The Pendulums - "Brand New Song". This song is a memo. It is a debriefing. It makes things known. It is a song about having things. These are the things that are had and the people who have them:
| Michael | Bonzo Dog Band (album) |
| Martin | Commodore 64 (keyboard) |
| James | shiny trombone (trombone) |
| Vinny | circular tent (circular) |
| Solveig | pair of socks (stripey) |
| Carol | ball of wool (tangled) |
| everybody | a brand new thing |
I'm not making that up or being metaphorical. The song is a memo, it's a debriefing, it makes the above known. In plain english. And also with la-la-la, taddle-um, violin, guitar, bass, and with a trombone that will come right up to you and shake your hand. Who's got the trombone? James.
Okay, but don't you hate memos? Don't you wish memos were soft-boiled eggs, with bacon and root beer? Maybe some mushrooms on the side? Don't you wish "memo" was code for jumping from fencepost to fencepost? Well The Pendulums are from Glasgow and Edinburgh, they like Gong and Pentangle and the Incredible String Band, and the Bonzo Dog Band too. They are that and they like those bands and they have the things mentioned above. And to them a memo's a song; a song's a breakfast; a breakfast's a hop, a skip and a jump. It's the funnest thing in the creek.
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Catbirdseat introduces us to a remarkably great artist called Beirut. Balkan strut and lake-buzzy trumpet, but wearing the Magnetic Fields' suits.
Volume II of the Contrast podcast features songs selected and introduced by various mp3bloggers from around the world. Tunes by Ween, Wilco, Cursive, McLusky and many more. Also featuring a song selected by me, by a band called Sexual Harassment (posted here more than two years ago). And yes, you can hear my silly, creaky, crinkly voice.
And (inevitably) a great (happy) piece by Marcello Carlin on Ornette Coleman and (!) The Constantines.
Posted by Sean at April 7, 2006 3:00 AMThat Beirut track is wonderful. It's like, I want to dance, but I don't know how.
Posted by: David at April 7, 2006 8:55 AMThank you again for the contrast submission Sean. I actually like your crinkly voice and hope that we'll get to hear it again in the future! Tim
Posted by: Tim Young at April 7, 2006 11:56 AMIve seen beirut on Gorilla Vs. Bear also. its a great song.
i like this pendulums song as well
Posted by: Lukas at April 7, 2006 3:57 PMthat Beirut track is ScottWalkerlicious!
The Beirut song is "Oh My Goodness" good. I feel like I've been caught with my pants down and listening to Anne Murray my entire life until this very moment. I'm changing my ways, relearning the clarinet and joining this band even if it means chasing their caravan on rollerblades and calling myself a "band-aid."
Posted by: danica at April 7, 2006 11:18 PMThanks for the heads up on The Pendulums. Great song. Had to listen: four out of four influences were favorite bands of mine in those days. What kind of range do the P's have? This song is good if it distinguishes itself from other musics they might make; so, Sean, what do you think of their other material, if you've heard it?
Posted by: J at April 7, 2006 11:22 PMJ - Their album is lots of fun, spirited, slightly silly, but with moments of quite tender romanticism too. Recommended!
The bassist is also a member of the free-folk group Scatter.
Posted by: Sean at April 8, 2006 5:06 AMI put that Beirut song on a mix cd for a few days in the country last weekend and it became the soundtrack to our trip (Bulent Ortacgil and Bruce Springsteen were on it too). It's just spot on in so many ways. Another winner. Thanks.
Posted by: Robert P, Dublin at April 14, 2006 7:34 AM