Oh gosh, 2011 is nearly over. Who’d a thunk. It’s been a rollercoaster of a year for me – after completely losing my musical mojo in the early part of the year, it picked up by festival time, but has fluctuated wildly since.

Tonight’s show was the review of 2011, though there’s not much reviewing going on – tis mostly just tunes and me saying I love them… You know you want it, download the whole show from here, or check the Spotify playlist over here.

1. Aidan John Moffat – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town from Oh! What A Not So Silent Night Before Christmas (http://aidanjohnmoffat.bandcamp.com/track/oh-what-a-night-before-christmas)
2. ?lhan Barutçu – Sultaniyegah Taksim from A?k-? Neyzen – Sufi Music
3. Half Man Half Biscuit – Fix It So She Dreams Of Me from 90 Bisodol (Crimond) (Probe Plus)
4. Tune-Yards – Es-so from W H O K I L L (4AD)
5. Mogwai – San Pedro from Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will (Rock Action)
6. Low – You See Everything from C’mon (Subpop)
7. St. Vincent – Surgeon from Strange Mercy (4AD)
8. Fujiya & Miyagi – Cat Got Your Tongue from Ventriloquizzing (Full Time Hobby)
9. Conquering Animal Sound – Giant from Kammerspiel (Gizeh)
10. Origamibiro – Dismantle Piece from Shakkei (Abandon Building)
11. Plaid – founded from scintilli (Warp)
12. Evangelista – Enter The Prince from In Animal Tongue (Constellation)
13. Deaf Center – Hunted Twice from Owl Splinters (Type)
14. Björk – Sacrifice from Biophilia (One Little Indian)
15. Radiohead – Codex from The King Of Limbs (XL)
16. My Brightest Diamond – Reaching Through to the Other Side from All Things Will Unwind (Asthmatic Kitty)
17. Alice Gun – Metal Spider from Metal Spider (Ambiguous)
18. King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Bats In The Attic from Diamond Mine (Domino)
19. The 2 Bears – Bear Hug from Bear Hug E.P. (Southern Fried)
20. Anna Meredith – Nautilus from Black Prince Fury EP (http://soundcloud.com/annameredith/sets/black-prince-fury)
21. Boxcutter – LOADtime from Hotflush Presents… Back And 4th (Hotflush)
22. Roots Manuva – Get the Get from 4everevolution (Big Dada)
23. Ghostpoet – I Just Dont Know from Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam (Brownswood)
24. Walls – Drunken Galleon from Coracle (Kompakt)
25. Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat – The Sadness In Your Life Will Slowly Fade from Everything’s Getting Older (Chemikal Underground)
26. Sinking Cruise Ship Rescue Drama I Saw Three Cruise Ships Come Sinking In (http://www.last.fm/music/Sinking+Cruise+Ship+Rescue+Drama/_/I+saw+three+cruise+ships+come+sinking+in)

With thanks to Steven Shingler (photographer)

What a glorious month! Firstly, Had the svelte mum over to visit, went to Ireland, visiting friends and family, went to some good gigs, booked a whole bunch more. AND the radio show didn’t decide to implode technically on me, which was nice. In fact, I’m rather proud of this one.

You can download the show from here or grab from Spotify here.

Enjoy, yeah?

the svelte selection – 27 October 2011

1. Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat from Tasogare from Everything’s Getting Older
2. James Yorkston – Woozy With Cider (Jon Hopkins Remix) from Woozy With Cider
3. Samamidon – Little Satchel from All Is Well
4. Rachael Dadd – Moth In The Motor from Bite The Mountain
5. St. Vincent – Cheerleader from Strange Mercy
6. My Brightest Diamond – High Low Middle from All Things Will Unwind
7. Chilly Gonzales – Shut Up and Play The Piano – The Unspeakable Chilly Gonzales
8. Digitonal – monday from Piano Music (unreleased)
9. Digitonal – radio from Piano Music (unreleased)
10. Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat – Man Of The Cloth from Cruel Summer E.P.
11. The Necks – The Boys II from The Boys
12. Evangelista – Bells Ring Fire from In Animal Tongue
13. Janis Joplin – Ball & Chain – Janis Joplin’s Greatest Hits
14. Cor Godre’R Aran – Ymdaith Gwyr Harlech – The Music Of Wales
15. Valery Gergiev – Bluebeard’s Castle: IV. Third Door – The Treasury – Bartók: Bluebeard’s Castle
16. Roots Manuva – Here We Go Again – 4everevolution
17. Talk In Colour – Nightshifts
18. Björk – Virus – Biophilia
19. Pram – Track Of The Cat – Dark Island
20. Pixies – Monkey Gone To Heaven – Doolittle 20th Anniversary Live Sampler
21. The Thing – Mystery Song – Bag It!
22. Daedelus – Penny Loafers – Bespoke
23. Astrid Williamson – Pour (Raffertie Remix) – One Little Indian Sampler
24. Max Cooper – Chaotisch Serie

