The Great Escape 2009 video

We took a camera with us to The Great Escape this year, here are the results edited down, only really entertaining for those that were there, it is essentially a series of private jokes, but I dunno, you might be bored, it is the summer holidays after all (a lot of MPs & school children check this blog)

Field Day & Underage Festival

Field Day is Saturday, Underage Festival is Sunday. The coolest and best bands of the minute are generally on show, something Glastonbury sorely lacked. Make the effort to go if you can, tickets are only like 30 bash and you can stop at mine. The picture is from last years Underage Festival by Clare Shilland, and was the inspiration for this whole god dam post.

Who's this little fella?

I'm sure you all know Mat Jerrett, this is him being papped last week, next week he's going to Amsterdam for a few months and maybe forever, good luck mat, we'll miss you. 

Sheephead's Naughty Ashes Call

From Morrish. Sorry if you don't like cricket but that's all you might be hearing about for the next couple of months.

Lykke Li - Tonight

Fuck it, I've decided. Lykke Li's Tonight is my favourite song of all time. For some reason it wasn't on the album I download of hers last year, heard it for the first time a few weeks ago. Download it with one click here if you don't have it already. Or spotify.

(I reserve the right to change my mind about this next week)

Drake Mixtapes

I'm sure by now you have heard about Drake, I thought I'd post his two latest mixtapes incase you weren't on it. So Far Gone came out earlier in the year and heartbreak part 2 came out the other week. I think he is best described as post 808's and heartbreak...in fact that sums him up perfectly and leaves me little else to add. I'd listen to So Far Gone first if I were you. Best I Ever had is his current single, Say What's Real displays great rapping, Little Bit which sample Lykke Li show he can do refreshing stuff with samples rather than just clumsily rapping over the top, and I like the song Successful as well. Download So Far Gone here Heartbreak part 2 here

Deborah Harman

Made this website for my friend Debbie...not that she deserved it.

Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young

This is a preview for Julian Casablancas new solo record coming out in the Autumn, sounds and looks fresh as hell. Makes a lot of sense that he is releasing a solo record, seemed like the dynamic of The Strokes was bogging him down a bit - no disrespect.

http://juliancasablancas.com/

Jenny Wilson - Hardship

Jeez I had no idea Jenny Wilson had released a 2nd album, someone fucked up. Jenny Wilson is swedish and great and a bit electro and a bit funky and on The Knife's record label. Listen to her album Hardships that was released in blummin february here if you have spotify or gay old myspace if you dont.

Justin Veron - Self Record & Hazletons

Did everyone else know Justin from Bon Iver had two solo records? I had no idea until Morrish sent me a link. Crazy. Download them from a blog called Even the birds are bumping. I have only listened to Self Record, it has some really good songs but generally it is a lot more pedestrian than his work with Bon Iver, the songs are a bit more conventional. I also tracked down his band before Bon Iver, DeYarmond Edison - pretty terrible, sorry justin, sounds not entirely dissimilar from Counting Crows. Download the album here if you must.

Wale - Back To The Feature Mixtape

Another mixtape from Wale following on from last years 'A Mixtape About Nothing' which was widely regarded by as the best mixtape of the year. I've only listened to it twice so I don't want to commit too much but initially it seems great, perhaps not quite as good as 'A Mixtape About Nothing' but what is? Download here.

Obama's First 167 Days at Boston Big Picture

"Kennedy Corpus, 10, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, holds a note President Barack Obama gave to her after learning she was missing her last day of school on Thursday, June 11, 2009 to hear the president speak in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Shawano Leader, Cory Dellenbach)"

Lots of nice picture here. 167 days for no apparent reason but who needs an excuse to see pictures of Barry and the gang?

The Big Lunch

The Big Lunch is next Sunday, I think it's a pretty good idea - getting neighbours to have lunch together in the street. See if there is one near you and sign up. Link.

Karl Erik Brondbo

Karl has his moments. More.

"A-Trak & Red Foxx Chop It Up For Karmaloop.TV"

Fools Gold blog is good

Moshi Moshi Night at The Garage

Moshi Moshi are great, put on great nights - this is good news.

