"It was really inspiring moving to Bristol, I was attracted to it because it looked cool, I liked how it looked on the Crescent album covers." These are the words of François Marry, the main man behind François and the Atlas Mountains , a band of musicians mostly from France, who have travelled throughout the UK and mutated over the course of several years into a steady line-up and a very impressive live unit. From what I remember of the covers of the post-rock band Crescent, they were usually black and white photographs, often blurred. In contrast, the music that François ...

A Domino records double whammy as the moving collaboration between the Fife folkster and electronic auteur is supported by our current Gallic band of choice. Burak Cingi shoots.

A brand new single from Talent Couture featuring the other KC's XV. Das EFX fans should appreciate this.

«Ακόμα με τις λίστες ασχολείστε; Φεβρουάριος έφτασε!» Αφού τα είπαμε, στο some beans το αγαπημένο μας σύνθημα είναι το «φέεεετααα»! Έτσι και αλλιώς τελείωσε ένας Ιανουάριος με λίγες ειδήσεις και ακόμα λιγότερες σημαντικές κυκλοφορίες οπότε δεν χάσατε πάρα πολλά. Και γιατί να βιαστούμε άλλωστε; Ας αφήσουμε στην άκρη τα αυτιστικά μας που μας επιβάλλουν να είμαστε πάντα στην ώρα μας (αλήθεια από πότε καθιερώθηκε αυτή η ώρα;) και επίκαιροι και ας απολαύσουμε 40 από εμένα και 40 από την uptight (σύντομα κοντά σας) επιλογές από υπέροχους δίσκους. Η καλή μουσική άλλωστε είναι πάντα επίκαιρη. 40. Micachu & the Shapes/ London Sinfonietta - Chopped & Screwed Ο δεύτερος δίσκος των Micachu είναι μια ζωντανή ηχογράφηση της μπάντας μαζί με την μικρή ορχήστρα του Λονδίνου. Μοιάζει με soundtrack τέλους του κόσμου, φοβερά ατμοσφαιρικό, μυστήριο, δυσοίωνο και περίεργο. Η μπάντα ακούγεται σα να έχει παγιδευτεί μέσα στο μάτι μιας μύγας, έχοντας μια ευρυγωνική, κάπως διεστραμμένη και σατανική άποψη για τον κόσμο. Δεν είναι άκουσμα για καλοκαιρινές βόλτες στην παραλία αλλά μια ιδιαίτερη ακρόαση που άλλοτε διαλύεται μπροστά στα μάτια σου, άλλοτε σέρνεται ακρωτηριασμένο λερώνοντας το πάτωμα και άλλοτε προσπαθεί ανεπιτυχώς να ανοίξει τα φτερά του να πετάξει μέχρι να προσγειωθεί με τα μούτρα. Αυτό το ανίερο πάντρεμα κλασσικής μουσικής και απροσάρμοστης pop επιβάλλεται να ακούστει με προσοχή και ενδιαφέρον. Για παράδειγμα: Micachu And The Shapes/ London Sinfonietta- "Not So Sure" 39. Ensemble - Excerpts Γαλλική noire pop μουσική για όλα τα εκλεπτυσμένα γούστα σύντομα σε ένα σινεμά κοντά σας. Ο ενεργός από το 1998 Olivier Alary έφτιαξε κινηματογραφική μουσική για σκοτεινά ρομάντζα, απατεώνες και προδοσίες. Ο Serge Gainsbourg είναι μία επιρροή που αναγνωρίζεται άμεσα από τον ακροατή αν και η προσέγγιση του Olivier δεν προσπαθεί να σοκάρει με την πρωτοτυπία της και την τόλμη της παρά μόνο μοιάζει με πολύ προσεγμένη αναβίωση της συγκεκριμένης μουσικής, με λιγότερα new wave στοιχεία, περισσότερα jazz και πιο ορχηστρική. Επίσης o Alary μαζί με τον Anthony Gonzalez αποδεικνύουν στους Nouvelle Vague πως υπάρχουν Γάλλοι παραγωγοί που πασχίζουν να φτιάξουν καινούργια μουσική. Για παράδειγμα: Ensemble - Excerpts 38. The Field - Looping State Of Mind Πραγματικά πολύ πετυχημένος τίτλος για δίσκο. Ο Σουηδός, τέσσερα χρόνια μετά την αναγνώριση του ντεμπούτου του που εμφανίστηκε σε αρκετές λίστες της δεκαετίας (εμένα η αγαπημένη μου ήταν αυτή που ήταν καλύτερος δίσκος της δεκαετίας μαζί με τους Abbie Gale ;-D), επιστρέφει με συνεκτικά ...

