Homecoming: Massive Attack & Portishead

L-R: Daddy G, Adrian Utley, Beth Gibbons, 3D, Geoff Barrow

I've deliberated on Massive Attack at length, but I will say that the sound here is a lot gentler than last night. The real highlight of this show is the presence of Portishead, their first in seven years. There are rumors of a third album in the works, which would be incredible. For now, here are four live tracks off the extraordinary Dummy.

The set was recorded on February 19th, 2005 at the bands' hometown of Bristol, as part of the effort to raise money in the wake of the tsunami in Asia. Simply another example of political activism that many bands would do well in emulating.

Enjoy:

1. Intro
2. Karmacoma (MA)
3. Black Milk (MA)
4. Teardrop (MA)
5. Future Proof (MA)
6. Risingson / Glory Box (MA & P)
7. Wandering Star (P)
8. Sour Times (P)
9. Mysterons (P)
10. Roads (P)
11. Outro

Glorious: Here

Fireborn: A Perfect Circle In Phoenix

APC, circa 2000

Full disclosure: I'm seeing Tool (and Isis) on Friday, and I feel obliged to upload Maynard James Keenan in pairs. Here's another look at the A Perfect Circle; it's quite a different listen from the one I posted way back when. The setlist is contains all of their debut album Mer de Noms, excluding the ambient tracks "Renholdër" and "Over." What it lacks in breadth, it more than makes up for in ferocity. Yet, throughout the guitar pyrotechnics, Maynard's vocals and lyrics keep the material personal and emotional. Perhaps not the characteristics you'd expect from our favorite unconventional prog metal heroes, but one that resounds strongly with APC's "vibe."

The show was record at America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona on June 4th, 2000. The sound quality is excellent, thanks to the professional recording setup.

Enjoy:

1. Intro
2. The Hollow
3. Magdalena
4. 3 Libras
5. Sleeping Beauty
6. Breña
7. Orestes
8. Thinking of You
9. Thomas
10. Rose
11. Judith
12. Interview

Mer de Disques: Here

Interlude: The Stars Come Out At Night

Amy Millan (of Stars)

Joe's Pub, NYC - Oct. 3rd, 2006

As you can see, I succumbed to temptation and attended Amy's solo show, although the term seems lacking, as she played with six (!) backing musicians. It was a country-fied affair, complete with banjo, horn and the obligatory acoustic guitar. The set list was based on Honey From The Tombs, but was bolstered with with a number of b-sides. Highlights also included a lovely rendition of "Look Up," as well as a lush arrangement of Death Cab's "I Will Follow You Into The Dark." It was a very enjoyable show, but as with Emily, I'm looking forward to seeing the main band as soon as possible.

Speaking of which, Kwaya Na Kisser has the recording of the Emily Haines show I was at, which is pretty sweet. CBC Radio 3 has her recent show in Toronto streaming as well. Finally, syndication from Angry Citizen. Thanks guys!

Enjoy the pictures:

As Amy was kind enough to provide all us Stars fans with "Look Up," I'll return the favor and provide you with the set they did on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic (check out the new site!). This was later condensed on Sounds Eclectic, which aired on Feburary 29th, 2004.

Enjoy:

1. The Vanishing
2. Heart
3. Your Ex-Lover Is Dead
4. What The Snowman Learned About Love
5. Elevator Love Letter
6. Life Effect

Full Set: Here
Buy Yourself Another: Here

Happy Cycling: The Delgados on KEXP

It's always sad when a band disbands, but perhaps even more so when they don't seem to achieve the level of exposure deserved. The Delgados were one of the many excellent bands out of Scotland, and unfortunately seem to have been overshadowed by some of their countrymen. It's really too bad, as their lovely, ever-evolving sound (quite reminiscent Stars) is merely one part of the band's legacy. They also founded Chemikal Underground, the label that debuted Mogwai and Arab Strap.

The Delgados recently released a double album of their Peel Sessions in the States, and if you like what you hear below, definitely check that out, as well as the rest of their discography. This short but sweet set was recorded on KEXP Seattle on April 11, 2003. It features some of the strongest tracks from the excellent Hate. Incidentally, there's an interview, and many more bands, that you can stream here.

