The End

Read more...

Update

Hola...

I dunno when/if I'll start posting regularly again, but I still update the shows list. Here's the latest (it's also in the left sidebar):

Sundays (6pm until late) - Nouveau York at Le Bain at the Standard Hotel

October 6 - Ella Wednesdays with Eli Escobar and Dominique Keegan

October 7 - Felix Cartal at Santos

October 9 - Cajmere at Sullivan Room

October 15 - Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77 at Girls & Boys at Webster Hall

October 21 - Social Club Abracada CMJ party with Yuksek & Brodinski aka The Krays, The Aikiu (live), Pilooski, Mustang, and Mikix the Cat at Hiro

October 23 - Frankie Knuckles at Sullivan Room

October 27 - Underworld at Roseland

October 28 - Busy P at Love

October 29 - DJ T at Love

October 29 - Boys Noize & Rusko at Girls & Boys at Webster Hall

November 5 - Crookers, Jack Beats, and Star Eyes at Girls & Boys at Webster Hall

November 6 - Fixed with Boy 8-Bit at Public Assembly

November 13 - Tim Fite at Mercury Lounge

November 14 - Tim Fite at Knitting Factory

November 24 - James Zabiela at Santos

December 3 - the Sights at Rockwood Music Hall

Read more...

Free Chemical Brothers "Further" Screening at Solar One on Monday!

If you haven't heard it yet...the new Chemical Brothers album Further is dope. It's quite possibly the best fusion of their old and new sounds to date. Flat Nose George (who has been responsible for many of the Chems' amazing tour visuals to date) has created what I've heard are some brilliant visuals to coincide with the tracks on the album. This coming Monday (July 12th) there's a free screening happening at Solar One. Info below:

Read more...

Spacer One: This Thursday at the Tribeca Grand

This Thursday (6/24) there's a launch party at the Tribeca Grand Hotel for a new art exhibition (Spacer: One) featuring nine great French artists (Geneviève Gauckler, H5, Bessy & Combe, Stéphane Manel, Supakitch & Koralie, and Imp Kerr) whose work will be on display for the following month (6/24 - 7/24).

Dominique Keegan (Plant Music) will be deejaying and there will be a screenings of Logorama (Oscar 2010 Best Short Animated Movie) and music videos for "Peace Running", directed by Bessy & Combe, and "Pacifics!" directed by Stéphane Manel. All the info is on the flyer below - be sure to RSVP!

Read more...

DJ Falcon at Santos tonight!

Go see him.

His set at Le Poisson Rouge in November '08 was great! (#10 in my 20 best shows of that year)



Info & tickets.

Read more...

Resuscitate

Every time I start writing an entry something stops me from posting it.

I'm not sure where this (blog) is going...I just updated the shows list though.

Get your disco on.

Love,

K

Read more...

Chilly Gonzales in Piano Talk Shows at Joe's Pub

Next month, Chilly Gonzales will begin a weekly series, "Piano Talk Shows" scheduled to happen every Thursday in February at Joe's Pub.

Back in September I witnessed Gonzales' piano battle against Andrew W.K. (video here) which also happened at the venue. I had virtually no exposure to Gonzales' music, knowing him more by name in terms of collaborations with Jamie Lidell and Feist. Fortunately, just a few minutes into his set he played "Take Me to Broadway" which I immediately recognized from an excellent old Simian Mobile Disco mix album. His live version was great and was just the starting point for a night of amazing skills behind the piano (and tons of witty, pleasantly snarky commentary - i.e. "The thing about Feist is...I made her...and I can take her away"). If anyone is equipped to be hosting a 4 night Piano Talk Show, it's Chilly Gonzales.

Complete info on the series below, along with some choice Gonzales footage:

Chilly Gonzales' Piano Talk Shows at Joe's Pub:

February 4 - w/ guest SIA
February 11 - w/ guest Andrew WK
February 18 - w/ guest DJ A-Trak plus surprise guest
February 25 - w/ guest Princess Superstar

All Piano Talk Shows will feature PianoVision, a video installation created by Nina Rhode, aka Ninja Pleasure. Reminiscent of a silent movie, PianoVision allows the audience to see a video projection of the piano’s 88 keys, along with the master’s finger work.

Gonzales Breaking the Guinness World Record for longest live piano performance by any individual (27 hours, 3 minutes and 44 seconds)


(5 album release of the record-breaking performance available digitally here).

