Animal Collective - New Release December 8th

Animal Collective, one of the most celebrated bands of this decade have been speculated to release a new album 'Fall Be Kind' on the 8th of December.

AC's records sound like nothing else on the planet.

There is even a sub genre in music named 'post-Animal Collective,' to categorize other artists blatant attempts to sound like AC. This gives a clear view on how important Animal Collective are to modern music.

Re-issues of the back catalogue have also gone to press, including special DMM editions of Sung Tongs, Feels, Spirit They've Gone & Dance Manetee (Fat Cat Records)

Strawberry Jam & Merriwether Post Pavillion (Domino)

The 2003 album Campfire Songs is also set to be with us again via the bands own record label .

Pavement Curator of ATP - May 2010

I feel I have caught religion, I usually end up at an ATP once every 2 years through lack of funds after buying a Glastonbury ticket. This year I missed the boat for 'Glasto' despite it's 40th anniversary and Evis promising a great bill. Now I've found that one of my favorite bands of all time are creating ATP. Is this fate, destiny? there is a God? we shall find out on friday.

I really don't, (to put it lightly) care about Glasto 2010, I'd back the fact its going to rain, you can't really wash. Every year the good old hippies with their dog on string lifestyle dwindle away and are replaced by "the kids". I can't slate Glasto too much it's a great festival, I've gone for the past 6 years that its been on and have always had a great time and think everyone should go at least once in their lifetime.

At first I didn't want to publish this post until I have a ticket, but then I thought; This blog is so insignificant in the wider context of music news that it would have no bearing whatsoever on ticket sales. So if I don't manage to get a ticket, I would like to think that it's because some diehard Pavement fan has got there before me. However this doesn't include the Twee, Hypster clan who would go to ATP and slate Pavement.... why go to the festival in the first place, when you can stay at home knitting or discussing taxidermy!

So if your a music fan, missed Glasto and want something different: ATP is held at Butlins Minehead, so you will stay in a chalet, be able to have a nice shower in the mornings, use most of the facilities. Basically its like a Butlins holiday that happens to also be a music festival or vice-versa.

(Click Here to find more on the event and tickets)

Dust Storm - Amazing Photos 23rd September

More Images Click Here

Dent May - The Sound Of My Summer

I'm frantically trying to clasp onto as much sunshine as possible, before the prevailing winter blues are set in. So my reminder of Summer is Dent May's "The Good Feeling of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele".

OK so you've seen the Ukulele, but don't think George Formby or Israel Kamakawiwo. In fact remove this preconception from your mind altogether and flush it! Dent May's style has a distinctive 60's feel, which doesn't stop with the music. His physical appearance and video for "Howard" scream the vintage years.

Any given song off this album does tend to sound very much like the next, and the structure relies heavily on three chord tricks; but underneath this simplicity lies immense charm. The album is certainly a grower, you find you can't help yourself "shoebedoing" along to May's own brand of what he calls "healing, easy listening pop".

With reference to the music alone, the album is remains perky and uplifting throughout. Though the lyrics to tracks such as "College Town boy" have a cynical poignancy as if Morresey himself wrote them. So in that respect, like The Smiths albums the message is really bitter sweet.

If you had to make a comparison to any other band then think Beach Boys with a smallest hint of Jens Lekman, which incidentally seems a trend to another member of the Paw Tracks clan Panda Bear, who in the past has had a comparable element to the Beach Boys.

Contenders For Album of the Year

Ok, I've drawn up a list of essential must have records this year. So far we have:

1. Animal Collective (Domino Records) - Merriweather Post Pavilion

2. Grizzly Bear (Warp Records) - Veckatimest

3. Sleeping States (Bella Union) - In The Gardens of the North

4. Dirty Projectors (Domino Records) - Bitte Orca

5. Bibio (Warp Records) - Ambivalence Avenue

Pavement Reform and New York Date Confirmed

After years of speculation it has finally been confirmed that Pavement, one of the most important bands to indie music are to reform for a tour in 2010.

The lineup will consist of; Mark Ibold, Scott "Spiral Stairs" Kannberg, Stephen Malkmus, Bob Nastanovich and Steve West. No doubt many diehard Pavement fans will snap up the opportunity to grab a ticket for the 1st New York show. More information on tickets here.

A further compilation release is also set to coincide with the 2010 tour.

Recommended Pavement albums:

Two New Additions to the Collection

Today I went for a record shop in my local town after being back from a three month internship at One Little Indian records. I found to my delight first pressings of both Leonard Cohen's Songs of Love and Hate and Songs from a New Room. I also found tones of other stuff I really liked but my pockets weren't simply deep enough to purchase the goods.

After three months of living in London I had little success of finding any record store that could offer me decent vinyl that wasn't new. Pure Groove and the Rough Trade stores are great for new stuff, Sister Ray I never found anything I wanted, and the vinyl exchanges simply consisted of overpriced tat (with gradings fair to VG.)

There has to be a lot of great records bouncing around London but I simply couldn't find them.

Consequently, it leaves me to say that I would love to hear from anyone who can provide me with an insight into decent vintage record stores in London.