RIP Astoria – another landmark closes…

Tonight sees the sad occasion of a historic london venue closing its doors. The Astoria on Londons Tottenham Court Road is being demolished to make way for part of the Crossrail construction.

I am not one for standing in the way of progress, but this one does cause a little heaviness in my heart, as the astoria has some fond memories for me.

Most recently, I went to see The Dears there, the shallow auditorium holding us close to the stage for a powerful performance for Murray and the band – it rates as one of my favourite gigs ever. But it’s further back in history that the astoria formed powerful memories… In the heady days of acid house I was an aspiring DJ with designs on clubland when i went to meet Nicky Holloway in the club to try and get a gig at (I think) Sin City. I had already been clubbing there as a late teen at ‘The Trip’, but i wanted a gig there so much.

I didn’t get the gig, but I played at the Milk bar, just behind the astoria, and carried on going to huge club nights at the Astoria through the early nineties, whilst at other times it hosted Radiohead, U2 and Madonna – along with Londons biggest gay night, G.A.Y.

Tonight, the venue closes down with a gig curated by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. Guests include JJ72 and My Vitriol.

It was a great venue… And will be sadly missed.

Reasons to be Cheerful

Whilst I was working on my top 10 list,  I was thinking whether I would consider 2008 to be a great year for music? There were certainly some good albums, but if I look at 2009 there are some MAJOR releases coming our way which could brighten the days. In fact, there is even some serious reasoning as to why a year ending in ‘9’ will always be a GREAT year for music.

Some albums which I think will be important (some for different reasons) in 2009:

• Antony and the Johnsons – Crying Light (I’ve heard this – and its amazing)
• Kings of Convenience – Quiet is the new Loud (apparently that’s the working title despite it being the same as the old album!). Update – The Kings of Convenience site is a bit rubbish – but this post tells the full story. (Thanks Rick!)
• Morrissey – Years of Refusal (even a bad Morrissey album is an event)
• The Decemberists – Hazards of Love
• Depeche Mode – I haven’t seen an official title, but due to drop in 2009
• Lily Allen – It’s not me, it’s you (not sure what to think of this – expected to hate it, but the first single sounds quite fresh…regardless of what you think of her, this will be everywhere)

Also – releases from Animal Collective (all over your favourite torrent engine), U2, Starsailor (are they still with us?), Imogen Heap and Placebo…

What albums are you hankering for at the start of 2009?

Best of 2008

Last year wasn’t much to write home about, a few notable highlights – but much that begs to be forgotten about. Thankfully, there was some good music to brighten the days.

Once again – impossible to pick a favourite of the year – my last.fm stats tell me that I played Yoav – Charmed and Strange – the most during the year, but that could be because I listened to Where is My Mind quite a lot.

So, in no particular order – my top ten albums of 2008. All download links are to Amazon (MP3 store where possible)

	Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (Download) Apparently written in a cabin in Vermont – and you can truly feel the loneliness and isolation – falsetto vocals, plaintiff guitar and amazing writing. Stand out Track : Skinny Love
	Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid (Download) Awesome 4th album for the Bury boys – tracking this album from early concerts to the Mercury prize has not diminished how amazing this work is. Stand out track : Mirrorball
	Johann Johansson – Fordlandia (Download) Strange concept – an album about a tract of land in Brazil which Henry Ford made to grow rubber for tyres. Modern classical at is absolute peak – majestic. Stand out track : Fordlandia
	Yoav – Charmed and Strange (Download) Israeli/South African sing songwriter with an album entirely constructed around his guitar and vocals. First seen on Jools Holland. Extraordinary. Stand out track : Club Thing
	Laura Marling – Alas, I cannot swim (Download) Luckily though, she can write songs. Hailing from Reading, but sound like she spent a lot of time on the beach somewhere. Perfect modern British folk Music. Stand out track: Night Terror
	British Sea Power – Do you like rock music? (Download) Ever so slightly mental – but stunningly written and performed. Brightons finest export produce an album of epic, pompous, flag waving genius. Stand out track : No Lucifer
	Kings of Leon – Only by the Night (Download) Almost ubiquitous by the end of the year, but still irresistibly good. The Followill boys of Nashville do their family name proud with a fantastic stompy album. Stand out track : Revelry
	Sun Kil Moon – April (Buy @ Amazon) Spartan, atmospheric music that refuses any of the usual genres. Mark Kozelek produces a superb sound, allied with sublim songwriting skills. Essential. Stand out track : Moorestown
	Sigur Ros – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (Buy at Amazon) Absolutely everywhere – but none the less for it, Icelandic cool, but with a more playful excitable element thrown in. One reviewer says practically perfect – who am I to disagree? Stand out track : Ara Batur (Rowing Boat)
	Shearwater – Rooks (Download) Not withstanding the bird spotting references, quieter than their other band (okkervil River) this album of contemplative, indie-folk is a fine example of the genre: Stand Out Track : Snow Leopard

