NYEVSKY PROSPECT

Mercury Music Prize 2010

2010-07-22T10:30:00.004+01:00

So, as I said I would, I've written some thoughts about this years Mercury Music Prize... before and after

But this time they're over at http://honourbeforeglory.com/blog.html

Link to the email subscribe will be updated shortly as well

Many thanks for reading this blog and hope you continue to read through Honour Before Glory internet portal

Moving On

2010-07-19T10:55:00.003+01:00

As you've probably noticed, more and more of my ramblings have centred around my latest endeavors with / as Honour Before Glory, and as that project becomes more established, it seems silly to keep these musings as a seperate entity to that

In building the new website for Honour Before Glory, I've switched to a new blog that is embeded within the site, and hosted by those folk at tumblr. I'll be doing all my updates on there from now - Honour Before Glory related, as well as my production work and other random crap.

I'll put my annual thoughts on the Mercury Prize up sometime soon for starters and I'll try and update the email feed as well

Honour Before Glory on tumblr

Honour Before Glory website (new site coming soon)

Soundtrack to this post: Goldheart Assembly

Camera, Action

2010-07-02T11:17:00.002+01:00

Bit of movement with Honour Before Glory. I've spent the last couple of months demo-ing furiously and me and Simon went into the studio last weekend to lay down drums for 7 new songs. That process is continuing this weekend. Minute by minute updates on twitter

Before we hit the studio, a few of us got together to take some shots of us in band like form with our great friend Carmymac. They're still in the airbrush phase (joke), but below are some 'out-takes'

Honour Before Glory play our only date of the summer at Harrogate Fringe Festival on Saturday 31st July. More information here

Soundtrack to this post: Dirty Projectors, Wild Nothing

World Unite

2010-06-14T10:26:00.002+01:00

There's an exciting band out of Manchester at the minute called WU LYF

World Unite: Lucifer Youth Foundation

Not sure of much else about them, apart form that they sound great

wulyf.org

worldunite.org

wu lyf facebook

Soundtrack to this post: Foals

From Bon Iver to...

2010-06-10T13:15:00.000+01:00

I've been stuck listen to some of the big indie albums of the last couple of months - LCD Soundsystem, Foals, The National and Massive Attack - but a couple of other things have caught my eye - both offshoots of Bon Iver, and unsuprisingly on the amazing Jagjaguwar label

GAYNGS is a project from founded by Ryan Olson consisting of 23 musicians, including Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, Rhymesayers rapper P.O.S, and members of Solid Gold.

"With each song written at 69 BPM’s, and tripped-out transitions from song to song, it is truly an audio experience from start to finish"

Download GAYNGS - The Gaudy Side Of Town

Download GAYNGS - Faded High

SEAN CAREY is one of the brilliant percussionists for Bon Iver. In the past couple of years he patiently crafted a record in his time off from the band

Download SEAN CAREY - In The Dirt

Soundtrack to this post: Wolf Parade, Lone Wolf

The World Cup

2010-06-05T12:48:00.008+01:00

This time 4 years ago, I was about to spend the month travelling the globe, a road trip through Europe, hitting Paris, Berlin, Brussels and Amsterdam - then over to play 3 shows in America (New York, San Fransisco, LA), back to Berlin for a holiday, before heading off on what was probably Forward Russia's funnest tour with Youthmovies and The Scare

I'll always remember that time and the World Cup. I watched England vs Trinidad & Tobago midair over the Atlantic on a flight from New York to San Fransisco. I watched England vs Equador in a beer garden in Germany before playing a show to 5 people (including the brothers Foulger of Duels)

The defeat to Portugal was the strangest, that was watched in the departure lounge of East Midlands airport, a strange amend-um I headed on holiday to Berlin for a few days. We boarded the plan a Carragher took his first spot kick. No one really knew what had happened until we landed, but we everyone assumed we lost

In Berlin there were no games in the city, but Germany were playing Italy in the semi-finals - we watched the game in the fanzone in the Tiergarten infront of the Bradenburg Tor - part of an estimated crowd of 1 million people. Truely amazing

And we were pretty much on stage during the final at Oxygen Festival in Dublin. When we heard it was penalties we raced accross the site to see the final moments where everyone was crowded around a little TV set

This year, I'm immensely looking forward to watching as much of the World Cup at home with my friends, mostly I hope around the corner at Headingley Stadium, which boasts the largest outside screen in the UK.

Excitement has been increased and spurred on by a weekend recording again with Arthur Rigby & The Baskervylles talking almost non-stop football, football stickers and fantasy football. I make little apologies for the dominance the football will have on my twitter the next month.

Soundtrack to this post: Wu Lyf, Gayngs, Laura Marling

James

2010-06-03T18:00:00.003+01:00

Sorry for the lack of posting in recent weeks, I've been busy creating life:

I've still been busy working though - check out this track from Wingman

More soon...

Soundtrack to this post: Wolf Parade, Kill Keneda

Live At Leeds - The Unconference

2010-04-22T10:44:00.000+01:00

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been very busy helping to book and organise the industry event that will run alongside the Live At Leeds all dayer. The event is a collaboration between Futuresound (Live At Leeds promoter's) and Leeds Met University and is hosted at the latter's Old Broadcasting House on Friday 30th April

We've aimed to make the day informative and ripe for inquisition. It's mainly panel based, with each session hosting a wide range of experience and opinions on a given subject, with questions welcome every step of the way

Our 'main' guest is Sean Adams - founder of Drowned In Sound, who over the last 10 years has also run his own record label and is now a guest contributer to The Sunday Times Culture magazine

I'm also incredibly pleased of the wide range of local contributors we've assembled, with representatives from all over the local music spectrum. We've tried to make the event inclusive to all experienced organisations / business' as well, by offering space to showcase themselves at the event

Most importantly the event is about everyone in Leeds with an inquisitive nature of the music 'industry' - not just, or even primarily the mainstream industry, but the experience you can tap in to from the people involved

The Facebook event for the page, with updating information is here:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115121958512389&ref=ts

And you can download the latest version of the programme for the day here:

http://www.liveatleeds.com/LAL-Unconference-Programme.pdf

Soundtrack to this post: Blur

This Is Happening

2010-04-16T11:32:00.004+01:00

The new LCD Soundsystem album is streaming on their website. It's brought me alive in a million different ways - I'm on my third play, and I'm taken aback with how accurate the hyperbole is

Listen to This Is Happening here

Released 17th May 2010 in the UK

Soundtrack to this post: LCD Soundsystem

Heligoland

2010-04-16T08:28:00.000+01:00

Featuring guest appearences from Tunde Adebimpe, Dave Sitek, Hope Sandoval, Damon Albarn, Guy Garvey, Martina Topley-Bird and more.

For me, it's a step on from Mezzanine, and Pray For Rain and especially Paradise Circus are up their with anything they've done. Best album I've heard for a long time, and like last years' surprise discovery Royksopp's Junior - an unexpected treat

Listen to Massive Attack - Heliogland on Spotify here

Soundtrack to this post: Woven Bones, Massive Attack

Round-Up

2010-04-14T08:30:00.000+01:00

As I've been MIA for a month or so, here's a round-up of some choice free downloads I've been enjoying:

NINA NASTASIA - You're A Holy Man

http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/nina-nastasia-album-preview

65 DAYS OF STATIC - Crash Tactics

http://soundcloud.com/sainted-pr/65-days-of-static-crash-tactics

ROLO TOMASSI - Party Wounds

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Rolo_Tomassi/track/Party_Wounds_Produced_by_Diplo

WILDBIRDS & PEACEDRUMS - Fight For Me

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Wildbirds__Peacedrums/track/Fight_For_Me

SONS OF LEE MARVIN - Road To Audrey

http://www.box.net/shared/41rr9ycq02

VESSELS - An Idle Brain And The Devil's Workshop (Errors Remix)

http://soundcloud.com/cuckundoo/errors-remix-2010

QUACK QUACK - D Motherfucker D

http://soundcloud.com/cuckundoo/quack-quack-d

GOLDHEART ASSEMBLY - Jesus Wheel

http://media.nme.com.edgesuite.net/audio/2010/feb/07%20Jesus%20Wheel.m4a

TIGERS THAT TALKED - Bracelet

http://www.tigersthattalked.co.uk/wp-content/downloads/Bracelet.mp3

THREE TRAPPED TIGERS - 11 (Edit)

http://www.sendspace.com/file/26p7iq

and finally....

THE NATIONAL - Bloodbuzz Ohio

http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com/The%20National%20-%20Bloodbuzz%20Ohio.mp3"

Soundtrack to this post: Fulham-Wolfsburg, Real Fur, Tony Castles

Four Lions

2010-04-12T09:17:00.000+01:00

As previously mentioned, Chris Morris has a new film. It looks ace

Soundtrack to this post: I Like Trains

The ABC Club

2010-04-09T09:18:00.001+01:00

The ABC Club released their debut single 'Thieving Magpie / Friend Of Mine" last month on Friends To Make & Do Records

Details are sketchy, but for the nepotistic, I produced AA / B-side Friend Of Mine. They're playing a single launch at The Well in Leeds tonight (Friday 9th April)

You can buy the single from Rough Trade Records here

More info on their Myspace - myspace.com/wearetheabcclub

Soundtrack to this post: Nina Nastasia, Peggy Sue, Fair Ohs

Slight Return

2010-04-08T21:27:00.004+01:00

It's been a while. I have excuses though.

