Kevin Greening

 

I've just got in from a night out dancing to read the news that Kevin Greening died last night in his sleep.

Only 44 years old, I'm really sad at this news. I spent a year working with Kevin in his role of chair of the Student Radio Awards in 2003 - 2004. We had meetings with him maybe 3 or 4 times a month over 9 months and he was always really lovely, patient and encouraging, and he really cared about helping new talent succeed. I can't say I ever really heard him on air, I hadn't found Radio 1 while he was still on the station and I don't really hear Smooth that often, but as a person, rather than a celebrity, he was a great gentlemen (with a wicked choice in suits!) and my sympathies go out to his partner, his friends and family.

Miss-Shapes Setlist 20/12/07

Last night was Xmas Miss-Shapes and as I've not done a setlist in a while, here is what I played. It's long!

Goldfrapp - A & E
Bat for Lashes - What's a Girl To Do
Nouvelle Vague - Ever Fallen in Love
Mutya - Strung Out
Dubstar - I Will Be Your Girlfriend
Garbage - Androgyny
Chicks on Speed - Love Life
Christophe Williem - Double Jeu
Le Tigre - Phanta
Ladytron - Playgirl
Northern State - Better Already
Sahara Hotnights - Who Do You Dance For
Donnas - Take It Off
Lush - Ladykillers
Ting Tings - That's Not My Name
New Young Pony Club - Get Lucky
M.I.A - Paper Planes
Robyn - Who's That Girl
Aly & AJ - Potential Breakup Song
Justice - D.A.N.C.E
Foals - Hummer
Maximo Park - Our Velocity
Klaxons - Golden Skans
Kylie - Wow
Annie - Chewing Gum
Roisin Murphy - Let Me Know
Groove Armada - Song 4 Mutya
Britney Spears - Piece of Me
Kaiser Chiefs - Everyday I Love You Less & Less
Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks
Le Tigre - Deceptacon
Sounds - Tony The Beat
Blondie - Call Me
Girls Aloud - Call The Shots
Ronson - Valerie
Gossip - Standing in the way
CSS - Let's Make Love
Calvin - Acceptable in the 80s
Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger (YUCK)
Hole - Celebrity Skin
Killers - Mr Brightside (EEEUGH)
Bloc Party - Banquet
Rihanna - Please Don't Stop the Music
Fedde vs Ida Corr - Let Me Think About It
Mariah Carey - All I Want For Xmas
Girls Aloud - Love Machine
Lily Allen - LDN
Gloria Jones - Tainted Love
Ike & Tina Turner - Nutbush City Limits
Kanye - Stronger
Britney - Gimme More (AAAGH)

Ashlee + Timbo = Kkkrazzy

Every so often a popstar who you don't really care about does something that really doesn't fit the opinion you hold of them. Holly Valance did this on the amazing 'State of Mind' and now, well now it's Ashlee Simpson's turn.

I interviewed Ashlee a few years ago at TOTP and it was horrible. I was probably rubbish because it was my first popstar interview, and she was rubbish because she really didn't want to be there. The rather ace 'Boyfriend' and the catchy 'L.O.V.E' from her last album did show that Ashlee could perhaps be a really cool popstar, and now she's got jiggy with Timberland no less to make the delirious 'Outta My Head'. I can't decide if it's just weird or totally amazing, but I reckon this is the song Timba had lined up for Britney before she went all crazy on his ass.

SPICE WORLD!

I went to see Spice Girls last night at their opening London gig. Despite being right at the top of the O2 and looking down on them as tiny people, it was awesome.

These were the highlights

- the crowd going WILD every time Victoria sang. Seriously it was hilarious. She seemed to genuinely smile at it.
- the cartoon visuals behind 'Holler' that somehow made every SG look like Cheryl Cole.
- the full on Gatecrasher "I Turn To You"
- "Viva Forever" making me nearly cry!
- how at times it felt like The Geri Halliwell Show
- The chants of "GERI, GERI, GERI" before 'It's Raining Men'
- Them playing a snippit of Run DMC vs Jason Nevins "It's Like That" before "Stop"; the very song that made "Stop" the only (old) Spice single not to reach number 1.
- Geri's union Jack dress

I am totally going again before they finish their o2 gigs so I can sit closer. Ebay at the ready!

THE CHART IS GOING MENTAL

One of my favourite things in the whole world is when the chart goes MENTAL, so let me tell you this week is very ace!

As the people who have to count down the chart, we get insights into how many people have bought songs all through th e week. And while we're not telling you where they are, if things stay like they are at the moment, it's very likely some of these songs will be appearing in a top 40 countdown near you on Sunday..

Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
Mariah Carey - All I Want For Xmas
Wham - Last Christmas
Shakin Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas
The Pogues - Fairytale of New York
Andy Williams - It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year

Amazing

You Know You Love Me

 

Buffy is dead. Angel is dead. Veronica is dead. At the start of this US season I was determined to find myself a new favourite television show and I've managed it hook, line and sinker. In just 9 episodes, the CW's (boo!) Gossip Girl has become possibly my favourite show ever. Based on a series of teen books by Cecily von Ziegesar that I don't think ever made it to the UK, the show has the same feel as the amazing Cruel Intentions.

For some reason I never watched the OC but some people are comparing it to that, but who knows if that's right. What I can tell you is that it's sexy, funny, devious, and if you're one of those people whose heart is crushed every time she thinks of the US visa laws, this is one of those shows that just makes you want to move to New York tomorrow. Revolving around the lives of the rich Upper East Siders, the gorgeous Blair and Serena take centre stage in a world little miss anonymous Gossip Girl really wants to keep us updated on. Kirstin Bell herself is Gossip Girl, a role which never appears on camera but just narrates. It's odd at first but it works.

I don't want to spoil it, I don't want to say anymore. Just find a way to watch it, it's all types of brilliant.

You know you'll love it. xoxo.

To Cut A Long Story Short

About 18 months ago a band called Cazals had one spiky indie hit that we loved playing djing. It was called Poor Innocent Boy and then I never heard anything about them again. Friends with Doherty (boo) and Bloc Party (woo), I forgot about them entirely until an email appeared telling me they were supporting Daft Punk in Japan this week.

It seems in their missing period they've been signed to Kitsune and have been in France perfecting their debut album What Of Our Future which'll be appearing in March 2008.

Their new single is a cover of Spandau Ballet's To Cut A Long Story Short (out Dec 17). This sounds like a terrible concept but it's surprisingly good, making the 1980s hit sound like something fresh and new in 2007. Maybe it's just the strength of the original songwriting as it doesn't really sound that much different from the original but this news is making me really anticipate the Cazals album. Check out the video:

Cotton Candy Disco

I'm in Canada at the moment (hello!) and for the first time in quite a while I've just bought some cds (not cos i steal, cos i get sent). They're two albums that I love and have had to download and not buy because they're only currently issued in North America.

The first is Disco Romance by Sally Shapiro. Sally is a Swedish artist that sings Italo-disco songs, sometimes in French! Confused? Don't be. She's blonde, cute and publicity shy, Sally isn't even her real name. Disco Romance came out earlier in the year and is one of those albums that you can put on and do anything to - it can be background noise, something you ignore, or something you blissfully daydream into. It'd be easy to label her as the new Annie, but despite being so reculsive, she somehow comes across less cold than the Norwegian star. After all how can you not love someone who says "I like indie pop with no guitars". That should be my motto. Sally's apparently the puppet of producer Johan Agebjorn but this new version of the album contains 3 new songs, one of which is the cutsy Jackie Jackie. This is the first song she's done a video for, and it's much more pop and less disco disco than some of her other stuff...

