ResonanceFM and Dexter Bentley are organising our album launch @ The Miller this Friday, come along if you're free; tix here
12.5.10
spouting a load of rubbish in The Big Issue
... and coming off rather naive. Still, nice to have a feature.
ResonanceFM and Dexter Bentley are organising our album launch @ The Miller this Friday, come along if you're free; tix here
ResonanceFM and Dexter Bentley are organising our album launch @ The Miller this Friday, come along if you're free; tix here
Her Name is Calla
Last night I recorded some viola parts at fellow Monroe Transfer member Nick’s house. Her Name Is Calla asked us to add a few parts to a couple of already massive sounding songs on their new album. We suitably added a whole new level of massiveness and I’m looking forward to hearing the end result!
5.5.10
Camden Trawl
So, I spent much of the typically rainy bank holiday weekend in Camden for the Camden Crawl because Smoke Fairies' were billed to play both days. The first show was an apparently "well received" set at KOKO; it certainly seemed so judging by the hollering and clapping at inopportune moments by a lagered up bunch at the front. It's always far more entertaining playing to an enthusiastic crowd though even if they are completely hammered. The rest of the evening was spent vaguely attempting to consume copious amounts of sickly Gaymers cider, which clearly contains mostly sugar, with a hint of apple.
Day two was mostly spent at the Chalk Farm end of Camden for our show at The Enterprise. A bottle of Gaymers cider made its treacly presence known by falling off an amp during sound check and emptying its sugary contents all over Kaf's jacket. As if that wasn't bad enough, two bottleneck slides fell off the amp along with the cider and despite fervently searching like pigs sniffing out truffles we couldn't find either one of the slides. Not one to be deterred, Kaf found a shot glass to use instead.
Oh, and apparently I'm one of Camden's Seven. Seven of what I'm not sure, perhaps one of the seven people most likely to get mugged in Camden. The chap sporting the blue man group look is the clear winner though.
RIP Kay Mosley
Day two was mostly spent at the Chalk Farm end of Camden for our show at The Enterprise. A bottle of Gaymers cider made its treacly presence known by falling off an amp during sound check and emptying its sugary contents all over Kaf's jacket. As if that wasn't bad enough, two bottleneck slides fell off the amp along with the cider and despite fervently searching like pigs sniffing out truffles we couldn't find either one of the slides. Not one to be deterred, Kaf found a shot glass to use instead.
Oh, and apparently I'm one of Camden's Seven. Seven of what I'm not sure, perhaps one of the seven people most likely to get mugged in Camden. The chap sporting the blue man group look is the clear winner though.
RIP Kay Mosley
3.5.10
Trials of the day
Trials; the new album by The Monroe Transfer is out today. As per usual it comes with preposterous hand made packaging and you have to break it open to listen to it. If you like lies; Orangina nicked their 'shake it to wake it' marketing campaign off us.
You can listen and download the album from our band camp site.
Our next gig is at the Miller of Mansfield on 14th May
24.4.10
Songs in the key of drunk
Ahem....
Click here to see the video wall
...and here's a sample of Robyn's awesome shirt collection:
Click here to see the video wall
...and here's a sample of Robyn's awesome shirt collection:
6.4.10
Smoke Fairies hit SXSW
Firstly, what the hell is up with the weather in Austin, Texas? one day its scorching sun which led to me looking like a burn victim and the next I'm wearing a massive coat and getting frost bite. It was so cold my fingers were like rocks. Karen Elson gets an Everest-sized high five 'cos she performed outside in the bitter cold wearing just a thin peach dress, if my mum were there she's be saying "wrap up warm dear or you'll catch your death!", but no, Karen and her impeccably dressed band didn't let the trivialities of weather dictate their stage persona.
SXSW was a pretty overwhelming affair, literally everywhere you go there’s a cacophony of bands jostling for attention. 6th Street in particular (a stretch of about four miles) had a huge volume of bars and restaurants all with live bands blaring out onto the street, which itself was littered with buskers of all ilk, including proper toothless hillbillies twanging their beaten up four string guitars.
Busking in Texas looked like ramshackle fun so I borrowed a violin from a duo on the street and busked with their banjo player. I earned them one dollar.
Smoke Fairies played four shows at SXSW, the first being a set to a packed out Latitude 30 for the British Embassy showcase with buzz bands Everything Everything and Band of Skulls. It was an ace gig and it was nice to come off stage to greet a free bar. Watch a beating Frozen Heart here.
