All in a day's work! I always get texts like this from various relatives after a family gathering. I tend to hang out with my nieces and nephews because they are more on my wavelength than my older siblings who sit around talking about mortgages, traffic jams, and whatever else sensible adults talk about... I dunno... recycling? organic food? Yeah that sounds about right.

There wasn't even any alcohol to numb the pain before the inevitable 'Have you got yourself a girlfriend, yet, Alfie?' followed by my mum saying 'Oh you have to hurry up and get married so we can have another baby in the family'. She said it half-jokingly but I know she actually really wants me to settle down. I'm twenty-fucking-two! I'm still a bloody student, and they seem to forget/ignore the fact that I have never intended to get married or spread my seed!

Honestly, I come away from family get-togethers with sweaty palms, a racing heat and the feeling I'm about to have breakdown. Thank fuck there was some alcohol in the house when I got home.

Enough of that. I have a present for you all: Patrick Wolf - On sussex downs It's a really amazing cover of Larrkin Love - On sussex downs, he's completely transformed it. I think everyone should own it. So go get it.

Speaking of Larrikin, don't you just love it when you don't listen to a band for a while, and forget how good they are. Then you hear one of their tracks and fall in love with them all over again? I'm obsessively listening to this at the moment:

I much prefer this version to the album version, this is from their 2005 Six Queens/Little boy lost EP and I love the swirling introduction and, well I just think he's an amazing lyricist. Completely underrated band.

That's your lot for now.

The Rakes –
Still touring apparently or at least they were at the beginning of this year. However, their last release was in 2006.

Ludes –
Doesn’t look as though much is going on as their website domain is no longer registered and their myspace hasn’t been updated since early this year.

We are scientists –
Recently released Brain Thrust Mastery and did a tour of gigs and signings for the release, plenty of festival appearances this Summer and another tour planned for the Summer.

Kaiser Chiefs –
Homecoming gigs at Elland Road this month, recently ‘took over NME TV’ and are performing at some festivals over the Summer.

Lodger –
Album out on Monday, a promotional tour at the same time and a couple of festival appearances are planned.

Cinematics –
They’ve got a couple of performances planned for the Summer but nothing else seems to be going on in the Cinematics camp.

Ambulance LTD –
One show planned in America in July other than that they don’t appear to be up to much.

Placebo –
No scheduled tours at the moment and they parted company with their drummer Steve Hewitt at the beginning of the year. Stefan’s side project are releasing an album soon though.

Thee Unstrung –
Split up end of 2005/early 2006 after Steve, Rob and Ben Tweedy started another band, 1984. Benjamyn Bailey has gone on to form a band with then sound technician Stef, his young lady Dazy and a gentleman on drums.

The Paddingtons –
They have an album recorded, yet are rumoured to have been dropped by their label. Information on what’s happening is vague, but with Josh’s girlfriend Agyness becoming more and more ‘famous’ you’d have thought they’d have the PR machine on overdrive.

Delays –
After releasing their third album the tabloid press and glossy magazines have shown some interest in Delays. They recently did a tour around the UK, and will no doubt be back touring the country soon enough.

Mystery Jets –
Recently released a new album, 21 to critical acclaim. They have a whole host of gigs coming up including festival performances.

Babyshambles –
Peter’s been in and out of court, plenty of appearances without him, the occasional performance with him. Shotters Nation wasn’t seen as that great, but as always there’s meant to be work in progress both for Babyshambles and Peter’s solo work.

Youth Group –
They have an album release and some gigs coming up in Australia, but there’s not much happening for them this side of the world.

10,000 things –
No longer together as Sam Riley is pursuing his acting career. He appears to be doing well, most notably for his role as Ian Curtis in Control.

The Long Blondes –
Appear to have quite a following since I saw them way back when. From their upcoming tour dates it looks as though they’re trying to conquer America, that or their album Couples is being released there.

