April 2011

Good evening campers, and welcome to the latest springtime edition of Chip's Blips. As usual, we have 9 nuggets (actually, while we are on the subject of words ending it -ets, I bought some sweetcorn in a tin today. Bear with me. It was Green Giant, and underneath the logo, instead of a tagline like "crunchy yellow corn", they had decided to go with SweetNiblets. SWEET NIBLETS! Outrageously bad. Anyway, back to business) of wonderment for you this month, hopefully they will bring you joy, happiness and musical enlightenment. Or just keep you entertained for an hour. I'm happy with either outcome.

So press play and enjoy!

1. Mountain Man - How'm I Doin

3 mystical ladies to start us off this month. If this song was a carrot, it would be the one covered in mud, still with the stalk on. 100% organic. You can't get much purer music than this: three voices creating beautiful sounds. For those of you who pay attention, they are covering the Mills' Brothers version that I Blipped last year.

2. The Naked And Famous - Sun

Got the album by these Antipodean funksters last week and it's been in my ears for most available waking moments. This is my favourite track on the record; a dark and broody slow-builder, reminiscent of Radiohead in full flow. Spot on, top notch, full marks, thumbs up and plenty of other two-word statements of approval.

3. Kurt Vile - Ghost Town

The USA is churning these lo-fi minstrels like, well, a Galaxy Minstrel factory. This time it's Kurt Vile, another long-haired shoegazer, who is jumping on the bearded bandwagon with a delicious slice of dreamericana (just made that up, consider it copyright). Vile it most certainly isn't. (A little bit long it most probably is though)

4. Stealing Sheep - Mountain Dogs

From long and sad to short and perky. There's something sexual about that sentence but I'm not going to explore it. 2 minutes and 20 seconds of fun. That's longer than... Oh dear. And we're back with the innuendo. Shit. Help! This is embarrassing. Sorry. Ah. Umm, nothing to see here, move on. Ahem.

5. Swimming - Sun In The Island

It's the chorus of this song that gets me every time. One of those anthemic ones that just does something to your stomach and makes you want to belt out "Hold on for dear life/ if it feels riiiiiight!" at the top of your voice (really badly). I'm getting a lot of Placebo here. That's a good thing.

6. The Balconies - Do It In The Dark

Remember The Virgins? Remember the funky basslines? Welcome The Balconies, Canada's answer to those New York upstarts. If it doesn't get your foot tapping then it isn't connected to your body. Or you are dead inside. A shell of a human. The video is silly (so don't watch it), but who cares when the song is this good? A perfect pop song.

7. Dels - GOB (David Sitek Remix)

"I won't get swallowed by the gob/ swallowed by the darkness/ swallowed by the fog". What is the gob? I definitely don't want this to happen to me. Anyway, it's a brilliant re-work here by Dave Sitek (of TV On The Radio). The strings on the chorus and the slow bass make it for me; such a simple touch but so effective. Simple simple simple. That's the way to do it.

8. Julio Bashmore - Battle For Middle You

Two dancey numbers to finish. The first is Julio Bashmore who, as those in the know like to say, has been "tearing up dancefloors" for the past year. I don't say that, they do. I copied them to try and look cool. So, now that I do indeed look/sound cool, I can describe this track as a "banger" and make the affirmation that it is "guaranteed to melt faces" and "should come with a health warning". As in it is so good it could be bad for you. Like cake. No, not that kind of cake. Yeah ok, I don't get it either, this is all stuff that the people in the know talk about.

(Ask this guy, he definitely knows)

9. Vandroid - Master & Slave (Van She Tech Remix)

What an absolute monster to finish. Don't be scared by the beginning, it's just a silly intro. Try and listen to this really really loud, and just wait for 1min34 to arrive. This makes my brain tingle so much that I'm not really sure I could handle it for an extended period of time. It reminds me of the Rex The Dog numbers that were being churned out while I was at uni. Absolutely brilliant. Although the person in the know above probably wouldn't like it: it's totes not dubby enough.

And with that horrendous word-murder (if you really say that word you should be ashamed of yourself - obvs) I'm out.

