Freedom Road

Swiss Concrete 5 - Neimo, Pop Klub Arsenal, Julius & James from Fork - Nov 1st 2006

2006-11-05T13:56:00.000-08:00

Tonight was the last night of the UK tour by French bands Neimo and Pop Klub Arsenal. Julius also paid us a visit but Where I'm Calling From had to pull out due to illness. Luckily we have a multi-talented sound man, James from Fork who opened proceedings.

The debut gig from Julius was rather delightful.

Pop Klub Arsenal became our first French band to play.

Neimo, playing a much smaller venue than they're used to back home, rocked out and blew us away.

The French are coming...

2006-10-28T02:59:00.000-07:00

Swiss Concrete 4 - Blood Music, Santa Dog, Little Eiffel, Trev Williams-Oct 24th 2006

2006-10-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

The fourth night had a distinct Swedish flavour, with a bit of Oxford and Bristol thrown in for good measure. Local Trev Williams opened the night.

Oxford/Sweden crossovers Little Eiffel were next, playing only their second gig

Bass players and scooters don't mix, so Bristolians Santa Dog were only half their usual size.

Headlining, all the way from Stockholm was Blood Music.

And the audience and promoters joined in the finale on percussion.

Swiss Concrete 3 - I, Ludicrous, The Wombats, The Humdrum Express-Oct 15th 2006

2006-10-25T11:02:00.000-07:00

And so to the third night which was kicked off by The Humdrum Express

Young upstarts The Wombats followed

And the legends that are I, Ludicrous headlined

And Grandma Flutter made her debut, overseeing proceedings from on high.

The second Swiss Concrete night. The Evenings album launch. Sunnyvale, nervous_testpilot, Lind Optical - Sep 14th 2006

2006-10-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

Our second gig was to launch the Evenings remix CD, available on Freedom Road Records. Various remixers played live and compered.

This is the sight that greeted punters on their way in.

Lind Optical opened proceedings

Lee Smilex kept control

nervous_testpilot raised the roof

Twizz Twangle popped up as special surprise guest and was joined by Lee Smilex

The crowd went wild

Sunnyvale rounded things off

All the excitement was just too much for our man on the door

The first Swiss Concrete night. Foxes!, The Sailplanes, Stornoway - Aug 20th 2006

2006-10-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

I think we all agree the first night was a big success. Great sets from Foxes!, The Sailplanes and Stornoway and 43 paying customers and one dog. We let him in for free though on condition he wouldn't hunt Foxes!
Thanks to everyone who came, hope to see you on the 14th!

First up were Stornoway

Here's a shot of a happy crowd watching Stornoway

There followed The Sailplanes

And Foxes! last

Camera problems prevented more photos. Loads more next time!

it's a great idea, but full of holes

2006-07-29T05:44:00.000-07:00

Come along, it's our first one!

Yes there's more - Truck photos part 3

2006-07-29T05:33:00.000-07:00

Panic sets in during A Scholar & A Physician's set when Oli realises he's left the oven on

undertheigloo in the Lounge Tent on Sunday

Truck festival - a few more photos

2006-07-29T05:19:00.000-07:00

Helen and I with Nik and some of Matt's friends

Helen getting accosted by some undesirables

Truck festival - a few photos

2006-07-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

nervous_testpilot rocks the Trailer Park tent

A kinda ropey photo of Harry Angel on the main stage

Genius at work - Matt reviewing Fell City Girl

Helen enjoying a nice sit down

short sharp shots

2006-01-26T21:59:00.000-08:00

1 - Simon Davies has put out a wonderful album called 'A Day Full Of Sun', which is reminiscent of Robert Wyatt and Luke Smith. Review here

2 - Stephen Fry's Who Do You Think You Are? was compelling viewing last night. Such a sad story to his ancestry, one part of the family were paupers or contracted TB. The saddest thing was seeing the big fella welling up when he discovered how many of his distant family of Jews were murdered in concentration camps in the Second World War.

3 - On Stephen Fry related news, I've realised how much young Dan Mitchell is going to turn into Mr Fry. Which can only be a good thing as you know.

4 - Jim Noir - Tower Of Love. A collection of his EPs from last year. It bleeps, it gurgles and is chock full of fine off kilter pop songs.

5 - Arctic Monkeys. Props for pissing off the pretentious music fans on certain forums and being an extremly popular band that's actually good.