Review: Girls Aloud - Tangled Up

Let it be known, the new Girls Aloud album is slice of pop perfection. They've been #1 on my last.fm profile for nearly all time and I finally thought I was getting somewhere when Robyn overtook for the last 12 months. This was until I listened to them 116 times last week though. Ha.

Adored by critics, fans and even the skinny jean brigade, the experimental "Sexy! No No no..." was our first introduction to the 4th Girls Aloud album. And we're really happy to report Tangled Up is yet another unrelenting pop masterpiece.

If you've got ceefax then go to pg525 (the idea of writing for ceefax never fails to amuse me) otherwise check out the full version at BBC Music.

Harder Faster Better Stronger: The Daft Punk Story

I'm really excited to tell you that this Thursday my very first radio documentary will be broadcast on BBC Radio 1.

Celebrating 10 years since the release of their Daft Punk's debut album "Homework", we've sent Pete Tong on a mission to discover who the men behind the robot helmets really are. As well as featuring a rare interview with both of Daft Punk, you'll also hear the guys from Soma Records explaining how it all began, Kanye West musing on Stronger, Award winning director Michel Gondry doing karaoke, as well as Calvin Harris, Vitalic and Phoenix talking about the boys as icons.

Who knew making 28 minutes of radio would be so much hard work? I've gained 3 wrinkles but hopefully it's all been worth it. People seem to like it so far. Above is the video we've created to advertise the documentary. Big thanks to my friend Chris for agreeing to be taken over by the power of the robotic music.

I hope you'll have a listen this Thursday 22nd November, BBC Radio 1, at some point between 9.00 and 10.00pm. Otherwise it will be on the Radio 1 website forever, so you have no excuses. Feedback very welcome.

The Pierces in London

Every so often I come across a band from overseas that I love. I listen to their album 100 times in a row and then check their live dates, only to discover their last UK date was about a week ago and there are no more planned.

This happened a few months ago when I finally got round to listening to Thirteen Tales of Love And Revenge by The Pierces. The band is made up of Catherine and Allison Pierce, two sisters from Alabama, who sing sinister, creepy pop songs that fizzle with darkness and morbid electronic beats.

Now they're back in the UK for two acoustic gigs. While the word acoustic may send pain through my heart, I'm still going along to hear whether the spine tingles can be pulled off live tonight at the Water Rats, and I recommend you do the same.

They're on stage at 8.30 so see you there?
Here's what to expect:

Review: Spice Girls - Greatest Hits

Everything about the Spice Girls reunion has been a bit odd. Right from the press conference where we were given shonkily made press packs, to the perfectly fine, but just disappointing "Headlines" and it's bizarre video. I was a massive Spice Girls fan and am going to see them in December, so I hope they can pull of as good a tour as they did when I saw them in Manchester in 1999.

This week they released their greatest hits compilation. Nothing could go wrong there, well except Leona forcing them into #2, but the album itself is great - we all know what to expect.

Five girls, unashamed to spout opinions and punch their stamp onto everything, took the whole world by storm when they unleashed "Wannabe" on an unsuspecting audience back in 1996. Ginger, Scary, Sporty, Baby and Posh created their own revolution before Geri fled, they went a bit R&B and everything went silent.

Read the rest of my review of Spice Girls - Greatest Hits at BBC Music.

Album Title of The Year?

 

 

 

Robots and Laptop Dancers Make Good Friends

This album could be rubbish but we'd love it because it's shiny blue and it has an amazing name. In any case it contains the creepy "What Is Woman" which automatically raises it's grade to B+.

Review: Hannah - Everything Is Changing

Normally when I slag an album off on BBC Music I get loads of comments accusing me of being deaf, being jealous cos i'm not a popstar, blah blah blah. So if you criticise and then get no comments, you know absolutely no-one cares about that album. So, Hannah anyone? She's Estonian, and boring.

Title track "Everything Is Changing" is a warm ballad where Hannah remembers her life as a child and wonders why it's all so different now. A soaring chorus accompanied by a careful piano melody make it a very radio friendly track. Equally "You Are", albeit with a much more uptempo chorus, could happily sit on the Radio 2 playlist with ease.

Read the rest of my review of Hannah - Everything Is Changing here

Bootlicking Nazi Creep

It's a bit creepy and she perhaps looks a bit too strange for a UK audience but here is the interesting new video for Robyn's next single "Handle Me". I like the song and it's ballsy lyrics but I'm still not overly convinced it is the right choice for her next single. While I'd love it to "Who's That Girl" or "Bum Like Me", there's such momentum growing behind "Cobrastyle" or even for a re-release of "Konichiwa Bitches" that it's a shame neither of those will be in play till at least single number 5 from this album (no. 4 is going to be the majestic "Be Mine")

Dragonette - Galore (album review)

So much has been written and hyped about Dragonette in the last year that it's just boring now. They make great pop music - it's dirty, squelchy and electro, but I feel like I've been listening to it for my entire life. I had to try to think of it as something new though for my review of their album Galore which only hit the shops last week.

"The sound of the 80s thrown through a hot pink time machine into 2010; this is pop at its glossiest, its best and without doubt its groin-itchingly sexiest."

Read the rest of my review at BBC Music.

Daft Punk Baby!

I went to Paris on Monday to talk to Daft Punk (one of them is very hot, who knew!) for a documentary I'm producing for BBC Radio 1. The show is going to air in November and I'm going to pimp it everywhere when it does. But for now put November 22 in your diaries! As we weren't allowed to film the guys, I spent Sunday trying to recreate their helmets (in shonky format) to film some video content around Paris in them. The content is ridiculous. But here is the photo of the helmets in action, modelled by my lovely housemates and giggled at by Daft Punk on Monday. Amazing.

The Secret Handshake

The Secret Handshake is Luis Dubac, and he's kind of what would happen if Calvin Harris was American and felt a bit more emo. I'm not quite decided whether this is good or not but it's certainly a bit interesting. His new single is called Summer of '98 and it's taken from the album One Full Year which came out in America last week. The vocoder on this track is quite grating, and I think it maybe works a bit better on "Midnight Movie" which you can hear on myspace.





Obviously, as with every American act that perks up our interest, they played in the UK in August and currently have no plans to return >:(.

The mind of Enrique

I'd often like to know what runs through the mind of Enrique Iglesias. To all intent and purpose you'd probably think he was just a normal, bland popstar, but there's something a bit odder about this one we think. Did you see any of his Berlin Live Earth performance? If you did, you'd be thinking along the same lines as us.

Anyway, Enrique unintentionally causes amusement whenever we have to interview him for work. Here are two outtakes from an interview we did with him this week:

What is your new single about?

What's the most embarassing thing that's ever happened to you?

Genius. I can't wait to see him at Wembley.

