tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89291283694516232412024-02-19T16:14:06.717+01:00All That Ever MatteredDennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.comBlogger235125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-61761870133155720512014-01-08T11:17:00.001+01:002014-01-08T15:30:38.740+01:00Pete Green - The Glass Delusion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PLQqz2EPgNPYpuBsJIxKGvu_xP98tWErCmMn58qnIW5_zlTvRDywqqnn_1CLAuWr5R4uctbDAj_-D1gV4vjl9KAL59d4KJ3hNiAuXIHtbTHEAaKdfLNbJpNvFhSa1VBMXXtQxyiF2yk/s1600/theglassdelusion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PLQqz2EPgNPYpuBsJIxKGvu_xP98tWErCmMn58qnIW5_zlTvRDywqqnn_1CLAuWr5R4uctbDAj_-D1gV4vjl9KAL59d4KJ3hNiAuXIHtbTHEAaKdfLNbJpNvFhSa1VBMXXtQxyiF2yk/s320/theglassdelusion.jpg" /></a>In my mind Pete Green has been around forever – I <a href="http://allthatevermattered.blogspot.nl/2008/08/interview-pete-green.html">interviewed him</a> on this blog 6 (!) years ago – but after checking I now know it’s true: this is really his debut solo album. The main man behind <a href="http://www.sparklemotion.co.uk/effortless/">The Regulars</a>, The Pete Green Corporate Juggernaut and <a href="http://thesweetnothings.co.uk/">The Sweet Nothings</a> released some great singles under his own name a handful of years back, but never got around to making it full length. Until now, with ‘The Glass Delusion’.<br />
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<i>“I could have been much more than this, but this is all that there is”</i>, Pete starts on the opening title track and immediate highlight. This is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard all year. It may be selfish to think that way, but it secretly – just a bit, and only for this reason – makes me quite happy about his sombre mood, because happy, content and confident songwriters rarely write songs like this that go straight through the chest and embrace our hearts.
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If you mainly remember Pete from entertaining rants like ‘<a href="http://sparklemotion.co.uk/solo/myspace.htm">I haven't got a Myspace because Myspace fucking sucks</a>’ and ‘<a href="http://www.sparklemotion.co.uk/solo/best.htm">Best British Band supported by Shockwaves</a>’ you’re in for a surprise (even though some subtle humour still sneaks in at places). On this album we meet the singer-songwriter at his most sparse and introspective, and it fits him extremely well. His confessionalism is so intimate in most of these songs that it’s almost impossible to not imagine him sitting right next to you in your dark bedroom, sharing, venting but also soothing both his and your deepest emotions and frustrations. It’s not a happy record, but it never gets bleak or too gloomy. There’s always hope in the darkness and darkness in the hope. Like life, indeed. The way Pete quotes Katrina and the Waves’ ‘Walking on sunshine’ in ‘Bright horizon’ illustrates this perfectly: he’s not, in fact, walking on sunshine at all, but the option is there, a possibility for the future. His surprising cover of The Deirdres’ ‘Fun to pretend’ manages to fit the sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet suit of reality here perfectly and mixes in really well with the rest of the songs.
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Even if life turns shit sometimes. Even if most of your days seem unfair. Even if your government does and says things that are the opposite of everything you stand for. Even if it’s cold, wet and windy outside. Or rather, especially when it’s cold, wet and windy outside: you’re not alone. Pete Green and ‘The Glass Delusion’ will be by your side, onward.
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<i>“One day we’ll find an island where no one’s ever been. One day we’re gonna go there, you and me.”</i> ('One day we’ll find an island')
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Until then, we’ll let it go by.
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Pete Green <a href="http://petegreen.bandcamp.com/album/the-glass-delusion">bandcamp</a></div>
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Pete Green <a href="http://petegreensolo.com/">website</a>
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1538212162/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/t=1/transparent=true/" style="border: 0px currentColor; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://petegreen.bandcamp.com/album/the-glass-delusion">The Glass Delusion by Pete Green</a></iframe><br />Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-48156303083751451982013-11-21T00:43:00.004+01:002013-11-21T00:47:18.667+01:00St Rupertsberg - I'm So Fucking Goddamn Lonely<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's a song from 2011 that I didn't discover until November 2012, when I wasn't blogging. It's the catchiest thing imaginable despite its title, and it's been stuck in my head since I first heard it. Warning: people may give you weird looks when you're quietly singing this to yourself on the streets, but you will. If you're like me, you will.<br />
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St Rupertsberg are an all-girl octet from Wellington, New Zealand, and the eight girls are definitely worth your time and attention. <br />
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I've tried to contact the band several times, but I got no reply. Does anyone know if they're still going?<br />
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St Rupertsberg <a href="http://strupertsberg.bandcamp.com/">bandcamp</a><br />
St Rupertsberg <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StRupertsberg">Facebook</a><br />
<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2880460976/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/t=3/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://strupertsberg.bandcamp.com/album/seasonal-glimpse">Seasonal Glimpse by St Rupertsberg</a></iframe>Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-56759119540684347592013-11-14T10:50:00.002+01:002013-11-14T10:55:50.376+01:00Heathers - Teenage Clothes 7"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnj6oRidhBrdkljWYJp8zHjvgfp6f_k_b8Csgyb0S3zo9zIwk9NjdoDRupAl2uTUQqUgfQk3egQYDASBRrIxZgDzcDgUAgywL1548w1jylyihXOEnXn2uWOyOtkU-R-C2o0qhxBd58CU/s1600/a1121313577_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnj6oRidhBrdkljWYJp8zHjvgfp6f_k_b8Csgyb0S3zo9zIwk9NjdoDRupAl2uTUQqUgfQk3egQYDASBRrIxZgDzcDgUAgywL1548w1jylyihXOEnXn2uWOyOtkU-R-C2o0qhxBd58CU/s320/a1121313577_2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first time
I heard Heathers was earlier this year, around the time I was searching for
bands for the first Candy Twist release. I stumbled upon ‘Teenage clothes’ and
was sold right away. Something, I must admit, that doesn’t happen very often to
me. I’m more of a ‘growing on me, slowly increasing appreciation’ kind of
person. Not this time. ‘Teenage clothes’ grabbed me by my pop loving heart and
wouldn’t let go. I wrote the two guys – Michael Francis and Thom Lucero - from
LA the next day to ask them to be part of ‘Nobody’s Business’. Which, to my big
pleasure, they accepted right away.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s quite
a few couple of months later now, and in the meantime ‘Teenage clothes’ has
been released as their debut 7” single, coupled with another irresistibly rocking pop
gem, ‘I don’t wanna be adored’. The release date was September 16, but if you’re
quick you should still be able to grab a copy from </span><a href="http://hhheathers.bandcamp.com/album/teenage-clothes-7"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the band’s bandcamp</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> or from </span><a href="http://deathpartyrecords.bigcartel.com/product/dpr-010-heathers-teenage-clothes-7"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">their label</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While you’re
at their bandcamp, have a listen to ‘Colossi of Memnon’ as well, a 7 minute and
24 seconds long monster of a song that still manages to hold my attention until
the end, the way Velvet Underground, Modern Lovers and Joy Division often
seemed to manage. Pop despite everything, even despite intention perhaps. These
guys seem to have that rare gift of mixing pop and rock and roll and warmth and
misery and love and… and… </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Heathers