Morrissey – Years of Refusal, dates and tracklist

Finally some news about a new Morrissey album – the follow up to one of my favourite albums of 2006 – Ringleader of the Tormentors.

Some of the tracks were debuted at the UK gigs in early 2008. Certainly some of the tracks on this list are in that setlist, but no confirmation that ‘All you need is me’ makes it onto the album

I cannot wait for this album to be released – and I’d love a review copy if anyone reads this !

Apparently due to be released on 16th Feb 2009 – the tracklisting appears to be as follows:

1. That’s How People Grow Up
2. I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris
3. Sorry Doesn’t Help
4. When Last I Spoke To Carol
5. Mama Lay Softly On The Riverbed
6. I’m OK By Myself
7. Something Is Squeezing My Skull
8. Black Cloud
9. You Were Good In Your Time
10. I’m Looking Forward To Going Back
11. I Was Bully, Do Not Forget Me
12. One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell

Taken away with the softest squeeze…

Do you still remember when we were little,
We were playing the park and you asked me, “What happens when we die?”
And I said, "You forget everything. Everything."

"Even you?" You asked.
"Yes. Even me."
You did not want to die, never forget

The remains of what we used to have were taken away with the softest squeeze

"How did I forget? How?"

From Olafur Arnalds – Himininn er ad hrynja, en störnurnar fara pér vel (2008)
More to come on this amazing musician.

Early Music Memories #5 – Ike and Tina Turner

Another one I remember from childhood parties – and I also remember a seven-inch copy of this in my parents record collection.

Nutbush City Limits was released in 1973 – on United Artists records and reached number 4 in the UK. I still love this, with the really distinctive guitar sound at the beginning.

Early Music Memories #4 – John Foxx

About three years after my last memory of early music came my first real discovery into electronic music – the sound which shaped my tastes for many years. One of the stand out memories for me in my early electronic collections as this track : John Foxx – Underpass.

I remember listening to this constantly – click, click, drone – and I still cannot drive down the A40 into London, with its Hanger Lane Underpass and not hear this in the back of my brain. John Foxx also resurrected this at Bestival in2007.

Early Music Memories #3 – Electric Light Orchestra

Continuing my series (#1, #2) of formative music – this is the marvellous Mr Blue Sky by the Electric Orchestra, taken from their 1977 album – Out of the Blue. You can wonder at how Jeff Lynne got his hair to look SO HUGE.

I remember the cassette of this album in my dads Mini Clubman estate for years and years, and he loved this tune – it is a 100% happy song, including the uplifting vocoder sounds and the orchestral ‘rock opera’ segment at the end.

There is also a cover version of this on the loose by Ms Lily Allen, which is amusing enough due to the squirly analogue synths she uses. I also just realised the Out of the Blue (the album) shares its name with Ferry Corstens seminal trace track – I wonder if there is any connection?

Lyrics after the jump.

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Early Music Memories #2 – Althea And Donna

Second a new series of posts about formative music. I was reminded of this recently by a facebook post from an old neighbour. This is Uptown Top Ranking by Althea and Donna.

This is another strong memory from childhood parties, and also I remember this being on Top of the Pops back in 1977 – I would have been ‘ahem’…8 when this was played.

Lyrics after the Jump

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Early music memories #1 – Pluto

This is the first in an irregular series of posts where I’m going to reflect on some music from my formative years…all via the wonder of YouTube (where I firmly believe you can find ANYTHING). First up – Dat by Pluto Shervington.

I vividly remember this tune spinning at my parents parties when I was a boy, and years later I used to drop it as a DJ – its a purely feelgood tune with a great big skankin’ melody.

Lyrics after the jump.

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