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AutoReplay's Blips - March 2011

Here we go again campers! Another guest Blip here to captivate and hopefully educate your ears. This week, your teacher will be AutoReplay. He will be lecturing mainly around the theme of Dub, and other well known UK-reared meat products. So without further ado:

Here is a random selection of noises and sounds, which, if listened to in the order specified below, actually resemble music. Good music.

1. Mount Kimbie – Before I move off

No relation to any mountains so I am told. Mount Kimbie mainly do music for the ears. Sound music. It’s also relevant here due to its title. Which is sort of like starting. The bit just before the start i guess.

2. Baths – Lovely Bloodflow

A classic song. Good listened to in, or out of, a bath.

3. Daphni – Ye Ye

Yeahyeahyeahyeah – just have a listen. It’s that bloke who is also called Caribou – ah! that got your attention.

4. Light Asylum – A Certain Person (Motherland Remix)

This is a big one. Check out www.soundcloud.com/msmsmsm for more like it

5. Creep – Days (Soul clap remix)

More breathy goodness from the XX's Romy. So fans will like this – and indeed are likely to have already played it to death. Sorry about that. I like this remix of it though. Soul Clap Clap Clap (round of applause)

6. XXXY – You always start it

Oh no you always start it...

7. Canblaster – Clockworks (Teki Latex & Para One remix)

I have a lot of time for the bravado of the protagonist. He is so confident in his ability to sleep for one hundred years and wake up a minute later, with no mention of alarm clock or funeral arrangements, that he commits it to song.

8. Fleet Foxes – Mykonos (Young Montana Remix)

This is a monster. If you are at work careful – you are likely to spill your nice cup of tea onto an approaching colleague. Otherwise crank it up.

9. Arkist – Only If you Mean it

Big rich sounds, a lovely song.

10. Nicholas Jaar – Keep me there

Only 20 years old - Is there anything this guy can’t do! Apparently he is rubbish at astrology. I mean, really bad.

11. Moon Wiring Club – Slumberwick Dreams

There is more recent music out by these ‘chaps’ but I enjoy this one hence its inclusion.

12. Telefon Tel Aviv – Sound In a Dark Room

Similarly this is quite old but I enjoy the noises made. It’s like ‘so’ chilled.

13. Hounds of Hate - Trident

Dark and dirty. Great video too. Maybe do a few mins of forced smiling after listening.

14. Actress – Maze

A good song to end on – 1. turn it up, 2. turn off the lights and 3. get lost in the maze that is your own house. Unless you have a good spatial awareness in which case you’ll probably be fine – just move around slowly. In fact, just to be safe, make sure that any obvious obstacles are removed before part 2 (wine glasses, Ming vases etc)

Mack's Blips - March 2011

Ahoy there!

I'm not going to beat around the bush here- this is a cracking Blip. So, without further ado, I bring you Mack's Blips:

1. PAUL MCCARTNEY - TEMPORARY SECRETARY

And so it starts. With a song which would forever be consigned to the list of musical oddities were it not so amazing (I forgive you if it takes a couple of listens).

A fun game I like to play is putting this on in the car and making whoever's with me try and guess who it is. No-one's EVER guessed right.

2. FICTION - BIG THINGS

This infectious little number makes me want to dance like an idiot too.

3. ANNA CALVI - SUZANNE & I

I don't think anyone's made music which is truly as epic as Anna Calvi's for quite a while. Please please listen to her album, it's scarily grown-up and properly atmospheric music. Believe all that hype!

4. MADVILLAIN - ACCORDION

A little bit of effortlessly deft hip-hop from Madvillain, aka MF Doom and Madlib. My friend Luke once told me he thought Doom's voice sounded 'all dry and sandy like a skeleton', and ever since I've never been able to visualise him any other way.

5. FLYING LOTUS - TEA LEAF DANCERS

OK. Don't listen to this on little laptop speakers. Use big old headphones if you have to. Turn it up and up until it makes you feel all seasick and wonderful.

