The Manilla Envelope
Friday, May 21, 2004
Coco Rosie 19th May 2004 @Spitz
Great venue for these sisters to weave their magic. I'd been digging the album after a friend put a song on a compilation for me. Said friend wasn't interested in them by the time of the gig which must be a record for the undulating fickle nature of music taste.
It becomes clear he's missed out from the moment they take the stage with an air of eccentric innocence that compels you to look. The older Rosie plucks a harp and they have a lo-fi beat boxer instead of drums. The combination is a master stroke, grabbing the attention of the beguiled audience immediately. It appears there's sibling rivalry on display over weird instrumentation. I'm partially unsighted as to what the younger Coco is doing, but I'm told later her sounds came out of assorted toys including an owl and a miniature trumpet. The award would have to go to her, but that's not to detract from Rosie who busies herself with the more traditional guitar/keyboard thing.
They play nearly all the album including 'Good Friday' with its haunting refrain, I believe in St. Nicholas. You can hear their classically trained background but it is their harmonising that floors you, effortlessly overlapping the phrase around each others vocals. In-between songs they all smile sheepishly and whisper their gratitude. They loop a phone ringing throughout the pauses, and it creates a domesticated vibe. Are we in the Parisian flat where they do their recording?
They end the main set with the sublime 'By Your Side', then after much pleading return for a final number, leading to the only flaw in an hour of bewitchment. Mister Lo Fi Beat Boxer gets an out-of-context solo rap spot, like MC Solaar (it's in French) backed by a female Delta Blues outfit. I let him off though as he had great discipline and restraint previously. The crowd, however, are cheering him on until long after. Who am I to argue?
Great venue for these sisters to weave their magic. I'd been digging the album after a friend put a song on a compilation for me. Said friend wasn't interested in them by the time of the gig which must be a record for the undulating fickle nature of music taste.
It becomes clear he's missed out from the moment they take the stage with an air of eccentric innocence that compels you to look. The older Rosie plucks a harp and they have a lo-fi beat boxer instead of drums. The combination is a master stroke, grabbing the attention of the beguiled audience immediately. It appears there's sibling rivalry on display over weird instrumentation. I'm partially unsighted as to what the younger Coco is doing, but I'm told later her sounds came out of assorted toys including an owl and a miniature trumpet. The award would have to go to her, but that's not to detract from Rosie who busies herself with the more traditional guitar/keyboard thing.
They play nearly all the album including 'Good Friday' with its haunting refrain, I believe in St. Nicholas. You can hear their classically trained background but it is their harmonising that floors you, effortlessly overlapping the phrase around each others vocals. In-between songs they all smile sheepishly and whisper their gratitude. They loop a phone ringing throughout the pauses, and it creates a domesticated vibe. Are we in the Parisian flat where they do their recording?
They end the main set with the sublime 'By Your Side', then after much pleading return for a final number, leading to the only flaw in an hour of bewitchment. Mister Lo Fi Beat Boxer gets an out-of-context solo rap spot, like MC Solaar (it's in French) backed by a female Delta Blues outfit. I let him off though as he had great discipline and restraint previously. The crowd, however, are cheering him on until long after. Who am I to argue?
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Travelling Around Canada/USA Pt III: New England
Boston
Harvard, UMASS, MIT, Irish People, College Rock, Good Will Hunting, Funny Accents, Celtics, Red Sox, Mystic River and Cheers.
Had to go through a toll to get there. We didn't have exact money but ended up in the pre pay lane and got some serious road rage directed against us for our crime against humanity. I made sure I looked like a terrorist as the impatient yuppy roared by. Before all that we crossed the border from Canada into Vermont and had our boot checked, as the official was going through my passport he saw that I had been to Ghana and wondered why I'd been there. I wearily replied that it had nice beaches but he preferred California because at least there 'you wouldn't get a speared in your butt by a pygmy'. I should have said that I travelled there so as not to end up a ignorant redneck like he clearly was but we needed entry into his great country.
On the plus side Vermont was beautiful. So named because of the abundance of forest-covered hills (its French but they dropped a 't'). We got lost several times and ended up in traffic in New Hampshire which was also scenic and as the name implies, had a kind of Middle England feel to it except with more pick up trucks. When we finally got to Boston it was late and we were pretty hacked off with everything and each other which climaxed when we tried to find parking and accomodation. I wanted to get settled and go out but my brother thought having a beer right now was a better idea. It wasn't pretty. And I thought he was suppose to be the older, responsible one. After being turned away from many of the cheap occupied hostels we settled for a upmarket place slightly away from the action and hit the bars.