Good Shoes –
They had a couple of gigs early this year but their news section of their website hasn’t been updated since last year! I’m sure there’s been some relatively recent releases though as quite a few of their 7” vinyls are on sale in Jumbo Records, that or they’re trying to flog old stock.

The View –
To say they got nominated for awards and what not they’re not up to that much, a hand full of dates this year. They’re ‘fame’ (well hardly) didn’t last long, I think everyone’s just about forgot about them.

Dirty Pretty Things –
A new album due out this Summer and there's been an appearance from Anthony on the Mighty Boosh and a Carl/Peter reunion since I last saw DPT. A tour coming up, playing in Sheffield on Tuesday infact, they’re back to the venues where they started on their first tour, probably going to build up momentum in a relatively short amount of time again.

Pigeon Detectives –
Same old pigeon detectives, lots of gigs lots of jumping about, so much so Matt managed to damage his leg at the Radio 1 Big Weekend. A couple of dates have had to be rescheduled, but I can’t imagine he’ll keep still for long. A new single has been released and the album is out in the next week or so I believe.

The Vines –
Recently released a Best Of album, their website is currently being updated ready for a new album. A new song, well what appears to be a new song ‘he’s a rocker’ has been put on their Myspace, and Craig’s had his hair cut like circa 2004, maybe the confident/raucous touring Craig is on his way back?

Black Wire –
Unfortunately they split up quite a while ago now. A couple of the band members including Dan the lead singer have gone on to form a new band Televised Crimewave. You can’t mistake Dan’s vocals in the songs, they seem to have an air of Black Wire about them.

The Research –
There was something about them in the Wakefield Express the other month as though they’re going to be doing something. I haven’t heard much since. According to their website they have a new album coming out this Summer.

Hot Club de Paris –
They’ve got a new single coming out soon from their latest album which is to follow. Their website is having an update so I’m guessing the record company are putting some money behind them, which will mean loads of tour dates and promotion.

Larrikin Love –
They parted in 2007 and since then Edward Larrikin started a new band the Pan I am. They’ve been doing some London based gigs and don’t appear to be signed to a label or releasing anything as of yet.

Larrikin Love / Tiny Dancers @ Academy, Manchester

Tiny dancers set the night off with their melodically infectious songs, feathery lullabies and smooth vocals. Their sound was almost the musical cousin of Larrikin Love, but the kind of cousin you didn't really ever see that much but still had the big nose family resemblance.

Wandering strings and vocals deft and nimble - brought thoughts of the summer although we all knew how cold it was outside. Their lack of a backbone sound wise was obvious but the music was still really solid and got me wondering what was heavier: A ton of bricks or a ton of feathers. Before my brain locked up Larrikin Love are on stage.

'The Freedom Spark' album is full of cameos with the likes of Jamie T on board, but the lack of them actually playing live compared to the album didn't alter the sound too much. Now although their friends weren't playing on stage their extended friends (the fans) gave the gig a nice pleasant vibe. The crowd was really into the music and it fed the guys energy on what has been a really lengthy tour. Ed personified this with his dazzling showmanship, which never dipped as he leapt around like only he can, whilst they played their unique merge of Reggae laden folk and Indie bluegrass.

An album replica is played faultlessly and although a joy to hear, didn't lead to much experimentation. It didn't really matter as it still sounded good and everyone enjoyed a rousing night, but it might have been nice to see.

One thing I did notice was that the band didn't seem fazed or changed by the success of the album. I've seen them quite a few times now and the professionalism they show will hopefully carry the band even further, and building on the new tracks they displayed tonight go on to become bigger and better than they already are now.

Adam Adshead

Having already seen Larrikin Love twice before in the last twelve months made me realise how busy the guys have actually been. Creating one of the albums of last year and playing a million gigs and festivals, you would think might have taken its toll, but it didn't. As fresh as ever the lads jovially strolled on and kicked off with 'Spark' and 'Six Queens' which was such a great opener for what would be an energetic set. The vibe is matched and everyone is more than happy to reciprocate the exuberance the band were to go on and display throughout.

