if the Black Kids were classy, sophisticated or English, they might sound like this. – livejournal user van_p_boston

BUSY old fool, unruly Sun,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windows, and through curtains, call on us ?

http://www.mediafire.com/?emjmy5jynyh

Jack Penate is a big UK act and a breath of fresh air to the pop/soul/r&b genre.  His second album released this paste June.  I recently saw it spotlighted and reviewed on pitchfork.com.  You can listen to the whole album here on his website.  The album has many layers to it.  They range from Afro-pop to Tropical sounds.

Or you can check it out here at pitchfork and read their reviews as well.

He has three music videos for his three singles “Tonight’s Today”, “Be the One”, and “Pull My Heart Away”

“Tonight’s Today”  This video is the most provocative (like most pop videos) but the song is brilliant.

“Be the One” Performance video with a live band and people floating and dancing.

“Pull My Heart Away”  Probably the best video and song out of the three.  The video is interesting with Jack walking through Jordan. Definitely worth the watch!

Vanavond pikken we nog eens een clubconcertje mee. We misten Jack Peñate tijdens de afgelopen Pukkelpopeditie, waar hij op zaterdag rond de klok van 14u van jetje gaf in de Marquee. Blijkbaar deed hij dat toen lang niet slecht, getuige zijn uitverkocht optreden van vanavond in Muziekodroom.

Waar zouden jullie deze Britse jongeman (25) met Spaanse roots van kunnen kennen? Hij mengt rock ‘n’ roll met ska, reggae en Spaanse tinten. Hij tourde samen met Lily Allen en Amy Winehouse en bracht in juni dit jaar zijn tweede full cd op de markt. Misschien dat ‘Spit at stars’, zomerhitje ‘Today’s tonight’, ‘Be the one’ en zijn laatste single ‘Pull my heart away’ bekend in de oren klinken.

UPDATE

Door onvoorziene omstandigheden (woelige zee en een ferry met vertraging) stond Jack Peñate pas om 22u10 op het podium i.p.v. om 20u. Hij verontschuldigde zich hiervoor, maar dit akkefietje had zijn opperbeste humeur blijkbaar niet aangetast. Samen met zijn groepsleden had hij voor ca. 50 euro per persoon die morgen de plasoversteek gemaakt rond 6u, waarna hij pas om 20u voet aan wal zette in België. Overduidelijk een gewone jongen gebleven, die Jack. Hij ging trouwens opvallend vaak  het gesprek aan met zijn publiek.

Hij trapte af met ‘Everything is new’, gevolgd door o.a. ‘Spit at stars’, ‘Pull my heart away’, ‘Every glance’, ‘Let’s all die’, ‘Body down’ en ‘Torn on the platform’. Omdat er bij de clubconcerten in MOD geen backstageruimte is moesten de groepsleden vooraf improviseren hoe ze het gingen aanpakken voor hun bisnummers. Ze gaven er een grappige draai aan en speelden tot slot nog ‘Be the one’ en ‘Today’s tonight’. Dik 55 minuten duurde de totale doortocht. Ik stond heel erg dicht in de buurt van Jack, je kon zijn zweet bij wijze van spreken ruiken. Het slechte geluid hielp een tweetal nummers gedeeltelijk de mist in, doch Peñate en groep wisten dat uiteindelijk vakkundig te camoufleren.

Globaal gezien zeer tevreden over het optreden dat prijs/kwaliteit zijn eurootjes meer dan waard was. Hopelijk doet MOD in de toekomst meer van dit soort concertjes. Eerder dit jaar zagen we Mocky hier optreden en ook dat was een klein doch fijn concertje.

It’s another college football Saturday, and my Trojans are in a tough battle against the last team to beat us on our home field, the Stanford Cardinal.  it’s currently 21-14 Stanford early in the second half, so I’m still confident that we’ll turn things around and pull out a win.  I figured I’d get today’s tune out of the way before I roll out later this evening to catch a movie with my pops.  I heard this one on some TV show the other day and it spoke to me.  Today’s jam: Jack Penate – Everything is New.  Enjoy….

La semana pasa en París fue una explosión de música. Para empezar el viernes estuvieron los Arctic Monkeys en el Zénith. Probablemente un concierto emblemático, pues ellos son el sonido indie-rock que ha marcado una generación y cuyo legado en la historia musical es indiscutible. Claramente no defraudaron, con un show implecable, mezclando sus temas clásicos con el sonido más adulto y oscuro del Humbug, verlos en vivo fue un sueño hecho realidad.