Enjoy:

1. The Light Before We Land
2. Child Killers
3. Coming In From The Cold
4. The Drowning Years

Universal Audio: Here

Recollect: Massive Attack at Royal Albert Hall

With the beginning of a new month comes a new era of blogging. My friend Ben Goodman was awesome enough to set up a server for me, so no more expiring links! I can't thank him enough for this; I'll do my best to upload music worthy of the space. I'll also go back and reload the past content, and if there's anything you need, just let me know below ('cause...y'know, people are actually doing that now).

Massive Attack are synonymous of the genre trip-hop, a label that is lacking in describing the sensual, nocturnal essence that is their music. It's really incredible stuff. They're playing a three night stand next week at Roseland Ballroom, the venue in which fellow tripsters Portishead (more on them later) recorded their live album. It should be a fantastic show, with vocalists Liz Fraser and Deborah Miller present. I'll be in attendance on Wednesday of what should be a ridiculous week of concert-going (and, alas, frantic essay-writing). For now, here's an rather comprehensive set recorded at Royal Albert Hall in London, England on July 6th, 1998.

Enjoy:

1. Angel
2. Risingson
3. Man Next Door
4. Daydreaming
5. Teardrop
6. Karmacoma
7. Hymn of the Big Wheel
8. Eurochild
9. Spying Glass
10. Mezzanine
11. Safe From Harm
12. Heat Miser
13. Inertia Creeps
14. Unfinished Sympathy
15. Group Four

Collect: Here

Interlude: Like A Rave...But With Hooks

Ladytron + CSS

Webster Hall, NYC- Sept. 27th, 2006

Presented by KCRW

Wow. My ears are still ringing. As shown below, the ticket stated that the doors open at 8 pm, as is the case for most shows. Having never been to the venue or, for that matter, any venue of the type, I thought it would be a relatively brisk affair, especially considering that the afterparty was 10 pm. As it turned out, CSS didn't get on until about 9. Their set was the sonic equivalent of a power bar: low in nutritional value, but high on energy. I had planned on listening through their album beforehand, but I suppose it wouldn't have made much of a difference. Lead singer Lovefoxxx was quite charismatic, going as far as to mosh with us (see below) on two separate occasions.

This was simply a taster for the synth-powered transcendence that was Ladytron's set. There's something about this band, seemingly mechanized, yet able to convey such human emotion and fragility, that's incredibly unique. Singers Helen Marnie and Mira Aroyo were charming, classy, and provided fantastic vocals. Helen seemed rather amused when a member of the crowd felt the urge to jump on stage and show off his dance moves...on two separate occasions.

Perhaps it was the addition of a bassist and drummer, combined with the proximity, but their sound has really become massive, dare I say, almost My Bloody Valentinesque. Yet, throughout the density of synths, Helen's soaring vocals, complemented by Mira's Bulgarian-inflected delivery, gave the show an ethereal atmosphere. Of course, the crowd added a whole other dimension, turning the entire evening into a collectively euphoric experience. The band played a good deal of material from Light & Magic, including the crowd-pleasing "Seventeen," as well as slightly less prominent tracks such as "Cracked LCD." A number of cuts from 604 also appeared. They saved "Destroy Everything You Touch" as a one-of encore, and my favorite performance was the moody "International Dateline."

Enjoy the pictures:

CSS

Lovefoxxx: Moshing With The Masses!

Ladytron

Also, for your pleasure (and your leisure), I've uploaded Ladytron's Peel Session, recorded on January 31st, 2002.

Enjoy:

Another Breakfast With You
Discotraxx
Nuhorizons
Zmeyka

AMCD: Here
Tired of Being Sexy? Here

Laughs From Below: Flight of the Conchords

And now for something completely different. Flight of the Conchords are not so much of a band, per se, as much as a comedic "gangsta-folk" duo. They're quite hilarious, if frivolous, with content brimming with sexual innuendo and racist dragons. However, they've got to be given kudos for their independence, having gotten exposure essentially on the strength of their live material; they have no conventional studio albums. These songs provide a pretty good overview of the group.

Enjoy:

1. Hiphopotamus vs. Rhymenocerous
2. Hotties
3. K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Part B
4. Pencils in the Wind
5. Bus Driver's Song
6. Angels
7. Nothing Wrong With My Life
8. Something Special for the Ladies
9. Albi (The Racist Dragon)
10. Business Time

Spread Your Wings: Here

Portrait d'une Femme: Ladytron In France

Ladytron was featured on my first post, which seems like aeons ago. I've gone through a massive volume of music since then, but through it all, I've never lost my appreciation for the 'tron. Their style of music is a fantastic blend of some of my favorite genres, danceable electro, moody ambience, dense shoegaze and gorgeous pop, crafted with technical precision and songwriting sensibility. I've got tickets for the show at Webster Hall this Thursday, with CSS opening, so expect pictures.