Gonzales - Take Me to Broadway



Check out Gonzales' piano remake of Erol Alkan and Boys Noize's "Waves" here which was released as a 7" in a limited pressing of 500 (with a spoken music lesson B-side), look forward to a new full-length, Ivory Tower, out in the US later this year, and definitely try to catch at least one of the Piano Talk Shows (I'm shooting for the 18th with A-trak) at Joe's Pub.

Read more...

Findlay Brown at Joe's Pub, 1/13/10

Last week Findlay Brown celebrated the release of his new album, Love Will Find You, by playing a wonderful show to a very full Joe's Pub. While I was impressed as always, with the consistency of Fin's talent and the solid performance at the beginning of his set (which featured many songs from his new album) it wasn't until he hit an oldie but goodie from his last album (Separated By the Sea) that I was truly floored.

Perhaps I was reading into Findlay's comparatively sparse banter with the crowd and the sweat on his brow a little too much after our interview touched on him being a nervous performer, but I couldn't shake the feeling that Fin had not fully eased into the show. About halfway through the set I felt my suspicions were correct. Upon immersing himself deeply into a familiar track from his last album ("Come Home") you could see the emotion pouring out of Findlay, and as he turned and faced his guitarist, an exchange of reassuring smiles marked a shift in the show.

From there Findlay and his band (who incidentally are newly-formed, this being only their second live performance), sailed through the second half of the set, delivering every song with deserving ease and passion. It felt like the whole second half of the show was a highlight, but a very unexpected and awesome, country-tinged cover of the Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams" coupled with a beautiful solo performance of "I Will" cemented what wound up being a very solid set and wonderful celebration of Findlay's talent.

Love Will Find You came out on Verve Forecast on January 5th, but having been listening to it for months, it's one of my favorite albums of '09. I highly recommended it, along with seeing Fin the next time he's around...or if you happen to be in Boston, he's playing at T.T. the Bear's tonight.

Findlay Brown at Joe's Pub 1/13/10 - setlist

Love Will Find You
Holding Back the Night
I Still Want You
Nobody Cared
Everybody Needs Love
Come Home
Teardrops Lost In the Rain
That's Right
Sweet Dreams
I Will
I Had A Dream

encore:
Mystery Train

Read more...

Mylo Mix (the Return of Mylo) for January issue of Mixmag

Admit it...you've been wondering what's happened to Mylo...the one who made this great album back in '04 (?!) Well, he's back and has crafted a 17-track mix (the Return of Mylo) for Mixmag which includes numerous artists (tracklisting below) and perhaps most exciting all, a new Mylo track.


More info about this month's issue is here.

The Return Of Mylo - Tracklisting

01. Gatekeeper - Optimus Maximus
02. Turzi - Buenos Aires (Sebastian Tellier & Romain Turzi remix)
03. Strip Steve - AM FM
04. M.A.N.D.Y. vs Booka Shade - Donut (Boy 8-bit remix)
05. Pete Herbert - Yo Drums
06. Lindstrom & Christabelle - Baby Can't Stop (Aeroplan vocal mix)
07. Vitalic - Bluesy Tuesday
08. The Field - Sequenced (Rainbow Arabia's Dark & Dumb version)
09. KXP - 180 Hours (Of Love) (an Optimo [Espacio] mix)
10. Space System - Sorrow Show
11. Mason - Who Killed Trance (refurb)
12. Siriusmo - Wow (Modeselektor edit)
13. Units - High Pressure Days (Rory Phillips mix)
14. Mylo - Wings Of Fire
15. Maximilian Skiba - Monster
16. Telonius - Disco-Tec (Zombie Nation remix)
17. Den Haan - Russian Boat Commander

Read more...

David Byrne To Lecture at the Bell House

On Monday, January 11...

David will present a short video/audio lecture called "Creation in Reverse," speaking to the ways that venue and context shape artistic creation, followed by a Q&A.

The lecture is free (first come first served) and begins at 8pm. More info on the Bell House here.

Byrne spoke a bit about this subject at the Center for Architecture back in February of 2007.

Read more...

DJ Mix from The Glass/Plant Music Xmas Party Tonight!

In case you're on the fence about going to Plant Music's Christmas Party tonight at Ella, here's a great mix from the Glass. Dominique Keegan (who is half of the Glass) will be one of the deejays at Ella tonight. Download the mix & check out the tracklisting below. Also be sure to check out Eli Escobar's (who is also deejaying tonight's party) live set from the Ete D'Amour party in July in this post.