Gleefully playing fan favourites and singles 'Edwould', 'Downing Street Kindling', 'Happy As Annie' and even some new tracks, the whole set really showed off the bands trademark sound. Their luscious garden of soft Indie Bluegrass, bed time stories set to music and poetically conscious lyrics has really grown each time I've seen them. The band's sound is a lot tighter and the fan base seems to be reaching a level the band so rightly deserve.

The varied yet thematic sound is still diverse within their limits, but the continued professionalism and obvious hunger for even more success shows great potential for future releases. All of which really make me look forward to seeing where their music develops and how the fashionable sounds of today will fare and affect the sounds of tomorrow.

Larrikin Love are always good for a toe tapping (I don't really dance, I'm too cool) night out and their reverence is obvious even from where I'm stood near the back. Now although some of the songs seemed to melt into each other, Ed's strong front man vigour and lyrical abstinence from the mainstream is something I think is always worth seeing.

Adam Adshead

Original Published Link 

Pirates and batteries aren't common interview topics but this is no ordinary band.

Larrikin Loves innovative approach and sound is as diverse as the topics just mentioned. Their nomad sound emanates all that is good about indie, country and Irish folk music and is wrapped up tightly with Ed's exhilarating yet elegiac lyrics.   

Contactmusic got the chance to talk to Ed Larrikin and Coz Kerrigan after their set at the Secret Garden Party and below is the ordered and edited down version of what randomly happened.

Contactmusic: Really great set man.                                                      

Larrikin Love: [Ed] Errm...yeah.

                      [Coz to Ed] I thought it was quite good, did you not enjoy it?

                      [Ed] I didn't it was awful I couldn't hear a thing.

CM: I've seen quite a lot of bands over the weekend and every band without exception has had problems on stage.

LL: [Ed] It's just a really bad sound on the stage and I couldn't hear a fucking thing. Either I was really loud or I was really quiet and then when I started playing the ukulele it was clattering and feedbacking and I think the pickup in my ukulele came loose and started banging about.

CM: Well it sounded good out there and there was a really good reaction. I mean that was like one of the best reactions Ive seen over the weekend.  So you said you didn't enjoy it but you guys looked so happy and exuberant on stage.

LL: [Ed] It was very happy, we had a laugh and stuff

CM: But.

LL: [Ed] There's no but, I'm really pedantic and if it doesnt feel right then it doesn't feel right at all. If it's not perfect I come off and I'm like "That's shit!", but then the next morning I'm like "No it was actually a really good gig". Im just a wanker.

CM: Is this something you take into the studio, during the making of the album?

LL: [Ed] Being a wanker? Yeah, completely.

CM: It's more perfectionism really?

LL: [Ed] Yeah it is being a perfectionist isn't it, I don't think that's just with music and being in a band but also in everyday life. If you don't think something's perfect then you go "That's really rubbish" but it's just being an idiot really as tomorrow I'll go "Hi mum, it went really well" not that my mum calls me all the time.

He [Coz] wants a high five.

[CM gives the high five]

CM: So on the album you've got loads of cameos, how did that come about?

LL: [Ed] There's loads of cameos and they're just all our friends you know. We've got Jamie Treays on it. There's a really early song that I wrote ages ago and I wanted a little boy on it like Jamie and a girls voice on it as well, so that was nice. Then Rumble strips who we met just playing on tour, they did some stuff. Patrick Wolf is a friend of mine and he came and did some piano and some viola. Alex from Vincent Vincent and the villains played some cello on it. Rob skipper from the Holloways played some fiddle on it. A boy called Johnny fielding plays on it. Loads of people are playing on it, so its been good. There have been loads of cameos and they've all been fantastic.

CM: I'm really looking forward to it. So you're very lyrically poetic, what kind of places are you getting inspiration from?

LL: [Ed] All kinds of things, everyday life. It's so easy to pickup things and talk about it, so its good.

CM: So what you reading at the moment?

