I hate novelty songs. So here are two:

TBC Poundsystem - "Losing My Sledge". Yes, it's a Christmas song! I'm well out of date, aren't I? But this made me smile so persistently that I can't help but share it. There are jingle bells, there are dumb gags, but most of all there's such a good-natured imitation of James Murphy's LCD Soundsystem voice, such a successful dubbing of merry ideas onto the obssessive original. "I was there for the first canned snow / in Cologne." ... "I hear that everybody that you know is more festive than everybody that I know". If you don't know the original "Losing My Edge", perhaps this will have no appeal, but I like to think that for 8 minutes it will still make you grin - oh and still make you boogie. (Thanks Quinn, thanks Bill, thanks Santa.)

[TBC Poundsystem is a collaboration between Jeb (£50 Note podcast) and Tim B (Radioclash podcast)]

Dokaka - "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Okay we've all heard those goofy covers by college acapella groups, jazz-hands fellows doing vocal acrobatics 'round "Creep" or, yeah, this one too. But what makes Dokaka special is that he's a Japanese beatbox guy who sounds totally insane. As he loops and loops his voice, it's as if a goblin is ripping its face off, running from the dragonflies, a demon being devoured by the rock'n'roll that Nirvana brought. I do clowning when I can, I really do - a theatrical clown in the tradition of LeCoq and stuff, - and Dokaka reminds me of a clown's reaction to a tune like this. Too much feeling to keep it in - being driven gladly, gladly mad by the whoosh of music, gibberish streaming out of your voice like a cartoon-bubble of epithets and delirious grinning birds. And I swear that in the chorus he's speaking italian, offering a friendly "Bona sera!" "Buonasera!"

[Dokaka also sings the main theme of Nintendo game "We Love Katamari", and appears on Bjork's Medulla. Check his website - and download a bundle more mp3s, - here.]

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Excellent songs at Catbirdseat, lately - particularly enjoying the oldschool Bowie of the track by The Battles. And yeah, Catbird Records is coming on strong. Great work, Ryan.

If you're not sick of Best Ofs, The Big Ticket's good taste, flashy graphics and free downloads continue to impress.

It's not being advertised very well, so a head's up to any Edinburghers who missed the news that Camera Obscura are playing with Dot To Dot this Friday, for 5 quid. I will also be hitting Glasgow for Herman Düne on Thursday, Belle and Sebastian on Friday.

And finally, a return to the topic of...

All Tomorrows Parties 2006

All Tomorrows Parties is a series of music festivals where the day's events are curated by invited artists. The first one was the Bowlie Weekender, organised by Belle & Sebastian. It took place at Camber Sands, England, which is a seaside holiday village. While there have since been ATPs in NYC, LA, etc, Camber Sands is where things started. And it's the site of the two ATP weekends this May.

I will be attending Weekend 2, May 19th-21st. (There is another the week before.) Here is the deal:

MUSIC
probably 30-40 acts, who will gradually be announced as the dates approach
ANNOUNCED SO FAR:

• DAY 1: DINOSAUR JR (curator), DEAD MEADOW, BEVIS FROND, BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE, BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE, THE LILYS...
  
• DAY 2: SLEATER-KINNEY (curator), MC DAVID CROSS, THE GOSSIP, SPOON, BOREDOMS...
  
• DAY 3: THE SHINS (curator), THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS, THE DECEMBERISTS, CLINIC, BIG BUSINESS...
  

COST

• £125 + travel + some other fees
  
• includes lodging in an on-site chalet
  
• chalets include rad things like a TV whose programming is also selected by the day's musical curators

The appeal of ATP is that it's a fairly small festival and nobody needs to trek off to tents or what-have-you. Everyone's staying in chalets, on site. You can go wander on the beach and then listen to Broken Social Scene. You herky-jerky to Clinic and then go crash on your own bed. There's also a pub.

Now the trouble is that you need to buy at least four tickets at a time - that is, you need to book a 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 berth chalet. I don't have 4 friends here who can come.

So, spurred by Nat,

I am currently considering organising a Said The Gramophone chalet.

Update: 6 February 2006: All spaces in the Said the Gramophone chalets have now been filled.

What does this mean?

Basically nothing. Just that if you are considering coming to Camber Sands, perhaps you would like to get in touch with me and maybe share a chalet with some other Said the Gramophone readers. There does exist a formal share a chalet option, direct from ATP, but who knows what kind of crazies you could get saddled with. The hope is that the StG Chalet will be a collection of kindly, music-mad, sympathetic people. Who aren't crazy.

If you're interested in reading a bit more, please follow me after the jump.

Requirements of anyone who wants to join the StG chalet:

1) You are kind.
2) You are friendly.
3) You are not crazy.
4) You read this blog (hi!) or are the good friend/partner of someone who does.
5) You are not a thief.
6) You are not a junkie.
7) You are not a junkie-thief.
8) You like tea, hot cocoa, coffee, ovaltine, or mulled wine.
9) You have £125 + £7 booking + whatever other ATP/PayPal fees are charged.
10) You trust Sean enough to send him this money (by PayPal or by money order) your share of the chalet costs, and can do so when asked.
11) You will be responsible for yr own transportation to Camber Sands.
12) You are also prepared to bring your own food and all other appropriate ATP stuff.
13) You understand that the StG Chalet is nothing official, makes no promises, and is basically just the ganging-up of several like-minded ATP attendees.
10) You want to come to weekend 2 (I am not going to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs/Devendra Banhart/Mudhoney weekend 1.)

What will happen at the StG chalet?

Meals! Conversation! Discovery! Friends! Yay! Maybe parties? Maybe dancing? And music!

What to do next?

If you're interested, please email me. Please try to give me an idea of how interested you are. The cut-off will be sometime soon; I want to book a chalet very shortly because this weekend will sell out.

Update: 6 February 2006: All spaces in the Said the Gramophone chalets have now been filled.

Have a question?

Feel free to email me about that, too!