ISSUE ELEVEN / WINTER 2010 / FREE

UTE EQUIPMENT PAGE WITH WINCHELL RIOTS COME FIXERS AND THEIR RECORD COLLECTIONS ANYONE CAN PLAY GUITAR FILM, OX4, LONG INSIDERS REVIEWED OF AGE! WELCOME nineteenpoint Exceptional quality graphic design for print and online. Thanks to all the people who got in touch after the last issue. The new size seems to have gone down really well. It’s dead easy to carry about now so you’ll probably find OMS in far more places. If you’d like to help us to distribute it, or would like to stock it, please do get in touch. Making the new issue, we had a blast with Ute at their photoshoot for the cover at Angel Meadows, then off to OX4 to see Dead Jerichos smash it at a majorly busy Bullingdon, and had an Oxford • Web design music history lesson at the Anyone Can • Music packaging Play Guitar film – see all the reviews inside. • Poster design Hope you enjoy the issue… • Logos Much love from Stewart & team OMScene xx • Print & editorial design • Design consultancy • Search engine optimisation • Competitive rates www.nineteenpoint.com

OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 / 1 NEWS NEWS

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You can download a new Rock Fairport Convention’s Cropredy of Travolta track, ‘Last March of Festival takes place at Cropredy the Acolytes’, for free, from near Banbury on Thursday 11 to www.therockoftravolta.com. It Saturday 13 August 2011. For will be available until their new tickets and line-up developments album Fine Lines is released in check www.fairportconvention.com. early 2011. It’s 10 years since Towersea Festival is held on their first album My Band’s 25 –29 August 2011 – check Better Than Yours , and they’ll be www.towerseafestival.com. releasing two digital, special edition albums which cover the Meanwhile the 8th Oxford Folk first 10 years of their career. Festival is at Oxford Town Hall and various venues from Friday Artists seeking tips on how to 15 to Sunday 17 April, with navigate their way around the Peatbog Faeries, Adrian music industry should check out Edmondson and the Bad www.themusiciansguide.co.uk. Shepherds, and Spiers & Boden. There’s lots of handy info on Tickets are on sale now at Frank Turner , reaching the end of a mammoth year in which he’s had four trips to the US, toured there, including advice on wwwoxfordfolkfestival.com. the UK twice, and supported Green Day at Wembley, plays at The Regal on Sunday 5th Decem - approaching record labels, ber. He’s also due to release his new EP ‘Rock & Roll’ the very next day. Oxford band Dive Dive, downloadable examples of record The Winter Warmer is at The most of whom play as Frank’s backing band, are the support for the whole of this tour. Dive Dive company contracts, a guide to Wheatsheaf (evenings of Friday are in the process of signing to Frank’s label Xtra Mile and will be releasing their third album venues, and how to market your 17 & 18 December) and Café Potential in January. Tickets for the Regal are on sale now from www.seetickets.com. music on the internet. There’s Tarifa (afternoons of Saturday also a book The Musician’s 18 & Sunday 19 December) Guide to World Domination which this year. The Wheatsheaf line- The Moulettes and Oxford’s post-folk sound sculptors Message to Bears have been added to the can be ordered from Amazon. up includes Deer Chicago, line-up for The Common Room , the emerging bands mini-festival at The Jericho on Saturday Alamakota, Dial F for Frankenstein, 4 and Sunday 5 December. Folk group, The Moulettes, from Brighton, had Ted Dwane, the bassist Gunning for Tamar have been Spring Offensive and The Yarns, from Mumford and Sons in their line-up for three years. Celebrity fans of theirs include Robert Bellowhead are the headliners for Oxford Folk Festival’s first show at The Regal on 18 Novem - recording an EP in Wales with while Tarifa, with a more Plant, The Noisettes and Mystery Jets. Borderville, Dead Jerichos, The Epstein and a host of ber. The 11 piece band, fronted by Oxford’s John Spiers and Jon Boden, play 25 instruments ex-Forward Russia! frontman cabaret-style selection, has others also appear. Tickets are on sale now from We Got Tickets. between them and are quite a show-stopping sight and sound when they play live, as we wit - and Cats and Cats and Cats Anton Barbeau, Braindead nessed producer Tom Woodhead. The Collective, King of Cats, Matt at Truck this year. Hedonism , the new album which includes their mighty version of new tracks should see the light Winkworth, Trevor Williams and Smilex have a live album released through Quickfix/iTunes which was recorded at the Riverside Jacques Brel’s ‘Amsterdam’ has just been released. Tickets are on sale from www.oxboffice.com of day in December. Jonathan Prohibition Smokers’ Club. Festival in the summer. The album will be available on an ‘honesty box’ basis and includes live from Everything Everything Tickets are £5.00 for each night versions of new tracks from their forthcoming studio album La Petite Mort . They’ll be playing at The Cellar on December 16 (with Fixers), December 18 at the O2 Academy and at the Fat Lil’s all- We Aeronauts played shows in Reykjavik in Iceland in October as part of the Iceland Airwaves awarded one of the GFT’s tracks at The Wheatsheaf and Tarifa is dayer in Witney, the line-up of which also includes Desert Storm, Player 2, Samuel Zasada and Festival (likened to a European version of SXSW), appearing with the likes of Bombay Bicycle ‘Breakthrough Track of the free. For more info visit Deer Chicago. Smilex were awarded ‘Best Unsigned Live Band’ this year by Playmusic magazine. Club and Olafur Arnalds. Have a look at their site www.myspace.com/weaeronauts for pictures Week’ in NME recently. www.gappytooth.com and the full story of their trip.

Dates have been announced for Apologies to Ady from Keyboard k c i l

Post-rock band Mogwai l

some of the festivals next year. Choir, and a slapped wrist to our u G appear at The Regal, Oxford e

Ute , who grace this month’s cover, have signed to Alcopop! Their next EP is released on the Wychwood will be at Cheltenham editor, for wrongly attributing v e t label in December when they are also due to tour the UK with new label mates Elephants. See Racecourse on 3-5 June 2011, the quotes in last month’s on 23 February 2011. They S full story inside the magazine. with ‘Early Bird’ tickets on sale equipment pages to Seb. signed to Sub Pop for the US at www.wychwoodfestival.com. recently, and their new album, Cornbury, rumoured to be moving which has been produced Klaxons , Mercury Music Prize winners for their Myths of the Near Future , are back with a to a site nearby the current one, by Paul Savage (former new album Surfing the Void . The single, ‘Twin Flame’, showing there is life after the heady days takes place over the weekend of For the most up-to-date gig drummer with The Delgados), of ‘Golden Skans’ and glowsticks, has been released recently. They’re at the O2 Academy on 1–3 July. For details check and club listings go to will be released early next Thursday 18 November. www.cornburyfestival.com. www.dailyinfo.co.uk year on Rock Action.