6 - The Rachael Neiman Experience on Bailrigg FM. For making Freedom Road Records label of the week for the duration of Tuesday's show. Lovely things said about my websites and plays for:
undertheigloo - Show Your Face
Compute - Dance With Me
Wallpaper Silhouettes - A Need To Know
nervous_testpilot - Darkstar

7 - Harlette 'Don't Call Me Creepy' EP, giving you nightmares soon!

that was the year that was

2006-01-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

At the start of a new year it’s time for us at Freedom Road Records to look back over 2005 and reflect on what we’ve done and what people may have missed.

February saw the release of the ‘Dance With Me’ EP, some fine electro pop in the form of Sweden’s Compute. The band had briefly contained Jens Lekman before Ulrika Mild struck out on her own, leaving Jens to enjoy much success.

Music from the EP:

Compute - Dance With Me

Compute - Turn Your Head

Music not on the EP:

Compute - I Thought One Kiss Couldn't Do Any Harm

Compute - Every Chance

Words and pictures

June saw us release the ‘Echo the World’ album by Norway’s Wallpaper Silhouettes. Eighties styled indie pop in the mould of Orange Juice and the Chameleons.

Music from the album:

Wallpaper Silhouettes - A Need To Know

Wallpaper Silhouettes - Autumn Love

Music not on the album:

Wallpaper Silhouettes - The Marauder

Words and pictures

July saw us move into the murky world of trance with the release of nervous_testpilot’s ‘Determinance’ EP.

Music from the EP:

nervous_testpilot - Spacetime

Words and pictures

Finally November saw the release of undertheigloo’s debut album ‘Circlesend’. The band fall somewhere between Boards of Canada, Grandaddy and Radiohead.

Listen to the album:

undertheigloo - Circlesend

And that’s it for now...there’s new stuff planned for the first couple of months of this year, an EP from Harlette and a remix album from the Evenings.

If you like anything and want to buy a CD, you can do so here.

Have a good 2006!

i could have sold a lot of records...

2005-12-21T21:01:00.000-08:00

Cat Power...someone I'd never paid much attention to in the past, until this:

Cat Power - The Greatest

The new single, that promises to mutate into Moon River but pulls back from the precipice at the last moment and turns into something even better. Trust me it's that wonderful.

Today's header from 'I Am The Greatest' by A House. From the album of the same name, if you see a copy cheap somewhere buy it and i'll personally refund your money if you're not satisfied

about a dose of thrush you got while you were licking railings

2005-12-14T21:06:00.000-08:00

Well Ben Folds was top notch on Monday, playing a solo show as his drummer had food poisoning. The NIA is a strange cavernous venue but he coped admirably, even treating us to some drumming and funky bass guitar when the piano had to be repaired. And as if his own tunes weren't great enough he played his version of Dr Dre's 'Bitches Ain't Shit' again to much amusement and general awe.

So as we spiral helplessly to the end of the year it's time for a list.

Top 20 albums of 2005
1. Malcolm Middleton - Into The Woods
2. Antony & the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
3. Rufus Wainwright - Want Two
4. Sigur Ros - Takk
5. Clem Snide - End Of Love
6. The Decemberists - Picaresque
7. Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
8. Silver Sun - Dissapear Here
9. Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - 3
10. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
11. The Lucksmiths - Warmer Corners
12. Andrew Bird - & The Mysterious Production of Eggs
13. Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman
14. King Creosote - KC Rules OK
15. Grandaddy - Excerpts from the Diary Of Todd Zilla
16. Bright Eyes - Digital Ash In A Digital Urn
17. Half Man Half Biscuit - Achtung Bono
18. Martha Wainwright - Martha Wainwright
19. Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous
20. Saint Etienne - Tales From Turnpike House

Top 3 Compilation albums of 2005
1. Luke Haines - Is Dead
2. Fountains Of Wayne - Out Of State Plates
3. Belle & Sebastian - Push Barman To Open Old Wounds

