BoxSetGo - The Year That Was...Part 2

As I type I am on the wrong end of a bottle of Chilean red, yesterday I watched my brother get married to the love of his life and I fumbled my way through a speech questioning his sexuality and parentage. One thing that struck me during the wedding was just how emotional I was, I was never like that when I was younger – what the hell happened to you to make you react so emotively to things. It’s not just major event like Births, Death and Marriages – music means more to me that it ever did in my youth, I listen to tracks written and performed by 19 year olds and they still are relevant to my mindset which leaves me wondering just how much have I grown up – yes I understand interest rates and the impact of an inflationary rise but I have an apathy for them for they don’t induce the feelings I want to feel – for this I turn to sound and vision...my two best friends in the world. Last mix of the year folks going to take a few weeks off to cry over a re-watched Boxset of Band Of Brothers...



Delphic – Counterpoint
What a debut single!!! – remember the days when a band’s debut got you excited well those days have returned. My brother turned me onto this back in April and it has remained a permanent fixture on my stereo ever since. Melody mixed with beautiful synth lines remind you of New Order at their peak which can’t be a band thing...
Klum – Bashing For The Kids
I think someone sent this to me by e-mail, I listened and really enjoyed it on the first few listens by the time I reached a dozen I loved it. A great dual vocal track that moves with pace and courage and those loud bits really do send shivers down your spine – proper music played by a proper band.
Gloomy Monday Morning – The Black Hollies
If you are not pouting and nodding your head after 10 seconds you are dead...a modern pop masterpiece that could have been written in 1966 by the Small Faces..essential!
The Rake’s Song – The Decemberists
I have never heard a more disturbing song in my entire life – it gets by you as it is so catchy but listen to the story – for me the Decembrists’ are the David Lynch of the music world you may not like them or agree with their style but Christ they are essential
Say Yes – Langhorne Slim
Time to cheer up here – a perfect little pop tune that is recognisable within 30 seconds and you’ll be singing along before the song is over. It’s positive to it’s very core and it’s all the better for it – life is ok after hearing this tune...
Friend – The Sleepover Disaster
Do you like Catherine Wheel during the early EPs and Ferment period? If the answer is yes then sit back relax and enjoy The Sleepover Disaster – it could be “Flower To Hide 2009 Version” – by the way this is high praise from me as it takes the most important parts of early Shoegaze melody and passion and combines them to perfection.
Wandering Foot - The Fling
Just brilliant- think Beatles/Badfinger and you get the idea. Trust me you will like this song – you may sit like me know trying to name influences which is fun but regardless The Fling are a band to watch and anyone capable of making this sound deserves you attention.
Back Down – It Hugs Back
It’s just perfect – that guitar line is so familiar – it feels like a friend. Just a beautiful noise that is easy on the ears and easy on the facial lines...they have a free Christmas EP on their website which is certainly worth getting
Morning Light – Girls
Heavy Sonic Youth sound blasts forth and entrances you – a perfect example in “Less Is More” at just over 2.5 minutes the track is lean mean and fighting fit. It sounds like a track I would have worshipped in 1990, 19 years later I think I still do – a brilliant song from a brilliant band.
Kingdom Of Rust – Doves
And to think I wasn’t even going to buy this album – then I heard “Kingdom Of Rust” – suddenly I couldn’t wait for it to be released. A band that never fail to impress I was wrong to doubt them – they turned up another brilliant album and this track is up there with “Cedar Room” as one of the best tracks they have produced.
Pros And Cons – Coma League
Perfect garage music – complete with shambolic lead fills – it sounds like the 60s would sounf if the 60s happened now – I know that doesn’t make sense but the track does – excellent!
Harsh Words – Loney Dear
Gentle pop goodness – it rises and falls like all the greats. They are from Sweden you know they can write a pop tune – emotive and delicate a perfect winter song – you will enjoy..
You Can Move Back Here – Richmond Fontaine
Effortless and easy – at rack that is easily better than 90% of all other music released this year – taken from a brilliant album – the sound of a band at their peak – they remind me of Camper Van Beethoven though I appear to be completely alone in this assessment...still a cracking tune.
Parties And Friends (And Bullshit) -The Static Jacks
I found this tonight – I am half drunk and it’s brilliant – honest music that for 3.5 minutes makes me care about everything and love music again – it’s sounds like the voice of the youth and it doesn’t appear to be different than my voice back then.
In The Flowers – Animal Collective
Unless you have been in a coma this year you should have heard this album – I’m not going to rehash what’s been said just listen and keep listening for it’s worth it...