deserve your support and love. Give it to them here:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hhheathers"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/hhheathers</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://hhheathers.bandcamp.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://hhheathers.bandcamp.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://helloheathers.tumblr.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://helloheathers.tumblr.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-20133115820937594372013-11-12T13:24:00.000+01:002013-11-14T10:54:01.691+01:00VA - Nobody's Business 12"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.candytwistrecords.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Nobodys-Business-vol1-DIY1-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.candytwistrecords.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Nobodys-Business-vol1-DIY1-300x300.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I almost forgot I still have this blog as well. Almost. Is it bad to get back to it to promote my own LP? Oh well, I'm going to anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My brand new label (can I already call it that with just a single release?) will release the 12" DIY pop compilation 'Nobody's Business, volume one' one of these days. Last week I put the album up for streaming on bandcamp, and pre-orders can start now as well. I'm very excited about this!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The LP has brand new and exclusive songs on it by the following artists: The Fireworks, Cave Ghosts, The Hobbes Fanclub, Liechtenstein, Martha, The Felt Tips, Lost Tapes, Making Marks, Horowitz, Colour Me Wednesday, Heathers, and Young Romance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I honestly think that every song here is very good. I really hope you'll feel the same way. Let me know what you think? That's half the fun for me of course, to hear your thoughts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks! I'm hoping to pick up writing here more regularly soon, so please do check back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Listen </span><a href="https://candytwistrecords.bandcamp.com/album/nobodys-business-volume-one"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pre-order </span><a href="http://www.candytwistrecords.com/product/pre-order-nobodys-business-volume-one/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow this on Facebook </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/candytwistfanzine"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here</span></a><br />
<br />Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-78818210996021286382012-11-19T21:23:00.000+01:002013-11-14T10:54:44.508+01:00Interview: Allo Darlin'<style>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWF3LEeZ3mbfR4aqjsnOvdWhCgJfemJTB3qOBNvvMhG5OGhR-oORCrSDtisF4-YTOXcCtghqNQTsP8eZxMz8S6qy7YTDecTFutTe4a0ubi0PDAcxl-w1GYnRoFe_odC22fey_xYuc2bQ/s1600/allodarlin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWF3LEeZ3mbfR4aqjsnOvdWhCgJfemJTB3qOBNvvMhG5OGhR-oORCrSDtisF4-YTOXcCtghqNQTsP8eZxMz8S6qy7YTDecTFutTe4a0ubi0PDAcxl-w1GYnRoFe_odC22fey_xYuc2bQ/s320/allodarlin2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><i>(<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Originally printed in Candy Twist zine #3, september 2012.</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">) </span></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Allo Darlin’ started conquering the world in 2007 (or 2008, if you don’t
count the EP released as The Darlings) and five years later it seems like
they’re still winning every battle with ease. This year’s album </span><i><span lang="EN-US">Europe</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> is another step towards world
domination, or at the very least admiration from all people with a heart that
beats POP! For this interview I sent them a lot of questions, and then replaced
most of them with a relevant fragment of a lyric, making up a story of past,
present and future, and a sense of belonging.</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Candy Twist: Hello Allo
Darlin'! How are you all doing? What have you been up to lately? How was playing
Indietracks this year?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Paul Rains: </span></b><span lang="EN-US">Hello! We are all well;
we’re mainly planning and plotting at the moment for the autumn. We’ve been
home in </span><span lang="EN-US">London</span><span lang="EN-US"> for about two
months after getting back from touring </span><span lang="EN-US">America</span><span lang="EN-US"> so there’s a bit of
dead time. Unfortunately with this summer being so filled with sports events
it’s the worst time to play shows and the festival circuit has yet to properly
wake up to Allo Darlin’. We had a blast in the </span><span lang="EN-US">US</span><span lang="EN-US"> though - we took
the Wave Pictures out with us this time. For the after tour-tour we played a
handful of shows in </span><span lang="EN-US">Austria</span><span lang="EN-US">, then last week we
were in </span><span lang="EN-US">Paris</span><span lang="EN-US"> supporting Here We Go Magic. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indietracks was amazing, yet again. I was a little apprehensive that we
wouldn't be able to equal the show we played two years ago, because the
reception we had in 2010 was overwhelming and unexpected. Lucky for us this
year was equally as good; the crowd at that festival is just incredible. To
witness an audience so captivated and moved by our set was very touching.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">CT: I read somewhere that </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB">Elizabeth</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB"> first picked up the ukulele in </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB">London</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB"> in 2005. What made you fall in love with this
instrument? Was it a spontaneous decision, or had you wanted to buy one for a
long time already?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Elizabeth Morris:</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> Really it was
walking past the Duke of Uke shop in </span><span lang="EN-US">Hanbury St</span><span lang="EN-US">, as it was then. I
loved Magnetic Fields and Jens Lekman songs with the ukulele on, and I wanted
to give it a go. And then I saw this little shop. Little did I know that shop
would be such a big part of my </span><span lang="EN-US">London</span><span lang="EN-US"> story for the next
few years! We recorded our debut underneath the shop, and the people we met
there really influenced us, like Darren Hayman, The Wave Pictures and most of
all Simon Trought.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think the uke is a very inspiring instrument. All Allo Darlin' songs
have been written on it. Somehow it just fits with what I do, I'm not a very
good musician, but the uke manages to make songs sound more like songs than if
I was trying to write on guitar or whatever. It just fits me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">"You
see it's like loving '</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US">Graceland</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US">', it's not allowed
to be / but we know it's everybody's favourite / deep down in the place where
music makes you happiest." </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US">(My
Heart is a Drummer)</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">PR: </span></b><i><span lang="EN-US">Graceland</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> was a big record in our
childhoods. I think of all the records we were exposed to when we were young;
it has the biggest influence on what we do now. That record I think has a very
impressionable sound and at the time I don't think we would have heard anything
else like it before. So there's that kind of mysterious quality to it but the
songs are all really good, that's probably why we all got a bit hooked on it.
That cassette was on constantly my dad's car stereo. The <i>Rumours</i> album, early Elton John, The Carpenters, were also things I
remember being played often around the house. I nicked my Dad's copy of <i>Monster</i> by REM, which was one of the
first albums I properly got into. It wasn't until I had musical loves of my own
finding that I had a desire to revisit those albums again. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; height: 377px; margin-left: -60px; margin-top: 96px; position: absolute; width: 504px; z-index: -3;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think it can be healthy to be at least little
shameless concerning music and of course people should be allowed to love
anything that speaks to them. And that could be associating songs with memories
or people you've known over how 'good' you might perceive that to be
musically. Fashion can play a part in
how music is perceived, so I think the 'not allowed' idea maybe comes from
that? People can make awful decisions based on fashion and whatever music might
seem cool to us now may well be seen very differently in the future once we're
more removed from it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">"I'm
wondering if I've already heard all the songs that'll mean something / And I'm
wondering if I've already met all the people that'll mean something" </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US">(Tallulah)</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">PR: </span></b><span lang="EN-US">Music always
surprises me. I think if it wasn't still surprising I'd give up making it and
move onto something else. For me Neil Young is a constant source of
inspiration. I loved Joanna Newsom's last album, I thought that was incredible.
