Friday 28 November 2008, 11:36 | By

More on Woolies

Business News HMV Timeline Retail

woolworths

Woolworths officially went into administration yesterday, with consultants Deloitte moving in to try and find a way of keeping the high street retailer, and its CD/DVD distribution firm eUK, in business.

A statement from the Woolworths Group, which itself isn’t in administration, was issued yesterday thus: “Following, and as a consequence of the termination of [recent takeover] discussions, the boards of Woolworths plc and Entertainment UK Ltd have concluded that there is no longer any prospect of those businesses being able to operate as a going concern. Accordingly, the boards of both companies last night resolved to file petitions for administration in the High Court”.

Deloitte have hired restructuring firm Hilco to manage Woolies on a day-to-day basis while the firm is in administration, which is ironic because Hilco had tried to buy the retail firm in a deal which would have seen the restructuring specialists pay a pound and take on the retailer’s not insubstantial debts. It was the collapse of that takeover deal, reportedly because of objections to it from both Woolworths shareholders and creditors, that immediately preceded the company going into administration.

Hilco are thought to no longer be interested in buying the two Woolworth businesses that are in administration, the high street stores and eUK, though reports suggest possible buyers for both businesses have now approached Deloitte. Insiders seem to think eUK will be bought, perhaps by a major retail or logistics firm, and will continue to operate more or less as normal. Despite reports buyers were also lining up for the high street Woolies business, some more pessimistic experts don’t see anyone really wanting to acquire the whole 815 store Woolworths chain.

For the music industry there are two concerns. First, ensuring the possible collapse of eUK doesn’t have a major financial impact on the record companies it buys CDs from. Some labels had already cut back or cut off the credit it offered the distributor – but it’s not clear how much eUK continues to owe the labels. Second, to ensure the supermarkets and high street retailers who get their CDs off eUK continue to be supplied with stock throughout the all important Christmas market.

Retailers also won’t want to run out of stock during the Christmas rush and, as reported yesterday, Asda has already confirmed it is talking directly to the major record companies about getting stocks direct while eUK’s future is unclear. Other music retailers, including those like HMV who are not supplied by eUK, are also reportedly watching what is happening at Woolies closely because of concerns Hilco will slash the prices on all the stock in the retailer’s stores in a bid to bring in quick revenues. That could lead to a price war on CDs which could damage the specialist entertainment retailers who already struggle to compete with the price cutting tactics of the supermarkets on chart releases. With Woolies generally stocking a bigger range of CDs than Tesco etc, if it slashes its prices across the board HMV and Zavvi et al could find themselves struggling to compete on an even wider range of albeit mainstream releases.

Record label trade body the BPI yesterday confirmed the industry was watching the whole Woolies situation very closely. BPI boss Geoff Taylor told reporters: “EUK played a valuable and profitable role in the music supply chain and it is very unfortunate that Woolworths’ wider difficulties have dragged it into administration. We’ve been advising our members on how they can insulate themselves against the risks of a failure of this type, and over the next few days we will consult further with members as to how they can best respond to this development and ensure continued access to all sectors of retail”.

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Thursday 27 November 2008, 11:37 | By

Woolworths goes into administration

Business News HMV Timeline Retail

woolworths

Woolworths, once a mighty force in the world of music retail, and a century old high street brand, could be about to disappear as the company’s board call in the administrators.

The top men at Woolies are expected to call in Deloitte this morning after attempts to restructure mounting debts, maybe by selling off the company’s retail chain, collapsed amid disagreement between directors, shareholders and major creditors, in particular the banks. The government even stepped in at the start of the week in the hope they could broker a deal to safeguard the future of the company, and the jobs of the 30,000 people they employ, but no agreement could be reached and, with the government itself unable or unwilling (probably both) to prop the firm up, the Department For Business wasn’t able to help.

What all this means for the Woolworths retail chain and its CD/DVD distribution firm eUK isn’t clear. With the whole retail sector suffering as the recession looms (furniture store MFI is also going into administration today) investment types are pessimistic about Deloitte’s chances of finding a buyer for all or even some of the firm’s retail assets. All 815 Woolworths stores are expected to open today, but some reckon up to a third could close as soon as next week.

The eUK business, probably of a bigger concern to the music industry, has performed much better than its high street sister company of late. It has suffered from cash flow issues recently after certain suppliers froze their credit, concerned, rightly it seems, about the financial stability of the wider Woolworths group. eUK would almost certainly be a stronger company on its own, and is more likely to be snapped up in any sale of assets. Of course the CD/DVD distribution sector isn’t the most stable industry either, and we’ve seen a number of small players close down in the last two years, and even bigger players start to suffer, though as supplier to the majority of high street and supermarket music sellers, eUK is stronger than most in the world of distribution.