We found one nearby which was supposed to be based on the bar in Cheers or was it the other way around. There's probably millions of them. Then we discovered a pub with a cheesy funk rock band and a no smoking policy. Needless to say there were people outside puffing. Soon we were tired so we had bagels and watched John Lydon on some American chatshow being funny and taking the piss.
Next day we went to Cambridge a kind of suburd of boston with the status all of its own. As the name suggests it is home to the elite academia of the US in the shape of Harvard. What we found was a huge shopping mall but with more character with nice pedestrianised streets and chic plazas. Two record shops stood out Planet which does second hand and Newbury Comics which despite the name is probably the best record store i have EVER been to. I measured this using the standard 'how much time/money am i going to waste here' test. It was cheap, had nearly every album by bands I liked, also some nice 7s and the odd vinyl gem. The staff looked a little sour but then i can't really talk. I spent a small fortune then, in order to wash ourselves of unabashed consumerism checked out the old style Harvard brownstone buildings in the leafy area.
We found some nice bars nearer towards Boston that obviously had the student bohemian indie rock dollar in mind. Although the jukeboxes were a little unimaginative. One pub had some quite funny improvisational comedy going down in the style of Whose line is it Anyway? Another earthy Irish type pub resembled one in the Boston-set film Mystic River when the girls start dancing on the tables (no, its nothing like Coyete Ugly); as i was wearing a NY Yankees cap I inquired as to whether I was gonna get a beating from some Red Sox fan. It turned out one of the guys at the bar had a Yankees tattoo. Shame, I was looking forward to a tumble with some local ruffian. I guess this kind of sporting rivarly only exists in dead end parts of British cities where theres no room.
The atmosphere of Boston was noticeably different to that of Chicago, Toronto, Detroit which all had that Midwestern hospitablity, even Montreal had its own kind of French thing going on. Boston, though, is East Coast aloof and more European, obviously with the whole Harvard connection and the strong British colonial influence. You'd think to us it would have felt more at home but the opposite was the case. Its hard to make these generalisations in short stays and I could give you specific examples but I learnt a lot by just merely observing and listening to people. My brother felt the same. Even though I should go back to learn more I'm not in any great hurry to return. Goodbye Boston, it was swell.
Boston
Harvard, UMASS, MIT, Irish People, College Rock, Good Will Hunting, Funny Accents, Celtics, Red Sox, Mystic River and Cheers.
Had to go through a toll to get there. We didn't have exact money but ended up in the pre pay lane and got some serious road rage directed against us for our crime against humanity. I made sure I looked like a terrorist as the impatient yuppy roared by. Before all that we crossed the border from Canada into Vermont and had our boot checked, as the official was going through my passport he saw that I had been to Ghana and wondered why I'd been there. I wearily replied that it had nice beaches but he preferred California because at least there 'you wouldn't get a speared in your butt by a pygmy'. I should have said that I travelled there so as not to end up a ignorant redneck like he clearly was but we needed entry into his great country.
On the plus side Vermont was beautiful. So named because of the abundance of forest-covered hills (its French but they dropped a 't'). We got lost several times and ended up in traffic in New Hampshire which was also scenic and as the name implies, had a kind of Middle England feel to it except with more pick up trucks. When we finally got to Boston it was late and we were pretty hacked off with everything and each other which climaxed when we tried to find parking and accomodation. I wanted to get settled and go out but my brother thought having a beer right now was a better idea. It wasn't pretty. And I thought he was suppose to be the older, responsible one. After being turned away from many of the cheap occupied hostels we settled for a upmarket place slightly away from the action and hit the bars.
We found one nearby which was supposed to be based on the bar in Cheers or was it the other way around. There's probably millions of them. Then we discovered a pub with a cheesy funk rock band and a no smoking policy. Needless to say there were people outside puffing. Soon we were tired so we had bagels and watched John Lydon on some American chatshow being funny and taking the piss.
Next day we went to Cambridge a kind of suburd of boston with the status all of its own. As the name suggests it is home to the elite academia of the US in the shape of Harvard. What we found was a huge shopping mall but with more character with nice pedestrianised streets and chic plazas. Two record shops stood out Planet which does second hand and Newbury Comics which despite the name is probably the best record store i have EVER been to. I measured this using the standard 'how much time/money am i going to waste here' test. It was cheap, had nearly every album by bands I liked, also some nice 7s and the odd vinyl gem. The staff looked a little sour but then i can't really talk. I spent a small fortune then, in order to wash ourselves of unabashed consumerism checked out the old style Harvard brownstone buildings in the leafy area.