I've been working on Honour Before Glory stuff - new songs, the live band and more. I've been busy recording as well, of which I'll post the fruits very soon

Wheels continue to roll, but I've lined up some new posts, I'll wheel out shortly

In the meantime, my Spotify playlist is still here - featuring new additions from people like Owen Pallett, Beth Jeans Houghton, Errors and more

Soundtrack to this post: Fulham - Wolfsburg

A Beautiful Reminder

2010-03-04T07:44:00.003Z

Apologies for the lack of updates recently, blame normal life and everything. Although, that's not quite true, focusing a lot of my attention recently has been Honour Before Glory. Furiously demo-ing new song and preparing the band for live, I've also been trying to finish one new recording to share with you. And here it is:

Honour Before Glory - A Beautiful Reminder

Recorded and mixed by whiskas at House Of Mook, Leeds - February / March 2010
Additional vocals by Fran McCrossan

http://honourbeforeglory.com

Soundtrack to this post: Woods, Picastro / Art: Erin Ward

Samuel & The Dragon

2010-02-12T12:06:00.005Z

I'm really struggling to find time to right something coherent on this here blog, so here is a quick missive that addresses 2 points I'm trying to find to write something inteligent about.

#1 is some great bands for 2010

#2 is about how sick I'm getting of derivative bands, bands that seem to exist as a sound before substance

Samuel & The Dragon intrigue me greatly. In one respect they're stylization should be off putting, but musically, it seems brave and dark. Well, that's how "Diamonds On A Boat" sounds as that is the only song I've managed to hear. The moment of silence half way through gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

They're supposed to be playing A Nation Of Shopkeepers tomorrow night (Sat 13th Feb), I look forward to seeing what else they've got

Samuel & The Dragon Myspace

Soundtrack to this post: Massive Attack, Lawrence Arabia

Honour Before Glory - The Band

2010-02-05T14:14:00.007Z

After months of planning and thinking, I'm finally in the throws of making Honour Before Glory a fully fledged band. I don't want to mislead, the crux of my music making will still be myself developing songs in a studio, but the ability to recreate these songs live was always an ambition of some sort.

Joining me wil be collaborators from the studio, like Simon Fogal (from I Like Trains), as well as some friends from previous lives. I'll post some updates on how we're going but initial steps are going very well.

For those expecting a return to touring and gigging akin to that in Forward, Russia, they would be very much mistaken. Because the band exists doesn't mean we'll be playing out all the time. It's for the special occasion, to be cherished when it occurs. We only have plans to play a handful of shows by the end of the year, if that

But I've waffled too much. We're playing our first gig in March - it's free - and here are the details:

FRIDAY 12th MARCH

Honour Before Glory + Fran Rodgers + Yanni Montoya

Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

7.30pm Doors / Free Entry

HONOUR BEFORE GLORY (¡Forward, Russia! / I Like Trains / Duels / Shut Your Eyes & You'll Burst Into Flames / Fran Rodgers / Normal Man and more)

Honour Before Glory is the solo project of whiskas (¡Forward, Russia! / Dance To The Radio), the extension and fulfillment of songs that were written throughout his time in Forward Russia and beyond. After numerous false starts, Autumn 2009 saw the songs finally brought to life in the studio with the help from numerous friends (Simon & Dave from I Like Trains, Jon Duels, Fran ex-Shut Your Eyes.. and Fran Rodgers), and then released unto the world.

Growing interest in the songs and the project sparked whiskas to strip the songs back to their orginal form, playing a number of solo shows with Sunset Rubdown, Damien Jurado, as well as a tour in Germany. With an expanding repertoire and sonic ambition, 2010 sees new friends and old join whiskas for what will be the fully blown technicolour live experience. Gigs will be a rare and special event, so catch it when you can

"a great, naturally tentative and atmospheric piece of work. It’s like Bernard Sumner without the baggage or New Order’s Other Two, but with flowers in their hair." - Steve Lamacq, Going Deaf For A Living

"[Honour Before Glory] vibrates and reverberates with fractured atmospherics digital and otherwise, at the core of which lies heartfelt, wracked songwriting that glows even as everything around it lifts into the stratosphere. M83 would be the closest reference point, but without the recently overbearing nostalgia angle or so much deference to MBVisms. Maybe Ride after a course of Spencer Krug records would be more accurate, so that you can't help feeling that were he from Toronto rather than Leeds Whiskas would have been corralled into Broken Social Scene long before now" -Sweeping The Nation

Download Broken Bottles, Empty Hearts and watch Lions solo in Germany here:
http://honourbeforeglory.com

FRAN RODGERS

Born in 1982 to an English father and a French mother, Fran Rodgers was raised with her twin sister in an old mining town in Nottinghamshire. Hours spent listening to her parents’ records inspired a love of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and, later, the likes of Nick Drake, Nick Cave and Jeff Buckley. Following a move to Leeds in 2000 Fran discovered a passion for singing and, self-taught on the guitar, she began to write. Performing alone or with a little help from good friends Bruce Renshaw, Lins Wilson and Jim & Jon Foulger, she transports the listener into the fragile world she paints of love, loss and hope. She's a folk chanteuse basically

http://www.franrodgers.co.uk

YANNI MONTOYA (¡Forward, Russia / You Slut / Bella Cohen)

The true Forward, Russia legacy may be more prevalent in this Nottingham outfit. Since Forward, Russia's hiatus, Katie Russia has moved to Nottingham, DJing at local clubs and creating mind blowing artistic creations those familar with the FR merch stands will not be suprised by. Teaming up with friends and local scenesters, including members of You Slut and Bella Cohen, Yanni Montoya played their first gig in January supporting Future Of The Left. Reports are, they were awesome.

http://yannimontoya.blogspot.com

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=283640130687
Last.FM event: http://www.last.fm/event/1396227+Honour+Before+Glory

Soundtrack to this post: Wild Beasts, PJ Harvery & John Parish

Film 2010

2010-01-25T13:36:00.006Z

I love films, but don't get to the cinema much, and don't get chance to watch too much at home either. A few things have prompted this post, which I hope is entertaining, if not concise

On Saturday night, I got out to see UP IN THE AIR, which I'm sure you've all read about. Anyway, it was great, full of fun, very very enjoyavble and with palatable awkwardness when needed

Watch the trailer for "Up In The Air" here

The real exciting thing though, is the premiere of Chris Morris' debut film FOUR LIONS at the Sundance Film Festival. It's a jihadist comedy, as if you would expect anything different. The Guardian has posted a clip, which features more than a couple laugh out loud moments - as well a commentary piece and review

Watch the trailer for "Four Lions" here

And while we're at it, here's another of my favourite trailers discovered recently:

Watch the 'Hit Girl' trailer for "Kick-Ass" here

Soundtrack to this post: Owen Pallett / Final Fantasy

Albums Of The Decade

2010-01-15T11:18:00.002Z

It's taken me a while to round up my thoughts, but spurred on by being asked my favourite British albums of the last decade - and thus realising all my favourites were not applicable. Here are some thoughts:

Listen to all my albums of the decade on a Spotify playlist here

YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT

Wilco (2002)

Never has an album encapsulated me from first listen as much as this. Again, the love is possibly heighetened by the "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" documentary, but there are so many tunes that mean so much on this album

Listen to 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' on Spotify here

PLEASE BELIEVE IT

The Party Of Helicopters (2003)

Odd choice, but POH are simply the best live band I ever saw, and my love for this album is near unrivalled. Just ask anyone I subjected it to while on the road with Forward Russia.

Listen to 'Please Believe It' on Spotify here

THE TEXAS-JERUSALEM CROSSROADS

Lift To Experience (2001)

Such scope and vision, my heart lifts and sags with every crescendo and swell of Josh T Pearson's voice

Listen to 'The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads' on Spotify here

THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE

Low (2001)

The perfect Low record. Which is pretty perfect really

Listen to clips of 'Things We Lost In The Fire' on Last.fm here

Download tracks from 'Things We Lost In The Fire' from the Kranky website here

THE MEADOWLANDS

The Wrens (2003)

Existing as if from nowhere, it's a mish-mash of indie slants that shouldn't works, yet does, better than you can imagine

Listen to 'The Meadowlands' on Spotify here

YOU FORGOT IT IN PEOPLE

Broken Social Scene (2002)

A blueprint for pretty much every great band of the last x number of year. Pretty much. Unrivalled

Listen to 'You Forgot It In People' on Spotify here

MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO.

Songs: Ohia (2003)

Hard, but tips the Molina scale for me, if just for "Hold On Magnolia" and "John Henry Broke My Heart"

Listen to 'Magnolia Electric Co.' on Spotify here

DESPERATE YOUTH, BLOOD THIRSTY BABES

Tv On The Radio (2004)

Again, how do you weigh up 3 TVOTR albums, but this album as a statement of intent

Listen to 'Depserate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes' on Spotify here

SET YOURSELF ON FIRE

Stars (2004)

The other side of the Broken Social Scene coin, a wistful explosion of sugar coated morose pop midget gems

Listen to 'Set Youself On Fire' on Spotify here

Soundtrack to this post: M83

Season's Change

2010-01-13T19:19:00.004Z

Mr Sam Airey is very excited to announce the release of his debut EP 'Season's Change' on 1st March 2010.

I mentioned his of course, because the EP was recorded at House of Mook Studios, by myself - and a thoroughly enjoyable and successful experience it was too.