 01. Counterpoint – Delphic
02. Bashing For The Kids – Klum
03. Gloomy Monday Morning – The Black Hollies
04. The Rake’s Song – The Decemberists
05. Say Yes – Langhorne Slim
06. Friend – The Sleepover Disaster
07. Wanderingfoot – The Fling
08. Back Down – It Hugs Back
09. Morning Light – Girls
10. Kingdom Of Rust – Doves
11. Pros & Cons – Coma League
12. Harsh Words – Loney Dear
13. You Can Move Back Here – Richmond Fontaine
14. Parties And Friends (and Bullshit) – The Static Jacks
15. In The Flowers – Animal Collective

Goodbye ONine

BoxSetGo 2009 - The Year That Was...

I just realised that I have been doing this blog for 2.5 years; I never really figured it would last much longer than a few weeks. It never ceases to amaze me how people still seem to find it from places I can only dream of visiting yet a connection is made, now it’s nothing big or clever on my part the connection seems to be the music featured – it’s the same music that you thought you were alone in loving and yet discovered that not only were you not but that you still had so much more to discover and learn from your peers. It’s for this selfish reason that I thank all of you who kindly leave comments or take time out of your days to write an e-mail – each and everyone is greatly received and on occasion gives my lazy will the fuel to carry on with BoxSetGo...hopefully for a while longer though my ideas are running thin on the ground...
So, we come to 2009 and the end of year mix from BoxSetGo – you have no idea how manic I have become about this compilation – I have had a set list in place since September – this has gone 20,000 chances in the last few weeks painfully removing tracks only to put them back in again...looking at the mix you’ll probably wonder why such dilemmas – my simple answer is I have no idea...I do hope you enjoy it though....G

Bullets – Archive
A complete bombastic tour de force record from Archive – pulsating rhythms layer themselves on top of each other while the lyrics proclaim “bullets are the beauty of a blistering sky”. I heard this back in March and was completely blown away – listen to it again and again and bang your head to the sounds of violence...

Melectric – Ramona Falls
From the savagery of Archive comes unbridled beauty in the shape of Ramona Falls – “Melectric” is one of the purest tracks I heard this year. Constructed gently and carefully there is not a note wasted in its tapestry – simply tear inducing brilliance.

Coast Of Carolina – Telekinesis
Power Pop time with Telekinesis, what a great sound produced by the Seattle band – it’s simple in its 3 chord structure and yet it still utilises all of its 3.5 minutes and fills them bigger than a stadium. As a tune it is flawless rising and falling in perfect time – a track with a great chorus and uplifting middle eight – what music is all about?

Yours Truly, The Commuter – Jason Lyttle
Anyone who every listened to “The Sophtware Slump” by Grandaddy will testify that it is a masterpiece. Jason Lyttle was that singer whose voice caused you to cry over drunken robots and now he’s back and solo though still inducing tears with melodies that ELO would have killed to get their hands on. Go on try not to like it – I’m not sure it’s possible...

It’s Thunder And It’s Lightning – We Were Promised Jetpacks
This years’ “Frightened Rabbit” heralded the critics which was kinda true as this band produced the best single of the year in “Quiet Little Voices” – However, I have chosen the first track of their superb album “These Four Walls” as it is a master class in dramatic song writing. The Scottish accent just makes the track better again...think “The Twilight Sad with distortion pedals...why does this remind me of James “Sometimes”?

