email: [email protected] website: nightshift.oxfordmusic.net Free every month. NIGHTSHIFT Issue 123 October Oxford’s Music Magazine 2005 Photo: Miles Walkden Photo: Miles

Riding the synth-pop super highway with ttttthehehehehe eeeeeveningsveningsveningsveningsvenings Interview inside

Plus News, reviews and six pages of local gigs!

NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: 01865 372255

NEWNEWSS Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU Phone: 01865 372255 email: [email protected]

HELLO AND WELCOME to a particularly packed issue of Nightshift. October is always the gigging highlight of the year but this year is madder than ever, with so many bands on tour as well as a host of gigs by local acts. This month’s gig guide takes up a phenomenal six pages, so there must be something there for everyone. A very brief welcome to Oxford to all the new students starting this term. If you’re reading this it hopefully means you have some interest in live music and we’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay in Oxford which has one of the best gig scenes in the UK. There’s no room to say any more, so have a great gigging month. See you again in November.

ANDY YORKE plays a rare solo Saturday 8th October. The band will gig at the Zodiac on Friday 21st also be selling a compilation CD October. The former Unbelievable and DVD of all their old recordings. Truth singer will be supporting one-time Miracle Legion frontman THE CATWEAZLE CLUB has Mark Mulcahy who in turn moved. The weekly all-comers regularly supported the Truth on night, now in its 11th year, has tour. Tickets for the gig are taken up residency at East Oxford available from the Zodiac box office Community Centre every on 01865 420042. Thursday. Thursday 27th will be In other former Unbelievable Truth the club’s birthday party and all members news, bassist Jason performers are welcome. Moulster has, along with ex-Ride drummer Loz Colbert, joined OXFORD GUITAR GALLERY in Ninestone Cowboy, the band Summertown hosts a jazz fronted by former-Candyskins masterclass with Sid Jacobs on guitarist Mark Cope. Quite an Tuesday 18th October. A limited Oxford supergroup, then. The new- number of tickets, priced at £10, look band will be playing live at the are available from the shop on beginning of December. 01865 553777, or email [email protected] THE EXETER HALL in Cowley thethe portport mmahonahon hosts a special John Peel Day CORROSION OF commemoration gig on Thursday CONFORMITY’s gig at the Live Music in October 13th October. The gig, featuring sets Zodiac, scheduled for Monday 26th from Kaned Citizen, Andensum, Lee September, has been postponed. Every Monday - Open Mic Night Davies, Ben Dugard, Ally Craig and The reason given was that singer Every Friday - Oxford Folk Club The Hero Story, is part of a national and guitarist and New Orleans day of gigs to celebrate the life of resident Pepper Keenan is currently 1st - Badge the legendary DJ, one year on from displaced and looking after family 4th - Music Quiz with Dave Finnon his sad demise. Entry is free. members as they await word on 5th - Oxford Improvisers The Ex also hosts an all-day gig in when or if they will be able to 6th - The Dharma aid of Great Ormond Street return to the city after last month’s th th 8 - Phil White plus Twizz Twangle Children’s Hospital on Saturday 8 hurricane. No news as yet about 11th - Badly Built presents Jon Fletcher, Simon Davies October. The gig has been organised when the gig will be rescheduled, and Andy Letcher by local pop band True Rumour but tickets for the original date th who will be launching their debut remain valid or refunds are available 12 - Blue Junk - Fusion Rock th CD release the same day. Music from point of purchase. 13 - True Rumour th starts at 3pm with local singer- 15 - Betty & the Werewolves/ Life with Bears / The Hot songwriters Chris Thompson, Lee HARD FI follow up their sold-out Silk Pockets Davies and Ben Dugard, and there gig at the Zodiac this month 20th - Charlotte James - Alternative Rock are sets from Laima Bite and Sarah (Tuesday 18th October) with a visit 22nd - Custom Blue / Monstro / Ghost Warriors / Piexo - Wilson, Kohoutek, The G’s and of to Brookes University on Sunday ‘My Initals Records’ celebrates its first birthday course True Rumour, amongst 18th December. Call the Brookes 26th - Lost Chiuaua others. Admission is a very box office on 01865 484750 for 27th - Twat Daddies (punk rock) / Drew Atkins reasonable £3. ticket details. 29th - Epstein 31st - Halloween Special - The Moneyshots and more! ONE-TIME LOCAL HARD DON’T FORGET to tune into ROCK favourites Charlie Mouse The Download every Saturday The Port Mahon, Under New Management. are reforming for a one-off gig this evening at 6pm on BBC Radio All new sound equipment installed by PMT. month. The band, who were one of Oxford 95.2fm. The weekly local the biggest acts in Oxford in the music show features an hour of Book your band into play at Oxford’s best small music venue! late-80s and early-90s will play at Oxford music, interviews and a 82 St Clements, Oxford. Tel: 01865 202067 the Red Lion in Witney on demo vote. A Quiet Word With The Evenings

THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE compromise worth making. The is the drummer – gurning and recordings and gigs are starting to indulging in silent primal scream sound more like each other these therapy, his kit stage centre, the rest days as well, which, like all the of the band aligned around his things you have to do to improve, pivotal position. The second thing makes me nervous. you notice is the searing pain in your Where does `Louder In The Dark’ skull as the opening wave of find The Evenings creatively? synthesizer noise breaks upon the MARK: “The new EP comprises audience. Witness the hapless bar new recordings of old songs. The staff wincing and holding their youngest of the songs, “I Didn’t fingers in their ears. Later on you Remember”, was written over a year notice a maddeningly infectious tune ago, so it’s been a slow one to get dancing around inside your head that together, but it’s the first time we’ve you simply cannot shift. The band is all been on the same studio The Evenings and that nursery recording. I’d been fighting that for rhyme-simple ball of electro-pop a long while as we didn’t have the fluff teasing your internal jukebox is resources to do it properly, but one ‘I Didn’t Remember’, the stand-out The Evenings (l-r): Phil, Stuart, Mark, Jo, Seb day we stopped spending the band track from the band’s new ‘Louder earnings on beer and put them in a In The Dark’ EP. Mark in the band are Seb Reynolds inspirational experience of The little jar, and before we knew it we (synths) and Phil Oakley (guitar), Evenings in full live flow, where an had enough for a couple of days of ALL OF WHICH NEATLY SUMS both from Sexy Breakfast, Jo Edge air of studious mania reigns. studio recording. It’s been a really up The Evenings experience. At (electric double bass), previously of Nighthsift spoke to him shortly rewarding process, and despite once they’re an unusual band – Eeebleee, and Stuart Fowkes (synths) after the boat party along the having gigged the arse off the songs mostly instrumental but occasionally otherwise employed by Sunnyvale. Thames, which launched the new EP. for a long while it’s only now that led in song by drummer and founding They’re something of an Oxford The Evenings sound has developed we’ve recorded them that we know member Mark Wilden – often supergroup, one that is much more quite some way since your first how to play them properly. It feels sonically challenging, as at this than the sum of its talented parts. album. How much is this the way like the first complete Evenings year’s Oxford Punt when that With a predominantly synth-led your tastes and intentions have release at last. I hope the next one introductory passage of noise had sound, underpinned by more organic changed and how much is it the doesn’t take this bloody long.” such a profound effect on the instruments, The Evenings hark influence of different people coming Jongleurs staff, unused to such an back to the earliest pioneers of into and out of the band? THE BAND LINE-UP IS SETTLED extreme pitch of sound, but at their synth-pop – OMD, Depeche Mode MARK: “It’s partly me getting now, but musically where do you see heart, a seriously good pop band with and a pre-Midge Ure Ultravox, but better at what I do, and partly the yourselves going in the near future? an arsenal of heavy duty tunes that dragged into the space age by a more other members of the band gradually MARK: “I’m always hoping to combat and complement the more avante garde edge that can involve wrestling more and more of it away take the Evenings in musical experimental side of their nature. anything from Future Sound Of from me. The recordings and the directions we haven’t been in ‘Louder In The Dark’, released this London-style squelches and wobbles gigs are still very different beasts – before, trying to find as many month and launched with a boat trip or Add N To (X)-inspired I’m the one sat at the computer for different ways as possible to do on the Thames, is The Evenings’ symphonics to a massed chorus of the recordings and I do the bulk of what we do. We have an ambient set seventh release and their first as a human screams. They’re a million the writing, so if the records sound a we bring out every now and then full band. Previous CDs, including miles away from the tedious laptop bit rubbish that’s entirely my fault. and we’ve successfully played the debut album, ‘Let’s Go’, and last botherers that have given electronic As for the gigs, I’m sat behind a acoustic a couple of times; it would year’s brilliant ‘Listening’ EP, were music such a bad reputation. Instead drum kit with our electronics blasting be fun to go darker, to do some recorded by Mark alone. As a live they’re closer to the theatricality of into my headphones, so I have no really nasty music, but then the pop band The Evenings have been a the more extravagant prog bands, idea at all how it sounds, making any kid in me keeps saying we should get nebulous collection of permanent, but with the sleak, stark style and issues of control redundant. more songs with words, as that temporary or guest members drawn attitude of New Wave. “The live sound will have changed a always connects better with people from other local bands, including lot while the lineup was changing – and is more challenging to do Eeebleee, Sexy Breakfast, Big AT THE CORE OF THE BAND The Evenings with three guitars is successfully. To be honest, just to Speakers, Suitable Case For though, is Mark Wilden, the man bound to sound different to The get some new material would be Treatment and Sunnyvale Noise who formed The Evenings as a Evenings with a choir and a DJ– and good. Bloody office jobs; there’s Sub-Element. Often the line-up for bedroom-based project after having a I’ve always found it really exciting never time to write anymore.” a gig would have been down to who dream one night about a lounge band that the same tracks can sound Is having something of a supergroup happened to be in the called Tony Fucker and The almost completely different and yet on your hands a hindrance to The neighbourhood that night. As such Evenings (thankfully he dispensed be the same underneath. It did tend Evenings’ progression? gigs veered from inspired madness with the right part of that band towards the enormous-mushy-mess MARK: “It sometimes feels like to indulgent prog-rock dirge. name). Bespectacled, be-suited and end of things, and since that time everything that’s ever helped us has Over the last 18 months, however, with a head of flyaway blond hair, the sound will have changed with us hindered us in other ways, and the line-up has settled and The Mark looks like a cross between an getting better at playing with each having every member in the band Evenings have been able to establish eccentric university don and a other, learning fixed parts and involved with three other projects is themselves as one of the most dandyish Doctor Who, something nailing things down. It’s a no exception to that. It was part of innovative bands in Oxford. Joining that only adds to the strange, compromise, but it feels like a what got us noticed in the first place, for one thing, and it’s great Evenings’ music seems really simple for the band musically - everyone and pleasant to listen to, which may having fresh influences from outside say more about me than about stops the band feeling stale, but it anything else. But then I’ve got no can be a nightmare trying to book idea what we sound like live; I can’t things, competing with other gig hear a thing from the back of the schedules – everyone’s busy and it’s stage. I’m most interested in nobody’s fault, but it can get connecting with people in the frustrating. Happily