Posts tagged Cats on Fire

Playlist from Moogie Wonderland 24 June

0
7 months ago
in

Last night was our second DJing experience, and it was rather a contrast to the first time around.  It was all rather last minute, meaning I didn’t have five weeks to fret about song choices.  It was in a coffee shop instead of a bar with a dance floor, and given the rain and other factors, there wasn’t exactly a big turnout.  Didn’t matter though as I still ended up enjoying myself immensely.  Here’s what I played:

1. – Tell Me Something I Don’t Know

2. Belle & Sebastian – Your Cover’s Blown

3. – The Mild Mannered Army

4. – Banned at the Troxy

5. – Carve a Pattern

6. – Lost Weekend

7. – Hopelessly Wasted

8. – You Can Hide Your Love Forever

9. – C Is The Option

10. – Perfection As A Hipster

11. – True Love/Youth

12. – Your Feelings Don’t Show

13. – My Terrible Friend

14. – Higher Grounds

15. – I Love You Like A Madman

16. – Dinner Party

17. Allo Darlin’ – Let’s Go Swimming

18. – Cross the Line

Cover: Cats on Fire do White Town

0
1 year ago
in , , ,

Now if you’re around my age, you’ll likely have vague memories of ’s number one single Your Woman from 1997.  If you’re anything like me, you probably didn’t think that much of it at the time either.  White Town (actually just one man, Jyoti Mishra) never reached such heights again afterwards and were quickly written off as a “one hit wonder”.  In the years since, White Town have kept recording and has negotiated himself into the current indiepop scene, which will even extend to a slot at this year’s Indietracks festival.

Which leads us to this cover.  have been covering this song live for quite some time now, and it’s become something of a staple in their setlists.  The above video was from the last Indietracks where it went down a storm.  I’ve long maintained that lead singer Mattias Björkas can make virtually any song sound superb purely by virtue of his voice, and this is no exception.  While in retrospect, the original White Town version is far better than I ever thought at the time, this is just lovely.  The vocal dominates, making the gender skewing nature of the original even more pronounced.

MP3 Cats on Fire – Your Woman

The song is featured on a new compilation entitled Dealing in Antiques.  Collecting no less than 20 Cats on Fire recordings dating from between 2002 and 2010, it will be released on May 12 in both North and South America on the absolutely brilliant Matinée Recordings.  It’ll also be released in Europe on the same day via Johanna Kustannus.

Website / Myspace / Twitter

Cats on Fire bring free single goodness

0
2 years ago
in

I first heard of Finland’s a few years back, but didn’t pay them much attention until Indietracks last year. Sadly I only caught part of their set due to heading outside for . What I did see though was a band playing to ton of enthusiastic fans in a railway shed (video of them bringing the dancing here!) that really won me over, and by the end of the day, I’d picked up their most recent album from the merch table.

I still need to rummage through their back catalogue some more, but assuming they make it back to Indietracks again this year, I’ll be there front and centre for their entire set this time. Still, that’s another six months away yet, and as a precursor for the year, the band have put out a free double a-side single. A-side The Hague is a little sparser than I would have expected from them but certainly interesting. The Borders of This Land is the second song, and is much more traditionally Cats on Fire. Both have value, giving two entirely different directions that the band could easily follow in the future.

You can download the single in full (including a-side The Hague) from Cosy Recordings.

Website / Myspace / Twitter

22 Songs

1
2 years ago
in ,

I’ve missed far too much music in the past year to make a proper best of list, so instead, here’s a list of 22 songs that I’ve loved from 2009. Listed in alphabetical order, not preference. Even though all of them are bloody good.

– Preaching to the Converted
So 2009 didn’t turn out to be the year that 4 or 5 Magicians finally “made it”. They did manage to put out their first proper album though, and despite a few missteps, it’s an excellent start. Dan Ormsby’s great talent as a songwriter shine through throughout, perfectly chronicling both a struggling band and the state of the country side by side.
Obama is your new Che Guevara / Scouting for Girls are your new Nirvana / You’ve written ‘Free Tibet’ on the back of your hand / But you figure Tibet is a part of Iran
Youtube

Allo Darlin’ – Henry Rollins Don’t Dance
Pretty much the song of the year for me, although The Polaroid Song put in another strong effort for Allo Darlin’ Seemingly going from strength to strength at the moment, I’m half expecting them to be everywhere this year.
But in my head you’re Patrick Swayze / You drag me from the corner and call me ‘baby’ / But baby you don’t even wanna see Dirty Dancing
Youtube

– Another City, Another Sorry
The album as a whole never quite lived up to the promise, but The Answering Machine did manage to deliver some superb individual songs. Kind of what the Arctic Monkeys might be sounding like now if they hadn’t turned to shit.
I’m sort of lacking certainty / Situations tease the drunk out of me
mp3

