Suffolk 'n' Cool

As quirky a collections as you'd want to hear this week from: California, Israel Switzerland, UK, Germany, Jamaica and Canada. The ice was forming early this afternoon on the pond (right), much to the irritation of the ducks.   Best time to say goodbye - The New Fidelity (Long Beach, CA) The New Fidelity takes the stage in sharp suits to play well-tailored songs that capture moments of everyday life. The New Fi made its first movie appearance in a dance club scene in the independent film We Are The Mods that debuted at the Director’s Guild of America Theater in Hollywood last summer ‘09. More performances on the silver screen are planned for 2009 and beyond, including music to Vespa scooter chase scene in an independent film featuring Henry Winkler to be released on The Independent Film Channel. The Los Angeles area band performs regularly at clubs festivals and scooter rallies up and down the west coast from Vancouver to Vegas to San Diego, where they seamlessly mix their original songs with covers of mod and soul classics. www.newfidelity.com www.myspace.com/thenewf idelity   Parallel Me - The Quiet Revolution (Rehovot, Israel) TQR (The Quiet Revolution) is an internet project that features talented singer/songwriters singing songs written and composed by Tal More, a 31 year-old Israeli songwriter. So why a revolution and why a quiet one? According to Tal: “TQR attempts to focus on the things I believe music should be about- original lyrics, strong melody & sincere delivery. Production is kept at a bare minimum as I feel it tends to steal focus from the more important aspects of music and sometimes disguises uninspired substance. My approach to music is largely inspired by Elliott Smith’s low-fi recordings, which I consider a sort of musical bible that demonstrates how meaningful & truthful music should sound. If you liked the tune get over to their myspace and enjoy the lovely animated video of the song. www.myspace.com/tqrmusic   Time to dance - Self Made Man (Switzerland?) Self Made Man appears to be the nom de plume of Reto Battaglia. The track was recommended to me by Andy Fidler. Check out free.superhits at  http://free.superhits.ch Self Made Man simply has a page or two at:  www.music.1to1-success.com/index.html   ; Der lurch - Arschepopeng (Archen, Germany) Arschpopeng is a band from the German city Aachen. We play mainly during the local "Karneval". Our songs are happy music songs and all the band members are close friends. We do not take our music too serious. You can catch them in Archen: Do., 11. Februar, 12:30 Uhr: Aachener Marktbühne Do., 11. Februar, ab 14:50 Uhr: Penn-Zelt auf dem Katschhof Fr., 12. Februar, 22:00 Uhr: Cafe-Madrid „Viva Pontonia“ Sa., 13. Februar, 20:00 Uhr (Einlass): Pengball, Bar Museo Mo., 15. Februar, ab 13:30 Uhr: Wie immer an der Jakobstraße  www.arschpopeng.de/   M id AIr - Naama Hillman (London, UK) Naama got in touch again to let me know about her new album which is now available both digitally and on CD. Naama will be giving a live webcast in Sunday Feb 21 at 7pm GMT which is 8 pm CET, 2pm EST and 11am PST find out more about the music and the webcast at www.naamahillman.com   Makisupa Policeman - Rootz Underground (Kingston, Jamaica) From the album Dub Like An Antelope - Legends of Reggae Celebrate Phish. Recorded at Grafton Studios (Kingston. Jamaica) by Jomo McComo When the great legends of reggae inject their hypnotic drums and infectious bass-lines into these "jammin" renditions of Phish's most beloved songs, the result is an uplifting and groove oriented album that will have e a dramatic effect on "4:20 Sessions" for generations to come. Rising reggae stars Rootz Underground sound like they have a great time bashing “babylon” on Makisupa Policeman. www.myspace.com/rootzunderground Rootz Underground "Makisupa Policeman" (mp3) from "Dub Like An Antelope - Legends of Reggae Celebrate Phish" (Red Hillz Music) Buy at iTunes Music Store More On This Album Back Pocket - My Son The Hurricane (Ontario, Canada)  With their roots deeply planted in the big brass sounds of New Orleans, and an indie spirit that refuses to be pigeonholed or defined, Ontario’s My Son The Hurricane is ready to hit the road with their own original 11-piece take on brass, and a debut album that will blow away your pre-conceived notions of the genre.  Combining catchy horn lines and a thumping, driving bass with uniquely phrased, hip-hop inspired vocals that drive the album, My Son The Hurricane will appeal to Hip-Hop and Indie fans alike, while paying homage to the big brass bands that came before them. www.myspace.com/mysonthehurricane   Don't stop - Patrick and Eugene (London, UK) Another track from the excellent Patrick and Eugene. Altogether Now (Birds Bees Flowers Trees) is the U.S. debut release from the UK’s Patrick & Eugene. The album was produced by band member Patrick Dawes.  It’s being released by the Tummy Touch Music Group. The Patrick & Eugene sound is comprised of banjos, ukuleles and sunshine pop vocals combined with whistles, bells and bongos to produce unique but accessible music for post-modern vaudevillians, with nods to Monty Python, Derek & Clive and even Woody Allen. Try to imagine Noel Coward on stage with the Duke Ellington Band at the Monterey Pop Festival and you’re getting close … or on a substance which is probably illegal in most states. www.myspace.com/patrickandeugene   &nbs p;  

Fine music for you again this week from London, San Francisco, New York, Hungary, Washington, New Jersey, Wales and Maryland. I had misplaced the picture of the SnC 200 cake which was waiting over in the house after the show a couple of weeks ago. Ah well, better late then never. Libsyn have introduced a new shownotes/blog system which seems, from the look of these notes, to have some very generous paragraph spacing. What do you think - too much scrolling or room to breathe? Looking down the well - The Mustangs (London, UK) With their current album Nothing Stays The Same featured in Blues In Britain magazine as one of its 20 recommended albums of the year, and now firmly established as one of the hardest-working and most charismatic bands in British blues, 2010 promises to be another productive and rewarding year for The Mustangs.  Since forming in 2001, the band immediately started gaining rave reviews in the Blues press and have gone on to headline stages all over the UK, from the Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival to the legendary Hackney Empire.  âAs with every touring band, there has been a number of stories to write home about including sharing a hotel with a Goth Belly Dancing convention and having a show nearly sabotaged by a service station sausage roll…..âDates across the UK have recently been confirmed details of which can be found on the band’s website. www.themustangs.co.uk www.myspace.com/themus tangsblues   I Want What's Bad For Me - CIty Light (San Francisco, USA) Formed in 2006 by Seattle singer-songwriter Matt Shaw and Bay area producer Nick Andre (Gift of Gab, Lateef, Bicasso), City Light is a collaborative effort between artists from across the country with a variety of histories and influences. Musician and producer Denver Daley (Desaparecidos, Statistics, Intramural), Seattle’s Andy Fitts (Airport Cathedral Aqueduct) and Marc Bianchi (Her Space Holiday) joined the group in the years since the debut release, resulting in a project that sounds surprisingly rooted, but uniquely informed. www.myspace.com/citylightproject   Mi Salsa Vocal - Jimmy Fontanez (Albany, NY, USA) What do you get when you combine a mastery in composition, percussion, vocal manipulation and audio engineering? A one man a cappella experience, you'll never forget! Multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Fontanez, an NYC native, is currently a member of Alex Torres y Su Orchestra. He has been playing percussion since the age of 5, and today plays congas, bongos, timbales, drums, keyboards and also does much vocal work. He has traveled to Russia and the Dominican Republic via Project Troubadour. He also had the honor of sharing the stage with the infamous Tito Puente and Andy Montañez, a well-known salsa vocalist who acclaimed Jimmy’s vocal prowess. Apart from Alex Torres’s Orchestra, Jimmy is often featured with NYC latin band, Los Ciegos Del Barrio, and pop/rock singer/songwriter Lachi. www.sonicbids.com/jimmyfontanez www.myspace.co m/jimmyfontanez   Blessinger Bareness (soundtrack version) - Hollandris (Hungary) All in Hungarian - I think. What we need is a friend of the show to check out what these eastern European bands are about! It came from the excellent Soundpilll net label. www.myspace.com/hollandris www.soundpill.org/?page=31&id=2⟨=2   Bl ack Raven - Cee Cee James (Langley, Washington, USA) Cee Cee James has a voice made for the blues – deep, raspy and full of soulful emotion. Described on her MySpace site as "Whiskey-drenched roadhouse blues". Her voice and feeling for the blues have brought her scores of fans through her intense live performances, and is now captured on CD for the first time. Featuring 11 original tracks, Low Down Where The Snakes Crawl brings together a tight, well-rehearsed band with a strong, solid voice that is sure to blow you away. Cee Cee James "Black Raven" (mp3) from "Low Down Where The Snakes Crawl" (Blue Skunk Music) Buy at iTunes Music Store More On This Album www.ceeceejames.com/ www.myspace.com/ceeceejames   Leaving you behind - Rambin Dawgs (New Brunswick, NJ, USA) MusicSubmit Previously features on the show back on 160 and 169. The Ramblin Dawgs formed in late 2007, making waves throughout the music community with energetic rock driven modern blues performances. Currently driven by Carlos “C-Dawg” DC’s soulful vocals and guitar playing, Raul DC’s thunderous drumming, Charlie Saraeceno's screaming Hammond organ, and Jonas Landau’s rock solid grooves on bass, the Ramblin Dawgs enjoyed great success with their debut EP, "Rockin Blues" released in January 2009. The Ramblin Dawgs new 11 song CD "Shoot Em Up" is now available through Dawg Pound Records. The CD features 10 originals and the band's up beat rendition of BB King's "The Thrill is Gone" that is sure to please traditional blues as well as modern rock and Album Oriented Rock fans. www.ramblindawgs.com www.myspace.com/ramblindawgs   The sea is a good place to think of the future - Los Campesinos! (Cardiff, UK) The high energy adolescent explosion that is Los Campesinos! returns with their second full length album. The recording itself is masterfully put together to create a wild yet harmoniously arranged flare of color, energy and emotion. A more brooding introspective and almost poetic feel on this track although other offerings on the new album Romance is Boring are more typical of the high energy spittingly poppy Los Camps we know and love. The album was released just yesterday on Arts and Crafts. On this coming Sunday, January 31st we will be playing a FREE instore at Rough Trade East, Brick Lane, to celebrate the release of Romance Is Boring. HERE’S THE DEAL: Rough Trade will be selling CD and LP copies of the album on the day; the day before the album’s UK release. You can guarantee a wristband (and therefore entry to the show) by purchasing a copy of said record from the store earlier on in the day. We won’t start playing until the Manchester United v Arsenal match is finished, so you don’t need to worry about missing the end of that, incase you would have been. Los Campesinos! "The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future" (mp3) from "Romance Is Boring" (Arts & Crafts) More On This Album http://loscampesinos.com/   Just for you - Can't Hang (Baltimore, Maryland, USA) Can’t Hang has “It”- the indescribable quality that draws people in. “It” could be the tight rhythm section, the booming bass, the unique punky-dub guitars, or the reggae infused songs, with their smooth vocals and catchy melodies. They can turn any crowd of boring sitters into dancing fans. Show coming up next week Feb 6th at The Stone Pony - Bob’s Birthday, 918 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, New Jersey www.canthang.com www.myspace.com/canthang Join me next week for more great new music - blimey, Suffolk 'n' Cool will be four years old!

