Set up as an extracurricular activity (bit like rounders). As for the future, see what happens, i'm a firm believer in fate and the fates. Upset zombie is a collective made up of Martyn Norman, Mat Philbin and Tom Griffiths. trying to set up a lablel in the current climate is dangerous. I say it's not as dangerous as down town Bagdad, they've taken extreme sports to a new levels. Australia has bungee jumping, America has White water rafting and Iraq has 'going to the shops'.
We're similar to America in the sense we need to win hearts and minds. In Iraq there's plenty of hearts and minds, the main problem is scraping them off car windscreens. Bush is thinking about withdrawing from Iraq. If only George Bush senior had withdrew 51 years ago on his honeymoon.
I'm glad Abu Hamza got locked up. He got 7 years for preaching hatred against the west. So, at one point he was packing bombs and now he's packing fudge. Thats justice in my book. They say it's difficult to get a job once out of jail but Hamza should have no problems sliding into the latest pantomime production of Peter Pan.
Tom Griffiths is a Stockport-borne singer and songwriter with his roots firmly embedded in the tradition of the finest bleak northern storytellers. Matt Philbin is a bedroom producer whose sound is plundered from the musty depths of charity shop record boxes. With the acoustic guitar of Griffiths and the sampled beats of Philbin complementing each other like a cup of tea and a hangover, The Consolations are here to spread their music like a modern-day wandering minstrel with a drum machine.
After toiling away in the under-equipped surroundings of Copperfield Studios, the first fruits of their labour are now finally realised and available to the world. The debut release on fledgling label Upset Zombie Records; the Borrowed Time EP showcases the sound they've spent the past year secretly cultivating in their vapid suburban hideout. The CD features 6 tracks of honest indie lyricism, sung against a sonic backdrop that sees The Consolations' wealth of musical influences peeking through the cracks in the lo-fi production. With an array of other material in progress, and a burgeoning live show, the Borrowed Time EP is set to be the first chapter in the story of both band and record label.
The EP is available for £2.99 from the mighty PICCADILLY RECORDS
Alternatively, it can be purchased directly from us for £4.00 (incl. P+P) by clicking on the button below:
xNoBBQx Skewer 10" LP (Ltd to 300 copies) - Out May 12th
We first came across xNoBBQx (just call them No Barbeque, I guess) in Piccadilly Records last year when the Siltbreeze vinyl reissue of their first CD-r appeared on its shelves. The Siltbreeze label being a bastion of all that is great in terms of dirgy, lo-fi, transcendental unmusicality, we were thus intrigued to hear this slab. And, we have to say, it was one of the greatest shop-listening experiences of all time. Here was a duo, probably of fully grown men, bashing away at their instruments in a manner that suggested they had never really learned any 'proper' technique. We later read a review, in fact, that put it thus:
"So what exactly is the difference between an xNoBBQx recording and a couple of 14 year olds bashing instruments in the garage with record pressed down on one of their mum’s old tape recorders? Probably not a whole lot, actually, but I get the feeling that’s precisely the point. " (Cyclic Defrost)
Well, yes, that does largely seem to be the point. But it's a helluva point. The Australian duo, in spite of their unabashed simplicity, manage to create sounds that are warm as an old-fashioned blanket, each piece having the ability to induce a state of complete, dribbling mental stasis. It's disjointed, scratchy and 'difficult', yes. But it also manages to be completely absorbing. If you like your rock deconstructed to the nth degree, we highly recommend you dig this.
xNoBBQx will be touring the UK from 10th May 2009. We'll be putting them on in Manchester on 12th May (venue TBC), so keep yr eyes on this page.
Vampire Blues is the duo of guitar player Jon Collin (Serfs, The Whole Voyald) and harmonium player Jon Marshall (The Hunter Gracchus, Peril Hill). They have a pretty special tape out on Blackest Rainbow. We can't recommend them highly enough.
