Berlin / Melt! / Movement

26th July 2010

Berlin / Melt! / Movement:

We've recently returned from a trip to Germany. The German audiences were extremely welcoming, so a thank you should be spread evenly around.

We had a great time.

No Vomiting, No Arguments, No Swearing. Lots of Dancing, Lots of Driving, Lots of Sausage, Lots of Broken Electronics, Lots of Beautiful Things ...............Some photographic evidence: . **some Melt digger shit **Melt Digger Shit **Berlin sunset [romantic] ** GRF **the wall [CO: Hanno] ** Pissing on the CARPETS

We have more interesting photos, but Fred has lost the lead for his camera...

Have YOU seen it? Call crimestoppers now: 0800 446 773 [anonymous]

Movement:

We have just recieved some rough mixes of what should hopefully be a new album.

Infact, tomorrow, when I wake up, I'll be off to 'balance' stuff, mix and match samples, drink tea etc. Wish us well.

Jah bless you all...

x S

BATH / BARCELONA / BIGTIMES

12th July 2010

We've been recording and playing a few European shows [Bath, Sonar, Van Boredom]

I took some photos of some people and places [Bath, Sonar, Van Boredom].

Some exciting new things are happening, hopefully [News Soon]. 

I hope you are all well [Sun is Out]

x 

S 

 

 

 

 

BBC Introducing on 6 Music: Live

14th April 2010

Hey Kids. 

What with writing album no. 2, temporarily titled "Schtop! It schnot ready yet", we hadn't really planned on playing any UK shows. Only a special event was able to sway us on this firm stance: BBC Introducing on 6 Music: Live.

Both 6 Music and BBC Introducing have been ace to us in the past, so we're happily performing a few ditties for them at Maida Vale Studios on the 29th April. Not only are we performing on a bill with The Neat, Let's Buy Happiness and Babeshadow, but you can come and keep us company too. Hit this link for free tickets.

Album rehearsals and recording commence next week. A video diary of us sat around in our pants arguing about synth sounds will surely follow. 

Until then. 

H x

Gentrification Factor

29th March 2010

I've just invented a new game show, it's called Gentrification Factor and the basic principle is you take some not-posh people and make them appear posh and then get them jobs in various city banks. They'd probably do a better job anyway. The thing that slightly sickens me is that Channel 4 would probably go for it if we put together a proper pitch. I would like to make it clear at this moment in time that I have no intention of doing this.

We went to Antwerp and Utrecht and played some gigs, it was wicked. I especially liked Utrecht and plan to live there someday, probably age 33-35. Before I do this I want to live in NY, Barca and probably Berlin, as well as spending some time in South America and Africa checking out all the crazy percussionists and co. You didn't need to know all this but I'm telling you and you're listening, so who's laughing now eh?

The headline act in Utrecht was a guy called Nosaj Thing who I am now rather addicted to, check this rather scary video.

Tom got incredibly excited in Utrecht when he saw in the distance his favourite store - Winkel van Sinkel!

Now for the bad news:

It is with a heavy heart I find myself having to mark the passing of our favourite Texan radio station - WOXY radio. Due to funding issues, in a time that is proving difficult for the whole music industry, they have had to suspend broadcasts for the time-being, possibly forever unless they can find some much needed support from somewhere. This especially sad for us as while we were in Texas for SXSW last year they looked after us incredibly well, I can honestly say I've never enjoyed doing a live session as much as I did for those guys and the vibe they had in that brilliant building was just amazing. So relaxed and such a lovely bunch of people with the most important thing at heart - music. If you would like to know more or think you might be able to help in any way please look them up here: http://www.woxy.com/ thank you. Whatever happens guys, keep on rocking, we'll be thinking of you!

Right, not wanting to end on a sad note, here is a song by someone French from France. I discovered this slightly bizzare little number whilst on a brief sojourn in Covent Garden, I walked past a wee shop that was rocking it out and found myself walking in to look at their predictably retro clothing and ask after the songs title. Good news is they told me. I think it's a question we all need to asking ourselves:

Nini Raviolette - "suis-je normale?"

Much love and leftover Lucozade,

Freddo xxx

Hot

3rd March 2010

Hello,

Bored? Me too. Sometimes. Don't be.

Watch and listen, this track speaks for speaks for itself:

Little Dragon - Twice.

Beautiful, thanks Beanie.

Melt.

Very excited to be playing Melt this year, it's got an awesome line-up and I've only ever heard good things about the festival. Also, we've never been to Germany before and Berlin was on the top of the To Do list we never got round to making but was definitely discussed in depth at some point, signed in quadruplicate and then shelved for further planning consultation. We're no good at making decisions. Anyway, seems they're quite excited about having us too, they gave us a lovely little write-up:

Lovely little write-up.

Thank you Melt.

This Bjork remix is the proverbial badass. Call it ear silk if you will, but please just leave me alone, I'm tired of your synonyms.

Bjork - Where Is The Line (Matmos Rubber Remix)

Tasty. Ta Freya x

Where to go now? How about this:

MSTRKRFT ft N.O.R.E. - Bounce

Nuts.

Two more things:

1) We're DJing at London Fields pub on Mare Street on Thurday 11th of March, it's free in and we'll all be having a beer and a boogie so swan down if you're feeling flighty.