Some gutsy tunes this week from Montreal, Ireland, UK, Timbuktu, Sweden, Madrid, Nassau and the East Village in NYC. What? Nothing from Brooklyn!No time to take a picture today, but I was reminded, in a conversation with www.PeteCogle.com that it is a while since we've partaken of a pint or two together - I think this one from last year sums the feeling up pretty well. Since you ask, yes, it is Adnams â and it is in Southwold, not a hundred yards from the brewery. Mr Hurricane - Beast (Montreal, Canada)Montreal-based Beast began as something of an experiment. Drummer/composer Jean-Phi Goncalves, leader of his own cutting edge electro band Plaster and also an established platinum level producer, asked acclaimed chanteuse Betty Bonifassi to lay down vocals on a work-in-progress track. Something clicked during that first recording session, and Beast was born.Musician and songwriter Simon Wilcox worked with Betty (whose first language is French) to polish her English lyrics, while maintaining the structure and strong imagery Betty had infused them with. Betty spits the resulting fiery stanzas with a delivery that melds the spirit of rap and slam poetry with bellowing soul. The recording of Devil marked her first foray into rapping and the words, she says, "came out in a rage flow."Jean-Phi ventured into unknown territory during the making of the album as well. "It was the first time I ever had a mic in front of my face," he says. His vocal tracks were recorded with the intention of having someone else replace them later, but Betty pushed for them to stay. "I love the difference of texture," she says.The entire process spanned two years.  www.myspace.com/beastsound Beast - Mr. HurricaneBEAST | MySpace Music Videos Long Goodbyes - I am not left-handed (London, UK - but mostly Irish)I played a track from their instrumental album Time to leave last week. Now time to unveil the fabulous voice of Kathryn Williams."We don't play pop music, we don't write music for art's sake, we don't represent any movements, we're not hip, we're not cutting edge, we don't dress to be cool. We manage ourselves, we write our own songs, we do our own recordings, we shoot our own videos, we design our own covers, we run our own website. We're not generally negative people.  Oh yes, and we're not lefthanded." An absolutely flawless, touching, rich chocolate sauce voice over simple, but yearning guitar, bass & drums can be heard on Yes Means No: 6 & 1/6th songs that don't always give a straight answer. No battling elements, just a smooth natural flow.www.iamnotlefthanded.comâwww.myspace.com/iamnotle fthandedeitherwww.jamendo.com/en/artist/I_Am_Not_Leftha ndedNaafigi - Justin Adams, Juldeh Camara (UK)From the album Soul Science on World Village.Justin Adams co-wrote The Robert Plant album Mighty Rearranger released in 2005 to rave reviews. He has played guitar with Robert's band the Strange Sensation around the world, gaining an awesome live reputation.Soul Science is the result of a meeting of two worlds, an Afro-Blues shakedown. After a few years of collaborations with Robert Plant and Tinariwen, Juldeh's sound seemed like a perfect match for Justin's guitar and production. An African Master Musician who played in the fields for farmers as a child, Juldeh has the drive and effortless flow of a great Bluesman. And while his instrument brings to mind Delta players like Big Joe Williams, as well as Ali Farka, there is a lilt in his playing that hints at the ancient links between North Africa and the Celtic World.Soul Science is far from a purist piece, it has gritty rock and groove throughout. It uses the ancient Soul Sciences of scale and Rhythm to create a 21st Century Afro Blues.www.myspace.com/justinadamsproducerwww.irl.org.uk /justinadams.htm Justin Adams, Juldeh Camara "Naafigi" (mp3) from "Soul Science" (IRL) Buy at iTunes Music Store Buy at Amazon MP3 More On This Album Scarecrow Blues - Blind John Gunn (Timbuktu, Mali, Africa)"Blind John O'Gunn is a 19 year old boy I met when I travelled to Mali.I found this young boy playing guitar and singing near the Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu, so I went and talked to him.Apparently he learned english by guiding tourists around the city, and one day he found a mp3 player with a john lee hooker album, and ever since then, it's the only music he listens to.In his announcement card he says he accepts donations in either cash or batteries. So I sat down with him, put my mp3 player in record mode and improvised some solos over his guitar playing, singing and stomping! So this is little John's only recording so far. There are a few more songs that will be published soon, and more when I visit him again."www.jamendo.com/en/album/52635Butley Priory songwriters' retreat1st - 5th February 2010Songwriters and wannabe songwriters of all standards and genres who would like to spend a few days away from the usual demands of life and take time to focus on their music in beautiful countryside surroundings will be welcome. The team Kate, Kay and Frances will be there to encourage, enable and support, and there will be talks from at least one visiting guest during the course. A BOSE PA system, sound engineer, pianos and keyboards, plenty of rehearsal space will be provided; wholesome food, log fires, time to walk on the beach or in the woods, goose down duvets and owls hooting at night are all thrown in!If you are interested please contact us as soon as possible as residential places are limited. Alternatively join us for the day for Â45 inclusive of food.Phone: +44 (0)1394 450046 website: www.butleypriory.co.ukHigh and Low - Sambassadeur (Sweden)The band's second album Migration not only gave them a more glittery sound than they had enjoyed before, it helped them gain further success around the world and brought them on tour in countries like Spain, the UK, Austria, Germany and Denmark. Offers for shows kept coming in but due to the severe flying anxiety of guitarist Joachim LÃckberg most of them had to be turned down which gave the band a certain secret stars status.Their third, European has taken almost two years to finish and they've once again employed the talents of Mattias GlavÃ. According to the band he did very little. He merely lay on the sofa and cursed how badly they played their instruments and continued to bring in more and more musicians. A string quartet, three drummers, a saxophone player, clarinet, the list goes on... On European they've finally accomplished to make the grand, classic and orchestrated album they've always wanted to.www.sambassadeur.com/www.myspace.com/sambassadeurthe bandPrelude to Common Sense - Hypnostate (Madrid, Spain)The opening track of their album Curious State of Harmony.â Madrid band Hypnostate formed in 2003 in the district of La Fortuna in LeganÃs. Its four Members: Alex (bass) Leo (vocals, guitar) David (guitar) and Sergio (drums) will soon begin to take matters into their own until the summer of 2006 and after a long list of concert halls of Madrid, they recorded a two songs demo, Aloe Vera and Desperate way to madness.â In the course of 1 year between 2007 and 2008 the group gives a quantum leap recording the demo, Curious State of Harmony, featuring 11 tracks, and playing in venues such as Ritmo y CompÃs, Heineken, Heaven (Santander) and give their first concert outside the Spanish borders in Portugal.âIn early 2009 Hypnostate recruits a new band member, Roberto Vivancos "Robe" to the guitar. He's is bringing band progression's new ideas. âIn May 2009 Hypnostate presents its first album of the same name as the model with 16 songs inlcuding a DVD with its first two video clips, 27 and My dear contempt.â Currently gigging around, Hypnostate continues throughout the country.www.hypnostate.comwww.jamendo.com/fr/artist/Hyp nostateI agree - Savage Bull (Nassau, Bahamas)Ray Ewing in Nassau keeps in touch and occasionally sends a tune or two our way. You may remember the excellent Badness out of Style by Peter Runks back on show 164.There is a live Buffboo show coming up in February but the link for details isn't working right now. www.myspace.com/buffboomusicBad City - SAADI (East Village, NYC, USA)Songwriter Boshra AlSaadi was born in a tiny village in Damascus, Syria before relocating and growing up in a rainy suburb of Pittsburgh. At the tender age of 17 she moved to NYC's East Village where she has resided and created music ever since. Having developed her New York roots with Serious Business band, Looker, SAADI has come into her own with the upcoming 12"/EP titled Bad City. Due for release in March 2010. Prepare to dance.Leading up to the release of the Bad City 12", SAADI took over Pianos (NYC) on Sunday and will be doing so on both remaining Sundays in January - 24th, 31st. If you're really into comedy and ladyporn (meaning porn for ladies, not porn of ladies), the 17th is a must-see joint event with Kong Magazine. In the meantime, enjoy 12 inches of white vinyl (digitally, of course) from SAADI.www.myspace.com/saadinyc

I'm really excited by the selection of fine new tuneage this week. Some great contrasts and representations from a couple of styles that don't feature too often on Suffolk 'n' Cool. But hang on, that's what SnC is all about isn't it? Playing the unexpected to revive jaded ears. :)I am. however, getting rather bored by the cold and snow which has been hanging around for the past month. Dark and cold today again. Made worse by the fact that Jessie is back off to Ibiza tomorrow. Spare ticket anyone?South Australia - Churchfitters (Brittany via England, Ireland and France)The group Churchfitters was founded in 1978 by singer/songwriter Anthony McCartan from Belfast and multi-instrumentist Geoff Coombs from Essex.â Rosie Short joined soon after its formation having previously been playing in a London-based traditional Irish outfit. During the years that followed, the group frequently changed its line-up making a point of always including members from diverse musical backgrounds in order to maintain a fresh and original approach to Irish music. They enjoyed great success on the East Anglian folk scene before slimming down to a duo (Anthony and Rosie) in order to tour extensively throughout Europe and even as far as Australia. âIn 1993 the duo decided to move to Brittany and was joined by Rosie's brother Chris who had been in London playing in World, Irish and Bluegrass groups. From their base in Brittany they then toured as a trio throughout France and Europe until Anthony's departure in early 2004.âWith the arrival of Boris Lebret (double bass and percussion) and Topher Loudon (vocals and guitar), the group's tradition of breaking with the more classic treatment of Irish music has been upheld. Topher's rock background and Boris's experience with diverse styles of contemporary music create the driving rythmns over which Chris and Rosie's more melodic and folky styles are laid.âAnd the unique and unmistakable sound of the Churchfitters continues ...Wed 27th January 2010 - Cambridge (UK) âCambridge Folk Club 8pm - Box Office: 01223 304 447âhttp://www.cambridgefolkclub.orgSat 30th January 2010 - Garboldisham nr Diss, Norfolk (UK) âVillage Hall, 8pm - info: 01359 251 498Sun 31st January 2010 - Risby nr Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (UK) âRisby Village Hall, 7.30 pm  box office: 01284 810660More dates at:http://churchfitters.comThe extraordinary Life of Jimmie Dandelion - Ahmond (Brooklyn, USA)We last heard Ahmond on SnC 146 a little over a year ago.Ahmond is a singer-songwriter and instrumental composer. He has released two self-produced releases which include A Boy You Once Knew in 2008.You can hear his music being played alongside other urban folk contemporaries such as Sufjan Stevens, Patrick Wolf, Beirut, and Regina Spektor on Adult Alternative stations and College Radio.The last track on his debut album was played on the first season of the HBO series Rome. Ahmond got his start in music by writing songs for an educational theatre group he was involved in for two years. Prior to devoting nearly all of his time to music, he was featured in movies and commercials. He played Diahann Carol and Ruby Dee's great-grandnephew in the movie Having Our Say. Ahmond is currently embarking on a US tour and has a second release out. Monster & Minstrel is an EP of quirky rock songs embellished with his signature production of folk instruments and sweeping string arrangements. It is currently only available online through stores like iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Napster, and Nokia Music Store.www.myspace.com/ahmondbandwww.ahmond.comThe Craving - Joshua Stedman (Miami Beach/New York/San Fran)Joshua's soulful, story-telling music sculptures poeticize the impact of the relationships personal to him, but familiar to all of us. He shares life's observations and experiences that tend to illicit that, âYep, I've been there, too..." reaction in each of us. âHe weaves a clever web of funk/soul/rock roots, winding chord arrangements, elusive guitar riffs and deep organic bass lines around subtle rhythmic shifts.Joshuaâs addictive melodies are fuelled by a distinct bright-breathy vocal that pours out an honesty that has been said to seduce the ear from fade-in to fade-out.www.joshuastedman.comwww.myspace.com/joshuaste dmanFade to black - Luke Parkin (Newburyport, Massachusetts)Luke Parkin is a multi-genre composer and performing artist. His compositions, all rooted in classical music, are orchestral and solo piano. His performance as a pianistâmarks out the horizon in cutting edge music and keeps it connected to the classics. Luke Parkinâs music is always just ahead of the curve.EST. MXXIX. (Established 2009) is Luke Parkinâs 70th album. Despite some exotic sounds, few audiences will feel find themselves excluded. However, like those preceding it, EST. MXXIX is an album that eludes the easy sorts of labels that the recording industry uses â itâs as eclectic as its composer.While Parkinâs music can take the shape of almost any container, it inevitably overflows any limit. Though he insists he is not afraid of repeating himself, the protean variety of his recordings suggest an artist on a quest â investigating new and old musical territory with an explorerâs keen senses."I'm trying to play a lot of musical characters," he acknowledges, "and I want to exploit the more eccentric parts of my personality in my compositions. Every album is an extension of who I am naturally."www.lukeparkin.comwww.myspace.com/lukep arkinHome is where the heart is - Slo-Mo feat. Mic Wrecka (Philadelphia, PA, USA)Slo-Mo is the brainchild of Philadelphia steel guitarist Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner. Brenner has recorded and played on the road with such artists as Badly Drawn Boy, Magnolia Electric Company, Marah, Melody Gardot, G Love and more, but Slo-Mo is something totally different. Mixing Brenner's steel guitar grooves with frontman Mic Wreckaâs rhymes and hip hop poetry, Slo-Mo Featuring Mic Wrecka has become a Philly favorite, winning over fans with a slamming live show and uniquely funky tunes backed by a tight 8-piece band.While steel guitar and hip hop might seem an unlikely union, Slo-Mo Featuring Mic Wrecka has managed to make it their own little niche, creating not just uniquely funky tracks, but a rocking live show that has been impressing an ever-growing number of fans.Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka appearing at Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ this Fri, Jan 15 for Light of Day benefit. ... http://bit.ly/5h0VlGTwitter: got_shackamaxonwww.heyslomo.comwww.myspace.com/heyslomo The Place that won't take me back - I am not left-handed (London, UK - but mostly Irish)A track from the instrumental album Time to leave from I Am Not Lefthanded, who are: âKathryn - Vocals/Guitarâ, Daniel - Vocals/Bassâ, Benji - Drums"We don't play pop music, we don't write music for art's sake, we don't represent any movements, we're not hip, we're not cutting edge, we don't dress to be cool. We manage ourselves, we write our own songs, we do our own recordings, we shoot our own videos, we design our own covers, we run our own website. We're not generally negative people.  Oh yes, and we're not lefthanded." An absolutely flawless, touching, rich chocolate sauce voice over simple, but yearning guitar, bass & drums can be heard on Yes Means No: 6 & 1/6th songs that don't always give a straight answer. No battling elements, just a smooth natural flow.www.iamnotlefthanded.comâwww.myspace.com/iamnotle fthandedeitherwww.jamendo.com/en/artist/I_Am_Not_Leftha ndedHere is the city (Chicago) - Christophe Marc (Liverpool, UK and Nantes, France)A real treat from Christophe Marc - he describes this new album As a lifetime goes (a retrospective) thus: Here's my Xmas present! A compilation of what I did those last 4 or 5 years. So it's a sort of "best of"... Merry Christmas  and a Happy New Year to everyone!Chris.www.myspace.com/christophemarcwww.jamend o.com/en/artist/christophe_marcFatness - Pretonika (Budapest, Hungary?)I can tell you very little. Indeed the only way I found the likely location of Petronika was by using whois on the guy who administers the account on Jamendo. Pretty extreme. If you know more, please do tell!www.pretonika.com/www.jamendo.com/en/album/35130

