Tom's Blog - 19th June 2008
This week’s show is the last in the series and I hope you have all enjoyed yourselves. I know I have. It is a very sad occasion but to cheer up proceedings we have the very lovely Paul Thomson from Franz Ferdinand on as a guest, who kindly came in to talk to me and Hermeet, comment on this weeks sick music picks from around the globe and play us a few records out of his own collection. Paul, it seems, had better records than I had hoped he would and very nearly showed me up, thankfully my Ass got me out of it… you’ll understand if you listen. Now you’ll have to listen. Thanks Paul for coming in.
I would also just like to say thanks to all the bands, DJs, beatberks, noisedwarfs, crimeeggs and singer-songwriters that have sent in or allowed us to play their music over the last 6 months. The program would be unlistenable with out you, or at least fantastically dull. Special thanks to the 12 acts who did sessions for this series; they have been an absolute treat. Also, massive thanks to Paul Smith for supporting the show and being generally very nice. Lastly, to the Koink Massive, who record our shows and sessions - may you always be highly sexual.
I will end my speech by saying sorry about this blog, which has very often not been about music when it probably should have been. I’ll leave you with a bitter piece about music that I began to write when I came in drunk the other evening, it will make you grateful I don’t write about music and that this blog is ending.
We’ll be back very soon… until then, see you later.
Where did you get your baby choir? How much was it and how do you control it? I mean how do you stop it? New people have moved in opposite my house and seem to have over 30 babies, they have been crying all night and they are rather good at it. I don’t mind it, I have just come back from a horrid gig and this infantile noise is possibly more accomplished than what I have spent the rest of the evening listening to.
Tom's Blog - 5th June 2008
I decided a few weeks back that I should probably start doing a bit more, for desperate want of an alternative word, DJing. It’s that time of year to, you know, start getting out there, showing my face, earning a bit of pocket money and playing wonderful music to anyone who is willing to listen and perhaps to a few who aren’t.
I started my summer tour at the ICA in London and as it had been a while I took a friend for support. The very smartly dressed folk who were outside smoking when we arrived were an immediate indication that I probably shouldn’t have bought quite so much Dubstep and Drum ‘n’ Bass.
My plan was to play the soft records I had as quietly as I could until they ran out and then hope that people would be drunk enough to find pleasure in what I had left. “I plan on leaving soon and would like to dance a bit before I do, do you not have any dance records?” the lady inquired, shouting over the top of an Irish jig. This was followed by “do you have any Girls Aloud?” I do actually, quite a bit but it is hidden in a dark recess in my bedroom, along with my Lil’ Chris singles and a signed photograph of Dave Benson Phillips.
With a combination of my supportive friend Matt’s collection of 80’s pop hits and the two CDs that I finally discovered in the bottom of my bag, we managed to create a pretty good shin dig in the end. You want to know which CDs saved me, right? Firstly, The Lost Hero’s of Surf Guitar, the album title alone is exciting enough that you hardly need play it and secondly, a collection of Spanish pop songs, which for obvious reasons was met with great excitement by the delightful Spanish posse that appeared from nowhere
It’s the last show next week and so I may be packing up my records and hitting the road for a while, but probably not, well not unless I can take that Spanish posse with me. The final show of this series is going to be a humdinger; if you miss it you’re a prat.
Tom's Blog - 22nd May 2008
Now that spring is here I have taken it upon myself to start attending more gigs. I realize that I don’t often discuss gigs in this blog and that that is probably exactly what I should be talking about, rather than say gardening or hernias. Last week I attended a gig by a couple of acts who have chosen names very close to words that could get you into trouble should you type them too often into Google. The first of these is ‘kkkk’, a performer who I had never heard of before but whose improvised electronic doodlings were good enough that they prompted me to type kkkk into a search engine. I could find absolutely no information on the artist just a series of sites trying to enlist me into something rather hateful.