The Glass - October DJ Mix tracklisting

1) 'Count Your Lovers' (DJ Kue's Sunrise Mix) Plant Music Exclusive
2) Small town Romeo 'Boom' feat Shad K. (Sammy Bananas Remix) Plant Music Exclusive
3) Fake Blood 'Fix Your Accent'
4) Gossip 'Love Long Distance' (Riva Starr Vocal Mix)
5) Dj Wool 'Strobelight' feat. Subtitle (Arveene & Misk Remix) Exclusive
6) Tittsworth 'Here He Comes' feat. Nina Sky & Natalie Storm (Stretch Armstrong & Jaime Fanatic Remix) Plant Music Exclusive
8) Malente 'Little Secrets' (Jack Beats Remix)
9) Detboi 'Y'all Want Mo' (Sinden Remix)
10) Miike Snow 'Black and Blue' Savage Skulls Remix
11) Detboi & Foamo 'Girls'
12) Trevor Loveys 'Organ Grinder' (The Count's 'Big B Morgan' Remix)
13) Will Eastman 'Feelin'' (Nadastrom Mix) Plant Music Exclusive
14) Ursula 1000 'Rump' (Tom Piper's rump-a-dub-dub reFreshness)
15) Bonus: Casxio 'Seventeen' (The Glass Remix) Plant/The-Hours Exclusive

Read more...

David Byrne/Fatboy Slim Collab "Here Lies Love" to be Released!

David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's collaboration, Here Lies Love, which has been in the making since at least 2005, is finally going to be released February 23rd on Nonesuch. Originally labeled a "song cycle" by David Byrne, the series of original compositions focus on Filipino political figure, Imelda Marcos.

Byrne performed the material as part of his curated Perspectives series at Carnegie Hall nearly 3 years ago. I went and was completely floored.

While I would love to see this produced as it was originally intended (as a performed "disco opera"), the physical release (which includes 2 CDs, a DVD, and a 100-page book) looks like it's beautifully done, and features tons of amazing guest vocalists including Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine), Sharon Jones, Róisín Murphy, and Cindy Lauper. Tracklisting, which includes the complete list of guest vocalists is below:

Here Lies Love Tracklisting

CD 1

1. HERE LIES LOVE
Vocal by Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine)

2. EVERY DROP OF RAIN
Vocals by Candie Payne & St. Vincent

3. YOU’LL BE TAKEN CARE OF
Vocal by Tori Amos

4. THE ROSE OF TACLOBAN
Vocal by Martha Wainwright

5. HOW ARE YOU?
Vocal by Nellie McKay

6. A PERFECT HAND
Vocal by Steve Earle

7. ELEVEN DAYS
Vocal by Cyndi Lauper

8. WHEN SHE PASSED BY
Vocal by Allison Moorer

9. WALK LIKE A WOMAN
Vocal by Charmaine Clamor

10. DON’T YOU AGREE?
Vocal by Róisín Murphy

11. PRETTY FACE
Vocal by Camille

12. LADIES IN BLUE
Vocal by Theresa Andersson


CD 2

1. DANCING TOGETHER
Vocal by Sharon Jones

2. MEN WILL DO ANYTHING
Vocal by Alice Russell

3. THE WHOLE MAN
Vocal by Kate Pierson

4. NEVER SO BIG
Vocal by Sia

5. PLEASE DON’T
Vocal by Santigold

6. AMERICAN TROGLODYTE
Vocal by David Byrne

7. SOLANO AVENUE
Vocal by Nicole Atkins

8. ORDER 1081
Vocal by Natalie Merchant

9. SEVEN YEARS
Vocals by David Byrne & Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond)

10. WHY DON'T YOU LOVE ME?
Vocals by Cyndi Lauper & Tori Amos


Full info on the release is here. Also, brace yourself for what might be the artist formerly known as David Byrne:

In the meantime, I have decided to rebrand myself, inspired by Philip Morris changing their name to Altria, Blackwater to Xe, and the train I'm riding on right now that calls itself Acela - none of which mean anything, but they are cleverly evocative. When I decide on the magic word, you'll be the first to know.

Read more...

Plant Music Christmas Party this Wednesday!