LL: [Ed] I'm reading a book called 'Coasting', its a half travel book and half biography.

[Coz] Is it easy reading?

[Ed] No not at all, there is no coasting involved apart from the title. Basically its about this guy who writes about his loathing for the British Isles and his childhood, its really good actually. I only started reading it yesterday.

CM: When you said that I thought it might have been inspiration for 'Downing street kindling' but if you only started reading it yesterday.

LL: [Ed] No and at the same time I'm reading this book about the lives and times of Joan Baez her sister Mimi, Bob Dylan and Mimi's husband Richard Fariña. It's really good you know its hot.

CM: Sounds good, is it a biography?

LL: [Ed] Yeah, its about their lives and times, because their was Joan and Bob who were the successful couple then there was Mimi who was Joans sister and her bloke Richard and they were obviously not as successful and its about Richard and Mimi saying Joan and Bob stole everything off us, its quite interesting it's about the darker side of their glory years and I'm listening to Paris Hilton, Paris Hiltons album is amazing.

CM: Is it?

LL: [Ed] Yeah, it is actually really good I'm not joking; its got great pop songs. 

LL:[Ed] Have you seen any other good bands this weekend, apart from Larrikin Love?

CM: Yeah an unsigned band called Hush the Many.

LL: [Ed] Yeah Hush the Many! Kid Harpoon is going on about Hush the Many they're meant to be really fucking amazing.

CM: Yeah they are they're playing a little acoustic set later on you should check them out.

LL: [Ed] Yeah, I'd like to see that.

LL: Do you know when pirates talk to each other and if someone's an idiot they call them longshanks, because they're all gangly and a fool, longshanks I think thats great. So you say "shut up longshanks" and also when are they gonna make a battery which lasts longer than a duracell?

CM: Do you want me to tell you something interesting about batteries? Which you probably wouldnt of heard of.

LL: [Ed] Oh test me Adam, because phone batteries last for like 70 hours so why cant they make a duracell last that long?

CM: Don't worry about the interview I'll piece it all together later.

LL: [Ed] I think this should go in the interview as it's very important.

       [Coz] I wanna hear about batteries.

       [Ed] I wanna hear about batteries.

CM: Apparently a couple of years ago, it's conspiracy theory so I don't know if its true. But a guy has come up with a battery that will last for like a year but all the big players like. [Edited for fear of being sued].. came together and paid him off to keep it quiet.

LL: [Coz] Why doesnt he just sell it to one of them?

CM: I think that's what he's done, say if he sells the idea for like $100 million then that's it. As lets say you've got your remote batteries or whatever and they last for a year then you're not gonna pay like £5 a pack every time. So it's like capitalisation at its finest holding back technology, I dont know if its true or not but it's feasible isn't it?

LL: [Coz] Yeah it is.

       [Ed] Yeah, very feasible.

       [Coz] I'm gonna try and track one down.

CM: Well you can get light bulbs that can last for a year now cant you?

LL: [Coz] Yeah, I've got them at my house the energy saving ones and the light that comes out of them is rubbish.

CM: Yeah they're crap, you turn them on and they take about 10mins to...

LL: [Coz] ..warm up and the light that comes out of them looks horrible its not white it's yellow and it makes everything in your house look not very nice.

And on and on it went randomly talking about pirates and batteries whilst we ate lamb and mint crisps in their portacabin dressing room, it was thoroughly enjoyable.

Interview and words by Adam Adshead

Original Published Link 

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thepaniam
Mp3 "Ophelia Aged 6": rapidshare

A finada banda londrina Larrikin Love lançou em 2006 seu primeiro e único álbum, com o nome de The Freedom Spark, traduzido por 'A Faísca de Liberdade'. E é exatamente isso que eles deixam claro em grande parte das músicas: um apelo por liberdade. Na faixa quatro o vocalista Edward Larrikin desesperadamente canta um hino de fuga, quando diz que "Londres não tem mais nada para me oferecer". Regado de influências que vão desde música folclórica irlandesa até country, com jeitão pop e vocal de fácil aceitação, a banda de indie-rock-pop-britânico-irlandês é uma boa pedida para dias de verão e de calmaria. Anima qualquer um. É de se lamentar que ela tenha terminado. E sinceramente, é meu novo vício e o melhor CD que baixei esse mês.