Operator Please

Operator Please are this year's Grates. Well they are in the sense of being Australian, having loud shouty music and possibly only one good song. That's a bit harsh on The Grates, but their first single "19 20 20" did show massive promise and wasn't followed by anything that great. They did tell me they liked my beads though so I like them.

Operator Please are also quite like what we already know (and it's about 3 lines) Manchester's seemingly amazing Tigerpicks who released the impossibly brilliant and guaranteed floorfiller "Disco Punk Electro Funk" earlier in the year. They're alike because they both like bright colours in their videos (maybe it's the same director), their songs are bursting with energy and zest and they all look about 14.

I don't know what the rest of their stuff sounds like really, and I'm not sure whether to go and see them live next week at the Astoria. But I think I will. I like bands who look like they're having fun.

Kanye West - Good Life

So once again Kanye left an MTV awards show empty handed and surprise surprise, he was not happy at all. His video's keep getting better and better though, and now after getting the hump after Justice "stole" the best video prize for "We Are Your Friends" last year, he's hired Ed Banger art director So Me, the very man he stole the mic of at the EMA's, to do his new video. The song is "Good Life" which samples Michael Jackson's PYT and features T Pain. He's sampled Daft Punk and now is working with So Me - is Kanye West becoming Ed Banger's bitch?

Undescribable

This is absolutely amazing. Props to producer of the year for finding it. So, it's from 2006, but who cares! Where's Grovski though?

Northern State - Better Already

Blogging has slowed to a standstill as I move house and am, until Tuesday, internetless (the open connection seems to have disappeared :( ).

I've not heard of Northern State before, but I just watched this video via Stereogum and quite like it. It's quirky rap-prock (er pop/rock), the type of thing that we'd play at Miss-Shapes, so it's not that surprising to find out that some of their stuff is produced by Beastie Boy Adam Horowvitz (who's married to Le Tigre's Kathleen Hanna). Northern State are Spero, Sprout and Hesta Prynn, and they've been knocking about since 2002. They were signed to Columbia for a short while, but left the label after disagreements. Their 3rd album Can I Keep This Pen? was released this week on an independant label in America and it by the sounds of their myspace page it's something to try to hear in full.

Amazing

The best thing ever to find in your inbox when slightly hungover.

Rihanna - International Pop Sensation

Who would have thought 2 years ago that Rihanna would be the gigantic pop star she's become. Unless Kate Nash or Timbaland have the Saturday sales of a lifetime, "Umbrella" will be at #1 for a 10th week come Sunday. I am a chart geek so here are some reasons why i'm getting very excited by a ten week reign:

"Umbrella will become the longest running #1 of the century beating Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" 9 week reign.

"Love Is All Around" is the next record to beat, staying for 15 weeks before being deleted by the label.

It's the only long running #1 of recent times to not be associated with a film. "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" (16 wks, 1991), "I Will Always Love You" (10 wks, 1992), and "Love Is All Around" (15wks, 1994) were all the lead song from the soundtrack to some of the highest grossing films of their year.

After 7 weeks, she's just been dislodged from US #1 but is at the top in Slovenia, Switzerland, Latvia, South Africa, Malysia, Singapore, and Curaceo.

And finally she'll become one of only 7 artists since charts began to spend reach double week figures at the top.

Rihanna's next single "Shut Up And Drive" is meant to be out in about 2 weeks but I guess it might get put back. In any case I'm not fussed about it, the highlight of the album for me now (and it took a little while to grow) is the Michael Jackson sampling "Don't Stop The Music". I just love the way the sample is weaved in.

Thanks to different countries releasing different things there's already a video for this song. It involves lots of handclapping, Rihanna psyching herself up in a mirror or hoping for an evil Willow doppleganger snog with herself, some expensive wallpaper and a whole lot of attitude.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LhNomt55fM[/youtube]

Amazing.

Husky Rescue

Thanks to the jobs I do, I get a lot of free music. Obviously this is amazing, but it really bugs me that I don't have time to listen to it all. Some CDs get left and never listened to, and some, well they just take me a while to get round to.

Ghost Is Not Real by Husky Rescue is an example of this. I received their album in January but only listened to it for the first time last night and boy am I glad I did. I love a lot of Scandinavian music but most of the artists I know are from Norway or Sweden so it's exciting to see that Husky Rescue are from Finland. A country which, despite being the only one I've visited, I don't know a lot about musically.

The band follow the great Scandanvian tradition of having men on instruments and a brilliant blonde on vocals. Based in Helsinki, Ghost Is Not Real is their 2nd album and a mix of haunting and experimental synth/guitar pop. At times their melodies and Reeta-Leena's voice really remind me of Metric. In fact the album's most upbeat and sexiest song "Nightless Nights" actually sounds like it samples the guitar riff from "Dead Disco" at about 1.28.

"Blueberry Hill" is split into three parts and the rest of an album form a donut around them. Epic and seductive, part three doesn't even contain any vocals but is utterly capivating. Dreamy, cinematic icy bliss.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=Fs-0WBZu35M[/youtube]

Hello Saferide - Long Lost Penpal

I'm quite jealous of anyone who went to Latitude this weekend because they had the chance to see Hello Saferide.

Hello Saferide are a Swedish indie-pop group fronted by radio presenter Annika Norlin. I actually know very little about them, but have had "Long Lost Penpal" on my iTunes for a few weeks and really love it. You almost don't expect it to veer into an indie-pop track as it opens with a soft baleric guitar that reminds me of something on the likes of Cafe Del Mar 7. The lyrics are bittersweet and unnervingly funny telling the story of two girls who wrote to each other as children but haven't been in touch since. While one reveals how the letters really affected her life, the other has a somewhat hilarious / seedy twist to reveal. Annika is joined on this track by Andrea Kellerman, formerly of London trip-hoppers Anamorphic, now returned to her native Sweden and singing under the name Firefox AK. Aah browser love.

This is really the only song I know by Hello Saferide so I can't really recommend them in general. They are on my evergrowing list of artists to properly check out however. Any particular song suggestions from either HS or Firefox AK are much appreciated. Neither artists have any UK dates booked in currently but let's hope they do soon.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=7ZOiZ6bZ_KM[/youtube]

The 2007 Freddie Mercurys

Despite Mercury not existing as a phone company for ooh about thirteen years maybe the name of the national music prize has totally stuck as the "Mercurys". Poor Nationwide then who as the actual sponsors barely get a mention - whoever calls it the Nationwide Mercury Music Prize, and why in fact are a building society sponsoring it?

