Sunday, 29 July 2007

Mixed reviews and Bar B Qs




This week I’ve been listening to dance music mixes, its been some time since I last did and I just wondered what was going on. I had been hearing about the crack down on dealing and drug culture in Ibiza and the fact several of the big opening parties had been postponded and major clubs temporarily closed. It was during reading about this that I was first sucked into a DJ mix loop earlier this week. I discovered podcasts by Streetlife DJs & Roger Sanchez on iTunes both of which are free. Then last night a friend bought me round copies of GUO32 Adam Freeland: Mexico city and Fabriclive 32 Krafty Kuts. The Adam Freeland mix is a 2CD set. The first CD is a pacy techno mix and includes tracks and remixes from the likes of Carl Craig, Sebastian, Justice, Para One, Kavinsky and Adam Freeland himself. The second CD is an altogether more ethereal, steady and groovy experience and in the context of a lazy Sunday morning was preferable to the first. It contained such artists as Spaceman 3, Gui Boratto, Mylo and Andy Weatherall, out of the three CDs I was given this was my favourite. However, that takes nothing away from Fabriclive 32: Krafty Kuts. This Fabriclive mix had a hip-hop and funky vibe, it pulled no punches and included guaranteed favourites such as a version of The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five but was also eclectic enough to include Funky Jam by Primal Scream.
We also managed do a BBQ this weekend and we roadtested a Sainsbury’s disposable BBQ with legs. It also came with a lighting stick – very posh!, the coals were in a bag which you lit. It roared away to start with but then unforunately nearly went out, after much wafting it got hot enough to cook but left a black carbon imprint of the grill on the bangers. So although a Sainsburys disposable with legs is a bit of a pose the performance was disapointing. Proving I shouldn’t have strayed from the usual Morrisons disposable.


Monday, 23 July 2007

Wet weekend


Photo: Finham - Coventry


During a very wet weekend I have been making the most of things whilst all around me were being washed away by enjoying some music.
http://www.myspace.com/hushthemany (Hush the Many) who featured in this weeks BBC unsigned podcast and local lad www.myspace.com/whoiswes (Wes Finch) who has several mp3s to download.

I also have been laughing at this:

Saturday, 21 July 2007

Emerald city preview

John Vanderslice has put Emerald City, his new album, up to listen to in it's entirety on his myspace page.

http://www.myspace.com/johnvanderslice

Wednesday, 18 July 2007

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon



This novel is one I read recently whilst I was on my holiday after it was recommended to me. It’s quite unique. It’s written from the view point and narrated by a 15yr old boy who has autism. It might sound like quite a daunting read but actually it’s laugh out loud funny. The emotionless, highly logical and mathematical mind of the lead character Christopher, means the whole world around him and the way he interacts with it and people is very different to the way you or I would. (Assuming that you are not autistic).

WARNING SPOILERS

The story stems from Christopher finding Mrs Shears, his neighbours’, dog speared with a garden fork. He decides to turn detective to discover ‘who done it’ and to write a book about what he findsout. During his investigations he discovers that his father had lied about the death of his mother, who is alive and well and shacked up across London with Mr Shears. He also discovers that his Father had had an affair with Mrs Shears, the neighbour - who’s dog was ‘murdered’. Christopher takes all this in his stride. But when it turns out that it was his father that had killed Mrs Shears’ dog he decides he can no longer trust him and sets off across London with his pet rat, Toby, to find his mother. Pursued by police he finally arrives at his mothers and Mr Shears’ flat intent on living there. However, his presence puts strain on his mother’s relationship with Mr Shears, which eventually breaks down. During this escapade he also manages to pass his Maths A Level, this is all part of his plan to become a Scientist.


Tuesday, 17 July 2007

Emerald City

Today I decided to check if there was any news about the new album from John Vanderslice and discovered that Emerald City is about to be released (24 July) and is available to pre-order from Barsuk. There is also a track from the album called White Dove (mp3) that is available to download as a taster. John Vanderslice also covers Karma Police on Stereogum’s OKX a tribute to the tenth anniversary of Radiohead's OK Computer. OKX is available to download free (mp3) in its entirety.

Order Emerald City & download White Dove here (mp3)
Download Stereogum’s OKX here (mp3s)
Emerald City on Amazon with track samples to stream

Monday, 16 July 2007

The Enemy No.1

The Enemy have a number one album with We'll live and die in these towns.

chart link

Sunday, 15 July 2007

The 10th Godiva Festival.







We had a lovely afternoon yesterday mingling with the revellers at The Godiva Festival. The weather had been kind on this second day of the festival. Arriving in a car meant a 20min queue in traffic but the car parking was plenty adequate. We got to the 'electric tent' in time to see The Noisettes, The Cribs and then a blinding hometown gig by The Enemy, for which the crowd decended in droves. The sides of the tent this year had been removed to provide a view for more people than managed to squish into the main arena. This was the busiest I have seen the Godiva Festival and the atmosphere was generally very friendly if not a little tipsy. The bar was good if not a little soggy underfoot and there was plenty of choice of grub. Caulk this up as another successful Godiva festival.

Mikey b37's Godiva photo album - a great collection of photos here including one of the lad who hung upside down from the tent during the enemy set. Remember him?

Friday, 13 July 2007

Gruissan 9 July 2007










click images to enlarge


Gruissan

Neuf Ecluses 8 July 2007




click to enlarge


Neuf Ecluses

Cathedral Bezier 8 July 2007


click image to enlarge

Cathedral Agde 6 July 2007


click to enlarge image

Sailing off Sete 6 July 2007


click to enlarge image

Thursday, 12 July 2007

Wednesday, 11 July 2007

La Couvertoirade 2 July 2007










click images to enlarge

Pézanas France 30th June 2007











Fountain with statue of the Human rights, Pézenas, Herault, Work of the sculptor Romain Capellaro.

click images to enlarge

Valras Plage 28th June 2007


click image to enlarge

Valras Plage South West France
google maps