I was going to write a big "holiday parties" post, but then realized there really aren't that many happening. In any case, what looks to be a great one is going to be happening in just two days, this Wednesday (12/16) at Ella thanks to New York label, Plant Music and Nicky Digital (who recently won Paper Magazine's People's Choice Award for Best Nightlife Blog):

All the info is on the scary Carol Channing flyer below:



Be sure to RSVP and also check out Plant's recently started blog for some great downloads and label news.

Read more...

Findlay Brown Covers Wham's "Last Christmas"

Findlay Brown (who you can read much more about here), recently did a whistle-y, beautiful, poignant cover of Wham's classic poppy holiday track, "Last Christmas".







You can download Findlay's version here and look forward to the US debut of his latest album Love Will Find You January 12th of next year. Also, if you happen to be in New York on January 13 stop by Joe's Pub to see Fin perform live.

Read more...

This Weekend in New York

Here are some dance-worthy happenings:

Friday

Always good disco with David Bruno and Robot Blair:



Saturday

I knew nothing about John Tejada until I read this interview, but one thing I have known for a while is that Justin and Eamon have yet to lead me wrong in terms of good times on the dance floor:



Meanred is throwing another one of their "Lose Your Shit" loft parties. I'm particularly excited that Eli Escobar is deejaying since the last time I saw him (at Ete D'Amour in July) he was great. You can download that set here. Info on Saturday's party below:



Have fun getting down this weekend! Also, there are more options that I haven't gone into detail about in the list in the left sidebar.

Read more...

Air to tour North America in March!

The excellent electronic French duo of Nicolas Godin and JB Dunckel, better known as Air, are returning to North America for their first shows here since 2007! My first time seeing Air was at the Theater at Madison Square Garden when they were last here in May of '07. I was pretty new to the band at that point, and their live set absolutely floored me...so, SO good. I had three people (2 of whom I don't even usually ask for music advice) tell me to go and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Con for us New Yorkers...the show is at Terminal 5. After many debacles at that venue, the key is just to get there hellishly early and hold down a spot. It's worth it in the long run not to be far away or under that awful overhang. Anyway...here are the dates. GO SEE THEM (even if you are only into them *a little*). Their new album, Love 2 is out now on Astralwerks.

March 13: Fillmore - Miami, Florida
March 14: Hard Rock Live - Orlando, Florida
March 15: Centerstage - Atlanta, Georgia
March 17: 9:30 Club - Washington DC
March 18: Electric Factory - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 19: Terminal 5 - New York, New York
March 20: Berklee Performance Centre - Boston, Massachusetts
March 22: Metropolis - Montreal, Québec
March 23: Phoenix Concert Theatre - Toronto, Ontario
March 24: Riviera Theatre - Chicago, Illinois
March 26: Fox Theatre - Oakland, California
March 27: 4th & B - San Diego, California
March 28: Walt Disney Concert Hall - Los Angeles, California

Read more...

Update! December shows

Sorry it's been ages. Working toward making up for it, here is a breakdown of a lot of awesome things happening this month (& next year). The complete list (which will continue to be updated over the next few days) is in the column on the left, but some shows/parties I am particularly looking forward to are below:

Tonight and tomorrow the Sights are at Bruar Falls and Cake Shop. I first saw the Sights at Southpaw 4 years ago, where they were opening for the Caesars. Basically...they have a very classic rock sound, which is nice. Very good "hang out in a bar and down some beers with your friends" rock. At least that is what I am calling it, as of right now. Check them out.


Friday night (December 4th) Flashing Lights is happening at 88 Palace. I saw Boy 8-Bit there last year and it was one of the most memorable parties I've been to. Everyone was going crazy. It's in a dim sum restaurant in a mini-mall in Chinatown for crying out loud.

Anyway...the main reason I am going is Electrodrone is about to have a small stroke over Todd Edwards. I haven't seen him this excited (over anything that isn't dubstep) since Soulwax. And I had a pretty banging Todd Edwards remix of a Surkin track on my computer so...it should be good.



RSVP (& preview some jams)

The amount going on Saturday night is insane. Lately, seeing friends win out over who's deejaying, so I am forgoing much awesomeness to hang out with them at Sullivan Room (and also check out Mixer Assassin...half of whom I saw deejay at a friend's bday and was great!). Some other awesome things happening that I will be skipping, but recommend:

Ghostland Observatory killed it at All Points West this summer - very dancey and electronic, but delivered in a very rocking way live. They will be doing the same at Terminal 5 Saturday night. Friendly Fires have been great every time I've seen them (except maybe the last time I saw them at Le Poisson Rouge...though I might have just been cranky b/c of the ridiculous wait before their set) and are playing a sold out show at Webster Hall.