And finally today's header is from 'Lazy Line Painter Jane' by Belle and Sebastian

nero fiddles while gordon burns

2005-12-11T21:32:00.000-08:00

God I'm so slack, two weeks without a post! So what's been happening I hear you cry? Somebody is reading this I presume? Well briefly I've been to see a wonderful gig in Sheffield City Hall featuring the splendid Rufus Wainwright and the equally wonderful Guillemots, saw part of Antony & the Johnsons set at Bristol Academy before departing for the hospital, seen Helen receive two cool pieces of news (firstly she's exhibiting her photographs at the Little Gallery in Oxford Feb 20 to Mar 5 2006 and secondly she has an interview on Tuesday for her teacher training course), I've booked tickets to see the Research and Death Cab for Cutie next year, reviewed Silver Sun and * Armstrong CDs, released and sold lots of copies of the undertheigloo album, went to the Nightshift Xmas meal and met lots of people who write under pseudonyms, interviewed James Broad from Silver Sun and been for two job interviews.
Tomorrow I go to see Ben Folds at the NIA in Birmingham which is very exciting indeed. Here's hoping for less audience chatter and general toing and froing in the seated venue we saw him in Southampton earlier in the year.
Finally if you want to go and buy something music wise tomorrow, I can heartedly recommend 'Mountains' by the Spinto Band (7" only), 'Alas Agnes' by the Mystery Jets and if you're really quick go and get one of the remaining copies 'Trains To Brazil' by Guillemots.

Today's header is from 'Joy Division Oven Gloves' by Half Man Half Biscuit

gonna pitch a wang dang doodle

2005-11-26T13:30:00.000-08:00

So the other day I finished writing my pitch for doing a book in the 33 1/3 series. These are the little pocket books written about a particular album and I've submitted a pitch for The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin. I'll find out sometime in January whether I'm one of the people commissioned to do a book, and if I'm successful then there's the small matter of researching it, interviewing people and writing 30,000 words. The book would be published in 2007, or more likely 2008.

Another themed CD swap took place at Gappy Tooth last night. This time all the song titles had to feature a town or city. Mine was titled 'Highway To Hull' and featured a Multimap cover and the directions from Oxford to Hull. The design was all Helen's idea! Although Dan wasn't there (his probably isn't finished anyway!) I did receive 'Urbie Goes Bananas' from Richard (in real Ordnance Survey map packaging!), 'Boroughs In Arms' from Alastair and 'Tinseltownship Rebellion' from Mark. I may post their tracklistings later, but for now here's mine....

London - Richard Catalogue - Live at Gappy Tooth
In & Out of Paris & London - The Divine Comedy – Casanova (Setanta)
We're From Barcelona - I'm From Barcelona - Sing!! (self released EP)
Fake Tales Of San Francisco - Arctic Monkeys - Demo
Commerce, TX - Ben Kweller - Sha Sha (WEA)
The Chapter In Your Life Entitled San Francisco - The Lucksmiths - Warmer Corners (Candle Records)
The Brighton Concorde – Beezewax - Oh Tahoe (Firefly)
The New New Yorker - My Life Story - Joined Up Talking (It)
San Francisco - Scrabbel – Scrabbel (Kittridge)
I Love New York - Selfish Cunt - No Wicked Heart Shall Prosper (Horseglue)
Chicago - Sufjan Stevens - C’mon Feel the Illinoise (Rough Trade)
London Sky Tonight - The Bridge Gang - Demo
Denver - Minus - Jesus Christ Bobby (Victory)
Stockholm City - The Funerals - Lordy
Reykjavikurnaetur – Megas Loftmynd
San Francisco Blues - Peggy Lee - San Francisco With Fond Memories
Zürich Is Stained - Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted: Luxe & Reduxe (Matador)
Boston - Piney Gir – Peakahokahoo (Truck Records)
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit - Half Man Half Biscuit – ACD (Probe Plus)
Bugger Bognor - Luke Haines - Das Capital (EMI)
In Cairo - Hot Hot Heat - Make Up The Breakdown (B-Unique)
O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Nat King Cole - Merry Christmas (EMI)
Galveston – Sparklehorse - New Sounds Of The Old West Volume 3 – (Loose)

Today's header is from Wang Dang Doodle by Willie Dixon

pick a card, any card, wrong!

2005-11-20T17:56:00.000-08:00

Ok, so maybe this hasn't been the greatest start to a blog. Three posts and then two weeks gap doesn't bode well. But this will all change, fear not! Let us recap the last couple of weeks.

Sat 5th
A fairly quiet day, notable only for the foreign invasion by Matt and Nik, to pick up the Young Knives tickets I couldn't use and to trawl through my CD collection.

Sun 6th
Helen goes off for her second week of work experience at a school in Doncaster. This is all in preparation for taking the PGCE next year.

Thurs 10th
undertheigloo support Blackbud at the Zodiac. UTI turn in a great set, Springtime and Show Your Face being particularly immense. Also Circlesend, the title track from the album, manages to pull the punters back who went to the bar on realisation it was a slow song, a neat feat indeed. Cute slow dancing by the couple stage left. Tonight the band officially sign to Freedom Road Records.