The Walls Are Coming Down – Fanfarlo
A fantastic album in “Reservoir” produced so many great tracks however I have chosen the total pop brilliance of “The Walls Are Coming Down” – great instrumentation on this track – I particularly like the mariachi trumpet...a band to watch in the next couple of years

Road Meets Sky – The Fauns
Fuck Me, this was the phrase I kept repeating after hearing just 30 seconds of this track – after just finishing a Shoegaze mix I heard this track which not only better 99% of the original Shoegaze bands but beats them at their own game – this track could have been released in 1991 and would now be a classic... here’s hoping in 18 years it will get its dues. Go buy the album – it’s amazing!

Sleet And Snow – My First Tooth
Alt Country from England thought you wouldn’t be wrong in hearing Americana on this track. An up-tempo track that finds it’s true home in this season. I have been listening to this track for a while now and still it brings a smile and for that reason alone it is included...oh yeah and the fact that it is a brilliant song.

Young Adult Fiction – The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Hailing from New York City though it sounds like a band that would have sat nicely at home on the great Sarah Records. Their album received widespread acclaim and deservedly so – a great pop record – one that you don’t hear too often nowadays. I keep thinking upbeat Field Mice mixed with upbeat Pooh Sticks with a hint of upbeat Belle And Sebastian – smile it’s winter though listening to this brings back those summer memories...

That Summer – What About Mallard
What About Mallard is the name of the Swedish collective – at its helm Tim Koch, a man possessed with a melancholy voice and ear for melody that is staggering. Tim provided me with a track for a mix a while ago called “15 Steps” which has since become one of my favourite songs of the last ten years (You Tube it) – so I asked him if he had recorded anything this year – he sent me a few tracks – picking just one was difficult. A real talent who deserves your attention...

Sovereignty – Japandroids
Brilliant – just brilliant – love that heavy sound like old Dinosaur Jr sounds mixed with No Age should give you an idea of Japandroids . Still. As heavy as the track is it still has at its heart a melodic core. A track to separate from the pretenders – punk 2009 style apparently they are nor concerned with weather reports either.

The Summer Before – The Appleseed Cast
When the Appleseed Cast release an album I always listen - I always enjoy and after six albums never had much reason to complain. The new album is naturally great however it was nice to hear a classic track being included in “The Summer Before” – a masterstroke of emotive music with minimalistic lyrics – it’s beauty transcends it’s subject matter.

The Harbour – Leaves
I will never stop banging the drum for this band – “The Harbour” is the first track of their self released 2009 album and yet again they have come up shining. I actually bought their album twice on download and no I don’t have money but Christ I want to hear another album by this band as their last one was the best yet. Listen without prejudice...

Kettering – The Antlers
Simply the greatest album of the year; it’s rare that you hear an album that totally changes your perspective on life. “Hospice” has gone straight into my top 5 albums of all time and this assessment is based on probably over 50 listens since August...it’s beyond criticism – it’s perfect to me. Every note is purity every track a story which maintains a theme – honestly I can talk about the Stone Roses debut and Whipping Boys’ “Heartworm” for days and The Antlers is up there with that. I never thought I would hear an album that moved me so much but I did and I didn’t expect it – it gently crept up on me and seeped into my consciousness – this track “Kettering” brought tears to my eyes on too many occasions to note. Personally, I would like to thank the band for this record – it’s a gift and one that I fully appreciate...go get the album find a darkened room, a bottle of red and peace for 1 hour and listen really hard...

Become – Rotovibe
The last track on this mix will probably be new to most of you, earlier this year I did a Psych series and William O’ Reilly from Dublin got in touch commenting and asked me to check out his band “Rotovibe” on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/rotovibesound) – I did and completely fell in love with their dirty Psychedelic sound – this was proper rock music with three solid minutes of instrumental wah-wah goodness – think “Four Horsemen” by Aphrodite’s Child dragged through the dirt by the Irish and you get the idea. I see they have now taken this tune of their MySpace – Christ they must have an arsenal... keep an eye on them

01. Bullets - Archive
02. Melectric - Ramona Falls
03. Coast Of Carolina - Telekinesis!
04. Yours Truly, THe Communter - Jason Lyttle
05. It's Thunder And It's Lightning - We Were Promised Jetpacks
06. The Walls Are Coming Down - Fanfarlo
07. Road Meets Sky - The Fauns
08. Sleet And Snow - My First Tooth
09. Young Adult Fiction - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
10. That Summer - What About Mallard
11. Sovereignty - Japandroids
12. The Summer Before - The Appleseed Cast
13. The Harbour - Leaves
14. Kettering - The Antlers
15. Become - Rotovibe

Bone Betrayed

A Hanging Whisper [Volume 12] – The Original Shoegaze

Well, it’s the final mix in the series – hopefully 12 volumes has pretty much covered the Shoegaze scene from those early sullen days, still I am pretty sure I have missed a few but hopefully haven’t upset too many by my omissions.