2 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 / 3 NEWS EQUIPMENT the oms equipment pages m o c . t e g

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g n Spaceflight’, so it’s ended a a Top 10 I m I up with me. 1 Coral Way Chiefs – ‘Release Myself’ What was the first bass 2 Mr. Ho – ‘What We Want’ you got? (Pol On remix) The first bass I got was 3 Chopstik & Johnjon – made by a company called ‘Clear Eyes’ K. It was nigh on 4 Casino Times – symmetrical, which I think ‘Laughing Gas’ is what drew me towards it. 5 Kenton Slash Demon – ‘Sun’ My parents bought it for 6 Doomwork – ‘Lost In me when I was 12 for Memory’ (Aki Bergen remix) £125 from a dodgy 7 Theo Parrish – Untitled second-hand shop in We Are Elements has Greg Wilson as special guest at their night at The Cellar on 17 Decem - feat. Larry Mizell Gloucester, along with a ber. Greg Wilson was an early pioneer of electro and hip hop sounds with his residency at The Ha - 8 Jungle Brothers – ‘I’ll 30 watt practice amp and cienda, which helped to pave the way for the techno and house explosion. He later withdrew from House You’ (Casino Times EQ pedal. I found the DJing to concentrate on production for the likes of Ruthless Rap Assassins and he also curated ‘Jump Down’ mix) oms talks to the man behind the legendary Street Sounds compilations and Classic Electro Mastercuts . More recently he’s whole set up sounded best 9 Andhim – ‘Patty Sue’ winchell riots’ towering basslines been back in front of the decks and is behind the Credit to the Edit series which includes his if I cranked both the EQ (Super Flu Suncreams remix) re-edit of A Guy Called Gerald’s ‘Voodoo Ray’. He has also remixed the XX. A limited amount of and amp up to full volume, 10 The Cheapers – ‘Bonfire’ advance tickets are on sale from We Got Tickets. to make it distort like crazy. Get Your Geek On is a monthly I think the amp’s still in my With a launch line-up that included a DJ set from Radio 1’s Edith Bowman and an appearance night at Baby Simple rich parents’ loft. by Johnny Borrel from Razorlight, it was clear from the off that Propaganda wasn’t going to creep quietly in the side door of Oxford’s nightlife. Launched by DJ Dan in Bristol, Propaganda How did you get into now has their nights, characterised by giant video screens accompanying the soundtrack of Adonis – playing bass? ‘indie’ dancefloor hits, and a real, wild, whoop-it-up vibe, in most major cities in Britain. These Top 10 DJ tracks I was encouraged in the run every Saturday night at the O2 Academy from 10.30 pm ’til 3.00 am. 31 December is their leicester first year of secondary NYE, 3-room spectacular, incorporating Room 101 and Trashy. 1 SebastiAn – ‘Threnody’ (Capt n’ Cooked remix) school to take something 2 Danger – ‘4h30’ Tell us about the years. It’s the most Pedal-wise, I use two up. I think they could see Progressively Less Elephant is a new club night started by members of The Gullivers, We Aeronauts 3 Late of the Pier – ‘Best In equipment you use. incredible-sounding bass distortions, one is a Rat potential in my vibraslap and Rocket Falls, and will be running on the third Friday of every month at Baby Love Bar on Class’ (Soulwax remix) My main bass is a 1978 I’ve ever played. pedal, which has been skills. My brother, Mister King Edward Street. Expect to hear top-class indie/pop, electronica and Motown – and no ‘Mr Fender Jazz that I picked I use an Ampeg SVT- modified for better bass G, who is a few years older Brightside’! Friday 19 November is the next one and they host a Christmas special on Friday 4 Toxic Avenger – ‘Toxic Is 17 December. Entry is £4 and drinks promotions are available. Join their Facebook group at Dead’ up a couple of years ago 3Pro which is a hybrid response by Keeley than me, had already www.facebook.com/progressivelylesselephant 5 Lebatman – ‘Funk It’ off a guy on a forum. (valve preamp, MOSFET Electronics, and the other begun learning to play 6 Chic – ‘Everybody Dance’ It has the worst condition power amp) head. I plug is an Electro Harmonix guitar and was already on 7 Light Year – ‘Sex Education’ paint in the world – that into an Ampeg Classic Bass Synthesiser, which has his way to becoming Trashy’s DJ Nelly B Page appears on 10th December with her selection of indie, pop and elec - for some reason it was SVT 4x10HE and an awesome wall of noise, exceptional, so I chose the tro at a new all-girls monthly, Girl Friday at the Castle Tavern in Oxford. Entry is free and it starts 8 LBCK – ‘Start’ at 10.00 pm and runs ’til 2.00 am. 9 Silvouplay – ‘Nod Your all crazed when the guy 1x15HE. I love the subby, fuzz sound. Then bass instead. F$%ing Head’ (MIGHT put it up for sale, and the Ampeg tone – really gritty there’s the usual Boss TU2 remix) last couple of years of use but with a big thump. tuner – that must be the You’re buying your first On 17 December, DJ Derek and Aidan ‘Skylarkin’ Larkin host a Christmas knees-up at Hi-Lo’s 10 Blak Nite – ‘Hyde’ has pretty much flaked I’ll upgrade one day to most bought pedal in bass – what would you Jamaican Eating House on Cowley Road. On Christmas Eve, Skylarkin’ will be at the O2 Acad - most of that off now. I something all valve like existence! I use a Boss buy? emy with Oxford’s roots reggae outfit Makating and Roots Manuva’s producer DJ Wrongtom for YOOT nights are monthly their annual festive appearance, a night which has been going for 15 years! at The Cellar think it had been sat in the SVT VR or CL or Super Shifter as well to Get a Fender. Without a somebody’s loft for 30 something, with an 8x10. drop notes from one octave doubt. They sound how 4 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 / 5 EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT the oms equipment pages basses should sound and demand, but now the Although not a full time Fender, Ampeg, Ernie Ball Peavy ampkit look good with it. Some of pedal’s been discontinued bassist as such, they make strings. Decent cables! You This little gadget plugs into an iPhone or iPod Touch. It has an input for rrp the Japanese ones can be they’re selling for an exceptional sound for a can’t go wrong with p a normal jack cable and an output for headphones or an aux out. This £30 extremely reasonable ridiculous amounts of two piece. Neutrik/Van Damme then plugs into the headphone/mic socket of the iPhone and into the from pmt price-wise, and in some money. I don’t use it live cables. I feel like I’m Peavy App, which is included. This adds a Line 6 Pod-type function for o cases are as good as the for that reason but it comes Do you write your own endorsing now but they the iPhone, allowing a large choice of amps, cabs, effects and mics to American ones. My first out once in a while. basslines for WR songs? give me nothing! play the guitar through. This ranges from Peavy’s own gear to a selection

Fender was an 80s all-black Yes. We always stand h of gear modelled on classic Vox, Fender, Boss and Ibanez, all given easily Japanese Precision which What are your musical around in our rehearsal Any pedals or effects decipherable names to avoid any trademark issues. The quality is good enough for practice and for recording ideas, which I still have now and will influences? room bouncing ideas back units you particularly s

never part with it. When I started to learn and forwards off each recommend? can either be recorded from the lineout, or on a built in recording function, which then allows more FX to be auditioned on the loop while playing it back. There is also a selection bass, I learned every song other until we end up with For recording at home I ’ Where do you do your off Nevermind and then something we’re all happy have a Sansamp which of backing tracks available to play over, with an option to import more, but unfortunately no shopping for gear? never learnt another bass with. It can sometimes be a does a pretty realistic option to play over tracks already stored on iTunes. I tend to get most of my line from a record again, slow process, especially when impression of an Ampeg n Pros: Decent sound on the move. Large range of effects, amps, mics and cabs. gear second-hand; online aside from one wedding- we know a particular song amp. Also, my brother i Powered input/output eliminates crosstalk auctions or forums are based excursion. I think deserves to be better, but bought me a Tronographic Cons: Can’t play along to iTunes. Each extra costs, and this adds up. wonderful places! it’s important to play what when it clicks we know it. Rusty Box for my 30th Have to have an iPhone or iPod Touch k birthday this year; it’s a guitar man Any tips or advice you can clone of the preamp circuit The last couple of reviews from the Music Box have been for acoustic “i use a boss super l pic offer to anyone wishing to from a Traynor TS50B in instruments and the bad points for both of them were that they couldn’t kup bug shifter as well to drop pick up the bass? a pedal/DI box format be amplified. This should help. rrp £24 Be creative. There’s no and sounds awesome. One a The Pickup bug is a small, circular device about the size of a bottle cap, from music box notes from one octave fun in sounding like of my favourites is a with sticky tape on one side and a wire with a jack socket. You stick the bug everybody else. Lovetone Meatball though t onto a flat surface on any acoustic instrument that isn’t able to be amplified to one lower, like a dive – it’s a lovely thick and plug it into an amp/PA/mixing desk and it will provide a signal. For bomb sound” Who gets you your best envelope filter (I think they situations where it is impractical to use a microphone or get a built in sound? were made in Oxford, in pickup this is a great solution. It can be used on guitars, mandolins, banjos, Anything you buy new you feel comfortable We were recording with fact) and you can insert a violins and other stringed instruments as well as drums and percussion, becomes second hand playing. Once you’ve got Dan Austin (Doves and fuzz or something into its some pianos and anything else that creates a sound from its own vibrations. pretty quickly when it’s the basics down, your Cherry Ghost producer) a effects loop making it m Pros: Cheaper than most alternatives. Transfers easily between instruments l o t being loaded in an out of hands and ears will tell you few weeks back at Bath pretty versatile. a r Cons: Feedback problems especially with larger-bodied guitars r c f

vans and stamped on at what and how to play. Moles Studio where he a o burny r les pau e l- shows etc. Secondly, I think dialled up an incredible What’s the best bass on l

