Holeytonal Loves a Big Beat

Published on August 18, 2009 in Spotify and electronica. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

spotify_logoI love a great beat – doesn’t necessarily have to be quick – just quirky, interesting and ideally with a big bass. So open my Holeytonal Loves a Big Beat playlist on Spotify and get thumping.

  1. Dan Black – I Love Life
  2. Daedelus – Make It So (feat. Michael Johnson)
  3. La Roux – Tigerlily
  4. Peaches – Talk To Me
  5. Out Hud – It’s for You (album mix)
  6. Moderat – Les Grandes Marches
  7. Mum – They Made Frogs Smoke ’til They Exploded
  8. Telefon Tel Aviv – Stay Away From Being Maybe
  9. Modeselektor – The White Flash (feat. Thom Yorke)
  10. Ratatat – Mirando
  11. Animal Collective – My Girls
  12. Telepathe – In Your Line
  13. Esser – Stop Dancing

Any other tracks which you think should be here? Let me know…

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Veto Restore Faith in Danish Music

Published on March 27, 2009 in electronica, new music and rock. 7 Comments Tags: , , .

vetoDenmark is home to the worst band on the planet – Alphabeat. Maybe thats why it took me longer than usual to open Veto’s album Crushing Digits. Damn Alphabeat.

The Copenhagen 5-piece, Veto, create electronic rock driven by massive hooks, synths, bleeps and pounding beats. With Troels Abrahamsen’s soaring vocals lushly complimenting the textured landscapes.

I’m really going to have to listen to something else soon – I’m starting to feel sorry for the rest of my music collection.

There is so much to find on this album – every track has its moment. I especially love that despite Crushing Digits’ racy nature, Duck, Hush And Be Still, the last and most subdued track on the album, is stunning. It feels like a perfect ending.

Crushing Digits is released in the UK on 20 April and is available to pre-order on Amazon.

As I’m sure you can’t wait, have a listen to my favourite track from the album, Crooks. Its the filthy little guitar licks that do it for me:

Veto – Crooks mp3

Oh, and here’s an exclusive treat just for you:

Veto – Built To Fail (Tomboy remix) mp3

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The Best Music Game Ever!

Published on February 20, 2009 in holeyinteresting. 4 Comments Tags: , , .

beharI get far too many emails. Most of them junk or stupid games. I love deleting them.

However this one came along today. I just couldn’t help myself.

1. Do the Random Wikipedia Search – The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
2. Go to Random Quotations – The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.
3. Go to the Explore Last Seven Days on Flickr page – Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
4. Use Photoshop, Gimp, similar or online free image editing website to put it all together.

  • - My band is called Behar
  • - Album is called as we get out of it
  • - Picture was of New York
  • - Result is the featured image on post.

Here are some of my friends’ efforts:

ole

kamionna

flycatcher

team_punishment

list_of_people_from_darwin

There only one thing to do now. Post yours and share!

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Worry About Song of the Year Already

Published on February 6, 2009 in MP3, electronica and pop. 1 Comment Tags: , , .

Ok. Maybe premature. A month into 2009 and I might have already found my song of the year.

Peter Bjorn and John is made up of 3 Swedes called, Peter, Bjorn and er, John. I bought their previous album, Writer’s Block (iTunes) after stumbling on the track featured in this post. It’s a lot more lo-fi than their new work. I’m sure you’ve heard the excellent single Young Folks from the album.

Now they’ve got over writer’s block, I’m hoping their new album, Living Thing is going to be a musical War and Peace. There’s a tracklisting at Off the Radar. Now listen to the fat beat and super pop chorus constantly like I have and see why i’m excited:

Peter Bjorn and John – Nothing To Worry About (mp3)

Living Thing is released on 31 March and can be pre-ordered from Amazon.

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holeytonal top 10 albums 2008

Published on December 14, 2008 in holeyinteresting. 3 Comments Tags: .

I hated choosing this list. Feel sorry for the albums that missed out. They’ll just have to do better next time:

10. Foals – Antidotes

Expect the Unexpected with Foals. This is what New Rave wanted to be.

Foals on MySpace

9. TV on the Radio – Dear Science

Some dared proclaim Dear Science as the OK Computer for the naughties. Not convinced, but it does confront the Bush years with stunning tracks and great lyrics. Unlike Radiohead’s best, its poignant, but not suicidal. 

TV On the Radio on MySpace

8. Camphor – Drawn To Dust

Epic. In fact, even more epic than I thought it would be. Oh, and this album would certainly win best use of an orchestra.

Camphor on MySpace

7. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

Took a few listens, but I eventually fell in love with this africana inspired album from the columbia university chums.