I managed to audience, and making their brains bring eeebleee down from the inside hurt can be quite an effective way of so we’ve got Jo for good. This could doing that.” be why Sunnyvale and Sexy Breakfast won’t let me join.” FOLLOWING ON FROM THE If you could get any Oxford new EP will be a full album of October musician to join The Evenings, who Evenings remixes by various Oxford would it be? acts, notably Smilex, Twizz Twangle, MARK: “My fantasy is to get an Boywithatoy and The Beta all-female line-up of The Evenings. Prophesy. The results are often We’d keep Jo on double bass, of suitably bizarre, with special course, and have Sally and Alice mention going to Twizz Twangle’s from The Half Rabbits’ rhythm crazed treatment of early single, section, with Staz from Harlette on ‘Let’s Go’, which goes so far off- second drum kit, Eliza from Ivy’s message as to disappear from view Itch on guitar, Emily from Holiday almost completely. Stabbings making Kaos pad noises MARK: “It’s come together and Laima Bite fronting. I accept beautifully. Scott Parker and Smilex that the rest of us wouldn’t be able could tell exactly where the tracks to play in the band anymore, but if I wanted to go and led them off in the could see that line-up on stage right directions, while The Beta playing Evenings songs I could die a Prophecy and Boywithatoy took the nd happy man right there and then.” tracks round the back and beat them Sunday 2 - CHRIS DIFFORD into totally different shapes. The (ex-Squeeze singer and songwriter) THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN mixes I like the best tend to be the live in concert. Tickets £8 adv the electronic side of the music and ones that have the least respect for from wegottickets.com the more organic side seems to hark the source material, and the mixes back to acts like Ultravox, John that do things I never would have Foxx et al, but with a more modern thought of doing - I have to Every Monday: THE FAMOUS MONDAY NIGHT BLUES – production and arrangement, where mention Twizz Twangle’s remix The best in UK, European and US blues. 8-12. £6 rd do you personally draw most here, because I’ve never heard a 3 THE ALAMO LEAL BAND (Brazil/UK) inspiration from and what are your remix quite like it, and I still don’t 10th THE JOHN O’LEARY BAND (UK) feelings about modern electronic know if I love it or hate it. He said 17th THE OLLY ALCOCK BAND (UK) music? he’d never done a remix before and I 24th THE IAN PARKER BAND (UK) MARK: “The thing that inspires me believe him.” 31st ADAM BOMB (USA) most is the fact that if this band doesn’t do grand and wonderful THE ‘LOUDER IN THE DARK’ EP Every Tuesday: THE OXFORD JAZZ CLUB – things I’ll be stuck working in office was launched with a boat trip. Free live jazz plus DJs playing r’n’b, funk and soul until 2am. admin until I go certifiably insane. It Previous releases have been launched 4th THE TOM GREY QUINTET can be a powerful motivator, in arts centres and you seem to have 11th THE KATYA GORRIE BAND feat DENNY ILETT Jr knowing that I’m not qualified to do a longing for grand, elaborate 18th PADDY MILNER anything else, and barely qualified to displays; given an unlimited budget 25th THE TOM GREY QUINTET make music anyway. Ideally we’d be where would you like to launch your making music that sounds different next release? Every Friday: BACKROOM BOOGIE – to anything else around, or what’s MARK: “I don’t think there’s a the point? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve better way to see a band than on a Funk, soul and R&B. 9-2am Free B4 10pm; £4 after. got a lot of time for modern boat on a sunny Sunday afternoon. electronic music, but I’ve seen so The look on the fishermen’s faces is Every Sunday: LOCAL BANDS SHOWCASE. 8-11pm. £3 nd many big-name electronic acts with worth the price of admission alone. 2 LIZA FITZGIBBON (supporting Chris Difford) no sense of showmanship The bands tend to sound much better 9th LES CLOCHARDS whatsoever that an element of than usual as the sound doesn’t have 16th REBECCA MOSLEY / ALLY CRAIG / CHRIS BEARD entertainment has ended up at the walls to bounce off, and it’s much / AND NO STAR (Douglas house Benefit) core of what we do. We’ll have to less dank and sweaty than your 23rd THE BROTHERS stand out if we’re to amount to typical gig venue – it’s all very 30th ADY DAVEY / OSPREY & FRIENDS anything.” civilised, if still alcohol-fuelled. The At the Punt, you started your set music stops for locks and Plus with a barrage of synth sounds that everything. I’ve always wanted to do Saturday 1st SIMPLE (Funky House) had the uninitiated in the crowd a record launch at the Sheldonian, a Wednesday 5th LIVE STAND UP COMEDY almost contorting with pain – is proper black-tie evening do, with a Thursday 6th BREAK EVEN (breakbeats and House) there a part of you that simply ridiculously large number of Saturday 8th FREAK OUT! (Rock Night) wants to make a noise that can hurt musicians, led in sections by the five Wednesday 12th ROCK BANDS NIGHT folks? Is there a deliberate mission of us - a five-way musical battle, if Saturday 15th SIMPLE to challenge listeners? you will. It will probably sound th MARK: “Not consciously; I guess I horrible, but it’ll look amazing.” Wednesday 19 ROCK SOCIETY ACOUSTIC NIGHT nd just have high expectations of what Saturday 22 ROADRUNNER th an audience can take. We’re not ‘Louder In The Dark’ is out now Wednesday 26 PUNK NIGHT with NAGATHA KRUSTI / trying to damage anyone, but at the on Brainlove Records. Visit ARPUSSY / LEAVES IN FALL same time we’re trying not to www.theevenings.co.uk for news Saturday 29th NAKED NU-SOUL patronise people. To me The and gig dates. Sponsored RELEASED by keeping a low musical profile, bar her traditional Truck Festival appearances, but this second HARRY ANGEL album, released on a new record label, Tatinga, ‘Death Valley Of The Dolls’ should cement her growing reputation, with its sultry but limpid echoes of Kathryn Williams (Own Label) and, occasionally, Michelle Shocked. Harry Angel’s debut CD release is a difficult ‘Bluebird’ starts strongly with opener ‘Five’ a one to review in that the two lead tracks, simple, languid, wide-eyed folk strum that sets ‘Death Valley…’ and `Striptease’ have both the scene for most of the album. There’s a been reviewed here before, firstly as a demo playful jazz feel to ‘Loved’, Katy using the and then again as part of the ‘Fresh Faces For sparseness of her arrangements to her The Modern Age’ compilation, a mere two advantage, although lyrically it’s pretty homely months ago. What new to say then, apart from stuff – all baking bread and drinking Earl Grey the fact that the really quite ace ‘Death tea. Title track ‘Bluebird’ keeps promising to Valley…’ increasingly reminds us of legendary break into the chorus of ‘Dream A Little Dream local girl rockers Death By Crimpers (whose Of Me’, which is pretty cute, while further in members later begat Beaker, Passion Play and the mood is more sombre, Ellen Fallowfield’s Ivy’s Itch), with its raging fizz of goth-pop KTB cello more prominent on tracks like ‘Fall’ and guitars, only with Karen Crimper’s awesome ‘Bluebird’ ‘Fish’, both songs of gentle longing that best Janis Joplin howl replaced by Chris Beard’s showcase Katy’s alternately crystal cut or more languid, Americanised drawl. Think of a (Tatinga) wispy, breathless voice. There’s a tendency for polite collision between Bauhaus and Placebo For a while back there young Katy Bennett the album to drift into anonymity towards the and that’s a generous starting point. looked like she might eclipse her older brothers end as the style and mood stay too close to the ‘Striptease’, meanwhile, still sounds like Robin and Joe and their band, Goldrush. Having safe and narrow path. That’s forgivable, unlike something robbed off the recording sessions reached the finals of the BBC Radio 2 Young ‘Red Meat’ which makes even this hardened for ‘Pablo Honey’, which is no bad things and Folk Musician Of The Year Award back in vegetarian choke with embarrassment, with its suggests that Harry Angel are mining a rich 2003, Katy released her sweetly pastoral debut eulogising of marinated tofu, like some dippy seam of early-90s Oxford music. album, ‘All Calm In Dreamland’, on Truck to hippy returning from a subsidised trip to Goa. Of the two new songs here, ‘Seventeen’ universally positive reviews. The intervening 18 A shame because its cheapens an otherwise appears equally in thrall to The Crimpers’ months have found Katy – or KTB as she enchanting album that manages to coax a cool incendiary gothic fuzz storm, although we’d prefers to be known, although now she’s up pop shine out of traditional English folk fare. guess Harry Angel are too young to have ever against KT Tunstall on the initials front – Dale Kattack clapped eyes on them, while ‘Mine’ cranks up the Big Black-style sheet metal mayhem, Chris does his best Albini holler and lets the THE EVENINGS Evenings can seize that ground with this latest song batter its way out of the sewer. If you’ve release, which revisits and re-records four tracks let Harry Angel pass you by so far, now is as ‘Louder In The Dark’ from their last three EPs, soldered together for good a time as ever to discover one of the release on London’s Brainlove Records. most promising new noises in town. And if (Brainlove) ‘Fizzy Piss’ burrows into Add N To (X)’s you can track down a copy of Death By In the faraway world of Synthland there seems orchestral majesty, vast swells of synthesiser Crimpers’ long-lost classic debut single, to be precious little middle ground between the noise powered along by Mark Wilden’s ‘Obsessive’, you can rediscover one of the retro-futurist synth-pop revivalists and the muscular man-machine beats, only to be best old noises Oxford ever produced. glitchy digital randomists, but perhaps The punctured by disorientating interludes of electro Dale Kattack fidgeting. The uplifting, almost spiritual ‘I Didn’t Remember’, meanwhile, finds early Depeche Mode flickering around the armoured exoskeleton of Ultravox, while clamouring voices breathlessly compete for air space. In both cases there’s a clever balance of straight, simple melody and obstinate awkwardness which makes for something bizarrely hummable. Perversely, ‘Paste’ then throws a spanner in the works, sounding like a lopsided space-age rowing boat being molested by a shoal of silicon piranhas before retaliating with an battery of lazer cannons. They won’t be playing The Evenings on Radio 2 any time soon,then. But really, they should. Dale Kattack Selected Oxford releases are now available on the ground floor HMV Oxford supports local music Open Sundays 11-5pm & late Thursdays till 7pm. 10% student discount every day similarities. They had bubble perms and their singer went under the name Mentally Ill. Charlie Mouse split up over ten years ago but their legacy endures in certain corners of the Oxford music scene and so they’ve just reformed for a one-off gig at The Red Lion in Witney this month and this compilation of old songs is a comprehensive souvenir of their past glories. In the intervening years Mentally Ill has changed his name back to Martin Hill, while Charlie Mouse’s music now sounds positively quaint – stomping power anthems with just the faintest whiff The Barn at The Red Lion, Witney CHARLIE MOUSE of sleaze about them rub up against good- Live Music October Programme ‘Hello Goodbye Hello’ time southern fried rock or bluesy rock with an almost Nashville country feel to Sat 1st Evolution (Own Label) some tracks. The emphasis is on melody Sun 2nd Bob Bowles For the benefit of younger readers rather than raw power which, coupled Fri 7th Sounds of The Jam (basically anyone under the age of 35 in with the dated production, makes the Sat 8th Charlie Mouse this case), back in the late-80s / early-90s whole CD sound hollow, but what stands Sun 9th Rob James Charlie Mouse were just about the biggest in its favour is that because this kind of Thu 13th The Promise th rock band in Oxford. That’s rock with a music wasn’t ever cool or trendy, it’s Fri 14 The Corsairs th capital R, dressed in leather waistcoat, dated rather better than much of the music Sat 15 The Hoggz th leather trousers and snakeskin boots. Back from that era. The subject matter is typical Sun 16 Cody st when The Cellar was called The Corn soft rocking fare – shagging in the back of Fri 21 Fused nd Dolly, a major hangout for bikers and limousines (‘Rich Bitch’), girls in general Sat 22 The Strangers Sun 23rd Frank Abrahams Sunset Strip refugees, Charlie Mouse (‘Talkin’ On The Sky’), or booze Fri 28th Indefinitely would regular pack the place out. Theirs (‘Moonshine Groove’) and at least three Sat 29th High Voltage was the sound of unreconstructed old- songs here could be mistaken for Kiss’ Sun 30th Steve Dugutis fashioned sleaze rock. Their local ‘Crazy, Crazy