Neither the Woolies parent company nor its joint venture with the BBC, DVD firm 2 Entertain, will be part of the administration. As previously reported, the Beeb’s commercial arm BBC Worldwide is already in talks with the retailer to buy out its 40% stake in the company.

Woolies has been struggling for years as supermarkets increasingly trod on their territory by selling cheap toys, clothes, stationery and CDs; and as HMV, Virgin and other entertainment retailers expanded their high street presence; and as upwardly mobile parents started to look for more upmarket toys and clothes for their kids. Management at the retailer consistently failed to reinvent their brand, leaving it seeming a little out of its time, while ventures such as adding Argos-style catalogue shopping into their stores was seen as too little too late.

It’s not a foregone conclusion that the Woolies brand will disappear from our high streets, of course, though Seven Investment Management’s Justin Urqhart-Stewart told City AM: “It’s no surprise Woolies has gone under. The wonder of Woolies was that it was still there. It’s s sad tale of yesterday’s brand which failed to modernise”.

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Wednesday 26 November 2008, 11:40 | By

Woolies share trading on hold

Business News Retail

woolworths

Elsewhere in sort-of-music retail news, trading in shares in Woolworths has been halted so the company can consider its options.

As previously reported, the Woolies board are said to be considering an offer by an outfit called Hilco to buy its retail chain. Well, I say buy, they’d take on the retail chain’s not inconsiderable debts. New reports suggest the Woolworths board is also in talks with BBC Worldwide, with whom it co-owns the 2 Entertain DVD business, regarding the commercial wing of the Beeb buying them out.

With the retail firm’s share price tumbling, trading in Woolies shares has been halted on the London Stock Exchange, pending a statement from the company regarding the possible sale of its high street stores and its 40% stake in 2 Entertain.

If both sales did go through it’s not clear what that would mean for the company’s other main asset, the one of most relevance to the music industry, CD and DVD distributor eUK. Though the most successful bit of the Woolworths empire, eUK has had cash flow issues recently with some suppliers refusing to give the distributor credit because of fears Woolworths at large could go under. With that in mind, eUK may be better off if it is cut free from its high street based sister company. That said, the CD and DVD distribution sector isn’t as strong as it was either.

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Wednesday 26 November 2008, 11:38 | By

HMV to pass on VAT cut

Business News HMV Timeline Retail

HMV

HMV has promised to pass on the reduction in Valued Added Tax to consumers.

As you may have seen, Chancellor Alastair Darling has announced he will cut the VAT rate from 17.5% to 15% as of Monday in a bid to encourage consumers to continue spending despite the pending recession. Of course retailers who actually charge the VAT to customers could continue to charge the same unit price for things and pocket the VAT saving themselves.

But HMV have said they will pass the saving straight onto consumers meaning an £11.99 CD will now sell for £11.74. That said, it is likely price labels will continue to say £11.99 for a while, despite the price cut. Though that’s a nice thing, it means a pleasant surprise when you get to the till. Just don’t get giddy with joy and waste the 25p on a Fudge bar and a Chomp will you?

The music seller said in a statement yesterday: “We are pleased to confirm that the reduction in VAT to 15% will be passed on to customers at the point of purchase, and this will be communicated throughout the store and in our advertising. Although we are passing on the VAT reduction at the point of sale, the re-stickering of our entire stock would represent an enormous undertaking for our sales staff at this very busy time of year, so the prices shown on our product packaging will for the time being remain unchanged”.

In related news, the slightly pessimistic PRS collecting society has said it doesn’t expect the VAT cut to have any real impact on music business, which figures because you’d have to buy a lot of albums for all those 25p savings to add up to anything near enough to justify buying an additional album. All the saved money will probably end up being spent on Fudges and Chomps. Which means Cadburys win again. Damn them.

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Monday 24 November 2008, 17:47 | By

Album Review: Imelda May – Love Tattoo (Ambassador Records)

Album Reviews

Imelda May

Winner of best newcomer at the Irish Music Awards and with adoring words already from Jeff Beck and Jools Holland, you’d be forgiven for expecting big things from Imelda May’s debut album. And things do get off to an explosive start on the appropriately named ‘Johnny Got A Boom Boom’ – an upbeat jazz romp that knows the merits of a toe-tapping bassline. May’s vocals, too, become enlivened on an energetic chorus that offers up a ‘boom boom’ to match Johnny’s. With Winehouse, Duffy and Ava Leigh (amongst God knows how many others) still trying to relive the glory of Holiday, Simone and Esther Phillips though, May has to have more up those leopard-print sleeves than just a decent voice and a good boom. She does come close to finding such distinction with a sassy rock ‘n’ roll delivery that suggests a sultry burlesque style attitude. ‘It’s Your Voodoo’ certainly wouldn’t sound amiss over beautiful women demonstrating just what tassels are for, but there’s still something about May that stops her lasting in the memory. When it comes to the ballads, her voice falters, disappointingly lacking a natural Irish tone and not having the raw power of Winehouse, who, despite her personal problems, still leads the pack. ‘Love Tattoo’ is just too rock ‘n’ roll for the dinner party playlist, but too unsatisfying for any great devotion elsewhere. TM

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Monday 24 November 2008, 16:56 | By

Eddy Says: This week Oi have mostly been blown away by MC Rut

Eddy Says

MC Rut

It’s not an MC, there are no rappers and this is definitely not hip hop.

