Daniel Balavoine - "Vivre ou Survivre"

Pete's traveling blog.

My friend Pete is off traveling through America at this very moment. He started off in New York and has migrated south to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, documenting his journey along the way. I've found myself glued to his adventures, checking the blog everyday for new episodes. Maybe it's because he's a friend, maybe it's because Pete rips a good yarn, and maybe it's because I'd kill to be exploring American cities with nothing to govern me except my own free will. I enjoy little more than meandering through a new city, following my instincts and seeing where I end up. That and I really miss New York.

So as I get older and more settled (?) it's like i'm following the travels of the adventurous loner in my head. The difference is my loner is governed by worry and Pete's is a lot tougher (and a little more ginger) than I will ever be.

So here's the blog.

And here's an mp3 for Pete:
Led Zeppelin - 'Ramble On' Buy

Rise Above.

Well I just got back from playing in Brighton with my band. The now customary 4 people attended. It went well though and my synth player's debut was flawless as far as I could tell. I'm getting used to blocking out the disappointment at the crap turn out. I won't let it bother me. I've been watching lots of footage of 80s hardcore punks and (parts of) their attitude is great. The whole idea of doing music for yourself and being happy with it being a great form of expression. DIY near-legend Ian Mackaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi, Dischord record label etc) talks about not needing to be validated by being signed to a major label, or whatever your goal is that would need to make you feel 'real'. I can't say i'm fully capable of subscribing to it, but I think it's a really healthy outlook.

Here's some great 80s american hardcore and an awesome Fugazi track.

Mp3:

Minor Threat - 'In My Eyes' Buy

Bad Brains - 'Pay to Cum' Buy

Fugazi - 'Bed For the Scraping' Buy

Words of wisdom from Ian Mackaye (Minor Threat/Fugazi).

Ace Germlin Deerhoof remix.

Scottish headfuck programmer/DJ/16-bit glitch-punk type Germlin has done a great remix of Deerhoof's 'Rrrrrrright' (from 'The Runners Four'). It's available with a bunch of other free stuff from their website.

Mp3:
'Rrrrrrright: germlin remix' - Deerhoof.

Now i'm not normally into Math Rock but...

I was invited to see Japanese math rock wizards LITE in Brighton the other night, and had to turn down the offer due to the ever nagging money drought. I'd not heard them but had a sneaking suspicion I'd be blown away when I checked them out and rue the day I neglected them. I was right.

Maybe it's because I have a soft spot for anything Japanese or maybe it's just because they're really good (and so scarily tight it's untrue) but I'm sold.

Here's some live video:

Jazz's deformed cousin.

It was the sale of the century

Spurred on by serving Louise Wener from Britpop's own Sleeper at work the other day, I've been revisiting the era with a strange sense of nostalgia. Strange because at the time I didn't really like Britpop. I was into Green Day and the Foo Fighters.

Here's an episodic YouTube edit of the Britpop documentary 'Live Forever: The Rise and Fall of Britpop'. It looks pretty good.



Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9