thirty four: Cherbourg

Cherbourg are the reborn ashes of Davie Fiddle and the Lucky Egg. Originally I was sorely dissapointed at this very sudden news that T'Egg were gone.

But then I heard Horses.

I never imagined it would sound so. good. (Not that I was expecting something dreadful!)

At first there's an expectation for a Davie-esque vocal from Andrew Davie...but no. This time it's a slap in face cry of a vocal that makes your head spin round. There's so much strength, with each line more and more elements come out of the woodwork, not to mention the matured lyrics with a kick of imagination.

This obviously heightened my expectations for last Wednesday when I saw the reborn quartet live for the first time. And they did not dissapoint.

Along with Horses there was a myriad of similar songs, all with a unique quality of their own. For one Kevin Jones donned a drum, alerting my neural percussion system (yes, such a thing exists). I love drums, and with this added percussion I was sunk even deeper into my infatuation.

They've still managed to retain a degree of what they once were, there's still heartfelt lyrics here and there, and the boys' lovely personalities still shine through. Speaking to Andrew after the show it's hard to believe it's him behind the vocals of Horses "You've lost your only friend/You're not gonna see him again", because he's just so damn nice.

Cherbourg are planning to release on EP in early '09.

Listen to Horses here.

thirty three: Golden Silvers

Granted you've probably heard of Golden Silvers many times before, but just let me rant with a wry smile fixated on your lips...
I'd heard their name peppered around the internet and amongst the "NEWBANDOMG!" pages of magazines for many a month, thinking it was just another of those noisy techy bands we're now plagued with after last years' happenings, sighing and shaking my head all the while.
Oh the vanity.
When I finally decided to settle the issue, the first song I heard was obviously Y&LC relased single Arrows Of Eros. I was in love. Not only did it have some heavy synths within seconds of beginning but following this was Gwylim Gold's distinctive North London vocals, and yes, his second name really is Gold. Lucky bastard.

I have my fingers firmly crossed in the vain hope that all the support slots (Crystal Castles etc) they've been having recently won't lead to an influx of fans who still believe that raves exist.
They're supporting Mystery Jets on their October/November tour and released new single Magic Touch last Monday (20th) on a 7" purple vinyl. Fancy! And to add to all the metallic luvin' these boys have got it'll be out on their very own Bronze Records.

Listen to the magnificient Arrows of Eros here.

thirty two: La Shark

La Shark are the guys who make up Josh Weller's fantastic live band. This project is a whole new kettle of fish however.
The fact the five boys only have one track up hasn't stopped them from cropping up a fair few times on the blogosphere, but I haven't managed to uproot anything new on the Londonian band.
The solitary track available for streaming on their myspace, Bones, is incredible enough to make up for three or four more.
It bangs away at the drums until it's forced itself into the thisongisstuckinmyhead gland at the front of your brain, in an oddly reggae-esque way. And...the lyrics are psychic I promise, soon you'll be thinking "I can't get you out my bones/I don't know what to do!" about this very song, which is exactly what Sam Deschamps yowls, in what must be one of the catchiest choruses I've heard all year, there's also the infectious truth "I'm a skeleton!/I'm a skeleton!", that's just too damn quirky not to love.
For anyone who wants to do some detective work on these shady lads, head over to one of the many gigs in London they've got in the pipeline. I will definitely be keeping an ear out for my next sharked up fix. Nobody seems to know a thing, and I'm intrigued...