Middle Class Rut, affectionately known by some as MC Rut, have enjoyed some spot plays on The Remix over the past couple of months. I knew they were from Sacramento. I’ve described them, on air, as a cross between Jane’s Addiction and Deftones. I honestly thought they were a MASSIVE West Coast band, that I had sneaked in a play before they went on the daytime playlist of Xfm and the rest of the world… and I thought this huuuuge-sounding record, ‘Busy Being Born’ was played by at least four large, tattooed men with low slung guitars.

Erm, I should have checked.

I went to The Water Rats – for those who don’t know, a little Kings Cross pub with a tiny stage in its back room (I saw Weezer play there YEARS ago, I think it may have been their first London gig, mid nineties, just before ‘Sweater Song’ came out here) – and there witnessed the awesomness of MCR… both of them… yes, a TWO PIECE. One insane drummer, who sings, too, and one singer guitarist.

If Shychild were a gold sovereign, MCR are the flipside of the same coin, and my God they rock. But they have a sort of dance sensibility about some songs. Hypnotic grooves and harmonied vocals… the drummer hits the kit like it raped his entire family, but then is also capable of a lovely, grace-note smattered drum pattern that sounds like ‘Miss You’ by Blink 182 (Travis is a great drummer and so is this guy).

The gig was constantly on the edge of oblivion. They had two power failures in the first song. The drummer broke his kick pedal halfway through and semi trashed his whole kit, which seemed wobbly from abuse and needed constant adjustment, while he was playing. All of the breakdowns were handled in a totally confident, non-neurotic, charming, entertaining way, and actually added to the show somehow. My God, they are loud. If I didn’t have earplugs in, I probably would have lost all bowel control. They play like they’re playing to thousands, even though there were barely 50 people in there.

I came out thinking “I was there, and in a year 500 people will say they were, too”. I’d love to remix one of their tracks, just so I can support them more on the show, and I’m letting you know so you might consider seeing them when they come back to the UK. You’d have to be quite open minded, this is not dance music but, my word, it is entertaining, and sounds like a breath of fresh air. They have a 7″ out on KIDS, I’d buy it now and hang onto it like it was gold plated.

Listen to Middle Class Rut on MySpace here

X eddy

Eddy Says from this edition of the CMU Remix Update.

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Monday 24 November 2008, 16:05 | By

EP Review: Tim And Sam’s Tim And The Sam Band With Tim And Sam – Put Your Slippers On EP (Full Of Joy Records)

Single Reviews

Tim And Sam Band

Tim And Sam’s Tim And The Sam Band With Tim And Sam (try saying that five times over after a pint or two) are, in their own words, a band who create lovely sounds with as many instruments as they can get their sweet little mitts on. Guitars, glockenspiels, flutes, harmoniums – you name it, they’ve played it – and it’s their instrumental and (almost) no-vocal approach that makes their sound so charmingly rare. Their latest release, four-track EP ‘Put Your Slippers On’, is everything you would expect from such a title: cosy, warm and endearingly quirky. The Margot & The Nuclear So And So’s-esque ‘Stepping Stones’ is a beautiful acoustic highlight, although truthfully every song is a joy. Composed by a patchwork orchestra of eclectic instruments and tied together in the band’s indie-inclined roots, ‘Put Your Slippers On’ is pretty, magical and rich; an emblem of DIY chamber-pop delight. TW

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Monday 24 November 2008, 16:02 | By

EP Review: Society Of Imaginary Friends – The Moors EP (SOIF Music)

Single Reviews

Society Of Imaginary Friends

The Moors EP is a cinematic, atmospheric and chilling collection of three songs that lack the gigantic soundscape of the Society Of Imaginary Friends’ album ‘Sadness Is A Bridge To Love’, opting instead for a fantastically sparse and haunting musical environment. Louise Kleboe’s operatic vocals compound this sound and add a wonderful sense of vulnerability, which set against the pensive, deep, brooding synth notes, culminates into something tender and exposed. Yet the EP is not without its flaws. The delicate instrumentation sounds weak or ineffectual at times – and whilst title track ‘The Moors’ soars, ‘The Lovely Rain’ flounders in comparison. Third track ‘Windows’, meanwhile, confounds all expectations. A truly experimental piece it leaves the listener bewildered and confused; one minute and 31 seconds of a computer error message is read and a build up ensues – pretty much destroying any preconceptions you may have of this band. Certainly SOIF see themselves as interestingly challenging, and at their best they can be, however it often fails to capture the listener’s attention, or goes full hog and leaves the listener disorientated. SJS