Music this week from London, Minneapolis, Cairo, Paris, Tiblisi, somewhere else in France, California and Toronto.The world around the barn seems to have become a black and white movie in the past few weeks but at least I didn't waste money on colour film for this weeks picture taken from the back window of the barn. The pond is very frozen, indeed there were rabbit footprints in the snow on top of the ice this morning!(Hey You) The Rocksteady Crew - The Voodoo Trombone Quartet (London)The Voodoo Trombone Quartet are a cult 8-piece band from London whose unique sound skillfully blends the influence of old ska 45s, exotica and a 60's feel with contemporary beat-driven production and a wry lyrical humor. ââThe band were conceived in 2004 by producer, record collector and multi instrumentalist Paul Thorpe. The first tracks were made freely available on the internet by their creator as supposedly 'rediscovered' originals. The joke backfired however when the tracks became immensely popular in their own right and each one clocked up thousands of downloads. Newly formed independent Freshly Squeezed Music duly took note and signed Paul for the bands eponymous debut in 2005. A live band was put together and festival dates through 2006 culminated in near disaster when the single Medium Wave almost blew the bands cult credentials by entering the fringes of the UK Download Chart. Fortunately it was a near miss and the band retain their underground status to this day. ââThe VTQ can now be heard sound tracking numerous TV shows including Ugly Betty, feature on many CDs including the festival tribute Lost Vagueness (RIP) compilation and as the theme tune to several BBC Radio 4 comedy sketch shows. Medium Wave was also chosen as the theme tune to MTV's recent series The Paper. The Voodoo Trombone Quartet "(Hey You) The Rocksteady Crew" (mp3) from "The Voodoo Trombone Quartet ...Again" (Freshly Squeezed Music) Stream from Rhapsody Buy at Amazon MP3 More On This Album Dark Horse - Bella Ruse (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)Kay Gillette and Joseph Barker are Bella Ruse. Based in Minneapolis they tour extensively and, having produced an EP do six songs recorded in their home studio in north Minneapolis. Now they are working on a full album and planning a tour. Thanks to Joseph for loading a couple of songs onto the Suffolk'n'Cool Drop box. www.bellaruse.comwww.myspace.com/bellaruseCigarettes - Digla (Cairo, Egypt)Originally formed as a cover band, it was not long before Digla realized the qualities of their own material through their growing fan base in Cairo after their first few gigs.   This was encapsulated when they became the first band to perform a sold out concert at the Sawy Cultural Center in Cairo.  Since then, the band has been interviewed and performed an acoustic set on Egypt's number one hit music station 104.2 and have released their debut album Free Your Mind which is available on iTunes and a number of other musical outlets.  Keep an eye on their website for more gig dates soon to be announced.   www.diglamusic.comwww.myspace.com/diglamusic Oriental Blues - Garth Knox (Paris, France)Garth Knox now lives in Paris playing recitals, concertos and chamber music concerts all over Europe, the USA and Japan. His recently released solo CD with works from Ligeti, Dusapin, Berio, KurtÃg and others (MO 782082) won the coveted Deutsche Schallplaten Preis in Germany, and his latest CD Spectral Viola (edition zeitklang) has been highly acclaimed. He is currently professor of viola at Musikene in San Sebastian.www.garthknox.org/The viola d'amore has multiple strings and an infinite number of possible sound worlds. I was happy to explore some of there here, in a mixture of pre-meditated scenarios and free improvisations.On this track, tuning the third and fourth strings to the same note and using them together gives a nice doubling feeling to the sound and suggests something little oriental, Gently strumming the sympathetic strings when they're in a bluesy tuning takes us somewhere else. A litle musical journey from one set of strings to the other set.The SHSK'H Netlabel was created in 2007 in New York by the musicians Jody Pou and Igor Ballereau with the purpose of promoting their work through exclusive recordings to be found on the site, shskh.com.SHSK'H is also an audio-gallery of diverse music. They promote the work of other musicians by commissioning new pieces from composers and by producing personal recording projects by selected musicians of many different styles. These works, again, are exclusive to shskh.com and are not distributed anywhere in disc format.All music on shskh.com is free. You do, however, have the opportunity to participate in the development of these projects by choosing to pay the sum of your choice for the works that you download, if you so desire.  Would you cry? - Buddhuza (Tbilisi, Georgia) SNC dropBuddhuza [but'huza] is a Georgian, English-singing musician and song-writer. His music is a mixture of indie rock, alternative and world, and is much influenced by the music of the sixties.Buddhuza quit his music class after three years of torture, when he was 9. Since then he rarely touched any musical instrument, until his father brought him a guitar that completely changed his life. Now the major reason for skipping school became guitar practice.Buddhuza and brother Lexo soon started to write songs and formed a duo called Fire Bricks. Their music was pretty much a reflection of their record collection and interesting period of time and place they lived in. The first ones to hear them perform their songs were neighbors and close friends.In 2004, soon after he moved to Tbilisi, Buddhuza started a home studio, where most of his music is recorded.www.buddhuza.comThe Seals - No More Babylon (France)From the album Roots Meeting on IODA.This album of NO MORE BABYLON & FRIENDS includes 10 featurings : EARL 16, Ken BOOTHE, Josie MEL, Brother MARCUS, Maryse CHASTAN, Kenny KNOTS, Jah MARNYAH, U BROWN. The digital release of the album offers full length versions and some bonus tracks, featuring MADU and Brinsley FORDE.www.nomorebabylon.com/www.myspace.com/nomorebabyl on No More Babylon "The Seals" (mp3) from "Roots Meeting" (A la Folie Music) Buy at iTunes Music Store More On This Album Three fingers - Buckethead (California, USA)Buckethead's work has spanned many musical genres, including drum and bass, funk, thrash metal, ambient and minimalist music. Although a capable multi-instrumentalist (also able to play bass guitar, banjo and piano), he is best known for his virtuosic electric guitar playing, characterized by blinding speed, advanced harmony and idiosyncratic lead lines. He has recorded several solo albums, as well as collaborative albums with Les Claypool, Bootsy Collins, System of a Down's Serj Tankian and perhaps most notably with a great many Bill Laswell-directed projects. The Buckethead backstory begins with a kid named Brian Carroll growing up in a Southern California suburb not far from Disneyland. He's a shy kid and spends a lot of time in his room, which is filled with comic books, video games, martial-arts movie memorabilia, slasher-flick stuff, all the usual youth-culture detritus. He also spends a whole lot of time at Disneyland. As a teenager, Brian takes up the guitar, plonking away under the sway of such metal masters as Angus Young of AC/DC; the late Randy Rhoads, of the Ozzy Osbourne band; and Swedish overdrive virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen. What makes Enter The Chicken unique among all other Buckethead albums is the contribution of different singers throughout the body of work. Both producer and guitarist recruited some of today"s brightest musical talents to lend their voice including Saul Williams, Efrem Schulz (Death By Stereo), Maura Davis (Denali, Bella Lea), Azam Ali (Vas, Niyaz), Bad Acid Trip, Maximum Bob (Deli Creeps), Gigi, Shana Halligan and Ani Maldjian. Even Tankian himself lends his vocals on the album. When all was said and done, a total of 11 different vocalists specializing in musical styles ranging from opera, metal, rap, indie rock, grindcore, world and everything in between found their way onto Enter The Chicken.Do check out the website if you fancy a quick flip out of mundane realityhttp://bucketheadland.com Buckethead & Friends "Three Fingers" (mp3) from "Enter The Chicken" (Serjical Strike Records) Stream from Rhapsody Buy at Amazon MP3 More On This Album Buckle Up - NLX (NYC / Toronto)BITCH GET FIT is the much anticipated, first full-length offering from NLX, but to call it a debut would be somewhat misleading. It's taken two years of preparation, collaboration and one tiny lawsuit to make this masterpiece. Recorded in both NYC and Toronto, NLX joined forces again with acclaimed producer/composer Byron Kent Wong to create an extraordinarily distinct, vibrant and compelling album. In a time of one hit wonders and copycat artists, NLX stands alone.âRaised in the icy shadows of Canada"s steel city smoke stacks, NLX hails from the proud tradition of BS-free northern songwriting women. She continues to carry the electronically edged dark pop torch with BITCH GET FIT â 16 tracks of blow your mind and open your heart lyrical and musical smack. It is "fists in the air, tears on the floor, don't look back but close the door" kind of music.www.nlxmusic.comwww.myspace.com/nlxmusic

Fine music this week from Nashville, Copenhagen, New York, Norway, Kansas City, Nancy and Paris in France, Hungary and, of course, a couple of artists from Brooklyn. It barely got light here in Suffolk, UK today so I'll have to resort to another Barcelona picture, much as it pains me ;) Not that it was a lot warmer when I was there a couple of weeks ago.Air Conditioned Heart - Hollands (Brooklyn, NY, USA) Hollands is multi-instrumentalist John-Paul Norpoth and violinist Jannina Barefield. Together, they formed in February 2008 in Washington Heights, New York. Norpoth, formerly the co-lead of NYC-based Butane Variations, is the son of a classical flautist while Barefield is the daughter of Detroit based avant-garde jazz guitarist Spencer Barefield. Together, they combine fuzzy Flaming Lips guitars with Martin-esque orchestral arrangements and traditional folk nods to the Paul Simon's and the Grateful Dead's of years pastAt times, Hollands sounds like a simple folk duo, plaintive and gentle, soft and free. At others, the band performs as a loud, brash, orchestral rock ensemble; employing cello, organs, synthesizers, electric and acoustic violins. In other words, they'll explore any means necessary to realize the most honest atmosphere and capture the diversity of each song.www.hollandsss.comwww.myspace.com/hollandsss" As of '09, bands have an official life span of about nine months dating from the launch of their MySpace pages, thanks to the comically accelerated, DSL-enhanced hype cycle. Faster than you can tweet "Serena Maneesh," entire genres of music are "discovered" by attention-starved writers; bloggers engage in hilarious slap-fights about who was there first; magazines feel pressured into writing clueless, hackazoid, late-pass trend pieces; bands get elevated to a critical mass of attention they can't possibly handle; and the phenomenon is promptly abandoned once we find a newer, shinier toy to play with."- Christopher R. Weingarten, Village VoiceI'll forget you - Peter Bradley Adams (Brooklyn, NY/Nashville, TN) Peter Bradley Adams was one half of the duo "eastmountainsouth" signed by Robbie Robertson (of The Band) to Dreamworks Records in 2002. He has released two solo records (Gather Up and Leavetaking - from which I'll forget you is taken) and released his third, Traces in September on Sarathan Records.www.myspace.com/peterbradleyadams  We all have our shortcomings - Alcoholic Faith Mission (Copenhagen, Denmark)The Alcoholic Faith Mission started in Brooklyn, New York '06. The apprentices of dejection Thorben Seierà Jensen and Sune SÃlund were wandering around in the raw wintery-streets, shooting the breeze, brushing on alcoholism and close family members wet deroute. Suddenly before them was a big neon cross. This was a holy congregation called Apostolic Faith Mission - and this was just like booze is to the alcoholic, they thought. A true mission to withstand an empty existence; an Alcoholic Faith Mission. Three months later the duo"s underplayed and dogmatic debut Misery Loves Company was ready. Dogma's for the album, which was recorded in a small bedroom in Copenhagen, was that recordings had to take place a night, lit by only candles and always under the influence of alcohol. The critics said sweet things about the album. Josà Gonzales and Iron and Wine-ry they said. Shortly after, the duo turned into a collective for all their friends to join. Especially Laurids Smedegaard, Kristine Permild and Gustav Rasmussen turned out to be the two guys most important assets. Two years later they went back to Brooklyn to seclude themselves in an old factory loft at 421 Wythe Avenue. They tried on a selection of straightjackets for the inspiration. Everything used to make the music, had to be found within the loft"s four walls. For an example, dictionaries beat each other to become an electronically muted bass drum. This way of working turned into their second album; named after the street where they lived on - 421 Wythe Avenue. www.myspace.com/alcoholicfaithmission  http://ponyrec.com/artist_alcoholicfaithmission.htmlFan cy Beer - Two Man Gentleman Band (NY, NY, USA) That The Two Man Gentlemen Band is amongst the United States' most learned, sophisticated, and musically able two-man bands is commonly understood. That they throw one heck of a party has been a rather well-kept secret until now.The Two Man Gentlemen Band: Live in New York! is an unparalleled achievement. Using only four hands, two mouths, a bit of erudition, and a strong helping of the drink, the gents whip themselves and their New York City audience into an unmitigated frenzy of joy. Listeners to this recording will likely find themselves in a similarly frenzied, sweat-riddled state.Digital release date: Jan 12, 2010 on Serious Business but if you want a CD, you can get it right now from www.seriousbusinessrecords.com/www.two-man-gentlemen-ba nd.comwww.myspace.com/twomangentlemenbandAppetite - Proviant Audio (Norway)Mathias Stubà gives you some really interesting jazz tunes. These are his unreleased works between 2005 and 2007. The five tracks from the EP Mushrooms combine glitchy, broken beats with funny, smooth and melodic jazz samples. The EP is available free from SoJus Records at www.sojusrecords.comProviant Audio is 17 year old Mathias Stubà from Norway, producing electronic music influenced by jazz and soul.Mathias is known as a child prodigy in Norway. The NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation) has already named him Artist of The Week (which is the most prestigious prize for unsigned artists in Norway) twice (first time when he was 14 years old). He is reviewed as a musical genious and Norway's biggest producer talent by the people in NRK P3.The last years he has been playing at some of Norways greatest music festivals with his liveband including ten men on brass, reed, rhodes, percussion, drums, bass and more. Now Proviant Audio with full live band is ready to play at by: Larm 2010 which is Scandinavia's biggest festival for music industry.www.myspace.com/proviantaudio72 musicians - the movieTwenty bands from Kansas City and Lawrence, KS performed live at the recordBar during the filming of 72 musicians. There are very, very few bands (or artists of any medium, for that matter) that would allow themselves to be preserved for judgement in such a raw, naked state. ONE TAKE. No overdubs. In front of a paying audience. And with no control over the front of house mix, or approval of the recorded mix that you'll hear in the film. I don"t care who you are, that takes balls. This kind of exposure would fucking wilt most bands.And never mind that the film contains no info about the names of the bands, the names of the musicians, or the cities they hail from. That's on purpose, because our film isn"t about musicâ it's about the people who make music.Enjoy the music. And be sure to download the soundtrack album. It's free. Please share it.There should have been a trailer here in the shownotes but it was too wide. Go to the 72 musicians site to view it. No really, do.http://72musicians.com Conscious Rasta (Version) - Guitoud (Nancy, France)I heard this on Pete Cogle's Dub Zone then Gabor played it on AMPed 209 a couple of weeks ago. Quite a long track but certainly interesting.Find the track on Reggaedubwise at http://cluster1.reggaedubwise.com/Guitoud/www.myspace.c om/guitoudIn the Paris of the Neitherlands (Parizs remix) - Ez a Divat (Budapest, Hungary )Es A divat translates as This is Fashion. A fusion of live jazz with electronics. From the Budapest netlabel bringing you the freshest sounds of Hungary. The new Ez a divat maxi, Must be the Neitherlands, includes a heavyweight original and 3 mind-blowing remixes. Ez a divat's own version is an astounding alchemy of jazz, funk, electro and vocoder vocals melting into a discerning pop song. The fat fender + bass foundations are seasoned with the usual catchy female vocals and band's trademark groovy brass section.The man PÃrizs has made this funk-fuelled electro version of the song.Get it at: www.budabeats.com/bube006.htmwww.myspace.com/ezadivatCr eative Commons non-profit fund-raising campaign. Target $500,000 by Dec 31 (tomorrow) total raised is now at $427,180. We probably know them best for the Creative Commons licenses on music related content such as this show which has a Creative Commons license so that anyone can share, what I produce with attribution and not for profit, but they also create environments where other content such as science and learning resources can be shared. In the music realm, it allows artists to make material available for legal sharing whilst not giving the rights away to anyone. That makes such a difference.If you would like to support the work they do in helping people share content across this wonderfully connected world, quite legally and for all our sakes, visit https://support.creativecommons.org/donateDragons - Caravan Palace (Paris, France)A second track in as many weeks.The excellent Caravan Palace musicians, who are of course "gadjos" (non-gypsies), have breathed fresh air into the timeless swing scene without coming across as preachers. As well as listeners with curious ears, the Caravan also has its own following, a horde of fans totally into the electro vibe, who turn up at each of their concerts. Caravan Palace's reputation has rippled beyond the frontiers too, with Europe eager to check them out. www.myspace.com/caravanpalace