We found some nice bars nearer towards Boston that obviously had the student bohemian indie rock dollar in mind. Although the jukeboxes were a little unimaginative. One pub had some quite funny improvisational comedy going down in the style of Whose line is it Anyway? Another earthy Irish type pub resembled one in the Boston-set film Mystic River when the girls start dancing on the tables (no, its nothing like Coyete Ugly); as i was wearing a NY Yankees cap I inquired as to whether I was gonna get a beating from some Red Sox fan. It turned out one of the guys at the bar had a Yankees tattoo. Shame, I was looking forward to a tumble with some local ruffian. I guess this kind of sporting rivarly only exists in dead end parts of British cities where theres no room.
The atmosphere of Boston was noticeably different to that of Chicago, Toronto, Detroit which all had that Midwestern hospitablity, even Montreal had its own kind of French thing going on. Boston, though, is East Coast aloof and more European, obviously with the whole Harvard connection and the strong British colonial influence. You'd think to us it would have felt more at home but the opposite was the case. Its hard to make these generalisations in short stays and I could give you specific examples but I learnt a lot by just merely observing and listening to people. My brother felt the same. Even though I should go back to learn more I'm not in any great hurry to return. Goodbye Boston, it was swell.
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Lightning Bolt
Much has been said about the sensation that is Lightning Bolt. For those who don't know they are a two piece band who use bass and drums to create music that is a lays waste to other people's attempts to make fast, loud, extreme, intense noise not only palatable but enjoyable. They are a great band and their live show is something to behold. But will people care in two years time. I think its understandable to go and see them, be astounded then go out and buy the album because you think it will give you that same buzz but I doubt whether these people actually listen to them at home. I have only put the album on at home twice, once to check it out and once because I was drunk. Their music isn't something you can play anytime. Maybe it just makes more sense when you have people around you in a record shop, gig or party. And this is the thing. Its seems that people want to be into what is current, exciting, popular, well just trendy, when they should be listening to what they really like when no one is watching/judging. 'You're Living All Over Me' by Dinosaur Jr. still gives me heart attacks and thats over 15 years old.
Another thing about this Lightning Bolt phenomenon I've mused about is concerned with their live shows. For those who don't know they set up anywhere except on stage and very discreetly at that. Therefore you might find yourself disapointed or elated depending on where you happen to be standing. Sometimes they even move during the set. Being a two piece this is quite easy to do and is enthralling to watch as they lauch into another assault with the crowd focused on a completely different area of the venue. Its great and all that but it would be better if they chose really small venues so they don't attract the people who only think they're good because 'they sound like Death Metal' and can make devil horn signs with their fingers to their music. At their London Scala gig (capacity approx. 400 with balcony) I was particularily annoyed with certain punters. I don't mean you shouldn't cheer, have fun, act the fool etc. but I reserve the right to know when I think someone is missing the point and just following the crowd. Such people often compromise the enjoyment of others who actually go to small gigs to see and support bands that aren't featured in the style monthlys written by journalists who probably hold focus groups on what to listen to this month. Losers!
Much has been said about the sensation that is Lightning Bolt. For those who don't know they are a two piece band who use bass and drums to create music that is a lays waste to other people's attempts to make fast, loud, extreme, intense noise not only palatable but enjoyable. They are a great band and their live show is something to behold. But will people care in two years time. I think its understandable to go and see them, be astounded then go out and buy the album because you think it will give you that same buzz but I doubt whether these people actually listen to them at home. I have only put the album on at home twice, once to check it out and once because I was drunk. Their music isn't something you can play anytime. Maybe it just makes more sense when you have people around you in a record shop, gig or party. And this is the thing. Its seems that people want to be into what is current, exciting, popular, well just trendy, when they should be listening to what they really like when no one is watching/judging. 'You're Living All Over Me' by Dinosaur Jr. still gives me heart attacks and thats over 15 years old.