Ewan Pearson is excellent and is deejaying Mister Saturday Night at Market Hotel. Check out an interview here and Ewan's Groove Column.



Advanced tickets available here.

Also on Saturday, the aforementioned Sights are at Maxwell's and Fixed has brought over one of the less on the radar Ed Banger's, Breakbot to deejay the back room at Public Assembly:



On Sunday, (one of the best parties - vote for them at Paper's Nightlife Awards) Sunday Best rages on at the Bell House with residents Doug Singer, Eamon Harkin, and Justin Carter.



Looking ahead...

December 8 - Scion A/V Presents: A Night At Made To Play CD Release Party with Jesse Rose ( I ALWAYS miss this guy), Riva Starr, Zombie Disco Squad, Oliver$, Idiotproof, Gina Turner, and Alex English at Love. RSVP

December 11 - Brandon Eaves (Rude...has great taste in music) at Sputnik

December 18 - Lee Fields (is as close as you can get to seeing James Brown perform live) at Southpaw

December 20 - Tortured Soul (is a band that performs house music, live) at Santos

December 31 - Famous Friends New Years Eve with Trouble & Bass and Party Like Us Records hosted by Finger on the Pulse with AC Slater, B.Rich, Udachi, The Captain, Star Eyes, Jubilee, VDRK, and Bradley D (not thinking about NYE at all yet, but here is one option)

February 25 - Ulrich Schnauss (is fucking amazing!) at the Bell House. I always feel kind of ridiculous when I get THIS excited about someone who makes very mellow, atmospheric music. The truth is...it starts off mellow and works up to a beautiful bang. And the last time I saw Ulrich (opening up for Sasha...don't ask!) his set got really banging at the end...very synthy and crunchy. I loved it. Can't wait for this show in February.

Hopefully more updates will be on their way soon. Have an awesome weekend!

Read more...

Sorry for the lack of posts

I am going through some rough shit and it totally sucks!

Anyway...I am going to be out of town this weekend hanging with the fam, but if I were here, here's what I would do:

Saturday night check out 2020 Soundsystem at Santos. I saw them last December, and while it took me a little while to get into their set, I wouldn't hesitate to check them out again. Dominique Keegan from the Glass/Plant Music is going to be performing with them. It should be good. All the info is on the flyer and you can get tickets here:



Also worth checking out Saturday night, but I don't have time to go into detail right now: Russ Chimes w/ Famous Friends , Finger On The Pulse , kap10ku@t , VDRK and Bradley D at Le Poisson Rouge.

Have a good weekend!

Read more...

Interview with Findlay Brown!

Compared to CMJ's past, I found this year's schedule to be a bit tame. Despite this, there were some highlights, and Findlay Brown's show at Bowery Ballroom on October 21st was definitely one of them.

Findlay Brown at Bowery Ballroom - 10/21/09

As Findlay emerged from backstage solely with keyboardist Rob Gentry in tow, I was momentarily concerned since all the prior times I'd witnessed Findlay perform he was accompanied by a full band. However once the pair began, my initial worry immediately dissolved as the stripped down set-up allowed Findlay's talent for delivering beautiful Fifties & Sixties-influenced tunes to shine. Despite revealing that he was "scared shitless" to be playing without his band after the first few songs, Findlay effortlessly delivered track after track from his sophomore album Love Will Find You (out January 12th on Verve). I was fortunate enough to catch up with Findlay a week later to discuss the show, the new album, and much more. Check out the full interview below:


I saw your show Wednesday at Bowery Ballroom, where you said you were scared shitless...is that entirely true?

I was. I was totally unprepared to not have a band. It was a bit like, what are we doing? Remembering how to come in and what the arrangements were - I probably shouldn't say it, but I think I smoked too much weed when I was a teenager and I just have such a bad memory, especially for words or things like that. If something changes like that, it's very hard for me to get my head around it. I'm good at repeating things over and over and over again and then I get it. It takes me weeks to remember the arrangements and even my own songs, the chords. If I don't play it every day, I just forget it.


Had you rehearsed with Rob (the keyboardist) before the show?

About an hour.


Well, you really couldn't tell. I've seen you perform before with the full band and it was obviously different, but you didn't seem uncomfortable.

