January 2011

....And..... you're back in the room! Welcome back dear reader, to YET another January edition of Chip's Blips (do we like this new format? I do). After a corker from Rafflestop, a disco blinder from Paco and a tour de force from Aquila, I must admit I've been feeling more pressure to deliver than a midwife on her first day! After much umming and arring, chopping and changing, and huffing and puffing, I've finally arrived here with a list of 9 absolute belters. I don't want to sound overconfident but I think this is one of my best. That was overconfident wasn't it. Damn.

Bon, without further ado, I present January's edition of Chip's Blips. Disfrutez-vous!

1. The Joy Formidable - Austere

A Welsh trio to start us off, with an album just out and currently on a UK Tour. The song starts off with a catchy Klaxon-esque shouty thing, and then gradually descends into a lovely chaos.

2. Ida - Road To Ruin

Another CB discovery for you here; the video's only got 236 hits, so you can tell all your friends and get some (more) street credit. I stumbled upon Ida on one of my late-night YouTube binges. It was a shimmering jewel in a sea of shit; a sad little nugget in an ocean of faux-emotion. I like the idea of going "rowing/ on the road to ruin".

3. We Are Animal - 1268

They are Welsh (again! What's occurrin'?!) and the lead singer looks like Colin Farrell. It's definitely a good start. A menacing little track here, full of distorted guitars and cowbells for the intro, constantly building momentum. Great video as well. Been following these guys for a while and they are definitely going in the right direction. Loving it.

4. World Champion - Dream

Alas, when you google "world champion dream", the last thing you are going to find out is anything at all regarding these Australian (i think) songstrels. No Google, I am not interested in Mark Selby ending Ken Doherty's World Championship dream. This song is so good it gives me goose pimples; just the right amount of everything in it: snappy drums, hazy vocals, lazy guitars, ethereal piano-tinklings and a few cheeky breakdowns and drops. Purr-fek-shun.

5. Brown Recluse - Impression of a City Morning

Very Simon & Garfunkel this one. Lovely summery vibe, short and sweet. Hopefully it brightens up your wintry day.

6. Digits - Lost Dream

Wow. Wow. Wow. This is AMAZING. My favourite song of 2011 so far. Reminds me a little of Hurts, the 80s voice&beat combo, but I think this takes it to another level. The lyrical ability in the chorus (first one on 1.05) is incredible - I still can't work out what he's saying, but the sounds that it makes do something very strange and pleasing to my brain. More please Mr Digits. More.

7. Sebadoh - Skull

A soothing little Indie number coming in at number 7. I'm not sure that the kind of girls I hang out with would be interested in a guy asking them to "gently take my skull/ for a ride", but I guess it has worked for this lad. Pretty big move that. Only going to attract one type of girl but if you have a type then stick to it!

8. Coma Cinema - Whatevering

I'm getting hints of Willy Mason here. Anyone else? I think it's better though; interesting lyrics, twinkly melodies, hand-claps (the essential ingredient to any good song in my humble opinion) and a bit of euphoric house piano (another essential!). I like the concept of Whatevering. Pretty sure I do it a lot already but just never worked out what to call it.

9. Bag Raiders - Snake Charmer

The last track of January, and HOHHHHH YES Blippers do we have an absolute belter to finish things off. I've played a couple of Bag Raiders tunes on here before, but this one really takes the biscuit. One of those songs where you are thinking "what the fuck is this?" for the first minute, and then before you know it (about 1min and 15 seconds in) you are dancing like a lunatic round your room doing snake charmer impressions and funny Egyptian hand movements. If there was ever a song that encapsulated the phrase "intoxicating beat" then it's this one. I can't help myself. The power of the snake is inside me! In a way it is a shame it didn't come out a couple of months later because i'm pretty sure it would've been an instant summer classic. Just keep it hush hush for now and we will release it into the world in May. Deal?

Well well, that was an eventful one. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and I'm glad I could finally write a little bit more about each track. It has been a while. All this competition has made me up my game!

Also, if you're interested in doing a playlist for Chip's Blips (can be based around a genre like Paco's disco one, or just a selection of your favourite new music), get in touch. Come one, come all!

And remember, if you want to be kept in touch with all the latest goings on, you can follow Chip's Blips in the sidebar ----->, follow on Twitter @chipsblipsblog, or join the Facebook group "Chip's Blips".

See you in February, over and out.

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Aquila Rose's Blips - January 2011

They're coming thick and fast now as we wade through January's gloomy mire. Here to brighten your spirits this week is "Aquila Rose; part of the almighty Gaggle, a 22 strong all-female alt-dubstep choir (www.myspace.com/gagglespace). She makes music in her bedroom and sometimes airs it out in places, you can find one of those places at www.myspace.com/aquilarosemusic. She makes films, music videos, writes a blog of her own, (aquilarosethrills@blogspot.com) and lives in New York and London."

I've had a sneak preview (one of the perks) and I can tell you it's an absolute belter. Enjoy!

1. Sound of Bees- Gnomes

There is something a little magical about this lazy mouthed woman. It makes my toes thaw out and makes me feel I’m wearing cashmere instead of polyester.

2. Bobby Bridman- Weighty Wait

It’s sub-pop at it’s best. Should have hear about him so long ago as he plays with the likes of Bonnie Prince Billy and Ratatat but alas, he’s in your head now. And if your in love he makes it even sweeter.

3. How To Dress Well- Decisions (Feat. Yuksel Arslan)

This guy is all over the US at the moment and just about to release his debut in Europe. Unfortunately really shit live but the thick layers of vocals and reverb with the really lo-fi production makes for the bench mark sound of this year.