– Demons Out!
Three albums in and Art Brut seem to be stuck in a holding pattern. No real advancement in terms of songs or abilities. A set of decent songs that are a hell of a lot better when performed live due to the natural charisma of Eddie Argos. I suspect Art Brut are about as a popular as they are ever going to be at this point. Which is why we can expect plenty more songs like Demons Out! in the future.
How am I supposed to sleep at night when no one likes the music we write / Record buying public, we hate them / This is Art Brut vs. Satan
Youtube

– French Navy
2009 seemed to be the year that Camera Obscura finally came into their own, to the extent that after 13 years, the band were finally able to give up their day jobs. Each album has seen the band grow considerably, with more complex and elaborate arrangements making their way in. It might have taken a while, but they certainly aren’t the “female Belle & Sebastian” any longer.
Spent a week in a dusty library / Waiting for some words to jump at me
Youtube

– Horoscope
The album was a little patchy, but Horoscope is an excellent little song. Mattias Björkas’s voice is the standout attraction here. He may sound like a Euro-Morrissey, but it’s incredibly easy to drift away in his voice.
I don’t believe in happy ever after / A pyramid scheme, I keep telling you
mp3

– Pink Sabbath
A band that creates such a ruckus that they require a whole new genre has to be created for them (fight pop). Dananananaykroyd’s album was an assault on the ears from start to finish, but in a good way. If such a thing is possible.
Buy it, run it, kick it, fuck it, yeah
mp3

– First Love
It took her the best part of five years, but Emmy the Great’s debut album just about lived up the high expectations. Boldly leaving off a number of “old favourites” in favour of a more structured collection, the album is a grower, but worth investing the time in.
You said I have a room / At the top of the stairs / I have a room with a view
Youtube

– Something Global
Possibly the most exciting band that I came across this year, I can’t think of album that has anywhere near as much play on my car stereo. And boy does it sound superb when bombing along at speed. Wonderfully unhinged.
So give me my hook / I know it might sound lame / Do you like my new look? / Waistcoats are so today
Youtube

– The Year of Letting You Down
The first of two songs on this list to feature Catherine Ireton, who quickly became one of my favourite voices. A small start for someone who deserves to be huge.
I met with a little success in my work / You wouldn’t call it taking off / But you wouldn’t call it starving
mp3

–
..and here’s the second. For some reason that’s baffling to me, the Gold Help the Girl album didn’t seem to get the acclaim I expected it to. The fact it’s not showing up on many end of year lists is deeply confusing to me, but I suppose you can’t win them all. The song choice here is pretty arbitrary, as it could have just as easily been I’ll Have To Dance With Cassie, Musician Please Take Heed or a handful more.
The dawn will touch me in a way a boy could never touch / Their promise never meant so much to me
Youtube

– Choose Yr Side and Shut Up!
An excellent song from what was an ultimately disappointing second album. Don’t get me wrong, I do like it and all, but it doesn’t even come close to Waited Up Til It Was Light. This album opener hints at the bigger things in store though. Short and to the point, it has anthem written all over it.
So we scattered pretty / Arcs across the city / Turned pockets of doubt / Into blankets of hope
Youtube

Let’s Wrestle – We Are The Men You’ll Grow To Love Soon
A slightly disjointed debut album from Let’s Wrestle still brought us a bunch of excellent little songs, if nothing incredibly exciting. Still, a band very much of their time. Few others can so perfectly articulate life in modern Britain.
We’re going down the job centre / And soon we’ll come out with a job
Youtube

Loney, Dear – Airport Surroundings
Typically late to the party with stuff like this, I never got into Loney, Dear (is there a comma or not?) much when the critically loved Loney, Noir came out. I absolutely love Airport Surroundings though. You’d think that would inspire me to check out the rest of the album, but I still haven’t got around to it. One day.
The last pain got away when I gave up myself / I bought a ticket to hell when I met up with you
mp3

! – The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future
Utterly, utterly perfect. The album is quite good too. So I’m told.
I ask her to speak French and then I need her to translate / I get the feeling she makes the meaning more significant
mp3

– Footsteps
The debut album from Pocketbooks delivered on all of the promise of the past few years. One indie pop gem after another, it makes me very excited for the future. From their adoration soaked performance at Indietracks to high profile support slot of God Help the Girl, bigger things are almost certainly in their future.
From the supermarket aisles to the dance floors of provincial towns / I’d occupy my vacant hours just waiting for something
mp3

– Molten Hearts
It always great when you discover a great band that is still rocking as if it’s 1994, and that’s exactly what Projekt A-ko do. Distortion, lazy vocals and even the odd “woo”. More like this in 2010 please.
I’ve got no fashion sense / I haven’t got any sense / I’ll never make any sense
Lastfm

