You On The Run

One of my very favourite bands, The Black Angels, have finally got a new song to hear.

Some of the good things about The Black Angels:

1. Their motto is "Turn On, Tune In, Drone Out"

2. They manage to compress The Velvets, The Doors, The 13th Floor Elevators into a super dense ball of heaviosity

3. Their bassist was born in a cult compound

4. Their first record was a stand against the current war, with songs like "Young Men Dead"

5. They're just fucking fantastic

6. They have an actual instrument called a "Drone Machine" that one of them built from shrapnel

7. They are lovely people

8. They rock like no one else

Click here to dig their music on myspace

Where have all the children gone?

So ran the headline of a local newspaper as I ate my lunch at the theatre - I was terrified at first, expecting to learn of some terrible massacre or epidemic.

It turns out however, that due to falling birth rates and overpriced housing, the streets of St. Andrews may have a few less children running around in the future.

Phew, close one!

The odd thing about this video is the fact that the band don't notice all the children, not once, not at all.

Frightened Rabbit are ace, and although this new song of theirs is much more restrained than the phenomenal "The Modern Leper" that I linked to previously on The Spill, it's still rather good and has an interesting false start to it.

The Bong in this Reggae Song

So then, it's 1992 (slight return) as The Breeders are back with a new song and a new(ish) ethos in recording practice.

They have a new track, from their new LP, for free streaming or free download if you click here.

Further down the page is an explanation of the "All Wave" recording process, which the legendary Mr Steve Albini (recordist of In Utero, Mogwai, Mclusky, PJ Harvey et al) is pioneering as the music version of Dogme 95.

It is interesting, don't get me wrong, and admirable - but it's not like he ever stopped recording this way. Here's the Deal (arf!):

"

The “All Wave” philosophy, which loosely stated, is that everything should be an analog sound recording of someone playing or singing, rather than using a computer to generate or digitally manipulate sounds separated from the dimension of time in which they were performed.

In short, to record All Wave one must use no computers, no digital recording, no auto-tuning, or any other mainstays of contemporary production.

The All Wave philosophy carries through the entire production and mastering process, including mixing, editing, sequencing, post-production and the exceptional step of an all-analog direct-metal master for the vinyl LP.This process has been employed on Title TK, the Off You EP, and upcomingMountain Battles."

It's interesting in a "fight the power" kinda way - but on the other hand, discounts any form of music that 'computers' have had a hand in as somehow substandard, or less "worthy".

I know I'm going to get splinters in my arse, but surely there's a happy medium?

Wouldn't it be better to rail against the close-mindedness of major labels and the record buying public, rather than focussing on one point alone?

Anyways, here's a video clip from a more innocent time, a time when we didn't have to worry about the evils of pro-tools as a force for destroying the innocent ears of "the kids":

Incidentally, the fact that I liked to boogie to the above song made me a very happy teenager in a variety of ways...thanks The Breeders!