Category Archives: Battles

Still here, honest!

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Angel Haze

Hi folks.

It may have been a bit quieter around here than late – that’s because I’m in the middle of getting ready to move house and I’m up to my eyeballs in boxes. So, the blog isn’t going on hiatus, it’s just that I’ve got a lot to do.

So keep checking in, and in the meantime I’d like to share two things with you.

First up is the forthcoming mixtape from the wonderful Angel Haze, entitled Back To The Woods. While I haven’t heard this from start to finish I loved her debut album Dirty Gold, and the bits I have heard so far from this mixtape are fantastic.

Meanwhile, I did manage to stream this today, Battles’ third album La Di Da Di. It’s released this Friday and is another enjoyably mental album from the band. No vocals this time – just music…

Album Review – Battles

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battles_gloss_drop_artwork_resize

Battles -‘Gloss Drop’ (Warp)

It’s funny, the word ‘Prog’ normally rings alarm bells for me. So, how come when it’s banded about concerning Battles I take no offence but am actually inclined to agree. Especially when a band with such a cool pedigree has released an album that also has quite a ‘pop’ sensibility.

I first heard Battles five years ago with the release of their EP B/C EP compilation. The following year I walked into the record shop where I had previously worked to be played two 12″ singles, both of which ended up providing a substantial part of the soundtrack to my year. One was ‘Waters of Nazareth’ by Justice; the otehr was ‘Atlas’ by Battles. Both attendant albums were great, but Battles’ debut Mirrored had the edge. Since then, this sophomore album has had a difficult birthing process. Fourth member Tyondao Braxton left the band – yet this seems to have galvanised them into action.

For starters, they got guest vocalists in. First single ‘Ice Cream’ features vocals from one Matias Aguayo. Rather like with ‘Atlas,’ the feeling is that of ‘I have no idea what this is -but I know that I like it.Another contributor is Gary Numan, who contributes to ‘My Machines,’ which sounds like a perfect Numan song title. Who knows, maybe this album will provide more interest in his work?

It is an astonishingly easy album to love, this. Whether instrumental of featuring guest vocalists, this album is exciting from start to finish. Proof that experimental does not have to mean unlistenable, that music with a progressive bent can be pop, and once again, why the Warp label is synonymous with cutting edge music, even in its third decade.

****

Gloss Drop is out now on Warp.

Battles – Ice Cream (Feat. Matias Aguayo) by weallwantsome1

Stream Gloss Drop via NME.com

As pants the heart for cool(ing) streams…

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How did it take the record companies so long to figure out that they could let people hear the music in full (without those bloody adverts) without people not going and buying the records?

No doubt there is software that (illegally) allows people to rip it, but to be honest, I think what most people would liek is the chance to hear the record before it comes out without either a) wasting their money or b) picking up bugs or c)getting cease and desist notices.

Anyway, lots of great albums streaming around the net at the moment, starting with this, the new album from the Arctic Monkeys. It sounds like a return to form to these ears (not that Humbug was all that bad, really…). There is no doubt that the album cover looks rubbish (and let’s face it, it looked a bit stupid when Hard-Fi pulled the same ‘trick’ a few years back) -but don’t let that put you off the album.

suck-it-and-see

http://soundcloud.com/dominorecordco/sets/arctic-monkeys-suck-it-and-see

If you’re so inclined there’s a guide from lead Monkey Alex Turner on the album right here on nme.com

You can also stream the following albums via nme.com at the moment:

Battles Gloss Drop

Death Cab For Cutie’s Codes and Keys

White Denim D

Antlers Burst Apart

300th post

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..and a mere sixteen months after my first post, I finally do my three hundreth! What can I say, it’s been great fun, and continues to be so.

First of all, I thought I’d start off this post with the title track of the album that gave this blog its’ name. The pic at the top is The Cure circa this album. I didn’t do many 17 Seconds club nights but I’m pleased that the blog is still going.