Another thing about this Lightning Bolt phenomenon I've mused about is concerned with their live shows. For those who don't know they set up anywhere except on stage and very discreetly at that. Therefore you might find yourself disapointed or elated depending on where you happen to be standing. Sometimes they even move during the set. Being a two piece this is quite easy to do and is enthralling to watch as they lauch into another assault with the crowd focused on a completely different area of the venue. Its great and all that but it would be better if they chose really small venues so they don't attract the people who only think they're good because 'they sound like Death Metal' and can make devil horn signs with their fingers to their music. At their London Scala gig (capacity approx. 400 with balcony) I was particularily annoyed with certain punters. I don't mean you shouldn't cheer, have fun, act the fool etc. but I reserve the right to know when I think someone is missing the point and just following the crowd. Such people often compromise the enjoyment of others who actually go to small gigs to see and support bands that aren't featured in the style monthlys written by journalists who probably hold focus groups on what to listen to this month. Losers!
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Good Things this Summer
1. Paul Auster in conversation at some Institute in Central London, Wednesday May 5th 2004
Not sure what the nature of this is exactly and it could be a bit too knowingly high brow. However, the man is a modern day literary legend and will have a lot to say on many subjects including typewriters, travelling, war, gambling, religion, Paris, although I hope he doesn't go on about baseball, as I've seen it live and it was dull.
2. Gigs
Fri April 30th, Coronet Theatre; Eat Your Own Ears Allnighter feat. Animal Collective, Papa M, Fourtet etc.
Mon May 10th, Mean Fiddler: Liars/Blood Brothers
Sat May 15th, Islington Academy (formerly Marquee but still crap); Les Savy Fav
Somewhere in June, Astoria; Tortoise
3. European Championships 2004
As the Premiership has become a bit boring now (unless you're a Leeds or Blackburn fan, anyone?) its time to see if England can finally win something on a more prestigous level than having the stupidest and ugliest fans.
I have a hunch that we'll beat France in the first game simply because we're due a win against them (thats why they call it a hunch). I mean, we know all their players anyway. So that means we'll go out in the semis to someone like Italy having dominated only to concede a golden own goal.
P.S. The Olympics are good but no one really cares.
4. Films
to be continued ...
1. Paul Auster in conversation at some Institute in Central London, Wednesday May 5th 2004
Not sure what the nature of this is exactly and it could be a bit too knowingly high brow. However, the man is a modern day literary legend and will have a lot to say on many subjects including typewriters, travelling, war, gambling, religion, Paris, although I hope he doesn't go on about baseball, as I've seen it live and it was dull.
2. Gigs
Fri April 30th, Coronet Theatre; Eat Your Own Ears Allnighter feat. Animal Collective, Papa M, Fourtet etc.
Mon May 10th, Mean Fiddler: Liars/Blood Brothers
Sat May 15th, Islington Academy (formerly Marquee but still crap); Les Savy Fav
Somewhere in June, Astoria; Tortoise
3. European Championships 2004
As the Premiership has become a bit boring now (unless you're a Leeds or Blackburn fan, anyone?) its time to see if England can finally win something on a more prestigous level than having the stupidest and ugliest fans.
I have a hunch that we'll beat France in the first game simply because we're due a win against them (thats why they call it a hunch). I mean, we know all their players anyway. So that means we'll go out in the semis to someone like Italy having dominated only to concede a golden own goal.
P.S. The Olympics are good but no one really cares.
4. Films
to be continued ...
London Gig Venues
London is a big place where we are spoilt rotten over the amount of bands we get to see. Hence the venues often suffer from a lack of atmosphere. Actually there is atmosphere, an arms folded, 'impress me' type atmosphere. Nevertheless here are some good places that have good people and good bands.
1. Buffalo Bar
Highbury N5, not least coz its under the Famous Cock Pub (fnarr, fnaar), loud, unpretentious and friendly bar staff, plus we've played there. Gigs: Part Chimp, Kaito
2. 93 Ft. East
Brick Lane E1 if you can ignore the trendy crowd and listen to the amazing, so modern it hurts sound system. Gigs: Clinic, Noxaght, Liars
3. Arts Cafe
Commercial rd/st, Aldgate E1 bit like a slightly more rustic, old fashioned version of the Buffalo Bar with great pizzas to boot. Gigs: Animal Collective, Billy Mahonie
4. Spitz
Spitafields Market E1, within spitting (pun intended) distance of last two. Candle lit tables are very cosy although there are some inconveniently placed pillars. Gigs: Oxes, Themselves, Califone.