Nights’, which all popularity, which later extended to a contributed to their extinction when grunge Every Mon – Karaoke. Every Wed – Quiz Night flurry of interest from Kerrang!, coincided came a kicking at rock’s door, but for a Opening times for the Barn – with the international success of little while at least, Charlie Mouse were Fri & Sat: 10.45pm – 1.00am Sun: 5pm – 7pm Guns’n’Roses and Aerosmith, to whom Oxford’s little bit of LA sleaze. Monday nights are karaoke 11pm – 1.00am they bore both musical and aesthetic Ian Chesterton Once a month on a Thursday is originals night: 9pm – 11pm. Details are available from our website or by phoning 01993 703149 www.redlionwitney.co.uk SUPERGRASS SUITABLE CASE ‘Low C’ FOR TREATMENT (Parlophone) Round our way we’re still trying to decide `Of Motets and whether we like ‘Road To Rouen’ or not. Misdirection’ Supergrass have provided us with so many near-perfect pop moments over the past (Thin Man) decade that their sudden downturn in Suitable Case’s first two mini-albums, mood caught us off guard. It grows on `Plenty More Neurologists in the Sea’ and you, we won’t deny that, but we always `A Sinistra Case For The Laevus Levus’, feel that as soon as the Grass come on the get squeezed together and remastered for stereo we should be bouncing around like a national release. tartrazine-fuelled toddlers, smashing the As such there’s no new material here but furniture, not lounging around thinking it’s good to have the band’s entire about Steely Dan. recorded works together on one CD at ‘Low C’, the second single from the last. Just so you can confuse, confound album, finds Supergrass in their now and possibly terrify your neighbours, familiar languid, slightly stoned state of pets and any passing emo kids. At the mind. Rob Coombes tinkles the ivories like slightly more stable end of the spectrum the last jazzman at an East End knees-up, is the swamp ska bump of `Wooga’, but while Gaz floats dreamily through pink, at the far side of the asylum is magum fluffy clouds of dope smoke, holding opus `Dead Pigeon Teachers’, a tightly on to Paul McCartney’s hand to sprawling, nine-minute lesson in musical stop him plummeting to earth. It’s easy- lunacy. Ranging from deathly southern going jingle musak, coming to a bio gospel to grinding metal via prog-funk, yoghurt drink advert near you soon. Suitable Case are disturbed little rock Unlikely, however, to be pumping on your bunnies but also one of the most inspired stereo. and inspiring bands around. Sue Foreman Victoria Waterfield gig guide

SATURDAY 1st TUESDAY 4th BELLOWHEAD: The Zodiac (upstairs) – OCTOBER JAZZ CLUB with THE TOM GREY QUINTET: Dynamic folk dance from Jon Spiers and John The Bullingdon – Free weekly jazz residency. Boden’s 10-piece big band, which features a full BLOOD SIMPLE + IONICA + VENA CAVA: SIMPLE: The Bullingdon – Funky house club brass section along with fiddle, guitar and The Zodiac – Former-Visions of Disorder night. bouzouki. As close to the likes of Frank Zappa, vocalist Tim Williams and guitarist Mike TONY IOMAN: The Duke Of Monmouth, Herb Alpert and Bo Diddley as they are to Kennedy carry on the good work of their Abingdon Road – A tribute to Elvis from the traditional English folk music, and rightly pioneering metalcore outfit. Support from local popular impersonator. considered to be one of the most innovative folk metallers Ionica and Vena Cava. THE RALFE BAND + THE EPSTEIN + THE bands in the UK at the moment. OPEN MIC SESSION: The Exeter Hall, TAYLORS: The Wheatsheaf – Vibrant, THE GLITTERATI: The Zodiac (downstairs) – Cowley ramshackle folk from rising stars The Ralfe Band, “A blistering three-dimensional mind-melt of DELICIOUS MUSIC OPEN MIC SESSION: plus Eagles-inspired country rocking from local frantic sex-inducing sound, dazzling good looks G Bar, St Ebbes favourites The Epstein. and moral code-defying anarchic spirit”, reads the CHIARINA: Café Rouge EVOLUTION: The Red Lion, Witney press release. Round here we simply call them th THE POWDERS: The Exeter Hall, Cowley WEDNESDAY 5 The Shitterati. Great stuff if you like FRESH OUT OF THE BOX: The Cellar – Live DAVEY GRAHAM & MARTIN CARTHY: Guns’n’Roses b-sides. electronica and DJs. Holywell Music Room – Two major talents of BADGE: The Port Mahon LEGENDARY: The Volunteer, Grove the English folk scene team up. NICK BREAKSPEARE: Winchester Acoustic MILES DOUBLEDAY & CHRIS BROWN: Sunday 2nd Suite The Port Mahon – Oxford Improvisers presents SUNDAY 2nd an evening of, er, improvised music. PURE REASON DELICIOUS MUSIC BANDS NIGHT with PURE REASON REVOLUTION: The Zodiac – MOOCHER + A TRIBUTE TO JOE SATRIANI REVOLUTION: Nouveau-psychedelic dreamers – see main + MY GURU: G Bar, St Ebbes – Eclectic rock preview sounds from Moocher. The Zodiac CHRIS DIFFORD + LISA FITZGIBBON: The GIGSWAP UK NIGHT: The Wheatsheaf The rebirth of prog rock? It’s been promised Bullingdon – Former-Squeeze founder and IRISH FOLK SESSION: The Exeter Hall, songwriter Chris Difford has always been many times but rarely delivered with the Cowley considered one of English pop’s great poets but conviction of London’s Pure Reason th now, post-Libertines et al, he’s also considered THURSDAY 6 Revolution. C’mon, they’ve just released a one of the most influential musicians and lyricists QUEEN ADREENA: The Zodiac – Nightshift 13-minutes single, ‘The Bright Ambassadors of the past 25 years. So, a great chance to revisit has now officially run out of superlatives to Of Morning’, while their Poptones debut some of those classic hits, plus the man’s new describe Queen Adreena. So we suggest you simply was called – possibly with tongue firmly in songs, or, for the newcomers, a chance to catch go along and see for yourself what genuine rock cheek – ‘Apprentice of the Universe’. Oh, up on the inspiration for so much of today’s and roll carnage should look like. A punishing, and their avowed intention is to write this British guitar pop. Locally-based Aussie power- sometimes uncomfortable spectacle of gothic generation’s ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’. folk songstress Lisa Fitzgibbon supports. metal and self-abuse but worth every minute of it. Perhaps not such admirable intentions but DELICIOUS MUSIC OPEN MIC SESSION: THE DHARMA: The Port Mahon – Chilled-out Pure Reason Revolution, unlike most bands, The Old School House funky rock. are far better than their dreams. ‘The Bright BOB BOWLES: The Red Lion, Witney DELICIOUS MUSIC JAZZ, FOLK AND Ambassadors Of Morning’ is a megalithic ELECTRIC JAM: The Exeter Hall, Cowley – BLUES BANDS NIGHT: Far From The Madding Crowd – With Latin jazz from Duó journey into sound – a sprawling, mantric, Jam along with the in-house rhythm section – all Veinte Dedas. almost spiritual clutter of Pink Floyd, Led musicians welcome. ELIOT: The Cellar – Soulful and spacious trip- ALUMINIUM BABE + FROM MARS: The Zeppelin, Neu!, Super Furry Animals and Cellar – Alternately sugar-sweet and sleazy fuzz- The Orb. There are unearthly harmonies, pop from Eliot, featuring vocals from local songstress Maria Ilett. pop from New York’s Aluminium Babe, mixing up trippy analogue synths, becalmed passages rd The Cardigans’ pretty guitar pop with Blondie’s of ambience and crushing rushes of heavy MONDAY 3 rock guitars. All usually within the first five THE ALAMO LEAL BAND: The Bullingdon – minutes of each lengthy song. It’s more than Brazilian-born guitarist, fusing traditional blues just prog – it’s acid folk space rock, it’s with Brazilian roots sounds, from Latin funk and happening here in the 21st Century and it soul to swing and old time country. sounds a lot more like the future than just IDIOT PILOT + A SILENT FILM: The Zodiac – Washington State duo who for once live up to about anyone else around at the moment. their eclectic list of influences, managing to mix up Radiohead’s melodic electro soundscapes with punishing NIN and Deftones metal and Squarepusher’s frantic techno on recent debut album, ‘Strange We Should Meet Here’. Early reports suggest they’re just as good live, so hopefully a chance to catch them before the big time beckons. OPEN MIC NIGHT: The Port Mahon MARTIN SIMPSON & MARTIN CARTHY: Nettlebed Folk Club – Two legends of the British folk scene team up for an intimate gig at the famous Nettlebed folk club. SALSANEROS: The Cellar things in life (rape, murder and car crashes being MONDAY 10th the typical subject matter of songs on debut THE JOHN O’LEARY BAND: The album, ‘Life In Dreaming’), all dished out a Bullingdon – Irish-born blues singer and harp simple, melodic style as befits their Drive Thru player inspired by the legendary Cyril Davies now Records standing. into his fifth decade of playing live. Backed by a SOURCE: The Zodiac – Monthly drum&bass young and versatile band, he mixes up standards club night with guests DJ Chemical and Lee, plus a by the likes of Muddy Waters, Junior Webb and two-hour live set from London Electricity. Rice Miller with original material, infusing his KLUB KAKOFANNEY with THE EPSTEIN + blues sound with jazz chords and Latin rhythms. VEDA PARK + OVERFLOW: The FOCUS: The Zodiac – Woo-hoo! Return of the Wheatsheaf – Country rock from tonight’s semi-legendary Dutch prog-rockers, best th Saturday 8 headliners, plus melodic acoustic rock in the vein remembered for their yodel-heavy hit ‘Hocus of The Band from Veda Park. Pocus’ in 1973. Not sure if this is the original EDITORS / WE ARE PAT THOMAS: The Holywell Music Room – line-up featuring founders Thijs Van Leer and Jan The local avant garde piano virtuoso and improv Akkerman, but no doubt we’ll get all those mad SCIENTISTS: stalwart Pat gives a rendition of Chris Byers old instrumental hits that fused classical, jazz and The Zodiac transcriptions of Derek Bailey improvisations, rock influences into an often insanely catchy while French horn player Julian Faultless plays whole. If you weren’t lucky enough to squeeze into Stockhausen’s ‘In Freundschaft’. OPEN MIC NIGHT: The Port Mahon the Barn stage at this year’s Truck Festival SOUNDS OF THE JAM: The Red Lion, to catch Editors and were hoping you could Witney – Jam tribute band. catch them on this tour instead, tough. OXFORD FOLK CLUB: The Port Mahon Tuesday 11th Tonight’s gig is long-since sold out. Which is THE INVISIBLE: The Exeter Hall, Cowley – about as surprising as Pete Doherty failing 70s-styled melodic rockers. MAGIC NUMBERS: to turn up to a Babyshambles gig. The ACOUSTIC NIGHT: The Victoria, Jericho BACKROOM BOOGIE: The Bullingdon Brookes University Editors story so far has tended to revolve th around them being compared too much to SATURDAY 8 The band of 2005, surely? This year The Joy Division, or referred to as `The English EDITORS + WE ARE SCIENTISTS: The Magic Numbers have, almost unnoticed, Interpol’. Neither of which are particularly Zodiac (upstairs) – Long-since sold out gig from become everyone’s favourite new group. accurate. Four serious-looking men in suits Birmingham’s New Wave revivalists – see main Championed by both Radio 1 and Radio 2, play brooding music, true, and there’s a been preview the broadsheets and the entire music press, some serious theft from the New Wave vault ADEQUATE SEVEN + MC LARS: The Zodiac online fanzines and A-list pop stars as (downstairs) – Fun punk-dance crossover from going on, but Editors’ debut album, ‘The diverse as Bono, Elton John and Oasis; it the band who have played with acts as diverse as Back Room’ outshines Interpol on every seems everyone has something nice to say Cypress Hill, Hundred Reasons and Kelly level. Instead they’re closer to Echo and the about Romeo and Michele Stodart and Sean Osbourne. and Angela Gannon. Everyone that is except Bunnymen, The Chameleons, The Smiths THE G’s + KOHOUTEK + NOCODA + TOTP’s Richard Bacon, who managed to and Cocteau Twins; frontman Tom Smith SEFTON + NUMBERNINE + RAMI + LAIMA insult the sweet-natured quartet enough for has the baritone vocie of Ian McCulloch or BITE & SARAH WILSON + TRUE RUMOUR Julian Cope, while Chris Urbanowicz plays + CHRIS THOMPSON + LEE DAVIES + BEN them to walk out of the studio as they with a similar sparkling style to Johnny DUGARD: The Exeter Hall, Cowley (3pm) – prepared to promote new single, ‘Love Me Marr or Robin Guthrie. Meanwhile, singles All-day gig in aid of St Ormond Street Children’s Like You’. They were consequently accused like ‘Munich’ and cult debut ‘Bullets’ are Hospital, featuring a selection of local bands and of lacking a sense of humour by none other elegant, urgent indie disco classics equal to singers, including ambient popsters True than Anne Widdecombe, but The Magic anything else you’ll hear this year. New Rumour who launch their new album at the Numbers’ gloriously optimistic outlook, York’s post-punk darlings We Are Scientists event. reflected in their perfect summer pop, make their Oxford debut in support. CHARLIE MOUSE: The Red Lion, Witney – suggests it