Review | The Mancunian Candidate - Web Design, Development and Digital Product Strategist

Another Very Short Music post – Stephen Fretwell, Magpie

// November 1st, 2009 // No Comments » // General, Music

I’ve not listened to this album for at least a year, and before that, plays of it came randomly and somewhat far apart.

That’s a shame really, because every time I hear this album I tell myself I should play it more often. I really like this album. I like Fretwell’s outwardly northern vocals. I like his similarly bleak northern lyrics and songwriting ability and I like his voice.

Perhaps one of the reasons I don’t listen to it that often is that it doesn’t suit every occasion. It’s something to put on and enjoy at high volume in solitude. It’s a little melancholy in parts but the majority of it is modestly optimistic; even if as is the case with “Run” the lyrics seem to be describing a damaged, yet sincere and sad relationship.

I personally (and somewhat controversially) think that when Fretwell is on form he is potentially England’s answer to Dylan. As I am a huge Dylan fan, that’s not an easy thing to say, but certain parts of this album show huge chasms of Dylan-esque potential. As controversial as I know some people might find that statement, I stand by it.

Regardless of how people may interpret it, I do love this album and although I might not listen to it over and over or every week, I’m certain I’ll always have a copy of it with me till the end of my days.

He has done a second album, which is also quite good, but for me, Magpie will always be the stand out record (unless of course he betters it with a 3rd album – EPs aside).

I’ve put a couple of tracks below for your listening pleasure. If you like them, then please go and buy the album.

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Brief Comment on a New Band on My Radar – Get Back Guinozzo

// October 25th, 2009 // No Comments » // General, Music

I actually can’t recall where the recommendation to check this lot out originated from, but so far I’m kind of glad I did give it a listen regardless of where it came from.

It’s far from the best album I’ve ever heard, and probably will not even make it through to the hallowed position of a band or album I listen to regularly. But, seeing as though I’ve not heard anything noteworthy from their fellow countrymen and also purveyors of relaxed and leftfield electro that is “Air” for a while, “Get Back Guinozzo” are a worthy substitute for the “Air” intermission until I hear “Love 2″ properly.

I think I’ll be giving it plenty of plays over the coming weeks and months as it’s great music to work by, relax to and generally listen to without feeling it’s taking over your existence at that time.

The standout track is the album named “Carpet Madness” which is a floaty, uplifting and surprisingly well produced and full-sounding little ditty.

I predict much praise from the blogs for that particular track and perhaps some good reviews from the big guns (The Guardian, Pitchfork, Metacritic et al) for the album in the future.

Give it a go at least.

You can listen to Get Back Guinozzo – Carpet Madness below.

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Ian Brown – Stellify EP and Video

// August 13th, 2009 // No Comments » // General, Music

I’ve not got much time to properly review this today, so I’ll expand on it later. But Ian Brown’s new EP Stellify is well worth buying for both time-served King Monkey fans and new-comers.

The four track ep takes its tracks from the upcoming “My Way” album and signifies a return to form after the underwhelming effort (sorry, that is hard to admit) that was “The World is Yours”.

In the words of Ian Brown himself; Beg, steal, borrow or buy it – it’s worth it.

Here’s the video for Stellify featuring Ian taking a stroll through the streets of Manchester.

Video player and video stream supplied by Polydor/Universal Music

An Oft Overlooked Hip Hop Gem – Atmosphere

// July 17th, 2009 // No Comments » // General

Now like many others I like a bit of the old hippety hop every now and again, especially anything with an “old-skool” taste to it, none of this autotune R&B nonsense.

Whilst randomly browsing the A’s in my iTunes I rediscovered the Atmosphere album “When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold”. This album was originally sent to me last year to contemplate and in all honesty I’d have probably passed it by hadn’t it had such a wonderful title. Anyway back in last year I gave it a chance and quite liked it, finding myself enamoured particularly by the handclap synthy sound of “Shoulda Known” and the silky feel of “Puppets”.

Listening to it again tonight gave me a new appreciation for the overall slickness of this album and I would recommend it to any other hip hop listeners out there. Any purveyors of hip hop who can convince Tom Waits to beat box for them are worthy of mention just for that in fact.

As a side note, iTunes genius threw up another hip hop fave of mine from recent years, K-Os -Elektrik Heat, The Seekwill. This little Canadian born ditty of recent years makes me yearn for the old days of proper rap music. Have a listen.

Manchester Calling – Musically At Least

// June 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Music

Perhaps subconsciously I’m a little homesick but whilst I’m sat here working away in Camden I can’t stop myself listening to some good old Manc classics.

It all started this morning when one of my all time favourite records came through via an iTunes set to random. The unmistakable rhythm guitar from the classic “Let’s Take a Trip” by Northside gripped me immediately and sent me into a spin back to a little Manchester-in-my-head. For me it’s one of the defining songs of the whole ‘Madchester’ scene and to some extent Factory records too; optimistic, uplifting whilst still being a bit rough. (For the record in my opinion much of Factory’s music was quite uplifting -if a bit scruffy- despite the belief by some that it was all a bit tragic due to the Joy Division association, but that’s another debate.)

Following on from that, I couldn’t help but dig out Palatine: The Factory Story; the 4 piece box set containing some outstanding tracks from pretty much every member of the Factory family. From Joy Division early James and The Durutti Column through to more the obscure X-O-Dus and Kalima the full set mixes the upbeat with the downright grim. It’s a pretty good way to reawaken any dormant Manchester thoughts in anyone’s brain and today in-particular I’m glad for it (gladferit?).

If you can dig it out (I believe it goes for anything between £75 and £1000 second hand these days so good luck), I highly recommend it. Although listening to the albums from which the tracks are taken is always worth the time if you have it.

My notable tracks:
Sketch For Summer – The Durutti Column
Hymn From a Village – James
Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division (Of course this has to be there)
You’re No Good – ESG
Happy Ever After – Stockholm Monsters (Weird Johnny Rotten/Brian Ferry/Roxy Music sound but lovely)
Sparkle – Kalima (The birth of the Balearic scene maybe?)
24 Hour Party People – Happy Mondays
World In Motion – New Order (Catch Me If You Can, Coz I’m The England Man – Ha Ha John Barnes)
Wrote For Luck – Happy Mondays

Essential Addition to Your Summer Playlist – Discovery

// June 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // Music

If summer ever comes that is; I thought it was meant to be always sunny and warm down here – or so my cockernee friends always told me.

Anyway, Jon Hicks yesterday posted a brief intro to the new band Discovery (he discovered it perhaps?). Discovery are a side project taking 50% of its members from Vampire Weekend and 50% from Ra Ra Riot a blend that works for me as I quite like both bands.

This type of synthy electro pop is the perfect way to brighten up your day a little. Have a listen over at the Hype Machine.

Stars & Stripes: The White Stripes Remixes

// March 26th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Design, Music

White Stripes Remix

Found on Uncrate today:

With their signature bluesy sound, it’s not too surprising that The White Stripes’ music is ripe for remixing. Stars & Stripes: The White Stripes Reimagined (Free) is exactly that: a free 13-track album created by Adrian Champion, mixing classic songs and rhymes from artists including Outkast, Kanye, Biggie, Jay-Z, and more, over beats and samples from The White Stripes. A perfect party album. (Uncrate Post)

Even if you are not a White Stripes fan (what’s wrong with you?) or a lover of hip hop this is an exquisitely produced album and it’s worth a look just for the promo video (below) and site design.

Get it for free here