Nota:

1- The Spark
2- Six Queens
3- Edwould
4- Downing Street Kindling
5- Happy As Annie
6- Meet Me By the Getaway Car
7- At the Feet of Ré
8- Well, Love Does Furnish a Life
9- On Sussex Downs
10- Forever Untitled
11- A Burning Coast

Download

Vídeo:

Autor: Cédric Fanti

Larrikin Love no eran un grupo típico. Tomando mucha influencia de folk y bluegrass, su disco debut fue una colección de sonidos diversos, que a veces funcionaban y a veces no. Debo decir que a mí no me impresionó mucho, hasta que meses después, Dadis los descubrió y me hizo escucharlos de nuevo. Tampoco me impresionaron tanto la segunda vez, pero ya me gustaron más, como esta bella y triste canción. Y después de 3 singles dentro del top 30, el grupo decició separarse.

Descarga: Larrikin Love - Well, Love Does Furnish A Life

Extras:
Well, Love Does Furnish A Life (Acústica)

Ribbon Dance Mews (B-Side)

Visita: Larrikin Love MySpace

Compra en: AmazonUK

La lista completa hasta ahora: Top Singles 2007

Larrikin Love - Well, Love Does Furnish A Life

You open up your eyes and you're underneath a first class seat
Your yellow hair and purple eyes are bleeding defeat
Your mother always told you that freedom was just a lie
So I'm here to show you, to show you what life can be like

I hold a box and in it there's a new world!
I hold a pearl forest and in it there's a long haired girl!
I'll take you there and she'll take care and introduce you to a wealthy earl
Then you can forget about me and this journey because you deserve it girl

It's a day in the life of you
There is no point in feeling blue
Don't tangle my words, "I love you"
It's a day in the life of you

Well now you're there and you laugh and smile so gleefully
There's an almost holy dancing in my soul
But tears on my cheeks
And life is tragic and cruel
There's a fire in the willow tree
Life is tragic and small because you forgot about me

Pero cuando los que se separan son grupos relativamente nuevos o no muy conocidos, pues igual no lo lamenta tanta gente, pero la posibilidad de una reunión se ve difícil (si no sirvio la primera vez, para que?) y pues nos quedamos con unas cuantas canciones para recordarlos. Este fenómeno creo que ha empezado poco a poco a crecer últimamente, sobre todo debido a que ahora hay una gran competencia, hay bandas nuevas por todoas lados, y mantenerse es cada vez más difícil. Ya el año pasado The Upper Room nos dieron un gran disco para poco después anunciar su separación. Y este año? Veamos:

-The Cooper Temple Clause: El quinteto no era nuevo, ya llevaban 3 discos pero la constante falta de éxito hicieron que la banda tomara la decisión de separarse a principios de año. No puedes vivir del aplauso. Pero siempre tendremos canciones como esta: The Same Mistakes

-Larrikin Love: A pesar de haber tenido un poco más de éxito que la mayoría de las bandas indie del momento (entraron al top 40, eso ya es ganancia), la banda de Edward Larrikin solo aguanto un disco juntos. Downing St. Kindling

-Make Good Your Escape: Una vez les hable de esta banda. Solo sacaron un EP en Fierce Panda, pero es excelente. Hace poco más de un mes se separaron para no volver. Buuuuuu. Real

-The Little Flames:  La banda de Sheffield lo que hizo fue en pocas palabras correr a su vocalista, y tomar un nombre nuevo.  The Rascals es el nobre del grupo ahora y son conocidos por ser amigos de los Arctic Monkeys. Creo que un problema, aparte de que el disco debut era bastante malo, es que ni siquiera incluyeron las mejores canciones que tenían en el, como esta. Goodbye Little Rose 

