Presenting…Jesus H. Foxx

jesus-h-foxx-matter

Damn that Toad, how does he do it?!

That Toad, being Matthew Young, who writes the excellent Song, By Toad blog and runs the Song, By Toad record label. His latest release is the very fine Matter EP, an excellent six track release. Trynig to describe them is like falling flat on your face; it gets in the way of you enjoying about what you were trying to do before. Though the folks who have said The Modern Lovers and Talking Heads are probably right in a way…yet somehow this doesn’t really get to grips with what it is. I think i hear bits of the Go-Betweens.There’s brass…they’re definitely scottish…and once again, Matthew is absolutely on the money. Damn him!!! A totally original sounding band. You will want to take them to your hearts.

According to their myspace the band members are Mew, The Wind, Peanut, Madge, Ninsh, Machine, Brash. Hmm.

Anyway, you need to hear this band.

You should start here:

Jesus H. Foxx -‘I’m Half The man You Were.’ mp3

Forthcoming live dates from their myspace:

9 Oct 2009 This Is Jim @ Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh w/ Boycotts
23 Oct 2009 Oxjam at The Bowery, Edinburgh w/ Meursault, Y’all is Fantasy Island & Occasional Flickers
26 Nov 2009 Electric Circus, Edinburgh w/ Good Shoes & Copy Haho
29 Nov 2009 King Tuts, Glasgow w/ We Were Promised Jetpacks

Jesus H.Foxx Myspace

To buy the EP, go here

Toad and Tart are Totally Terrific

17-seconds-records

…which is more than can be said for my poor attempts at alliteration.

Anyway…

Song, By Toad have an excellent write-up of X-Lion Tamer’s EP, which I know Tony’s very pleased about.

You should read Matthew’s blog, anyway, if you don’t already, as it’s one of the best blogs out there.

As indeed is a young lady from Chicago who calls herself Tarty Tart, who writes the excellent Love Shack, Baby

She’s written up this lovely piece on Chris Bradley.

So, drop by and visit, tell them how wonderful they are and my artists are (well, if I don’t blow my own trumpet, who will?!) and bookmark them there blogs

Album Review – Blueflint

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Blueflint -‘High Bright Morning’ (Johnny Rock Records)

…Oh yes.

This album has been long awaited in Edinburgh and the wider scottish music scene. The gorgeous bluegrass-folk music duo of the two banjo players Clare-Louise Neilson and her pal, noted actress Deborah Arnott, have been picking up rave reviews over the last wee while and this album shows exactly why.

Over the course of ten songs over thirty six minutes, these sublime original songs cannot fail to move you, cannot leave you untouched. Themes traditional to bluegrass – loss, revenge, sicide, untimely death, and let’s not forget love – are dealt with here. There’s no excess flab here, this is an album that sets out its’ intent from first listen. It’s hard to imagine anyone who could not be touched by the music herein. ‘Takes More Than A Little Time,’ the album’s opener, sets the stall, as one future classic after another follows.

Contributions also come from Roddy Neilson on fiddle, Ian Stoddart on drums (ex-Win, ex-Aberfeldy) and Joey Sanderson on bass. (It’s also rumoured that Ken Macintosh, Edinburgh bass legend and one fifth of Aberfeldy will also be playing bass with them), and helmed by the legendary Jim Sutherland.

Get your hands on this album. It’s one that you’ll want to hear again and again. Yes, Yes…

****1/2

High Bright Morning is released on October 5.

These three tracks are given free on their webpage.

Blueflint webpage/Blueflint myspace

Blueflint -‘Takes More Than a Little Time.’ mp3

Blueflint -‘High bright Morning.’ mp3

Blueflint -‘Skippin’ Skattin.’ mp3

Some covers for Sunday night

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Yup, a quick fun post of cover versions…

First up, posted these before but two great and very different versions of one of the best songs of the decade:

Manic Street Preachers -‘Umbrella.’ mp3

Biffy Clyro -‘Umbrella.’ mp3

Meanwhile…I posted Voxtrot’s cover version of ‘Love Vigilantes’ by New Order a couple of weeks ago; here are two other takes:

Hungry Lucy -‘Love Vigilantes (New Order cover).’ mp3

Laura Cantrell -‘Love Vigilantes (New Order cover).’ mp3

And almost New Order…three takes on foreerunner Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ by two different acts…

Susanna and the Magical Orchestra -‘Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover).’ mp3