Este fue el comienzo del conciero:

y un par de temas más:

El otro evento de la semana fue el Festival organizado por la revista Les Inrocks en La Cigale, apostando a toda la movida indie. Mis favoritos eran Passion Pit, Florence & The Machine y Jack Peñate. En verdad todos ellos ya son indie-consagrados, y lejos de ser desconocidos, se han ganado un espacio importante en la música actual. Cada uno en su estilo, por ejemplo Florence con una tremenda voz, Passion Pit con toda su electrónica y Jack haciendo una fiesta al ritmo del pop-rock londinense, hacen del Festival Les Inrocks uno de los grandes eventos musicales de Paris. El punto bajo del Festival: Slimy, un francés que hace música pop en inglés, tratando de ser Britney Spears (Womanizer es uno de los temas de su disco y parte de su presentación en vivo), pero más bien parece una Lady Gaga, pero más peor. A él le tocó cerrar el Festival el día domingo, pero después de un par de temas, toda la gente se había ido, y con razón, pues pesé a toda la parafernalia de su presentación, su música no tiene nada de nuevo, ninguna propuesta real y eso aburre a cualquiera. Además a la mitad del show, empieza a cantar con la camisa desabrochada….pura vergüenza ajena (lo puede ver abajo).

Thanks to the Contagious Network I was sent a copy of this years (but essentially next years) Annual 2010 album. (If you join them, mention that I sent you!)

A fantastically packaged 3 disc treasure trove of dance tracks which are likely going to make your feet move, if not causing your brain to electrically pulsate in desire to get your fresh summer moves out (if you’re in Australia of course!)

Disc one was mixed by John Course, which is essentially your typical house album (as is tradition with most Annuals).

Track listings for disc 1:

1: Heartbreaker (Laidback Luke Remix) – MSTRKRFT FEAT. John Legend – Heartbreaker is a great way to start the whole album and get you in the mood for the good times ahead, however it feels too short, despite being one of the longer tracks on the album

2: Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) (Angger Dimmas Remix) – Freemasons FEAT. Sophie Ellis Bextor – Great tie in with Heartbreaker, but two heart break songs in a row? who cares, they’re well blended.

3: Now You See It – Honorebel FEAT. Pitbull & Jump Smokers – I swear I heard this song earlier in the year, regardless it’s a good tie-in of an RnB/rap track. I can’t wait to see some of the interpretive dance moves for this song!

4: I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) – Pitbull – Ah, this is how I thought I’d heard ‘Now You See It’ before, beat wise, they’re very similar, even in the style of rapping by Pitbull (why must all rappers try to keep the same sound for an entire album?!)

5: Shake It – The Noise FEAT. Xamplify – This oddly sounds like it’s sampled some of the beat from Kylie Minouge’s ‘The One’ and Danni Minouge’s ‘Put the needle on it’. This isn’t a bad thing, but it’s interesting to hear.

6: Shot Caller – Ian Carey – Ah, at last, some strong female vocals, no offence Sophie, this is one track to listen out for (so open your ears, or get them de-waxed ASAP!)

7: Be The One (Amand Van Helden Club Vocal Mix) – Jack Penate – I’ve been hankering for a good Amand Van Helden mix lately, and this has definitely wet my appetite, my first impression was, ugh I don’t like the vocals, but they grow on you during the track. This is going to get stuck in my head!

8: We Are Golden (Calvin Harris Remix) – Mika – I’ve got to say, I’m over this remix, I’ve been listening to it since it was released online a few months ago, it’s still wickedly addictive, however it does feel like it breaks away from the rest of the album which has  so far been a really good carry over beat which has been blended well.

9: Hey! – Laidback Luke & Diplo – Ah, I can see how this ties into the end of ‘We are Golden’, this will get you jumping, there isn’t exactly any way to describe this song other than “let the high energy set you free”, this is a song which will force you to put any bug-bears away.

10: She Got It – Vandalism & Angger Dimus – great drum beat infused with electro sounds, as for what it is that ’she’s’ got, well, that’s up to you to decide. Pump this one up!

11: Pon De Floor – Major Lazer FEAT. Vybz Kartel – This is a song which I can see dance troops overusing, great for an army style setting for troops out there. Spread out some room on the floor, dancers, take your position.

