Here comes the sun.

Finally the sun is shining and the spring is in the air. Hope it stays that way for the next couple of weeks (years). Here’s some songs I was listening while I was walking through the park.

Peter Convent Band – Spinning Wheel
Gerhard Narholz – Pop Promotion
Laurie Johnson – Chase that car
Treble Spankers – I follow the sun
Yuya Uchida - Roll over beethoven
Ady Zehnpfennig – Geisterreiter

who said you can't mix vinegar with jam?

New post and some fine tunes, first a great band from New York called Nous non Plus, I really like their French new wave electro bubblegum style, it sounds a little bit like Vive la Fete or Stereo Total. Next song is Major Tom from Belgian hero Plastic Bertrand most famous for his song “Ça plane pour moi.” Major Tom is a great French cover version of the Peter Schilling song. The song was originally recorded in German, the international hit version was sung in English. Talking about cover versions here’s a cover of Gary Numans “Are friends electric.” This version is done by Moloko and appeared on the Gary Numan tribute album Random. Next song is a remix of Disco Dancer by Devo one of the most innovative new wave bands in the early eighties. This version sounds most like the great video in which the band marches around New York and Los Angeles with a disco ball. Talking about great bands from the eighties here’s a Dead or Alive song “Isn’t it a pity.” A song on which Pete Burns sings about the fact that his visual side sometimes hindered the general public from fully embracing his talent. Listen to the Lyrics "I'm a kind of hybrid of a cartoon and a feature. Some have thought me lovely, others saw an ugly creature... I have found my image has obscured all that I am. But who said you can't mix vinegar with jam?"

Nous Non Plus – One night in Paris myspace buy album
Plastic Bertrand – Major Tom
Moloko – Are friends Electric
Devo – Disco Dancer (12’’)
Dead or Alive – Isn’t it a pity

Disco really made it.

Here’s a nice update about post punk and new wave music from the Netherlands.

In 1976 Panic was one of the first wave punk bands coming from Amsterdam they even played the legendary CBGB club. After disbanding in 1979, one of their members “Piet van Dijk “ joins one of the famous dutch language punk groups “the Trockener Kecks”

Panic – Dead or Alive

Gasphetti founded in 1978 with Henny Vrienten playing second guitar made a couple of great punk songs but never had any success in 1981 after singer Sammie America was having trouble with his voice they disbanded the band. Vrienten later joins Doe Maar the most important, most popular and most innovative Dutch-language band from the early '80s.

Gasphetti – I dunno

The Nits come from Amsterdam and according to UK music magazine NME their album Tent is the second best European album of the year in 1979. Last year they released their latest album called les Nuits. They still perform live and I was at one of their gigs two weeks ago, still a great band!

The Nits – Red Tape.

Gruppo Sportivo formed in the Hague in 1976. They were successful in the UK becoming third in the category 'most promising new band', behind Ian Dury and Dire Straits in 1978. They release a couple of singles in the UK “Beep Beep love” and “Hey Girl” and score their biggest hit in The Netherlands with the song “Disco really made it.” They’re still active and did a tour last year dubbed 'Music To Throw Up With.' A new album is expected this June.

Gruppo Sportivo – Beep Beep Love
Gruppo Sportivo – Disco really made it


Soviet Sex is a Punk Band from Amsterdam before disbanding in 1982 they released one album called happy end. Two members of Soviet Sex, the brothers Maarten and Rogier van der Ploeg, start a new band called Blue Murder they play power pop music in the style of the Talking Heads. Blue Murder release their best album in 1987 called At home and disbanded the same year. In 1997 Soviet Sex is reformed with Ellen ten Damme (famous dutch actress) on vocals. They release an album called “Hotel Winston” and a single called “Niet Met Jou/Cyberspace Girl”

Soviet Sex – Dancing Bizar
Soviet Sex – Cyberspace Girl
Blue Murder – Isabella


Nasmak founded in Neunen (Near Eindhoven) in 1978 and were the first dutch band to appear for a John Peel Session. Peel calling the album “Nasmak Plus Instruments/Instruments Plus Nasmak,” the best album off the continent in years. The band sounds like a freaked out version of the B52s.

Nasmak – Take a look

Dancing around the world

Yesterday Belgium today a couple of other countries.
First one is from Canada, a lot of great music comes from Montreal these days, this time it’s Ghislain Poirier. He’s obsessed with big dirty beats, ragga style riddims and deconstructed hip-hop. In 2005 he released the album "Breakupdown" Check out this great first video.
Next band is from New york and they’re called Alister Doomington. I found them on the “The Sound Of Young New York & Toronto”album. They have an industrial sound but with dancing beats. You can get some songs from their myspace page or watch their videos.
The Klaxons are from London and they just released their single “Gravity’s rainbow” with an excellent B-side cover version of Kick like a Mule’s anthem “The Bouncer.” Dat-Politics are an all-laptop quartet from Lille, France. They just released a new album called “wow twist” it’s their sixth album in six years of existence and it’s a mixture of electro, punk and power pop. They’re touring Europe next month so catch them live if you can. Last band is Von Spar from Germany, I saw them live last year and it was a great Electro Punk Fest. You can watch some videos of the band here. Since last month a remix of their song Dog machine is in my playlist and it’s just amazing.