Sat 12th
undertheigloo on the air as Bearder plays Show Your Face on his Download show on BBC Oxford. Then we're off to see the Cheesegraters at the Exeter Hall, a cracking set of covers despite being warned of a high funk and soul content. Tonight I also learn two things about Nik, he was in the Swedish Army and used to play sax. I don't think he was in the army band though...

Sun 13th
Another live appearance by a Freedom Road Records act. nervous_testpilot supports knifehandchop at The Wheatsheaf and Nailbomb Cults makes up the trio of laptop acts. It's a bass heavy night which sends Helen downstairs with a headache. Good to see Dan and Alastair there, Dan's thoughts can be read on his blog. Check the Munch link on the left somewhere. CDs on sale tonight but no takers.

Tues 15th/Weds 16th
Parents down to visit, which means an excuse to eat out and we do some Christmas/Wedding shopping too...

Sat 19th
Chaffeur nervous_testpilot to his gig in Banbury. Although this makes for a long night and we sell no CDs again, it's great fun as the promoters, soundmen and other acts are great guys. So I have to say, go to I Am Giant gigs at the Mills Art Centre Banbury and go see Harry Angel, Big Speakers and Joe Swarbick. With 2 of Harry Angel doing sound, it presented the oppurtunity to see the photos and talk to them about supporting the Quo and Girls Aloud at the Children in Need gig on Friday. If you know them, ask to see the photo of Chris and Nadine...

Today's header from Jacket Hangs by the Blue Aeroplanes

passing the gun from father to feckless son

2005-11-04T17:57:00.000-08:00

We're releasing undertheigloo's album "Circlesend" soon and here's the blurb about it:

undertheigloo are a four piece from Oxford. Their music has taken in many genres to produce something truly special. Having nurtured a dynamic writing enviroment which affords them the ability to experiment, as well as posessing the confidence to challenge conventional song writing, they consistently produce material of breathtaking beauty that refuses to be pigeonholed but is genuinely accessible. As on record their live show mixes intricate drums, hypnotic bass, soaring guitars and effortless vocals to mesmerising effect. They naturally integrate keyboards and laptop-based sampling to open up near limitless sonic possibilities.

Their fundamental commitment to writing and performing has won them much praise, and gives them strong foundations upon which to grow into the national arena and beyond.

The band has spent the last few months independently recording its debut album with Jef Clayton. All instruments were recorded during a fortnight in an isolated lake district cottage and vocals have been recorded subsequently in their own studio.

undertheigloo’s debut album “Circlesend” is released on Freedom Road Records on November the 28th. It's available to pre-order now from www.freedomroadrecords.co.uk

The album is streaming on the band website www.undertheigloo.com

I've decided that rather than using inane titles for posts that I should just use lyrics I like. Most of them will have nothing at all to do with the post. Today's is from 'Leaders Of The Free World' by Elbow. undertheigloo photo copyright Brightside Photography 2005.

pen is mightier than the sword

2005-11-03T23:38:00.000-08:00

So all my buddies are starting writing, doing stuff for the denture and the like. They look to me for inspiration but start to realise they have it inside them already. Basically they love music. They love the gappy tooth nights because they're open minded and enjoy the fact that they never quite know what they're going to get.

Nik is a rocker from sweden and quite insane in the sweetest way. He's one of the funniest guys i've ever met, sometimes intentionally, sometime not. This is him scaring Anton Barbeau at the Port Mahon

Matt is a kiwi who says rad and dude a lot. He reckons us english are too reserved at gigs and he's probably right. This is him with Mr Gappy Tooth at their last night:

Go and read their blogs listed in the links to the left, they're far more interesting than mine.

anniversaries

2005-10-25T22:13:00.000-07:00

Hello, good evening and welcome to my world.

12 months have passed already since one day that marked a terrible event and a momentous one. These things tend to happen like this and the two events weren't entirely unconnected.

John Peel passed away in Peru and left the world without its leading musical light at the same time as my label, Freedom Road Records, issued it's first release. It's pretty certain that I'd never have done this if it wasn't for Peel's influence over my teenage years. He shaped my taste in music and made me believe I could do these things. I only wish he could have heard what he'd prompted me to do.

And to the present. Freedom Road Records prepares for it's fifth release, undertheigloo's 'Circlesend' album. And Peel? I bet he's entertaining them up in heaven with one of Napalm Death's 6 second classic "songs". God bless ya John.