was Bacon’s lack of humour they The one-time Oxford rock heroes reconvene objected to. Anyway, all that can only New Wave disco and The Ramones’ full-throttle twelve years after they split up to kick out those enhance the reputation of a band whose punk noise. From Mars give The Cure a staccato sleazy hard rock jams once again. eponymous debut album has already sold in punk-funk kick up the backside. PHIL WHITE + TWIZZ TWANGLE: The Port excess of 100,000 copies in the UK and was THE SPIN JAZZ CLUB with MARK Mahon – Local songwriters night, including the shortlisted for the Mercury Prize (and LUCKHART’S BIG IDEA: The Wheatsheaf mayhemic maverick sounds of Twizz Twangle. probably deserved to win). This summer has BREAK EVEN: The Bullingdon – Breakbeats THE BROTHERS OF INVENTION: The seen them become one of the best festival Wheatsheaf and house from Jael and Evil Twin. bands in recent memory, not least at Truck, KETUBA: Modern Art, Oxford – Traditional NURU KANE: Modern Art, Oxford (5.45pm) – and if their euphoric, daydreaming, romantic Lithuanian wedding music in a 1914 style. Senagalese singer-songwriter jangle-pop can adapt to the encroaching UNITING THE ELEMENTS: The Exeter Hall, FREAK OUT: The Bullingdon – Rock club winter, by this time next year they should Cowley – German rockers on a never-ending UK night. be just about the biggest band on the planet. tour. BARAKA: The Coven – A night of psy-trance SKYLARKIN: The Brickworks – Weekly dose with Sean Rudz and Mat V from 666. of reggae, soul, ska, funk, Latin and Afrobeat THE PETE FRYER BAND + REDOX: The from DJ Aidan Larkin and guests. Chester Arms SABOTAGE: The Zodiac – Punk, metal, indie JOCK & MOOSE: Winchester Acoustic Suite and alternative sounds each week from The Club SIMON DAVIES + COLIN FLETCHER: Magic That Cannot Be Named. Café OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon SUNDAY 9th CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford LES CLOCHARDS: The Bullingdon – Local Community Centre bands night. BOSSAPHONIK: The Cellar – Senegalese DELICIOUS MUSIC OPEN MIC SESSION: mbalax jazz from Afrofema. The Old School House BARCODE TRIO: The Hollybush, Osney – CASSETTE BOY: The Cellar – Sound cut-ups, Weekly energy jazz residency. prank calls and lo-fi techno mayhem. FRIDAY 7th ROB JONES: The Red Lion, Witney HIDDEN IN PLAIN VIEW: The Zodiac – New DENISE MARIE: The Exeter Hall, Cowley – Jersey-based pop-punksters here for the nasty New Orleans bayou blues. many myths and legends of Dartmoor, was TWENTYSIXFEET + THE THUMB QUINTET: launched with a gig at the nearby prison and The Cellar – Highly textured, atmospheric indie unsurprisingly is a doomy, tortured affair, but rocking from Twentysixfeet, with techno- it’s also seen the fella – who began his musical acoustic folk-pop support from The Thumb career in his teens as part of the band Quintet. Equation, alongside Kate Rusby and Cara BARCODE TRIO: The Hollybush, Osney Dillon – nominated for two Radio 2 Folk THE WALK OFF + THE GULLIVERS: The Awards. Hobgoblin, Bicester – Digital hardcore from DEERHOOF + THE DRONES + ALEXANDER The Walk Off, plus Libertines-inspired indie punk TUCKER: The Wheatsheaf – ATP tour from The Gullivers. package of leftfield rock heroes – see main SKYLARKIN: The Brickworks preview SABOTAGE: The Zodiac JAZZ CLUB with THE KATYA GORRIE OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon BAND featuring DENNY ILETT Jr: The FRIDAY 14th Bullingdon SLIDE: The Zodiac – Oxford’s longest-running JON FLETCHER + SIMON DAVIES + ANDY house club celebrates its 11th birthday with a guest LETCHER: The Port Mahon appearance from Laylo and Bushwacka, plus sets OPEN MIC SESSION: The Exeter Hall, from Matt Braddock and Lee Mortimer. Cowley DELICIOUS MUSIC OPEN MIC SESSION: G Bar, St Ebbes th CHIARINA: Café Rouge Tuesday 11 INTRUSION: The Cellar – Goth and industrial DEERHOOF / Tuesday 11th club night. WEDNESDAY 12th THE DRONES / LADYTRON: DOPAMINE + REUBEN’S ACCOMPLICE + FIRSTBORN: The Bullingdon – Heavy rock The Wheatsheaf The Zodiac night at the Bully including American rockers Oxfordbands.com teams up with the good As cool and clinical as Kraftwerk, but as Reuben’s Accomplice. people behind All Tomorrow’s Parties to sexy and soulful as anything on Motown, IRISH FOLK SESSION: The Exeter Hall, present this leg of the current ATP tour Liverpool-based Ladytron are near enough Cowley featuring three of the most obstinately odd the perfect pop band for the 21st Century. DELICIOUS MUSIC NIGHT with CHIARINA actss currently gracing world stages. San Two boys, two girls, four gleaming banks of DARRAH + PAWEL KUTERBA: G Bar, St Francisco’s Deerhoof have been making synthesizers; Ladytron are the Ebbes – Acoustic pop, folk and jazz. strange, jagged avant-pop noises for over a DELICIOUS MUSIC OPEN MIC SESSION: personification of all those wildly optimistic decade now, formed by virtuoso drummer Far From The Madding Crowd 1950 sci-fi films, only filtered through the Greg Saunier and bassist Rob Fisk (who, very best 70s and early-80s synth-pop BLUE JUNK: The Port Mahon th after leaving the band and later returning, (Kraftwerk, The Normal, Gary Numan, THURSDAY 13 now plays guitar), but most notable for David Bowie, Visage) and imbued with KANED CITIZEN + ANDENSUM + LEE crazy Japanese vocalist Satomi Matsuzaki’s various exotic international flavours (from DAVIES + DEN DUGARD + ALLY CRAIG + Anglo-Japanese yapping singing style. Bulgarian to Japanese). After two startling THE HERO STORY: The Exeter Hall, Cowley Pitched somewhere to the left of Sonic – Special gig organised as part of the celebrations albums of sleek, platinum-coated electronic Youth’s more escapist pieces and arty 80s of John Peel Day on the first anniversary of the groove pop, the band have beamed down at indie popstrels Young Marble Giants, Island Records and just released a new great man’s death. TOM BAXTER + CASS: The Zodiac (upstairs) they’re both sweet and strange. Melbourne’s album, ‘Witching Hour’, a warmer, less – Another lovelorn English singer-songwriter in The Drones (pictured), meanwhile, are linear realisation of their futuristic pop the slipstream of David Gray et al. Still, pretty rooted in slightly more traditional rock vision. Hell, they’ve even recruited a live neat stuff with his Jeff Buckley-styled voice and traditions, but take in everything from drummer and guitarist for their live gigs. sometimes imaginative musical twists. Hey, we’ll Beefheart-style blues to the darker side of Their appearance at Reading Festival, even forgive him for supporting Jamie Cullum on folk and country, all kicked out with intense however, suggests they’re unlikely to turn tour. disregard for convention. Opening the bill is into a hairy old rock band just yet. With TOWERS OF LONDON: The Zodiac Alexander Tucker who has worked with vocals shared between the equally icy Helen (downstairs) – Possibly, no, probably. No, without Jackie-O Motherfucker, Sunn 0))) and Bardo Marnie and former Oxford University any doubt, the single worst band on planet earth Bond. student Mira Aroyo, Ladytron are the next at this present time. And that includes Jamiroquai, evolutionary step up from Kraftwerk’s so it’s saying something. Fifth-rate Motley Crue ‘Man Machine’. Glorious stuff. riffs, attitude and haircuts served up as some kind of 21st Century Sex Pistols. Gentle readers, please do not be fooled into believing this makes Towers HUGH CRABTREE & PHUNGUS: Nettlebed th of London in any small way entertaining. Save Folk Club – Special 30 anniversary ceilidh at your money and pay some old tramp to piss on Nettlebed’s legendary folk club. your head. You’ll have more fun. SALSANEROS: The Cellar TRUE RUMOUR: The Port Mahon – th TUESDAY 11 Atmospheric acoustic pop. THE MAGIC NUMBERS: Brookes University DELICIOUS MUSIC JAZZ AND BLUES Union – Everyone’s favourite new band and a ray BANDS NIGHT: Far From The Madding of sunshine in the darkest corners of pop this Crowd – Tonight’s guest is acoustic pop, jazz and year – see main preview folk singer Chiarina Darrah. LADYTRON: The Zodiac (upstairs) – Divine THE SPIN JAZZ CLUB with BRYAN synth-pop quartet return – see main preview CORBETT: The Wheatsheaf THE SETH LAKEMAN TRIO: The Zodiac TEA & MIRELLA HODZIC: Modern Art, (downstairs) – Dartmoor singer-songwriter Seth Oxford (5.45pm) – Bosnian folk guitar and vocal suddenly finds himself in the spotlight after his duo. debut album, ‘Kitty Jay’ (recorded for £300 in his THE PROMISE: The Red Lion, Witney Devon kitchen) was shortlisted for this year’s CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Mercury Prize. It’s an album documenting the Community Centre OXFORD FOLK CLUB: The Port Mahon TUESDAY 18th KINGSKINS: The Exeter Hall, Cowley HARD FI: The Zodiac (upstairs) – Already sold ACOUSTIC NIGHT: The Victoria, Jericho out, tonight’s Oxford debut from the best thing to INKUBUS SUKKUBUS + AT RISK: The come out of Staines since Ali G. Already hailed as Wheatsheaf – Enduring pagan goth-popsters one of the UK’s brightest new pop hopes and keep the black flag flying with support from local shortlisted for the Mercury Prize for debut mini- gothsters At Risk. album ‘Stars Of CCTV’, Hard-Fi’s strength lies in BACKROOM BOOGIE: The Bullingdon their blend of ska, funk and urban rhythms with a BLUNTED: The Cellar – Hip hop, funk, soul melodic punk bite – sort of Strummer-meets-The and drum&bass club night. Streets. They’ve got plenty of throwaway pop THE CORSAIRS: The Red Lion, Witney – gems, like recent singles ‘Hard To Beat’, in their Rockabilly revivalists. armoury, which might help their longevity, but CODY: The Baytree, Grove you wonder whether they can fill another whole SATURDAY 15th album with stories about how crap it is living in LAURA VIERS & THE TORTURED SOULS: Staines. On second thoughts, if you’ve ever been The Zodiac – Prolific singer-songwriter out of there, it might not seem such a chore after all. Seattle, coming on like a riot grrl Suzanne Vega REUBEN + FIGHTING WITH WIRE + THE on new album ‘Year Of The Meteors’, the follow- MASCARA STORY: The Zodiac (downstairs) – up to last year’s acclaimed ‘Carbon Glacier’ Reliably feisty and anthemic emo rocking from BOOT-LED ZEPPELIN: The Zodiac – Led Zep Guildford’s hardest working band. Back on form Sunday 23rd tribute. of late after gigging themselves half to death, and BETTY AND THE WEREWOLVES + LIFE with new songs like ‘For Every Teenager Who THE FALL: The Zodiac Listens To Drum and Bass, A Rock Star Dies’, WITH BEARS + HOT SILK POCKETS: The Can there be anything left to say about The Port Mahon – Dangerous wildlife-themed pop obviously in no danger of losing their touch with an ungainly title. Fall that hasn’t been said before? For almost night at the Port. 30 years now they’ve been the most ASSASSINS OF SILENCE: The Exeter Hall, JAZZ CLUB with PADDY MILNER: The consistently inconsistent band in Britain, if Cowley – Hawkwind tribute. Bullingdon – Guest appearance at the weekly not the world: even their most die-hard fans SIMPLE: The Bullingdon jazz club from the rising star. LIMEHOUSE LIZZY: Romanway, Cowley – A OPEN MIC SESSION: The Exeter Hall, – and Fall fans are extremely die-hard – find Phil Lynott greatest hits set from the UK’s Cowley them frustrating and contrary in the extreme. premier Thin Lizzy tribute band. THOMAS TRUAX + DAVID What can never be denied, however, is that THE HOGGZ: The Red Lion, Witney – CRONENBURG’S WIFE + FILTHY PEDRO: Mark E Smith is a musical genius. Since he Classic rock covers. The Cellar – A night of anti-folk noise including formed the band in 1976 he’s created some FELL CITY GIRL + HARRY ANGEL + THE Truck Festival regular Thomas Truax with his of the most startlingly original, awkward, HALF RABBITS: The Mill, Banbury – Sky- collection of bizarre home-made instruments and exhilarating and obtuse music you’re ever touching epic pop from the mighty Fell City with knowing take on hillbilly country pop. likely to hear. The Fall sound is a constantly support from gothic noisenicks Harry Angel and DELICIOUS MUSIC OPEN MIC SESSION: mutating beast but forever remains New Wavers The Half Rabbits. G Bar, St Ebbes unmistakably The Fall – an uneasy meeting FRESH OUT OF THE BLOCK: The Cellar – CHIARINA: Café Rouge of Elvis and Beefheart, Can and Cochran, th Club night featuring live house and breakbeats WEDNESDAY 19 with an oddly arty edge to it, plenty of from Stanton Warriors. JOYUSA: Jacqueline Du Pre Music punk-inspired bile and a wit and grasp of OSPREY + ADY DAVEY: Winchester Building – Uplifting European jazz with a samba social reality that few songwriters can equal. Acoustic Suite – Acoustic pop from the local and flamenco twist. Smith has also managed to dispense with favourites. IRISH FOLK SESSION: The Exeter Hall, more collaborators than the entire Borgia th SUNDAY 16 Cowley family, occasionally ‘informing’ bandmates REBECCA MOSLEY + ALLY CRAIG + DELICIOUS MUSIC