music is okay

Badly Drawn Boy - Is There Nothing We Could Do?

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-12-23T11:00:00Z

Three years have passed by since Damon Gough aka Badly Drawn Boy released his last album Born in the UK. And with "Is there nothing we could do?" he made his second film score. There's no need to say many words about the film, because "The fattest man in Britain" is a mediocre comedy-drama-whatever, surprisingly about the the fattest man in Britain.

So let's stick to the album. It's no surprise either, but in a good way.
His songs are smooth but thrilling and the lyrics are often painful but swell.
Damon Gough proves one more time that he is an outstanding singer and songwriter with a unique style. Gone are the days, when he was compared to Beck, because of his way to merge apparently contradicting musical genres.

So, ignore the film quote samples in the songs and enjoy a selection of beautiful and timeless pop songs. Yummy!

http://www.myspace.com/badlydrawnboy

(and he made some of the funniest and most imaginative music videos ever, love them!)

Cai Marle-Garcia - Mr. Ears

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-12-22T20:56:00Z

Cai Marle-Garcia's debut album is like meeting an old friend after many years. He looks a bit different, but you'll definitely recognize him. And after a small talk everything is just like back in the ol' days and you wonder how you could ever forget about him.

Mr. Ears is an amazing piece of jazz fusion, this almost forgotten genre that combines jazz with rock, funk, world and electronic music elements. Although his influences are obvious (Weather Report and Miles Davis) it's contemporary jazz fusion. He creates a deep organic sound and his compositions sometimes hint at Krautrock or even House.

The 22 year old bass player is a pretty talented composer and an awesome musician.
The jazz scene will perk up its ears, no doubt.

http://caimarlegarcia.com/

4Hero - Extensions

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-12-18T23:06:00Z

Finding a little whip on your boyfriend's or girlfriend's bedside table can be a nasty surprise (unless you like to be beaten up). And reading about a new 4Hero remix album could have been the same. A real nasty surprise. But fortunately it's the opposite. No House-Dancefloor-Club-Disco remixes, but relaxed and chilled Nu Jazz sounds. Dego McFarlane and Marc Mac chose the artists, did some recording, mixing and co-producing and made a record that doesn't deserve the stamp "remix". These are twelve beautiful cover versions, sometimes light-years away from the original. Good to know that two pioneers remain true to themselves. Do something nobody expects, but everyone is waiting for.

Great Expectations - 2010

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-12-02T20:07:00Z

The best thing about EBONY BONES!' debut album "Bone of my bones", is the fact, that all music critics will rack their brains to describe her style. At the end it will be something like "electronic punk-funk-rock". I recommend these people should face the truth: she gives a damn about genres. And how she does that, sounds and looks pretty good.

http://www.myspace.com/ebonybones

How do you make a traditional blackmail letter? Right, you cut several characters from different magazines, put them together again and create a new meaning. HUDSON MOHAWKES' debut "butter" is like a musical blackmail. And believe me, even if you'll pay the ransom, he won't release you.

http://www.myspace.com/hudsonmo

Cheers! THE NEW WINE is from the same growing area as "The Whitest Boy Alive", slightly less complexity and character, but a bit more tangy. Without a doubt a good vintage and THE NEW WINE will improve with age.

http://www.myspace.com/newwinemusic

Be quiet as a mouse, otherwise you might scare RAZ OHARA AND THE ODD ORCHESTRAS' second album (II) off. The finely wrought sound image made of acoustic pop elements, harmonic distortions, strings and loops must be treated gently. But if you do, it will unfold its full dramaturgical beauty.

http://www.myspace.com/razoharaandtheoddorchestra

If ALEXANDER WOLFE wouldn't have sold a Rembrandt Lithograph print, left to him by his grandfather in his will, to record his debut album "Morning brings a flood", we would definitely miss eleven shatteringly soulful folk pieces. Selling art to create art is sometimes necessary.