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Monday 24 November 2008, 15:59 | By

Single Review: Plugs – Imaginary Friend (People In The Sky)

Single Reviews

Plug

Something tells me Plugs got together in the wake of Hot Chip’s success. Either that or they’ve been gazzumped by the ‘Over And Over’ stars. Their single, ‘Imaginary Friend’, is highly indebted to their more noted London counterparts. It has very similar vocal mannerisms and song structure, and an interplay of synths, samples and drum machines of what I would deem a standard Hot Chip song. It is quite good in its own right, yet I can’t trust a band who sounds that similar to a recent flavour of the month. Needles to say this will appeal to (or gall) fans of that other band I have mentioned a lot in this review. PG

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Monday 24 November 2008, 15:55 | By

Single Review: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – Everything With You (Fortuna POP!)

Single Reviews

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

It’s near irrelevant for any modern indie guitar band to cite The Smiths as an influence. If your guitars dare to jangle, we know you’ve listened to Johnny Marr. New York’s The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart are no different in their early inspirations (at least according to their press release), and there are certainly shimmers of electric intricacy like their key influencer’s early work. But there’s so much more on offer here than lazy stereotyping. Past the picking is a voice reminiscent of a more comprehensible Kevin Shields, produced to be offer a distant omnipotence, as well as excitable drums and discordant undercurrent that would aspire to self-indulgent shoe-gaze were it not for the occasional spark of a welcome riff to offer populist reason. Not as good as The Smiths, of course, but they shouldn’t try to be. TM

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Monday 24 November 2008, 15:51 | By

Single Review: Kathy Brown vs White Knights – Sound Of The City (Champion Records)

Single Reviews

Kathy Brown

I’m really struggling to find anything positive to say about this single release by house-diva Kathy Brown. For some reason the track and its various remixes are currently inhabiting the playlists of Junior Vasquez and Paul Van Dyk; I have no idea why, there’s a mix I’m yet to hear that has opted to completely remove Kathy Brown’s unoriginal, screeching vocals. The song was written by ‘Dancing On Ice’ personality Jason Gardiner, apparently after he was influenced by the “sound of Soho”. I can only imagine Gardiner is talking about a Soho from about 20 years ago as this track is a horribly dated tune that has brought tears to my eyes after just having to hear it a few times. I’m sure there’s some group of people, somewhere who might like this. I don’t know any of these people and I’m glad. GM

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Monday 24 November 2008, 15:48 | By

Single Review: Hafdis Huld – Stop (Red Grape Records)

Single Reviews

Hafdis Huld

Iceland’s economy may not be at its healthiest, but one thing that is thriving on that rocky outpost in the Atlantic is a creativity for music that seems resistant to any economic woes. Hafdis Huld is a blonde beauty with piercing eyes and a controlled bob, but it’s her voice that matters on this Sam Brown cover, and it is a sweet pleasure. It may lack the unique quirky tones of Bjork that may be expected, but underlying is a subtle inflection that holds interest. That track too is pleasant enough, aiming for a more credible, Fiona Apple-influenced female folk route than the large-lunged original. Hopefully, it’ll give some of her countrymen reason to smile. TM

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Monday 24 November 2008, 15:44 | By

Single Review: The Gentle Good – While You Slept, I Went Out Walking (Gwymon Records)

Single Reviews

The Gentle Good

In many ways, The Gentle Good could be the Welsh Mull Historical Society. There’s a shared story: a one man band makes very personal music, all of which earns adoration from critics and broadcasters in their homeland, but never quite grasps the attention of discerning music fans elsewhere in Britain. Where Gareth Bonello, under the guise of The Gentle Good, differs from Colin MacIntyre (aka Mull Historical Society) is in his style, choosing a delicate folk blend of finger-picked guitar, cello and harp that doesn’t quite match MacIntyre’s power pop tendencies. The quality is just as high though, with Bonello’s voice a tender beauty that is graceful in English, yet even more intimately exquisite when singing in Welsh. Yes, Bonello does follow the lead of such compatriots as Gruff Rhys and Cerys Matthews by offering some Welsh language lyrics – blissful accounts of unknown (to these ears) quantities that really need no understanding to appreciate. The album’s title is easier to make sense of though, and encapsulates what this album exists for. It’s the soundtrack to sleep, lulling and gentle, but also perfect for a crisp morning walk through leaves and frost, as your nose stings and you pull your jacket tighter. Just mind the hedgehogs. TM

