Stereophonics – Dakota

Stereophonics are one of those bands you either really love or loathe. After a very rough year off the scene, they sacked their drummer and found a replacement. On “Dakota” the boys seem to have gotten that bite back. The killer epic hook and that Kelly Jones croon drags you right in. The boys get a little electro and don’t really sound themselves almost. But their winning formula is still there. This is a quality tune.

By John Siwicki

22-20s – Such A Fool

It seems like this song has been around for forever. Its going on two years they have been playing this one. I’m sure they want to move on as well. But, it’s back again and it still sounds impressive. “Such A Fool” is a full on bluesy three minutes that never lets up. Martin’s raspy delivery fits perfectly behind the guitars and that dirty keyboard sound. This band just demands attention and they are even better live. Also, the B-Side is a remix of Hold On by Spacemen keep on out for it. “Such A Fool” is a fierce track but did we really need it re-released.

By John Siwicki

The Kills – No Wow

The Kills seem to be a band that is best in small doses. Now, don’t get me wrong “No Wow” has some nice tunes but after a while it all seems to start to sound the same. “Good Ones” and “Love Is A Deserter” are strong more upbeat songs that have great potential when they hit the listeners. But by the time you get to “I Hate The Way You Love” you start to get bored and want reach for the tracklisting to make sure its not the same as a previous song that has just been played. “Ticket Man” is a nice change and good way to change directions. This is a simple little ditty t hat doesn’t have that heavy dark riffs that clogs the LP. Besides a few songs there isn’t much here.

By John Siwicki

Maximo Park – Apply Some Pressure

Apply Some Pressure by up and coming band Maximo Park is a very happy upbeat song. It has a fast tempo and some loud guitars throughout and sounds like it has come from a band that has been around for years. Nice to hear a fast song at this time of year with Summer fading, takes you of the festivals and the memories. The song reminds me of Franz Ferdinand but I think this is better than a lot their songs, it has the same “get up and dance” attitude that they have. Not the most original song in the world but definetly worth a listen and a good dance to!

By Helen Daw

Mogwai – Government Commissions

This is a collection of BBC Sessions recorded over the period of 1996-2003. It’s the closest thing we may ever to get to a Mogwai retrospective. Releasing a disc of Radio sessions is always welcomed because they are always better than live disc. They sound so great and usually you get something different from the album. When you go back and you look at a bands back catalogue you can almost hear when that tune was made. Mogwai for instance music is timeliness. The album starts off with “Hunted By A Freak” and the sound of John Peel saying “Ladies and Gentlemen Mogwai” already my emotions are running high after hearing Peel. . “Hunted By a Freak” sounds intense, beautiful. “Like Herold” is a towering epic. The version we get here is over eighteen minutes long. It starts off so slow and majestic but it just builds and builds. Then four minutes it all gets loud and carrying this song into new heights. This is just an amazing piece of music. It’s really hard to continue after that but there is still plenty more for our enjoyment. We get the likes of “Secret Pint” featuring some vocals witch is rare in the Mogwai arsenal. Also, “Superheroes of BMX” which just has an awesome song title and it’s a freighting tune. “New Paths To Helicon Part I” is here in all its glory. By the time it is over it will have many people weeping myself included. It just really needs to be heard.
This is a beautiful album all the version of these sounds are breathtaking. There are a few of Mogwai’s classics that aren’t here for example “Mogwai Fear Satan” “My Father My King” but you won’t be disappointed at all. For fans of the band and for people who just want to hear some great music its worth it.

By John Siwicki

Robots In Disguise – Turn It Up

Robots In Disguise is really two young ladies from London. It is really hard to pin point the bands sound. We could throw a label on them like “punk funk” or any other of those labels that we often give out. “Turn It Up” is lifted from their “Get Rid” album which, many will be hunting down after one listen. The bass is big and juicy and that just makes you want to jump around. The vocals are a nice blend with some spoken words bit on there. It sounds very raw, and sexy. It’s a tune that will certainly get the kids down at the indie disco moving around abit, it is a fun time.