Anyway these are 2007's sticker bearing nominees:

:: Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
:: Dizzee Rascal - Maths And English
:: The View - Hats Off To The Buskers
:: Maps - We Can Create
:: Bat For Lashes - Fur And Gold
:: Klaxons - Myths Of The Near Future
:: Jamie T - Panic Prevention
:: The Young Knives - Voices Of Animals And Men
:: Fionn Regan - The End Of History
:: Basquiat Strings with Seb Rochford - Basquiat Strings
:: Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
:: New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom

The only ones I've not heard are Basquiet Strings, Fionn and Maps so count those out of what I'm about to say BUT:

1. Amy is the only album that will be remembered as a seminal album in 10 years time.

2. The View are the worst band of the last 12 months. I was at the nominiation party earlier today where they performed an acoustic number. If it were not bad enough that I was subjected to 3 mins of The View right in my face, but they didn't even do the barely passable "Same Jeans". It was all I could do not to glass them during the frankly terrible "Superstar Twaadesmmman"

3. NYPC? They look pretty and have a great album title, but a sure case of let's stick someone "cool" on if ever there were. A pretty mediocre album piled with filler. There are maybe 2 or 3 GREAT tracks, however they all came out in 2004 and have only just been thrown on an album. That said FAN is pretty good. If you know me you'll know that NYPC suits my music tastes pretty much exactly, "Fantastic Playroom" just doesn't deliver

4. Lauren Laverne has very good skin.

Summer Beats

"I think I'm the last person in the world to hear that Sonny Jim track" said Greg over im on Wednesday evening. Um... what track? It turned out to be Can't Stop Movin by Sonny Jim. I'd never heard it before either, not having recently listened to Annie Mac or Steve Wright, the two shows that seem to be giving it most airplay. In any case I feel behind the times, but it's so good it deserves a post.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=W9e_4A7EKoA[/youtube]

Funky, fun and combining a Junior Senior / Avalanches vibe, this is the type of thing that would have been massive on our student radio station. It was released in May on Rough Trade records but sadly doesn't seem to have really broken through into the mainstream. In any case it's a classic, summer feel-good track and I'd love to check the album out very soon.

Thanks for the reply

As much I disagree with doing anything to celebrate Diana's life, the bits of Concert For Diana that I saw were hilarious - drunk princes dancing, P Diddy being very unBritish, Kanye's amazing medley and Ricky Gervais finally being exposed as not actually very funny. Anyway, I was a bit bored so sent in a bbc complaint email about Gervais because reading the complaints log and the mentalness of the complaints always used to amuse me when I was at the beeb.

But funnier than me hamming it up as a mental is the somewhat illiterate reply. Ricki? Ho ho.

Thank you for your e-mail regarding 'Concert for Diana'.

I understand that you felt that Ricki Gervais could have had some material prepared for his time on stage.

However this was a live event and whilst Ricki Gervais was to introduce Elton John a technical fault occurred, therefore he had to hold the stage until it was fixed.

Ricki Gervais then sang a song and done the famous dance from his hit series 'The Office'. A lot of people found this very entertaining, and Ricki did deal with the situation as best he could.

I do hope that you can appreciate that it was a live event and matters such as this can occur with out any notice.

I also note that you feel that Will Young or Girls Aloud could have filled this space, but as mentioned before, it was a live event and the team were unaware that a technical fault was to occur.

I do hope apart from this that you enjoyed the programme.

Your comments have been fully registered on our daily audience log. This internal document will be made available to the 'Concert for Diana' production team and Senior BBC Management.

Sarah Nixey at the Luminaire

If you don't already know, Sarah Nixey is the former vocalist of utterly ace Black Box Recorder. She's been making waves with a small solo career recently, if you've not heard her in simplest terms think Sophie Ellis Bextor with a Phd. It's intelligent pop music when on the album, but live it's a whole other experience as her band transform the music into hypnotic electro stompers.

Now I'm involved because Sarah is playing the Luminaire in Kilburn on Wednesday night, and I will be the gig DJ. I'm quite excited because this will be a gig where I don't have to make the audience dance. I can play anything I want - and I think that may turn out to lie quite majorly around Scandanavian, obscure 80s or motown music. A fun combination I dare say. Also playing are two bands I know nothing about - the electronic Trademark and the special looking Mister Solo.

So my dears, I'm telling you all this because if you are in London then you should come along! Tickets are on sale for £6 or £7 on the door. Also I have some guestlist so message me for that!

For more about Sarah, the ever brilliant XO London has an interview with her.

Yesterday I went to the Spice Girls press conference at the Vue Cinema in the 02 in Greenwich. Not very handily located for the mainly W1 based press crew, the location was all based around some strange longitude/latitude thing the pr company had come up with. The conference was due to start at 12.30 but was delayed till slightly after 1 (some say due to the cinema not being full enough) . Richard E Grant introduced a video to 'remind' us who the Spice Girls were, and then brought them on stage.

• 
  

  The photographers were allowed 5 mins of flash time with all the girls together before the talky bit of the conference began. It was a bit chaotic, with people shouting "VICTORIA! VICTORIA OVER HERE! LOOK RIGHT!" constantly. This seems to have lead to no photos having them all looking in the same direction. As the paps were told to sit down, one of them collapsed and all the photographer started taking photos of this dude on the floor. It was completely inexplicable.

  
  


• 
  

  Victoria's breasts looked ridiculous, Mel C still had that bad fringe, Geri was hippy but amazing, Emma was mega pregnant, and Mel B looked hot!

  
  


• 
  

  I was a bit scared to ask anything because of my bloody beef.

  
  


• 
  

  Victoria barely said anything, to the point where Mel B had to prompt her directly. Geri basically took over.

  
  


• 
  

  Mel C looked a bit uncomfortable all the way through it. She was only there because Geri "had a gun under the table"

  
  


• 
  

  Emma looked the dictionary definition of a beaming mum to be.

  
  


• They did actually seem like a bunch of friends meeting up for the first time in ages pissing about. It was just like being back in 1996.

Anyway, everything is in the news. You know the score. But it was utterly amazing to be there. I was a massive fan of the band in their day (just ask to see my special scrapbook!) and it was hard to not whoop and squeak all the way through it. Seriously one of the best hours of my life. Photos here onwards.

Review: Kelly Clarkson - My December

So label boss Clive Davis hates this album so much he offered Kelly $10 million to drop five tracks and let them be replaced by Dr Luke ones. That's some hatred! It's not an easy album to like by any means but if you give it a chance I really think it will grow on you.

Despite the darkness, My December isn’t completely full of slow burning slowies. While bouncy, the 80s influenced “One Minute” sounds like it could have come off any Ashlee, Lindsay identikit rock-pop album, the best stomper is “Judas”. A woman betrayed, Kelly sings with passion over a pulsating guitars and a synthy verse.

Read the rest at BBC Music

MY IDOL RETURNS

 

"The Spice Girls are set to make an official announcement to the world regarding future plans on Thursday 28th June."

This is one press conference I am making sure I am at. ! x 1 million. I'm a bit scared the whole thing is going to be an unparallelled disaster, but I'm currently unable to concentrate with excitement.

Get to Know You Better Baby!

I've finally started reading the amazing It's a Trap blog which kind of aggregates all Scandinavian music news - new songs appearing, tour dates and the like. Anyway it just reminded me of the existance of Junior Senior. In the UK they'll probably only be remembered for Move Your Feet which hit #3 in 2003, but both "Itch You Can't Scratch" and "Can I Get Get Get" are even better which makes me think their albums could possibly be amazing. Are they worth buying?

Here is the video for "Can I Get Get Get" which had Junior Senior teaming up with friend of the Karinski household JD Samson of Le Tigre. It's a cute, little rapping song which just oozes happiness and has become a favourite of ours to play at Miss-Shapes. Although the video isn't that amazing (despite featuring a cameo from Peaches), it's worth a look just to hear the brilliant song.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=BtKAKKPZr04[/youtube]

I've never managed to catch them live, but now they're on my must see list. If you're in America though you're in luck as they've just announced 4 dates. Laurie, Greg -  get your asses to Popscene on  Aug 16 and report back :-)

Wooping at the Shizotechque

As much as it pains me, actually pains me, to say it, I shall be taking a trip to the sinful container of G-A-Y on July 21st. I've been once before to see Sophie Ellis Bextor, and while it wasn't as dreadful as I was expecting, I do not want to live the life of a traitor.