The second band was ‘Talibam!’ (and yes they do have a ! at the end of their name, which I don’t approve of) a jazz improv band that included one of the best drummers I think I have ever seen. However, drummers easily impress me, as I am a man who has no sense of rhythm. Talibam! aren’t so hard to locate on the web, the problem derived from this band occurred when I approached what I thought was said drumming extraordinaire on the tube to congratulate him on his amazing performance the night before. Little to say it wasn’t him and I now know what an innocent member of the public looks like when you accuse them of being in the Talibam. Should I go to see and consequently need to look up the likes of ‘Fuck Buttons’ or ‘Agent Orange’ anytime in the next few weeks then don’t be surprised if I disappear for a while.
Tom's Blog - 8th May 2008
I think that my garden is trying to kill me. It is a very subtle killer; blending in well with its surroundings and almost always silent, a bit like a Ninja. I first noticed this threat to my life when I opened the back door for the first time this year to discover that it had moved forward roughly two meters towards the door. Not just was it overgrown but it had also managed to accumulate potential accidents for me; a few mud stained footballs to slip on and selection of rusty garden tools for the purposes of impalement or lockjaw. On top of this it had arranged for a fleet of cats to take it in turns to sneak into the house and piss on my bed.
One plant in particular - that I believe is out to get me - has grown a branch right up to my bedroom window and uses it to deliver wasps directly into my room at regular intervals. Oh and just yesterday I peaked carefully outside to discover that plant life had systematically blocked all the drains so that the contents of the kitchen sink had been poured covertly back under the door. If I hadn’t discovered it we all could have drowned. I’m looking at it now, the bastard, I think it just winked at me. The only silver lining to this horrific development is that Foxtons are forcing us out of the house by putting our rent up by 150 quid a week which means that now they are going to have to deal with it. It’s a bad time to be an estate agent.
On a briefly held musical note, we have Jana Hunter in session this week and she brought with her a gentleman unknown to me who travels under the name Phosphorescent. As I have explained already in the podcast, which you have undoubtedly already listened to, his album Pride has well and truly buried me. In particular the track Wolves (last track in this week’s show) has almost completely taken over my life. Every so often an album this good comes along and you know that you will be listening to it for the rest of your life. Go and buy it.
24th April 2008
This blog is about 10 hrs late. I doubt that any of you noticed this, but it is. The reason for this is that I am in the country (and have been for a few days) and as a result my brain has kind of turned off or down a bit. I am helping my mum clean out the house for an impending wedding; I guess we’re spring-cleaning. Yesterday, I threw out quite a few boxes of CDs and records, I did feel guilty but they were all promos from 2004 and have been blocking our front door since, well, 2004. Before you start thinking what a soulless swine I am; most of them were from the bad end of the Drum and Bass scene and were, in fact, sent to my dad.
During my stay I have also been trying to give myself a sort of physical spring clean, I have been swimming every morning, haven’t had a cigarette and am pretty sure I’m standing a little taller. I even looked at sportswear on the internet, which is, I think, a sure sign that I need to return to the city.
Besides, I need to start putting together show 9. You will notice in this week’s show we are once again playing tracks from the channel4.com/4unsigned website. A constantly surprising source of good music, we are very grateful to have it back and have in this week’s show some indie rock from pub-born band The Skallywags. Skallywags, and for the first time in a while some reggae, care of St Peters Band. If you are in a band and would like to send in your stuff, then we would be most grateful and I promise that we do listen to everything. One of the advantages of modern technology is that I am unlikely to throw out my own computer, unless of course it blocks the front door.
P.S. This week’s show includes possibly the hardest session we have ever recorded. I think that in total it took about 10 hours. This was no ones fault, just a series of escalating, unfortunate events. The point being that you had better bloody listen to it and enjoy it. Also, Agaskodo Teliverek, are probably the best-dressed band in rock and there are photos near this blog to prove it.
