Brighton
trio, Fujiya & Miyagi mix electronica, down-tempo and retro-disco when they
perform on Morning Becomes Eclectic at
11:15am.
] Portland—s Stars of Track and Field
combine an anthematic rock aesthetic with bittersweet lyrics as they peform on
Morning Becomes Eclectic at
11:15am.
] Kristin Hersh live with support from The McCarricks at the Glee Club in Birmingham on Sunday 4th March 2007.
The McCarricks
Kimberley and Martin McCarrick on violin and cello respectively create a wonderful melange of strings set to differing backing tracks, sounds and beats as well as an eclectic selection of film clips. Originally conceived as a project to accompany old black and white films, changes in legislation led them down a different path of using contemporary clips and collaborating with a wide range of artists, the most recent of which is Kristin Hersh. A pulsating and mesmerizing sound. www.houseofmccarrick.com
Kristin Hersh
Kristin Hersh was always the more distinctive sound in the Throwing Muses (in my opinion of course…). Whilst Tanya Donnelly’s post-Muses efforts were more swiftly apparent with the poppy and infectious Belly and then her more acoustic solo offerings, for me it was the wailing Hersh and the driving rhythms and guitars that set them apart. This evening she is accompanied by the McCarricks as on her new album “Learn to sing like a star” and thanks to some very good mixing, initially at least, it is a perfect complement. Rhythm section was courtesy of the guys from 50 Foot Wave, Hersh’s more “rawk” project. No wonder it all sounded so tight.
I first saw this extraordinary performer as part of the Throwing Muses on a double bill with the Pixies at a club in Birmingham in 1988 and appearance-wise not much has changed. She has ditched the A-line skirt for combats and T-shirt but is still slight, blonde and…also demure; proving that you really don’t need to leap around and go in for competition-level gurning for the music to be gut-wrenching, wild and totally unique, the intensity only belied by the focussed gaze once the song gets underway, vanishing during the light banter between tracks.
Many tracks came from her new album, “Learn to sing like a star” but given the live treatment they travelled right back to the Throwing Muses sounds. Hersh’s albums have received lukewarm response, barring perhaps the 1994 “Hips and Makers” which tonight yielded the hypnotic “Your Ghost”, the tortured, cathartic “The Letter” and as an encore “Me and my charms”. There really is a gulf of dynamism between the album sound and live sound; Hersh’s albums take a while to grow on you whereas the intensity of the live act is immediate – maybe a live album should be released because this concert was superb.
www.throwingmusic.com
Submitted by Helen Ryba
Album Release American Fifty Foot Wave Helen Ryba Kristin Hersh Live review Music News Reviews Submitted Review The McCarricks Throwing Muses Tour News ] This download single from The Black Keys follows on from the success of the recent release of ‘Magic Potion’ and brings with it a UK Tour (see below). Their slightly fuzzy, languid, effortlessly cool and almost nakedly simplistic blues rock is a brilliant alternative to a lot of the more frantic and melodramatic modernisers of that classic American sound.
The Black Keys are on tour in February the remaining dates are…
Sun 25th Bournemouth, The Old Firestation
Tue 27th London, Shepherds Bush Empire
Wed 28th London, Shepherds Bush Empire
Label: V2
Release Date: 26 February 2006
Tracklisting;
1. You’re The One
2. The Way I Feel When I’m With You (Magic Potion Out take)
3. Work Me (Live@The Avalon in Boston)
The Black Keys are Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney
Betweenplanets Black Keys Download Download Review Music News Reviews Single Release Tour News V2 ] 
Capdown returned to Reading for the first time since they came here to hang out with lots of sweaty people in a tent. Lots of people and lots of sweat makes for a smelly mess, but throw in a tent, booze and ska punk, you have some people’s idea of a wet dream on your hands. a fun time had by all.