6. THE KINKS - I'M NOT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE

The further I move into "responsible" adulthood the more time I seem to spend, alone, rocking gently on the corner of my bed with my eyes closed singing along to this at the top of my voice and holding on desperately to the belief that it's true.

7. FRANZ FERDINAND - LUCID DREAMS

Yes! Every second of this record is heaven. I love how it begins a slightly off-kilter Franz anthem then gradually evolves into a glorious synth-knob-measuring contest.

8. WARPAINT - ASHES TO ASHES

I am happy that this David Bowie cover happened. I hope you're happy too. How sick is Warpaint's drummer, by the way?

9. BAUHAUS - BELA LUGOSI'S DEAD

The "first ever Gothic Rock song"? Yes please.

10. JANELLE MONAE - TIGHTROPE

The first time I heard this, I couldn't believe how funky it is. I literally could not believe. I had to attend a funk Alpha course and everything to set my belief back on the right track.

11. PETE AND THE PIRATES - COME TO THE BAR

Remember Mr Understanding? It was so catchy that I didn't think Pete and the Pirates had another one like that in them. But lo, this arrived and has managed to worm its way into my ear and, just like a sonic Swampy, is refusing to budge until they stop building new runways at Heathrow. Or something.

12. WOLF GANG - BACK TO BACK

Wolf Gang are one of my favourite new bands, and this is one of my

favourite Wolf Gang songs. You do the math, as they say. Annoyingly.

13. RATATAT - SHILLER

There are other, more upbeat tracks I nearly chose, but this here is

the first I heard of the amazing Ratatat, after buying 'LP3' on vinyl

purely on the basis that I thought the cover art was amazing. Well, it

worked - I knew I'd done good as soon as that backwards-mellotron got

all drenched by autoharps.

14. LORN - CHERRY MOON

I've saved a real absolute gem till last.

This sounds like fizzy midnight. Like melted starlight. Like rain on

Knight Rider's windscreen. In the future. Like the hundred other

clumsy and grossly inadequate similies I could reel off and bore you

to tears with. I'd rather just shut up and let you listen to it.

February 2011 (I know I know...)

Yes yes yes, it isn't February anymore. Well it's my blog, and February is a stupid month anyway. I mean, what kind of freak puts 28 days in a month? Gregory, that's who. And what is a day? What is a minute? Why do we need to measure everything; labelise our entire existence?

I've had it. I for one am making a stand, right here, right now. February - you 28-day long (but sometimes 29, every 4 years you SADISTIC BASTARD) pustule of grey skies and almost-springtime dashed hope - you are going down.

WHO'S WITH ME?

[silence]

Yeah, fair enough, you probably just came to listen to some music. Well that's fine too.

Here we are then, 9 battle-hardened, February-hating behemoths for you.

Ready?

CHAAAAAARGE!

1. Zoo Kid - Out Getting Ribs

A sad slow one to start, written by a 16yr old ginger hipster. Turns out it's rather good. Amazing what you can do with 2 guitars, an interesting voice and a few shiny knobs. Ack, shhh, you know what I mean. I'm trying to be your serious music correspondent here. You're spoiling it.

2. The Low Suns - So Tired

Oooh I love acoustic songs. Very dangerous thing to do as a band; if anyone can't sing, it's going to sound absolutely horrific. Luckily, the vocals here are a perfect balance of subtlety and strength, exactly what you need in a slow sleepy one like this. Thumbs up.

3. Miami Horror - Moon Theory

Very Hercules & Love Affair this one. Probably why I love it so much. Partly that, partly the video. The lone horseman, embarking on a Peyote-fuelled vision quest. Can't imagine that riding a horse whilst tripping balls on Peyote is that clever an idea, but this guy seems to have it down to a fine art. What this video doesn't show though is all the coyotes and rattlesnakes that hang around in those Utah deserts. But it ends happily: he wakes up and finds some kind of alien power station, so clearly all is well and he found what he was looking for.

