Liars - Scarecrows On A Killer Slant

Over the last couple of days my mind has been preoccupied by worry of what a newly elected Conservative government (albeit with as a coalition) might mean for our country. The thought of this political party in charge has me fearful, especially when I look back at their sustained record of social inequity and intolerance.

Those two issues are at the forefront of Liars “Scarecrows on a Killer Slant”. Taken from the bands new album Sisterworld the track is powered by its creepy tone and metronomic rhetoric that makes this listener feel ill at ease.

The song leads off with the band asking “Why’d you pass the bum on the street?” and “Why’d shoot the man with the gun?” The answers to both are returned as an emphatic “Cos he bothered you” it’s disconcerting and uncomfortable to think that more parts our society could digress into this territory.

Then the band strikes with the songs Coup de grâce. Starting as a whisper and ending as a scream they utter “We should take the creeps out at night, Drag them incomplete by their ears, We should nail their thoughts to the wall, Stand them in the street with a gun, AND THEN KILL THEM ALL!” like the inner mantra of a government who’d like nothing more than for everyone to agree with their views.

The song then begins to tick along to its conclusion, but not before it musters one last question that I'm sure rattles around the heads of those now in government.

“How can they be saved from the way they live every day?”

Maybe those with the power in Westminster should ask it of themselves.

Scarecrows on a Killer Slant.mp3

Joanna Newsom - Cosmia

Last night at the Royal Festival Hall in London’s Southbank I was part of especially lucky group of people that got to see Joanna Newsom perform. I’ve seen her play once before at the Royal Albert Hall and both times she and her cohorts have been incredible.

For the uninitiated Joanna Newsom music forms the culmination of some very unfashionable components that make a whole quite unlike any other artist that I know of. To start she plays a rather unwieldy (but elegant) harp, which is the focal instrument on most of her songs. These songs are often massive in length, the title track from her new album “Have One On Me” clocks in at huge 11 minutes long. Then throw in that her voice sounds a bit Lisa Simpsonish, but with more tone and depth. Then you can understand why she isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

But for those of us who “get” her music she is almost without peer. Her songs whilst long never drag and leave you wishing you could see the world with the same beauty and myth as her lyrics describe.

I’ve decided to link my favorite of Joanna’s songs “Cosmia” taken from her second album Ys. I’ve been listening to this regularly since its release in 2006 and I still can’t get enough. If that’s not a mark of a truly great song, I don’t know what is.

Cosmia.mp3

Frank Turner - Thatcher F**ked The Kids

As people across the nation are currently voting on which idiot should be allowed to govern us, I thought I’d take the opportunity to tie my anti Tory colours to the mast. You’ve probably heard the spoof common people track doing the rounds on You Tube, but this effort from the always amazing Frank Turner beats them all hands down.

Thatcher F**ked the kids was probably the first Frank Turner song that I fell in love with. Once I had heard this sung in unison in an overfull tent at the Reading festival I was completely hooked.

Frank is currently on tour at various places around the world and I would whole heartily recommend you go to see him play if you get the chance

Thatcher F**ked The Kids.mp3

The Heartwear Process - Mean Season

A year or so ago one of my favorite local bands The Heartwear Process stopped playing shows and making music together. When it happened the local music scene seemed a little drabber without their energy and devilish sound to enjoy.

However this weekend the band reunite for (what I assume) is a one off gig to celebrate bassist Chris Sartin’s 30^th Birthday. The gig takes places this Sunday night at a (not so) secret location and will be kicked off by local country legend Damien A Passmore, followed by the Heartwear Process, then finished by the amazing Ben ‘God’ Marwood.

It’s going to be an wonderful night, so to get you all juiced up here is my favorite Heartwear process track ‘Mean Season’

Mean Season.mp3

And a download of Mr Ben Marwood’s cover of the Heartwear’s song about zombie re-animator ‘Herbert West’

Ben Marwood - Herbert West (Demo).mp3

See you there everyone

The Hold Steady - Hurricane J

I hate it when you can see someone you care for seeking out the solace of a relationship in a very self destructive way. Watching them hide behind a mask of indifference as they jump into bed with partner after partner. Not realising that every time they do so they make spotting the intimacy and care of a healthy relationship all the more difficult. It’s frustrating to say the least.

This is the situation that The Hold Steady’s latest single ‘Hurricane J’ describes perfectly. From their forthcoming album ‘Heaven is Wherever’ it finds the band in some of their finest form to date.

It’s heavily steeped in the musical dynamic that sits at the heart all of The Hold Steady’s best songs. Which when simplified is super catchy rock tempered by startlingly sad and honest lyrics. This is especially effective on Hurricane J as this dynamic mirrors the effort of the tracks protagonist ‘J’ in her effort to sound/look happy yet still reveling in her own self destruction.

It’s startlingly good and a fine way to kick off a new album.

‘Heaven is Wherever’ is out 3rd of May on Rough Trade records and can be be bought from

Hurricane J.mp3

Radiohead - How to Disappear Completely

Memories are weird; I don’t know why but when I recollect the past I see a series of Polaroid pictures in my minds eye. Like a comic storyboard of sorts, that I wander into whenever the right sensory trigger is processed by my brain.

More often than not I amble into these memory comics because of hearing some random song on the radio or my ipod. So today when Radiohead’s ‘How to Disappear Completely’ purred its way onto my earphones, the memories came to me like a flood.

The song (from the bands masterpiece album Kid A) takes me back to a point in my life where I had just lost my father. During the first week of his passing everything felt so very surreal and I spent a great deal of time hiding (possibly wallowing) in this song as it help sooth my pain. Its eerie nature served as a soundtrack for the events that were unfolding and Thom Yorke wailing “I’m not here, this isn’t happening” became a mantra for me to cope, whilst I made arrangements for his funeral and estate.

9 years on and the song has evolved into a great source of comfort to me, a connection to happier memories of my time with my father. God knows what sort of state I’d be in without it.

How To Disappear Completely.mp3

Crystal Castles - Doe Deer

Let's be frank from the outset, I have a soft spot for Crystal Castles. I've heard they are pretty shoddy live, but there's something about their recorded music that makes my brain think "If I had musical talent, I'd like to make something that sounds like that". To be honest I didn't have high hopes for their sophomore record as I find getting my hopes up only leads to eventual disappointment.

However that changed when I heard Doe Deer. This song packs so much unfettered lo-fi, energy and aggression into its 1:37 playtime that even after 20 listens it still leaves your heart racing and you gasping for air. I just hope the rest of the new album is as good.

Doe Deer.mp3