W is for...

World Cup Songs.

Some of the worst, most embarrassing music of all time is put to plastic when a football team qualifies for the World Cup, or any cup final for that matter (England singing 'This Time' in 82, 'Scotland, Scotland' by err...Scotland in 74, The Anfield Rap etc etc). Sometimes, a team will try to hide in the background behind a professional pop band in order to minimise ridicule. This strategy, however, is not always an unqualified success...



Much more interesting are the 'unofficial' songs that a summer of diving, handballs, headbutts, shootouts and appalling refereeing decisions can inspire.
The official song of the 2010 finals in South Africa was 'Waka, Waka' sung by Shakira (whose 'Hips Don't Lie' was apparently an unoffical track during the 2006 tournament). Personally, I think a much better choice would have been:



For the first time in years, England did not have an official World Cup Song. Despite this, there was still a distinct lack of airplay for the following in the lead-up to our humiliating exit at the hands of our Village People-loving German cousins:



And for all those who think the World Cup is an unwelcome intrusion of football on the cricket season, the greatest alternative, unofficial English anthem is undoubtedly:

The Blogged ii Death Q-M of Music: Q

A vain attempt to ensure I post more regularly, The Blogged ii Death Q-M of Music presents [the definitive / a highly subjective] list of genres and artists beloved of this blog. It is a veritable [cornucopia / Smörgåsbord ] of tunage. Furthermore, it is presented in QWERTY order, as A-Z is so 20th Century.

Q is for...Quantic

English multi-instrumentalist who has turned out a handful of albums of predominantly electronic chill-out music



He also assembled and played guitar in the Quantic Soul Orchestra, a band playing original jazz and funk



before relocating to Colombia to record an album of dub & tropicalia



For news on his latest tracks, remixes, collaborations and compilation projects visit
his official site


Q is also for Queen.

In Your Face, Rupert

BILLY BRAGG - NEVER BUY THE SUN from Billy Bragg on Vimeo.

I know it's not nice to gloat but this is one grudge I've held for over 20 years.

Also loving the BBC's coverage of the whole scandal after Murdoch's machinations last year. (See my post from 26/02/10)

Hurray for Japan

I've recently been alerted, by two separate comrades from my days working for The Fallen Arches, to a number of fantastic songs from Japan. I have added a couple more old favourites of my own, but thanks to Miike for Yoshida Brothers and Kitaro, and to PHD for The Cougars.











(OK, admittedly the last band isn't from Japan. But, according to rainbowcurve, the French and Belgian duo who wrote this learned Japanese before doing so. So that's good enough for me.

The Very Best Chilly Ice Cream *

[* insert punctuation before posting]

Like certain premier league football teams who will not be mentioned here, 2011 only seems to have woken up at half time. But on this evidence, the next 45 minutes / 6 months should be more interesting:

Washed Out Return

Opening track from their forthcoming album, and best thing I've heard in a long time.

R.I.P. Gil Scott-Heron ( April 1st 1949 - May 27th, 2011 )

As a mark of respect for the actor Jeff Conaway who also passed away yesterday:



I was alerted to both of the above sad events by the front page of the BBC website this morning. Meanwhile, the main entertainment headlines over at www.msn.co.uk are that Take That's tour has started, and the 'Hottest Woman Over 50' has been named in a survey. (It's not Margaret Thatcher).

Yet more pro-BBC propaganda from me now, as I must mention the 2 best pieces of television I've watched this year on i-Player. First is Stewart Lee deconstructing stand-up comedy (whilst sat down), in which he calls for the return of the 'good old' IRA in such a way that would still make them want to kill him.

And second, was the first episode of Adam Curtis' new series of documentaries 'All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace'. Like all of his work, it is a totally engrossing story, tracing hidden connections through history. Last week's episode was an American tale that began with the construction of a skyscraper, and ended 50 years later with the destruction of two, and featured Ayn Rand, Alan Greenspan, Monica Lewinsky, several financial crashes and a game of Pong.

Visit Adam's blog here.

Sofrito and luk thung

As we head into mid-April 2011, it really is about time we put the music of 2010 to bed. That can't be done, however, without first posting this track from one of last year's best compilations, 'The Sound of Siam', a collection of experimental Thai music from the 60s & 70s that incorporates elements of jazz, funk and surf.

Soul Lam Plearn is one of two standout tracks for me and is, according to Uncut magazine, "what an oriental Stone Roses would sound like".