A pretty chirpy selection from the flowing river of new music. Tracks from Ottawa, Venice (CA), Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia, Rosney sous Bois (France) London and Paris.I'm fairly fresh back from Barcelona (see photo) where I was filming and meeting up with Luthea Salom (see lots of SnC shows). Such a beautiful but exhausting city although not much in the way of street music this time, probably because it was so very cold.Skinny Dipper - The Balconies (Ottawa, Canada)The Balconies formed in December of 2007 and quickly built up a reputation for their exciting, stripped down, high energy shows. Before long, they found themselves sharing bills with the likes of Mother Mother, Land of Talk, The Bicycles, Sister Suvi, and more. The Balconiesâ debut album displays a unique brand of girl/boy-fronted, harmonious, epic pop rock and has already been met by an abundance of rave reviews. www.myspace.com/thebalconiesIf I could - Lisbeth Scott (Venice, CA, USA) MusicSubmitLisbeth Scott was raised as a classical pianist, rehearsing hours a day and headed for a concert career.  She studied at The New England Conservatory, Connecticut College and The University of London throughout the 1990's.  Lisbeth then headed to Los Angeles where she really began to discover her voice... as did the film world.   Scottâs vocals can be heard on over 50 blockbuster films including The Passion of the Christ, Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe, Shrek 1 and 2, and Steven Spielbergâs Munich in which legendary composer, John Williams wrote a five minute solo specifically for her.Throughout her career she has worked closely with Steven Spielberg, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Harry Gregson-Williams, John Debney and many others.  Her songs have been covered by other artists, including Macy Grey and Bliss.Hope is a Thing is her eighth studio solo album which is available on iTunes. "www.hopeisathing.com was originally created as a site to garner financial support for my album of the same name. Through many generous souls, the CD is done! The album was released on November 10th. So it's time to turn this site over to YOU and see just how big we can make this." www.lisbethscott.comwww.myspace.com/lisbethscottmusicAl l my trials - Bottle up and go (Brooklyn, NY, USA)Still a relatively new genre to me: blues/punk. Despite playing a track by Bottle Up and Go about 6 weeks ago. Probably because my life has been devoid of blues punk ever since!Currently based out of a basement in Bushwick, Brooklyn, wedged between 99-cent wholesale vendors, BU&G consists of Keenan Mitchell (guitar, vocals), Fareed Sajan (drums) and saxophone accompaniment by either Lucas or his twin Andrew Carrico (alto and tenor respectively). The two-and-a-half piece neo primitive garage rock band is known across NYC for their frantic freak outs, described by various press sources as 'neanderthalic' and 'barbaric'.There is no doubt that BU&G has a slight obsession with death and bones, taxidermy and bootleg whiskey.  Keenan writes lyrics that mix the language of the bible with the spirit of ancient blues hollers, western iconography, murder ballads, drunken dreams, morning tremors, hospital visits, jail time--rhythms that are indisputably alive as they call for their own death. They are narratives that mix their own lives with the myths of their blues forefathers, and that emerge as neither, a new blues form that is as much a Leadbelly song as a noise collage.www.myspace.com/bottleupandgobandCounty - Slo-Mo feat. Mic Wreka (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)From the album Gimme what you got.Slo-Mo is the brainchild of Philadelphia steel guitarist Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner. Brenner has recorded and played on the road with such artists as Badly Drawn Boy, Magnolia Electric Company, Marah, Melody Gardot, G Love and more, but Slo-Mo is something totally different. Mixing Brennerâs steel guitar grooves with frontman Mic Wreckaâs rhymes and hip hop poetry, Slo-Mo Featuring Mic Wrecka has become a Philly favorite, winning over fans with a slamming live show and uniquely funky tunes backed by a tight 8-piece band.www.heyslomo.comwww.myspace.com/heyslomoLa Complainte du Nanti - Kapadnoms (Rosny Sous Bois and Paris, France)From their excellent 5 track "petit maxi avec 5 titres extraits du prochain album" Mis en Bouche on JamendoLes kapadnoms developpent le concept de musique en patchwork liant l electro swing au hiphop en passant par des chansons a texte plus intimes ,le tout releve d'une plume hiphop engagee,parfois enragee...la pluspart des enregistrements sont fait en autoproduction dans un homestudio et sont composees et arrangees par informatique,les musiciens travaillent les adaptations pour les lives...www.jamendo.com/en/user/kapadnomsCan't get you out of my head - Patrick and Eugene (London)Altogether Now (Birds Bees Flowers Trees) is the U.S. debut release from the UKâs Patrick & Eugene.  The album was produced by band member Patrick Dawes.  Itâs being released by the Tummy Touch Music Group.The Patrick & Eugene sound is comprised of banjos, ukuleles and sunshine pop vocals combined with whistles, bells and bongos to produce unique but accessible music for post-modern vaudevillians, with nods to Monty Python, Derek & Clive and even Woody Allen. Try to imagine Noel Coward on stage with the Duke Ellington Band at the Monterey Pop Festival and youâre getting close â or on a substance which is probably illegal in most states.www.myspace.com/patrickandeugenewww.soundsgoodin thenude.com This sentence will ruin/save your life (Born Ruffians) - Green Go (Guelph, Ontario, Canada)This appears to be a remix by Green Go of a Born Ruffians track from their self-titled EP released on Warp.Though the stages and the audiences have expanded exponentially with every performance, Green Go  refuses to abandon the turf that they tear up best:  sweaty, dirty house shows.  Rooms keep getting bigger, but that euphoric community spirit that launched the quintet continues to permeate every facet of their work.  When the band released their stop-gap remix EP to satisfy fans pre-full length release  (featuring tracks from contemporary Canadian success stories Born Ruffians, Rural Alberta Advantage, Gentleman Reg, Women and The DâUrbervilles), it read not as strategic marketing tool showcasing their remixing prowess, but as an earnest tribute to their peers - a love letter to everyone who ever crammed  themselves into a dark basement or garage to support the then-fledgling band.www.myspace.com/greengomusic Suzy - Caravan Palace (Paris, France)It all started with a double bass player, a guitarist and a violinist; all highly talented musicians who are really into swing, Django addicts who enjoy tinkering with electro. Their project swayed a singer, a clarinettist, a trombonist who doubles up on percussion and a guitarist who also acts as DJ. With their âZazou" look (inspired by Parisian paleo-punks from the 1940s), they serve up festive, frantic music, an improbable futuristic and melodious Charleston fit for the dance floor.  It so often starts out like that: a gang of mates who've kicked around together for the past ten years and who each get into music off their own bat. In this case, it was Hugues on the violin, Arnaud on guitar and Carlos on the double bass. A shared craze for manouche jazz (gypsy-style jazz), played in its natural setting, bars. Relatively serious composition, with a Zeitgeist twist: DIY electro, house, dub and hip-hop. The excellent Caravan Palace musicians, who are of course âgadjos" (non-gypsies), have breathed fresh air into the timeless swing scene without coming across as preachers. As well as listeners with curious ears, the Caravan also has its own following, a horde of fans totally into the electro vibe, who turn up at each of their concerts. Caravan Palaceâs reputation has rippled beyond the frontiers too, with Europe eager to check them out. www.myspace.com/caravanpalace

