Harry's Final Week (Ridiculously Belated)

Firstly apologies for my extended absence, a combination of last-week-of-broadcast madness, essay hell on a whole new level and having the new Arcade Fire record on repeat. But here we are, the final Anablogue listings of the broadcast...

I began on the desk which was novel, before guiding you all through the more guitar-based elements of the blogging world. First track was WinterKids - All The Money, an instant indie-disco classic...although I still don't know where Peaslake is. This was from Hotly Tipped for 2007 (Part One) on the the one-and-only Good Weather For Airstrikes which passed me by first time round as it was hidden among the more obvious tips of Lily Allen and Klaxons. Album Memoirs is out 09/04/07 on Little House records.

Next up was a return to Noise For Toaster who were going mad for the new Field Music record Tones Of Town. I played Give It Lose It Take It, the album opener which is fairly indicative of where they're coming from; kinda edgy, soaring harmonies and a healthy dose of synth. Definitely worth a look.

My first section was concluded with Sharks by Bear Colony, not as morbid as I may have implied but then again not as good either. Perfect Postal Service-y verses but let down by the chorus which (in the words of grandparent everywhere) is just noise. Sounded better in my room than over the airwaves, honest. Find it at All Things Go.

On my return I finally got round to playing I Was A Cub Scout - Pink Squares, found at Nothing But Green Lights, the excellent UK-music-only blog. They make a whole lot of restrained noise for a two piece (contradiction in terms deliberate), but the marriage of electronic and emotional really works for me on this and is certainly pretty good for a 2-piece boyband. Could well do big things this year so keep an eye out.

Next up was Maps-Sparks In The Snow, which has rarely been off my mp3 player since I found it 3 weeks ago. Beautiful organ and vocals which could disappear in a strong gust of wind. English Sigur Ros is perhaps a bit misleading, but it's atmospheric and will gently worm its way into your brain. I found it at Good Weather For Airstrikes, and am looking for more Maps as we speak. Incidentally, if you like this then also check out Breaker by Low which has a similar fee: have a look on The Hype Machine.

I bit the bullet and played Brianstorm, the new single by Arctic Monkeys to see what people thought of it more than anything else, so thank you to those who let us know your thoughts. I stand by my opinion that this is really strong comeback, a bit louder and a bit less reliant on witticisms, instead concentrating on making the biggest impression as possible on the unbelievers. I won't tell you where I found this version because there are far better available; again, get yourself to The Hype Machine or even better buy it when it emerges in the shops on April 16th.

I then played you One of Two by Sky Larkin, who supported Anablogue-favourites Los Campesinos the previous night in Manchester Late Rooms. I played Somersault when Rich from High Voltage was in when I really should have played this: it's like a kick in the stomach followed by an order to dance or be thrown out onto the street. Perfect vocals over a circular-saw guitar line. Essential listening from Good Weather For Airstrikes.

The much-coveted final track of the broadcast was filled by Midlake with their track Roscoe. It could be Radiohead which is praise indeed. I stumbled upon an Erol Alkan remix of this on Gorilla vs Bear which I really didn't rate, but it did encourage me to find the original and very glad I was too.

So there we have it, a wrap-up of the swift four week stint that was Anablogue. Thanks to everyone who listened and got involved, to Rich for coming in and of course to Andy for getting me involved on the Anablogue project. But who knows....you may not have heard the last of us yet...

Harry x

Quick Fire...Week Three

Evenin' All,

Bit of a different format this week, with Rich from High Voltage in the studio presenting an informed view on this whole blogging thing. I was initially scared he was going to march in and shut us down for bankrupting his record label...lucky for us he was a thoroughly sound guy who had loads of interesting points to raise. So to Harry's week three...

First I tried to win approval with the appallingly-named We Smoke Fags with Eastenders found at www.headphonesex.co.uk; if it sounded any more like Terror by The Rakes it would actually have been Terror by The Rakes. On first listen I thought this track was great...on second listen, not so good. You win some, you lose some...I then tried with Somersault by Sky Larkin which was more successful (I could tell by Rich's head-nodding) but I think I was still the biggest fan of that particular track in the studio: find it at http://nothingbutgreenlights.net. They're supporting Los Campesinos on Sunday (04/03/07) in the Late Rooms so check them out on The Hype Machine...I would recommend the track One of Two next.

My last song with Rich still around was the new single by The Rakes - We Danced Together - remixed by SebAstian (from http://callmemickey.blogspot.com). As soon as the track started Rich let us know his dislike for all things Rakes so it was onto a loser from the start. No way near as good as the Klaxons Remix we aired in Week One but I think it's a great way of increasing the longevity of a great comeback single.

On entering the final part of the show I threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the mixing desk to win Andy's (and hopefully your) approval. The genius mash-up that was Crazy, As She Goes by The Raconteurs vs Gnarls Barkley (with a smattering of the Grandmaster Flash) got my final section off to a blinder. So many great covers and mash-ups of that track already but this is one of the best in my oh-so-humble opinion. Get it at http://myoldkyhome.blogspot.com.

