domingo, janeiro 28, 2007

2006 - A Year in Music

Rehab - Amy Winehouse
This is what I call an instant classic! Amy Winehouse is a notorious Jazz vocalist, violent drunk and ever growing tattoo canvas known for using explicit lyrics and the occasional whim as this song about her past refusal to attend an alcohol rehabilitation centre, after it was encouraged by her management company, shows. She said no, no, no and told the management company to go, go, go.
Her last albums Back to Black now shows a swing to the girl groups of the Fifties and Sixties.




Seeing Through Shadows – Loco Dice
The Porcupine (original mix) – Latex
There’s a Minus label night comin’ up soon at the fuse in Brussels. The best minimal tech house I heard last year was from the former hip hop DJ Loco Dice. The biggest track of 2006 Seeing through Shadows was released on Richie Hawtin's Minus label and Porcupine was released on Rebelone under the pseudonym Latex. They both sort of tipped his profile over the edge. Especially Porcupine is one of the finest and most organic grooves you're likely to hear lately. A very fitting title for the irregular, shuffling spiky undertones, quirky gamelan and the dream-like melodies, that combined make this not just a guarantee for the dance floor but also a thing of beauty and elegance. A must have! He now moved from La Dusseldorf to NYC looking for inspiration for his first album. I’m really lookin’ forward to that.

Atlantis To Interzone – The Klaxons
Gravity's Rainbow – The Klaxons

Golden Skans The Klaxons
What can I say about The Klaxons which isn't already said in this Wikipedia arcticle. Klaxons sounds groovy in English but in Dutch or French it sounds funny. It's the equivalent of the old honk of a vintage car - Laurel & Hardy style. It's a sound though, nevertheless, lately one of the most interesting bands around. Check their latest video which looks a bit like the old Jackson Five's What a Feeling.
By the way, apparently skans refers to a god in native American mythology, just check the web for some interesting Indian stories.



Roscoe – Midlake
Young Bride – Midlake
Another band that caught my attention last year was Midlake. They’re from Texas but don’t let that scare you off. A lot of fine stuff comes from Texas (mockingbirds, peppers, Austin, Scott Joplin, Gene Autry, the Houston helpdesk, and why not Coca Cola…). Anyway, they already made more than one album but those first ones got a bit lost in the cracks of time but that will not be the faith for last year’s album The Trials of Van Occupanther. A strange title and an even stranger album cover but it’s one that stays in your mind just as the music. When I read about it, most comments and reviews talk about 70’s influences like Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac, but I just can’t stop thinking about a more recent band, Elbow. Their music had at first the same impact on me and it’s frankly in the same epic style and with a similar vocal sound. Just judge for yourself.





Cowgirls – Luomo
The Balloon Room – Ashley Beedle presents The London Heavy Disco Revue
Karawane – Escort
Moving Like A Train – Herbert
Loveboat (edit by palle) - iron-chef29 Kettel
Out The Door (Superdiscount Remix) – Who Made Who
Hustler – Simian Mobile Disco
Heart Of Hearts – !!!
Acho Um Pouco Bom - Cansei De Ser Sexy

D-Funked – Dexter
In The Morning - Junior Boys
Ankle Injuries – Fujiya & Miyagi
Discopolis Claude Monnet Beat Bass Dub – Lifelike & Kris Menace
Grabba Grabba Tape – Dr. Groxtronix & Lil Kul Lol
Get Myself Into It – The Rapture
A1 Motorized – Kiki
Marble House – The Knife
We Share Our Mother's Health – The Knife
I Go Hard, I Go Home – The Presets
Trucker's Delight – Flairs
Let's Make Love And Listen Death From Above - Cansei De Ser Sexy
Law of the Plainsmen – Antifamily

Madan (Exotic Disco Edit) – Martin Solveig vs Salif Keita
Pra Qui e Pra La- Kuduro Sound System feat. Gata Agressiva

Lump – James Holden
Que Belle Époque – Ricardo Villalobos
Sykkelsesong – Lindstrøm and Prins Thomas
I Go Ego Why Go We Go – Mouse On Mars
Congratulations – Wisp
Rotate Electrolyte – Squarepusher
Hello Meow – Squarepusher
Sweet Harmony - Thomas Mayer

Eternal Flame – Joan as Police Woman
If I - Piers Faccini
The Coming Of Night – Admiral Freebee
Think That Thought - Planningtorock
Fidelity - Regina Spector

On a Neck, on a Spit – Grizzly Bear
Take A Chance – The Magic Numbers
7/4 (Shoreline) - Broken Social Scene
Postcards From Italy – Beirut
The Song That We Sing – Charlotte Gainsbourg
And I Was A Boy From School - Hot Chip

Promiscuous Girl – Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado
You Are What You Love – Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins
Smile – Lily Allen
Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
Tell Me Baby – Red Hot Chili Peppers
We’re from Barcelona - I’m from Barcelona
Writer's Block – Young Folks
Big Julie - Jarvis Cocker

Long Distance Call - Phoenix
In the Morning - Razorlight

When You Were Young – The Killers
Gettin' Enough – Lil’ Chris
Checking It Out – Lil’ Chris
Save – Kap Bambino
Capricorinations – Mika Miko
Blood Visions – Jay Reatard
Elevator - White Nights
Standing in the Way of Control – The Gossip
Lost and Found - Phoenix
Here it goes again - OKGO
Tax Dollar - Erase Errata
Back To The 101 - Albert Hammond Jr.
Art Bitch - Cansei De Ser Sexy

On your way down – Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint
Final Showdown – Shawn Lee - Bully OST
Break 'em On Down - The Soledad Brothers
Mr Tough – Yo La Tengo
Pull Shapes - The Pipettes
You’re the One – The Black Keys
You’re the kind of trouble – Solomon Burke



Git - Skeletons & The Girl Faced Boys
It's Time (Gay Masters Discomix) - They Came From the Stars (I Saw Them)
Les Matins De Paris - Teki Latex feat. Lio
The Elite (Radio Edit) - Robert O’Dell
Just Talk (Skatebard Remix) - The Work
Save Me Save Me - Xiu Xiu
Thatcherie – Sven Libaek
Girl and the Sea - The Presets

Bodiliser Bodilsizer – Emperor Machine
Red-Eye - The Album Leaf
Auto Rock (Errors Remix) - Mogwai
Origin (shake you down by the river) – Studio
Wildcat - Ratatat
Pick Up (Four Tet Remix) – Bonobo

segunda-feira, janeiro 22, 2007

Michael Caine on acting in movies

Michael Caine is my favourite actor and these episodes from Youtube show you more than anything else why. The sound’s way out of sync but it’s brilliant anyway.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6