Superpost! ...and Tim Minchin rant

Bumper post Christmas uber-post...

• Posted the youtube link last week but the soundcloud link is up so in the interest of better quality, here it is. The Cast of Cheers second album out in Springtime.

The Cast Of Cheers - Family by barrygruff

• I didn't post a top songs or albums list this year. It was a funny year, I didn't post much at times, work got hectic and I started listening to a lot of older stuff, lot of dance music, lot of old hip-hop and briefly lost touch with what was in itself and odd year for music. It would have been incomplete to say the least. For example I only heard Black Joe Lewis last week. I mean, this is better than nearly everything I heard last year. It's ballsy as all hell, funky, sexy, dirty and very addictive. Scandalous, by Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears is out now.

• Yet another "only properly listening to now" with Unknown Mortal Orchestra ...goodness knows what stopped me hearing the rest of their debut album once I'd heard Ffunny Ffrends but now it's done and I wholeheartedly endorse this product or service. Fuzzy noise, hippedy-hop beats, airy-fairy vocals and a firm, likeable groove. Self titled debut out now.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - How Can U Luv Me by guil-laume

• Fela Soul, yet another album mashing hip-hop and an act or style together to make something very fun and listenable. Put together by Gummy Soul records fellow Amerigo Gazaway, it's hearing both acts in new ways, which is always good. Also worth checking out are Wugazi, Mos Dub and Ghostfunk.

• Some new Rubberbandits jams, from their double disk debut, Serious About Men. It's very good, you should get a copy. Also, check out their "comedy blaps" for Channel 4, fun and games galore. Check out a review from State, and have a read of their guest spot with Nialler9, picking 5 acts for 2012.

• Finally, it has come to my attention in a major way, just how talented, intelligent and funny Tim Minchin is. Last week he was due to appear on ITV's Jonathan Ross show. He wrote a festive song for the occasion, an alternative take on the character of Jesus. This was all well and good until after the show when ITV's director of television Peter Fincham demanded that Minchin's slot be cut from the broadcast. Tim himself has an opinion on this:

"He did this because he's scared of the ranty, shit-stirring, right-wing press, and of the small minority of Brits who believe they have a right to go through life protected from anything that challenges them in any way."

Well said Tim. But thankfully Tim had a copy of his performance and has put it online so we can see for ourselves firstly how funny the man is, and secondly what a spineless toad Peter Fincham is. Enjoy.



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Fun in 2012: The 2 Bears, Azealia Banks, Trippple Nippples and the ultimate music related Christmas present EVER!!

Listening to these acts has me giddy with excitement for a year of music that's nowt but fun. May be a year to drop out and party. Thinking of setting up a wee stall selling knick-knacks and living in a tent in the park for the summer.

For now I'm dosed up on the couch, it's bleak and wintery outside, but on the stereo, it's SUMMERTIME BABY!!

What can I say about The 2 Bears? More music that's falling right into my lap. Dance music that's also music itself. I found no joy in Deadmau5, prog-house or 00's electro. It all sounded like heavy machinery. I do love Nico Jaar style electronic music but when I'm out I do want that bit of oomph, a thick beat with melody, style and fun. The 2 Bears are just that, can't wait for the debut album, Be Strong which is out January 30th.

Work by The 2 Bears



The 2 Bears - Curious Nature E.P. by The 2 Bears

....Kim Jong Il dies and Azealia Banks releases new music, at the same time. The internet rejoices. A new one from the mysterious Harlem songstress/rapper/cool cat. Hate to make outrageous statements too early but she'll be massive if she wants to be, and there's an Azealia shaped hole in pop music. I'm sure at some point she'll mention filling a hole in one of her songs. She's playing the NME awards tour soon with the wonderful Metronomy and Two Door Cinema Club ...and the musical turd that is Tribes

LIQUORICE by Azealia Banks

Japan's Trippple Nippples are out-flipping-rageous. You'll be left scratching your head wondering what you just heard. Flaming Lips vs. Shoned Knife vs. Adebisi Shank maybe ....listen enjoy and catch em touring with Devo now!

LSD Trippple Nippples by trippplenippples

Finally, look at this! If you're stuck for something to get your music-mad partner, friend or family member, here's something they'd love (well I would anyway). Produced by We Are Dorothy, a collective of like minded artists who create thoughtful and interesting pieces or art, all worth checking out.

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new: The Cast of Cheers, Blawan and Jewellers vs. Patterns

The Cast of Cheers new single got it's first play the other evening on the Zane Lowe show. Such was the jocks excitement that he played it twice in a row. Today it found its way to youtube, so have a listen, and if the band are new to you check out their debut album, Chariot, which has notched up 150,000 plays since last year.



Going through the Irish Times lists of the year I had a listen to Blawan, based on ents editor Jim Carrolls suggestion. This track is immense and I'm on the hunt for more ...I had decided not to do a best of the year, based on the shoddy output over the past while, but all this lisztomania has me excited. The ipod is working overdrive, listening and relistening, I may do up a wee list after all.

Blawan - What You Do With What You Have by ProxyChen

Jewellers Vs. Patterns. I loved Jewellers E.P, Sleep Education which came out earlier this year, and can't recommend them enough as a live act. Now they've teamed up with Patterns, a new act for me to remix each other for this online release. Nice idea, thoroughly worthwhile listen.

Throwing Stones (Jewellers Remix) by Musicalpatterns

Forward Life (Patterns Remix) by Musicalpatterns

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The "how am I only hearing this now" post.

There's nothing like a crippling hangover to knock your perspective off kilter and open your mind to new ideas. Like trying tomatoes again, and listening to lots and lots of buzz bands you've been ignoring for ages to see if they're any good. Some of them are.

Before we start, this weekend the annual Other Voices festival took place in Dingle, Co. Kerry in Ireland. Each year sees a host of excellently chosen acts play the 80 capacity St. James church in the town. The current crop includes Band of Skulls, Edwin Collins, Wild Beasts, James Vincent McMorrow, SBTRKT, Spiritualized and loads more. Catch up on the weekends events here and watch this clip from a few years ago of a fresh and excited Amy Winehouse.




Don't know if the song is up to much but the latest Duck Sauce video is mad as a bag of spiders.




Only recently heard the amazing Azealia Banks! I haven't been clubbing of late so missed this banger.

212 by Azealia Banks


Off kilter filthy hip-hop from Danny Brown, this whole lot released on Fools Gold Recs.

Danny Brown "XXX" by foolsgoldrecs

This track is mind blowingly good. Erika M. Anderson, aka EMA, this years The xx, Warpaint/whatever came before that? Past Life Martyrs came out in May.

EMA - The Grey Ship by souterraintransmissions

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new: The Roots - Undun

Relearning how to devour new music made all the sweeter with a new album from The Roots. Undun is a concept album from the supremely talented Philadelphia hip-hop act.

The story follows Redford Stevens life and eventual death, a victim of the drug trade. NPR's Charlie Kaplin puts it well:

"Along the way, no verse is wasted, no optimism is spared; each line is like a shovelful of dirt on Redford's coffin. At 39 minutes, undun feels like a lifetime, because it is one."

Hear the album in it's entirety at NPR. Undun is out December 6th.

The Roots - One Time ft Phonte & Dice Raw by Punablog

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