Listen and become addicted to Bones here.

thirty one: Charlot Webster

Charlot Webster is a list writer. In her band she does vocals, piano/keyboard, chord organ, mini piano accordion, ukulele, saxophone, spoons, handclaps and thigh slaps. Her band members are called David, Lindsey and Kevin.
Based in Brighton, Charlot has cosied up to fellow coast dwellers Peggy Sue, who could be considered genre mates as well.
Her voice has a warmth to it that sends you reeling back to thoughts of a war time songstress, particularly noteable on the serene Before your Love, that delicately tugs at your heart strings with strings of its own and Webster's cooing birdsong. The track wraps itself around your body and cradles you into a slumber, I'm not really sure how I've managed to resist the call of sleep so far, but this song will most likely be coming to a lullaby playlist near you.
You can hear the variety of Charlot's range in vocals on The Fire. A heated song that grows in confidence until it shouts its lungs out with "Oh-hos" and then furls back into submission.
Her music also echoes influences from Aretha Franklin and Cat Power. The trumpeteering Promised Me Gold sways beneath the atmosphere of Charlot's sultry voice with an unforgiving beauty that advises you not to cross her dark side.
Charlot Webster is dreamboat and she's waiting for you.

Listen to Before your Love here.

thirty: Gossamer Albatross

I noticed the other week that a fraction of my clothes have a recurring theme.
Birds.
I love birds (I do not classify pigeons as birds) when they're not biting my five year old fingers when all I was trying to do was feed them (that's you Mr Goose at Chorlton water Park). And it saddens me that the number of them is declining, big seabirds like the Albatross especially...


Gossamer Albatross are a dazzling quartet from Hereford. All four members are still in their teenage years unbelievably, three of them being classically trained. Puts my skills up to now to shame unfortunately.
They come across as extremely likeable and friendly, and their music swings and arches with precision and skill way beyond their years.
Their brand new, two-track single The Ground Will Take Us Down will be released soon on Bailiwick records (soon to be home to a Pengilly's EP!!) and was produced by none other than Hugo Manuel. GA have given The Ground Will Take Us Down a wonderful pace, that demands anticipation for the moment when Lewis' vocals (not disimilar to Zach Condon's) will reveal themselves at the beginning. From then on it writhes and wriggles through Geena, Reuben and Sam's giddy strings, as if it were an uncontrollable tide. All the while Lewis declares "This time it's different!/I'll make sure of that!" in a hand on heart exclamation, bound to send you flipping head over heels for this music...if you haven't already.
B-side Elizabeth, Queen of the Sea is more subdued. It takes a hold of your heart and leads it through the motions of the song, the slow beginning, the slumbering "A-aahs" and then onto the steady ascension of the track about two thirds of the way through. I particularly like the line "Down and down/The Ship went down...", in fact, I love all the lyrics to this song, it's sublime and enthralling. I've always had a soft spot for all things nautical, and this is no exception.
Gossamer Albatross released a debut EP earlier on in the year, when I first heard of them through fanzine Time For Heroes.
First track, Whispered Thoughts is anything but whispered. Lewis' voice takes on a very rich texture as he winds through the dipping lyrics "We walked home underneath the starry sky...And shattered into 1000 different pieces".
Raging Bulls, is a galloping feat of imagination that snaps at your heels through chopping strings and dangerous lyrics "Pack up your bags/Take to the cold, wet streets!".
Final track, Lake Laiture is nothing but an adventure. It's extremely reminiscent of Beirut, an opinion that GA must be getting used to..surely? I can also imagine travelling to this music too, which is always a good thing. My travelling music is the stuff that I'm praying won't become the victim of low battery because it's so. damn. good.
GA have a tour lined up for late October to take TGWTUD out on the road (24th @ Manchester Kro Bar) which will be wonderful, I'm sure.

Pre-order The Ground Will Take Us Down here.
Listen to Elizabeth, Queen of the Sea here.

twenty nine: Rupert & The Robbers

I did a post on Lisa Mitchell which seems to have disappeared...Not good. I might re-do it in a bit.
Anyway, In The City this year was pretty great. Not one low...except being momentarily stranded in Piccadilly (big thanks to Charlotte for ultimately rescuing me).