A quirky mix of tunes for you this week with tracks from LA, Munich, Toronto, Sezged in Hungary, Brooklyn (of course!), London, Alicante (Spain) and Flint, Michigan.The first hints of snow are falling here in Suffolk so I'm glad I'll be in Barcelona for the two days recording a feature on one of my favourite artists, Luthea Salom, who is recording an album there, rather than in her home city of Manhattan. I wonder why ... and aim to find out!I'll try to drop a few Tweets along the way, connectivity permitting. Follow @suffolkandcool You just behave yourself while I'm away. OK?World Upside Down - Rusty Wright Band (Flint, MI, USA)Rusty Wright is an experienced Musician, Composer, Engineer and Producer with several full length CDs and multiple film and TV credits.âHe is the Lead guitarist/vocalist for the Rusty Wright Band a 5 piece group with an emphasis on blues based music but with multiple genre influences. Rusty describes them as this. "We're like the Allman Brothers but with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Bonnie Raitt sitting in".World Upside Down is from the album "Playin' with Fire"Aggressive Blues with a Southern Rock boogie featuring Guitars, B3 Organ and duel male female vocals.www.rustywrightband.comwww.myspace.com/rustywrig htbluesShotgun - Dudley Saunders (LA, CA, USA)A track from quite an old album by Dudley Saunders' called Restore.Dudley just blogged:I couldn't go to New York for the Outmusic Awards, and there wasn't a chance in hell I'd win anyway.  Except, then I did.  Chicago's Scott Free had to phone me at midnight with the news (including the fact that the ceremony will air on MTV/LOGO within the next two weeks - without my smiling face accepting.  Oh well.).  Has it made any difference?  Yes: my email list is exploding, and I can't keep up with the Facebook messages.  These are happy problems.   Maybe I'm one of those people who only becomes cool when they're old.  I could live with that.www.dudleysaunders.comSimplistic - Gedismuss (Munich, Germany)My sincere thanks to Rowley Cutler at The Dark Compass for getting hold of this track for me.geddismuss is a Project instigated by the Munich-based Great British Artist "SIR GEDâ in the late Summer (Sept;) of 2005. SIR GED who together with "Mr TO-NAALâ , and "Mr BLABâ and a unique collection of like minded arteests, musiko..s and technophiles, have developed a Unique Sound & a New Dancefloor Explosion is Presently taking place. Incorporating elements of "RAGGAâ, "FUNKâ, "REGGAEâ, "ROCKâ, & "TECHNOâ And also by combining a great deal of "FUNâ, "HUMOURâ, & "WIERDNESSâ into their musik, They have managed to Develop an Individual Sound that has been sweeping the Dancefloors of GERMANY, and BAVARIA! for the last few Months!www.myspace.com/geddismussThere is an interview on Darkcompass at www.darkcompass.com or if you want to go straight to the Gedismuss show http://tinyurl.com/yd2lv4aUnderachiever - Chà Aimee (Toronto, Canada) ChÃ's debut solo album; Underachiever, has her displaying one of the strongest collections of songs to come out of an independent act in years. Having idols such as Cat Power, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley to contend with; Che has aspired for a long time to create something that is as pleasing to the soul as it is to the ears. Endeavoring to create "something that has its own form of geniusâ as opposed to another pop diva record that revolves less around content and more around presentation. Underachiever's both rootsy and contemporary feel is the result of this inspiration, conveying both the heartbreak and the joy of life as seen through her own experiences. (See more detail under show 196)www.cheaimee.comwww.myspace.com/cheaimeeRico - M.W.D. (Sezged, Hungary)The last Budabeats release in this year is Singing Forest by M.W.D. (alias Corp), who is a regular dj at Radio Mi from Szeged, Hungary. His music genres are nujazz and broken beat with a little downtempo and electronic spice; amazing rhythm and jazz inspirations. Cool stuff for nujazz-lovers! - and the rest of us!www.myspace.com/mwdwww.budabeats.comGloom Doom Buttercups - Kittens Ablaze (Brooklyn, NY, USA)Time was, an indie rock band would catch more than a few sideways stares for enlisting a - gasp! - string player. So sacrosanct was the gilded less-is-more template favored by the genre's progenitors (one more time with feeling, Malkmus, Marsch, etc.) violinist and cellists made a band seem bloated, seem like grubby over-reachers. But that was then, back before the likes of Kittens Ablaze (and contemporaries Ra Ra Riot, Cursive, etc.) proved that indie rock wasn't about instrumentation as much as it was about implementation. After all, you can play intricate rhythms on a cello, too, people! Hence, wonderfully rickety orchestral rock music  gets its shot. Today, the six Brooklynites in Kittens Ablaze specialize in the stuff, turning parts of classical music, protest folk and punk rock into one disarming whole. In '07 they bowed with their five-track debut EP. And earlier this year, with assistance from Nic Hard (Bravery console-minder) the band returned with The Monstrous Vanguard, a record that's landed Kittens Ablaze on stages at SXSW and CMJ and in the pages of Vice Mag and RollingStone.comwww.kittensablaze.comwww.myspace.com/ki ttensablaze Bridges - Juliana Meyer (London, UK)Juliana was in touch this week with some news:I have some exciting news to share......I won Best Female at The EMAE Awards earlier this month!!I was nominated for both Best Female Artist and Best Pop Song, and was so delighted and surprised to win!I also found out recently that Music-News.com chose my Album 'Holding Up The Sky' as one of their "Best Albums of 2008", two places ahead of Oasis and two behind Take That!www.myspace.com/julianameyerLa Batalla - La Olla Express (Sant Joan/Mutxamel, Alicante, Spain)Debut Jamendo album is called PANIC - and an accomplished debut it is too, some very strong tracks throughout. LA OLLA EXPRESS nos presenta su primer larga duraciÃn: PANIC, una colecciÃn de canciones donde se entremezcla ROCK, PUNK, REGGAE, SKA...  una fusiÃn de colores enÃrgicos y letras comprometidas. Con el espÃritu del "Do it yourself" el grupo nos regala su fusiÃn de sonidos, jugueteando con la electrÃnica, el reggae, el punk... siendo en directo donde mejor se comprueba la herencia de grupos como The Clash o Mano Negra.El disco, producido por el propio grupo junto a Carlos Suay y Dani SÃiz, se grabà a finales del 2008 en los Estudios Sacramento de Alicante y se està presentando en Directo a lo largo y ancho de EspaÃa... el prÃximo objetivo: invadir Europa!!!!Fieles a sus principios de libertad, el disco se edita con licencia Creative Commons, para que todo el mundo pueda disfrutar de este sonido fresco y embriagador.Recommended by Lebosqui on Jamendo to whom sincere thanks.www.myspace.com/laolla

A "rum ole" mix of music to delight your ears again this week with tracks from LA, London, New York, Canada, Boston New Zealand, Germany and Sweden.The 'tash has made some progress during Movember. Many thanks to this who made donation to help research into men's health issues. The dilemma I face now is whether to shave it off now or keep it going a bit longer.You can never know - Pixie Carnation ((Malmo, Sweden)The product of two years of musical experimentation has culminated in what is now Pixie Carnation, a Swedish based, and yet very American sounding band.  From the time that childhood friends Ola PÃlsson and Tobias Hellkvist reconnected a few years ago there was an instant artistic connection, and it was only a matter of time before their sound and the band's lineup became what it is today.  âDespite it taking about a year and a half for PÃlsson and Hellkvist to find like-minded musicians, Pixie Carnation has now evolved into a seven-member band and made their first recording, Fresh Poems EP, self reeled in 2009.âA classic rock influenced, Americana infused, musical tapestry with orchestral elements, Fresh Poems is already making waves on the west side of the Atlantic.www.myspace.com/pixiecarnationTell her - Daisy McCrackin (LA, CA, USA)Daisy grew up in San Francisco and survived the earthquake of 1989. A classically trained actress, she moved to Los Angeles and worked in film and television until, in 2005, she had a spiritual epiphany and began writing music. Daisy lived in the fabled Rodeo Grounds arts collective in Topanga Canyon, where she wrote funny campfire songs and fought the State to keep her land.Too shy to share her "serious" songs, Daisy stuck to acting gigs by day, and singing by night. Finally, after an intense song-writing jag Daisy sang a somber, personal song to a close friend who strongly advised her to quit her day job and dedicate herself full-time to music.  She played her first live show in 2006, and was dubbed an 'instant rock star" in an L.A. Weekly review, which reported that Daisy "stole the show."Upon hearing the record's first single "Tell Her," legendary Grateful Dead lyricist, songwriter and poet John Perry Barlow called it "a very tight little novel," noting her "phrasing and delivery are perfect," and acknowledging Daisy as "the real deal."http://daisymccrackinmusic.com/http://www.my space.com/daisymccrackinWeebles (Featuring Dabbla) - Formula (London, UK)The latest member of the blocSonic net label family is Formula, a producer extraordinaire hailing from London. This here is his premiere solo release and our second original. You may have heard "Is It Too Late For Us All?" from the collaborative project that he was part of (along with Boston's own Tha Silent Partner), MUTE. It was featured on "netBloc Vol. 15: this album won't eat your gas money". Hip-Hop on another plain... from another perspective... but real boom bap hip-hop none-the-less. From the introduction "Ebony Shards"... to "X Man", there's not a boring or weak moment to be found.To me "The Overcast Project" feels like the perfect follow-up to Just Plain Ant's "Dig Deep". Formula seems to share a similar desire to expand the definition of "hip-hop". With Formula at it's core and a talented group of musicians and emcees, Overcast gels into a superbly cohesive unit (much like Ant"s release before it). There IS a "Formula sound" and each of the guest musicians and emcees lend their distinctive touches in such a way as to make the unit stronger.Sit back and get ready for the journey... the sky may be overcast, but no rain is in the forecast... so enjoy the journey!Free download from:http://blocSonic.comMe, I get high on a reefer - Two Man Gentleman Band (NY, NY, USA) That The Two Man Gentlemen Band is amongst the United States' most learned, sophisticated, and musically able two-man bands is commonly understood. That they throw one heck of a party has been a rather well-kept secret until now.The Two Man Gentlemen Band: Live in New York! is an unparalleled achievement. Using only four hands, two mouths, a bit of erudition, and a strong helping of the drink, the gents whip themselves and their New York City audience into an unmitigated frenzy of joy. Listeners to this recording will likely find themselves in a similarly frenzied, sweat-riddled state.Digital release date: Jan 12, 2010 on Serious Business but if you want a CD, you can get it right now from www.seriousbusinessrecords.com/www.two-man-gentlemen-ba nd.comwww.myspace.com/twomangentlemenbandMy mate Malcolm Wixley put me onto "Flash music games", an internet audio experiment site.You'll see four links on this very basic site one or two of them are really pretty interesting, especially I think, the first on the list which is a Flash Player Piano devised by Rob Wright at Aleotronic Music. Click on the engine box to see it at work.Ok, the graphics is very 1990s but there is a certain naive charm to it.www.flashmusicgames.com/generatorMalcolm is a good chum and is living in western France these days where he has a group of four of the the most idyllic and peaceful holiday cottages. Just sayin'www.chezmaurit.co.ukBlame it on the moon - Kat Danser (Edmonton, Canada)From Kat's 2007 album Somethin' Familiar.Her 'Swamp Blues' style is steeped in early roots and blues traditions and delivered by her deep, resonant vocals and the soulful sound of her Weissenborn lap slide guitar.  Much like a long stretching railroad track, Danser draws a direct line from the Canadian prairie to the Mississippi Delta.  She is one part backwoods juke joint, one part plow puller and two parts dusty ol' canvas tent revival.  Kat Danser delivers a refreshing approach to roots, blues, and gospel music for the 21st Century.Currently in production on her third full-length album Rails and Rivers, Danser wrote the material for it while on a research and study trip where she immersed herself in the music of the Mississippi. Much like a long stretching railroad track, her music draws a direct line from the Canadian prairie to the Mississippi Delta. She is also filming a documentary entitled Women in Blues: Turn the Page.www.katdanser.comwww.myspace.com/katdanserTake your chances - The Black Seeds (Wellington, New Zealand)The Black Seeds started turning heads around New Zealand following the release of their debut album, 2001's Keep On Pushing. The album received widespread critical acclaim, including being named one of the top 50 albums of the year by Rip It Up Magazine, and eventually reached gold sales status. The Black Seeds "Take Your Chances" (mp3) from "Solid Ground" (Easy Star Records) Stream from Rhapsody Buy at Amazon MP3 More On This Album www.theblackseeds.co.nzThere was a time - Rubblebucket (Boston, MA, USA)Rubblebucket is a Boston-and-Brooklyn-based nine-piece polyrhythmic dance/rock band led by trumpeter Alex Toth and fronted by the alluring vocals of Kalmia Traver. Comparisons have been drawn to Talking Heads, Fela Kuti, Bjork and James Brown, but Rubblebucket's afro-beat inspired, trip-rock soul experience is beyond classification. Alex Toth- trumpet, vocals bandleader. He loves Kalmia.âKalmia Traver- lead vocals, tenor sax. She loves reverie, berry-picking and skinny-dipping, pennywhistles and making artwork.âAdam Dotson- trombone, vocals. He won an international euphonium competition at age fourteen and never wears shoes when he plays.âCraig Myers- percussion. He began playing percussion at age thirteen, and he has studied West African percussion extensively for ten years and traveled to Senegal, Mali, Cote Ivoire and Guinea. He's also taught and directed percussion groups in Hawaii and throughout Europe.âDave Cole- drums. Has also plays guitar and keyboards and has an amazing beard and smile. He also has a cyclops mask.âDarby Wolf- keyboards. Darbstar has a plan. And he uses Goff organs and leslie speakers and is a vintage keyboard enthusiast.âIan Hersey- guitar. He lives in Brooklyn and recently bought a box of at least 15 Casio keyboards, and he takes them apart and fucks with them.http://rubblebucket.com/www.myspace.com/rubblebuck etHey Ocean! whose track Write a song about California I played a few weeks ago have a video of their live performance on Fearless Music. It's at Fearless (couldn't ge the YouTube code to play :(I like it - Sapiens fx (Karlsruhe, Germany)You can download the whole album free and legal at: www.jamendo.com/en/album/55492www.myspace.com/sapiensfx