Tom's Blog - 10th April 2008
I have just got in, it's late and I'm tired but overjoyed. This evening I have been to the most enjoyable gig of the year thus far. Red Hunter a.k.a Peter and the Wolf recorded a session for us yesterday and ever since I have been stalking him. I know, I didn’t realize I was the type either, and especially not for a man, but he was like a Texan Pied Piper that I couldn’t help but follow. I wandered beside him and helped him travel back to North London, sat proudly next to him on the Docklands Light Railway, walked him through Islington and helped him buy CDs. I then creepily turned up to his gig this evening in Kilburn (an area that scares me mainly due to the fact that people park pit balls outside Nando's) I was on my own and wearing a sweat drenched puffer jacket, as only seen on Crimewatch. I stood like girls used to in the 1950’s when watching their favorite Doo Wop artist; beady eyed, with my head tilted slightly to the side, smile on my face and a distant look of longing and awe. However, I am not here to apologize but rather entice you all to follow me in my stalk. For anyone who has considered wandering innocently behind someone for long periods of time then Red Hunter is your man. And here is why:
- He did this week’s session as a humble and accommodating man of few unsung words and introduced us to "Scoffee" (listen to the show for recipe)
- On stage he turned into a charming and addictive wit who provided everything that you could hope for in a live performance. It was one of the only times that I have heard the British folksy crowd woop and holler like stadium rock fans.
- He looks and dresses a bit like Michael J Fox in Back to the Future, which is all I have ever really wanted in a man.
- He really is very talented, the likes of which we should take notice of when they fall into our paths. He is everything that the fairly dull, predictable and formulaic British Indie Rock scene is not.
- His album "Lightness" is a treat and if you buy it then this weeks blog will make more sense and make me seem less crazy and threatening.
P.S. I hope everyone is doing swell, I think I am in love.
Tom's Blog - 27th March 2008
Hi guys, I'm sat at the Koink office (where we record) in Cutty Sark looking out of the window, contemplating the show we just recorded and how astonishing this week's Drumcorps session is. However, during all of this thinking, I'm suffering from a little writer's block. Oh look there’s a boat going past, oh look at that silly builder, he's making gestures towards me “What? How about you sodding jump in?!”.
I have noticed that there is a lot of anger on the Streets at the moment… On the way back from recording last week I even saw a man shout at a woman because he felt she was eating her popcorn too loudly. He even had the cheek to look over at me as though I was going to agree with him so I childishly opened a pack of crisps and attempted to compete with the lady in a munch off. She won.
I am scared at the moment to go out. You'll notice in this week’s show that I give out a lot of details about upcoming gigs and that I try and persuade you all to go out more on to these same streets to have fun. I am assuming that you are all really nice, partly because you have bothered to read this far down the page, so if you all go out then we can reclaim the streets from these punks. And we could have the NMD show as our background music. Go grab some popcorn and I'll meet you on the Streets. Let’s do this.
Tom's Blog - 13th March 2008
For regular readers of this blog (if there are any), you’ll be interested to know that I am still awful at squash, worse at football and I think I may have developed a hernia. For new readers, so far unexposed to my flaws, this week I have been a model for Paul Smith, our fabulous new supporter of the show. When I say ‘model’ I mean they took an awkward photo of me in a Paul Smith shirt, which you can probably see somewhere in and around this web page.
I read a comment under a photograph of me DJing at The Big Chill Festival last year, stating that I wasn’t attractive as I lacked any bone structure. I thought this was a little harsh but, all the same, took it on board and have ever since been trying to develop some facial definition. I’ve tried chewing gum, smoking more, talking lots with my mouth in the shape you make when you whistle but all to no avail. My only friend who doesn’t have a media based job even offered to see if he could help me out with an angle grind.
For Sir Paul’s shot I have opted to stick with my blank canvas of a face, if not only to draw more attention towards his attractive clothes. He is a very nice man and I would like to do my bit.
As for this weeks show, it is very Drum and Bass fuelled, what with a 20 minute mix from Berlin DJ Current Value. There is however, light relief courtesy of Norwich based 2 Hot 2 Sweat, as well as a right beauty by The Accidental. I do hope Paul likes it and doesn’t think that my face has ruined a perfectly good podcast.
Tom's Blog - 28th February 2008
I’m exhausted and sore. Some friends and I have started up a squash league. The league consists of 7 people, four of which, including me, have never played squash before. The other three are really rather good and have led me to wonder what on earth I’m doing. My first game against one of the magic three very nearly killed me, after just 45mins I was left bleeding and dragging a broken racket along the road home. I know this has nothing to do with music but it has left me disheartened and a bit angry. You might see this reflected in this weeks show. It’s not that you can hear it in my voice that I am a broken man but a fair number of this week’s tunes are quite angry. The session from Pre, for example, or the D&B track by Current Value (next week’s session guest).