http://www.myspace.com/alexanderwolfe

The fact that WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS is a psychotherapist from Illinois who makes depressing folk music about love and loss, shouldn't keep you from buying his records. Far from it. His music is veritable, profound and beautiful. On top of this, he is one of the funniest and most honest people I've ever seen live.

http://www.myspace.com/williamfitzsimmons

http://www.williamfitzsimmons.com/

I dare say BEN HOWARD is the most impressive folk musician these days. This 22 year old guy has got a remarkable voice, a pretty unique way to play his guitar and writes outrageously beautiful songs. I'm almost scared, what he might be capable of doing in a few years. He will hopefully launch his album in 2010, so until then: buy his EP "These Waters" and watch him live, it's both worth it.

http://www.myspace.com/benhoward

The BEACONS are like Noah's Ark for weird instruments. Refreshingly folk-pop with a hawaiian touch in combination with harp sounds, xylophone, something like a triola and a strange voodoo puppet flute. Ship ahoy!

http://www.the-beacons.co.uk/

The sun is shining brighter, the people are happier and the grass is greener on the side where JONATHAN JEREMIAH songs are played. He's the misbegotten child of Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers. Pick some flowers, hug someone you don't know and watch out for his debut album "Fool in Love".

http://www.myspace.com/jonathanjeremiah

http://www.jonathanjeremiah.com/

I'm still trying to handle the fact that JOSE JAMES debut "The Dreamer" was a like a miracle for contemporary jazz. From the first to the last note an absolute pleasure to listen to. So, knowing that he will launch his second album "Blackmagic" in February 2010 gives me a sleep disorder. And if you listen to the new songs on myspace, you'll know what I mean. Enter at your own risk...

http://www.myspace.com/josejamesquartet

http://josejamesmusic.com/

A soundtrack is made as a musical background to a movie. Listening to OLAFUR ARNALDS, I wish someone would make a movie as a visual background to his music. It would be a depressing and sad love story, taking place in a cold snow-covered scenery and someone has to die in the end. But it would be a must-see, a critics' darling and a classic.

http://www.myspace.com/olafurarnalds

http://www.erasedtapes.com/

Last but not least I have to ask a really essential question: what happened to REMY SHAND?
This guy has been torturing me for seven years. Shortly after he released his debut album "The way I feel" in 2002, he disappeared from the face of the planet. Where? Why? How? Anyway, I hope he's currently preparing new songs and not burgers at McDonald's.

Private - My secret lover

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-11-12T00:18:00Z

Alright, I know you've had quite enough of all these 80s wannbe bands.
But this is something different. This is unbelievable. And I think I move to Denmark.
Maybe this was kind of a marketing strategy "hey, we're called private, let's keep it that way."
They released their debut album in 2007 and wow! two years later they're No.1 one the UK Music Week Club charts.
But as we all know, haste makes waste. And they are definitely the opposite.

PRIVATE - "We Got Some Breaking Up To Do" from PRIVATE on Vimeo.

When Prince listened to the song "Let's make love (underneath the apple tree)" he thought of giving himself a new pseudonym, something like TAFKABCOWSS (the artist formerly known as being capable of writing such songs). Just a guess.

This is sophisticated, luxurious pop on it's climax. And I mean it in an absolute carnal sense.
You wanna scream "take me" when the beat hits your body or at least groan a little bit...
You're exhausted and breathless when it's over, but pretty sure you wanna do it again. And again.

PRIVATE - "My Secret Lover" from PRIVATE on Vimeo.

So, if you're ears are ready to get laid again, have a look at their evil twin brother: private party.

http://www.myspace.com/weareprivateparty

And as we all sometimes just need something to snuggle against, I'm happy to announce that Thomas Troelsen aka "head of Private" is planning a classical album. After writing a classical piece for the 2008's fashion show of Danish fashion brand "Noir", looks like he tasted blood.

http://www.noir-illuminati2.com/

At last one tip: have a look at their blog.

http://www.weareprivate.com/blog/

good selected recommendations for fashion, art, architecture and much more stuff.