By John Siwicki

Mitchell Brothers – Routine Check

Mike Skinner’s first signings to his new label is the Mitchell Brother. Their debut single features, of course our hero Mike. The song is a story of the Mitchell’s always being stopped by the police. It’s a clever story and some unstoppable production makes this one very fun track. Mikes’ got a good ear for talent and these boys are destined for huge marks

By John Siwicki

Kid Carpet

How did you get the name Kid Carpet?

Its an anagram of my name. I put Ed Patrick into an online anagram machine and it spat out about a billion different words, mostly involving some kinda dick, prick, trick, rat or prat. I was Carpet Kid for about a week when my friend told me that if I was gonna be hiphop, dope and cool then I’d better switch it round to Kid Carpet. So there it is. Kid Carpet really represents me (Ed Patrick) but changed around a bit

How did you get involved in making music?

Whoa? Hmmm. I got really encouraged from a young age by my mum and dad to get involved. I played violin, did the suzuki method but didn’t like it too much. So I kept swapping instruments, trying to find the one for me. I played a bit of piano and tenor horn and was involved in acting in musicals and eventually (at 9 years old) turned to orchestral percussion. That lead to playing drum kit. Me and my big brother decided to get into heavy metal and started jamming and forming bands

How do you write songs? Any special techniques?

Oh god. These are tough questions for my remedial secretaries fingers. I’ve completely forgotten how to do it, write songs. I’m at tricky 2nd album time and as I haven’t really written songs for ages I feel an amazing pressure to worry that I’ll never rediscover it. I hate this question, mostly because lots of people ask me it. I wrote Special in 2 minutes walking home. Walking is great for writing coz of that natural rhythm and beat. I wrote a few of the ditties while I’ve been driving to and from gigs. I’ve got no stereo in the car and so end up singing loads in order to stay alive. I also like to build thinga up from a sample or from the sound of a favourite ‘instrument’

You describe your current sound as ‘Kiddie Punk’. Who influenced your work?

I call it Kiddy Disco Punk. We can’t forget the disco now, can we kids?
ACDC, Dead Kennedys, Mel & Kim, Grand Master Flash, Charles Bukowski, Nina Simone, Ween, Blues, Lee Perry and Flava Flav. And all those influences of what not to be

Can you tell us a bit about the recording of “”Ideas and Oh Dears” where was it recorded? Where their a lot of extra songs from the sessions as well?

Yeah it was mostly recorded in my bedroom. I did vocals at a Bristol studio called Toybox. I’d sneak in at night when nobody knew I was there and use the posh microphones and make the place stink of weed. I’m sure they realised it was me. It was mixed at Toybox by my friend Ali Chant (from Bristol band Termites) and a few tracks were mixed by Ben Hillier (Depeche Mode, The Doves, Elbow) at his Panorific studio in Brixton, London. And I mixed one track myself, I’m not that good a mixer, I just try and make everting louder than everything else. There’s a few other tracks that didn’t make the album but most came out as the b sides to the singles. There are a few I’m keeping tucked up my sleeve tho

Have you been working on a follow up yet?

Ahhh. I’m going to hell. Yes. It’s called the tricky second album / Kid Carpet goes to Hell but hopefully returns, rising majestically like the Phoenix.That’s just a working title
I’m gonna do a few collaborations and see how that goes. Take some walks. Commit some crimes, get in trouble, get a job? Fuck knows. I’m going to struggle but I’m gonna find a way thru, coz that’s what ya do I did a bootleg track the other day. As a kind of exercise really. I mixed up Get Back by the Beatles and Non Stop Disco Party by the Brakes with a few Carpet beats thrown in. it’ll probably be up on my myspace or website by the time you read this. Check it out. Tell me if it’s bollocks or not

Do you find it challenging to recreate the sound in a live setting?

Yeah but I’m really chuffed (happy) that it works. It’s so nice to do quick soundchecks and get the sound crew at the show on your side, as they control how you sound, they have to be your buddy or you get fucked over. I basically take one lead instrument for each live song, stick the rest on Millie Vanillies backing tape machine, shout, sing, dance and throw ‘shapes’

Have you got any funny gig stories?