Our 'showcase' was at The Alehouse. The venue wasn't quite as exciting as the name suggests, in fact, it reminded me of Camden and I had to keep reminding myself that I was five thousand miles away.
There's a pretty dodgy mobile phone video of a potion of the set here - see, it could be Camden if it weren't for the banner.
I also added some viola mayhem to Viv Albertine's gig at Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace label showcase - they tried to get me in a nightie but couldn't find one large enough.
With America being the home of the Classic Beef Burger. They certainly know how to make a tasty burger: thick juicy beef patties cooked to perfection with jalapenos, proper cheese and thick smokey bacon - yum. We also went to a seafood restaurant that was a little unconventional in their approach to serving food. They came out with bowls of prawns and crawfish and simply tipped the contents onto your table, luckily I had a bib.
We were also attracted to pizza vans, as you can see, it's the best way to get around in Texas.
We found some great vintage shops in the South Congress, including an awesome shop called Uncommon Objects who were selling Nomadic robes and a frock coat supposedly from the1800s belonging to the Knights Templar. I should have bought it.
Lastly, we met some pandas.
RIP Alex Chilton
SXSW was a pretty overwhelming affair, literally everywhere you go there’s a cacophony of bands jostling for attention. 6th Street in particular (a stretch of about four miles) had a huge volume of bars and restaurants all with live bands blaring out onto the street, which itself was littered with buskers of all ilk, including proper toothless hillbillies twanging their beaten up four string guitars.
Busking in Texas looked like ramshackle fun so I borrowed a violin from a duo on the street and busked with their banjo player. I earned them one dollar.
Smoke Fairies played four shows at SXSW, the first being a set to a packed out Latitude 30 for the British Embassy showcase with buzz bands Everything Everything and Band of Skulls. It was an ace gig and it was nice to come off stage to greet a free bar. Watch a beating Frozen Heart here.
Our 'showcase' was at The Alehouse. The venue wasn't quite as exciting as the name suggests, in fact, it reminded me of Camden and I had to keep reminding myself that I was five thousand miles away.
There's a pretty dodgy mobile phone video of a potion of the set here - see, it could be Camden if it weren't for the banner.
I also added some viola mayhem to Viv Albertine's gig at Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace label showcase - they tried to get me in a nightie but couldn't find one large enough.
With America being the home of the Classic Beef Burger. They certainly know how to make a tasty burger: thick juicy beef patties cooked to perfection with jalapenos, proper cheese and thick smokey bacon - yum. We also went to a seafood restaurant that was a little unconventional in their approach to serving food. They came out with bowls of prawns and crawfish and simply tipped the contents onto your table, luckily I had a bib.
We were also attracted to pizza vans, as you can see, it's the best way to get around in Texas.
We found some great vintage shops in the South Congress, including an awesome shop called Uncommon Objects who were selling Nomadic robes and a frock coat supposedly from the1800s belonging to the Knights Templar. I should have bought it.
Lastly, we met some pandas.
RIP Alex Chilton
10.3.10
Smoke Fairies invade Sawmills
A flash of lightning shot across us last week; the debut album proper from the Smoke Fairies was recorded. It was recorded in a studio that's a good ten minute walk away from the nearest road in a picturesque area of Cornwall by a river. It's also the place Supergrass recorded I Should Coco and Oasis recorded Definitely Maybe. Sawmills is the studio of dreams, as you can see:
In the producer's chair was a smashing chap named Head. If you have a copy of Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea have a look on the first page of the inlay; he's the dude in the blue t-shirt leaning over that collosal mixing desk. He's refreshingly unpretentious and focused on getting the right take, even if that meant 40 odd takes. I also loved the fact that the first song he put on the stereo in the evening post-recording was mclusky's Lightsabre Cock Sucking Blues. Full blast. Awesomeness smothered in awesome.
He was a smart choice as producer. I've always seen Smoke Fairies more in the PJ Harvey-esque rock camp than the usual generic folk camp. This album will shake off the folk tag with a sand blaster.
All my parts were recorded in THE CAVE, which had two small windows; one where I could peer into the main live room: (and take a rubbish photo)
..and the other view was the lovely river which was my clock 'cos it's governed by the tides. At times the rising tide also acted as a depressing reminder of how many takes you've done.
I did all my viola parts through a juicy Music Man amp to get a nice interesting tone, I even did one take on my knees in proper \m/ style in front of the amp with the overdrive up to 11 ...sounds unlikely but it happened!
