Beaneath The Surface - best of End Of The Road

This is the free sampler they gave out when you bought the programme at End Of The Road festival. What a lovely thing to do. I have chosen some of the tracks off this and added some others from bands I saw there. It really was an amazing event.

J. Tillman - First Born

Unfortunately couldn't get into the tent to see the solo set from the Fleet Foxes drummer, it was packed. Did see him ambling around the festival though, his beard is amazing! And so is this track.

The Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin

Enjoyed these guys live although a technical hitch meant they had to play semi-unplugged and therefore couldn't play my favourite track off the album. They didn't talk much but played a lot of different instruments, including a vibraphone (along with the uke a popular instrument at the festival).

Fleet Foxes - English House

The sampler features a track off the EP 'Sun Giant'. Fleet Foxes headlined the Saturday night and although they were musically beautiful they are not the most exciting live act. The lead singer got heckled for leaving his tea bag in his tea for too long- strangest heckle ever? They played three new tracks which all sounded good- bit noisier.

...Have run out of space on Google sites... any suggestions for somewhere else to upload MP3s to would be appreciated... Will upload links to subsequent tracks when I have found somewhere to store them.

Peter Broderick - Below It

I loved this guy's ethereal style before I saw him live, and loved him even more after. He played in the tiny Tipi Tent and it was just him, playing several different instruments and his sister Heather doing a bit of backing vocals. A very talented man, he played piano, violin and guitar and sang and used a loop pedal.

Ohbijou - Black Ice
to be continued...

Interesting-Looking Places In London I Saw On The Telly That I Want To Visit.

...I intend to add to this...

1. Ye Old Mitre.























Built in 1546, apparently Queen Elizabeth I danced round their indoor cherry tree (its remains are still preserved there) and it was featured in Snatch. It is not considered part of London but part of Cambridgeshire, something to do with Bishops and walls. Closing time is at 10pm as the gates at the end of the alley are locked then. I saw it on a programme about Samuel Johnson and his dictionary; he lived nearby and they claim him as a past local.

1 Ely Court, EC1N 6SJ.
Directions (varying- seems it's hard to find): Nearest tube: Holborn.
Entrance via passage off Hatton Gardens, behind NatWest or via Chancery Lane Tube Station, walk down hill to Holborn Viaduct, turn left into Hatton Gardens, cross over to the other side & pub is at the end of the alleyway, to the side of number 9 Hatton Gardens (Hirsch the Jewellers).

**UPDATE TO THIS**: Visited in October and actually it was really busy and full of yuppies as it's right in the middle of the banking bit. Not a lot of atmosphere and very crowded. Bit of a disappoint really...


2. St. Bartholomew the Great church







































The top one is the gatehouse, which the only bit I saw on New Tricks, but that was enough. It seems the inside of it is famous too- it was in Four Weddings & A Funeral, Shakespeare in Love and even The League of Gentlemen Christmas Special. It was founded in 1123 as a priory and is supposedly the oldest place of worship in London, after the Tower of London (people worship there?). The reverend there has so many letters after his name you'd need three sheets of Letraset to spell his full title on a folder.

It's also just round the corner from #1- what a convenient coincidence.

6 Kinghorn Street, EC1A 7HW.
Nearest tube: Barbican.

Howling at the moon

You and I crashland

Some songs I like listening to a lot recently, not got a theme, just some songs. I wonder why I have chosen two tracks with the word 'crooked' in them? Click on a track to download it or there's a link to download it all at the bottom of the page.

Slow Club - It Doesn't Have To Be Beautiful
Saw these guys at 2000trees festival recently and I enjoyed their energy so much, they looked like they were having such a great time on stage and seemed so comfortable there, and with each other. Couldn't put the MP3 up tho, sorry.
The Low Anthem - The Horizon is a Beltway
First heard this track on Steve Lamacq's show on BBC 6 Music and loved the way this track sounds like Tom Waits in full brawlers mode. They have two vocalists so the album is split between the two; the other guy sounds like Sam Beam (Iron & Wine)
Fleet Foxes - Your Protector
Love this track- although after it's been pointed out it's reminiscent of Rawhide you can never go back.
Oceansize - Savant
I find this song makes me go into a kind of trance, and I envisage flying over the sea. I think Oceansize are my favourite band, and have been for a few years now. I give myself neck ache every time I see them live but I think they're about to break up (and break my heart).
Liam Finn - Lead Balloon
Son of Crowed House bloke, this from his second album which is more interesting than the first.
Paul Simon - Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes
This album is one of my all-time favourites, and never fails to make me happy. I love Ladysmith Black Mambazo & saw them once when they rehearsed for an evening concert at St Paul's cathedral. I was stood in the whispering gallery and it was so good it nearly made me go back to Christianity.
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
I love the intro piano riff so much it's my ringtone. The retro feel of this makes me think of 50s radio songs and yellowed photographs in diners.
Wave Machines - Keep The Lights On
I can't remember what this song sounds like but I remember I liked it a lot.
Maps - Failure Of Consistency
Ah post-rock noise, brilliant.
Future Of The Left - You Need Satan More Than He Needs You
I love FotL lyrics, funny without being comedic and usually nonsensical. I love the lyric, "small bones, small bodies, where's the harm in being accidently miniaturised?" from the first album. I would like to shout this song at satanists.
Andrew Bird - Nomenclature
Lovely, gentle, summery.
The Acorn - Crooked Legs
Gorgeous
Death Cab For Cutie - Crooked Teeth
The chorus is so catchy it's almost annoying and I dare you not to be singing it for hours after you hear it.
Amplifier - Consultancy
Love the heavy meaty riffs and prog leanings Amplifier create with only a 3-piece band and the most amount of pedals you've ever seen. I found the lead singer's Manchester accent a bit distracting to begin with but now I quite love the fact he doesn't sing like an American.
Marmaduke Duke - Silhouettes (album version)
Wasn't sure of the single edit where this bizarre techno beat has been laid over the top, but the original is special. I like the honesty of the lyrics. I think this is sung by the guy from Sucioperro rather than the Biffy Clyro guy.


Download all tracks as zip files: Part I (39MB) & Part II (37MB)