Ghislain Poirier – Don’t smile it’s Post modern ----> Myspace
Alister Doomington – Lovin the fix -----------------> Myspace
Klaxons – Gravity’s Rainbow ---------------------->Myspace
Klaxons – The Bouncer
Kicks like a mule – The Bouncer
Dat Politics – Video Tape ---->Myspace ------------> buy album
Von Spar - Dog Machine On Da Club Mix--------->Website

Belgium; one Point

Since the eighties, Belgium has played an important role in the development of techno, electronic body music, new wave and New Beat. Soulwax, 2 many DJs and dEUS are a couple of acts that still top the alternative music scene.
Here’s a couple of other Belgian bands I really like. The first one is Ghinzu, I can’t believe this band is only really big in France and the French part of Belgium. They’re on of the best bands I’ve seen the last couple of years. Here’s a song called “’til you faint” you can also find the video here. If you like it, buy the album it’s great. The second band is Rumplestitchkin according to their website they’re 40% British, 40% American and 20% Other. They also come from Brussels and mix synths with guitars. Dance poppers Soldout, were one of the highlights of the Dour Festival last year. They have some great songs and have an unusual way to show one of their songs “I don’t want to have sex with you.” on their website. here. Fifty Foot Combo is one of Belgium's hottest live-acts, they play a mix of Garage, surf fuzz, exotica, horror and thunder that make it an experience you'll never forget. Last one is Vive la fete electro pop band of one of dEUS ex members Danny Mommens and the lovely Els Pynoo.

Rumplestitchkin - far out, Quickly done ---> website ---->buy album
Ghinzu – ‘til you faint ------------------------>website ---->buy album
Fifty Foot Combo – Blowback ----------------->website ---->buy album
Soldout - For your next girlfriend ----------->website ---->buy album
Vive la fete - Liberte ------------------------->website ---->buy album
Ghinzu - Mine (Soldout remix)

04040BSCURE

Did some mixing this weekend and finished it this morning. hope U like it.

Tracklist:
1. I-Robot – Frau (Boys Noize remix) - 2006
2. Daisy Daisy – Michelle Plays Ping Pong - 2006
3. Freeform Five - No more conversations (mylo remix) (caesar's scissors edit)
4. Tiga – Far from home (Digitalism remix) – 2006
5. Yonderboi - Were You Thinking Of Me? (Gary & Paul Remix) – 2005
6. The Presets – Girl and the sea – 2004
7. Dakar & Grinser - 25 Reptile – 2005
8. Dylan Rhymes – Nightbreed – 2004
9. Umo Detic – Fahrenheit (NRG remix) – 1989
10. Altern 8 - Infiltrate 202 (The Altern 8 vs. Asterix And Space Remix – 1992
11. Josh Wink – Fill me with Acid – 2004
12. Trick & Kubic – Orbital Dance Machine – 2005
13. Cajuan - Dance, Not Dance (Digitalism Remix) – 2006
14. Puffy & Felix – Jack U – 2005
15. Yelle – Short Dick Cuizi - 2006
16. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Gold Lion (Diplo remix) – 2006
17. Shy child – Technicrats – 2005
18. Franz Ferdinand - Outsiders (JD Twitch & Truffle Club's Optimo Refreak)
19. Nightmares on Wax – African Pirates – 2006
20. Supermax – Don’t stop the music – 1977
21. Wide boy awake – Slang Teacher - 1982
22. Zsa Zsa la Boum – Something Scary – 1988
23. Punk Bunny – Felcher – 2005
24. 2 Belgen – In the night – 1987
25. Blancmange – Don’t tell me – 1984
26. Bangkok Impact – Rymdfunk – 2003
27. Sebastien Tellier – Broadway (Chicken Lips mix) – 2006
28. Porno – Music Power (Paul Woolford remix) – 2006
29. Astro Black Stereo – Do it in the D.I.S.C.O. – 2001
30. Prince – Kiss (remix) – 1986
31. A Studio - S.O.S. (Tocadisco's Tu No Me Conoces Mix) – 2005
32. Punx Souncheck - Metro Sexuality (King Roc Remix) – 2004
33. The Kooks – Crazy (live in the lounge 30-3-06)

download

When you wasn't famous!

Tiny Dancers (no stars)
Were a tiny late so I didn't see them
Dirty Pretty things (three stars)
They were okay but not very special, maybe I need to know the songs first.
Bromheads Jacket (four stars)
One star for breaking his guitar, great show!
My latest Novel (three stars)
I wasn't the right moment to see them right after Bromheads Jacket but they're okay I guess.
The Immediate (two stars)
First two songs were okay but didn't make an impression.
Futureheads (two stars)
Why is this band big in the UK? maybe this wasn't a decent night.
We start fires (two stars)
Screaming women with guitars just don't do it for me.

Saturday:
Larrikin Love (four stars)
Yes, this band was fun! reaggae, ska, rock and a nice earring.
Long Blondes (two stars)
Women with guitars just don't do it for me.
The Cinematics (three stars)
I guess every London Calling needs a Joy division clone.
Howling Bells (two stars)
Shoegazers unite! Could be a band for PJ Harvey fans.
Humanzi (no stars)
Room was too full and I wanted te sit down so watched them on the screen, sounded okay but dind't see them live.
The Kooks (three stars)
Hmm expected something more but I liked the songs.
Good Shoes (three stars)
Liked it but maybe it's just because I know the songs.
Mystery Jets (two stars)
Big disappointment!
Noisettes (three stars)
This was different great voice and energy
Sunshine Underground (four stars)
What a great band, for fans of !!! or the rapture this is great!

Bromheads Jacket - When you wasn't famous
Sunshine Underground - Put you in your place (12'' extended mix)
Larrikin Love - On sussex downs