The other 2 great compilations that I got hold of last year were

1) Shangaan Electro: New Wave Dance Music from S Africa



(see track 29 on the 2010 Top 50)










2) Down to the Sea and Back: The Continuing Journey of the Balearic Beat











Which is as good a time as any (apart from perhaps the last 4 months) to finish the 2010 round-up:

Blogged II Death Best Album: Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here
Best Video: LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls
Best Gig: Wooden Shjips @ St. Phillips Church, Salford (OK, I admit it was the only gig I got to attend but it was a good one)
Best Single: Gil Scott-Heron - Me & the Devil

The full round-up of last year's 50 best tracks (minus a couple unavailable) can now be found on a youtube playlist at the following address:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C1572700E6EA409E (an undertaking for which I can take no credit)
And as a final, belated wave goodbye to the year we did NOT make contact, here is the winner of this blog's best gig category, covering the winner of the Best Video:




As for 2011, I doubt that a better compilation will come my way than 'Sofrito - Tropical Discotheque', a fantastic party album incorporating music from Africa, South America and the Caribbean. The following 2 tracks are particular highlights:

MIGHTY SHADOW - Dat Soca Boat


SIR VICTOR UWAIFO - Ohue (Frankie Francis & Simbad Edit)

Festive 50 2010 10-1

10. BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB - Evol


9. ARCADE FIRE - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)


8. THE FALL - Bury Pts 2 + 4


7. CRYSTAL CASTLES - Baptism


6. MAYER HAWTHORNE - Green Eyed Love (Wajeed Remix)


5. GORILLAZ - Stylo (feat. Bobby Womack & Mos Def)


4. THE BIG PINK - Dominos


3. MIDLAKE - Acts of Man


2. DAN LE SAC Vs SCROOBIUS PIP - Get Better


1. GIL SCOTT-HERON - Me and the Devil

Festive 50 2010 20-11

20. KINGS GO FORTH - One Day


19. MARK RONSON - Bang Bang Bang


18. DAN LE SAC Vs SCROOBIUS PIP - Stake A Claim (the lying Clegg mix!)


17. FANG ISLAND - Daisy


16. CORNERSHOP - Who Fingered Rock 'n' Roll?


15. DOMINANT LEGS - Young at Love and Life


14. THE DRUMS - Let's Go Surfing (Knight School Version)


13. CARIBOU - Odessa


12. THE BIG PINK - Velvet


11. ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT - Magnetic Warrior

Festive 50 2010 30-21

30. TWIN SISTER - All Around and Away We Go


29. TSHETSHA BOYS - Nwampfundla


28. LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - Drunk Girls


27. MOON DUO - Motorcycle, I Love You


26. JOANNA NEWSOM - Good Intentions Paving Company


25. FRANKIE ROSE & THE OUTS - Little Brown Haired Girls


24. THE STRANGE BOYS - Be Brave


23. GONJA SUFI - She Gone


22. THE IMAGINED VILLAGE - Cum On Feel The Noize


21. SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS - Windstorm

Festive 50 2010 40-31

40. CARIBOU - Sun


39. EL GUINCHO - Bombay


38. UNDERWORLD - Scribble


37. BEST COAST - Make You Mine


36. BLOOD DIAMONDS - Heart


35. TENNIS - Marathon


34. TRENTEMOLLER - Silver Surfer, Ghost Rider, Go!!!


33. FRANKIE ROSE & THE OUTS - You Can Make Me Feel Bad

32. ARIEL PINK'S HAUNTED GRAFFITI - Round and Round


31. ELECTRIC WIRE HUSTLE - They Don't Want

Festive 50 2010 50-41

This year's rundown of the best tunes by virtue of me saying so, split into handy bite-size chunks. Same rules as last year apply.

50. LOLA DUTRONIC - Whisper

Video banned by Youtube! Watch here...http://vimeo.com/15459089

49. ARNO - Knowing Me Knowing You


48. GONJASUFI - SuzieQ


47. DISRUPT - Citadel Station


46. WILD NOTHING - Chinatown


45. CRYSTAL CASTLES feat. ROBERT SMITH - Not In Love


44. DELOREAN - Stay Close


43. WOODEN SHJIPS - Vampire Blues


42. ROOTS MANUVA Meets WRONGTOM - Butterfly Crab Walk


41. PINK NOISE - Moving In (Remix)