Burny are an offshoot of Japanese guitar makers Fernandes, who specialise e

h style g we, as Westerners, buy way Tell us your top five bass bass sound for me. We ran the market that you’d like r uita g in making Gibson-style guitars, which are pretty much clones, making it r e u too much stuff. If you players ever the signal into my live to get? n impossible to review this without comparing it a lot to a Gibson. With some rrp £499 h o o

don’t buy new there’s not Bob Weston (Volcano Ampeg set-up with a split I’d love a Rickenbacker t y of Gibson’s questionable recent output and pricing strategy, and the lower- from ox ford m

the demand for companies Suns/Shellac). Morgan going to an old WEM one day. A white one. I f n quality pickups and hardware used by Epiphone, it’s not surprising to see guit

s a i r gall o ery

i to keep producing and Nicholls (Senseless Dominator that he had, would explode if a Travis people go elsewhere. Although a lot of the Les Paul-style guitars are r r maybe there might be Things/Vent 414). The along with a DI. Then Bean came my way, but s

o aimed are the lower end of the market, for people who can’t afford a h r f e something left of the Bass Thing (Bob Jones – during mixing, he routed that’s just because I’m a c

‘real’ Les Paul for their first guitar, these are priced slightly higher, but b planet in years to come. The Wonderstuff). David one of the signals, I’m not massive Shellac fan. Vintage k h are of a far better quality. o m Wm. Sims (Rapeman/The sure which one, into an precisions are always on t i

o A quick look at the guitar shows everything you would want is there, set a

What’s the rarest or most Jesus Lizard). Billy Gould old synthesiser called a the agenda too, although l w

h neck, pearloid machine heads, double humbuckers, and none of the stuff

, o prized item you’ve got? (Faith No More). Putney VCS3, which had my girlfriend says I’ve got c

p you don’t want to pay extra for, such as hex outputs and automatic tuning. t /

I’ve got a great distortion these great-sounding filters to stop with the Fenders! o

5 The guitar is slightly lighter than some of the Gibson/Epiphone offerings r h

pedal by Differential Audio What other Oxford bass on it giving it a nice 2 a I have tried, but still has the sounds and sustain you would expect from a real thing. A decent s

l Manifestationz called the players do you admire? underlying fizzle. listen to e alternative at a price point just above an Epiphone, but a product more in line with a Gibson. winchell riots c a g i Ezekiel 25:17. I bought it I thought Phantom Theory at www.myspa r ce.com/ s Pros: Looks just like the real thing, plays and feels the same. Lighter than most modern Les Pauls t cheap (second hand) when were excellent last time we Any brands you always t i hewinchellr u iots o p Cons: Not a Gibson and more expensive than other alternatives go for? h m they were a little less in played with them. s 6 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 / 7 FEATURES FEATURES o t o M

y n n h o Sophie’s J radio gaga the Radio pluggers. They’re a strange bunch. Let me give It’s not all bad – I know one gay plugger who backstage you a breakdown of their daily routine. They get given volunteers for all the boy band radio tours so he a song to ‘work’, dreaming of the new Beyonce or a can spend his working week crammed into a Take That reunion. In all likelihood, what they get is people carrier with as many sexy boys as the comeback single from Peter Andre or 20XX’s big possible. And I once spent a great night out area new dance smash from an unknown Scandinavian after a Christmas light switch on partying with a blonde. They then have to drag this song, and often plugger who sent the star home early in a cab oms meets joal shearing, sound engineer the artist attached to it, round every radio station they and then opened a bar tab with the talent’s at the wheatsheaf, oxford have a contact at across the country. expense account. Cue much fake niceness and often some bartering. But when you do a job which involves that high a ‘Oh please’, they cry, ‘take an interview with Cascada proportion of begging, I imagine that Madcon track How long have you been ever had was touring I’m not really a sound say someone who I have and we’ll make sure you’re first in the queue for Katy (‘Beggin’ You’) must be a stereo switch-off. at the Wheatsheaf? with Kerbdog. engineer, so I screw up utmost respect for is Robin Perry’. This week alone, I’ve twice heard the phrase: ‘I Listen to Sophie weekdays from 7am on Glide’s I opened the venue in the every week. Leggett who now does don’t care if you never play the interview out, just Morning Glory across Oxford and South Oxfordshire summer of 2000 after the How many gigs do you front-of-house for The please do it as a favour to me, I’ll love you forever!’ on 107.9fm. closure of The Elm Tree think you’ve done? Any funny stories from Waterboys. When I’m and have been attempting Way too many to say. shows? released from the ’Sheaf to work the desk on and Most are unprintable and and head out to gigs and off since. What’s your favourite bit libellous. Rob’s on the desk, the of kit? bands always sound How did you get started? The condom machine in What now-famous names amazing. I wish I had half I started promoting live the men’s toilet. have played the his talent. A top engineer music in a number of Wheatsheaf under your and a lovely bloke. I’d venues back when I was Have you ever done the watch? better get a drink for studying in Nottingham. sound anywhere else? Bloc Party, Lost Prophets, saying that… I worked at The Since 1990 I have worked Hot Chip, Get Cape. Narrowboat, which is in most of the toilet venues Wear Cape. Fly, What’s the secret of your now closed, and The across the country. 65daysofstatic, Frank longevity? Princess Charlotte in Turner and many more. I simply love my job. Leicester before moving What’s the most to Oxford. memorable gig you ever Any words of wisdom to Who is currently the best did? would-be sound local band? Did you ever do any I have been so lucky to engineers? There are so many great LTD TURAN AUDIO training? witness so many great For live work, try to get Oxford bands around at At University, I took shows at The ’Sheaf over on the road as early as the moment but if I had to Professional, Independent Mastering in Oxford business and Music the years but one I will possible. The learning choose one it would be Industry studies with never forget was back in value of touring is second Dial F for Frankenstein. The difference that Tim Turan modules in Sound 2004 with Trans Am. It to none. has made to our recordings is Engineering, but the blew me away! unreal. An amazing set of ears! keep up to date with course was dreadful What other Oxford sound wh Michael - UTE eatsheaf gigs at and only covered Ever messed up and engineers do you admire? www.myspace.com/ basic four-track recording. wished you were It would be easy to name wheatsheaf_music turanaudio.co.uk 01865 716466 The best training I somewhere else? all my friends but I must 8 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 / 9 FEATURES FEATURES o t o M

rob power finds out y n n h o

J how ute, just signed to alcopop!, went from fledglings to something a little bit special.

