anika in london

I do not review albums or songs.

This is a test to see how many people actually look at the blog they’re sending to before they send you an mp3.

I listened to Attempted Mustache for the first time since yonks ago, perhaps since last summer. I love the album and this is one of my favourite songs from it.

I really love this cover by Rufus and Martha -

At risk of sounding creepy, there’s something really familiar and homely about the Wainwright family clan which makes them feel loveable… sort of like you wish they were your own family.

Their tribute show for Kate McGarrigle in 2010 remains as one of the most beautiful and moving shows I have ever seen.

Here is a mini documentary The Guardian made about me and Bandstand Busking. I sound funny.

The Guardian / London Lives : Bandstand Busking -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/interactive/2012/mar/09/london-lives-bandstand-busking-audio-slideshow

One thing the documentary highlighted is that maybe I should brush my hair every now and again.

You should add the Bella Union blog into your reader – http://bellaunion.com/blog/

I maintain the Bella website, and so have taken liberty of using the blog to promote cats every Friday. Hannah wrote a great Feline Friday last week, featuring these beauties:

Here’s The Crying Game remixed by Active Child:

Hannah Cohen – The Crying Game (Active Child remix) by Bella Union

Hannah’s here in May playing at Vortex on the 9th. The record was produced by Thomas Bartlett (Doveman).

I bought this from my lovely friend Rupert’s record shop (Drift, in Totnes) the other day:

Magnificent sounds and beautiful artwork and packaging to match! Lovely weighty card and bright colour images. Lovely.

Here is a fantastic record I picked up for a couple of pounds on eBay.

Released in 1970 by Scottish folk singer Al Stewart, this record features one of my favourite of his songs – ‘Gethsemane, Again‘. Fantastic record from an under appreciated artist.

I was astonished to find this gem in an Oxfam in Totnes, Devon -

Wendy’s soundtrack work with Rachel Elkind on Stanlet Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. This was early on in her career and released under the name Walter Carlos. The music was recorded in 1971. Bleepblop bands who cloud the internet should wish they sounded this good…

Beach House // Myth

Beach House finally shared ‘Myth’ from the new LP ‘Bloom’ out May 14th on Bella Union in EU/UK and Sub Pop in America.

Listen on the Beach House website.

The band perform in Brighton and London on the 23rd and 24th of May. I can’t wait. Here is the tracklist:

BLOOM // TRACKLIST
Myth
Wild
Lazuli
Other People
The Hours
Troublemaker
New Year
Wishes
On The Sea
Irene

Beach House have been a special band for me for a long while, and I can hand-on-heart say this is my favourite record since Teen Dream, and, given time, I’m sure I’ll come to love it even more than the last LP. It won’t disappoint.

Next month I will be 22. I think in many ways I am exactly the same as when I was 18, and in a few ways I am different. It’s nice to be a part of a small label as great as Bella Union, and to know lots of good people. I like the spot where I live. It feels as though I am more ’settled’ than I have ever been. I have made new friends and lost a couple of old ones along the way, but every day is a learning day.

I don’t write in this blog much anymore, but I still love music more than anything. Here is a song I loved when I was 18 and still love now.

Chris and Anna performing ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ (original, not the Elvis song) from Chris’ old record ‘Music For Tourists’ and the ‘C-Sides’ EP.