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Monday 24 November 2008, 15:42 | By

Single Review: Frankmusik – 3 Little Words (Universal)

Single Reviews

Frank Musik

The third single from the Pop Justice endorsed (and rightly so) Vincent Frank sees him hook up with producer of the moment (that moment being sometime in 2005-6) Stuart Price. It’s a welcome match – the effervescent main track recalls, amongst other thing, Stuart Price’s Zoot Woman outfit, although this is far more hyperactive than ZW’s slick, chilled soul pop. There’s also a brief but rather fun squelchy synth funk middle bit, which wouldn’t have been out of place on Chromeo’s ‘Fancy Footwork’. Meanwhile the accompanying Black Gardenia version – just Vincent and a piano – shows that there is a songwriter of promise to admire once you strip away all the bells and whistles. Elsewhere, ‘Better Of As Two’ crams all sorts of pop ideas into its brief, thrilling life, whilst ‘Run Away From Trouble’ is an icy synth rock ballad with a touch of the epic about it but never overblown. Good stuff. MS

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Monday 24 November 2008, 15:29 | By

Single Review: Florence And The Machine – Dog Days Are Over (Moshi Moshi)

Single Reviews

Florence And The Machine

South London’s Florence And The Machine has been on Britain’s indie circuit for a good few years now, producing pretty, multi-instrumental and often breathtaking tunes. ‘Dog Days Are Over’, Florence’s newest release, does not disappoint – it, in fact, does anything but. Beautiful, exhilarating and anthemic, ‘Dog Days Are Over’ is a true testament to Florence’s integrity as an inspirational and endearingly charismatic artist. Produced by James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco, ‘Dog Days’ is gorgeously composed and builds up just at the right moments, proving that a pretty song by a pretty lady can be a pretty bloody awesome sing-aloud anthem. Listen out for B-side ‘You’ve Got The Love’, a spine-tingling cover of The Source’s hugely popular dance hit that Florence truly makes her own. TW

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Monday 24 November 2008, 15:25 | By

Single Review: Envy – Friday Night (Stopstart)

Single Reviews

Envy

I’m sure it’s happened to you before. While working your way through a bottle of Tesco’s finest value vodka before hitting a night club (in a gallant bid to get that Friday feeling without paying a club’s drink prices) you suddenly lose the ability to aesthetically assess everyone around you. Something similar seems to be happening to Envy who here painstakingly tells us of her troubles finding Mr Right after “Malibu, Sambuca and JD”. All you can do is sympathise. A very funny song, backed with a cavernous and dirty bassline, this is a bit like Wiley meets Lily Allen. And while that sounds like a horrendous proposition, it actually makes for entertaining, danceable music that doesn’t even offend in the chorus when the cheesy synths swell in. As we thankfully reach a Brit-school lull, watch out for Envy, because now’s her chance. GB

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Monday 24 November 2008, 15:20 | By

Single Review: Clinic – Tomorrow (Domino)

Single Reviews

Clinic

Liverpool mentalists Clinic are back with another mind-messing track that sounds like something Kasabian would use to serenade Lou Reed with: sharp, utterly abstract and jarring in the best possible ways. Filled with echoing, surreal vocals and a harsh, grating foundation of acoustic guitars and constant, vintage-esque drum rolls that sound like bones rattling, ‘Tomorrow’ has a true Raveonettes-ish feel to it, but otherwise sounds like nothing else out there. Released to coincide with the band’s collaboration with animator Clemens Habicht, who will be providing an animated multimedia experience for their upcoming lives shows this month, ‘Tomorrow’ is another fine offering. TW

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Monday 24 November 2008, 15:17 | By

Single Review: Andy J Gallagher – Something Else (Waga Waga)

Single Reviews

Andy J Luminaire

There’s certainly a place in music for the less pitch perfect vocalist. Joe Strummer, Isaac Brock and Johnny Rotten have all overcome tonal shortcomings with passion that revelled in spite, love and anger. Andy J Gallagher faces a similar problem as such luminaries, yet fails in his attempt to dig deep for the emotion necessary to neatly smooth over the biggest flaw a singer could probably have. And it’s a shame, too. ‘Something Else’ is a perfectly valid punk pop tune that offers a bitterness akin to the late seventies post-punk outfit Magazine, yet never takes itself too seriously. But it’s hard to conjure up a definitive opinion for a song whose creator can only offer despondence and boredom in its execution. Write the songs, Andy. Just get someone else to sing. TM

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Monday 24 November 2008, 15:15 | By

Single Review: Alphabeat – What Is Happening (EMI/Virgin)

