Mulatu Astatke

I watched Broken Flowers a few months ago (thanks to the one who is Young and Bossy) and I remembered loving the soundtrack every bit as much as the film. I finally got round to getting hold of the soundtrack and found out that a few of the tunes that had really struck me were all written by Mulatu Astatke. According to Wiki he is the father of Ethio-Jazz. I didn’t know this, shame on me..

Mulatu Astatke – Gubelye

Mulatu Astatke – Yegelle Tezeta

Mulatu Astatke – Yekermo Sew

Roots ‘n’ Bees

I had to check this one out ‘cos I really like these 2. They both have the knack of making really good pop with depth (examples below).   I’m not sure about the collaboration tune yet, but at least it got me remembering these amazing Roots lyrics.

The Maccabees featuring Roots Manuva – Empty Vessels

Some say I’m arrogant, some say I’m laid back

From a council flat payin’ higher rate tax

Who’s the daps, who’s the geez, must be me, Manuva MC

With a second LP, for all of the girls I got the vitality

Be Brave

Have a listen to this one, it’s my favourite single in a while. A real shambolic, scratchy, messy beauty. It’s even got an ace Sax solo (no kidding).

The Strange Boys – Be Brave

National news

As The National have just announced a new LP I’ve attached the best (and probably only) song ever about setting car alarms off for the hell of it. This band are streets ahead of the pack lyrically and melodically. Give them time.

The Geese Of Beverly Road – The National

We’ll take ourselves out in the street
And wear the blood in our cheeks
Like red roses
We’ll go from car to sleeping car
And whisper in their sleeping ears
We were here, we were here
We’ll set off the geese of Beverly Road

Hey, love, we’ll get away with it
We’ll run like we’re awesome, totally genius
Hey, love, we’ll get away with it
We’ll run like we’re awesome

We won’t be disappointed
We’ll fight like girls for our place at the table
Our room on the floor
We’ll set off the geese of Beverly Road

Hey, love, we’ll get away with it
We’ll run like we’re awesome, totally genius
Hey, love, we’ll get away with it
We’ll run like we’re awesome

We’re the heirs to the glimmering world
[repeat]

We’re drunk and sparking, our legs are open
Our hands are covered in cake
But I swear we didn’t have any
I swear we didn’t have any

Hey, love, we’ll get away with it
We’ll run like we’re awesome, totally genius
Hey, love, we’ll get away with it
We’ll run like we’re awesome

We’re the heirs to the glimmering world
[repeat]

Oh, come, come be my waitress and serve me tonight
Serve me the sky tonight
Oh, come, come be my waitress and serve me tonight
serve me the sky with a big slice of lemon

We’re the heirs to the glimmering world
[repeat]

Oh, come, come be my waitress and serve me tonight
Serve me the sky tonight
Oh, come, come be my waitress and serve me tonight
serve me the sky with a big slice of lemon

Rainbows

I saw this massive rainbow when walking on Sunday. This mobile phone shot doesn’t do it justice but it gives me a good excuse to post a tune by The Pains of Being Pure At Heart My Bloody Valentine

Yeah Yeah

I’ve never seen them live but every time I see the YYY’s on TV they put on a great show. Karen O is a great front woman. She must also have a fucking big wardrobe

I love this photo

Tungsten time

My favourite sports tournament of the year is on this week.

Will  The Count win again??

Who knows, but Bobby will provide the puns..

Tickets

I went crawling under the bed yesterday to hide some Christmas presents and came across my ‘box of shit’.  Remember any of these?

Listomania

I’m fairly obsessive at scouring the year end lists in the fear I’ve missed something. Here’s a few that I would probably have missed without this..

From ‘Dark was the night’. One and a half minutes in Sharon Jones shows how the song should be done

Especially like the video on this one