Album Review: Blitzen Trapper – Destroyers of the Void (Sub Pop)

Just before I vanished from the internet for my week of relaxation and chocolate M&Ms, I wrote another album review for the lovely guys over at Rockfeedback.com - this time it was the latest offering from Prog/Folk/Rock/Pop Oregonians, Blitzen Trapper called Destroyers of the Void.

This album has such an American sound I managed to get a Louis L'amour reference into my write up.

Read all about it here.



Destroyers of the Void
Label: Sub Pop
UK Release Date: June 14th, 2010 

Do De Duckie

I've been on a lovely family holiday full of energetic mountain treks, a yummy bbq, beachy laziness and my mums awesome psychedelic rabbit blancmange (complete with M&M droppings).

I managed to stay away from my computer pretty much the whole week and it was actually quite nice, reminded of life before the internet.

Best moment of the week? All my family dancing along with my 1yr old niece to the Sesame Street song Do De Duckie. She does a really cute head wiggle and gives you a great big smile whenever she hears it.  Here's the video - Reggae and Sesame Street FTW!

What's Going On in London? June 18th - June 25th

Good old London, there's always someone willing to entertain you, some even do it for free! Yay!  Check out my list of recommendations for the next seven days and forget about those friends who'll be swapping your superb company for some muddy Somerset fields or the football, or both.

Friday 18th June

MELTDOWN: Van Dyke Parks And Clare And The Reasons @ Queen Elizabeth Hall

MELTDOWN: The Wilkommen Collective Presents @ Clore Ballroom

Saturday 19th June

Mad Professor + Trojan Sound System + Imperial Leisure + Channel One Soundsystem @ Koko

Sunday 20th June
Revolver @ Music Day Showcase, 8:30pm, French Cultural Institute, South Kensington (FREE)

MELTDOWN: Johnny Flynn + Slow Club + Broadcast 2000 + John Smith @ Clore Ballroom (FREE)

MELTDOWN: Elvis Costello @ Royal Festival Hall

Bowling with Rough Trade & All Star Lanes, 7-11pm (For details see RT website) (FREE)

Monday 21st June

MELTDOWN: Broken Bells @ Royal Festival Hall

Wednesday 23rd June

Tune-Yards, Brilliant Colors and Trash Kit @ Scala

Pulled Apart By Horses Instore @ Rough Trade East, 7pm (See RT website for entry/wristband details) (FREE)

Thursday 24th June

Tegan And Sara @ Roundhouse

The Avett Brothers @ Koko

John Grant + Mountain Man + Alessi's Ark + Lone Wolf @ Union Chapel

The Black Keys Instore @ Rough Trade East, 7pm (See RT website for entry/wristband details) (FREE)


Friday 25th June
Dirty Projectors and Alarm Will Sound: The Getty Address @ Barbican Centre

If you have any concert suggestions, please feel free to share by leaving a comment.

Phosphorescent @ The ICA 02/06/10

What a wonderful concert!   My early arrival turned out to a be a winner and for once I was plum in the centre, right at the front of the stage taking in the full musical force (and occasional blob of musician sweat) from this most excellent band.

Although I love listening to all the Phosphorescent albums, hearing the songs performed live triggered some slightly more intense emotions.  Whether it was the result of their indie folk/ alt country sound being given more of a rock injection or Matthew Houck's vocals cracking in all the right places on the more intimate songs (such as Wolves), I think I prefer them live, you get just that little bit extra that makes you feel connected and entertained.

The band were great fun, ploughing their rock energies into their collective instruments like they were presenting their offerings to the Gods of Rock.  They also shared some of an already fairly consumed bottle of Jameson Irish whisky with a few members of the audience mid set, not only showing their friendly (and a bit drunk) vibe, but they also have good taste in whisky!  Rock'n'roll man!

Favourite songs of the evening included The Mermaid Parade, Los Angeles, It's Not Supposed To Be That Way, Wolves and an extended heavy sounding At Death, A Proclamation which ended the 2nd and final encore in a wave of euphoria leaving me with that post gig feeling of That was so good, what on earth am I supposed to do with myself now?!! kind of rush.

A great evening, these guys can seriously rock!  Can't wait to see them at the End of the Road festival in September.

[All photos from Phosphorescent @ ICA by Martin Leung]

Album Review: The Acorn - 'No Ghost'

As promised, here's a link to my review of No Ghost by The Acorn currently featured on the Rockfeedback website.


"As indie folk band The Acorn unpacked their guitars and debated over who had which bedroom in their isolated log cabin/recording studio in Northern Quebec, they must have felt a certain weight of expectation to deliver following the success of their Polarias-nominated previous release, Glory Hope Mountain.  However, changing your focus from an album recalling your mother’s turbulent past must have also provided to a certain degree, a collective sense of relief, giving the band an opportunity to cut loose and pursue a new direction... read more"

Album Review : CocoRosie - 'Grey Oceans'

It's been a bit of a hectic time over the last few days and I've been down with a cold which has been a total inconvenience as far as getting things done.  However, I have managed to write a couple of album reviews for music website Rockfeedback.  Here's the link to my review of CocoRosie's latest album 'Grey Oceans', I'll post more links soon.


Also, there's an interesting chat taking place on the Drowned In Sound Message boards about whether it's a good thing for bloggers to run record labels, read here.  

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Bodies of Water - New Songs

It's nice and sunny in London today and I'm fancying an ice cream but first I thought I'd share a couple of things:

Bodies of Water have released a few of their new songs via the music blog Gorilla vs Bear.  Here's the link where you can download the songs.  I particularly love Rise Up Careful. Wonderfully sexy sax and Meredith's (singer from Music Go Music) lovely vocals.  Can't wait for their new album, reckon it's going to be a corker!

And in other news...

If you like a bit of skiffle, try out these guys http://www.myspace.com/theseveredlimb.  Danced to them for hours on Sunday night, so much fun.

Phosphorescent tonight!