Aesecakes

Thought some might enjoy this solo tune that was performed at a live-to-air session at a great, local (to me) community radio station, here in Melbourne.

Hi AN friends. We have lost one of the great ones over the weekend. I've had The Chills and Martin Phillipps associated records playing on repeat, since I found out about his passing at the age of 61 in in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

If you don't know them, here's a piece on the Radio NZ website and one on Pitchfork, with some background.

The Chills were very influential to a host of musicians like R.E.M, Pavement, Yo La Tengo and many more. His passing has attracted a series of tributes from all over.

On a personal level, I first heard The Chills at a formative time in my life and Martin Phillipps' music, which has more breadth than some might think, broadened my horizons…I have been a fan ever since.

If you want to hear more, hear is a Songwhip page, so you can track some more tunes down.

I just noticed a new Eels album came out in June. This is the opening track. It's delicate, existential and introspective. I am listening to the rest of the album, as I type this.

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I have been exchanging music recommendations with a friend. She recently sent me this track. The internet tells me that I had already listened to a few times, but it had slipped my mind until my friend's email. Having just listened to the whole of the Versions Of Modern Performance album, I like the sound that this young Chicago band makes. That's probably because it sounds like we're back in 1996 again.

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This is some list.

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From The Tragically Hip's first EP.

For those who observe it, have a nice Canada Day.

It's a Saturday night/early Sunday morning in 1994. You've just returned home from a gig, stopping off for some junk food, to soak up the booze, on your way. You flick on the TV, adjust the antenna because the signal isn't that great sometimes, and switch on an overnight music video show.

As the cathode ray tube warms up, this music video comes on and you think, "They sound like a cross between Curve, Lush, Cocteau Twins and The Telescopes. I wonder if they are on 4AD or Creation?".

The room starts spinning. You eventually regain consciousness, flat on your back, on the cold floor. You realise it's not 3am on Sunday in 1994. It's actually 2024 and Austin, Texas band, Blushing, have released an album called Sugarcoat, that this is the title track of.

Slapping yourself, you get back to distracting yourself from real work, looking for more indie bands you haven't heard yet, on the internet.

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The first in a series of bands with terrible names (with decent tunes, in this case). Do you have any other examples?

Apparently this Japanese band chose their name by combining random words that the founding members liked. Despite the absolutely terrible name, they have some good sounding songs.

They are going on tour in N. America in Sept.

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Sydney's (terribly named, IMO) Phantastic Ferniture released one self-titled album. This was the featured track that got a bit of play around the place, at least where I live.

Julia Jacklin (vox/guitar), Elizabeth Hughes (guitar), Tom Stephens (bass), and drummer Ryan K. Brennan's song is a chill yet jaunty, mellow yet catchy slice of tuneful guitar music that just might be suitable for your next playlist.

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I was delighted to find this clip from an appearance on Conan O’Brien in 2006. I was lucky enough to be in New York at the right time to go to one of the shows that Conan mentioned in the intro. It was a really good show!

Conan mentioned that this song was from the album Rabbit Fur Coat that’s they were on tour for, however, it was actually on the follow up, Acid Tongue (2008). Both are good albums.

When checking this, I discovered that Paz Lenchantin played on See Fernando and several other tracks on Acid Tongue. Paz was later recruited to play bass in The Pixies.

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I’m not a big fan of Muse but I am of this song!

Do the sounds of early Primal Scream, The Pastels, Sarah Records and all things jangle pop, appeal to you? Then take a listen to this.

This band from a town west of Glasgow is the reincarnation of the spirit of C86. Fronted by two sisters, they appear to be young aficionados of jangle pop, setting out to create it anew. Appropriately, the physical release of this single is on a cassette tape.