12: Let The Bass Kick In Miami Bitch – Chuckie & LMFAO – nothing other than ‘I’m in Miami Bitch’ is what you’re going to take away from this song. This crowd pleaser is sure to get the crowd back into the mood.

13: Whatchadoin? (DJ Alvaro Remix) – Nasa – has a good lead in from the previous song, and thankfully doesn’t last long, while going for 3.15, this is definitely a filler song

14: I Like That – Richard Vission & Static Revenger Starring Luciana – This song is perfect, just when you’ve skulled down your last beverage, the energy will want to be released from all the pores in your body, yup, it’s THAT good.

15: Out My Bitch – T-Rek – with a swift change into this song, you get a dirty, grimy feeling, which can only ever be used for good *wink!*

16: I’ll Get You – Classixx – great track, might fall under the class of running for too long after about 3 or 4 listens, not horrible though.

17: Love You No More (Chuckie Remix) – Bob Sinclar Feat. Shabba Ranks – Bob Sinclar is back with a song which is not going to be a hit, sorry to any fans out there, he has diverted away from his previous sound and incorporates some typical carnival sounds, which is a little weird.

18: Meich – Sebastian Ingrosso & Dirty South / Bertie Blackman – This is a darker sounding song, and is then blended into Bertie Blackman’s Thump (Acapella), which explains the songs 5.30 timing.

19: Going Underground – Muzzaik – I really find that these guys always sound the same, high energy trance music which makes you feel like if you hadn’t taken a substance to enhance the music, you feel like you should find your nearest 7-11 guy.

20: You’re Special – Sir James – I wanted to like this, I REALLY wanted to like this. It sounds too….. late 80’s/90’s. It uses the same tricks as a track from back then would use, it uses a voice from someone who could obviously be used better than what she has been. You don’t feel that special after listening to this, unless you danced to it while on a pole!

21: Fire Power – Wolfgang Gartner – Ah, the last track, is it going to make us feel like continuing with this dance of life….. possibly, that’s up to the listeners to decide. It’s an interesting track which pulls some of it’s credibility from classical composers.

Overall Disc 1 Assessment:

John Course obviously hits off with a fantastic mix, all of the tracks are beautifully blended, congratulations to him for achieving that, some DJ’s aren’t that good at carrying over beats, Regular listeners to The Annual will not be disappointed. However, I will say this much, the disc felt like it was off to a fantastic start, and then like a lot of really good nights out, the music can get rather shit and you feel like staggering to the DJ and begging him to play the latest from Daft Punk, or to pop another pill. It gets dirty, and whether this ties into disc two is yet to be seen.

I almost felt like Mr Course had run out of songs to play that were decent enough to keep a crowd going, and in all fairness, all the DJ’s on the album have contributed 62 songs, so they would have had to scrape the barrel. My argument for these CD’s is that you CAN actually pull out an old crowd pleaser. It won’t kill you, and it will keep the mood going. Yes, I know the annual is meant to be new music only, but half of the songs on disc one are clearly not new.

Bring on Disc 2 (which will be coming soon!)

El año pasado hice una lista con las mejores canciones de 2008 y, ahora que este año está apunto de acabar, supongo que ya toca hacer otra con las de 2009.

Pero en esta ocasión mi bizarro espíritu bonzo me pide caña y, en lugar de una facilona lista Top 25 como en 2008, esta vez la reduzco a 10.

Así, seguro que me faltarán algunas que, sin duda, no tendréis la menor piedad en restregarme.

¡Pues hala, amiguitos¡ ¡Venga ese repasito!

(Dejo las canciones de la lista para que refresquéis la memoria y también la posibilidad de votar… La lista de los mejores discos de 2009 está aquí)

Everything Everything – My Kz, Ur Bf

Gossip – Heavy Cross

Grizzly Bear – While You Wait For The Others

Jack Peñate – Tonight’s Today

La Roux – In For The Kill

Mayer Hawthorne – Maybe So, Maybe No

The Horrors – Sea Within The Sea

The Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

The XX – Crystalized

Vampire Weekend – Horchata

Jack Peñate Backstage at Mercury Lounge, 9.15.09

In September Jack Peñate and Miike Snow embarked on a joint US tour with 2 stops at New York’s famed Mercury Lounge. We were lucky enough to catch both shows and interview both artists during their stay (see: TLC vs. Miike Snow: Behind the Masks) No topics were off limits. Check out our interview with Jack Peñate where we discuss death, music scenes, and that horrible break up with New Young Pony Club’s Tahina Bulmer!