Y bueno, lo que me motivo a hacer este post es que hace unas pocas semanas se empezó a rumorar la disolución de Mumm-Ra. Los que sean mas o menos semi-asiduos al blog sabrán que es de mis grupos nuevos favoritos y he hablado de ellos hasta el cansancio. Han tenido mala suerte, solo un single ha entrado al top 40 y fue justo en el #40, mientras otros dos se quedaron en el 42 y 41, al igual su disco que se quedo en el 42. Para una banda indie no esta del todo mal, pero el problema es que Mumm-Ra están firmados con Columbia, y las trasnacionales no son tan pacientes. El tour que tenían programado para Octubre-Noviembre fue cancelado en su totalidad, con la excepción de una fecha en Bexhill, la ciudad de donde son. Ellos han desmentido que sea porque se van a separar, y dicen que es para poder concentrarse en grabar su nuevo disco y tenerlo listo para el verano del año que viene. Ojala sea así. Para este disco parece que se acabo la promoción, y el plan de tener a Starlight como último single del disco ha sido cancelado. Lastima, tan bonita canción. Hasta el video ya estaba grabado y los b-sides listos. Así que, esperando que no se separen y pronto salga algo nuevo, los dejos con el video del ya-no-single, Starlight.

Adelantenle al primer minuto, que no se ve nada.

Posted by Supernova

-Franz Ferdinand con una versión acústica de la canción que abre su segundo disco, The Fallen.

-Good Shoes y la versión acústica de su single Never Meant To Hurt You.

-Kasabian y una rara y extraña versión acústica de su mayor hit, Lost Souls Forever (bueno... L.S.F. pues).

-Kula Shaker y este b-side de antaño, una de sus más hermosas canciones, Drop In The Sea.

-Los ya desaparecidos Larrikin Love con esta buena versión de la que sin duda fue su mejor canción, Well, Love Does Furnish A Life

-Long-View, para quienes no sepan, es un grupo de Leeds que cuando salió parecía que podía competir con Coldplay y Embrace sin caer en baladas fáciles. Solo que llevan ya... 4 años! preparando su segundo disco, además de que el primero lo han lanzado, y relanzado, y una vez más. Pero es muy bueno y tal ves esta versión acústica de When You Sleep les diga porqué.

-Para terminar, no una, ni dos, sino tres, si tres canciones acústicas de los Manic Street Preachers. James Dean Bradfield aquí nos complace con Everything Must Go, So Why So Sad y You Stole The Sun From My Heart.

Continuará... algún día.

Posted by Supernova

Edwould

Los que espero que no se desintegren pronto son The KBC, otro grupo indie salido de las tierras británicas, aunque cabe destacar que no se trata de un indie rock sino de un indie mmm como dance (si es que dicho término existe jaja). Originarios de Preston, el trío está firmado con High Voltage Sounds y su disco debut, On the Beat, salió en febrero de este año sólo en Japón (esos japoneses lo tienen todo). En UK o el resto del mundo aún no hay fecha, se esperaba que para el verano pero igual y no. Por lo pronto y a continuación tenemos: Poisonus Emblem, Zeitgeist, Steven Get Even, Test the Water y Mad With Me.

Test the Water

No, no es Eskobar jaja; se trata de Sambassadeur, cuarteto salido de Gotemburgo en el 2003, cuyo sonido remonta a sus compatriotas de The Radio Dept. con un poco de la banda danesa Epo 555. Tienen 3 EPs y un album, nada de este año. Yo supe de ellos a principios del 2005 y me ha costado mucho trabajo conceguir su música en buena calidad, aunque supongo que todo se resolvería si comprara los discos jaja. Como sea aquí una probadita: Kate, Between The Lines, Marie y Think Nothing Of It.