But on that date something marvellous is happening: the amazing Alcazar are playing. Alcazar probably kick started my love of Scandanavian pop with the camp disco classic "Crying At The Discoteque". Rik and I used to play it near on every week on our student radio show "Lost In Music" so long along back in 2000 partly because we loved it and partly because our fellow student radio buddy Pat found it a little annoying (but this is a man who played "Help Me! I'm a Fish" constantly for about a month so his opinion is not to be trusted.)

Accompanying Alcazar will be fellow Swedes BWO and Army of Lovers. Now rest assured, if you don't like Alcazar, you won't like these bands as they're all produced by Alexander Bard (who's in both AoL and BWO).

There's a veritable posse of us going, so you can break through the club pain by being with a group of friends. Fancy it?

Review: Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad

"Umbrella" is still number 1, five weeks after release, and amazingly it still hasn't grown dull. There's nothing like wandering around town going "ella, ella, ella" continuously. I even heard someone doing it in Paris (from where I have just returned).

Fabulously the album it's taken from, "Good Girl Gone Bad", is stonking.

And if New Order weren't big enough to sample, prepare yourself for the sweltering disco grind of "Don't Stop The Music". Finely weaving the hypnotising "ma ma say, ma ma sa" bit of Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Starting Somethin" into the melody, by the time it finishes, we dare you not to be racing around the dancefloor arms flailing.

Read my review of it at BBC Music.

Fun x 1000

I foolishly forgot to blog about Tigerpicks - "Disco Punk Electro Funk" when it came out intitally labelling it as a bit messy and a Robots in Disguise rip-off. One thing I never disputed though, was the brilliance of the video.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=H4gD_N8PDA4[/youtube]

The Tigerpicks are Frankie, Martyn and Emma, and they're working with none other than Richard X on their debut album. Naturally this single flopped bigtime on sales, but in reality I've never known any little-known track fill a dancefloor so consistantly.

It could be the soundtrack to a computer game, but I think this is kind of what I was expecting Wigwam to sound like. There's no London dates booked in at the moment but when there are, I SHALL BE THERE.

A Manic Update

When I was 16 I hated the Manics. They stopped George Michael's "Outside" going to #1 with some old political twaddle and filled my teenage pop blood with rage. Then when I went to university, student radio opened my ears to all music beyond pure pop. And just as most people began to think they'd jumped the shark, Know Your Enemy and the likes of "So Why So Sad" and "Ocean Spray" got me leaping about proclaiming their brilliance.So who would have thought a few years later I'd be reviewing their latest album for the Beeb. I feel a bit uneasy about that review as I don't really know their heritage that well, but Send Away The Tigers really is a great album. If you're yet to hear it then try out the grand "Autumn Song" as a taster.

To consumate my new found love, gaypop and I headed up to the barren land of Kentish Town to see MSP play the first of three London dates. The Forum is a pretty nice, large venue, much preferable to the likes of Brixton Academy, and suited the band perfectly. Despite no Nina and a hell of a lot of songs I didn't know, this certainly chucks itself up my best gigs ever list. Amazing things included (bare in mind I was a Manics gig virgin):

• The hilarious height difference between Nicky Wire and James Dean Bradfield.


• Nicky's gigantic scissor jumps


• Watching Simon Price going mental to "Stay Beautiful"


• "You Stole The Sun From My Heart"


• James singing Nina's bits in YLAINE in a girly manner.


• and many more I forgot to write down...

Buy this right now.

Unklejam's amazing 2nd single is finally out to buy on download this week. Love Ya flopped for no reason but What Am I Fighting For has been everywhere. It it's not in the charts by the end of next week then my belief in the UK buying public will be withdrawn!

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=hHmZoULqk78[/youtube]

Camp futuristic disco pop - amazing.

Trip The Light Fantastic

I've been looking forward to the new Sophie Ellis Bextor album for ages. "Catch You" was great, and "Me & My Imagination" has grown on me a lot. But I was somewhat worried it would feel really out of place in today's pop climate.

And it does... a bit. I'm in no way saying the amazingly named "Trip The Light Fantastic" is actually really good. It's quite good, it's not bad, but I'm beginning to get a bit bored with myself being mean about pop albums I'd probably have loved 4 years ago. Plus Sophie is nice. She played our annual Popstarz charity event "Ray of Light" a few weeks ago, and generally bigs Ghetto up in interviews. Hooray for her.

Nothing here makes me scream out load with glee, but various tracks quite quickly grow on you. My 360 turnaround opinion on The Feeling is consumated here, as the tracks written by Dan have quickly become my favourites, especially "Love Is Here". Anyway the real babbling is over at BBC Music.

Kate Nash - Foundations

I first heard of Kate Nash early last year when Lily Allen posted a bulletin telling all her myspace friends to check her out. I did and didn't really think much of it. Similarly 'Birds' and 'Caroline Is A Victim' passed me by without much interest.

Today on the show we played Kate's new single, her debut on fiction (an imprint of polydor) - "Foundations" - and finally I begun to see what the fuss is all about. Despite being 3 years younger than Lily, Kate sounds like a more grown up version of her famous friend. "Foundations" is in a different league to her last single, but I'm unsure whether it will break through because of the Lily Allen similarities. Her almost identical accent and cheeky chatty style will certainly get the Lily haters despairing.



"Foundations" is out in June. I love the video, especially as it makes me think of something Rod would make.

Eurovision the end.

Things we loved:

Slovenia. They were robbed! But we especially loved their point announcer and his special torch.

Fearne Cotton looking like an mail-order Eastern European bride. Who did her makeup?

Seeing Russ from Scooch necking champagne in a panic.

Texts from our boss after every 3 songs

Ireland deservedly coming last.

Malta RANDOMLY giving UK 12 points. And me & Darren being snapped celebrating as the official UK celebrators!

The cheering every time Finland got a point (why so low!)

Spending a 1 1/2 hour boat trip with the head of the Swedish delegation and him claiming that The Ark's song was a bit rubbish. It was. Well done voting Europe.

The idea that no non former Yugoslavian country is ever going to win again.

Cyprus giving Greece 12 points.

All the Nordic countries giving each other 12 points.

The way that some countries either got 12 points or nothing. The voting was so random.

Latvia surprising us all by doing terribly.

Scooch giving the best performance they've ever done.

The hilarious Dutch point giver calling Serbia "Kelly Osbourne".

We're flying home in 4 hours. Yawn. Belgrade then next year? We've been and there are about 5 hotels, the cabbies cut the seatbelts out of all their cars and there is a LOT OF MEAT. Serbia is staying on our hotel and there is a crowd WOOPING outside.



Bring it on.

Updates from Euroland

Last night we went to Euroclub which is like the official hangout for fun, a all year round Eurovision bar and a gay club stuck in 1987. Here is what we learnt:

Finland are so excited about today, they declared yesterday a national holiday!

The word on the street is that the shit but amazing song from the Ukraine is going to win. Some nutters are predicting it's going to receive 12 points from everyone apart from Cyprus.

