Top of the Shops

I have a bizarre selection currently on my Amazon wishlist, which I may or may not get round to buying; so I shall tell you, my one lone reader, his sheepdog, and also a very nice man in Scotland who may or may not be an eggtray, what's on there, and why.

Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand were very much a case for me of being told that they were NME darlings, tha they were boring and I'd hate them. When I actually listened for myself, I thought; "bugger me, they're not bad." so I intend of giving them a try, as Take Me Out has me idly humming along and Matinee makes me giggle.

Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions

She's got a great voice. Fell in love with a boy must have been played in every shop I went in on the quest for the perfect shoes the other week, but I like it, it's a bit cheeky, a bit groovy and who knows? The album might be just what I need to replace the aging Betty Boo and Paula Abdul tapes in my car...

Doin the Do - Betty Boo

Weeeellll, I've only got it on tape, and it is rather good, in a cheesy, awful, this reminds me of sitting in the back of my dad's car with my bright yellow walkman on and going to visit my grandparents.. Which is no excuse for buying another copy of it, as there is a perfectly servicable, if a little stretched copy in my possession, complete with one of those rainbow name stickers on the case for when I took it to school. I'm beyond redemption really aren't I?! If only I could find the damned thing on Soulseek and then I could save my hard earned seven quid for..

London Calling - The Clash

Which is definitely available on Soulseek, but I think it's one of those albums that you should endeavour to own a real copy of. Don't know why. Sony have probably implanted a chip in my brain or something to make me think that way!

Trouser Jazz/Keep it Unreal - Mr Scruff

Just because I think I might like them. Became aware of Mr Scruff through Weebl and Bob (strange and tenuous link I know) and want to listen to the albums. Thinking about it, parting with 20 quid just to see if I like it may be a slightly ludicrous idea.. especially since my bank account has just seen the last influx of cash until September (eek!) so maybeI shall listen first elsewhere, and then maybe buy if it's my thing...

And that's the lot (apart from that silly book of things to do with computer peripherals when you're bored, like mouse ball bowling.. shame I have an optical mouse..)

So if I get them, I shall dispense my opinion on them here, from my little purple soapbox in my strange and warped corner of the interweb..

And am also only 225 promosquad points short of a CD.. shall just have to hope that something good comes back into the CD section...

Dokaka

Japanese Beat-boxing bloke. Bloody bizarre. Listen to his take on Smells like Teen Spirit here. Visit his site here. Oh, and I really like the little push button navigation bits on his site. Bugger, why didn't I think of that?!

Cease and Desist Weekender 14th +15th May 2004

Cease and Desist are supporting Krafty Kuts
University of Central Lancashire Student Union, Sunny Sunny Preston!
Saturday 15th May 10pm till 12am (fiver to get in, tickets in advance)



But to get the fun started, how about the usual C&D Friday frolics?
Friday 14th May, 8pm, Base, 80 Friargate, also Preston, home of the sunshine
the line-up includes

KID BLAST

and 2 MANY LAGERS (2 Many DJS Tribute Act)

hear some of Kid Blast's stuff at www.connectedup.co.uk
You'll have to register to download, but it's worth it, search in mixes for "Kid Blast" and you will find his Blast from the Past mix, track listing as follows:

A Blast From The Past

1. Maze Twilight
2. David Holmes Dont Die Just Yet
3. Natural resource - Heavy Loungin'
4. Stetsasonic Talkin All That Jazz
5. Common Ground Common
6. Wiseguys Searchs End
7. Fatboy Slim - Always Read The Label
8. Beastie Boys 33% God
9. The Mexican Spunky Love Fun
10. Jungle Brothers Because I Got It Like That
11. Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel The Message
12. Souls Of Mischief 93 til Infinity
13. Bushy and Professor - Reach For Your Pants
14. Eric B & Rakim Paid In Full (Coldcuts 7 Minutes of Madness Mix)
15. Ozomatli Cut Chemist Suite
16. Chequers Get Up Stand Up
17. Badder Than Evil Hot Wheels
18. Mekon feat. Schooly D Schools Out
19. Wiseguys Start The Commotion
20. Michael Viners Incredible Bongo Band Apache
21. Spanky Wilson Sunshine Of Your Love
22. Spencer Davis Band Im A Man


'tis well worth a listen, the tunes are great and da boy's got skills!


So, I shall see you down at Cease and Desist then, (my one lone reader, please leave the sheepdog at home, no dogs allowed) and mine is a rather large vodka please.

ta!

Was most impressed that I signed into Promosquad today to find that they had used my article on London Booted, which not only promotes the album, but also gives me another fifteen points towards a free cd. Hurrah! Ok, so I could just download the damn thing off soulseek, but this way is fun, and I get a really cd with sleevenotes and everything, not to mention being really rude about people's music, when I will never ever have to meet or speak to them in future. Great fun.

Ah yes, I could mention London Booted again couldn't I? This will alert my one lone reader and his sheepdog to the presence of the album, and also rack up another Google hit for the work that is being billed as the next Grey Album, only better, some might say!

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Clash's great LP London Calling, Culture Deluxe and Get Your Bootleg On have collaborated to create a very special tribute to The Clash. London Booted invited remixers and bootleggers to work their own brand of magic on tracks from the album, the final result of which not only showcases the work of The Clash, but also some of the finest talent of the mash up and remix scene.

More information about the project is available from the London Booted website, where listeners can download the album in return for a donation to one of their chosen charities.

Tracks of merit include the flawless "Burnin" by blo_up and the topical "Spanish Bombs (over Baghdad)" by Instamatic. I'm also very much love with Eve Massacre's "The Power of Rebelution Can't Fail", and DJ Riko's "Build it Up ,Clamp it Down" which is a great match with Fatboy Slim's Build it Up, Tear it Down. There is is an example of the typically flawless production of Loo and Placido in their track "What about Brixton?" and as for cry.on.my.console's "Koka Kola (Tizer Remix)", the intro makes me grin and the rest of the track is phat-tastic, with bonus points for the inclusion of the inimitable Bill Hicks.

Oh bugger it, I love the whole sodding album. It's not been out of my stereo since the day of release, and if any of the remixers ever come to C&D, I'll buy 'em a beer. You can't say fairer than that!

At some point in the future, this page shall be filled with the very best (IMHO) aural delights that this world has to offer. But for now, I suggest that you get up from your screen, and go over to the window, open it, and listen.

Listen to the birdsong, the breeze, and those distant sounds that one has to be perfectly still and silent to hear. This is Aural Pleasure #1.. we will progress from here...