PLAYLIST :::: #2

This, my second spotify playlist, concentrates on the more melancholy aspect of the musical spectrum. Theres no particular reason for this, although my itunes is maybe more skewed towards this region in general.

Hopefully theres still ample variation, and although there are 3 oceansize songs listed, these actually all sum to one larger part. I bought that ep on vinyl and couldnt find where one song started and another began.

Again spotify has let me down. I compiled the playlist using songs from my itunes, but couldnt finish how id like. Originally I'd wanted to include my favourite Smith's song - 'This Night Has Opened My Eye' and the Moon Pix version of Cat Power's 'Metal Heart' but the gaps in spotifys library thwarted me. Also I had to change my selection of Radiohead song from the haunting 'Videotape' which was a shame.

Finally got my hands on Sonic Youth's cover of the Carpenter's 'Saturday'. Saw it in a mates favorite track list, and was puzzled to why I didnt recognise it's name. Turns out it was recorded in 1994 but never released on a proper sonic youth album. Has appeared most recently on the Juno soundtrack, and originally on a Carpenters tribute. Awesome song, hence its numero uno status on this list.

PLAYLIST :::: #1

Ive just checked out spotify, sure it hasnt got everything ever committed to tape, but it does seem to have a huge selection. I'm going to post links to spotfy playlists on here, hopefully pretty regularly.

So here goes, my first spotify playlist, click on the tracklist image to listen. Obviously to play it youll need to sign up (its free!) and install the program.

PHOTOS :::: Band Night [at] ICU, South Kensington 14/03/09

There was a charity band night for engineers without borders that I did some photos at. The lighting was pretty erratic, from being very bright to dim for different bands, and the dark conditions brought out the flaws in my humble nikon d40.

I cant remember the names to all the bands, but the headliners 'The Modern Cliches' deserve a special mention. I really liked their indie pop goodness, and did a blinding cover of the Arctic Monkeys 'I Bet You Look Good on The Dancefloor'.

LIVE :::: Swanton Bombs [at] Old Blue Last, Shoreditch 12/03/09

The Swanton Bombs take their name from the famous wrestling move, theres two of them and their both only 19. They are very raw, pretty bluesy and thats why it works so well. The dingy sweaty Old Blue Last a very fitting venue.

The singer/guitarist also plays with his brother in another band Eugine Mcguiness, a freind is doing some recording with them at the moment and he played me some of their tracks which seemed really good too. Think arctic monkeys influenced guitars, but vocally (on the recordings i heard) some way towards rufus wainwright (well kinda).

PHOTOS :::: Micachu and the Shapes [at] Koko 13/03/09

Micachu and the Shapes supported Partick Wolf at club NME. I actually like these photos better than the ones of Patrick. This was my first time shooting at a venue so large with such a good lighting rig etc, and it was naturally alot easier to get the focus right for these as they wernt bounding around like him!

LIVE :::: Patrick Wolf [at] Koko, Camden 13/03/09

Entering the Koko’s stage through darkness, Patrick Wolf emerges with a vampire-esque demeanour. Clad in tight leather trousers, colossal boots and an ominous cape, only his bright blond hair impedes the count Dracula effect. As soon as the cape is shed, a feather like shirt is revealed, fluttering with his erratic movements. It is clear from the start this is going to be a theatrical affair.

Tonight Patrick is testing the water with some new material, although you wouldn’t guess it, each new song is delivered as if it’s been part of his set list for years. His stage presence is monumental, aided by the adoption of a head microphone leaving him free to roam the stage at will. It doesn’t take long for him to get up on the barrier and in the faces of those in the front row, and its moments like these that justify why he’s got such a cult following.

With three albums already firmly tucked under his belt, its nice to see Patrick hasn’t forgotten some of their gems with each album represented in the set list. Songs such as the defiant ‘Tristan’ or the uplifting ‘Magic Position’ would have been criminal to omit.



Naturally after finishing it doesn’t take long for Patrick to be summoned back to the stage for an encore by the expectant crowd. He does disappoint, entering with an even more outlandish new outfit and glitter coated face before breaking into forthcoming single ‘The Vulture’ and finishing with an old favourite in ‘Bloodbeat’.

Overall Patrick seems to have everything. He is a very talented songwriter and musician, and looks as if he were born to perform. His music is pop influenced enough to be easily accessible yet retaining complexity through varied instrumentation and arrangements that songs don’t become tiresome. Some might take his eccentric costumes to be pretentious or simply a gimmick, but when they are backed up by such quality in the music these arguments simply don’t matter.

http://patrickwolf.com/
http://www.myspace.com/officialpatrickwolf