Tomblr - Tom thinks about music

Shearwater - Animal Life

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 13:14:30 +0000

Recently started listening to this band who have been going for some while without me really noticing.

The music isn’t a million miles from the Americana-tinged indie-rock of The National, but the vocals are something else. Over the top, certainly, but packed full of melodrama.

Love it.

I’ve been listening to Bjork this morning, and...

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:28:08 +0100

I’ve been listening to Bjork this morning, and couldn’t resist watching Chris Cunningham’s amazing video to ‘All Is Full of Love’. I’m sure everyone reading this has seen it before, but it’s worth a re-watch, no?

While writing about ‘Canada’ by Low (which I did in...

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 11:12:00 +0100

While writing about ‘Canada’ by Low (which I did in my last post) I thought about Boards of Canada, and then ‘Roygbiv’. It’s an oldie, but it’s a goodie too. Tune, no?

(Sorry about the fan-video, it was just easier than opening spotify and finding a music link).

I saw Low on Friday night at Halifax Minster. A lovely venue -...

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 11:06:00 +0100

I saw Low on Friday night at Halifax Minster. A lovely venue - perfect for reverb. Low were as you’d expect - largely brilliant, but perhaps a little one-paced for a two hour gig. It was thoroughly relaxing, and the songs were performed superbly. I love how Sparhawk never just recites songs as they exist on the albums, but twists the pace and melodies. They gig a lot and it must keep the process interesting - and keep t’other two on their toes.

They closed the set with ‘Canada’ - perhaps more straight forward than many of their songs, but what a great riff. There aren’t many Low songs that are genuinely catchy, but this one is.

For a band as resolutely serious as Low, this video is rather light-hearted.

I’ve never been that bothered about The Rolling Stones....

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:31:43 +0100

I’ve never been that bothered about The Rolling Stones. I’ve owned records by them, quite enjoyed listening to them, but never really been affected by them. Then, last week 6 Music played ‘Wild Horses’ on a weekday morning and it just sounded amazing for some reason. I think maybe I am getting old, because since then I have revisited the Stones’ records and love them.

Anyway, here’s a nice video taken from Gimme Shelter. It’s the Stones sat around backstage listening to ‘Wild Horses’ it’s great seeing them sing-along, smile and getting engrossed in it. It’s not often you see a band listening back to their songs and clearly think ‘this is brilliant’. And it is.

David Grubbs - An Optinist Declines (edit)

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:09:17 +0100

David Grubbs - An Optinist Declines (edit):

Just listening to this track (the full unedited version), it’s an ace, drone-y piece of work. Minimal and crunchy. The album, An Optimist Notes the Dusk is superb. Kinda Sonic Youth-y in its melodies, but also flits between improv minimalism and constrained raucousness.

Leeds! #lufc (Taken with Instagram)

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 16:29:36 +0100

Leeds! #lufc (Taken with Instagram)

Been listening to Devon Sproule this morning. She’s great....

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:29:23 +0100

Been listening to Devon Sproule this morning. She’s great. Timeless country music with a lovely innocence and simplicity. Her latest albumI Love You, Go Easyis superb. And FUN FACT, she’s married to alt-country singer Paul Curreri. Who is also good.

I’ve listened to this record a lot this year. An awful...

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:13:00 +0100

I’ve listened to this record a lot this year. An awful lot.

I love that line in ‘The Old Man’s Back Again’ where he talks of a crowd queuing “like dragons of disgust”.

Spiritualized - I Think I’m In Love (live at Royal Albert...

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:08:00 +0100

Spiritualized - I Think I’m In Love (live at Royal Albert Hall with gospel choir)

Flippin’ amazing live version of a great song.

I think I’m in love

Probably just hungry

This song - well, the recorded album version from C’Mon -...

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:35:42 +0100

This song - well, the recorded album version from C’Mon - was probably my track of last year. Majestic, but with an underlying aggression. There’s some nice gurning from Alan in this video, too.

Low are coming to Halifax Minster on 13th July. Which should be a wonderful experience. I am excited.

Making everything you do feel much more dramatic by partaking in...

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:51:03 +0100

Making everything you do feel much more dramatic by partaking in an Ennio Morricone soundtrack while you work. This one’s working for me this morning.

I listened to ‘California’ from Blue this...

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:37:00 +0100

I listened to ‘California’ from Blue this morning.

Gawd I love Joni Mitchell.

Speaking of Gorky’s - as I did in my last post - I bloody love...

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:25:00 +0100

Speaking of Gorky’s - as I did in my last post - I bloody love Gorky’s. Here’s ‘Patio Song’, which is a song of two halves. Part 1) beautiful, wistful and English. Part 2) [which starts around 1.33] is faster, dafter and Welsh.

It’s from 1997, when I was 13. Blimey.

Expect more Welsh stuff down the line. Especially Super Furries and Gruff Rhys.

New single from Euros Childs. It’s reet lovely and you can...

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:44:08 +0100

New single from Euros Childs. It’s reet lovely and you can even get it on pay what you like from here: http://www.euroschilds.com/spin-that-girl-around-just-a-dream/

I like it when Welsh people sing.

He used to be in Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, don’t you know.

honourbeforeglory: Http://honourbeforeglory.bandcamp.com (Taken...

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:34:31 +0100

honourbeforeglory:

Http://honourbeforeglory.bandcamp.com (Taken with Instagram)

Give this a listen. It is very good.

Today I have been enjoying the work of The Fiery Furnaces....

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:05:06 +0100

Today I have been enjoying the work of The Fiery Furnaces. Especially this track, Tropical Iceland’ and ‘My Dog Was Lost’ and ‘Single Again’. I’d kinda forgotten that they existed till now.

LUNCHBREAK: coffee, cake from @KirBowen and @blzzrd to read....

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:30:02 +0100

LUNCHBREAK: coffee, cake from @KirBowen and @blzzrd to read. (Taken with Instagram)