Swans -‘Love Will Tear Us Apart (Jarboe vocal).’ mp3

Swans -‘Love Will Tear Us Apart (Gira vocal).’ mp3

Finally, let’s finish off with some Kate Bush covers…

Placebo -‘Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush cover).’ mp3

Swimmer One -‘Cloudbusting (Kate Bush cover).’ mp3

The Futureheads -‘The Hounds Of Love (Kate Bush cover).’ mp3

China Drum -‘Wuthering Heights (Kate Bush cover).’ mp3

One of my favourite cover versions at the moment is X-Lion Tamer’s take on ‘Tugboat’ by Galaxie 500, available from all good download stores now…

More music from Escape Act

escape-act-september-2009

Escape Act, the first act to sign to 17 Seconds Records who were not based in Scotland, will release their second single with us in November. They have a new drummer, Michael Sampson, as Alan has relocated to Leicester.

The single is entitled ‘Cabin Fever’ and will be backed with ‘Sullied Behave For The Moon.’

Escape Act – ‘Cabin Fever’ video


Escape Act – Cabin Fever on MUZU.

We are also pleased to announce that the band will join Chris Bradley, the Dirty Cuts and X-Lion Tamer for the 17 Seconds Records at the 13th Note in Glasgow on October 30.

More 17 Seconds Records news

17-seconds-records-2009

OK…just so as you know:

Firstly, after much waiting, the physical version of X-Lion Tamer’s The Neon Hearts EP is now with us. It should be available from Rough Trade in London, and Avalanche and Fopp in Edinburgh literally any day now. Go in and reserve your copy. If you have problems getting hold of it, get in touch!

Secondly, Chris Bradley will be supporting Dr. Robert at the Water Rats pub in London on October 8. He will be on stage at 7pm so get there early.

And also…there will be a 17 Seconds Records night at the 13th Note cafe in Glasgow on Friday October 30. This will feature live performances from The Dirty Cuts, X-Lion Tamer and Chris Bradley. It will be £4, so make sure you get there early!

X-Lion Tamer -‘Life Support Machine.’ mp3

Chris Bradley -‘Golden Girl.’ mp3

…and if you haven’t made friends with us yet…PLEASE DO!!!

Where the hell are you?

trainspotting3

Have been waiting for a delivery from a well known delivery firm including important things for 17 Seconds Records.

It is not here and I am well annoyed.

So…what fits?

A.R.E. Weapons -‘Fuck You Pay me.’ mp3

Bob Marley and the Wailers -‘Waiting In Vain.’ mp3

Thin Lizzy -‘Waiting For An Alibi.’ mp3

…cos it comes down to this:

Sebadoh -‘Gimme Indie Rock.’ mp3

The return of Zero 7

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My mouth has periodically got me into a lot of trouble. Not least on one occasion about four or so years ago when I had started going out with a new girlfriend. Discussing music I stated that ‘Zero 7 made coffee-table dance music for the over-thirties.’ This went down spectacularly badly. Despite this slagging of one of her favourite bands, the girl in question just about managed to forgive me. A little after we got married over two years later, Mrs. 17 Seconds told me I’d nearly got dumped there and then. I have since seen the beauty of Zero 7’s music. Though we don’t own a coffee table; it would doubtless be covered in crap.

Anyway, Zero 7 are returning with a new album, entitled Yeah Ghost which is released next week. Sop, in honour of this, I present for your aural pleasure (fnar fnar) some music from said album:

Zero 7 -‘Pop Art Blue.’ mp3

These are remixes of one of the tracks ‘Everything Up’…see what you think!

Zero 7 -‘Everything Up (Zizou) (Mock n Toof remix).’ mp3

Zero 7 – ‘Everything Up (Zizou) (Gold Panda Remix).’ mp3

The tracklisting of the album is as follows:

1. Count Me Out
2. Mr McGee
3. Swing
4. Everything Up (Zizou)
5. Pop Art Blue
6. Medicine Man
7. Ghost Symbol
8. Sleeper
9. Solastalgia
10. The Road
11. All Of Us

Zero 7 official website/Zero 7 official myspace

New Ash single – the uncut video in full!

ash-2009

Having put out a rather fine download single back in June, ‘White Rabbit, ‘ here is the video for Ash’s ‘True Love 1980.’

This is the new single, out on October 12, 2009. It is the first in twenty six singles they are doing, one for each of the alphabet, so this is T.

‘True Love 1980’ is an excellent tune that shows the electro-pop of the last year or so has clearly rubbed off on them, and there is an interesting twist at the end. Apparently not all music channels are showing the whole thing…

Ash -‘True Love 1980’

Ash’s official website/Ash Myspace

Oh, go on then!

Ash -‘White Rabbit’

Ash -‘White Rabbit.’ mp3