Quite a bit of unashamed pop in this week's mix along with a few
other tunes that I wouldn't really expect to hear on my show. But
that's what about, listening with fresh ears. Sometimes it's very
new music which we need to focus on and sometimes it's music in
styles that we'd normally dismiss but it's interesting to really
listen again and see what's in there.
Summer continues in it's predictable grey fashion (right) here on
teh eastern edge of England, but there's lots happening to keep our
minds off it.
This week we'll get to hear music from Spain, The USA, France, The
UK, Brazil and Sweden. Where else would you find a mix
like that?
Intro: Happy by
Jimmie Bratcher
The Principality of Asturias is on the north coast of Spain between
the Picos Europa mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. It rather defies
the stereotype image of Spain as being dry and dusty. It has strong
cultural links with the Celtic lands of western Scotland, Ireland,
Wales and Bittany in north west France. You can hear that Celtic
culture in their music.
Lliendes - Xera (Asturias,
Spain)
Xera is an Asturian electronic folk music group.
Their sound is an integration of electronic and traditional
Asturian music, mixing live instruments with samplers, industrial
percussion... with a symphonic treatment that result in a very wide
spectrum of sensations.
They have published their first full work,
Lliendes, under a Creative Commons
License.
http://xera.com.es/
Speaking to the future.
Crave - Edie (Nashville,
USA)
Crave is from Edie's 2004 album
Nu.
Edith Pijpers grew up in Holland, started travelling the world.
"At 19 I came to Los Angeles, picked up a guitar and started
writing songs. Since I released 3 albums independently and now live
in Nashville. My song
Waves was recently featured on
NPR."
http://ediemusic.com/
Podcamp
UK last weekend in Birmingham, UK. Had a great time meeting
up with a bunch of really creative content producers over the two
day unconference.
Met up with a bunch of people including
Graham Holland (It's a
Frog's Life Acoustic Podcast),
Pete Cogle who came up for Saturday
and
Gary
Dring (Clever Little Pod). Also had some fascinating
conversations about the state of radio, podcasting and the future
of new media with the likes of Neil Dixon of Podshow Inc.
Particularly enjoyed meeting
Jason Jarrett of A Buddhist
Podcast.
All the sessions were video streamed using
Blog TV and viewers were commenting
back into the sessions from all around the world. You can see
recordings at Blog TV (just search using "PodcampUK") Mainstream
radio and TV could do that sort of stuff and I'm sure they'll
pretend to but you can be sure that it will all have to be so safe
and moderated. The most certain conclusions I came to were
that:
- the term podcast is unhelpful even though the BBC and others
promote it for us on every channel every hour of the day (it
implies that you need and iPod and that it is broadcast just
once)
- we are only scratching the surface of the possibilities of the
technologies, audiences and ways of interacting with media; all of
which is advancing every day. Pretty much anything is
possible.
Very generous sponsors meant that the Podcamp was free. Bar
tab.
We even had live music on Saturday night from Esteban. Not a great
venue for them and an audience who mostly wanted to talk with each
other in the bar. However, their music is now on the PMN so
hopefully they'll get a few plays. I was impressed by each of the
band members and I think it comes together pretty well in this
track. I particularly like the bass which is on a rolling boil
here.
Say it loud - Esteban
(Midlands, UK)
Esteban are playing lots of gigs throughout the English midlands
with occasional ventures out to London. Catch them if you can.
Their MySpace site includes a video by Richard Azia based on that
song and shot at PodcampUK.
www.myspace.com/estebanuk
Number 1 Dub - King Dubby
(Angers, France)
A track from King Dubby's 2006 album
First Dubs released through Jamendo
which, of course, means that you can go over to Jamendo and
download It. The website is pretty empty but his Jamendo pages tell
you a bit.
http://kingdubby.hautetfort.com/
www.jamendo.com/en/artist/king.dubby/
Pega Ningum - Rosi mds
(Brazil)
Oh dear how can I admit it? Pete Cogle got in first with this
track, he sneaked it in while we were at Podcamp!
So far, he and I are the only podcasts to play it - perhaps
it says something about our eclectic taste. You really should check
the website, more glitter than you can shake a stick at. I do like
a bit of kitsch now and again although I couldn't find much about
the music.
http://mds.kids.zip.net/
Let's - Cyathus (Florida,
USA)
I just found this track on the PMN.
"Mostly... Silly little songs about girls. A few are deep and
meaningful... But sometimes simplicity is the best part of
life."
Do check his MySpace, the About Cyathus notes are a delight to
read.
www.myspace.com/cyathus
Brian Setzer has made a
career of bucking trends, going against the grain, ignoring popular
culture, discarding rational thought, and, all the while, blowing
people away. Not least as a member of the Stray Cats. This however
is something different.
One more night - Brian Setzer
Orchestra (California, USA)
This track is taken from his new album "Wolfgang's big night out"
which will be released on September 25th.
www.briansetzer.com/
Direct contact this week from Sweden.
Imagine a badly lit backstreet a few blocks from Wonderland. In the
distance you can hear music and laughter.
Addicted - Strangers in
Wonderland (Stockholm, Sweden)
A duo based in Stockholm, Sweden. Who write and produce their own
songs and have been doing that since the spring of 2006.
www.strangersinwonderland.com
Music this week with Nordgarden in London on Tuesday and (possibly)
Brian Wilson at the Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday, then a radio
guest slot on Future Radio next Monday, Daytona Lights (poss) in
the evening and Foy Vance on Tuesday. It really is a great life if
you can keep up the pace!