The Cure -‘Seventeen Seconds.’ mp3

I’ve written about a lot of up and coming scottish bands, like the X-Vectors for example…

X-Vectors -‘Now Is The Winter Of Our Discotheque.’ mp3

and watched a few of my favourite bands split up…

Arab Strap -‘Here We Go.’ mp3

The Cooper Temple Clause -‘Let’s Kill Music.’ mp3

I still have to decide on my personal festive fifty, but I guarantee these tracks will be there…

Battles -‘Atlas.’ mp3

Hot Chip -‘My Piano.’ mp3

Justice -‘D.A.N.C.E.’ mp3

Penny Century -‘Nothing Burns Like Bridges.’ mp3

Emma Pollock -‘Adrenaline.’ mp3

As time went by, I got the vague hand of how to post tracks (which I was clueless about when I first started writing a blog!), and started doing interviews too. Getting listed at the Hype Machine was great (thanks Mr. Toad) and getting feedback still makes my day.

Personally, this blog has hinted at some of the ups and downs in life outside of this blog, but much love is due to Mrs. 17 Seconds (I wasn’t even planning it when I started writing this!) and our two cats, our families and friends for keeping me sane.

Here’s to the next X posts…

Edx

2007…pretty good year for music so far

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Thank goodness -I’m now off school for two and a half weeks. I may even be feeling human at the end of it all.

I know I often post covers on a Friday, but I thought today I would post a handful of tracks that I’ve really been enjoying this year. Some of them -Gasp! Shock! Horror! were hits. I’ve posted about Penny Century, Emma Pollock and Katie Sutherland a lot this year, and flagged up how much I’ve enjoyed Bat For Lashes and Wiley, but I thought I would highlight some other stuff I’ve loved.

Kate Nash -‘Foundations.’ mp3

King Creosote -‘Leslie.’ mp3

Tiny Dancers -‘I Will Wait For You.’ mp3

Calvin Harris -‘Acceptable in the 80s.’ mp3

Thrushes -‘Aidan Quinn.’ mp3

Justice -‘D.A.N.C.E.’ mp3

Hot Chip -‘My Piano.’ mp3

Von Sudenfed -‘Fledermaus Can’t Get It.’ mp3

Timbaland -‘Give It To Me.’ mp3

Battles -‘Atlas.’ mp3

If you like the tracks, support the artists involved, and leave feedback.

It’s going to be tough deciding my Top 50 tracks this year…

In memory of Fopp

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(This is meant to represent the sun setting on Fopp. :-(( )

Frankly gutted by Fopp’s closure but if you want to try and do something, then there is a MySpace site: www.myspace.com/helpsavefopp

Have been trying to work out what songs remind me of Fopp, whether it was things that I bought there as a customer, or remember from working there.

Seven years of going makes it too hard to narrow it down that much, but this is a selection. As always, if you like what you hear, go and support your local shop, we do not need any more repeats of this.

Battles-‘Atlas.’ mp3

Futureheads-‘Hounds Of Love.’ mp3

iLIKETRAINS-‘Spencer Perceval.’ mp3

Justice-‘Waters Of Nazareth.’ mp3

The View-‘Superstar Tradesman.’ mp3

It would be more but I am just about to exceed my bandwith, so more on this very soon! And yes, I may have posted these before, but hey…

Three more for you! (part three)

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Ok, not a long post as I am shattered, if pleasantly so.

Basically, just three tracks I really like at the moment. These can all be found on iTunes or try Amazon:

First up: So, it got to No.1. So, it features Nelly furtado and Justin Timbalake. And? Your point is…?

Timbaland-Give It To Me.’ mp3

this is gorgeous- and it came out on yummy 10″ vinyl. If you choose to buy it onvinyl instead of CD or download, more power to you. The cassette may be officially dead, but vinyl is still there. Yeah…oh, and Manic Pop Thrills were bigging this up as well.

iLIKETRAINS-‘Spencer Perceval.’ mp3

Finally, ‘cos demented is how I feel…presenting: Battles (not to be confulsed with Battle, who are also very good, but different)

Battles-‘Atlas.’ mp3

As ever, support the artists, if you like the music, go and buy it.

Hugs XX