In the producer's chair was a smashing chap named Head. If you have a copy of Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea have a look on the first page of the inlay; he's the dude in the blue t-shirt leaning over that collosal mixing desk. He's refreshingly unpretentious and focused on getting the right take, even if that meant 40 odd takes. I also loved the fact that the first song he put on the stereo in the evening post-recording was mclusky's Lightsabre Cock Sucking Blues. Full blast. Awesomeness smothered in awesome.
He was a smart choice as producer. I've always seen Smoke Fairies more in the PJ Harvey-esque rock camp than the usual generic folk camp. This album will shake off the folk tag with a sand blaster.
All my parts were recorded in THE CAVE, which had two small windows; one where I could peer into the main live room: (and take a rubbish photo)
..and the other view was the lovely river which was my clock 'cos it's governed by the tides. At times the rising tide also acted as a depressing reminder of how many takes you've done.
Take 1:
Take3476849301
I did all my viola parts through a juicy Music Man amp to get a nice interesting tone, I even did one take on my knees in proper \m/ style in front of the amp with the overdrive up to 11 ...sounds unlikely but it happened!
Now, we wait for the thing to be mixed but in the meantime the Fairies take on SXSW! Hella yeah!
The Monroe Transfer need you, yes you....... really.
We're doing a project where we need people to record different parts of a song, as Line of Best Fit explain:
The Line of Best Fit can exclusively reveal The Monroe Transfer’s imaginative plans for their next song. The seven piece instrumental band from London is asking as many people as possible to contribute to ‘The Heavens Sleep, Are Sleeping Still’.
The band have already secured contributions from Her Name Is Calla, worriedaboutsatan and Braindead Collective, and now it’s your chance to add something.
Fans can download sheet music, stems and demo recordings from theheavenssleep.com and record themselves performing whichever part they like. The recorded parts can be submitted to the group through their website, and will be mixed by the group to create the final piece.
Those who take part in the project will receive a very limited physical copy of the song, while those who prefer listening to music than making it will be able to get the track when it is released as a free download later in the year.
It’s another of example of the band’s unique approach to creating and packaging music. Past release ‘Vox Humana’ was presented in a home-made wooden box, whilst their next album Trials comes in a delicately crafted cloth bag, that would make any home economics teacher proud.
The deadline for contributions is April 10th so hurry up and dig out any instrument that’s gathering dust!
The band will also be playing a few live shows in the coming weeks. Those dates:
March
31 The Lexington, London
April
20 The Macbeth, London
Finally, the band’s new album Trials will be released via Organ Grinder on 3rd May. Expect a review and an interview with the band on The Line of Best Fit soon.
Spread the word!
The Line of Best Fit can exclusively reveal The Monroe Transfer’s imaginative plans for their next song. The seven piece instrumental band from London is asking as many people as possible to contribute to ‘The Heavens Sleep, Are Sleeping Still’.
The band have already secured contributions from Her Name Is Calla, worriedaboutsatan and Braindead Collective, and now it’s your chance to add something.
Fans can download sheet music, stems and demo recordings from theheavenssleep.com and record themselves performing whichever part they like. The recorded parts can be submitted to the group through their website, and will be mixed by the group to create the final piece.
Those who take part in the project will receive a very limited physical copy of the song, while those who prefer listening to music than making it will be able to get the track when it is released as a free download later in the year.
It’s another of example of the band’s unique approach to creating and packaging music. Past release ‘Vox Humana’ was presented in a home-made wooden box, whilst their next album Trials comes in a delicately crafted cloth bag, that would make any home economics teacher proud.
The deadline for contributions is April 10th so hurry up and dig out any instrument that’s gathering dust!
The band will also be playing a few live shows in the coming weeks. Those dates:
March
31 The Lexington, London
April
20 The Macbeth, London
Finally, the band’s new album Trials will be released via Organ Grinder on 3rd May. Expect a review and an interview with the band on The Line of Best Fit soon.
Spread the word!
12.2.10
viola mayhem on Tom Robinson's show tonight
Viv Albertine rather nicely asked me to play viola with them at a live session on BBC6 Music later today. It's going to be on Tom Robinson's show which airs at 7pm. Details here. Should be fun!
Following on from the last post; perhaps I should get this T-Shirt:
Following on from the last post; perhaps I should get this T-Shirt:
What the NME said
The NME reviewed Smoke Fairies' gig at The Lexington, as you can see below. I might have to put a sticker on my viola with the words "this is not a violin"
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