The record also features some friends of Sam's - Jim Morrow of Just Handshakes (drums), Hannah Wilson (backing vocals/additional keys), and Kieran O'Malley (fiddle).

Sam talks of the EP as "the culmination of what I have been working towards for the last year or so, and am very happy to be releasing it" - and it really is a fantastic collection of songs and I'm really pleased to have been involved in

The EP track-listing:

1. Oh (When It’s Gone)

2. Home

3. Stars

4. Row Upon Row

5. The Oak Tree

It will be available on CD at live shows, also from http://hideandseekrecords.bigcartel.com/ and from independent record stores

Check out a preview of the tracks on Sam's myspace page here:

http://www.myspace.com/samaireymusic

Sam also plays my 'Friends Before Glory' night at Nation Of Shopkeepers, Leeds on Sunday 24th January. More details of that here

Soundtrack to this post: The Low Anthem, Low

Art & Culture

2010-01-08T09:57:00.004Z

Last night I went to the opening of an art exhibition, and 'discovered' the great space it was housed in called 'The Bowery' in Headingley.

The Bowery is an "art gallery-cafe" and is a lovely little place I can imagine spending many a civilized afternoon relaxing with a coffee.

It features 'proper' gallery/exhibition space upstairs, with more works on display around the main cafe area downstairs, with various other artistic creations for sale (jewellry etc)

The exhibition currently on show features 4 artists - the Bowery website has yet to update details of it, but they are:

Charles Willcocks - Penitent
Laura Havenhand - Madelena
Sarah Garforth - Glimpses
Erin Ward - Light

Erin is a friend - the above painting is one of hers, and the rest of her stuff is well worth checking out on her website.
The Bowery exhibition runs until 9th April - the cafe runs regular courses and is open late-ish, so again, well worth looking at the website

ERIN WARD - WEBSITE

THE BOWERY, LEEDS - WEBSITE

Soundtrack to this post: Phoenix, The Knife, Bear Mask, Blue Roses

New Years' Revolutions

2010-01-06T16:11:00.006Z

Happy New Year everybody. I hope you brought it in well. At the stroke of midnight, I was onstage at Leeds' Brudenell Social Club, emulating bagpipes with a melodica ripping out Auld Lang Syne, before kicking into a cover version of 'Party Hard' by Andrew WK (this time on the guitar). Fun times.

I'm looking forward to the new year, it should be a good one with lots of crazy and expected and unexpected things upcoming.

This is all good - looking back, 2 years ago this time felt like a mess, and I didn't know how things would pan out. A year ago, I'd managed to distract myself enough so as not to worry about it.

This year looks a fair bit healthier, though I'm still not exactly sure where the next bean is coming from. What to expect?

Honour Before Glory will get a bit more serious. There's a couple of 'solo' gigs upcoming while the band comes together, and we're gonna do our first gig in March. All the while recording lots of new songs, expect to hear some more before that gig, and hopefully we can release something more substantial before the end of the year

Other than that? Mook is being super at the minute, and we got some new gear over Chirstmas. So I/we continue to record bands as much as humanly possible and anyone who wants to get involved we're really quite open, so get in touch.. Hopefully, more of our exploits will be released over the next few months, starting with Sam Airey's EP - Seasons Change

Duels are holed up searching for direction on album III, and the Mi Mye album is done and should be released on Trash Aesthetics in the early part of the year. It sounds awesome. Jamie & Lee have done a fine job with it.

Other things are afoot as well, some not suitable for this here blog, but I'm sure they'll be revealed. Winky smiley face

And I can't ignore the Forward Russia question, which seems to have been primed a little towards the end of last year through articles like THIS. It seems a little impractical with Katie living in Nottingham. And we've all found other people to play with at the minute. For those of you who wish it, I'm afraid it just doesn't seem to be on the agenda at the minute (though I could be wrong?). And as ever, that doesn't mean it never will be

That was a little longer than I meant, but that, as they say, is the news - coming up next on Nyevsky Prospect!

Top 10 albums of the decade!

Bands for 2010!

Soundtrack to this post: Tilly & The Wall, The Unthanks

British Albums Of The Decade

2009-12-21T17:04:00.007Z

Recently I got asked by Saam of Faded Glamour blog to submit my 3 British albums of the decade for a blogger's poll he was compiling.

It took me a while to work out where I stood on this. As mentioned, I've been putting some thought into my albums of the decade - and as you'll find out, it doesn't really include many UK acts (I haven't finalised it yet, it still migh do).

Anyway, after much consideration, I settled on my three. Unsuprisingly, none of them have made the final list, so Saam posted my choices up on his blog. I won't spoil his thunder so head over to see what I chose:

FADED GLAMOUR - Nyevsky Prospect: British Albums Of The Decade

It says something that only one album is available on Spotify. That album is also available to download free, which you can do so HERE

Soundtrack to this post: Tegan & Sara, Woods

Spotifriday (On Monday)

2009-12-21T09:12:00.006Z

I meant to do this with the posts on my favourites of 2009, and then before the weekend - and then I got prodded by a few friends, so here we are - a selection of Spotify playlist links to keep you entertained over the festive periods:

Albums Of 2009

Tracks Of 2009

and finally, here is the link to a playlist with stuff I'm listening to at the moment. This will change over time, possibly bite me on the arse, and be forgotten about at somepoints. But for now it might make some interesting listening

whiskas playlist (Dec '09)

Soundtrack to this post: Jay-Z, Olfar, Maccabees

Albums Of 2009

2009-12-15T13:53:00.001Z

Here's the second part of my year in lists - my favourite albums of the year.

This should probably come with a few proviso's
I feel guilty for not including Merriweather Post Pavillion (Animal Collective) and Veckatimest (Grizzly Bear) but I'm just not that in to you
I feel like I should have listened to Tarot Sports (Fuck Buttons) and These Four Walls (We Were Promised Jetpacks) more
In a few weeks, Beast Rest Forth Mouth (Bear In Heaven) would probably chart a lot higher

1. Röyksopp – Junior

Royksopp feels like an odd choice, but it is an album that really has so muched. Prompted to listen by collaborations with Fever Ray and Lykke Li amongst others, it seems to do master the duo's famous electro sound, and with some awesome contributions create some dark, dance-pop masterpieces

Listen to 'Junior' on Spotify here

2. Magnolia Electric Co - Josephine

It was hard to work out how to place Josephine, another great album from Jason Molina, but without perhaps as much of a focal point as some previous albums, and a slightly more 'blissed out' feeling. Upon consideration, it's still better than pretty much anything else this year

Listen to 'Josephine' on Spotify here

3. The XX - XX

XX is certainly the hipsters record of choice - they were everywhere in Berlin earlier this year. It's rare an album and band create such an atmosphere on a record, and this album does more than that, backed up with some haunting gems with a unique (I said it) mix of sounds

Listen to 'XX' on Spotify here

4. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

From breathless start to finish, the size of tunes on this album is massive, with a beatiful interlude in the middle with the atmospheric two-parter Love Like A Sunset. Grammy nominated it as always seems a shame they haven't been able to breakthrough quite so much in the UK - Phoenix are the indie-pop band we need

Listen to 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix' on Spotify here

5. Swan Lake - Enemy Mine

The first of two Spencer Krug contributions, despite this album being very much a side project affair, and suffering from the potentially schizophrenic contributions of numerous writes, this is a quirky Canadian indie at it's best, and filled a whole in my world for a while

Listen to 'Enemy Mine' on Spotify here

6. Rock Plaza Central - ...At The Moment Of Most Needing, Or If Only They Could Turn Around, They Would Know They Weren't Alone

Rock Plaza Central's follow up to 2006's 'We Are Not Horses' would've been hard matched to improve on that, and 'At The Moment' takes a more laid back approach, further away from the psycadelic imagery of it's predecessor. In the process it gains a level of subdued beautiful to revel in

Listen to '...At The Moment Of Most Needing' on Spotify here

7. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

Truely there is like no other as Dirty Projectors' immense vocal acrobatic harmony's. Sometimes distracting, always enticing, the melody's really are like no other

Listen to 'Bitte Orca' on Spotify here

8. Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer

Sunset Rubdown's Dragonslayer, Spencer Krug's true sole side project, was a veritable mix sounds and songs, that grew with every listen and utterly bombastic live

Listen to 'Dragonslayer' on Spotify here

9. Kong - Snake Magnet

First delivered to me in 2007 by the hands of Biffy Clyro (I plugged them as a Band For 2008), it took a while getting released, but it's riffs are the size of massive bollocks only these screams could emanate from

Listen to Kong on Myspace here

10. School Of Seven Bells - Alpinism

Strictly released in late 2008, before a re-release this year - one of the most intense live bands I saw this year, the sonics and songs make me warm and fuzzy inside

Listen to 'Alpinism' on Spotify here

...and the best of the rest:

11. Tegan & Sara - Sainthood / 12. Wild Beasts - Two Dancers / 13. Fanfarlo - Reservoir / 14. Grammatics - Grammatics / 15. Sometree - Yonder / 16. Editors - In This Light And On This Evening / 17. Sonic Youth - The Eternal / 18. Bear In Heaven - Beast Rest Forth Mouth / 19. Blue Roses - Blue Roses / 20. Riceboy Sleeps - Jonsi & Alex / 21. Micachu & The Shapes - Jewellery / 22. Monsters Of Folk - Monsters Of Folk / 23. Karen O & The Kids - Where The Wild Things Are Soundtrack / 24. Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions - Bavarian Fruit Bread / 25. Fever Ray - Fever Ray

And, finally, looking at my forever interesting Last.FM stats, my actual most listened to albums released in 2009, are the following:

1. The XX - XX

2. School Of Seven Bells - Alpinism

3. Rock Plaza Central - ...At The Moment Of Most Needing

4. Magnolia Electric Co - Josephine

5. Röyksopp – Junior

6. Swan Lake - Enemy Mine

7. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

8. Grammatics - Grammatics

9. Sometree - Yonder

10. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns

With a little note to say that Kong's 'Snake Magnet' would be at #8 in the last fm list, had I not recieved it in 2007!