4. Small Black - Sun Was High (So Was I) (Best Coast Cover)

Another song that was clearly written whilst under the influence of a mind-bending substance. Big, lazy soundscapes and a sleepy drawl over the top. Put a bit of echo/reverb/[insert geeky effect] on top of that and you've got yourself another tasty morsel of American Slo-Fi. I just made that genre up by the way, so don't anyone go getting any ideas. Just look what happened to February.

5. James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream

This is a beauty.

However - and it is quite a big however - the album is incredibly hard going. It feels like you are reading Mr. Blake's musical dissertation: chock-full of footnotes, 200 word sentences and big scary words like "jectigation*".

There's an easy solution to this problem though - just listen to this on repeat, and sob into your pillow.

6. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

From sad sobbing to happy sobbing. This song is full of some sort of mystical force that rushes good thoughts to the top of your head and makes you want to swell up and explode with joy, sadness and amazement at the beauty of the world, love, and every experience you've ever had. Five minutes and four seconds of perfection.

(There's a chance you won't like it as much as that I suppose.)

7. Digits - Rachel Marie

Oh Digits, please stop being so fucking good. You aren't being fair to all the other new bands. Give them at least a small chance.

It's like Hall & Oates had a sexy little electro baby that used to get dropped off at New Order's house for after-school tutoring. (Can you hear the Blue Monday homage?)

Rachel Marie is a lucky lady that's for sure. Maybe she is the surrogate mother that Hall & Oates used...

8. Gross Magic - Waiting For You

Ahhhhh YES, this is a good playlist! Starts off sad, takes you up and before you know it you are bouncing around to yet more 80s inspired goodness. This time it's a chirpy synth with a little MGMT small-boy vocal over the top. Add a bit of Lo-fi fuzz and you're off. It works. Hoh yes by golly it works.

9. Metronomy - She Wants

The difficult final track. How to end it? Take it back down to Sadville, or keep everyone in Happyland?

Well, the answer is neither. We are going down a winding country road, just as the daylight is fading, to the sexiest, sultriest place you've been to since you visited the town of XX a couple of years ago.

It's Metronomy, and it's one of my favourite songs this year. So moody and complex, full of some kind of very painful longing. The hours just keep coming, and the lonely guitar keeps on hopefully plugging away, waiting for something to change. It is mind-alteringly good.

Wow. I could listen to that on repeat for a good few days.

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We are done for the month Blippers. Hope you enjoyed it. I must say I did.

I'll try and be back soon to bring you some more of my latest loves.

In the meantime, keep on keepin' on.

*For the curious souls amongst you, 'jectigation' means "a trembling movement"

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Triple Cooked Blips and The Dirty Wizard - February 2011

Another Guest Blip winging its way towards your very-nearly-springtime eardrums. Sit back and enjoy these 13 delicacies from Triple Cooked Blips and The Dirty Wizard!

1. Toro Y Moi - Go With You

Oooh…mmm. From his album Underneath The Pines just out. Also listen to ‘Blessa’ from his old album, about which someone commented “did someone just have sex in my ear?’

2. Jai Paul – BTSTU

A mucky, angelic, sneaky little dubby number.

3. Man Like Me – Carny

Not summer yet but when it is….(very underrated group, also listen to ‘London Town’)

4. James Blake – I Only Know Now (What I Know)

If you’ve ever visited an old house that you used to live in, or met with an ex-girlfriend, this song is a bit like that feels. This song’s from an older EP but his debut album just came out. He’s no longer underground but the poster of his album is.

5. Warpaint – Billie Holiday

Building and rolling, a bit like a wave…(the wave sound effects probably appropriate then. actually I think they’re cars…whoops.) Also, Sister Act lyrics just thrown in there casual like. Right good. See also their album The Fool.

6. Burial – Shell of Light (Album – ‘Untrue’)

A couple of years old but for those who don’t know and a reminder for those who do: a special one from a special album. This is the sound of London. Him n’ Banksy, yeah, should like…

7. Adam F (feat. MC Conrad) – F-Jam

A real oldie: this was before he started producing heavy rap. From the album Colours, the finest drum n’ bass album, where he merged New Age with d n’ b. Get familiar with the intro and say it whilst cycling and then when the base kicks in pedal really really hard (if you have a bike).

