Music to drink tea by
Posts tagged Pocketbooks
Playlist from Moogie Wonderland 24 June
07 months ago
in Kent Scene
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. Herman Düne – Tell Me Something I Don’t Know
2. Belle & Sebastian – Your Cover’s Blown
3. The Hidden Cameras – The Mild Mannered Army
4. Tigercats – Banned at the Troxy
5. Butcher Boy – Carve a Pattern
6. Art Brut – Lost Weekend
7. Shrag – Hopelessly Wasted
8. Comet Gain – You Can Hide Your Love Forever
9. Heavenly – C Is The Heavenly Option
10. God Help the Girl – Perfection As A Hipster
11. Milky Wimpshake – True Love/Youth
12. Pants Yell! – Your Feelings Don’t Show
13. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – My Terrible Friend
14. Cats on Fire – Higher Grounds
15. The Wave Pictures – I Love You Like A Madman
16. Moustache of Insanity – Dinner Party
17. Allo Darlin’ – Let’s Go Swimming
18. Pocketbooks – Cross the Line
22 Songs
1I’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.
4 or 5 Magicians – 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
The Answering Machine – 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
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Art Brut – 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
Camera Obscura – 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
Cats on Fire – 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
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Dananananaykroyd – 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
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Emmy the Great – 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
Fight Like Apes – 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
Go Away Birds – 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
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God Help the Girl – God Help the Girl
..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
Johnny Foreigner – 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
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Los Campesinos! – 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
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Pocketbooks – 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
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Projekt A-ko – 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
Stagecoach – 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
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Superman Revenge Squad – 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
Tigers That Talked – 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
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Voxtrot – 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 Young Republic – 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: Sunday
42 years ago
Sunday didn’t get off to the greatest of starts. Waking up rather early after a terrible night’s sleep at the Travel Inn, followed by Tesco breakfast (surprisingly edible), and then arriving on the site before anyone else at all wasn’t the best feeling in the world. Still, after not getting to any on the Saturday, I was determined to catch at least one on-train performance, namely that of The Manhattan Love Suicides. Now, apparently they’d broken up shortly before the festival, but having no idea, went and sat and waited for them in a train carriage for twenty minutes. When nothing had happened, we jumped off the train at Swanwick once more. Of course, this is apparently when some of the band got on the train and played some songs. Oh well, you can’t win them all.
Or rather, you can. Because getting off the train then meant it was possible to pop into the train shed and catch Zipper’s set. Spanish indiepop doesn’t come much better than this, and their set was all the more joyful from just how happy the band seemed to be to be there. Between each song they didn’t seem to quite believe that they were playing in front of a large crowd at a railway yard in Derbyshire. Although I suppose in those terms not that many people would. Still, they were so good that I made sure to pick up a copy of their album which was a mere £5 on the merch stall.
A trip back to the main stage for The School turned out to be a fine set. Although I like The School, it tends to be in a fairly casual sense. I only know a handful of songs, but by the end of their set, I was looking forward to their upcoming album as eagerly as anyone else in the crowd. Every song hit just the right note, the entire band sounding in sync, which is no mean feat given the number of members and variety of instruments on display. This was an assured performance for a band that is certainly going to go on to better things.
Back to the shed for The Smittens, another band that I don’t know as well as I should. Not that it mattered with their set though. So ingrained into the Indietracks tradition are the band that they could have recited a phone directory and still drawn everyone in. Thankfully they didn’t do that, but instead flew threw a set of pop gems, winning over everyone in the process. By the end of the set, a certain band may well have been declaring them to be “top of the pops”.
Now, something not entirely unexpected happened during The Smittens’ set. That something being that it started to rain. Showers had been predicted for the Sunday, so no one could really complain. Other than the fact that once it started about 3pm, it didn’t bloody stop. The rest of the festival was turned into an indoor event for those less hardy souls, or something unpleasantly muddy for those willing to brave it.
And brave it we did, for Lucky Soul were playing on the main stage. The last time I saw Lucky Soul was at a lovely gig at the Luminaire two and a half years ago, and boy have they come on as a band in that time. A hearty mix of old and new songs make up their set, which still pulls considerable numbers given the unpleasant conditions. A few years back I would have been worried that a band like Lucky Soul would quite a limited one-trick pony, but the band seem happy to evolve instead of limiting themselves to a purely 60s sound. As it sounds, their upcoming album could finally be the one that pushes them over the top.