Mayer Hawthorne

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-11-11T21:34:00Z

29.10.09 @Queen Of Hoxton, London

Writing this review I'm still getting teary-eyed. This was no gig, this was a soul soft porn. There was love in the air, sweat running down the walls and tears on the dancefloor.
Andrew Cohen aka Mayer Hawthorne looks like Buddy Holly and sounds like Smokey Robinson AND The Miracles.
And I have to admit with lyrics like "I may not be a rich attorney, but i'll win back girl's heart in the trial of love" he had not only turned my legs to jelly.
It was like a one hour slingshot to the 60s: the style, the music, the gestures.
But the funniest thing was, he didn't take himself seriously, and that's what made the show authentic.
For instance playing a reggae version of "Just ain't gonna work out":

I guess we will hear a lot more from Andrew Cohen.
And I'm looking forward to his next "character".

Isis: 31.10 @Grünspan/Hamburg

Wunni — 2009-11-01T09:49:00Z

Uh!
Still can´t believe, getting to the real Drone-Concert of L.A. Proud ISIS at about 9 pm and just catching the last 3 Songs... How bad was it, please?!?!
O.K. the entry was at 7, but ... I expected wired Rock-Freaks, smoking crack and heroine on stage, rockin´ like hell, starting late untill 3 in the morning.... What I saw was entertainment at its finest. Crystal clear sounds, sylish stageshow and very... intellectual audience...listening, dreamring, eyes closed and body swaying slowly!
Technical perfect music, remebering me of TooL, but...
Thats not what I need...live... not enough...
No Rock´n Roll Bangbang!!!!
Sorry, but I will wait for the next Studio-Album!

Hush

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-10-28T17:39:00Z

22.10.09 @Royal Albert Hall, London

Hush is a series of events hosted by the Royal Albert Hall, to give independent records labels or unsigned artists a platform. This first gig of the new "hush" series, was supported by Music Week's UNEARTHED. And they made a good choice, you should watch out for the following three artists in 2010.

Jose Vanders
This 19 year old girl is sweet as sugar and so is her music. Lovely and light piano tunes with a surprisingly strong voice. Where she takes her mature and imaginative lyrics from, will probably remain her secret. Hopefully she will keep her fervour as it was beautiful to behold.

http://josevanders.com/

Jonathan Jeremiah
Get in you Hippie van, drive down an endless desert highway whilst the sun sets down and you'll know what his music feels like. Or least try to imagine all that sunset-driving-stuff. It smells like summer, it sounds like freedom, it looks like Woodstock. I like!

http://www.jonathanjeremiah.com/

Alan Pownall
I used to listen to his myspace stuff before I went to the gig. Versatile folk, very nice, but I presume he will be doomed to be known as the British Jack Johnson. Hopefully not, because I'm not sure what he was thinking, when he went on stage to perform. I can't remember the last time I was just breathless and paralyzed by a performance (probably Art Brut, but because of other reasons). It was only him playing the guitar and it was stunning. Absolutely stunning. And one thing is sure: don't try to compare him with anybody.

http://www.myspace.com/alanpownall

Portugal The Man

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-10-28T13:45:00Z

27.10.09 @Hoxton Bar&Kitchen, London

It has to be a natural advantage when you form a band in Alaska. It looks like there is nothing more to do than practicing and writing unbelievable good songs. And watch them perform was definitely the positive proof. I expected them to be good, but I didn't expect them to be THAT good. First of all they played none of their songs like it's on the record. Sometimes it took me minutes to find out, which one it was. It was more like being in their rehearsal room, watching them playing a jam session. Secondly every single band member is just ridiculous talented. You could feel and hear that it's more than just play an instrument. They made love, hell ya. And thirdly there are no words to describe their style. From rock to folk to blues to soul to punk, one thing unified every song: the groove. And this is the difference between love and sex. The right groove.