Every show has some kind of funny/sad story involved.
Er… lets see. I usually break, forget or lose something so I end up having to improvise something special. I love the special moments in life. Anyway. At Glastonbury festival last year, 2004, that’s the year before last now, it’s now 2006, must try and remember. Yeah. I had 2 shows. The 1st was fine, then me and my little crew of freaks had to drag my gear across the muddy site to get to the next show. We were coming up on all kinds of ecstacy pipes and powders of the madman and all the booze in the world. So we get to the next venue and they get me to set up at the top of this scaffolding tower. So I clamber up and set up and ask ‘er.. what do I plug into then?’ (as I need something to plug the Millie Vanillie backing tape machine into). The organizers realize that I can’t actually perform from up on this great big fucking tower. So they get me to come back down and do the gig from the boxing ring. My memory gave up at the top of the tower. Apparently I did a show. My friends told me it was fine but I looked a bit funny

How would you explain Kid Carpet to someone who has yet to hear you?

It’s rubbish. Don’t bother. Leave me alone

Who are you listening to right now?

Crap radio
Theme from Return to the Planet of the Apes
Other current faves include: The Go! Team, The Kinks, childrens nursery rhymes and 1980’s film and tv soundtracks

What would be your greatest fear?

That I can’t find my way out of Hell

What can we expect to find you doing in 2006?

Panicking, jamming, running out of money, smoking and rising like the Phoenix

By John Siwicki

Absentee

Give us a little history of the band?

we formed about two years ago with the intention of making something incredibly good out of what we had, much to my surprise everyone in the band turned out to be overwhelmingly talented in their own right,we all got on really well so we stuck together. ed harcourt accidently came to our first gig and ended up taking us on tour with him..thats where it all started, now we’re two years in and we all still all love each other and so we’re going to stick around.

How did you get involved in making music?

just by wanting to be as good at something as the people who influence you whilst your growing up and finding out who you are i think. that and the fantasy of being inspiring to others and attractive to women of course.

What are some of the artists that have inspired you?

early on people like lou reed, leonard cohen, bob dylan and the likes that showed you dont have be able to sing like whitney houston to be a singer in a band and justify what you do… as long as you can bring new ideas or styles into it, thats more important.People like will oldham, smog and steven malkmus have also brought the craft back into lyric writing,which is something that gets lost or not bothered with by a lot of groups.

How do you write songs? Any special techniques?

no special techniques, just pick up an instrument and hope for the best. i’ll write a song and bring it to the band, everybody writes their own parts around it, then we thrash it into shape. Then we go to the pub and celebrate.

How has 2005 treated you?

This year has been the best one yet. We’ve toured with the magic numbers, shout out louds and archetecture in helsinki, recorded a full length album….spending all of our free time doing the thing we want to do most, making and playing our music.

Tell us a bit about your new single “Weasel”?

its our first single for the memphis industries label, who we signed with this year. Its a song about realising the limitations of people and then learning to love them for their inadequacies, and realising they see simlar stuff in you but its ok because thats just the way people are.

Have you finished work on a record?

We finished the album about a month ago, the whole band is really pleased with every second of it… we’re happy as pigs in mud.

If so, how was the session and when can we expect it?

It wont be realeased until may2006, but there will be a couple of singles from it in the meantime. Recording it was fantastic.. everyone involved was on fine form. Little bits of madness set in along the way but that all adds to the character.

Who are you listening to right now?

We saw the mystery jets last month, they were like an amazing blend of roxy music and syd barratt ,we all left wanting to tour with them. mward, arcade fire and broken social scene seem to be on the stereo alot, and there will always be a special place for pavement and the super furry animals.

What was your favorite album of the year?

the silver jews was the only album i bought this year and i dont think it was a bad choice.. theres been a handful of great albums this year, like the broken family bands album and the clor album. babak(guitarist) is a big fan of what animal collective and my morning jacket had to offer. i’ve probably missed alot of whats going on.

What would be your greatest fear?

that someone starts doing absentee better than absentee can do absentee.

What can we expect to find you doing in 2006?

hopefully we’ll be touring all over the place, letting everyone know about what we do, and occasionally overhearing people say “have you heard absentee?they make me feel better..lets go to bed.”

By John Siwicki