hese days, when a primary school friend] in Cambridge for a few years Tband is described as town. I was thinking about before heading back to ‘folky’, terrible images anyone I could get in who finalise the Ute line-up spring to mind; thoughts would be on my with old school friend turn to waistcoats, to over- wavelength and who would Ollie. “I’d just finished uni earnest sixth form poets get it. Joe was one of the and wanted to be in a pawing over sweaty top trump drum choices.” band because I’d been mandolins. Terrible scenes. Searching Gumtree for playing loads of bass. Thankfully then, Ute is not band members, playing I heard Ollie was in a a folk band. with a harpist, Ute’s band so I found his Except, really, it is. A bit. intrepid founding duo even MySpace and sent him But only slightly. Acoustic toyed with moving to a little message.” guitars, the odd handclap, massed harmonies – they all make an appearance, “we’ve taken this but don’t be fooled by this folky veneer. In truth, direction of moving away here is a sound that takes familiar ingredients and from, i guess, the typical pushes them into folk sound, trying to altogether more interesting directions, and that has keep the idea of folk ute made Ute the name to drop round these parts storytelling and that …and young manhood of late. sort of thing, but moving Ute started off as the baby of front man and towards a heavier sound” songwriter Ollie after he returned to Oxford from a stint studying in Cardiff. “I London before a gig at the Line-up settled, they set moved back to Oxford Secret Garden Party and a about the business of because I knew I wanted to bit of serendipity saw the turning Ollie’s tunes into start a band,” he says. “I final third of the band Ute’s first set. “We used to had all these songs, but I stroll into view. “We got really be a sort of folky didn’t want to do it in asked to play at the Secret thing,” says Mike. “Joe Cardiff. I came back to Garden Party, and we wasn’t playing a full drum Oxford and it felt like there wanted to make it more of kit – instead of a snare drum was more of a foundation a thing so we thought we’d he had a baking tin duct- there, even though I had ask Mike to come and taped on another pot.” It nothing. I came back and play,” explains Joe. was this clattering, twisting then found out, my brother “I kind of invited myself sound populated by said he’d just seen Joe to play,” says Mike, a man handclaps and melodies full [Gibbs, drums and who swapped Oxford for of left turns and invention 10 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 / 11 FEATURES o t o M y n n h o J

back & to the left/everyday folk present that first marked Ute out of throbbing acoustic which is a guy with an discerning whether things as something special, but guitars, multilayered acoustic guitar.” are earnest or not and they changes were already afoot. harmonies and clattering Taking the song writing know instantly.” “It’s taken us ages to get rhythms, that saw Ute’s reigns as well as fronting Originality above the common room away from the folk thing,” cards marked as ones to things, Ollie's lyrics have pastiche really sums Ute an emerging bands mini-festival says Ollie. “We started watch. “We got to this been another point of up. In a world obsessed 4–5 december 2010, 1 pm –11 pm at the jericho tavern, 56 walton street, oxford with that for quite a stage by trial and error,” interest among a growing with labelling new bands, while – we’d always linked says Joe. “We haven’t sat list of Ute admirers that it's refreshingly difficult to dead jerichos the moulettes it in, but we started moving down and said this is a includes BBC Oxford, put Ute in any particular the epstein samuel zasada away from it.” “I guess clear direction we’re going BBC6 and national press. box. “I realised I had to borderville band of hope the thing that’s changed to take. We’ve just allowed “I tend to write the stuff write something that had message to bears sonny liston most is volume,” adds it to happen.” I’m most pleased with when the truth of what I wanted cat matador the yarns Mike. “We’ve taken this “We had a couple of I’ve got a really shit job,” to write,” says Ollie, the minor coles spring offensive direction of moving away loud bits from the start,” he says. “Your imagination lynchpin that holds the our lost infantry huck & the handsome fee from, I guess the typical continues Ollie. “One of fights against it because it’s whole thing together. damn vandals above us the waves folk sound, trying to keep the comments people so boring. I like writing “I just like using my the gullivers treecreeper the idea of folk storytelling would say was that we stuff that sounds a bit like imagination, really.” and that sort of thing make a lot of noise for a fairytales. I can’t seem to alphabet backwards the scholars but moving towards a three piece. I think people write lyrics which are hear ute at plus more bands to be confirmed, radiohead karaoke, homemade www.mys heavier sound.” are a bit surprised ‘I’m so sorry baby’, it just pace.com/ cake sale, table football, pop quiz, free tea & coffee... utetheband. ep i It’s this heavier sound, sometimes when they sounds really corny, it’s not s out tickets from we got tickets. see myspace.com/backandtotheleft1 on 6 december via a wheeling, shifting, hear it and how it aligns sincere. People have got www.ilovealcopop.co.uk occasionally hypnotic mix with what they see, an amazing way of 12 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 FEATURES FEATURES