This show was recorded at the 2001 La Route Du Rock festival in Saint-Malo, France. It's all material from their debut album 604, with the exception of Light & Magic's "Nuhorizons." I suppose my goal now is to get a live recording of a Witching Hour-era show.

Enjoy:

1. Zmeyka
2. He Took Her To A Movie
3. Paco!
4. Discotraxx
5. Nuhorizons
6. Another Breakfast With You
7. Commodore Rock
8. This Is Our Sound
9. Playgirl
10. Skools Out...
11. Mu-Tron
12. The Way That I Found You

This Is Their Sound: Here

The End of Medicine: Feist as Placebo

Feist seems ubiquitous, whether in the bloggersphere or in more prominent publications. She's absolutely charming, with a smooth, sultry voice that's appeared with artists as disparate as Peaches, Kings of Convenience, The New Deal, The Postal Service and, of course, Broken Social Scene.

But that's not the full story. Like fellow Calgarians Tegan and Sara, she got her start musically by playing in a punk band named Placebo (but not Placebo), which actually opened for the Ramones. I don't know how in the world I got this (stalker complex, probably), but I've somehow acquired their recording, entitled Don't Drink The Bathwater. It's a bit jarring, and perhaps it's not surprising that she had to take time off to recover her voice in the wake of the band. But for those of you craving something a bit more...familiar, I've also provided the enjoyably lo-fi Red Demos.

Enjoy:

Don't Drink The Bathwater
1. Anchor Arch
2. Back Down The Same Way
3. Pale Pink Tiger
4. Lazy Review Guy
5. Keen Nose
6. Double Run
7. Hidden Chicken

The Red Demos
1. Intuition
2. Leisure Suite
3. Mushaboom
4. The Eastern Shore

You Can Buy: Here

Interlude: Apartment Life

Well, dorm life, at least

It's been about a month of existence here in the city. Our University president, John Sexton, likes to describe the environment as "hyper-stimulating." Another popular mantra is "a school in and of the city." I'd say that it lives up, literally. In an effort to convey this to you, as well as an excuse to abuse my camera some more, here are a few glimpses.

Broadway, via 10th St. via Window

Work
Non-Work The ViewTicketography

The final shot should offer a bit of a glimpse into the future. Once again, security permitting, I should have plenty of content, visual and musical, to share! Until then...

Aphex Twins: Múm Live

You may not have heard Múm, but you may have seen the Valtýsdóttir twins on the cover of Belle and Sebastian's Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A Peasant. Múm plays a genre of music seemingly dissimilar from Glasgowian indie pop, but the gentleness and mentality is actually quite comparable. I haven't explored their full discography, but what I've heard has been soothing and, at times, quite striking. This set was recorded at Barcelona, Spain's BAM music festival on September 21st, 2002.

Enjoy:

1. The Land Between Solar Systems
2. Green Grass of Tunnel
3. K/Half Noise
4. Smell Memory / I Can't Feel My Hand Any More, It's Alright, Sleep Still
5. Please Sing My Spring Reverb
6. Now There's That Fear Again
7. Awake On A Train

Money Make Good: Here

Viking Invasion: Mew at the Interface

Here's a quickie before I upload even more esoteric stuff. Mew, as briefly mentioned, are a band from Denmark. They've really evolved, from the early pop of Frengers to the density of And The Glass Handed Kites. AMG calls the album a prog-fusion reminiscent of Radiohead and My Bloody Valentine, no mean feat. Hype aside, I simply enjoy the hooks and singer Jonas Bjerre's distinctive voice. They just played a sold out show the other day at Webster Hall with Kasabian, and hopefully they'll do a headlining tour in the States soon.

This excellent live set was recorded at AOL Music's The Interface; thanks to Pitchfork for the heads-up. Enjoy:

Set list:
1. Zookeeper's Boy
2. Eight Flew Over, One Was Destroyed
3. Why Are You Looking Grave?
4. Comforting Sounds
5. Interview

Full Set: Here
Will You Buy? Maybe: Here
Purevolume (with downloads): Here