[Monolith]

Good call Houdini, I liked that a lot.
Is it all instrumental? Just thought it would be great with a Dagnasty style vocal over the top:

If you liked that, one of the guys was in a band called Don Cabellaro who were pretty good.

http://www.southern.net/southern/band/DONCA/

Dag Nasty are class. Any of you guys got the Dischord 20 year anniversary box set? Very much recommended for fans of the label.
I saw Ian Mackaye's new band The Evens play in Brudenell Social Club in Leeds last year and they were great. They did a video which explained the Vowel system to kids, a pretty long way from Minor Threat but cool!

[Houdini]

Excluding Fugazi/Threat two bands stand out on Dischord:  Beefeater and Rites of Spring.  Two awesome slices of Reaganite America.

I like Don Cab.  Mostly for Damon Che's drumming.  He is also in Bellini who are relatives of Uzeda: Best Italian rock band of last 10/15 years.

[SA Chris]

Indeed, and I am somewhat dissapointed. Not bad, but nothing to get worked up over - certainly a step down from Split the Difference in my opinion. Still really looking forward to seeing them at beautiful days this year though.

Cheers, will probably end up getting it anyway. Hadn't heard of that festival before, looks good! We will be here this year http://www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk/2006/ Saw some footage of Gomez from T and still want to see them live at some point.

[rowena]

Anybody heard the new Guillemots album?  Looks interesting!

[Falling Down]

Battles are ace - I'd love to see them live.. also thanks for the links to Don Caballero and those Italian bands... I've not heard of them before.

There's a couple of good gigs in Sheffield this weekend Isis and Thrones are on at the Corporation and Steffen Basho Junghans (another fingerstyle steel guitar wizard a la Jack Rose) is on somewhere on Saturday night.

[dontfollowme]

Anybody heard the new Guillemots album?  Looks interesting!

Yep, one my albums of the year so far. Its on oink to download.

[Houdini]

If you are serious about Don Caballero, these are the recordings to find, on vinyl naturally as the gatefold artwork is marvellous.  Buy in this order:

1 - For Respect



2 - Don Caballero 2



3 - What Burns Never Returns



And don't expect vocals.  Ever.  This band mined new territory in Rock.  However 'American Don' their last LP did not hit the spot as well as the previous 3 did.  Too clean and jazzy.


Definitely go and see Battles.  You will not be disappointed.  They are in Manc' soon.  Do it.

Quote of the night of the Battles gig from my GF, in reference to John Stainer the drummer, "My god!  His head is going to explode!"

[unclesomebody]

Maybe way back in 1993 "For Respect" was groundbreaking or innovative... but now, to me, it doesn't sound particularly good. I'm not a massive fan of this genre, I would suggest something more like Galaxie 500 from that era. I just thought I'd write something that wasn't praise, so even things out.

As for other recent reccomendations, may I humbly suggest;

Kitsune Maison Compilation - from the french label. If you like mellow electronica type stuff. I think it's nice. Not groundbreaking however...

[Houdini]

I like Galaxie 500 too - but they are closer to My Bloody Valentine, Kitchens of Distinction (!) or even Ride than to Don Caballero.  For me, Don Caballero 2 is the definitive release.  Erm...  Not that you compared them to G500...



Do excuse me, I must bring forth the Vom - I willingly wrote Ride, twice!  Fuck!

Unc' needs a dose of Bellini.  Or, THE rock record of the early 90's 'At Action Park' by Shellac

[Monolith]

Cheers for the gatefold recommendations Houdini. I'm a big fan of quality vinyl artwork. Incidentally, on the theme of quality gatefolds, do any of you have any Frank Zappa originals? I think one of my only prized possessions is an immaculate original copy of Weasels Ripped My Flesh which seems to be quite hard to get hold of in any condition now. The cover which depicts a cartoon man trying to shave with a weasel as a razor has to be the image of the 60s.

[Falling Down]

Thanks for the recomendations (I'm downloading The Evens from eMusic at the moment).  Funnily enough I was listening to Galaxie 500's This is our Music in the car this morning - perfect dreamy summer sounds. 

[unclesomebody]

more electro summer pop love type stuff;

Cansei De Ser Sexy - Cansei De Ser Sexy although if you're going to do a search for this try the abbreviation CSS. A band from brazil making nice electro-pop music. Try to get the original brazilian version of their album, not the newly recorded/released american version.

[cofe]

just checking out www.last.fm

first impressions good...

[Duma]

all rather mainstream and dated, but of late, my commute has been eased by...
The Bees - One Glass of Water. The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (I'm sure one of them harmonises about his ovulations though ). SFA - Mountain People (Hand-me-down culture/Waiting for the vultures brilliant.) The Coral - Pass It On.
But most of all, The Go Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike. This is definitely my favourite summer music of the last couple of years.

[Houdini]

Sometimes, the sound of sequencers makes me puke.  At times like these I find solace in modern classical music, in particular music from bands like Rachels (Quarterstick records, via Southern distribution).

They've been around for 11 years or so, and contain members of the amazing rock band Rodan who made but one LP called Rusty.