God. This is from months ago. I got a bit drunk and the microphone didn’t want to play ball. Or my voice.
the svelte selection – Indian Summer Edition
Still, music works nicely. Download it from here.

1. Murray Gold – Doctor Who XI
2. Murray Gold – I Am The Doctor
3. Sunday Driver – Concubine Waltz
4. Tune-Yards – Gangsta
5. The Divine Comedy – The Model
6. Sugarhill Gang – Hot Hot Summer Day
7. Amon Tobin – Night Swim
8. Ben Folds Five – Philosophy
9. Half Man Half Biscuit – Left Lyrics In The Practice Room (2:07)
10. Anna Meredith – Nautilus
11. Remember Remember – John Candy
12. Fennesz – Seven Stars
13. Emeralds – Science Center
14. Cikada String Quartet – String Quartet in Four Parts: Slowly Rocking
15. Synergy – John Cage: Amores – IV Solo for Prepared Piano
16. Get People – Rain Tears (Graphics Remix)
17. Breton – RDI (Girl Unit Remix)
18. Kraftwerk – The Model
19. Aperture Science Psychoacoustics Laboratory – I Made It All Up
20. Death In Vegas – Medication
21. The Field – Is This Power
22. Plaid – thank from Scintilli

I want to start this blog by saying that tonsillitis SUCKS. Tonsillitis really fucking sucks. It REALLY FUCKING SUCKS.

Look, even Charlie Brooker agrees with me. And he’s right about a lot of stuff.

Why is this important? Well, it explains a few things:

a. Why this show is being uploaded over a week after the broadcast

b. Why the show itself is almost 100% devoid of my talking

c. Why I’m at home on a Friday night writing this blog rather than seeing the wonderful Adam Buxton at Kings Place

Some of the above may well be a blessing to y’all, but they’ve all pissed me off to a rather large extent.

To reiterate: tonsillitis SUCKS.

So, now we’re past that little rant and we’re coping (maybe), let me introduce to you the latest edition of the svelte selection. This month had to cover two major festivals (The Big Chill and Green Man) plus a range of new albums, gigs attended and gigs upcoming. Usually you’d get the details of each during the show, but due to the lack of mic action, I’m going to give a little commentary via the tracklisting instead.

You can download the show from here (sorry it’s so slow. I will get around to podcasting it eventually. I will). There’s a Spotify playlist here.

And, lo, here it is:

1. Evangelista – I lay there in front of me covered in ice from Prince of Truth

Evangelista’s playing a gig at Cafe Oto on Sunday 13th November.

2. YACHT – Shangri-La from Shangri-la

Got to see YACHT (briefy) at Secret Garden Party where they played lots of stuff from the new album. This is the title track. It’s fun. And interesting. A nice combo.

3. Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat – The Greatest Story Ever Told from Everything’s Getting Older

STOP PRESS: YOU MUST GO AND BUY THIS ALBUM NOW. IT IS FUCKING AMAZING AND HAS JUMPED INTO THE TOP SPOT FOR 2011 SO FAR.

I’m serious. Buy it now.

Buy it.

Here if you have emusic

Buy it.

Bought it? Good, we can carry on.

4. Stephin Merritt – The Song from Venus from Obscurities

New release of curiosities from Stephin Merritt – unreleased material, demos, alternative versions and the like. Loads of good stuff for the fans (of which I am most definitely one). Actually, I did a whole radio show about Stephin Merritt once. If you fancy it, you can download it from here.

5. Oh Ruin! – Silver Lining from Silver Lining (single)

The first track in my Green Man festival section comes from Oh Ruin!, who I first played back in February, after seeing him at Sh! A Celebration of Quiet Music. The band did a wonderful wee set by the Green Man Pub, accompanied on a couple of tracks by the vocalist from She Keeps Bees (see below).