Music from Toronto, Brooklyn, Hungary, Nashville, London, Atlanta, Rio de Janeiro and Montreal. There's a bit of a jazz influence this week - perhaps related to conversations last night with jazz "incubator" Ken Butler.www.jazzcrazy.co.ukThis week's pic is from before the rains came this afternoon. I was clearing undergrowth from around one of the pknds and came across this wasp nest. This is just the core, it was around 18 inches across and quite beautiful.European Podcast AwardsYes, Suffolk'n'Cool has been nominated again for the European Podcast Awards. Of course, that's very pleasing and a few votes, should you be inclined would make it even nicer. Here's a link.Lost Highway - The Blue Seeds (Montreal, Canada)Their acknowledged influences include Yo La Tengo, Lee Hazelwood, Leonard Cohen, The Velvet Underground and Eric Satie but you be the judge.I particularly weaned to play a different track so I'll see if I can get it for a future show.Led by the evocative voice of AmÃlie Laflamme, the music of Montreal-based The Blue Seeds resides somewhere between atmospheric-rock and alternative-folk. âThe bandâs main focus is on writing and arranging songs in a way that time wouldnât know how to make obsolete. In doing so, with its debut album, The Blue Seeds has also succeeded in creating its own unique soundscape that is as mysterious as a David Lynch movie and as refined as Wim Wendersâ pictures.www.theblueseeds.comwww.myspace.com/thebluesee dsTweet from Marc Farre (Harry on SnC 193) who is playing a show at The Turning Point in Piermont, New York exactly a week from tonight, so that'll be on 9th December. Check his site or MySpace for details.http://marcfarre.comwww.myspace.com/marcfarreWi tch - Peter Squires (Brooklyn, NY, USA)Raw, unpolished, and disarmingly personal, Woe is Me â the debut release from indie-folk newcomer Peter Squires â is a sweet and sincere portrait of a young man recovering from heartbreak.Recorded in his Brooklyn bedroom, Squires' songs cathartically express lovelorn despair with refreshing humor and self-awareness. Like the best work of Morrissey and Magnetic Fields, Peter Squires keeps things playful while he breaks your heart.Then, please go over to his MySpace and take a look at the video for the song.www.myspace.com/petersquiressongsGetting lighter - Chà Aimee (Toronto, Canada) From her album Underachiever.After several years performing throughout the Greater Vancouver Area and spending her summers playing in the Yukon Territories, Chà left to travel Europe and experience more of what the world had to offer. Busking from country to country and meeting other musicians from all walks of life, she started writing songs for upcoming demos, some of which appear on her 2009 debut album 'Underachiever'. Arriving back in Vancouver, she recorded a three song Demo with local musician Tim Readman and a year later recorded her first 7 song EP 'lights out' with producer Ryan Hauschild.With a Warner Music recording contract on the table, Chà took a break from the whirlwind adventure and took some time to really think about what it was that she wanted and needed musically and although the offer was impressive and very alluring she knew the had more to learn and write before she could sign on to anything.Now completed, ChÃ's debut solo album; Underachiever, has her displaying one of the strongest collections of songs to come out of an independent act in years. Having idols such as Cat Power, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley to contend with; Che has aspired for a long time to create something that is as pleasing to the soul as it is to the ears. Endeavoring to create âsomething that has its own form of geniusâ as opposed to another pop diva record that revolves less around content and more around presentation. Underachiever's both rootsy and contemporary feel is the result of this inspiration, conveying both the heartbreak and the joy of life as seen through her own experiences.www.cheaimee.comwww.myspace.com/cheaimeeToo Much Joy A well written account of what it can be like to have a record deal. Royalty statement.www.toomuchjoy.comJazz.zene - Kovacs (Hungary)Budda Beats netlabel's first release was by Kovacs aka Nandor Kurtossy, the young Hungarian producer. He started making music in '96, so nowadays he has his own massive musical archive including his works under the name Kovacs as well as the rest of his side projects like Savages (downtempo), Vega Ass (funk breaks), Cockchafer (trip hop). The pseudonym Kovacs covers dirty jazz mixed with sensual electronica. What he simply calls "nu-jazz", however, is proved to be much more beyond its common meaning.You can get the whole album free at Budabeats. You find a download link at www.budabeats.com/bube001.htmBaby Blues - Rachel Pearl (Nashville, TN)Whether sheâs channeling the 20th century classics of ella, billie holiday and tina turner, or crooning one of the self-penned compositions from her 2007 debut cd, love extravagantly, rachel pearl is consistently putting down roots in her own chosen field.âyou can usually find her in nashvilleâs backyard experimenting in night clubs like mercy lounge, the basement, cafe coco and the rutledge. âDownload it free right here: Rachel Pearl "Baby Blue" (mp3) from "Love Extravagantly" (Per Capita Records) Buy at iTunes Music Store More On This Album www.myspace.com/rachelpearl Healthy Fear - Lexi Street (Atlanta, GA, USA)Arrived in this morning's post.Champagne Promises is the tongue in cheek title for Lexi Street's long awaited second album. It was in 2002 they released the girl I used to beâ. Since then, the band released a few singles, Summer and The Room which enjoyed a stay on satellite's XM radio. Their second album release, Champagne Promises makes good on their promise to deliver. If you like Tom Waits, Shiveree, or moody broody music, with some playful attitude thrown in - then we think you'll like this album!www.lexistreet.comwww.myspace.com/lexistreetSeren ata - Oswaldo G. Pereira (Rio de Janiero, Brazil)Oswaldo is an incredible versatile artist! His last album Serenata represents, more than his maturity as a composer, his confidence in a very personal perception of the contemporary Brazilian music. From original samba to the infinity of possible styles, from tradition to innovation, keeping the balance between his nostalgic feelings and his modern inspirations, Oswaldo G. Pereira brings Brazilian music with no strings attached, vibrant and aesthetically free. Serenata is the modern and contemporary Brazilian samba. Oswaldo G. Pereira "Serenata" (mp3) from "Serenata" (Dubas Musica) Buy at iTunes Music Store Stream from Rhapsody More On This Album Libsyn / WizzardCheck out the video of Dave showing how to set up a website player (even if you are not interested) by click on Getting started with WMTools at http://tools.wizzard.tv/auth/indexThis is why I like dealing with these guys.Time Patrol - Ylotana (London, UK)From the album My Little GodAnatoly Podkopov, the ideological inspirer of the project states,"YLOTANA project was born in the consciousness of people, who are infinitely devoted to art. It represents a certain musical, literary and visual art symbiosis. Actors, musicians, sound engineers, designers and various other artists, who have every right to be considered as some of the best in the field of the modern experimental art have gathered together and with the help of state-of-the-art technology will take contemporary music and art to a whole new level."The end product consists of a multimedia package which includes elements of: a music album, a comic book, a story and an audio book (see the video here) all masterfully combined so that each element intensifies the depth of the other art forms involved. Ylotana currently has five ongoing projects, all of which can be experienced online at the projectâs website. Do watch it in HD if you can and full screen to make make it easier to read. You'll also find it on YouTube. www.ylotana.com

Fine fine music this week from Utah, Italy, California, London, Sweden, just a hint of New York.Lots of wind this week has finally turned Suffolk autumnal. We don't get much of the golden stuff; the winds are just too strong here on the "hill" so the leaves are whipped off in no time.Ocean Passage - Projekt (London, UK)Projekt are a 4-piece northern rock'n'roll band all based in London. They played their first gig in January 2009 and havenât stopped since, causing waves on the London circuit playing venues such as Monto Water Rats, Proud Galleries, O2 Academy and The Cavern Club.The band are headlining at the Dublin Castle in London on Thursday.www.myspace.com/projektnorthHope is a thing - Lisbeth Scott (Venice, CA, USA)Lisbeth Scott was raised as a classical pianist, rehearsing hours a day and headed for a concert career.  She studied at The New England Conservatory, Connecticut College and The University of London throughout the 1990's.  Lisbeth then headed to Los Angeles where she really began to discover her voice... as did the film world.   Scottâs vocals can be heard on over 50 blockbuster films including The Passion of the Christ, Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe, Shrek 1 and 2, and Steven Spielbergâs Munich in which legendary composer, John Williams wrote a five minute solo specifically for her.Throughout her career she has worked closely with Steven Spielberg, John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Harry Gregson-Williams, John Debney and many others.  Her songs have been covered by other artists, including Macy Grey and Bliss.Hope is a Thing is her eighth studio solo album which is available on iTunes. "www.hopeisathing.com was originally created as a site to garner financial support for my album of the same name. Through many generous souls, the CD is done! The album was released on November 10th. So it's time to turn this site over to YOU and see just how big we can make this." www.lisbethscott.comwww.myspace.com/lisbethscottmusicRe bel Zion - Rebel Zion (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA)Kimo Watanabe and the band with a studio track, which I know Codger has already played.The band seem to be having such a blast in the studio, I do hope they'll be able to get out for some fresh air and some gigs before long.www.sellaband.com/kimo-watanabe/www.myspace.com/ki mowatanabeTutto Come prima feat. Ketamo - Jambassa (Irpinia, Italy) Released on Monday evening (November 23, 2009) to mark the exact anniversary of the earthquake which devastated the Irpinia area in southern Italy. New album: Macchine parlanti / talking machines.An explicit anthem to identify the living essence of  this work. Jambassa confirms direction, identity and  sound, pushing the boundaries with 7 new tracks, adding a very special spice for each one. Undisputed attitude.Jambassa is a digital dub project, started in 2000 by Carmine Minichiello (Gamino) & Raffaele Gargiulo (Papa Lele), and settled in Irpinia -South of Italy-, a rugged and poor land, far away from the nerve-centers, where digital dub music had way and space to express itself: a physical and cultural isolation, which develops in Jambassa an own original style, detached form the genre standards.A free download from the excellent A Quiet Bump label at:www.aquietbump.com/aqbmp023.htmlwww.myspace.com/jamb assaPodcrawlThe bash was part sponsored by Adnams (of Southwold) whose Broadside fueled the discussions. Our collective thanks to them for "getting" the whole thing. You can follow them on Twitter where they are @adnamsGoths of summer - Mark Aaron James (London & New York)Mark has just been named one of the top 14 singer/songwriters in Greenwich Village by UMO for the second time! (Check out www.umo.com for info on this organization). A live recording of his song When Are You Gone is featured on the Best Of... CD released this summer.Some dates in the states before the end of the year - Florida, Nashville and San Francisco.Back in London he plays:Every Monday @ 6:30 pm at BAR ROOM BAR in the ARC. âThis is a very cool club in Angel/Islington. They have amazing brick oven pizzas. Every week I do a happy hour set, then feature a guest singer/songwriter or band, then I do an evening set. Itâs a great night of music.Every Tuesday @ 8:30 pm at HALO Acoustic. âI host the best night of acoustic songwriters in greater London. HALO was voted the PRS Indy venue of the year. Every week I perform original songs and introduce top notch up and coming performers. Iâm really proud of this night. Check it out. Every Saturday @ 8 PM at The Black Sheep in Oval. âThis is a great traditional English pub, just a short walk from the Oval Tube and the cricket grounds. Perfect grub and a rowdy crowd that sings along with every song, beers in the air. Come join the chorus.Available at http://markaaronjames.bandcamp.com/ www.markaaronjames.comwww.myspace.com/markaaronjamesFre e Tom Waits album previewI was intending to give you a link to a free download of a special preview of the Tom Waits remarkable new live album Glitter and Doom but to would appear to have been a very short-term I can't find it anywhere now, but I have the tracks. :)www.tomwaits.comSilly Love - Diversifyd (San Marcos, CA, USA)Chad Makihele, who wrote most of the lyrics and arranged the tracks, plays bass/rhythm guitar and produced the album. Grew up with a background of music ranging from reggae, rock, pop to alternative music. Lieni Makihele arranged most of the vocals and has a background of music from pop, jazz and rhythm and blues. John Naki plays the drums and also arranged songs on the album. He grew up with island music, choir and oldies. Sione Malimali plays the percussions and has music background in roots reggae and was also a member of the 90's reggae group called "Mission Irie" where he was known as "Baby Rasta". Marcus Snapp who plays the lead guitar, has his background in funk, neo soul, rock and alternative music. Finally we have Jelani Jones who plays the keyboard and has toured with "The Bonedaddys"www.diversifyd.comwww.cdbaby.com/cd/div ersifydVienna - Tom Norris (London, UK)From the album Edge of the world.The opportunity for a sabbatical from the London Symphony Orchestra is providing Tom with the time needed to showcase and promote his new album 'Edge of the World'. The album, recorded in Austria and the U.K, features songs written in the early days as well as more recent additions. Pop elements, acoustic beats and lush string arrangements, along with Tomâs warm, well-balanced voice effectively combine to a rich, dramatic sound. Apart from the violin and vocal parts, Tom also performs the viola and the piano, making his wide experience as a classical musician evident throughout this recording. Many tracks feature members of the LSO and acclaimed musicians from around the world.â Besides producing Edge of the World, Tom has also dedicated his time away from regular performing to developing the eclectic âLiving Room in Londonâ â a quintet featuring an unusual combination of hang drum, bass clarinet and string trio. His passion of exploring and experimenting with multi-art projects, especially in the field of music and theatre, has led to early work with Gogmagogs and more recently Teatro Vivoâs sell-out production, Hothouse. He has recently started writing and recording his next album. Tom Norris "Vienna" (mp3) from "Edge Of The World" (LeeBelle Music) Buy at iTunes Music Store More On This Album tomnorris.netwww.myspace.com/tomnorrismusicWhe n the lights go out - Pixie Carnation (Malmo, Sweden)The product of two years of musical experimentation has culminated in what is now Pixie Carnation, a Swedish based, and yet very American sounding band.  From the time that childhood friends Ola PÃlsson and Tobias Hellkvist reconnected a few years ago there was an instant artistic connection, and it was only a matter of time before their sound and the bandâs lineup became what it is today.  âDespite it taking about a year and a half for PÃlsson and Hellkvist to find like-minded musicians, Pixie Carnation has now evolved into a seven-member band and made their first recording, Fresh Poems EP, self reeled in 2009.âA classic rock influenced, Americana infused, musical tapestry with orchestral elements, Fresh Poems is already making waves on the west side of the Atlantic as evidenced by their song When the Lights Go Out being named KEXPâs song a the day on.  Drawing comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, KEXP proclaims that when the music begins, âImmediately you start to think that maybe The Boss has entered the room.â There have only been a few times when I've been this impressed since I was tour managing The Wailers and we played a residency with Springsteen at Max's Kansas City in New York. That tells you it was a long time ago!www.myspace.com/pixiecarnation

