Micah P. Hinson

I'm starting (and possibly ending) a new concept for AndygoesdowntoChinatown.

Album of the Week is here. Welcome Album of the Week.





It was a hard decision, but in the end it was between The Black Keys' awesome new soul-tinged blues-rock album 'Brothers' and Micah P. Hinson's new orchestral Americana masterpiece 'And The Pioneer Saboteurs'

The winner of the prestigious title is Micah P. Hinson. I've decided that The Black Keys album was last weeks Album Of The Week winner. But as there was no such title to be had last week, they'll just have to scamper off in defeat.



Hinson could've won just with his album cover, which I think depicts Lady Gaga once she's gone just a teeny bit more off the rails. But no. In fact IT IS the music that does it. Micah P. Hinson has been compared to the legendary Ennio Morricone. Famed for his movie scores, who could forget the classic harmonica theme from Once Upon A Time In The West?



Hinson's arrangements share the same intensity as Morricone's pieces. However there seems to be no urgency here whatsover. The whole album just rolls over you leaving you feeling as though you should definitely give up any plans of what you were supposed to do later and listen to it all again just to see if you missed something hidden in its depths.

I've never been a lyrics man. I'm just the type who like sounds that are put together and sound kind of pretty. So I never actually listen to lyrics in any song. Of course I still appreciate vocals in songs. I might appreciate them more if I wasn't so damn busy concentrating on what's going on in the background.
Micah P. Hinson's lyrics could be genius. I don't rightly know. The sound of his voice however does complement the music incredibly. It does however make everything kind of sound like a downer. Even on the more playful tracks ie. 'My God, My God' he still sounds way depressed.

Album closer 'The Returning' is a near 12-minute beast of distortion and feedback until its crecendo. After which a most wonderful string arrangement kicks in, making you wish your mum had bought you a violin as a kid. Damn you mum.

Videos anyone? Videos?







And of course you can listen to it on Spotify too!

Micah P. Hinson - And The Pioneer Saboteurs

Teen Daze

Teen Daze are my new chillwave obsession.

After hearing the glory of what is 'Shine On You Crazy White Cap' I was hooked.

I guess it's lucky then that he's releasing his Four More Years EP on Arcade Sounds Ltd very soon. Hopefully it'll be out on some other format as well as casette, because I can't for the life of me remember where I misplaced all my casette decks.

Sauna Youth

I'm not "punk". I never was "punk". I probably never will be "punk".
I fear all the things I associate with punk: Piercings, mostly shit tattoos, poignant hair and loud noises.

But I kind of remember my kid sister buying like the entire Sex Pistols discography when she was about 2, and since then I've been on a gradual journey towards being a wide-eyed, open-minded individual. Sometimes I'm even in cohorts with the "hardcore" punkers. Blimey am I terrified of those times though.

Browsing through Resident's shelves the other week Sauna Youth's 7" Youth came highly recommended. Being easily influenced I just lapped it up and stuck it in my bag without further questions. In my bag, or thereabouts it lay until just yesterday I spun that tiny vinyl like no other vinyl has been spun before.

It's a cracking little gem. People should just recommend more stuff to me without my asking questions. It's raw, it's rough. The lyrics are at best indecipherable. Energy is one thing it doesn't lack. Even if I'm not "down with" the punk ethos, can I at least be down with the musiqué. Is that allowed?

There's been a lot of hipster-bashing going on around the place recently, and one thing these bashers always bash is the dancing. Ha, oh the dancing. I wish I could dance. I wish I could be like Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing.
Unfortunately it looks a lot more like this:

My little breakdown of my little trip. Part 4

Last text of this damn saga. I don't know why I go on these trips.

At the Duke of York cinema, there was a triple bill of: Melodica, Melody & Me, Erland & The Carnival and Esben & The Witch.

None of which I'd seen before and two of which I'd heard of before.

Melodica, Melody & Me are a young little twee sextet. They all looked kinda nervy on stage, but once they started playing their melodica (surprise) centered songs, they shook off all notions of nervousness.