Portugal The Man Live from Chicago from Portugal The Man on Vimeo.

Raphael Saadiq

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-10-28T13:06:00Z

19.10.09 @Sheperd's Bush Empire, London

Remember the movie "The Fly"? Jeff Goldblum steps into the Teleporter and merges with a fly that had slipped into it, before the door closed.
What would happen if Gladys Knight, Al Green and the Four Tops would step into this Teleporter? They will merge and become Raphael Saadiq, no doubt.
He is a hell of an entertainer and combines Motown soul with tough and funky beats. In total it leaves a pleasurable warm feeling in your stomach, goosebumps all over your skin and cotton candy clouds in your head. The girls went crazy, the guys were jealous, but at the end they all left knowing, that this was pure love in its best suit.

Raphael Saadiq - Let's Take A Walk from Vitalini on Vimeo.

Still Bill

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-10-28T12:15:00Z

He was born in 1938 and grew up in West Virginia, his father was a cole miner. He was a stutterer, he was bullied by boys and ignored by girls. He left his hometown to join the Navy and worked as a technician. He decided to make music and between 1971 and 1985 he recorded eight studio albums. He married his wife Marcia in 1976, they had two children and they recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.

Who would presume that this is the story of one of the most talented and influential soul musicians ever?
Most people know little about him, but they all know his music. Bill Withers created hits like "Ain't no sunshine", "Lean on me" or "Lovely day".

The fact that he never was the perfect cast for a star makes the documentary "Still Bill" unique. It's not about a fucked up guy who took drugs, beat up his girlfriend or committed suicide. No pointless comments from random celebrities just to pretend significance (except a really stupid Sting comment).

It's about a wise and gifted man and his experiences in life and views. And it is so unbelievable how eloquent and moving he is, everything he says is like a lesson from life. Almost everything he says could be a line from a song. And it slowly dawns on you, why his music is so authentic: it is his experience of life, his thoughts, his feelings. He never cared what was popular, it was and is all about the music.

What started as a four hour interview and became a personal journey through Bill Wither's life, filmed over two years. And without a doubt this documentary is maybe the best music documentary I've ever seen, an absolute must-see.

Look out for screenings near you or buy the DVD:

http://stillbillthemovie.com/

Still Bill Trailer from B-Side Entertainment on Vimeo.

Kongo Skulls@Logo 23.10.09

Wunni — 2009-10-26T11:03:00Z

Good ol´ Hamburg, I still won´t grow adult
(Fuck off classical music)!
This CD release-party of Kongo Skulls second album "Perfect Suicide" was great! Schweinerock, finest!!
I do know, there´s a lot of creative energie never to get known by the masses. But really seldom I hope, that the "dog-god of Rock´n Roll" focus its eyes on some underdog like KS... and make them...
ROCKSTARS
This band started up dirty, they continued dirty, and it´s expected that ... they will die dirty!!!
...just can add...
I love it, bugger!!!

In the spirit of Diaghilev

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-10-20T15:29:00Z

16.10.09 @Sadler's Wells Theatre, London

And now for something completely different. A ballet.
Yes, I grow old, but it's not like this "I need distinguished entertainment and prefer a glass of wine rather than beer in a plastic cup" midlife crisis idea. It's just a ballet.

Between 1909 - 1929 "Les Ballets Russes" was one of the most influential companies around the world. The combination of contemporary choreographers, composers and artists created a new art of performing dance and has set a standard that lasts to this day. Inspired by Sergei Diaghilev, the founder of "Les Ballets Russes", four groundbreaking choreographers created four pieces to pay tribute to him and show that his idea of collaboration is still important.

Dyad 1909
There are always both sides of story. Darkness and light, revolution and oppression, love and hate. Wayne McGregor plays with opposites supported by the outstanding musician Olafur Arnalds. The soft piano tunes, melancholic strings and threatening electronic sounds accompany the choreography as well as the stage and costume design.

