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