And very brave to do over three discs of material. Dexy's </span><span lang="EN-US">Midnight</span><span lang="EN-US"> Runners. Also bands we get to play with every so
often, Darren Hayman, The Wave Pictures, Tigercats, Standard Fare. I was
listening to Arthur Russell earlier, the sound of his records makes me want to
do stuff. Paint, draw, think, play something I haven't played before... I can't
explain how he's managed to do that.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess that's part of what you're looking for, giving people the desire
to do something, to engage in a dialogue or participate in some kind of shared
experience. Or just have a rockin' good time, I reckon that's definitely
something to do with it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think we'll leave people to work the meanings of our own songs out for
themselves, that's all part of the magic.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">"So
I go to see my good friend / The one who sings in a riot grrrl band / The way
she dances on the stage / It is so awesome" </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US">(Some people say)</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">EM: </span></b><span lang="EN-US">The friend in this
song is real, but I'm not going to give it away. I'll let you guess! We do have
a lot of friends in bands. It seems like most of my closest friends are in
bands - either my own or their own. Which is amazing, because before I moved to
</span><span lang="EN-US">London</span><span lang="EN-US"> I didn't know anyone in bands.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I am often in awe of people we share a stage with. Touring the </span><span lang="EN-US">US</span><span lang="EN-US"> with the Wave
Pictures was such a pleasure, every night I didn't know how we could follow
them. Some shows I thought they were the best band I've ever seen live. Darren
Hayman is always incredible, even if he says he doesn't like playing live. When
you see him play you know what great is. Standard Fare are another band that I
feel so incredibly lucky to have played with so often. When Emma sings that song
‘Wow’ and her voice slides up to breaking point - that's a mesmerising moment.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">I remember playing with Verity from Electrelane in </span><span lang="EN-US">Manchester</span><span lang="EN-US"> a few years ago;
she played a solo show. I was truly daunted. She was unbelievable and made me
weep.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB">"</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US">There’s</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-GB"> a question </span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US">I’ve</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-GB"> been meaning to ask
you / How do you feel about </span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-GB">Europe</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-GB">?" </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-GB">(</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB">Europe</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB">)</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">PR: </span></b><span lang="EN-US">Our European tour
has been my personal favourite out of all of our tours. Which must seem a
strange thing to say seeing as we had so many problems on the road and we ended
up flat broke at the end of it. Every day was hard but also the best fun I've
had in my life. The bad luck just seems to spur us on I think, we refused to be
defeated and by the end of it we felt like we'd earned every show. I don't
think we could or want to repeat the experience again because everything that
happened was so unbelievable. It really was a tour of extremes and people say
it's amazing that we didn't fall out with each other.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Playing mainland </span><span lang="EN-US">Europe</span><span lang="EN-US"> is very different from the </span><span lang="EN-US">UK</span><span lang="EN-US"> and US, yes. Some
venues have proper arts funding so in general they are just better equipped at
being able to provide for bands. Plus there's more variety when you're able to
travel from one country to another in a relatively short space of time. The </span><span lang="EN-US">UK</span><span lang="EN-US"> tour experience,
with the exception of a few interesting cities, is a collection of identikit
town centers by comparison.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">America</span><span lang="EN-US"> is a hard place to
tour just because of the sheer size, but we're blessed with having growing
audiences in most places there, really appreciative people and superfans who
will travel miles to come and see us. The scale of it can be grueling though.
When you're onstage after traveling for most of the 16 hours you've been awake,
you have to really find something from somewhere to make your playing special.
On the days I can't find it - that's when I feel like I've cheated everybody
who has come to see us, even if they say it was a fantastic performance.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Europe</span><span lang="EN-US"> does feel like a separate
continent to me even though we're part of it. Actually it was my first time on
the Eurostar to </span><span lang="EN-US">Paris</span><span lang="EN-US"> the other day and I
couldn't get over how quick the journey was. It still feels exotic to me when
we go out into mainland </span><span lang="EN-US">Europe</span><span lang="EN-US">, because of the unfamiliarity,
but also culturally it's very different from the </span><span lang="EN-US">UK</span><span lang="EN-US">. People have more
taste there. Or maybe that's just Allo Darlin' fans. Very tasteful people!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">"We
found solace in the shattered dreams of </span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US">England</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US">" </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US">(The Letter)</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">EM: </span></b><span lang="EN-US">What this record is
really about is how the personal is political. Ideas of home, of longing and
confusion. All of these things overwhelm the political. I'm trying to think if
I've ever written an even remotely political song, and I can't think of one.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Perhaps I perceive things differently, being an outsider and an expat.
But it also means I experience things differently when I go home to </span><span lang="EN-US">Australia</span><span lang="EN-US">. It's no longer my
home, but it will always be "home". It's a strange thing. It means
I'm always on the outside, and the flipside of that is that I belong everywhere.
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">London</span><span lang="EN-US"> is where I've spent
most of my adult life, it's the place where most of my dreams have come true.
It's where all of my friends live. So that's where the solace comes in, but so
many things are so wrong. In any case, at least the </span><span lang="EN-US">UK</span><span lang="EN-US"> still has incredible
news organisations and papers, which is very different from </span><span lang="EN-US">Australia</span><span lang="EN-US">, where the papers /
TV channels are either owned by News International or mining magnates. Even the
government broadcaster is the wrong side of right. It makes me sad, because I
think </span><span lang="EN-US">Australia</span><span lang="EN-US"> has such amazing
potential to be a progressive country, like </span><span lang="EN-US">New Zealand</span><span lang="EN-US">, or </span><span lang="EN-US">Sweden</span><span lang="EN-US">. But instead we
import this neo-con crap from </span><span lang="EN-US">America</span><span lang="EN-US">. It's terrible, and
such a waste.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">"And
when the lights go out and you set the world to rights / When I find you under
Capricornia skies" </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US">(Capricornia)</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">EM: </span></b><span lang="EN-US">I get homesick from
time to time, and I wish my family was closer and I could see my old friends.
And I miss the beach and the sun. But our families are proud of us, and they
get Google alerts so they read all of our reviews, even if I never read them!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">In October we're going to play in </span><span lang="EN-GB">Australia</span><span lang="EN-GB"> for the first time,
and I am so excited about it. My middle sister is getting married, and wanted
Allo Darlin' to be her wedding band, so she's paying for the boys to come out
and join me. We're playing about an hour of covers and then an hour of our own
songs. It's such an amazing thing for her to do, but she's so excited about it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hen we're flying down to Melbourne and joining
Mark Monnone (ex Lucksmiths) and playing some Melbourne shows, including a
backyard show with Bart & Friends, then driving up the East Coast back to
Brisbane. I can't wait. I have no idea what to expect. My boyfriend Nik, who
made the ‘Capricornia’, ‘Loneliness’ and ‘Dreaming’ videos for us, is coming
too and filming it. The prodigal children return, or something! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">"I
wonder if you would wanna go there with me / When I'm finished over here / If
you're not finished with me" </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US">(Tallulah) </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">EM: </span></b><span lang="EN-US">I have no idea when
I'll leave </span><span lang="EN-US">London</span><span lang="EN-US">, it's home for now.
We've talked about moving somewhere else in </span><span lang="EN-US">Europe</span><span lang="EN-US">, like </span><span lang="EN-US">Berlin</span><span lang="EN-US"> or Gothenburg. We
especially think about this when times get tough financially or when it hasn't
stopped raining for 3 months. </span><span lang="EN-US">Australia</span><span lang="EN-US"> is so far away, and
so isolated. That's part of what makes it so special, but for me being in a
band, moving there would make it impossible to continue with the group. Who
knows what the future holds, but it's been a pretty amazing 7 years so far in </span><span lang="EN-US">London</span><span lang="EN-US">.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visit the band at </span><a href="http://allodarlin.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://allodarlin.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(I put this interview online because I'm excited about their show in Paradiso, Amsterdam this Sunday (november 25). See you there?</b>)</span><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span></span>Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-2836285898016402072012-09-04T12:50:00.001+02:002012-09-04T12:51:12.606+02:00Order your 'Candy Twist #3' now! I printed the first copies of Candy Twist #3 today. I don't have a lot of them yet, but I can send out the first few copies tomorrow. <br />
<br />
This issue is 108 pages and features interviews with Allo Darlin', Sea Lions, The Great Leap Forward, Skinny Girl Diet, Martha, Tullycraft, Young Romance, The Wendy Darlings, Sock Puppets, Withered Hand and Mike 'HHBTM' Turner. Also: Indietracks journals by Hobbes Fanclub, Colour Me Wednesday and The Sunbathers, a round table with Sean Price, Kip Berman, Gail O'Hara, Pete Green, Roque Ruiz, Matt Haynes and Mike Turner, articles written by Mark Litten, Pete Bowers, Kofi Smith and me and mini-interviews with Robberie, Miguel Felt Tips, Vom Vorton, MJ Hibbett, Nat Johnson and Gary 'Dufflecoat' Sansom. The first 100 copies will include a lovely art postcard provided by Pete Bowers as an accompanying thing for his article. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://candytwistfanzine.blogspot.nl/2012/09/order-your-candy-twist-3-now.html">Order your copy here</a>Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-20707889242146943472012-08-23T10:37:00.000+02:002012-08-23T10:37:25.701+02:00Concerts in Amsterdam<a href="http://allodarlin.com/">Allo Darlin'</a> will be playing in <a href="http://www.paradiso.nl">Paradiso</a> on November 25 and <a href="http://www.hardlyart.com/deeptime.html">Deep Time</a> will play at <a href="http://occii.org/">Occii</a> on September 22.