I finished off with a live XFM session track, Dans Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip - The Beat That My Heart Skipped, from http://thedailygrowl.blogspot.com, which was for anyone who loved Thou Shalt Not Kill from Week One. Not quite as immediate as that perhaps but give it a few spins and see if you don't love it.

Exit music this week was supplied by Los Campesinos for the second week running, with their ace track Sweet Dreams Sweet Cheeks, another fantastic offering for the Cardiff band who can do no wrong.

See you on Sunday at the Late Rooms...and for the final Anablogue Radio Show. At least 15% better than every other radio show you'd care to mention.

Harry x

Harry's Week Two

For everyone wondering where to get hold of the tracks chosen by me on Week Two of Anablogue....here we are for your listening pleasure. Links galore so go have a gander.

First off I played TV On The Radio - I Was A Lover, which you can find on http://iguessimfloating.blogspot.com. TV On The Radio came top of many, many bloggers Top 50s of the year, and their first album 'Desperate Youths and Bloodthirsty Babes' won the American version of the Mercury Music Prize just to give an idea of how many people are going mad about them. 'Dirty Whirl' and 'Staring At The Sun' are two others by the band that are worth checking out. That's a homework assignment.

Next up was Grizzly Bear - Easier, the opening track from the album 'Yellow House' which was high up in the same poll on http://iguessimfloating.blogspot.com . It's a beautiful song from a parallel universe where Disney is in charge. As the text on the show said, the words 'grizzly bear' do roll off the tongue - as if you needed another reason to listen to this song.

The debate over albums leaking onto the net long before release dates was illustrated by new Modest Mouse track Dashboard (ironic, no?) which is from the forthcoming album 'We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank' which is the best album title I've heard since 'What's The Time Mr Wolf?' by The Noisettes. This song is everything thats great about American guitar music turned to eleven, with more strings, more sunshine and more bounce. Find it at the fantastically named http://blogsarefordogs.com . Highly Recommended.

When it got to discussing Remixes (Re-mixes? Remixs? Re-mixs?) I played the Filthy Dukes Society Remix of The Maccabees - X-Ray which is a sterling example of a great remix and not a lazy one. The Maccabees are going places fast and this is a great alternative version of one of their earlier singles. It's at www.goodweatherforairstrikes.com of course.

Next up I stumbled upon http://gorillavsbear.net where I came across the short but very sweet Booji Boy High - Twist Myself Again, an Hot Chip side project also on DFA Records. It's essentially Hot Chip with added griminess which is no bad thing.

Finally I played Union of Knives - Evil Has Never, which is a sort of White Rose Movement-Electro/Indie-type thing. I like. You should too. They're playing this Friday (23/02/07) in Manchester Roadhouse if you have discovered your cup of tea.

Me and Andy also tag-teamed on the final track, the stupidly fantastic You! Me! Dancing! by Los Campesinos who are (obviously) from Cardiff, Wales as you can tell by the name. www.goodweatherforairstrikes.com say "you want to hold their hand while they cross the street, buy them ice cream when they've been good, I'll even carry them inside when they fall asleep, even if I know they're just pretending for the free ride. And I don't put up with that from just any band". Wise words indeed. Catch them at The Late Rooms for those in Manchester on Sunday March 4th...Andy and I will both be there so you can play student radio Where's Wally.

So there we have it...consider yourselves set free into the wild to pursue your own lives again. Go!

Harry x

Harry Enters The Murky World Of The Blog...

On tonight's show (12-02-07) I played some tracks I discovered on my journey through the internet blog. Andy set me on my way with the first one, but the subsequent sites were all stumbled upon by yours truly. Here goes...

www.goodweatherforairstrikes.com - Amazing Top 50 from last year...check out The Maccabees at 35, and Snowfight In The City Cente at 7 for two tracks I wanted to play but didn't. Maybe I'll wait 'til 6 on Wednesday...anyway, from here I downloaded Bloc Party - Selfish Son, and that amazing track Thou Shalt Always Kill by Dans Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, my favourite lines being ''Thall shalt not stop liking a band just because they’ve become popular" and "Thou shalt not question Stephen Fry". A lesson for us all. You can find all the lyrics on this site.

http://this.bigstereo.net - Here's where I found The Avalanches - Ray of Zdarlight which is a bootleg of two other tracks and not a brand new track as I mentioned. Oops.

www.saidthegramophone.com was my next stop, which I reached via www.headphonesex.co.uk which is a site I'm sure we'll return to. On saidthegramophone.com I rediscovered 1990s - You're Supposed To Be My Friend, a track I reviewed for Fuse in November time...ballsy guitars and lots of 'aaaaaa's' sang by the drummer. Top that.

I then discovered http://noisefortoaster.blogspot.com which I thought was cool and has 'the fish has got ears' written at the top which I thought was even cooler. Here I found The Little Ones - Oh MJ! which I played and also The Go Find - Dictionary which I didn't but you should check out anyway because it's ace.

The remaining track was by the brilliantly named Suburban Kids With Biblical Names and was called Loop Duplicate My Heart which I've decided I like. Find it at http://music.for-robots.com .

Hope I've proven that if I can do it then so can you...tune in next week for more exciting discoveries.

Harry x

Yuppeee

Harry can now post too!