6. James Vincent McMorrow – Sparrow and the Wolf from Sparrow and the Wolf (single)

This artist was actually suggested to me by a member of the Green Man Forum, and although I didn’t manage to catch him at la festival, I did enjoy listening to the tunes.

7. She Keeps Bees – See Me from Dig On

First caught at Green Man 2009 on the GM Pub stage, they were promoted to the Main Stage this year and gave an excellent show. This is from the brand new album.

8. Other Lives – For 12 from For 12 (single)

One of the few bands that I discovered at this year’s Green Man (twas a bit lean musically for once). My tweet at the time labelled them lush orchestral bluesy heavy folk and that seems to fit.

9. Origamibiro – Ballerina Platform Shoes from Shakkei

Hooray!!! A new Origamibiro album is out! And it’s beautiful! Of course it is. If you are new to them, I recommend going here and Getting Involved immediately.

10. Björk – Cosmogony (Matthew Herbert Remix 1) from The Crystalline Series Cosmogony Matthew Herbert Remixes (single)

New set of remixes from the wundergal herself. I love her. She’s amazing. &c &c \&c

11. John Mouse – Sex with You from Humber Dogger Forties

Awesome little track from the bloke that opened the Far Out stage at Green Man. When I played on Green Man Radio, I devoted this tune to the nice man who made me a cup of tea while I was waiting to get my wristband. Tea’s important.

12. Squarepusher – Theme from Sprite from Hello Everything

Played a good set at Green Man, but I sorta miss the old more fucked up Squarepusher. I’m old. This tune went out to Steve who had his first Squarepusher experience at Green Man and absolutely bloody loved it.

13. Holy Fuck – Lucky from Latin

Holy Fuck properly OWNED Green Man – one of my two main highlights. My friend Mach V was compering the stage at the time and said it was even more amazing close up.

14. Polar Bear – Peepers from Peepers

The other major highlight from Green Man. I’ve seen them a couple of times before, but they were just phenomenal on that Far Out Stage. The crowd were absolutely wrapt and Mr Rochford was beaming.

15. Echaskech – Change the Station (ft Napoleon Complex) from Change the Station (single)

New one from la boys d’Echaskech, featuring a rapper. Yes, really. You can download it for free from here.

16. Shit Robot – Triumph!!! from The Cradle to the Rave

This was played for my lovely flatmate who defeated the hell that is National Rail bookings and got hold of those tickets she really needed. For you, Jessica.

Also, being a Hot Chip-related project, it’s tenuously linked to the next tune…

17. The 2 Bears – Bear Hug from Bear Hug EP

The 2 Bears curated the Friday night Far Out After Dark at Green Man this year and although I don’t think it was particularly successful, this is a GREAT tune.

18. The Chemical Brothers – Swoon from Further

A nod to the Big Chill Festival – which was fine, but not very musically interesting (or busy). Kanye West was a fucking joke, but The Chems more than delivered.

Should mention that the photo above was taken whilst I rocked the Big Chill Radio stage with mavis (and later Ruth) of the Dubwives. We had a phenomenally good time playing bass to the kiddies

19. Breton – RDI (Girl Unit Remix)

Randomly picked this up off a mix I was sent the other day…

-searches-

Oh yes, here it is. It’s from a Fat Cat records podcast. TUNE as the kids say.

20. Gonzales – Knight Moves (Lone Remix) from Knight Moves (single)

A remix of a track from the (frankly underwhelming) new one from Chilly. Still, he’s playing a series of gigs at the Soho Theatre in October and you should go. Read here and here for more info on this genius.

21. Remember Remember – Lips from RR Scorpii

The fabulous Remember Remember will be back in London on 22nd September playing some venue of which I had previously not heard: Servant Jazz Quarters. No presale that I can see, but there’s further info here.

22. Radiohead – Bloom (Blawan RMX) from TKOL RMX5

From the truly immense remix series that has invited everyone from Fourtet to Harmonic 303 to bring their magic to tracks from The King Of Limbs. Currently available as a series of separate releases, they’ll be consolidated into one come October I’m told.

23. Ghostpoet – Survive It from The Big Chill Live Lounge

Nice to see that others have picked up on the goodness that is Ghostpoet (I played him first! this track is taken from some live tunes recorded by Big Chill Radio. I was working at the time, but I got shy and didn’t say hello. Should at least have gotten him to record me an ident. I’m rubbish.