"The Garage - Friday 10.30pm til 4am with live music from Casiokids, Teeth!!! and Django Djangoand DJ sets from Moshi Moshi, Friend, Lisa Milberg (The Concretes), Gold Panda, Plugs and Platform. Begins tonight Friday 10th July and continues every second Friday of the month thereafter."

A few highlights of this weeks research.

Lou O'Bedlam



Can't remember where they are all from.

Behind The Scenes Of TMS

This is a very good behind the scenes video regarding Test Match Special. Quite humorous as you'd expect. You can follow Alison on twitter too.

...yes i'm finding it hard to concentrate at work, but it's ok I come in early and leave late.

Daniel Kitson Dates

Daniel Kitson is doing lots of live dates in the coming months, Edinburgh warm ups in London, Edinburgh, and a national tour. The national tour is probably the first time in a while people outside of London can see him, so check out the dates here. Likely to sell out rather quick. Text me if you wanna go to one of the warm up dates in London this month.

Just found this...

Solar Powered Back

Charge your appliances while you walk? Genius, great for festivals etc. $249 a snip. more.

Noah and the Whale - The First Days of Spring

I never quite got there with noah and the whale, just as I was starting to take notice they were swept up into the mainstream and that little gene that I resent so prevented me from alining with cunts and buying their album. However last night I had to turn the heat down on my frying pan when a song from their new album came on the radio...admittedly this was pure coincidence, the oil was starting to smoke, never the less the song called Blue Skies was fantastic, over at their website you can't download that but you can download 'the first days of spring' the title track from their new album due out at the end of August. It is an atmospheric folk epic, beautiful strings, tender reverb drenched vocals and a raw guitar line holding it all together that would make Andy Dunlop blush (yes that's the Travis guitarist, i still hold him in quite high esteem) and wish them well. Could noah and whale join the 'actually almost relervant 2nd album club' or is this going to be like the time I texted Rob claiming Bloc Party's 3rd album was a return to form only to find on repeat listens it was dog shit.

Wavves - No Hope Kids video

Want to be inspired to start a band or even just to leave the house and remember youth is still on your side? try this video.

Nacho Alegre - Photographer

Note to self: go on tour with mystery jets and make a moleskin diary about it. Lots of great photos celebrating youth, fashion and summer light on his site too.

MSTRKRFT - Heartbreaker Video

Where is the scene going to go post Justice/Digitalism/French House? maybe here? Great video either way.

Jonsi & Alex - Riceboy Sleeps

The lead singer of Sigur Ros and his boyfriend Alex have and album coming out July 20th, this is a nice little documentary about it. You can download a song here. It hasnt worked for me yet but it will.

Janelle Monae "Many Moons" Video

This is incredible in every way, next level stuff. Everyone else seen it?

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis

This is really funny. Really funny. There is more on the site too.

Grizzly Bear On Jools Holland May 2009

Just in case like me you missed it. Note the use of Omnichord in Two weeks...and the incredible nature of the performance. 

Ricky, Steve & Karl.

The Invention of Lying trailer lead me on a bit of a youtube reminisce. Funny.

Tanzania 2009

Ok here are my 35mm pictures from Tanzania as promised. And the rest.

The Invention Of Lying Trailer

To be fair this looks pretty darn funny.

(Can anyone work out what Jonah Hill says? I can't make it out)

Metronomy A Thing For Me Video

Hadn't seen this until today. Amazing. Directed by Megaforce.

Grizzly Bear & LSO at Barbican

Grizzly Bear & London Symphony Orchestra are playing a special one off gig at The Barbican on Halloween, not wanting to dip into my teenage lexicon but WE ALL HAVE TO GO !!!!1! Tickets Text me if you fancy it, their album is my album of the year so far easily.

NB: SELLING OUT FAST GET ON IT. 14:50 Thursday

Reza Aslan (Again)

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Reza Aslan
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran

While I was away I missed Reza on The Daily Show, I'm really glad and not surprised he was on; he is Iranian and the best explainer of the Middle East I have ever heard. I read his latest book, strangely enough to stop myself feel sick traveling down a bumpy dirt track for three hours in Africa (it works don't ask me how) It is a brilliant book, so much more of world affairs make sense to me now, I can't recommend it enough. Rob is next in line to borrow it but after that it's all yours. Reza is on Twitter btw. Washington Post Review of His Book.