Acoustic Underground #1 - By Ben Adsett

Acoustic Underground #1

[edit] radio is proud to present the first Acoustic Underground mixtapes put together by Cheltenham's Ben Adsett. Presenter of Wolverhampton radio station KicFM's Hear No Musical Evil, Ben offers up 30 minutes of some of the best acoustic acts from around the UK.


Tracklisting

Liam O'Kane - Run Away Boy (recorded live at Kic FM's trailer)
Mike Scott - Back To The Drawing Board (recorded live at Kic FM's trailer)
Mike Only - Happiness (taken from the Fly EP)
Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun - Wishing Well (Free Download)
Ben Childs - Poisoned Paradise (recorded live at Kic FM's trailer)
Shankland - Train-wreck (taken from the Shankland EP free download)
Boat To Row - Autumn Glow (Free Download)
Midnight Mile - Men With No Hearts (Taken from Silence Brings The Morning EP)
Shoes and Socks Off - Vice Magazine Has A Lot To Answer For (Taken from 'From the muddy banks of Melitzer')
Lost On Campus feat Sam Little - I Need You (N*Dubz Cover) (Taken from Pandy Cane Singles Club)

Download

The Hope Will Shine Through You - by Kevin Lawson

Balam Acab - Oh Why?

Last October I wrote an article about Balam Acab’s (aka Alec Koone) introverted track ‘Regret Making Mistakes’. The stand out track from his See Bird’s EP, it’s a mesmerizing tale of self recrimination that showed that this young producer is a rising talent. One capable of distilling such emotionally wrought material to its sonic essence.

‘Oh Why’ is the lead single from his follow up record and full length debut entitled WANDER/WONDER. It’s another shining example of his ability to transfer the subtle nature of introverted thought into song. The track opens in a haze of fuzz and simple pianos as the softly sung words  “Oh Why?” repeat over and again for just long enough for the listener to add their own context to the question before the delicate verse takes over.

The track builds steadily as a burdened beat kicks in over muffled voices and the addition of layer on layer promises a cathartic release. But instead the track cuts back to hazy repetition of its opening. Leaving the listener still searching for their own answers to that same question, one I'm sure we've all asked ourselves from time to time.

WANDER/WONDER will be available August 29 via Tri Angle Records.

Don’t fuck with Me, Don’t fuck with Me

Jai Paul - BTSTU

It’s been a strange month on [edit] radio, for the first time in a while I’ve had numerous requests to record podcasts for the site. This has left me with many new tracks that I’d like to share with you but no podcast to share it on. So with all of my new found time and a move to university to study music journalism looming, I’ve decided to make an effort to share more of my thoughts through the blogsite.

First under the microscope is pop artist Jai Paul’s track ‘BTSTU’ The song was released to a fair bit of fanfare to the bloggosphere over a year ago and the subsequent buzz was enough to earn him a nomination on the BBC’s Sound of 2011. It’s easy to hear why the industry was so excited about this young lad from Rayners Lane in London as this three and half minute pop song shows more daring invention than most pop artists entire careers.

The production is lush and complex, layered with industrial synth’s, saxophone and various other sonic embellishments that recall a DJ playing around with all the effects tricks at his disposal. However it’s the interplay of vocal recordings that really’s sets the track apart from it’s contemporaries. His falsetto voice is ghostly and delivered so tenderly that’d it’d be easy to miss brooding menace at the core of the lyrics if the opening lines weren’t “Don’t fuck with me, don’t fuck with me” The track picks up pace as his tone lowers and layers making this more of an exceptional one man duet. It’s a starling debut track and one that’ll be hard for him match. We’ll find out if this Londoner is up to the task soon enough.

Jai Paul - BTSTU (Edit) by Jai Paul

FESTIVAL SEASON (Oh the horror!) by Laurence Piddock

Be afraid people, be very afraid! Especially if you’re a music fan, even more so if you’re a music fan of a nervous disposition. It’s pretty likely that if you haven’t already heard it, you’ll soon be hearing the following phrase...

“Going to any festivals this year?”

It would be both prudent and wise for me to say that going to a festival is probably one of those things you should do at least a couple of times. You’ll encounter all sorts of conditions; meet assorted numpties and decent folk of various creeds and tackle a multitude of obstacles which, as my Dad would put it “build character”. However, if you don’t want to end up like me, spending your impending old age blogging like a less wishy-washy Jon Gaunt whilst polishing your Zimmer frame, take heed and listen.

I'd surely lie if I said that I was sure that it might work out

Panda Bear – Alsatian Darn

It normally takes me about ten listens before I start to really appreciate the depths of a new Panda Bear album, however on his newest effort ‘Tomboy’ the densely layered avant-garde chillwave tracks were an instant joy to my ears and for my money is easily his most accessible release to date.

My favourite song (but not necessarily the best) from the album is “Alsatian Darn”. Camouflaged against the tracks sonic haze the lyrics can be difficult to decipher, but when read closely are a testament to Panda Bear’s ability to vocalise the most complex emotions with deft skill and craft.

This time he tackles the personal doubt that comes when you want to make changes to your life, knowing deep down (despite your own self belief) the outcomes of the changes are uncertain. He poses the question of how this change will affect himself and the people he cares for, allowing the question to circle the song without resolution. Instead he encapsulates his dilemma perfectly by repeating:

“Can I make a bad mistake?
Say what it is I want to say to you
Say what?”

The actual resolution isn’t important; it differs depending on the situation and people involved. The question is what counts and knowing that I’m not the only one letting it keep me awake at night makes me feel less lonely.

Alsatian Darn by editradio

Whilst my wife softly sings to herself

Jim Lockey - Warriors (live)

Back in January during the show at Cheltenham's excellent Slak bar, the audience was treated to a vintage solo performance by Jim Lockey. That night he opened his set with a new song called "Warriors" which I was lucky enough to record on my H2 Zoom microphone. It catches the man at his melodic best passionately delivering another politically charged gem. It's been stuck in my head for months now so I thought it was about time I shared it with you.


Jim lockey Warriors Live by editradio

Support Local Music #3

It's that time again. Where I  ask you to dip into your pockets to support the act's from or associated with the Reading area. As you can imagine music making isn't  cheap business so please all go out and buy one or two copies of the following releases:

Oxygen Thief - Destroy It Yourself (Broken Tail Records/Josaka)

It's the début Album from Bristolian OXYGEN THIEF who's sound is the literally the loudest thing that one man an acoustic guitar can produce. His sound is hard to pigeon hole, it's essentially a mix of Metal, folk with lots clever nods to popular culture. It's being released by local label Broken Tail Records and I cannot recommend it highly enough, so please get out there and buy it:

Physical Copy - Banquet Records £9.99
Digital Copy - iTunes £7.99

You can get the excellent Single 'Terry Nutkins Salute' free from the man's Bandcamp.



Here is a great video of Barry performing live at Kingston excellent Banquet Records