Tag: music

And get more “death of internet” stuff piles on…

So, this BBC headline Industry to stop ‘music cheats’ is a bit fucking disingenuous. What is should more properly read is “Industry to ‘cripple internet’, and ‘fuck with consumers’ at whim”.

In short: they’re asking for the right to pull the plug on the internet connection of anyone they suspect is pirating music. Not, you understand, the ability to prove that someone is engaged in illegal activity, and get a court order. Just y’know, the right to get in touch with your ISP and have your account yanked.

Noted copywonk Cory Doctrow explains it rather better than I might.

Yes, this all just a “maybe” in the future. A “might happen”. But still: the strength of the internet is that it’s a level playing field. That anyone with the right equipment can connect to it, from anywhere, and do as they please. It’s device and activity agnostic, and as Doctrow explains, that’s why it has become this fantastic medium. And I feel that any threat to that should be taken very seriously indeed.

Sitting By The Train Tracks Reading Kafka To The Sky

Just in case anyone that was at South London Pacific is interested: Jason’s new limited edition EP “Eleven Saints” is available for pre-order. For under a tenner, including international shipping, you can get a 15 track CD, and limited edition vinyl. One might make some remark about a 15 track CD being more like an album than an EP, but he’s calling it an EP…

Only 1111 of them available, and I’ve already had one, so if you want it, order soon.

London Pop Moment

Reminded by barrysarll‘s post on the same topic, I’ve been meaning to suggest that everyone give Lily Allen’s storming ska-pop single “LDN” a listen.

It’s helpfully available free here: http://hifipopcorn.blogspot.com/2006/05/nun-allen.html

It’ll probably be overplayed and deeply annoying by the end of the summer, but right now, the sun is shining and I’m about to take a walk in Battersea Park, and I can’t think of a better soundtrack.

Spreading like a…

Complete your own metaphor here. Prizes awarded for answers that make me laugh.

Tagged to do that “Top 6 songs” thing by mrtreacle. Usual tedious “only six” and “only valid for next ten minutes” disclaimers apply, because obviously, I want you all to think I’m the sort of deeply interesting person that loves all sorts of music, and has a really hard time picking just six out of the huge breadth of my taste.

But despite the fact that I listen to both classic jazz, and obscure shit that shounds like a three year old trying to fit a cat into a kettle, my list is, in fact a tediously predictable load of uncomplicated alt-type stuff, because I’m a tediously precitable and uncomplicated alt-type at heart, and I really can’t fight it. So, in fact, forget those disclaimers. It was quite easy to do this, and you can regard this list as good for a whole month or two. Yes.

Tom Waits – “Come On Up To The House”.
Tansads – “Drunken Serande”.
Dropkick Murphys – “The Dirty Glass”.
Shane MacGowan and Sinead O’Connor – “Haunted”.
Firewater – “Dark Days Indeed”.
Flogging Molly – “Within A Mile Of Home”.

Kodo

Was at the Barbican last night, seeing Kodo live. If you weren’t there, and lets face it, you probably weren’t, then you missed out on one of the most impressive and beautiful experiences going. They were fucking amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it. One of those experience you just know you’ll never forget.

Galas

Before I forget: Diamanda Galas was ace, last night. Beautiful and frightening. Her command of her voice is just astonishing, and she’s a damn fine pianist. I’d love to give a proper review, but honestly, I don’t know where to begin, except to say that she was good. Three encores and a standing ovation good. That’s about the best I can do.

Music Again

Today, I have bought:

Luke Haines “The Oliver Twist Manifesto”. My friend Paul, who introduced me to Mr Haines work used to have a .sig file that read “Luke Haines is a genuis and you will all buy his records if it kills me.” He was right. Luke Haines is a genuis. Go and buy his records, or I’ll kill Paul.

Cocteau Twins “Four-Calendar Cafe”. Cocteau Twins. What more need be said? Hymns from an alien religion. Beautiful, and weird as all hell.

Red House Painters “Red House Painters”. First one of their albums I’ve bought. I’ve got one track of theirs, on a 4AD sampler CD, and I really liked it, so I thought I’d give them a go. More when I’ve had a chance to listen and absorb it.

Lastly, and most excitingly:

A ticket to go and see Diamanda Galas at the Royal Festival Hall in a few weeks. Hurrah, I say! Hurrah! Mad shrieking women playing the piano and terrorising the audience. Tori Amos is nice, but Diamanda comes with knives and anger. I’m so looking forward to this. Can you tell?

Mugged By Music

I knew I’d regret poping into Beggars Banquet last week. I was back in there today. I think the big problem is that they sell far too much 4AD stuff on CD, 90% of it for under a tenner. Last week, it was The Birthday Party, The Pixies and The Aphex Twin, this week, The Breeders, Throwing Muses and the Cocteau Twins. 6 CDs for about 35 quid isn’t bad, but I know it’s false economy.