5. Forum
Kentish Town NW5, had to pick at least one big venue so this gets my vote on account of its good sound and feeling more intimate than other venues like it. It doesn't have gigs often but when it does the bands are exemplary. Gigs: Mogwai, Fugazi, Yeah Yeah Yeahs,
London is a big place where we are spoilt rotten over the amount of bands we get to see. Hence the venues often suffer from a lack of atmosphere. Actually there is atmosphere, an arms folded, 'impress me' type atmosphere. Nevertheless here are some good places that have good people and good bands.
1. Buffalo Bar
Highbury N5, not least coz its under the Famous Cock Pub (fnarr, fnaar), loud, unpretentious and friendly bar staff, plus we've played there. Gigs: Part Chimp, Kaito
2. 93 Ft. East
Brick Lane E1 if you can ignore the trendy crowd and listen to the amazing, so modern it hurts sound system. Gigs: Clinic, Noxaght, Liars
3. Arts Cafe
Commercial rd/st, Aldgate E1 bit like a slightly more rustic, old fashioned version of the Buffalo Bar with great pizzas to boot. Gigs: Animal Collective, Billy Mahonie
4. Spitz
Spitafields Market E1, within spitting (pun intended) distance of last two. Candle lit tables are very cosy although there are some inconveniently placed pillars. Gigs: Oxes, Themselves, Califone.
5. Forum
Kentish Town NW5, had to pick at least one big venue so this gets my vote on account of its good sound and feeling more intimate than other venues like it. It doesn't have gigs often but when it does the bands are exemplary. Gigs: Mogwai, Fugazi, Yeah Yeah Yeahs,
Michael Winterbottom's Wonderland
Somehow feel compelled to write about this film because the 3 times i've seen it I have fallen more in love with it. It won't appeal to people who like films to be fast and furious as it ploughs its own modest furrow. Its shot on hand held 16mm camera giving it a documentary feel. As for the plot, there isn't one, instead we get a dysfunctional South London family providing us with touching episodes within their mundane lives. Like Eastenders if it ditched the cheeky mockney cliches and was actually believeable.
Doesn't sound thrilling but if you stick with it you'll realise that you actually care about the characters and hence find interest in their humble goings on. The waitress looking for love, the man unable to deal with his partner's pregnancy, the single mum, the jack the lad scouser, the hard done by husband and the troubled recluse. Needless to say the acting is exemplary.
Perhaps it would be unbearable were it not for the amazing soundtrack provided by Michael Nyman and his orchestra. The music plays its own character giving the events an emotional resonance that weaves hope into the pain. There's a great night bus scene which makes me wonder if the director has actually experienced the trauma of getting on one sober and tired.
Its safe to say Hollywood and its fans would't touch it with a barge pole and this is to its credit. A film that shouldn't really appeal but does about lives that don't often. And I didn't even use the word melancholy once.
A Dream
Once, I had a very vivid and peculiar dream that I gladly took the time to write down.
It was like the very beginning of the film Being John Malkovich (I must be obsessed), some kind of minature puppet theatre thing where I had to prove my worth through the medium of dance to an unseen audience. With me, for some reason were a swan and an old Victorian era lady.
Choosing to ignore the old lady I took the swan by the wings and did one of those spinny type dances that you see in films when the camera shows the dancers' view point as they face each other laughing (except I didn't see the swan's viewpoint and it wasn't laughing, being the quite serious regal animal it is).
At the end I was told that I had failed but when I expressed ambivalence towards this and said that I didn't care (I was quite proud of the dance you see) I was reprieved and rewarded but the dream ended so I don't know what the reward was.
All in all it was quite a nice dream which seemed to have some kind of feelgood message about staying true to yourself and ignoring old ladies!
You might say it was Dream Theatre!
Once, I had a very vivid and peculiar dream that I gladly took the time to write down.
It was like the very beginning of the film Being John Malkovich (I must be obsessed), some kind of minature puppet theatre thing where I had to prove my worth through the medium of dance to an unseen audience. With me, for some reason were a swan and an old Victorian era lady.
Choosing to ignore the old lady I took the swan by the wings and did one of those spinny type dances that you see in films when the camera shows the dancers' view point as they face each other laughing (except I didn't see the swan's viewpoint and it wasn't laughing, being the quite serious regal animal it is).
At the end I was told that I had failed but when I expressed ambivalence towards this and said that I didn't care (I was quite proud of the dance you see) I was reprieved and rewarded but the dream ended so I don't know what the reward was.
All in all it was quite a nice dream which seemed to have some kind of feelgood message about staying true to yourself and ignoring old ladies!
You might say it was Dream Theatre!