Greek men hate the Greek entry. One man angrily told us that geeky Sarbal is a fraud because he is half Lebanese and half Cypriot. Feel their wrath!

I started off hating France's song, now I love it. This is because they a) have a hilarious performance and b) their chorus is lyrically the best in the contest because it is very fun for anyone with a basic grasp of both English and French as it wildly weaves in and out of them :

Et je cours, je cours, je cours,
I've lost l'amou, l'amour, l'amour
Et je suis perdu, here without you
I'm crazy, seul a Paris!

Despite the BBC proclaiming Roger Cicero as the UK's favourite, German men think it is pants. Roger though, is hot (at least from a distance).

Songs from the past were played at Euroclub, and we were given strange looks for not knowing a certain song was say the Hungarian entry in 1987. The biggest cheer and dance of the night went to Dana International.

People with passes really like to wear them at all times they can. We don't. They are MASSIVE.

Someone said to me "I'm not getting into this argument so early in the night. You're talking RUBBISH" when I claimed Scooch were defacing the name of pop.

When Estonia's 2007 non qualifier "Partners In Crime" came on, the singer Gerli Padar was put on the shoulders of men and carried to the stage. There she carried out the routine (with backing dancers) in full. It was ace! Sadly lighting conditions meant no photo :(

Eurovision Day 2 - An Update

We've just left the first dress rehearsal for the final and have now seen all the songs in the order with their stage performances. Here is what is happening

My favourite Belarus is on 3rd. This means he is buggered. He's between two other uptempo songs and makes no impact, despite a shirt split of Uncle Sp levels.

My 2nd fav Greece is also buggered. He is in the middle of the show so is forgettable, and it seems in real life instead of being the hip-shaking lover he sounds like, he looks like a geek.

France is gay, gay, GAY. Think pink, think fairy wings. Oh yes.

Ireland has the worst song and frontwoman in the show

It could actually be two years in Finland after Hanne's great song.

Bosnia has come dressed as a Xmas tree.

Bulgaria has an amazing drum bit. It could only be better if it were done by men in hotpants

Sweden get naked.

Russia could win. The song is a little outdated but is made better by a bit where they fall through the internet

Serbia might win but the girlfest didn't have the same impact it did on semi-final night. Instead Slovenia are going to be the former Yugoslav top song.

About 14 people clapped after Scooch. They need to can the talky bits.

Ukraine is ridiculous, and it is on Scooch so there are two shit songs in a row. ESC have realised this and put a little break in the middle. Ukraine is really shit, but in an amazing way. It is sung by Timmy Mallett.

Turkey is much later in the contest than Greece so I no longer think they'll get confused. It's sung by a man who has had 24 number 1 hits, is 3 songs from the end and ... is going to win.

Bottom Line: Turkey, Slovenia or Bulgaria are going to win. Poor Koldun.

Darren is embarassing me already.

We went to the semi-final last night. Some points:

Despite being sold out, the arena was pretty empty.

Andorra's Busted wanabee's Anonymous got the biggest cheer of the night at the event but didn't go through.

Denmark, Netherlands, Cyprus and Malta also got massive cheers and should, but didn't get through.

The Eastern Europe voting front have taken over.

The interval act (which app viewers at home didn't see) was DULL. Actually it was very pretty but I think I just don't like dance.

We had breakfast 'with' Evridiki this morning.

No Wogan spotting yet.

I am going to Eurovision in 7 hours!

Woo. Woo.

My predictions

• UK will give Switzerland 12 points and Denmark 10


• Belarus or Greece will win.


• Serbia will come close to winning.


• Scooch will score 7 points.

Kiss You Off

Finally Scissor Sisters release the best (and least annoying) song on the album. This is the Ana led "Kiss You Off"

On a vaguely related tangent, I'd recommend a listen to Radio 2 documentary "Behind The Velvet Rope", narrated by Boy George all about Studio 54 (which opened 30 years ago this month). The music choices are really ace, it's informative and the memories really bring it to life, particularly the insight from the doorman. You can listen again until Tuesday!!

Review: Melanie C - This Time

I met Melanie a couple of weeks ago and she was much nicer than I expected. It was for an interview and I couldn't really be arsed as post "Northern Star" I'm not really a fan, and I think you'd be hard pushed to find a big Spice Girl fan who doesn't feel any residual anger towards her. But then I stopped myself and thought "er, why are you turning down the opportunity to meet a Spice Girl!" Here is my not that exciting interview on hit40uk. She was very media trained and it was difficult to get anything but a scripted answer. Here is a random soundclip for you though: [audio:http://www.karinski.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/melc.mp3]

From my BBC Music review:

" While you’d expect the dream combination of Guy Chambers and Cathy Dennis to propel “Protected” to stand-out track, that honour actually falls to 2nd single “Carolyna”. Co-written by Chisholm herself, it’s a strong and catchy midtempo pop song that really highlights how emotive Melanie’s voice can be."

Read it here.

Pencil and Eraser

Is this the greatest piece of band merchandise ever? You wouldn't think it, but it's even OFFICIAL merchandise. We went to see Sugababes last week thanks to Dragonette supporting them. The audience didn't really seem to dig the dragons very much, but then again they didn't seem to dig the 'Babes much either. I've been thinking that the Sugababes are a really dull band for some time now. Sure their output might be great but as people / popstars bizarrely only Amelle is of any interest, it's enough to send anyone to sleep, and the atmosphere at this Wembley Arena gig was very, very sleepy. Barely anyone could be bothered to get up and dance, and the biggest cheer of the night came when a tickertape bomb was launched on the finale.

Incidentally we've got a special pop PA at Popstarz tomorrow night from a pop star beginning with M. No, not Madonna, but we can't say who. This is enough of a clue though. It should be pretty good.

The Curse of Patrick Wolf

Last week Gaypop and I fully abused a free bar at the launch party of new music magazine Popworld Pulp. Held at Soho Revue Bar, it involved a very boring set from a band so dreadful I can't even remember their name, and a special appearance from Patrick Wolf. I'd seen him before do a short set at Trash Palace which involved him and Patricia Quinn doing a rather mind-twisting version of the Time Warp but not really a set of any great length. Put up against a bunch of corporate blaggers who didn't really want to pay attention, Patrick launched into an offensive where he kung-fu kicked someone in the chest, stole beer, danced with a broom, knocked a glass of champagne from a hand smashing it onto the floor and telling us all to "fuck off home, have sex and die of aids". Lovely.

Anyway this launch party was last Tuesday. Yesterday (i.e. 8 days later) it was announced that the magazine has been shut down. Conceived as a rival to the NME, its demographic was set as 15 - 24 with a slight male bias but the content was lacking anything very unique or gripping. There were instead just lots of nice photos with not very many words about pretty obscure indie acts. Far away from the original Popworld brand, Pulp was trying to be very, very cool. And what was with the name? I can only imagine the brainstorm went something like "Oh no, Popworld makes us sound like it's a pop magazine. What can we do to make it sound more indie? *thinks of some indie bands* Hey! What about Pulp? Not only is it the name of a band, but it's also what paper is made of - and a magazine is made of paper. OMG. OMG. OMG. Signs it off."