You can download their great cover of Paul Simon's 'Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes' from here.

Download the song fool



Next was Erland & The Carnival. Oddly there were no goats, goatmasks or goatees to be seen anywhere. I don't think I've ever seen anything to do with E&theC without there being some kind of goat theme to it.



The band seemed to be well indulged in their set, but I'm guessing something went awry, as Erland the singer chucked his microphone on the floor and stormed off at the end of the last song. Awesome stuff. I was half expecting something more. Catfight/goatfight/fight in general. But no. Turns out it was just a sulk.



It was Esben & the Witch to end the night. After lots of intensive listening, I'd prioritised this as the artist to see. They're from Brighton, they're dark and they're shit hot.



I felt really let down after the gig. It was ruined by sound/technical problems throughout. Ha, the funniest bit was probably the guitarist struggling to get any sound out of his guitar until the soundguy pointed out that he should turn his amp on. Does the trick. They were loud, odd and reclusive. Fine combo. They didn't manage to wake up the two asian girls next to me though, who apparently didn't really "dig" Erland and the Carnival.



Thanks Great Escape! It was mighty fine, see ya next year then!

Toodles

My little breakdown of my little trip. Part 3

I need to quicken these posts up, or else I'll be writing these forever.
Ok so it's Saturday morning, and as my other half hasn't really seen Brighton yet, we decide to walk around town, around the lanes and just, you know, see what it's like.
Walking around the lanes we felt they were alive with the sound of music.
They weren't. What was alive/live was Frontier Ruckus playing a street gig at a random spot in front of a kebab shop.



Frontier Ruckus were a familiar name, but like with some people you meet on the street who's face you recognise but can't quite pinpoint where from or why, their music didn't sound too familiar.
This meant I could listen to them with a new sense of open-mindedness. Whilst also eating with a new sense of open-mindedness. My burger from the kebab shop seemed to be filled with crusty snot instead the usual cheese and beef.
That's right. I had no arrogant, pretentious comments on "ooh how that tambourine is so totally mixed to the wrong volume in comparison to that saw."
Yeah, they played the saw! The saw! I urge you to check out the above photo to see how happy the saw player looks to be playing the saw.
Saw + banjo + makeshift drums + harmonica = a very good performance and hey they got a new fan out of me.

On to the actual Great Escape gigs then. Saturday's plan was to stay in one venue to see The Rural Alberta Advantage (again), La Shark and Is Tropical and then mosey on down to the next place to catch Erland and the Carnival and Esben and the Witch. This all went exactly as I had masterminded it. Brilliant.

RAA were yet again amazing. Quickly growing to list high on my favourite live performances ever. For their last song they just waded into the crowd and played it there stood in the midst of everyone.





La Shark hit the stage. If you haven't yet listened to them, then I suggest you do so. If for no other reason, then just to say that you have and you didn't/did like them.


Described as "Late of the Pier-esque quirkyness", these guys definitely looked the part. Their live show was mega energetic, with their flamboyant lead singer often just jumping off stage and dancing with various audience members whilst swigging on some cheap whiskey.
Then the switcheroony. Various audience members jumping on the stage and dancing with the flamboyant singer whilst drinking cheap whiskey.





The last band to play at the Price Albert was Is Tropical. I was really looking forward to these guys and they didn't disappoint. By the time they started playing though, the tiny little room the bands were playing in was roasting hot. Everyone started huddling under the tiny fan at the back of the room. Is Tropical bursted onto the stage with a barrage of pounding beats, thumping basslines and facemasks.

No photos here but just the assurance that Is Tropical are a force to be reckoned with.



The (hopefully) final part of this report will be done soon. My apologies for dragging this on for so long.

Laterz

Kurt Vile Square Shells EP

Oh yeah, and QUICKLY go get this!

The awesome Kurt Vile Square Shells EP is a free download from Matador's website for 24 hours.



Do it, Do it now!

Square Shells EP download