4. Olof Arnalds- Crazy Car

She’s from Iceland. Nuf said.

5. Thieves Like Us- Drugs In My Body

If your life looked like this when you were a teenager I want to know you. This is just one of a string of beauties from this French band.

6. Mountain Man- Animal Tracks

Like magical witch sisters spinning their voices round you like a whip.

7. Active Child- Wilderness

Some spiritual wide open vocals and standing-on-cliff-tops sound. The winter is long, but if you have this everything will be OK.

8. Dirty Beaches- Shangri-La

It’s like listening to the ghost of Elvis smoking crack. He’s from Vancouver and his LP is out in March and Alex is super hot…just thought you should know.

9. Ghoul- Dreambeat

So smooth. So menacing. Digging the thrust of the guitar and the (I’m sorry to do this) Jeff Buckely-esque vocals. Sydney band, you better watch out.

10. Simian Mobile Disco- I Believe

They have just released their new album and it is a stonker but if you haven’t yet heard this track from back in 2007 I’ll pee on your shoes.

11. Pebbles- Girlfriend

Oh Pebbles, Pebbles, Pebbles, she always tells the truth, oh oh oh. Still fresh over twenty years on, fuck Rihanna, Pebbles rocks 4eva.

January 2011 - Paco's Disco Blips

Greetings yet again, and welcome back for another guest edition of Chip's Blips. This week, we have a very special guest blipping for us: based in Madrid currently and armed with arguably the finest Disco and Raregroove knowledge of our generation, Paco Nudillos is all up in hyeeere with 9 slices of funk pie to tickle the eardrums.

So get on your dancing shoes; it's about to go off!

1. savage - don't cry tonight (12'')

italo sound from '83 with a beautiful male vocal.

2. kasso - one more round

absolute classic from the early 80s. "... starting to enjoy it..."

3. attitude - love me tonight

laid-back 80s jam produced by frank and murphy (the system)

4. katie kissoon - you're the one (dub)

darryl payne production. really nice dub version.

5. mark fisher - love situation

English lad fisher was also part of the group second image so no stranger to the kicking bassline.

6. chanelle - one man (one mix)

early house track from '89. remix and additional production by frankie knuckles and david morales.

7. incognito feat. jocelyn brown - always there (12")

great track from `91 touched up by david morales. david mancuso has been known to enjoy this.

8. princess - after the love has gone (chief inspector)

smooth rolling bass and fairytale melodies. just beautiful. i can't stop listening to this song.

9. risco connection - ain't no stopping us now

classic loft.

January 2011 - Rafflestop's Blips

Happy New Year to all y'all, hope you had a great time wherever you were, and that you filled your mouth with champagne and your ears with some great music. As promised in December, 2011 will be bringing you something a little bit different. From now on, you will be on the receiving end of multiple monthly playlists from multiple writers.

First up, and without further ado, it's Rafflestop:



http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=385E411185BFA7CB

Commence BLIP:
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1. Pivot – O Soundtrack My Heart

I'm coming in hard and strong, kicking off with an ever so slightly prog-rock (albeit modern) number. However don't let that put you off, persevere! ... I'd recommend hearing this out, hearing the playlist out then hearing the album out. It's good.

2. Lucky Dragons - Givers

A very casual second number, disjointed and jumpy; the sounds seem to roll out the speakers like they just don't care (put your hands in the air) (not literally, it just ain’t one of those tracks).

3. Django Django – WOR

They're from Dalston! So if all else fails you can cash in your cool points and wax lyrical about em! Right? Maybe. A Bedouin tent/siren-based start (...) gives way to a good honest guitar riff, drum sequence and voice. Super! (Ignoring the video is recommended)

4. Forest Fire – Fortune Teller

"Tonight I'm gunna melt some faces with Gatling gun social skills..."

5. Future Islands - Wave Like Home

A wall of sound + good composition = a beautiful track that goes incredible places. I can imagine the singer may put you off initially but it fits well, seriously! Probably (definitely) should be played as loud as possible.

6. Former Ghosts - Hold On

I've always thought the singer sounds a bit like Faris Badwan from the Horrors. I don't think this is him though. If it is I've made myself a fool and will suffer the undoubtedly deserved embarrassment.

7. The Zombies – Time of the Season

Surely familiar with everyone however it's in because I put it in (and perhaps some people have forgotten it) so, yea, tuck in.

8. Tu Fawning – I Know You Now

An ethereal number for ya now, commencing the wind down of the playlist in inimitable fashion (if, indeed it wound up in the first place).

9. Freur – Doot Doot

Sure, I live in New York in the 80’s, sure, I work in advertising and I’ve had a long day and sure, I’m in my 40th floor apartment (relaxin’). Well put this on then!

10. Kaito – We are Living Here (Beatless Version)

Apparently Kaito means: ‘the one that is able to explain the universe’; well I’m not here to argue this point however this does tread the fine line between greatness and cheese with a self-assurance that I guess only someone who can answer the unanswerable can only do.

11. Walls – Hang Four

Bass wrapped up in swathes of crisp, fresh electronic synth stuff with a bit of drone chucked in for good measure (what?!) Well that description sounds ridiculous but I’m sticking with it. Nice track.

12. Malcolm Middleton – Solemn Thirsty

Some of you critters may know this from James Holden’s ‘At the Controls’ mix, suffice to say it’s made my Top 25 Most Played and is, I think, amazing. So there. It’s been a pleasure. Over and OUT.

End BLIP
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Hopefully this is the first of 4 January playlists. Aren't you lucky!