BANDS NIGHT with of their sacking with his fist mid-set. Gigs DELPHI + WHERE I’M CALLING FROM + CHRIS BEARD + AND NO STAR: The can be unpredictable but on their night The BLINDSIGHTED: G Bar, St Ebbes Bullingdon – Showcase of local singer- Fall remain, three decades on, more songwriter talents, plus post-rock action from BROOKES ROCK SOCIETY ACOUSTIC NIGHT: The Bullingdon innovative and dangerous than any teenage And No Star. rock rebels. A national treasure. DELICIOUS MUSIC OPEN MIC SESSION: VENA CAVA: The Cellar – Elaborate local The Old School House metallers with a neat line in hellbastard hardcore, BEARD MUSEUM with ROSE KEMP + LOZ proggy interludes and Balkan folk bits. Oh yes. SABOTAGE: The Zodiac COLBERT + SIMON DAVIES: The Purple THURSDAY 20th OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon st Turtle – Dark, twisted folk pop from Rose DREADZONE: The Zodiac – Twelve years of FRIDAY 21 Kemp at tonight’s Beard Museum, plus support reggae, hip hop and ambient dance HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS + SILVERSTEIN + from former-Ride sticksman turned singer, experimentation find Dreadzone still on top of SPITALFIELD + BAYSIDE: The Zodiac Loz. their game. (upstairs) – A Night of quiet bits, loud bits, more CODY: The Red Lion, Witney CHARLOTTE JAMES: The Port Mahon – quiet bits and some more loud bits as sensitive ELECTRIC JAM: The Exeter Hall, Cowley Alternative pop from the singer and guitarist. screamo types Hawthorne Heights make their UK MONDAY 17th THE SPIN JAZZ CLUB with SID JACOBS: debut headlining this Victory Records ‘Never THE OLLY ALCOCK BAND: The Bullingdon The Wheatsheaf Sleep Again’ package tour. – Cumbrian blues guitarist and singer in the vein CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford CREEPSHOW featuring HEXSTATIC: The of Howlin’ Wolf and George Thoroughgood, Community Centre Zodiac (upstairs) – Peepshow celebrates its promoting new album, ‘Why The Long Face’. DELICIOUS MUSIC BLUES, JAZZ & FOLK second birthday with an early Halloween party THE PADDINGTONS: The Zodiac – Effusive BANDS NIGHT: Far From The Madding featuring Ninja Tunes’ audio-visual pioneers and spiky, if utterly incompetent punk-pop from Crowd - Tonight’s guests are Jazz Emporium. Hextstatic who released their second audio-visual Hull’s skinny wretches, launched on the road to BIG SPEAKERS: The Cellar – Live hip hop album, ‘Masterview’ late last year following on cult fame on the back of their friendship with from the expansive local collective, mixing fluid from acclaimed collaborations with Coldcut and The Libertines and still hacking away at the five-MC rapping with a full-on band back-up. David Byrne. Meanwhile Digitonal re-score The Clash’s garage-punk legacy with ungainly FRANKIE PALLENT + DREW ATKINS: The Shining at what has become Oxford’s best and tenacity. Exeter Hall, Cowley – Local acoustic singer- most eclectic club night. OPEN MIC NIGHT: The Port Mahon songwriter in the style of Paul Mccartney and MARK MULCAHY + ANDY YORKE: The PAUL DOWNES & PHIL BEER: Nettlebed Noel Gallagher. Zodiac (downstairs) – Welcome return to town Folk Club SKYLARKIN: The Brickworks for the former-Miracle Legion frontman, with a SALSANEROS: The Cellar BARCODE TRIO: The Hollybush, Osney rare supporting appearance from Unbelievable ‘And The Glass Handed Kites’, a typically LEAVES: The Zodiac (upstairs) – Alternately ambitious sprawl of noise that stretches from My majestic and introverted pop from Iceland’s Bloody Valentine atmospherics to ‘Low’-era Leaves, following up their promising ‘Breathe’ Bowie. Perfect, crystalline pop. International album with major label debut ‘The Angela Test’. fame and fortune are long overdue. Skinny and slightly sensitive young men play the THE ANSWER + TOKYO DRAGONS + THE universal music of heartache. Sometime with SOUND EXPLOSION: The Zodiac pianos. Warm-hearted in a Coldplay kind of way, (downstairs) – The New School Of Rock tour with leaning towards Radiohead, Elbow and Beck featuring A rotating headline bill of three at times. supposedly up and coming bands, although AC/DC FOZZY: The Zodiac (downstairs) – WWF acolytes Tokyo Dragons seem to have been wrestler Chris Jericho teams up with wrestling Thursday 27th around for ever and we wonder whether sounding fanatics Stuck Mojo and, hey presto! Big ol’ hairy an awful lot like yesterday’s men The Datsuns is THE SUBWAYS: really an indication of great things to come. th th Joining them on the tour are Newcastle’s boozy Saturday 29 / Sunday 30 The Zodiac rockers The Sound Explosion and The Answer – After nabbing a prestigious unsigned band recent tour support to The Darkness. AUDIOSCOPE: slot at last year’s Glastonbury Festival, The IN THE FLESH + EL JAEGO + THE SPACE The Zodiac Subways – hailing from that none-more rock BETWEEN: The Wheatsheaf – Full-blooded Now in its fifth year, the annual Audioscope metropolis, Welwyn Garden City – now indie rocking from In The Flesh in the vein of mini-festival, which has so far raised over find themselves one of this year’s big Feeder and Foo Fighters, plus support from indie £10,000 for homeless charity Shelter, has breakthrough rock acts. They’ve made the punkers El Jaego. THE STRANGERS: The Red Lion, Witney – expanded to take in two days of live music. jump from supporting bands like Stadium rock covers and originals. As well as an effective fundraiser, Stellarstarr* (with whom they made their ROADRUNNER: The Bullingdon – Mod, Audioscope is also an excellent showcase of Oxford debut) to headlining venues like northern soul, 60s garage and freakbeat club night the best underground and leftfield music Brookes (for the second time this year) with with live acts and DJs. around, providing a good mix of international consummate ease. And the best thing about LJILJANA BUTLER: Wesley Memorial sound manipulators with the cream of their rapid rise to fame is it hasn’t given Church – Eastern European folk singer. Oxford’s own more esoteric starlets. Last them time to smooth off those great rough ROLLERCOASTER Vs CHICKS WITH year the organisers managed to entice former edges that make them such fun to watch. DECKS: The Cellar – Eclectic mash up of Can frontman Damo Suzuki along to They’re a band possessed of all the raw punk, New Wave, 80s pop and more. headline. This year it’s folktronica pioneer recklessness that you hope against hope to JULIANA MEYER: The Exeter Hall, Cowley Kieran Hebden, aka Four Tet (pictured), who find amid the rising tide of contrived, DEAD MEN’S SHOES: Chipping Norton FC tops the bill on the Saturday. Formerly of posturing wannabes. A classic three-piece rd SUNDAY 23 Fridge, Kieran’s woozy, warped style of fronted by guitarist Billy Lunn and bassist THE FALL + NOUGHT: The Zodiac (upstairs) – melodic electronic soundscaping defies easy (and fiancée) Mary-Charlotte Cooper, Contender for The Greatest Living Englishman, classification. With recent album ‘Everything they’ve got the pop looks of a young Ash Mark E Smith returns with his ever-changing band Ecstatic’ he’s ditched the guitars altogether but the licks of The Stooges, Sonic Youth of minstrels – see main preview. for a fully electronic sound. Joining him on and, most of all, Royal Trux. Most BRAKES + CHRIS TT + THE SEAL CUB the Saturday are Texas’ masters of textured importantly, they’re one of the few bands CLUBBING CLUB: The Zodiac (downstairs) – guitar noise, Explosions In The Sky, former who can sing, “Rock and roll is gonna save The South Coast supergroup – made up of various McLusky fella John Chapple’s new project us”, and make you actually believe it to be member of British Sea Power, Electric Soft Shooting At Unarmed Men, New York one- true. Parade and The Tenderfoot, return to Oxfordshire after their sterling set at Truck woman noise frenzy Ill Ease, mad jazz- Festival, showing just how many mad ideas they metallers Giddy Motors and local rising Truth chappie Andy Yorke. can cram into a two-minute pop song. Along the starlets Fell City Girl. On the Sunday electro LAPSUS LINGUAE + THE WALK OFF + AN way you’ll hear thrash punk, country rock, good- legend Luke Vibert is the star attraction, EMERGENCY: The Wheatsheaf – Return of time party pop and some jangly indie stuff. You’ll joined by enigmatic songwriter Scout Glasgow’s manic piano-led hardcore warriors, also hear irresistible pop anthem, ‘All Night Niblett, jazz-core pioneers Billy Mahonie, mixing up The Birthday Party, Shellac and Tori Disco Party’ and a fairly respectable cover of The Ninja Tunes’ Super Numeri, plus a great Amos into an unholy musical maelstrom. Jesus and Mary Chain’s ‘Sometime Always’. Sarf double bill of Oxford talent in Nought of OXFORD FOLK CLUB: The Port Mahon Landan troubadour Chris TT joins the fun with course Audioscope hosts Sunnyvale Noise BLUES DELUX: The Exeter Hall, Cowley barbed tales of urban life, while the world’s worst- Sub-Element, who open the show. All this FELL CITY GIRL + P.Y.E + PHYAL + named band The Seal Cub Clubbing Club (and not plus much, much more besides. £18 gets you ACCIDENTALLY INNOCENT + LEXXIS: The because we’re airy fairy hippies with a penchant a pass for both days. Check out Net, Abingdon – Bright young stars of the for big-eyed furry beats, although we are, but www.audioscope.co.uk for more details. Oxford scene do it for the kids with this under- because it’s impossible to say when you’re even 18s gig. half cut) open the show. BOSSAPHONIK: The Cellar – Club night with DELICIOUS MUSIC OPEN MIC SESSION: jazzy hip hop fusion from Bussetti. The Old School House ACOUSTIC NIGHT: The Victoria, Jericho THE BROTHERS: The Bullingdon BACKROOM BOOGIE: The Bullingdon LAGRIMA + GLENDA HUISH: The Exeter FUSED: The Red Lion, Witney – Hall, Cowley Contemporary indie and rock covers. ILIKETRAINS: The Cellar – Mogwai-styled LEGENDARY: General Foods Sports & guitar soundscaping from Leeds’ busy post- Social Club, Banbury rockers, promoting new single ‘A Rook House For SATURDAY 22nd Bobby’, a tribute to the eccentric former world CUSTOM BLUE + MONSTRO + GHOST chess champion. WARRIORS + PIEXO: The Port Mahon – FRANK ABRAHAMS: The Red Lion, Witney th Local label My Initials celebrate their first MONDAY 24 birthday with a showcase of ambient leftfield and THE IAN PARKER BAND: The Bullingdon - experimental acts. Blues and roots guitarist with a serious reputation MEW: The Zodiac (upstairs) – Soaring blissed- on the European festival circuit, mixing up out guitar rock of the first order from Denmark’s standards and originals in the style of Eric finest musical export, promoting ace new album Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayall. metal in the vein of Scorpions and Ozzy FRIDAY 28th Osbourne. Go on, you love it really. SUITABLE CASE FOR TREATMENT + OPEN MIC NIGHT: The Port Mahon HEADCOUNT + JUNKIE BRUSH + STIG: The CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS: Exeter Hall, Cowley – Pre-Halloween night Nettlebed Folk Club heavy rock party with maleficent gospel-prog- JAZZ CLUB with THE TOM GREY QUINTET: metal from Suitable Case, plus bruising punk- The Bullingdon metal from Headcount and wiry New Wave noise OPEN MIC SESSION: The Exeter Hall, from Junkie Brush. Cowley ALEXISONFIRE: The Zodiac (upstairs) – CHIARINA: Café Rouge Canadian hardcore crew return for their third visit SALSANEROS: The Cellar to The Club That Cannot Be Named. th TUESDAY 25 GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES presents THE TURIN BRAKES: Brookes University Union MULES + BLIND MICE + MARK ABIS: The – Mellow stadium-sized rock from the south coast Zodiac (downstairs) – Another mixed bag of duo promoting new album, `Jackinthebox’, and sounds at tonight’s GTI. There’s aggressive folk, Saturday 29th taking a more - gosh - rock path. Whatever punk-funk and Eastern European dance from next? Guitar solos? 15-foot high monsters Mules, with elegant pop in the vein of Steely Dan LACUNA COIL: onstage? Some vestige of entertainment? and The Beatles from London’s Blind Mice, as KUBB: The Zodiac – Soon to be massive well as quality melancholic folk-pop from local The Zodiac elegantly melancholy popsters already being singer-songwriter Mark Abis. One of only four dates on this, Lacuna called The New Coldplay, fronted by Harry INDEFINITELY: The Red Lion, Witney Coil’s first proper UK tour, their previous Collier, a very handsome young man who will OXFORD FOLK CLUB: The Port Mahon visits to these shores limited to one-off doubtless be dating A-list Hollywood actresses this ACOUSTIC NIGHT: The Victoria, Jericho London shows, as well as this summer’s time next year. Jeff Buckley-inspired falsetto BACKROOM BOOGIE: The Bullingdon Download Festival. Hailing from Italy, the emoting is very much the order of the day and if REDOX UNPLUGGED: The Flowing Well, band started off in the late-90s on their you’re missing Athlete and Snow Patrol, here are Sunningwell your new favourite band. HQ: The Cellar – Drum&bass club night. native goth scene, initially inspired by the DELICIOUS MUSIC OPEN MIC SESSION: FUSED: The Baytree, Grove likes of Paradise Lost and The Gathering, G Bar, St Ebbes SATURDAY 29th before a tour with Swiss gothsters OPEN MIC SESSION: The Exeter Hall, Lacrimosa and the release of 2001’s LACUNA COIL: The Zodiac (upstairs) – ‘Unleashed Memories’ brought both critical Cowley Italian gothic metallers make a rare UK praise and some commercial success. 