Vampire Weekend on MySpace

6. Third – Portishead

How many of us were scared that this was going to be horrible? Thankfully a massive sigh of relief was heard around the world that the Bristolian’s still have what it takes to be the best.

Portishead on MySpace

5. Nico Muhly – Mother Tongue

I first heard about Nico Muhly in the Guardian, apparently he wants to live his fantasy of going to an English boarding school so he can experience the special relationship between master and schoolboy. hmm.

Nico Muhly on MySpace

4. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular

Pure psychedelic pop. If you’re ever feeling a down, listen to this – Its bizarreness will take your mind off anything. Not only that but the rousing choruses are enough to make anyone cheer up.

MGMT on MySpace

3. Shearwater – Rook

From Austin, Texas – this album is a luscious journey through Americana – with Dulcimers, Glockenspiels, Banjos and Homemade instruments. They also have a drummer/clarinettist called Thor Harris, that looks like Thor. I shit you not.

Shearwater on MySpace

2. Dead Confederate – Wrecking Ball

I’ve talked about this album before. I could talk about how great it is again, but I suggest reading my post about this prog/grunge beast.

Dead Confederate on MySpace

1. Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid

Maybe I can see the future. When I played this to friends I foretold it would win the Mercury award and despite being released early in 2008, would remain as the best album. Oh how they laughed. Oh how right I was.

The beauty of The Seldom Seen Kid – it feels effortless.

Elbow on MySpace

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Broadcasting a Great Escape to Germany

Published on December 1, 2008 in MP3, indie and new music. 3 Comments Tags: , , .

Yes, we were very sad.

Basel, Switzerland – a town of culture, the pharmaceutical industry and permanent frowns. No one smiles in the birthplace of LSD. Basel was pretty, but my holiday was like a trip to a mental asylum. Clinical, regulated and dull. We needed to escape. To Germany.

Freiberg, a beautiful town with great food and smiles, was worth the hour long train journey. Especially as we managed to squeeze in a Broadcast 2000 gig.

Joe Steer, the brains of Broadcast 2000, has been justifiably triumphed by my friends recently. His experimental acoustic jinks, backed by a rare mix of snare drum, violin and glockenspiel, are delightful.

The music of Broadcast 20000 feels more authentic than the similarly styled Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. Perhaps the lack of electronic mumbo jumbo makes a more heart-warming and personal experience. Songwriters that don’t bombard me with all the crazy shit they find on their music software are in my good books – experimentalism can be all about moderation.

Broadcast 2000’s exposure has been, well, quite big. Get Up and Go is on an Orange advert and on Building Blocks, their tasty mini-album. To whet your appetite Joe has kindly offered my favourite song from the album to holeytonal for you to devour:

Broadcast 2000 – Everybody & Me

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The Lights Aren’t Out

Published on November 25, 2008 in indie and video. 0 Comments Tags: .

Cold and dark is all London is during winter, but the lights will never go out at holeytonal.

Especially when an arty fan of James and the Jewellery Store from Copenhagen makes a music video of Lights Go Dim. Only Danes, as the inventors of Dogma 95, can get away with camcorder films – Festen is one of my favourite movies.

You can download an MP3 of Lights Go Dim from my previous post about James and The Jewellery Store. But his story driven lyrics, bound with the sound of Sufjan Stephens on burlesque, deserve the attention of any art house film maker:

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holeyinteresting 3

Published on November 5, 2008 in holeyinteresting. 0 Comments Tags: .

Interesting music articles, posts and sites in one place, for you to devour:

Song By Toad – Email to Columbia (& Sony BMG) - Music bloggers who have worked hard to promote a band have had their posts taken down by the labels who got them to post them in the first place. Not a way to treat people who do free work for you.

what’s your weather – is it raining again? well let this site choose some music to match your weather.

Allan’s World of Music – Kites in Space – Kites in Space Review - a post about a very good, but also very mysterious band 

Instrument Jokes – Yes, this is on the edge of bad, but there are loads of jokes, mainly about classical music. The highlight for me:

How do you tune a Tuba? With a tuba glue!

passionato – DRM free classical music download shop. Say good-bye to your wallet classical music fans.

pretty much amazing – Dress Up like Kanye West - fulfill the dream and dress follow this step by step guide to be the king of hip hop.

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Roses, Kings and Castles – How Very English

Published on October 30, 2008 in MP3, alternative and new music. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , .

“I play drums in Babyshambles but don’t let that put you off.” Good thing it didn’t, because whilst I adore Marmite, I’m not a fan of Babyshambles. 

Adam Ficek, performing under the monicker Roses Kings Castles, is a DJing songwriting multi-instrumentalist whose talents would leave any baby in a shambles.