Single Reviews

Alphabeat

Alphabeat, the band that everyone loves to hate and hates to love, are back with their fourth single, and just like their previous releases, it’s an “I’ll get stuck in your head all day” kind of affair. Perhaps a slower offering than the likes of ‘Fascination’ and ‘Boyfriend’, ‘What Is Happening’ starts off a little weakly but escalates into a wonderful sing-along chorus, paving the way for the rest of the song to jump into that wonderfully cheery and proudly gaudy place that Alphabeat have made their own. Whether you love them or loathe them, there’s no denying that Alphabeat are clear about what they do and how they want to sound. They are pure, unadulterated pop, and they’re damn well proud of it – and why shouldn’t they be? TW

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Monday 24 November 2008, 11:07 | By

Album Review: Various Artists – Be True To Your School: A Fortuna POP! Compilation (Fortuna POP!)

Album Reviews

Fortuna Pop Compilation

Fortuna POP! is a small north London record label that has a staunchly indie ethic that has delivered character-filled gems from C86-influenced bands and the like since 1996. Not many of these bands are what would be called seminal artists, however they constitute a vital component of British music – entertaining the kind of shuffling under-confident indie kid that listens to Tallulah Gosh and looks straight out of ‘Ghost World’ (rather than today’s day glow brash youth). This is a great compilation that is varied and of almost unwavering quality. I can even suffer the aspects that sound like Belle And Sebastian (who I personally despise). Every song is obviously made by people who make music for the love of music rather than any other consideration. It oozes authenticity reminiscent of ‘Nuggets’, the great proto-punk-psych compilation series. There are many highlights and it is pretty arbitrary for me to pick out single bands, but anyway, I will. Bearsuit feature with ‘Itsuko Got Married’ and sound like the Pixies if they were made for a kids TV show complete with recorders and brass. Milky Wimpshake are geeky-powerpop with a very similar – if slightly watered down – aesthetic to The Wedding Present. The Tender Trap sound like the band from Kevin Smith film ‘Chasing Amy’ mixed with The Breeders. Finlay are classic alt-rock influenced British indiepop complete with a shitty but brilliant keyboard in the background. This is a musical alternative to valium. If you can’t enjoy this, despite its flaws, you are a bad person. PG

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Monday 24 November 2008, 11:03 | By

Album Review: The Tenants Supermen – The Tenants Supermen (Self-released)

Album Reviews

The Tenants Supermen

Do you remember how on ‘She’s Electric’ the suspect rhyming style kind of felt like they were getting away with murder? But then they were sort of let off cause, well, it was Oasis wasn’t it? Well, Tenants Supermen aren’t Oasis. And they can’t get away with it one bit. Consisting of GLC ‘rapper’ Adam Hussain and “Newport’s number one cabaret DJ” Graham The Bear, this release is possibly the worst thing I have ever heard.

When the seminal Welsh rap group burst on to a fast stagnating UK hip-hop scene, they attacked everything in sight with the ferocity of a leek-wielding angry dragon. Lisps challenged perceptions left, right and centre, and a moral message from on high rained down, smiting advocates of rap’s relationship with firearms. I may have been exaggerating a bit there, but stick the collective GLC product next to this ‘effort’ and you can’t help but pray for those glory days.

This album contains lines like, “My dick is big and nasty, like a chunky Cornish pasty”. Where GLC had the odd punchline that caught you off guard, teasing a smile, Tenant’s Supermen make you want to hurt things. Mainly them. “But we’ve got bills to pay, and that is gay”. Oh God. And the only possible way to describe the backing is if Har Mar lost all his decent keyboards, his sense of irony, and all but one finger on each hand. “They won’t take my cans from the wheelie bin, I hide them in a bin bag but that’s a sin”. For fuck’s sake. ME

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Monday 24 November 2008, 10:58 | By

Album Review: Remember Remember – Remember Remember (Rock Action)

Album Reviews

Remember Remember

I am beginning to think that Animal Collective are well on their way to sacred cow touchstone band status (a la the Velvet Underground). So many recent albums I have heard are – in some way – indebted to the acid victim Brooklyn band. Remember Remember’s album is another artefact to add to the cannon of work. So much of it is Animal Collective-lite instrumentation that, whilst being complicated and displaying a high level of musicianship, it fails to imbue any discrete personality. And, possibly due to the heavily produced and carefully composed nature of Remember Remember, they don’t possess the cracks of accidental brilliance that this genre can offer. Their songs are pretty and often epic, with cinematic sweeps of psychedelic harmonics and the what now seems to be the obligatory twinkles of reverb ready guitars or triangles etc. But it remains quite twee and peaceful, with songs like ‘Fountain’ reminiscent of Durutti Column, if Martin Hannet hadn’t stolen Vinny Reilly’s Space Echo. ‘Mountain’, meanwhile, parodies Múm and Yann Tiersen so closely, either band could arguably claim royalties (if they were bastards). Apparently, the album is intended as a modern classical work, which could explain its more staid nature and sonic nods to Tiersen, Eno and Glass. Yet this album inhabits a musical compromise between the weird and the conservatoire, and never exceeds the sum of its influences. Nevertheless, their live shows are supposed to be filled with Kaufmann-esque weirdness, which I am excited to investigate. PG