2002’s JAZZ CLUB with THE TOM GREY QUINTET: appearance – see main preview follow-up, ‘Comalies’, has expanded The Bullingdon AUDIOSCOPE: The Zodiac (downstairs – CHIARINA: Café Rouge 4pm) – The fifth Audioscope runs over two days Lacuna’ Coil’s sound, typified by the th WEDNESDAY 26 with Four Tet headlining the opening night – see contrasting vocals of female singer Cristina NAGATHA KRUSTI + ARPUSSY + LEAVE IN main preview Scabbia and her male counterpart Andrea FALL: The Bullingdon – Punk and metal bands HIGH VOLTAGE: The Red Lion, Witney Ferro. Cristina is ethereal, haunting and night. THE EPSTEIN: The Port Mahon – Full-blooded angelic by turns, Andrea is gruff and IRISH FOLK SESSION: The Exeter Hall, country rocking in the style of The Eagles. growling. Musically they cross the Cowley NAKED NU-SOUL: The Bullingdon boundary between goth and the darker, LOST CHIUAUA: The Port Mahon KING ADA: The Exeter Hall, Cowley almost psychedelic side of metal – as DELICIOUS MUSIC NIGHT with PAWEL FRESH OUT OF THE BOX: The Cellar melancholy, melodramatic and narcotic as KUTERBA: G Bar, St Ebbes SUNDAY 30th you’d imagine. Aggressive riffs go up against DELICIOUS MUSIC OPEN MIC SESSION: AUDIOSCOPE: The Zodiac (downstairs – almost pretty, seductive melodies, and while Far From The Madding Crowd 4pm) – Second day of leftfield music thrills, the band could be accused of indirectly GIGSWAP UK: The Wheatsheaf topped off by Luke Vibert – see main preview inspiring Evanescence, it shouldn’t be held th THURSDAY 27 BLUE KITE + ADY DAVEY + OSPREY & against them. Tonight’s gig is split into two THE SUBWAYS: Brookes University Union – FRIENDS: The Bullingdon – Icy trip-pop and parts – an acoustic session followed by a The teenage rampage continues apace – see main folk-rock from Blue Kite with support from local full electric show. Dress to depress. preview singer-songwriters Ady and Oz. THE SPIN JAZZ CLUB with JONATHAN DELICIOUS MUSIC OPEN MIC SESSION: THE KILLS: The Zodiac – The most rock’n’roll GEE: The Wheatsheaf The Old School House looking band on the planet return once again to TWAT DADDIES + DREW ATKINS: The Port BEARD MUSEUM with SCRIPT + LINDSEY + dish out the dirty, low-down blues-soaked lo-fi Mahon – Punk rocking action from Twat EARNEST COX + THE TREAT: The Purple rock grime in the style of The Velvet Daddys, plus acoustic pop from Drew Atkins. Turtle – Eclectic indie rocking from Script, Underground and Patti Smith. Seriously, these DJ DEREK: The Zodiac – Reggae, ska, soul and veering between 60s-styled psychedelic pop and people smoke fags and drink bourbon even when dancehall from the veteran Britolian DJ with gothic new wave. they’re asleep. What do you expect from folks special guest set from Ska Cubano’s Natty Bo. STEVE DUGUTIS: The Red Lion, Witney who call themselves VV and Hotel? CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford ELECTRIC JAM: The Exeter Hall, Cowley THE MON£YSHOTS: The Port Mahon – Community Centre MONDAY 31st Halloween party with doomy local rockers. DELICIOUS MUSIC BLUES, JAZZ & FOLK THE ADAM BOMB BAND: The Bullingdon – DELICIOUS MUSIC HALLOWEEN PARTY: BANDS NIGHT: Far From The Madding Return visit to the Bully’s Monday night blues G Bar, St Ebbes – Two floors of live music from Crowd – Featuring jazz from tonight’s guests club for LA rocker Adam Bomb – big hair, big the Delicious crew The Sheila Salway Trio. riffs, stadium-sized rock anthems and just ARTISAN: Nettlebed Folk Club THE HELLSET ORCHESTRA + BIG JOAN + occasionally, a flame-throwing guitar. SALSANEROS: The Cellar THE WITCHES: The Cellar – Elaborate, theatrical horror pop. HEATHER DALE: The Exeter Hall, Cowley – The singer’s last Oxford gig before returning to Canada. SKYLARKIN: The Brickworks SABOTAGE: The Zodiac BARCODE TRIO: The Hollybush, Osney th OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion in the gig guide is the 20 of each month - no BACKYARD ACOUSTIC CLUB: The exceptions. Call 01865 372255 (10am-6pm) or email listings to [email protected]. This Cricketers Arms gig guide is copyright of Nightshift Magazine and may not be reproduced without permission. interludes are assorted Fox DJs whose loud-mouthed chumminess reminds us LIVE exactly why we wake up to Wogan nowadays. Everything is announced as “Fantastic”, “Brilliant” and “Amazing”, when even the insect trying to drown itself in our vodka because it’s so depressed, could tell you it’s not. The ferrety one from Busted is up on stage now with his new band. He laughingly announces that his bass player, Dave, is from Wales. As if that’s somehow intrinsically funny. Which it isn’t. And neither is looking like an underfed gerbil and sounding like a fifth-rate Green Day. People are cheering but it might just be for the KFC advert being broadcast on the stage screens. X-Factor runner-up Rowetta at least has the vocal talent to promise something special in the future, but for now she’s wasted on the bland, identikit plastic soul material she’s being fed. Give the girl a decent song and then we might see her shine. Unlike the aptly-named Faders (The female Busted! Hosannah!), whose most remarkable quality is that one of them is the daughter of Midge Ure. No Regrets, Midge? You bloody well should have. Or Mark Owen, who was one of last year’s PITP’s saving graces but who, in the interim, seems to have mutated into a fearsome cross between Bono and Jamiroquai. Or indeed Freefaller, with their stolen Led Zep riffs and unforgivable cover of Green Day’s ‘Basket Case’. Hopefully their next freefall will end with the parachute failing to open. PARTY IN THE PARK But here’s salvation – it’s time for Girls Aloud and proof that shamelessly manufactured pop groups can not only be great fun, but also that there is South Park some great songwriting still being done out there in Chartland. ‘Long Hot So, we came back for more, did we? Even after last year’s soul-sapping Summer’ and ‘Sound Of The Underground’ are absolute crackers. As is display of lowest common denominator abattoir sweepings? Of course we Rachel Stevens’ 2004 hit, ‘So Good’, mainly because it’s a dead-ringer for did, we enjoy Fox FM’s annual atrocity exhibition unfold before us. And it Goldfrapp, though sadly the rest of her set fails to live up to that opening reminds us, hopelessly snobbish misanthropists that we are, that we’re better salvo, degenerating into generic techno disco and shout outs of “How ya than everyone else. And anyway, Girls Aloud and Rachel Stevens are playing, doing, Oxford!” (we’re really rather drunk, thank you). and they’re both ace and we defy anyone to say otherwise. Liberty X, whose last legs now appear to be finally buckling, exceed the Across the road the landlord of a nearby pub has opened early today in the cliché count by several million with a continual barrage of “Put your hands hope that star turn Charlotte Church will pop by for a pre-gig pint or in the air! / Make some noise! / Are you ready for some Fun!” eight, but he’s to be disappointed as she delivers a short, sober, by-the-book proclamations. And then they mime a cover of `Ain’t Nobody’. set that typifies the soullessness of these latter-day Radio1 roadshow affairs. All of which makes KT Tunstall sound exotic by comparison. Maybe it’s Each act, from openers Texas to headliners McFly, comes on, mouths a few over-exposure to adverts for her album on telly but we’ve finally succumbed limp platitudes to the throng, mimes a couple of hits and disappears stage to her slick, jazzy brand of gentle pop, and today she sounds pretty classy. left, either to count their sales figures or into eternal obscurity. The stark But then, compared to Lucie Silvas’ stage school warbling or Simon brevity of each performance not only accentuates the lack of any depth in Webbe’s limp-wristed, soulless r’n’b slop, the screams of a constipated Ork the acts on show, but is symptomatic of modern consumers’ inability to take would sound like sweet soul music. in anything more than five minutes of information at a time. In the end – or more accurately, well before the end – it’s all too much. We Still, it’s a blessing when you consider that when we arrive Tyler James is forsake McFly’s doubtless rewriting of the punk rock rulebook to go and decimating White Town’s ‘Your Woman’, which sets a benchmark for the watch England heroically scrape to Ashes victory against Australia in the crass, tasteless and, creatively bankrupt celebration of shit that is to follow. pub. Charlotte Church buys us a large whisky to celebrate. We lend her a Seriously, it makes Will Green’s treatment of ‘Light My Fire’ sound like copy of the new Arcade Fire album and she promises to try harder in future. genius incarnate. Not such a bad day after all, then. Interspersed with the brief musical PRs and karaoke call-and-response Dale Kattack

THE CHERRY BOMBERS THE MISSION The Wheatsheaf The Zodiac One thing that is more annoying than the lone bagpiper who noise-pollutes The Mission were formed by Wayne Hussey and the now-departed Craig Cornmarket Street on a Saturday, is watching a corking band like the Cherry Adams after leaving Sisters of Mercy in 1985; however, unlike the Sisters, Bombers busting their humps on stage, knowing that the flashbulbs of they are still around, existing without impinging much on the public celebrity are being used up elsewhere on some Cowell / Walsh ‘fresh-from- consciousness, though still much beloved by the sort of people who wear old the-front-room’ no-marks that swill from our TVs, while the Cherry Fields of the Nephilim tour t-shirts. As such, I’m expecting an 80s-style Bombers’ lot will be a tiring trip back to London, dragging their cabs and doom-laden dirge with impenetrable amounts of reverb and uninspired new cases out of a van in the early hours. You need the constitution and material. Today however, new single ‘Breathe Me In’ has hit No.1 in the motivation of a Pamplona bull to work the toilet circuit, and there is no German alternative charts. It appears Wayne and co. aren’t quite relics yet. ring rust with these four girls. The driving rock of ‘Evangeline’, with its Big Country-style tumbling Starting out in ’99 as Tea Rosie and the Starlettes, they have become the drums, isn’t that interesting - even when it segues into Abba’s ‘Gimme darlings of Ladyfests and Riot Grrl ‘zines, with their irreverent repertoire, Gimme Gimme’. The jangly guitar of ‘Sea of Love’ resembles The Cult’s part Rezillos, part feisty Shangri-La’s, which allies them to the punk ‘She Sells Sanctuary’, and ‘Hymn (for America)’ is almost heavy metal. The movement, although their love of pop heritage denies them wholesale Mission appreciate their support; after playing an old b-side, which Wayne involvement. Singles `Turn Around’ (a Siouxsie / Tom Tom Club-style says only real fans will know, they launch into the more recognisable oldies message, telling some waste of space boyfriend, to rack off ) and `Back Seat like ‘Butterfly on a Wheel’, heaped with reverb but stirring rather than Lovers’ are typical of the snappy set, with its powerful but curious guitar melodramatic. The Mission’s most successful - and most typical - tracks are effect and chords that sound like the drone of a brass section, as if Stax the anthemic ones: `Deliverance’, `Severina’ and `Wasteland’ are Records had signed Toyah. impassioned, with rousing lyrics, repetitive guitar riffs and driving basslines. In a just world, The Cherry Bombers’ brand of flinty fashion and hairspray They close with the remixed version of `Tower of Strength’, complete with 60s meets sink-estate 70s, say, with an imagined album called ‘Greatest Ofra Haza-like wailing. The guitars layer over the dancey backing track and Misses’, would trample all over the vacuous FM blingers onto the glossy build to an epic crescendo… and then Wayne walks off and it’s all over. covers. Hard work and hard knocks. There’s no shortcut, people; only The Mission are lot more accessible than the image or the legend has led me pressure makes diamonds. to expect. I can happily report that, here at least, all is well in Gothland. Paul Carrera Kirsten Etheridge POWERPLANT Oxford University Botanical Gardens Stepping into the Botanic Gardens tonight family of monstrous puffballs. Closer is like entering a wardrobe and finding inspection reveals something stranger still: yourself in Narnia: beyond the familiar chest-high balloons filled with light, their gateway lies an underworld wholly