A good friend just turned me on to Kammerflimmer Kollektief. It is quite lovely.

Eksvplot wrote:i've said this before, and i'll say it again: The El Michel's Affair - Sounding Out the City, on Truth & Soul. an amazing, painfully overlooked record.

Having just tracked this record down, I will heartily agree. It's a really good darkroom record.

The new Motorpsycho album Black Hole/Black Canvas is awesome!
I never really paid attention to Theory Of Ruin, with Alex Newport on vocals duties.....well I recently did and I love it!!!
To be honest, it will never be as good as Fudge Tunnel.

'Charlottefield' from my hometown have released an excellent LP. But seeing them live (with Bilgepump) - they were really amateur and annoying (lead singer turned his back on the audience) which was a great shame as its a cracking album they have put out.

wellsyuk wrote:'Charlottefield' from my hometown have released an excellent LP. But seeing them live (with Bilgepump) - they were really amateur and annoying (lead singer turned his back on the audience) which was a great shame as its a cracking album they have put out.

"amateur"

"lead singer"

"what" ?

I just think labelling a band that is, after all 'amateur' by definition (they don't get paid for it), as amateur is daft. It's such a pointless, irrelevant comment. As is describing a man wrestling a guitar and screaming a "lead singer". Cliff Richard was "lead singer" in the Shadows.

Charlottefield are a force, I think they are amazing live. Ever thought Tom (singer) doesn't face the audience because he doesn't consider the vocals to be any more or less important than the rest of the band? They are a great example of 'band as a unit'.

honeyisfunny wrote:I just think labelling a band that is, after all 'amateur' by definition (they don't get paid for it), as amateur is daft. It's such a pointless, irrelevant comment. As is describing a man wrestling a guitar and screaming a "lead singer". Cliff Richard was "lead singer" in the Shadows.

Charlottefield are a force, I think they are amazing live. Ever thought Tom (singer) doesn't face the audience because he doesn't consider the vocals to be any more or less important than the rest of the band? They are a great example of 'band as a unit'.

Its just a term of phrase widely used, don't get hung up on it - the lead singer and guitarist behaved like amateurs. I was not expecting 'professional' musicians! (why would I) - The guitarist thought it was cool to keep trying to light cigarettes and acting aloof - whilst playing badly, and what has importance got to do with the 'vocalist' facing the audience or not? - the rest of the band were facing the audience - so it came across like he was trying to be Jim morrison, which was just rubbish.
I don't know where you were standing (if you were there) but there was a lot of mumbling about how crap they were where I was.. the reason I mentioned their LP is because it really is fantastic, and I've never seen artists with such great work in the bag - perform so badly live and/or conduct their behaviour so cringingly. (the bassist and drummer looked embarrassed by the singer and guitarist).

honeyisfunny wrote:Ever thought Tom (singer) doesn't face the audience because he doesn't consider the vocals to be any more or less important than the rest of the band?

Never heard the band, but I'd have thought that it would attract more attention rather than less to sing with your back to the audience given that the norm is face-front, non?

Sounds a little...wanky.

they are hit and miss. I wasn't at that one but have seen them many times. Every time, good or bad, they reinforce my opinion that they are one of the only bands anywhere doing something exciting and genuine. Sometimes outside forces make them play badly. It doesn't make them amateurs, it makes them human beings. Something the 'professional musicians' you talk of sometimes aren't. Give them their dues!

Now Bilge Pump...ooooh yeaaaah. Thats a good band. Joe the guitarist borrowed my amp for the show you went to and the soundman made him take 4 power tubes out so it would go quiet enough. I am maybe suspecting Charlottefield were less than happy about playing quiet, esp as the 'lead singer' is usually the soundchap there, when he's not onstage.