thundering drums, and ten We like The Jericho and million people heard Eddie The Lexington in London. Van Halen. And out of all Band focus ten million, I would wager What’s the best gig you not a single one thought, ever played? “This could use some Playing with Scarlet’s Well cello.” Their loss). was a really fun gig. It was the in London but our friend Worst thing anyone’s written Peter Momtchiloff who about you in the press? lives in Oxford was Simon didn’t like his playing with them. We are appearance being a quiet band, and it was a look into the singularly vatican compared to “A young nice to play to a large David Morrissey”. audience who weren’t ‘out there’ music collections It’s probably just a making too much noise of singer jack goldstein and cellars sideburn thing. while we were on. guitarist roo bhasin who What’s the most Oxford’s best recording took their pop/psychedelic rock‘n’roll thing you’ve studio and engineer? roadshow to in the city, Band members, and what Who is your band’s ever done as a band? Rich Haines and do they play… biggest fan? Tom’s balls-out cello solos Dungeon, of course. t in the park and wychwood Simon: guitar and vocals. We have two. They are a are about as close to We recorded the album this year The Birthday Girl: really cute lesbian couple. rock‘n’roll as we ever get. with him just before he xylophone, guitar, ukulele, We don’t know who they died. Rich was great and melodica, harmonium, are, but they always seem What’s the least we miss him, but Jamie is vocals. Tom: strings. to be there at the front. rock‘n’roll thing you’ve doing a sterling job fixers Russ: drums. ever done as a band? keeping the studio alive Best heckle you ever heard? Probably watching Tom in his absence. How did you all meet? We have been heckled play a Haydn symphony Are you vinyl, CD or mp3? on a field trip. He wouldn’t Jack: Second hand shops, it doesn’t actually contain Simon and the Birthday occasionally by people with his orchestra in a What inspires you to write Jack: Predominantly mp3 lend it to me cos I wouldn’t it’s a case of stumbling any music. But it’s not the Girl met when their bands referring to the gloomy candlelit church. a song? though I tend to invest in give him an Oreo, so I upon something super-cool usual nonsensical gargles toured together in nature of the songs. Mostly red wine and vinyl of all my favourite swiped it out of his bag every now and then. If you would normally Paris. Russ and the One guy asked us to play What do you do regret. The best songs records as well. I also when he got off the bus. I’m actually looking for associate with sleep talking; Birthday Girl had been in ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’. between sound check write themselves, usually at have a big old cassette But given half the chance something in particular he had story lines, a band previously (actually Cheap sarcasm. and stage time? three in the morning, and tape collection. he would have stolen an then I will rummage complicated plots and met at The Star – surely We drink the rider… duh! just need a little polishing Oreo, so I feel it was around on the internet characters from all over the all Oxford bands do). What’s the nicest thing up the next day when you What was the first record justified. I still have that for it. Sadly, Oxford world. It’s gotta be heard Tom played briefly in anyone’s written about you What’s your favourite local can see them in the light. you bought? tape and it sounds sweeter doesn’t have any good to be believed. It’s hands- Hreda with Russ. in the press? band other than yourselves? Jack: An early 80s stereo and sweeter every time I record stores. down the most interesting The funniest is definitely The Young Knives are our Got a few words of wisdom reissue of Phil Spector’s listen to it. Sweeter than a album I’ve ever heard and First ever show www.covermesongs.com’s friends. We have no ears for us? Christmas Album when I was hundred Oreos. Right, we’re coming round is truly psychedelic. The Jericho! None of us review of our cover version for any other Oxford Russ recommends feeding a child. You still won’t find for dinner – what’s on the can remember who with. of ‘Runnin’ with the Devil’ bands – we don’t want to the beard with Baby a stereo mix of the album What was the last record stereo? You have to leave your by Van Halen. (Van get in trouble! Bio. The Birthday girl unless you download a you bought? Jack: Sade’s Stronger Than house in a mad hurry and Who is best at doing the Halen’s self-titled debut says: be good or don’t vinyl rip or stumble across Jack: Hugh Masekela’s Pride . I’m presuming this can only take one record set lists and do you argue sold ten million copies. Who could you absolutely get caught. a copy in a charity shop. Techno Bush on vinyl from would be candlelit right? with you – what is it? about them? That means ten million not do without in your band? It’s still magnificent in a charity shop in Oxford Roo: Maybe we’ll start off Roo: The Cambodian Rocks The Birthday Girl likes to people began their Van It’s all about the cello… the vatican cellars’ stereo but I think, like a lot and ‘I Like Triangles’ with The Dream World of compilation. There are debut a write them out, so if she Halen experience with and Russ’s beard. Without lbum t he same of records of the time, 7” by Hounds of Hate. Dion McGregor . He was a four volumes so I’m really crooked worm i gets organised, they get “Runnin’ with the Devil.” those we would be nothing. s out now some extra magic lies Roo: Business Casual by song writer in New York getting four records, not on where it’s at is wh written. But they’re pretty Ten million people heard ere within the mono version. Chromeo. back in the 60s and the one. However, even if you are. hear them at much never adhered to. those thundering bass What’s your favourite www.myspace.com/ Roo: Slanted and Enchanted by whole album is recordings there was only one volume Mostly we just make it up notes, ten million people venue – local and thevaticancellars Pavement. I stole it off a Where do you buy your of him talking in his sleep I’d still probably take it. It as we go along. heard those even more elsewhere? kid at school while we were records? made by his roommate – wipes the floor with 90% 14 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 / 15 FEATURES of any Western music from What artist/label/producer the last 50 years; the songs do you have absolutely have so much vibrancy and everything of? soul its hard not to fall in Jack: Brian Wilson. love with them. I happily bent over backwards to get every last What’s your favourite little thing he’s ever been sleeve art? involved with; he’s the Jack: Caribbean Sunset by greatest and most beautiful John Cale or Optical Race songwriter of all time. by Tangerine Dream. Love You by the Beach Boys Roo: War Of The Worlds , is my favourite record of or either Saucer Full of all time. Secrets or Animals by Pink Roo: When I first heard Floyd… or Big Black’s Cocteau Twins, they were Songs About Fucking . unlike anything I’d heard before; Robin Guthrie’s What’s your favourite heavily-treated guitars and cover version? Elizabeth Fraser’s Jack: Anything from otherworldly vocals were Discover America by Van perfect companions and Dyke Parks. It’s my really let me slip in my own favourite VDP record and dream world when I its gotta be one of the most listened to them which is ambitious and amazing what you want when song-cycles ever made. you’re a teenager… and Somewhere between (www.myspace.com/ I wish all records sounded if you want to see what CrazySexyCool by TLC and sealings). I haven’t listened as busy and as vibrant as that dream world looks the Beatles’ White Album. to many local bands but VDP records. like, then watch the Tom Roo: I think albums should be they’re something else; Roo: Vanilla Fudge’s Cruise movie Legend – ambitious and adventurous. to me they are the version of ‘You Keep Me that’s what I picture Some of my favourite ultimate amalgamation Hangin’ On’ by The every time I listen to the albums are ones you can of The Cocteau Twins Supremes. I first saw this Cocteau Twins. keep coming back to every and Black Metal. on VH1 when I was about now and then you’ll hear Roo: Bleak Insight by 15 and instantly fell in love What record inspired you something different in them Sevenchurch. with it. They were to form Fixers? that you hadn’t noticed predominantly a covers Jack: Plantasia by Mort before, and every time that First dance at your band and were so Garson. It made me realise happens it makes you look at wedding would be/was? outrageously over the top that music can be about them in a slightly different Jack: Geneva Jacuzzi’s they were borderline more than just music; it light. The flavour changes, ‘Love Caboose’ or Wise hilarious and totally can be about plants too. I like cheese. That’s the kind Blood’s ‘Strt Srns’, it would underrated. Their self- got a hold of that notion a of music that I want to make. be a real workout. titled debut is the best while ago and I haven’t let psych album of all time, it go since. What record inspired you Guiltiest pleasure in your and quite possibly my to pick up an instrument? collection? favourite album of all What record do you aspire Both: The Beats of Jack & Roo: I don’t think I have time… but that’s a to make with the band? Duncan (a tape Jack made any. I’ve got a load of tough call. Jack: Aside from Pet Sounds , as a kid). stinkers… but they’re all I favour records without guilt free. Who is the coolest person consistently similar What’s your favourite ever to have stared out at production throughout; a lot record from an Oxford hear fixers at you from a cover? of great hip hop albums do band? www.myspace.com/ Jack: Ethel Ennis on the it because of the various Jack: Sealings’ 2009 self- fixerstheband cover of Lullabies for Losers . different producers involved. titled cassette release 16 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010