Soundtrack to this post: Bear In Heaven

There's No International Trust

2009-12-13T18:27:00.005Z

Here's another picture special - not great shots, but fun shots.

On Friday night, my friend's band INTERNATIONAL TRUST played their last gig - they will be sorely missed. If you don't know them, all you really need to know is that they are a lot more fun than your band. Enjoy their festive hit "Let's Have A Dance" and click on the photos to enlarge

Soundtrack to this post: Radio 5 - 606

Tracks Of 2009

2009-12-11T13:30:00.001Z

Hello, and welcome to the first of a few posts where I tread the well travelled 'best of' path. To follow are my favourite albums of the year, my favourite albums of the decade - and then the compulsory 'tips' for 2010 - hopefully. These are all subjective of course, one man's gravy is another man's porridge and all that.

I wasn't gonna write some bunf about each song, but I wrote that were the same "great song, had it in my head all year" - so I'll just leave you to listen

Without further ado, here are my Top 10 tracks of 2010:

1. Phoenix - 1901

Download 1901 from RCRDLBL.com here

2. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move

Download 'Stillness Is The Move' from RCRDLBL.com here

Watch 'Stillness Is The Move' on YouTube here

3. Animal Collective - My Girls

Listen to 'My Girls' on Spotify here

4. Grammatics - Double Negative

Listen to 'Double Negative' on Spotify here

5. Florence & The Machine - You Got The Love (XX Remix)

Download 'You Got The Love (XX Remix)' from RCRDLBL.com here

6. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks

Watch 'Two Weeks' on You Tube here

7. Three Trapped Tigers - 6

Download '6' from NME.com here

8. Sometree - Conundrum

Listen to 'Conundrum' on Spotify here

9. Wild Beasts - The Fun Powder Plot

Listen to 'The Fun Powder Plot' on Spotify here

10. Sunset Rubdown - Idiot Heart

Download 'Idiot Heart' from RCRDLBL.com here

Close but no cigar: Editors - Bricks & Mortar / The XX - Crystalised / The Antlers - Two / School Of Seven Bells - Iamundernodisguise / The Maccabees - No Kind Words

And, finally, looking at my ever interesting Last.FM stats, my actual most listened to tracks released in 2009, are the following:

1. Local Natives - World News

2. Phoenix - 1901

3. Grammatics - Murderer

4. Animal Collective - My Girls

5. School Of Seven Bells - Iamundernodisguise

6. Passion Pit - Better Things

7. The XX - Crystalised

8. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move

9. The Horrors - Sea Within A Sea

10. Swan Lake - Spanish Gold, 2044

See more here

Soundtrack to this post: Shearwater, Karen O & The Kids, Japandriods

Friends Before Glory

2009-12-10T18:37:00.006Z

I'm putting plans in motion to step up the Honour Before Glory activity in the coming months. Not actually stepping it up yet, as I'm still snowed under with a few bands I've recorded over the last month, but planning to.

First off, in preperation for returning to the studio over the festive period, I'm giving away Broken Bottles, Empty Hearts via download when you join the Honour Before Glory mailing list

FREE DOWNLOAD - Broken Bottles, Empty Hearts

Secondly, I'm putting the band together, which is exciting and daunting at the same time. The friends who I want to be involved are all busy people, so it an Honour Before Glory gig will be a rare occurence, but hopefully a special one.

We'll be playing our first gig in March, but to warm up, I'm hosting an evening at Nation Of Shopkeepers in Leeds. Fran Rodgers will be playing her own set, and we'll be joined by other people who contributed to the tracks I recorded, and playing some special versions of Honour Before Glory songs. Sam Airey will open up - I've been recording his EP recently and it's very special.

Details in full:

SUNDAY 24th JANUARY

A Nation Of Shopkeepers, Leeds

Honour Before Glory + Fran Rodgers + Sam Airey + Special Guests

Free Entry / early start : early finish

Last.FM event :: Facebook event

Soundtrack to this post: Leftfield, Dananananaykroyd, Department Of Eagles, Beach House

Sometree Restgeräusch Session

2009-12-07T09:18:00.002Z

As mentioned while on tour in Germany, Sometree filmed a short session set at a studio just outside Munich. My blog of the day (generally involved trying to catch up with football, and eating chocolate) is HERE

The session is now online and look pretty stunning

Sometree Restgeräusch Session Videos

Soundtrack to this post: Samuel & The Dragon

Lions (acoustic)

2009-12-04T15:07:00.008Z

On the last day of the German tour in Leipzig, Sebastian Sometree filmed me playing a song backstage at Moritzbastei. It was inspired by the Blogotheque videos unsuprisingly

I like the idea of Lions of acoustic, as most of the songs that will come to pass, are zuped up versions of acoustic style songs - this is an acoustic version of a song that was never intended as such

After a few weeks sans Honour Before Glory, the next couple of weeks will hopefully start the get up in to some new songs, and a new live 'experience' - so stay tuned

honourbeforeglory.com

Soundtrack to this post: Julian Plenti, Tori Amos

Three Trapped Tigers

2009-11-30T12:20:00.006Z

Last Thursday, on a rare free night, I ventured to the Brudenell to see Three Trapped Tigers, who I first mentioned over a year ago. Described as Battles meets Squarepusher in many quarters, and ticking lots of math rock meets f*cked electronica boxes, I was still pretty suprised by the live 'show' - the best, most exciting thing I've seen for a long while.

The ferocity the music was played with, rigidly hooked into mechanical grooves, seemed to sum up to me the evolution of a musical style that can so often lack focus and point of interest. They are not pretenders to anyone, but masters of what others can only try and accomplish. Decide for yourself anyway

Download Three Trapped Tigers - 6 / NME

Download Three Trapped Tigers - 3 / Clash Music

Listen to Three Trapped Tigers on Spotify

www.myspace.com/threetrappedtigers

Soundtrack to this post: Bear In Heaven, Three Trapped Tigers

The Whiskas Story

2009-11-24T23:41:00.001Z

As mentioned as a frequent amend-um to talk of studying my Masters degree, I have also been known to partake in the odd guest lecture at LMU and infact a few other educational institutions. Traditionally these have been my anecdotal recollection of how I started Dance To The Radio, and talking about Forward Russia.

In the last few weeks, however, I've been lucky enough to talk on a variety of specific subjects, such as production techniques, label / producer relationships and songwriting. However, I still got wheeled out to talk on what LMU dubbed 'the whiskas story'

The idea behind this lecture, as part of the music industry module, was to give an idea to the students of what you can achieve through building connections, and also that sometimes you need to pursue a variety of different paths to make a living in the music industry. LMU filmed it and stuck it on YouTube - so I thought I'd write a bit more about it and put it in context.

I've never actually thought about what I've been doing, and quite often just doggedly followed a path that I've ended up on, and in hindsight, a lot of things come across a lot more thought out than they were at the time. As I say in the lecture, it isn't telling people how I did something, it's not me bragging about what I've done - it's a story about what I did with a few ideas and some friends I guess

Watch the full quality version here

Soundtrack to this post: Johnny Cash

100!

2009-11-13T09:04:00.005Z

I've been meaning to blog all week, but have lacked sufficient time and inspiration to post something truely worthwhile. And lo - I come to muse and notice it's the 100th post!!

First - THE NEWS. Am very confused to be trying to operate in the real world, though that is currently manifesting itself in recording bands which is good. Some good stuff coming up when I get chance to finish it!

I'm enjoying being in the studio, but need to find time to work on some new Honour Before Glory stuff, and I keep missing some really good gigs. Tonight, I'm missing Dinosaur Pile-Up + Eureka Machines, La Roux (feat. Will Bowerman) and pAperchAse + Vessels. My appearences for FC Lokomotiv have also been severely reduced. Anwyay, I said enough of the self-indulgence

Secondly, this blog has really turned self-indulgent, so it seemed the right time to plug some NEW MUSIC I'm enjoying:

TWISTED

This is no bullshit "best band in Leeds" / "these guys are going to be huge" post, but this is a band who are more than worthy of your attention.

The story goes, I was sat in the bar of the Brudenell and was convinced I was listening to a big headline band soundcheck, only to realise later it was these boys opening up an alldayer. I knew the songs cos they're not precious about their digital media and have most of their recorded tracks up for download on their blog. Cool eh?