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Monday 24 November 2008, 10:53 | By

Album Review: Kelli Ali – Rocking Horse (One Little Indian)

Album Reviews

Kelli Ali

Those who are not familiar with Kelli Ali’s solo work may remember her as the lead singer of underrated trip-hoppers The Sneaker Pimps, where she provided the vocals for their internationally successful debut album, ‘Becoming X’. Since parting ways with the band in 1996, she has gone on to release two solo albums and has collaborated with artists such as Marilyn Manson, The Doors’ John Densmore, Brian Ferry and Paul Oakenfold. ‘Rocking Horse’, Ali’s third release, is a collection of yarns inspired by her travels of recent years that brought her primarily to the dusty roads of California and Mexico. Gone is the dub-pop trend of old and in its place is a sound that is noticeably closer to her heart. Rich with the textured, folky harmonies of violins, wind instruments and campfire-tinged acoustics, ‘Rocking Horse’ is a record that takes the evocative cadence of Ali’s vocals to new and spellbinding heights. Stand out tracks include the album’s own title song, a rolling acoustic journey with a beautiful violin solo vaguely similar to Patrick Wolf’s ‘Wind In The Wires’. ‘A Storm In A Teacup’ is a delicate and playfully titled tune, and yet again it is the use of strings that invoke its gentle melancholy. It is hard to compare Ali to anyone else out there, and difficult again to relate ‘Rocking Horse’ to another record. Both are in a league of their own and reminiscent of no clear other, and while some listeners may find her difficult to understand, it is her free-spirited quirkiness that makes Kelli Ali so special. TW

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Monday 24 November 2008, 10:49 | By

Album Review: Jesse Malin – Mercury Retrograde: Live In New York City (One Little Indian)

Album Reviews

Jesse Malin

It’s a harsh question to ask, but just what is the point of this album? And more significantly what is the point of Jesse Malin? Surely, the world has enough male singer-songwriters, with a touch of whisky in their voice and a flaccid opinion of Western government eager to be got off their chest? And there’s probably (actually make that ‘definitely’) a good few better than Jesse Malin with their own derivative live albums to flog. Malin’s attempt though is competent, of course, with a piano, acoustic guitar and female backing offering a less pained version of what one might expect at a Ryan Adams’ show. But, ultimately, it’s let down by a lack of songwriting quality. No matter what the arrangement or setting, ‘On The Radio’ will be self-indulgent whimsy that fails to ignite the meaning it longs for, and ‘Cigarettes And Violets’ will never amount to any more adoring description than that of “Rufus Wainwright reject”. Forget the songs though, and this album still rankles, with contrived opinion on Bush and ‘how to listen to music’ that only further Malin’s vacuity in purpose. For (surely easily impressed) fans, it may offer some enjoyment for single figure listenings, but with so much music out there, others may be advised in pleasures elsewhere. TM

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Monday 17 November 2008, 17:01 | By

Eddy Says: What happened to Remix Night?

Eddy Says

The Remix

Good question. Cargo’s longest running and best night fell by the wayside, as these things do, when new broom came in and brushed clean.

Cargo employed new programmers to book nights there, which they did, on their terms. The unfortunate fact was that they told us we had to change the deal and fall in line with these new terms.

We were already stretched as far as we could go. Two to three live bands and three or so DJs isn’t cheap, but that’s what made the night great. I was already getting these acts to play for a fraction of their worth, and at that stage I hadn’t been paid for over two years.

That’s the key here, almost everybody involved was working for nothing, or near nothing, to make a really great night for a brilliant crowd, or, rather, a family of people. The new deal would have compromised our beloved night, and we didn’t think you deserved that, and we certainly didn’t want to be percieved as short changing our family.

We have, of course, done a couple of Remix All-Nighters since, and we have something very exciting lined up for next year. Going forward there’s nothing I’d like more than to do a regular Remix Night again, somewhere else… we just haven’t found the right place for it yet. I hear Matter is nice…

X eddy

Eddy Says from this edition of the CMU Remix Update.