This time round Capdowns visit could have been seen as a business trip as they were here to promote their new album ‘Wind Up Toys’ so unlike a festival set they were preaching to the converted. When these sort of promotioal tours come to your local venue you can expect a more hardcore following. Capdown always seem to be a safe bet, they played with a oodles of energy and delivered a set packed with old favourites. Refreshing idea, when most bands with a new album to shout about, only shout about how great their shiny new album is and neglecting anything older than their facial hair. This just leaves anyone at the gig who has yet to spend all their week only listening to one thing, lip synching like a twat.
Capdown kept everyone happy, it was the way they slipped in lots of the new stuff amongst the old like it was one big best-of gig, that impressed me. Sounding tight, having the crowd in the palm of your hand also helps a band look good. if you are a hardcore or casual fan your almost certain to have a good old sweaty time next time or elsewhere.
Betweenplanets Capdown Live review Music News Reviews Tour News ] 
The ‘no’ in ‘No Pussy Blues’ is not a prohibitive one, but, rather, one describing a certain, painful paucity in the narrator’s life. Try as he might - and he goes to great lengths - this guy just can’t get laid. From the first snippets of sound - a typewriter typing out ‘No Pussy Blues,’ - to the dying scream of electric guitars in the fade out, the listener’s focus remains on the characteristically bookish and disaffected vocals of Nick Cave as he describes his many and varied attempts to score with a pretty fan. Tension builds subtly in his practiced voice until howling guitars join in and transform his monotone to a scream which, in turn, subsumes the crisp hi-hat drum pattern and the hammering bass line of the verse to create a Mike Patton-esque squall of pent up noise and frustration. Not getting any is rarely so exciting or entertaining.
[BH/CMU]
Release Date: 19 February 2006
Label: EMI/Mute
CD Review CMU EMI Grinderman Mute Nick Cave Reviews Single Release ] 
As you’d expect from the vinyl Mecca that is the Rough Trade store this compilation of their best of 2006 contains a vast spread of music. As a sampler of what is out there this hits out hard at people who complain about the state of music these days (you know who you are!) and neatly packages up 46 fine examples of innovative, passionate, beautiful, powerful and mind blowing music from the last year.
Beginning with the more sedate mood of the first CD there are tracks to sink into like a plush sofa. The calming and beautiful tracks from The Last Town Chorus, Oneida and the sublime, if on the surface unlikely, combination of Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan sit with ease with the jaunty Camera Obscura, Peter Bjorn and John and Lily Allen. The tempo increases as the cd progresses and makes for a highly uplifting experience. A similar progression is to be found on CD2 except that ambiance gives way to synergy of rock, dance, rap and electronica as Uffie and Ladybug lead us into CSS and Gossip. If there were there any doubt about the rich tapestry of sounds out there today they this knocks them into the proverbial cocked hat.
A truly brilliant compilation that inspires and invigourates.
Label : Rough Trade
Release Date : 29 January 2007
Buy It: www.amazon.co.uk
Website : www.roughtrade.com
Tracklisting
CD 1
Various Productions - Home
The Last Town Chorus - Caroline
Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan - The False Husband
Beirut - Postcards From Italy
Lily Allen - LDN
Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken
Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks
Hush Arbors - Bones Of A Thousand Suns
Monkey Swallows The Universe - Science
Richard Swift - Paisley Park
Yo La Tengo - Sometimes I Don’t Get You
Treecreeper - Debris
Cold War Kids - We Used To Vacation
The Morrison Steam Fayre - Six String Layabout
Oneida - History’s Great Navigators
Bricolage - Footsteps
New Moscow - C’mon Up
Tapes ‘n Tapes - Cowbell
Broken Social Scene - Fire Eye’d Boy
Winterkids - I’m Not Used To You
Ripchord - Lock Up Your Daughters
Mike Sammes- Heineken
CD 2
Burial - Night Bus
Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto - ax Mr. L.