Well I wasn't uncomfortable when I was actually singing. Once you sort of get carried away by the feeling of the song...I got into it. I enjoyed the majority of it, but yeah, I was a little nervous. I'm quite a nervous performer really, or, I can be. I get very nervous before I go on, to the point where I can't imagine actually doing it. I just think, there's just no way. How can I get up on that stage? Do you know what I mean? And then, as soon as you get up there, some calm sort of comes over you somehow. You know, it's a bit like, well I've got to do this. Where am I going to go? And it must be something along the lines of you realize, that you know it's not that bad.


I know you used to be a boxer. Did you have the same kind of nervousness before matches?

I wasn't actually a boxer as such. I used to fight a lot. It's a bit blown out of proportion. I did do some kind of organized things when I was a teenager, but it definitely wasn't on a professional level. It was actually a kind of street thing, but it was organized.


When you did the other show on Sunday at Littlefield, was it set-up the same way, with just you and Rob?

It was just me, but Rob did get up and play a couple of songs. There was a piano there. I actually prefer it that way. I used to do a lot of acoustic shows in London when I was first starting out on my solo thing. I almost prefer this attitude - I don't know if I'm going to play tonight, type of thing. I'll think alright, I'll do something and not have it planned and it be very sort of off the cuff and go with the mood and then if I get someone else up to join me. It feels like the pressure's off. I'm not very good under pressure. So I was actually a lot more comfortable that night because it felt more unrehearsed in a way.


You recently toured with Duffy and Au Revoir Simone. Did you notice any difference in the way you were received by their fans? Were either of the acts' fans more receptive?

I think they were both equally receptive. We've been really lucky with touring of late with this sort of new sound. The difference is, when I was playing with Duffy, we were playing to around 4,000 people every night, sold out, and it was a bit of a more mainstream audience. I think that the atmosphere was probably different on some nights, but it went down well. People enjoy it. There's not that much of a difference really.

When we played with Au Revoir Simone, some of the nights there were only 10 or 15 people there but it went down well every night and it was more of a kind of muso sort of crowd with Au Revoir Simone, who were, I would think, harder to impress in some ways, but they really enjoyed it. With the Duffy crowd you've got more of the sort of hecklers and things like that, which I really thrive on. It's that thing we talked about before - it's more, kind of an improvised element. If I think, oh I've got to think of something to say between songs, or say something witty or charming, it's not very good for me, but if somebody shouts something at me it's inspiring. We can get something going. We can get some banter going.


Has there been any difference in the way you've been received at home in the UK vs. in the US?

I think people are a bit more enthusiastic here (US) for the kind of music I'm making. I think people are a little less cynical here. They like the classic thing. They don't mind if you're ambitious, if you've got an ambitious kind of sound. I think a lot of the music scene in England, especially London is very, sort of left-field. It's got to be quirky. It's got to be indie, sort of thing. I think it's gone down actually slightly better here, the new record. My first record wasn't released here. It was more of, like a folk thing and that went down really well in England.


Talking about the last album being more folk-oriented, was the move away from that sound to the more Sixties sound intentional or did it just kind of happen?

Well the thing is actually, the folk thing I think was a bit more of a...how can I put it? That was me going away from my natural sort of style, I think more than what I'm doing now. I've always been into a sort of bigger sound, a more produced sound. I was in a group before I did that first record and it was a very full sound, but it was more of like a psychedelic, sort of Sixties psych meets early electronica, kraut-rock sort of thing. I've always been really into strings. The Beatles have been my first love and still my greatest sort of love, so that kind of production.

But I broke my leg, I got run over by a taxi between records and things I'd been getting into a lot were like Phil Spectre and Roy Orbison. I didn't have any of my record collection with me because I was staying at my sisters house, so I just listened to a lot of stuff online. I was downloading a lot of stuff off of iTunes. I think it was mainly that kind of music, but I think this record is actually more true to the kind of music that I will make for the rest of my life than my first record.

My first record, I'd almost given up on the trying to make it, type thing. I had some records out with my other group, but it was a very indie left-field thing. I'd sort of given up on chasing the big deal and the success and things like that and I was going through a very turbulent time with my girlfriend. In fact, she was living in Denmark and we pretty much split up at that point. She's now my fiance actually. I've been with her, like 10 years.

