The Secret Machines did blow all the other kids away. Any other fans on here of Krautrock, especially Neu! and/or Spiritualized, Super Furry Animals or Floyd should check 'em out if they haven't already. Top gig and a fine way to end the weekend.....

.....and what better way to start the new week than by getting their new record. Ten Silver Drops, out tomorrow!

I like all of the above, so I should check out Secret Machines. @adnem - I saw Sun o)) at all tomorrows parties but didn't get the whole drone/druid thing at all. John Peel used to like them though.
Since my last post I've gone to see TV on the radio at the ICA (where I saw the guy from Massive Attack in the audience - what is it about the ICA?) and have booked to see Tortoise and Low in July - must be some Tortoise fans on this board surely?

Yeah you should definitely get some stuff Alice. If you like the bands I mentioned I'm confident you'll like Secret Machines.

As well as the new record (Still waiting for it due to cd-wow's incompetence. Should have just gone to the shop, I'm only saving 50p Serves me right for being a tight arse I suppose!) they have a mini album called 'September 000' and their first proper record 'Now here is nowhere' plus a few EPs. Bloody marvellous!

I've heard of Tortoise should I indulge myself? Never really got into Low though.

Kowalski! I'm shocked

Definitely check out TNT by Tortoise if you like the Neu! stuff. Or if you're feeling the pinch hit the Rough Trade site and order the 7" they did on Soul Static Sound which is pretty cool. SSS did a really really superb 12" of one of Casey Rice's offshoot bands but I'll be darned if I can remember what it's called. Had an Orangey-Red cover - like Pissed Off, my vinyl went to storage eons ago, and memory fades with regular wodka input - but it was good enough to make PJ Harvey and John Peel ask me what it was back in the day when I used to DJ occasionally... ( I was pretty crap before anyone asks. A triumph of obscure records badly mixed over ability).

Quote:

A triumph of obscure records badly mixed over ability

Which of course was good enough for dear old Mr Peel, which in turn was good enough for me so I must insist, nay implore, that you dig out the turntables, wax and ear goggles and entertain us once again

And Polly Jean's seel of approval ain't bad either you old name dropper you

Consider me sold. Tortoise here I come.......

And hey presto, some quickfire downloading later, I sit here enjoying TNT by Tortoise. Thank you Ms B and Mr Bukowski.

I also have 'a Digest Compendium of the Tortoise's World' and 'It's All Around You' to chill to another time.

Ermmm... Thank you, I think. But all I did was play the record. It was all a very very long time ago you know *leans on zimmerframe and wistfully sucks on his Benylin bottle*...

I don't like TNT much, 'millions now living will never die' is the one I really ike and they will perform it in full when i see them

Going to see Billy Bragg on Friday at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. Anyone know what it's like there?

Also going to see the Saw Doctors at Central Station Wrexham on Monday.

Its an orchestral concert hall with the best acoustics you will ever hear. Can't think of a better place for an acoustic gig. I reckon you'll have an awesome evening.

06-02-02 wrote:

Its an orchestral concert hall with the best acoustics you will ever hear. Can't think of a better place for an acoustic gig. I reckon you'll have an awesome evening.

You were spot on mate. Great night!

Jose Gonzalez at Newcastle City Hall was excellent. A Latin version of Nick Drake? Swedish melancholy and Argentine passion! Loved his version of Joy Division's 'Love will tear us apart this time' at the end of his encore.
His support acts were interesting.
A rather eccentric piano playing Bjork sound-alike who was involved in grape-teasing the audience
Followed by 3 girls in party frocks making vocal sounds into tape loops, multi-tracking them, then playing sax, flute and singing over it to a variety of strange backdrops. Ambient, Swedish surrealism.

Not exactly Abba.

One grumpy old man type complaint: Pissed students who don't know how to behave during acoustic sets. Fuck off back to your playstations if you can't refrain from talking, shouting inanities or kicking the back of my seat. There were 2 intervals as well - try and control your bladder so you go to the bog then. Twats.

Didn't make The Wolfetones on Friday night due to the common cold virus (sorry Iomographer - what were they like?)

Went to see Billy Bragg and Ian Mclagan in Edinburgh on Sunday night. Great stuff as usual from the Bard of Barking. Good support from Seth Lakeman.

Was at a Faces gig at Newcastle City Hall in the early 70s - half full- about the time Long Player was released. (God I'm old).

Mclagan was so pissed his piano playing was f***ing awful. After a brief fight with Ronnie Lane they just switched Mclagan off from the mixing desk. He didn't suss it and the gig continued relatively trouble free but sans keyboards.

The comedy genius that is Frank Sidebottom will be making his first Manchester appearance for six years this Thursday at Dr Livvy's on High Street. Get down there and give old Pumpkin Head the support he deserves.

Thankyou!