The DurAnorak
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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "The DurAnorak" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
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03:37 pm
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Week 1 : Stories and books
Which is an excellent theme and a good one to start with. Herewith, ten songs that fit it, for your listening pleasure this week. If you've had any more ideas for themes you might like, do keep comments to that effect coming. I have my own inspiration but I really like giving you what you want. :)
Shalott - Emilie Autumn
Much as there are things that I don't like about her, this song is a brilliant bitter doll-like working of the story of the Lady Of Shalott with ribbons of violin, harpsichord (really) and unexpectedly subtle electronic beats. It's all a bit of a cliché, but then she knows that - "I could have guessed it all along, 'cause now some drama queen is going to write a song for me..."
( So the story goes, and the lies and the miracle unfold... )
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10:09 am
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I'll be there before you close the door
Hi! God, I have neglected you for much too long. This is because I'm not gathering new music in the way I used to, but really, I don't want to utterly abandon you. So I kind of want to change the way I do things here.
I have a lot of music and I love sharing it with you and talking about it; don't want to stop. So I'm going to share ten songs a week. One post, ten songs, all on a theme of some kind. What I want from you, dear lovely people, is theme ideas. As many as you like, anything that you might be interested in. I'm going to screen comments because I always find my inspiration chased away by what other people say to posts like this, and also because I'm all in favour of multiple people posting the same theme; I'm curious. If you do this for me, I'll cover everything you post, eventually. Even if it means I have to go find new stuff to fit a theme of yours. :)
Or, alternatively, comments screened so you can tell me how not interested you are. That's fine too. :) I'm just trying to get around my enormous writer's block.
E.
x
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04:53 am
[Link] | This has made it okay for me to have been awake at four in the morning, with a cold.
JAPAN MACROS, among other wonderful things. Joy of joys.
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03:41 pm
[Link] | Do you know what? I'm not ignoring you. No, I swear. It's just that I'm in the middle of a total mental block as to what to post anywhere, my main journal included. I'd love to be able to tell you about some new exciting sensation of some kind or other, but I honestly don't know of one. However, I can't bear the thought of you all sitting out there waiting for me to drop music out of the sky into your poverty-stricken villages (because I know that's what you're doing), so, here is what I have been listening to recently. No, no, don't get up. I do it out of the goodness of my ego.
In One Ear - Formatic
Actually, Formatic are a new exciting sensation, of an electro kind, naturally. I've mentioned them before because they're on the marvellous Robopop : The Return compilation, and here's what seems to be the latest song they've released into the wild. I love how unusual their songs are, all jagged and unexpected, and I love how her voice sounds like Sophie Ellis-Bextor; everything about what they do stands out a mile. I like.
( All sorts under here. Something for everyone. )
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07:18 pm
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For ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) sanssommeil - To Venus And Back
Five of my very favourite things about Tori Amos. Because no-one gets away without the Tori for long. Please ignore this if you already know it all, I will post something cutting-edge and electronic at some point, I will. I promise. I am behind on music! Argh.
( Excuse me, but can I be you for a while...? )
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02:09 pm
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Internet owns my soul part 6457
The entirety of Japan's Oil On Canvas video? All fifty-six and a half minutes of it? In my videos folder? Don't mind if I do.
Really, this is very exciting. No, it is. Shush.
I owe you stuff, I know! Don't know what to post, though, any thoughts?
E.
x
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02:34 pm
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[review] We Are Not Men, We Are Nemo
There are pros and cons to going to small indie gigs. On the one hand, you get to see what's new and electric (or whatever) up close and almost-personal; on the other hand, no bugger ever dances and the dress code is always 'things that stuck to you last time you ran past a tramp'. Last night, feeling both at home - I like the Metro, it's everything a small Central London venue should be - and out of place by virtue of being twice the height of everyone else there, I had come to see Nemo. I didn't even realise there would be support bands; I'm glad I got there early enough to see them, as they were both entertaining. In their own way.
( Miss Davina Lee, Eddyfink, Nemo, the Metro 01/03/07 )
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12:58 pm
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Construction Time Again; Some Great Reward
See what I did there? Heh. I am moving house tomorrow, and am not sure when I will get my computer hooked up to the internet again, so, much like last time - presents! Presents for you. Because I might not be able to upload any music for a while.
