Thursday, March 11, 2010

Honey, take a run down to the beach!


Did something very old school Partly Porpoise this evening. Haven’t done it for ages…

Long time readers of this Blog may remember how I used to go about finding new music by muddying my hands in the waters of Myspace. A pretty good yield it used to afford me too, for a while. For some reason though, Myspace changed the way they do things, and suddenly no downloads available anymore.

Anyway, I just thought I’d have a look…

The Drums

The Drums are a New York based band, who (if the stories are to be believed) decided to make a conscious move away from synths etc towards guitar-driven pop, without actually being able to play guitars. I like the story, so I’m choosing to be believe it.

Turns out the results are rather fun, lots of sixties harmonies, jingly guitars, bouncy bass lines and jaunty whistling. A winning formula.

Watch this:



You can download five (moderately) different versions of “Surfing” from here, including the “straight” version, but I thought I’d host one of the remixes.

This is the Nothing but the Girl mix:

Surfing

Not enough whistling in music theses days…

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Ooh, we could dance and be free!


Well, I’ve gone and joined that Twitter thingie.

Not entirely sure what I’m doing yet, but if the only fruit it yields is the exciting news that there’s a new Ted Leo album out – today in fact - well that’s something…

No videos or freebies yet, (and although, his site claims that you can stream the album on his Myspace, that’s not up yet), so we’ll have to go for something old to celebrate…



I think I’m ready for a new album from the Pharmacists – the last one passed me by…

Oh, and as you’re asking, it’s @Sweeny99… And yes it would be a pleasure to have you following me.

Saturday, March 06, 2010

You’ve got a rabbit in your hat! You’ve got a few tricks up your sleeve!


My blogging chum and I are becoming increasingly infatuated by the ever-enjoyable Classic Albums Podcast – basic format: two fellers talk about records they lent to each other. A simple format but a winning one, that I wish I’d thought of myself – although I doubt my ability to carry it off in such an affable and urbane fashion. I look forward to each new edition and am gradually working my way through the back catalogue.

One of the ideas Gary and Steven have got me thinking about is the idea of a record having space - quieter moments in which ideas can grow and take hold. I like the notion that the listener needs the occasional pause in proceedings in order to gather his thoughts – a metaphorical parting of clutter as he picks his way across the room and onto the bed.

The Soft Pack

Anyway, I’ve just bought myself the eponymous first album from California’s The Soft Pack, and I’m afraid Gary and Steven would be disappointed. Basically, there’s no space, none at all, not a second to catch your breath at all. Ten bursts of punchy, Garage Punky, sixties fun (there’s even what sounds like a Farfisa organ, God’s choice of keyboard, I feel) and all of it delivered with bursts of youthful energy and exclamation. It’s catchy, exhilarating stuff that you’ll either love or find utterly empty-headed. Or maybe both.

Here!



And there!



Bought the record at the height of Ofsted fever, during the week (and yes, as your asking, it was fine, thank you), but now in the lavish post-Ofsted position of being able to read magazines and browse cool websites at my leisure, I find that pretty much everyone’s (Everyone) all over this already.

Honestly, bees round a honey pot…