This is a unique chance to go see two brilliant bands in Amsterdam. It doesn't happen very often, so don't let this pass you by. I'll be there!Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-86018940248943377662012-07-14T12:40:00.000+02:002012-07-14T12:44:54.009+02:00Interview: Colour Me Wednesday<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBG2mP1iTffYv88CfpcaULtCobEMZG0tTDMXPxo4R08HxJtXhgbxkhIYd9V3FPCLAKYKWzb77-fBWLtK7CyWBdGolVMqaRiV5-80DA7dul-q4mFvDtgoOHQrugGX34fHqRZj6taLs7Fgs/s1600/atemcmb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBG2mP1iTffYv88CfpcaULtCobEMZG0tTDMXPxo4R08HxJtXhgbxkhIYd9V3FPCLAKYKWzb77-fBWLtK7CyWBdGolVMqaRiV5-80DA7dul-q4mFvDtgoOHQrugGX34fHqRZj6taLs7Fgs/s320/atemcmb.jpg" width="198" /></a><i>(Originally printed in Candy Twist zine #1, february 2012.</i>)</div>
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<b>And suddenly (it seemed), everyone was talking about Colour Me Wednesday, a London ska/punk/pop four-piece. Candy Twist spoke to the ladies of the band to find out a bit more about this catchy quartet.</b></div>
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<b>Candy Twist: Hello!. How are you all doing?</b></div>
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<b>Harriet Doveton:</b> GOOD!</div>
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<b>Jennifer Doveton:</b> Alright. A bit stressful at the moment but good.</div>
<br />
<b>CT: Can you give us a short history of Colour Me Wednesday? How did you all meet and when, how and why did you decide to start making music together?</b><br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> Well Jen and I are sisters and so we’ve known each other for, like, ages (laughs). I started the band when I was 18 with two other girls, we just started playing our instruments for fun. An upcoming battle of the bands competition made us realize we needed a singer and second guitarist.<br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> That’s when I stepped up. Sam and I had been doing a bit of music together so we decided to join forces with Harriet for this battle of the bands. It was nerve-wrecking. We did four covers, “I want you to want me” by Cheap Trick, “In Love With Bobby” by Identity No. 1, “Only For The Night” by RX Bandits and a sort of rocky version of “Toxic” by Britney Spears. <br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> We didn’t win (laughs).<br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> About three years ago we realized we wanted to be serious about this but the other two girls had moved on so Sam moved from second guitar to drums and we stole Danny from a band that we played a gig with.<br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> Yeah (laughs).<br />
<br />
<b>CT: You've been recording your debut album for a a bit now. Can you share some fun and interesting details about the album, and about recording it?</b><br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> Oh gawd, we’ve been working on it for ages in theory, but because we record our own stuff we’ve done versions of songs that ended up just being demos because we just weren’t happy with the sound, ‘cos we’re all self-taught and stuff. It’s also really hard letting go of the old songs to make room for new songs on the album, you grow so attached. We’ve been writing so many songs in the last six months, recording and getting feedback from people all over the world has really motivated us. <br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> We’re actually working on a song right now that we hope to feature on the album, it’s about being a vegetarian and the shit you get for it. It’s also for my final project at university – it’s gonna be paired with an animated music video. <br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> We love making music videos, an animated one is a real challenge actually.<br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> Yeah it’s gonna be hard.<br />
<br />
<b>CT: You call yourself a DIY ska and punk band. Are you slowly moving towards more indiepop than ska and punk, or is this just mostly happening in my imagination? Not that I care about those labels a lot, but I'm curious if there's indeed a conscious change in sound going on.</b> <br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> I know it seems like that, because our most up to date recordings (on the 2011 sampler) happen to be our more poppy, melodic and non-ska songs. But there’s definite cross-over with the more DIY side of all those genres and sometimes it’s just things like the pre-amps or microphones you use that can make something sound more ‘punk’ rather than ‘indie’. <br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> I didn’t think indiepop was a specific or current scene before people started booking us for gigs that were described as ‘indiepop’ nights. But I guess we fit the bill.<br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> Yeah and most of our influences are indiepop or the poppier side of pop-punk, I realize. I always want to make our songs as poppy and melodic as possible because to me, catchiness is the mark of a truly good song. The ‘indie’ genre is a bit tarnished now though because of all these land-fill man-bands selling out stadiums, I feel the punk scene has more potential because it’s less commercially exploitable.<br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> Yeah and we do play a few less ska songs at the moment but the album is going to feature more than our live set.<br />
<br />
<b>CT: In the FAQ section of your site you explain <i>"No, we don’t wanna play at yr racist pub, right-wing biker club etc. we will also never ‘pay to play’."</i> Did you get a lot of weird requests, then? Can you also tell us some positive experiences? What has been a highlight of playing with the band so far?</b> <br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> (laughs) I didn’t think anyone would ever read that. The fact that our website is meant to ‘sell’ or ‘market’ us really put me off so I sort of went completely the other way and put down some of the things that irritate me about the ‘industry’ or the ‘scene’ or whatever; mainly to put people off that wouldn’t like us anyway once they got to know us.<br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> We did play at a certain biker club a few times. It’s a really interesting place, you could do a great photo shoot there but the vibe is really off-putting. Not only that, when we announced the title of ‘Purge your inner Tory’ all the bikers stormed out (not that they were thrilled by our presence in the first place). After doing that once you don’t need to do it again.<br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> We’ll basically play any shit-hole once. But NO MORE THAN THAT!<br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> I like playing outside of London, like in Brighton or Sheffield. When you are specifically requested for a gig it really boosts your confidence and the promoters are generally nicer. We’ve had so many fun gigs…<br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> But we’re still waiting for that ultimate moment where people are really listening and singing along and stuff. <br />
<br />