– Break
Another band unashamedly influenced by the 90s US indie rock scene, Stagecoach bring the sound of Seattle to Brighton. Break is three minutes of song perfection, from a band we’ll be hearing a lot more of in the near future.
It’s not like her to cross the line / But she crossed it before and she’s gonna cross it one more time / Shit breaks / I kick in her face
mp3

– Super Sad Morgan
Pretty much any song from the supremely talented Ben Parker could have made it onto the list. I actually debated placing a Nosferatu D2 song on here, but it seemed to be pushing things a little. His songs are a masterclass in the writing of lyrics. Quite why a label hasn’t snapped him up is completely beyond me.
If someone mentions Woolworths again I think I’m gonna combust / We stole all of the Pic ‘n’ Mix from out her hearts
Lastfm

– Black Heart Blue Eyes
One of the most beautiful songs of the year from a band I really need to listen to more of. Black Heart Blue Eyes has such a wonderfully theatrical sound to it, topped off with some perfectly snappy wordplay.
Bigotry’s obligatory around here / There’s nothing for me to defend / Just got to go
mp3

– Berlin, Without Return…
Everything that the debut album should have been but never managed. Ramesh Srivastava’s vocal is as pitch perfect as ever, once again with a song worthy of his talents.
Do you spend your whole life trying to get back home? / Where do you go?
Youtube

– The Wolf
Now a fully formed band, The Young Republic may not be the same band they were a few years ago, but they know exactly what they want to be. Shifting from orchestral indie pop to Americana isn’t the easiest leap, but they’ve pulled it off with style. Incredibly self assured.
It hasn’t been this bad since my grandpa was a kid / He made it through, he never told us what he did
Youtube

Indietracks 2009: Saturday

1
2 years ago
in , ,
Indietracks 2009

(Apologies for the lateness of these reviews. I came back from Indietracks and quickly came down with something I immediately feared to be swine flu. Thankfully, I was quickly reassured that it was merely twee flu and that it was perfectly normal. What a relief.)

Indietracks isn’t the first festival I’ve gone to this year, nor will it be the last. It’s hard to see how it will be anything other than the most enjoyable event of the year though. Launched in 2007, Indietracks is the ultimate in niche festivals. A tiny capacity, a very precise view of the kind of bands it puts on, with all of this set in a small rail yard. It’s a wonderful feeling (and an unheard one at a festival) that you can walk between any of the stages within a couple of minutes. Most importantly of all, it’s by far the nicest festival that you’ll ever visit.

Indietracks 2009

Arriving at Butterley station on Saturday morning, things didn’t seem so perfect. Bands are starting to play, yet to access the site you have to wait a little while for a steam train to come along and take you there. It’s not a huge inconvenience, and one that was rectified on each return trip to the site by driving around back lanes and being able to park right by the main stage. Seeing as there was nobody on immediately that I was excited about upon reaching the site, there was time to pop round to Brittan Pit Farm. The llamas there have become the stuff of Indietracks legend, and it was mildly disappointing to not see them spit on anyone while visiting. No problem though, as the farm as a whole proved to be a lot of fun, with it’s dalmatian ponies, goats and birds regularly providing a welcome diversion from the festival excitement.

The Frank & Walters ended up being the first band caught in the afternoon, who I wasn’t familiar with beforehand. Typically, just as I arrived to watch their set, they suffered a power cut, which ended up with them having a kickabout on stage (almost bringing it down in the process) to fill the time. They were back on track again within a few minutes, and they turn out to be a pretty enjoyable way to get started. At times they come across a little rocky and perhaps out of place at such an event (at one point asking “is this a trainspotters festival?”), but they seem to go down quite well with everyone.

Butcher Boy

Wandering over to the train shed, which acts as the main indoor stage, it’s time for , a Glasgow band I’ve liked for a while now. This was the first time seeing them live, and they managed to greatly impress. Their songs lose none of the zeal of their recordings. Sounding perfectly arranged, in a few minutes they managed to prove that not all indiepop has to sound ramshackle. Unfortunately, I have to confess that I didn’t pay attention to a part of their set as I’d spotted the mighty merch stall for the first time. A vigorous browsing session later and I’d left with albums by and , a label sampler, a Ballboy shirt and some Fortuna Pop badges. I could have spent a hell of a lot more there, so let’s be thankful that there wasn’t a cash machine on site.

Cats on Fire

Some general wandering of the site followed, which saw a bit of Speedmarket Avenue’s set (fine, but not really my cup of tea) and The Lovely Eggs setting up on the church stage. Annoyingly, the setting up was about all I did see, the heat/crowd in the church quickly becoming too much. Apparently their set was incredibly good too. Back to the train shed again, and it’s time for Cats on Fire, a wonderful band from Finland, who manage to bring on the dancing for the first time of the weekend. Their set was rather heavy on their latest album, which I hadn’t heard much of beforehand, but the almighty singalong and general happiness that radiated through the set meant that I had a copy by the time I left the festival. Alas, I missed the later part of their set as it was time to wander over to the main stage for .