A mix of music from around the world again with something to delight even the most jaded ear. The combination of Apache attack helicopters circling the barn and the wind trying to blow clean through it made recording "interesting" tonight. Ah well, I suppose the Army Air Corps have to practice somewhere and the wind is nowhere near as bad as they seem to be having it in the north tonight.Movember 'tash is coming on, slowly!Sushi bar - Izzie Voodoo (Sheffield, UK)It's not often that I get to play tracks by fellow podcasters. One such is Izzie Voodoo.Izzie created controversy when her track Sound won a runner up award at the 2007 Song Of The Year Award.  As a result of a protest by the owners that it had only originally been a runner up, Control Freak from her new EP went on to win an award at Song of the Year this year before it was even out of the studio.   Since then, Izzie has had features in local newspapers as well as airplay on BBC Radio Sheffield plus a number of other radio stations across the UK.  Dates have recently been confirmed in the South Yorkshire region details of which can be found on her website. Izzie is a member of AMP. Her VQS New Music show is at www.vqsnewmusic.tv/ and the podcast  page on iTunes is here  izzievoodoo.comOpen Hand - David Wilcox (Asheville, NC, USA)Title track from his album.I played another track, Modern World a couple of weeks ago which prompted Kimo into action.David Wilcox's Open Hand was recorded in 7 days from start to finish in December 2008 on 2 inch 16 track analog tape. No computer tricks were used, all of the songs on this release were recorded live, just 4 human beings playing music together. Very minimal overdubs were used, so most all of what you hear is exactly as it was played together by David and the other musicians live. Dan Phelps produced and played guitar and keyboard, Jon Evans: bass guitar and upright bass, James McAlister: drums and percussion.www.davidwilcox.com/www.myspace.com/davidwil coxsiteEuropean Podcast Awards 2009The awards are under way again and SnC has again been nominated in the UK section. You'll find the show at this direct link        Yellow shade of blue - Lexi Street (Atlanta, GA, USA)Champagne Promises is the tongue in cheek title for Lexi Street's long awaited second album. It was in 2002 they released the girl I used to beâ. Since then, the band released a few singles, Summer and The Room which enjoyed a stay on satellite's XM radio. Their second album release, Champagne Promises, makes good on their promise to deliver. If you like Tom Waits, Shiveree, or moody broody music, with some playful attitude thrown in - then we think you'll like this album!www.lexistreet.comwww.myspace.com/lexistreetTomor row Never Knows - Leftside Wobble EditLeftside Wobble sent a link through to his edit of the Beatles track, Tomorrow never knows. It is on Soundcloud so you can take a listen and download it for yourself at this linkWere were - Gaspipe (LA, CA, USA)From the album Look out â He's gonna Blow! The music on this c.d. pretty music reflects my musical experiences. I've made my living as an RnB sax player having worked with Ike Turner, Taj Mahal and others. Currently working with Bobby Womack for the last 12 years. I've also spent some time in the African Drumming community in Los Angeles thus the African influence. Were Were is a good example of the sort of thing I intend to do more of, combining funk and African drumming. - Jim Thompsonwww.mythmara.comwww.cdbaby.com/cd/gaspipe         Podcrawlwww.podcrawl.blogspot.com/http://bit.ly/3 ExVxy (podcrawl map) starting at 12.Movemberhttp://uk.movember.com/mospace/395470/Twenty Two Hundred - Syntaks (Denmark)From their album Ylajali which was released in the past couple of weeks.Ylajali is the debut full-length from Syntaks, the Danish duo of Jakob Skott and Anna Cecilia.In Ylajali's beautifully scorched sonic landscape, acres of drones run beneath Cecilia's wordless sighs; Skott's beats crunch like autumn leaves while synthesizers swell, flourish, and disappear. Songs either tramp through hazy forests until they fade into the dark (the Boards of Canada-esque "Love Camp 23"), or stack tone upon tone like translucent building blocks, building to forceful, near-operatic crescendos (the epic "She Moves in Colors"). Syntaks' luminous Ylajali crackles with emotion and imagination, giving form to its creators" vibrant inner lives.ghostly.com/artists/syntakswww.myspace.com/syntak sFarm Machine Music / extraordinaire instrument de musiqueIf you google "extraordinaire instrument de musique" you will find links to video of an amazing music machine. Which some sources claim is made from tractor and irrigation parts.  In fact it is another superb animation from Animusic which seems to have been doing the rounds and picking up all sorts of nonsense about its origins.The myth is busted by Snopes.com and you'll find the original at www.animusic.com/previews/animusic1.phpIf you are into animation, there is another superb piece of work by Lucas Martell at http://bit.ly/1LNNa3Don't go to Klasvik - Leif Vollebekk (Montreal)Nevado Records will re-release Vollebekk's stunning debut album across Canada on January 19th, 2010 on CD and 12 inch vinyl. The young artist has made a name for himself in Canada thanks to his organic and honest live performances.Inland was recorded in Montreal's Breakglass Studios (Wolf Parade, Patrick Watson, Stars, Unicorns). A true multi-instrumentalist, Vollebekk plays guitar, harmonica, piano and violin on the album.Now signed to rising independent Toronto label, Nevado Records, alongside the countries best (Bahamas, Yukon Blonde, Fox Jaws, and The Paint Movement), the time has come for this modest musician to take a few steps away from humble small-town beginnings, and into the arms of national, and international respect and adoration. Just wait and watch as the subtle beauty of Vollebekk's music embraces new listeners far and wide.www.myspace.com/leifvollebekkwww.nevadorecords.com Love not monnaie - Volfonic feat Tribuman (Montpellier, France)Codger played a track by Volfoniq a week or two ago which reminded me how good the music is. There are some really interesting collaborations too.These tracks and more can be found free at LCL. Do have a poke around and see what else you can find.www.lclweb.org/audio_ep_lcl16.htm

Some frankly remarkable music this week from Oxford and Leamington Spa in the UK, New York and Detroit in the USA, Montpellier and Rodez in France, Stockholm in SwedenI had to go over to the former Bentwaters USAF airbase near Woodbridge this afternoon. It has been a grey cold day after the 2 minute silence this morning on Armistice Day (Veteran's Day in USA). The base was active during a whole series of "real" wars until it closed 15 years ago after the mercifully non-violent Cold War. It is easy to loose sight of the fact that the soldiers and airmen at that base may all have looked alike but they were each individuals with their own families, hopes and fears, doing a job that they had no say in after joining up. Bentwaters is a pretty bleak spot at the best of times but I caught sight of this wall near the former aircraft refueling facility. The writing on the wall reads " POW [Prisoners of War] MIA [Missing in Action] "You are not forgotten". Indeed not.Darling Dear - Little Fish (Oxford, UK)I played Little Fish ages ago on SnC 117 back in May of last year (2008). Now everyone seems to be playing them, which is thoroughly good news, and they seem to be breaking into the USA.Once in a very long while a band comes along with a sound that is more than just music; it is raw seductive impulse revealed through mesmerising vocals, raucous guitars and driving drums; this band is Little Fish.  Hailing from Oxford, England, Little Fish is comprised of vocalist/guitarist/principal songwriter JuJu, a rail-thin force of nature (think Patti Smith meets PJ Harvey meets Chrissie Hynde), and drummer Nez, the propulsive undercurrent of the band, backed by a Hammond player in their live performance.  Little Fish's sound is at once sensual and urgent, yet intimate and haunting.Recently signed to Linda Perry's Custard label via Universal Motown Records, Little Fish's debut album BAFFLED AND BEAT is set for an early 2010 release.  The album was produced by Perry herself, in her Los Angeles studio.www.myspace.com/littlefishmusicHarry - Marc Farre (Piermont, NY, USA)Indie artist Marc Farre delivers cinematic pop/rock songs shot through with a raw, poetic energy. His voice is deep, intimate, intense. (Critics have called it "mesmerizing.") Equal parts open-hearted and hallucinatory, his music pulls you in like an art-house film.Though he is based in New York, Marc Farreâs French background imbues his music with a European, art-house feel â a seductive ambiance perfectly paired with his driving rhythms, otherworldly lyrics and magnetic melodies. While his past association with 20th-century giants Merce Cunningham (whose dance company he managed during the 1980s) and John Cage continues to drive Farre's creative vision toward the new, it is his visceral, open-hearted singing that really carries you out onto a tightrope â and leaves you there. After  a label contract, he went on to release his recordings on his own All Weather label, starting with Unsafe songs in 1998 and Man on the Sun in 2000. His third full-length CD, Secret Symphony, was released in June 2008. His Facebook Fan Page is at http://tinyurl.com/yfb9s9b http://marcfarre.comwww.myspace.com/marcfarre"Gree ns, Greys, and Nordics (I Am Robot And Proud Remix)"  - Deastro (Detroit, Michigan, USA)Detroit wunderkind Randolph Chabot has been touring relentlessly since the release of Moondagger, Deastro 's full-length debut on Ghostly International. Having just completed a sizeable UK tour with Hockey, the madness continues as Deastro unveiled a new single ("Tone Adventure #3") on September 29th, and is now embarking upon a fall co-headlining tour with Domino Records' Max Tundra.First, a bit about the single:"Tone Adventure #3" is an archetypal Deastro song, as Randolph Chabot sprints through catchy, melodic passages with maniacal conviction, howling about feet being âstrapped to cannon ballsâ from behind a wall of electronically conjured atmosphere. Glockenspiels, spy-movie guitars, orchestral stabs, and alien ray guns all make appearancesâas they should in any good adventure.Next, the tour:After a few dates at New York City's CMJ festival follow, Deastro hits the road in November, co-headlining a monthlong tour with oddball electronic genius Max Tundra.www.myspace.com/deastroMovember and podcrawlI'm growing a moustache this year for Movember.  I have decided to put down my razor for one month (November) and help raise awareness and funds for menâs health â specifically prostate cancer.  What many people donât appreciate is that one man dies every hour of prostate cancer in the UK, more than 35,000 men will be diagnosed this year and that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK.  Facts like these have convinced me I should get involved and I am hoping that you will support me.  To donate to my Mo, you can click this link http://uk.movember.com/mospace/395470/ and donate online using your credit card, debit card or PayPal account.Details of the podcrawl: www.podcrawl.blogspot.com/ Until the day I die - Bottle up and Go (Brooklyn, NY, USA)A new genre to me: blues/punkCurrently based out of a basement in Bushwick, Brooklyn, wedged between 99-cent wholesale vendors, BU&G consists of Keenan Mitchell (guitar, vocals), Fareed Sajan (drums) and saxophone accompaniment by either Lucas or his twin Andrew Carrico (alto and tenor respectively). The two-and-a-half piece neo primitive garage rock band is known across NYC for their frantic freak outs, described by various press sources as 'neanderthalic' and 'barbaric'.There is no doubt that BU&G has a slight obsession with death and bones, taxidermy and bootleg whiskey.  Keenan writes lyrics that mix the language of the bible with the spirit of ancient blues hollers, western iconography, murder ballads, drunken dreams, morning tremors, hospital visits, jail time--rhythms that are indisputably alive as they call for their own death. They are narratives that mix their own lives with the myths of their blues forefathers, and that emerge as neither, a new blues form that is as much a Leadbelly song as a noise collage.www.myspace.com/bottleupandgoband Let's run - John Garrison (Leamington Spa, UK or New York or London)The playwright Tennessee Williams once said, âThere is a time for departure even when thereâs no certain place to go.â This oddly serene notion is something quite familiar to musician John Garrison, his life having served as the muse to his brilliant new work, aptly titled DEPARTURES. The most notable of these life changes was the transition from an established life in London to starting anew in New York. The City, replete with its clichÃd dreams of life and love and open-endings, agreed beautifully with Garrison, even if his leaving London was at first uncertain. DEPARTURES is as multi-dimensional as New York, a tapestry of song and emotion, its true artistry apparent when experienced as a whole. Garrisonâs haunting voice and raw lyrics backed by the equally lingering instrumentals affects each and every listener in some way, everyone being able to relate to loving and losing. We first heard Garrison's signature vocal quality on his band BUDAPEST's 2002 debut release, TOO BLIND TO HEAR (out through Universal Records in the USA and Sinnamon Records in Spain), and later on their album HEAD TOWARDS THE DAWN (out through Sinnamon Records in Spain). The single âCensored Memoriesâ off of TOO BLIND TO HEAR was the second most played song in all of Spain in 2004, the year the album released. Despite critical acclaim for his work with BUDAPEST, a new music scene was calling out to Garrison. Heeding that call required great sacrifice â it was during this period Garrison made the decision to uproot himself in favor of New York. âWhen I first moved to New York, I really left it all behind...my friends, my home country,â he explains. âIt was like being a little boy all over again in this big city.â Departures was released yesterday 10 Novwww.myspace.com/johngarrisonmusicwww.Garrisonmusic.c omDream Walking - "Big" Walker (Stockholm, Sweden)Derrick "Big" Walker was born in Lawton, Oklahoma. He grew up in an artistic family, his mother and aunt both working in theatre, and his Uncle owning a blues club in Cleveland. Walker began to learn harmonica at the age of 7, and over the years has taken lessons in harmonica from Paul Butterfield, and lessons in saxophone from Bobby Forte, known for his work with BB King. ââWalker writes and sings his own music and plays harmonica and saxophone in accompaniment. He is extremely versatile, mixing American folk music, blues, country, soul, rock, and funk. Walker played in Albert Collins band as well as Luther Tucker and Michael Bloomfield's bands. Touring with Luther Tucker's band for 10 years he opened for artists that included Lowell Fulson, Percy Mayfield and Big Mama Thornton. He's also recorded on six of Eric Bibb's CDs. Now based in Stokholm Sweden, he tours with his band throughout Europe. Big Walker "Dream Walking" (mp3) from "Still Dream Walking" (Blue Skunk Music) Stream from Rhapsody Buy at iTunes Music Store More On This Albumwww.blueswalker.com/ Granier Mix - Nex2012 & DJ "H" (Rodez, France)From the album Ultime Outrage MuzikhÃl.Nex2012 & DJ "H" ce sont deux iconoclastes co(s)miques à poil long et moins qui s'imaginent que l'informatique peut servir à faire de la "musique". Quelle drÃle d'idÃe !!!Nous mÃlangeons quelques notes et des Ãchantillons afin d'obtenir des morceaux plus ou moins audibles. Appelons Ãa du bricolage sonore !Nous faisons cela à temps perdu et surtout pour le plaisir ! Si Si ! A entendre nos album on dirait pas mais on s'amuse en faisant Ãa et en plus on le fait exprÃs !Voilà ! Voilà ! Bonne Ãcoute !www.jamendo.com/en/artist/nex2012Vote early and vote often!Podcast Alley:Codger at 7, SnC at 9 but AMPed is at 4. Vote if you'd like to it's just a bit of fun. I'm not going to ask you to distort the polls. There is enough of that in Afghanistan and Iran.www.podcastalley.comSauda dub-pao - Volfoniq (Montpellier, France)Founded in 2004, Volfoniq is a "one-man-dub" from the south of France (Montpellier). In a retro-futuristic mood, he uses his classical formation (clarinet) and a rich musical history to produce a dub that goes farther than tags, respecting the jamaican roots, but adventuring into new lands of experimentation. Sometimes digital, sometimes roots, clearly electro or acoustic, reggae, ragga, ska, with slices of tango or triphop riddim, the generosity of Volfoniq's music equals its humility.Just like SnC you are allowed to share Volfoniq releases under a Creative Commons by-nc-nd 3.0 licence.www.volfoniq.com/One more thing...Playing for change live in LA Nov 13 w/Toots Hibbert and Ziggy Marleywww.playingforchange.com/