8. Oneohtrix Point Never – Returnal (voice by Anthony Hegarty)

Spine-tinglingly beautiful. Almost holy. This is actually a different version (with the guy from Anthony & The Johnsons singing) of a song that is more synthy and blade runnery, which is just as good. Be sure to listen to that version too.

9. Simply Red – Something Got Me Started

Naughty.

10. Dan Deacon – Snookered

Wakey-uppy, everything-will-be-okayy and then a fairly intense shift. This guy, if you ever catch him live, is great.

11. Destroyer – Kaputt

Prefab Sprout -esque. Hey there little fella! (watch the video). Do you remember turning from a child into a teenager? Will turning from an adult to an old person be a similar feeling? Whales.

12. This Must Be The Place – Talking Heads (MGMT Remix)

Live so sound quality not good but a nice rough and ready version of one of the greatest songs ever…sing into my mouth!

13. Pepe Bradock – Deep Burnt

And to finish - a classic deep house track that transcends space and time.

Jocelyn's Blips - February 2011

Here to hew the rough edges off a past that was probably never as good as it seems like it was once, Parisian-based journalist and filmmaker Jocelyn offers you some sepia soft focus..

Some may be new, some may be old, but all of them point back to those (possibly fictitious) golden days. It’s grim in February. You need to forget that there’s no time like the present.

So here is Jocelyn’s béatifique haute-couture nostalgia from the camembert capital.

1. SATYAJIT RAY – CHARU’S THEME

Forget the Darjeeling Limited. Satyajit Ray’s melodies have a deeper filmic history than to soundtrack quirky journeys of Western self discovery round the subcontinent. In the days before Bollywood’s garish technicolour, Satyajit Ray was responsible for bringing international recognition to India’s film industry. He even wrote the music for his own films. A compilation of his soundtracks is one of my favourite records of all time. His films are pretty cool too.

2. DEERHUNTER – DESIRE LINES

“Wa-oh.”

3. ANN STEEL – MY TIME

Mental electro-pop from the past. Woozy liquid rhythms and strange every-day lyrics about Einstein and the Eiffel Tower put Ann Steel on a path stretching right up to the door of Animal Collective.

4. PANDA BEAR – ALSATIAN DARN

Speaking about Animal Collective… it’s the B-side to Panda Bear’s You Can Count on Me single. Trippy.

5. GROUPER – HEAVY WATER/ RATHER BE SLEEPING

Like floating on a lilo in a really, really cold river.

6. ANDREW BIRD vs KONONO NO 1 - OHNONO/KIWEMBO

When indie and likembé combine... a rare gentle moment from last year's hit-and-miss but nonetheless awesome Tradi-mods vs Rockers.

7. oOoOO – BURNOUT EYES

Crunk Cocteau Twins sippin on codeine.

8. R STEVIE MOORE – I GO INTO YOUR MIND

Before Ariel Pink there was R. Stevie Moore. This arthritic lo-fi lord has been peddling wonky music in New York for decades, but has remained firmly under the radar. This tune, made along with Krys O. and Yukio Yun, is one of his most expansive, and most beautiful.

9. JULIAN LYNCH – IN NEW JERSEY

Break out the psychedelic clarinet and let’s get INTIMATE.

10. MARK MCGUIRE – BRAIN STORM (FOR ERIN)

Beguiling, mysterious guitar blips from the Emeralds guy.

11. BON IVER - FLUME (LANNY MAY REMIX)

Might have been remixed in a backwoods hut in Wisconsin.

12. DAS RACIST – AMAZING (FT. LAKUTIS)

Amazing.

13. ATLAS SOUND – QUICK CANAL

Sexy krautrock from Bradford Cox (the guy from Deerhunter) with Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadler in tow.

14. STEVE GUNN – DUSTED MIND

Intricate American primitivism to round things off. A bientot.

FIN

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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Remember to get following on Twitter (@chipsblipsblog) for updates, snippets and songs aplenty.

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