I also had an appalling game of football, in which I am sure I could hear the opposition players and few of my own team snigger slightly before they blasted footballs towards my face.
This made me wonder whether you can listen to metal or drum and bass etc whilst participating in sports. This is the only idea I can come up with to turn me into one of life’s winners. Next week I will try skiing to Napalm Death.
Maybe, I could put this idea to the Olympics committee. Maybe they could employ the wealth of young musical talent that resides in East London to help the British athletes become angry winners. It would make all those billions seem like slightly less of a waste and would involve the local community rather than walling it off.
Tom's Blog - 14th February 2008
Hello, hope you’re all well. It was my birthday last week and I have to admit I indulged myself a little and as a result have not been to many great gigs and have little to discuss this week other than that I am now officially a bit older. What I can tell you about is this week’s show. We have a brilliant session from L.A band The Mae Shi, who are currently taking the youths of this country by storm. The lads even made it into London Lite as a band to look out for, though they did use the rather hateful term Nu Rave, which is a genre that I don’t understand apart from that it involves a lot of purple and is generally associated with slightly shit bands.
Also this week we have our first NMD ‘Foreign Correspondent’ who this week is Mark Maxwell in a phone box giving us a quick run down on what is entertaining East Kilbride. This is followed by my favourite Dubstep release of the year and another track from our Holiday Club.
Oh, I did go to one gig. I managed to hustle through the crowds of dubious folk in Camden to go and see The Fourers at the Dublin Castle. They were being supported by The Cheats, a band of cute teens who despite blowing an amp still managed to remain quite dull. The Fourers however seem a somewhat revived band and are worth trying to catch at one of their upcoming gigs. If you however see The Cheats anywhere don’t lend them anything, Oh my god! I bet they set Camden on fire.
Tom's Blog - 31st January 2008
Now that the show is fortnightly I spend every other week slightly lost. At the moment I seem to be adequately filling this time by going to birthday parties. But no ordinary birthday parties… It would seem that up and down the breadth of the country everyone is rediscovering Karaoke. It is only when I am already dressed for success and sat on the bus that I am told that this is the form the ensuing party is to take. This is unfair as I hate Karaoke and my so-called friends should know this. At the moment it seems to be stalking me; with its cheap microphones, soft focus words and bad re-recordings.
Hearing so much bad singing, in such a short period time, has led me to listening to this weeks potential NMD tracks at ear splitting, 16-year-old-bedroom volumes. This harmful behavior is in a desperate attempt to blow all the karaoke fuelled missed notes and warbles out of my head. Now I have earache and have only heard the right headphone side of this weeks show due to what is hopefully only a temporary deafness in my left ear
This week’s show, including a session from German based techno outfit ‘Super Flu’, still sounded fab and in a round about way might be just the thing to soothe my ears back to health. Like a kind of musical hair of the dog; listen to it, be sick, and then listen again.
Tom's First Blog - 17th January 2008
This is my first blog. I imagine you’ll find it very informative and at the same time pretty cool.
The Slash music show is back but canvassing under the new banner of the New Music Download. Don’t fear though… it is still the action-packed music humdinger it always was.
So, “where have you been all these last 8 months?” you may ask.
“Lost and missing my podcast” I would answer…
Then you would say; “I’ve never been this happy at the return of anything!”
Trudging around with records and nowhere to play for so long (except at a few rain clad festivals) has meant that we have far more records this week than we can conceivably play. Time wise, we were supposed to be running a tighter ship with the new ‘New Music Download’ and we have already failed. But with good reason… This week, Alt folk rock heroes ‘The Akron Family’ are in session to celebrate the first show of the new series. They are massively dope and one of my favourite bands of the last few years, now they can be one of yours too. There is also Dubstep from ‘King Soley’, D&B from the Ukraine and to my own surprise some Australian Punk. Lets get it on!