Check out our review of Jack’s gigs here: Tonight’s Today: Jack Penate Croons Mercury Lounge and Jack Penate Charms at Brooklyn’s Bruar Falls.

MP3: Jack Peñate – Everything is New or zShare
MP3: Jack Peñate – Pull My Heart Away (The Xx Remix) or zShare

> Have you had any time to do anything in New York?
JP: Not yet no. I feel like I’ve done my fair share of fun stuff as I’ve been here quite a lot in the past few years. I love it. I normally feel like I’m somewhere I shouldn’t be when traveling to other cities, whereas I don’t have that there. It feels quite normal.

> Is that because it’s a bit like London?
JP: Yeah and I’ve got friends here, real friends. You just ring them and it’s completely comfortable. Whereas if you’re in Tokyo or wherever, you don’t feel that same kind of ease. I always have an amazing time here.

‘That style of music seemed the most natural to bring in at this point in my life.’

> I was listening to an interview you did with Jo Whiley after visiting New York and she asked you what the top 3 things to do in New York were and you mentioned Crif Dogs…
JP: Yeah I love that place.

> Anything else to add to that list? Like “Jack’s Guide to New York.”
JP: Oh God I’m the worst person to ask. It’s always based around food. I really like that place Freemans Alley, they do amazing artichoke dip which I’m really into. I just really like the large drinks you get, you seem to pour out more spirit than we get back home. In England they sit there for hours making sure it’s exactly the amount, and it’s the most frustrating thing to watch! They almost wipe off the top if there’s too much. They’d rather you not have more, but in America I love the heavy handed drink pouring.

> That’s also dependant on your tipping..
JP: (Laughs) Yeah exactly it’s very true!

Jack Peñate at Bruar Falls, 6.3.09

> With your second album its a very drastic difference — I  know you’ve covered that in a million interviews — but what we’re interested finding out is why you chose this specific direction of afro-pop Caribbean beats, all this lush sound going around…
JP: First of all, growing up all of  these styles of music were very familiar to me. I went to see Dr. John when I was 9 with my mum, my father was obsessed with Afro-beat, and my brother loved reggae so I grew up listening to Buju Banton, Sizzla, Red Rat and all these guys. I loved all of it but for some reason I didn’t feel like I could ever be obvious with loving that in my own music, and then something kind of clicked during the first record and I thought “If you love something surely you can bring it into your own music.” That style of music seemed the most natural to bring in at this point in my life.

There’s  lots of stuff I’d like to bring in later on but at this point I wanted that.  I didn’t want to come back with a serious second record. I wanted it to carry on that kind of joyous feeling from the first record but contextualize it in music that I loved and felt maybe hadn’t been explored in a lot of pop, and try to combine it with how I write songs. It felt kind of natural for some reason.

> You said you wanted to keep the second record joyous but when it comes to subject matter there is some serious lyrical content. We were talking to (even though your music is very different) a band like White Lies who say that their songs are about macabre themes but it’s still essentially pop music –
JP: I do it in a sort of tongue in cheek way though…

> Where does your perspective on this come from?
JP: I suppose that mainly I still have this teenage way of thinking about life and how it’s going to end. It’s one of those things that kind of carries on and is constant in my head, I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing. A song like Let’s All Die actually came about from someone else’s influence. I went on a road trip across America when I was 19 with my bassist Joel, and we saw a funeral procession in New Orleans.

It took me back in quite a shock actually because death is a very different thing in Britain (and most of America) but to see a little pocket of where it was this incredible amazing celebration…I was almost jealous as I’d want that. Music and color, it’s a great way to send someone away and say goodbye instead of quietly sobbing in all black the rain in Bexley Heath, South London. It’s what I grew up with -  heartbreaking funerals that didn’t have that sense of joy which life does have. I also like the idea of 14 year old kids in England singing along to the words, I think it’s kind of funny and in some way sort of punk rock.

‘I still have this teenage way of thinking about life and how it’s going to end. It’s one of those things that kind of carries on and is constant in my head’

> Was that the reception you’ve gotten at festivals? We heard that your set at Reading was huge!
JP: Oh my god it was insane. I wasn’t sure how these gigs would go because of the new record, but it was crazier than any gig we’ve ever done. There were like 15,000 people moshing, you know it’s going to be good when the crowd starts doing the thing where they sway and fall over and screaming. As soon I hit the note the thing went (crash sound.)