A little bit later and it’s time for Pocketbooks, who are the band on the bill that most define the festival as a whole. They run through most of the songs from the recently released Flight Paths album, with Falling Leaves, Fleeting Moments and the superb Cross the Line being the obvious highlights. By the end of the set, every attendee of the festival seemed to be in the shed. A cynic could argue that this was related to the heavy rain outside. A more accurate version however would be that Pocketbooks are just that damn good.
After Pocketbooks came Disasteradio, who offered the first truly “what the fuck?” performance of the day. Bizarre electronic beats performed by a man seemingly having a seizure on stage, who then proceeds to try and eat his microphone. I’m sure there is an audience for this, but I suspect it wasn’t here. Following that was Help Stamp Out Loneliness, who were fine for what they were, but didn’t do very much for me.
Finally, it was time for the mighty Art Brut, a band whom I love dearly, but worried wouldn’t quite fit in with the Indietracks mentality. Things got off to a shaky start with Eddie Argos almost immediately using the t-word (a crime here one might suspect) and getting the Indietracks version of a bottling (sweets thrown at him) for his trouble. Of course, it didn’t take them long to win everyone round, particularly once Argos had the epiphany that he’s telling people to be less twee while playing from a setlist of songs about public transport, DC comics and chocolate milkshakes. Between this, and proclaiming that MJ Hibbett is “top of the pops”, there doesn’t seem to be anyone still holding out against them. A spirited version of Modern Art, adjusted to “DC comics make me want to rock out” follows a performance almost entirely from the audience, starting what may have been the first Indietracks mosh pit. Their set comes to a storming close with the band’s drummer spectacular falling off the stage by rocking just a bit too hard, to possibly the largest applause of the festival. Five minutes later, the band return for an encore, even if Argos had already put on his jacket to leave.
Which is where Indietracks 2009 comes to a close for me. I could have stayed for Teenage Fanclub, but I’ve never been much of a fan, and nothing was going to top the highs of the Art Brut set. It’s not one moment or performance that makes Indietracks so special though. It’s the atmosphere of the entire event. Of every festival or gig I’ve ever been to, this was by far the nicest. Everyone is generally lovely, the bands are happy to mingle and watch the other bands, and the whole DIY spirit of it all is impressive to behold. It’s hard to articulate that kind of appeal in a review such as this, and that is unfortunate, but Indietracks leave you with a feeling of pure joy. This may have been my first visit to the Midland Railway Centre, but it certainly won’t be my last.
Indietracks 2009 in photos
02 years ago
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.
Great British Hopes: Pocketbooks
02 years ago
Pocketbooks have been one of my favourite bands to cover since I started this blog. Watching them rise from a few rough early songs to releasing their first proper album has been a joy to behold. As such, Another Form of Relief is delighted to present a free download of their next single, which also happens to be the opening track to the aforementioned album. It’ll be released on June 15, but you can download it here right now.
Footsteps follows in the, er, tread of those earlier songs, while also representing a natural progression from the band. Regular vocalist takes a step back on the song, allowing Emma a chance to shine, which she has no problems doing. Her calm, precise demeanour allows us to get to know her and take in her story. One of the most appealing parts of Pocketbooks has always been the imagery that they can evoke. Managing to walk a very fine line between the contemporary (“on the top deck of the 23″) through to throwbacks to gentler times and places (“the beaches of a south coast town”), they almost seem to exist in a world of their own. That world is centred around the mundane, the tiny nuances that dictate our lives. Yet somehow Pocketbooks manage to turn that into a magical place that we can only dream of.
Footsteps will be released on June 15. It’s taken from the album Flight Paths, which is released July 17 on How Does It Feel To Be Loved?. Apparently copies are being sent out now though, so there’s no excuse for dithering.
Pocketbooks bring joy through fleeting moments of indie pop
02 years ago
in MP3s
It’s been several years in the making, but Pocketbooks finally have a proper full-length album! Or at least they will in June anyway. Pocketbooks are one of those bands that I’ve seemingly been tracking since the beginning of Another Form of Relief, so it’s nice to see them actually make it.
Actually, it’s nice in general to see the way indie pop has made such a comeback over the past few years, particularly in the UK. Pocketbooks are at the forefront of this, their C86-inspired melodies and sweet natured words bringing back an era that had previously been forgotten.
Fleeting Moments is taken from their debut album Flight Paths and is possibly their best work yet. Featuring both Emma and Andy on vocal duties, they play off each other perfectly as the romantic and the realist respectively. The wonder of Pocketbooks has always been in their imagery though, however simplistic it may be. There is just a pure joy in things as mundane as bus stop conversations in west country towns or staring out of how high-rise windows. Even to someone as cynical as myself.