alien and mouths stoppered with harmonicas. As the exotic. The grounds have been transformed gas gradually escapes, so too does a singing into a shimmering elfin grotto in which hum which can be modulated by blowing whirling motes of light dance amongst the back into the instruments. overhanging branches, where trees enjoin Kirsten Reynold’s ‘Sighs from the Depths’ the explorer to touch them and Barbie-pink utilises two gramophones whose turntables fibre-optic lilies drift in pools. The darkness spin discs cut from tree trunks. As the twig- under which these strange plants unfurl adds styluses run along the age-telling grooves, to the sense of enchantment, and even the these unorthodox phonograms produce a oft-trodden paths seem to be playing games, clunk-clunking beat accompanied by the wilfully refusing to lead the same way twice. uneven whir of a child’s go-kart careering This metamorphoses takes place at the across tarmac. The twigs are connected to hands of Oxford Contemporary Music who spinning glitter-balls whose orbits jerk and have commissioned artists specialising in judder in time to these rhythmic pulses. photography, sculpture, sound, light and Through exploring the sounds latent in pyrotechnics to produce site-specific natural phenomena, Power Plant confronts installations. The unusual location is an the narrowness of conventional definitions inspired choice, the exhibits coupling with of music. Each piece serves as an instrument the environment to forge a conceptual link in a madly improbable orchestra, performing between nature and humankind. its own part in a soundscape half- For the spectacular ‘Pyrophones’, Mark mechanical, half-natural. The hybridisation Anderson transforms the Bog Garden into a of alleged opposites is a notion that devil-driven inferno in which variously pervades the show. Traditionally painted as placed gas pipes belch out bellyfuls of flame warring adversaries in Western culture, art, in computer-generated sequence. As the nature and technology are here cross- fireballs rise, a machine-like beat sounds to pollinated to create a fertile garden of form a disorienting industrial rhythm which bizarre new breeds. This is a mesmerising shifts in and out of sync. NIN’s ‘Closer’ experience that ignites the imagination and Vinyl Frontier shattered and splintered, its pieces randomly leaves the senses tingling – even the tossed to the air. workaday world on the other side of the Second hand and Eerily luminous beneath the trees, Anne wardrobe seems subtly transformed. collectable records and CDs Bean’s ‘Roots’ initially appears to be a Emily Gray ROCK - INDIE - DANCE - SOUL - JAZZ - CLASSICAL etc. records and CDs bought, sold and exchanged MILLION DEAD / GAY FOR JOHNNY DEPP 101a Cowley Road, Oxford (near corner of Rectory Road) The Zodiac tel: 01865 201204 Mon-Sat 11-6pm Gay For Johnny Depp are a bunch of scuzzy Mouth’, it would be easy to dismiss GFJD as New York types who are preaching the word a joke band. GFJD are a joke band, but that of ‘Gayness’ to the masses. They do this by doesn’t mean there is a need to be bashing out wave after wave of dismissive; they’ve got a pretty good joke. impenetrable punk. The kind of punk thing Not quite as refined as the Pansy Division DELICIOUSDELICIOUS you’d find on a Sham 69 bootleg. It’s messy one liner perhaps, and not as satirical as the MUSIC CLUB stuff alright, and with vocalist Sid Jagger Mukilteo Faries; but they have all the screeching like a mortally wounded guinea exuberance and attitude of Julian Clary Live Music in October pig over songs with titles like `Sex in Your fronting Black Flag. Which is pretty funny. Every Sunday - OPEN MIC SESSION Million Dead are a much more serious The Old School House, Gloucester Green 7.30-10.30 Free! proposition, their recent album ‘Harmony no Harmony’ had all the hallmarks of a band Every Tuesday - OPEN MIC SESSION that were not only intelligent, but were G Bar (formerly The Green), St Ebbes 8.30-11.00 Free! capable of making a racket that few other plus, Delicious Music Bands Night alternate Wednesdays young British bands were capable of. Shortly downstairs in the Red Room @ G Bar. 9pm (£3) before tonight’s show it was announced that 5th - MOOCHER / JOE STARIANI TRIBUTE / MY GURU th the band were to split, and so, unsurprisingly, 19 - DELPHI / WHERE I’M CALLING FROM / they are playing before a packed, and BLINDSIGHTED vigorous audience. Any subtleties that might Solo artists nights upstairs @ G Bar. 9pm (FREE) th be found on their records are crushed 12 - CHIARINA DARRAH / PAWEL KUTERBA beneath a brutal wave of larynx-twisting 26th - PAWEL KUTERBA vocals and fiercely buzzing guitars. Their Every Thursday - LIVE JAZZ, BLUES & FOLK energy is totally unrelenting, and the Far From the Madding Crowd, Friars Entry 8.30-11 Free! audience is happy to reciprocate Million 6th - DUO VEINTE DEDAS (Latin jazz). Dead’s efforts. Songs such as ‘Pornography 13th - CHIARINA DARRAH (acoustic folk, pop & jazz) for Cowards’ and ‘Holloway Prison Blues’ th flash past in a blur, each spat out with the 20 - JAZZ EMPORIUM th kind of intensity you might expect from 27 - SHEILA GALWAY TRIO ( jazz) Fugazi on a good night. It’s a real shame ALSO - Weds 12th & 26th - Delicious Music Open Mic that we’ll have to add one more to the Night @ Far From The Madding Crowd. Million Dead. For bookings/info- Tel: 07876 184623 / 01865 242784 Allin Pratt Photo by Sam Shepherd Photo by Richard Hounslow relentlessly energetic prowling of the stage owes a huge debt to the mighty Maiden, but their classic metal histrionics are carefully couched in a shell of credible hardcore aggression. Their musicianship, especially for a band mostly still in their teens, is at times jaw-dropping, and it’s hard not to be carried along by the enthusiastic interplay between band and audience. It might be far from the dangerous, parent-scaring hellish noise it thinks it is, but this marketing metal lark is actually quite a lot of fun. Gotta dash, I’ve got a few Trivium e-cards to send. Fowkes Stuart preponderance of short, vocal tunes. G’s never been one for trying to impress with obscure tracks or anonymous white labels, but happy to mix classic floor-fillers with lesser known releases, then dropping bombshells like the new mix-up of ‘Sexual Later he Vain’. in and ‘Waiting Healing’ effortlessly slides into a long section Teng’ featuring the ‘Under Me Sleng rhythm, that most timeless of basslines. His set could be seen as a mirror of the Bristol Sound itself, self-assured, focused and completely heedless of trends or fashion. This single-mindedness could explain the enduring status of the place Adrian and its key figures like Massive, Sherwood and Portishead, despite their sporadic output and live appearances. get the crowd can’t Needless to say, but all over too quickly, enough and it’s the party continues elsewhere well into the weekend, everyone looking forward to the next three years. Art Lagun ostentatious soloing and DADDY G The Zodiac celebrations for the wonderful Tonight’s third birthday start in the club’s Skylarkin’ Brickworks, where virtually every DJ on the roster gets the chance to grace the decks. The huge level of excitement and genuine pride in this most trend-defying club is tangible, with heads craning to read the label on a new seven-inch being passed around. The party moves into The Zodiac, where DJ Derek is warming things up nicely. The man really is a joy to watch, for the surgical care he takes in preparing each tune as well as his gruff, incomprehensible introductions. But the man of the night is Daddy G and founder AKA Grant Marshall, Though he’s Attack. member of Massive been absent from the last two albums and the forthcoming one, now nearing completion, he has shown up for some live dates and the word is he’ll reappear on the next LP. set falls within the club’s Tonight’s trademark of soulful reggae, all played off vinyl, with a TRIVIUM Zodiac The part of me The cynical to think that would love weren’t if Trivium time of their having the lives in an internationally- successful band, they could forge a decent in career for themselves marketing. The extensively-stocked merch table is four deep all night, they have the crowd obeying every call for a circle pit from start to finish, and even find time for a bit of website- related upselling between songs. Theirs is a calculated blend of all the bits of metal that bolt together to form a platinum- selling stadium act. Frontman Matt Heafy is the ringleader, flipping through his repertoire of Nigel Tufnell-esque action figure poses, and prone to gung-ho and unintentionally hilarious outbursts demanding the apocalypse from his reverential acolytes. All the elements are present and correct: soaring sing-along choruses, extended drops allowing the band to whip up a frenzy before it all kicks off again, and portentous lyrics bending double under their own weight. On the other hand, the wide-eyed non- cynic in me finds it all pretty irresistible. Trivium’s 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 and 01865 248388 G showcasing new talent. If UP ‘N’ COMING @ The @ City Tavern UP ‘N’ COMIN The Zodiac: 01865 420042 628021 Point Promotions: 07711 The Bullingdon: 01865 244516 Wheatsheaf: 01865 721156 The The Exeter Hall: 01865 776431 The Red Lion, Witney: 01993 703149 The Cellar: 01865 244761 The New Theatre: 0870 606 3500 Black Horse: 01865 373154 Nettlebed Folk Club: 01628 636620 The Port Mahon: 01865 202067 Delicious Music: 07876 184623 The Victoria: 01865 554047 Brookes: 01865 484750 5K

VENUE PHONE NUMBERS

The City Tavern, 8 Market Street, Oxford, OX1 3EF 8 Market Street, Tavern, The City ask for Charis or Gee. If you are a new, up and coming band, looking to If you are a new, showcase your talent, then you are just what we are are planning to run an ongoing series of looking for! We band nights you are looking for a venue to play then we could well be the place for you. As a new venture it will be at no cost to the bands involved, all you need is your own equipment and we’ll supply the space! If you are interested please call us on 32 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 234567890123456789012345678901212345678901234567890123 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234 1 ALLYOUMISS / IVY’S ITCH / THE Exeter Hall Pub CLIFFHANGERS / HARLETTE / LAST Corner Cowley / Marsh Road PROPOSAL 01865 776431 www.thex.co.uk The Zodiac THE BEST FREE MUSIC Tonight’s gig is billed as a night of “Chick exceptional voice – for indulgent private Rock”, which throws up all manner of musical jokes. Definitely a band that is VENUE IN TOWN! arguments, the least of which is whether less than the sum of its talented parts. Every Tuesday Open Mic 8:30pm anyone should even be using the word Ivy’s Itch, it must be said, are in a Every Wednesday Folk Session 8pm chick in rock music in the 21st Century. different class to the rest of tonight’s bill. October But anyway, we could write a 10,000 They’ve got the experience, that’s for Sat 1st The Powders Thur 13th John Peel Day – essay on the place of women and girls in sure, and in Eliza they’ve also got Sun 2nd Electric Jam Kaned Citizen / music but space allows us no more than probably the best female rock singer in Thu 6th Uniting The Andensum / Lee Davies / 400, so let’s simply examine the quality of town. As ever the haunted ‘Laudanum’ Elements Ben Dugard / Ally Craig / th Oxford’s small quota of all-girl, or female- opens a set which then careers through a Fri 7 The Invisible The Hero (7pm) Sat 8th Charity Gig in aid of Fri 14th Kingskins dominated bands. blitz of hellhound aural pyrotechnics. Great Ormond Street Sat 15th Assassins of Last Proposal and Harlette are both After half an hour of being punished in Hospital £3.00 on the Silence (Hawkwind extremely young, the former happy to this way, you kind of wish they’d drop door: Starts 3pm. John Tribute) from The Fever / Chis Sun 16th Electric Jam kick out sprightly, simple punk-pop tunes the pace a little, but for those girls in the Thompson / Lee Davies / Thu 20th Frankie Pallent + that make up in infectiousness what they crowd watching them for the first time Ben Duggard / True Drew Atkins + Dave Leece lack in bite, but Harlette make enough tonight, they should be a revelation and an Rumour / Laima Bite & Fri 21st Blues Deluxe nd noise for both of them. Verging on inspiration. Sarah Wilson / Rami / No.9 Sat 22 Juliana Meyer / Sefton / Nocoda, Sun 23rd Lagrima + Glenda ramshackle they might be but there’s Allyoumiss have grown up plenty since featuring Stuart Boon / Huish something about them makes you think they first hit the scene as young teens a Kohoutek / The G’s Thu 27th Heather Dale this is probably what The Banshees few years back. Their sound is beefier, Sun 9th Denise Marie (New Fri 28th Junkie Brush Orleans Bayou Blues) + Sat 29th King Ada sounded like live in the beginning. Their more confident and less easy to Michael Myers Sun 30th Electric Jam sound encompasses goth, punk and plenty pigeonhole. They’ve got one absolute of grunge but already they seem to have cracker of a grunge-pop anthem that enough character of their own. echoes Avril Lavigne’s ‘Skater Boy’ and Character is something The Cliffhangers enough songwriting sparkle about them to have, although like a hyperactive child, dip into balladry occasionally without their effusive personality can start to grate sounding twee or overly earnest. at times. In recent single ‘Roxy’ they’ve Hopefully tonight’s gig will have inspired got a slight, sleazy goth-disco gem, a few more girls to pick up guitars and something they should build on, but form their own bands. Then, perhaps, beyond that they’re trying to be too self-imposed ghetto gigs like this will clever, sacrificing songwriting – not to become a curious anachronism. mention singer Chantelle Pike’s otherwise Victoria Waterfield