A year in development and only two issues made, I just don't understand how it got to a stage where 14 staff were employed and a load of money was spent on something which to everyone I've spoken to about it seemed blindingly obvious was going to fail. The way music is consumed nowadays by that age group doesn't at all call for a weekly mag - I am just absolutely baffled as to how they thought it was going to work. I can only think someone really wanted to do it and ran away with the idea as their own little baby. Baffling. More about the mag here and about Patrick here.

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Robyn at Cargo

I interviewed Swedish pop star Robyn just before her gig at Cargo the other week and it was pretty good fun. You might remember her from a song called "Show Me Love" from the late 1990s, but now she's back (still with floppy fringe) on her own label releasing whatever she damn well pleases. Two weeks ago out came her first UK single in 10 years - "Konichiwa Bitches" and I hated it. Considering it a bad choice of lead single and something which didn't really make me even slightly want to check out her on her previous two UK dates, I slightly turned my nose up at Adrian's and most of the pop blogospheres pop star worshipping. Now, having properly listened "Robyn" and seen her perkily bouncing at a gig I take it all back. Hell, even "Konichiwa" rocks it live.

And in true karinski style, I take it all back using EXTREME HYPERBOLE:

"There's no time to wipe the tears away with the sublime "With Every Heartbeat" following. Produced by Kleerup (former member of Teddybears and the drummer in Robyn's live band), if we could hear no other song but this for the rest of our life, we would be content."

Read my BBC Music review, wait for me to type up my interview and get your grubby hands on at least "With Every Heartbeat", "Be Mine" and "Cobrastyle". Then get the Teddybears album, wet your pants and give your soul to Sweden.

Yelp!

Should I go? Will I be alone? Is it worth £170 flights? Are there any hotels left? Argh! Yay! Argh?!

Review: CSS - Cansei De Ser Sexy

"Every once in a while a band comes along that really makes you sit up and take notice. So when Subpop records released a free download of a record called "Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above", the title alone was nearly enough for us to declare it song of the year without hearing a second."

Read my BBC review of the CSS album

Madonna’s H&M advert

Although I've not checked out the range yet, I just saw the Madonna H&M on the television and love it. When she signed up, I thought it was a bit of an odd brand to associate herself with as H&M is seen as a little bit budgety in the UK but this advert really makes it seem expensive and luxourious. It's sharp and snappy, and I love how Madonna happily takes the piss out of herself.

Work Your Magic

A few more Eurovision entries have been listened to and despite some good competition from a disco-tastic Belgian entry, Belarus and Russia remain my two favourites!

The Belarus entry is from a man called Dmitry Koldun who won Star Factory, the Belarusian equivalent of Fame Academy, in 2006. After some dispute between labels and the selection committee over whether Dmitry was a suitable candidate, he was chosen from three artists. However, he is in no way a dead cert for a Eurovision win, particularly because he first has to get through the semi-final. If you're not sure how it works, the top ten countries from the previous year, plus 'the big four' (UK, Germany, France and Spain) automatically go through to the final (May 12th), the other entries must compete for their place two nights earlier.

Whatever happens, Dmitry will go to Helsinki known only by his surname Koldun which, as if it were a marketing man's wet dream, means magician. There he will sing about his loving potion hopefully with all the drama and hand gestures this wannabe Bond theme deserves.

Adrian's got bags more info but for now enjoy the video - a slightly scary cross between the harajuku girls and "Return To Oz"

New Annie Material!!

Haha. No it's not Annie, but a former Norwegian reality tv contestant called Lene Alexandra Øien. Please watch it, it's a) hilarious and b) not that bad a tune. It's basically the output of Le Tigre if we were thrown into severley bizarro world.

Props to psychfabmad

May in Helsinki?

I'm a eurovision fan, not so much as other people but I enjoy it for a great music event, rather than a stupid pisstake like most people I know. When I was a lonely teenager, I used to make little scoreboards and take down notes about each song. I never managed to actually do it properly though, I couldn't keep track which my favourites were! A few years ago, we went to a popjustice Eurovision party which was really good fun, but so loud with talking that it was impossible to hear any of the entries which made me really mad! Last year I was out, but this year May 12th is marked out in my diary, to sit alone in my lounge only with people who promise not to talk REALLY loudly over the whole shebang.

But, now I'm wondering whether I should strike out more than one evening, and try to actually go to Helsinki for the main event itself. Other blogs from people who've been have always sounded fun, and I'm sure the spectacle will be fantastic. Normal tickets are already sold out, but I'm seriously considering getting a press pass via my day job for it. Here is where I possibly need help though webfans! I know nothing about how to get accreditation. In previous years application has been through the BBC but nothing has yet appeared on their press site. The only thing I can find is on the official eurovision site and nothing is explained very well! Rubbish! So if you are up on these things then please let me know!

I'm not entirely sure I want to go. I've not looked into costs to Finland or hotels and I'm certainly not supporting the UK entry, so maybe I should wait until next year when I'll be more prepared. In any case I need to spend some time tomorrow listening to the entries. I've only heard a few so far, but I'm hoping for Moscow 08 or Minsk! Wow I didn't know Minsk was the capital of Belarus, I totally in a Phoebe way want to go there. Everyone vote Dmitry! (Or Tel Aviv, merely cos it would give me the excuse I need to finally go!)

Ey ya goobah maaaeeee

This is so last week, but Lily Allen has re-recorded Smile in Simlish - the language used in the sims. The video is very funny and I love how she is (unintentionally?) singing it with a french accent!

Part 3 in an occasional series

This is my new favourite reader comment:

On  Emma Bunton - Life In Mono:

from: Roger ,Griffin Georgia USA
This reviewer obviously could care less about good music. Ms. Karinski you most certainly have no idea what the album is even about. Your lack of musical knowledge is amazing. You missed the FACT that this album is Emma's crowning glory as a pop legend. There are not many pop singers in this life that keep away from violent lyrics or sexual references in their songs. I doubt there is even 1 album in your home that doesn't refer to a sex act or to an act of violence!

Dragon Card

You might think they are cool, but essentially all music "journalists" are a bit geeky. And in London there's something about the tube that brings out the geek in most of us. So, if you're trying to promote your new band to a bunch of journalists (or bloggers) then the guaranteed way to get them all writing about them the next day is to hand out these:

Non-Londoners - this is a little wallet in which you keep your oyster card. It normally looks something like this. And it's the most amazing piece of pop promo ever - labels take note! One person got it out of their goody bag last night and the rest of us literally ran to make sure we got one. Brilliant.

I've been playing Dragonette for a while at clubnights (they played Rockstarz back in November) but last night was their big proper launch. Unfortunatly they seem to be releasing "I Get Around" - a song I don't think is that hot as their debut single, but I think the label are taking a slow burn approach on this one? Check their myspace to hear the single as well as the awesome Competition and Take It Like A Man (which sounds a bit like Keane "Is It Any Wonder". No? Just me.)

A Treat

So y'know how I love Billie and all... well on Friday I went to the 2nd press night of "Treats" - her West End stage debut. The play is a short three-hander on one set that centres around Ann and her boyfriend dilemmas. Does she choose the dull but nice one or the mean, bad one? It was quite short, a little funny and pretty good. The lady herself looked far too thin, and BT man looked hot (I seem to have developed a thing for ginger men in the last 2 months), but apart from the man in front of me with too big a head, I mainly couldn't concentrate because of the really disturbing likenesses Laurence Fox shared with James Sutton (John Paul in Hollyoaks). It was really, really intense - everything from the way he looked to the exact way he let his mouth hang open was exactly the same.