Jack Peñate at Mercury Lounge, 9.15.09

> How was it to go from those kind of shows to playing here at Mercury Lounge?
JP: Yeah that was only 2 shows ago! It is definitely a learning curve, it makes you re-evaluate everything and realize there is so much work to do. I’m gonna have to be really strong and make sure I’ve got a huge backbone and just be like (we played last night it was a lovely show but it’s a pretty small crowd) ” Fuck it, this is how it is and you can’t expect much more.”  I think it’s a positive and it kind of knocks you in a way.

> It’s good so you don’t take anything for granted.
JP: Yeah I don’t want to be knocked for too long though (all laugh.)

> Are you working on new material?
JP: Yeah,  I’ve been in the studio any day off at the moment really. Went in the studio with The Streets the other day which was cool, we didn’t finish it though because we only had 6 hours because of our schedules.  I’ve been writing on tour and just looking forward to getting back to do more. I want new music out in the next few months, hopefully an EP soon for people to hear.

> Back to the live show, what was the craziest experience you’ve had? I read a bit about how fans went mad during Torn on the Platform…
JP: We played in a place called Hull in Northern England, they call it “hell hole.” I love it but it’s real, really fucking intense.  We played this place which is a pretty famous bar, if you saw this place…I mean this room (boiler room of Mercury Lounge) is beautiful in comparison and it’s not that much bigger. The people who have played there Radiohead, Coldplay, u2, it’s one of those institution places. They oversold it by about 200 kids, so there were 500 kids in space for 300 IF that. The sound man is severely disabled, it was all sort of a head fuck AND in the middle of a whole estate, the whole vibe is fucking mad.

All the kids got onstage for pretty much the whole gig. I just bought a new guitar and I remember looking over and saying “Where the fuck is my guitar!?” My tour manager had to chase after this kid, they stole everything. Kids were trying to undo the drums but it was all ’cause of love, very much like mementos. I can’t really get annoyed about that, in fact it was kind of funny. My drummer was having to smack kids hands with the drum sticks while he was playing and kids were trying to take my guitar. It was fun, that was a good one.

‘I wanted it to carry on that kind of joyous feeling from the first record but contextualize it in music that I loved and felt maybe hadn’t been explored in a lot of pop, and try to combine it with how I write songs.’

> Over here they just go for the set list or a guitar pick! You’re based in London — is there music community you have? I know you and the Maccabees are friends.
JP: Yeah definitely! I live in a home that’s kind of by the record label. I rent a room and below is a record label called Merock. There’s lots of bands around. It’s a good thing but I kind of want to break away, kind of like the idea of LA because it’s kind of ridiculous. I love New York but it would be too easy but it’s quite close to England. I like the idea that if I’m going to move,  it’ll be 12 hours from home.  There’s definitely a great musical community in London but sometimes it can also be a fucking nightmare. You don’t want to talk about “Did you hear the new (this) single…” and there’s a lot of that, which is what those scenes do. It gets a bit intense, I kind of want to opt out.

> You jokingly mentioned dating one of the girls from New Young Pony Club in a previous interview.
JP: (Fumbles his words) My girlfriend’s here, no. Someone wrote a bit in a magazine and then everyone was saying it. I met her once.

> Not to put you on the spot but I read that she came up to you in a festival and said “You’re my boyfriend.”
JP: Yeah she did, we definitely don’t know each other…

> Oh was it off of the tabloid thing?

JP: Yeah it was a joke, it’s odd to be dating someone you don’t know…

> So you guys are broken up I can assume? (All laugh)
JP: Horribly painful, horribly painful. It’s like a Bon Iver kind of record, crying in my teacup.

nonii. just kuulsin esimest korda ja muarust suht pomm ikka. nagu ma aru saan, siis the xx remiksib jack penate‘i lugu, millele on theophilus london lisanud hunniku riime. võimidagisellist. awesome noh!

theophilus london – pull my heart away (the xx remix)

My opening ceremony.

Between the outdated house mix, and the basic void of silence, having me deejay while the crowd awaits is the lesser of two evils. Blame my unbearable modesty. The four cities I travelled on this fall’s UK tour, (opening for Jack Penate) needed some flavor outside of the bland sound of the audience’s own voices of, “Are They Starting Yet?” That said, I silenced the crowd about 10 minutes before showtime by warming up to a playlist of tracks to set the mood for the night of rousing performances.