B1 (new single) - http://www.mediafire.com/?ygmqno5tlgj

Daydream EP - http://www.mediafire.com/?kxgmvwzhkzy

http://twistedleeds.blogspot.com/

TEGAN & SARA

I'm never quite sure about Tegan & Sara, but damn I do enjoy listening to it. Just the right mix of pop, shoegaze, riffs and tune-age. New album Sainthood 'blew up' in their native Canada I do believe

Sainthood on Spotify

Soundtrack to this post: Tegan & Sara

Next... Damien Jurado & More

2009-11-04T09:14:00.004Z

Sorry, this blog isn't 'supposed' to turn into one completely about Honour Before Glory, but it's the centre of musical universe at the minute... well just about. I hit the studio next week with two new band, more of which soon

First thing for Honour Before Glory is a gig at Brudenell Social Club supporting the wonderful DAMIEN JURADO, mentioned previously on this blog here. The gig is, as I write tonight - Wed 4th Nov 2009. So maybe of more significance in the past tense

But this may be the last time I play solo in the style I've worked out that enabled me to go on tour with Sometree. Now that is complete, the next time I do something I can hopefully work on collaborations with people who've contributed to the recordings I've done. This will be better I'm pretty sure! And a step to 'putting the band together' - something that I'll be trying to do when I go into the studio to record the next set of songs, which I've already started demo-ing. For now though, I have to have one eye on the real world

Soundtrack to this post: Tegan & Sara

Honour Before Glory in Germany - Day 8/9

2009-11-03T12:25:00.006Z

I'm back home in England now, trying to establish something resembling normality. The last few days in Germany were just as fun as everything else. It is nice to be home, but I will miss the Sometree guys!

I left the story in Regensbourg after zero sleep and a drive to Dortmund. I wasn't playing this night as it was a Visions Magazine Anniversary Party. This also meant Sometree were supporting the awesome Robocop Kraus, and lots of other things were happening, including Biffy Clyro play across time

So not much to tell, as I generally felt like a spare part for the initial part of the day before heading off to go watch Biffy, who'd flown in from Dublin for the show. It's always interesting to see bands you know well play to a foreign audeience, and the crowd went crazy for the Puzzle / Revolutions heavy set. Afterwards, I suprised the guys back stage, leading to a ridiculous backstory explanation - like, what the hell I was doing in Dortmund. Good to see them and their's though!

But unfortunately I managed to miss Sometree who played one of the best shows on the tour apparently. Had a relatively early night at our rock star filled hotel, and up for another long drive to Leipzig, fully refreshed after an awesome shower experience (you know, great temperature controls, really powerful)

With all the driving over the last few days, I'd finally got to working on some new bits and bobs for songs I've been playing acoustically to record 'fuller' versions in the studio. Was good, and hopefully I'll get in to the studio again by the end of the year

Anyway, Leipzig. Today we were joined by Tobias aka And The Golden Choir. With an early curfew, time was pushed, and we had to bail on watching Schalke v Leverkusen. The gig was great though, and everyone tore it up afterwards. 'Helium Man' made an appearence, people dissapeared, we danced to bad metal, and at somepoint we managed to make it back to the hotel

The next morning we bid a tearful, no, hungover, farewell. Sometree & Tobias headed off to Cologne, while I wandered wearily for some food before the trip to Berlin and home. Thanks guys! It was hella fun. We should do it again sometime

Soundtrack to this post: Sometree, And The Golden Choir, Throwing Muses

Honour Before Glory in Germany - Day 7

2009-10-31T17:23:00.003Z

A severe lack of W-LAN has thrown the blog out of kilter, so this blog was written on Friday after the Vienna show. I'm posting it from Leipzig as the gig is about to start. Will probably fill in details of Dortmund & Leipzig when I'm home now...

So, as reported, after the Frankfurt gig we had to drive 9 hours to Vienna, and by the time we arrived, we were all a bit flaked out. We did manage to amuse ourselves by watching Ultravox's Vienna video - although Falco apparently has a more famous song about the City.

The main source of pre-gig entertainment came from the largest / busiest kebab shop / restaurant I have ever been to. From the street, a normal kebab shop, but stretching back and back (including a winter & summer garden) it must have seated about 200 people. And it was full!

I was expecting something amazing food-wise, and it was ok, but not amazing. The best thing, was the big screen showing Turkish soap opera. Something truly to marvel - especially the the mustaches.

The venue was quite a small one for the tour and Sometree really struggled to all fit on stage. No such problem for me of course, though I struggled with the fact that the venue was in a railway arch and the U-Bahn passed over every few minutes. In fact everything about the venue was a bit noisy

No time to party tonight, as we had to jump straight back in to the van and drive 4 hours to Regensbourg to enable us to get to Dortmund in good time today. Tired face

Honour Before Glory in Germany - Day 5/6

2009-10-29T16:42:00.004Z

This report feels pretty hard to write, as we've just driven 9 hours to Vienna, which has been pretty hardcore. We have to drive back north after the show tonight as well, so it's a long day ahead still

Frankfurt was a mixed bag for us, upon arriving on Tuesday, we didn't really do anything good with our time. We did get some good grub though (although it was probably the most garlic I've ever tasted in a meal), and then found a "traditional" Irish Pub to watch Man Utd vs Barnsley. It all could've been so much better...

Had a walk around Frankfurt on Wednesday, and got to the venue nice an early. It was in the middle of an industrial area, and part of a strange media complex, that was more than a little bit weird, so it really took us a while to get into the feel of the night

The crowd, were great though and I had my best gig - although the amount of crap I talked would have made a Forward Russia crowd cringe. Sometree again rocked hard, and demolished their way through numerous bottles of red wine in the process. I'm the only beer drinker on the tour, so it's always slightly depressing at the end of the night as I can see how much I've consumed in exacting detail. At least when there are numerous empty wine bottles around 4/5 people are responsible, but with the empty beer bottles it's all down to me

Anyway, a question came up. Why do the English call Bayern Munich so? Munich is the English word for Munchen, but Bayern is the German work for Baveria. And yes, I pretty much have talked football all time on the tour - with brief respites to mention the Yankee's reach the world series, the Celtics beat the Cavs and the Wembley NFL game (a good week for Boston-born "5th member" of Sometree, Sean). Oh yeah, and the obligatory attempt to explain cricket.

Honour Before Glory in Germany - Day 4

2009-10-27T17:06:00.003Z

It was a pretty relaxed journey to Stuttgart, and everything was done with a decent amount of time, checking into our hostel and loading the venue - the veritable maze of rooms.

While Sometree soundchecked I went for a walk around the city, which is supposed to be one of the richest in Germany - so lots of boutiques, and it's always cool to see a totally pedestrianised city centre.

The funniest thing for me though, was seeing a German Christmas Market, selling the kind of Bratwurst and Gleuwien found in Leeds & Manchester city centres every year. The Sometree guys found my amusement pretty funny - it's just that it was exactly the same as we have in Leeds. Surely there's no 'novelty' in having it in Germany?

The gig was a really good one tonight, the crowd came down early and were really kind to me and seemed to listen so I felt a bit more confident. Sometree got an amazing reaction tonight, even getting two encores and vinyl and CDs were being signed for quite a while after

This morning we had a lazy morning, with breakfast and internet check-up, before the light drive to Frankfurt. The gig that was supposed to be in Frieberg has been cancelled unfortunately, so we have a day off - but it will be valuable rest as we have to traverse the long journey into Austria on Thursday!

Soundtrack to this post: Grammatics, Throwing Muses

Honour Before Glory in Germany - Day 3

2009-10-27T10:35:00.003Z

These blogs are running into each other a little bit - so I hope, as well as being at least mildly interesting, they also make sense! The timings are slightly off. I originally wrote this on the drive from Munich to Stuttgart, but now write it the day after Stuttgart (does that make sense?!). I will write of last night's adventures later today!

As reported, the day in Munich was nice and relaxed. We stayed at an apartment in part of the venue (the first time I've slept on bunkbeds for a few years!). The whole venue itself was split into 3 or 4 different sections, and operated in numerous different guises, including hosting some youth / social work, and a radio station. All in all a very cool place!

The gig was a bit more comfortable for me, and I managed to play Lions acoustically for the first time which was good, though I still feel slightly uncomfortable being onstage on my own! I think it will work better when the band exists as a 'bigger' entity (personnel wise). But I think I try and make excuses for this too much anyway!

Sometree rocked it again, while I descended into Augustiner Hell. Watching Sometree you again feel it's odd they never reached a bigger audience in the UK. Is a large part of it because they're German? Or does that geographical problem mean an inherit problem in terms of touring and being 'out' of England

In the course of the day, while talking about pubs, football and lyric writing in English, I introduced the guys to cockney rhyming slang - a whole new world for non-English speakers. The well oiled end to the evening, culminated in loading Danny Dyer clips on to You Tube...

Today I've been reading about Kristin Hersh's Strange Angel project - find out more here. I always enjoy her music and the recent 50 Foot Wave stuff was great, so it's interesting to read about another approach to making music (and seemingly unheralded)

And to Stuttgart... (except in real life I'm about to leave Stuttgart, but will write of last night later...)

Honour Before Glory in Germany - Day 1/2

2009-10-25T17:32:00.004Z

After my nice holiday, I only had a few days to get ready for the Honour Before Glory tour supporting Sometree in Germany. The joke was I had to burn CDs to sell, do my washing and even finish a couple of new songs. This was a bit of exaggeration, but I was hoping to play Lions and a cover that I hadn't played previously.

The first gig was Friday night in Berlin, and to make things easier I flew in the night before - as with everything on this tour flying over on my own with just a guitar was a strange and new experience! Everything went fine though, even though I was especially worried about the safety of my guitar!