Your Love Alone is Not Enough

Everything has started going a little odd recently. For starters, it's just the start of March but London is acting like it's summertime. I walked to work today without a coat, didn't take a coat out with me on Saturday night and more importantly the first real summery song landed in my inbox. It also happened to be the week I was asked to name my current favourite song for our work newsletter - this would be a great opportunity to tell 60 or so pretty influential people when it comes to music about an amazing new band they'd perhaps never heard about - but instead I chose that great new summery thing - the new Manics single.

I could never have imagined tipping a Manics single to be honest. I remember being rather irritated when "If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next" held that week's favourite song "Outside" by George Michael off the #1 shift (yeah I was a chart geek already in 1998). The first time I actually thought they were good was "So Why So Sad" (a song I think most Manics fans hate), and obviously now I've heard most of their singles and don't only like pop music, their greatest hits collection is pretty good.

Anyway I digress.. ignoring a free mp3 single, the first song to be taken from the new Manics album "Send Away The Tigers" is the gloriously titled "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough", a duet with Nina Persson of The Cardigans, set to be released on April 30th. Now, The Cardigans hold pride of place as the first "indie" band I ever liked ("Gran Turismo" remains one of my favourite albums) and it's hard to not like anything Nina puts her sweet yet pained voice on. Confident and typically anthemic "Your Love Is Not Alone" makes the first rays of spring sunlight into the evenings and rollicks along at an uptempo shoulder shuffling manner. Looking forward to the video lots.

The NME Awards

I was neither at nor did I see the TV broadcast of this year's NME Awards this week. If you want a commentary though gaypop was. However I've only just heard the much touted Beth Ditto and Jarvis Cocker duet covering Heaven 17's "Temptation". So just in case you haven't here it is:



It's nowhere near perfect, but I'd love to hear a properly recorded version of this. Incidentally you should try to check out the original demo of the Heaven 17 version which they released on their re-issued greatest hits last year. It's quite different and pretty spectacular.

Exciting Popstarz News

The awesome gigs continue! This month at Popstarz:

9th March - Secret Pop Act - You probably wouldn't associate this Brit award winning female with Popstarz but she's about to make a splash and has chosen the best place to showcase it.

16th March - 1990s - Everyone's choice of support band in 2006. Read my piece on them in this month's F@!K mag.

23rd March - Maximo Park - I think everyone's up to speed on how excited I am about this! I properly love the Park!

30th March - Brett Anderson - Embarking on his solo career, I know some friends are going to wet themselves at the idea of this gig. I've always liked his voice and listened to some new stuff on myspace which was pretty nice.

The past few weeks

So here I am over on Wordpress. I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing yet profile wise. I kind of like the way this looks - each post being in an individual curly box and all but I'm not sure if it's a little ott. What do you think? I've just got a new job combining both my radio and interactive skills and a lot of my time is being taken up by that. It's brilliant though, so I don't mind. I'm getting to go to quite a few gigs with work too which is ace. Hooray!

Last week I went to see lots of gigs. Saturday started with Jarvis Cocker at The Astoria. We'd caught him before at Koko last year, but this was a much better gig. For starters we were sat up in the top floor of venue with a perfect view, instead of behind a tall man, and Jarvis was much more relaxed. There was lots of banter with the audience and he put on a perfect jerky Jarv performance. The evening continued at the Astoria with the popping of our G-A-Y cherries. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting but we only went thanks to not having to pay to get in and to see the wonderous Sophie Ellis Bextor. She was rather awesome but seemed to push the pink pound appeal to almost nauseating effects. Catch You charted at #8 today which is respectable, although not briliant, for a lead single from an album. It's pop tone is very unfashionable though at the moment and next single Me and My Imagination is even poppier so I'm not sure quite how well the album (brilliantly named Tripping The Light Fantasic will actually do. I've heard quite a few tracks and it seems to be shaping up rather well for pop fans.

On Monday, James and I saw Amy Winehouse which was ace. Burak took some fab photos for me to use at work including one which someone today pointed out to me makes it look like my 2nd favourite NL JP is doing a nazi salute (with a large pinch of imagination). Brill. Then on Wednesday I excitedly hit Hammersmith with work buddy Alex for Nelly Furtado. New 'electro-soul' band Unklejam were supporting and put on a great show (even though they only did three songs). Their new, very funky single Love Ya is out physically tomorrow and it's quite a fresh, intense new sound. However I interviewed them earlier in the week and they are very taken with the idea that they are a 'new sound' who are 'thinking outside the box' and were very into themselves. Ah well. They are much more boy-bandy than the music suggests but I really hope Love Ya does do well. Nelly was brill although she was wearing some very ill-fitting dresses.

The Return Of Maximo Park

Maximo Park - Our Velocity



This is the brand new single from the boys from the North-East. I interviewed Paul from the band a couple of weeks ago (you can read my int in F@!k Magazine) and he was lovely. Our Velocity has about 8 choruses, a proper electro-indie chorusline and it uses the word 'shizzle'. Wicked. [On later listens I've realised 'shizzle' is actually 'chisel' :( ]When I saw them live at Reading a few years ago they were brill, and I'm pleased to announce that they'll be playing live at Popstarz on March 23rd.

This is the most Girls Aloud-esque indie song ever.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FFS. Why am I DJing on Thursday night? :(

moving karinski

Karinski is moving to wordpress and so may look a little weird over the next few days.

How excited am I?!

If u cant conceive it muffin, just let it be nuffin.

Remember Lumidee? She had that incredibly annoying 'Uh ooooooh' song (yes it's brilliant now) during the summer of r&b hell that was 2003. I stayed at Warwick that summer making SRA awards, kissing an MA student and djing events for children who were inexplicably involved in events on campus. And all they wanted to hear was bloody r&b (this was in a particular era where I was turning my nose up at anything non-pop). It was Sean Paul this, Blu Cantrell that, Eminem, Black Eyed Peas etc etc

Anyway, Lumidee is back and I can almost hear your sighs of relief across the webwaves. In fact, thank god she has returned to us in these 'Beyonce having become a bizarre mash of Tina Turner and Diana Ross' days. And she is back with something rather odd - She's Like The Wind. Yes, everyone's favourite weep-a-thon Swayze classic from the ditzy Dirty Dancing has been reworked into a soulful grinder-  with Lumidee joined by Tony Sunshine -   ripe for overplaying on Radio 1.

It's "doing damage on the airwaves" in America and I've got no doubt that it's going to be absolutely pounded in the UK too despite it being a tiny bit shonky. I have no idea when it's coming out over here but I bet it'll be blaring out of every car cruising down Blackpool promenade on a Saturday night come Summer. New lyrics include: Listen baby I’ve been around // I know that you like how I wear my crown // And I know that im something that is so profound
// So far what im hearing look I like the sound . What??

Listen to it here.

p.s. Can someone explain to me how Cascada keeps getting top 10 hits? Have we travelled back to 2001? Are the charts accidentally only counting sales in the North West?