I was going to write a nice review of the final songs but I went out and played 5 a side football on Friday night (first time in 3 years) and I can barely lift my finger such is the pain in every muscle in my body.
  

Therefore you will just have to judge it for yourselves folks, though in saying that if you have listened to the previous eleven mixes you should have a good idea what to expect – the wheel has not been reinvented for this one...

Hope you enjoy this collection...

01.    Inflammable - Chicane
02.    Torment To Me – Gentle Despite
03.    More Than Friends – The Bigger The God
04.    At The Scene – Shiny Gnomes
05.    So Little Deserve - Heavenly
06.    I Thought You Told Me Everything – 8 Storey Window
07.    All Of A Tremble – St. Christopher
08.    Still Life – Five Thirty
09.    More Like Space - Seefeel
10.    Somersault Sunrise – Blow-Up
11.    Change You Leaving – Feral
12.    Warm Room – Jane Pow
13.    From Here To Who Knows Where – Eva Luna
14.    Violence – Invisible Limits
15.    In Hollow – The Belltower

Fin

A Hanging Whisper [Volume 11] – The Original Shoegaze

Onto the last couple of mixes in the original Shoegaze series, I took a couple of weeks off there to concentrate on the grown up issues of bringing up children and finding places to live. So, I return to the blog older and wiser and ready to move forward yet again safe in the knowledge that I have fulfilled my life responsibilities albeit rather poorly...

I hope you like the start to this one as the Swervedriver Aspidistra one-two is a great example of the heavy sounds of the Shoegaze spectrum and quite timeless in their execution. Ultra Cindys’ “Near Perfect” is just that – a beautiful piece of moody Shoegaze that sounds familiar eve on first listen.
I bought “Safe In Heaven Dead EP” by the Starlings one Christmas for my brother – it was in a bargain bin for 20p and I recognised the label Anxious (Curve) so I figured it would bolster up his Christmas present – by Boxing Day I had stolen it back then by Dec 27 he had hit me for stealing it and reclaimed it – one of the greatest EPs of the 90’s of which “Where Angels Share” is just a perfect crystalline example of its merit - essential.
There are few on here that I never really considered Shoegaze however as I have 12 volumes and their sound kinda fits I have included them – take a bow The Sundays, See See Rider, Another Sunny Day and The Clouds – I know after hearing the tracks that you’ll forgive me anyway so why fret. We finish with a beautiful track from Earwig – weighing in at over 10 minutes it shows the movement of Shoegaze into Post Rock territory which would become extremely popular in the 90s and onwards.
Hope you enjoy this collection...

01. Rave Down - Swervedriver
02. Sunrise - Aspidistra
03. Near Perfect – Ultra Cindy
04. Where Angels Play –The Starlings
05. Changing – Bulldozer Crash
06. Angel – Sonic Boom
07. Get Out Of My Dream – The Clouds
08. Sun Less Sea – Half String
09. Rio – Another Sunny Day
10. She Sings Alone – See See Rider
11. And David Seaman... – The Lillies
12. Chris R - Swirlies
13. Portland Cement Factory at Monolith, California – Cul De Sac
14. Medicine – The Sundays
15. Every Day Shines - Earwig

Eleven

A Hanging Whisper [Volume 10] – The Original Shoegaze

Do you know I was sit here tonight I find that I am only worrying about one thing and that is the fact that I have no uniform for later life – I mean every time I see an elderly gent he is always dressed in a suit and looking well but this is surely the fact that people are just maintaining the dress of their youth. Now, when I hit 70 (hopefully) am I going to be wearing kicker boots and flares? – It’s a frightening thought and hopefully not but when I think about it is it any worse than being dressed liked I’m at a wedding for my twilight years – if anyone wants to suggest future fashion I would appreciate it as at the minute I need an exit strategy.