Here's the best of what I've uncovered recently, plus one or two things I've had for a while and only just realised how good they were, because I'm special like that. Lots of songs. Today is a good day to request things, if inspiration strikes.
( It's like Christmas. Very much like Christmas in the case of a couple of these songs. )
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03:39 pm
[Link] | You cannot possibly overestimate my joy at finding someone with an audio bootleg of the John Foxx gig I went to in 2003.
It's not that I particularly like listening to live versions of songs - I often can't stand them - but that was the first time I ever heard 'Ultraviolet/Infrared' and, although I love the album version very much, it's never quite captured the magic of hearing it in that crowd under those lasers. Obviously I can't find the lasers and I'm not amongst that crowd, but the other thing the album version is missing is the harmonies Louis Gordon added in the live show.
And they're there, on this crackly bootleg recording.
Thank you, internet. I do love you, you know.
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09:34 am
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Keyboards! Who knew?
Oh my god, I've just actually had to hold on to the arms of this chair so I didn't fall off it.
Listen to this! It's the upcoming Maxïmo Park single and it. is. wonderful. They always could pretty much do no wrong, but now they've got keyboards in as well. As usual with their songs it feels slightly put together with double-sided sticky tape, but that's one of the things I like about them, to be honest.
Also, since it amused me, the video YouTube decided to recommend me after that was Away by The Bolshoi, featuring some of the most charming overacting by a lead singer that I've seen in quite some time. Ah. I do love the 80s.
But, yes. Maxïmo Park, guys, seriously. Thank you theashtray_girl for mentioning it and getting me to go and look it up. :)
E.
x
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01:55 pm
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Sometimes I do this.
A while ago, dennyd mentioned a band he'd heard whilst browsing last.fm radio, that I'd not heard of but he thought I'd like. I made a mental note and then lost the mental notepad I'd made it on. Except that for some reason I've had a running SoulSeek search on them recently, but also totally forgotten why I was doing that. Now I've found a couple of their songs, and had them explode inside my head like some kind of acidic firework electro popping-candy, of course, I've gone and looked them up properly.
Oh yeah. I was SoulSeeking them because they're supporting IAMX and I wanted to know what they sounded like before I saw them.
They sound AMAZING. And I'm going to see them. HA.
chris_coltrane, you are only half right, by the way. Digital are my new favourite band, but only for the next four minutes until I realise how much they fundamentally suck. Which they do (in many, many ways, by the looks of it, some of them enthusiastically) but they are, I confess, enjoyable.
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02:43 pm
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Don't watch that, watch this
I have just spent a very happy two hours watching E4 music and making notes. It has been such a long time since I last made a proper post about new music I've been hearing - I hope you've not lost faith in me. I am very much behind on this so I'll try and watch a whole morning of music someday soon, but for now, here's my current highlights.
( I love you baby, but face it, she's Madonna. And so forth. )
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09:58 am
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Speaking of surprise cover versions
Things I have discovered of late :
* Someone's home-constructed (I presume) 'Darkwave Christmas' compilation, including instrumental gloomy (if rather good) versions of 'We Three Kings' and 'Good King Wenceslas', a heavy industrial 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' and the most half-arsed 'Little Drummer Boy' ever.
* Relatedly, just now, the Cocteau Twins doing 'Frosty The Snowman'. It's lovely. Of course.
* The Human League, live in 1982, murdering 'Destination Venus' by The Rezillos because both bands share one member. Who evidently couldn't remember how it went.
* Icehouse covering 'All Tomorrow's Parties' with the aid of a choir singing in what appears to be choral church Latin. Absolutely beautiful but now I have no idea who to play it to who won't just laugh.
I love cover versions. Yes, I know you know that. There's some shiny new electro pop and house stuff happening at the moment as well, but I'll get onto that when I have more energy. :)
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11:14 pm
[Link] | Of all the covers I didn't think I'd hear, NIN and Peter Murphy teaming up on 'Warm Leatherette' has to be in the top ten of 'most likely to make my head explode with brilliance'. MY GOD.
Just saying.