1 2 13:45:37 REVIEWS REVIEWS live r o t e o d w M

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ox4 festival, cowley road, oxford josh ritter and the royal city band, town hall, oxford Brought to you by the good people at Truck festival; OX4 mixes A shame that Hreda were on at the same time as The Winchell Josh Ritter makes his second trip to Oxford in a year, this time His band do well, although they tend to drown some of his songs homegrown and out of town talent in a marathon all-dayer that Riots. By the time their set was in full flow, the Bullindgon was half promoting his new LP, So Runs The World Away . It’s a big-sound - in ephemera, none more so than some of the tracks on the latter half sprawls across the Cowley Road. Things began the day before with empty. It kind of sapped the energy of the performance; which was ing album, drenched in references to the Deep South and murder of his new record. But peppered throughout the set are some great Guerrilla Records – an offshoot of the Oxford areas’ remaining a real shame. Phantom Theory appeared later – hard to believe ballads, and the Town Hall is the perfect venue to give it an outing. melodies. Fan favourite ‘Kathleen’ gets the crowd singing, and his indie music shop Rapture – opening its doors on sacred ground; that such a sonic assault is from a duo. Everything Everything were Although he’s brought a four-piece band with him, what grabs encore with support act (and wife) Dawn Landes is highly affect - the site of the late Videosyncratic. The Magic Numbers and the band with the most hype behind them. Summoning enthusiasm the most are the solo moments. He opens the gig with ‘Idaho’, a ing. Best of all is the Tom Waits-style stomper ‘Rattling Locks’; a great favourites with the locals, Danny and the Champs (who joined from a bottomless pit of energy; they played immaculately. The doleful guitar-strummed paean to his home state; a brooding guitar hook is shot through with a brooding time signature that re - together for an impromptu ‘Dancing in the Dark’) serenaded live vocals didn’t quite match the album performance; but for murmour of a tune that catches everyone’s attention. Later on in ally stirs. punters. Matters began in earnest on Saturday, which was also such an ambitious LP, it was always going to be a tough call. the set he unplugs his guitar and steps away from the mic – his With instant melt-in-your-mouth optimism and reception from John Peel day – highly appropriate given his championing of Crocodiles took to the stage looking impeccably cool and left unamplified voice and finger-plucked strings could soundtrack the crowd that is truly impressive, this was an incredibly satisfy - Oxford bands. The day tapped off gently at Cafe Tarifa with harpist like pioneers. Mixing edgy indie punk and noisy fuzzed out the dusty plains of Wyoming or Idaho. ing night. There was quite a bit of filler, but with a heart and a Steph West giving a master class on the strings and John Spiers shoegaze style guitar work, it seems like Crocodiles are set to own working his folk magic. the American indie sound of 2011. Willy Mason was a huge draw the long insiders, the jericho tavern Then to the O2 to check out Fixers with their spacy upstairs at the O2 – punters being barely able to move; hypnotised Spiritualized-doing-Beach Boys vibes. Consummate performers by Willy’s gravelly vocal style and ghostly guitar sound. Make no mistake, The Long Insiders play rock‘n’roll hard and fast – style and dextrous, powerful voice the proverbial cherry on the cake. all, their confidence, distinctive, ethereal vocals and layered As the night was coming to a close, and all were in celebratory exactly the way it should be. Don’t be fooled by the sharp suits or New single ‘Midnight Man’ and equally-as-strong B-side ‘Ner - instrumentation provides majestic entertainment. Dead Jerichos mode, Chad Valley took to the stage back at the Bullingdon. Hugo, glamorous femme-fatale front-woman – this is music to sweat to: vous’ are perfect introductions to the band’s style and get well-re - won the fire-safety-fail award of the night, cramming in more standing all alone on stage, managed to get the entire room mov - dirty and rebellious, perfectly executed by the tightest of units propelled ceived airings tonight.These are just the tip of the iceberg in terms people than was humanly possible into the Bully; the place to be ing and dancing – not an easy job for Oxfordians – inspiring a constantly by the sparse but driving drums of ex-Nubile Dan God - of the delights contained in a full set, like ‘Did I Do Right?’ and tonight. One of the supposed ‘quieter’ songs ended with a guitar stage invasion which accidently cut the sound. It slowed down dard. Everything is perfectly placed, from Nick Kenny’s howling ‘The Devil In Me’, any of which could have been plucked right out instrumental with so such delay that Craig was playing motifs the guitar sound to his precise and economic song-craft, Sarah Dodd’s of the air from a particularly rowdy night at Twin Peaks’ ‘Bang that would emerge a whole minute later. momentum of the set, but even that couldn’t halt the night’s 18 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 / 19 REVIEWS live dub politics vs wordplay, o2 academy professor green, o2 academy The Disablists kick-started the night playing some absolutely golden When you can’t find a parking space on a Saturday night it only tunes and remixes including Ellie Goulding’s Starry Eyed and MJ Cole’s means one of two things; that the nation has turned against Be Sincere that really got the crowd moving early on. From the moment X Factor or that Professor Green is in town. Akil MC stepped up, the night raised a couple of levels, delivering Tonight, without exception, everyone is on it and Green takes no a powerful set which retains all Jurassic 5’s authenticity. Humbly prisoners. Delivering two of his biggest hits to date ‘Just Be Good introducing himself to the audience despite fully knowing he’s been to Green’ and ‘OMG’ as openers would be a brave move for most, running the scene since ’84, he didn’t confirm rumours of a J5 tour but this guy knows he can back it up. or album release this year but announced that what he can say is, Try as one might, Professor Green cannot be pigeonholed – “Akil is in the building tonight and he is going to make you party”. he’s loyal to his grime roots but he’s easily taking on hip hop, d‘n’b He was set on partying himself and it was hard not to accept his and dubstep, and some tracks wouldn’t sound out of place at a invitation. He bangs out the hits and treats the audience to a rendi - Chase and Status gig. He performs a Live Lounge-style cover of tion of ‘Concrete Schoolyard” which everyone belts back word per - ‘I Want To be a Millionaire’ and then gets straight back to his fect. Hackney roots with ‘Upper Clapton Dance’ and ‘Jungle’ almost The night did a complete U-turn when Excision come on. My back to back – ‘Jungle’ gets a massive reception – if there’s a expectations of some nice dubstep to finish off the night were song for people to rave to tonight, then it’d be this one. completely blown out of the water by these guys. Better described as He wraps up the evening as hard as at the beginning with drum and bass, they absolutely went for it and the crowd lapped ‘Coming To Get Me’ and everybody’s favourite ‘Need You Tonight’, it up. The impressive laser show combined with morphing bass the INXS-sampling one, and then ‘Monster’. lines reminiscent of d‘n’b with the aggressive energy of metal was He’s got the magic combination – boys want to be him; girls something to be reckoned with. With line-ups of this calibre, Dub want to be with him. Green – heading towards becoming the First Politics vs Wordplay is providing a weighty argument for the fu - Professor of Pop. (HD) LiVEMUSiC@ Bucks Students’ Union

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20 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 REVIEWS REVIEWS live r e y n e a d o t d a K x w c a W o

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M B l

r e r n o i a e o n J L a H D

pulled apart by horses, khadijatou donyeh, bring me the horizon, villagers, o2 academy, oxford pegasus theatre o2 academy, oxford o2 academy, oxford After extensive touring throughout 2010, something has clicked for Taking time out from the indie-folk-rock melting pot that was Bring Me the Horizon take to the stage to a huge noise from a When Conor J. O'Brien, lead singer and guitarist of Dublin’s Leeds-based Pulled Apart By Horses who create an enthralling live OX4, OMS sauntered up to the newly refurbished Pegasus sold-out O2, kicking off their UK headline tour. The walls are Villagers, takes the stage on his own there a hush that descends show of constant movement, putting blood and sweat into every Theatre to further expand our musical horizons. For an hour already dripping with sweat from the metal battering we’ve just on the audience. You could hear a pin drop and he achieves this number. The crowd are treated to all tracks from the self-titled or so, we were transported somewhere else entirely with live received, courtesy of tour support Cancer Bats. without a word. First two opening tracks he plays solo and totally debut album, High Five, Swan Dive, Nose Dive which unsurpris - dub-poetry, music (blues, jazz and dub) and dance with the Opening with ‘It Never Ends”, one of only two new songs they mesmerizes all present. ingly started a wave of high fives as well as prompting guitarist exquisite Khadijatou in the incongruous surroundings of a play this evening, the crowd ignites immediately. Frontman The set moves on with a full band that opens out the sound to James Brown to climb the lighting rig and continue to play whilst theatre stall. Oli Sykes ferociously screams into the mic, frequently a rich mix of guitars and keys. Tracks such as recent single ‘That precariously balancing on top of it. ‘I’ve Got the Guestlist to Rory Khadijatou’s a captivating hostess on this cultural journey causing a huge moshpit to break out, consuming the room Day’ is more upbeat and stands out, sitting effortlessly alongside O’Hara’s Suicide’ prompted singer Tom Hudson to drop his guitar as she uses her voice, drums and entire body to take us over the in mayhem and ensuring the security people earn their the aural beauty of ’Twenty Seven Strangers’. and join the crowd – ‘Moonlit Talons’ got everybody singing and seas and centuries to follow the narrative of a lost people paycheques. Villagers were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, ‘E=MC Hammer’ increased the size of the moshpit (not that any - (the story of the African slave trade), heated sensuality (a tale The material is mainly from their 2008 album Suicide losing out to the XX, but it has brought them wider attention. one needed encouragement). Before this gig, the band had played about something running out of batteries), geo-political Season , the show almost like an unofficial farewell tour for There is no doubting the talent evident on stage this evening; a version of ‘The Gladiators’ theme tune on a live set for Zane commentary and freeform Soul and tribal rhythms. Her explosive that album, finally laying it to rest and paving the way for the only question remains is if they can maintain their place Lowe’s Radio 1 show and they delighted with a rendition played album, Sex, Lies and History goes some way to representing her things to come. The new songs show promise for Bring Me on the general public’s radar given the current obsession with so much vigour; drummer Lee Vincent put his fist through and her incredible band’s live performance, but this is best the Horizon to break into the mainstream – this tour could with unearthing, ever more quickly, the next newest act his snare. experienced firsthand. be the last chance to see them perform in a venue of this that comes along. They deserve more than to be just a flash in A band at the top of their game (as well as the lighting rig), and Highly recommended. (LB) size. (HBW) the pan. (JM) 22 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 / 23 REVIEWS REVIEWS live r o t e o d fyfe dangerfield, w M