It takes a really experienced DJ to be able to read his or her audience; to get a sense of what songs will get the crowd pumped. Then you have musical anomolies like DJ Kid Capri, who mastered this unwritten law of tour deejays in 1998 for Puff Daddy’s No Way Out tour. Kid dropped the needle on “It’s A Hard Knock Life” from the Annie soundtrack. Who knew Kid Capri’s penchant for spinning obscure records would be sampled by one of the concert’s first acts—a very green MC, Jay-Z. I’ll tell you this much, Theophilus London and I soundchecked a new song over one of the beats on my playlist. Until he actually records it, ‘mum’ is the word. Click below to listen to the ten songs that kicked off the show.

#10) BUSY SIGNAL “JUST WANNA FUCK”

The crowd wasn’t ready for such an intense banger, yet. I figured for our first show in Nottingham, I could do no wrong by bringing out the Caribbean vibes; think again. No one budged to Busy’s raw panty-pleasing anthem. Strike one.

#9) MORRISSEY “THE FATHER WHO MUST BE KILLED”

This is by far one of Morrissey’s most morbid tunes. The deadbeat stepfather gets knifed in his sleep; what a way to go. It’s really the drums though that foreshadow trouble. That’s essentially my warning to the crowd: someone might get hurt. Whether you’re victim of a face-full of Jack from a low-altitude stagedive, or Theophilus’ killer footwork, your fate is already sealed from this Morrissey declaration.

#8) THOM YORKE “CYMBAL RUSH” (THE FIELD LATE NIGHT ESSEN UND TRINKEN REMIX)

Given the headliner is more of an alternative rock, brit-pop sensation, Theophilus’ show could be considered a one-man rave. His fast-paced beats supplied by MachineDrum, Damon Albarn and Uproot Andy suggest the peer pressure that parents fear most—drugs. Not that we’re waving the glowstick in favor of intoxicants…just saying.

#7) STEVIE WONDER “NIGHT FLIGHT” (THE REVENGE COVER)

Disco might be dead, but there’s a whole new incarnation of it in Jiscomusic. The Scottish producer behind this re-tooled version of Stevie Wonder’s “Love Light In Flight” is responsible for one of the most progressive sounds overseas. His style reforms classic r&b/soul records into a mid-tempo funk. The thing is, jiscomusic is all about the climax, just like it’s disco predecessor. Instead, the Revenge keeps the instrumental on a low simmer until it’s time to uncover a steaming pot of vocals. Wait for it…wait for it.

#6) PORTISHEAD “WE CARRY ON”

The depth of a music collector’s library is likely to start with Portishead. Let’s face it, if you listened to rap in the ’90s, to show your musical range, the alternative would have been England’s trip-hop mavens. For our Brixton gig at the Fridge, it was fitting that I pair Theo’s blend of pop and electronica with one of Portishead’s hypnotic anthems. After all, we had a tradition to uphold at the Fridge, which has a long-standing history for some of Brixton’s most notorious techno, and trance parties.

#5) MORRISSEY “BLACK CLOUD”

Morrissey takes us on a chase of an abstract love. Well in the real world, where an elusive love could be, say (*cough*) groupies who can’t turn permanence out of being their obsession’s fling. It’s the predicament of trifey vs. wifey. I defer to Chris Rock’s take on the situation.

#4) PALEFACE AND KYLA “DO YOU MIND” (CRAZY COUSINS REMIX)

This remix from the budding UK Funky scene became part of my repertoire this summer. The first record to introduce me to the new wave of British club music was Theophilus’ spin on the Crazy Cousins classic, “Bongo Jam”. Paleface, along with his Crazy Cousin beatsmiths tap singers like Calista and Kyla to coo their PG-rated flirtation, that sounds as cute as the ladies look.

#3) BJORK “NATTURA” (SWITCH REMIX)

Switch crafted one of the best remixes of 2009 with his complete makeover of Bjork’s “Nattura”. Known for genre-bending production credits on Santigold and M.I.A.’s albums, Switch turned Bjork’s promo single for Iceland’s environmental protection, into a dance music masterpiece.

#2) THE SMITHS “HOW SOON IS NOW?”

I played a lot of Smiths and Morrissey during my trip. “How Soon Is Now?” was Theophilus’ exit music after each set. Especially after a recent scare, where Moz collapsed on-stage, we feared that another music icon would fade away. Thankfully he isn’t checking out anytime soon.