Now, onto the tunes... I posted “If I Could Shine” on the Juggernaut series and to be honest I would post it on every mix if I had the opportunity such is its overwhelming brilliance. Power of Dreams are not a Shoegaze(y) band at all however Happy Game always reminded me of a tribute to the genre – the layered guitars and the wistful lyrics are beautiful – I have read a thousand times that they never got the acclaim they deserve so here’s 1001 – simply one of the greatest bands you will ever hear in your life.
The Suncharms were on Wilde Records (Catherine Wheel) and you can hear a little similarity between the two acts – unfortunately another tragic case in independent history of releasing 2 singles then disappearing into the ether – a great single and one of two that should be remembered.

There are a few great “mood” numbers on this mix that really provoke some form of affirmation from the listener – Closedown and Drop give two examples of heavy melodic textures designed to reflect upon. Velocity Girl and The Daisies and Candy Darlings give us straight up layered music that seems probably grander than necessary parts – it’s still magnificent – as is Glaring Surge who have to be heard to be believed.

Finally, “ Sing” by Blur – my brother really put me onto Blur with the “She’s So High” 12” and then the subsequent singles which went pretty mainstream – he bought the album "Leisure" and I remember listening to it and enjoying it though only two songs really blew me away “Sing” and “Wear Me Down” – my favourite of the two was “Sing” as it was like the most perfect drone Shoegaze pop song – I used to listen to that track endlessly in my teenage bedroom smoking cigarettes out of open windows thinking about everyone and everything that revolved around me at the time... a few years later I sat in a Dublin cinema and watched a film called “Trainspotting” which moved from being very good to a masterpiece simply because the director was smart enough to see the genius of “Sing”

Hope you enjoy...

01. If I Could Shine – The Sweetest Ache
02. Just Before I Come (Believe Me) – Smashing Orange
03. Happy Game – Power Of Dreams
04. Sparkle – The Suncharms
05. Kaleidoscope – Teenage Filmstars
06. Memory – An April March
07. Red Oval - Closedown
08. Day Spent – The Daisies
09. Save My Soul - Drop
10. I Don’t Care If You Go – Velocity Girl
11. Mooncrash - Besotted
12. Surf’s Up - Deardarkhead
13. Transparent – Candy Darlings
14. Unreleased Dreams – Glaring Surge
15. Sing - Blur

Repeat

A Hanging Whisper [Volume 9] – The Original Shoegaze

It was 11am when I heard the news, typically doubting its validity prompting my messenger four times to deliver the crack of the whip to my brain; realisation then numbness as the mind scatters into a thousand shards and you spend the next few minutes attempting to piece them all back together into some sort of linear narrative. Failure is inevitable so you push the disorientated pieces to the back of your head and proceed back to work and despite the memories raining down like ticker tape. You just want the car to drive to the end of the block but the bloody ticker tape keeps hitting you on the head causing reflections that dance before you then disappear. You hold it together in front of your colleagues as a mixture of machismo and embarrassment help you pretend – keep the playing cards face down – you ring your wife during break – she will sympathise and your love for her will increase tenfold – you will change the subject quickly to familiar ground – the ticker tape will hit – you will suppress....you will suppress...you will suppress...back to work...

You will laugh with colleagues – you will feel guilt, you don’t dismiss the guilt you embrace it. You will finish work – you will drive home – you will hear snippets of the music – you will feel guilt at your enjoyment – you are John Glenn again – the car in fronts of you puts on their brake lights...you brake and realise “All Different Things” by Bark Psychosis is a masterpiece at the same time.

Dinner is good – kids are OK and conversation turns quickly to your loved ones day – you care but your mind still wanders – you know they know you’re not there but they proceed as it’s important to keep going – if we stop now then we have to confront – you are not ready for that...you call your friend as he will make the trip with you to see the family – you need him - it’s safety in numbers.