 Adam says Bletchley, Milton Keynes, where he was born is an, “odd satellite suburban juxtaposition of a place, it doesn’t quite know whether it’s farmland or city“. This perpetually British suburban conundrum has clearly impacted Roses Kings Castles eponymous debut album.

I admire music that connects with the context in which it is created. Take for example the superb The Imagined Village or Jim Moray – both acts successfully unite British folk and urban music.

Roses Kings Castles initially started as a filler during Babyshamble’s break (see The Sun, The Mirror or the Daily Star for more details). It soon spiralled into much more, and Ficek’s home made Lo-Fi has been received with much deserved praise.

The debut album is available from Amazon, but you can preview Roses Kings Castles either with the remix of Entroubled by Boy + Girl from Fried My Little Brain.  Or you could simply listen to the exclusive to holeytonal radio edit:

Roses Kings Castles – Entroubled (mp3)

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I’m Sorry, Life In Film Know What To Do

Published on October 28, 2008 in MP3, alternative, indie and new music. 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

Major labels should know sounds that sell – with rosters full of great artists or at least great assets. So why was I so surprised at a gig featuring two singers signed to Universal and Warner?

Because the two unsigned acts also playing put the big boys to shame.

I don’t care if artists are signed to a major, an independent or are unsigned. Its the music that counts. What does irk me are major labels wasting money on generic muck when there is spectacular talent on their doorstep.

Life In Film

Unsigned Life In Film were one of the bands that deserves the rewards of being signed. Their infectious and unique indie pop could sell many records. Festival crowds will love their sing along choruses, whilst mud dancing to the funky rhythms. Life In Film’s live set did lose some subtlety from their recordings – but add a glockenspiel and problem solved.

Actually nothing was subtle in the Water Rats – you’d have been lucky to hear a 747 if it sat on your face – its stupid and dangerous. I’d still like my hearing when I reach 30.

I’m Sorry, You Don’t Know What You’re Doing

I was instantly put off Doug Walker (Warner) and Gary Go (Universal) – they’ve been manicured into  such characterless manifestations of mediocrity that if they chanted their own names in every chorus you still wouldn’t know who they were. A Life In Film track on the other hand could play on the radio and you’d know who it belongs to. We can only hope they get more radio play, especially if they keep on writing songs like I’m Sorry, I Didn’t Know What To Do. If I did tune of the month this exclusive from Life In Film would be October’s flavour:

Life in Film – I’m Sorry, I Didn’t Know What To Do (mp3)

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Rod + Thomas = Y

Published on October 24, 2008 in MP3, new music and video. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Apparently I’m of “Generation Y”. This means I’m a geeky yuppie born after 1979. Yeah – can’t complain with that.

It also means I lived through the 80s, but being brought up in Hong Kong I missed out on all the psychedelic British kids TV. Rod Thomas clearly got a fair dose as his video for Same Old Lines shows:

This folkster from Wales played at a few summer festivals, including Glastonbury and Latitude. His music is accessible yet distinctive – I guess what being “Generation Y” is all about – standing out from a crowd of many talented people.

My parents fed me a diet of Tears for Fears, David Bowie and Roxy Music with their cheesy synthetic beats as a side, and you can hear them garnish Rod Thomas‘ songs – although James Taylor is definitely a main ingredient. 

Interpretations of music are often revealing, and James Yuill picked out the 80’s from the Rod Thomas sound palette when he remixed Same Old Lines.  Oh, and here’s the mp3:

Rod Thomas – Same Old Lines – James Yuill Remix (mp3)

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Adventurers Eat Vintage Skunks

Published on October 21, 2008 in MP3, indie and new music. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

New Adventures Old Pub

Is anyone else becoming addicted to Born Survivor with Bear Grylls? He eats caterpillars and cuts the heads off skunks. Double hard.

I’ll never be that adventurous, but I’m always up for New Adventures. Especially ones destined to fill arenas around the world.

The four men of New Adventures began playing together at university, but a piece of the jigsaw was missing until vintage jeans brought Helen into the fold. Jez and Steve were selling vintage clothing – Helen bought some, and the rest is history.

The main obstacle New Adventures face is being lumped with Coldplay and Keane – but once you get over that you can enjoy some delicious stadium rock.

New Adventures will be releasing a second EP, Accidents, later this year featuring the stunning and drumless Never Get Caught, which can be heard on their MySpace. But I have fallen in love with this post’s MP3, try not to sing along:

New Adventures – Godspeed & Goodnight (mp3)

New Adventures are playing at Barfly in Camden, Thursday 23 October.

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