#1) JOY DIVISION “SHADOW PLAY”

With the exception of the periodic strobe light, I’m pretty much in the dark on-stage. I still manage to see my way through each set, with some theme music for the main event—Jack Penate and Theophilus London. But when I started opening up shows to Joy Division’s “Shadow Play” at Bristol University, I found my footing. By the time the shimmering hi-hats fade, and the dirty guitar licks come in, the applause followed. I was just getting started.

Well in terms of big fat juicy gigs, The Fridge officially had it’s cherry popped yesterday by Jack Peñate. With support from Brooklynite Theophilus London, he brought in the crowds in a pretty spectacular manner – we even spotted Matthew Horne from Gavin and Stacey in the midst.

Still dragging the stench of dry-cleaning with me, we whipped over from the Ritzy to ensure we played witness to what we hope becomes a regular occurrence from now on. There’s no doubt it’s the perfect venue, (perhaps to fill an Astoria-sized hole?) but the more gigs going on that we can just stroll home from the better. Yeah, yeah call us lazy.

We also got a chance to catch up with Fridge owner Andrew Czezowski, sharply zoot-suited and booted, who’s also hoping that Jack’s decision (he’s a Dulwich boy so he’s practically local) to play at The Fridge will start the ball rolling. Andrew also filled us in on his new night F.A.K.E. that kicks off on Friday the 13th and will regularly showcase some of the upcoming bands on the scene. But I’ll get to that later – it’s Friday evening, I can’t blog on forever!

Shadow play.

At the homecoming for Jack Penate, the windows on the exit doors are fogged up. South London, Brixton to be exact cued up a line as long as a mob following British royalty. The town has turned out for their hometown favorite, Jack Penate. With him, helping breathe new life into his new LP Everything Is New is his band of disciples raised on the Smiths, Paul McCartney, and EPMD (uh huh, Erick and Parrish) who paired their show with the soulful pop of Theophilus London. For the first time, during their stop in Brixton at the Fridge, Jack brings Theophilus on stage for the Jamie XX (one-third of Britain’s rhapsodic alt rock band, XX) remix of “Pull My Heart Away”. Watch a clip of Theo storm the stage below.

Last night, I flitted like a social butterfly around The Bar. A fake smile on my face; allowing a faux excitement to dance in my eyes.

I’ve met many men over the last two months. Probably, more than the entire five years that I’ve been single. Yesterday, they all seemed to descend on my local; one more disappointing than the other. This one is too young. (Most of them are too young); that one is too good looking to be trusted. He’s shallow. I have nothing in common with that one. This one’s not interested in me in that way. That one is unavailable even if he was; he doesn’t have Zing…!*

None of them have Zing…!

None of them even come close to comparing to Him. I came to that conclusion while driving home. I knew that I’m nowhere near ready to move on or forward or over.

But I know that I have to because that’s what you are supposed to do. I know that I have to because Jack Penate says that I should. (And because his voice is captivating and because melody is the language of the soul I should listen to him.)

I listen and hope that one day, soon, I’ll manage to ‘pull my heart away’.

(*Zing…! Not my own word; rather that of my new friend and awesome-st wing woman ever, A)

theo remixes and puts his touches on jack penate’s song “pull my heart away.” i’ve never heard the original, so i can’t compare but uh…well i was going somewhere with this, but i’ll end here instead.

download:

theophilus london – pull my heart away (remix)

We zullen ons de komende weken zeker niet vervelen en daar zijn we allerminst rouwig om. Zo staan er o.a. een aantal kwissen, enkele dinsdagmenu’s op het werk, een paar toneelstukken, wat concerten, een reeks films en een personeelsetentje op het programma de komende tijd.

Gisteren hebben we bijvoorbeeld met een aantal collega’s samen een etentje geregeld in een Italiaans restaurant in Genk eind deze maand. Uit eten gaan doen we meerdere keren per jaar, om de groepscohesie te versterken. Blijkbaar stellen onze medecollega’s dat uitermate op prijs want ze gaan steeds trouw mee. Het initiatief gaat wel altijd uit van dezelfde mensen, want als we op de rest moesten wachten zouden we vrijwel zeker op onze kin moeten kloppen.