The journey is quiet – it is shared with your friend – both of you spend most of the trip expelling air from your mouth and silently shake your heads – words are unnecessary - there will be no arguments – no banter or ritual teasing...you notice your car is nearly full of petrol...you feel happy then guilty immediately.

Handle turns...glasses steam up with the heat of tea in the kitchen...ignore the people the floor is the only thing you see – you embrace – hands shake you nod to family members whilst muttering “y’alright?” guilt....stupid question...ignore move on...fuck this is hard....guilt...it’s not about you...

You don’t speak...nobody speaks... you meet your best friends you can’t look them in the eye...you want everything to be as it was...guilt...you whisper though you have nothing to say... you laugh at a shared past misdemeanour...you feel the stares ...guilt...guilt...the sad face appears again – it’s not hard to find.

You leave not because you must but because you want to ...guilt...you drive – you speak when spoken to, you stop to buy red wine on the way home. Home now, you pour another glass of red and wait...it comes – you suppress – it comes again – it’s yours and you have to do it by yourself...it’s the least you could do for a friend...

In Memory
John Mc (27/10/2009)

01. Plainsong – The Cure
02. Love Blind – Secret Shine
03. Shine – Bailter Space
04. Found Love - Darkside
05. My Secret World – The Golden Dawn
06. All Different Things – Bark Psychosis
07. Plain - Witch Hazel
08. Tongue Tied – The Hollow Men
09. Miss You – Biff Bang Pow!
10. Mistress – Red House Painters
11. All The Stars - Crayon
12. Moon – Wonky Alice
13. Sugar Your Mind - Swallow
14. The Bitter Air - Lorelei
15. Florian - Charalambides

No9

A Hanging Whisper [Volume 8] – The Original Shoegaze

“Oohh...Uh Oh I like French Ones” - I can’t really post this week without commenting on the sad death of Liam Maher (Flowered Up); I can still recall the rush of excitement I felt at hearing “It’s On” for the first time – it was great...no wait it was greater than great it was perfection – it was one song guaranteed to turn heads. Flowered Up were featured on my very first mix on this blog – which reminds of the point of this little blog exercise, it was a hobby and a chance to shine a light on forgotten musical gems from the past...well Liam you were a real gem and you’ll never be forgotten round my way...

A pulsating attack of monotone sounds that bleed through your speakers into your world – there was nothing like Loop at their peak – “Heavens End” is just a piece of art that should be hung in a gallery forever. Do you ever listen to a song and like it so much that you want it to end really quickly...just so you can play it all over again. You are over eager fumbling with the record needle like a teenager making out in the park – I get like that with “Supermarine” by The Spinning Jennys – it’s just effortless dreamy pop goodness – sometimes I wish the track lasted 60 minutes. I get that similar feeling with Molasses – easily the best song by Revolver – all balls and bravado a proper pounding bastard of a tune that owes more to Swervedriver than Lush.

Now, St.Johnny is a band that I keep trying to get people to turn onto – an American alternative band that honed their sound in equal measure from the UK noise scene and the American low-fi movement – listen to “Highway” at silly decibel level and tell me you don’t love it – or try and drive you car to that track without speeding up – tenner says you can’t?

As I listen to this mix I am still blown away by the breathtaking “Horoscope” – Easy – the melodic flair of Headtime and Bird Nest Boys, Beatnik Filmstars and Family Cat. Everyone should know “Love In A Car” a song so beautiful that convinced me for me years that Guy Chadwick was not of this world – let’s be honest have you ever meet anyone that listened to the House of Love and didn’t love them?

Hope you enjoy this one as much as I do...

01. Soundhead - Loop
02. Supermarine – The Spinning Jennys
03. Molasses - Revolver
04. I’ll Be Your Saint - Adorable
05. Highway – St. Johnny
06. Horoscope - Easy
07. Need To Be - Headtime
08. Jaffa Boy – Bird Nest Boys
09. Looking For Rain – Underground Lovers
10. Love In A Car – House Of Love
11. Hang On - Snapper
12. Train Song – 14 Iced Bears
13. Tom Verlaine – The Family Cat
14. You Can’t Fake Sadness Like This – Beatnik Filmstars
15. Third Shade Of Green – Ocean Colour Scene

Take It