They have made five LP's, the prime movers are Handwriting (they're 1st), The Sea & Bells (2nd).  Everyone should own these records, or rather anyone with soul should own these records; they are so beautiful they would bring tears to your eyes should you listen to them when feeling emotionally weak.  In general, they could be compared to Godspeed, You Black Emperor.  Or even Phillip Glass.

Download a track called Last Things Last (from their 5th LP Systems/Layers) I defy you not to be moved by this song.

[Pemb]

Downloaded Tower of Love by Jim Noir last week after a recommendation from Monolith. He's the bloke that did the song ‘Eaney Meany' that was on the Adidas advert and had the lyrics “If you don't give my football back I'm gonna get my dad on you, I only kicked it over the fence and broke a silly gnome or two.” He also did a song called ‘My Patch' which has been played on Radio 1 a bit I think. He's got an interesting hippy kitsch pop sort of style with a definite summery vibe to it. Definitely one of my favourite recent acquisitions.

Also recently got The Audience's Listening by Cut Chemist and Magnificent City by RJD2 and was a bit disappointed by them both.

[BenF]

Also recently got The Audience's Listening by Cut Chemist and Magnificent City by RJD2 and was a bit disappointed by them both.

What?  Disappointed by both Cut Chemist and RJD2?  Surely not...  maybe you got the discs mixed up?

[Pemb]

No disc mix up unfortunately Ben. I loved Dead Ringer and Since We Last Spoke but thought that Magnificent City was a bit disappointing in comparison. The beats were ok but I found Aceyalone's rhymes to be very poor and lacking an edge. May try and get my hands on the instrumental version, which could be better. May have been a bit quick to diss Cut Chemist though. Giving it another listen now and starting to quite like it especially the song ‘Garden' which is class.

[Houdini]

3 free mixes for mimimal tech-heads here

[BenF]

No disc mix up unfortunately Ben. I loved Dead Ringer and Since We Last Spoke but thought that Magnificent City was a bit disappointing in comparison. The beats were ok but I found Aceyalone's rhymes to be very poor and lacking an edge. May try and get my hands on the instrumental version, which could be better. May have been a bit quick to diss Cut Chemist though. Giving it another listen now and starting to quite like it especially the song ‘Garden' which is class.

Shame about the RJD2, usually a cut above other hiphop.  Glad the Cut Chemist has been revived in your view.  I've got "Garden" too and think it's okay but a little downtempo for my liking, although obviously such music has its time and place.  Like a very late night time and place.

[Fiend]

Been a little while since I've flown the DnB flag but here's two slices of hard-hitting rollage you need in your collection:

Ohm Resistance - Forwards in Backwards Time (OHM)

American artist/label double CD compilation specialising in consistently good old-skool industrial gnarlstep. If you like your beats hard and your sounds techy this is well recommended, it has some of that raw late 90's feel that the likes of Panacea captured. First track on the second CD sums up hard dnb IMO.

N.Phect & Dizplay - Beautiful Bytes (Basswerk)

German artists with another consistently good CD, this time of nu-skool rolling techstep. Refined and accessible techy sounds with good basslines and neat atmospherics. Pretty much a mixture of, say, Teebee and Noisia, which should be recommendation enough.

[BenF]

First off, thanks to Fiend for the nouveau DnB recommends.  I like the sound of the N.Phect & Dizplay and will have a look round for that as most of your previous DnB recommendations have proven to be worth seeking out. Thanks dude.

Secondly, got the eagerly awaited (well, by me anyway) new Jurassic5 album (entitled "Feedback") this week.  Worth checking out if you like their stuff as it maintains the very high standard set by their previous long players.  Starts off pretty laid back but moves up a gear after a few tracks.  There is a rather strange track that is basically a cover of Boney M's Brown Girl in the Ring.  Weird but good. 
The final track is a live recording of Day at the Races with some simply outstanding vocal gymnastics, not untypical of J5.  I've not been disappointed so far although admittedly I haven't had time to play it through more than a few times.

[Fiend]

http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/221314-01.htm

There ya go Ben.

New J5 eh, might have to check that out...

[Houdini]

Hmmmmm....  The old bint upstairs is really loving this link, Fiend.  Must be the sub-bass hitting her ancient G-spot where it hurts...

[BenF]

http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/221314-01.htm

There ya go Ben.

New J5 eh, might have to check that out...

Thank you senor Fiend, much obliged as ever.  Haven't checked it (my school internet connection won't let me go near anything even remotely entertainment themed) but will do later.

Do check the J5 too, it's good lyrical fun as usual.  I presume you dig their previous stuff?  You seem to have taste....

On the hiphop theme, has anyone else got the Sway album This is my demo?  I bought it the other day and have been pretty underwhelmed by it although to be honest the J5 album has taken precedence in my listening this week so I shall give Sway some time over the weekend.  Certainly not the best UK hiphop around which is a shame 'cos I've got some other stuff from him and it's mostly pretty fine.  Anyway, am I just not into it yet because I ain't given it time, or is it just a bit shite?