<b>CT: You record your ows songs, make your own videos, design your own posters and sleeves and state on your website that you don't want to get signed. How did you get into being completely DIY, and what do you enjoy most about it? And also, maybe, what are DIY's limitations for you? Are there things that you would like for the band but can't do yourselves?</b> <br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> Well, we’re all art students or have been art students so the DIY and creativity comes naturally or something like that. Basically we’re really into craft!<br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> Like with the website, the idea of marketing ourselves made me want to vomit. Getting signed is great for the few bands that can but I hate being competitive, I’d prefer to not have that added pressure and let things flow or grow naturally. <br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> The great thing about making our own CD covers and them all being individually handmade is that we don’t need to get attached or pick one design, some sleeves take just a couple of minutes others we spend a longer time on but either way we’re okay with giving them away and never seeing them again.<br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> It’s nice that someone else might really treasure them. And we are recycling! And all that stuff is the fun stuff, making posters, designing t-shirts, making collages, making music videos – why pay someone to do that when that’s what we love to do anyway?<br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> You have to be okay with making a loss sometimes, we buy our own recording equipment and we’ve had stuff stolen, like vocal microphones. <br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> Even though we use really cheap stuff, it still stacks up when something like that happens. Also, the label ‘DIY’ still makes people think of that analogue cassette tape aesthetic and our recordings are done on a PC which means you don’t get that rich, hissy analogue sound that people might associate with ‘true DIY’, but it’s the new DIY, not just the aesthetic. <br />
<br />
<b>CT: What was the kind of music that you grew up with? What did your parents or siblings listen to? What were your first records and attended shows?</b> <br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> Jen and I grew up listening to Juliana Hatfield, listening in our parent’s car. She’s probably mine and Jen’s biggest influence.<br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> Also the Beatles because our dad is obsessed with them. They knew how to write a good pop tune.<br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> Danny grew up listening to Fleetwood Mac, him and his family go to see them live together.<br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> Sam told me he didn’t listen to music until he was about 12, and then it was Papa Roach! <br />
<br />
(Both laugh) <br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> When I was young I would only listen to female singers, I just didn’t like male singers, apart from the Beatles of course, I used to wish that one day there’d be a radio show that would only play female vocalists. Actually I’ve fallen back into that preference now. Maybe it’s because there’s just too many male singers in bands, there’s less quality control, or maybe they are just shittier?<br />
<br />
<b>CT: The theme of this fanzine is 'happiness'. In your song 'What happened' you sing: <i>"You had it right when you were just a kid, a little kid, watching kid’s TV / So good to be free / And happy / But you put those toys away / Resigned yourself to your fate".</i> Do you feel like we often forget about happiness? How do you make sure you don't forget about your inner child?</b> <br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> That song is about this deep fear I have, what scares me is that other people don’t worry about how short life is and they end up doing what is expected of them instead of what makes them happy. I have friends who I feel like were tricked into this 9-5 working life way too young, because they liked the novelty at first of ‘being an adult’ and having all this disposable income; but before they know it they’ve had to make loads of compromises. I think some things that are seen as inherently childish become luxuries or novelties which are then denied to grown-up people, especially women who often are forced to grow up faster than their male counterparts. A lot of the uplifting and subversive messages of the kid’s tv shows we watched in the 90s like “The Adventures of Pete and Pete” or “Clarissa Explains It All”, shows where the adults are really inept, still ring really true for me (laughs).<br />
<br />
<b>CT: If the world is going to end in 2012, what do you want to make sure to have done before that?</b> <br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> Get on TV.<br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> Train my cat to be well-behaved. And yeah, CMW have got to get on TV…<br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> …to spread our radical propaganda (laughs).<br />
<br />
<b>CT: What else can we expect from you in 2012?</b><br />
<br />
<b>HD:</b> Tour! Album! Zine! T-Shirts! Videos! <br />
<br />
<b>JD:</b> Yeah we’re making a zine to go with the album, with all the lyrics and some stuff about the songs and stuff! It’s going to be so pretty!<br />
<br />
<b>CT: Thanks guys! We’ll be looking forward to that!</b> <br />
<br />
<br />
Visit Colour Me Wednesday at <a href="http://www.colourmewednesday.com/">www.colourmewednesday.com</a><br />
and download free MP3s from <a href="http://soundcloud.com/colourmewednesday">soundcloud.com/colourmewednesday</a><br />
<br />Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-38355614216261029332012-06-16T17:12:00.003+02:002012-06-17T16:39:36.192+02:00Order 'Candy Twist #2' now!<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8W19zTQoF6VJoWGgcMga0NEu0PrbT3oSg-8lTegM-Ns7AS8A_tIrc5mF5d_jf5vBhedCbgFSQy8LVOqJjqWJnmX_DR5I5t63GJroKtHJQU1zGDkEpC9OsSLvhOfzkVQ9jOCIvNkci6k/s1600/fz2fron2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" pca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8W19zTQoF6VJoWGgcMga0NEu0PrbT3oSg-8lTegM-Ns7AS8A_tIrc5mF5d_jf5vBhedCbgFSQy8LVOqJjqWJnmX_DR5I5t63GJroKtHJQU1zGDkEpC9OsSLvhOfzkVQ9jOCIvNkci6k/s320/fz2fron2.jpg" width="225" /></a>Issue #2 of my printed fanzine Candy Twist is all done and ready to be sent out.</div>
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Issue #2 is 94 pages and includes interviews with:</div>
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<a href="http://theritas.co.uk/">The Ritas</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bearspop.com/">Bears</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.theicicles.com/">The Icicles</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/bambamthebandband">Bam!Bam!</a></div>
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<a href="http://thetuts.tumblr.com/">The Tuts</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-June-Brides/31430764461">The June Brides</a></div>
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<a href="http://orcateam.bandcamp.com/">ORCA TEAM</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sweatergirlsband">Sweater Girls</a></div>
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<a href="http://brownrecluse.bandcamp.com/">Brown Recluse</a></div>
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<a href="http://gold-bears.com/">Gold-Bears</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/">Slumberland Records</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/Velodrome2000">Velodrome 2000</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.fractiondiscs.se/liechtenstein">Liechtenstein</a></div>
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and articles written by various lovely people, and me.</div>
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Order your copy <a href="http://candytwistfanzine.blogspot.nl/2012/06/order-your-candy-twist-2-now.html">here</a> (use the PayPal button).</div>
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Thank you! </div>
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<br />Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-37547079512301064802012-04-10T22:40:00.002+02:002012-06-21T21:11:40.544+02:00The Tuts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTVkEFBVNHn4nTI7RcwVccvaBz1n3BaXzSLL1ky_duaVHLjrZlFcOMQl8Ryt6Q5ElYFMLian-fm9BXzkJTuLLYnhN_qUsS8a6-OZJGWu14UM2KAeifqoGV1SicOZkIv2QCjIKGVAqWDA/s1600/tuts.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729871426114687922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTVkEFBVNHn4nTI7RcwVccvaBz1n3BaXzSLL1ky_duaVHLjrZlFcOMQl8Ryt6Q5ElYFMLian-fm9BXzkJTuLLYnhN_qUsS8a6-OZJGWu14UM2KAeifqoGV1SicOZkIv2QCjIKGVAqWDA/s400/tuts.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a>The Tuts are an all-girl 3-piece punk-, ska- and (indie)pop-band from Hayes, London. Beverly plays the drums, Harriet (who is also in the great <a href="http://www.colourmewednesday.com/">Colour Me Wednesday</a>) plays the bass and Nadia sings and plays the guitar. They don't have any records out yet, but I've not been able to stop listening to the few songs that are available through youtube and facebook. I think you'll agree that this is highly addictive, catchy and contagious stuff.<br />