We moeten wel nog dringend kaarten bestellen voor Sinner’s Day op 1 november, maar de tickets voor Jack Peñate, Daan, Fennesz en Finn. hebben we al op zak. Deze week hebben we zelfs al onze tickets voor het concert van Absynthe Minded in februari 2010 gekocht. En dan moet dé hoogdag voor concertgangers a.s. zaterdag nog beginnen als de voorverkoop voor U2 (september 2010) in Brussel van start gaat. Ik zal die zaterdagmorgen ook een poging wagen.

A viagem aos favorites destes primeiros dias de Outubro começa com a história da rapariga Betty, que decidiu juntar-se a uns dos melhores produtores do mundo, os SMD, para depois ser remisturada por Joker numa das músicas mais “dancefloor ready” do ano.

Simian Mobile Disco – Cruel Intentions (Joker Remix)

Já com as hostes abertas (isto soa tão mal) continuamos com os The xx, assim para relaxar. As misturas a Jack Penate e Eliza Doolittle são as novas pérolas destes putos de 20 anos.

Jack Penate – Pull My Heart Away (The xx Remix)

AFG/Delay – Congo Hearts

MONARCHY – Gold In The Fire (Demo)

Munk – Back Down (Cut Copy Jackmaster Remix)

Raw Man + Blanche – United (Instrumental Mix)

Really, really loving this song right now.

I think my favourite line:

I need to take myself away
From the pillowed hand, on which I stand
And throw me out of the side of a plane
And I’ll just see where I land

The XX are one of the years best “new” bands. Their full-length, self-titled, debut record has gotten critical acclaim from everyone and even gained them a spot on Pitchfork’s highly touted “Best New Music” list. Like all bands these days, The XX are hopping on the remix bandwagon and taking their “r&b meets art pop” approach to other peoples songs. On their remix of Florence + The Machine, they use an acapella loop from the original track, splice it into some shuffling drum patterns and use a nice bouncy bass. They also layer their own alternating boy/girl vocals, a staple on their record. This is an excellent song, extremely warm and sensual.

Florence + The Machine – You’ve Got the Love (XX Remix)

Jamie from The XX then tackles “Money Box” from Eliza Doolittle. He shows that he is just as talented on his own as he is backed by his band. Using squiggly sounding synths to balance out the sugary vocals the track is just plain cute. He also did a little dubstep flavored remix of  label-mate, Jack Penate.

Make sure you don’t miss The XX on tour all over Europe and North America this fall.

Jack Penate – Pull My Heart Away (Jamie XX Remix)
Eliza Doolittle – Money Box (Jamie XX Remix)

Markus G

Download Jack Peñate – Everything Is New

Launch Widescreen to play
Londoner, Jack Penate, coming doing a KRCW morning set on tour in LA with Miike Snow. Their album, Everything is New, was recently released (August 18, 2009).

Besides re-posting my reviews on my blog to show a few friends what I’m up to out in Internet Land, I also get the opportunity to take a second look at my original opinions. Jack Peñate’s Everything Is New still isn’t on my great list, but I have let a couple more tracks slip into my listening pool. Despite what I write in the review, one of the best tracks on the album is “Be The One”, which has a brand of Michael Jackson appeal to it. Still, an album needs more than three or four good songs to survive out there.

Here’s the review:

Heavily filtered vocals play with rhythmic, poppy melodies that could have come from 1983 to create the principal building blocks of Jack Peñate’s second album, Everything Is New, but only a couple of tracks are able to deliver the goods without being smothered by a hodgepodge jelly of world and jazz sounds, mucking up what could have been golden hooks and groovy themes. Peñate’s tunes get lost in their own musicality, and, at the end of the maze, it’s hard to find a reason to go through it all again.
[Read on at Kevchino.com]

One blog I’ve been following lately talks about a connection to another of Peñate’s tracks from Everything Is New, “So Near”.

It’s just another one of those songs that captures a great energy and represents those moments in life when you feel good and things are looking up.
[From Et Musique Pour Tous]

Check out all my music reviews here.

neumos has made a wise, wise choice. they’re throwing the best show of september tonight, starring kexp and hype machine regulars, miike snow and jack peñate.

miike snow (myspace) (kexp live perfomance – 6/13/09):

jack peñate (myspace) (“tonight’s today” video):

we’re ready to get our dance on. the question is, are you?

the deets:

• tonight: wed. sept.30.2009
• feat: miike snow & jack peñate
• doors at 8 pm
• $12 adv
• 21+

for the win:

• email captothehill@gmail.com and we’ll hook you up with two free tix.