Flight Paths will be released officially in June via How Does It Feel To Be Loved?. Word on the street is that copies are already being sent out though.
Pocketbooks – Don’t Stop
03 years ago
in Indietracks, MP3s
Concluding our run of indie pop (for this week at least), we have new material from London’s Pocketbooks. I’ve been listening to them for the best part of two years now, and it’s amazing how much they have developed as a band. The early songs, while very good in their own right, were far more simplistic and lo-fi to what we’re dealing with now. As such, we’re now at a point where Don’t Stop comes complete with layered vocals, time changes, as well as the obligatory delightful melodies. If they keep growing at this rate, in another couple of years they will be the best indie pop band in the world.
The new EP from Pocketbooks, entitled Waking Up, can be purchased from Make and Mend Records for only £2.50. Pocketbooks, alongside recently featured bands The Kabeedies and The Smittens, will be playing at the Indietracks festival in July.
Sunny Intervals
04 years ago
in MP3s
Those scamps at Weepop are at it once again. After putting out some damn fine twee releases (details here), they have just released the debut EP from Sunny Intervals, the side project of Andy from the mighty Pocketbooks.
The ground covered here isn’t that different from Pocketbooks at all, but I’d probably be disappointed if it was. We’re talking lo-fi pop gems full of layered vocals, keyboards and summer adventures in the city. Catchy melodies and vivid imagery is the name of the game here rather than technical perfection, but the ramshackle feel adds a certain charm of its own.
MP3 Sunny Intervals – Sixty Seconds To Fall In Love (expired)
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, show me where them bombs will fall..
64 years ago
in MP3s
I’ve managed to almost entirely avoid the hype surrounding ‘Neon Bible’. I didn’t download any of the leaks, and it was only a few days ago that I listened to ‘Black Mirror’ for the first time. Since then I’ve only heard one more song from the album. While I like both of them, for some reason I can’t seem to get myself excited about hearing the album as a whole. I suppose I had a similar problem with ‘Funeral’. I only really liked the ‘Neighborhood’ songs and didn’t much care for the rest. I’ll still probably end up picking it up once I find it in some bargain bin though. All of that said, I really like the song below. I’ve given up on trying to draw any deep meaning out of their songs, but the imagery is wonderful, and it’s all presented in a vaguely unsettling way. Is the rest of the album like this?
MP3 Arcade Fire – Black Mirror (expired)
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Another Form of Relief favourites Pocketbooks will be playing a rather unique gig on April 28. They, alongside fellow indiepop bands Slow Down Tallahassee and Tottie, will be playing as part of Indie Tracks in Ripley. The twist here is that the entire event is centred around the railway. Bands will be playing on the station platform, and between sets, an indie disco will be rocking on a 1950s steam train as it bolts through the countryside. You can get fuller details from the Indie Tracks Myspace.
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The Features are back after being dropped by their record label following their ‘Exhibit A’ album. I actually rather liked that album, although I never gave it quite as much atention as I should have done. ‘Contrast’ is the title song from their first self released EP, a jaunty little number that sets the tone for their newer sound. The EP itself is a collection of five songs that you can purchase for only $6 from their website.
MP3 The Features – Contrast (expired)
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Homo Eclectic has two songs from the upcoming Voxtrot full length album. ‘Kid Gloves’ is fantastic, and I think ‘Stephen’ will be a grower like ‘Soft & Warm’ was. This is probably the album I’m most excited about for this year.
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The new Ted Leo and the Pharmacists record, ‘Living With The Living’, is released next week and would you believe it? Ted is still pissed at the state of the US. Like their previous ‘Shake the Sheets’, it’s another collection of powerful, lyrically direct rock songs. Which means while there is nothing unexpected here, it is another solid collection.
‘A Bottle of Buckie’, awkward sounding title aside, is one of Leo’s finest vocal performances yet, knowing perfectly when to jump from the restrained to the forceful. It’s a somewhat sweet song involving love in Glasgow, even if it’s a little weird to hear Leo of all people singing about Neds with their Burberry scarves.
MP3 Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – A Bottle of Buckie (expired)
MP3 Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – The Sons of Cain (expired)
MP3 Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Bomb. Repeat. Bomb. (expired)
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I try to not post all that many Youtube videos, but I’m including the music video for ‘Thou Shalt Always Kill’ by Dan le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip below. I am doing this for two reasons:
1. It’s an absolutely fantastic song, but I can’t post an mp3 of it.
2. The video is a hell of a lot of fun.
Judging by the amount of play and acclaim this song seems to be getting, I have the feeling we could be looking at something huge here.