After Light
Sometimes it doesn't need more than a spotlight, a piano and one dancer to create a real masterpiece. Russell Maliphant's "After Light" should be seen as such. The graphical light design combined with Erik Saties music is the perfect platform for an amazing performance by Daniel Proietto. These three elements mesh so well, it's like a painting brought to life and like a performance where you could take every second as a painting.

Faun
It's cute, it's beautiful, it's like morning dew drops on a leaf. It's like a Midsummer night's dream composed by Claude Debussy.

Eternal Damnation to Sancho and Sanchez
Six people doing weird things on stage. You can call it performing art. Or you call it overblown arty farty stuff.
Violence and sex mixed with religion may have been shocking in the 80ies, I guess.

Jail Guitar Doors presents Breaking Rocks

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-10-15T22:10:00Z

01.10.09 @Proud Camden, London

If you talk about "Jail Guitar Doors" most of the people think of the Clash song. A few people know that this song is about the MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer (who had to go to jail because of drugs). From now on it will be also known as an initiative by Billy Bragg. He sets up guitar workshops for prisoners to help them achieving rehabilitation with the power of their own music. Alright, nice idea. But does it work?
Yes it does. And how it works, shows "Breaking Rocks" a documentary from Alan Miles. It tells the story of the initiative and features performances by graduates and inmates. It's really touching how this piece proofs the fact that making music can help to process problems and facing them.
On top of the screening two of the graduates were playing a few songs and also Chris Shiflett from the Foo Fighters, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly and of course Billy Bragg.
Johnny Neesom seemed very shy in a likable way and sounds a bit like The Streets unplugged. Hopefully his song "I wanna fuck your girlfriend" will be his first single, I'm looking forward to it. The other graduate Leon Walker obviously enjoyed the stage and did a few of his "down-to-earth" folk songs. Unfortunately Chris Shiflett was a bit disappointing, I would say that folk isn't really his cup of tea. Let's put it this way: it wasn't annoying, but it didn't attract attention either. But there was Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. Sam Duckworth and his band literally blew away the audience with their performance. This electronic influenced folk he does on his albums turned out to be a funky folk punk rock mix on stage. It looked like he played for his life and his band did their best to support him with horns, keyboards and drums.
Last but not least Billy Bragg went on stage and showed everyone why his music career has lasted for over 30 years. His folky protest songs are more than ever topical. And if someone tells his topics with so much fervour, you have to listen. And you will think about it.
And we all had a lot to think about after this night.

http://www.jailguitardoors.org.uk/

Kurtis Blow & The Furious Five

bangbangrockandroll — 2009-10-09T17:44:00Z

18.09.09 @Jazz Café, London

If there was one thing I've learned that night at the Jazz Café, it was the fact that the real Hip Hop attitude is something native. It's nothing you can pretend to have.
These guys have been in show-business for over 30 years now and they haven't lost none of their power and style.
It could have been one of those gigs where you watch some mid-fifty guys and just feel embarrassed for them whilst they try to bring "the good old days" back. And trust me, I went to see Ice T. a few years ago, I know what I'm talking about.
But Kurtis Blow, Melle Mel, Kid Creole, Scorpio and Rahiem looked and sounded like they have been frozen in the New York Hip Hop era, it was absolutely unbelievable.
"Is Hip Hop still in the building?" They wouldn't have needed the audience to answer that question.
From "The Breaks" to "The Message" and "White Lines" they performed every hit and all you could do was singing along, moving to the beat and waving everything possible in the air.
I used to watch Beat Street, Wild Style and Krush Groove for about a hundred times and I've listened to all that old school stuff over and over again. Always wondering what it was like going to a real block or house party. But unfortunately I was just born, the time they invented Hip Hop.

I'm more than happy that they decided to come back on stage again and gave me an impression what these days must have felt like. The perfect beat with a message. Hip Hop is still in the building, that's for sure.