Oneohtrix Point Never : rarities, remixes

Brooklyn-based 'synth drone' wizard Oneohtrix Point Never - aka Daniel Lopatin - has uploaded a host of rare radio stuff, live material, remixes and collaborations to his Soundcloud - fill your boots. Included: his spacey remix of Laurel Halo's 'Metal Confection', a stunning take on Wild Beasts' 'Two Dancers' and his 'Returnal' collaboration with Antony (of the Johnsons).

WILD BEASTS - TWO DANCERS (remix) by Oneohtrix Point Never

LAUREL HALO - METAL CONFECTION (remix) by Oneohtrix Point Never

Incidentally, here's one he didn't upload, a refixing of probably one of my favourite pieces of music ever:

stream Wild Beasts - Smother

I've always had a bit of a weird relationship with this band - ambitious, unique, flamboyant and pretty off-the-wall, they called to mind reference points like The Smiths and Suede, revelling in sexual ambiguity and innuendo while having a very interesting ye-olde-English vibe. The debut album Limbo, Panto featured two of the absolute best songs - no exaggeration - of the last few years: 'Devil's Crayon' and 'His Grinning Skull' still get played to death on my iPod and still sound absolutely amazing. The latter has a really haunting quality to it - I heard a rumour that it relates to a sexual abusive schoolmaster or something like that, but whatever the subject, it all sounds pretty sinister and oozes with melancholy. The rest of that album got pretty ridiculous in places though, with the more affected tracks not really coming off.

For the second LP Two Dancers they toned things down a fair bit, musically if not lyrically, but despite the undenable brilliance of 'All The King's Men' there was a feeling with many of the tracks that they were building up to something brilliant but never quite took off.

The new album, Smother, is now streaming over at The Guardian, and on first impressions they have really got the balance right this time: really impressed with it so far, particular highlights being 'Invisible' and 'Burning'. There's some really nice textures in there that were lacking from their last album, which was just a bit too straightforward at times.

Wild Beasts - Albatross by DominoRecordCo

Mercury nominees announced

The 2010 Mercury prize nominees have been announced, and are as follows:

Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions
Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea
Dizzee Rascal – Tongue n' Cheek
Kit Downes Trio – Golden
Foals – Total Life Forever
I Am Kloot – Sky at Night
Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
Paul Weller – Wake Up the Nation
Villagers – Becoming a Jackal
Wild Beasts – Two Dancers
The xx – xx

If you're going to be idealistic and regard the Mercury as something that should reflect the health and creativity of the UK music scene, it's a disappointing list overall. Of course you have to remember that bands/artists often don't pay the entry fee in the first place, but all the same the presence of stuff like Mumford & Sons, Dizzee and Biffy Clyro in there does a disservice to a domestic scene that is currently home to some of the most innovative music being made anywhere (the Hyperdub stable in particular). Good to see Villagers get a nomination of course, and a few commentators have opined that they're in with a serious shout of winning it. Wild Beasts' Two Dancers flattered to deceive to these ears, and while xx won critical praise across the board, I think the album turned out more valuable as a canvas for remixers than as a truly great record in its own right. In fact, there's no-one on the list who i really want to see win it, though I've yet to hear the Foals album.

Villagers - Becoming A Jackal by DominoRecordCo

Wild Beasts return for shows in Cork, Galway, Dublin

The recent visit of much-feted Kendal four-piece Wild Beasts to these shores was a case of unfortunate timing for anyone attending Yo La Tengo's Tripod gig on the same night (in other words, a lot of people). So thankfully, we'll have another chance to see a band with a sterling live reputation, who have garnered comparisons to The Smiths with their dark, witty tales of flamboyant decadence.

Roisin Dubh, Galway - March 25

Cyprus Avenue, Cork - March 26

Academy, Dublin - March 27

Wild Beasts for Academy 2

Kendal, England-based group Wild Beasts have been garnering a helluva lot of praise for their second album Two Dancers, released this year, and while i'm not as sold on them as some people seem to be, at their best they're a compelling mixture of dark alt-rock textures and camp flamboyance. Anyways, they'll be playing a date at Dublin's Academy 2 on Thursday, November 5th - well worth checking out, that is if you're not already attending the mighty Yo La Tengo at Tripod the same night!

Tunes of the Week

1. Giveamanakick – ‘Borrowed Time’

The very sad news was announced on Monday that the gas-mask-toting hard rock duo are no more. Criminally underappreciated, as so many great Irish artists are and have been down the years, they leave behind a fine legacy, including this ferocious workout from third album Welcome to the Cusp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsBUGm5YCzA

2. Lightning Bolt – ‘Colossus’

Aptly named lead track from long-awaited fifth album Earthly Delights. Relentless and visceral, it’s vintage Lightning Bolt. Free download available on Pitchfork.

http://pitchfork.com/news/36247-premiere-lightning-bolt-colossus/

3. Dawn Landes – ‘Romeo’

The Kentucky-born singer-songwriter will support Okkervil River in Galway the same day as her fourth album, Sweetheart Rodeo, is released. Lead single ‘Romeo’ is a breezy, jaunty taster.

http://www.myspace.com/dawnlandes

4. Jaydiohead – ‘Song and Cry’

The excellent Jay Z/Radiohead mash-up now has an encore: this is the wondrous highlight, seamlessly mixing ‘Song Cry’ and ‘High and Dry’. Free download:

http://jaydiohead.com/?jh=ENCORE

5. Japandroids – ‘Sovereignty’

The joyous garage rock rush of Post-Nothing continues to dazzle. '’It’s raining in Vancouver / But I don’t give a fuck / Cos I’m far from home tonight...’’

http://www.myspace.com/japandroids

6. The Phantom Band – ‘Folk Song Oblivion’

Deliriously catchy indie anthem from the touted Glaswegian band. Like a less mawkish Frightened Rabbit.

http://www.myspace.com/thephantombandpage


7. Bibio – ‘Lovers’ Carvings’

Sublime stand-out from one of the more eclectic releases of the year, Ambivalence Avenue.

http://www.myspace.com/mrbibio

8. Wild Beasts – ‘The Fun Powder Plot’

They’ve toned down their more histrionic excesses for second album Two Dancers, but still manage to come up with possibly the lyrical couplet of the year (‘’This is a booty call / My boot, my boot, my boot, up your asshole...’’) on this atmospheric opening track.

http://www.myspace.com/wildbeasts

9. David Geraghty – ‘It Won’t Belong’

Haunting standout track from Geraghty’s debut album, with echoes of Nick Cave. Geraghty returns with a second album, The Victory Dance, to be released next week, and tours in September.

http://www.myspace.com/davidgeraghty

10. Outkast - 'B.O.B.'

Voted by Pitchfork as the greatest track of the last decade. The full 500-strong list is up on their website.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P9gGsMNky8&feature=related

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Spotify playlist:

spotify:user:haribodis:playlist:6F15MlJwQWKshgOiUiQ5lU