Julio Bashmore’s been putting out some of the most exciting stuff in house for a while now and new track ‘Au Seve’ does little to disprove the general feeling that Julio Bashmore is one of the best producers around at the moment. Released on his newly created Boardwalk Records ‘Au Seve’ makes use of a propulsive, cut up vocal sample and hypnotic synth melodies. Well worth checking out.
I don’t know what ‘Holiday’ by Port St. Willow is actually about but my lord I know it’s lovely. From the atmospheric introductory noise track to the haunting swirls of delayed guitar which close the album ‘Holiday’ succeeds in creating an album which is both ambient and interesting enough to hold the listeners attention. Recalling most strongly The Antlers (indeed Port St. Willow recently receiving a ringing endorsement from the band) debut ‘Hospice’ and Bon Iver’s self titled record, ‘Holiday’ utilises often unintelligible (in a good, as opposed to irritating, manner) falsetto vocals over layered beds of reverb and delay soaked guitars and ambient synths, with sparse drumming. This is highly, highly recommended.
FFO: The Antlers, Bon Iver, Low Level Owl era Appleseed Cast, Youth Lagoon.
As you all know, we’re bloody excited to be co-promoting the fantastic Seattle hip-hop due, Shabazz Palaces, on Tuesday the 22nd of May at The Harley. Shabazz Palaces are percussionist Tendai Maraire and Ishmael Butler, formally of Digable Planets and Cherrywine. Working now under the moniker Palaceer Lazaro, Ishmael provides the group’s vision and vocals, while Tendai employs ancient instruments from his homeland Zimbabwe.
To celebrate what will undoubtedly be a brilliant night, we’re giving away a copy of the album Black Up. To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following:
What colour vinyl did Shabazz Palaces release on for their exclusive Record Store Day release?
Send your answers to smallideas@sheffield.ac.uk with “Shabazz Palaces Competition” in the subject line, along with your name in the email, by midnight on the 20th of May.
Good luck!
Tickets: £7.00 Small Ideas/Harley Live members, £8.00 non-members, MOTD
http://www.harleylive.co.uk/ticket-shop
http://www.gigantic.com/harleylive/event_gce_34032a.html
http://www.seetickets.com/Event/SHABAZZ-PALACES/The-Harley/620888
Or from The Harley (no booking fee), The Wick At Both Ends (no booking fee), Record Collector, HMV Fargate, HMV Meadowhall, The Old Sweet Shop, Kuji, Rocky Horrors and The Arena Ticket Shop
Last week’s radio show was particularly good
Indie-Pop Perennials Tellison are back again with new single ‘Freud Links The Teeth and The Heart’ and it’s quite frankly lovely.Not much more to say about it really, just listen and enjoy it yeah?
FFO: Stapleton, Algiers, Joie De Vivre.
Hand Of presents…
THE ILLUSTRIOUS ONE
Black Market Ballet
Hand Of presents a new venture in live electronics and contemporary ballet, based on Bertolt Brecht’s ‘The Good Person of Szechwan’.
Combining an old folk tale with innovative electronic music and contemporary dance.
Thursday 10th May 2012 || S1 Artspace|| 7:30 pm
120 Trafalgar St, Sheffield, S1 4JT
*** Early-bird tickets £4 || Advance tickets £5 || Door tickets subject to availability ***
BANANA HILL AFTER-PARTY @ DQ
Line-up to be released this weekend!
Ticket holders entitled to £2 entry
Stanley Brinks is the stage name of André Herman Düne formerly of the indie pop group Herman Düne. He plays Sheffield on the 12th May. You can find the Facebook event here and buy tickets from here. Small Ideas members get in for £6 OTD.
You’ve performed under a variety of different names, How do you come up with them all? What was the inspiration for the name Stanley Brinks?
All artists have a tendency to xerox themselves. I believe the only reason not to use a lot of different names is commercial: it’s hard to sell oneself this way. For many years, mostly thanks to John Peel, i didn’t even have to think about publicity at all. I came up with a lot of side projects during the Herman Düne years, also because our output was restricted by the fact that we worked exclusively with record labels. I liked Ben Dope a lot, he was me singing duets with New York characters. Still i always like best what i’ve done last. I’ve been sticking to Stanley Brinks for several years now, don’t feel like a change of style yet. Maybe i’ve just finally found myself. I like that the name doesn’t mean or refer to anything. Stanley Brinks is me after i went to Trinidad. Someone in a bar in Port-of-Spain started calling me that way - probably because i looked like some acquaintance of his - and i didn’t feel like disappointing him when i introduced myself to more and more people as the evening wore on. Later i told the story to a friend and it seemed obvious to him i should stick to it. I like to follow my friend’s advice when i can.
Stanley Brinks and The Wave Pictures was fantastic, are you planning any more collaborations in the future?
I love playing with the Wave Pictures too, it’ll happen again soon. We just haven’t been on the same continent at the same time lately. In a completely different - all acoustic - style, I can’t get enough of playing with the Kaniks. I like their sound so much i don’t even play an instrument myself anymore; a lot of the time i just sit in the audience and watch. No electricity. I can also focus on singing, which is fun. Norwegian folk music and caribbean rhythms are a perfect and unprecedented match. We’ve just recorded an album in an old house in Malta without bass or mandolin - that’s the Flying Kaniks - and it’s quite different, more bluesy and oriental at the same time.
Any guilty pleasures?
Anything can work, with really talented musicians. For instance i like mainstream pop music more than most of the underground or trendy stuff i get to hear. I enjoy listening to people like Lily Allen, Dido, Beyonce, Jack Johnson, Paul Simon or Leonard Cohen, and not only on the radio. Those guys all use synthetisers and shit. My favorite new guys are Jason Molina, John Darnielle, and Ish Marquez.
What’s your favourite venue to play in?
I’m not going to tell you what my favorite venue is, but i like all kinds of places that have a lot of wood in them. Sailing boats can be very good that way.
What genre or artist do you draw the most inspiration from?
My main inspiration is still the calypso music of Trinidad in the 30s and 40s, an influence that’s not reflected in our looks or choice of instruments, but becomes very obvious if you pay attention to the songs themselves.
Matt Cooper
I saw Shoes and Socks Off a couple of months ago and he played this song by himself on his acoustic guitar and was mildly impressed. This version is a lot better. I mean yeah it sounds like post-Kid A Radiohead, but we’re over that yeah? I mean especially when it’s as good as this? Deal? Deal. The video’s pretty cool too…
So here’s the new video from electro-doom two piece Death Rattle. It’s not quite as creepy as The Dig video which we featured a while back but it’s equally captivating. Do As You Please features a similarly off kilter, dark sound to The Dig and puts Helen’s vocals front and centre, which as fans of That Mouth can tell you is no bad thing. Just waiting for the album now…
So Hop Along are the newest signing to Algernon Cadwallader’s Hot Green Records and their new album ‘Get Disowned’ was produced by Algernon guitarist Joe Reinhardt. You expecting something twinkly? Well yeah that’s not what Hop Along are like. Tibetan Pop Stars features crushing distorted guitars, pounding drums, slyly placed strings (I’m looking at you middle-8) and altogether resemble a countrified, American Joy Formidable. Highly recommended.
FFO: The State Lottery, The Sidekicks, The Joy Formidable.