Rupert & The Robbers were one of the bands I managed to catch for £free, at the slightly disorientating time of 12:30pm (I went during my lunch break, how cool). They're instantly catchy from the words ready, steady, go.
Hats consists of lively guitar riffs reminiscent of Good Shoes and vocals not disimilar to Hot Club. There's a point in all of their tracks that sticks in your head. For Hats it has to be the line "...the value of the house went down, down, down!" before the boys (Rupert, Ivor, Laur and Joe) launch into a storming troop of Aaahs. The guitars and drums then go on to tumble down, down, down in a suprisingly melodic and "danceable" manner.
Rupert told us on Monday that Bad Hour was about those bad days we all have. This song would certainly improve any bad day of mine, it's unreasonable to say it wouldn't! The guitars and vocals are so damn catchy, it's a wonder the song hasn't become an epidemic along with this terrible cold we've all been having recently.
Ringing Chambers cavorts around your head like a litter of puppies, with cleverly entertaining lyrics, delivered with staggered precision, just in case you aren't paying enough attention "Shooting people with my bb gun/Outside the corner shop".

Listen to Ringing Chambers here.

twenty eight: Barn Owl

In The City is finally here, and despite the fact the line-up isn't as good as last year's, I've still got some pretty good finds out of it (yes, I went through the list and listened to the bands that caught my eye...).


Barn Owl was a name which made me click (I like owls y'see) on their link. The quintet are based in, University prospect for moi, Glasgow and describe their music as "Children", saying it sounds like "...". Very insightful. Bear with me.
Their Scottish-ness comes through in their vocals, which have that homely Scottish twang to them. Songs vary from jumpy, hand-clapping When No One Is Around, to crashing Light Through Spaces.
When No One Is Around stomps its way through the beginning before whispering vocals reveal themselves with bleeping guitar chords and the occasional, endearing handclap. The remainder of the track swings dream-like between the speeding instruments and ear-enticing vocals.
The element of fantasy and solitude is also recogniseable in Tara Key (a live track from their myspace). The guitars chords melt languidly over some heated drumming. The only way to listen to songs like this is with your eyes closed...until it gets to the immense blow to the stomach about 4 minutes in, so keep one eye open...just in case...
Chasing Little Sparks has a darker quality to it, sauntering itself into husky vocals and even more nonchalant guitars.
Barn Owl will be playing In The City on the 6th of October at 7:15 at Chicago Rocks.
Listen to When No One Is Around here.

twenty seven: Posy Simmonds

I feel I should apologise to the few of you who read/like to laugh at this blog for my long...almost month long...absence. I've been un-motivated and haven't had much internet time etc. Hello again though.


Posy Simmonds, a Kingston-upon-Thames resident started off with a taste for acappella and "amateur beatboxing". Which I have absolutely no problem with. I love accapella bands (think Hot Club de Paris kids). But his more recent songs have morphed into something beautiful.
The opening minute of All My Everything is sublime, featuring echoing choiral skills, more commonly found in a Cathedrale. It then goes onto incorporate a french horn, drums, guitar and eventually his vocal talents, which wrap themselves around the instrumental pieces beautifully, bringing the whole track together, "The fire burnt out long ago/Just an ember on my heart", it has a very "if only" feel to it.
Blossom is one of the aforementioned acappella aces. I'm trying not to compare the vocal stylings to those of Jack Penate, but it's hard. The chorus wouldn't stick out by a mile in an album of Penate's...not that this is a bad thing, I just don't want to get into any misjudged comparisons. Acappella is a very catchy genre and this is also true for Over The Road, a more pumped up form of Posy's roots. The lyrics are equally charming "What a very nice old day he said/I might go and eat some snails".
Another of the more "mature" tracks, Bark is a favourite of mine. Simmonds slowly builds the instruments up, as if the song is pulling itself out of bed into a dim morning, so dim the milkman hasn't even been yet. As the french horn stirs in the background of the song, it's reminiscent of that longing look back at your bed you may take every morning.
I'm very glad I stumbled across this guy.

Listen to All My Everything here.