<br />
Look out for the next issue of <a href="http://candytwistfanzine.blogspot.com/">Candy Twist</a> for what should be the first ever interview with this talented bunch.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/thetuts">The Tuts facebook</a><br />
<a href="http://thetuts.tumblr.com/">The Tuts tumblr</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2011/1/28/3068813//ATEM.rar
">Download</a>:<br />
1. I call you up<br />
2. Backup (live)Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-14632473284556551062012-04-03T22:05:00.001+02:002012-04-03T22:09:10.184+02:00Never thought I'd see the day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQwU3V_A4A6R4GZuzLiQmXUNDcBcQS5sTbmM0VWf9XMLKgXAQvEeqObG7oicscsdt5_QWyQTO3XkM14txWz42Jr1DQ8dtdWq3f2KVoOlUq3SmwJt4T0RFzd-vtXhel0XVeSjeXxq2eKk/s1600/260x260_thumb_00015349.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQwU3V_A4A6R4GZuzLiQmXUNDcBcQS5sTbmM0VWf9XMLKgXAQvEeqObG7oicscsdt5_QWyQTO3XkM14txWz42Jr1DQ8dtdWq3f2KVoOlUq3SmwJt4T0RFzd-vtXhel0XVeSjeXxq2eKk/s400/260x260_thumb_00015349.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727266529226525458" /></a><a href="http://theschoolband.blogspot.com/">The School</a> are back! And with four lovely songs, too. Their sound has mostly stayed the same since their 2010 album 'Loveless Unbeliever' on this 7" and in this case that's a very good thing. No need to update their sixties pop to a more recent sound when they play it this well, is there? <br /><br />1 Never Thought I'd See The Day<br />2 When He Kisses Me (Jonathan Richman cover)<br />3 Where Does Your Heart Belong?<br />4 I Wouldn't Know What To Do (Honeydrips cover)<br /><br />Buy the single now at <a href="http://elefant.com/en/disco/15349/Never%20Thought%20I'd%20See%20The%20Day">Elefant</a> or any of the other places the band mentions on <a href="http://theschoolband.blogspot.com/">their blog</a>.Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-35181273681344337262012-03-12T01:06:00.006+01:002012-03-12T01:15:04.722+01:00Stewart Anderson fundraiser retrospective compilationMost of you will know Stewart Anderson from <a href="http://www.myspace.com/therealboyracer">Boyracer</a>, but he's been in a million other bands as well. For example, a while back I <a href="http://allthatevermattered.blogspot.com/2009/04/interview-cheap-red.html">interviewed him</a> as a member of the lovely <a href="http://www.myspace.com/cheapred">Cheap Red</a>.<br /><br />I'll quote Stewart:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />"As many of you know our daughter Tallulah, now nearly 5, is non-verbal autistic and also has the immune disorder Eosinophilic Esophagitis, (unable to eat, tube fed). We are trying to raise money to buy an autism service dog to help with her safety and transitions. I have compiled a fundraiser "Best Of Stewart" compilation CD, with 32 bands I have been involved with over the past 23 years."</span> <br /><br />Read more about this fundraiser and the compilation <a href="http://milkandalcoholrecords.com/stewart-retrospective-cd">here</a>, and make your donations <a href="http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=428&url=helptallulahgetanautismservicedog">here</a>.Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-26278480622408563182012-02-28T09:50:00.002+01:002012-02-28T21:52:26.821+01:00Order 'Candy Twist #1' now!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nFxiZvSXNApjMBZNSzCwETG873dhFDDN-aYzxtQR-y2UDzPmIklpzgpnQpAawqNmMM85Tb-WH5Cq3F-EWPulkn0N9EsiB2wwndhNO8w06p8N5LiYzYhyphenhyphen7nk4grlo9W7v1UYNJhJqYsU/s1600/zinefront.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nFxiZvSXNApjMBZNSzCwETG873dhFDDN-aYzxtQR-y2UDzPmIklpzgpnQpAawqNmMM85Tb-WH5Cq3F-EWPulkn0N9EsiB2wwndhNO8w06p8N5LiYzYhyphenhyphen7nk4grlo9W7v1UYNJhJqYsU/s400/zinefront.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714292078498348210" /></a>In the last month I've been working on a printed fanzine, <a href="http://candytwistfanzine.blogspot.com/">Candy Twist</a>, and today it's all done and ready to be sent out.<br /><br />Issue #1 is 76 pages and includes interviews with:<br /><a href="http://cassolette.bandcamp.com/">Cassolette</a><br /><a href="http://knickers.bandcamp.com/">Knickers</a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/trixiesbigredmotorbike">Trixie's Big Red Motorbike</a><br /><a href="http://catnaps.bandcamp.com/">Catnaps</a><br /><a href="http://joyride-sf.com/">Joyride!</a><br /><a href="http://cuffs.bandcamp.com/">CUFFS</a><br /><a href="http://dearmarje.bandcamp.com/">Dear Marje</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/kidsonacrimespree">Kids On A Crime Spree</a><br /><a href="http://www.colourmewednesday.com/">Colour Me Wednesday</a><br /><br />and articles written by various lovely people, and me.<br /><br />Order your copy <a href="http://candytwistfanzine.blogspot.com/2012/02/order-your-candy-twist-1-now.html">here</a> (use the PayPal button).<br /><br />Thank you!Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-20403161599931519332012-02-14T18:15:00.002+01:002012-02-14T18:25:08.252+01:00Sarah Goes Shopping<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBqpi7kVS1EfmL9AdVNh1HP_V7RP3ir-Xbn-_P9cLfrzVkARXv-3R1Vh2HHy5FozFnppdZYtzs0h1MD5eiaOlnrvRRS_RhjqoU_aML2WIRzhLIZQMqbVCgdS2xDndSt7DdNs6eCji_TI/s1600/SGS.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBqpi7kVS1EfmL9AdVNh1HP_V7RP3ir-Xbn-_P9cLfrzVkARXv-3R1Vh2HHy5FozFnppdZYtzs0h1MD5eiaOlnrvRRS_RhjqoU_aML2WIRzhLIZQMqbVCgdS2xDndSt7DdNs6eCji_TI/s400/SGS.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709041508413168498" /></a>What do you get when you mix two of the most obscure bands of the 1980s?<br /><br />Mark of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/trixiesbigredmotorbike">Trixie's Big Red Motorbike</a> joined forces with <a href="http://www.myspace.com/twatootspop">Twa Toots</a>, and they called themselves Sarah Goes Shopping. I posted about both <a href="http://allthatevermattered.blogspot.com/2008/03/thats-end-of-that.html">TBRM</a> and <a href="http://allthatevermattered.blogspot.com/2008/03/question-mark-part-two.html">Twa Toots</a> in 2008, and in the comments of those posts the various band members replied and there was also a mention of Sarah Goes Shopping. Both TBRM and Twa Toots made very exciting music, so I was curious. Until recently though, I couldn't find any real proof that this band had actually left behind any music. But here it is!<br /><br />Sarah Goes Shopping recorded only one 7" EP: Money Speaks Louder Than Words<br />A1: Money speaks louder than words<br />A2: Yet another song about 'love and peace'<br />B1: Living a life of misery<br />B2: Once I've seen him (Trixie's Big Red Motorbike cover)<br /><br />Don't expect great sound quality in the songs below; this is as good as I got it.<br /><br />Since 2008 some more information and music about both bands involved has popped up on the internet. Search for it, it's worth it! TBRM have a new retrospective album out, 'All Day Long in Bliss' which you can <a href="http://trixiesbigredmotorbike.bandcamp.com/album/all-day-long-in-bliss">buy here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?apdc45672h92fcx">Download</a> (mediafire)<br />1. Once I've seen him<br />2. Yet another song about 'love and peace'Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-75205813615193702892012-01-11T21:43:00.001+01:002012-01-11T21:45:47.457+01:00Hello?It's been some time, eh?<br /><br />I like this blog. I like music. I like you. So I don't want to give up on this thingy right here just yet. We'll see what 2012 brings.