New Moon

The KBC en Myspace

Sambassadeur en Myspace

Posted by dAdIS 

London is a really big city.
I sometimes find this isn't said enough. If you've ever travelled from Barking to Hounslow, then you know what I mean (and have one of the weirdest commutes ever). This place never ends.
As you'd expect, a city this size has proportionate effect on culture. Every year, hundreds of Londoners make it to national and international fame, and rightly so. The NME sells 70 000 copies a week without ever bothering to leave it.
But on a lower level, how does this gel in the city itself?

There have always been 'scenes' in music. Merseybeat. Mods. Grungers. Some are bigger, some are smaller. In London, they tend to be geographical. We've been through New Cross. We've been through Whitechapel. And then, Thamesbeat started.

Thamesbeat was a name made up, for a joke, by Larrikin Love's bassist. As with all the best labels, no one knew what it actually meant, which was brilliant, because that meant that it could be applied to anything.

The first lot to achieve success were Mystery Jets. Hailing from Twickenham in South West London, they held regular party/gig/riots on Eel Pie Island. If it weren't for them, there wouldn't have been any scene. They grouped bands around them, and around the area, and pretty soon they were the kings. Coming on to chants of ZOO TIME, they would rip into their perculiar brand of prog rock, and the crowds would go wild.

Mystery Jets - Zoo Time (Demo) [MP3 Removed]
Mystery Jets - Zoo Time (Erol Alkan Remix) [MP3 Removed]

Mystery Jets achieved escape velocity. A national tour, a relatively well recieved album, and a follow up EP appeared. The other thing that appeared was Larrikin Love. Again from Twickenham, they cut their teeth with the Eel Pie revue, and released a couple of bona fide indie hits, with Little Boy Lost (another GCSE inspired song), and especially with Happy as Annie, a Libertines-with-banjo ditty about, well, rape and murder. Spot everyone's faces fall as they realise the lyrics they are dancing to when the bridge kicks in (also, who says "everything that I adore came well before 1984", while playing heavily Libertines inspired indie?)

Larrikin Love - Happy as Annie (Demo) [MP3 Removed]
Larrikin Love - Downing Street Kindling (Demo) [MP3 Removed]

Where Mystery Jets succeeded, Larrikin Love didn't. Their album, while also liked by the critics, just didn't sell as well, and, trapped in a 7(!) album deal with Warner, they announced their split last week.

Thamesbeat reached its pinnacle with Way Out West. Although all the acts involved continued their metoric rise to fame, this weekly gig, held in the bar underneath the south stand of Brentford FC stadium, was the last thing tying it to its centre of Twickenham. When it was, inevitably, shut down for horrible amounts of underage drinking (it being one of the first of the new wave of all-ages gig nights), the bands migrated. But it was, while it lasted, majestic.

Just as Mystery Jets were the kings of the first wave, so Les Incompétents were the kinds of the second. Formed as a joke to enter a battle of the bands, they could only hold down two permanent members, who hated each other. Any success was gonna be short lived. But Fred (aka Mr Peaches Geldof) and Billy's great success was not caring. Playing at pretty much every Way Out West night (even if it was just a one song set), they won the crowd over with their pure, undiluted sense of fun. Crowd surfers outnumbered crowd, and stage invasions began before they were even onstage. And when How It All Went Wrong began, you knew you were in for a treat. Costa Rica, meanwhile wins the award for being, I think, the first song I ever heard to reference myspace. They even managed to release a (posthumous) album, with an intro by, of all people, David Walliams.

Les Incompétents - How It All Went Wrong [MP3 Removed]
Les Incompétents - Costa Rica [MP3 Removed]

If Les Inc were the party side of Way Out West, then the business was with Jamie T. Even though his sound was nothing if not unique (armed with just a mic and bass guitar, his white boy rap came out just the right side of parody), it was clear that his eye was set on the big game. Shiela (re-released this week) is a real shout along, while his cover of A New England introduced it to a new generation. And his ambition has payed off. With an album out, a video starring Bob Hoskins, and real mainstream attention, he looks to have made it.

