My newest favourite band

Is Cardiacs (not "The Cardiacs", I'd like to make that very clear), who are often described as "prog-punk", even though that's clearly stupid, and who have been headed since 1976 by singer/all round talent Tim Smith.

Now the guy who introduced me to them said they were the type of band one could get obsessed over, and I can definitely feel the first tugs of obsession, so I am going to try to infect someone else with Cardiacs-love. Now, have some videos.



"Dog-Like Sparky" off the album Sing To God. Something fairly accessible and catchy to start you off. And, at the opposite end of the spectrum, an amazing rehearsal of the song "Gibber and Twitch", as heard on The Special Garage Concerts, Vol I. Prog-nuttery ahoy!



Don't say I didn't warn you. Obsession awaits.

Update Live From Oxford Town

Myself and Seb have spent a good few hours this evening messing around on instruments. I did a wacky keyboard solo over an excellent mutant disco bassline he made up. Then followed rather a lot of silly jazz.

Suffice to say I feel much btter about my musical abilities now. Hurrah!

Another Possibly Obvious Post

Well it's not even the end of February and I've already heard two excellent albums (Animal Collective's "Merriweather Post Pavillion" and Dan Deacon's "Bromst" - review here http://www.musosguide.com/?p=2530), one very good album (Mi Ami's "Watersports" - reviewing forthcoming) and one quite good album (Trail of Dead's "The Century of Self"). Man, being a music reviewer is pretty sweet. I think I'm finally becoming a proper muso, just like I always wanted.

Some other things due for release this year that I am looking forward to:

Mastodon - Crack The Skye (I hear very good things about it)
The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love (should be interesting at least)
Oneida - Rated O (as my interview should have shown)
The Russian Futurists - The Weight's On The Wheels
New Sonic Youth album (last 2 have been rather good)

I'm thinking 2009 might just be a good year, though it tends to be the bands you've never heard of that end of making a lot of the best albums.

So what have you enjoyed so far this year? What are you looking forward to in 2009? Why do I think anyone will answer these questions?

Angst Angst Angst

So I had a little preliminary jam with the main guy from a band I'm looking to join, and I'm really not sure how to feel about it.

On one hand it was pretty good. The songs are beautiful and well constructed, I didn't fuck up too badly (though I did feel a bit bumbling at times) and we did it in a practice space he has above his garage, which is big and nicely done up. I also really like what the band are trying to do, in terms of mixing electronics in with a standard-ish indie sound, and having the commendable goal of trying to be on the experimental end of the accessible. It's ambitious stuff.

On the other hand I felt a bit sad when I got back last night, and I can't quite work out why. I'm having a bit of a crisis of confidence, with me feeling like I'm not really good enough for the band. It all seems quite professional, and I don't think I have the talent or the feel for the music. I'm slightly conflicted in a couple of ways too: I don't know if this is exactly what I want to do musically, and yet I don't think I could do that well enough, and I don't feel I'd have much creative involvement but, again, I don't think I want any because I'm going through a dry spell at present. However, how much of that is psychological I don't know. I just don't know how to feel.

Phew that was a bit morose. I'm lucky this is being crossposted to my livejournal.

Spamming the media outlets

Didn't think I'd update without a bit of shameless self-promotion did you? I have been keeping busy with all the reviewing lately, so here all the latest fruits of my musical womb*

Parts & Labor at Cargo: http://thisisoffset.co.uk/?p=1457#more-1457
Black Lips - Short Fuse: http://www.audioscribbler.co.uk/reviews/8731
Bob Log III - My Shit Is Perfect (2nd one on the page): http://www.musosguide.com/?p=2549

Now feed my massive ego.

*I promise never to use this metaphor again.

Part 2 of Recent Listenings (I guess)

I have been playing Chrono Trigger for the DS a lot recently and my god, I forgot just how good the music for the game is. I'd even go so far as to say that it's one of the only games I've really paid attention to/actively noticed the music. It's just so atmospheric and adds to the game so well.

So here are some of my favourite cuts from the game (it's actually astounding how many different pieces of music there are, once you start listening for them):

First the battle music, a good staple of any RPG. The bassline is excellent and I want to write a song based around it (shh!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ClGL7kZ28

Next up, Lucca's theme. So very uplifting and inspiring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BYxC7uEC_0

Some more epic stuff, "Courage and Pride". This music plays in a castle and is awesome and makes you want to be heroic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiMn6Ud3egU&feature=related

Boss Battle Music. Only just behind Final Fantasy VII boss battle music in terms of quality, and has a great organ part. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phVwKSjz0cc

And finally (so I don't overwhelm you too much), possibly my favourite track, "Wind Scene". It's just so plaintive and haunting, which is fair enough for travelling back 400 years to medieval times when the kingdom is embroiled in war. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YahK0kMq-_U

I've also elected not to link to Robo's theme, which sounds an awful lot like a certain song that has become popular on the internet of late, perhaps a little too much so. But it's all good.

What Luck!

There's a french fry stuck in my beard!*

In other news one of my reviews has been uploaded (I'm waiting on two others) so I can link to that instead of doing a proper update, can't I?

Frightened Rabbit - Liver! Lung! FR!

Forthcoming reviews by yours truly: Dan Deacon, Bob Log III, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Black Lips, Parts & Labor (live). You lucky, lucky people.


Horatio
x

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH1PJTY9AVA