In Berlin, I stayed with Sebastian, the guitarist of Sometree, and we spent more of Thursday night and Friday catching up on all the goings on since they came over to support Forward Russia in early 2007.

While Sometree went off to do a radio session in the afternoon, I wandered to some familiar parts of Berlin, in search of Wurst & Kraut, before catching up with them at Lido later on.

There was the usual big city anticipation for the gig, with Sometree playing their home town, the capital city, at the big club with an early start for the early finish.

In true whiskas fashion, I felt suitably awkward onstage - I'm especially paranoid about my lack of German - I just feel rude. Still the gig went well, though it was probably the hardest for me to start with as it was so early and to such a big city crowd. I didn't brave Lions, but Mazzy Star's Fade Into You slipped in just perfectly

Sometree were awesome, playing the perfect Berlin set - so so good to hear the new songs, and worked extra well with help from old friend Sean on extra keys and guitar. No crazyness after the gig, as we had an 8am start the next day, with Munich our goal (a looooong drive), after Sometree stopped to at Restgeräusch studio to record an internet session.

During the session, I was total spare part and gourged myself entirely on chocolate and crisps while trying to keep up with the UK football scores. Like most Saturday in England really!

There is vague hope of using he time on this tour to write some more songs and work on how I'm going to record others. Maybe this will prove easier when there aren't football matches to get distracted by!!

It's been a beautiful day in Munich today, and we've mosty just chilled out in the sun while waiting to soundcheck. I did manage to watch Man Utd v Liverpool, so all is not lost. The gig tonight should be good, and then a short-ish drive to Stuttgart tomorrow, and hopefully the tour really gets going

Holiday (Celebrate)

2009-10-20T19:43:00.003+01:00

I got back from holiday last Friday before heading straight out to see I Like Trains at The Cockpit. I'm keeping busy preparing for the upcoming Honour Before Glory tour of Germany with Sometree - I leave Tuesday morning, and ridiculously have songs to finish writing, lyrics to learn and EP's to burn / package.

The holiday was great, taking in Venice, Nice & Tuscany (dicacted by cheap flights) for one of the best & longest breaks I've ever had. Think it'll be a while before the next one.

I've had a fun few days since I've been back though, entailing the aforementioned I Like Trains gig, catching up with old friends Editors and a brief sojourn to In The City.

I'll try and add more bits and pieces once I'm on the road - as well as keeping the blog upto date with what's going on on the tour. But for now, I've got a plane to catch, and once I'm there, I've lots of travelling, so writing can wait for then!

Soundtrack to this post: Mazzy Star, Biffy Clyro, The Big Pink

Looking To The Future

2009-10-05T18:08:00.005+01:00

It's always that irony when writing something like this blog, when you've lots of time to write, then there's nothing to write about, when there's no time for anything, there's lots to write about. And so here we are - I've finished my Masters degree (results end of the month), which also coincides with finishing the first Honour Before Glory recordings

But it's a brief respite - in a good way, as I'm dissapearing for a lot of October, but will be back with a vengeance afterwards.

HONOUR BEFORE GLORY

I have now finished the first Honour Before Glory recordings, and launched the compulsary Myspace page. You can listen below via the power of Soundcloud.

All the tracks were recorded by me at House Of Mook, and feature help from the talents of Simon Fogal, Jon Foulger, Francis McCrossan, Fran Rodgers and Dave Martin

After Germany, I'll be playing with Damien Jurado at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds - and then will be trying to do some more recording.

http://www.myspace.com/honourbeforeglory

HOUSE OF MOOK NEWS

After returning from Germany with Sometree in November, I'll be bedding myself down in House Of Mook and recording lots of bands. As ever, get in touch if you're interested here

The first fruits of Mook are being unveiled though - Just Handshakes (We're British) are releasing a split 7" single with my other faves Yonderboy. Listen and order the track through their respective Myspaces.

---

Other than that? Business as usual

Soundtrack to this post: Yonderboy, Papercuts

Academia

2009-09-09T08:53:00.003+01:00

I've got a few things I want to write about on here - most prevalent being attending Bingley Music Live on Sunday to see Editors debut some new material (an interesting and enjoyable experience) and then there's tonight's Mercury Music Prize fandango

But unfortunately I'm consumed by my Masters degree which I've touted on here before, the hand in of which is just 16 days away

As written previously, this ties up with the current 'development' of HONOUR BEFORE GLORY - academically I'm supposedly discussing the relationship of artist & producer. I say supposedly because it's a hard thing to be subjective about.

So at the moment I'm concentrating on making the best record possible and that's going pretty well - it's quite exciting finally hearing the realisation of songs that I've been developing for many years - some ideas have been floating in my head since before ¡Forward, Russia!

Simon of Leeds football hero's FC Lokomotiv has provided the pounding rhythms and at the moment I'm spending my days fucking them up and adding squealing noise over the top. Hopefully some majestic melody's will be added by myself and other people who can sing.

The plan is - a version of these songs (I'm currently working on 3) will be finished for the end of the month. I'm hoping by the time I go to Germany I'll be happy for the songs to be released into the world. But we'll see... there's a lot to do in a short space of time

Soundtrack to this post: Editors / Quack Quack / Get Well Soon

My Leeds Festival 2009

2009-09-01T19:18:00.004+01:00

This year I've felt a little too self absorbed to induldge myself in Leeds Festival properly. I spent the Friday & Sunday bed down in House Of Mook perfecting the mix for You Animals forthcoming opus, and setting up for recording some Honour Before Glory tracks on Monday

I did have a great day in attendance on the Saturday, though as usual it was the social aspect as much as the bands that made it the occasion it was.

I started the day watching The XX, who's album has quickly become a bit of a favourite of mine. It was an odd entity live, I wasn't expecting it to be that much more than it was, but I still thought it was a shame there wasn't more to it. Still, it's made me listen to the album today and I've enjoyed it all the more.

After The XX, I wandered around the site a little bit and checked out the BBC Introducing Stage, caught a little bit of ex-Loiner Anna Prior in Metronomy, before watching the Grammatics in the Festval Republic tent. And very good they were too

Later on, we camped out on the main stage to catch Vampire Weekend (who reminded me more than ever of Gracelands), bits of Bloc Party (very festival) and then Radiohead.

Radiohead was a bit of an odd one as not the set per se, but the whole set-up seemed very hard for a casual observer to 'break through' - and what I find odd, is why a band that was doing a sponsor-less tour in their own tents, was headlining such a 'corporate' festival?? With the 'arty' set up of video screens and lighting it was hard to connect from a distance, so I lost interest. I'm sure if I'd have been in the mood for an intense Radiohead set it would've been outstanding. I guess it was the festival equivalent of The Wire - not one for the casual observer. But that's what I go to the festival to be.

Two brief links / mentions:

1) To the festival volunteers who are actively getting involved. Great work if you can get it:

http://festvolunteers.blogspot.com/

2) Check out highlights of loads of bands on 'death of independent journalism' website the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/readingandleeds/2009/videos/

Keep an eye out for Faith No More covering the Eastenders theme

Many thanks to the kind people at Festival Republic though for letting me attend again. Hopefully next year I can do something worthwhile to attend

Soundtrack to this post: Wilco, Fever Ray

You Animals

2009-08-27T08:56:00.003+01:00

As mentioned at the time, a couple of weeks ago I was in the studio with Derby heart-throbs YOU ANIMALS to record their new single.. their Theme you might say

While I'm stuck in the studio finishing off the lead track, the band have put together this amusing video of our time together. Check it out:

Soundtrack to this post: Fever Ray

Honour Before Glory

2009-08-24T14:31:00.007+01:00

Last night I played the first gig with new material I've been writing since Forward Russia finished their second album - which is about two years ago

It's taken so long, as I've been determined to thrash out these songs all on my own, not necessarily in a singer-songwriter style, and recently it has been the challenge to arrange simpler songs in a more interesting fashion. More on that later, as 'proper' recordings of songs played by a full band will emmerge shortly

I'm wary of calling this a new band, I'm wary of calling this a solo project. It's something I feel I have to do, and I guess it's somewhere between the two. Over the past year or so, I've moved away from the idea of the songs being presented by one man and his guitar, but an offer I cannot refuse has caused me to rethink this

In late October, I am off to Germany to support Sometree on 8 dates of their forthcoming album tour - just me & a guitar. I am nervous but excited

It's something I barely thought twice about, but having never performed on my own, ever, I'm nervous as hell at the prospect!! I'm hoping to play as many 'warm up' shows as I can before I leave, that I'll hopefully keep here, twitter and a myspace updated of. After the German tour, hopefully the priority will be to get some kind of band together to play the songs that will by then be hopefully recorded

It's called HONOUR BEFORE GLORY

Solo Live Dates

Sept 13 - Leeds UK, Brudenell Social Club w/ Sunset Rubdown

Oct 23 - Berlin DE, Lido w/ Sometree

Oct 25 - München DE, Orangehouse w/ Sometree

Oct 26 - Stuttgart DE, Universum w/ Sometree

Oct 27 - Freiburg DE, Jazzhaus w/ Sometree

Oct 28 - Frankfurt DE, Das Bett w/ Sometree

Oct 29 - Wien AT, B72 w/ Sometree

Oct 30 - Dortmund DE Tbc

Oct 31 - Leipzig DE, Moritzbastei w/ Sometree

Soundtrack to this post: Bon Iver, The XX, The Invisible / Art: Erin Ward

Steve Lamacq

2009-08-21T10:28:00.003+01:00

It's been a busy couple of weeks, and the news of Steve Lamacq leaving Radio 1 has been much neglected by myself on blogs and twitter. It's not always good to gush, but if there's ever a time, I guess it's now. Bottom line is the guy has been a massive influence, inspiration and help to me over the few years we've known each other - and I'm sure to many others too