<br /><br />What it brings today is <a href="http://simplesong.theshins.com/">a new song</a> by <a href="http://www.theshins.com">The Shins</a>. Which one can hardly call indiepop anymore, but then again who ever claimed that this was an indiepop blog? Other exciting news in sound today comes from <a href="http://www.missfrankierose.com/">Frankie Rose</a>, over at <a href="http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/">Slumberland</a> where you can listen to <a href="http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/catalog/show/202">the new single</a>. And there's more excitement over at Slumberland, because <a href="http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/press/neverever/">Neverever</a> also release a new EP, which you can order <a href="http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/catalog/show/203">here</a>.Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-41073595745923734332011-07-26T15:32:00.001+02:002011-07-26T15:34:20.144+02:00Update: The Middle Ones & Best Friends Forever in A'damThe location and time for this are now known: Wednesday August 3, 8 PM at <a href="http://www.studio-k.nu/">Studio K</a> in Amsterdam East (Timorplein 62).<br /><br />Tickets are € 6,-. <br /><br />See for more details the <a href="http://www.studio-k.nu/page=site.category/id=9143/category_id=4/d=3/m=8/y=11">Studio K website</a>.Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-45276291258921229312011-07-04T23:41:00.001+02:002011-07-04T23:41:35.002+02:00July 11: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart in Amsterdam (again)Next week <a href="http://www.thepainsofbeingpureatheart.com/">The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart</a> will play at <a href="http://www.trouwamsterdam.nl/en/">Trouw</a> in Amsterdam. We're being spoiled! Is indiepop finally having a breakthrough of sorts in the Netherlands? Allo Darlin', Best Friends Forever, The Middle Ones and The POBPAH all in one year! We'll see but hope for more.<br /><br />Not that The POBPAH would still be considered indiepop by many. Still, it's lovely music, isn't it?<br /><br />More info (in Dutch) <a href="http://www.trouwamsterdam.nl/2011/06/fuck-yeah-the-pains-of-being-pure-at-heart/">here</a>.Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-42267616112498488022011-06-27T09:18:00.002+02:002011-06-27T09:21:19.393+02:00Best Friends Forever & The Middle Ones to play in AmsterdamGood news (well, it's a month old) from <a href="http://themiddleones.tumblr.com/post/5773360763/best-friends-forever-european-tour">The Middle Ones' tumblr website</a>: The Middle Ones and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bestfriendsforeverandfriends">Best Friends Forever</a> are planning to tour Europe and there'll be a stop in Amsterdam on August 3. Keep an eye on The Middle Ones' <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Middle-Ones/38150303311">facebook</a> or Best Friend Forever's <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/befri4u">twitter</a> for upcoming details. The Middle Ones are (originally) from Norwich (UK), Best Friends Forever are from Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA).<br /><br />The Middle Ones call themselves lo-fi ramshackle indie pop/post folk/punk. Best Friends Forever call themselves dance-pop-punk / INDY-PUNK / 1960's pop punk / pop music... and who am I to argue? Let's go see on August 3.<br /><br /><a href="http://themiddleones.bandcamp.com/">The Middle Ones bandcamp</a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/bestfriendsforeverandfriends">Best Friends Forever myspace</a>Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-53549986657416155782011-05-15T19:02:00.001+02:002011-05-15T19:04:48.369+02:00Almost homeQuiet here, isn't it?<br /><br />Not at all like busy New York City, where I've been hiding the past few weeks. Again, unlucky timing from my side has me going home to the Netherlands just a few days before the NYC <a href="http://www.nycpopfest.org/">Popfest</a> kicks off. Ah well. I hope it's going to be fantastic for those who can be there.<br /><br />Hopefully I'll get around to more exciting updates soon... I'll see you from the other side of the Atlantic in a few days.Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-63805249921949259822011-03-18T23:53:00.001+01:002011-03-18T23:53:39.706+01:00Undercover poplover, part 25<em>"This sounds a bit like goodbye<br />In a way it is, I guess<br />As I leave your side<br />We've taken the air<br />Take care,<br />Please take care"</em><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?6wk2s3ip3czj1kf">Download</a> (Mediafire)<br />1. The Last Dinosaur - Beat it<br />2. Yo La Tengo - Take care<br />3. Kenickie - Save your kisses for meDennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-60083115977040002142011-03-17T06:04:00.002+01:002011-03-17T06:04:00.778+01:00Update: The Pop! For Kids Project<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7LONLzdp1CTqczmHpAGuVLzfbk5vyFjcR760TdXRZBkDR8NyvmkG9c6vNHq6on0RiJIzaXAuRXXP4sRJduC4p7kBZu4OgZJSfq6yH0QsjWfigVWeoHaLD7g6mtzzO7h-dZ2O0DhCbGE/s1600/shirt2s.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7LONLzdp1CTqczmHpAGuVLzfbk5vyFjcR760TdXRZBkDR8NyvmkG9c6vNHq6on0RiJIzaXAuRXXP4sRJduC4p7kBZu4OgZJSfq6yH0QsjWfigVWeoHaLD7g6mtzzO7h-dZ2O0DhCbGE/s200/shirt2s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584798632176406562" /></a>Remember how <a href="http://allthatevermattered.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-blog-pop-for-kids-project.html">I told you</a> about my new blog? <a href="http://popforkids.blogspot.com">This project</a> has been going for a couple of weeks now, and has already resulted in some truly lovely songs. Important note: all these contributions are exclusive, previously unavailable songs, mostly especially written and recorded for TP!FKP. I'm obviously very proud that this is going so well so far. The name of the project may throw some grown-ups off initially, but I think all of these songs are thoroughly enjoyable, no matter how old you are.<br /><br />Here are the links to the song contributions up to today:<br /><br />Mascot Fight - <a href="http://popforkids.blogspot.com/2011/03/pop-7-mascot-fight-dance-like-robots.html">Dance like robots</a><br />A Smile And A Ribbon - <a href="http://popforkids.blogspot.com/2011/02/pop-5-smile-and-ribbon-honey-bee.html">Honey bee</a><br />MJ Hibbett - <a href="http://popforkids.blogspot.com/2011/01/pop-2-mj-hibbett-monster-island.html">Monster Island</a><br />Zipper - <a href="http://popforkids.blogspot.com/2011/02/pop-4-zipper-tamagotchi.html">Tamagotchi</a><br />Doctor Ew - <a href="http://popforkids.blogspot.com/2011/01/pop-1-doctor-ew-goodnight-my-day-is.html">Goodnight, my day is done</a><br />Vom Vorton - <a href="http://popforkids.blogspot.com/2011/02/pop-3-vom-vorton-world-is-round.html">The world is round</a><br />Monkey Swallows The Universe - <a href="http://popforkids.blogspot.com/2011/03/pop-6-monkey-swallows-universe.html">Inspector Flamingo</a><br /><br />If you visit the blog, you'll also find interviews with some of the contributing artists. Speaking of interviews, Tyo from the Indonesion band <a href="http://www.myspace.com/sometimesalwayssometimes">Sometimes Always</a> interviewed me about TP!FKP for his <a href="http://heartfanclubradio.blogspot.com/2011/03/short-interview-with-pop-for-kids.html">Heart Fanclub Radio</a> blog.Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-51789230452722355692011-03-16T15:32:00.005+01:002011-03-16T16:31:40.085+01:00Garbo's Daughter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sU6EduLBWr0rZu9maJ_Cth-n6yM-QgIqX7rJEA93D2jWp3gLGi7URcnyEu470MO3iG3xLswFMOg1sVcQc45niyayZHz88CjUKEi6PW-XAzeW9lJUFd0IeKNASPVYoAnVg2i8iLAa5u4/s1600/Garbo%2527s+Daughter2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 156px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sU6EduLBWr0rZu9maJ_Cth-n6yM-QgIqX7rJEA93D2jWp3gLGi7URcnyEu470MO3iG3xLswFMOg1sVcQc45niyayZHz88CjUKEi6PW-XAzeW9lJUFd0IeKNASPVYoAnVg2i8iLAa5u4/s200/Garbo%2527s+Daughter2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584573041597148290" /></a>Thanks to <a href="http://indefinitelyblue.blogspot.com/2011/02/nice-girls-dont-explode.html">Xanthi's lovely mix</a> I heard <a href="http://www.myspace.com/garbosdaughter">Garbo's Daughter</a> for the first time, a couple of weeks back. In their bio they call themselves <em>'the last of the rock&roll innocents'</em>. This is indeed rock&roll music, of the poppy, catchy, addictive kind. I don't quite know how I can do Garbo's Daughter's garagy popsound justice in a few lines, so I'll just say: I like it a lot.