Scritti Politti - The Boom Boom Bap
Uffie - Pop The Glock
Ladybug - Miniaturu De Lulu (feat. Dieze Tigrana)
Crystal Castles - Air War
Envelopes - Freejazz
CSS - Alaia
Metronomy - You Could Easily Have Me
Xerox Teens - My Favourite Hat
Bromheads Jacket - Trip To The Golden Arches
The Rotters - Japanese Punk
The Sounds of American Doomsday Cults - Preamble Great Divine Rector’s Cut
T.I.T.S. - Strong Arms
Gossip - Standing In The Way of Control
Pre - Dudefuk
Erase Errata - Another Genius Idea From Our Government
Bonnie Camplin - Get Me A Mirror
OOIOO - UMA
Wolf Eyes - Lake of Roaches
Nagisa Yoko and Justin Simon - Zeni Zeni
Trentemoller - Rykketid
Andrew Liles - Orville’s Engastrimythic Divinations
The Disco Students - The Rough Trade Song
Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto Beirut Betweenplanets Bonnie Camplin Bricolage British Broken Social Scene Bromheads Jacket Burial Camera Obscura CD Review Cold War Kids Compilation Crystal Castles CSS Envelopes Erase Errata Gossip Hush Arbors Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan Ladybug Lily Allen Metronomy Mike Samme Monkey Swallows the Universe Music News Nagisa Yoko and Justin Simon New Moscow Oneida OOIOO Peter, Bjorn And John Pre Reviews Richard Swift Ripchord Rough Trade Scritti Politti T.I.T.S. Tapes n Tapes The Last Town Chorus The Morrison Steam Fayre The Rotters The Sounds of American Doomsday Cults Treecreeper Trentemoller Uffie Various Productions Winterkids Wolf Eyes Xerox Teens Yo La Tengo ] 
The slickly brash and vigorously confrontational Capdown return after an extended hiatus with triumphant refinement of their skapunk sound. ‘Wind-Up Toys’ has the Milton Keynes boys rocking furiously ,passionately, relentlessly and with panache.
Blasting power chords and rapid syncopated drumming fused around some riotous vocals and catchy song writing to make for an exhilarating ride. The bounce of the ska and the melodic harshness of the guitars fight for primacy without detracting from the accessibility of the songs.
The robust maleness of the sound and the charming snarls from Jake are virulent in their ability to infect with rebellious joy.
Capdown are on tour in February, be sure to catch them at one of the following dates,
February 2nd: Bristol Academy
February 3rd: Milton Keynes Pitz
February 4th: Exeter Cavern
February 5th: Bournemouth Elements
February 6th: Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
February 7th: Plymouth University
February 8th: Bridgewater Palace
February 9th: Oxford Zodiac
February 10th: Stoke Sugarmill
February 12th: Sheffield Leadmill
February 13th: Manchester Academy 3
February 14th: Leicester Charlotte
February 15th: Nottingham Rock City
February 16th: Middlesbrough Cornerhouse
February 17th: Dundee Westport bar
February 18th: Glasgow King Tuts
February 20th: Leeds Cockpit
February 21st: Reading Fez
February 22nd: London ULU
February 23rd: Norwich Arts Centre
February 24th: Peterborough The Park
Label : Fierce Panda
Release Date : 5 February 2007
Websites : www.capdown.net / www.myspace.com/capdown / www.fiercepanda.co.uk / myspace.com/fiercepanda
Tracklisting
Truly Dead
Blood, Sweat And Fears
Wind-Up Toys
Terms And Conditions Apply
Surviving The Death Of A Genre
No Matter What
Thrash Tuesday
Generation Next
Keeping Up Appearances
Strictly Business
Community Service
Home Is Where The Start Is
Capdown are Jake (vocals / sax), Boob (bass), Keith (guitar / vocals) and Tim (drums)
Betweenplanets British Capdown CD Review English Fierce Panda Music News Reviews Tour News ] 