An eclectic selection which verges on the quixotic this week with tracks from France, North Carolina, Brooklyn, Denmark, Florida, and Newfoundland.I can't imagine how long the old rail carriage has been on sat by the farm track but it has somethow survived and even has the ivy trimmed each year!A l'ombre des palmiers - Tahigo (Rouen, France)We are four. We are friends for 20 years. We are french... And WE WANT TO JUMP ON STAGE WITH THE ENTIRE WORLD !!!AprÃs la sÃparation de Muffin Kriska en mars 2007, trois de ses membres dÃcidÃrent de former un nouveau groupe.A l'Ãpoque, pas de nom, pas de chanteur ni de bassiste, mais une rÃelle envie chez Charly (Guitariste soliste), Boulle (Guitariste Rythmique) et Tom (Batterie) de se lancer dans quelque chose de beaucoup plus punk, tout en restant festif.www.myspace.com/tahigoModern World - David Wilcox (Asheville, NC, USA)David Wilcox's Open Hand was recorded in 7 days from start to finish in December 2008 on 2 inch 16 track analog tape. No computer tricks were used, all of the songs on this release were recorded live, just 4 human beings playing music together. Very minimal overdubs were used, so most all of what you hear is exactly as it was played together by David and the other musicians live. Dan Phelps produced and played guitar and keyboard, Jon Evans: bass guitar and upright bass, James McAlister: drums and percussion.www.davidwilcox.com/www.myspace.com/davidwil coxsiteBeatbox gospel lesson interlude - Stouffi the Stouves (Lille, France)From the album Madness on Jamendo.Follows on from last week's final track from Eclectekwww.myspace.com/eclectekofficielwww.jamendo.com /en/album/37759Cheerio! - Hollands (Brooklyn, NY, USA)Hollands is multi-instrumentalist John-Paul Norpoth and violinist Jannina Barefield. Together, they formed in February 2008 in Washington Heights, New York. Norpoth, formerly the co-lead of NYC-based Butane Variations, is the son of a classical flautist while Barefield is the daughter of Detroit based avant-garde jazz guitarist Spencer Barefield. Together, they combine fuzzy Flaming Lips guitars with Martin-esque orchestral arrangements and traditional folk nods to the Paul Simon's and the Grateful Dead's of years pastAt times, Hollands sounds like a simple folk duo, plaintive and gentle, soft and free. At others, the band performs as a loud, brash, orchestral rock ensemble; employing cello, organs, synthesizers, electric and acoustic violins. In other words, they'll explore any means necessary to realize the most honest atmosphere and capture the diversity of each song.www.hollandsss.comwww.myspace.com/hollandsssMistra l Moon - Syntaks (Denmark)Syntaks' Mistral Moon EP is a free taste of the Danish duo's upcoming full-length Ylajali (November 3rd on Ghostly), comprising two tracks of Syntaks' densely layered ambient pop.Syntaks' songs are textural epics in miniature, meticulously detailed shoegaze symphonies built from Anna Cecilia's wordless vocalizations and Jakob Skott's breathtaking production. "Sudden Dream" grows from a puddle of Cecilia's molten coos to a towering climax worthy of M83's overdriven majesty; "Mistral Moon (Illuminated Version)" presents a slightly sweetened rendition of the Ylajali standout, matching a triumphant melody and heavy-footed beat with distant stutters of distortion and oceans of atmospheric rumblings. To call Syntaks' music "cinematic" would be an understatementâwith the Mistral Moon EP, the experience is as visceral and surreal as a sunrise.ghostly.com/artists/syntakswww.myspace.com/synt aksTake out the trash - Neal Fox (Florida, USA)Composer/performer/multimedia artist. Recording artist on Polydor, RCA and Columbia. Co-scored 2 of the Killer Tomatoes movies. Neal has some fine videos via his beautifully crafted site.www.wireduck.com/www.myspace.com/nealfoxBees and Flowers / Joe Smallwood & Raindrops - Duane Andrews (St John's, NL, Canada)Heavily influenced by the brilliance of early twentieth century French Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, Duane Andrews' unique blend of jazz and traditional Newfoundland folk music is consistently recognised by both industry and fans with awards and accolades.Duane's music is undergoing something of a transformation from being rooted firmly in the Django Reinhardt school of gypsy jazz and Newfoundland folk with its influences from Scotland to another layering involving chamber orchestra . Duane is one seriously dedicated musician. Now a 10 minute mini documentary about Duane is on YouTube at http://tinyurl.com/yz615dkEscape for 10  minutes to the wild coast of Newfoundland, hear some great music and get an insight into a fine musician.www.duaneandrews.cawww.myspace.com/duaneandrew sUngrateful men - Grace Valhalla (Nancy, France)It is ages since I played a Grace Valhalla track. Here it is. From her masterly album Peak on Jamendo.Description by MadCat: "Grace Valhalla has been producing music on her computer for two years. Recently she put them on Jamendo sharing them as creative commons. She says about herself, that she is far from being professional and just wanted to produce something she likes to listen to. And expresses the hope of progression through passion. âShe faces the same fate as many women producing music: no one believes she produced it. Of the two albums she produced the first Grace Valhalla - psychopathethic is more a rock album while the latter Grace Valhalla - PEAK~ is clearly electronic. Both containing calmed down nearly melancholic music. Wire is a mix between the two first albums"http://gracevalhalla.hautetfort.comwww.mysp ace.com/gracevalhallawww.jamendo.com/en/album/2162Podca st AlleyIf you'd like to vote for SnC and AMPed and even PC Podcast (if you really must) on Podcast Alley, you can do so dead easy at www.podcastalley.com Just pop Suffolk in the search box or you can get direct to the show at this link. Just click on "Vote" and follow the simple instructions, not forgetting to check the confirming email. Thanks. Fourth place indeed! Bah ...

Fine tunes from New York, Maidstone (UK), Berlin, Ajaccio and Lille (France), Irpinia (Italy) and Toronto. It's unseasonably warm on Suffolk this week, despite what Jessie says (having arrived in the UK from Ibiza late last night). Today is, at least, sunny and the colours are getting into gear.Double or nothing - Kirsten Dehaan (NYC, NY, USA) Kirsten DeHaan is a true jack of all musical trades. Not only is she a talented singer/songwriter and guitarist, she promotes her music via her label SirLady Records, does various philanthropic work for American soldiers in the Middle East, and is a big proponent of the New York indie music scene. Her latest offering, a five song EP dubbed Thorns On A Crown is by far her most mature work to date and is set to hit the streets later this summer.A native German/Indianan (her mother emigrated from Germany to Indiana), Kirsten graduated from college in Texas and moved to New York just six weeks before the 9/11 attacks. Having composed music most of her life, DeHaan says she writes based on two tenets: to deliver goose bumps and to question the status quo. Luckily for us, her music succeeds in doing both.www.kirstendehaan.comwww.myspace.com/kirstendehaan Ibiza sunset camhttp://tinyurl.com/ko5qxbShiny Blue - Scott Brunger (Maidstone, Kent, UK)"I'm trying to be a folk songwriter, my lyrics are blunt and to the point and I try to display as much emotion in my songs as possible. I write about my life."Scott Brunger - Acoustic Guitar/VocalsJay Brunger - Bass and Backing VocalsPaul Jobson - DrumsTony Brunger - Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals.www.myspace.com/scottbrungerWake up Ringtone - Shardik's Walkman (Berlin, Germany)More Music from Shardik's Walkman at Indiestore and Last.fmwww.jamendo.com/en/artist/Momo_(4)Bad Tuning - BertycoX (Ajaccio, France)Bertycox est nà le 15 fevrier 1978, il vient donc de dÃplorer ses 31 ans .. âaimant les activitÃs dangeureuses , il le paya de son apparance , maintenant presque totalement robotisà seul son coeur demeure une piÃce d'origine . âla musique est Ãvidemment son mode d'expression et sa passion.Painfully little information on Jamendo but some very enthusiastic reviews of his numerous Jamendo releaseswww.akamusic.com/BertycoXwww.jamendo.com/en/art ist/bertycoxBe Bop, I gotta get away from you - Ray Guntrip and Tina May (UK)From their excellent Out of the Blue album on Jamendo.Out of the blue is the debut CD of a prolific but, until now, little-known British jazz composer. Well-established on the local jazz scene in his native Kent, Ray Guntrip has more than two hundred compositions to his name. Out of the Blue features the cream of his tunes played by some of the UKâs leading musicians. The enthusiastic involvement of two influential figures on the music scene in bringing Rayâs work to a wider audience is itself a testimony to the quality of the music it celebrates.âThe catalyst for the project was Gary Barnacle, sometime tenor-sax player with Tina Turner and Level 42, as well as a host of big-name bands from Jamiroquai to David Bowie, the Clash and Phil Collins. He was prompted to suggest a recording project after playing a number of gigs with Rayâs band, Green Machine. Gary also spotted an additional, and for Ray, unexplored potential: the addition of lyrics.âAn inspired recommendation brought Ray together with Tina May, a vocalist with an international reputation, whose recent projects with the legendary pianist Ray Bryant and Bobby Watson, showcased her skills as both world-class lyricist and singer. Impressed with the strength of Rayâs compositions, Tina added words that give an added dimension to the widely contrasting moods of eighteen of his tunes, nine of which are on this CD, from the tongue-twisting Be-Bop - I Gotta Get Away From You! to the rocking Heâs Mr Twister and anarchic intensity of Demons Dancing.http://rayguntripmusic.comwww.jamendo.com/en/al bum/34700Them never loves the flowers - Jambassa (Irpinia, Italy)From the album The roots and the flowers on A Quiet Bump"Two platinums vinyls, a mixer, a microphone, the EPS and Atari, the whole coupled with effects a such digital delay generated the bases of the exploration of Dub-Roots made in Irpinia. The first Dub tests under the name of Jambassa take life in the year 2000.Since then research of the ideal âflowâ never stopped, as well through the scenic experiments into live, year studio with a work of production where still while passing by collaborations with musical groups, crew and artists of various musical horizons .Jambassa proposes a dj-set dub roots between the analogical one and digital, while dubbant into live the selections of their clean production accompanied by a skilful dj to the microphone, which makes it possible their live to be a true performance shared with a conquered public."So now you know!www.aquietbump.com/jambassa.htmlwww.myspace.com/ja mbassaAll over the world - Lola Dutronic (Germany / Toronto)The last knockings of Mediterranean summer are encapsulated in Lola Dutronic's latest double A-side single."We divide our time between Berlin and Toronto. We've put out three albums so far: The World Of Lola Dutronic, the Grammy Award nominated The Love Parade and our newest album, Lola Dutronic In Berlin. We've also appeared on several compilation albums and repackages in Asia and Europe."Available on iTunes and on CDBaby at:http://cdbaby.com/cd/ldutronicwww.myspace.com/loladu tronicWe are going to electrofunk your ass - Eclectec (Lille, France) JamendoI just lovce the sheer exuberant energy in this track. It is from their album Komiks Musik released just this August.klemaouche: chant â latino prez: guitare â maximax: platines â rhum arisk: batterie â stouffi the stouves: chant â fudd:So many great influences in here with some gorgeous sounds and huge energy - check their video here or at http://tinyurl.com/yhq4bkl we are going to eclecfunk your ass by maxdreadwww.myspace.com/eclectekofficielwww.jamendo.com /fr/artist/eclectek