Oh, and he didn’t win the Mercury. But that’s not hugely surprising. Hmmm, I really should get around to listening to that PJ Harvey album…

Erm, tangent…

So this tune is dedicated to Paul, Andy, Toby and Seb – the boys that run Big Chill and Green Man Radio. You can find out more about the marvellous organisation behind the goodness over here. Love you guys. A lot.

24. Alice & the Enemies – Touching Boys (In Supermarkets) from Alice & The Enemies

New (well, recorded back in 2004 but just getting released) punkish joy from those good folks at Ambiguous Records. And it’s something I used to do quite frequently. Frustrated, much?

25. Pulp – Have You Seen Her Lately? from His ‘N’ Hers

I saw Pulp at Brixton Academy last week. It was, quite simply, absolutely breathtaking. Not only did they replicate most of the festival set they’ve been touring, we got Lipgloss, Bad Cover Version, the marvellous Richard Hawley and this tune. It’s dedicated to Justin who dreamed Pulp play it, and they did.

26. Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat – Let’s Stop Here from Everything’s Getting Older

You’ve all bought this now, yeah? Good. Just checking.

The finale of Tom Robinson's 60th birthday pary

You can download the full show from here or hear a few tracks through Spotify.

1. Steve Reid – Rhythm Is Law /Jazz – Tribute To Great Black from A Drum Story (Altrisuoni)
2. Rocketnumbernine – Doodlebug from You Reflect Me (Trace)
3. Tracey Thorn – Late In The Afternoon from Love and its Opposite (Strange Feeling)
4. Sleepy Sun – Desert God from Fever (ATP)
5. The Divine Comedy – At The Indie Disco from Bang Goes the Knighthood (Divine Comedy)
6. Beck – Loser from Mellow Gold (DGC)
7. Trash Kit – 50ft Woman from Trash Kit (Upset the Rhythm)
8. Holy Fuck – Stilettos from Latin (XL)
9. Gold Panda – You – Minotaur Shock Remix from You (single)
10. Tunng – Bullets (Max Tundra remix) from Remixes (Full Time Hobby)
11. Hot Chip – I Feel Better – Max Cooper Remix (unreleased)
12. LCD Soundsystem – I Can Change from This is Happening (DFA)
13. Silver Columns – To Wake You from Yes, and Dance (Moshi Moshi)
14. Ellen Allien – Schlumi from Dust (Bpitch Control)
15. Aardvarck – Heal from Choice (Eat Concrete)
16. Benga – Transform from Phaze One (Tempa)
17. Flying Lotus – Satelllliiiiiiiteee from Cosmogramma (Warp)
18. Oy – The Kitten from From Box then Walk (Creaked)
19. Oy – Aeh from From Box then Walk (Creaked)
20. Oy – Positivili Two from From Box then Walk (Creaked)
21. Oy – Cloudy Gallery from From Box then Walk (Creaked)
22. Toumani Diabaté – Kaounding Cissoko from The Mandé Variations (World Circuit)
23. Little Comets – Dancing Song (unreleased)
24. Chew Lips – Toro from Unicorn (Family)
25. Tom Robinson Band – Glad To Be Gay from Power in the Darkness (EMI)

There was a bit of a problem with the live recording, but I’ve mostly fixed it up (you might find the left or right side drops out for a bit sometimes…) and you can download the entire show from here or listen to available tracks on Spotify here

1. LCD Soundsystem – ‘Drunk Girls’ from Drunk Girls (DFA)
2. Harry Thumann – ‘Underwater’ from Laptop Vinyl (Hansa)
3. Chrome Hoof – ‘Vapourise’ from Vapourise (Southern)
4. HEALTH – ‘Die Slow’ from GET COLOR (Lovepump United)
5. School Of Seven Bells – ‘Babelonia’ from Disconnect From Desire (Ghostly)
6. Echaskech – ‘How To Fly’ from Green (Balkan Vinyl)
7. Caribou – ‘Hannibal’ from Swim (City Slang)
8. Cursor Miner – ‘Shakin’ Heathens’ from Shakin’ Heathens (Uncharted Audio)
9. Ikonika – ‘Heston’ from Contact, Love, Want, Have (Hyperdub)
10. Starkey – ‘Club Games (Featuring Cerebral Vortex & Buddy Leezle)’ from Ear Drums and Black Holes (Planet Mu)
11. Artful Dodger – ‘Think About Me’ from It’s All About The Stragglers (FFRR)
12. Sneaker Pimps – ‘Spin Spin Sugar’ from Becoming X (Clean Up)
13. Stereolab – ‘The Free Design’ from Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night (Duophonic)
14. Terry Callier – ‘Look at Me Now’ from Essential Terry Callier: The Very Best Of Terry Callier (Mercury)
15. cLOUDDEAD – ‘Pop Song’ from Ten (Big Dada)
16. Broadcast & The Focus Group – ‘Let it begin/Oh joy’ from Investigate Witch Cults Of The Radio Age (Warp)
17. Black Moth Super Rainbow – ‘Forever Heavy’ from Dandelion Gum (Graveface)
18. Rob Marr – ‘Girls In Glasses’ from Domestic Dramas (http://www.robmarr.net/)
19. School Of Zuversicht – ‘1, 2, 3’ from Randnotizen From Idiot Town (Pingipung)
20. The Ruby Suns – ‘Cranberry’ from Fight Softly (Memphis Industries)
21. Greg Haines – ‘Industry vs. Inferiority’ from Until The Point Of Hushed Support (Sonic Pieces)