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Monday 17 November 2008, 11:59 | By

Album Review: Essie Jain – The Inbetween (The Leaf Label)

Album Reviews

Essie Jain

If there was one label you wouldn’t have bet on releasing an album of Joni Mitchell-esque piano-led chamber pop, it would be Leaf, but ‘The Inbetween’ is not only one of the experimental label’s most accessible releases, it’s also one of their best. Essie Jain is a New York based Londoner with a pristine and versatile voice, who works with a variety of musicians who give colour to her vocals with simple but eclectic instrumentation. Opener ‘Eavesdrop’ is actually the best thing here – an impossibly tender ballad built around a plaintive piano refrain and Jain’s expressive crystalline vocals. Variety immediately follows: ‘Here We Go’ is upbeat and stirring whilst ‘I Ask You’ is a lonesome bluesy retreat with wintry guitar from Patrick Glynn. ‘The Rights’, meanwhile is a positively theatrical delight. Accomplished songwriting and evocative arrangements all make ‘The Inbetween’ a magical listen at times. Recommended. MS

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Monday 17 November 2008, 11:54 | By

Album Review: Belle And Sebastian – The BBC Sessions (Jeepster)

Album Reviews

Belle And Sebastian

Belle And Sebastian supergeeks and fans alike have been patiently waiting for a follow up to 2006 album ‘The Life Pursuit’. This isn’t it. But, as you will have seen above, that new album is on the way. Meanwhile, this is a collection of BBC recordings for Mark Radcliffe, Steve Lamacq and John Peel, which span over five years, between 1996 and 2001. Featuring songs from their debut ‘Tigermilk’, through to their fourth album ‘Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like Peasant’ the 14 tracks are a wonderful reminder of B&S’s formative past, and include alternate versions of favourites ‘The Wrong Girl’ and ‘Lazy Line Painter Jane’. While the compilation is perhaps lacking some of the sessions those aforementioned supergeeks would hope for, it is on the whole a pretty comprehensive collection featuring tracks that built the foundations of the band’s cult status. As a special treat, there are also four previously unreleased tracks, including ‘The Magic Of A Kind Word’ and ‘Shoot The Sexual Athlete’, which are held in high regard by many fans not only for their degree of rarity, but also because they are the last studio recordings to feature Isobel Campbell. So, while you wait for that new album, this is certainly enough to get your teeth into. DH

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Monday 17 November 2008, 11:49 | By

Single Review: Stars And Sons – In The Ocean (Alcopop)

Single Reviews

Stars And Sons

Noah And The Whale offered up their take on the indie pop anthem earlier this year with ‘5 Years Time’ giving Mighty Boosh fans a few new dance moves to show off at their underage discos. The band’s contrived image though, with tweed, trilbies and waistcoats galore, made it all just a bit too hard to stomach. It’s good news then that Stars And Sons, aka Mike Lord, has created something as equally joyous in its three-minute pop ways, yet without any smug pretension to mire its good intentions. Citing both The Flaming Lips and Amiga classic, videogame ‘Monkey Island’, as equal influences, it’s no surprise this single revels in its fun attitude, not once getting above its hand-claps and ‘ooh-oohs’. Mike won’t be wearing sunglasses indoors any time soon. TM

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Monday 17 November 2008, 11:46 | By

Single Review: Jay Jay Pistolet – Happy Birthday To You EP (Stiff Records)

Single Reviews

Jay Jay Pistolet

Jay Jay Pistolet is 21 year-old Justin Hayward Young. He is next in that shuffling line of soft-hearted and subdued British singer-songwriters who write songs of the heart rather than the head, and whose instruments of choice are busted old acoustic guitars, toy xylophones and ukuleles. Produced by Charlie Fink of Noah And The Whale, ‘Happy Birthday To You’ is a gentle and extremely charming four-track debut EP that perfectly showcases Jay Jay’s soothing and tender vocal stylings. Stand out track ‘Always On My Way Back Home’ is a dulcet ode where Jay Jay claims his kind is a dying breed – funny that, when there seems to have been a sudden flux of navel-gazing sensitive songbirds who could likely give Conor Oberst a run for his tear-sodden money. But when the lyrics are this humble and the voice is this raw, there is no doubt that in his sadness Jay Jay will cause many a listener to fall in love with him. TW

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Monday 17 November 2008, 11:44 | By

Single Review: Howling Bells – Into The Chaos (Independiente)

Single Reviews

Howling Bells

It’s very hard to hear ‘Into The Chaos, which is the first release taken from Howling Bells’ second LP, without your mind concocting a barrage of memories of likewise female fronted pop bands. The most obvious comparison to draw is Garbage vocalist and recent Terminator-the-TV-show star Shirley Manson. There’s nothing wrong with this, but ultimately the ground explored here will be nothing new to most listeners. Also, while Juanita Stein’s breathy voice is infectious and the lead guitar is haunting, the track seems to build towards a dramatic climax that just doesn’t appear. Instead, the end of the track sort of drifts off and leaves the listener feeling slightly cheated. However, the single does serve as a half decent promise of good things to come from the aforementioned new LP, which is due for release in February. GM

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