2) Yeah baby: Ray Barreto - Cuban Fantasy - I admit they look like paedophiles, but I don't think they are.

Toodles x

Todd Rundgren

24th February 2010

Hello and welcome to Wednesday!

 

First things first:

Here is an amusing song about a man who lactates, it had me in stitches. Grimey.

The painful truth:

I have to go to the dentist later, my teeth are fine I hope and I expect he'll tell me to keep up the good brushing habits and try to remember to use dental floss more often (I usually lie and say I floss occasionally. In truth this rarely happens, with the exception of the two week period after I've been to the dentist when my teeth still ring from the abuse of that little scrapey thing and small aggressive mouth-hoovers), this is all of little consequence to you.

Light reading:

I quite enjoyed this article from one of the guys from OK GO in the New York Times, got me thinking about stuff and things, most of which I've forgotten now I come to type this but that's just sod's law isn't it? Like staring in to the fridge.

My friend Flo took this photo, nice work I'm sure you'll agree:

 

I've been enjoying dubstep quite a lot recently, it started with picking up the Brackles LHC 12" in Rough Trade as they had it on on the shop stereo and the beats caught my attention, and now the affair has blossomed. My latest discovery (courtesy of M Bizzle) is James Blake. This guy is pretty genius, probably an acquired taste but I'm going to put it out there, check out Sparing The Horses and if that tickles your fancy with its awkward feel and minor heart attacks I recommend Air & Lack Thereof as well, bit more of a slow burn but nicey when that beat crops up! Well worth the wait.

In other news we may have a new rehearsal room soon, aren't you excited? This means we can polish our guns to a fine lustre and maybe even try to wow you with some new material in the near future...

I'll look forward to it.

X

Truffling

18th February 2010

Absolutely loving the new Massive Attack, if you haven't checked it out yet this track is the flyest. CLICK.

Also there's a nice remix HERE by Gui Borrato, free for you to download and everything.

Finally, anyone who hasn't discovered THIS remix of Passion Pit's Sleepyhead by Neo Tokyo should be shot. Or just give it a listen.

Regards,

Fred x

17th February 2010

This Year [Now Then].

I'm bringing this blog back. Mainly, because I hate the fact our old one is on our rather shit looking website. How are you? We are fine. We are currently entering that strange phase in a bands existence, when people grow up, ie; people start having babies [more on that later], people start growing beards, start smoking cigars, friends start moving in to real houses which they actually bought with actual money, the beautiful bastards. We are now 25 years old! Champagne. I should point out however, that we are beardless, and cigar-less at the moment. Wow. I am also homeless at the moment... although not in the 'park bench' sense. I write this blog whilst sat in my managers flat [which I stay in sometimes, between the odd shift at a call center, and some session keyboard duties with the excellent YALC endorsed LunarYouth], she has very kindly offered me a room when she's not in London. We have found a new Russian Club though, and it's amazing, huge, massively comfy, dirty... we move-in in a week or so, fingers crossed. We have been pretty prolific over the past few months or so. We've written the bones of a new album. 30+ songs, which is encouraging, and we're currently chatting to lots of creative people to help us with this new project. Henry has, for the last few months been baring his teeth in a religious style nicotine influenced writing ritual. The results are staggering. Honestly. Some breathtaking chord changes, he is one of the the most natural musicians I have ever had the fortune of playing with. He has been smoking lots of Golden Virginia in a pile of blankets and worshiping MODERAT. He is fine. Fred has also been writing some songs, although he has never really written a song for us before [he plays drums in our band]. One song will be on the new record and it will be sick. He's also been posting videos of himself playing drums, on the internet, which you can find if you search hard enough. Although I don't recommend it if you're not interested in massive beats/drums/heavy rhythm, because you will be bored. Instead listen to just a CD or something. Fred is also teaching kids to play drums for money. He is also writing beats, which Henry, Tom and I are penning new stuff over the top of of of of of. Talented bastard.

I'm drinking wine in Sybil's posh flat now, and I feel bad... slightly drunk and the butler has come and turned the air-con on to -4 degrees, what a twat.

Now for the REAL news

Tom has had a new child. Samuel O'Hare was born on the 2nd of February, 2010. The first (maybe only?) Post War Years child born in to this world. He is absolutely beautiful, and I was lucky enough to hold him in my arms for half an hour this week. We all grew up together in Leamington Spa [Midlands, UK], so we are all a bit teary eyed and blissed out about this amazing new child-person. Congratulations are in order. he'll tell you more soon... Barbara, Tom's girlfriend of 11 years (who went to school with Henry in Leamginton) is now a proud mother. She also lived with us for ages in the flat where we recorded our first album, and she has expertly crafted her mothering skills on both Fred and I for the last decade. So hats off, I'll drink to her good health.

So...

Over the next few weeks myself, Henry and Fred, will be stitching together the rest of the new songs in our new studio before heading out for a quick trip around Belgium and Holland [touring TGATH]...

We're waiting for you Holland and Belgiumm. Uk - back in a sec.

Big love to you all - I hope this finds you well.

Simon from PWY xxx

ps. James, from recent Feirce Panda signings GoldheartAssembly, cooked me an octopus for dinner the other night. Can I recommend their album 'Wolves and Thieves' - Out in March.. to people who respect the art of beautiful   early beatlesque songwriting.

7th July 2010

7th July 2010