Basically that record was almost like glorified love letters. Poetry, love letters, put to music. It was just like, look this is how I feel and I wasn't in a band. The band had split up, so I just had a guitar and started doing some demos and it kind of happened by accident, if you know what I mean. I wanted to do something intimate and beautiful just for her, so I wasn't going to do my old sound with loads of guitars and loads of noise because it wouldn't have had that quality that she could have really related to. And that's probably why I got a record deal and things started going well for me, because it was just a pure thing and I had almost given up on the commercial aspect of music. I was just doing this purely for her and then people heard it.

I think that's life in general. Even if you think about Buddhism or these zen guys. You've got to desire enlightenment to start with, but as soon as you stop desiring enlightenment, that's when you've become enlightened. You almost can't want something to get it. And I think that's why, in some ways, I don't know if you find it, but you seem to get things at the wrong time. It's like I'm not bothered about this thing anymore. It's like, god, two years ago if you would've told me I'd have had this I'd have been over the bloody moon, but now it's just like yeah, alright. Now I want this other thing. It's when you stop wanting it, that's when it happens I think.


You obviously have a strong connection with older Sixties music. Is there anything more contemporary that you're into?

Well actually I really like a lot of the sort of new disco stuff that's around at the moment. You won't hear it in my music apart from, I did do a track with Andrew Hodge and Lee Douglas. Andrew Hodge is Lovefingers. We did a track, last time I was in New York, together. It's going to be on a twelve inch. I don't know, hopefully it's going to be released here. It's kind of like a side project thing I wanted to do because he did a really good remix of one of my tracks. I'd been a fan of his for a while. I know he hasn't done that much stuff, but I know all his edits, I'd been a big fan of and like DJ Harvey, people like that. So I thought, oh well I'd quite like to do something similar, so we did a track with him and I also did a track with Brendan Lynch who's a great producer in Britain who's worked with Primal Scream and people like that. So I like all that type of stuff.

I think the modern stuff that I like is generally more experimental. People like Kieran Hebden - Four Tet, Warp's stuff, you know, glitchy music and other things like that. I think in my last band I was into so many different styles of music - a lot of exotica and world music and things like that and I'd try and put it all in one song. That can sometimes work. Some people can pull it off. For us it was a bit too much at times and what I realized from starting the solo project was what I'm really good at is melodic music - things with nice melodies. So it was like, I'll concentrate on that, and I'll embellish that melody and make that melody come out more and everything that I add to it has got to be pushing that melody and the voice and if I want to do any crazy stuff I'll do that in another scene, another way. It's been great just doing those two tracks recently. I want to do more of that, more electronic music - some stuff like Vangelis type style. I want to do some Bladerunner kind of music, but with vocals as well. Ballads with just synths and stuff at some point.


From the current record, you never would have guessed that.

Exactly, exactly. But I deejay sometimes, I used to deejay a lot and it was a lot of different music - electronica, African stuff, psych, funk, disco. I've got a very varied taste but like I said, with my own thing I've kind of realized what I'm good at and I just want to stick to that and make that as good as possible, rather than diluting it with lots and lots of influences. As far as stuff that's similar to mine - there's a guy called Richard Hawley from England who I really love. He's very much influenced by the Everly Brothers and Santo & Johnny and the whole Fifties/Sixties thing. I love the Fleet Foxes record. I know everyone did - it's nothing original. That got me big time. Around my first record I was listening to a lot of Will Oldham, Iron and Wine, James Yorkston, people like that. A lot of the kind of contemporary folk artists, but I generally listen to more old stuff.


I was surprised to see there were a lot of remixes of your tracks. What is your view of the process of remixing in general? Do you view it as a positive thing?

Yeah, I do. I think it can really add something. When you write something on your acoustic guitar at home, it's very exciting to think about how it's going to turn out when you record it, when you add some guitar, when you add some drums. Then there's another bit of other excitement when you give it to someone else and they do something completely different with it and it can keep just growing and evolving. The exciting thing is, possibly it can never stop. It can just keep going. People kept doing covers of it. People kept remixing it. It's got a life of its own. I think, anyway, where that song's come from isn't necessarily me. I think it's come from somebody else. I won't use the word divine or anything, or the word god, but I think it's come from somewhere. I've got like, this friend that's feeding me stuff when I need it. Sometimes he's not around and I'm like, look mate, what's going on? I'm here. I'm ready to go. I'm doing my part, what about yours? Come on, give me a bit of help here. Cause I feel like you have to almost coax it. Sometimes you sit there with your guitar and there's just nothing. There's just nothing and other times it's just coming. It's like going for a good shit. You have to brew it. You can't just fuckin' pop it out. You have to wait. Get it all nice and bubbly.