The Fifth Band is the gobsmacking trio of Stephen Lawrie (The Telescopes), Bridget Hayden (Vibracathedral Orchestra) and Kryszt Hladowski (The Family Elan). Oof.
A Wake is the duo of Nick Mitchell and Fliss Horrocks who also play in Beach Fuzz. This will actually probably end-up being a Beach Fuzz performance - this incarnation's first inside the UK.
Solid Earth & what? the folk! present: Freaks, Ghouls and Graves, a Balkan (ish) flavoured Halloween (ish) knees up at the delightful St Margaret’s church in Whalley Range.
Yessum we’re back. after the monstrous success of Jackson’s Boat, we thought it only right and proper to offer you another helping of profoundly good music in a great venue. We’ve got a rosette for best zombie in show, beer and food from the nice folks at Jam Street and noise from Stumblefunk.
Another co-promo with the brains and muscle that brought Beats, Roots & Leaves back in May - this time tho we de-camp indoors to make the most of the Halloween theme inside a church, with face painters, ghost hunters, a bar provided by Jam Street and a fabulous line-up of musical tricker treats:
Na Zdrove Na Zdrove is Sheffield's finest Balkan Beats, Gypsy Brass, Russian Ska, Gypsy Dub, Klezmer and Gypsy Punk night. blimey. We’ll ave some of that. We’ll be welcoming their house band and resident DJs - yes indeedy! http://www. myspace. com/nazdrove
visit our myspace to find out more including other acts
DOORS 9PM ::: £8 donation (all proceeds go to MSF in Darfur) ::: BAR PROVIDED BY JAM STREET CAFE SERVING CASK ALES AND VINTAGE CIDER, BOTTLED BEER, SPIRITS AND HALLOWEEN SNACKS - 2AM LICENCE. Limited Adv tickets @ Jam St Cafe, Upper Chorlton Rd.
Shoreline are an eight piece folk ensemble from Brighton, and part of the Willkommen collective that includes The Miserable Rich and Sons of Noel & Adrian. Their debut album is called Time Well Spent and it's absolutely gorgeous - officially released on 22nd September, advance copies will be available at this special album launch show.
Soy Un Caballo
Soy Un Caballo are a duo from Belgium who have produced a delightful first album, with a little help from an amazing line-up of musicians including Bonnie ÔPrinceÕ Billy (singing in French!). ÒÉsmooth harmonies and a smoother pop sensibilityÉ as cool as Jean-Paul Satre and as romantic as the Left Bank. Ó The Wire
Danny Norbury & Andrew Hargreaves We've been trying to get Danny to come and play a solo set ever since Static Caravan released his mini-album, Dusk, on mini-CD last year. It sold out rather quickly, and picked up some great reviews, which is no surprise: it's a stunning piece of work. Danny is heading out on tour with The Boats later this month and has enlisted the help of Boatman Andrew Hargreaves for this special set.
Bonjour, Je vous invite à jeter une oreille dans mon monde, une nouvelle p'tite chanson, "lettre d'adieu", vous y attend :o) Merci de votre attention A bientôt La Fille
Hello, come and listen to a new song, ‘lettre d’adieu’ Regards, La Fille
EYES come from Chicago and make glorious music for dancing that straddles the vibes of Ariel Pink and HEALTH. The type of band people might lie about having seen first time round once they make the cover of Plan B. You know, if they felt so inclined.
Skitanja, in spite of what the poster says, are actually from Bournemouth. They make scrappy, electronic bleep party pop music with guitar.
Shiu-Yeung Hui is the Chinese member of Japanese group Maher Shalal Hash Baz. He drinks quite a lot of neat vodka then takes to the stage to perform his wonderful, fractured, miniature songs using guitar and keyboard. An exercise in patience, an audience with Shiu pays off massively.
Elapse O are a death disco unit from Oxford. Imagine swimming the butterfly through a load of broken Swans LPs. That's what they sound like. Dig.