o y B n o n e h o2 academy, oxford L o J Unfortunately, support act singer/songwriter Colin MacLeod from The Boy Who Trapped The Sun had a cold, which made his performance lack a bit of ‘oomph’ but he made up for it with his graceful songs. Accompanying him was a cellist who added depth to the proceedings. Stronger tracks were the upbeat and bluesy ‘Home’, and laidback recent single, ‘Dreaming Like A Fool’, both from debut album Fireplace . Fyfe Dangerfield is better known as lead singer of The Guillemots, but he’s decided to go alone to allow him to explore his own ideas more fully. Guillemots fans needn’t despair though – this doesn’t mean they are no more; in fact he announced they will return with a new album in 2011. He has a beautiful, versatile voice which suits the songs he creates and those he chooses to cover, including an elegant version of Billy Joel’s ‘She’s Always a Woman’, and an unexpected one, Girls Aloud’s ‘Call The Shots’. Fyfe’s solo material is a mix of styles dominated by delicate acoustic numbers such as ‘Barricades’, and joyful songs such as ‘Faster Than the Setting Sun’, played twice as it went down so well. His song-style draws comparisons to Danny and the Champions of the World, his stirring live performance reminiscent of Goldrush. cats in paris, ute, coloureds, the cellar Unsurprisingly, several Guillemots songs were played, but these were performed solo which went down well with the fans. Coloureds prove powerful but a bit too jagged to dance to, mostly, listens. It is no wonder they are tipped for big things having just Fyfe is right at home on stage, constantly engaging the audience although some songs sounded like a heavy Royksopp, and towards signed to Alcopop! Headliners Cats in Paris are equally exciting. with his stories, quotes and anecdotes about his lyrics – you can’t the end, the crowd loved it! Ute are stronger than ever; lead singer Hailing from Manchester, they have a fusion of so many styles it’s help but get swept up in his world. (JD) Ollie’s vocal reminiscent of Jack White at its most grainy and Thom hard to keep up. A three-piece with bass, drums, synth and vio - Yorke at its most delicate. Their songs are complex, intellectual lin, but a massive sound. ‘Too Many Colours’, as one of their song epics which you can happily find new corners to, even after many titles suggests? I think not… (TW) the charlatans, shaun ryder, underground festival, gloucester o2 academy, oxford If you like your New Era caps flat and your check shirts buttoned the original rabbit foot spasm band, big 10 inch club, the cellar all the way to the throat, this was truly your sort of festival. Acts It was a bit of a sausage-fest this one; largely a lagered-up crowd included Tall Ships, Tubelord, Pulled Apart By Horses, Lunar Youth, Surely everyone in this town is by now more than accustomed to with the standards included in the set; which is high praise of mid to late thirties blokes brought up on Viz , Loaded magazine, Wilder, Chapel Club and a whole host of other gloriously-tasty the band’s rambunctious repertoire and re-casting of classics indeed. It’s the slower numbers that really hit the spot; from Stella, skunk and Es who reckoned good music effectively ended musical fodder. Throw-downs were had when the furious from yesteryear and an atmosphere at their gigs that is rarely obscure 1930s number ‘Edie Was A Lady’ delivered with in 1997. Gentlemen much like this OMS scribe, in fact. When we Pulled Apart took to the stage on Sunday; cider was thrown, ears matched. When it is on point, it is undeniably great: opener, understated charm by a coy Bunny, to crazed front-man Stuart arrived, Shaun William Ryder was halfway through ‘Loose Fit’, and bled and some lucky kid got to roar in place of Tom for, like, ‘I Can’t Dance – I Got Ants In My Pants’, is a sure-fire way to start Macbeth-penned heartbreaker ‘Peggy’, delivered falling off the it was as if the Millennium had never happened. However, the 2.5 seconds. The aforementioned Tall Ships were also a hit, with a riot, and their own ‘Cornish Riviera Express’ with its attention edge of the stage. 2011 could be the year of the Rabbit in more ex-Happy Monday and Black Grape – whose set consisted of much their dreamy, jangly, synth-driven indie – the melodious, funky, grabbing slowing-down-snare-roll ending, is pretty much up there ways than one. (PI) material from each, and little of his recent (admittedly sparse) synthy cocktail was cause for serious sailing away… Although output – had certainly seen a few years. Long gone was the the weekend wasn’t overflowing with audience, all who were an evening with johnnie walker, the cornerstone, didcot floppy-fringed shell-suited Manc rake to be replaced by a tubby, involved were serious music connoisseurs. The intimate, yet baggy-eyed skinhead in vest and trackies who shouted a lot. But magnificent, Cinema Stage played host to a wash of acoustic and Johnnie Walker is the pioneering radio DJ who started his career City Rollers cover of ‘Bye Bye Baby’ as ‘musical garbage’ whilst live I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Classic… up-and-coming acts. Sarah Howells of Paper Airplanes success - on pirate radio ship Radio Caroline in the ‘60s and had spells at on air. He ends on Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Human Touch’; a track close Next on was his peer and polar opposite, Tim Burgess and his fully made every male in the room turn into a useless wreck of both Radio 1 & 2. As you may expect from a radio DJ, he is engag - to his heart as it helped him get through his near-fatal bout of cancer. Charlatans. He shook his suspiciously raven black Ramones-style adolescent admiration with her dreamy, lullaby-primed voice, and ing and funny throughout. Obviously fond of his pirate radio days, which he describes in bowl cut at every opportunity, and didn’t rest for a second as he on the other end of the spectrum, Ute with their curious, yet The audience is taken on a journey as Johnnie describes the detail, he doesn’t skim over any tale, including those that got him shimmied and flailed through a set of indie classics – ‘Telling brilliant, brand of what I’d call ‘Fury Folk’. The bigger players music that helped to shape his career – the first song he heard as a into trouble – he stole a greyhound bus whilst working in San Stories’, ‘North Country Boy’, ‘One To Another’ and ‘The Only One I shone too; Chapel Club’s illuminating and haunting performance child, to the song which contributed to his moving from Radio One – Francisco. A man who has had an incredible career and plenty to Know’. The band rocked so hard that the keyboard fell apart. brought the Saturday night to a pleasing end. (Modesty Blaise and obviously not going down well with listeners, he described the Bay share with tonight’s captivated audience. (JD) A night of baggy heaven. (LB) Steven Potter) 24 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 / 25 REVIEWS REVIEWS released

