Modern Miracles

Sep 25, 2004 · 1 minute read

It's Cadbury's chocolate — but shaped like a Pringle! GREATEST THING EVER!

Brought To You By The Numbers 25 and 45 And The Letter Q

Sep 24, 2004 · 1 minute read

This Friday’s selections are just the right thing for when an Autumn day is drawing to a close.

Epic 45 — I'm Getting Too Young For This

Epic 45 are a UK band, but this song comes recommended via Laura, Chapel Hill and the WXYC radio station (they don't have a UK record deal at the moment). It has one of those guitar parts; gentle and disarming, introspective and star-gazing. The vocals are hidden behind multiple echo effects, a technique stolen from Disco Inferno (but if you're going to steal, you might as well go after the best). It's a song that is trying to express itself, but can't, hiding behind its tricks, offering brief glimpses of its real state of mind.

Section 25 — Inspiration

Another old Factory record. This one is much closer to the traditional Factory sound; not surprising considering that this was produced by Bemusic, or New Order under a pen name. A stripped-down dance tune, with a very simple synth melody (which sounds fantastic, but it's only about five notes), a spaced-out drum beat, and the ever-helpful advice of "once you've left the floor, there ain't no beat no more". It's perfect listening for 1am…

Continung Suckage

Sep 23, 2004 · 1 minute read

Perhaps next week, then. Sorry!

L

Sep 22, 2004 · 1 minute read

Happy 50th Birthday, Dad!

For The Benefit of Mr. Kite

Sep 21, 2004 · 1 minute read

To the person who sent over 100 spam comments to this weblog today:

I really hope that your mobile phone number is discovered by persistent early-morning telemarketers…

Monday's Links of Fun!

Sep 20, 2004 · 1 minute read

One of George Lucas’s many changes to the original Star Wars trilogy

All of Calvin & Hobbes, in one giant collection!

SHOW TUNES 1, FUNDAMENTALISTS 0

DODGE! THE! DOT! (and in the game…)

The TeeVee 2004 Awards.

To the sun, via paper folds!

"I'm Selling These Fine Leather Jackets"

Sep 19, 2004 · 1 minute read

It be International Talk Like A Pirate Day. me hearties!

Avast! Arrr! Shiver and timbers! And suchlike.

Q. Why doesn't the Pirate Academy have a dean's list?

A. Cause they're all sea students.

YAARRR!

This Is Radio Free Europe

Sep 18, 2004 · 1 minute read

This week! A Scandinavian special!

The Knife — Heartbeats

Annie — Heartbeat

Two songs, one from Sweden, the other from Norway, both harking back to the magic discontinuity of 1982-3, when New Pop was in ascendence. The Knife is helped by the stilted voice and a jaunty Cyndi Lauper-esque backing track, snarling rage and disappointment bubbling under the surface. Annie, on the other hand, is silky smooth, channelling Trevor Horn and ABC to come up with The Look of Love (Part 23). Annoyingly, Annie's new album, Anniemal (yes, I know. Take it from me — what I heard almost makes up for the criminal pun), keeps on being delayed; it was supposed to be released in the UK this week, but it's now looking likely for early 2005. See if you can get hold of a pre-release copy from the usual file-sharing networks.

Oh, and finally, because nobody demanded it!

Vanilla Ice & The Fun Loving CriminalsVanilla Ice Snacks

You like those windows?

Sep 17, 2004 · 1 minute read

The US Army is good at persuasion, isn’t it?

Greatest Crossovers In History!

Sep 16, 2004 · 1 minute read