Thrill at descriptions of Bloc Weekend, swoon at the downtempo beauty, marvel at the sound of my percussion-filled youth with not just one but TWO pieces of music that made me who I am today and have a good old bounce around the room with a nice up finale.

You can download the entire show from here, or get just under an hour’s worth of music via the Spotify playlist.

1. Sam Amidon – Rain and Snow from ‘I See The Sign’ (Bedroom Community)
2. Ólöf Arnalds – Náttsöngur from ‘Við og við’ (12 Tónar)
3. Helios – Distance from ‘Unleft’ (Circle into Square)
4. Choir of Young Believers – Wintertime Love (Sain Alice Group Remix) from ‘Claustrophobia’ (single) (Ghostly)
5. Michael Askill – Fabian Theory (Composer: Nigel Westlake) from ‘Australian: Percussion’ (Celestial Harmonies)
6. The Magnetic Fields – Papa Was A Rodeo from ‘69 Love Songs’(Domino)
7. Sam Amidon – Relief from ‘I See The Sign’ (Bedroom Community)
8. Jónsi – Around Us from ‘Go’ (Parlophone)
9. Efterklang – Scandinavian Love from ‘Magic Chairs’ (4AD)
10. Daedelus – Stampede Me from ‘Righteous Fists of Harmony’ (Brainfeeder)
11. Gorillaz – Cloud of the Unknowing (feat Bobby Womack and Sinfonia ViVa) from ‘Plastic Beach’ (Parlophone)
12. Loops Haunt – Hurache from ‘Rubber Sun Grenade EP’ (Fortified Audio)
13. DJ Zinc – Wile Out (feat Ms Dynamite) from ‘Wile Out’ (single) (Zinc)
14. Supergrass – Strange Ones from ‘I Should Coco’ (EMI)
15. Half Man Half Biscuit – Joy Division Oven Gloves from ‘Achtung Bono’ (Probe Plus)
16. Three Trapped Tigers – 13 from ‘EP 3′ (Blood and Biscuits)
17. Maria Grochowska – Ionisation (Composer: Edgard Varese) from ‘VARESE: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2 – Ameriques / Equatorial / Nocturnal / Ionisation’ (Naxos)
18. Laurent Garnier – Man With The Red Face (Live Recording With Bugge Wesseltoft) from ‘Retrospective 94-06′ (F Communications)
19. Fuck Buttons – Olympians from ‘Tarot Sport’ (ATP)

(Photo by Justin King)

The second of my two Favourite Bits of 2009 shows (the other is here) – this show is mainly about the downtempo, more electronic side of the svelte repertoire, though there’s some off-kilter indie and folkish type business in the middle, and a couple of tracks to dance to at the end.

You can download the whole show from here, or check out a limited number of tracks (about 50 mins worth) through Spotify here. Again, I urge you to go and buy records you like, or check out the various gigs these people do. THEY DESERVE YOUR CASH.