fixers acoustic work, chilled organ, a empire safari scene for quite some time. The the vatican cellars vocal duet and some spangly highlights come towards the the epstein ‘the same ‘amsterdam’ lead guitar. It rambles down a ‘output’ end of the album, helped along ‘i held you once’ (self-release) similar trail with the campfire/ (demo) by the female vocals, gorgeous crooked worm’ Led Zeppelin-style ‘Protest violin accompaniment, even a (self-release) Fortunately, Song’. The album finally breaks Oxford three piece Empire Safari little accordion dreaminess Released at a particularly raucous (where it’s at is Fixers have into Rawk with the juddery fit very nicely into the current and an excellent chanted Saturday night at the Jericho (where moved beyond ‘Crash ‘n’ Burn’. ‘Kitten’ opens Oxford scene. They make jerky, finish on “The Future is where you are) some of the more subtle audio dynamics were lost on the fixation with trippy effects and birdsong, melancholic, yet happy, indie Beautiful”. (HD) some noisy drunkards), the new E.P by these Bob Harris The title track which starts The Vatican Cellars album is a with Animal and segues into the menacing with a twist of dance – shades favourites is a triumphant return. This E.P is their first stu - deceptively simple folk song; circular, picked guitar, a Collective that sullied Iron Deer ‘Mule’s Hoof’, with Mephisto’s of local favourites Foals and broken dio release since their first album Last of the Charanguistas . stripped down drum kit, a double bass and a mournful Dream , and with their new Liam doing his thang, before Alphabet Backwards. Title track, Europhiles all, Germany’s Rolling Stone magazine repaid the cello form the basis of the instrumentation while lead release, the Jack Goldstein- the album floats to a hazy ‘Output’, is instantly catchy with records love with a big thumbs up for their debut; and this should go singer Simon’s gentle, purely English voice hovers over a fronted outfit return to forging end. I’ll have some of what its handclaps and punchy bass ‘let me down well too. It’s top-quality all the way, with songs they tale of “beauty and sadness” with “humour and kindness.” their own unique sound, they’re what they’re smoking, lines, while the jangly and have played live for some time finally getting a hard-copy After repeated listens the song begins to sound like a re-imagining the psychedelic please! (LB) bright ‘I Think We Drove Too Far’ come home’ lost classic, breezy and uplifting and a fitting taster of what elements of Smile -era Beach fits easily alongside the likes (4ad) release. The title track, with its plaintive vocals and rich is to come. Boys. When they add a Tears For colour of sound of the Wombats or Frankie and instrumentation gradually builds up before the tension is Indeed, this formula is repeated throughout much of the Fears-like vocal, the combination the Heartstrings. A promising Edinburgh broken and the rhythm kicks in. ‘Ring On Her Finger’ – with album which proves to be both a good and bad thing. ‘The is oddly transfixing and wonder - ‘when’ set of songs included, and if seven-piece its passing resemblance to Dobie Gray’s ‘Drift Away’ – is End of the Line’ is a beautifully sad, lilting song, while the ful. The song meanders around they build on this, there could be Broken Records’ another thing of beauty. It closes with ‘Another Band Has vibrato strings in ‘The Wreck of the Alba’ introduce the first unexpected chord changes while (red grape) something more than a passing second album Gone’ – 60s style and with an air of thoughtful melancholy. hint of drama in the album. ‘My Black Pearl’ sounds like The the warm organ sounds and It must be hard interest here. (JD) Let Me Come Look out for another two EPs from the Epstein in the next six Pogues if they’d been formed at Jesus College over a glass of huge reverb-heavy drums help work for a record Home is something of an months and a full album next Summer. The question is – wine rather than too much rum. to make ‘Amsterdam’ a real trip label to break the cooling pearls ambiguous mix of melodrama when will the rest of the country find the map to guide them ‘Bitter Plans’ is a late highlight with its wonderfully for the senses. (TM) this sort of band and beauty. The lyrical content to this local treasure? (LB) chaotic contrast between the rhythms of the guitars and as it doesn’t fit ‘the honoured is darker than their previous drums and the floating vocal line. By the second half of the prohibition nicely into any genre that’s in meal of the ‘Until the Earth Begins to Part’. the album the formula wears a bit thin and one feels that vogue. It’s leaning towards the Jamie Sutherland expresses his ash a slight change of tone or pace would do these guys (and smokers’ club Weller end of guitar rock with a stranger’ ‘Fears and concerns over gal) a world of good on what is an otherwise well-crafted ‘a –z vol. 2’ ‘a clearing…’ bit of soul tucked under the arm (self-release) making relationships work, and album. (TM) – not one for indie fashionistas. the need for security’, which (atom heart (quickfix When , C of S’s debut album, When it comes to became the focal point for this recordings) which was recorded in just eight album artwork, record. Occasionally, it borders records) the winchell riots days, is stuffed with great songs The Cooling Pearls on over-melodramatic and a Ash know what works, so why change ‘red square ep’ The Prohibition though – you don’t need to reach have it down – complete listen is pretty hard it? The second part of their singles collection mines a famil - Smokers’ Club in too far to find another classic they should get work. However, there are stand iar vein of wistful ballads and full-on punk stomp from the (andrew the great) feature members that’ll keep you going back for a prize for the best sleeve we’ve out tracks – ‘A Darkness Rises Celtic North (although apart from drummer Rick they now I’ve always had a thing for Phil of Smilex (Lee’s another listen – from the single had in for a while. Everything is Up’ which, admittedly, is live in New York). Rightful heirs to the Undertones, but with McMinn’s falsetto vocals and my love responsible for ‘Open Room’, with its gravelly, hand-drawn and beautifully pretty Killers-like, but mostly a work ethic to rival 10 Fergal Sharkeys, they have continued does not waver on this new release, his voice still angelically most of the lyrics and music), yearning refrain, to the conceived. It really makes a the band have created a to implement their plans for world domination with the soars over soundscapes which majestically hold on to you Mephisto Grande, Black Hats, eponymous, incendiary ‘Colour of difference when a band makes sound all of their own, and release of one single every fortnight over the last year. against the backdrop of keys, guitars and intricate the Family Machine and Baby Sound’. Best of all is the slowly an effort with the packaging like the combination of keys, This with their own record company, Atom Heart Records. instrumentals. ‘Glasgow Spaceflight’ is something to treasure – Gravy, as well as a member of building, ‘Here It Comes Again’ this. Musically, it’s similarly strings and drums leaves Opener ‘Dare to Dream’ crashlands on a mattress of rich, emotive vocals alongside ambient synths and melancholy Desert Storm and a Rabbit Foot. which comes over all twinkling lo-fi; the strings and keys are you wanting to skip back 3,000 guitars. ‘Mind Control’ (almost) had OMS jumping guitar riffs. ‘Red Square’ is an epic 7-minute closing track, Despite what you’d imagine and acoustic and truly soars lovely and the lyrics eerily as soon as the song around GHQ with its irresistible chorus of ‘What the F@*~ is which starts off as a ballad with the piercing lyric ‘I found from this motley crew of repro - skywards once it reaches the beautiful, at times sounding finishes. The album ends on going on!’. panic in the calmest of arms’, and ends with a Riot of guitars bates – A Clearing… sounds bridge. If they got some well- reminiscent of Nick Drake and a high with the beautiful, Standout track is ‘Summer Snow’, a heart rending mod - and drum patterns – it’s simply gigantic sounding. The properly mellow, although it placed appearances at the likes Elliot Smith – just what you’d percussionless and string-laden ern classic that gradually builds up to a massive chorus that’s Winchell Riots are a band to fall in love with. Watch them very takes a while to warm up. ‘Hey of Cornbury and Hop Farm next expect when Aiden Canaday ‘Home’. More than happy to sure to be a live favourite. Bonus tracks include their stonk - closely as big things are ahead for this band. (HD) Icarus’ follows a couple of year there could yet be some is involved, a songwriter who let it come home with me for ing version of Bowie’s ‘Teenage Wildlife’. (LB) weaker tracks with some sweet colour in their cheeks… (SG) has been around the Oxford repeated listens. (HD) 26 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010 / 27 REVIEWS film review t s e W c r a M / o t o M y n n h o J

anyone can play guitar ACPG is the much talked-about rockumentary about Oxford tour made me into a very dark person indeed’, he says in music by local lad John Spira who owned the late, lamented semi-pantomime villain tones to stifled giggles from those Videosyncratic. OMS took our seats next to Baby Gravy at a secret, present. There are poignant moments aplenty here – advance showing at the OX4 festival where the atmosphere was Dustball’s near-signing to East West Records another story of a one of excited curiosity. Most of the main players of Oxford music’s lost opportunity. past, present and future were in the audience, many of those It is a fascinating tale for blow-ins and natives alike, told seated appearing in the film. candidly by the people who were at the frontline. It is a good Narrated by comedian Stewart Lee, it goes all the way back balance of talking heads and live material (though we might see to the 70s and Mr. Big with their no. 4 single ‘Romeo’, and more of the latter – apparently some of the extra footage will be Dee D Jackson’s disco smash all the way from Blackbird Leys, on the DVD). The most up to date band featured is Foals, with ‘Automatic Lover’, before careening into the stratosphere with newer bands like Stornoway spotted in the end credits. The film tales of Ride, Radiohead and Supergrass. It’s not all happy-ever- comes to a natural end cum end-of-an-era with footage of the after stuff, though. Also featured is the tragic story of might-have- closing gig at The Zodiac and the passing of the much-loved, beens, the Candyskins, who were doing very nicely, thank you, independent local venue into the hands of the Academy group. in the US, when Nirvana came along and changed rock music If there’s ever a Part 2 of this, you do get the feeling that forever, their respective careers taking very different trajectories. those portrayed will owe a huge debt of gratitude to the cast of Having a single called ‘Car Crash’ ready to release when Lady Di Part 1. (LB) died in an automobile collision didn’t help their case – and on went the bad luck stories. Similarly tragi-comic was Nigel The film-maker still needs funding in order to complete ACPG – if Powell, the nearly-man of the Radiohead drum stool – ‘The US you’d like to find out about donating go to www.acpgthemovie.com 28 / OXFORDSHIRE MUSIC SCENE / WINTER 2010