JABERWOK / WHERE I’M CALLING FROM G Bar The Daily Mail might be certain that such interesting, assured music. exams are getting easier, but here at Funk zen teaches “First learn how to Miserable Critics Central it’s as tough as play, Groovehopper, then learn when not ever to get a good review, even if you’re to play”. still at school. Jaberwok have missed the second ROCK-POP-DANCE-GOLDEN OLDIES-INDIE- Luckily, Where I’m Calling From score clause, attempting music built entirely SOUL-TECHNO-HIP-HOP-JAZZ-LATIN-REGGAE- highly on any scale, and considering from crescendos. Don’t they know the DRUM&BASS-GARAGE—R&B-DISCO-1950s- they’re only 17, that’s a real best dance music is based on 2000s. Brand new back catalogue CDs £4 - £7 achievement. Their performance at anticipation? Still, they may lack each. Brand new chart CDs £5 - £10 each tonight’s Delicious Music bands night is restraint, but their acid jazz meets P- good rather than outstanding, but they funk set is enjoyable. The instrumental have a wealth of songwriting ideas and section fares best, improbably melding are honing a most individual voice for JTQ, Baby Ford and Pink Floyd, and Drew Atkins themselves. It’s a sensitive but muscular rugs begin to be cut. indie sound, a chunky cross between All well, good and slightly ordinary, but Upcoming Gigs: Belle & Sebastian and The Wedding then from nowhere the band morphs into Present: one tune even sounds like a super-tight acid-frazzled beast for the Friday 30TH September - Victoria Arms, Walton St ‘Brimful Of Asha’ rewritten by The last three numbers, getting twice as Tuesday 11th October – Jericho Tavern, Walton St Smiths, which is a great concept. intricate and five times as funky without Thursday 20th October – Exeter Hall, Cowley Rd Granted, there are faults (some clunky warning. So I cross out all my notes and Thursday 27th October – Port Mahon, St.Clements rhythm work, a few Idlewild doldrums, watch those rugs getting properly the singer’s infuriating mannerisms) but shredded. It goes to show you never can “Noel Gallagher/Paul McCartney influenced I’ll forgive them. Call me patronising, but tell, as old folk like me sometimes say. singer/songwriter”-Nightshift it’s refreshing to see teenagers making David Murphy DEMOSDEMOSDEMOS If you do not supply us with a proper contact number and address as stated below, we will not review your demo.

earth like Mr Miller – off up to the top of DEMO OF Bledlow Ridge with you and let’s see you www.appletreestudio.co.uk THE MONTH really fly. NORTHSEA HIJACK ABANDON Aside from a veritable shoal of fishing- The nights are drawing in so it’s time for related puns in the accompanying letter, the goths to reawaken. And here’s demo this is a pretty assured debut demo from page regular Umair Chaudhry in his latest Northsea Hijack. Like Subrosa 5 there’s a guise, Abandon. Really, it should be called bit of a shoegazing influence going on, with Abandon Hope All Ye Who Listen Here, so heavily-delayed guitars leading the charge. relentlessly morbid is this half-hour Throw in a bit of early-80s alternative pop, offering. Excellent. Taking his main cue, a Hammond organ buzz, some gothy apparently, from Swans – without doubt atmospherics and some sullen, bluesy the bleakest band of all time – Umair vocals with a tendency to sound a bit too creates a landscape of remorselessly serious and you’ve got most of the history portentous synthetic chamber music that of indie music all in one pot. Not that this grinds and rumbles like gothic thunder. really has quite enough character of its own Church organs swell and flatten to make you want to listen again, but surrounding buildings, guitars spangle like there’s evidence they might do something dying stars, while slow-burning beats dare more interesting with time. There are hints WHITE NOISE STUDIOS the dead to dance. At its heaviest, as on of a funky jazz-pop tendency trying to ‘Sick Of My Fears’ it sounds like a black make its presence felt, although the last NEW 24 TRACK DIGITAL mass disco; elsewhere there are echoes of song here, ‘Single Of The Weak’, is pure Belgian 4AD signings Clan Of Xymox. The indie self-contemplation, too submissive RECORDING FACILITY whole thing is a bit like a miniature black and accepting of defeat to win your hole slowly swallowing up any remaining sympathy. light in the vicinity. The sort of stuff 7 POUNDS PER HOUR parents would worry about their kids listening to in the isolation of their DON SMOOTH bedrooms. And thus, something to be A full album-length demo from the partly BOOKINGS: 07900 336 583 heartily encouraged. Oxfordshire rockers, following on from their promising first demo a few months ago. No great chance of direction here, Don Smooth opt for hard-edged punk-pop, melodic hardcore and maybe a bit of emo. SUBROSA 5 It’s well structured, deftly handled and Subrosa 5 are from Thame and spend a lot convincingly played, but for all that it’s of time in their accompanying letter maybe a bit too polished. They manage to waffling on about how the neighbouring draw in a few interesting influences along Chiltern Hills are imbued with the spirit of the way, though. The moody ‘Love Glenn Miller, who played his final gig in Machine’ leans towards Queens of the nearby Wycombe, before they leave us Stone Age, while the more sprightly ‘Hate’ with the encouraging news that they’re is closer to Dive Dive. ‘Take A Ride’, actually more inspired by the spirit of meanwhile, is poppier still and sounds not Ride. And so it turns out on opening unlike XTC at times. Enough to suggest number ‘Wallpaper Silhouettes’, an eight- that if they’re prepared to live out of a minute drift through heavily-effected transit van for the next three years, Don guitars that flutter and blossom and rise up Smooth might make build a sizeable on the same air currents that lift the following, but for now we’d like to hear resurgent Chilterns red kite population. them get seriously rough around the edges. The vocals take a good four minutes to make an appearance and when they do they’re innocuous enough but perhaps TREV WILLIAMS unnecessary given that the guitars Last time round Trev got himself trashed in themselves have enough about them to the Demo Dumper on account of some carry the whole piece. A shame that the seriously mawkish piano ballads that those second song here, ‘Subrosa 212 Country of us who remember the darker days of the Voodoo’ doesn’t live up to its title, a mid-1980s got very upset about. As some lumpen stab at Bob Dylan done in the kind of recompense this time round he’s style of early Radiohead. C’mon fellas, serviced us with a song he wrote a few don’t let that early promise crash down to years ago, ‘Pretty City Boy’, which carries a pretty authentic 70s punk feel about it, year and compared them, not unfavourably, albeit tempered by some floaty guitars bits with the likes of Pavement and Husker Du. – sort of like a cross between Ride and The recording quality has improved in the Eddie and the Hotrods if you can possibly interim, but that raw proto-hardcore sound imagine that. That done, Trev returns to is still there, retaining a ragged, fuzzy type and formulaic piano ballads like thunder about it. Escape Route Pattern flit ‘Don’t Lead Me On’ plus a very silly and from the poppier end of the grunge scale, as annoying “comedy” song called ‘The Tale on ‘Butternut’, to a more lo-fi fuzz and Of Keith’s Pet Frog’, played on a thrash, as on both ‘Vita Blue fast Ball’ and harpsichord and sung in a “I’m mad, me” ‘Suck My Wake’. They’re better on the voice. We guess it’s just in Trev’s nature to latter since they never sound pin-sharp sit behind his electric piano and emote enough to do the tight, fast stuff, sounding about lost love and such stuff and we much more effective, and authentic, on the shouldn’t really deny him that simple low-rent end of the scale. pleasure. Not that he ever sounds particularly happy about it. CLATTER THE COURTYARD STUDIO Melodic but whiny indie droning from a OTARI MTR90 MK11, 24 TRACK TAPE DANIEL SMITH band whose line-up (including sax, clarinet, MACHINE & MTA 980, 32/24/24 CONSOLE, Or Daniel ‘Supa’ Smith to give him his full kora and mbira players) is rarely reflected SOUNDSCAPE DIGITAL EDITOR, SUPERB name, if his letter is to be believed. Fans of in the finished product. Instead what we CONTROL ROOM WITH GOOD SELECTION OF catchy pop tunes wouldn’t think so, but get is some pretty rudimentary, workaday OUTBOARD GEAR, MIDI FACILITIES INCLUDE maybe people who enjoy listening to Beatles-influenced melodies and vocal LOGIC AUDIO, 8 MEG S1000, etc detuned pianos being stabbed in a rhythmic stylings and precious few glimpses of but random fashion might perhaps concur. something less parochial flitting about on RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES OPTIONAL Because, gentle listener, we are once again the peripheries of the songs. It’s a bit in the realm of so-called experimental messy but not unpleasant; best of the lot is music. And such things can easily go both the more reflective ‘The Art Of Walking Phone KATE or PIPPA for details ways. Daniel’s got a couple of decent ideas Through Crowds’, but generally any on 01235 845800 on this evidence, especially ‘Happy similarities to The Beatles shouldn’t be Happy’, which sounds like Mr Blobby overstated as the whole thing lacks the playing Moog Favourites of the 70s over ambition the instruments involved might some squelchy beats. Problem is, as with suggest. each of the four tracks on the demo, each single idea is left to repeat itself ad nauseum with little attempt to carry it onto THE DEMO another level. So each piece ends up THE DEMO sounding like an ad jingle for some kind of DUMPER retro-futurist food pill on repeat loop. So, DUMPER Daniel ‘Partial Success’ Smith, then. It’s a start. ARMSTRONG Take comfort, progress-phobics HIJERA everywhere. However much the world Ooh, how 21st Century! It’s the baggy, rave moves on, however much technology takes and Britpop revivals all in one. Hijera us closer to the stars, somewhere it will somehow manage to sound like The Happy always a pub rock gig circa-1981. Oh, Mondays, Oasis and Stereo MCs all at the Armstrong can hide behind the odd passage same time, which is no mean feat, but of moody guitar or an intricate little maybe 15 years ago it might have seemed interlude, but they are forever stumbling relevant, exciting even. Sadly some sounds through the timeless wastes of soft-metal, are so intrinsically linked to a certain dreaming of supporting Gillan on tour. The period of time that they will always sound music chugs merrily along, blissful in its dated, however much energy is expended in ignorance of the passing years, in desperate trying to bring them back to life. There’s need of someone to untether it from its some slack-jawed drawling, big rumbling short leash, while the singer histrionically guitars, a bit of squelchy synth action and coughs and warbles about all manner of some loping, funky beats. If we’re trying things we can’t be bothered to decipher, to be encouraging, we’d say this might have bursting into mock operatic excess at the down a storm on the dance stage at end of every other line. Isn’t it nice to Glastonbury in 1990. know there are some things you can rely on to remain unchanged in this increasingly hectic world, and for those folks who still ESCAPE ROUTE think pocket calculators and digital watches are a wondrous new invention to know that PATTERN there are people out there more out of We last reviewed this lot at the end of last touch than they are.

Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1ZU. IMPORTANT: no review without a contact address and phone number (no email or mobile- only). No more than four tracks on a demo. If you can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo. Aw heck, you’re not taking the slightest bit of notice of this are you?