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10:29 am
[Link] | Okay, fine, since you only show signs of listening to me when I'm giving you presents, here are some songs. Now will you go and listen to Performance? :)
We Rise - Chris Corner
The coolest thing I've heard in weeks. Oh god it's so great.
What Time Is Love? - Kaiser Chiefs
Yes, really.
Rollercoaster - The Grid
How can this album possibly be out of print?
Ambler - The Echoing Green
I don't know why.
Cobrastyle - Robyn
More attitude than you'll ever have.
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10:27 am
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PS
Also, I'm sure nobody needs me to tell them this, but 'Grace Kelly' by Mika really is the best thing to happen to the UK charts in...oh my god. A very, very, very, very long time.
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09:00 am
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Time for you to pay attention again.
You see, I spend the last couple of months showering you with gifts, and now you have to do as I say. And what I say is, my god, there's this band I keep meaning to talk about.
Usually every time there's this band I keep meaning to talk about, I leave it for a bit and then they make it huge and nobody believes me that I heard them before the horde (this happened with the Kaiser Chiefs, which was...irritating). So I'm not going to leave this. I'm going to shove it in your faces because a) they are just that bloody good and b) they...probably aren't going to make it huge, so someone has to tell you. Right? Listening? Good.
Just before Christmas, as you know, I bought the Robopop : The Return compilation, a marvellous thing composed of the best of modern electro and the synthpop of the future. There were some very exciting things on there, one of which wasn't quite 'Surrender' by Performance - it was good, it was energetic and engaging, but it was a bit...daft. It suffers from that electroboy disease of 'if I really throw my heart into this and sound so honest and earnest it's as if I raise guide dogs for the blind in my spare time, perhaps they won't notice that what I'm singing doesn't make any sense!'. But it was a good little newnewnewnew wave song, with some really lovely touches, so I thought I'd find out a bit more.
And what did I find? I found a fledgling band with, buried in some of their songs and shining all over other ones, the ability to give my White Rose Movement a run for their money. Last year they released an EP called 'Short Sharp Shock' on vinyl, and because it was only on vinyl I shall upload two tracks for you (vinyl ripped, so a bit scratchy). In 'Short Sharp Shock' you will be listening to frantic desperate electronic indie hurtling into the stratosphere and taking you with it, something of which I unequivocally approve. The verses grab you by the shirt collar and shake you and then the chorus is just. this. HUGE. THING. I love it so much. 'Architecture & Police' doesn't sound as electrifying to start with - especially as for at least half a minute it's in disguise as 'Fade To Grey' - but give it time and it becomes this glorious strutting creation of British charm that melts my heart more and more as it goes on. Although they're from Manchester, this one sounds just like I wish Carnaby Street felt like.
For god's sake listen to them and let's all go and see them live, they sound like they'd be amazing. If you're in Manchester it's your civic duty. Bring them to London! PLEASE.
Short Sharp Shock - Performance
Architecture & Police - Performance
Website
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09:14 am
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Question.
On the basis that I'm currently listening to 'A Forest' by The Cure - what are the songs that you always forget are quite that good, due to their being overplayed in your particular sphere of listening?
I get it with 'Rio', too. And 'Vienna'. What about you?
Also I've not asked this in a while, so - what one song would you lock in Room 101 forever?
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11:01 pm
[Link] | Sometimes I do worry that I might be missing something.
Just picked up a sincere but bonkers metal cover of 'Dancing With Tears In My Eyes' by Ultravox. Why do they do it? It's not as if any single thing about Ultravox has inspired them to get where they are, which is here.
I fundamentally do not think they wish they were in Ultravox.
So why the appalling cover version? I am bemused. It happens more often than you might think. The metal 'Vienna' covers are especially painful.
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12:22 am
[Link] | You know when I post music here I post for everyone, so you're all welcome to steal these things if you so wish, but this post is for johnpilgrim, who may possibly have the closest match to my taste in music that I have ever seen ever - ever - if one just goes by the power of last.fm. Watch this space (well, click the cut tag) for a bunch of synthpop and modern electro many of you may have seen before, and some you may not have. There's a lot of stuff here; if you disapprove of this sort of thing please walk on by but also bear in mind I myself own just about all of it. :)
( Electrostatic stars and the neon moon )
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