Camp Bestival have announced that Jimmy Carr will headline the comedy bill on the Sunday. They've also announced that Rolf Harris, King Creosote & Jon Hopkins, Lianne La Havas, Netsky, Ren Harvieu and James Yorkston will join the likes of Earth Wind And Fire, Frankie Rose, Little Dragon & more this (July 26-29th) at Lulworth Castle. For the full line-up, and ticket info, head to www.campbestival.net

Ever since hearing that King Creosote & Jon Hopkins’ gig at the Grand Ole Opry last year was "the best gig ever", I've been inquisitively intrigued by the act ever since. How can music that's ambient and slow-paced be so entertaining to watch? Well I got to find out when King Creosote & Jon Hopkins played at a sell-out gig at the O2 ABC, Glasgow, as part of Celtic Connections 2012. King Creosote (alias Fife singer-songwriter Kenny Anderson) and electronic composer John Hopkins, were also joined by fellow Fifer KT Tunstall, who sang backing vocals throughout most of the night. The night started with their album ‘Diamond Mine’, a collaboration they made last year and which nearly won them a Mercury Prize for their efforts. Hopkins starts the ball rolling with ‘First Watch’, a piano instrumental, and instantly the crowd is hooked. “Why?” you might ask? Well, in those first couple of minutes, love for this album was solidified. ‘First Watch’ is like a heart rendering lament, it stirs your inner core and takes you back to a time in your life where you remember those you've loved and lost. Don't ask why, it just does. It's poignant and thought-provoking. Suck it and see. Before the audience can get out of their trance, King Creosote enters the stage and starts singing ‘John Taylor's Month Away’, which tells the story of a man who's going back to work “on a boat one ten miles east of Aberdeen.” There’s such an edge to his voice, it's powerfully romantic, endearing and effortless. His charming demeanour and humbling stage presence makes the crowd hold onto every note; the words of this song drag them into the story of someone who has to deal with the trials and tribulations of working away from friends and family. Melancholy isn’t the best way to describe this music. It's so tranquil, it's like time has stopped. The O2 ABC's bar profits must be taking one hell of a beating as the crowd is fixated, no, hypnotised by the 'King'. Nobody's moving. King Creosote also interacts with the audience during the gig, he's down to earth with a brilliant sense ...

A couple of record launches nestle discreetly amongst this leap month’s gigs. Nova Scotia’s Gabriel Minnikin’s launches his new album “Parakeets with Parasols” with a gig (or rather a 'Record Release Concert') at the Martin Harris Centre . The ex-Guthries member has been making solo country-rock records in Manchester since 2004, with this latest a collection of piano songs recorded in a Whalley Range church. The concert will be “ the new record live, in its entirety, from start to finish. I will be playing the piano, accompanied by a chamber orchestra consisting of strings, woodwind, brass and singers ...

idoneous \ahy-DOH-nee-uhs\, adjective: Appropriate; fit; suitable; apt. Idoneous is derived from the Latin word idōneus which meant "suitable." 501k When one's economic situation has become so tenuous that their entire net worth is in the pockets of their jeans. Sorry, bro, can't go drinking tonight, the wife raided my 501k. Trivia What U.S. university offers a performance degree in bagpipes? Carnegie Mellon, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The university, founded by Scottish-born steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, has offered the degree since 1990. History 1865 - In America, General Robert E. Lee was named general-in-chief of the Confederate armies. 1865 - The ...

Take a look at the gigs our writers will be reviewing this week, and tell us about live music you've seen recently Each week we publish a list of concerts our writers will be covering in the next few days, and we invite you to tell us about the shows you've attended recently or bands you're hoping to see soon. Last week readers told us they'd been to see Howler williewandsworth: Great set, great attitude, and an album with four or five potential singles. If they play the right festivals this year they'll be massive ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The family of a missing Kansas City baby has taped an appearance on the "Dr. Phil" show. Viewers...

Hector Bizerk – Bloc // 4th February 2012 Fresh and snappy hip-hop from Scots duo Hector Bizerk. Best of all? If you get there before midnight, it’s free! Click here to buy tickets You can visit Hector Bizerk by heading to http://www.soundcloud.com/hectorbizerk/ Other Gigs 30/01/12 : Wild Flag – Oran Mor // Click here to buy tickets 03/02/12 : Laura Veirs – The Arches // Click here to buy tickets 04/02/12 : Howler – King Tut’s // Click here to buy tickets 05/02/12 : Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – King Tut’s // Click here to buy tickets Gigs chosen ...

Photos by Euan Robertson

bleb \bleb\, noun: 1. A bubble. 2. Medicine/Medical. A blister or vesicle. Bleb was first used in the early 1600s. It is considered imitative of a blister itself. It is also related to the Middle English word blob. eye broccoli opposite of eye candy, someone unappealing to look at, eg. (how i met your mother) marshall's ex-assistant barney: "so, who's the eye broccoli?" marshall: "my new assistant" Trivia What country elected a TV celebrity chef as its prime minister and then ousted him for hosting his cooking shows while in office? Thailand, in 2008. The late Samak ...

Louis Abbott and Friends – Brel // 25th January 2012 Glasgow is positively bursting this week with almost every kind and style of music you can imagine. There’s even an appearance from Motown legend Martha Reeves! However, with it being Burns Night this week, this seems a rather more fitting choice… Click here to buy tickets You can visit Admiral Fallow by heading to http://admiralfallow.com/ Other Gigs 23/01/12 : Explosions In The Sky – O2 Academy // Click here to buy tickets 26/01/12 : King Creosote and Jon Hopkins – O2 ABC // Click here to buy tickets 28/01/12 ...

Here's a list of things I either have done or will be doing today instead of watching football (all activities took or will take place in bed unless otherwise noted): 1. Cat nap. 2. Pet my cat. 3. Use my cat as a pillow so I can hear him purr more clearly. 4. Put my cat's food bowl on the table so we can brunch together. 5. Listen to Teena Marie with my cat. 6. Video chat with girls about cats and naps (while my cat takes a cat nap). 7. Watch a full season of Workaholics with ...