Jamie T - Sheila (Demo) [MP3 Removed]
Jamie T - A New England [MP3 Removed]

But what of the others, who didn't make it out before the demise of Way Out West and Thamesbeat? Who are they, where are they and what are all eyes on now? All to come...

I'm out until the 12th or the 13th, depending when or if I choose to come back from Open'er. But before I go, here's some of my favourite music to smoke, eat, shower, walk, imagine driving, drink a nice bevvie to, this darkening side of 2006.

Love Is All - Make Out Fall Out Make Up mp3
Nouvelle Vague - Ever Fallen In Love mp3

Larrikin Love - Downing St. Kindling mp3 (6 Music - BBC Session)

Wolfmother - Dimension mp3

The Kooks - She Moves In Her Own Way mp3

Cibelle - Train mp3

Yelle - Short Dick Cuizi mp3

Conrad Newholmes - Noonday night mp3

Beirut - Rhineland (Heartland) mp3

The Radio Dept. - Why Won't You Talk About It mp3 (via Labrador)

Sunset Rubdown - A Day In The Graveyard mp3

Cat Power - Willie mp3

Herbert - Something Isn't Right mp3

and a remix - Wolfmother - Woman (MSTRKRFT remix) m4a

Sigur Ros you'll just have to buy. Or take a look here.

Right, now go and check out some of my fave blogs on the Further music page. Although some of them might be on hiatus too, they're all worth a try, especially bigstereo. My main inspiration, although it might not look it.
Oh and wolf! Don't let's be snarky.

for full size click the image of your choice :)

Tapes n' Tapes ;-) dubbed the hardest working band in indie rock by Filter Magazine, with a cheery downer of a song that strums its way through highs and lows like heartbeat on acid.

Tapes n' Tapes - 10 Gallon Ascots mp3

What I'm really into these days. The first movement (because it really does sound like several movements that cohesively build up into a classical concert, in an indie rock jazz kinda way) sounds a loke* Doves' Black and White Town, but then the Guillemots' identity resurfaces. (You have to believe I did NOT read the pitchfork review beforehand)

The Guillemots - Train To Brazil mp3

The Delgados are from Scotland, which like Montreal, has a terrific scene. This is an older 2005 song I am adamantly proud of (owning). Sunny and vivacious. Universal Audio review

The Delgados - Everbody Come Down mp3

A nice song, sparky. Official site.

The Essex Green - Don't Know Why mp3

It rarely happens that I get ever so excited. Pop does speak to the heart. You can accuse me of over-hyping (hyping schmyping), I just had to post this funny jangly tune here. Indie for kids let's call it, about her brother Alfie. You'll love this if you have a funny tooth.

Lily Allen - Alfie mp3

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness. My new favourite Austinites. Partly due to the name of course, but a great name wouldn't compensate for lousy songs anyway. Subliminal message massage: Hype them away please.

I love You But I've Chosen Darkness - According to Plan mp3

2 songs for download chez myspace

Bla bla. Green elephants and banjos on the mxipate. I can write anything here you're not reading anymore *evil*. Just have a look at this. I had a friend say to me the other day, "you know, most people don't consider the 'universe' every day like you do." The rest is on their site actually.

The Impossible Shapes - Florida Silver Spring mp3

Larrikin Love, the punk-bluegrassers du jour. This one sounds like a very sober very cool Pete Doherty coming from singer Micko.

Larrakin Love - Edwould mp3

Be your own PET. I didn't get the band name at first, but I wasn't too interested. I rediscovered them in April, and have been, how you say, hooked =D

Be Your Own Pet - Ouch mp3

Last one already? Well uploading songs for an hour was just so much fun. No really it was. I don't know why people complain. I really don't know, I was thinking of White Rose Movement, but maybe there's something more unhyped out there.

Let me know what you think of my mayhemiotic bunch. Bless you

*a lot like (join my inside jokes) :)

Gracias a hellopretty for the picture I warped in PShop CS.