But remember, we still have this treasured possession on our airwaves. When I've chance to listen, the choices of his Radio 2 show thrill me with their alt swerve, and surely his 'drivetime' show on 6 Music is surely the best around. Hopefully through these two outlets he can still help as many people without the culturally defunct Radio 1

I just fear even more for the chance for bands to break through from sending in a demo to more established play on Radio 1. With no discernible outside influence (finding a plugger was part of Steve's influence) ¡Forward, Russia! went from unsolicited demo, to 50 minute live set on Lamacq Live in 2 and a half years by shear determination. The Pigeon Detectives, even more so - though they did have the advantage of tunes that appeal to the mainstream

That's enough for now anyway, as I've no idea how this is coming across. But if you've a few spare minutes, take a look at his blog for some interesting insights:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/stevelamacq/

Soundtrack to this post: Riceboy Sleeps

Recording At House Of Mook

2009-08-19T10:07:00.004+01:00

As I've written numerous times on this blog, I've started working with numerous bands in a production capacity over the last few months. Well, I'm now doing that 'full time' out of HOUSE OF MOOK studios in Leeds - a nice base to keep my gear and set up home

House Of Mook is a great little studio in Meanwood that has been serving the people of Leeds in need of rehearsal space and recording for many a year. We’re taking the existing set-up and developing it into something we hope will be very special – alongside an attitude based on getting the project right opposed to filling hours in on a time sheet

I’m looking forward to spending a lot of time in Mook, with the bonuses to everyone of it being close to shops / food emporiums, as well as a base to keep the great Forward Russia guitar rigs – in it’s expanded form!....

We've already had the pleasure of recording some great bands like You Animals and Just Handshakes (We're British) and I hope to write a little about what we've been up to on this blog. Hopefully numerous single releases will be forthcoming from the above mentioned bands and more

But any bands interesting in doing some recording - please get in touch!! The best email contact is whiskas[at]nyevskyprospect.net. There's a bit more information about my recording and the studio at the following locations:

http://www.nyevskyprospect.net
http://www.mookhouse.ndo.co.uk

Soundtrack to this post: les Savy Fav, Oxxxes, Sonic Youth

Let's Get Going....

2009-08-11T11:24:00.003+01:00

After my prolific return to form on the blog, I've had a quiet week with not much to report of a musical nature. In truth I've been in the studio a lot, working with Just Handshakes (We're British) - the fruits of which will be ripened soon.

Today also marks a return to work on the much delayed single from The ABC Club. There's been numerous line-up shifts with the band this year, though most of the original line-up is still in place, with Sam the drummer leaving for University in September. Rehearsals with the new drummer are going exceedingly well apparently, and they should be returning to the live arena from late September

I'm still working on a few things 'close' to my chest, that I hope to write about real soon. Till then I am busy working with lots of bands in the studio for the next month. Hopefully I'll get chance to write a bit about it!

Meanwhile, I've been enjoying MON KHMR - check them out

Soundtrack to this post: TV On The Radio, Sonic Youth

O, Josephine!

2009-08-03T08:50:00.006+01:00

Much has been professed of my love for Magnolia Electric Co. on this blog over the last year or two. Last September, I was lucky enough to tempt main man Jason Molina to the Brudenell to perform a solo show, and with new album Josephine complete, the whole band are turning up this year - on Friday 4th September

The press continue to fawn over Mr Molina - check out the title cut from the new album, followed by some gushing praise (click to enlarge)

Magnolia Electric Co. - Josephine (taken from the album Josephine)

Magnolia Electric Co. - Little Sad Eyes (taken from the album Josephine)

Magnolia Electric Co. at Secretly Canadian

Soundtrack to this post: Yonderboy, Riceboy Sleeps

Mi Mye - In The Morning

2009-07-30T12:57:00.004+01:00

Mi Mye, Sometree, Futuresound, Mercurys, Magnolia.... that seems to be all this blog is about now a days!! I have some hopefully big announcements to be made soon though, so don't tune out just yet

As previously mentioned, recording of the Mi Mye album is underway, but before all that, we're releasing a new single 'In The Morning' in the autumn. Watch the video below:

http://www.myspace.com/mimye

Soundtrack to this post: Pterodactyl, Grizzly Bear

First Fruits Of Yonder

2009-07-29T17:47:00.003+01:00

My post last week about the forthcoming new material from Sometree has proved a tad preemptive, as this week they've released the first track off their forthcoming Yonder album in the form of the song Colophon

Check the link out here and download the tracks from the link below

Sometree - Yonder (taken from the forthcoming album 'Yonder')

Soundtrack to this post: I Like Trains

Mercury Nominations

2009-07-24T17:22:00.003+01:00

So this week the nominatons for this year's Mercury Music Prize were announced. You can find the Guardian's take on it here

My take / prediction on the nominations was here. I got 4 out of 12, but I felt I made some justified points! Most dissapointingly I didn't mentioned The Invisible who, took the outside indie spot, and thoroughly deserve to. I am suprised at a few ommissions, but the likes of Lisa Hannigan seem standard Mercury fair.

The question is will early favourite Florence win and in some twisted way seem to put right the wrongs of Bat For Lashes not winning 2 years ago, or will someone emerge with a late push?

Soundtrack to this post: Duels demos

Sometree

2009-07-23T16:56:00.004+01:00

The first time I saw SOMETREE was about 8 years ago, supporting The Appleseed Cast at The Josephs Well - in the heady days when Bright Eyes, Cave In and the like were regular visitors. The gig stuck with me for a long time - it was one of those gigs where a seed was sewn, and over the following years I invested greatly in the bands back catalogue.

Sometree are a German 4 piece, and have not played over here too often. Sonically, they share a lot with The Appleseed Cast, with some wistful vocals and destructive guitar salvos. Here are some choice cuts from their career:

Sometree - Notion (taken from Moleskine)

Sometree - Lilth (taken from Sold Heart To The One)

Sometree - Hands & Arrows (taken from Bending The Willow)

In recent times we've become friends, culminating in Dance To The Radio releasing the lead single from their last album 'Bending The Willow' and the band supporting Forward Russia on tour in the UK 2008.

At the end of the month, they're previewing their new album (their 5th) at an intimate show at a Berlin theatre - I'm absolutely delighted to have been invited by the band to go over, and more than a bit dissapointed that I'm unable to go. Having just supported Snow Patrol on a number of days, the prospective scope of the new material is obvious, and it's now been of a few years gestation. I'm very excited to hear it, whenever I manage to eventually do so

Soundtrack to this post: Magnolia Electric Co

Recording / Duels

2009-07-21T09:22:00.005+01:00

Friends and keen observers of my Twitter feed will have picked up numerous missives over the last month or so regarding a recording studio I'm in the process of setting up. A more comprehensive blog post on this is impending while a few formalities are sorted out, but in the mean time, the engine cranked into action this weekend as Duels commited our recent labours to tape before an extended family orientated break

These pictures are taken from the Duels Twitter feed, and for more wit and pictures, get watching that. The self-indulgent part of this news, is that these demo's will probably never see the light of day, they're for us to refine these songs, before we present them to you - the world. But it's an important part of the process

With these demos dispatched, the new studio is this week welcoming Just Handshakes (We're British) who are sympathetically being my guinea pigs while we ensure everything is up and running properly. I hope they don't mind me telling you this - we're recording a couple of new tunes that have barely been played live, and one evening down it's all going well. Reports to follow hopefully!

Soundtrack to this post: Dirty Projectors

Dirty Projectors

2009-07-16T10:15:00.008+01:00

Dirty Projectors are an odd bunch, but magnificently so. No less than in the strangely alluring video for their new single 'Stillness Is The Move'

After watching the above video, I found the following Take Away Show videos, with some amazing footage of them reimagining Black Flag's Police Story in close proximity to a police altercation. All the background to the filmed footage is HERE, videos are below:

Soundtrack to this post: Sonic Youth, Dirty Projectors

Hold On Magnolia 2009

2009-07-12T11:15:00.005+01:00

M83

2009-07-09T07:34:00.004+01:00

M83 - frech electro shoegaze awesome-ness - played The Cockpit in Leeds last night, and hit all the right buttons for me. It was a practical masterclass in breaking up the songs into a 'show' and making over an hour of music flow to a euphoric dance workout

Starting with Anthony Gonzalez solo on stage, manipulating ambient sounds, to a string of the 'hits' from latest album Saturdays = Youth, to extended upbeat versions of songs for the masses to dance along too.

Also amazing, was the the number of bands dragged out to attend the show - with members of Wild Beasts, Rolo Tomassi, Grammatics, Sky Larkin, iLiKETRAiNS and probably a whole lot more

http://www.myspace.com/m83

Soundtrack to this post: Radio 1 unfortunately, it's early

Mi Mye Picture Special

2009-07-07T16:03:00.005+01:00

Prior to our London football trip, on Saturday Mi Mye continued ploughing our new productive furrow with an opening session of recording for our forthcoming album. And it was sounding pretty shit hot too!