The all important tracklisting and links to stuff wot I talked about in the show:

1. Bat For Lashes – ‘The Big Sleep’ from Two Suns (EMI)
2. Bowerbirds – ‘Beneath Your Tree’ from Upper Air (Dead Oceans)
3. Kathryn Williams – ‘Sustain Pedal (live)’ from The Quickening (One Little Indian)
4. Antony and The Johnsons – ‘Dust And Water’ from The Crying Light (Rough Trade)
5. The Beaufort Scale – ‘Boej Kashmet’ from Forgotten Memories (Bandcamp)
6. LJ Kruzer – ‘Ter4’ from Manhood & Electronics (Uncharted Audio)
7. Tim Hecker – ‘Borderlands’ from An Imaginery Country (Kranky)
8. Peter Broderick – ‘Diverge’ from Docile (Erased Tapes)
9. St Vincent – ‘The Bed’ from Actor (4AD)
10. Gènia – ‘John Richards Suite for Piano and Electronics (Gabriel Prokofiev ‘Dirty Organ’ Remix)’ from John Richards – Suite for Piano and Electronics (Nonclassical)
11. Bill Callahan – ‘My Friend’ from Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle (Drag City)
12. Sleepy Sun – ‘Golden Artifact’ from Embrace (ATP)
13. Mama Lucky – ‘House Of The Unknown’ from Permanent Stranger (Mama Lucky)
14. The Duckworth Lewis Method – ‘Jiggery Pokery’ from The Duckworth Lewis Method
15. Samandtheplants – Henbane Beer from The Eft (Twisted Nerve)
16. Micachu – Curly Teeth from Jewellery (Warner Bros)
17. YACHT – Psychic City from See Mystery Lights (DFA)
18. Fever Ray – Dry And Dusty from Fever Ray (Rabid)
19. Soap&Skin – Marche Funèbre (DJ Koze Marxa mix) from Marche Funèbre EP (Pias)
20. Yimino – Doe from Autonoe Vera (Ominim)
21. Eno – Moebius – Roedelius – Foreign Affairs from After The Heat (Water)
22. Lucky Elephant – Neptune from Starsign Trampoline (Sunday Best)
23. Major Lazer – Pon de Floor from Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do (Downtown)
23. Four Tet – Love Cry (Joy Orbison Remix) from Love Cry 12″ (Domino)
24. Black Meteoric Star – ‘World Eater’ from Black Meteoric Star (DFA)

Chimera Productions – who put on Blank Canvas

LJ Kruzer @ Concrete, Saturday 16th January

First Biosphere symphonic work and the London Contemporary Orchestra @ The Roundhouse, Saturday 23rd January

Samandtheplants, Jon Hopkins and many more at a Celebration of Quiet Music @ Cecil Sharp House, Saturday 23rd January

Kathryn Williams @ Purcell Room, Saturday 6th March

Varese 360° @ The Southbank Centre, 16 – 18 April

Four Tet and Joy Orbison @ The Dome, Tufnell Park, 12th February

I’ve just found out that one of my favourite English blues/folk musicians, John Martyn has died today, after a long battle with alcoholism and drug addiction.

Throughout his career, John Martyn blurred the lines between blues, folk, and dub, experimenting with taking the traditional folk sound and adding elecronic effects in the 70’s. he mixed with some of the most influential musicians of the era, including Jimi Hendrix, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, David Gilmour and Eric Clapton.

He hit the big-time with his 1973 album, ‘Solid Air’, written in response to the death of his friend, Nick Drake. He followed this up with a number of live album, before the breakup of his marriage inspired John to write ‘Grace and Danger’. The material was so close to the bone that Island Records initially refused to release it. John described himself as ‘going off a cliff’ after it’s release, and started on a downward spiral of drugs and drink.

I first heard John Martyn’s work on a compilation, where he covered Portishead’s ‘Glory Box’ so well that I thought it was the original. Soon afterwards I picked up on of the Cafe del Mar compilations that had Talvin Singh’s remix of ‘Sunshine’s Better’, which is equally fantastic. His ‘Solid Air’ album was such a favourite of mine and my wifes that we played ‘May You Never’ during the signing of the register at our wedding.

John Martyn / May You Never

John Martyn / Glory Box

John Martyn / Sunshine’s Better (Talvin Singh Remix)

I’m sad he’s gone. RIP John Martyn

I’ve been playing Playing Dead for three months and I still can’t get enough. There’s something magical about it – the percussion is deep, the strings are mournful, the words are hard to work out but ultimately optimistic, he’s got a bit of Bill Callahan about him and she sounds like she’s fifty years too late. It’d be easy to lump this in with Bon Iver and the rest of them, but there’s something extra special about it.

Who knows who Breathe Owl Breathe are, but they look great and I hope they come over here soon.

Breathe Owl Breathe – Playing Dead

Buy Breathe Owl Breathe at eMusic

“I got you, didn’t I.” Yep, you did.