Camera Obscura

I was a little anxious about seeing Camera Obscura as while I’m a big fan of their music, they don’t seem to have the greatest live reputation. Fears are rapidly quelled though with a stunning set that healthily mixes in new album material with a number of the old classics. The band themselves may look utterly miserable on stage (I’m sure they aren’t really), but the beautifully arranged sound played out with a backdrop of the sun setting behind the stage makes for one of the performances of the festival.

Emmy the Great

Back to the train shed once again where should be playing, but there’s actually no sign of her. Nothing has been set up on stage, everyone looks a bit confused and I even overhear someone discussing how she hasn’t turned up yet. Eventually her band hurry onto the stage about 45 minutes after the scheduled stage time, and within minutes the set is under way. Apologies are made about being stuck in traffic on the M1 in between songs, but it’s seemingly ruined any flow the set may have had. She lurches from song to song without a setlist, constantly checking how long she’s been playing for before finishing up barely past the thirty minute mark. Still, the storming version of Where Is My Mind? means that most complaints are quickly overlooked. As a whole, the songs individually are fine, but as a set, it left a lot to be desired.

This is about where Saturday at Indietracks ends up for me. On the way out, I caught a few minutes of La Casa Azul, who was putting on an electro-pop set both mystifying and brilliant on the main stage. Would have stayed longer if not for the desperate need for food and some sleep.

Indietracks 2009 in photos

0
2 years ago
in ,

Well, that was just about the most perfect weekend ever.

A proper review (you know, with words and stuff) will be following tomorrow, but here are 134 pictures from the joy that was Indietracks 2009.

As usual, you can click through to Flickr for the full size versions.

Tweepop overload!

1
5 years ago
in

A year ago I couldn’t have even told you what tweepop was. Sure, I had gotten into Belle & Sebastian in a big way by that point, but I didn’t know anything about the genre itself, or even that such a genre existed in the first place. Over the past year, I’ve ventured further and further into it, and find myself constantly discovering new and wonderful bands. I primed myself with Pitchfork’s concise ‘Twee as Fuck‘ feature and then basically just downloaded whatever Matt over at Skatterbrain posted on his blog. There’s no real point to this story, I just think that’s kind of cool.

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve found a bunch of new tweepop bands that I’m liking in a big way. I’m going to write about three of them in one post as I’m backlogged with fantastic music to write about and this simplifies things somewhat.

Bedroom EyesThe aim of Sweden’s is “to make pop songs that are short and simple compounds of bright melodies and heartfelt matters”. Essentially the one man band of Jonas Jonsson, the songs are full of the kind of breezy playing that makes bands like Human Television such a joy. Upbeat music, downbeat lyrics and probably the first band to successfully namecheck Ricky Gervais. You can download all of 2006′s ‘Embrace In Stereo’ EP from their website.

MP3 Bedroom Eyes – Dancing Under Influence (expired)
MP3 Bedroom Eyes – Motorcycle Daydream (expired)

Bedroom Eyes: Website || Myspace

Antarctica Takes It!It seems that everyone else has already written about Always one to be late to the party, I’d just like to reiterate how good these guys are. A four piece from California that is the outlet for songwriter Dylan’s slightly random but always engaging songs. There’s a little of everything in these songs: harmonies, time shifts, and the glockenspiel. You can never have enough glockenspiel in your songs. It’s all very lo-fi, but that’s just part of it’s charm. Both of the songs below are taken from last year’s ‘The Penguin League’ album. The band is currently recording a follow up.

MP3 Antarctica Takes It! – Antarctica (expired)
MP3 Antarctica Takes It! – I’m No Lover (expired)

Antarctica Takes It!: Myspace

Cats on Fire may well be the first band from Finland that I’ve ever posted on this blog. Who would have thought that tweepop would be quite such an international thing? Cats on Fire have been around for over five years, all of which is documented on the wonderfully (and sometimes brutally) honest autobiography on their website. These are surprisingly elaborate little songs with a vocalist that manages to sound eerily similiar to Morrissey at times.

MP3 Cats on Fire – My Friend in a Comfortable Chair (expired)
MP3 Cats on Fire – Higher Grounds (expired)

Cats on Fire: Website || Myspace

—

The support acts are coming together for Los Campesinos! & Sky Larkin‘s “Losky Campelarkinos” tour. Nottingham and Birmingham get the fantastic Johnny Foreigner, Manchester gets Sparky Deathcap and the date I’ll be at in London gets Nosferatu D2. I hadn’t heard of them before, but after listening to them a little, I think they will fit the bill perfectly.

Go to Top