No other news at the minute, re: completion / release or otherwise, but I'll try and keep this blog up to date with the latest. Meanwhile here's some photos:

Soundtrack to this post: Grizzly Bear, Riceboy Sleeps

Big Scary Football

2009-07-06T17:54:00.013+01:00

This weekend, FC Lokomotiv travelled down to London to compete in Big Scary Monsters 5-a-side football competition, our 2nd year of entering. We were eager for triumph after last year's semi-final knockout, but we were had a tough draw, facing the hosts, and last year's champions and our conquerers Punktastic

A 7 man squad travelled down, setting off at an un-godly 6.30am, for our first game at 1pm against Punktastic. If you read my report of last year's game, you may have seen it was in a bit of bad blood, and that continued this year. I don't think either team's shouting and rough play did themselves any favours with the collected audience and we all probably came across as the arseholes we most surely are, but one things is for certain. We won 1-0.

Hard fought victories against fellow Loiner's Awesome Badges and then Team BSM followed (both 2-1), but the damage had been done, and by the time our Quarter Final against Alcopop came along we were spent, loosing 1-0, conceding a sloppy goal early on.

The final played out between a Get Cape Wear Cape Fly team, and a Fear & Records team (Forward Russia, Sky Larkin, Rolo Tomassi management) - with Mr Gareth Dobson scoring an awesome solo effort to kickstart Team F&R's 3-0 drubbing.

Congrats to all, especially to Kev Big Scary Monsters and Fear & Records. Here's some of my pictures from the day (click [some of them] to enlarge):

Soundtrack to this post: Television

Boating & Jacko

2009-07-01T18:26:00.007+01:00

Apologies for this delayed, and increasingly irrelevant blog post - I had a few problems posting earlier in the week

I spent the majority of the weekend just gone boating up the North Yorkshire canals, or drinking in their hostilliery's - and I thoroughly recommend both activities!

It has however given a novel viewpoint of the weekend's activities / news. Pool old Jacko. He was great and he did some wierd things later in life, but the circumstances of his death seems a sad / odd way to go. In all the crass, self-serving eulogies given over the weekend, Robin Gibb's seemed to stand out when he said that if half the people who'd praised him in the 24 hours before his death had spoken up for him in the last year he might still be alive. As BBC Radio Leeds said, it was just like waking up and hearing the news Michael Jackson had died

Also, the state of the pop charts, perhaps gives an insight into the fans favourite Jackson effort, with 'Man In The Mirror' rising up the charts to number 11 - the highest of a number of hits now in the top 75. Or maybe, everyone has there copy of Thriller, which would explains it's secondary position at 23. The album Thriller also makes the album Top 10 at, while his number 1 compilation is the best selling album this week (rising from no. 121).

The Jackson new entries in full :

11. Man In The Mirror

23. Thriller

25. Billie Jean

28. Smooth Criminal

30. Beat It

38. Earth Song

44. You Are Not Alone

45. Black Or White

47. The Way You Made Me Feel

48. Don't Stop 'till you Get Enough

50. Dirty Diana

55. I Want You Back (Jackson 5)

57. Bad

58. Ben

65. ABC (Jackson 5)

67. They Don't Care About Us

71. I'll Be There (Jackson 5)

72. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

73. Rock With You

75. Blame It On The Boogie (Jackson 5)

I'm glad I wasn't a minor indie band attempting a Top 75 single this week!

Soundtrack to this post: Wimbledon / Superman Returns

End Of Season

2009-06-30T09:41:00.003+01:00

As the regular football came to a close with England U21's being battered by the German's - so did FC Lokomotiv's first foray into competitive football with a battling 2-1 defeat at the hands of champion's Richmond Rovers.

Solid and good fun season all round, we finished 8th out of a league of 11 and put in some good performances and I'm sure we'll do well next season that starts in a few weeks!

For now though, the break is for our World Cup - BSM 5-a-side on Sunday. We can't wait!

Soundtrack to this post: Blue Roses, Rock Plaza Central

bX-xovb7t

2009-06-30T09:29:00.003+01:00

Blogger / Blogspot seems to be going mental over an error message that stops people posting new updates which stopped me posting all yesterday which was a right bugger

Found a way round it for now, by emailing a post in and then editing it in the main post section so it conforms to everything else. Maybe this blog will help someone else... we'll see

Soundtrack to this post: Sunset Rubdown

Mercury Music Prize 2009

2009-06-24T08:47:00.007+01:00

Yesterday NME and numerous others published a selection of odds for this years Mercury Music Prize, and the 'tipping' world went into meltdown. And who am I to buck the trend - there's something intriguing about the composition and perspective winners of said prize. View said list of odds HERE

Here's some thoughts from the whiskas camp. Check out my thoughts on the matter last year HERE

This year is the year of the female solo artist, with Little Boots, La Roux, Bat For Lashes, Lily Allen and Florence & The Machine all in with a shout for the overall prize

Florence seems to be the most media praised, so I'd expect that to get in, I also have a feeling Ms Allen may get in if she stays out of the media limelight. Her proximity to winning 2 years ago, may count against Bat For Lashes

It would be ace to see wild card Blue Roses (Shipley's Laura Groves) in the shortlist, but I suspect she would be one too many female solo artists, while I also expect her label to be too busy pushing Friendly Fires and The Horrors to give her the media 'face' time she'd need. Those later two though, should be among the strong favourites for my money

Other local potential wildcard Grammatics have been present on the latest list of odds, which I'd see as massively encouraging, Alongside Fanfarlo and The Leisure Society, they may provide one genuine independent act in the shortlist - the latter, Ivor Novello in hand, might have a real chance of making the short list. If Beggars didn't have so many priorities you could probably add Broken Records to that list

As for the winner, past form dictates that this year's winner will come from leftfield, and The Bug may be the one - although if you'd predict any band in Britain to "do an Elbow" it would be Doves

Other names worth a mention are The Noisettes, who I think will make the shortlist, as well as Pet Shop Boys for the well recieved 'come back' (did they actually go away?). Patrick Wolf would add to the eclectism of the list, while Red Light Company may make a less bombastic mainstream inconclusion than White Lies. Neither can obviously shake a stick at Kasabian who will bump up the mainstream quota in lieu of a Coldplay, Oasis etcetera. The Enemy better not be anywhere near the list

The Maccabees, Jack Penate, Marmaduke Duke would all be worthwhile inclusion of the list, but I suspect they will fall slightly between "genuinely exciting and different" and "mainstream and popular." Glasvegas? Maximo Park? Paulo Nutini? Prodigy? Bloc Party?

It's hard to predict the 12, as there's a few slots that could be filled by numerous capable artists - aka too many indentikit artists! There's no fun without a prediction though, so here's my 12, with a proviso that at least one band will come completely out of leftfield

Florence & The Machine

The Noisettes

Kasabian

The Bug

Doves

The Leisure Society

The Horrors

Friendly Fires

Lily Allen

A Seb Rochefort Jazz Band

An unheard of folk band (possibly the new Seth Lakeman)

A band with a classical tinge

Having changed that list numerous times, I concede - I've no idea. I find it hard to imagine no White Lies or La Roux / Little Boots. But the above seems to sit nicely

For the diary, nominee's are announced on July 21st, with the winner revealed on September 8th. As usual if we were in the US, the answer would be a simple two way tie between Grizzly Bear & Animal Collective. Alas, we are not

Soundtrack to this post: Sunset Rubdown

FC Lokomotv / BSM 5-a-side

2009-06-23T18:46:00.005+01:00

So, it's that time of year again, when renowned independent label Big Scary Monsters hosts it's annual 5-a-side football competition.

Since last year's competition, FC Lokomotiv have been slugging week in week out in a Football Mundial 6-a-side league - the season finishing this coming Monday with a dead rubber against the champions. We're guaranteed a respectable 8th placed finish.

The core of last year's team (pictured above), will be the same - Geoff 'Poo Poo' Punshon has hung his gloves up for the last time, and so regular keeper Fezz 'The Cat' Phelan will be between the sticks. Brudenell Social Club, Nation Of Shopkeepers / Good Form Club, I Like Trains and Forward Russia will be just some of the northern institutions representing, aiming to better our semi final appearance last year

The tournament takes place at The Linford Christie Sport Centre, Wormwood Scrubs, London. Follow the build-up on the official website HERE

Soundtrack to this post: Wimbledon

Saturday Night

2009-06-21T17:54:00.004+01:00

Last night I had a rare 'night off' - and the choice of gigs and bands to go and see was quite something. Lots of bands I've mentioned on here before, all doing well for themselves and all a delight to go and see.

My gig of choice, ended up being Ellen & The Escapades playing the Our City, Our Music launch, followed by popping in at Die Video Die playing the Grain Division's 4th Birthday Party. Unfortunately, I'm a bit too wet to stay out late, so that was 'it' for me.

But things are busy and involved in Leeds. Other options tonight, included watching Yonderboy at The Library (c/o Brew Records), Mi Mye bandmates Middleman at local haunt The Cardigan Arms and over in Bradford, Johnny Foreigner, Just Handshakes (We're British) and a large supporting cast were playing a charity all-dayer

That familar names, consistently playing around town at exciting line ups, cooperating and playing together, with rumours of split singles, cross supporting - well, it all warms the cockles.

Soundtrack to this post: 20/20 World Cup Final