stunning. He had a triple slot on the Park Stage which he used to bring on as many special guests as he could, from Jazz to Indie he got his guests to sing while he beatboxed over the top. Amazing.

So I got back and have so so many ideas for music I want to write now. Want to work out how Secret Machines and Holy Fuck do it and create things along those lines. I think with a sneaky nudge it would lend to some dark electro. Have been messing around, still finding it difficult to get things working, will probably go through the tutorials again. having been trying ot work out wjat I'll need to record some music using my computer - STILL don't understand. I probably should ask a friend, but it means opening myself to critism. Pride is for losers. :)

cycling without stabilizers

Well, Sidney-Sussex May ball was a blast! Despite angry sound-men and a spatter of rain, it was one of the best May balls. it helped I knew a bunch of people there and we went on the swing-boats and did vodka luge and rode mechanical bull and drank lots of champagne which we enjoyed calling "champers". :)

On Friday I started my set by just spinning a few tunes while no one was about, but then just carried on adlibbing all night. It was only a matter of time before I made and started using compilation discs. I had a to give myself time to get to know the crowd, the club, what I was about, and to get to know the tunes well enough. It went well.

So glad it's over.

Clare was such an effort.
It was cold, and my partner got bored really early and we couldn't even get drunk. By the time we were on, most people had either left or where watching the cheese act on the other stage. My performance didn't even matter by that point! Ended up just messing around playing a few tracks. Couldn't play the tracks I wanted to cos my partner had made me too nervous and had thrown out a few inconsiderate comments about certain tracks he thought sucked. Shouldn't listen, but it does wear one's confidence down...

I just came here to bounce

So, Popstarz has been going well. Enjoying playing, getting used to the crowd levels - ie, not taking it so personally when the club is a little quiet. This week in particular the DJ who comes after me was late, so I had to play ad hoc. I was freaked out, but I did really well and was really proud of what I'd done on the fly. While I know I can mix, I have lacked the confidence to play impromptu in this role; It takes guts to use your guts. Enjoyed some indie dancing afterwards; We now have wristbands to get into the staff chillout area, where there is free beer. I met some of the other DJs, in particular Vic Voltaire - not only does he have the courage to play really good songs, he also mixes them! The only thing that troubles me is that he is going to be doing the warm-up in Rave room from a few weeks time... So where will I be? Absolutely Love this job, would be sad not to do it anymore.

Been panicking about Clare may ball all week, trying to put together the Uberset which is both indie, electro, mixable and flows well; banging but not too banging. Trying to work out what my half of this duo is about and what I should be contributing - all with no help from my partner. I feel that my efforts have not created a set which is really going to show what I am capable of. I've had to leave out some of my favourite tracks - Mason vs. Princess Superstar - Perfect (Exceeder) and Bodyrox - Yeah Yeah (Feat. Luciana). :(

Have been making compilations for Sidney-Sussex, so I can just play a few tracks in a more ad hoc way; We are playing between bands so it's a lot less pressure.

Kapla!

Set went really well on Friday. Threw in some awsome new tracks and got some really good responses. The Rihanna remix I was worried about went well and the risk paid off. I had worked really hard all week after the previous weeks poor show and was confident by Thursday evening! Drank my free drinks allowance and enjoyed a boogie on the indie dancefloor. Even bumped into an old work colleague! Good times all round!

CSS - Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above
Justice - DVNO
Justice Vs Simian - We Are Your Friends
Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You
Snap! - Rhythm Is A Dancer (12 Mix)
Prodigy - Girls
Daft Punk - Harder Better Faster Stronger (DJ Barletta Remix)
Hadouken! - Tuning In [H! Redub]
Klaxons - Atlantis To Interzone (Crystal Castles Remix)
Fatboy Slim - Brimful Of Asha [Norman Cook Remix]
Rihanna - Umbrella [Big Room Mix]
Bodyrox - Yeah Yeah (Feat Luciana)
Wild Child & Chemical Brothers - Renegade Rockin Beats [Greg Bedwell Remix]
Britney Spears - Break The Ice [Wideboys Club Remix]
The Shamen - Ebeneezer Goode [Beat Edit]
Alphabeat - Fascination [Bimbo Jones Edit]
2 Unlimited - Twilight Zone [Rave Version Edit]
Kylie Minogue - Wow (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Calvin Harris - Acceptable In The 80s
Mason Vs Princess Superstar - Perfect (Exceeder)
Mylo vs Miami Sound Machine - Doctor Pressure
Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor
Utah Saints Something Good '08 (Radio Edit)
September - Cry For You [Jackal Remix Short]
Armand Van Helden - Hear My Name [Feat Spalding Rockwell]
MIA - Boyz
Girls Aloud - Jump
Britney Spears - Toxic (Armand Van Helden Remix Edit)
Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For (Album Version)
Prodigy vs Enya - Smack My Bitch Up The Orinoco
Scooter - Ramp! (The Logical Song)