The Reindeer Section - You Are My Joy

I first heard of the Reindeer Section a couple of years ago, when I found out that Belle & Sebastian (one of my favourite bands) were contributers. The album Son of Evil Reindeer offsets raw emotion and heartbreak with some beautiful instrumentation, including some B&S style orchestral backing music. The mood here is far brighter than on the previous, more experimental Y'all Get Scared Now, Ya Hear and the line-up of Glasgow-centric collaborators ( 27, though it seems far from crowded ) have put together an unashamedly melodic set of songs.

The Reindeer Section - Cartwheels

Fans of Snow Patrol, Belle & Sebastian, Alfie, Idlewild, Arab Strap, Mull Historical Society et al can buy this album with complete confidence. To the uninitiated, it could serve as an appetiser for any of the above (particularly Snow Patrol, as it's predominently a Gary Lightbody project).

I've read the album described as "hot chocolate for the ears", and I think that describes it just perfectly. It is simply gorgeous music to just lie down and wrap yourself up in. A delight to listen to every time it hits your speakers.

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

The O.C. - Loved the show, especially the Seth's comedy. Here's my tribute, written by Leonard Cohen, the Season One finale song.

Xmas Mix

Thanks to those few who posted comments on my last post, I'm still grumpy but too tired to care today after I was forced to work for 16 hours yesterday (9am-1am).

An early Xmas Mix for you courtesy of More Cowbell. I completed my list of (non-online) purchases for Xmas on Sunday, I therefore do not have to brave December shopping crush in London - this makes me happy and even a bit festive :o)

P.S. Apparently blogging was a story on The West Wing episode shown in the US last night.

Cirera - Motherfucker, Fake Vegetarian Ex-Girlfriend

I've now gone 6 posts without any comments, so I guess no-one's reading so I'm not even going to bother telling you anything about Cirera.

Mood: Grumpy.

Martha Wainwright - BMFA

I just missed seeing Martha Wainwright at Rough Trade's RoTa at Nottinghill Arts Club on Sunday afternoon.

Her new EP Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole is available at CD-Baby and select record stores.

Martha Wainwright - I Will Internalize

For those Stateside she plays Paramus Picture Show (65 Rt. 4 West, Paramus) in New Jersey tonight.

Martha Wainwright - When The Day Is Short

Pauline Taylor - Didn't Notice

I love this kind of track - quiet, simple, dreamy, beautiful.

Pauline Taylor has a love for songs and song writing with a heavily traditional approach... meaning, you're gonna get lyrics with passion and relevance and music with bite.

Pauline is the voice of the million selling album Reverence from Faithless, and with them has performed to over ½ million people.

The Radio - Remember Me Remember You

This track, with it's dreamy Phil-Spectory sound, is the opener on the debut album Kindness from Ireland's new indie supergroup The Radio, with Stephen M (ex-Rollerskate Skinny), Annie Tierney (ex-Chicks) and Mark Dennehy (ex-Johnny Pyro). Enjoy.

If you liked my Vervein post back in August, you'll love The Radio.

The Dawn Parade - The Underground

The Dawn Parade’s new single The Underground – released November 15th on Sugartown / Pinnacle Records – will be the first new offering from the band since Rolling Stone’s Mike Krugman and Jason Cohen made Wider Than The January Skies Single of the Year at the start of 2004.

The Dawn Parade - Wider Than The January Skies

Having received the same accolade the previous year for The Hole in my Heart, The Dawn Parade's anthemic songs have also made the band favourites with BBC Radio One DJ John Peel, and witnessed an unprecedented level of Radio One airplay for an unsigned act.

The Dawn Parade - Hole In My Heart

The Dawn Parade’s 2003 Caffeine Row EP was embraced by the UK press, while the band’s live shows have received rave reviews.

The Dawn Parade - Caffeine Row

Two BBC Radio One John Peel Sessions – the celebrated second of which aired live from the legendary Maida Vale Studios in London – have followed, as well as X-FM sessions, five national UK tours, and an In The City performance which saw the band selected as the highlight of the industry weekend by The Hit Sheet.

2004 has already seen Dead Man’s Hand made a winner in the world’s premier songwriting award, the Nashville based International Songwriting Competition, which this year received 11,000 entries. With critical fervour for 2004’s live shows, the band can’t wait to get back on the road in November, while the long-awaited debut album might just be on the shelves before spring.

The Dawn Parade - The Passion

The Dawn Parade - Strung Out On Nowhere

Merril Bainbridge - For A Moment

A quickie for you today: Merril is best known for the excellent Mouth, an international hit in 1997. This is from her new album. Vocally, melodically, lyrically, production-wise, it's simply lovely.

I'm Back!

Back from my work deluge and from a short holiday to get over it - proper post later today hopefully....