With the remixes, did the label pick who was going to do them or did they go to you for input?

They go to me for input. My label back home is owned by my management and they're a sort of dance-orientated outfit really. They've got A-trak and Simian Mobile Disco and a lot of other stuff like that and they actually know more about the deejay and the dance scene than I do. I'm a bit out of the loop on that stuff these days. So they definitely come up with a lot of the remix suggestions, but I had a couple of my own like Zongamin and Lovefingers was my first choice. I heard an edit he'd done of a John Martin song. I think it's called Summer of Lovefingers and it was just like, who is this guy ? I think I discovered him through the Beats In Space radio show and just thought this guy knows his shit. This guy's got taste.


Were there any other remixes that you were partial to other than Lovefingers'?

There was a Dimitri from Paris one that was really good. I did a cover of Joe Smooth's "Promised Land", you know, the house hit. It was for a B-side. I wanted to do something in my style but not like a Gene Clark song or an Elvis-type tune. I wanted to do something that's completely out of my genre, but do it in my style and then Dimitri From Paris did a mix of it and I actually prefer it to the original.

Wow.

Yeah,it's wicked.

I've heard it.

Oh you've heard it. Which one do you prefer?

I kind of view them as separate things.

They're totally different. He's pretty much replayed all the instruments.

It's so bubbly.

So poppy and not yet, summery. Yeah, I love it. I was really surprised. And he's done this weird tuning thing with all the harmonies and made all these chords with the voices. Really good.


Did you go to a lot of events during CMJ?

I didn't go to any. I went out with friends to places and got extremely drunk, but I don't think I went to one other gig when I was here.


The new album is coming out in January. What are your plans after that? I'm sure you'll tour...

Well, I'm moving here in January. We're doing the Letterman Show on the 12th. I think that's the same day as the album release and then we go on tour pretty much after that I think. I think I'm getting a couple of new band members from the States because I don't think the whole English band can make it.


Are you going to be touring solely North America?

I think for now. I think there's an east tour planned, all penciled and then a west coast and then maybe we'll work our way up to South By (Southwest).


Are you thinking about a new album?

Yeah. I recorded the new album that's coming out in January, a year ago, so it's been a while


Do you have an idea where the next record's going?

At the moment it's going to go more into the sort of spaghetti western kind of vibe, but with songs. Still very melodic. Still with similar influences. You know late Fifties early Sixties kind of thing, but big tunes. Big productions. I'm even thinking I might, going against what I was saying before, bring in a few synths, but it will be very subtle, like mood based things. Some kind of subby sounds, just to give it a bit of drama, a bit of darkness.

Read more...

CMJ Friday Awesomeness (mini-post)

Friday there are a ridiculous number of great ways to get down, but as much as I would have liked to, I didn't have time to write a post about them all. So...here are just three of the many awesome events happening tonight:

While it would take a lot to top the great time I had at last years Insiders, this year's looks pretty great as well. Hercules and Love Affair perform great live disco, in a way very few bands are doing nowadays. Aeroplane continue to look promising (though I have still yet to see them this week!). James Zabiela has been getting tons of positive feedback lately. I fell in love with his Utilities double mix album several years ago and am excited to get to see him again in a setting that is not Pacha. Shinichi Osawa's opening set for Fatboy Slim in June was great - very hard, but not too in your face. The Fantastic Nobodies' performance art, aka crowd-feathering, during Modeselektor's set at Bowery Ballroom back in January was quite an experience. All in all, it should be a great night. Tickets (plus the set times) are available here.



Plant Music, one of my favorite labels in New York & in general is throwing a CMJ party at Union Docs. The entire line-up looks pretty solid, but I am especially looking forward to seeing Nadastrom, Stretch Armstrong, and Kap10Kurt who I have witnessed great sets from before. Full info below:




Though it is technically not a part of CMJ, I think it is definitely worth mentioning that Dimitri from Paris is deejaying at the Rivington Hotel penthouse. I've seen him a number of times over the years (including a set at the Rivington Hotel penthouse back in May) and he never disappoints. Expect lots of great old disco, house, and awesome tunes.



RSVP here.

Read more...