<br /><br />Give the band a listen with the below downloads, or on their <a href="http://garbosdaughter.bandcamp.com/">bandcamp website</a>.<br /><br />You can buy Garbo's Daughter's records at <a href="http://floridasdying.com/">Floridas Dying</a>, <a href=".myspace.com/surfinkirecords">Surfin'Ki Records</a> and <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/burgerrecords/">Burger Records</a>.<br /><br />Download (right click, save as)<br />1. Garbo's Daughter - <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2011/1/28/3068813//Garbos Daughter - Private Party.mp3">Private party</a><br />2. Garbo's Daughter - <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2011/1/28/3068813//Garbos Daughter - Nice girls dont explode.mp3">Nice girls don't explode</a>Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-71012392276906507662011-03-14T14:52:00.002+01:002011-03-14T14:57:17.102+01:00Why the sky is blueFranziska is in Utrecht with a friend. I'm outside with Sam, planting the hedera climbing plants against our garden's fence. Warm rays of sunlight tempt me to take off my coat, to make the work more practical. I hold a cup with little steel hooks in my hand.<br /><br /><em>"Sam, can you hand me the hammer?"</em> I say.<br /><em>"Hammer. Hammer!"</em> he says.<br /><em>"It's lovely weather, isn't it?"</em> I say.<br /><em>"Hammer!"</em> he says.<br /><br />I take one of the hooks and lead the plant's tranche through it so it will grow in the right direction. <br /><br /><em>"Can you hand me another hook?"</em> I say.<br /><em>"Hammer!"</em> he says, while giving me a handful of hooks.<br /><em>"Thank you sweety."</em> I say.<br /><br />We work together for over an hour, and all the winter's stress falls off my shoulders. I dig the last hole for the last plant.<br /><br /><em>"Shovel."</em> he says.<br /><br />Together we carefully water the new plants. <br /><br /><em>"Papa?"</em> he says.<br /><em>"Yes?"</em> I say.<br /><em>"Papa."</em> he says.<br /><br />We go inside. Papa, I think. <br />Papa. That's me.<br />It's really me.<br /><br />---<br /><br />From day to day time doesn't change anything. <br />Take a handful of days and still nothing has changed. <br />Then take a couple of those handfuls and suddenly everything is different. <br />How does this happen? Time can be a fantastic thing.<br /><br />I don't have a lot to say today. <br /><br />I just wanted to wish you a good day.<br />A happy springtime.<br />A lovely year.<br /><br />A wonderful life.Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-87643022301371354102011-03-04T23:00:00.001+01:002011-03-04T23:00:04.786+01:00Sarandon - Age of reason<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYWSzipzPHJBpFPSJ8nI2Xip8Un9vLICq8ZnGbv_e4jwlLPfkwgrUsEk0ReAF6f40gLaoEfDLsvyzJuKzUQUZjdvgAiCXt9faBJ4gzWWym6QW-qOsagAg_eOqx1PwhPUX_kex3F87VgI/s1600/sarandon.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYWSzipzPHJBpFPSJ8nI2Xip8Un9vLICq8ZnGbv_e4jwlLPfkwgrUsEk0ReAF6f40gLaoEfDLsvyzJuKzUQUZjdvgAiCXt9faBJ4gzWWym6QW-qOsagAg_eOqx1PwhPUX_kex3F87VgI/s200/sarandon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580340299395519378" /></a>Three years after the provocatively/appropriately titled LP <em>Kill twee pop</em> <a href="http://sarandon.net/">Sarandon</a> are back with their new full lenght <em>Age of reason</em>, on <a href="http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/">Slumberland</a> and <a href="http://oddboxrecords.com">Odd Box Records</a>. It's a concept album, even. Yes, really. It made me frown a bit when I read that, but it's good. The 33 minute story is about Big Trev, a man unhappy with his achievements in life and determined to now make a change. The album consists of some tracks where the story is narrated, and then the actual songs of course. I appreciate the effort of the story, but for me it's mainly about the music. And that's good. Really pretty good. <br /><br />I've always loved Alan's running bass, Crayola's adrenaline-driven hooky guitars and Tom's high energy slaps all over his drums. Those are all back again, but even more sophisticated, as far as music this punk gets sophisticated.<br /><br />If you like your music with a sharp edge and want your music to be for the heart, for the ears and even for the feet, you may not find many better albums to please you as much as this one right now.<br /><br />Stream Big Trev <a href="http://soundcloud.com/oddbox/big-trev-sarandon?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=raw&utm_content=http://soundcloud.com/oddbox/big-trev-sarandon">here</a>.<br /><br />Pre-order this album <a href="http://oddboxrecords.com/shop/">here</a> or (soon) <a href="http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/catalog/list">here</a>.Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929128369451623241.post-49199930126946392032011-02-28T23:58:00.004+01:002011-03-01T00:57:29.485+01:00Let's Whisper - The shortest days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1unwW49iqg63lzqFYu-HGEJA4tkLqytL_64E7SKFo2eH3khPRu6SEaCPG8y1DxNBns7LE03P0BWnfAhm0At27yx189p9gC148h7dvFyQJHJSY780s2-6g6IXkUKlVvDoJLgimjOs0XAw/s1600/cover2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1unwW49iqg63lzqFYu-HGEJA4tkLqytL_64E7SKFo2eH3khPRu6SEaCPG8y1DxNBns7LE03P0BWnfAhm0At27yx189p9gC148h7dvFyQJHJSY780s2-6g6IXkUKlVvDoJLgimjOs0XAw/s200/cover2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578859916937802818" /></a>After a couple of EPs <a href="http://www.myspace.com/letswhispermusic">Let's Whisper</a> are now ready to conquer the remaining bits of our hearts as well with their first full length album, <em>The shortest days</em>, which is also the first full lenght release for the <a href="http://www.weepop.net/">WeePOP!</a> label. Of course we all know <a href="http://www.myspace.com/colinclary">Colin Clary</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/danatonafivehundred">Dana Kaplan</a> from their solo projects and their other shared band <a href="http://www.smittens.com/">The Smittens</a>.<br /><br />Both Colin and Dana have very distinctive voices, so there's no mistake we're dealing with a Smittens spin-off here. Not that this is a bad thing, of course, or that this means Let's Whisper is not a full band in its own right. The music itself is a little bit more bedroom pop, but in an upbeat enough way and with such a full sound that it never gets boring.<br /><br />The album starts off great with two already familiar songs: <em>California girls</em> and one of the hightlights, <em>All happy endings</em>. All songs after that stay as warm and heartfelt as the openers, with their trademark harmonies and the hum-along-melodies. After two listens the three other songs that jumped out most directly at me were <em>Meet me on the dancefloor</em>, <em>Snowy Sunday afternoon</em> and what could be called their theme song, <em>Let's whisper</em>, but it's too early to really name favourites. Every second of the almost 37 minutes sounds like lovely, instant nostalgia. Like The Smittens, Let's Whisper feels like home. A very special achievement.<br /><br />Pre-order The shortest days <a href="http://www.weepop.net/releases.php#POP!045">here</a>.<br /><br />Download (right click, save as)<br />1. <a href="http://www.weepop.net/downloads/Letswhisper-Californiagirls.mp3">California girls</a><br />2. <a href="http://www.weepop.net/downloads/Letswhisper-Shortestdays.mp3">Shortest days</a>Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06293225576223888397noreply@blogger.com1